Ba'al

The People

The people of Ba’al are hardy and resilient, they have to be as their lives are fraught with danger. The populace is few in number, so they value skills and strength. People who are useful are lauded, promoted and protected. Those who are deemed weak of unskilled are often neglected to the dregs of society, or they become slaves. Ba’al is the only country in the world where slavery is still not only legal but encouraged. 

The harsh landscape is dotted with Volcanoes, more active than anywhere else in the world and this leads to tribes being nomadic, having to be ready to flee their homes at any moment, either from pyroclastic flow or being found by another tribe who want to take their place, enslave their people and/or steal their possessions. They travel light and try not to get attached to things like possessions or places, all they have is what they can carry and that works fine for them.

Long term buildings have little place in their society, except in the few permanent points of settlements, located in isolated river valleys or other such places that can sustain life. The people who live in these settlements may allow themselves some sentimentality towards belongings, but it is still largely viewed as a waste by the majority of people so it is done in secret. 

The people of Ba’al are heavily religious, but not in any way the rest of the world recognises. They do not believe in the known pantheon, referring to them as False Gods and isntead worship their own, bloodthirsty Gods. This worship comes more out of fear than anything else and their Gods are brutal, demanding harsh sacrifices and total obedience. Recent events have caused some Ba’alish people to turn to the Volcano God, causing a religious schism within the country.

Popular Clothing 

The constantly moving nature of the peoples means that everything important needs to fit onto a body or into a single bag, as the threats from nature, or bandits is great. Gear is created to be sturdy, hardwearing and long-lasting. Usually in neutral, desert colours, an ashy grey or- for the more opulent or religious, deep jewel tones. 

Flowing clothes are rare, with people from Ba’al preferring clothes that are form fitting, but not overly tight. Anything that allows for quick and easy movement, whilst also protecting from the weather and terrain. 

Fur-lined cloaks and coats are common, usually doubling as blankets for ease of transportation and for keeping out the chill of cold nights. If it can be afforded, leather armour is the norm, studded where available. 

Belts with pouches and clothes with pockets are prized highly, as they allow for carrying more belongings. They are never unprepared for any eventuality. 

Culture and Customs 

Their culture is a bloody one, where all who live there believe in the idea that Might makes Right, that the strong can do whatever they want and others have to bow to it. Those who are weak are discarded, or become slaves to those who can claim them. 

They have a culture of appreciating the moment, and looking to the future. They keep hold of nothing, their possessions are only important because they keep them alive. Anything extraneous can and should be repurposed at the first opportunity. They abhor waste, especially of important survival items like food and water. They will use every bit of what they have. 

Religion is key to their every day lives, their own twisted Gods demanding that they follow their orders, they also demand cruel sacrifices in the form of blood, lives and even souls. These sacrifices can be huge showy affairs, or simple and ritualistic. The priests will dictate the appropriate celebration and sacrifice, for they are the voices of the Gods.

They shun outsiders, as outsiders bring the False Gods into the land and will try to destroy the True Gods. Some major cities may trade with outsiders, but it is incredibly rare. 

Not much is known about their customs, as few travelers venture within their borders and fewer still return. 

History

Ba’al was formed in 110AC at the fall of the Elven Empire, fast becoming distant and closed off from the rest of the World. They largely exist under the notice of the world until in the 1110s, they strike out against their neighbour, Jaffria, and completely wipe the city-state off the map. The land is subsumed into Ba’al. Many of the people of Jaffria are captured and enslaved, or else flee to what is now Hilreath. 

No-one truly knows at what point the Ba’alish deviated from the known Pantheon of Gods and started worshipping their own, but it seems to have been centuries ago. Insular and protective of their secrets their knowledge is not readily shared. Their mistrust and mistreatment of outsiders makes it hard to get a full history.   

During the war of 1125AC, Noria demanded Ba’al release all of its slaves or be invaded. Ba’al acquiesced, however, it was claimed that they did not release all of their slaves and holy magic was used to detonate several Volcanoes around the country. 

Noria invaded. Many of the freed slaves fled to the armies of Noria and Noria treated these slaves far better than Ba’al and recruited many into their war machine. This included Ba’al’s slave army.

With Noria in charge and an influx of other religions from across the world this has led to a religious war within Ba’al, as many of the Gods' followers, particularly the Volcano God, battle with the remaining priests and slavers of Ba’al who still follow their own false gods.

Leadership

The leadership of Ba’al is mostly left to their Priests. Tribes are led by a Priest (or several priests) who tend to the needs of their own tribe first and have little contact with the other tribes. These Priests claim to be the voice of the Gods incarnate and will translate the will of the Gods to their tribes. The people have a deep reverence for these priests, as well as a healthy fear. 

They run the tribes with a zero tolerance attitude, promoting the powerful and the strong from within their own ranks, making sure the tribe is ready to fight off any incoming attacks. among those promoted, often slave owners will be pushed up the rankings as slaves are considered useful and valuable for menial tasks and, if necessary, sacrifices. 

The larger cities will have permanent Temples as their seats of power, operated by a High Priest and other, lesser priests, who oversee the running of the settlements. 

Religious Beliefs 

Ba’al worships their own false gods, foremost of which being Numetor, Charnargal and Charrion. Priests and Slaver Rulers of Ba’al claim that they are the gods of the land and demand the souls of the people go to them, not the gods of other countries. To that end the priests use alchemy to create potions that the priests claim will send the souls of the dead directly to their gods. People of other countries and other faiths claim this only burns the drinker’s soul, destroying it completely.

Ba’al’s recent turmoil has led to a surge of underground religious movements started by the true gods of the world. Particularly after such a display of power from Volcanoes, the Volcano God’s influence is spreading the most. However the Priests of Ba’al brutally suppress these movements wherever they can find them. And the war for the Baalish peoples spiritually continues.

Academics of the world are torn on these “false gods”. Some claim them to be demons or maybe fey or other malevalonet beings, some fear they may be something truly unknown and horrifying and others simply believe it's all a lie made for the purpose of control. No-one knows for sure and very few people are clamouring to find out.