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The Al-Zamin The fabled Ogre cities, with their walled palaces, bustling bazaars and crowded, twisting streets are home to the Al-Zamin, the city dwellers. The rulers of Qabara control the wealth of the land. Among the Al-Zamin, the commoners are workers; their labors support the ruling class. There is a rigid caste system. If you are born a baker, you remain a baker. Your station at birth is considered decreed by the fates. Among the Al-Zamin the eldest male, the Pah, is the head of the family. He is revered and respected. His wife or wives, the Mamans, are afforded equal respect regardless of their blood ties to the descendants. Children are raised by whichever parent makes a formal claim before the priest at the time of birth. If both parents make the claim, the priests decide who shall raise the child by performing prescribed auguries. This claiming of the child is called the cognation. Once a child has been formally cognated, he is considered to be of the caste of that family. The family name is passed through the male line. The biological parents are referred to as pahpa and mah regardless of where the child resides or what family name he bears. Marriages within Qabarian society are a sacred bond. The fact that some marriages last for a few weeks or for one night implies no impropriety - but it is dishonorable to make advances towards another's spouse. Ogres are very strict about sexual contact outside of the bonds of marriage. There is no stigma attached to dissolving a marriage and some Ogres have had numerous marriages, even multiple spouses at one time. At the time of marriage, a spouse is considered entitled to the caste privileges due the spouse with the higher ranking. After a divorce, they revert to the caste of their cognation. Their children are the caste of the parent who claimed the right of cognation. If this is left to the priests, it is not negotiable after the decision has been made. The family dwelling or dwellings provide home for all together. If a family complex becomes too crowded, any male over forty years of age can start his own family. He can take with him his wife or wives and those children that have been cognated to him or his spouses. He then chooses a family name. Children are expected to work in the home or family business. Your family may apprentice you to a family of a different caste if you show exceptional talent, but this is a rare occurrence. The wages of a child, above their living expenses, go to their family. A poor farming family with a daughter apprenticed to a weaver would gain status and wealth. At the age of twenty, the obligatory period of apprenticeship is over. The child is then free to return to his family with his new skills or to seek employment outside his home. He would still reside in the family complex and contribute to the family income. The rules of cognation are strictly adhered to. It would be considered highly unethical to claim a position that was not yours by birth. Ogres are believers in re-incarnation and feel that their lot in life is what the fates have decreed. If they live a virtuous and honorable life, they will be rewarded by the fates in their next incarnation. To move up in caste, you must have a situation presented to you by the fates that gives you an opportunity to perform some exceptional feat. Ambitious children of the poor often go adventuring, hoping the fates will notice them and give them an opportunity to better their family's standing. The story is often told of the poor but courageous farmer who saved a wandering babe from a griffen. The child he saved was the son of the Qatchah. As his reward, the farmer was made a Camir and was able to pass that station on to his heirs. The Al-Zamin society has equality between males and females. A man or a woman can be respected as nursemaid, weaver, warrior, or merchant. Children are encouraged to develop the skills the fates have given them. Qabarian warriors are drawn from all castes. The fates give these skills to their chosen ones. They are obligated to defend their lands and their people. They work for the military leaders, the Kheps. They are highly respected by all. The head of the Ogre kingdom is the hereditary Qatchah. Below the Qatchah reign the Chahs, Qalifehs and Camirs. The Qatchah rules over the entire Ogre kingdom, and considers himself overlord of even the nomadic tribes. The lands of Qabara are divided into principalities dedicated to the twelve eldest sons of the Qatchah. If the Qatchah does not yet have twelve sons, the heads of the principalities are his eldest brothers or uncles. Each principality owes its' taxes to a prince - each prince pays a portion to the Qatchah. A hereditary Chah oversees each principality in the name of the Prince. The Chahs own most of the lands and collect the taxes from the farmers but pay tithes to their Prince. The twelve major cities, the capitals of the principalities, are run by Qalifehs. The Qalifehs collect taxes from the city dwellers and pay their tithes to the Chahs. The smaller settlements are run by Camirs who also pay tithes to the Chahs. The work of the commoners supports the kingdom through taxes paid on land, goods, and services. The heads of the military forces of each principality are called Kheps. The Kheps are paid by the Qatchah to protect and defend the lands and the people of Qabara. |