Hovathians

Hovath Homeland (Alpha)

Barbarian | Leng | Hovath | Draznia | Illyria | Lemuria | Mu | Mnar

Hovath

Hovath is a theocracy. The High Priest of Hovath is the supreme theological and governmental authority in the country, and he rules strictly. Harsh penalties are imposed for anything the High Priest deems harmful to his people; perjury, murder, the Black Arts, and Wizardry all are punishable by death. Thaumaturges are supreme in Hovath, provided they observe the proper rites; otherwise, they are deemed heretics, to be burned at the stake along with Wizards and Sorcerers.

The people of Hovath are a tall, dark people with heavy black hair, usually worn short, and dark, shiny eyes. They are strong, but only average when it comes to quickness. The bow is a favored weapon, as is the spear, but for close work they prefer a knife or short sword. Thaumaturges are numerous among the populations, outnumbered only by Fighters, and there are many Thieves -- even though theft is a capital crime. The few Wizards and Sorcerers in Hovath are still alive only because they are well hidden; death is the automatic sentence if one is captured.

The climate of Hovath is hot, but the people are well adapted to it and spend the middle of the day napping rather than fighting the heat. Hovath is rich in natural resources, but her riches are not apparent, since most of the luxuries generally associated with wealth have been declared sinful by the High Priest. Many valuable minerals are exported from Hovath, but the wealthy have very little to do with their money except to count it and pay taxes. The High Priest uses those taxes to build hospitals, roads, schools and temples. Of course, the hospitals also are used for such operations as removing a wine-drinker's nose, and the schools teach only what the High Priest believes - with the result that a number of lessons blatantly contradict what students can readily observe outside the classroom. Disagreeing with a priest-teacher is also a crime.

The most devoted of the priests are neither clean nor well groomed, a fact attributed to their concentration on higher things at the expense of worldly concerns. In Hovath is it claimed that you can smell a truly holy teacher from 1,000 feet away - more, if you are downwind. There are two major reasons why Hovathians venture to Kesmai. The first is to win honor for the High Priest by proving that his adherents are stronger and braver than anyone else, because they follow the pure way the High Priest has set for them. The second reason is to get away from the High Priest.

There is much dissatisfaction in Hovath, but it is totally disorganized. Most citizens are afraid to speak their minds, even to their closest kin, for fear of the many spies the High Priest has among the population. The High Priest encourages this fear, believing that fear is a good method for keeping his people on the path that is best for them -- which is, of course, his path. The High Priest also has a cadre of powerful assassins who aid him in his plans, assassins who are just as fanatical as he. Their method is to attack from behind, using a curious weapon consisting of a thin wire with a wooden grip on each end. Once this wire is looped about a victim's neck, death is certain. But even with this powerful tool of oppression, the dissatisfaction is still silently building, and may some day ignite into a bloody civil war.

*Creators note: There is a swamp between the coast and Hovath 'proper'. Stay on the path. "Centralized wealth", so the outer areas consist of tents and shacks. Fancy citadel(Capitol).

Starting Skills

	Fighter	Martial Artist	Thaumaturge	Wizard	Thief
Bow	Mediocre	Capable	Mediocre
Dagger		Capable	Mediocre	Mediocre	Capable
Flail
Greatsword (2H)
Halberd
Hand		Blue Belt			Yellow Belt
Mace
Magic			Apprentice	Aspirant	Master of Mischief
Rapier
Shuriken
Staff/Spear	Mediocre		Mediocre	Awkward
Sword	Capable	Capable		Mediocre	Mediocre
Thievery
3-Staff