Loraan's Family

 

Shephathiah (Sister, age 34)

Business Manager in a successful gambling casino in Edom. Physically attractive, though she dresses ultra-conservatively so as not to be mistaken for a "professional." Incredibly intelligent with an uncanny business sense. Close relations with Loraan, occasional letter correspondence. Unmarried. Well-connected in Edom. Rumored to have magical and/or mental abilities.

Her line of work is a secret Loraan and she are keeping from the rest of the family. Mother would be scandalized so the fiction that is imposed is that she runs a "resort." She visits with Loraan occasionally, and she must be pretty busy because Loraan haven't heard from her regularily of late. (Once a month would be normal) She has genuine affection for Loraan and helped get him set up in Ashur initially. In the past she has even helped Loraan out financially with "loans" that are not intended for payback.

 

Beor and Jether (Twin Brothers, age 31)

Farmers. They expect to take over the plantation after father retires. Both are very physically imposing, although mentally lacking. Highly skilled in agriculture and animal husbandry. Loyal friends. Bully mentality with slight racist and sexist tendencies.

These guys were the typical bullying brothers as Loraan was growing up. There was always an element of being left out, because their "twin" relationship was close. Mother expects that Loraan and the twins will all become close as they age and grow out of childhood rivalries. They get along well enough these days, although none go out of their way to communicate. It could probably be said that they are "close acquaintances" of Loraan's. One thing that was nice about them was that no one was allowed to pick on Loraan (when he was a child) but them. They would be very protective of Loraan towards outsiders.

 

Halah (Sister, age 24)

Tracker. Highly knowledgeable in the flora and fauna of theYin-Sloth. Tough, lithe, unattractive young woman. "The jungle runs through her veins." Well known (in that area) as a skilled scout/guide. Lives at home. Is opposed to the expansion of farms in the area. Not one to keep her opinions to herself. Is rumored to have connections to the tribesmen.

A few recent letters from home have made the disappointed observation that she has "got religion" of some kind. Parental disapproval from mom is strong because it is some sort of "decadent" native thing rather than a proper worship of the Gods of the West. She and Loraan have always had a close relationship until Loraan left home. Unfortunately she is not one for writing letters and she does not want to visit the city.

 

Uzziel (Brother, age 17)

Young man. Aspires to join the military. Blinded by the glories and heroism of military life.

When Loraan was young he would protect Uzziel from the bullying the twins intended and would take it on himself instead. Uzziel has long held a kind of hero worship of Loraan. If he was as smart as Loraan he would follow him into the university, but Loraan discouraged this because he wouldn't cut it. The military business, mom says is a notion put in his head by the twins. Loraan and Shephathiah have been conspiring to find him a good commission. Officers are always better off than enlisted. Grandfather was military, Dad is not so he has very little pull. If he could be found a good place, with good training, it won't be a bad life. Mom is trying to keep him at home until the current "troubling times" are over.

 

Halubah (Father, age 61)

Plantation Owner / Manager. Very down-to-earth, practical man. Balding, gray-haired, full beard. Strong bodied (gone slightly to fat), and gruff, with a sharp wit (smarter than he lets on). Low tolerance for laziness, woolgathering. Possessive about his land and protective of his employees.

Third son of a respected Bel-Qurub in the service of Shamshi-Adad, he saw first his father then his two brothers die in military service. As the youngest he was always groomed to take care of the farm, and is quite good at it. The farm is doing well under his management. Dad was very supportive of Loraan becoming a scholar, and is not supportive of "military" careers.

 

Bessa (Mother, age 54)

Plantation Steward. Very concerned about appearances, highly skilled in etiquette. Full-bodied, strong woman. Hair going to gray. Concerned about the lack of grandchildren. Amiable and known for her generosity and kindness.

She is also the leader in the local "temple" and the center of the social scene back home. A pillar of the community. Bessa is a powerful women and is not used to her children defying her. The twins do whatever they are told. Loraan left home. Shephathiah left. Halah is in the middle of a rebellion of some sort. Uzziel is being "babyed"

 

Ram (Uncle, age ??)

Insane. Locked in a three room tower apartment in the plantation house. Has been there for over forty years. Has been known to sit by the door and babble. Does not wish to leave the tower. Has not been seen by anyone (save Bessa, who personally changes his sheets, airs his apartment, etc.). Has taken a shining to Loraan and gave him his amulet.

Uncle Ram was a military man who served in some of the later subjugations in Yin Sloth. Specifically he lead troops in the putting down of native rebellions. He did not return the same after an ill-fated mission into the southern jungles. He won't talk about this ever and gets quite agitated from inquiries.

 

Home

The plantation is probably a couple hundred acres of rice paddies, 50 acres or so of sugar cane, and a couple of acres of subsistence farming (vegetables and stuff)

The family home is a sprawling open villa. In Ashur it would bespeak tremendous wealth, but land and labor are somewhat cheaper in Yin Sloth. Your villa maintains a meeting hall for the local community leaders, some of whom must travel 50 or more miles to attend. The community consists of farmers and plantation owners from the surrounding "province".

Loraan's father is a community leader by inheritance and the villa is a meeting ground in times of trouble. (No rebellions in Loraan's lifetime) Halubah is fine with his role during peacetime, but he dreads ever being put to the test. A local church of Anu is about 5 miles upstream of the river that is used for trade and travel. Running right through family holdings, the estate maintains docks and a granary for local trade. Riverboats ply their trade up and down the navigable slow waters. Civilization ends about 60 miles upstream at the rapids. The estate employs about 30 western born servants, 10 Yin Sloth born servants. Slaves from the west are few, an old house slave, a skilled cook, and two house servants. (These are marks of status down there) Enslaved natives number around 220.

A local military garrison about 10 miles downstream is about 300 (western) soldiers strong.

 

The local tribes....

(This is conceived of as something like South Africa around the turn of the century. The Boers, German colonists, had occupied the territory for around one hundred years. Guns in their case, and superior numbers and superior military forces in the west's case keep the native population in line.)

The Western colonists have an innate (quite natural in their minds) sense of superiority, which is based in culture not race. In a world with elves, dwarves, and orcs, racism is rare amongst humans. The cultural "jingoism" is every bit as bad however. The natives are given no representation in government, and it is the rare "traitor to his own kind" who conforms and is granted citizenship. Native who rebel are subjected to swift Draconian Western justice. As a general rule they are "second class" citizens and this is rubbed in their face every chance that arises. The natives who live and slave on the plantations are fairly Westernized. They speak western and speaking their native tongue usually results in beatings. They are made to worship the Western gods and conform to western customs. Those who live in "unsubjugated" territory (jungles and swamps) are mostly untouched by civilization. They have good cause to hate the westerners. The old gods of the jungle are whom they worship. The gods of the Yin Sloth pantheon are worshipped by some (see the old book), others still practice animistic nature religion, demon worship and there are some rumors of even darker practices.

 

.... ....................