>CARMANIAN table: rank Fazzik (minor landholder) below Sirdar (middle =
>ruler).
>
I have always found the Fazzik-Sirdar relationship confusing, so in my
game the Fazzik-Sirdar relationship became reversed from what you
describe. Consider this a hopefully entertaining alternative viewpoint:
A Fazzik is a person who rules a carmanian House (a network of relationships). A House might control a number of Sirdarcies (land, technically granted by the Satrap), some large and some small. The situation is confused by the fact that a Great House (one of several large Houses that control a satrapy) might control a sirdarcie that is large enough to contain several minor Houses, who help run the sirdarcie but don't hold the title to it. Also, many Fazziks are also Sirdars. The more powerful Fazziks might hold multiple sirdarcies, some of which might be purely ceremonial.
Another point is that a House, great or minor, is much more than the land that it controls. A House is more accurately described by its relationships - political, familial, economic, cultural, and magical. Land is just one part of the equation.
In a sense, I think of Carmanian Houses as legal mafia families. I might even be inclined to say that the House system developed during the Lunar period, perhaps influenced by the old Pelandan idea of the Family as a political unit. The early Lunar Governors might have promoted this with the formation of the Young Council, which is a composed of representatives from the Great Houses of the Western Reaches. Previously, Carmania was administered by Satraps and Sirdars in a more traditional feudal system.
From past conversations, I think my Carmania has suffered more moral/cultural deterioration from Imperial policy than is generally accepted. IMG Carmania was once a proud martial society, but has slowly fallen into the hands of devious, conniving, back-stabbing schemers. The Hero Wars offer an opportunity to set things right.
Anyway, that's how we play it. Call it the Rhugandy Heresy. :)
PS: Thanks also to Peter for clarifying many issues regarding ancient Fronela - particularly pointing out that "Ragnaglar's Land" was a slur, and that the Tawari were around at the time of the Flood. I don't know how I missed that one!
~Kevin
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