The Nation of Kuredin
Note: While the nation and cities of Kuredin will not be a RP-able location, any character that comes from Kuredin would be well-informed on their homeland, and thus the reason for the inclusion of this page on the website. If you are Kuredin, especially if you arrive in the game as a new immigrant from this southern nation, please be sure to read the information found here.
[ History |
Government |
Appearance/Clothing |
Customs/Culture |
Housing |
Goods and Finance |
Society |
Military |
Names |
Factions/Contact ]
Generations before the prophet Lumah was even born in the northern nation of Vicena, the Kuredin people were establishing their first cities in the shadow of Mount Ninsar. Their history is passed down from spoken stories, rather than the written word, providing more myths and fables than actual fact about the first settlements in eastern Kuredin. Myths tell us that those who live in and rule Kuredin were once immigrants, come from eastern nations for a variety of reasons. The Kuredin settled into the fertile eastern valley and established a nation of their own, apart from those nations from which they had come.
Those first settlers, as the tales go, had little knowledge of the land they had come to call home. It was only when they began to venture further west that they came across the desert tribes; fierce warriors who were able to exist in the deserts of Kuredin. The settlers were pushed back east and there they remained until their numbers grew and they were able to wage war against the desert tribes.
The wars were never truly successful for the eastern Kuredin. They won battles and gained enough respect from the tribes to be allowed to pass through the desert and build colonies on the western coast, but even to this day it is the warlords who rule the desert, even while the Sultan rules Kuredin itself.
It was His Majesty, the Sultan Majeed ibn Raziq who firmly established the three Emirates as they are known in the present day. The Sultan could boast a household of many sons but only the eldest would follow him as Sultan. At this time, the western lands were little more than colonies struggling for survival far from the growing grandeur of Egish-Nugal and the other eastern cities. Plus, they had the added problem of the desert tribes for while they permitted passage, it did not end the trouble for the new colonists. The new colonies were vulnerable and the tribes took advantage of that for their own gains.
While the Sultan's eldest son, Tammin ibn Majeed, was brought up with the training of one day taking his father's throne, the next three sons in line were raised in a similar fashion. They would each assume control of one of the newly formed Emirates. Each would retain their title of Emir and all would fall under the Sultan's leadership, so that none would become a kingdom unto itself. When the men were of age, the Sultan bestowed on each a generous caravan of food, families, supplies, and most importantly, a portion of the Kuredin army with which to defend their fledgling regions. The second son, Emir Nadhif ibn Majeed, was given the largest of the three Emirates, the northern one known as Shu-si. The third son, Kayim ibn Majeed, was given the second largest, the southern Emirate known as A-Aba. The fourth son, Humair ibn Majeed, was given the smallest of the Emirates, known as Mahru. The remaining two sons of the Sultan were enlisted into military service, with the youngest eventually joining his brother in A-Aba.
It was shortly after the Emir Nadhif passed on and his son assumed control in Shu-si that Lumah appeared in Kuredin. It was there were his teachings began, and slowly spread south to the other two Emirates. Eventually Lumah traveled east to Egish-Nugal to continue his teaching, on the advice of those in the Emirates. With some of his recent disciples he traveled east, meeting with some of the tribes along the way and teaching them as well. He was not always well-received, but those that did became some of his most loyal followers, though their interpretations of his teachings would later become some of the most violent and misunderstood in all of Kuredin. It is said often that the tribes only took from Lumah what suited them and adapted it to their own way of life without fully understanding what the prophet was trying to say.
Lumah lived the rest of his life in Egish-Nugal under the invitation of the Sultan Kaseem ibn Tammin, who became one of Lumah's most enthusiastic students. While changes did not happen all at once, eventually the teachings of the prophet would shape all forms of life in Kuredin, so much so that the head of the Lumite faith, the Kalif, would become an important part of the Sultan's small council.
Within the next few generations the Kuredin people, now strongly devoted to the teaching of Lumah, sought to find the desert where Lumah had been taught by the god Enzu and where Hebat eventually came down to claim him and set him in the sky as the brightest of all the stars. These first missionaries north to Castana later lead the first invasions to take back the birthplace of their faith and claim that holy desert for Kuredin.
Those who have only lived under the Sultan's rule in Castana would find the rule of the Kuredin Sultan to be quite different. In Kuredin is it far more difficult to separate the Lumite priesthood from the government, they are almost one in the same. The Asipu in Kuredin have a far stronger hand in the government than those in Castana. A Sultan who is seen as unfit and immoral in the eyes of the priesthood can be deposed by the Kalif, though this is extremely rare. Lumites in Kuredin are seen as more devout than those in Castana and it is rare that a Sultan is not a devout follower of Lumah's teachings. Most of his decisions are made with the advice of the Kalif, as well as his Vizier and in most cases the advice of the Kalif outweighs that of the Vizier.
The Qadim is a Kuredin model that was adapted to the new government in Castana. However, the Qadim in Kuredin has far less influence than their northern brethren. They are generally left to run their areas of expertise at the pleasure of the Sultan, but their advice is not readily asked for or accepted. They are less a council of advisors and more like esteemed servants of the throne. They have no Qadi of Faith because those duties are handled by the Kalif and the Qadi of Protocol and the Arts is simply Qadi of the Arts. The addition of protocol is a Castanan addition.
The tolerance shown in Castana is not as obvious in Kuredin, but neither is it necessary. No other faiths have taken root in Kuredin nor are they readily welcome by the government either. This is not to say that visitors to Kuredin who are not Lumites are unwelcome, for the Kuredin are some of the most generous hosts. Rather, any attempt to convert the Kuredin or otherwise proselytize in Kuredin is greatly frowned upon and the converters will be asked to leave. Vesperans and Orienites hold no sway at all in Kuredin, their religion is little more than myth in Kuredin. Because of this the laws of the land are all taken from Lumah's teachings. The Inimku and the Sugid form the foundation of all Kuredin law.
In Kuredin the title of Emir can either denote the son of the Sultan or one of the leaders of the three Emirates. In Kuredin the Emirs of the Emirates all answer to the Sultan but they are not direct relations of his. Rather, they are descendants of the original Emirs who were given the Emirates by the Sultan at the time, His Majesty, Sultan Majeed ibn Raziq. In eastern Kuredin, where all of the cities are in closer contact with Egish-Nugal, the sons of the Sultan rule the cities when they are of age. Until that time, the current Emir, likely an uncle, brother, or cousin, runs the city and fosters the young Emir, preparing him to take over the city when he is of age.
Desert Tribes
The Desert tribes, or Dingir as they now call themselves, rule their desert kingdoms apart from the Sultan or Emirs. The tribes that exist in the desert are all separate entities, without a common council to rule over them all. Each tribe is ruled by a warlord, a position that is not necessarily handed from father to son. The warlord is a position of great honor, demonstrated, for the most part, by physical strength. A man of a tribe can challenge his warlord, but it is always a duel to the death. However, a man cannot challenge the warlord of another tribe. A new warlord gains all the possessions of the old warlord, including his wife or wives and children.
The tribes almost continually fight against each other, more or the sport of it than anything else. These battles help each tribe to weed out the weak and help to strengthen the bloodlines. The warlords of these tribes will meet, at least once a year, but these meetings are little more than a place to discuss the state of things in the desert. There is no form of government between them. A warlord will take advice from an Asipu, for the priests of Lumah do live among the Dingir, but the influence of the Asipu is not as great as it is in the cities. Even so, it is a great insult to tell a warlord that he is not a devout Lumite.
Kuredin are easily recognized by their dark coloring. Dark brown and black hair is the most common among their people, though there are a few who have a mahogany hue mixed with the brown or black. Kuredin of pure blood do not have blond or red hair and even when a child is born of a Kuredin and another race the child generally retains the Kuredin coloring. Their eyes are most commonly dark brown, though some green and hazel eye colors are found as well. Kuredin do not have blue eyes in any shade, dark or light. Not surprisingly, their skin tone matches the rest of their coloring, from dark golden to black.
While not impressively so, the Kuredin people tend to be a little taller than their northern neighbors with women averaging from 5'5" to 5'10" and men averaging from 5'8" to 6'2". There have been no records of any Kuredin standing taller that 6'8" in height and rare is the woman who is shorter than 5'3".
Style of dress for the Kuredin differs both from rich to poor, as well as geographic location. Those in the city dress in a different fashion than those that live in the deserts, for example. As well, those Kuredin that live in Castana retain their traditional clothing, but have altered it somewhat. These files will look at men and women's clothing in the Kuredin style as it would be found in Castana, the Kuredin cities, and the Kuredin desert tribes, known as the Dingir. While there is no actual RP in Kuredin itself, these files are for players who have characters in Castana of Kuredin descent or have just arrived in Castana from Kuredin.
Kuredin women
Because of the arid climate of most of Kuredin, the clothing of the region is light and loose as possible. Women of all classes were dresses of a similar style, it is only the type of material and quality and quantity of the decoration that distinguishes the rich from the poor. The garments come in several pieces, again, depending on social standing, but some are universal. Because the long and loose dresses are made of the lightest material possible - silk for the rich, cotton for the poor - the women must wear appropriate undergarments for modesty's sake. They wear light undershirts with short sleeves, though some women wear undershirts with full-length arms. They also wear lightweight trousers that end just above the ankle. The colors of these underclothes generally match the outer dress and the hem of the trousers, especially for the upper class women, are embroidered with a pattern to match the over dress.
The over dress, known as a kubar, is the most elaborate piece of the woman's attire. It is cut overly large all over, including the sleeves which, to the outside observer, appear exceedingly wide, so much so that the opening usually falls to the woman's knees. The kubar, especially among the rich, is highly embroidered down the front and at the cuffs of the sleeves. Even the lower classes have some embroidery on their kubar, for no Kuredin woman would be caught dead in a plain kubar. The patterns can be of almost anything, from animals and floral motifs, to intricate lacework patterns as well as beautifully rendered Kuredin script, usually taken from a favored poem or from the Inimku, Lumah's holy text.
Kuredin woman also wear veils, again, matching the material to the rest of the ensemble. The edge that hangs over the forehead is decorated with colorful beads through the rest of the veil is generally plain, expect for some decoration along the edges. The veil is draped loosely over the head and hangs to the middle of the back. Women also wear a sheer veil that covers the lower half of their face. It is a square of fabric suspended on chains from a simple headpiece worn beneath the head veil. The center chain hangs between the eyes while the other two hang just above the ears.
In Castana most Kuredin women are free to go without the veil, and many do. Traditional Kuredin, especially those that have recently arrived from the homeland, may find this practice shocking and immodest. However, some Kuredin women who have never known their homeland have taken to wearing the veils again, with or without the face veil, either because they find it beautiful, or they simply wish to find some contact with their heritage. The kubar in Castana has taken on a different style as well, with narrower sleeves from the shoulder to elbow, with the wider, traditional sleeve width from elbow to wrist. This style allows the Kuredin women in Castana to adopt a style popular among natural born Castanan women; that of belting their dresses around the waist. While Castanan women use leather belts, the Kuredin use fabric, usually decorated with beads like the veils.
Women generally wear slipper-style footwear, with a touch of embroidery at the toe, though this is more common among the nobility. Other women wear more durable shoes made of soft leather and a thicker sole. Sometimes considered a short boot, these shoes come up just slightly above the ankle.
With their fascination and devotion to all things beautiful, it is not surprising that Kuredin women wear jewelry, sometimes in excess. Crafted from gold or silver, the pieces are generally loose, like their clothing, with lots of dangling ornaments. This is especially true in bracelets which are usually the most ornate pieces a Kuredin woman would wear. Similar to modern day charm bracelets, they are adorned with beads, gems and personal charms to commemorate special events. Anklets are also popular and musical ones are often worn by dancers. Rings are the most rare of jewelry pieces for Kuredin women while necklaces and earrings are quite popular.
Women also use cosmetics for self-beautification, especially around the eyes. Because the eyes had once been the only facial feature Kuredin women exposed in public it became the most decorated. The eye is rimmed with a heavy line of kohl and the lid is painted. They have also been known to create designs around the eyes with an indigo dye, something like a temporary tattoo. Women who do not wear veils have taken to painting their lips as well. The indigo patterns that decorated around the eyes are also used to decorate the women's hands, similar to henna treatments, thus negating the need for a lot of rings on the fingers. This body decoration is generally reserved for formal occasions, though some women find it so alluring they have it done more often.
Fragrances are also popular among the Kuredin women. Concentrated oils are applied to the skin just after bathing and lighter oils are rubbed all over the body. Some of the more affluent women enlist the aid of perfumers to create for them an individual scent that is theirs alone.
Kuredin Men
Just like the attire for women, the attire for Kuredin men is loose and made of lighter materials. Most men wear a calf-length kaftan with trousers beneath, in a similar style as the ones the women wear beneath their kubar. Generally only the noble men wear embroidered kaftans and trousers and that decoration is usually some motif in relation to their house or to the Lumite faith. The sleeves are nowhere near as wide and elaborate as the women's kubar sleeves, but neither are they tight at the wrist. Other men wear the loose trousers with a shorter tunic, worn loose or belted at the waist. This style is generally seen among the laboring classes of people, for it is much more practical that the flowing kaftan. Nobles have adopted the tunic and trousers look as their own, with quality fabrics and decorative embroidery, but only in private would they wear it without an long open kaftan. These open kaftans are longer than shorter closed ones, falling to the man's ankle.
In Kuredin the men wear a small sqaure cap called a juhar on their head, generally in the same color as their attire for the nobles. Those who cannot afford a collection of juhar generally have one or two in solid colors, the most common being white or black. In Kuredin it is unthinkable for a male to go in public without a juhar on his head, even slaves wear them but in Castana, where traditions have loosened, Kuredin men are seen without the juhar, though it is still popular. In the cities many noblemen are clean-shaven but moustaches are popular among the lower classes. Those that grow beards tend to keep them cut short.
Most Kuredin men wear leather sandals, the more decorative worn by the nobles. Noble men also wear slippers similar to those worn by the women, though they are generally reserved for formal occasions. Laborers and others who must protect their feet wear the short boot similar to that worn by the women. Cosmetics and perfumes are only used by noble men and in a far less quantity than the women. They do not color their eyes or lips, but some men do use the indigo paint to create temporary patterns on their faces and hands. But like most other forms of adornment for men, this is generally only done on formal occasions and never to the extent that is found on the women. It is thought to be a great embarrassment for a husband to be more cosmetically decorated than his wife. Men also use oils to scent their skin, but they use more masculine scents such as sandalwood or myrrh.
It is not uncommon to see mean wearing jewelry, but again, it is usually only among the noble and upper classes and never to the extent seen on the women. Earrings are popular among men, as are rings. Necklaces, when worn, usually have a symbol of the man's house, or his profession of he is not a noble. The necklace consists of a simple chain with a medallion on it, the chain is long enough for the medallion to rest on the man's breastbone. Only dancers and other performers wear bracelets or anklets.
Dingir women
Dingir women, those who live in one of the tribes of the Kuredin desert, dress not to impress others, but to protect themselves from the hot desert sun and the strong desert winds. They wear kaftans similar to those worn by Kuredin men, but longer, as well as the similar trousers. The clothing is not as loose as it is among the Kuredin for two reasons. Fabric is harder to come by in the desert and if the garments are too loose the folds collect unwanted sand, not to mention it can more easily get between the skin and the cloth, causing great discomfort. With the head wrap they also wear an overly large cloak that they wrap around their midsection and then over one shoulder.
They cover their heads and faces as a form of protection, wrapping a long length of cloth around their head so that only their eyes and the base of their nose is visible. While the rest of their attire is generally plain, this head wrap is commonly decorated, but not to the extent as is seen in the Kuredin cities. When indoors women are not required to wear this wrap, though they do keep their head and hair covered at all times (except for sleeping and bathing) with a veil similar to that worn by Kuredin women, without the face veil.
They wear the kohl around their eyes, as well as the indigo paint, which can only be seen when indoors. However, their designs and the quantity of the patterns they wear would put to shame most Kuredin women. They decorate their entire face with the blue designs, as well as their necks and sometimes their arms as well as their hands and feet. To outsiders this look is sometimes considered hideous or frightening, The desert people were the originators of this look, it was the Kuredin who adapted it into their culture. Like Kuredin women, they highly favor aromatic oils and wear them often, though the variety found among the Dingir is smaller than those available in the cities.
Dingar women love jewelry and wear it often, though it is generally reserved for the indoors where it is not hidden. They wear silver almost exclusively, gold is very rare among the Dingir.
They wear either simple leather sandals or go barefoot indoors and wear a more durable boot when out of doors.
Dingir men
Men of the desert region of Kuredin wear a short tunic and trousers instead of the kaftan. The colors are usually drab, allowing them to blend in with their surroundings and rarely do they adorn the fabrics with any kind of embroidery. They also wear the elaborate head wrap, covering everything by their eyes and nose. Their style of wrapping is slightly different, however, making it easier for the men to pull the bottom off of their mouth so that they can talk and eat. Since all Dingar men learn to use a sword or at least a dagger they wear wide leather sword belts.
Unlike the city Kuredin men, Dingir men do not decorate themselves with jewelry and indigo paint, for they feel any form of beautification is meant for women only. They do, however, use scented oils on their skin. Dingir men grow their hair long and usually keep it braided. They also allow their beards and mustaches to grow, looking more wild and untamed than their city brethren.
Indoors men wear leather sandals or go barefoot. When they go outside they wear sturdy leather boots into which they tuck their trousers.
Religious extremism
While those who live in Kuredin might disagree with this description of themselves, it is a rather accurate view of them, but by no means is meant to be a derogative comment on the Kuredin way of life. Simply put, the Lumite faith is a much stronger presence in the Kuredin nation than religion is in many other nations, though the Orienites might disagree. Religion is a part of everyday life in Kuredin. The Kalif, a man chosen by Lumah's wisdom, has almost as much power as the Sultan, and some say he is in fact more powerful. The faith is involved in almost every aspect of life, from daily prayers, to education to the running of the government. It is almost impossible to live in Kuredin for any length of time and be able to make a living without being a Lumite. Even the flag of Kuredin has changed. It now reflects the two colors of the god and goddess as well as the white star of Lumah. Passages from the Inimku decorate the interior of private and public buildings, as well as other items such as pillows and even clothing.
Education
It was the Kuredin who brought enlightenment to the Castanans so it is not surprising to find education a major force in Kuredin as well. The Asipu teach in the schools, providing students not only with an education in reading and writing, arithmetic, history and the sciences, but also equal time spent in religious study. This includes an introduction to Alchemy, though it isn't introduced until students are older. Libraries are popular as well and the Kuredin thirst for new knowledge. The conquest of Castana brought to Kuredin a wealth of new information, information that is still being transcribed and added to the nation's libraries. To be educated is one of the tenants of the Sugid, so it is not surprising to find it is strongly focused on in Kuredin.
Entertainment
In Kuredin music is restricted to religious ceremonies and to some special events at the palace. Because of this poetry has grown into a treasured art form. The most famous poets are to the Kuredin what rock stars are to us in the 21st century. Poets that compose and perform their own works are the most revered, rather than those who perform the work of others. They are barely considered poets, but rather actors or performers. A poet who gains the ear of the Sultan can find him or herself wealthy and famous almost overnight. Poetry can be straightforward or cryptic, though the latter is more entertaining, and more suitable if the topic of the poem is something that might otherwise get the poet tossed into a cell. The Kuredin respect the creative, thus an insult delivered hidden between the lines of a new poem is likely to be taken with good humor, while a straight out insult, such as calling the Sultana a fat cow, would be a great risk to the life of the one who wrote or spoke it.
Gardens
With the Kuredin use of irrigation they have been able to provide a water supply great enough not only for utilitarian purposes, such as farming and drinking, but also to produce some stunning gardens. In the Kuredin world the garden is a place of complete tranquility, to escape the harsh climate of the region. Gardens are serious business in Kuredin, creating artists out of ordinary agriculturists. While the open countryside is generally barren, the cities and larger towns thrive with an abundance of greenery. No home, no matter how small, is not complete without a garden to which the family can retreat. Fountains are popular as well, both in public squares and private homes and they are almost always incorporated into a new garden.
Housing in Kuredin is mostly dependant on the location and the supplies that are readily available. In the east and west stone from the nearby mountains is popular as are baked clay bricks, for the rivers in Kuredin supply an ample amount of clay. In the few regions where wood is available it too is used, but is generally seen as an inferior product to stone and clay. The housing style now seen in Castana is similar to those in Kuredin, though houses are rarely built over one story. People in Kuredin prefer homes of one level with an entry courtyard and an interior garden, over which all the rooms in the house can look. Generally the only buildings taller than one story are the Lumite temples and the bell towers, and the palace of the Sultan or Emir, depending on which city one is in. The style of decoration of houses in Castana is almost identical to those found in Kuredin.
Exteriors are extremely plain and have little, if any, exterior architectural decoration. The interiors are often excessively decorated, as if to make up for the plain exteriors. Kuredin can suffer horrendously hot temperatures through most of the year most people stay indoors whenever possible. For this reason they decorate the interior rather than the exterior, for they see the interiors far more often. Colorful tiles made by skilled artisans are in high demand, decorating the walls and floors of many homes. Those planes which are not covered with tiles are carved into elaborate patterns and even in script, usually something from the Inimku or a favorite passage of poetry.
Furniture in Kuredin houses is generally low to the ground and very comfortable. There are very few formal pieces of furniture in Kuredin houses. It is customary to recline and relax rather than to sit up in straight-backed chairs. Cushions of all sizes are popular as well, to accent the long couches or simply to use for sitting on the floor.
Homes in the desert are different than those in the east and west. There are only a few small villages with permanent housing in the desert. The vast majority of tribes are nomadic in nature and therefore their homes must be portable. The Dingir live in large tents of animal skins or heavy material they acquire from the east or west. Large rugs that are easily rolled up constitute the floor of these tent homes. Most of these tent homes are one large room or two rooms, providing a smaller room for sleeping.
Rarely do they have any kind of real furniture, for things have to be as easy to pack as possible. Blankets and pillows serve as seating, and as bedding. They usually have one or two small trunks they use to keep personal items and also can use as makeshift tables.
Many of the goods produced in Kuredin and exported to other nations are considered 'exotic' to most of the northern world and are usually in high demand. Many Kuredin merchants and traders have become quite wealthy off of the trade with Castana, Avanne and Vicena.
Fabrics from Kuredin are some of the finest and most sought after in the known world. Their cotton, which is now grown in Castana as well, is very soft and dyes beautifully. Most importantly it is an inexpensive fabric, affordable to almost everyone. But it is Kuredin silk that is the most desired in the northern marketplaces. There is great variety in the weights and quality of the silk that comes from Kuredin, with the finest finding its way into the palaces and greatest noble houses of the northern nations.
The Kuredin also introduced a variety of foods into the Castanan diet, but the groves and fields in eastern and western Kuredin still provide the majority of pomegranates, oranges, lemons, almonds, bananas, figs, peaches and rice. Spices such as cumin, saffron (which is also used for dying), and coriander are also popular in Kuredin, though saffron still remains the most expensive among them. Many northerners actively seek the saffron for dying but most of the spices from Kuredin go to Castana, for the northern stomachs generally are not accustomed to them.
For the Kuredin themselves, fish is a staple of the diet in those towns and cities along the coast. In the interior lamb is a favorite, as is fowl such as goose and chicken. Beef and pork, while consumed on occasion, do not take up a large part of the Kuredin diet. Flatbreads are common at every meal, as are figs, olives and onions. The Kuredin people do not drink wine, for it is forbidden in the Inimku, but they do favor non-alcoholic fruit beverages.
The work of artisans is a sizable export as well as being popular in Kuredin. The crafts of many artisans in Kuredin have made their way north to Castana. The same is for weaponsmiths, who mine for ore in the eastern and western mountains and craft weapons and armor both functional and beautiful. Precious gemstones in a rainbow of colors come from Kuredin as well, but only a portion of them actually leave the country. The Sultan and the Emirs always have the first selection of gems taken from Kuredin mines. It is no surprise to hear that the royal families have some of the finest pieces of jewelry found anywhere. The most stunning every seen in public is a large white diamond the size of an egg that is worn by the Sultana.
for information on Kuredin currency, please see the Castanan section on goods and finance.
Modern Kuredin society has evolved from a multitude of tribes that traveled from places east and south of Kuredin. What has grown from that is a nation of one people who still cling to their tribal history. What the Kuredin consider nobles are those who are descendants of the tribal warlords from generations past. But like those warlords the 'nobles' of modern Kuredin take care of their fellow tribesmen. In this case, those who are the descendants of members of the same tribe, yet held no position of power or prestige.
Tribes do not go by a shared surname, like northern noble houses do, but rather by a symbol that was chosen many generations past to represent that tribe and distinguish it from all others. In Castana the word tribe has been replaced by house, one of the adaptations made in the move to the north, though the same symbols have remained. In Kuredin the term of tribe is still used to this day. For example a tribe that was well-known for its crafting of weapons might have taken the name Tribe of Crossed Sabers while a tribe known for producing a large number of gardeners may be known as the Tribe of the Desert Rose.
Those that belong to the Sultan's tribe are known as the Tribe of the Crown. If a Sultan is deposed and a man of another tribe is made Sultan, that tribe takes on the name Tribe of the Crown, no matter what their tribal name had been in the past. Members of the deposed Sultan's family will re-take the tribal name they had before one of their members was made Sultan. If records of this cannot be found, they will adopt a new symbol. The only symbols which are not used by tribes are the three that represent the god, goddess, and Lumah. There are no tribes with a sun, moon or stars in their symbol. Those that might have held such a symbol before Lumah's arrival have since changed it out of respect for the god, goddess and the prophet.
In this social structure the tribes are led by the Sheikh, with his wife bearing the title of Sheikha. No other members of the tribe bear official titles. A tribe, outside of the Sheikh and his family consists of many members of the community, whether they are gardeners, Asipu, merchants, fisherman, farmers, or soldiers. All actions performed reflect on the tribe itself and often a Sheikh will punish a member of the tribe before the Sultan or the Asipu get their hands on him. In this kind of society, there are no true nobles, middle class and lower class. Rather, there are only the tribes, who can rise or fall socially as an entire group.
This has changed slightly in the move to Castana. The idea of noble houses, which was adopted from the Castanans, began to surface and in Castana all members of the Sheikh's family bear the title Sheikh or Sheikha, not just the male patriarch and his wife. There is still the idea of tribes among the most traditional Kuredin, but not all who are of the 'lower' classes still associate themselves as an active member of the tribe. The Sheikh has far less power over them than he does in Kuredin, though it does not keep the Sheikh from attempting to assert some power, especially over those members who still consider themselves a member of the tribe.
Titles and Forms of Address
As mentioned before, outside of the royal family and the leader of each tribe, there really are no formal titles among the Kuredin in their native land. The Sultan is referred to as His Majesty and his wife, the Sultana is referred to as Her Majesty. Their sons bear the title Emir, the daughters Emira and are referred to has His or Her Highness, with the heir known as His Royal Highness. The Vizier and members of the Qadim are addressed by their title, just as is done in Castana.
Society of the Dingir
The tribes in the east and west of Kuredin are different than those who live in the desert. The desert tribes, or Dingir, have no symbols or special names for their tribes. Rather, they are known as their warlord's tribe, such as Tribe of Nuzyeed. The tribes are similar in the respect that outside of the warlord and his family there is no real social division. Life in the desert is difficult at best and any tribe member who does not contribute to the entire tribe will find himself without a tribe. Those poor souls who are cast out of a tribe rarely last very long on their own, whether they succumb to the harsh elements or are killed by a wild animal or another tribe.
The Dingir tribes are far closer than the tribes that exist in the city. They are rarely in the company of those not of their tribe while those in the cities do not always know every member of their tribe by sight. The few times the Dingir gather together is to battle, or to give daughters to men of other tribes or get women from other tribes. Women in general are not as highly regarded as they are in other societies. Women, while acknowledged for the gift of life they can produce, are still the property of their father or husband. An unwed woman existing on her own is unheard of among the Dingir. Some women are treated well and others as if they were no better than animals. Such treatment is up to her father or husband, or other male guardian if neither is living.
The Kuredin military has been almost effortlessly transplanted into Castana, so please see the Castana military help files for detailed information on the make-up of the military. However, there are a couple of differences. Because there is no real social distinctions in Kuredin as there are in Castana there are really no ranks that are restricted to certain 'classes' of people. Rank is based purely on ability rather than social standing. However, some branches are restrictive to those who can afford them. Such is the case for the Katsuban, the cavalry of the military.
For the Dingir there is no organized military as other nations know it, but there is definitely a hierarchy, earned strictly by physical prowess. The warlord is always considered the best of the tribe. If he isn't, someone will soon prove they are better and take his place. But this is not to say there is not semblance of organization. While there are no military titles, the younger and less experienced soon learn to obey the commands of those higher up in the hierarchy. Those at the top have proven themselves many times in battles and to ignore their instruction is pure folly and is an almost certain way of getting oneself ousted from the tribe or relegated to 'women's work.'
Kuredin names are Arabic in style and should reflect such naming practices found in the Arab-speaking world during the medieval period. The Kuredin do not take surnames as we know them, such as Smith or Jones, but rather they take the name of their father and/or the name of their place of residence or birth. For example, a man by the name of Hamir with a father named Umar would be known as Hamir ibn Umar, or Hamar, son or Umar. Umar's daughter, Aisha would be known as Aisha bint Umar (Aisha, daughter or Umar). The mother's name is never used in place of the father's name.
Kuredin names, like Arabic names, can be quite lengthy, including the name of the father of their father and so forth. Generally this is found in families of greater standing, where the ancestral line is recognized and it is rarely used outside of a formal setting. So, if Hamir was of a well-known family, he may well introduce himself as Hamir ibn Umar ibn Miswar ibn Tammam. Meaning Hamir, son or Umar who is the son of Miswar who is the son of Tammam). For a female, there is only one bint after her name. Aisha bint Umar ibn Miswar. Understandably, such introductions could get quiet lengthy and for the most part, the Kuredin keep to one generation, sometimes two.
Another popular addition to one's name is the location of their birth, but only if they are born in Kuredin, Castana is not generally included in this equation. The exception to this might be one of Kuredin heritage who has been outcast from his or her family, or has no knowledge of who they might be. To continue the example with Hamir, let us assume that Hamir was born in the Kuredin city of Ishkur. He would be known as Hamir ibn Umar al-Ishkur or Hamir, son of Umar or Ishkur. This naming practice has no real strict guidelines. Some might choose to use al-Kuredin instead of a city or region name, declaring themselves to be from Kuredin. As mentioned before, the Kuredin do not use Castana, or any of the other norther nations or cities in their names, except for the exception mentioned above. Even in such cases it is more common for an Kuredin orphan to use al-Kuredin rather than al-Castana (the nation) or al-Esharra (a city in Castana). Those without knowledge of their fathers use no 'ibn' addition and would simply use the location, such as Amman al-Kuredin.
For the sake of the game, we ask that you keep your name down to two additions on your @sheet. Either use the ibn or bint addition twice or one ibn/bint and one al. So, either, for example, Hamir ibn Umar ibn Miswar or Hamir ibn Umar al-Ishkur. If you need any assistance with choosing a name for your Kuredin character, do not hesitate to ask staff for help.
Some possible men's names include:
Abdu'llah, Ali, Amr, Anbar, Attiyah, Ayyad, Abraha, Ahmad, Ayyub, Badr, Bakhtiyar, Bakr, Balban, Balj, Baqiyya, Barmak, Basasiri, Bashshar, Bursuq, Butrus, Da'ud, Dharr, Duqaq, Durayd, Fadl, Farraj, Firas, Ghanai'm, Ghazi, Habib, Hajjaj, Hakim, Hamdan, Hamzah, Hanbal, Hanif, Haris, Harith, Haroun, Hasan, Hashim, Hilal, Humam, Husain, Ibrahim, Ishaq, Isma'il, Isra'il, Ja'bar, Jabir, Ja'lal, Ja'mal, Jamil, Jawhar, Jibril, Jubair, Jurdik, Ka'im, Kamal, Kamil, Khalil, Khurdadhbih, Kutaiba, Labid, Lahab, Lu'la'a, Lu'lu', Luqman, Mahbub, Mahmud, Majnun, Ma'mun, Mansur, Masruq, Mas'ud, Maudad, Mika'il, Mubarak, Muhammad, Mu'in, Munqidh, Muqallad, Murshid, Musa, Musaykah, Mutawakkil, Nadr, Nafi', Nasr, Nasir, Nuh, Muwas, Othman, Qadir, Qaraja, Qasim, Qays, Qutaiba, Qutuz, Radi, Rafi, Rashid, Ridwan, Ruzzik, Sabah, Sbaih, Sa'd, Sadaqat, Safwan, Salih, Salim, Sayyar, Shakir, Sulaiman, Sunqur, Tahir, Talib, Tammam, Tarafa, Tashfin, Tayyib, Todros, Tulun, Tutush, Ubaida, Umar, Uthman, Wafid, Wahib, Wathiq, Yahyah, Ya'qub, Yasar, Yazdanyar, Yildirim, Yusuf, Zafar, Zahir, Zang, Ziyadatallah, Zubair, Zuhair
Some possible women's names include:
Abdah, Abla, Afra', A'isha, Amat, Amimah, Aminah, Ara, Asiya, Asma', Atikah, Azzah, Banah, Banujah, Baraku, Bazzu, Bilqis, Buthayna, Dahah, Daifa, Dananir, Duqaq, Fadl, Fatimah, Fawz, Ghaniyah, Ghaythah, Hababah, Hadija, Hafsah, Halima, Hamada, Hanifa, Harithah, Hawwa, Hind, Huma'i, Ijliyah, Ilm, Inan, Ishraq, Jaida, Jariya, Javairia, Jawla, Juml, Khadijah, Layla, Lubna, Lu'lu'ah, Malak, Mahja, Maimunah, Manhalah, Mariyah, Maryam, Maymuna, Maysun, Mayy, Mellilah, Munya, Nadrah, Naima, Nu'm, Nuzha, Qabihah, Qabul, Qaribah, Rabab, Rabi'ah, Raful, Raym, Rayya, Rima, Ruqayyah, Rusa, Saduf, Safia, Safiyya, Safwah, Saham, Sajah, Sakan, Salamah, Salma, Sama, Sara, Sayyida, Semeeah, Shajar, Shiklah, Su'ad, Sukaynah, Sulma, Sumnah, Tarifa, Thana', Ulayyah, Umamah, Utbah, Wahshiyah, Warwar, Yamina, Zaynab, Zebeebah, Zubaydah, Zulaikha
Players are not required to use names from this list, these are simply suggestions, though you are more than welcome to do so if you see one you like. If you have any questions as to whether a name is suitable for your character, don't hesitate to ask a staff member.
At this time there are currently no Kuredin-only factions. As the game continues there will likely be some added, though their RP will take place in Castana, since there are no plans to open Kuredin itself for role play.