Fair Disclosure:
The items that follow have been picked out of the X-Ray content available on the Orchids Ablaze ebook. So if you have that, there won’t be anything new here for you. Keep a lookout for other lore entries though!
TUARSAHZI:
A large desert realm inhabited by multiple semi-nomadic tribes; a generic term used to refer collectively to the inhabitants the Tuarsahzi Desert; the name of the specific tribe which historically united the disparate tribes and rules as a type of constitutional monarchy defined by long-standing custom.
Author’s note: I’ve only visited the deserts in the southwest of the U.S.A., but even brief exposure left me with an appreciation for the majesty of the environment. The Tuarsahzi Desert is not Arrakis, but Frank Herbert’s Dune stories were a definite influence.
CIRCLE OF MAJYSYR:
Throughout the history of the Tuarsahzi there have always been those wise in ways that others are not. The Circle of Majysyr is the name given to this collection of wise men and women, some of whom wield esoteric powers.. Smaller Circles, such as the Circle of Waters, within the Majysyr concentrate on a single aspect of Tuarsahzi life, such as healing.
Author’s note: Even in comic book universes, “magic” is the wild card that doesn’t follow any rules and is rarely quantifiable. Most often it is an intensely personal connection to a source of power and a unique paradigm that allows mage to create their effects.
THREE SACRED TREASURES:
The three sacred treasures of the Tuarsahzi are tied to the tribes’ earliest legends, before unification. After the tribes entered into their confederation, the relics were gathered and placed with the royal family to preserve for all the people. A critical duty of the Circle of Majysyr is the protection of these artifacts.
SHIKAYN:
Shikayn is the term for the hereditary constitutional monarch of the Tuarsahzi confederation of tribes. The feminine form is Shijjala. It is an ancient word with differing connotations depending upon dialect and historical period, but is generally translated as “high chief”, “king/queen”, or “sovereign”. Many Tuarsahzi prefer the archaic terms “uniter” or “defender of ways”.
Author’s note: Within the Tuarsahzi there is little functional difference between a male and female monarch. The preferred situation is when a pair rule jointly and both are equally empowered with the responsibility and authority to make decisions that affect the Tuarsahzi.
KEEPER OF SCROLLS:
The Tuarsahzi embrace their history with near-religious dedication. Each family designates a Keeper of Scrolls, who is charged to maintain a written record of their past and present. The record is kept in a place of honor as their most precious possession. Traditionally, family details are captured on linen or durable cloth with permanent ink and copied when necessary. Some families use embroidery or other methods to protect against deterioration.
