Gharu'ndim
Desert-dwellers who prefer knowledge and trade to war and bloodshed, the Gharu'ndim are an eminently honorable, formal culture. They pepper their speech with honorifics and references to their national hero, the poet Yasif ibn Salayyar, and have a reputation for being somewhat distant and proud. Of all the peoples of Ispar, only the Milanteans rival their understanding of the mysteries of magic.
Though the tribes of the Naqut have collectively been known as the Gharu'ndim (or Garondish) for centuries, the nation itself is among the youngest of Ispar. Near the beginning of the 10th century RC, the Malik Rakhil al-Khur rallied the desert tribes and led a campaign of conquest against the crumbling Roulean empire. With his best friend and trusted lieutenant, the warrior-poet Yasif ibn Salayyar, at his side, Rakhil marched all the way to the Roulean capital - Tirethas, the famed City of Lore, whose great libraries contained the greatest repository of knowledge on Ispar.
As his troops laid siege to the ancient city in 924, Rakhil threatened to burn the great libraries if its rulers did not yield to him. Enraged by the threat, Yasif struck down his Malik in righteous fury. Far from considering him a traitor, the Gharu'ndim lauded Yasif as a hero, and Rakhil's heir, Amul ibn Rakhil, named him as his advisor. When Yasif finally died in 1002, the nation of Gharu'n mourned for a full year.
Despite the chaos that reigned during the Century of Storms, Gharu'n has outstripped many older nations in the sophistication of its art, magic, and technology. Elaborate aqueducts carry water from desert oases to their farms and settlements, and the Gharu'ndim colleges of magic rival the venerable academies of Tirethas. Though they excel in the making of textiles, paintings, and sculpture, the greatest art of the Gharu'ndim is that of the written and spoken word. Even the most humble Gharu'ndim is literate, and their speech is florid and rich with imagery and metaphor. They are highly formal, referring to others by any number of honorifics, many of them improvised on the spot. The legacy of ibn Salayyar remains strong in the hearts of Gharu'n.
The many titles once used to honor tribal leaders have become Gharu'n's titles of nobility. Eschewing a feudal hierarchy, ranks are instead determined by wealth, social standing, and the size of one's lands. The current ruler of Gharu'n is the Malika Qadira bint Balj, a woman renowned for her shrewdness. It is rumored that she sparked the Bellenesse Rebellion in Viamont by distributing copies of the revolutionary text "The Treatise of the Individual" among Viamont's nobility - if true, it was a masterstroke of political manipulation, for the rebellion crippled Viamont and put an end to their second invasion of Gharu'n almost before it had begun.
Unlike some other cultures, a person does not need to be particularly exceptional to earn a byname or epithet - almost any quality or comparison might be adopted as a byname.
Example Bynames: al-Aljabaar (the Mighty), al-Asad (the Lion), al-Ghul (the Ghoul), al-Jamila (the Beautiful), al-Karim (the Generous), al-Muharib (the Warrior), al-Qasia (the Cruel), al-Sahir (the Sorcerer), al-Sari (the Swift), al-Sayaad (the Hunter), al-Shaitan (the Demon), al-Shir'dal (the Gryph), al-Shuja (the Brave)
After the founding of Gharu'n, many of the other realms about the Ironsea had not recognized their sovereignty. So Yasif ibn-Salayyar traveled to the other nations, including Aluvia, Viamont, Roulea, and Silvera, to win the respect of neighboring rulers - all except Milantos, who refused Yasif's petitions to travel to their nation and hold parley with Arpad, their king. Eventually, King Arpad of Milantos died without an heir, and his advisor Laszko became king. Yasif sent another request to the new king, and to his surprise, Laszko agreed. But when the Poet arrived at Laszko's court, the Milantean king took him hostage, sending a severed finger to the Malik of Gharu'n as a warning not to retaliate.
After two years without so much as a demand from Milantos, the Malik Amul ibn-Rakhil formed the secret society of assassins called the Shagar Zharala - the Walkers in Shade. He intended to send them to take Laszko by surprise, rescuing Yasif before the Milantean tyrant could have him executed. However, a week before the Zharalim were to set out, Yasif appeared outside Amul's palace, missing his eyes as well as the digits of his left hand. Laszko had released him after using him in dark necromantic rituals, and arrogantly believed he was beyond the Malik's vengeance. He soon learned his error as he perished upon a Zharalim blade.
Even crippled and mutilated, the Poet's spirit was unbroken. He lived out his remaining years in the al-Nafalt, the Palace of One Hundred Gardens, during which time he composed his greatest work, the Alamakhaida. This 1,000-line poem codified the Gharu'ndim system of honor, and has been used as the foundation of their governance ever since.
Soon after the death of Yasif, Amul ibn Rakhil also died, poisoned at his own birthday celebration. With no heir to assume the throne, the nation of Gharu'n fell into chaos. For the next 100 years, no fewer than 25 Maliks ruled the land. This period of time is known as the Century of Storms.
Sensing weakness, Viamont rallied its forces and invaded Gharu'n, installing a puppet ruler as Malik. During his rule, Zahir ibn Ma'mun murdered all his rivals, except for a young lord named Jawhar al-Shamshir. Seeing what had become of his homeland, Jawhar traveled the desert in secret, banding together the people. Jawhar defeated Zahir ibn Ma'mun and drove the Viamontians from the shores of Gharu'n. He became the new Malik, and returned Gharu'n to the glory it had known in Yasif's time.
Gharu'n
Though the tribes of the Naqut have collectively been known as the Gharu'ndim (or Garondish) for centuries, the nation itself is among the youngest of Ispar. Near the beginning of the 10th century RC, the Malik Rakhil al-Khur rallied the desert tribes and led a campaign of conquest against the crumbling Roulean empire. With his best friend and trusted lieutenant, the warrior-poet Yasif ibn Salayyar, at his side, Rakhil marched all the way to the Roulean capital - Tirethas, the famed City of Lore, whose great libraries contained the greatest repository of knowledge on Ispar.
As his troops laid siege to the ancient city in 924, Rakhil threatened to burn the great libraries if its rulers did not yield to him. Enraged by the threat, Yasif struck down his Malik in righteous fury. Far from considering him a traitor, the Gharu'ndim lauded Yasif as a hero, and Rakhil's heir, Amul ibn Rakhil, named him as his advisor. When Yasif finally died in 1002, the nation of Gharu'n mourned for a full year.
Despite the chaos that reigned during the Century of Storms, Gharu'n has outstripped many older nations in the sophistication of its art, magic, and technology. Elaborate aqueducts carry water from desert oases to their farms and settlements, and the Gharu'ndim colleges of magic rival the venerable academies of Tirethas. Though they excel in the making of textiles, paintings, and sculpture, the greatest art of the Gharu'ndim is that of the written and spoken word. Even the most humble Gharu'ndim is literate, and their speech is florid and rich with imagery and metaphor. They are highly formal, referring to others by any number of honorifics, many of them improvised on the spot. The legacy of ibn Salayyar remains strong in the hearts of Gharu'n.
Courtly Titles
The many titles once used to honor tribal leaders have become Gharu'n's titles of nobility. Eschewing a feudal hierarchy, ranks are instead determined by wealth, social standing, and the size of one's lands. The current ruler of Gharu'n is the Malika Qadira bint Balj, a woman renowned for her shrewdness. It is rumored that she sparked the Bellenesse Rebellion in Viamont by distributing copies of the revolutionary text "The Treatise of the Individual" among Viamont's nobility - if true, it was a masterstroke of political manipulation, for the rebellion crippled Viamont and put an end to their second invasion of Gharu'n almost before it had begun.
| Male Title | Female Title | Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malik | Malika | Monarch | Nation of Gharu'n |
| Amir | Amira | Grand Duke | Emirate |
| Mushir | Mushira | Duke | Mushirate |
| Qadi | Qadiya | Marquis | Qadirate |
| Naqib | Naqiba | Count | Naqibate |
| Mu'allim | Mu'allima | Viscount | Mu'allimate |
| Maulan | Maulana | Baron | Maulanate |
| Shayk | Shayka | Lord | Shaykdom |
| Sayyid | Sayyida | Landowner | Homestead |
Names
Feminine Names
Examples: Aatifa, Abdah, Abla, Afa, Afra, Afzaa, Ahlaam, Ara, Atikah, Azada, Azzah, Badura, Bahaar, Bahiyya, Bahjat, Bakht, Banah, Banujah, Basimah, Bilqis, Buthayna, Dahah, Daifa, Dananir, Duqaq, Fadila, Fakhriyya, Famida, Farah, Fardoos, Fatimah, Fawz, Ghaniyah, Ghaythah, Haala, Hadil, Hafiza, Hanaa, Harithah, Hawwa, Hifni, Hind, Hinda, Hinnaa, Huda, Huma'i, Ibtesam, Ihtizaz, Ilham, Ilm, Inan, Jaida, Javairia, Jawaahir, Jimira, Khadijah, Khazima, Laila, Latifa, Layla, Lubna, Lutfiyya, Maahjabin, Maahpaara, Mahsa, Mahtaab, Maimoune, Maimunah, Malak, Manhalah, Mariyah, Maryam, Maysun, Mellilah, Muhayya, Munya, Naadhira, Naaheed, Nadrah, Najat, Nasiha, Ni'mat, Nu'm, Nur, Qabihah, Qabul, Qamra, Qaribah, Raahil, Rabab, Raym, Rayya, Rida, Ridhwaana, Ruqayyah, Rusa, Sa'eeda, Saajida, Saaliha, Saduf, Safi, Safia, Safwah, Saham, Sajah, Sakan, Salamah, Samsi, Saniyya, Sara, Sarab, Sehar, Selima, Semeeah, Shahar, Tahzeeb, Tarifa, Tarub, Taskeen, Taslim, Thanaa, Tharwat, Ulayyah, Umamah, Utbah, Wadha, Wahshiyah, Warwar, Yumn, Yusra, Yusriyya, Zahra, Zaib, Zainab, Zebba, Zebeebah, Zeenat, Zubaydah, Zuhair, Zuhra, ZulaikhaMasculine Names
Examples: Aaftab, Abbas, Abu, Ajmal, Akar, Ali, Anjum, Anwaar, Aslam, Attiyah, Ayaz, Ayub, Azamat, Aziz, Azizah, Bahram, Balban, Balj, Barakaat, Barmak, Bashaarat, Behraam, Bilal, Bursuq, Daud, Dharr, Dhu, Durayd, E'jaaz, Faraaz, Faraj, Fathi, Fawzi, Fayiz, Faysal, Firas, Firuz, Fuad, Ghanai'm, Ghiyaath, Hadi, Hajjaj, Halil, Hamdi, Hamzah, Hanbal, Hareef, Haris, Harith, Haroun, Hashim, Hayaan, Hilal, Himyar, Hisham, Hosni, Humam, Hunayn, Husni, Ibrahim, Idrisi, Ihab, Ihsan, Ikraam, Irfaan, Iqbaal, Isa, Ishaq, Iskander, Ismail, Ismat, Jabar, Jalal, Jamal, Jawhar, Jibril, Jubair, Jurdik, Kamal, Kamil, Karaamat, Khalf, Khalid, Khalil, Labid, Lahab, Mahir, Mahmud, Majnun, Makram, Mamduh, Mamoun, Maroun, Masruq, Masud, Mehmet, Miraaj, Mu'aawin, Munsif, Muqbil, Mus'ad, Musa, Musaykah, Mushtaq, Mustafa, Mutawakkil, Muti, Muwas, Muzzammil, Naasir, Naaz, Naazir, Nadir, Nafi, Nasif, Nasim, Nazaam, Nizar, Nuzhat, Omar, Othman, Qaabil, Qaari, Qadama, Qasim, Qudrat, Qutaiba, Qutuz, Ra'uf, Raahat, Raashan, Radwan, Rahmat, Ramadan, Ridwan, Rifaaqat, Ruzzik, Sa'ood, Saabiq, Sabir, Sadaaqat, Safi, Safwan, Sakhr, Salih, Salim, Sarwat, Shafaqat, Shakir, Sharif, Shauk, Shaukat, Sinaan, Suhayl, Taha, Taimur, Talal, Talib, Tammam, Tanweer, Tarafa, Tariq, Tashfin, Taufiq, Thamar, Ubaida, Umar, Uqbar, Uthman, Wafid, Wajaahat, Walid, Waqaar, Wathiq, Yaamin, Yasir, Yazid, Yildirim, Yusri, Yussuf, Zaid, Zaidan, Zauk, Ziryab, Ziyad, Zubair, Zuhair, ZuhoorBynames and Familial Names
The Gharu'ndim do not typically use surnames. Instead, most individuals either use a byname ('al-' meaning 'the') or identify themselves by their parentage ('ibn' meaning 'son of' and 'bint' meaning 'daughter of'). Traditionally these terms are followed by the father's first name, but within the past two centuries it has become more common for individuals to identify with their maternal lineage. For example, the son and daughter of Akar al-Sari might be Wahid ibn Akar and Zahra bint Akar.Unlike some other cultures, a person does not need to be particularly exceptional to earn a byname or epithet - almost any quality or comparison might be adopted as a byname.
Example Bynames: al-Aljabaar (the Mighty), al-Asad (the Lion), al-Ghul (the Ghoul), al-Jamila (the Beautiful), al-Karim (the Generous), al-Muharib (the Warrior), al-Qasia (the Cruel), al-Sahir (the Sorcerer), al-Sari (the Swift), al-Sayaad (the Hunter), al-Shaitan (the Demon), al-Shir'dal (the Gryph), al-Shuja (the Brave)
The Kidnapping of the Poet
After the founding of Gharu'n, many of the other realms about the Ironsea had not recognized their sovereignty. So Yasif ibn-Salayyar traveled to the other nations, including Aluvia, Viamont, Roulea, and Silvera, to win the respect of neighboring rulers - all except Milantos, who refused Yasif's petitions to travel to their nation and hold parley with Arpad, their king. Eventually, King Arpad of Milantos died without an heir, and his advisor Laszko became king. Yasif sent another request to the new king, and to his surprise, Laszko agreed. But when the Poet arrived at Laszko's court, the Milantean king took him hostage, sending a severed finger to the Malik of Gharu'n as a warning not to retaliate.
After two years without so much as a demand from Milantos, the Malik Amul ibn-Rakhil formed the secret society of assassins called the Shagar Zharala - the Walkers in Shade. He intended to send them to take Laszko by surprise, rescuing Yasif before the Milantean tyrant could have him executed. However, a week before the Zharalim were to set out, Yasif appeared outside Amul's palace, missing his eyes as well as the digits of his left hand. Laszko had released him after using him in dark necromantic rituals, and arrogantly believed he was beyond the Malik's vengeance. He soon learned his error as he perished upon a Zharalim blade.
Even crippled and mutilated, the Poet's spirit was unbroken. He lived out his remaining years in the al-Nafalt, the Palace of One Hundred Gardens, during which time he composed his greatest work, the Alamakhaida. This 1,000-line poem codified the Gharu'ndim system of honor, and has been used as the foundation of their governance ever since.
The Century of Storms
Soon after the death of Yasif, Amul ibn Rakhil also died, poisoned at his own birthday celebration. With no heir to assume the throne, the nation of Gharu'n fell into chaos. For the next 100 years, no fewer than 25 Maliks ruled the land. This period of time is known as the Century of Storms.
Sensing weakness, Viamont rallied its forces and invaded Gharu'n, installing a puppet ruler as Malik. During his rule, Zahir ibn Ma'mun murdered all his rivals, except for a young lord named Jawhar al-Shamshir. Seeing what had become of his homeland, Jawhar traveled the desert in secret, banding together the people. Jawhar defeated Zahir ibn Ma'mun and drove the Viamontians from the shores of Gharu'n. He became the new Malik, and returned Gharu'n to the glory it had known in Yasif's time.
