Durnst



Flora Fauna Glossary Languages Magics Maps Races

Ord Gored Durnst Topp Welp Gorn

Durnstan Land Features
Rolling hills with mostly deciduous trees on the coast, great meadows with copses of trees in the midland area and great firs in the north.

Northern Durnst Durnst borders Gored to the North and Northwest regions and Ord in the Northeastern region. The Northeast region get slightly less annual rainfall than the majority of Durnst. North and Northwest Durnst are foothill regions where there are no settlements as this area is where the Wildlings dwell.

Eastern Durnst In the Eastern region where Durnst borders Ord

Southern Durnst The Southern region of Durnst borders the great sea and is subsequently at risk to the pillaging of the Barbarous.

Western Durnst Eastern Durnst borders the land of Topp. The westernmost portions of this region are riddled with marshlands and swamps. These swaps are treacherous for travelers due to muck, lack of secure footing, quicksand, insects, swamp gasses and, during dawn and dusk, low visibility due to heavy fog and mist.

Durnstan Peoples
Are foremost artisans and crafts folk.

Durnstan Settlements
Nevel

Loam

Durnst

Silt

Okkam

Durnstan Government
Durnstan society is governed through a non-representational democracy. Guild and crafts matters are seen to by the guilds themselves such as matters of advancement, recognition, inter-guild relations. Punitive measures almost always involve community service at the expense of one's own craft working, which may mean additional hours spent on non-craft activities or in the case of the birth-gifted, assisting others in their own craft workings. Those who turn out to be utterly incorrigible are cast out of the community and are commonly offered to live amongst the Toppish folk, if the Toppish will have them.

Durnstan Physiology
The Durnstan people have a slightly reddish skin tone bearing a resemblance, to visitors from Earth, to many of the Aboriginal American tribes-people. Their features tend toward aquiline while their bodies and movements are reminiscent of the feline. Most are slender of build and the most muscular of these folk exhibit the lithe, sinewy, defined body type of Earthling dancers and runners. Durnstan hair is rich and glossy ranging in color from ebony to a deep chestnut hue. Eye color is generally dark and some variation of brown and or green. The Durnstan people as a whole do not tend to clumsiness when in good health. They are balanced, poised, and nimble. Durnstan males do not grow facial hair. The average height and weight of the Durnstan folk do not depend on gender, male or female the average Durnstan is 5'3", though some are as short as 4'10" and fewer yet as tall as 5'11". The average Durnstan will live 50 years.

Systems Notes
Average Adult Durnstan (male or female):

Attributes Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2 Charisma 3, Manipulation 1, Appearance 2 Perception 2, Intelligence 2, Wits 3

Durnstan Birthgifts
Structural analysis of materials which allows Durnstan crafts folk to bring out the best in them.

Those with Goredian birthgift have told us that our masterworks are so saturated with the will and memories of their creator that it is often too overwhelming to seek into such an object.

Durnstan Architecture
Permanent Structures

Permanent structures are predominantly underground spaces built into the sides of hills not unlike the dwelling spaces of Tolkein's Hobbits. The most immediately noticable features of a Durnstan dwelling is the fmaily post and the front door. The family post is securly fixed within the ground and sports a scoll case at about waist height for the purpose of storing written messages left for the dwellers of the home. Family Posts are often ornately carved and or inlaid, wrapped with beadwork or strips of cloth, and often bear one or more flags which may indicate guild affiliation, accolades, or special events such as a marriage, the birth of a child, a coming of age, or a death.

The doors are constructed for strength, durability and beauty. These rectangular doors and made of thick hardwood, reinforced with metal bracing, and are attached with metal hinges into a metal reinforced jamb to maintain trueness. All external doors open outward as a reminder to those who live within that all that which is life providing can be found out of doors. Each door is crowned with an ornate wooden lintle which is often crafted through the contributions of every family member who will dwell within the home. Young ones will at very least contribute by sanding or staining.

Within ten feet of the external door is a second door similarly contructed. The space between these two doors forms a barrier against the elements. In this space, those who enter the main chamber will remove shoes, wet clothing, and bad attitudes as this space is intended for slowing down and calming oneself, such that those who enter the main chamber do so in a peaceful and respectful state. When the Durnstan community is at peace, external doors are left unlocked such that travels and visitors may be welcome to rest or take shelter in these vestibules. Those that avail themselves of this sheltered space will often find a large bowl of dried fruit and nuts as well as a pitcher of fresh water or herbal tea on one of the benches which line these areas.

Upon opening the second door of the dwelling space, the most immediately notable feature is the hearth. In dwellings intended for multiple families or community activities, there may be two or three hearths providing light, heat, and air flow. Each of these magnificent hearths is centrally located and features two separate flues. Heath from the hearth fire helps to keep the interior dry and circulate air throughout the underground space thereby protecting against mold and mildew. The area beyond the internal door and around the hearth is the living area. Semi-private sleeping spaces are carved into the earth like niches about knee high. These most often feature tied rolls of fabric which can be let down to cover the opening of the niche providing darkness and some privacy.

Windows are sparse and due to the fact that the Durnstan have not developed the technology to produce glass (at least not at the beginning of Taavoke's history) they are heavily shuttered on both the interior and exterior - the space between the shutters will be filled with insulating materials in times of severe weather (hot or cold).

Ceilings are generally made of treated wooden tongue and groove planking and are supported by beams and structural posts throughout the dwelling space. A drop cieling can be found about a foot below the primary ceiling. The air trapped between these two ceilings provides insulation for both sound and temperature.

Vents are installed at regular intervals throughout the dwelling space at ankle level leading up around the exterior of the dwelling space to the ground above. These vents can be closed to control the amount of airflow in the dwelling.

Each dwelling features at least one cistern proving gravity fed plumbing to the interior directly beside the hearth. The heat from the hearth will prevent the water in these cisterns from freezing during Durnst's rare cold snaps.

Temporary Structures These structures are generally fashioned for the purpose of guild activities which require protection from precipitation. A network of ropes are woven through copses onto which spans of oiled canvas are tethered providing protected pavilions under which the Durnstan folk may hold dances, concerts, councils, markets, and workshops.

Durnstan Society
Overview Men, women, and children are all societal equals. All take part in the daily tasks that afford them survival and sustenance.

Adults All all responsible for the protection of the children of their village. Beyond their chosen craft activities, they are most often engaged in the tending of orchards, vineyards, herb gardens, and root vegetable crops. They also herd sheep and goats for wool and milk.

Children The potential of Durnstan children is highly esteemed. They a permitted to vote in Durnstan society so long as they are able to demonstrate knowledge of the topic in question. Children a raised by their extended families until they have chosen a craft through which to express themselves, after which time they are in the care of their guild. A child who reaches the level of journeyman is given status of an adult thereafter.

Family Structures Clans live as large groups. Men and women partner for love as often as they do for the crafts they have chosen to work together.

Durnstan Religion
Overview Zen-like atheism with a Buddhist like respect for living creatures. They are all ovo-lacto vegetarians and have evolved such that they are completely unable to metabolize meat and therefore do not engage in hunting or slaughter.

Temples Meditation is personal and practices individually so no temples are built by the Durnstan people.

Durnstan Language
The Durnstan language is structurally akin to English and uses Arabic phonemes.

Durnstan Phonemes:

Vowels: a, aa, ai, au, i, iy, u, uw

Consonants: b, t, th, j, H, kh, d, dh, r, z, s, S, D, T, Z, *, gh, f, q, k, l, m, n, h, w, y

Durnstan Relations with Other Lands
Relations with Ord

We welcome their healers and beast talkers whenever they wish to come to our lands. Some of us are able to create tools of great beauty which the Ordish tell us "please their clan animals." While they are with us they travel on horseback, close to one another and in groups of five. Three of them are always with bow and the other two are wield spears. Their fetishes are of the most excellent work but we know

Ord sends its folk periodically as healers and animal trainers to Durnst in exchange for trade goods. The Ordish do not accept Durnstan in their homeland.

Relations with Gored

Durnst will often send journeyman crafts-folk to Gored in exchange for either trade goods or the services of Gordian investigators. Borders are open to travelers but not settlement.

Relations with Topp

The Toppish bring trade goods to and from other lands. This is is the only interaction the Durnstan have with the Gornian. Durnstan people visiting Topp are careful to observe the local customs, while amongst the Toppish women folk Durnstan men speak only when addressed and Durnstan women speak only when addressed when amongst the Toppish male communities.

The Toppish men folk often keep the Barbarous from Durnstan shores fro which the Durnstan people richly reward the Toppish shipmen.

Relations with Welp

The metal works of the Welpish are most admirable. Even the birthgifted among us are amazed. In sensing the meterials they work, it is clear that they approach the creation process as a matter of altering the substance to their vision of what it will become. Ours is a more gentle approach, more a matter of sensing what the material holds within it and bringing it out of the material. Our admiration of their work fills them with pride and has paved the way for our interacting with them.

Relations with Gorn

Gornian folk have no tolerance of our lifestyle or beliefs and refuse their birthgifted to enter our lands

Durnstan Relations with Other Races
The Durnstan are pliant folk who are accepting of those who wish them no harm and as for those who wish them harm they reluctantly fight, preferring to walk away causing no harm.

Relations with The Silent

The Silent are obviously guardians of this realm. We do not understand their ways but we are quick to observe their proscriptions and provide them a wide berth when they move amongst us. We have attempted to gift them with our finest craft works to no avail.

Relations with Wildlings

Relations with The Barbarous

The Barbarous are most terrible and we are always ready to offer gifts of thanks when the Toppish men folk keep them from landing on our shores.

Relations with The Oirei

Durnstan Trade Goods
Books, livestock, perfume, herbs, artwork, clothing, leather goods, vegetables, cloth, jewelry, rugs, timber, spices, wool, fruit, grains,

Questionnaire:

I. Questions of Place


 * Describe the geography of where your society calls home.


 * Describe the climate your society deals with. How severe are their seasons?

Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding in vales between hills. "Spontaneous ponding"
 * What kinds of natural disasters has this society gotten used to?

This is their new eden, a new start, a land of refuge.
 * What importance (spiritual or cultural) do people ascribe to the geography?

No tradition for this land as of yet, however, the Durnstan prefer to keep the visual impact of their architecture very low.
 * How do people feel about local landscapes being altered or used for a purpose other than what is traditional?

All manners of vegetables and herbs.
 * What are the most commonly-grown foods?

The Durnstan are not able to metabolize meats.
 * What are the most commonly-eaten meats?

Trade goods from the Toppish are the most exotic and expansive.
 * What foods are considered exotic or expensive?

The Durnstan brew beer and wine and do not have the technology for spirits.
 * What forms of alcohol are common? Rare?

The land lends itself quite well to gardens, springs, wells, and orchards.
 * Is there usually enough food and water for the population?

Meadows and rolling hills for grazing and growing.
 * What is this place's most abundant resource?

It's people as they are yet small in population.
 * What is its most valuable resource?


 * What resource is it most lacking?

The Durnstan travel primarily by foot. The elderly and infirm in carts pulled by draft animals.
 * How do people travel from one place to another?

The boundaries are completely open. The sea is somewhat protected by the Toppish shipmen.
 * Are the borders secure? In what way?


 * How many people live here?


 * Where in this place to they congregate?

The Durnstan tend to avoid the foothills of the Northern Mountain chain due to the presence of the Wildlings who are fiercely territorial.
 * What part of this place do they avoid? Why?


 * What are the most common domesticated animals here? And what are they domesticated for?


 * What are the most common wild animals? How are wild animals treated?
 * Which animals are likely to be pets? Which ones won't be?


 * What are the most common domesticated plants here? And what are they used for?


 * What are the most common wild plants here? What are they used for?

IJ. Questions of Time


 * How far back does this society's written history go?


 * How far back do its people believe it goes?


 * How was this society founded? Who founded it and under what circumstances?


 * What were the chief powers in the time when this society was founded?


 * If it originated far away from here, how did it get here?


 * What is the worst disaster they believe they've faced?


 * What are the major events in this culture's past?
 * What was the best thing that ever happened to them?


 * What in their past makes them feel ashamed?


 * What in their past makes them proud?


 * What are they afraid of happening again?


 * What are they hoping will happen? Do they think it likely?


 * How strongly are people attached or connected to their heritage?


 * What do they assume the future will hold?
 * How has this society changed? Do its current members realize this?


 * What are the most popular stories about the past?


 * Who in the past is the greatest hero? The worst villain?


 * Do people think the present better or worse than the past?


 * Do people believe the future will be better or worse than the present or past?

IIJ. Questions of Race and Ethnicity


 * What are the chief races in the region?


 * What are the chief ethnic groups of each race in the region? How are they distributed in place?


 * How do they differ by language, appearance or ancestry?


 * What jobs do the chief ethnicities primarily occupy? Are any groups denied work because of racial or ethnic heritage?
 * What are typical attitudes of the native (or majority) ethnos to immigrants and other ethnicities?
 * How has any variety of ethnicity in the region changed the society's culture?

IIIJ. Questions of Family


 * How many spouses may a man or woman have?
 * Who decides on a marriage?
 * Can a marriage end in divorce? How?
 * Who usually takes custody of children if a marriage ends for some reason?
 * How are families named?
 * What happens to orphans?
 * How are boy and girl children treated differently?
 * What, if anything, is considered a good marriage gift?
 * What inanimate or sexless things are considered male or female?
 * Does this society connect the ideas of marriage with love?
 * How big are families, typically?
 * What constitutes a household? How many people live in one household? How many generations?
 * Are girls or boys preferred and why?
 * How common is domestic violence? Is it understood to be a problem, or a normal aspect of family life?
 * If it is seen as problematic, what is being done about it?

V. Questions of Customs and Social Life


 * What colors are associated with power? With virtue? With death?
 * If two men get into a fight, how is this supposed to be resolved?
 * If two women get into a fight, how should that be resolved?
 * How do people demonstrate grief?
 * Who inherits property? Titles? Position?
 * What are the most popular games? How important are they?
 * When and how does someone go from child to adult?
 * How much free time do people usually get?
 * What do they spend this time doing?
 * Is society segregated in any way?
 * What social classes or divisions exist in this society?
 * If so, can people move from one class to another? Are there any benefits to being of one class over another?
 * Is there any discrimination against minority groups (racial, ethnic, religious) in this society?
 * How independent or codependent are individuals?
 * What are the typical roles of women and men? What are the expectations of children?
 * Does the government play a large part in peoples lives?
 * Does religion play a large part in peoples lives?

Food
 * Describe how daily food is obtained?
 * What types of food are most popular?
 * What are typical dishes and specialties of the region?
 * What type of food is the locality or region famous for?
 * What cutlery, if any, do people use for cooking and eating?
 * How is the table arranged?
 * How do people sit when eating? Is there any arrangement by age or dignity of diners?
 * How many and when are the main mealtimes?
 * Are there restaurants, popinas, street vendors or other places where food may be bought in public?
 * Is there significant risk of food poisoning? How many cases lead to death? Is there understood to be a link between food and poisoning or illness?
 * How much does a typical meal cost, if bought and not grown at home?

Clothing and Fashion
 * What kind of clothes do people wear? How does this vary by ethnicity, age, profession, etc?
 * How do the genders dress: what differences are there between men's and women's clothing and accessories?
 * How is clothing made, in small shops or larger factories?
 * How much does typical clothing cost?
 * How important is fashion to people? How does this vary by individual?
 * What kinds of jewelry do people wear? And when?

Entertainment
 * Does the culture have outlets for dramatic arts (theater, puppetry, kinematography)?
 * What other major forms of entertainment are there?
 * Is the populace literate and numerate?
 * Do people read for pleasure? If so, what do they read?
 * How much do books, magazines, broadsheets and the like cost?
 * Is there a public library system? Who uses it?
 * Who are popular authors and poets?
 * Who are some of the more famous characters from literature?
 * How has this changed over time?

VJ. Questions of Manners


 * Who speaks first at a formal gathering?
 * What kinds of gifts are considered in extremely bad taste?
 * How do younger adults address their elders?
 * When is it rude to laugh at something funny?
 * What kinds of questions cannot be asked in public? In private? At all?
 * What parts of the body are routinely covered?
 * How private are bodily functions like bathing or defecating?

VIJ. Questions of Faith


 * Are the local people religious or nonreligious?
 * What are the major religious groups in the region?
 * What are some of their core beliefs and practices?
 * Is religion a cause of dissatisfaction, dissension or hostility in the region?
 * Is there a formal clergy? How are they organised?
 * What do people believe happens to them after death? How, if at all, can they influence this?
 * What happens to those who disagree with the majority on questions of religion?
 * Are there any particular places considered special or holy? What are they like?
 * What are the most popular rituals or festivals?
 * What do people have to offer to their Deity or deities?
 * What do people want from their Deity or deities? How do they try and get it?
 * How do their religious practices differ from their neighbours'?
 * What is the most commonly broken religious rule?
 * What is the least-violated religious rule?
 * What factions exist within the dominant religious institutions? How do they compete?
 * Are there monastic groups? What do they do and how are they organized? How do you join one?
 * How are those who follow different faiths treated?
 * What relationship do religious and political leaders have?
 * What superstitions are common? What kinds of supernatural events or beings do people fear?

Magick
 * How is magic integrated into society?
 * Who can work magic? Is anyone disallowed from working magic?
 * How are works of magic accomplished?
 * What kind of preparation or study is required before undertaking a magical work?

VIIJ. Questions of Labour


 * Describe any kind of division of labour, such as into physical versus mental versus spiritual.
 * Is there any especial prestige attached to some category of labour or a particular job?
 * What jobs are considered mucky or are particularly deprecated?
 * What professions or activities are considered masculine?
 * What professions or activities are viewed as feminine?
 * What are usual working hours? Are there days of rest or holidays?
 * How does this differ between different jobs?
 * What jobs have few workers and why?
 * What are typical wages for various jobs?
 * How does work affect lifestyle and health?
 * What sort of jobs are preferred by which people? Are some jobs denied to certain groups?
 * What are the ethical oaths or codes that govern various jobs? Is there a difference in ethics between manual and mental or spiritual work?

IX. Questions of Art


 * What are the favorite artforms?
 * What are the least-favorite?
 * How respected are artists?
 * Do artists require official or unofficial protection or patronage?
 * What kinds of trouble are artists in particular likely to find themselves in?
 * How might a very successful artist live?
 * What forms of theatre does your society have?
 * How naturalistic or stylized is your society's art?
 * What shapes are most common in your society's arts, like embroidery or architecture?
 * Which artforms get the most and least respect?
 * What form does censorship take?
 * Who may not be an artist?
 * What qualities equal "beauty" in this society?
 * What makes a man or woman especially beautiful?
 * How do people react to tattoos? Piercings? Facial hair? Cosmetics?

Entertainment
 * Do people enjoy looking at art? Does this vary among communities?
 * Do people enjoy doing art? Does this vary?
 * Is there any calligraphy? Who does it?
 * Does your culture have a distinct (or not so) musical style? What is it like?
 * How do people listen to music (in a theater, at home, on the street, mechanical)?
 * Does music influence people's behaviour?
 * Does this culture have a typical dance form? What is it like?
 * Who goes to see such entertainments?

X. Questions of Marriage


 * How is a marriage defined? How is a marriage contracted?
 * What is the term of a marriage contract?
 * What gifts are considered appropriate or inappropriate for a wedding?
 * How are marriages celebrated?
 * What is considered too great a difference in age for a couple?
 * Do relationships allow multiple partners?
 * In what ways is a marriage considered broken?
 * How can a marriage be terminated?

XI. Questions of Health


 * What is the average life expectancy? How does this differ between different regions, races or ethnicities?
 * What access do people have to clean drinking water (at home or in public)?
 * What access do people have to proper sanitation (at home or in public)?
 * Do houses or public buildings have plumbing? Cold and warm water?
 * Describe any public or private bathing or latrine facilities.
 * How is healthcare delivered in this society; what are its foundations?
 * Are there hospitals or sanataria where many forms of health care are concentrated; or are practicioners more diffuse within the community?
 * Do people have access to any form of medical aid for emergencies or for less urgent problems?
 * What kinds of ailments or injuries are treatable in the locality using available supplies and expertise?
 * What does typical healthcare cost?
 * How do this society's doctors try to treat wounds and sickness?
 * Which medical assumptions of this society are wrong?
 * Do people seek care on an as-needed or emergency basis; or is health care seen as a preventative endeavour?
 * How often do people see their doctor, dentist or other healthcare providers?
 * Is a distinction made between physical and nonphysical ailments?
 * What happens to those suffering from extreme mental illness? Spiritual illness? Other?
 * How do people react to physical deformity (both congenital and acquired)?

XIJ. Questions of Sex
 * How does your society define incest? Rape? How do people react to these?
 * What secret vice is believed to be widely practiced?
 * What secret vice actually is practiced?
 * What sexual habits are widely believed common among foreigners?
 * How do people react to homosexuality? Is it frowned on? Encouraged?
 * Are premarital sexual relations allowed? Extramarital?
 * How is adultery defined? What (if any) is the punishment? Who decides?
 * Is prostitution legal? How are prostitutes viewed? Is this accurate?
 * What is the biggest sexual taboo?
 * What does this society mean by the word "virgin" and how important it it?
 * Is sex confined to marriage? Or, is it supposed to be?
 * What constitutes aberrant sexual behavior?
 * Are there any cultural or religious strictures, norms or tabus that specifically address sexual conduct?
 * Are there secular laws that control or restict sexual behaviour?
 * At what age is it considered normal to engage in sex? Are there tabus against sex with children?
 * Should sex be a one-to-one experience? Or are groups allowed?

XIIJ. Questions of Education


 * Describe the education of the society's people: formal schooling, apprenticeship, etc.
 * If education is mainly by apprenticeship, how is this accomplished?
 * Is education compulsory / offered to everyone? What is the cost of education?
 * Between which ages does education happen?
 * How are year groups and academic years arranged?
 * How are curricula arranged? What courses are typically offered?
 * What degrees or diplomas are offered by schools?
 * What do schools / colleges / universities look like?
 * What are the classrooms like? What is a typical class size?
 * Who is in charge of education in the country, and in each individual school?
 * Does this society have its own language? Its own writing system?
 * How common is literacy? How is literacy viewed?
 * What form and value are books?
 * Who teaches others? How do they teach?
 * Who decides who learns to read or write?
 * Who teaches professions, like carpenter or scribe?
 * Are foreigners ever brought in to teach new skills? Who does that?

XIV. Questions of Technology


 * Are philosophy and science unified, or do they exist as separate and independent disciplines?
 * What devices and technologies are availible for people?
 * Are such devices taken for granted? If not, how many are appreciated?
 * How do people envision a difficult or impossible task that could be made easier by using some kind of device or futuristic technology?
 * How is knowledge distributed? Is it kept unknown to the common people, or is available for all?

Architecture


 * What major architectural styles are present? What do they look like?
 * How does this vary over time and between places in the region?
 * What major elements are present? How are they pieced together?
 * What are houses like inside and out?
 * What are palaces and castles like?
 * How tall is the tallest building? How big is the biggest building?
 * What materials are used in typical construction? Do any materials have to be imported?
 * How are buildings constructed? Are there machines or is work done by hand?
 * What are some famous landmarks in the region? Why are they famous? Are they famous internationally?

XV. Questions of Transportation and Communications

its intended destination?
 * How do people get from place to place? Does this vary at all in different places?
 * Do people make long journeys? If so, what are they like?
 * Is there a public transport system? Who uses it? How much does it cost?
 * What are the roads like? How do they vary from place to place?
 * Do individuals or families own and use their own vehicles?
 * How safe is transport?
 * How clean is transport?
 * What major fuels are used?
 * Apart from face to face, how do people communicate with each other?
 * Is there a postal service? How fast is it? How much does it cost to use? What restrictions are there on packet delivery? Does the post operate internationally? How likely is it that an article sent in the post will reach
 * What technical or mechanical means of communications exist?
 * If you do have an IM service, what else other than talking does it allow?

XVI. Questions of Economics


 * What is the local economy based on?
 * How is commerce engaged in?
 * If levied, how are taxes collected? What are such revenues used for? How does taxation affect the people?
 * What do people expect from their government in return for the taxes paid?

Money
 * What is the local currency like? How is it subdivided? What is is based on *metal, labour, fiat)?
 * How does it compare to other neighbouring currencies?
 * How has the value of the currency changed or fluctuated recently?
 * How are coins and notes produced? How common are forgeries?
 * How is wealth distributed?
 * Is there a public banking system?
 * Who uses it? What benefits does it bring? At what cost?
 * Is there a large gap between the wealth of the rich and poor? What expectations do each group have from the other?
 * What constitutes "poverty" in this society?

XVIJ. Questions of Death and Burial


 * What is their understanding of death and dying?
 * What does this society do with their corpses?
 * Do they cremate their dead? Or, how are dead bodies disposed of?
 * Is the family responsible for the body?
 * What part do the priests play?
 * Are there cemeteries at all?
 * Or, does everyone have a crypt in back with all the relatives in it?
 * Do people visit the dead? If so, how often and why?

Suicide
 * What do people in this culture think about suicide?
 * Is it the greatest sin one can commit? Or is it a sin at all?
 * Is it the great and last comfort of a tormented soul?
 * Is it worse than murder?

XVIIJ. Questions of Government


 * What is the form of government? How is it structured?
 * What are some of the most fundamental policies of the government?
 * What is the political status of minority communities?
 * How is government chosen?
 * What is the country's general foreign policy?
 * Who decides whether someone has broken a law? How?
 * What kinds of punishments are meted out? By whom? Why?
 * How are new laws created or old ones changed?
 * Is there some form of clemency or pardon? What is involved?
 * Who has the right to give orders, and why?
 * What titles do various officials have?
 * How are the rules different for officials as opposed to the common person?
 * How do government officials dress?
 * Is the law written down? Who interprets it?
 * Once accused, what recourse does someone have?
 * Is torture allowed? What kinds?
 * How are people executed?
 * Who cannot rise to positions of leadership?
 * Is bribery allowed? Under what circumstances?
 * What makes someone a bad ruler in this society? What can be done about it?
 * What are the most common or dangerous forms of criminal?

City Watch & Sheriffs
 * Is there a civilian police force, or is law enforcement the province of the military?
 * Is the police force a nationalised one, or are there multiple regional forces?
 * How militant or vigilante are they? Are they usually or ever armed?
 * What is the extent of their authority? Can they shoot you? Can they use magic? Can they torture or otherwise force a confession? Can they use telepathy?
 * Are there individuals or groups who are above the law?
 * Is there a secret police?
 * What is the role of police informants, if any?

XVIIIJ. Questions of Warfare


 * Does the country have an armed force? What types? What size?
 * How do the armed forces compare with others in the region or world?
 * Who declares war?
 * Who has the power to declare conditions of peace?
 * How are treaties negotiated?
 * What happens to prisoners taken in battle?
 * What weapons are favoured by the various armed forces?
 * What form of warfare does this society use?
 * How do battles in the airs or waters or underworlds differ from surface warfare?
 * Who are the Elite warriors? What distinguishes them?
 * How does someone get command of troops?
 * Where do the loyalties of military units lie?
 * Are there professional soldiers? Do they make up the bulk of the military?
 * What is campaign or camp life like?
 * What ethical or moral codes do warriors adhere to?
 * How are battle injuries treated?
 * How long do wars typically last?
 * Has this society ever attacked another? What was the nature of that war? What would make this society go to war?
 * Has there ever been a civil war or a revolution?
 * What do soldiers do when there's no war?
 * Are there any current tensions / wars / embargoes etc. with any other nations?
 * Who are the country's enemies? Who's winning the war?
 * What defences are available to cities?

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