WORLD BOOK WORLD BOOK WORLD BOOK 0015 0015
Bạn đang xem bản rút gọn của tài liệu. Xem và tải ngay bản đầy đủ của tài liệu tại đây (1.58 MB, 1 trang )
Chapter 2: THE STRUGGLE FOR KHITUS
Chapter 2:
THE STRUGGLE FOR KHITUS
V
arious forces across time tied the fate of Khitus directly to the tribes who migrated from their primitive beginnings across the face of the world. Tribal loyalties dominated other considerations, and tribal
decisions shaped the sociopolitical landscape. Tribal
concerns were of paramount importance over any individual, city, or nation. One owed one’s allegiance first to
the tribe, then to any other group or organization. Family or the self came last. Thus was as it always had been
on Khitus, but those firmly held attitudes have changed
in recent decades.
Tribal allegiance plays a lesser role now, as social pressures now drive powerful group agendas, realigned by
unique and diverse interests. A Khitan today judges
others by their connections with these groups as much
or more than by his blood or tribal origins.
Agendas of Coin
These groups and their agendas center on physical
resources, whether they concern themselves with people’s wealth, physical health, or their water.
Bev al-Khim (The Pale)
The Black Tower stabs the equatorial skies to the north
of the detestable Krikis Hivelands. Those who have seen
it say its fortified battlements stretch for miles, and swear
that its tower ascends high into the sky, beyond the wispy
clouds that cling to its spires, and further than eyes can
see. There is no record of this place before the present
age, nor have any armies ever sallied forth from its bastions. No ruler has ever presented himself for parlay with
his neighboring realms. No accounting of its construction exists, despite this tremendous building being the
single largest edifice on the planet. From the point of
view of most Khitans, busied as they are with the tribulations of their troubled world, the Black Fortress effectively appeared from nowhere, hailed by the emergence
of its pale-skinned ambassadors—the Bev al-Khim.
The Bev al-Khim serve their hidden masters who lurk
completely secreted within the Black Fortress. Hidden
within their many-curtained palanquins, the Pale seek
audiences with the masters of commerce: merchant
princes, caravan masters, and willing marauders of all
stripes. They rarely trouble themselves with the politically powerful, in whom they apparently have little interest, nor do they acknowledge those richer in social
influence than financial clout. The Pale extend withered
hands filled with silver coins, all of which are perfectly
Faction Summary
Each faction is unique in character, membership, and
details, but on the surface each can be generalized as
follows:
Bev al-Khim: Mysterious pale-skinned agents and
brokers
Boneshards: Deadly assassins scarred by hidden
weapons
Dramidge: A magic college of isolated wizards devoted to dragons
Gare Attessa: The omnipresent Chroniclers, royal
advisers and watchers
Kuad Ahir: The Awakened, followers of the Prophet
Merchants: From peddlers to caravan masters, the
world’s traders
Nyutu: The All-Seeing, transient entertainers with
unique mental powers
Qath Manhir: Equivocally honorable brigands and
enforcers
Raetann: Bureaucratic Water Guild, emergent challengers to power
Rakar: A magic college, the Cozeners, keepers of
slave decoys
Shadazim: Right Minders, new clergy of the ancient
gods
Trakeen: The Faithful, worshipers of the departed
Dragon Kings
Yenfansa: Feared and little-understood Devil’s Children, the White Eyes
13
