Who are you?
I am Aidontas, Imal of Sharpan, Sirdar of Daukmein, and acting Fazzik of House Rhugandy until my son, your father, returns from the Barbarian War.

Who Are We?
We are House Rhugandy, ruling family of Great House Sharpan.  We serve Haraxalur the Bald, Satrap of Jhor, with long-standing distinction.  Because Jhor is a Satrapy of the Lunar Empire's Western Reaches we loyally serve Padishah Argentus and his agent, Governor Palamtales.

What Makes Us Great?
For nearly two hundred years the rulers of Great House Sharpan have come from House Rhugandy.  Our noble ancestors fought beside Aronius Jaranthir at Kitor when Padishah Magnificus cast the nomad demon Sheng Seleris (may he dwell in eternal torment) into the pits of Hell.  Since that day we have distinguished our House in service to Jhor and the Empire through any means required.  Most recently, your father served the Empire by exploring distant western lands and helping to subdue the southern barbarians.

Where Do We Live?
We live in the Sirdarcie of Daukmein, along the Solinor River.  The town of Derios Bridge lies within the eastern portion of Daukmein, directly across the Solinor from the Spolite city of Rafelios.  Our ancestral home, Sharpandash, lies in the high hills at the extreme western end of Daukmein.

How Do We Live?
We are fed by our Pelandan serfs, in exchange for our protection and guidance.  With the riches obtained through our many trade caravans and tolls on roads and bridges in Daukmein, we partake of imported delicacies from the four corners of the world.  In summer we eat veal, Solinor trout and catfish, apples, pears, lunar wheat, dara happan rice, and drink ciders and mare's milk. In winter we eat mutton, rabbit, oxen, dried fish, rye bread, potatoes, and drink apple and pear brandy.  Over the last few years our herd of horses has grown in both quality and number.  We are justly renowned for these fine steeds, and profit greatly thereby.

Each branch of House Rhugandy lives in its own manor. Twelve such manors are spread throughout Daukmein. Staultola is the greatest manor, and is always occupied by the household of our Fazzik.  Sharpandash is our ancestral fortress, but those dour halls have not been occupied for several generations.

House Rhugandy owns the fruits and hunting rights of Daurmein and in return we proudly provide forty mounted soldiers to the Satrap. We maintain three of the Satrap's elite guards, and yearly send him six wagon loads of rye, three horses trained for racing, two horse trained for war, and a piece of exotic jewelry brought that year from a distant land. Also, each year the Hierophant commands us send to the Magistery of Vaizyrat six hogsheads of pear brandy and four of apple brandy, two hundred and fifty dressed rabbits, twenty female lambs, and three hundred and seventy cubits of white wool cloth.

The Guide commands that a man must cover his face and wear the Lalem, a white robe, whenever he goes abroad at night. Likewise the Guide commands women to cover their faces and wear the Pahero, a black robe, whenever they walk beneath the sun. In winter we wear trousers and other garments of sheep-skin or heavy wool under the Lalem so we may keep warm. In the summer we wear linen or light woolen garments under the Lalem. On holidays it is permissible to openly adorn yourself with jewelry, brass, gold and silver seized from the heart of the Brass Mountains.

Visir Borlivan and his apprentices keep us hale, tend the household ledgers, and protect us from the Lie of Gansetarus.

What Is Important in My Life?
A Hazar should be a strong and skillful warrior. Practice your martial skills where you may so that you are ready when it is time for you to kill in the service of House Rhugandy. Do not hesitate when violence is imminent. It is your destiny. Face it proudly, seize glory when you see it. This will make you a good hazar. Uncle Borlivan and the lesser viziri will tell you how to manage religious virtue.

Who Rules Us?
I do. Until your father returns I am both your Fazzik and the Imal of Sharpan. I am your grandfather, the prince of your mercantile enterprises, and your supreme commander in war. Borlivan, my son, your Uncle, will advise you as to what is wise and what is foolish.  Alensir, another of your Uncles, will captain all house troops if we are embroiled in warfare.

I obey the dictates of Satrap Haraxalur. He is my prince. We are a part of the great Lunar empire, and do our best to follow the regulations of its administrators and bureaucrats.

What Makes A Man Great?
Great actions in balance make a man great. Build wealth and make charitable works. Kill your enemies and sire many children. Create beauty and destroy ugliness wherever you see it. Turn thought into action. By his actions will you know a good man.

What Is the Difference Between Men and Women?
It is man's essential nature to be an illuminator, a source of light and action, to destroy darkness and in the fullness of time to become one with it. It is woman's essential nature to absorb light and action, to take it in and in the fullness of time to reproduce it. Ask the viziri if you want to hear details.

What Is Evil?
Evil is everything that comes from Ganesatarus. It is darkness, quarreling, jealousy, strife between kin, and many things which the viziri will gladly describe in great detail. Just as the Good God came after Ganesatarus so must we follow evil and put it aright.

What Is My Lot In Life?
You are a son of the House Rhugandy of Staultola. Your lot is to be a hazar (a warrior, the house's strong right arm), vizir (an advisor or magic-worker, the house's intellect), or karmanos (a prince and merchant, the house's heart). The Will of the Good God regarding your rightful role was discovered by omens when you were raised to adulthood.

How Do We Deal With Others?
We rule over the people of the land as is our ancestral right and soldier's proof. Those who disobey the Guide are as foreigners, and are fated to be our slaves until they accept the Guide's teachings. They are not animals, yet they are not as worthy as full men either. Do not kill them lightly, but do not condone any offenses against Truth or the rightful authority of House Rhugandy.

We compete with rivals such as Great House Sarat through trade, and through warfare if it comes to that. We are an old House - proud and strong.  Our recent setbacks at the hands of foul House Vhemadzy are temporary, and will soon be reversed.  Do not let anyone imply otherwise.

Who Are Our Enemies?
We hate all the rebel gods who follow Ganesatarus instead of the Good God. As a part of the Lunar Empire, we are at war with the barbarous children of the storm-dragon who live in that land which killed many of our ancestors. But the border is far away, and we face more immediate problems at home.

Our neighbors in House Vhemadzy hate us and ever seek to steal the fruits of our hard work rather than profit from their own. Do not trust them, even for a second. If you have an opportunity to damage their interests, then do so - especially if it can be done to our gain.  They owe us far more than could ever be repaid.

Who Are My Gods?
We follow the Carmanian Orthodox Church. The church tells us that the EthTelsen, the one hundred lesser gods, are not as holy as the One God, the Creator, but are more like powerful people. Some are called Emanations, others are Divisions, and these can all be valuable to worship.  Popular gods among the Houses of Sharpan are Carmamos the Guide (Carmanoi), and Yanafal Tarnils (Hazars).  Other more ancient gods are sometimes worshiped, like Durbadath the Lion, but the Lunar powers (like Yanafal) are more powerful and provide political benefits as well.

Beware of Deceitful and evil rebel gods, such as Gbaji who has tricked many foolish people out of their very souls, and the Evil God of Darkness, Ganesatarus.

The lesser viziri can tell you much about the EthTelsen and proper worship if you have the patience to listen to them.

What is there to do around here?
Wintertime is the time that we defend ourselves against House Vhemadzy and others who hate us. During winter I will send out hazari upon dangerous, important missions for House Rhugandy. I will need the viziri to separate rumors and half-truths from the facts about those who plot against us. Finally, our karmanoi and the trading missions they lead need to come home before the winter to provide us with information on threats and opportunities in distant lands.  A break in this dour season is provided by the famous Winter Festival in Hariij.

Thaw and Summer are a happy time. Then there are many celebrations, from the Festival of Turos in Rafelios, and local festivals in almost every town. The bazaars in Rafelios, Ulwar, and the great city of Hariij are in full swing. We try to sell as much as we can during that time, whether booty taken in winter raids, trade goods from the previous year, or the produce of our lands and farms.