Hyboria - WordPress.com - Yggdrasil Distro
Hyboria - WordPress.com - Yggdrasil Distro
Hyboria - WordPress.com - Yggdrasil Distro
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Picts take heads for trophies, hanging them inside their huts or binding them to the altars of their<br />
villages. The Picts believe that if they bring the head of their enemy home, the spirit of the enemy will<br />
be forced to serve them in the afterlife.<br />
Shemitish<br />
"They sighted the coast of Shem -- long rolling meadowlands with the white crowns of the towers of cities in the<br />
distance, and horsemen with blue-black beards and hooked noses, who sat their steeds along the shore and eyed the<br />
galley with suspicion. She did not put in; there was scant profit in trade with the sons of Shem."<br />
- Robert E. Howard: "Queen of the Black Coast"<br />
Nim-Karrak, King of Asgalun<br />
In the vast land of Shem, despotic kings rule stately city-states in<br />
luxurious, sensual splendor within walled palaces in the west, and<br />
lean nomads in camel's hair tents rule the arid desert sands to the<br />
east.<br />
The coastline has few harbors, thus overland trade is the true<br />
lifeblood of the nation. Crisscrossing the land in all directions are the<br />
famed caravan routes, ever-traveled by camel trains.<br />
The people of Shem are generally of medium height, broad<br />
shouldered and solid, with hooked noses, dark eyes, and blue-black<br />
hair. The men sport thick, curled beards and are famed as archers,<br />
selling their skill at bow to many a <strong>Hyboria</strong>n army. Primarily these<br />
people are herdsmen and farmers. An industrious, clever people,<br />
they manufacture textiles and pottery.<br />
The Eastern Desert is the home of the Zuagir nomads, aggressive raiders whose desert-bred horses are<br />
the finest in the world. These nomads are not aligned with any of the city-states. They raid Shemitish,<br />
Zamoran and Turanian caravans and steadings for their food, weapons and wealth. Much of the<br />
mercenary work available in eastern Shem is due to fear of the Zuagir, and the kings of Turan have<br />
repeatedly sent forces into the desert to drive the Zuagir away.<br />
Most Shemites worship the female Earth Mother Goddesses whom they deem responsible for their lands,<br />
their herds, and their families. Chief of these are Ashtoreth, Derketo, and Ishtar. Pteor, Adonis, and Bel of<br />
Shumir are popular male gods. Though the rival city-states are polytheistic, each has its own patron deity.<br />
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