Qu'araid (Carallion Supplement)
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Qu'araid is an arid and mountainous region crossed by the Five Great Rivers : From West to East : Theru, Taris, Phrades, Ghangi and Styk. Styk was long considered the border with the Eastern lands and the Great Steppes. Due to the location of the great Necropolis of Kharaz it is also known as the river of the dead. The Five Rivers bring life to what otherwise would be nothing but desert. Qu'araid culture is different from that in Ärenn. Most nations pride themselves on their history stretching back for millennia.
Kharaz[edit]
Kharaz is simply known as the Land of the Dead. This ancient Empire, many times older than Tolas, dates back to the 2000's and has endured many great challenges over the centuries, yet itself remains almost unchanged. The Necromancers of Kharaz are feared by many and even in Ärenn it is common to tell naughty children than they will be whisked off to Kharaz if they do not behave. Many stories, most of them untrue of this distant land, have spread over the centuries, describing an unholy place where undead hold sway over the living.
The reality is quite different. Kharaz is a land where the dead simply exist alongside the living. Undead are a common sight everywhere as they serve as troops and servants for the living. Undeath is seen as a way to prolong one's usefulness to Kharaz after one passes away and people can be resurrected as undead depending on their station in life. Warriors may become mummies or even skeleton warriors, while wizards and priests become liches. The undead of Kharaz are clean and free of the decay usually associated with undead. That is why some of the more repulsive undead such as Zombies are not commonly found since their decay would hamper their tasks as servants to the living. Only slaves and criminals are raised as undead against their will after their death and no honest citizen fears to become undead against their will, except maybe through the usually extremely rare clerical error.
Kharaz's powerful undead warriors and liches allied themselves with the League in their war against the Highest, but their contribution has been largely forgotten.
Kharazian cities are dominated by great Ziggurats, where the priests perform their Necromancy. They are also observatories for the Astrologers, who are of great importance in Kharaz.
Ri'bah[edit]
Ri'bah is a vast desert, home to a host of rival tribes, competing for each other in a land of limited resources. Oases are the main source of water and Tribes will defend theirs to the death. Ri'bah warriors are a fierce and proud people, hardened by their harsh land and are highly prized as mercenaries.
Shuria[edit]
The Shurian Empire was once the greatest power in Qu'araid, but it has been bested by the great empires of Ärenn, Khrecia and Tolas. Though it is no longer the vast power it used to be, it is still a fearsome local power and is fiercely militaristic, threatening its neighbours. Some Shurians believe it is time to reclaim this greatness and believe they can seize the power in the region and maybe one day control Ärenn itself.
Khem[edit]
Kehm is famous for its fertile land, fed by the mighty river Theru. Perhaps one of the oldest civilisations of Humans, Khem has remained almost completely unchanged since the time of the Highest. Isolated from its neighbours by arid deserts and high mountain ranges. It is a rich land with mighty temples, palaces and the famed great pyramids, colossal tombs of the Khemish Pharaoes. Death is an important part of existence and all Khemu make prepartions during their life for their journey into the afterlife. Utmost care is taken in the preservation of the body through mummification, which the Khemu have developed into a near perfect art. Some mummies, dead for thousands of years appear almost alive as if merely asleep. Kharazians mummification is much cruder in comparison. Surprisingly the Khemu abhor Necromancy and raising the dead is one of the gravest offenses known.
Magg[edit]
Magg is the only major non-human realm in Qu'araid, with a population almost exclusively made up of Goblinoids. Each race lives in a highly rigid system of castes. Goblins are labourers and servants, while Bugbears are warriors and Hobgoblins are the elite, leaders, priests and wizards.
Hatiz[edit]
The great trading port of Hatiz is legendary for its riches. An independent city-state it has a powerful navy and can afford mercenaries to defend the three mighty walls that protect the city. Hatiz is a rich cosmopolitan city, and the saying goes that everybody who travels eventually passes through Hatiz.
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