| The Wagon Peoples are a warlike people and often war among themselves. They also raid caravans that try to cross the Plains, usually those coming from or going to Turia. In addition, they sometimes travel toward other cities and areas, having gone as far north as Ko-ro-ba in the past. The books do mention one important historical incident, the Kaiila Wars. Many years ago, the exact time period not given, the Kaiila Wars were fought among the different tribes. The primary objective of these Wars was the acquisition of kaiila, the common mount of these peoples. But, the capture and acquisition of slaves occurred as well, an unintended side effect. The tribes soon realized the benefits of owning slaves so the idea became much more prevalent.
Most warfare on the plains is mounted combat, whether it is the tribes on their kaiila or Turians atop war tharlarion. Tarn cavalries only pose a rare threat, as the nearest tarn cavalries are located in Ar. The city of Turia does not possess its own tarn cavalries. At best, Turians could hire a band of mercenary tarnsmen, though that does not seem to be a common occurrence. We do know that when attacking, the tribes may have commissary wagons, where their warriors can obtain food and drink, such as dried bosk meat and water. In battle, warriors of the tribes may sing war songs as well.
One such song may be the Blue Sky Song, a Tuchuk song, that has a refrain "�that though I die, yet there will be the bosk, the grass and sky." (Nomads of Gor, p. 263)
The Wagon Peoples lack siege engines and the skills to use them, thus making it more difficult for them to conquer fortified cities. Due to this lack, they most often surround a city, attacking anything that dares to leave or approach it. When they are able to conquer a city, often through trickery, they usually annihilate it completely. They kill or enslave everyone, including the domestic animals. They may even poison the wells and salt the earth. It is said that some cities still lay in ruins that were conquered by the tribes hundreds of years ago.
A thousand years ago, united Wagon Peoples carried their devastation to the very walls of both Ar and Ko-ro-ba. Luckily, both cities were able to stop and push back the fierce tribes. Such was never forgotten by any of the tribes or cities. During the events of Nomads of Gor, the Tuchuks were able to conquer the city of Turia, a city that had never been conquered before. Through trickery and force of arms, the Tuchuks were able to take Turia but they did not annihilate it as they often did to other places they conquered. Kamchak, Ubar of the Tuchuks, decided to return their Home Stone to the Turians. This was done ostensibly so the Wagon Peoples would always have an enemy but may also have been done in part because Kamchak's mother was Turian. In addition, it was thought that, economically, the tribes needed Turia.
After the conquest of Turia, and the elevation of Kamchak to the position of Ubar San, the reunification of the four tribes brought about some changes. Now, the Wagon Peoples rarely make raids on each other to acquire slaves. Instead, they raid other peoples and have allegedly traveled as far north as Venna and maybe even the Sardar. It is said that a woman is not safe within a thousand pasangs of the wagons. What this reunification also means is that a strike against the cities of Ar and Ko-ro-ba, or other major Gorean cities, could occur again one day. This does pose a security threat to the cities of Gor. It is unknown how long Kamchak will reign as Ubar San and whether he will call for such attacks. |