The Pechtii ("picts") are an array of tribes who live in the Kingdoms of Alba (the White land) in the north. Like the "Turks" of Asia, they are not really one ethnicity or even really one culture, but for historical reasons, they self-identify with each other more than with the Prydani to the south (who have become the British) or with the Scotti to the southeast (who came from the isle of Eiru to settle in Dal Riada, formerly part of Alba).

The great forests in the northeast of Alba are the domain of the kings, and supply hunting, feasting, and timber. Only the lordly burn this wood (normal folk burn peat with windfall kindling), or use great trees for halls (others use dugouts and thatch) or for ships (small private boats are woven). The forbidding and unforgiving mountains provide stone, snow, fierce warriors, and even fiercer sheep. The wide lowlands require a less tenacious lifestile, but naturally provide more vulnerability.

Administration

Alba contains seven sub-kingdoms (Cat, Ce, Fidach in the north, and Cirig, Fife, Fotla, Fortriu in the south), each ruled by a sub-king chosen from the seven matrilineal Great Families. The natural boundary of steep mountains also divides it into the Northern highlands and Southern lowlands. Everything has for some time been ruled by one High King of the Pechtii, chosen from among seven royal matrilineal families. The High King tours the land, but rules from Scone, where the mystical King's Stone sits. His sons generally hold important positions, but are not the inheritors of the throne; his brother or nephews are, with backups further along the matrilenial line. The aristocracy rules feudally from hill fortresses over kin and tribute-bound subjects.

The people

The commoners (mostly herders and hunters) tend to live in turf-barrow dugouts in the winter, and in semi-mobile thatch huts in summer. These are usually camoflaged by ancient tradition, and designed to leave little evidence when gone. Seeing few towns and villages, visitors tend to assume the Pechtii are more primitive and underpopulated than they are.

The Pechti are quite cultured, though they favor a rugged style, and the nobility supports a thriving industry of craftsmen, artisans, and engineers. They are not as much a farming people as the Scotti, British, or English, and tend more to herding and hunting, so in some ways there is more mobility in their cultre. Their hill fortresses though, are necessarily immobile, and are guarded by earthworks, palisades, carved spirit stones, and hidden outposts. Nearly all have protected fields nearby to help supply them, and all collect food from tributary tribes.

War

Being not all the same people (despite the intermarriage of the seven royal houses), there are naturally feuds from time to time between the five regions, or between different fortresses, and periodic raids of each other's supplies. Yet the Pechtii are capable of cooperating to raise great armies at need. They prefer to fight in a small-unit guerilla manner when possible (especially against such cumbersom armies as the Romans were), but are quite willing to mass against the enemy when necessary. Due to centuries of learning from would-be invaders, Pechtish engineers can even provide functional seige engines should the need arise.

The coastal fortresses keep a fearsome array of fast, light raiding ships. Choosing to keep their mobility, the Pechtii also use these to carry their trade goods, and have very few slow merchant ships. The ships are not as well-built as the Norsemen's ships, and are not taken beyond the coast, for fear of sea demons and storms.

Religion

The Pechtii keep their ancient (shamanic) religion and priests (which southerners insist on misnaming Druids), but pragmatically have no qualms about also using Christianity (and its powerful record-keeping magic) if it will give them any kind of edge. The Pechtish king is not humble, however; he treats Christian priests in their turf-built cells as if they are bonded craftsmen in his service, and does not give them the land or power they enjoy in the south.

The finer things

Courage, prowess, and lineage are prized. Since the Pechtii are matrilineal, fore-uncles are cited rather than forefathers, while foremothers are as likely to have gained battle fame as their brothers. Generosity is a mark of status. Hospitality is a mark of honor (but long-term hospitality is only indulged in by princes making alliance). Feasting is enjoyed by all. The best way for a warlord to gain his men's loyalty in battle is to "feast them all for a year," and the best way to anger them is to be stingy.

Artistry and the spirits

The pechtii also value art very highly, since it is clearly a way to channel the power of nature. Well-made objects tend to last longer, and careful decoration is part of the craft process. Carved stones mark very holy and important sites, and protect fortresses. Body paintings and tatoos enhance and protect a person as much as clothes and tools. All Pechtish travellers are wise to carry a knife, a rope, a blanket, and a paint set.

The Pechtii are somewhat secretive by tradition. The locations of villages, and the code words and routes of safe approach to villages and fortresses are not given to those not from that place. Since fortresses are easily seen, the safe routes and passwords change constantly, and great care is taken to ensure that guests are met at a distance, and escorted in such a way that the very existance of traps and codes is concealed. Their pagan religion they do not discuss with outsiders or their own christian priests, though some aspects, such as the continued use of paints and tatoos, are clearly visible. Those who hav made alliance with the Pechtii (for instance a Scot who marries a Pecht) are still kept in the dark as much as possible, a custom which causes difficulties for half-breeds.