Abadi Nayar
AKA: none
Common Races (CR): Planetouched of all kinds, with the gensai being the dominant. Half-elementals, tieflings, and aasimar are given special treatment.
Languages(In Order of Use): Abadi, Common, Sea Common, Ignem, Auran, Aquam, Terram
Spirituality (Sp): Erestem Grimm, Merimere, Ember
Short History (SH): Abadi is an island paradise in the Carsi Ocean. Ages ago it was settled by the Janni, the weakest of the five genie races. Normally nomadic, the Janni settled here because it was filled with all four elements in great abundance—a rare treasure. They lived in peace and harmony, living off the island for several ages. The island, surrounded by water, and formed by high, volcanic mountains (3 elements) provided everything that was needed. However, during the first Age of the Paragon, the island became strangely unfertile. Plants and animals continued to grow in abundance, but anything eaten by sentient creatures failed to give nourishment. Even fish caught off shore failed to give health to the populace. Many Janni died before it was discovered that food obtained far away from the island retained its nutritional value when it arrived on the shores. The Janni, unwilling to open permanent portals to the elemental planes, and therefore become slaves to their cousin races, decided to venture forth and gain good, constant trade routes with other countries. To pay for these goods, the Janni had only one thing to offer—soldiers. The Janni were born stronger than other mortal races and made incredible mercenaries. Many Janni abroad returned home with spouses, almost all of which had gensai blood that made them attractive to the Janni. In time, this intermingling thinned the Janni blood and other planetouched journeyed to the island hoping to find others like them. Janni are no longer found on the island, those that were unwilling to mingle blood returned to parts unknown or to their most ancient of homes in the Lower Desert.
Politics (Po): Abadi Nayar is ruled, oddly enough, by a secret council of Gem Dragons, one representing each of the four elements. These dragons, when they grow old, succeed their position of authority to one of their brood. The ruling dragons consist of a crystal (air), topaz (water), and two emeralds (one for earth and one for fire). The official ruling body is an “Oracle of the Ancient Janni” who is chosen, in secret, by the dragons and replaced when the old one dies. There have been times when the “Oracle” was not even a native to the island. Before an “Oracle” is chosen, he or she is completely dominated by the council. Other than that, social rank is gained for men by valor in foreign wars and for women through age or property.
Family Structure (FS): The family structure is uniquely suited to perpetuate mercenary life. There is no such thing as marriage in this society. Instead, men and women may mate as often as both are willing, and with as many partners as they choose. This is to ensure that while the men are gone, there are still plenty of babies. Women have the right to say “no” at will (she is considered to be unprepared for a new baby), but men are not. Rape against women is punishable by castration and death. Rape of men is seen as a shame upon the male (for saying no). The common saying is that if a man really must avoid a woman, he should get on a boat and go fight in a war. Children are raised in the households of their mother, in a community of women. Brothers of the mother are typically the only male figure (other than teachers). There is no word for “Father” or “Aunt” in the Abadi language. Children refer to their mother and all her sisters as “mother” and call mother’s brother “uncle.” Fathers are never identified to children.
Other Notes: While gensai are the dominant race, certain races gain special attention. A true half-elemental is seen as a great event, as it assumed that the individual simply has very strong blood and is not actually the direct child of an elemental. Aasimar births are seen as a sign of important events to come and are often sacrificed shortly afterwards by being put into a small boat and sent out to sea. The custom states that the aasimar is not a real child and must be sent back to Heaven as a way of saying thank you for the good events to come. Tiefling children (including other planetouched related to hell) are stolen from their parents at birth and thrown into a volcano to keep them from growing into evil adults. Full elementals are treated with an odd mixture of awe and hate. This is due to elemental genies being the villains in most of the local bard stories.