Continent: Centaria
Capital: Luxur
Government: Gynarchy, extreme - Empress - Meryetamen
Dominant Religion: Egyptian. Typically, each city has a dominant deity; other temples are allowed, but are much smaller.
Typical Physiology: Taller than the world average, skin tends to a coppery tone, hair brown to black, eyes mostly blue but sometimes brown.
Notes: Helghan was originally named Gralur, but the DM discovered that he had named two different countries the same thing, and retconned this one.
The country is an extreme form of a Gynarchy, a government exclusively run by women. All businesses, the military, and so on are female controlled, and males are not allowed to speak to women from a class higher than their own.
The country is an autocracy, ruled by a ‘god-empress’ fighter/cleric/mage of Ptah, named Meryetamen. The country is a matriarchy with multiple husbands, and men hold only lesser positions (if any at all) in business, temples, military and social circles. The only gods whose open worship are tolerated are Anubis, Ra, Bast and Ptah; Set has hidden temples here (except in Khitai). No other deities have any temples here, although there are some small, informal gatherings in the homes of those brave enough to risk death for worship of proscribed gods. If any cities or towns are entered, temples that have been obviously converted from those of now-deceased gods of the Egyptians can be seen here and there. This country predates most of the other human-centric countries now existing in this part of the world, having been founded in 330 EA by explorers from Gralur in Westria, which explains the Egyptian faith.
VISITING THE CITIES OF HELGHAN
Each city is ruled by the high priestess of the main temple of that city (see details below). In the cities, all major business, military and government is controlled by those temples. In smaller towns, there is usually a sort of mayor, and power is less central.
If the party enters any towns or cities in Helghan, they will run into intolerance of men – women in authority will speak only to the women in the party, men will address women only without making eye contact. Lower-caste men may fall to the ground, either on their knees or even completely prostrate if they are very low caste. There are numerous slaves in evidence, marked by being just this side of naked with shaven heads (both genders). Most of them are obvious foreigners, with either darker or lighter skin. [Slaves can be bought in only one place, the government controlled slave market in Luxur.] Social organization is very ordered, and every town and city is laid out in a grid, with districts for the wealthy, for temples, for major business, middle class, army, the poor, and so on. Women will, assuming their can afford such, always be accompanied by a husband or two, personal servants, slaves and bodyguards; those with none are generally lower-class, unskilled workers.
Oddly, when anyone pays with silver, it was treated as equivalent to gold in the middle to lower class places, and politely refused in the upper class places. Silver is very rare in this country, and thought of as godly metal by the upper class – suitable for jewelry for the very rich only, for holy symbols for high priests, and temple decorations.
Generally, foreigners are not met with open arms, as the men will seldom do a good job of concealing their equality with the women in the party. They are subtly encouraged to leave, but not ordered to do so. They are invited to the various temples, and if any revealed themselves to be priest of Anubis, Ra, Bast or Ptah, they were treated well; professing worship of Set will cause one to become socially invisible (except in Khitai). Professing worship in other gods results in trouble ranging from ejection from the premises, to calling the police. Word will spread rapidly of any such reputation, good or bad, and will result in a refusal of service or entry to those who are ‘foreign god’ worshipers. Note this is somewhat for the protection of those involved, as the empress has almost zero tolerance for such.
Other high priests of the kingdom
Ptah – in Belveras – priestess Nebti – She is tall and slim, perhaps 35 years old, and apparently shaven headed. Her eyes seem to see into you, giving you a feeling that all your secrets are revealed. Her voice is high and not loud, though she can project when desired such as during worship. She is very still, and doesn’t make much eye contact.
Ra – in Koraja – priestess Nafre – She has a stunning natural beauty, and is obviously superhumanly brilliant. She is observant to the point where she needs to ask few questions, and willing to discuss virtually any subject for hours. Though she looks like a pampered socialite, her way of moving and the power of magic she gives off make it obvious it’s all a show. Her voice is medium and pleasant, with a slightly exotic accent.
Anubis – in Keshla – priestess Njesrit – she is a well-preserved forty year old. She has a detectable dislike for adventurers, and does not act at all sorry that her information about Gonnsral is useless. She will only trade a second level spell if she is first given a first level spell in trade for her first level spell, and so on. She is brusque, with a voice that drips disdain.
Bast – in Xuthal – priestess Emuishere – She is very slim, and very tall, over six feet, and about forty years old. Her voice is deep and smoky, and she speaks very slowly. She looks Arabic in feature and skin coloring. She is friendly, but can turn angry with little reason and no warning.
Set – in Khitai – priestess Kemisi – Kemisi is a dark-skinned beauty of perhaps 30 years. She is tautly muscled, like a gymnast. Her voice is deep and clear. She apologizes for her temple’s policy about trading with Bast devotees, saying that the Bast temple instituted a like policy first, and they had to respond likewise. Her skin seems to glisten, as if covered with tiny droplets of water, or maybe powdered glass, or tiny scales.
The armed forces (which seem to be everywhere) are run by females, the men cannot attain officer or NCO rank. The armed forces are organized in cadres of creatures, such as Snake, Scorpion, and so on, like this