Baklunish (Greyhawk)

The Baklunish once had a great empire to the north-west, which was ruined by war with the ancient Suel. They remain a homogenous people, a distinction aided by their religion.

Cultural Traits

Honor, Respect for Clan, Generosity, Piety, Respect for Wealth.

Wealth is honored and seen as a reward for a disciplined an pious life. A wealthy man is expected to donate to charity, but the poor are held in contempt.

Real-World Models

Persians.

Ethics

Seeking a harmonious coexistence with nature, the Baklunish see the universe as an eternal balancing of opposing forces. Good vs. Evil, the elements against each other. Humanity can ally with these forces and be drawn into their conflicts, or seek to stand aside and look for peace. To seek allegiance is to seek conflict. The virtuous either seek to align themselves with what is lawful and good, or remain aloft and neutral.

Practices

Circumcision, Incest, Polygamy, Bride-price.

Women are not seen as inferior in any way, but certainly expected to take a different, more reserved role in society. A man will usually act as the spokesman for any given group. The Baklunish do not practice incest per se, but their definition is very narrow; while sibling marriage is illegal, nephews and cousins are free to marry. A common noble practice is for a younger brother to marry the daughter of an elder brother.

Taboos

Gender equality, Nudity, Pornography, Promiscuity.

Family

Polygamous, arranged marriages, patrilinear.

Magic

The Baklunish prefer magic that affect forces and principles rather than elements, which is seen as the domains of genies. Illusions, force spells, enchantment, bodily transmutations are preferred to rude damaging evocations.

Pantheon

Istus is the lady of fate and arbiter of the universe. Her children Geshtai and Sevelkhar rival in creating and destroying life. Boccob and Ralishaz are opposed primal forces of understanding and madness. The other gods are examples to mortals or mortals who gained ascension.

Al'Akbar	Demigod	LG	Duty	Good, Law, Healing, Protection, Nobility	Baklunish
Boccob	Greater	N	Magic	Knowledge, Magic, Trickery, Oracle, Spell	Common, Baklunish, Elder
Geshtai	Lesser	N	Lakes, Rivers, Well, Streams	Plant, Travel, Water, Windstorm	Baklunish
Sevelkhar the Waster (Incablous)	Greater	NE	Nightmares, Disasters	Death, Evil, Destruction, Pestilence, Hunger	Common, Flan, Baklunish, Elder
Istus	Greater	N	Fate, Divination, Honesty	Chaos, Knowledge, Law, Luck, Fate	Common, Baklunish, Elder
Mouqol	Lesser	N	Trade, Negotiation, Ventures, Appraisal, Reciprocity	Knowledge, Travel, Trickery, Pact	Baklunish
Ralishaz (Tharizdun?)	Intermediate	CN (CE)	Luck, Misfortune, Insanity	Chaos, Destruction, Luck, Madness	Baklunish
Xan Yae	Lesser	N	Twilight, Shadows, Stealth, Mental power	Knowledge, Trickery, War, Celerity, Balance	Common, Baklunish
Zuoken	Demigod	N	Mastery	Knowledge, Strength, War, Celerity	Baklunish

Traits

Born in the Saddle

You grew up as a horse-rider, exposed to the exhilaration of riding despite your otherwise civilized background.

Benefit: Ride and Handle Animal are class skills for you.

Clarity of the Prophets

You spend your life in devotion to the gods and prophets of the people.

Benefit: When the DM thinks you are about to do an action that would be out of your alignment or break a code you adhere to, he should tell you and you have the option to cancel that action.

Desert Survivor

You have passed the desert several times, and have accepted its dangers and made peace with fate.

Benefit: Survial is a class skill for you. You gain a +5 trait bonus on Survival rolls in desert and arid plains terrain.

Mare's Milk

You were born among horses and fed mare's milk as a child. This gives you a special bond with horses.

Benefit': When you ride horse, your mount gains temporary hit points equal to your Ride skill modifier. You can renew these temporary hit points as a full-round action, but this costs you one hit point.