|
|
|
|
(Taken from the Royal Library of Evendarr 7/22/603)
Introduction The Khalwa, are the people of a gypsy nation, located in what they call the Homelands. The Homelands are located in the Northwestern corner of Veluria, just across a dangerous waterway. For all intents and purposes they are as colorful as gypsies, with diverse accents and styles.
Khalwa do not mind being referred to as Gypsies. However, they do not necessarily view themselves as simply gypsy. They consider themselves the children of Nalatan. Khalwa means “union of spirit”. This union has even duped some into thinking they are all one joined clan, when in fact they are a group of five clans, with multiple families.
The diversity of cultures within this sub-culture allows a wide range of social norms. All forms of magic are practiced. From Celestial to Harmonics, the mages of the society work in an apprenticeship to master system. The schooling includes all manners of study including necromancy. To study not the bad mojo of the world, wouldn’t allow them to learn how to undo it.
Due to the multiple cultural differences of the Khalwa, they are quick to learn about any system and gain understanding. This is a double-edged sword. Some clans will jump to conclusions quickly, while others will simply outright rub against the grain of a new society. The fact is the Khalwa will avoid living in a society that is too outside the pale. If the new peoples they meet are not too difficult, they will abide by the laws of that land and set up small enclaves outside populated areas.
Within Khalwa clans there is a gender-neutral policy of leadership. Most immediate families are made up of equals with the oldest in that family holding position of greatest rank generally. The gender of the child determines clan affiliation by matching the clan of the gender shared by the parent. Each clan has a primary family, which represents it on a council called the Madrasa.
History The history of the Khalwa is a respected and well-documented one. Unfortunately that very history has been written an innumerable number of times. This truth has made it hard to see which is correct and which is false. There is possibly a little truth in each, but then history goes to the victors, and with no victors, that Khalwa history is pained to express it. Especially when each clan comes from many diverse beginnings rather than one source, even clan history is bad. By bad it is not meant they sound bad, but which one is right?
Clans As mentioned earlier, the Khalwa are made up of five clans. Each clan brings something particular to the table and when brought together it is a very powerful force.
Diego – The clan of Sky. The clan of Spirit. The Diego uphold a continental Spanish flavor of the Moorish period of Spain. As openhearted merchants and traders, they sail the great oceans in a quest for the next deal, the newest adventure, the greatest plunder, or perhaps to rescue an oppressed people. They are progressive in belief and always looking to experience something new regardless of circumstance. Quick with the tongue it often gets them in trouble and out.
Valar – The clan of Fire. The clan of the Heart. The passion, which causes the blood to flow in the veins of the Khalwa. They are the Champions of what is right and good. At least what they believe it to be from day to day. Dividing the attention of Valar is not a difficult talk, as they are always looking for the Quest. Do not confuse this with the Adventure. Diego moves for excitement, Valar looks for the cause. They are based of Traditional India about the period of Medieval Europe.
Walker – The clan of Void. The clan of Soul. Balance is a tricky feat. The clan of the Walkers is perhaps the oddest clan. They are the last clan to join the other four brothers. Walker are supposedly descended from a people who once thought they knew all, were always right, seen it and heard it all, and honed themselves to be the ultimate warriors. Now they are but shards of that history lost in the annals of time. It is believed that they fractured with others who sought to dominate the world as the overlords. Instead now they provide the great examples as entertainers. They have managed to find a way to take the best of every clan, but are afraid to move forward as they may repeat the past.
Fakir – The clan of Water. The Clan of the Mind. Oriented on the Arab/Persian cultures, the Fakir hold the title of students for life. To steal the quote, “the mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Fakir have attempted to use the mind whenever possible. Everything is an evaluation, to determine a goal. The way to the goal is now the process. The best way of making the process work is task. No matter what it is they will seek to understand before action. As such they are the conscience. Everyone trained to argue, speak, and recite. The mind is the gateway to newness. Study, practice, analyze, and make manifest.
Timbuc – The clan of Earth. The clan of the Body. Based upon the many traditions of vibrant civilizations in Africa, Australia, and Native America, these are the epitome of the tribalism and simplicity. All things are simple. All things are the way they are, and unless it bothers me there is no reason to make rules or ask why. They appreciate everything they have, and honor the earth as they would the home. They are however the warriors and the defenders of the Khalwa. A martial tradition much akin to the Spartans of Greece, they are stalwart warriors. Grounded in Tradition, they like to say that the world is simple until a Fakir sees it, a Diego hears what the Fakir sees, and the Valar start talking about it. “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” However Timbuc are curious in breeding. They like to see new things… not to study or hoard it, but just to enjoy the oddities of the world. They are builders, craftsmen, and well versed in the ways of the Tyrra.
The Homelands The Homelands of the Khalwa are located upon the northwestern segment of the continent of Veluria. A range of mountains borders the northlands frosted with the snows deposited by precipitation from the north. What is left crosses over and falls to create the grasslands of the Valar and other peoples of the plains. Bordering the western portion of the homelands are shores of the great ocean. Just beyond the shores resides the island of Madrigal, home to the Diego. To the south the River Magreb stretches across the southern rim of the Sahel Desert, and the Fakir city of Basra. Trapping the great life giving waters is the Lalibela Forest, which borders the Southern Spires. In the center of all this is the great Sahel and within dwells the many Govi bands and the Walkers in the oasis city of Sijilmasa.
Mahadevi – It is the primary city developed over the years by the Valar. It stands at the foot of Nalatan’s Rifting, a valley that separates the mountain range, Khaliath, to the north. The gap received its name from the place with which the present day Northern Valar, exited the histories of the Khalwa. The city of Mahadevi stands as a bastion from very infrequent tribal incursions of the northern barbarian tribes. It is also the last standing city of the region after the Alliance Wars, with the Hundred Tigers.
The city itself is no more than a wall surrounding a large central trading plaza. This plaza is called a Bazaar or Caravanserai. The Caravanserai of Mahadevi is a large warehouse of goods protected by the Justicar’s and the elite special guard of Valar. To the northwest are the homes of rich merchants and master craftsmen; whilst on east the average citizens live supporting the city economy.
Within the Caravanserai, are traded the horses groomed on the Durbar Plains, the varied foodstuffs and cereals from the many plantations, various spices, cheese from the cow herds, and metals from the Khaliath Mountains traded with the dwarves there. From the southern cities, the goods of those various regions are brought along the Afar Road. The northern spear of the cross-desert trade arrives and ends at Mahadevi.
Cadiz – Located on Madrigal, the isle of song, the city of Cadiz is really a major port of call. In it’s conception it was a city used to promote the slave trade of the Hundred Tigers. Since there was little to fear in it’s early day the city was not built with defense in mind but commerce. Not long ago the Diego Adventurers hit the place with all of their weight. Coupled with Timbuc support (at least the ones not puking from their first sea borne trip) they destroyed the sleeping harbor. Timbuc and Diego then set about designing a city that would repel any by sea or land.
Their success became Cadiz. A low wall surrounded the new city and the sea entrance a sea wall sheltering the docked ships. Here in Cadiz more ships could land and empty cargo. After this have it recorded catalogued and taxed. That is right taxed. The goods are then shipped out again to the various ports of trade making it a rich port. The taxes going to the upkeep and defense of the city.
It is also where the deep-sea fishers bring back their sea crops. On the North side of Madrigal many fish gather to eat the diverse life there. In turn they are eaten by Diego fishers, or smoked and shipped throughout the Homelands. To the east sheltered from the rough ocean current are oysters and pearl diver looking to make a fortune maintain that crop. Also here are located various merchant trader houses, where ships are insured of their cargos and privateers compete to protect those goods. Here also are housed the privateers of the sea who are responsible for the policing and defense of the sea-lanes.
The Dockmasters' house is located on a hill overlooking the harbor. A large number of warehouses are closest to the docks, while inns and taverns range second in distance. Most citizens do not actually live there but in the surrounding lands. For a fact the city is almost one large hotel catering to sailors of various kingdoms seeking the riches of the world.
Basra – The majestic city of minarets is where the great College, the Majatal sits. People from all around come here to craft great works from the natural elements of the Homelands. Scholars and craftsmen gather here hawking their creations and talents. From simple libraries to small personal stores of knowledge, Basra is the place to come in order to taste the creativity of the Khalwa people.
At the center of the city is the graceful College of Magic and Scholarship. Here the scholars from all over the realm study the esteemed skills of creativity and magic. Special students as young as 7 years old enter knowing only the simplest of knowledge and leave at least versed in understanding the ways of Truth. Some go on to become more…Prophets.
Surrounding the College all of the activity of Basra pulsates to a hidden rhythm of shops selling their finely crafted goods. Books abound here as no other place. Varied cultures gather seeking to understand, whose wisdom is best, better, or worthy of discussion. Men sit playing games of strategy concocting the best plans to keep their minds sharp. People in all sorts of finery walk about dallying at festivities honoring the many prophets.
All about these citizens walk the warrior-magi of the Citadel of Jawalal. They reside in the home of Raisuli, the leading family of Fakir. Fakir does not actually control this city at all. In fact, it is loose federation of families each with there own established dwelling. No dwelling is greater than Jawalal. Interconnecting bridges across small islets bring you to the hill that juts from the soft waters of the Magreb River. On this hill overlooking the river barges bringing wares to Basra for trade north, is the citadel.
Surrounded by walls crafted by the Timbuc, and artistically embellished by various craftsmen, the walls almost seem delicate to the first glance. There resides the heart of Fakir.
Lalibelangwe – Walking into the city some visitors would feel it was the land of barbarians and uncultured primitives. Lalibelangwe is the only city of great size in all of the forest realm where Timbuc dwells. Conical buildings rise amidst earthwork walls merging with the landscape.
Huge ivory tusks define the gateways to the city. They are a symbol of the creature with which the Timbuc identify. The Elephant is a primary icon of the culture. All around are men armed with weapons of war. To the north mountain creatures that at times raid the forest below threaten Lalibelangwe. The tusks are to remind them of their past failures and the armed men are the tooth to that warning. Cultivated products made from rich mahogany, and furs from animals gained in the hunt prevail in the courtyard.
The conical towers provide shelter from the heaviest rains in the Homelands, where flat roofs would eventually collapse under the weight. The greatest of these towers house the Zenedangi, the greatest warriors of the Timbuc and the chieftains. Next to it resides the ritual Shaman, and the blessed Circle of the Forest. The Circle is focused on the magics of the Earth and understanding their place in it. In the city are also the Elephant pens, where the domesticated animals receive care.
Sijilmasa – Somewhere in the middle of the Sahel Desert there is an oasis frequently used by the Govi traders. Here the caravans rest from the rigors of traveling, before continuing on or handing over their goods to a second team for far destinations. Sijilmasa is now primarily a land of the Walker clans.
In the oasis are overflowing palms, which shield citrus groves that grow there. Walker clans provide much of the rest from the rigors of the everyday in the form of entertainment. Dance, song, or tales, whatever it takes to provide relaxation. It is amazing that such a harsh environment could yield the fruitfulness of the Sijilmasa.
The desert haven is made up mostly of tents of Bedouin-like Govi. There is no fear of rain so the Tents are geared more towards shade from the noon sun. They are black in color showing a stark contrast to the sands of the desert earmarks a gathering of Govi. The great number of armed and masked men riding atop camels, show simplicity by day and in travel. In the night the many colored robes mixed with the white of the Walkers forming a rainbow of shimmering vibrancy, that can be seen throughout the Khalwa.
Cultural
Structure of the Khalwa by Jabril al-Basra al-Raisuli
A General Description
The development of the civilization of the Khalwa is one that has taken quite some time to reap fruits of it's past. The shapers of the general cultural designations sought to classify the People into a system of castes. Unlike those nations surrounding them, the caste system did not represent the importance of one group or another. Instead it allowed for a smooth running with little involvement from the Grand Madrasa. One of the first lessons that you may learn is that Khalwa do not wish to have things difficult. the fastest way to a result is always preferred.
Though Khalwa have few cities and live mostly in villages, their influences are primarily nomadic. Though many do not practice the complete way of wandering, at some point all Khalwa must travel in the wild environs in order to understand their roots. A strong promotion of individuality within a communal responsibility is fostered from birth. Each child is free to choose their futures, however most follow in the steps of their parents. The saying goes "In order to survive we must sometimes sacrifice our personal identity. Each Clan has sacrificed a little to make the others stronger."
Some have proscribed that the Khalwa are arrogant, and revolutionary. In fact this is not so to those who have come to find them as friends and allies. Khalwa treat all people with politeness and courtesy. They are the consummate hosts. A Khalwa who does not provide shelter to another is viewed as an outcast. This is not to be mistaken as a weakness. In fact they do not judge people on the basis of title but by their actions. They have been known to treat a King as a Knave and a Knave a brother. They do not trust openly. The wayward traveler often notices his Hosts have swords close by just in case.
Their leaders in government often know that they must lead wisely in order to maintain their positions. It is also said, "When given a job do it well. This goes for a hired cook and a councilor. If the food tastes bad would you keep the cook? Why do differently with a leader?"
Social Divisions The structure applied to the People of the Khalwa are divided in 6 ways. These divisions are Clan, Family, Lifestyle, and Profession or expertise. Each community is made up of a Madrasa, a School, and a Bazaar. Let me expand upon this society a bit more. The reason I will not describe Clan and Family is because they are described elsewhere. We will instead focus on Lifestyles and Professional divisions.
Lifestyles
Shuluf - Urbans There are five cities which hold the entire Urban population. these are the city dwellers as they are called. One exist in the homeland of each of the Five Clans. Each city resembles that of it's clans culture and is enhanced by the people therein. They are the closest things to "civilization" many may chance to see. Khalwa who dwell in the cities have a stricter law code and a standing policing force. The cities are not majestic things mind. They only differ from the villages in the fact that they contain sturdier buildings made of stronger materials, and they wear much more livery. The life of the Urban is focused on work and trade. Most of the money and wealth is expended here as trade caravans crisscross the cities in hopes of making their livelihoods. The largest city is Basra located at the mouth of the Magreb. Most cities have a Madrasa and a School or College. Urbans also tend to wear finer clothing than any other lifestyle.
Bawa - Villagers These are the rural communities which serve as the granary of the Khalwa. Heavily communal they rarely have a college and tend to focus on a more pastoral lifestyle. They are typically located by a river or in an oasis. They are closer to the Nomadic lifestyles of their ancestors and focus on survival. They tend to house a much more practical assortment of people. Lending less on the liberal agendas of the city and focusing more on the everyday tasks set before them. This is also the place of manufacture of cloths and kaffe. Kaffe is a very important luxury that is shared by all Khalwa, and everyone needs clothing, yes? The pastoral nature leads them to wear simple clothing.
Govi - Nomads They are the dwellers of the wild lands untamed by man. They live one with the natural surroundings of their environment and are looked upon with the greatest respect. This view is totally foreign to other lands. Here in the badlands of Veluria it is a well known fact that life is harsh, and someone needs to keep the harshness at bay. The most adventuresome of people the Nomads wander the deserts. They bring the goods to the bazaar. They guard the harvest into the cities. And they provide safe transport from one point to another. A subsection of this are the Privateer vessels of Cadiz. They perform a similar role but on the sea-lanes. All are expected to spend one year of their lives amongst the Govi. One never knows when you must return to the wild. They all have Madrasa and Scholarly pursuits tend to be more on the Earth Magic bend. Their clothing is simple except during special ceremonies and their ways simpler.
Professions/Expertise
Warriors Where there is war there are the warriors. The first line of defense against aggression or danger. Traditionally located throughout Khalwa lands, the warrior caste seeks to hone martial discipline with fanatical vigor. Normally attached directly to the Madhya or other leadership as designated they are kept tough by the Warmaster. All Warriors spend half a year in the desert, one quarter in the fields and one quarter in the cities as police. Many young men who fear they do not have the talent of mind to be Sajj nor magical talent at all sign on with this branch for some portion of their lives.
Merchants The life blood of any people is trade. The more you have the more prosperous a land. The Merchants range from anything to a Bazaar Retailer to a Desert Speculator to a Sea Scout. Always looking for the great sale or the rarest items they are driven to adventure not through greed but the competition of merely have succeed. Merchants are at every level. Someone has to sell the goods. In Bawa territory however most craftsmen sell their own goods and have no need of a local grocer.
Entertainers Without celebration you can not enjoy the many colors of life. Weddings, Birthings, funerals, any reason to have a party. The entertainers are the active spirit of the Khalwa. Once upon a time it was these Entertainers that first kept the many Desert Kings and hundred Tigers amused in their palaces. They were no more than slaves who had more privileges than most. When given a chance many ran to the Great Madhya Nalatan who was quoted as saying, "On Tyrra if there is no song, then we might as well be enslaved. Though the world were to grow silent, never will our choirs be silent, nor our feet to stop tapping, nor our Cirque be lacking."
Artisans Goods must be made into a product. Swords, Armor, Clothing, and Homes. They are the creators and builders of our livelihoods. One of the few professions to permeate every level of the three lifestyles. They take what is produced and turn them into the tools with which to build a civilization. They also mimic the latest fads in the culture and are closest to the pulse of the people. A Wind Master once said that "In the air about the Bazaar is news from every corner of the world. With it one can learn of the goings on in a thousand places without stepping a mile from where you started."
Historians They are the keepers of the lore. The great storehouse of knowledge which is open to all, and especially useful to the Scholars of the Colleges. The Librarian categorizes the sum of all the history of the Khalwa and the many conflicts encountered. They are also the managers of the ancient scrolls. When in doubt as the Library.
Sajj/Scholars Mostly made up of Celestial Mages the Sajj are any one who has mastered an art or magic or seeks to do so. They are the mystical element of society. Designers of cultural future and very important to resisting the magical enemies of the Khalwa. They are greatly respected for their roles and almost venerated at times. They are also the runners of the colleges which teach the new the many arts. They work in tandem with almost every profession at some point. Whether it is to aid in the gathering of information of a strange Fae or the creation of a new potion or scroll. Greatly respected in the city they are rarely seen in the Bawa and are normally solitary when amongst the Govi.
Healers Someone will always be in need of the healers. It is there job to stop plagues, rest the undead which sometimes erupt from the earth, and tame the spirits. They are most respected merely because of need. They exist in every echelon of society. They share a spot with the Sajj and maintain many of the same duties though less in the way of Defense.
Administrators The men and women of the Khalwa who make sure everything runs smoothly. They are the Madrasa, the communal leaders, the vizier's and the scribes. They are traditionally drawn up from the colleges in the city, and larger villages. However in Rural and Nomadic areas it tends to follow special training when talent is first noticed, usually before 7 years old.
Justicar's The moral centrists. Their objective is to maintain order when force is necessary. Rarely is that so. When times of chaos are greatest these men and women from the Warrior profession spend one quarter of their careers in these posts.
Winds It is rumored that there is a special group called the Winds. Every citizen has heard a tale of a man dressed in dark moving at night riding into the city through the streets. Most assume it is a Fakir, or some Govi running messages to the High Madrasa. It is rumored amongst the Administrators that these are the spies and information gatherers. Some go so far as to say they are a special family outside of the Clan structure, whose duty is to sometimes end the lives of rival warlords. Most do not care if they exist. They are keeping the Hundred Tigers and the Sand Kings at bay then to the night go the Winds.
Government All things begin and end in the Madrasa. This is the traditional body of politics which is traditionally used to mediate disputes and a variety of crimes. Contrary to popular belief though the Madrasa appears to be a democratic invention it is in fact not so. It is traditionally made up of each of the regions elders, leaders, Scholars, and Soldiers. First and foremost all Madrasas are led by a Vizier. The Vizier selects the components of the Madrasa by assigning four individuals to each and every situation almost like a committee to find out the facts in each case. Madrasas are not just places where conflict is resolved. In fact it is also the place where much policy is decided. Such things as crop failures, bandits, and natural disasters are shortly followed by a convening of the local Madrasa.
The Madrasa is divided at the many levels of society. Every subsection has essentially a Madrasa of lesser or greater circumstance. The supreme Madrasa is that of the Goajik. This is the Madrasa of the Madhya and effects the policy of all the enclaves/lifestyles. The Goajik rarely makes sweeping policy changes. In fact it has only done so some 100 times since it's inception. And most of those done early in it's history. The Goajik prefers to allow local peoples to administer most of their affairs. Yet when the problems increase and are between Nomad Tribes or Farms, they are referred to a special envoy sent from the administration to that location.
The Government also does not have a standing military per se. The actual military is quite small and mostly made up of paid volunteers. There has never been a lack of consignees. The military will surge when the Madhya or local Madrasas declare Kulwar Guyam or Great war. This basically means that the able bodied males and females are conscripted by the local Madrasa and sent to Five cities to receive orders. Then the orders are carried out until the goal of the Kulwar is achieved. As it has been said, be wary when the Madrasa convenes to discuss war. To discuss death is not a thing done lightly.
At the top of this is the Madhya, who appoints to the Goajik the Grand Vizier. He also appoints the Master of War. Also appointed are the positions of Grand Carvaneer or Merchant guild leader, Master Craftsman and These three literally bolster the government. Beneath them are the clan elders. Within the clans there are the familial chiefs. The Madhya's role is one in which he embodies the unification of the peoples. In the history of the Khalwa came a man who somehow led a perfect combination of peoples to a place. At this place we were able to stop some great evil by using all of our inherent talents. Knowledge is power, he who has it can rule the world. Those who seek Knowledge must have Wisdom to ensure those who have that much power use it responsibly.
Special Days · Unification - Is the momentous day celebrated at a common gathering in the Month of December. The day when the families of the various clans came together to combat against the Alliance of the Hundred Tigers and the Desert Kings. · Death of Nalatan - The day in which silence is noted. The day the Great Founder and Unifier passed away into the Elsewhere. · Blessing of the Circles - Once a Year the Circles are blessed by an especially selected Earth Scholar from the college. Normally for the one Earth scholar's ascension to the rank of Sajj. · Death of the Prophet - The day the great Gurus or Prophets have passed from the earth. Within each Clan, Family, Profession, and Lifestyle are special people who are given a moment of Remembrance. They have helped add significantly to the lives of the people. · Raising of the Tent - The day the desert dwellers called the Govi come to the towns to trade. Let the haggling begin! · Day of Tears - The day when the remnants of the Clan Walker arrived upon the shores of Cadiz. It was a horrible spectacle. Half starved and sickened, they arrived from an unknown land set adrift to escape from a dark enemy · Jubilee - Celebration of the generational development of the Madhya.
Fakir By Jabril al-Basra/Doyaun Evans I am the Khalwa called Jabril of Basra of the clan Fakir. I am a member of the prominent family the Messenger. You may have seen my signature written thus, Jabril al-Basra al-Raisuli. I am the Son of the Great Madji Kishra Akal, Magister Principes of the Collegium. I have been asked to rewrite into the common tongue the Histories of those known as the Khalwa, and in particular the clan Fakir. It will take some time but I will do my best. I may even repeat myself in places, as it is indeed a long past to commit to memory. I have a great tale to tell so listen closely. This is unlike any of the stories you may hear from Fakir. This is the truest of them.
Our origin is an odd one for many of the clans. Our Ancestors are a desert dwelling people, who settled along the Magreb River thousands of years ago. They were called the Gidron. We were a nomadic people that traversed the shifting sands in search of new grass with which to feed our flocks. One day one of our people named Ali went from our camp and became lost. Now a man who is lost in the desert cannot be saved. So on the clan went moving to the next vista.
A few years later after having traveled the length of the Magreb, they arrived at the place Ali was lost. Something had changed. The place they now walked was a small village and the land was fertile. Where once there was desert there was now grass and trees starting to grow. The Gidron thought this a miracle. The Elders sent Envoys into the village to find out from where they had come. When the news returned the people arose in a joyous elation. Ali was alive!
Now you would say that this was a good thing to find one of our brethren, who had been lost. It was not. It was the day we would have our very lives changed forever. For Fakir had not been borne yet. When the Elders questioned Ali about how he had survived and lived. Ali answered that he had succumbed to the desert and lain upon the sand food for the vultures. He had awakened days later in a caravan. This Caravan carried the people who came to settle the village. Ali spoke of how he was amazed at the way they crossed the desert. They made picture images of the places they had been. They had called them maps. Ali spoke of other things: the writ, irrigation, farming, and their strong implements of war.
The Elders listened to this in awe and fear. You see the Gidron have never fancied the scholarly arts. They revere a more basic nomadic culture, what some might call Barbarian. They were also afraid Ali was a madman. Men drawing the world and speaking without sound? These were mad magic and crazy things. Why would they have tongues not to speak and minds to remember the way they come and go? The old tribes moved on following their wandering ways for quite some time. Now the route they took always brought them near the village. They would cross the point of Ali's disappearance and watched, as the Village became a farmland. The next time they passed, it was a hamlet. Still again, they came and it was a town with a central stockade. Repeatedly they crossed the Point of Ali, as the bend in the river was now called, and would enter the town of Jawalal. Every time a few members of the Gidron would succumb to the life of the city. Yet, some would leave the city complaining that they could not sit still and must follow the ways of the Sand. Anyone who has seen sand knows it constantly moves and shifts.
A few Generations had passed and Ali had become older, wiser, and well to do. He would look from his hillside Citadel and say, 'some day these cities will be everywhere. Moreover, the world will revel in progress. All will know to read and write and will study the ways of things."
Of course, since that is not so today, I would not be presumptuous nor would you to determine something had to happen to prevent Ali's vision? Well, something indeed happened, as all good things must eventually come to an end. For there was a tribe of snake peoples, who lived in the Western Desert called the Sand Kings. The Sand Kings lived in the Western Desert, they envied the riches of Jawalal, and the many cities sprawled north and south along the river Magreb. They began invading starting in the North nigh near 400 years after the death of Ali and the first peoples.
Well contrary to the development of Jawalal the cousins of the people of Jawalal still traveled along the river with their wandering ways. Eventually they became embroiled in the ways of the Sand Kings. I mentioned them earlier didn't I? The Kings were a hodgepodge of chieftains who raided various small villages and had gained prominence. They would ride out of the desert with the dust behind them and scour the city of life and would then carry people in bondage to some far off land to the west. There strength had waxed great since those early times and now after destroying the Northern cities they waited at the gates of Jawalal.
Jawalal fought well but the outer walls fell to the great evil workings of their Scholars. They went through the streets terrorizing the town. They then destroyed the great Citadels within the city before climbing the great hillside called Ali's Contemplation. There upon it stood the walled Estate of Fakir.
The Sand kings sent their messenger to the walls of the citadel and proclaimed that should not Fakir stand down and surrender, that they would be killed to a man. To this our founding Ancestor Fakir walked up to the walls. A man who had no violence in his bones and only spoke in soft tones. The thunder welled up from deep within the baritone complexes of his passion. A sound like no other was soon heard. His voice made the very wind hot with the coals of his anger at what had befallen his home.
'You will take us dead from the place where Ali looked upon the world with new eyes. I am sure like us Ali would tell you, those who were once his cousins, this message today. Tell your men and soon to be men. Tell your whores and your tricksters. Fakir will cause you more pain this day than any before. You will litter the streets below with three times three the bodies that lay there now. I will bury our dead beneath your own. I will cut from your mouth your tongues and feed them to the night creatures. I will send your blood down the river so that the southern cities know that Jawalal has fallen and she has bought them time to fight against the Hordes of sand vipers. I welcome you cousins to the hearth and damn you to the realms of darkness forever!'
With that, the great Bowman Hakim, destined to become a family of Fakir, unleashed an arrow, which cleft the skull of the messenger in twain as his horse rode back to the Sand King encampment. Soon thereafter, the armies came and crashed upon the wall like the waves of the swollen Magreb. The evil sorcerers threw all their dark magic against the wall. To their dismay, Fakir had powers that conquered everything they had. By nightfall of that day as said by Fakir, three times three had fallen and the bodies littered the streets and plazas below.
Now, I know that you maybe asking why tell this story to begin informing you as to my own clan. Well to tell the truth, it is necessary to speak of this incident to let you know as to the nature of those raised as Fakir amongst the Khalwa. First, the Fakir are the closest things to Nobles in the communities. They are patterned to be more like statesmen than anything else. Choosing to run a hereditary form of rule yet one in which the respect given is earned by extreme tutelage under the College system. The Fakir pride themselves on being observers, recorders, and repositories of knowledge. They are also viewed as the best administrators and uniquely capable of accomplishing a variety of tasks. Fakir are prone to waxing philosophical, while drinking kaffe (coffee). They are always seen wishing to debate a matter at any time and able spokespersons. Men and women are of equal rank in all things.
To effectively role-play a Fakir clansmen:
One must understand tolerance.
The citizens of Jawalal and the teachings of Ali never interfered with the peoples surrounding them. Those of their ancestors who chose to walk the old ways ignoring of learning and scholarship were allowed freedom. They were traded with fairly and influenced many newcomers by example. Soon the river held several cities similar in spirit. You could call it the dawn of the regions Civilization came from the words of Ali. In this way, we seek to make the Dream of Ali manifest. By example, through knowledge and strength of conviction, our detractors may think it easy to use traditional means, but then how does one beat a dream?
Respect ones ancestry and history.
We hold the teachings of our ancestors, which we call the avatars, as supreme knowledge. Those who have gone before have experienced the world and have much to show us by their mistakes and successes. Through the study of history, we do not repeat the past. By listening to the elders today, we have a greater chance of living to see a new tomorrow.
Pursue the ways of scholarship.
There are those things, which the Avatars cannot teach us. Things yet to be known and learned. This is a thing that I have actually noticed to be very true since I arrived in Avalon. The monsters are different, the societies are different, even the laws are different. That means there is even more to learn. Ali did not have the benefit of the ancestors, yet he learned much by observation. He knew when to act and when to wait. He pondered why the River flowed, he calculated the stars progress across the black field of night, he kept records of births and deaths, he taught geomancers the art of mapping to chart the world he lived, and he died bestowing the dream that one day all would also know this. It is to scholarship that we bow. We do not bow to it as if all knowledge is good. The quest for knowledge does not forsake morality. Fakir and in fact all Khalwa seek knowledge in the system of the College of Magic and Scholarship.
Protect ones freedom.
If the story above did not relate the history of our rise and fall, I am unsure what will. Freedom is a precious thing to be fought for. It is the epitome of the ideal of learning. One cannot learn without being free. Freedom to follow ones leaders. Freedom to choose to make ones position. Freedom to believe what one wishes. Freedom to simply be.
Protect and respect the culture of others without having to subject your own.
All ways lead to an end. There are many paths that may be taken to reach the secret storehouse of knowledge and unity. The ways of the cosmos are limitless and we must respect others cultural ways. We do not bludgeon the so-called barbarian with supposed civilization. One might find much to learn from them, being blinded by ones own ways does not mean to ignore the strength of another. By watching the sand mouse you learn to forage in the desert and thereby survive. Just because the "Barbarian" thanks the mouse and treats it as a totem does not negate the fact that they owe much to the mouse. Simply because another culture seems to be stronger does not mean you forget the strengths of your own. It is better to learn from your enemies, your allies and those you encounter and couple the strengths of both.
Know that all are one under the blue.
All who are under the blue...blue being the color of the sky. The color of Fakir. Ali said this before he died. HE spoke of the world as being one. Essentially unified or tied together in some way. If but one person is not free then all are enslaved was spoken later by the Prophet Demah. Of all things, we should remember that we are all tied together.
Families Raisuli - (The Messenger) The Ruling Family of Clan Fakir. Zenach - (Politics) The primary arguers of Politics and Debate. Also known as the lawyers of the Khalwa, they have been known to defend the lowliest to the most high and quite successfully. As students of law, they know how to find as well as convince a Madrasa to interpret said law differently. The primary proponents of most changes to existing law they also hold executive like positions of power throughout the lands of the Khalwa. Normally acting as men empowered by the Madhya or local magistrates they will instruct the Justicar's and other local enforcement on how to prosecute a situation. It is not unheard of to see two members of the same family even brother and brother on opposite sides of an issue and tearing whole families apart because of differences of opinion. This political like motivation makes them also the pontificators of the Clan. They are the ones with stringent codes and actions to hide their wildly opinionated and argumentative natures. "What is freedom without speech? I will tell you. It is like the having the greatest story ever told and not telling it because you know not how. Great stories should be told. And each persons beliefs should be shared." Bedu/Hakim - (Assassination/Spy) They never admit to their namesake family. These are the people who excel at just knowing everything about everyone. Never let a Diego get to close to what they know. Widely viewed as Gossipmongers, these two families have been rumored themselves to have turned evidence to cause a number of families problems. They can unearth just about any secret and threat. In addition, work at providing information to the Goajik. This information is important to the development of advanced warning of potential danger. They treat knowledge as a power. The one with the correct amounts and types will be able to outdo all enemies. Hisham - (Philosophy) They are the maintainers of lore and culture. The historians and the maintainers of the ancient scrolls. Masters of the art of codification and cataloging information, they have handed down the traditions and words for several years. Knowledge is one thing, but to Hisham it is the heart of wisdom. By studying the histories we may better understand the fallacy of certain methods. The words of the great teachers and prophets are theirs to record and impart to the willing. Fakirovich - (Strategy & Tactics) When one sees this they may have come to the conclusion that Fakir families focus on the ephemeral. The truth is what they seek. At times, it becomes necessary to address conflict. Warfare is one of the truths of what happens when opposing forces collide. Once information is gathered and politics have failed, the sum of information goes to Fakirovich. They will take this information and analyze it. They will find weaknesses to exploit, choose the best course of action, and direct the application of resources. Badir - (Administration) Well discussing and debating what to do is all well and good. Eventually someone actually has to follow through. Badir are the functionaries. Bred to be of service to their kin, they have become excellent at making it happen.
Diego by Hernand Mendoza/Doyaun Evans
The Diego! Mis amigos! I have a treasure in my wagon to sell you recently arrived from mi hermano (my brother) Paz's vessel the Sargasso. Whilst traveling to the Kugomushel he managed to take it from a very unfriendly marauder skiff.....What do you mean who started it? Of course they did. I will have you know my brother is well known for his honor. Do you question it? Of course not. Now the treasure he managed to come by was because that vessel sought to take his cargo of medicine headed for Basra. No it was not the illegal drug sasmun. Instead Paz showed him who was boss.
Now look at this treasure. This is a jewel befit a beautiful woman. I know my wife just told me this morning if I sold it she would have me shoved overboard. Man I love that woman. Between you and me, I am also afraid of her. She is the loudest she demon on Tyrra. Why I thought she was a beauty. I soon learned once I brought her to my dock she was a siren straight out of the stories of the aventurero (adventurer) Delmar (of the Sea).
Enough about my wife. Now this jewel is worth more than it's weight. I was told that it was stolen from a great Noble in some far land to the north, which was won in battle by conquering a great serpent, which had just eaten a Giant, who found it in a great store chamber of the Dwarves, which was once the home of a great dragon. Now that alone is worthy of any rich merchant such as you . What do you mean what is the price! It is priceless. The stories you could tell of the men who died and fought for it. Why you would be the envy of all your friendly circles.
I will give it to you for 10 gold weights. Too much!!!! I will give it to you for nothing less. A man of stature can be sometimes weighed by the amount of money he is willing to shed in the name of true decor. 10 gold is a steal! Okay no no. Do not leave. I will give it to you for 9 gold. Ahhh I see you have an eye for bargaining. You are taking my children’s milk from there lips, their food from my table. Here take it and go.
After a few moments.........a little boy with a nice green gem in his hand slides it to the Diego shopkeeper.
So my good man! The Diego. Mis Amigos! I have a treasure for you. Why my brother Josito just returned from........
The merchant who had bought the gem appears with several men at arms screaming thief!!!!!!!!!
I am so sorry shop's closed.
A typical day for a Diego shopkeeper!!!!!!!!!!!!
What does this confuse you? These are one of the most common tales of the Diego. Many think them thieves and villainous. That is not always so! like any society there are those who are less savory. Diego just happen to have a boatload of them. No literally a boatload of them. The Diego range from Merchants to avid seatreaders. Always looking for a new scheme with which to make a name for themselves, gather a few more riches, or get revenge for some alleged wrong. They have a thousand tales of adventure that they swear is a great relative. And never is one without a map to a lost treasure or some tidbit of information that can make you happier beyond imagination. They are the Diego. They are wild. Untamable, indomitable, and man are they scary.
Families
The Diego are divided into five primary families. Each family has a distinct function and membership in each family is decided when a Diego reaches his majority. You see Diego families are not by birth. They are more so by affiliation. First let us take a look at the families:
Delmar - (Sinbad or Ulysses) Constantly looking for adventure, for treasure, for fame and in some cases Infamy is fame, the Delmar eek out their role as the leaders of the Diego clan. The top dog in this family runs the whole cartel...I mean clan. This is measured by the ability to gain resources...aka treasure, whose name is heard on the lips of the most bards...aka Fame, whose crew survives the most dangers...aka if the crew dies why trust ya? Contrary to the namesake (Delmar means of the sea) they are not relegated to just the sea. On rare occasions a Diego will venture forth into just about any wilderness in order to make a name, or a treasure trove. The greatest of this family was a man named Delmar, he was a man who was said to have traveled the oceans of the world and departed ten years before returning. When he did he brought with him a vast treasure, his entire crew and the greatest tales.
Fernando - (Ahab from Moby Dick) The daring, the bold, the completely insane. These yahoos hunt down the greatest challenges whether they are sea creatures, undefeatable hordes, or anything that would require overcoming great odds to defeat. Quite literally hunters extraordinaire they have been known to die with a smile on their face just for the sheer joy of the hunt. Now they will not hunt just anything. They seek to quest merely for the sake of the quest. Occasionally achieving greater fame and glory than even the Delmar, the Fernando Family does not care too much for the reward, so they never assume leadership roles. They are also known for something else. They provide a large amount of the foodstuffs that the Diego eat. They are farmers of the sea and as such great fishermen and providers.
Alejandro - (Corsairs aka Privateers) They hunt down the thieving vessels threatening Khalwa interests at sea. Corsairs all, these are the warriors of the Clan Diego. They escort trade vessels and enforce the Diego Hegemony of the seas by force of arms whenever necessary. They do this in their cutlass wielding glee with immense pride. They believe nothing can defeat their skill with blade, at sea or on land. Constant braggarts they are their own bards, but normally given respect because of the service they provide. Also known as the Khair al-Dien they are currently led by the great Barbarossa.
Prospero/Urbano – (Brokers/Bankers) Be wary when dealing with this family. They have been known to swindle the teat from a babe’s mouth. You read a short story of one earlier. They control the ports of call charging varying port fees. Otherwise one might find ones goods, ship or both missing the next dawn. The great city of Cadiz is where they dominate. The city is literally believed to be the safest in all of Veluria. The veracity of this can always be brought into question but the fact remains it has yet to fall to naval vessels in what is rumored to be 300 years. They are also the great investors. Almost every Diego has part of their ship or venture supported by the family. Chances are if there is a scheme, a bet, a voyage or a deal they are in on it.
Salvador - (Buccaneers of the Caribbean) The entire family is sworn to vengeance against slavery on the High Seas and elsewhere. Each of them tied in some way be it distant or recent to bondage, seek to bring an end to such a horrible end. Having broken their chains they seek to break the bondage of others. There is a story told that once an island of such men fought against their masters and overcame them. They did not know how to sail however and could not escape the island. After fighting off three waves of slavers seeking to recapture the island they were eventually cornered against a great cliff. The slavers offered them their lives in bondage, if only they turned over their leaders. Rather than do this they to the last man threw themselves over the edge to their peril. The place where the blood still marks the spot is called the "Cliffs of Salvation". Upon seeing this the slavers saw the error of their ways and instead taught the remaining slaves how to sail and ever since have been doing the job of saving all others who were like those brave dead. Salvador is the word for Salvation.
Timbuc By Chief Umbopobolani/Doyaun Evans
The prideful people of Taharqa. Timbuc have preserved much of their heritage of the last five hundred years. They have a simplicity about them that permeates every echelon of the society. The belief that nature should be preserved or the fact that if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, has garnered them much respect and proved a subtle weakness.
The civilization began as a series of loosely federated enclaves within the jungles of Taharqa. Taharqa rests at the foot of the Jambalatuq mountain range. They depended upon a fierce warrior tradition to maintain their independence from conquerors, but never congealed into a powerful empire builder. Unlike other peoples who sought to build empires, the Timbuc sought only to defend that which is theirs, and their diverse cultural ways. Occasionally, they were required to raid outside their ancestral lands, but that was only done to ensure the enemies of Timbuc, that a lack of a conqueror mentality was not for lack of ability.
The chieftains of Timbuc held in high regard the elephant as a symbol. In fact it is said that the Timbuc are long in memory, steeped in intelligence, and simple in lifestyle. So much so were they like the elephant it was rumored that when, Fakir first encountered the Timbuc they were in fact elephant scavengers. Whatever the case may be the Timbuc have been known to ride the mighty beasts into battle and inspire fear into all who fall before them. Unlike others who ride elephants, armies learned to turn the beasts upon their riders own, the Timbuc steeds never shirk the battle as long as their riders are resolute. Unfortunate for those that confront the pragmatic Timbuc, they rarely give in.
The greatest greatness of the Timbuc was their love of travel and exploration. Even though surrounded by the harsh Desert, the dense jungle or the rocky mount, they managed to establish routes of overland trade with much of Veluria.
The essential basis of ethics in Timbuc is the overwhelming duty one has to commit service to the whole of society. Social harmony and the well being of the group is more important than the gain of material wealth. One of the other fundamentals was the hatred of warfare. Timbuc warriors fought battles in which he losses of the opposing force were kept to a minimum. The Zande or warriors would leave avenues of escape from battle. Logically an army surrounded would fight to last man expecting no quarter, yet an army assured of defeat by a superior foe, when left an escape will retreat. The fact the Timbuc had won was well known, and yet bloodshed was kept to a minimum. Victory within victory.
Timbuc are also the most vigilant of clans. They abhor injustice with every fiber of their being. No man guilty of a crime is ever pardoned. The law is the law is the law. There is a tale of a man, who betrayed his Chieftain in order to save his village. The new Chieftain then had the savior slain for his treasonous behavior. This story is no longer a factor as the Khalwa justice system beyond Timbuc can be appealed to a greater Madrasa. The youth are told the story in order to show them how they should behave. Sufficient evidence would show that the Timbuc do not appeal their cases even if they could.
Besides their martial tradition and their legalese, the Timbuc are a very hospitable people. They throw themselves at any chance to explore the world. Nature is there dominion and they seek to become as one with it as possible. The primal aspects of nature are etched in their souls and they are the first to defend her. Timbuc konoshka, or world scouts, are no more than sociologists study the different cultures about the world.
They are also the coiners of societal interaction in current scientific terms. This basically means they promote a certain level of their people getting together regularly in a gathering called a moot. Here the old and young, high born and low gather as equals and share life’s teachings.
What is most peculiar about Timbuc is their own buildings have designs with simplicity in mind. A Timbuc builder however is a craftsman beyond par. Weapons, buildings, anything a person can make they turn into works of art. They never forget functionality in the process. The development of this has shown throughout time in every city of the Homelands. Basra, Cadiz, Sijilmasa, and Lalibelangwe have all benefited greatly from Timbuc’s innovative designs.
Families
Zenedangi – The leaders of the Timbuc.
Umoja – (Craftsmen) Are artisans and builders, who have attained much renown for their skill using their hands. They have designed and/or made most of the lasting works of the Khalwa. They deal in anything, which expresses their artistry. Umoja designed the conical structures of the Zenedangi, the tree shelters of the Atanu, the weapons and armor of the Yassa, and the clothing of the Riki. Outside of their own tribe, they have achieved the same renown. Goods made by the best of the Umoja family are sought for throughout the Homelands.
Atanu – (Forest Guardians) The Atanu are the protectors of nature and the forest. They have made their living by taking only what they need of the land, and fighting it’s enemies. Established healers, they provide great skill in mending wounds. They abhor the use of Necromancy and will slay a Necromancer on sight. Atanu live in the large trees known as the Bebelilongo. When the tree dies it’s shell becomes hard as stone and make perfect homes for the Atanu.
Riki – (Travelers) Those who seek to travel the world, especially the natural order of different regions, the Riki developed from a small sub-class of explorers and guides. They have a thirst for knowing every land and culture. They are also the message carriers who throughout the Homeland’s are responsible with ensuring the delivery of mail.
Yassa – (Warrior/Amazon) The Yassa’s sole duty was to defend the Timbuc. Now they are sworn to protect any and all Khalwa. The Yassa are a family, which isn’t a family. Long ago when Timbuc was a repressive society, women were not afforded a position. When a family had too many female children, they would hand them over to the Yassa. Over time the Yassa became controlled by a female dominated hierarchy, in which women, of no birth link, became sisters. They trained in the arts of self-defense and quickly became the most ferocious defenders, especially of women.
Walker By Anwyn Akasha/Doyaun Evans
The greatest moment is to witness transformation, and ascension. The most crestfallen moment in a person’s life is to know you once stood before the gateway and refused to accept the Truth. Our fears can be our undoing. The unknown is a dangerous place in the mind of the mortal. The path to immortality is not easy, nor is the acceptance of the Truth that immortality brings. Not the immortality of life, but the immortality that comes from knowing ones place in the universe is infinite. Our fear led us to seek succor in the arms of power. We fell prey to that place of safety in power. We became that we abhorred, a thing of tyrants and destroyers.
For centuries after that moment we hid ourselves in our creations, our studies, our crusades and our lust for challenge. Truth was no longer our companion but our enemy. Before long some of us realized our error. We longed for yet another chance to reach out and touch the light of Truth. But we could no longer see it. Our geas in life is that we would never have that chance without making the sacrifice. Our geas in life is in order to regain the opportunity to ascend we must do so through the senses of others.
A rift formed amongst our kind. Those who realized the mistake became called Seekers. Those that were still afraid became called the Preservers. A conflict raged between us. Seeker and Preserver became embroiled in the conflagration of a thousand flames. After three decades of war, our civilization lay in ruins. It was decided that we would fight no more. We left our home in search of a place to begin our quest anew. The Preservers grew afraid that we would become invincible foes if we were allowed to leave. They sought to use a great artifact of immense power to destroy us. In the end that power they brought to bear destroyed them. We watched, as the place of our birth was rent from Tyrra. The oceans boiled, the earth cracked with vicious fury, and the air was like fire that burned hair from the skin. The harkening of the birth of a new world and the death of an old.
Many moons later we became imprisoned as slaves of the Hykosians, a great empire of the seas. I know this was a far cry from our former selves, but we had changed a great deal. We no longer had ambition. Instead, we held dear to our hearts the yearning that someday we would again have the chance to find the doorway to something higher. We blamed ourselves for our failure and had grown so deeply entrenched in our fears we could not grow. Perhaps this was all a part of our geas. No matter the cause we stopped recording our histories in writ. Instead we became what we are now. We are lesser entities of a grand civilization. We seek a new future and are endowed only with our distant oral histories and traditions.
As part of the geas, we allowed ourselves to be captured by the Hykosians. It was the path spoken of by our Ancient Tairanachoibhel, the Seer. We, who were once the rulers, were to become the slaves, and from that slavery we would emerge to find our new companions upon an old path. Into the hands of the Hykosians we went to wait, and watch, and listen.
Our spirits became forlorn when no one came, or even a sign that the choice we made was right. Who would rescue us from our failure? Then as the sun rose upon the horizon as a golden ball of fire borne of the wave, the Diego flags signaled our destiny’s new course. They bore ferocious weapons gleaming in the dawning light. Their eyes were dancing with the enflamed fervor of those bred to hate slavery. They were a thousand shards of glimmering steel, reflecting the fear they forged in the Hykosian slavers. The cries of freedom, of death before chains, and emancipation, were liberating to our hearts.
The Diego rescued, and carried us upon their great ships to a place where the stars are strangely familiar to us. As one great chorus we lifted up our voices and sang as one an ancient song from our history. The evocation of joy. From the very ends of the Homelands our voices were heard. In the great cities and the small villages, the song resounded in the hearts of many. Completion, Unity, Destiny… The perfect sound, only matched in the copa ceremony of changes.
We had arrived.
Rather than gathering in one place, we traveled throughout the Homelands. We became known as the Walkers, because we walked and learned about our new brothers and they us. Eventually we settled in the desert lands of the Sahel and the oasis of the Sijilmasa. Our common task is to provide relief and rest, to heal and rejuvenate. We await the coming of the final prophecy and relief from our geas. The return of the Servant.
The clan has the fewest numbers, but are seen everywhere. There is no family structure or system.
The Majatal A College of Magic and Scholarship Philosophical Dissertation By Jabril al-Basra/Doyaun Evans
The teachings of the prophets of the Khalwa are the basis for every tenet of their adherents’ lives. They walked the path of life and were somehow more in tune with the nature of Tyrra. The idiomatic beliefs professed by these noblest of all, have and will likely guide the Khalwa for generations to come. The ways of the prophets are merely to somehow excise the BS of everyday life to delve into the essence of Tyrra.
In order to understand fully the metaphysical concepts of the Khalwa, those seeking understanding must first look to the Prophets. Each clan claims certain prophets as originating with them. The Guides of course disagree and would have likely called themselves of the Clanless. The first step in cognitive realization of the Khalwa ethic is to understand that there are, as Rami Shankara said, “An infinite number of ways to kiss the earth.” Rami was trying to simply say that in the attempt to find an end, there are many paths leading to the same goal.
The Prophet has sought to be one with the Cosmos. In this process he has seen three ways of gaining unity with the Cosmological concept. One is that of passionate ecstasy. To literally become inebriated with the way of life and the heart of life. From the simplest sound of a bird calling in the morning from the branch of a grandfatherly oak tree, the Prophet understands and communes with the natural order.
The second of these methods is through the study and amassing of knowledge. They are extremely stoic in nature, yet they find the profundity of the natural order in intuitive circumspection. They grasp at the strings, which bind all things together. After achieving that momentary knowingness, they return to the world and share the fruits of their insight.
The third method of unification with the all is that of the way of loving emotion. They act with the heart and soul of individual love for all things. Within as well as without one can see the path to understanding. They believe that if we are essentially all part of a significant oneness, then delving into the heart and soul of ones own existence one can understand the greater consciousness.
Know, O beloved, that gypsies were not created in jest or at random. For we are creatures of fate, marvelously made and for some great end.
The sum of the Prophets lessons are called the path of Hanjiri, or Hanjrism. It means the Path to Enlightened End. The objective of one dedicated to the way of Hanjiri is to pierce the many veils between the individual and Truth. Truth is considered the heart and soul of Tyrran Cosmology. The prophets believe this to be the tie that binds all things together. They believe that is why when guided a being can perform things beyond natural ability. Those who do not understand this call it the Mystical or Magic.
Hanjiri is not simply some thing that belongs only to a disparate people of the continent of Veluria called the Khalwa. Within those very teachings is an essential understanding that the path to Truth can be infinite. To better understand this, there are many branches of a tree. All those branches of the tree converge to form limbs. The limbs then converge to form the trunk. The trunk sustains the branches with life giving waters held deep within earth. The leaves on the branches subsequently absorb the light of the Sun and promote growth. All these things lead to one singular effort and this is Truth. All the branches emerge from one powerful seed. Hanjiri seek to return to this root and are open minded to the many branches attached to that very root conscience.
To become a mystic, the prophets believed that you must find a school of study. These schools are the source of inspiration and cultivation of the mystical powers we call Magic. Magic is the visual Truth we see when manifested. Fire as if from nowhere, restorative energies and healing are all part of that manifestation. Within these schools one finds teachers, who guide, and colleagues, who show us but one more facet we may not have known or considered. These groups meet several times a week to discuss the tenets of Magic, to perform the meditation to enable focus, and the simple act of fellowship. Though an individual can grow in the paths of the mystical alone it is a slow process. Learning with others enhances and speeds the growth toward Truth.
Five Tenets of the Prophet
· Profession of Essential goal. o I bear witness that there is a greater Truth, and that I seek to understand and become one with that Truth. I seek to awaken my soul to the mystical, and in doing so come to embrace the cosmos with the love within my soul. · Meditation. o At dawn I rise and meditate. I do this in order to remember my dreams, as they are oft times messages of the inner self. o At Noon I rest and meditate. I seek to remember that I am not more important than any other being. The day oft passes us by and focus is lost and our manifested will or magic is dulled by our minds loss of sharpness. A knife will cut through the bread of sustenance even when dull, but it is best to cut bread with a sharp knife. That is the same as the use of magic. o At midafternoon, I pause and meditate. I wish to look back on the day and review what I have learned. o At dusk I rest and meditate. I wish to recover my mystical energies of the day. Night is often the time of greatest chaos. Without light one can become blind. Through meditation I regain the flame and prepare my inner fire to light the darkness for others and myself. o At night before I sleep I meditate. I prepare my mind to be open to the other consciousness. Whilst I sleep I hope I still may grow closer to Truth.
· Abstinence
o This does not mean one must refrain from the appetites of the sensual. It instead means that to forsake something for a specific amount of time teaches one humility. Coming into such grand powers of mysticism leads to the trap of power. Power has the propensity to corrupt. Some seeking understanding end up seeking power. Power is not Truth. Power does not enlighten it merely masks success in the ability to place one over all else. That detracts from the unification of all. When seeking unity of oneness, you do not alienate yourself by seeking power above others. · Charity o To give of oneself is the great goal of selflessness. Selflessness leads to understanding the fragility pf existence and the plight of others. You cannot bring others into unity if you constantly fail to realize that as long as Magi are only into selfish designs, they will never fully realize Truth. Instead they will seek to impose their wills on others in order to mimic Truth. · The Journey o The way of the Prophets was not in sitting in one place. They would go from village to village, and city to city, even into the hearts of their enemies’ lands, to see as much of Truth as they could.
The Steps to the Ultimate End
· Jamja – Ethics and Morality o The first step to the goal is understanding and knowing how to properly exist in the world we walk. If we do not know how to act upright, then we are basal creatures who are no better than the most primal of animals. Trying to build the metaphysical principle upon a weak foundation is like building a castle upon the sand. The structures base has no sound construction and will fall. A strong base in understanding one’s responsibility is necessary in order to grow healthy in the mystical paths. · Tariqah – The Mystical Path or Journey o Tariqah has two meanings. To the non-practicing personage of the Homelands, it is the path one follows through the desert from one oasis to another. To the practitioner it is a similar path. The path to enlightenment like a path through the desert is not marked or visible. One must understand ones surroundings in order to walk it. Jamja is the external aspect of understanding. Tariqah is the inner journey. The guide for this journey is the Sajj. · Haqiqah – Journey’s Truth o Once you have been guided and shown how to find the path under Tariqah, you must walk it. To imitate the Sajj is not Haqiqah. Haqiqah is Truth. One must find ones own unique aspect of unity. Otherwise you do not understand Truth, you only mimic your guide. Experience will open your eyes and validate whether your understanding is right. One must test the theory to make it fact. We are the caretakers of the universe. Possession is non-existent. · Marifah – Wisdom and Knowledge o Attunement to all things. The supreme knowledge of all things and an understanding of experience. The knowledge of reality. Something that cannot be expressed here. When you have reached it you will have become a Prophet, a great Sage, a Supreme Messenger.
Summation
I know that was a lot to bear in one session. Read it over and over and eventually it will make sense to you. Within, your inner self already knows it, but the external self knows it not. Maybe this will help.
The great Sage Ibn ‘Arabi explained it simply. The first step Jamja is yours and mine. The second stage Tariqah is mine is yours and yours is mine. The third stage Haqiqah is there is no mine and no yours. The fourth level Marifah, Everything merely is. To explain further. Under Jamja, all Khalwa do what is right. But if you are proud you have done what is right, you have failed in Tariqah. For to do what is moral obligation simply because it is law is practicing Truth without understanding. To do what is moral because it is self-control of the ego and disciplined is Tariqah.
If one loves Truth then one has obtained enlightenment. If one understands Truth then he can see Truth in all things. If all things contain the Spark of Truth than one must love all things. If Truth is Oneness and Unification the attempt to seek Oneness, then one must seek unity with all things. We are all one. Traditionally the Magi becomes one with the elements and thus becomes part of the Celestial, the elemental. At another level one may come to understand life and death, the Earthly or temporal. The mage in order to make great works manifest has unified with that aspect and has grown in understanding.
A mage then invokes the formula that he identifies as control of the aspects of reality. A moment when he or she has transcended the mortality of existence and become part of the greater or essential of Truth. Universally the Sajj attempts to sing with one voice, dance to one rhythm and breathe as one.
Philosophy of Study in the College
The teacher is the physician of the soul. Seekers need teachers because few have the knowledge of healing the self. Fewer still can diagnose their own weakness. The teacher prepares the seeker for the mystical journey along the Tariqah. The teacher also must understand that to merely write and speak of the Tariqah and not live by it is to fail. A teacher who practices not what he preaches speaks words without weight.
The Organization of the Sajj is simple. The Sajj teaches the seeker. When the student has achieved an appropriate grasp of the way, then he is confirmed as a Sajj. Each seeker thus is trained, then initiated and then Confirmed before themselves being allowed to Teach. No master of the Way is self-appointed. This is the process of maturation.
When the teacher does his job, he has succeeded in guiding the next Generation to Truth. Though all may not become Prophets, it places a great many on that path more prepared than if they were to go it alone.
Quotes of the Prophets
The Khalwa are lovers of Tyrra. We are ordinary people, who lead ordinary lives. We will always obey the laws we live in; but in reality we are beyond the laws of those lands, for we obey the law of Truth above all others. In order to defeat the hand of subjugation and slavery, we surrendered somewhere: That is why we are completely free!
The things I speak of can never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it.
Whatever you have in your mind forget it. Whatever you have in your hand – Share it. Whatever is to be your fate – Face it! For we are creatures of Fate.
The fountain from which I drank was here, and there are many other fountains if you are thirsty.
Look to what you do, for that is what you are worth. True labor doesn’t require speeches or titles; it cannot be missed because it simply is.
The situation resembles a thief who sneaks into your house at night to steal whatever is valuable and worthwhile. You cannot fight this thief directly, because it will mirror whatever force you bring against it. If you have a sword, the thief will also have a sword. If you have a dagger, the thief will have a dagger as well. To struggle with the thief is to invite disaster. So what can you do?
The only practical solution is to turn on the light. The thief, who is a coward at heart, will then run out. How do we turn on the light? Through the practice of remembrance, awareness and heedfulness. Exposure to truth is all that is needed.
If I bow to another man in subservience simply because I fear the consequences of breaking a law, then I am person without conviction. If I respect a man because in my heart of hearts I believe I understand him and agree with him, then I am a man of conviction. I would rather have the respect of a one loyal man than blind obedience of a thousand who feared my wrath. To show obedience one bends at the waist. A liar and a cheat hides behind the veneer of obeisance. A friend and loyal compatriot, aye even a follower, shows his faith in a person by his actions. Only my brother shall know my heart, my master is too busy looking at my head.
Wish for others whatever you wish for yourself. If one seeks fairness then show fairness to others. Acting in anger will only create the reciprocity of anger.
Protect and honor the earth, for the earth is like your mother.
Generations before you were destroyed because they declined to punish powerful thieves yet were relentless in punishing small pickpockets.
A ruler who has seen Truth and acts in the graces of Truth does not need symbolic gestures his people willingly accept him. Beings who understand Truth will follow nothing but Truth. Those who exist in Truth will only follow a ruler, who has accepted Truth. A ruler, who requires symbolic gestures, is more than likely surrounded by people who are not true than by those who follow in Truth.
History Long ago. An aged man by the name of Ali spoke one last time from the highest point in a city by the river. He looked out upon the vista before him. The many hill forts of his new founded people were surrounded by lowlying farmlands, nourished by the waters of Tyrra. Each person was brightly garbed in their many colors defining status and with which famillies they belonged. All of the people in the city before him were surrounded in the peace of cooperation, and a newly burgeoning civilization. No longer did they walk the path of the berber alone, but they studied the new lessons of the visitors from the desert.
Ali remarked upon those visitors long ago. They spoke of the learning of the elements of nature. The unification of all things. They taught him the way of words and cartography. They insturcted him in the method of studying the order of things and keeping records. At first he was amazed at the seeming endlessness they had to teach him. He eclipsed there knowledge quickly and son he was the teacher and the most knowledgable. Ali knew this was the direction of the world.
So as Ali looked out from his perch where he greeted the dawn, he spoke of these things to his apprentice, who by the way wrote everything down. The apprentice was called Shaheen, the white falcon, and it is he who recorded Ali's words that day...
'Shaheen. All about me I see the world. My falcon, it is quiet out there but I know beyond the Sahel rift (Desert) there are others looking out into the world. Each of them seeking to understand the ways of the universe, but still missing the underlying Truths. Every night for much of my life I stood here on the Gabal Jawalal (Mountain of Ascension) and remember when there was but one citadel. When the people who became my people had just arrived and attempted to make a simple river grassland a center of development. Now look my Dove of Prey! All around are the lanterns of accomplishment. On the surrounding hills there are now nine forts. All of them as bright as the other. Of course none brighter than the Gabal Jawalal.'
'Still I can not enjoy it. For all the success, I still look out upon the world in wonder. I am not satisfied that here there is success and elsewhere there is still darkness. Astounding though it may seem I am selfish and should be satisfied with all this. Instead I yearn to bring this everywhere. Now for why I asked you to come here Shaheen. I will be leaving soon. Now calm down and write! It is not so bad that I am not long for this world. Now is a good time to leave. Trade is good, the crops plentiful, and my people healthy. So in the meantime "You" will record all of my words as I say them. With this I may be able to still aid my people in the future times. You will establish a school. It will invest in it all the things we have tried to cultivate. Remember though it will adhere to the code of Mystics! First will come Study! With Study will come Knowledge! With Practice and moral fiber will come Wisdom! Wisdom to use the power they have come to embrace. The College will not exclude the Scholarly pursuit of the unmystical. In Learning there is no such thing as non magical. For all of my power I can not carve a statue like the great Simbel, or write poems like Omar. Though I stand on the roof of the world somewhere else someone may have another way. Perchance better perhaps worse. Which reminds me, never forsake something different as being wrong. Evil is not Different. From your enemies learn their strengths. From your allies treat them as equals, they may have much to teach.'
'Never forget the study of culture. Always seek Truth and though I am not there I am always with you......Now where to begin. Ahh the College rules....'
The College Magic & Scholarship was established to increase the knowledge of the way things work. Like true adventurers who go into the unknown questing for some cause, the students of magic and scholarship instead sought understanding and comprehension. Perfecting the growth of foodstuffs, making stronger buildings, simpler writing forms, better laws, and last but not least understanding of the essential questions of life and the cosmos.
Ali the founder of Fakir civilization had come to learn much and would cry out before he died. I have learned so little for there is so much yet to know. This he challenged first his apprentice Shaheen learn everything. Later Shaheen would create the great repository of knowledge that the College became. The society of the college is divided on the basis of the optimum way to gain this knowledge while maintaining ties to the cultural aspects. It was the people of the College who would first encounter the Valar and the Timbuc. It would be they who would design the system of society that exists today for all Khalwa Gypsies.
A True Story of a Foreigner
The Majatal. This is the ancestral great College of the Khalwa and the seat of all knowledge, arcane and otherwise. It is the home of Fakir and the concept of Ali. It is the beginning of the world for the few who study there, and a testament to the |