Human, Baklunish

The Baklunish (pronounced bah-KLUN-ish), Baklun or Bakluni, all are interchangeable, have skin of bronze tones, and straight, fine-textured hair that is universally dark, ranging from dusky brown to bluish black. Their eyes are usually green or gray-green; hazel and gray eyes are rare. They tend to be long of limb and facial feature, with high cheekbones.

The Baklunish once held a great empire on the western side of the Crystalmists and Barrier Peaks. The Invoked Devastation ruined their empire, for which the Baklunish retaliated with the Rain of Colourless Fire, burning the Suel Imperium to ash. Most surviving Baklunish moved north or west, to the borders of the old empire and beyond. The inhabitants of Ekbir, Zeif, Ull, and the Tiger Nomads typify the straight Baklunish strain, while the Tusmites and the Paynims show mixed ancestry.

The Wolf Nomads are often darker from intermarriage with the Rovers of the Barrens. The Kettites are the least typical Baklunish, having pale yellow, golden-brown, or tan complexions as a result of Suh, Flan and Oeridian ancestry. The Baklunish, unlike the Suloise, retained much of their culture after the fall of their empire. The Baklunish tribes who settled on the Dramidj coast and environs brought with them a polytheistic religion where oerth and sky and all of the elements are sacred. There are no temples or churches in Baklunish lands. Instead, burnt offerings are offered to the gods on altars under the open sky.

They offer sacrifices to four main “good” deities who are seen as aspects of one unifying force known as Istus, Lady of Fate.

The four high gods of the Bakluni are:

Geshtai, goddess of rain, rivers and wells, representing elemental water;

Atar, god of the Sun, representing elemental fire;

Suwat, god of mountains, metals and stone, representing elemental earth; and

Waadi, goddess of the moon, sky and wind, representing elemental air.

These (and other) forces of good stand in opposition to the evil spirit of Dorgha Torgu (believed to be the Baklun name for Nerull) and his forces. There are numerous other minor gods, like Mouqol, god of trade; imported gods, like Xan Yae who was originally a Suhfeng goddess and; hero-gods, like Daoud and Zuoken, who was once a mortal devotee of Xan Yae. Others gods include Hasnat, god of music, poetry and song, Hadyan, god of magic, knowledge and scholarship, Nasri, goddess of murder and banditry, Kadar, goddess of fire, destruction and greed and Tensi, god of open spaces.

Istus is both invoked and worshipped through a ritual known as the yazna (a meal to which the deity is invited). At the yazna, a drink called hauma is prepared from the juices of a plant native to the area around Tovag Baragu and consumed, altering the participants’ minds and allowing an apprehension of the divine. Fire, kindled at the yazna, is both a sacred element in itself and a manifestation of the divine presence in the form of Atar.

For the Baklunish, the purpose of human life is to choose which deity one will follow, and this choice will then inform and direct all of one’s actions as well as one’s final destiny. Baklunish children undergo between three to four hours of religious training per day between the ages of nine and fourteen. A personal patron deity is chosen in secret by each Bakluni child when they attain the age of fourteen.

One who chooses Istus or her allies will live a life devoted to A’sha (truth and order) and will adhere to the practice of Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds. One who chooses Dorgha Torgu and his allies will live a life attached to Druj (lies and chaos), evident by self-indulgence, faithlessness, and power seeking. A paradox in Baklunish culture is the acknowledgment by all that evil is required in the world for without it there could be no good. A Baklun tries to emulate the ideals of his personal patron deity in all things from the way they dress to what they eat to how the fight or how they perform magic. The most common Baklunish idiom is: “As above, so below.”

Honour, family, generosity, honesty and piety are fundamental virtues. Use of their classical language, Ancient Baklunish, in religious observance, higher learning, and the fine arts has helped preserved their ancestral traditions. The Baklunish have many customs and taboos derived from their great knowledge of astrology, and their dependence on horses adds many beliefs and traditions regarding their honoured steeds, particularly among the nomads. Singing and dancing are widespread in their culture, and trade and exploration are major pursuits.

Settled Baklunish favour bright patterns and gaudy colours in clothes, typically with gowns and robes or else long coats with short breeches. Lower classes use the same colours with a long one-piece garment supplemented with other garb. Nomadic Baklunish prefer clothes with several pastel colours, enjoying fancy garments enhanced with puffs, slashes on sleeves to show contrasting colours underneath, and superfluous trim. When traveling or making war, the nomads instead wear rough items of leather, hide, or cloth, bearing shields or banners indicating clan allegiance.

Many skilled wizards are Baklunish, including experts in elemental magic, divination, and summoning and binding spells (used on extra-planar beings). Cooperative spell-casting is practiced by many of the clergy, particularly among the desert mystic sects. The Baklunish aristocracy is entwined in the intrigues of multiple Genie Lords and it is in the Baklunish lands where one is most likely to encounter Dao, Djinn, Efreet, Marid and their kin.

Baklunish Traits

The Baklunish of the West of the Flanaess are masters of the horse, trade and the four elements.
  Ability Score Requirements. N/A
Ability Score Adjustments. +1 Wisdom, -1 Charisma.
Size. Medium
Speed. 12 (120' / round)
Classes & Level Caps. All Unlimited.
Starting Languages. You read and write Common, Low Baklunish, and Ancient Baklunish.
Vision. Standard.
 

Special Advantages

Baklunish characters begin with the animal handling, animal training and riding (land-based) as bonus proficiencies in regards to horses. Hospitality is sacred to the Baklunish. Anywhere a Baklunish character can find another of their race they will find shelter.

Special Disadvantages

Culturally, Baklunish are required to give to the poor, not including any tithes to the church. Baklunish are expected to respect taboos based on their birth months as a sign of their piety. Characters have an 8% chance of being being born during a festival week, in which case they are required to fast each year for the festival week of their birth; if they are born during a regular month (92% likelihood), they may roll once on the following table:
Roll 1d12: (1) May not eat specified food. (2) Must eat specified food at least once per week. (3) May not curse. (4) May not consume alcoholic beverages except for religious ceremonies. (5) May not reveal specified body part (Roll 1d6: 1=feet, 2=knees, 3=hands 4=elbows, 5=head, 6=neck) in presence of opposite sex. (6) Must spend one week per year alone in ritual fasting and prayer. (7) Must cover head when on sacred ground. (8) May not speak above a whisper in a specified situation (e.g., on holy ground, during full moon, during festival, etc.). (9) May not wear footgear during Richfest. (10) must wash in salt water after each battle. (11) Must purify weapons in fire after each battle. (12) Must remain celibate until married.