[Aminatu]

HP 100% | MP 100%

Paladin - Cavalier - Blacksmith

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The following is an account on life in Heliopolis by Aminatu Nandi for Cecilia, an investigative Reporter and Owner and writer of the Sicilian Papers. The interviews were conducted during Cecilia's time traveling among the Heliopolite tribes and these gatherings were what was learned of the Heliopolite people. 


Life in Heliopolis



"Heliopolis is a land split by two cultures but united by a common ancestry, is a land of decadent despots along the Nile and fierce nomads of the outer sands. This influential nation has a relatively high population of people and is a powerful commercial engine, drawing in wealth through overland trade via the well-travelled caravan routes that criss-cross the arid deserts and pastoral meadowlands. Trade is the life of Heliopolites and the debauched city-states seem to specialize in their manufacture of goods, living off of the unending camel trains. The luxuriant kingdoms are constantly at war with each other, each trying to steal domination of various trade routes, trying to destroy competition in search of ever elusive monopolies in some good or another."



"Heliopolite people are diverse, practically split into two distinct types, the nomads of the outer sands and the urbanites of the Nile. These trading kingdoms are the homes of the urbanites, who are generally of medium height with hook noses, dark eyes and blue-black hair. Some families have Nomad blood, however, and they are gigantic, broadly and strongly built, with the same sort of facial features as the shorter Urbanites. "



Urban Heliopolis: "Urbanite clothing is made from wool or flax, except for priests and dignitaries, who may wear linen garments. In the winter, the clothing is thicker and coarser. Poor, urban Urbanite men usually go bare-chested and wear sheep-skin skirts tied at the waist, or wear simple sashed or belted tunics that are about kneelength. Women either add a shawl thrown over the left shoulder or long shawls which cover their entire bodies as a dress, but their right arm and shoulder are always left bare. Most men wear their hair long and parted in the middle. Some have curled black-blue beards but many also go cleanshaven. Women also wear their hair long, but they usually braid it into one long braid and wrap it on top of their heads in a coil. Women of all ranks usually wear headdresses when entertaining guests. In addition to linen skirts, the wealthy, urban male Urbanites may choose to wear loose, floor-length robes with sleeves, usually made of expensive and luxurious materials such as linen and, for the ultra-wealthy, silk. The robes are usually embroidered and may be made of dyed fabric and trimmed with cloth-of-gold. The clothing of wealthy women is colourful and bright. Upper class women may also go more scantily clad, although they rarely forego their elaborate headdresses. A wealthy Urbanite’s clothing smells of perfumes and incense. A Urbanite will pay a fragrance’s weight in gold to obtain it, as perfumes and incense are rare and a sign of wealth. "



"Only the wealthy can afford weaponry and they do not favour straight-blades. The Urbanites of the cities fight with curved scimitars of bronze, iron or steel, depending on their wealth or preference. Their gods designed the scimitar, or so the priests claim, and the straight blade is seen as offensive to the gods by some Urbanites. Urbanite bows, a gift from the gods also, are used by the nobles. Treasures, riches and beautiful things cause the hearts and souls of the Urbanites to soar. They live to accumulate wealth and beauty, surrounding themselves with jewellery, so both men and women of the Urbanites wear earrings and necklaces. Earrings and bracelets are commonly of gold and silver; necklaces are usually set with precious stones. During periods of celebration even more jewellery is worn. "



Tribal Heliopolites: "The nomads of the outer sands favour loose robes for clothing, which are useful in catching the wind and in retaining heat at night. The standard dress for one of the nomad men is a white, girdled khilat, a robe with full open sleeves, linen, cotton or silken breeches and a flowing headdress that falls to the shoulders called a kafieh and is banded about the temples with a triple circlet of braided camel-hair. The amount of embroidery on the khilat or kafieh indicates the relative position and wealth of the wearer. Cloaks are of camel hair and are solid coloured. They also wear turbans wrapped around spiked helmets. "



"The women wear a chador, or a full-body over-dress that includes a ghutra. Beneath the chador, the women wear a body-shirt made of white gauze and voluminous bloomers. The outfit is complete with a broad, red and black handwoven belt, ghutra, a head-band and cloak. The chador has broad sleeves ending in a flap that can cover the hands. The necklines are high. The belt allows the dress to be hitched up to free the ankles. Their cloaks are identical to those worn by men except for being striped. Wealthier women own jackets or silk kaftans, which can be worn over the chador. Those nomads nearer the mountains, where it is cooler, wear thwabs instead of chadors. The clothing is loose and flowing to allow for easy movement and child-bearing, although the thwabs are a bit more form-fitting than the chador because of the cooler climate near the mountains. A woman often carries her entire wealth in the form of silver jewellery and is permitted to dispose of her jewellery in any way she sees fit. Some Heliopolite tribes practice the art of tattooing for their women."



"A wealthy Heliopolite nomad’s clothing smells of perfumes and incense. A Heliopolite will pay a fragrance’s weight in gold to obtain it, as perfumes and incense are rare and a sign of wealth. Heliopolite nomads fight in melee battles with scimitars and tulwars. Even their daggers are curved and are called jambiyas. Otherwise the keen-eyed desert warriors fight with Heliopolite bows. "



"Clothing is always assumed to be of minimum quality unless more money is spent to buy higher-quality clothing. The only colour available for common clothing is white, the colour of the linen used. The prices are for strangers purchasing such clothes in the cities. Native nomads make their own clothing and do not purchase them. As a side note, if a character is going out among the nomads in native clothing, they will not make any special allowances for the character. Most nomads are willing to forgive foreigners a certain amount of rudeness and etiquette breaches but not if the strangers are dressed in traditional desert garb. Also as a word of advice for foreigners travelling among the Heliopolites, dress in the best clothing affordable. The Heliopolite nomads place a lot of store in the quality of one’s clothes."



On Codes of Honour


"Heliopolite nomads often hold to a civilised code of honour or, perhaps, the mercenary code of honour. Many of the Urbanites, however, do not follow codes of honour. "


"Tribal Heliopolites are not controlled by fear or guilt. Nomadic tribals are more worried about shame. To shame one’s family, clan, tribe or nation is the most dreaded thing the Heliopolite nomads can imagine. The opposite of shame is honour, so most nomadic people strive to follow the barbaric code of honour. Note that breaking the law is not necessarily shameful or even evil. Being caught in a shameful act is far worse than being caught simply breaking the law. There are three basic values of a Nomadic tribe: shame, honour and revenge. Many clans will attempt to cover up shame, but if it is found out, then the clan must opt for vengeance. The values of the nomad tribes are vested in this code of honour; those who do not may find themselves stripped of their a’gals or, worse, find themselves thrown out of their tribes, a sentence of almost certain death. The fear of dishonour, not only of self but of family, virtually ensures individual nomads comply with the wishes of the majority. Some aspects of nomadic honour include the certain traditions of clan, hospitality and vengeance."



"The centre of nomadic Heliopolite society is the clan. A clan is a collection of families and each has its own tent. A number of clans create a tribe. The Zuagir tribe, for example, is comprised of several clans flung throughout the desert. The tribe as a whole rarely gathers. People living in the same clan are considered to be family, of the same blood, and are usually automatically treated as honourable allies. Clans are led by sheikhs. They adjudicate matters of conflict, shame, honour and revenge. Clan councils determine the distribution of water and the use of water resources. All men in a clan are considered equal, although the elders are accorded extra respect because of their experience. A Heliopolite nomad is expected to have total loyalty for the tribe and to uphold the survival of the tribe. Heliopolite people with a code of honour typically have an allegiance to their immediate family first and foremost, followed by an allegiance to their clan." 



Hospitality



" The hospitality of Heliopolite nomads is legendary. Strangers are often met with displays of courtesy and respect. Those who betray or insult the nomads, however, are treated as dishonourable. Note that actually asking for hospitality is insulting to a nomad. Those who trespass against the nomads are not easily forgiven or forgotten. The nomads are also expected to be generous to guests, giving up their last meal if necessary. Heliopolite nomads value one thing above all else – water. They never waste water and the sharing of water is a sure sign of friendship and trust. When guests arrive, the men receive them on one side of their tent. The women’s quarters are kept shielded from view by a woven curtain. If the guests arrive on horseback, the Heliopolite master asks permission to feed the horse himself. Once everyone is in the tent, they settle down for coffee, which traditionally is prepared by the host and includes three cups of coffee. The first cup is tasted by the host to make the guest feel safe. The second cup is poured and tasted by the guest. The third cup is poured by the host and drank by the guest. Once the third cup is finished, the guest hands it back to his host. Once coffee is drunk by a stranger or guest, that stranger is under the protection of the host and is, for purposes of the barbaric code of honour, treated as an honourable ally. Heliopolite people with a code of honour often always have an Allegiance toward their guests. "





"The concept of vengeance is important to the nomads, providing them with a social check against transgressions. ‘civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.’ This is true of the savage nomad tribes of Heliopolis– as a rule they are not as discourteous as their civilised Urbanite brethren because of the threat of having one’s skull split in a blood feud. Blood feuds are common among the nomads; their honour demands such things. When one family insults or dishonours another, the insulted family may justifiably kill the offender. The family of the slain man may disagree about the justification of the killing and feel insulted, so they kill a member of the other family, which, in turn, insults the original family and so on. Any Heliopolite nomad with a code of honour is bound to spill the blood of those who insult them and these often escalate into full-scale tribal wars which require a third party to settle by naming a blood price to be paid by one or the other party. Vengeance allows nomads to pursue individual rights to the death, bringing their entire clan into the conflict, regardless of how small or large the initial slight was. The fear of retribution by friends and relatives causes individual nomads to refrain from rudeness, restraining passionate quarrels."



Patronage 



"The nomads also have a system of guardianship known as patronage. The rules of vengeance can often work against the weak, who may not be able to enact their right of revenge. The weak, then, must turn to the strong for protection. Thus, weaker warriors plead to sheiks and other powerful men for patronage. If a sheik or other powerful warrior grants patronage, it is a pledge the sheik is honour-bound to fulfil. Any slights against his man become slights against the patron. Thus, the nomads are polite and honourable toward the weak, lest their patron enact revenge."


Women in Heliopolis





In regards to Heliopolite Urbanites:


"Women have important rights in Heliopolis, although they are hardly treated as the equivalent of men by the culture. Women are considered part of the fruits of war, a reward for the soldiers who fight so gallantly, so women must be considered less than men for this to be so. A woman is free to engage in trade and business and may own property, however, if married, she must guard against seeming free with other men or making fun of her husband, to avoid a divorce. Women can choose which son gets her inheritance. Even if they are but slaves, if they give birth to a free Urbanite’s children, they are given several protections by the law, such as care by the man’s father or brother should the man die. However, a woman’s only power is often only the sway her personality may have within her family. Virtually any woman is vulnerable to slavery, for any woman can be captured in war or sold by their husband or father to pay off debts. The vulnerability of women to be captured in war as slaves makes women in Heliopolis dependent upon the armed might of the city-state for their protection. In general, a woman’s place in Urbanite society is in the home. Her duty is to bear children, keep the home in order and obey her spouse. "





In regards to Nomadic Heliopolites:


"Among the nomad tribes, women play a central role and are full partners in the household. They help to build and dismantle tents, care for the flocks, raise any crops, perform any needed weaving and make or repair clothing. Most women do chores during the day, such as milking animals, caring for young children, spinning wool, weaving cloth, tending flocks, cooking, drawing water and mending tents and clothing. They are usually old and worn out by their middle ages. Some Heliopolite tribes have matrilineal inheritance. Women can marry more than once and are not secluded for the most part. The advice of women are sought in clan councils and many are authors of clan poetry. Women of the nomad tribes enjoy more freedom and power than Urbanite women. They are protected by a strict code of honour held by the men. They can move about freely and can talk to other men without fear or shame. Some rare few who show the aptitude can even become raiders and warriors. Women of the nomad tribes are also vulnerable to slavery. Any woman taken in a raid becomes the legal property of the victor – and becoming property is the same as becoming a slave."







Love & Marriage



In regards to Helipolite Urbanites:


"Marriages are arranged in Heliopolis because it is the merging of two families, not just the union of two individuals. The consent of the bride’s family is the most important deciding factor in any marriage contract. Children are often arranged to be married by the time the brides are six years old, although the marriage never takes place before she reaches womanhood. Once she reaches puberty, usually around the age of eighteen, the marriage can take place. Few self-respecting females in Heliopolis remain unmarried long after the onset of puberty. There is virtually no premarital sex among the girls; once a family determines the girl is fertile and of age, she is given to marriage, either to a person or to a god by making her a sacred prostitute of the temple. The marriage ceremony itself is colourful and musical. The women from the bride’s side of the family display the girl’s clothes, gifts from the groom’s family, her jewellery and other personal effects as the bride is pampered and prepared. There is a lot of dancing and food as the wedding gets underway. Heliopolite marriages are recorded by the priests in a sealed contract. After the wedding, the marriage party sign this contract. Without the contract, there is no legal marriage. Husbands make bridal payments and wives pay a dowry, all of which are governed by strict laws and regulations that vary from city-state to city-state. Marriage is monogamous among the Urbanites of the west; a wife’s adultery is punishable by death. In any marriage, the male is the patriarch and he is in charge of the family and the household slaves. Divorces are also common and regulated by law. A woman’s place in Urbanite society is in the home, and failure to perform her duties, including bearing children, is grounds for divorce. In these cases the man would have to repay the dowry. If a woman is divorced without good reason, she gets her dowry back. If the wife wants to leave the home to engage in business, the man may divorce her and keep the dowry. Wives who neglect their home, have extramarital affairs or otherwise embarrass their husbands may be legally drowned."  



In regards to Nomadic Heliopolites:


"Although marriages are also prearranged among the nomads, the young people know each other and are permitted some say in the matter. Among the nomads, at least half the marriages are with first cousins, their father’s brother’s child. The cousin of any woman has the first right to any girl’s hand; if she wants to marry another she must have her cousins’ permission. Polygamy is permitted among the nomadic Heliopolites. The more wives one has, the higher his social standing. Additional wives help each other with the chores and may help the husband find new brides. A husband must have the approval of all the other wives before he can have a wedding. Divorces are simple among the nomads. The man merely states three times that he wants a divorce and it is done. If a woman wants a divorce, she simply goes back to her parents’ tent. There is no shame or social stigma for either and they are free to marry again. Children over eight years old remain with their father in the case of a divorce but the mother may freely visit them. The Heliopolite nomads adore love stories and insist that each have a happy ending."



How Property is concerned in Heliopolis



"Treasures, riches and beautiful things cause the hearts and souls of the Heliopolites to soar. They live to accumulate wealth and beauty, surrounding themselves with jewellery and lovely slaves. However, despite that similarity, there are a few differences between the sub-races and their views on private property."



In regards to Heliopolite Urbanites:

"Land and property are sources of wealth and social prestige in Heliopolis. Heliopolis has a thriving industry in both agriculture and trade. Property is held by the temples, the kings and the private citizens, including herds of sheep and goats, farms and vineyards. Most property is controlled by the patriarch of a family, but women are allowed to own property, even if it is controlled by a husband or father."



In regards to Tribal Nomads:


"Among the nomads of the outer sands, there is no private ownership of land as each tribe holds its land and water resources in common with the rest of the tribe. Nomads value the ability to move and they look down upon people who own too much beyond herds of animals and portable property. The idea of owning a permanent house and permanent land is anathema to the nomads, who often dislike their long stays at their summer camps. Wealth is measured by the number of wives and the size of one’s herds. Wealth is displayed through jewelery and via the embroidery and embellishments on one’s clothes and a’gal. A nomad generally owns a tent if he is a patriarch or matriarch of a family, as well as a coffee set. There is no concept of private ownership of the basic necessities of survival. Food, water, shelter and clothing are the right of every nomad. If a nomad needs these things, then they are provided to the nomad if it is at all possible."



Occupations & Routines:



In regards to Urbanite Heliopolites:


"The people of the cities along the Nile in Heliopolis occupy their time with many different vocations. Although originally an agricultural society in Heliopolis, success in trading surplus and negotiating deficits have brought about an increase in specialised skills through the centuries. Unlike the Italian nations, guilds have not risen in Heliopolis to dominate trade. Of all the vocations possible in Urban Heliopolis, only the brewmaster is placed under divine protection by gods. Women play a dominant role in the brewing industry and as tavern keepers. Beer is one of the staples of Urbanite economy. The Urbanites sip beer from large vats, using bent straws to penetrate the layer of yeast foam and barley husks on the surface of the brew."



In regard to Nomadic Heliopolites:


"The nomads of the outer sands have a fairly fixed daily routine. Two hours before dawn, one of the daughters of a family rises to prepare milk for the family by filling a goatskin with milk from sheep or camels and then rocking the skin to thicken the milk. An hour after she gets up, the rest of the family rises and washes. The first meal of the day is consumed, usually just some fruit and milk, perhaps some ash-baked cakes are included. The family then attends to the day’s duties, including mending, herding, hunting, gathering, raiding and tracking. In the evening, the second meal of the day is eaten. They stay around the fire, telling tales, singing songs and listening to poetry. Note that the nomads do not sit as urban men might – they crouch with their weight on their heels. Within a tent, they may recline against saddles or upon carpets, but when gathered around a campfire, they all crouch. Two hours after sunset, the nomads wash and retire for the evening. Usually one member of the tribe is assigned to stay awake and keep watch on the camp and the herds. In the summer, the nomads usually camp around an oasis or well."



"During the summer, the nomads organise trips into the cities for trade and diversion, as well as to get away from the crowded and hot conditions at the summer camp. Once autumn hits, bringing with it some sparse rain, the nomads break camp and are on the move for the next eight months, moving their camp every week to ten days, moving with their herds in search of pasture. Each tribe has its own territory, usually amounting to about 200 square miles, but the borders are not absolute. As they move, they raid the settled communities and trade caravans. They also levy tolls against these communities and caravans in return for not raiding them. Grazing is at its best in the spring and the families begin to camp far apart for privacy, a rarity among the nomads. However, the family camps are close enough to hear warnings from a neighbour and everyone knows where each of their neighbours are and, if honourable, are bound to protect them. The tents are arranged in a wide circle, which makes raids difficult. As soon as raiders break into the circle, they are instantly surrounded and defeated. "



"Although predominantly pastoral herdsmen, some tribes have all but given up on herding animals as a way of life, embracing instead the slave-trade as a means to wealth. They travel as far as across the Mediterranean Sea to bring slaves to the Heliopolites. Many nomads are employed to drive caravans across the deserts and plains. In addition to working the caravan trails, many nomad tribes are paid safe conduct money by caravans and cities to protect and pacify the trade routes. The nomads are also highly sought after as scouts by the Hawks of Horus and the armies of Saladin because they are excellent trackers and can find their way without a map or compass in the desert. The craftsmen of the nomad tribes are women. They do the weaving, sewing and basket-making of the clan. Healers and shamans are also important occupations among the white-robed nomads of Heliopolis. Using primarily herbal medicines and a form of exorcism, the healers and shamans keep the tribe as healthy as possible. Many nomads will rarely seek aid for their maladies, having accepted their fate as handed to them by the gods."





On Matters of Heliopolite Trade



"Heliopolites live to accumulate wealth and beauty, surrounding themselves with jewellery and slaves. Some are content to gather their wealth via trade and mercantilism, although many Heliopolites have a roving mindset, willing to travel to find riches and slaves far from home. This influential nation of a relatively high population of people is a powerful commercial engine, drawing in wealth through overland trade via the well-travelled caravan routes that criss-cross the arid deserts and pastoral meadowlands. Trade is the life of Heliopolis and the debauched city-states seem to specialise in their manufacture of goods, living off the unending camel trains. The nomads come into the cities to trade during the summer months when it is too hot to move around too much. They sell livestock, slaves, woven textiles, curd cheese and wool. They purchase rice, wheat, fruit, weapons, trinkets and finery."







On Caravans & Cargo



"The basic unit of merchandise is the cargo – defined as an ambiguous unit equal to what a mid-sized caravan could carry. Cargos are generally bigger than a breadbasket, and somewhat smaller than a herd of elephants. A cargo is generally larger than anything one man could comfortably carry. A small or medium hulled sized-caravan can carry one cargo barring modifications. Large caravans may carry as many as four cargos. "



"Cargos fall into one of three categories of rarity: common, uncommon and exotic. Common cargos are easily available within the region. Uncommon cargos come from distant lands but are not unheard of. Exotic cargos come from distant lands, passing from caravan to caravan before they finally end up in the Heliopolis’s caravans. Of the three, exotic cargos generally bring the best price while common cargos are readily available and can easily be both bought and sold."



"The value of a cargo depends on its rarity in the market the individual brings it to. Some goods are always rare such as gems, gold, and silver while others may be quite valuable in one place and almost worthless in another such as silk and spices. "

INVENTORY

EQUIPMENT: Arm of Heliopolis, Starter Heliopolite shield, Heliopoilte Platemail
ABILITIES USED:
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Word Count: 4505
Gathering results: 

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