Khinasi
From a letter from Imperial Chamberlain Caliedhe Dosiere
The Khinasi are descendants of the people known as the Basarji, and live along the southern and eastern coasts of Cerilia. Their lands range from the Iron Peaks in the west to the Sea of Dragons in the east, and are bordered in the north by the Coulladaraight Forest and the Rhuannadaraight Forest. The western city-states fell under Avonlaer control for several hundred years, although most of the eastern lands were never part of the Empire.
The Khinasi, like the Brechts, make much of their living through trade. While the Brechts tend to trade to the north and west, as well as with the Vos and Rjurik, the Khinasi practice their commerce with the Avonlaer and with their ancestors across the Sea of Dragons. Unlike the Brechts, the Khinasi assimilate any aspects of other cultures they find valuable, yet maintain a core lifestyle that is most assuredly Basarji in origin.
The Basarji became known as the Khinasi because of their most famous leader in times past. The mage-king el-Arassi rose during the Anuirean occupation of Basarji lands and, through his skillful manipulation of politics and magic, forced the Empire to grant a measure of independence to the Basarji city-states. In gratitude, the Basarji named themselves "Khinasi," or "lands under the protection of el-Arassi." Though they retained their tribal name of Basarji, they became known as the Khinasi through the rest of Stella Nova.
The Khinasi live in city-states scattered throughout their lands. Most such kingdoms hold only one city of any mportance, while the outlying provinces provide livestock and other goods. The king rules the surrounding provinces from the comforts of the city. In most lands, the people are free to travel from the provinces to petition the king.
Khinasi rulers are usually mages, for the culture values education and believes the study of magic to be the noblest of callings. The Khinasi respect graciousness, bearing, and hospitality; a man's wealth is measured by his ability to entertain his guests, and not how much gold or silver he may have.
The Khinasi are descendants of the people known as the Basarji, and live along the southern and eastern coasts of Cerilia. Their lands range from the Iron Peaks in the west to the Sea of Dragons in the east, and are bordered in the north by the Coulladaraight Forest and the Rhuannadaraight Forest. The western city-states fell under Avonlaer control for several hundred years, although most of the eastern lands were never part of the Empire.
The Khinasi, like the Brechts, make much of their living through trade. While the Brechts tend to trade to the north and west, as well as with the Vos and Rjurik, the Khinasi practice their commerce with the Avonlaer and with their ancestors across the Sea of Dragons. Unlike the Brechts, the Khinasi assimilate any aspects of other cultures they find valuable, yet maintain a core lifestyle that is most assuredly Basarji in origin.
The Basarji became known as the Khinasi because of their most famous leader in times past. The mage-king el-Arassi rose during the Anuirean occupation of Basarji lands and, through his skillful manipulation of politics and magic, forced the Empire to grant a measure of independence to the Basarji city-states. In gratitude, the Basarji named themselves "Khinasi," or "lands under the protection of el-Arassi." Though they retained their tribal name of Basarji, they became known as the Khinasi through the rest of Stella Nova.
The Khinasi live in city-states scattered throughout their lands. Most such kingdoms hold only one city of any mportance, while the outlying provinces provide livestock and other goods. The king rules the surrounding provinces from the comforts of the city. In most lands, the people are free to travel from the provinces to petition the king.
Khinasi rulers are usually mages, for the culture values education and believes the study of magic to be the noblest of callings. The Khinasi respect graciousness, bearing, and hospitality; a man's wealth is measured by his ability to entertain his guests, and not how much gold or silver he may have.
