Shem

Starting Languages

When a player selects a culture, they automatically gain ability in the primary language associated with that culture. This language represents the common tongue or dominant language spoken in that cultural region. Each culture provides a pool of additional languages that players can choose from. This pool should include languages associated with neighboring regions, historical influences, or significant trade partners of that culture. The number of additional languages in the pool can vary based on the diversity and historical context of the culture. For example, a culture with extensive trade routes or a history of conquest might have a larger pool. You may select an additional language from this pool for each point of edge you have in Intellect, and another for each additional point you gain as you level up in your adventures.

Starting Arms & Armor

Players are afforded their starting weapons, clothing, & tool proficiencies by the age associated with their homeland. So Stone Age cultures and Dark Age cultures might both grant ability with a mace for example, but only the Dark Age culture would grant ability with guns, for example. Over the course of your adventures you may choose to use your progression to gain proficiency in a different age's tools.

Playing a Shemite Adventurer

Shemitish archers, blue-bearded expert bowmen who wear light mail shirts and cylindrical helmets, are probably the best in the world. It is as if they are born with their deadly bows in their hands. They are good horsemen but can also fight as infantry if need be. Most Shemites roam the uncharted deserts in the eastern half of Shem and beyond as far as the kingdom of Turan, though the typical Hyborian is far more likely to meet a more settled Shemite from one of the many pastoral settlements to the west of that land. These latter people are of the variant race, the Meadow Shemite.

Culture

The desert-dwelling Shemites are predominantly nomadic, with individual tribes often ranging over truly vast areas. Perhaps the widest-travelled tribe is the Zuagir, who can be found from Zamboula to Zamora and the eastern edge of the Hyborian kingdoms. Tribal quarrels are common. Shem is looked on without much favour by the Hyborian nations, perhaps because of its years as a satellite of Stygia, though it seems unlikely that the Stygians ever made many inroads into the vast eastern deserts where the nomadic Shemite tribes live.

Names

Shemite names are Middle Eastern or Biblical in form. Examples: (male) Bît-Yakin, Gebal, Gilzan, Khumbanigash, Zargheba; (female) Bêlit. Suggestions: (male) Abaddon, Arvad, Baruch, Eban, Gabai, Hyam, Lamech, Noam, Yadon; (female) Alumit, Daya, Idra, Jamila, Talitha, Yael.

Religion

Ishtar, Anu and Bel seem to be the main gods of the Shemites. One Shemite belief, is that evil men are imprisoned in the bodies of apes, as a just punishment for their fell crimes.

Homeland Traits

Starting Arms & Armor: Bronze Ages
Automatic Languages: Shemite
Favoured Tropes: Nomad
Bonus Languages: Stygian, Ophirean, Kothic, Argossean, Hyrkanian
Homeland Talent
Desert Survivor - Life in the harsh desert has taught you to endure extreme conditions. Gain an asset to tasks involving resisting heat, thirst, or fatigue.