The Desert of Salem

Language

Salemese is the language of wisdom and spoken by most people in the region. A lot of other tribal languages exist in parallel.

Names

Their names sound like Moorish names with their proper name first followed by "Bint" for "daughter of" or "Ibn" for "son of" then followed either by their mother's name or father's name. At the end of their name, they might have an "al" follow by the region they are from, like "Al-Khaima". For some ideas, you can consult the following site: FNG.

Society

This land is mostly a very loose federation of cities, clans and monasteries with only the Great Wise Ones recognized as spiritual leaders, although the Sultan, which is currently a powerful woman named Ashiqa Bint Fatimah Bint Maymun, is seen as the nominal head of state, especially by outsiders.

Great Wise Ones

The Great Wise Ones are 7 sages that form a council of spiritual leaders. Each is a sage from one of the numerous monasteries of the land and is elected for life.

Once a seat needs to be filled, each monastery votes one who should be sent to Salem to vote. Such a person is called a Voice of Wisdom, and their mandate ends when all the seats are filled in the council. A Voice of Wisdom cannot be elected Great Wise One.

Each MUST send a Voice of Wisdom, however, they may also send candidates.

Laws

Laws are written by the Sultan, but strictly respecting the voices of the Great Wise Ones.

Outsiders

Anyone not born in Salem, is considered an outsider and called so at the beginning of almost every sentence, with the most common one being: "Outsider, what are you doing?"

Cities

Cities are where the concentration of wealth and population are and thus have the most power. However, they have no rule over clans or monasteries.

Each is ruled by a Pasha. Some are assisted by a council that can be made of monastery abbots and/or heads of guilds, others are assisted by a Vizir (often suspected of being a mage) sometimes both.

Desert Rats

People from the cities often call the clan people "desert rats" seeing them as barely civilized.

Laws

The Sultan's laws are usually implemented by each city's Pasha, but they may also enact their own laws and that's where corruption and harshness may encroach over the will of the wisdom.

Trial

Petty crimes are usually dealt with by a sergeant or captain of the guards without any trial.

More important cases are judged by three sages from a local monastery. If all three sages agree that the offending party is guilty, then the sentence is pronounced. If not, the party is not guilty.

At a trial a sergeant or captain presents the evidence before the sages, then the victims and the offending party plead their case. Each may be assisted by a willing sage from any Salem monastery.

Clans

The desert clans are nomadic or semi-nomadic people that live in the desert and its fringes moving from one spot to another in order to find grazing and water for their sheep and camels.

Leaders

The leader of the clan is the Guardian of Wisdom. They are in charge of the prosperity of the clan, deciding courses of action, paths to take, when to rest or travel and many other things. They are counseled by the clan elders. They are the most knowledgeable person in the clan and take on an apprentice to whom they will transmit their knowledge.

The second person in charge is the Guardian of Peace. They are in charge of keeping the clan safe and healthy. They will decide how to best defend, how to respond to aggression, who will go gather, hunt, raid or battle.

Laws

Clans have their own set of tribal laws and do not follow the edicts of the Sultan. Monasteries have no set of laws, and only a few rules. First comes the good of the clan, then the good of individuals. In case of an infraction, restitution must be made to the point that the deed can be completely forgotten as if it never was. If it cannot, banishment is the punishment.

Monasteries

The monasteries of Salem are as reputed as those of Mizu. They are usually self-sufficient. Located in oases, they trade their skills and knowledge for what they lack.

Central to any of them is a library. Most monastery is specialized in a topic, although they will have many scrolls and books on other subjects.

Laws & Authority

The abbot has no real authority and the laws non-existent. Their role is to maintain the rhythm of the monastery so that what needs to be done is done in order for the group to survive and even prosper.

They are in charge or administering punishments for any negligence, which usually range from strapping to caning and flogging. If a sage or novice is found lacking, they are banished.

City of Salem

Salem is the largest settlement of this sandy desert. Built in and around a large rocky outcrop, it has a vast underground reserve of water which enables its prosperity.

It is also a center of knowledge and wisdom.

City of Khaima

Khaima is geographically uniquely positioned for trade, making it the trading hub of Salem. Its wealth enables it to hire mercenaries from all over to protect it and maintain order.

Its Pasha, Umar ibn Zahra Bint Mus'ab, has recently fallen hill. His daughter, next it line, the princess Razana Bint Umar with the help of her father's young Vizir, Ashraf Ibn Sayyid is running the city and all businesses.