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Turanian Turanian Warriors
"Her wide-eyed gaze was fixed in agonized intensity on the horseman
who pushed through the reedy screen and dismounted before her. He was
a tall man, slender, but hard as steel. From head to heel he was clad in
light silvered mesh-mail that fitted his supple form like a glove. From
under the dome-shaped, gold-chased helmet his brown eyes regarded her
mockingly. He laughed, and his laughter was like the purr of a sword
sliding from a silken sheath."
- Robert E. Howard: "Shadows in the Moonlight"
Splendor of the East and Mistress of the Vilayet, Turan is fiercely
proud of its Hyrkanian heritage. Perhaps the greatest empire ever
to rise in the ancient world of Hyboria; Koth, Shem, Brythunia,
and Zamora all pay tribute to the Empire of Turan. The chief gods
of the Turanians are the Living Tarim and Erlik.
Turan is the wealthiest realm west of Khitai, with the possible
exception of Vendhya. It has many ports along the eastern and
western shores of the Vilayet and is mistress of the inland sea. Its
capital, Aghrapur, is the most glorious and teeming city of the
Age of Conan, extending from the sea to far inland. The huge,
magnificent palace of the Emperor is called the Sunrise Court.
The Turanian marketplaces are always filled with "human trade
goods" and one can purchase slaves from Brythunia, Zamora,
Ophir, Kush, Shem, and Stygia. The Turanean people are a selfassured
lot, proud of their splendid nation, and supportive of their
government's policies of imperialism. They despise Kothians,
viewing them as needlessly arrogant and insulting. On more than
one occasion, Turani warriors have killed lone Kothians who
insulted their honor.
Women in Turani society wear veils and are not allowed outside during the hours of darkness. They may
only converse with men when approved by the head male of their family. All Turani women are married
under arrangements made by their fathers. No other person may make such decisions. If a man is killed
before his daughter reaches the proper age, the decision rests with the eldest son. All Turani men of
wealth maintain large harems populated with as many foreign women of beauty as they can obtain.
Strong women from Turan and other societies, and their like-minded male allies, find this despicable.
Most Turani who do not live in the cities are shepherds and trade in animals rather than material objects.
Despite this, some merchants do manage to gain significant wealth, particularly due to Turan's position on
the trade routes between east and west.
Whenever two nomadic clans meet, each slaughters one of its animals to prepare a meal for the leader
of the opposite clan. In this manner, they honor each other. Richer clans may also exchange gifts,
although this usually only occurs when the two clans share roughly equal wealth. Otherwise, the richer
clan gives a substantial gift to the poorer one.
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