Hospitality
The guest is lord of the house.
Zakharan proverb
Guests are like fish; after three days, both stink.Al-Badian proverb
In the Land of Fate, generosity brings honor, while stinginess spawns contempt. As a result, Zakharan hospitality is unrivaled. According to Zakharan ethics, a man must offer food and drink to anyone who appears at his doorstep as a friend, no matter how poor the host may be. In her husband’s place, or when receiving female friends, a woman must do the same. If a guest comes to the door at night, a host must offer lodging as well as sustenance. A wealthy host may also offer entertainment, such as the dance of a talented servant, and perhaps even a gift. The obligation—and desire—to offer hospitality is as compelling as any personal need. A nomadic tribe whose foodstuffs are nearly gone may avoid a busy oasis even if their water stores are equally low. The tribe would rather know thirst and hunger than be unable to offer hospitality to the strangers at the oasis. A host assumes responsibility for the well-being of his guests. Whether a man lives in a goat’s-hair tent or a lavish house, his honor depends on how well he treats those who place themselves in his care. For this reason, guests can expect safety as well as sustenance— even if they once were the host’s enemies. Arsenic and other toxins are easy to obtain in the Land of Fate, and poison is a common way to eliminate foes. Nonetheless, once foes become guests—and share the bond of salt—even they can eat heartily, expecting the host’s protection as well as his friendship. In turn, the guests are expected to act as loyal friends, never overstaying their welcome, and never overstepping the bounds of good behavior.
Guests are like fish; after three days, both stink.
In the Land of Fate, generosity brings honor, while stinginess spawns contempt. As a result, Zakharan hospitality is unrivaled. According to Zakharan ethics, a man must offer food and drink to anyone who appears at his doorstep as a friend, no matter how poor the host may be. In her husband’s place, or when receiving female friends, a woman must do the same. If a guest comes to the door at night, a host must offer lodging as well as sustenance. A wealthy host may also offer entertainment, such as the dance of a talented servant, and perhaps even a gift. The obligation—and desire—to offer hospitality is as compelling as any personal need. A nomadic tribe whose foodstuffs are nearly gone may avoid a busy oasis even if their water stores are equally low. The tribe would rather know thirst and hunger than be unable to offer hospitality to the strangers at the oasis. A host assumes responsibility for the well-being of his guests. Whether a man lives in a goat’s-hair tent or a lavish house, his honor depends on how well he treats those who place themselves in his care. For this reason, guests can expect safety as well as sustenance— even if they once were the host’s enemies. Arsenic and other toxins are easy to obtain in the Land of Fate, and poison is a common way to eliminate foes. Nonetheless, once foes become guests—and share the bond of salt—even they can eat heartily, expecting the host’s protection as well as his friendship. In turn, the guests are expected to act as loyal friends, never overstaying their welcome, and never overstepping the bounds of good behavior.
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