Metal: All metals are rare. Everything that can be made without metal is crafted and used. These are a small amount of metal coins circulated but this is reserved for the wealthy. Coins are otherwise magically fashioned from stone.
Names: People don't generally give their names to strangers. Names are power. People are called by their caste or profession, others by nick names. It is considered rude to ask a stranger their name. They can offer their own name but you are not bound to give your in return. I'm tending to use Egyptian names but any Arabic sounding names work just fine. Call names can be descriptive ("red hand" "woof" etc.) or caste related ("stone" "goat" "milk" etc.)---although some people just use their real names since no one is the wiser. [Ido have a great name book]
Power Level: This culture does not have much magic about 2nd level. It is nearly impossible to be above 6th and not be in the power structure. Yet it is possible that the King of Talis may be zero level and just incredibly skilled.
Race: Humyns are the only race, all other sentients are monsters.
Running Away: Breaking off combat or avoiding combat altogether is honorable. Living to fight another day is a respected martial tactic.
Shora or Smagh: Men tend to wear the traditional Bedouin headdress, always taking care to leave their caste marking showing. These are made of lightweight cloth frequently in the color of their caste. Not showing your caste mark is severly punished including being made a slave or an outlaw.
Slaves: The upper castes and wealthy delight in winning water debts and otherwise making slaves. A slave is no longer considered a person. If their owner is kind they will actually tally the water debt and allow the slave to earn their freedom and become a person once again.
Solstistalis Environment: The wastes along the inner reaches of the real world Nile where the desert sands almost swallow the river... that's everyone lives. And rain, well, rain is almost a myth. Otherwise it's is so hot people drop in the streets or so cold people freeze to death in bed.
Takers and Being Taken: The Water Caste is powerful but it is the Takers that bring the fear. These powerful individuals are known to use magic, might and trickery to gain their prey. In years past the Takers went out into the city to cull trouble makers and in general took from all the castes more or less equally. But during times of war, unrest, or prevalent monster attacks, the Takers can no longer be said to cull, they target neighborhoods and even whole sub-castes---as is the case now. If someone is Taken and passes into the Water Caste city they are said to be dead because they never return.
Undead: In this world the undead hate all life. It is as if they attack living things out of some mindless all consuming well of darkness. The castes that handle the undead are greatly fearer for their power and how easy it is to abuse it. The vaste majority of food is planted, tended, harvested and guarded by the undead.
Veils: Womyn primarily wear veils to keep their identity anonymous, which they can do and still keep their caste markings visible. A veil allows them to move freely, a privilege a strutting man would never be able to do. Veils are usually light weight cloth attached to a headscarf. [I spent a great deal of time considering this aspect of the game. I decided that Solstistalis demands some sort of female mystery and an obvious differentiation from men. This does not denote femaile inferiority or subjection.]
Clarification of Statistics
Charisma: The ability to impress people and/or be attractive. Low Chr can mean either you are ugly or that your personality is repugnant (or both). I prefer Chr situations to be role played.
Constitution: The ability to resist and recover from damage, disease and poison. Low Con means you are in poor health, tend to tire quickly, and are prone to sickness and disease.
Dexterity: The ability to have agility and fine motor skills. Low Dex means you are clumsy and awkward.
Strength: The ability to use physical prowess. Low Str means you can't lift your own water payment.
Intelligence: The ability to identify and puzzle through problems. Low Int means that you are slow to solve problems.
Perception: The ability to be aware of the world around you with your five senses. Low Per means you miss hearing and seeing things, either misinterperting them or missing them intirely. High Per means you can catch subtle nuances and things in shadows.
Wisdom: The ability to remember previous experiences learned from information or situations. Low Wis means that you have a poor memory and are prone to making the same mistakes again.
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