Zandir
The Zandir are a handsome and flamboyant folk with copper-colored skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. They are known for their hot-blooded nature and their extreme opposition to the conservative culture of neighboring Aaman.
Appearance and Dress
- Adornment: They enhance their features with vividly colored pigments and silver hair bands.
- Apparel: Flamboyant velvet blouses, trousers, and capes of silken brocade, paired with curl-toed boots or slippers.
- Custom: Women often carry decorative fans, while men are known for their swashbuckling and flirtatious style.
History and Origins
Like the Aamanians, the Zandir are descended from the Phaedrans.
- The Schism: A dispute over religious views caused the Phaedrans to split into opposing factions during the Cult Wars.
- Antagonism: For centuries, Zandu and Aaman waged ceaseless war until the construction of the Great Barrier Wall.
Society and Classes
Zandir society is diverse and includes several notable minority groups:
- Causidians: Legal advisors, diplomats, and scribes.
- Certaments: Professional duelists skilled in both magic and swordplay.
- Serparians: Professional beggars who wander the streets in rags.
- Zann: Opinionated coastal fishermen known for being steadfastly contrary. [^1]
- Lifestyle: Amorous and passionate, Zandir often marry young. They are polygamous; both sexes may keep as many spouses or consorts as they can afford.
Dwellings and Diet
- Urban: In the capital of Zanth, they live in copper towers and minarets.
- Rural: Stone cottages in smaller settlements; thatch huts in coastal fishing villages.
- Diet: Diverse roasted meats, poultry, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and plenty of ales and wines.
Zandir Characters
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | 5’6”–6’2”, 100–200 lbs. Copper skin, dark hair/eyes. |
| Base Attributes | WIL -2, CHA +1, DEX +1, SPD +1 |
| Hit Points | 20 |
| Combat/Magic | Select either CR +2 or MR +2 |
- Skills: Language (Low Talislan - native), Language (High Talislan - native), Cultures (Zandir) +5, Fashion (Zandir) +3, Doctrines (Paradoxy) +2.
- Starting Equipment: Silken brocade cape, velvet blouse and trousers, curl-toed boots, 30 gold lumens in Zandir crescents.
Relations and Religion
- Seven Kingdoms: Zandu maintains good relations with the confederation, who find the Zandir far more reasonable than the Orthodoxists of Aaman.
- Paradoxy: The Zandir follow Paradoxism, a belief system that professes to be mystified by existence.
- The Book of Mysteries: The primary text of their faith, containing over 100,000 questions and no answers.
Language and Names
- Tongue: They speak High or Low Talislan depending on their education and profession.
- Names: Colorful and derived from Phaedran roots (e.g., Palitane, Celestea, Crystabal, Balalamos, Schezalle). Zann names are short and blunt (e.g., Neb, Sej, Zaj).
[^1]: The Zann rarely agree with anyone and are considered the most contrary folk in Talislanta.