There are three main civilized human cultural groups in the
region spread out among several states: La’Cedi, Thalibans, and Donarans. There
are four minor groups: Basati, Caldans, Climans, and Shazir. The barbarian groups
(Fierazi, Kazi, and Zen’da) are dealt with in the description of their regions (to follow later).
Note that all civilized peoples have access to plate mail, though of course,
wear only as much armor as they can afford.
LA’CEDI subcultures include the Ced (includes Nerid), the
peoples of the Confederacy (Aratad, Eured, Rhozad), the E’lici, and the Salaqi
(includes Chirosi, Salaqi of Shiben, and Ticasi); they are descended from a
patchwork mix of sea-faring colonists of a variety of southern and eastern
peoples from the shores of the Sea of Tears who colonized the region (from the
Wild Forest to the River Zara), who subsequently mixed with the native Basati
(and to a much, much lesser extent, the Elves of Elysium). They later mixed
with the Thalibans during the two centuries of Thaliban rule (ca. 1700 to 1500
years ago). It was the attempt of the then recently-converted Thalibans of the
Thaliban Empire 1500 centuries ago to force the conversion of the ancestors of
the La’Cedi to Law that caused Ced a’Caran to lead his revolt and found the
Empire of Ced. The Ced tend to be harsh, boorish, and arrogant; conversely,
they are also honorable, honest, and truthful, though personal survival is more
important than honor for all but the elite. The Nerid, on the other hand, are a
nation of pirates and thieves; being pragmatic, tenacious, and yet malleable
when the price is right, they are also suave, calculating, and unpredictable.
La’Cedi of the Confederacy are hard, uncompromising, and militant; they are
slow to befriend, quick to hate, live for vengeance, and have raised the
practice of vendetta to an art. E’lici are strange, known for their patience
and tolerance, stoic and yet kind; they are dedicated to freedom, moral
conduct, religious devotion, and love of family. Salaqi, natively being
obstinate, stubborn, traditional, and proud, after centuries of being horribly
and viciously oppressed by the Donarans (to an extent that even in this cruel
world, most other peoples feel the Donarans are perverse in their treatment of
the Salaqi), have become conniving, treacherous, and cruel to outsiders who
they cannot trust; with family and friends, they are dependable, honest, and
courageous. The various La’Cedi peoples speak dialects of the La’Cedi tongue.
Their culture is essentially Gallo-Roman; the people of E’lici and Salaqi more
Gallic, the people of Ced, Nerid, and the Confederacy more Roman.
Religion: The disparate peoples of the region originally
worshiped a mix of the Elder Gods, especially the Children of Danaan, the
Elemental Gods, the Court of Dionysius, and the Court of Hecate; most La’Cedi
people continue to revere the gods of their ancestors, respect the Sidh and the
Dwarves (especially E’lici and Salaqi), and loathe Kotothi forces. In the case
of the E’lici and Salaqi, this is in the face of strong resentment and
oppression by the Lawful-aligned Donarans. The Chirosi are devout followers of
the Court of Dionysius; the Ced nobility prefer Nuada, Morrigan, Finvarra, and
Donel (the Elder Gods of War), while other classes revere Elder Gods more in
line with their labors; the E’lici have a particular reverence of Domiel,
Girra, and Dionysius; the Nerid are even more diverse than the Ced; the Salaqi
revere Manannan, Morrigan, and Epona; and the Ticasi are the odd-men out, with
a reverence for Law, though all “goodly” religions are welcome.
Appearance: La’Cedi of Ced, Nerid, and the Confederacy have
dark hair, brown eyes, and olive complexions; they average 5’7” tall with light
build, and tend to be dexterous and agile. Many of the hill-folk of the
Confederacy have a strong Basati streak, though it manifests only in height,
build, and temperament. E’lici and Salaqi are a bit taller and heavier built,
and lighter-skinned, eyed, and haired (redheads and even blondes not being
unknown), due to intermixing with the Basati and Elves in the early days of the
settlement of the region.
Favored Weapons: Ced favor javelins, pikes and short swords;
men of the Confederacy prefer slings, spears, and long swords; E’lici and
Salaqi prefer daggers, spears, and long swords.
THALIBAN subcultures include the Marentians, Portans, the
barbaric Thabans, Thalibans, and Zarunese. The original Thalibans were
descended from local autochthonous tribes, cousins of the Bhamoti and Rizeeli
to the south, who, over long centuries and millennia, were conquered by and
assimilated waves of Zen’da invaders. They were merged into the modern Thaliban
type in the pre-Imperial consolidation era of Thaliba, though with regular
influx of Zen’da blood pre and post-empire through invasion and trade. Marentians are aggressive, quick to anger, tenacious and
violent when angered, and loyal to those who earn their loyalty; they also can
be hospitable, compassionate, and generous. Portans are amorally pragmatic,
cold and calculating; they are malleable as the situation requires, capable of
being loquaciously toadying or stone-cold killers, as needful. Thaban tribesmen
are paranoid, defensive, and hostile; suspicious of all strangers, especially civilized
peoples. Among their own, Thabans are kind, generous, and trusting; stranger
are hunted down and killed, mercifully and quickly if they have not offended,
slowly and painfully if they have cause grief. Thaliban toll-takers (the only
Thalibans outsiders ever meet) are universally haughty, arrogant, condescending,
and greedy; they tend to be cowardly, but if Thaliban blood is spilt, they are
implacable in hunting down the murderous sub-human scum. Zarunese are
freedom-loving libertarians; they hate government and oppression, being strong
believers in individual freedom; however, they also work together very well
when threatened, placing their trust in an elected Dictator during times of
war. They are isolationist, but friendly; miserly, but help those in need; kind
and peaceful, but merciless when their freedom is threatened. Thalibans speak various local dialects of the Thaliban
tongue. Their culture is essentially
Greco-Roman; the Thabans essentially being barbarized Romans, Goth-style.
Religion: The Thalibans were converted to the way of Law
more than 1500 years ago by missionaries from the Empire del’Nord; they
primarily revere the Court of the Converted, including Ashur, Inanna, and
Vahagn. The Thalibans dissolved their empire almost 700 years ago, when the
Imperial Court converted to the worship of a southern mystery cult (a branch of
Bhamotism dedicated to Sabbathiel of the Court of Metatron). The Thabans have a
shamanic-style faith dedicated to Law (primarily dedicated to Vahagn), while
the Zarunese and Portans are wary of religion but tolerant of those who cleave
to religion… as long as they keep it to themselves.
Appearance: Thalibans and Thabans tend to be tall, men
averaging 5’8” with a light build, dark hair, gray eyes, fair skin, high
cheekbones, and aquiline noses. Zarunese are shorter and darker-skinned and
have strong La’Cedi bloodlines (especially in the west), while Marentians are
taller and leaner, with strong and recent Zen’da infusion. Portans are mutts,
mixing all the various races found on the Sea of Tears and beyond.
Favored Weapons: Marentians and Zarunese prefer spears,
broad swords, and long swords; Marentians have a strong chivalrous tradition,
their knights favoring lances, maces, and scimitars. Portans use clubs,
daggers, and short swords. Thalibans wield crossbows, polearms, and long
swords. The barbaric Thabans wield long bows, spears, and long swords, and wear
soft leather armor and wooden bucklers (eschewing heavier armor as too
“civilized” and thus taboo).
DONARANS are a mix of Zen’da and La’Cedi (especially E’lici
and Salaqi) with a dash of Thaliban. They originated as a cult among the
Bra’mani founded by Xalan Horse-Brother. The cult revered and followed Don, the
“Son of the Moon,” who arrived in Bra’mani lands riding the tail of a comet 315
years ago (785 SA). The pan-tribal cult grew in power and was forced out of the
Western Steppes and into the Nameless Forest in 810 as the “Don Host;” they
slowly made their way through Zarun, the Empire of Ced, and Salaq, ending up in
E’lici. After 35 years as brigands and mercenaries in broken bands in E’lici,
the Host reformed, and conquered E’lici. They went on to conquer Salaq, unite
with Xian, annex Ticasi, Chiros, and Shiben, and today threaten Caldo, the
Confederacy, and the Empire of Ced. Donarans, though honorable and moral
(within the strictures of the Temples of Law), are a cruel and violent people;
three centuries has not soothed the savage streak of barbarism in their souls
or their culture. Wealth and power are the central goals of most Donaran lives;
tempered by the teachings of Law, they try to gain wealth and power through
legal and moral means. Many fail at this, however, especially the elite and
noble classes, who are known for cruelty, sadism, and deceit. Common Donarans
are readily bribable, as long as the actions for which they are being bribed
are not heretical or harmful to friends or family (though even these limits
have their price). Donarans speak Donaran, a dialect of Zen’dali and closely
related to Thaliban. Donarans are essentially Normans, especially as portrayed
in the Robin Hood tales (with the Salaqi taking the part of the oppressed
Saxons).
Religion: Early in the days of the cult, following the lead
of Don and Xalan (both under the influence of Marentian missionaries) they
adopted the ways of Law, particularly the Court of the Converted (Ashur, Enki,
Inanna, and etc.). They loathe Chaos (especially the gods of Clima), detest the
Kotothi, and fear and hate the Sidh. That the Salaqi were allied with the Sidh
and Clima, and fielded powers and creatures of Sidh and Chaotic sort against
them during the conquest is a major factor in the vicious hatred the Donarans
hold for that people.
Appearance: Relatively pure Donarans (of strongest Zen’da
blood) are even taller than Thalibans at 5’9” average, with muscular builds
(rather than the lean build of their ancestors); they are dark-haired, with
blue or hazel eyes, and fair or pale-skinned (with tendency to tan deeply with
freckles). Most “Donarans” are actually of Zarunese or La’Cedi blood
(especially E’lici and Salaqi), due to centuries of wife-stealing from the
lands the Don Host passed through and settled in, and the modern continuance of
that through the keeping of slave concubines.
Favored Weapons: Donarans prefer short bows, maces, and long
swords; they have a strong chivalrous tradition, their knights favoring lances,
maces, and bastard swords.
BASATI are descended from an early people who lived in the
west, in the Kolar Peninsula, long ere the arrival of the Kolari. They settled
the lands between the Sea of Tears and the Elder Mountains when the Sidh and
Kotothi were alone in these lands, and humans were all but unknown. The Sidh
saved their ancestors from extermination by the Firbolg and allowed them to
settle in these lands. While the ancestors of the La’Cedi conquered the lowlands,
the Basati continued to hold the highlands, or eventually regained their
independence, notably in Iravoy and Xian, where the Basati still rule. Basati
blood flows in the veins of the La’Cedi, especially among the E’lici and Salaqi
and among the hill-folk of the Confederacy. Basati are a clannish people; they
have a great love for their families, extended families, and clans, and with
these and their trusted friends they are kind and understanding; they are
distrustful and suspicious of outsiders. The eastern Basati (the Irava and
related clans) are quick to anger, easy to provoke, enigmatic, and noted for
fierce tempers; their western cousins of Xian are much more patient, and slow
to anger, but like the Irava, are deadly, fierce, and virtually berserk in battle
when finally angered. Basati are proud, love to take risks and gamble, and have
a deep love for life and their land; the quickest way to anger a Basati other
than to threaten his family is to threaten his land. Basati culture is
essentially an extension of the Kolari-Goidan-Fomorian-Shandar-type, i.e.
Celt-Iberian-Basque-Berber.
Religion: The Basati all revere Sarameya (God of Balance,
Protector of Heroes, Patron of Shepherds, Lord of Fraud and Theft, etc.) and
the Elder God Dionysius and his court (Bacchus, Ceres, Bes, and Pan); in Xian,
where Dwarves are not uncommon, Gaea, Goibniu, and Dvalinn are also much
revered. The Children of Danaan are respected, but not worshipped, in honor of
the ancient alliance with the Fey and the Elves. The Basati loathe Kototh and
all his creations.
Appearance: Basati are 5’8” tall on the average with a
robust build; the women tend to be buxom with wide hips and an hourglass
figure, while men tend toward heavy-boned barrel-shaped stockiness. They have
pale to fair skin, red hair, and green eyes.
Favored Weapons: Basati prefer axes, short bows, and spears;
they eschew plate armor, it being heavy for their hilly lands and difficult to
climb in, preferring soft leather or chain or scale mail shirts, a pot helm,
and a light shield.
Image: Basati woman being kidnapped by a troll of the Elder Mountains.
CALDANS are descended primarily from the two Kazi clans who
initially settled the Caldan plateau; they have since mixed with other Kazi and
Basati, and to a lesser extent with La’Cedi, Fierazi, Dirllar, and Djani
(mostly marriages of alliance for trading purposes). They speak Caldan, a
dialect of the Kazi tongue, though much evolved and with many Basati
loan-words. Caldans are loyal to their families, their clans, and their nation;
some might say to an obsessive level. As long as these are not threatened,
Caldans are kind, friendly, and even generous. They engage in all manner of
physical sports, gambling, and troll-baiting. Caldans are essentially
land-based Dutch traders, with a Scots-Highlander attitude.
Religion: Caldans worship their ancestors; out of respect
for (and hope for) their dead, they respect the Gods of the Dead, notably
Morrigan.
Appearance: Caldans usually stand 5’7” and have a medium to
lean build. Most are blondes or redheads, with naturally pale but usually tan
skin and light blue or green eyes. Due to intermixing, other physical types are
not unknown. Physical differences mean little to Caldans; if blood is blood,
even if only a drop runs in common through each other’s veins.
Favored Weapons: Caldans prefer to wield javelins, pikes,
and short swords; those who travel the roads on horseback often wield Kazi
weapons, including dagger, composite bow, and long sword. On foot they wear the
heaviest armor they can afford; on horseback they prefer to ride Kazi style,
wearing leather or scale mail with bucklers and leather helmets.
CLIMANS are descended from the same drift of peoples from
the southlands that led to the formation of the La’Cedi; however, most of the
later settlers were of distinctly Rogizini type, and so modern Climans are much
like the Rogizini of the south. Prior to the rise of the Dark Temples, Climans
were a free-dealing and open culture dedicated to piracy and trade. Today their
culture is dedicated to the Dark Temples, the Immortal Ghova and the
Priestesses, and their idea of an Empire of the Sea of Tears. Climans obey and
fear their rulers; they dare not hate or loathe them, but they need not love
them. As the Immortal Ghova and her priestesses rule the Dark Temples and the land,
so too do women rule the household in Clima. However, while men are merely
second-class citizens in Clima, they still have room for advancement (usually
in the navy). Punishments are severe, up to and including death by crucifixion.
Climans speak Climan, a dialect of Rogizini; each city and small island has its
own distinct accent, noticeable only to native speakers. Climans are
essentially Minoan-Phoenician in style, complete with strange dark cults and
far-ranging sea-rovers bent on conquest and trade.
Religion: Climan life revolves around religion, particularly
the worship of the Court of Sammael (and the other Lords of Hell, though the
Court of Lilith plays little role in Clima); Aeshma Daeva (plus his mother
Lyssa, his consort Astaroth, and his son Meresin); and Tiamat (plus her consort
Apsu, their son Kingu, and Kingu’s wife Tiella). Between the three temples
there are at least two festival days per (six-day) week; Climan life revolves
around these ecstatic, orgiastic, exuberant, violent, and perverse rituals and
revels. Other days of the week Climans are stoic and fatalistic, untrusting of
foreigners and shy to strangers.
Appearance: Climans stand 5’6” tall on average, with a
median to thin build. They have dark brown skin, dark brown to black hair, and
brown or amber eyes. No few Climans exhibit the taint of demonic blood, as
demons are summoned to participate in the numerous festivals of the Dark
Temples.
Favored Weapons: Climans prefer to wield slings, spears, and
maces; being a sea-faring folk, they rarely wear heavy armor, preferring cloth
or leather, and generally eschewing shields.
SHAZIR OF SHIBEN have a long and storied history, being
descended from Rogizini pirates who fled their home on the Island of Shazizan
and found sanctuary with the Salaqi more than 700 years ago. Thousands of Shazi
settled in Shiben, then a wasteland border province between Salaq and Ced.
Since that time, the Shazir have been the most loyal of subjects of the Salaqi
crown, even today when Salaq groans under the heel of the Donarans. Though they
are great allies of the Salaqi, they never mixed with them, or other locals,
and so today though their culture is much evolved, and similar in many respects
to the Salaqi, they are ethnically distinct. Shazir are boisterous, exuberant,
and violent; they love fiercely and hate deeply, never forgetting or forgiving.
They are friendly, generous, kind, and loyal to those who have earned their
friendship; implacable devils to those who have earned their enmity. They speak
Shazir, a dialect of Rogizini, that has borrowed much from Salaqi and Ced. As
for RW equivalents… imagine the Welsh, if the Welsh were Arabs, and were allied
with the Saxons against the Normans…
Religion: The Shazir abandoned their old gods, who had
abandoned them when the Rogizini took Shazizan. They have since adopted the
worship of the local Elder Gods, especially Morrigan, Ull, and Donel; they also
revere Gaea, Goibniu, and Dvalinn due to the many mines in the region. Shazir
sailors and pirates, who mostly operate out of Ticasi, Chiros, and Nerid,
generally revere Manannan. Though nervous around the Sidh, they honor them for
the alliance they once had with their Salaqi saviors; they honor the Dwarves as
the Children of Goibniu.
Appearance: Shazir stand 5’8” tall on average, with a lean
if muscular build. They have dark, swarthy skin, black or brown hair, and brown
or amber eyes. The uninitiated might mistake them for Rogizini or Climan, which
would earn one a dagger to the belly in impolite company.
Favored Weapons: Shazir favor short bows, daggers, and
scimitars; though they have been mostly land-based for centuries, they have
never gotten over the pirate’s fear of heavy armor, and thus usually wear only
cloth or leather armor, or rarely scale mail, and eschew the use of shields or
helmets.
Note: The material herein is derived from the original materials by Richard Snider, with additions and some changes by myself, notably the combination of the Xian and Irava into the singular Basati peoples (intimated in the text). I've also changed around a few details here and there, notably in religions (modified both by later work of Snider and my own ideas)...
Some of the traps in the module are outright lethal… which
again, to this reviewer is a feature, not a bug. So if you do not like the
“Save or Die” style of gaming (or worse, the “No Save and Die” style), you
might need to tone down a few things.
In the second book, Swords of the Horseclans, the other two kingdoms come calling, wanting to re-conquer the lands the Horseclans took in the previous generation (the books follow Milo at this stage, and as he is immortal, each book jumps a generation or two). The Kingdom of Karaleenos (the Carolinas, of course) is at first at war with the new Confederation, which is a union of the Ehleens and the Kindred. Then the vast army of Zastros, the newly-crowned King of the Southern Kingdom, comes up to wipe away both forces. Zastros is under the influence of the Witchmen, and doesn't care how many are killed, as all the chaos is needed to enable the Witchmen to reconquer the eastern coast (they are stuck in the swampy ruins of Florida, where they were based before the war, at Cape Canaveral/Cape Kennedy Research Center). Thanks to prophecies provided by Blind Hari of Kroogah, a Kindred bard with many of the other unusual psychic powers the Kindred can possess, High Lord Milo and his allies are able to defeat Zastros, and unite all three kingdoms into the Confederation.
