>GittHW states that all Carmanian males are born into
>the Hazar caste, and if showing "the required talents
>[...] he may be chosen to become a Karmanoi [...]".
>Later we are told that the only fiefholders are
>members of the Karmanoi. How, and by whom, is it
>decided whether someone is fit to become a Karmanoi or
>not?
The Viziers apply aptitude tests both magical and mundane during the Carmanian's childhood. Although this could be influenced by suitable parenting methods (i.e. executing your son's best friend while making him watch as one Prussian King did) to mould his spirit.
>I am asking since this would have consequences
>for the laws of inheritance, and thus be of great
>economical and political importance. ("Darn, my only
>son didn't meet the requirements. Now my fief will be
>given to Mr Smith's debile son when I die.")
Most Carmanian fiefs are not hereditary. On the death of the fief-holder, the head of the house assigns it to another Carmanoi. Any dependants of the deceased are provided for out of his personal wealth, and not from any income that is attached to the fief.
The head of a House is hereditary although there's nothing to prevent the old head from naming a non-blood relative as his heir (save for inevitable fireworks from any dispossessed blood kin).
As for the consequences, they are inevitable and desirable in that they perpetuate social tensions that make Carmanians what they are.
>2.
>I remember reading somewhere about a vampire kingdom
>in the Grey Mountains north of Carmania. Now I am
>beginning to believe that I am completely delusional,
>since I cannot find a single source confirming (or
>denying) this.
The only such reference that I know of is Steve Maurer's article on his version of the Lunar Cults which is up at http://www.ioxy.com/fabworlds/Carmania/lunarcults.html and says
Vivamort
A troublesome religion worshipped by the denizens of
the Grey Mountains, on the border of Carmania. In this
frozen landscape are the reminants of a western Vampire
kingdom, who worship a strange variant of Vivamort they
term "The Wounded God". The border is disputed, and the
Vampires are so powerful that the empire has decided to
live with them, rather than try to root them out. For
their part, these Vampires have made assurances that
no one who voluntarily submits to giving them sustenence
will ever be killed. There are persistent rumors of a
secret Legion of Vampires in the service of the Empire,
though evidence of this has never shown up.
Although he says he generally derives the article from the older Wyrm's Footnotes material, I don't know where this comes from (it's not in the Lunar Wane Chronicles) and my suspicion is that it's original to Steve.
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