The Baklunish
Background
The Aftermath
In the years following the Invoked Devastation—the magical catastrophe that shattered the Baklunish Empire and reshaped the northwestern Flanaess—the survivors were left to contend with a ruined and radically altered homeland. Vast regions of Baklunish territory were laid waste, and the political and cultural order of the empire collapsed in the aftermath.
The Rise of the New Baklunish Societies
Despite this catastrophe, the Baklunish demonstrated significant resilience and adaptability. Urban populations and nomadic groups alike were forced to adjust to a transformed world. Those who migrated to the shores of the Dramidj Ocean established new settlements that took advantage of fertile coastal lands and access to maritime trade. Over time, these settlements developed into influential coastal centers, positioned to control key trade routes and the wealth that flowed through them.
Other Baklunish groups remained in the interior plains far away from the devastated areas. While the plains were less directly affected by the devastation, they presented their own challenges, challenges the nomads were used to facing as part of their way of life. The nomadic peoples adapted by refining their seasonal movements, particularly taking advantage of the brief winter rainy season, when water and grazing resources became temporarily abundant. However, instead of pushing into the region now known as the Dry Steppes, these tribes were cautious and took great care to remain along the periphery, where the damage was less severe. This pattern of movement allowed them to maintain a sustainable way of life in an otherwise unforgiving environment.
Together, these adaptations illustrate the resilience of the Baklunish people, who did not merely survive the aftermath of the Invoked Devastation but redefined their ways of life in response to it.
Over time, these differing adaptations contributed to a lasting cultural divergence between settled ("civilized") and nomadic Baklunish societies. The settled peoples, including those of Zeif, Ekbir, and Tusmit, developed powerful city-states that became major centers of trade, governance, and culture in the northwest Flanaess. These urban centers prospered through commerce and were further enriched by eastern trade caravans carrying exotic goods, reinforcing their status as influential regional powers.
In contrast, the nomadic Baklunish groups, including the Wolf and Tiger Nomads, as well as the tribes known as the Uli, the Ketites, and the Paynims, remained rooted in their horse-based traditions. Centered around herding, raiding, and the trade of fine horses, these cultures maintained a more fluid and decentralized way of life. Their adaptability and martial prowess allowed them to thrive across the vast plains, their existence closely tied to the herds they tended and the lands through which they traveled.
The Brazen Horde and Continued Migrations
However, the emergence of the Brazen Horde brought significant upheaval. Allegedly acting at the behest of the Sultan of Zeif, though no proof of his involvement has ever been found, this powerful nomadic force swept eastward in an effort to halt raids against Zeifan lands. In the course of its campaigns, the Horde overwhelmed many nomadic tribes, forcing them from their ancestral territories and driving them into new regions of the Flanaess. The Uli, for example, migrated into the lands that would become known as Ull, lands that were largely abandoned by the Oeridian tribes during the Great Migrations, where they established themselves after driving the last of the Oeridian tribes before them. The Ketites settled in the Tuflik River valley, where abundant grazing land and the resources of the Bramblewood Forest allowed them to prosper. Although the region was poorly suited for agriculture, the Ketites maintained their traditional reliance on herding and raiding.
The Wolf and Tiger Nomads were likewise driven northward through Ekbir. Despite their displacement, they retained their identity and continued their traditional way of life, raiding and ranging across the northern plains. Though their territories changed, they remained distinctly Baklunish in culture and heritage. These migrations reshaped the distribution of the Baklunish peoples throughout the Flanaess and further demonstrated their ability to endure and adapt in the face of adversity.
Despite their common ancestry, the settled and nomadic Baklunish developed into distinct societies. The settled, or "civilized," Baklunish generally preserved the greatest degree of Baklunish ancestry, while the nomadic peoples became more diverse through centuries of migration, conquest, and interaction with neighboring cultures. Differences in appearance, customs, attitudes, and beliefs gradually emerged, creating the varied Baklunish societies known today.
Baklunish Leadership
Nomadic Baklunish are typically governed by tribal khans, while the settled peoples are ruled by emirs, caliphs, and sultans, each presiding over their respective courts and councils. Although these leaders hold formal political authority, religious power plays an equally influential role in day‑to‑day governance.
Because Baklunish culture places great weight on omens, portents, and the favor of the gods, priests and mystics routinely advise rulers on matters such as when to wage war, when to raid neighboring tribes, when to migrate, and when to refrain. This spiritual guidance shapes both nomadic and settled societies, ensuring that political decisions remain closely tied to divine insight.
Cooperative spellcasting — especially among tribal mystics and urban clergy — reinforces this relationship, as groups of priests work together to interpret signs, summon elemental aid, or bind extraplanar beings in service to their people.
The Civilized Baklunish
The settled Baklunish people are renowned not only for their rich culture and sophisticated society but also for their remarkable array of skills, honed through centuries of tradition and practice. Whether in the bustling markets of Zeif, the scholarly halls of Ekbir, or the ornate palaces of Sefmur in Tusmit, the Baklunish excel in both the practical and the mystical.
Among the most esteemed of their talents are their combat abilities. Baklunish fighters are famed for their skill in swordsmanship, with many warriors mastering the curved scimitars that are iconic to their culture. Trained in the art of the blade from an early age, they are swift and precise in battle, often using agility and cunning as much as strength. Their swordsmen are renowned across the Flanaess, often sought after as mercenaries or elite guards in foreign lands. The Baklunish approach combat with a grace that mirrors their philosophy of life—fluid, calculated, and beautiful in execution.
Equally impressive is their mastery of magic. Some of the most accomplished elementalists and enchanters come from the civilized regions of the Baklunish. These magical traditions were passed down through generations, deeply rooted in the ancient pacts made with the genies of the Elemental Planes. The Baklunish are particularly known for their control over the elemental forces of air, fire, and earth, as well as their affinity for the summoning of powerful genies, whose knowledge and arcane power are woven into their culture. This connection to the genies has shaped not only their magic but their worldview, blending the arcane with the divine in ways that few other cultures can match.
Alongside their mastery of the sword and magic, the Baklunish are also known for producing thieves of notable talent. The crowded bazaars and layered social networks of their cities create an environment where cunning, subtlety, and quick hands are highly valued. What makes Baklunish thieves truly dangerous, however, is not merely the goods they move or the documents they forge, but the information they gather. The Baklunish information network is extensive, and few secrets remain hidden from their rogues for long. As a result, Baklunish thieves are respected and feared in equal measure, their reputation across the Flanaess one of sophistication rather than brute force—reflecting the complexity of the cities from which they hail.
Perhaps most important, however, are the clerics and mystics who guide their societies. Devout and dedicated, these religious figures are a cornerstone of Baklunish life. The temples of the Baklunish are often grand and intricate, reflecting the power and influence of the gods they serve. Many Baklunish clerics are also adept in magic, using divine spells to heal, protect, and maintain the balance of their cities. Their wisdom is sought after in matters of law, governance, and spiritual well-being. These clerics do not merely offer prayers to their gods; they actively channel divine energy to shape the world around them, making them powerful figures both in the courts of the sultans and the hearts of the people.
In sum, the civilized Baklunish people are defined by their sharp minds, their skill in magic and combat, and their deep connection to their gods and elemental forces. Their cities are hubs of intellectual achievement, cultural exchange, and mystical power, where magic and sword are balanced with the influence of religion and trade. The Baklunish have long maintained their reputation as masters of both the mystical and the martial, and their prowess is unmatched in many areas of expertise. The legacy of the ancient genies continues to echo in their lives, shaping their future as it has shaped their past.
Appearance
The Baklunish are typically recognized for their golden skin tones, reflecting the heritage of their ancestral homeland. Their eyes are commonly gray-green or green, with gray being somewhat uncommon and hazel rare. Their hair is straight, fine-textured, and ranges in color from blue-black to dark, dusky brown. The Baklunish are also known for their tall, slender frames, with long limbs and refined facial features, particularly high cheekbones.
The people of Ekbir and Zeif best represent the pure Baklunish strain, exemplifying these characteristics in their most classic form. However, due to the complex history of migration and intermingling with neighboring peoples, there are some notable exceptions.
Similarly, the people of Tusmit display occasional Oeridian admixture, further diversifying their appearance, though they still retain many of the defining features of the Baklunish people.
The Nomads
The Paynims
The Paynims (PAY-nim) occupy the largest portion of the old Baklunish Empire, consisting of the Plains of the Paynims and the Dry Steppes to the south.
The Paynims are skilled warriors. Although the Paynims are made up of two distinct groups, they are both very fierce and warlike. The northern Paynims wander the grasslands, leading their livestock to new grazing grounds and following hunting game. The southern Paynims, on the other hand, will migrate into the Dry Steppes during the autumn, winter, and spring rainy seasons, but will move northward towards the middle of spring before the steppes become too hot and dry.
Appearance
Over time, the Paynims have intermixed with the Suel and Oeridians (when the Oeridian tribes lived in modern day Ull and its environs). The Paynims have a darker, golden-bronze to olive skin tone, with fair skin being rare. Their eyes tend to be dark brown or black, with occasional greens, and blue, gray, or hazel being exceedingly rare.
Paynim hair has an equal chance of being finely textured and straight, or thick and wavy/curly. Hair color tends to be dark, ranging from blue-black, to black, to dark brown. Dirty blond hair is uncommon.
Paynims have moderately high cheekbones, but not as high as pure Baklunish people. They also tend to have round faces and noses that do not stand out as overly short or long, with the bridge of the nose showing a smooth curvature.
The Paynims wear two different styles of clothing depending on the region they are from.
The Southern Paynims
The southern Paynims wear fitted shirts or blouses called a tavryn, crafted from lightweight, breathable fabrics. The tavryn is ideal as a base layer for both grassland summers and desert migrations. The tavryn is adorned with intricate embroidery along the collar and cuffs, often in patterns that signify the wearer's clan, accomplishments, or personal totems. Its wide sleeves can be secured at the wrists with woven ties to protect against sand and wind or rolled up for practicality during daily tasks.
They also wear a pair of loose, split pants designed for comfortable riding and ventilation in the hot climates, reinforced at the knees for wear during long journeys called darukhsar.
A lightweight, long tunic with flowing sleeves is worn over the shirt, and is called a hathriq. It is designed for flexibility while riding and protecting against both sun and sand. It is often adorned with patterns representing clan or tribal.
The arqesh is a wrap-around headscarf that doubles as a face covering during sandstorms, often dyed in symbolic clan colors or embroidered with protective symbols.
Sturdy leather boots with flexible soles, called narthaks are also worn. These boots are designed for both riding and walking on uneven terrain.
The Paynims will wear a dralkin, a heavy cloak with a water-resistant outer layer, and is also used during cold desert nights during rainstorms and sudden sand storms as the case may be. Often reversible, with a bright side for signaling and a muted side for stealth.
The Northern Paynims
The northern Paynims dress in similar fashion to the tribes in the south, but will eschew the hathriq and arqesh. The northern tribes will wear the tavryn, darukhsar, and the narthaks. During times of rain, the northern people will wear the dralkin, but will wear a lighter cloak called an ashara to protect from the sun or the wind. The ashara is weighted at the bottom to prevent excessive billowing when the wind picks up, and allows access to weapons or tools that may be carried on the person under the cloak.
There are some among the northern Paynim tribes who eschew the tavryn. These people are youthful and trying to show their prowess as warriors. As they gro wolder or begin to earn a reputation, they will start to wear the tavryn embroidered with the patterns denoting their personal accomplishments.
Common Appearance
When travelling or going to battle or to war, the Paynims wear little to no armor. They have found metal armor to be too hot and heavy for their mounts, and very restricting for melee combat.
The types of armor that may be worn is padded, leather, hide, or thick cloth (equivalent to hide armor). They may wear small shields adorned with clan or tribal colors.
Proficiencies
Paynims must take a weapon proficiency with at least one of the following at 1st level; the scimitar, light lance, mace, flail, or the short bow.
Paynims receive a choice of bonus proficiencies. They may choose either Animal Handling or Animal Training.
Ull
The Uli are an offshoot of the northern Paynim tribes. The Uli are the most warlike of the bunch, often raiding or going to war with Ket, Tusmit, Ekbir (from time to time), and their western cousins.
The Uli are a treacherous people, but it is generally held that the town dwellers are more venal than even the untrustworthy nomads.
The Uli dress and wear the same types of armor as the Paynims.
The Uli will often hire themselves out as mercenaries.
Proficiencies
An Uli character is automatically proficient with the longbow, mace, and Pole Arms.
[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]
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