Slave Tribes

"'Slave tribes vary based on who their leader is. Most tribes settle away from cities, and seek to stay hidden, avoiding slavers and their former masters. They rarely trust outsiders, and I have been attacked on more than one occasion by those whom I came too close to.' ―Wanderer’s Chronicle"

When a slave manages to escape, he must find his way to one of the slave villages dotting Athas or perish in the harsh wilderness. Usually, these villages serve as the base for a raiding tribe, for slaves seldom have the skills necessary to survive in the desert.

The attention of a slave tribe is primarily directed at the city-states themselves, as well as the caravans carrying goods between those city-states. In this regard, their violence can be excused, for it almost takes on the character of a war against their former masters. In fact, slave tribes have been known to attack templar caravans and expeditions at great risk to themselves―even when there was no economic incentive.

Slave tribes tend to have a wide variety of races. In every city-state, a wide selection of races is used as slaves. An equally wide selection escapes and finds its way to the slave villages, so it should come as no surprise to discover that most slave tribes are composed of a wide variety of races.

Slave Tribes on Athas
''“They are a strange lot, banding together out of need and hope. They settle just when they have gained freedom, putting down roots when they have finally felt the wind on their faces.”''

―Gldarith Cloudracer of the Sky Singers tribe

Slavery exists throughout Athas. It thrives in the city states of the sorcerer-kings. It flourishes in the merchant houses. It lingers in villages far from the centres of civilisation. Almost every living, intelligent being knows of the practice of capturing, raising, and keeping slaves. Some relish the system and embrace its methods and ideology completely.

Slave tribes are the most relief from the harsh and cruel life an Athasian can dream of. A slave tribe can represent a safe haven for procured PCs, since most slave tribes are located in remote and easy to defend locations or simply a rest stop for tired adventurers.

Organization
Almost without exception, slave tribe leaders tend to be of military orientation. Soldiers and gladiators offer protection and order, so other types of slaves naturally rally around the more exceptional members of these classes. Other than that, no common organisation exists between the many slave tribes that dot the Tablelands.

NPC Reactions
Slave tribes give special treatment to other slaves. Only ex-slaves are allowed to join a slave tribe, and when they attack a caravan, their first priority is usually freeing all the slaves in it. At the very least, these slaves will be given directions to the closest safe oasis, and enough food and water to reach it. More often, they are offered membership in the slave tribe. Because their reputation of leaving alone other villages, hermits, and small parties of travellers, others have an initial attitude of indifferent. However, slave tribes have an innate suspicion of the power that a wizard can wield, so their initial attitude against any arcane spellcaster is unfriendly.