Keshan/Kushite/Puntan

Southern Islanders are very dark of skin, tall and well muscled. Their warriors wear white plumes in their hair but rarely bother with armour. The black corsairs of the Southern Islands are among the most feared pirates in the world, raiding up and down the Black Coast as far north as Stygia and even beyond. Many of the Black Kingdoms, including Darfar and the southern Black Kingdoms, are also home to similar people. Culture: The Southern Blacks are tribal in nature and resemble great African tribes like the Zulus and the Bantu. They often go naked but may wear rings of ivory or precious metal in their noses, ears or lips. The black kingdoms of Amazon and the Atlaians are southern kingdoms. Other tribes include the Suba of the Black Coast, the Bakalah, who are just southeast of Kush and the Bamulas and Jihiji, both neighbours of the Bakalah. Darfar, although quite northerly in location, is culturally closer to the tribes that reside south of the River Zarkheba. Black Kingdom ‘soldiers’ are simply spearmen armed with ox-hide shields. Ritualistic displays of aggression are often used to intimidate an opponent in an attempt to avoid all out war, since most tribes are too small to survive if they sustain heavy casualties. However, wars do sometimes occur and tend to be bloody when they do. Religion: The tribes of the Black Kingdoms worship mighty local gods and devils, such as Ollam-onga and Thog. The presence of creatures from the Outer Dark in many ancient lost cities and places like the Vale of Lost Women suggests that these creatures may be worshipped as local deities too. The Suba people worship Ajujo, the Dark One. Names: The southern Black Kingdoms tend toward African names, particularly Zulu. Examples: (male) Aja, Ajonga, Amra, Askia, Bajujh, N’Gora, N’Yaga, Sakumbe, Yasunga. Suggestions: (male) Nkosi, Sabelo, Sipho; (female) Khanyisa, Lukanyo, Nande, Serigne, Thula.

Keshan