The Brass Coast

“Life is short — let it never be dull!”

Siroc proverb

See Also

• Siroc Look and Feel

Introduction

The Siroc are travellers, traders, lovers and poets. They are exotic and flamboyant; when they laugh their humour is infectious and without spite, when they love they do so with a passion that is without guile and when they’re angry, their wrath is like a summer storm – terrible to behold but swift in passing. To be Siroc is to be driven by a hunger for life, to see the world, to taste every delicacy, sample every wine and tell every tale. Success is measured in wealth, family and influence, not out of greed, but for the joy success brings.

Their wagons and ships cross the world bringing exotic goods that command the finest prices. While others see them as brazen and mercurial, their honesty is without arrogance, for to aggrandise the self is vulgar, while to praise the deeds of another is an art. Their tales are bawdy enough for a common tavern and grand enough for a lordly court alike and can fill a room with laughter, tears or gasps of horror.

The Siroc prize individual freedom and responsibility. Although they are capable of serving a cause they have little respect for authority. Pompous or self-important individuals, especially those who think that titles and positions have made them important are ridiculed in Siroc. Respect is earned, it cannot be bought or appointed.

They are infamous for their corsairs who operate throughout the bay of Catazar. These daring privateers risk everything ensuring that the Empire's enemies are unable to threaten her shores and earning a fortune in gold in the process. It is a dangerous life but one that perfectly suits the Siroc passion for high adventure.

They are the Siroc and they believe that while life maybe short, it should never be dull!

Five things to know about the Siroc

• Their word is their bond. Siran traders possess an honesty that would put most priests to shame.
• They are notoriously candid. Brazen in person, and disarmingly frank in negotiation, they are never afraid to speak their mind when they want to.
• They will put a price on anything. The Siroc believe the fairest way to reckon the worth of something is to put a price on it.
• They crave adventure and excitement. None more so than their corsairs who are the terror of the high seas.
• They prize freedom and responsibility and disdain authority. The Siran philosophy is that society is best served when every individual is responsible for themselves and to themselves.

What the Siroc are not

• Desert-dwellers. Grassy plains, rocky mountains and shipboard on the ocean are where the Siroc live.
• Dodgy Camel Salesmen. The Siroc have no camels, and are scrupulously honest in all their dealings.
• Matriarchal. The Siroc are matrilineal, they take their mother’s family name, but other than this their society is completely gender blind.
• Orthodox in Religion. The Siroc poke fun at the pomposity of the structures of Imperial religion, keeping the faith in their own private ways.
• Fez, turban, or shemagh wearers. No Siroc would be seen dead in a white patterned headcloth (white is the colour of the poor), headdress, if worn, should be colourful and vibrant.

The People

The archetypal Siroc is forthright, honest about his actions, and unashamed of his motives. The Siroc do not feel they owe the world anything, but neither do they feel the world owes them. They can be charitable, but only when they choose; they can be selfish, but never with their family. They are direct, notoriously frank and gloriously unabashed.

To the Siroc, all things can have a price. Most Siroc do not earn their living as a merchant, but almost all seek out opportunities to turn a profit. Even in social situations they are comfortable seeing their interactions with others in monetary terms. Siroc hosts are not insulted by a guests' offer to pay for a meal, nor by a request to purchase an ancient family heirloom. The Siroc see no shame in offering money for something you want to buy and no shame in taking money for something you want to sell. Siroc are no greedier than other people, there are plenty of things they won't contemplate selling but they won't be angry at you for asking, provided you accept their refusal.

To the Siroc, the purpose of putting a price on something is to create clarity about what it is worth and what is owed to both parties if it is exchanged. They give freely to family, and expect the same in return. But with everyone else they would rather define a debt and know what is owed and to whom, instead of being left with an undefined obligation. The Siroc detest favours and obligations, even between friends or lovers, because there is no certainty to what is owed. For the Siroc an honest interaction is one where people know what they are offering, what they are getting and what it will cost them.

The Siroc are proud of their reputation for being frank and unashamed. Transactions that in other nations would be conducted discreetly in private are carried out openly in Siroc without shame. They are perfectly comfortable with someone paying to influence a decision, but they expect those making the decision to be unabashed of their actions. The Siroc are fully aware that other nations do not share their values. They don't expect frankness from other nations but they don't allow others to impose their values on the Siroc.

The Siroc are passionate people who love dancing, story-telling and performance. It is considered rude to boast; telling the tales of your own deeds is vulgar and if it must be done, events should always be described as if they happened to a friend. To tell the tale of another’s deeds does them great honour. The best dances are energetic and exuberant, and those who aren’t dancing are expected to join in by making music to cheer the dancers on. The best stories are bold, often bawdy and are delivered as a performance designed to involve and energize the audience. The Siroc love to include the earthy parts of a story, but are always clear when they are embellishing the tale, for instance "I don't know what happened next, but I like to imagine it was like this..." The art of a Siran story-teller is to make even the most mundane tale become engaging or hillarios by the delivery. They particularly like to include their audience, getting them to act out the parts described or cheer and sing along at appropriate moments.

The Siroc are divided into three great tribes, named the Erigo, the Riqueza and the Guerra, that are descended from the families of the three founders. Every Siroc traces their line through their mother's family to one of the founders, and this creates the tribal identity of the Siroc. Each tribe is composed of a great number of extended families. The smallest families have only a few dozen members, the largest can have hundreds or thousands of people sharing a family name and a common purpose.

Siroc typically have three names. The first is their given name as decided by their parents and can be as creative or as bland as their imagination. The second is their family name and the last name is that of the tribe. Family is of great importance, but the respect due to an Siroc will never be based on their family alone - they must make their own reputation.

The land of the Siroc is wealthy in vinyards and orchards that produce fortified wines and flowers from which they make rich dyes. The people enjoy strong trade links with foreign nations, allowing them to bring luxuries and commodities to all the people of the Empire (for a price of course!). Textiles, wines and ales from far-off places are prized treasures, but wood is a thing of beauty to the natives of the Siroc. They are a people of rolling plains, fertile lowlands with lush vinyards. Although there are orchards of exotic fruit trees the land is devoid of large areas of forest. Early in the history of the Siroc they cut down most of their hardwood to build ships and settlements, and the fruit trees that remain are more suited for burning than building. The Siroc look enviously at the ancient trees of the Navarr, and occasionally lobby to be allowed to log these areas to produce building materials. Since fine quality wood is a valuable commodity, there is little furniture in an Siroc household and dwellings tend to be piled high with rugs, cushions and furs.

The towns of the Siroc are sprawling, disorganised affairs almost inevitably built around a bustling bazaar. Everything from steel to spices changes hands in these trading hubs and they are festooned with brightly coloured fabrics, gaudily painted signs and exotic wares. Contracts of trade, seals of endorsement and bonds of marque are proudly displayed by vendors who hawk their goods to the people who fill the plazas and streets at all hours. In and around these cosmopolitan bazaars, the wealthiest families maintain sprawling estates. Often plain from the outside, Siran structures are alive with ostentation within and lined with ornate tapestries and finery. The most influential Siroc thread their homes with running water and glittering fountains, sculptures and artefacts crafted from precious materials, beautiful rugs, carpets and hangings, the scents of incense and the sound of music. It is important that a home be beautiful, as well as secure, “Your home,” as one ancient poet put it, “should be a comfort to your body, and a balm to your soul.”

Culture and Customs

Family is of paramount importance to the Siroc. They live in extended family groups covering several generations and are tight-knit, relaxed with each other and ferociously loyal. Occasionally Siroc will extend the privilege of family membership to valued friends, long-term employees or waifs and strays - these adoptees are whole-heartedly welcomed and are treated no different from blood family. An insult to one family member is an insult to all - a friend to one family member is a friend to all. To the Siroc, betraying their family is unthinkable.

The great weight that the Siroc place on familial loyalty does not extend to others, even of their own nation. The Siroc are loyal to their tribe and their nation, but they make a point of disclaiming any responsibility for the wellbeing of others. They do not regard themselves as obliged to help the poor or the sick, the disposessed or the homeless. They may be as charitable as they please, but they refuse to accept that it is their responsibility to care for others.

In Siroc, food and drink is only offered freely to family. Because of this, the offer of hospitality creates the expectation of obligation; in a sense you are offering guests a place in your family which obliges them to respond accordingly. Since most Siroc habitually avoid favours and social debts but all Siroc enjoy hospitality, both giving and receiving, the custom is always to offer to pay before receiving refreshments. An Siroc approaching a tent of revelry might ask the price for a seat at the table. A token price of a ring or two indicates that they are very welcome to join, a price in crowns indicates that the meeting is private and the Siroc should look elsewhere, but an exorbitant price in thrones is a deliberate insult.

Despite the ritualized nature of the exchange, actual payment is required. To the Siran mind, it is the payment that ensures that no further obligation exists on the part of either party. For close friends or clearly impoverished a Siroc might offer a fine meal for help with the dishes or even an afternoon's work. It is easy to be itinerant in Siroc society, so long as you don't mind working for your supper.

Koch is the traditional drink of the Siroc, but every family has its own recipe. Each family carefully guards their own recipe for Koch, and there is a common belief that to give away its secret is to give some of your good luck to another. In most families Koch is a dark is a bitter but uplifting brew that is sometimes sweetened with honey or sugar. It is very rarely alcoholic, since it is intended to be drunk as a family and when business is being discussed. Indeed the taking of Koch before the opening of trade negotiations is considered not only polite, but beneficial to the coming talks.

Written contracts are exceptionally important in Siran culture. The best contracts are short and succinct but clearly identify the obligations of both parties. To the Siroc mind, making an agreement commits the integrity of their soul to the deal, if they contract to do something their reputation is at stake if they cannot carry through. For this reason almost all enduring contracts include fiscal clauses for default. This is not meant as a lack of commitment, but simply to avoid being a hostage to fortune, should circumstances change and make it impossible for the parties to complete the deal. However, the Siroc see no shame in going back on contracts written, particularly if a better deal comes along, provided the default bonds are paid.

Art, particularly calligraphy, is highly valued in Siroc. They value books but treasure those that are beautifully illuminated. To the Siroc, every aspect of writing is an important artistic statement, the language used should be articulate and possess a lyrical quality, the letters and words should be written with bold ink strokes on beautiful paper or parchment that is then decorated and illuminated. Given their emphasis on deals, it is perhaps no surprise that the Siroc even like well written contracts and they often display particularly fine examples on the walls of their homes, especially ones that had great sentimental or fiscal value.

Siran society does not favour men or women but tribal and familial lines are always matrilineal and while men may marry into an Siroc family and tribe, women may not. If a Siran woman marries then her husband joins her tribal family. Marriage outside the tribe is relatively rare. Much more common is for Siran men and women to form a temporary attachment. These attachments are romantic or physical in nature, but with no assumption that they will last for life. In fact with some pairings there is no assumption that they will last more than a night, an attitude that some outsiders find scandalous.

All marriages – and indeed most extended attachments – are formalised with a contract in which each participant lays down the parameters of the relationship. A marriage or relationship contract commonly covers matters such as the duration of the relationship, the rights and responsibilities of the participants, the expectation of fidelity, the division of shared wealth both during and after the relationship ends, and at least one clause covering how the relationship may be ended prematurely by either party. This rather cold-blooded practicality around matters of the heart is just another manifestation of the Siroc's fiscal approach to life. These contracts ensure that both parties know the value the other places on the attachment. Not all attachments require a contract, but if a relationship is going to last for more than a few weeks, it is usually a sensible precaution against misunderstandings.

History

Before the formation of the Empire, three sisters lived in Bastion. Members of the patrician families of the Highguard, each was a powerful magician in her own right. Dissatisfied with life in the city, and sickened by the chaos of the time of turmoil, they took their extended families - their extensive households - and left. They travelled to a new home on the opposite side of the Bay of Catazar, revealed to them by the divinitory magics of the three sisters. Siroc storytellers still recount the epic tale of the exodus of the three tribes.

By the time the Empress began her crusade to unite humanity beneath her banner, the Siroc were much as they are today – a disparate people of sprawling, extended families spread over three tribes, with each tribe tracing an unbroken matrilineal line back to one of the founders. While each family and each tribe treasured their individual freedoms, they were bound together into a loose nation by a shared heritage and by carefully negotiated contracts and treaties. Initially the tribes were suspicious of the Empress and hostile to the interests of the powerful Highborn priests that backed her. But after several meetings with prominent tribal leaders, the Empress acquiesced to their demands and they agreed to join the nascent Empire.

The Siroc played a key role in the formation of the early Empire – they were instrumental in slavery being outlawed and it was their insistence that each Nation would set the means to select their own Senators. Their most significant contribution was the creation of the Egregores, ensuring that every nation was able to preserve it's traditions. They were unable to convince the priests of Highguard to acknowledge the central role of honesty in a virtuous life, but they are enormously proud that their influence ensured that their ideas of individual freedom and responsibility became a central part of the Empires identity.

Since that day, membership of the Empire has given the Siroc the ability to negotiate not just for themselves, but for the Empire as a whole. It is something they use shamelessly to their advantage when dealing with foreign powers. The stability provided by the Empire has allowed the Siroc to travel far beyond their territories bringing great wealth to all the nations.

No member of the Siroc has ever sat upon the Imperial throne, but they have always had a strong presence and loud voice in the Senate. The Siroc believe that it is in the Senate that true power lies, and that the best Emperors have accepted this and served as figureheads and administrators rather than policy makers. Popular prejudice paints the Siroc as poor politicians – a slur that several of them embrace. Their blunt frankness combined with a tendency to want to get to the point of any argument does not endear them to their political opponents, but they make up for this directness with a tendency to produce powerful and impassioned orators.

Political Leadership

The Siroc are traditionally cautious when it comes to the idea of authority and control. They value loyalty and even discipline, but they are an informal people who have little regard for titles and status and even less for those who think such positions make them more important than their fellows.

By tradition, each Siroc family is represented by a Dhomiro. Selecting a dhomiro is not a political decision, most families simply select the most suitable individual. They are usually chosen on account of their ability to organize or communicate, and they have great influence but little formal power. Their role is to represent their family's interests to those who seek to deal with the family as a whole. Any dhomiro that put on airs or graces would be ridiculed and dhomiro that are not effective in furthering their family's interests are quickly replaced.

The reality of this loose-weave community means that towns, villages and trade wagons are effectively governed by the wealthiest, most influential family who dwells there. This can lead to fluid but infrequent shifts of power as familial fortunes wax and wane. When more formal agreements are needed, the dhomiro of each family involved will negotiate an agree to a formal contract.

Siroc society is not so much controlled as ‘nudged in a beneficial direction’ by the families with the most power and influence. There is little leadership beyond the dhomiro. There is a presumption of cooperation between different families that are part of the same tribe, but this presumption only makes the inevitable rivalries more fierce. When this rivalry threatens to get out of hand, it often falls to the Hakima – the magical custodians of the Siroc tribal legacy – to step in and try to mediate some sort of peaceful conclusion. While the Hakima have no formal authority over the dhomiro, their advice and magical support can help turn a strong family into a truly great family. The Hakima stand outside the traditional Siroc family structure placing their tribe above all other loyalties. Their official role is to guide the decisions the families of the tribe make. This neutrality makes them an essential part of the political structure and most are highly respected.

To outsiders it is a chaotic and unstructured form of governance, but to the Siroc it is as natural as breathing. When an outsider finds themselves frustrated trying to work out who is in charge, the traditional Siroc response is “the wind”. A less metaphorical response might be to ask “why does someone always have to be in charge?” When a decision needs making that affects a number of families, the Hakima and the families gather to ‘discuss’ the issue. To outsiders this a wild affair of drink and revelry, but the informal atmosphere of the gather in no way undermines the severity of the discussions. The exchange of coin, scripts of trade and goods eventually leads to a common opinion and subsequent decision, usually formalised through a contract.

Despite this, Imperial rule requires that the Siroc select Senators. The Siroc solution is simple; wealth and influence dictate many things in Siroc life and they see no reason why senatorial seats should be any different.

When Senatorial seats become vacant, individual families present purses of money to the Civil Service in an effort to secure Senatorial positions. The family that presents the richest purses gets first choice of available seats and so on until all available seats are allocated. The choice of who claims the Senatorial seat is left to the victorious dhomiro. Those who are not successful in claiming a seat reclaim their purse, and the money paid by the winners is pooled and distributed between all families present who have not just gained a senatorial Seat – in proportion to their numbers present.

While outsiders may be offended by the way in which the Siroc auction off important Imperial positions, it is a matter of pride that there is comparatively little duplicity in the political achievement of the Siran Senators. To the Siroc way of thinking their approach is honest - while the politics of other nations can be devious and underhanded, the Siroc are forthright and open in the methods employed.

Economic Interests

Money is the most versatile tool in existence. Every Siroc is to one degree or another looking to “make their fortune” because wealth brings status and luxury and it gives you a freedom that is denied to the poor.

Siran traders go beyond the frankness that is normal for everyday Siroc and strive for a degree of honesty that would shame a priest. They regard it as a matter of skill to obtain the best possible price while being utterly open about the goods they sell. This probity is not driven by moral concerns, but practical ones. The Siroc have achieved an extraordinary reputation for not cheating their customers; a reputation that drives business to their doors. Any Siran trader who stoops to lying about his merchandise for the sake of a better deal, puts the prosperity of all Siroc at risk. As a result they protect this reputation very aggressively, and Siroc traders who do seek to twist a deal or sell a light load are dealt with without mercy.

When an outsider thinks of an Siroc trader, he is often thinking of a harem proprieter. Siran towns always have at least one harem, a communal social houses of music, story-telling, drinking and dance. At the end of a hard day of work the people of the Siroc can often be found, discussing their latest ventures or telling extravagant and grand tales of their ancestors, friends and relatives. They are not places of lewd behaviour (though what happens upstairs between consenting adults is their business) and are staffed by folk of both sexes and varying lineages.

As with most Siran business, a harem is traditionally owned by an extended family invested in their upkeep and operation, and a given family will often maintain more than one structure, or operate a “travelling harem” akin to a circus or fair. In addition to the services and entertainments they provide, the best harem are places of trade. While a lot of formal business takes place at the bazaar, the harem is where merchants go to relax and it is often where the real business of complex trade takes place. While the bazaar is a fine place to visit if you want a new pair of shoes or a sword, the harem is where merchants can informally come to an agreement over chilled fruit and wine concerning more risky ventures, bulk deals and investment opportunities.

When it comes to making financial agreements more complex than a direct exchange of goods, Siroc are most comfortable dealing through contracts. A contract lays down the responsibilities and expectations of both sides of an agreement. The best contracts are short, clear and precise, and contain at least one “get out” clause that allows the participants to get out of the contract without losing face (usually by paying a sum of money to the other side of the contract).

As a consequence, Siran merchants usually seek out the services of a professional scrivener to formalise their relationships. A discreet, neutral scrivener can work out and witness a contract that satisfies both parties, and they are very much in demand. Combining the skill to express ideas simply and clearly in writing with a talent for arbitrating between individuals to help them express what they actually want, these scriveners are the backbone of Siroc economic life. The Siroc prefer to abide by the letter of a contract, rather than the “spirit” – arguments about what was “meant” by the contract are inevitably circular and unhelpful. Where the meaning of a contract must be discussed or clarified, it is again to the professional scrivener that the Siroc merchant turns. The best scriveners are also artists, or employ someone capable of making their contracts look attractive and professional with fine calligraphy and colourful flourishes.

The Siroc are not the strongest military in the Empire, but there is one area where their strength is uncontested – on the open seas. Every Siroc tribe includes dozens of families who make their living as Corsairs, sea-borne raiders who prey on barbarian shipping passing through the Bay of Catazar. The Siroc detest piracy, but they regard privateering as a perfectly legitimate form of warfare, albeit a highly profitable one.

Corsair groups are usually Siran families who own one or more seaworthy vessels. Corsairs are not just privateers, they commonly engage in foreign trade. A common saying suggests that the only difference between a privateer and a merchant is that the privateers get their goods cheaper.

Regardless of how they choose to interact with foreigners, corsairs are often a source of goods unobtainable within the Empire. If the Siroc applaud the triumphs of their corsairs, and enjoy the wealth and plunder they bring back, the Empire tolerate it because the Corsairs are effective in dissuading the barbarians who dwell across the bay from attempting a naval invasion. Only the fear of the power of the Corsairs keeps the southern coasts of the Empire free of invaders.

The Siroc lands are rich in luxuries - especially fine wines and ports from their orchards and vinyards. Their ships sail far afield, bringing back bounty from foreign lands. Their expertise as entertainers is rarely matched within the Empire. The only thing the Siroc do not buy or sell are slaves. Slavery of Imperial Citizens is illegal in the Empire, and the Siroc take no part in the trade even when overseas. The Siroc philosophy is that society is best served when every individual is responsible for themselves and to themselves. While the Siroc do not hold with slavery, they approve of the idea of hard work as punishment, treating the wages a criminal might have earnt doing a job honestly as payment towards the resolution of their crime. Deep mines sunk into the Kahraman mountains tap veins of precious ores and gemstones, and are worked by gangs of convicted criminals.

Military Concerns

While the Siroc nation supports two Imperial armies, organized along traditional lines, most Siroc families encourage their children to practise some martial skills. The Siroc remember a time when the families were responsible for their own defence and they try to remain prepared in case that day should come again. Most Siroc are commonly taught to fight wearing light armour and carrying a small shield and a stabbing javelin or sword. They are not career soldiers and by day they are tradesmen, farmers and labourers, only turning to martial matters when required.

In addition to these forces many families maintain a small dedicated fighting force, usually family members who have shown a capacity for martial excellence. These warriors protect Siran caravans and settlements from bands of raiding orcs or adventurous bandits. Families take a pride in equipping their warriors with the best equipment they can afford. Many of these family warriors have spent time in the Imperial armies, honing their abilities, and are often trained to fight in heavy armour in close formation. The ideal accoutrements are a ornately engraved plate breastplate often worn with other pieces of armour over layered silk robes combined with whatever weapons that family favours.

Some Siran warriors find such an exhilaration in battle that they actively seek opportunities to fight. Centuries ago, the Hakima began to gather Siroc who had been disowned and turned them into a fighting force. By serving their tribe the Siroc were able to find a way to redeem themselves. These groups were called Kohan, meaning without family, and their number has grown considerably over the years. Although they still accept men and women who have been cast out, most Kohan are volunteers, individuals who find such joy in battle that they cannot give it up. They fight for the joy of battle, flinging themselves into combat with a blood-thirsty relish that can easily dispirit an enemy. Kohan often adopt flamboyant costume and body paint, the better to unnerve their enemies. When they are not fighting they are most usually found celebrating their continued survival with that same intensity.

Groups of Kohan usually form loose bands of soldiers who live and fight together, the group serving as a surrogate for the family they have left behind. Groups of Kohan are driven by very different reasons but the traditional ones pledge their service directly to the Hakima of their tribe. They regard devoting yourself to the tribe above all other loyalties as a higher calling and see their path as a spiritual one. A “family” of Kohan is generally quite loose, and its membership fluid, although they are always of the same tribe. Kohan who cannot fight due to pregnancy or injury generally return to their birth family either until they are ready to fight again, and sometimes Kohan choose to rejoin their original family permanently.

Religious Beliefs

The Siroc believe their people are embodied by the elements of dust, fire and glass. The eternal wind-blown dust of the plains is their history, the loyalty for family and continuity of their people. The ferocity of fire is their burning passion for life and their bright and unquenchable spirit. The purity of glass is their soul, the reflection of their transparancy and once broken can never again be mended. Dishonesty and wickedness shatters your soul and pieces of it are lost with each act of deception.

This fierce metaphysical belief underpins a very personal relationship with matters of faith and the spirit, one that is rarely articulated directly outside of poetry or song. While from the outside the Siroc may seem impious and disrespectful, this is a misconception. The Siroc have great respect for the prophets, but they have little time for the priests and religious structures that exist to mediate – or dilute - their messages. Formal religion is seen as being full of pomposity and self-importance, whereas a truly faithful person should understand the teachings of the prophets in his or her soul.

As a result Siran religious ceremonies tend to place their emphasis on celebration rather than sermons. They celebrate sacred festivals with entertainment, feasting, parties and dancing. Many families include a devout priest or spiritual family member who can be relied on to oversee these indulgences, but for the largest and most important festivities the Siroc seek out the services of a Sutannir.

A cross between a professional priest and a party organizer, Sutannir conduct important ceremonies such as the coming of age or a wedding, and see to the spiritual needs of the Siroc as a whole. Before the ceremony many paint their face and limbs with stylised flames in bright colours and dress in flamboyant costumes. A good Sutannir will keep his words short and evocative, knowing his audience prefer to be inspired to virtue rather than lectured. When not speaking they manage the entertainments to make sure that everyone attending is drawn into the celebrations. While it may be the festivity that the Siroc remember rather than the ceremony, the best Sutannir are able to provide religious instruction and support without labouring their point.

Coal-walking, fire breathing, fire dancing and other symbolic performances that represent the Siroc passion for life are always popular at Siroc religious celebrations. Lone Sutannir will hire sufficient entertainers and artisans skilled at these activities to fill the night's entertainment, concentrating on managing their performances to ensure the best overall impact. Sutannir groups usually include numerous talented performers in their ranks who can cover most of the skills most commonly in demand.

Sutannir also perform funeral ceremonies. The death of a family member is never a sombre affair, because the Siroc delight in the joy of life and they consider it an insult to a glorious life to mourn it's passing. As with marriages and coming of age ceremonies, funeral practices have an air of carnival about them, with the mourners turning out in brightly coloured robes. On the rare occasion when grief is appropriate (such as with the death of a child), the grieving is much shorter but just as open and intense.

The only festival the Sutannir do not perform is Festival of Farsi. On this day, the Siroc turn virtue on its head and celebrate the contrary. The festival takes place on the second day of the Autumn Equinox and starts at sunset and lasts until midnight. The proud become humble, the indulgent ascetic and generous greedy. It is a time of foolishness, pranks and trickery that begins with a symbolic chase, where seven effigies of the prophets are chased from the camp in a gleeful and chaotic parade. Everyone is encouraged to try harmless skills like juggling and music – the more terrible the performance the more it is applauded. The festival usually ends in a drunken stupor.

Magical Traditions

Magic is a source of wonder and mystery to the Siroc, and it is quite common for an individual Siroc to know a spell or two, which is commonly called a “knack” or “cantrip” regardless of its actual power. Those who do not devote themselves to the study of magic generally avoid written works of magic. Magic that is written down is suspicious, and superstitious individuals suggest that magical books take on a malevolent life of their own as a consequence of the power they contain. Within the Siran families, magic is passed from one individual to another directly.

Within a family there is often at least one fortune teller, an individual who has made a more serious study of magic. These individuals accept a responsibility for teaching relatives who are interested in learning a few magical knacks, and use their magic to help their family and harm their enemies as well as try to scry the vagaries of fortune and fate. These magicians tend to be practical, and often combine their study of magic with crafting or medicinal lore.

The more powerful and organised magicians in Siran society, the Hakima, view fortune tellers as unsophisticated dabblers at best, and ignorant meddlers at worst. Hakima are organized along tribal lines, drawing members from the most skilled and promising individuals from every family that is part of that tribe. The Hakima are highly skilled practitioners of ritual magic - custodians of magical lore handed down to them by the founder of their tribe. The Hakima are dedicated to preserving not only their own tribe, but the integrity of the Siroc Nation as a whole.

The Hakima of each tribe bring a unique perspective to their magical arts. The Riqueza perform ritual magic using loud, rhythmic, energetic; the Guerra prefer physical movement combined with fire and light. The Erigo use a less energetic style often accompanying their rituals wtih soothing, harmonious music. Most groups of Hakima prefer to work magic at night, in the open air, in the same way their founders did. They practice a tradition that says ritual magic is the act of building up power from the participants and creating a connection to the Realms, rather than the more traditional assumption that the magician draws power down from the Realms to the world. As such, all their rituals attempt to include their bystanders as participants whether that is chanting, clapping or singing.

More than being just magicians, the Hakima exemplify a connection to the founders of the tribes and the history of the Siroc. They are traditionally held to be wise, able to perceive the larger picture more effectively than most Siroc who are anchored in more mundane activities. They may be consulted when important decisions need to be made within a family, or when magical assistance is sought. They rarely wait to be consulted however – a Hakima is likely to be poking around any important business ready to offer a suggestion as to what to do next.

They are especially cautious about preserving the traditions that make the Siroc what they are, and about preserving the links to the founders that form the underpinning of tribal identity. They have little time for dabblers and fortune tellers who debase the legacy of the Founders, and offer advice that claims to be based on divination but is as often as not made up on the spot.

Hearth Magic and the Egregore

Coins have a lot of power in Siroc, as a portion of the luck and prosperity of their owner rubs off on the coins they carry. Many Siroc traders keep a coin from a lucky deal, either in perpetuity or as their last coin, and they enjoy telling stories of how they acquired certain coins. There is a long-standing belief that giving a coin, especially a coin of note or significance to a person who is sick or ill, will help them to get better.

Any clothing that is worn for a few years or more becomes invested with a person's soul, carrying a portion of their identity with them. Old worn clothes are usually burned, rather than given to the poor like in other lands, to avoid a person's self being lost or stolen. The exception is with children where families may keep a particular precious veil, or rich robe to deliberately pass on the spirt of a respected elder to a young family member.

Black cloth is the garment of the dead in Siran society, it carries you safely into death. Bodies are wrapped in black shrouds when they are buried but black cloth is dangerous to the living. A black gift is any gift of clothing or costume that is black in colour, it is sent as a calculated insult or curse to the recipient. Individuals who offend Siroc sensibilities beyond the pale, find black ribbons nailed to their door, or even worse attached to their clothes, a sign that others wish them dead.

The egregore of Siroc takes three forms depending on its mood. Dust appears as an older man or woman, often dressed in a patchwork robe. It works to remind the Siroc of the importance of family. Fire usually appears as a Sutannir, encouraging parties and celebrations, and to inspire those going to war. Glass is the philospher, who appears swathed in pastel veils, to talk to the people about their soul and what it means to be Siroc. In the past century, Glass has often appeared dressed as a Kohan.

Icons and Images

See Siroc Look and Feel.

The Siroc have a love of bright, vibrant colours. They especially value the colours of flames, strong bright yellows, brilliant oranges and every conceivable shade of red as well as gold and silver. Black is considered severe and only generally used for shrouds to hide the faces of the dead and only the poorest people wear white, unable to afford the expensive brightly coloured dyes. Most choose to hide their status by purhasing inferior dyes, better to have at least the slightest touch of colour, then be seen wearing undyed cloth. Clothes are usually worn loose with layers of hanging material. Veils are a fashion accessory worn by men and women at festivals and ceremonies to make them appear more mysterious and alluring.

The image of the flame is central to the Siroc culture, they believe it represents their spirit; wild, powerful and unchained. Expensive clothing is made in brightly coloured layers to convey the impression of the fire within. Stylised flames are often found on banners and flags and Siroc art often includes a fire or flame in the image.

Leather is considered unappealing to most Siroc, a dull heavy material they reserve for boots or armour, so they strongly prefer sashes to belts. A scabbard or a pouch is hung at the waist by a silk cord that goes over the shoulder.

The Siroc admire ornate or bejewelled items. To the Siroc, a brilliant craftsman is one who can make something elegant as well as sturdy. Their weapons and armour are often engraved or adorned, but they are not fatuous, and do not compromise utility for the sake of appearance. Jewellery is very common with the best pieces, like necklaces, crowns or tiaras, designed to frame the wearers hands or face.

This love of the ornate extends to their writing as well; Siroc prize artful calligraphy and ornate seals. A beautifully presented children’s book is treasured more than a dry treatise on magic or history, no matter how useful he latter might be. Given that many families keep their most lucrative or successful contracts as trophies of their economic acumen, a contract may be a literal work of art, presented with the same pride that members of another nation might present a coat of arms or family tree.

Lineage and Species Attitudes

Cambion have a special place in Siran society, a tradition that dates back to the murky prehistory of the Siroc. According to legend a particularly clever Cambion (whose origin is usually tied to the teller in some way) convinced the founders to sign a cleverly worded trade agreement. This binding oath is allegedly what has kept the Siroc together as a people.

This story has created a superstition that the blood of a Cambion (usually a thumb print) upon a document of trade will bring good fortune to the signatories. As a result Siroc Cambion often study to become scriveners.

The calm nature of the Merrow is at odds with the fiery Siroc way of life. Merrow rarely find themselves comfortable in Siroc society and there are few to be found. Many Siroc parents of a Merrow child will take that child across the border to Catazarria, where the child will find a better life. There is no shame in this, the Siroc recognize that a Merrow will struggle to find a life in the tribes and encourage the parents to make a decision that is seen as being in the best interests of the child.

Territories

Madruga

Madruga of the Jewelled Isles is the easternmost territory of Siroc, running from the Kahraman mountains down to the Bay of Catazar. Down the coast of Madruga and Feroz the corsairs and merchantmen raise their sails, running goods to Bastion and Sarvos, trading with foreign powers, and fighting off barbarian incursions. Joharra, the Jewel, the City of a Thousand Sails, is acknowledged as the pre-eminent city in Siroc. It lies in Madruga close by the border with Feroz. Brightly-coloured tent-shanties extend Joharra out far beyond the small cluster of stone buildings that make up the heart of the city. Sails of all shapes and sizes fill the sheltered bay, which is guarded by a series of iron woven nets and chains bought at great expense from the forges of Wintermark.

Feroz

Feroz is the southernmost territory of Siroc, and like Madruga has both isles and coastline. Here the climate is warm and humid, perfect for the cultivation of different plants. This is the home of the fabled spice-gardens of Feroz, the source of much of the wealth of the Siroc. But the seas are more treacherous here, and to the south and the west the barbarians constantly threaten by land. As a result many armed merchantmen patrol the seas, and groups of young warriors journey along the borders and into lost Segura, fighting skirmishes with the ever-encroaching foes.

Kahraman

The mountains of Kahraman rise from the great grasslands of Soroche to the south and the forest of Mourne, on the Marches' border, to the north. It's a treacherous land of broken rock and barren mountainside. Fast-flowing streams spill down deep jagged-edged valleys. There's precious little in the way of vegetation, only scrub that clings to the slopes. However, there are riches in the mountains; here the Siroc find precious metals and minerals, often as sediment lying in the streambeds. Scattered settlements shelter in the valleys, with the remains of stone fortresses and watchtowers decaying on the heights above, remnants from the days before Empire when the Siroc warred with the Marches.

To the south of the mountains of Kahraman lie sweeping grass plains, a seemingly desolate landscape dotted with strange rock formations shaped by the wind. Here the Siroc graze the bulk of their herds of goats and sheep. The wind from the west, the Delés, is constant and bitingly cold at night. As a result, for shelter, Siroc communities settle in bowl-shaped depressions cut from the earth, their tents sunk below the plains surface.

Segura (Lost)

Segura was once a centre of trade for the Siroc. Like southern Kahraman, it is a land of rolling grass plains where herds once grazed; however, on the south-western border stood the town of Anduz, a settlement built on the ruins of a much older city. In Anduz, the Siroc rubbed shoulders with foreigners of three other nations, and there they acted as a trade gateway for the Empire. Unfortunately only twenty years ago a great force of barbarians moved in from the west and took Anduz, scattering the foreigners and the Siroc and burning much of the grassland. Now Segura is a battleground; every year the Siroc will try to reclaim ground and be fought back.

Children

Children in Siroc are often given a piece of over-sized clothing that belonged to someone from an older generation, usually long since departed. The clothing, designed to be grown into, carries the memory of the lost relative and is believed to help the child develop wisdom, audacity and courage of their forebear. The clothing is usually tied up in some way, to ensure it does not drag in the mud.

Siroc like children to learn the value of money. Those who are not poor given their children a Ring every morning, to carry with them during the day. The child is expected to give the Ring back at night, or to justify why they spent the money if it is gone. Any money that the child makes using their Ring is theirs to keep.

Things Every Child Should Know

• A little lie makes a lot of strife. If you tell a lie, you lose a little bit of your soul. Be truthful to yourself and to others.
• Your family is your greatest treasure. Family is the most important thing there is. Always be there to help your family and they will be there to help you.
• Words are fine jewels to be picked up and shown off. Tell stories and find stories, and if you hear an interesting tale or rumour, make sure you tell it to your family.
• Each small thing is worth a Ring. Never do anything for free, unless it's for your family. You need not be paid in coin -- people often have more interesting things to trade.
• Only sell your own goat. You must never trade something which isn't yours.