War refugee certainly, barbarians not quite yet. The Purnesse are brought in to elevate the Larkinson Clan. They may look rural and uneducated as people coming from a 3rd Class nation but they are catching up stunningly fast in insight.
I do believe that the Bright Warrior is an excellent platform for a HERO MECH. install a rifle base arm on one and a sword based arm on the other. it seems one can play different combinations on this type