The Giorand Empire
Society
Giorand Society is a strictly ordered society, with a caste system in place that defines social position from birth. It is rare that people move up the social ladder in Giorand society. Warriors, mages and priests (and in some cases rougues and bards) are considered outside the caste systems, and each must be "sponsored" by noble or family within the clan system. Free adventurers are uncommon in Giorandi, and treated with great suspicion.
Slavery is a common practice in Giorand society. Their economy is agrarian based, with slave working large plantations. Like the adventuring professions, slaves are outside of the caste systems, their rank determined by their master. In some cases, a free commoner has fewer privelages than a slave of a wealthy noble household. Slaves, unlike free men, are forbidden to own any property.
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Politics
The Giorand Empire organizes itself along centuries old clan lines. Clans — called houses in Giorandi — are several extended family groups from a particular geographic region. The ruling clan, or house as they are referred to in Giorand society is the House of the Dragon. This dynasty has been in place since the beginning of the third age as Giorand’s mark their calendar. The third age has lasted four-and-a-half centuries.
The Sept
Under the emperor is the Sept, a word which has two meanings. A Sept is a family or sub-clan within the greater clan. Septs often have a traditional function with the clan, passed from generation to generation. In Giorandi, each of the seven houses rules a province, the size of a kingdom. Each is, in turn, ruled by the Emperor. Sept also means seven in the ancient tongue. The Sept is the emperor's council, made up of the head of each of the seven houses. The Current Sept has served the emperor for 18 generations. The seven houses are, Phoenix, Swan, Bull, Tiger, Eagle, Griffon, and Scorpion.
By custom, besides making up the emperor's council, each house has served the emperor in a strictly defined capacity, passed from generation to generation. The head of the House of the Phoenix has ruled the emperor’s navy, the Bulls head his army. The head of the House of the Swan has served as the emperor's spiritual adviser, and deals with the various religions of Giorandi which threaten to break into open warfare at times. Griffons run the exchequer, the empire's treasury. The house of the Scorpion has traditionally provided the emperor's entertainment, and run the crime syndicates. Like Giorand society, crime syndicates have strict structure and clearly defined, and accepted roles. The House of the Tiger provides the emperor's surgeon, an important and trusted advisor. The House of the Eagle is the emperor's ambassador, and foreign policy advisor.
While the Giorand continent is large, and each Giorand differs some, all have certain features in common. Giorands are on average taller than Mirvians and westerners. While not as Swarthy or brown as Magirie or Mirvians, they have olive hued skin. Hair color tends to be dark among Giorands, although light brown is not uncommon in the southern portion of the peninsula.
Pure blooded members of each of the seven houses have distinctive racial characteristics. Racial and clan purity is important in Giorand society, making them a slightly xenophobic society as a whole. And purity in the high clans is important enough that, all things being equal, a Giorand that exhibits more of his families unique traits will be promoted faster.
House of Phoenix nobles are the tallest an thinnest of the Giorand noble houses. Bulls tend to be shorter, wider, and fairer skinned than a typical Giorand. They also have tight curly hair. Swan nobles are the fairest of skin and hair. Red hair among swans is rare, but not unheard of. Griffons exhibit less distinctive characteristics. The Tiger clan is the most exotic looking, with dark or hazel eyes that are almost almond shaped.
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Religion
Religion is a major force in Giorand society, but in many different ways from the Western Continent. In Giorandi, the emperors and important historical figures have been elevated to god-hood, and are a part of the deities worshipped by the common (or low) born peoples. Other religions imported from races conquered by the Giorands form a portion fo the pantheon, which is always evolving, and in flux. A holy order dedicated to the study of mystcism, called the Priests of the Tarot try to guide the populace in their worship, and act as a buffer between various religious factions who are sometimes at odds with one another.
High born members of the clans also worship the ancestors of their clan as deities. Each house has their own specialty priests, who act as spiritual advisors, and historians for their House.
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