here
are few pure racial groups existant on the Flanaess, save perhaps at the
fringe areas of the continent. Of course, the races of the demi-humans are
relatively unmixed, but humankind, as is its wont, has industriously
intermixed in the central regions to form a hybrid type which has actually
become the norm.
Baklunish: The Baklunish people have
golden-hued skin tones. Eye color is commonly gray-green or green, with
gray uncommon and hazel rare. Hair color ranges from blue-black to dark
brown. Ekbir, the Tiger Nomads, Ull, and Zeif typify the straight Bakluish
strain. The VVolf Nomads are intermarried with the Rovers of the Barrens,
so they show the darker Flan blood. Ket is so mixed with Suel and Oeridian
blood as to be the least typical of the Baklunish race, for the people of
Ket are pale yellow or golden-brown or tan in skin color, with virtually
any hair color possible save the lightest yellows and reds. Both the
Paynim tribes and Tusmit show occasional admixture, also.
Flannae: The Flan race have a
bronze-colored complexion. This varies from a lighter, almost copper shade
to a very dark tone which is deepest brown. Eye color is commoitly dark
brown, black, brown, or amber (in declining order of occurrence). Hair
coloration is black, brown-black, dark brown, or brown. Also, Flannae tend
to have wavy or curly hair. People of the Duchy of Tenh are pure Flan,
proud of their bronze color. Geoff and Stench, despite mixture show strong
Flan racial influence. The Rovers of the Barrens are of the copper-toned
sort of Flannae, although the western tribes show the golden skin color of
the Baklunish due to interbreeding with the Wolf Nomad tribes. The people
of the Hold of Stone Fist and the citizens of the Theocracy of the Pale
are primarily hybrids, the former Flan/Suel, the latter Flan/Oeridian. The
inhabitants of the Pale are particularly handsome.
Oeridians: The Oeridians have skin tones
ranging from tan to olive. They have hair which runs the gamut of color
from honey blonde to black, although brown and reddish brown are most
common. Likewise, eye coloration is highly variable, although brown and
gray are frequently seen in individuals. Unmixed Oeridians, despite claims
of the Great Kingdoni, are most common in Furyondy, Perrenland, the Shield
Lands, and in the east and south in North Province, Medegia, and Onnwal
and Sunndi.
Suloise: 't'he fleeing Suel folk were
scattered in a broadcast fashion across the Flanaess, so that most tended
to mix with other groups. The Suel race is very fair-skinned, some being
almost albino. They have light red, yellow, blond, or platinum blonde
hair. Eye color varies from pale blue or violet through deep blue, with
gray occasionally occurring. Curly to kinky hair is common. The
inhabitants of the Duchy of Ernst are nearly of pure Suel race. The Frost,
Ice, and Snow Barbarians are perfect specimens of unmixed Suloise blood;
the nearly albinoid Snow Barbarians are the best example. The Suel folk
are quite predominant in the island groups off the eastern coast of the
Flanaess as well as on Tilvanot Peninsula, in the Scarlet Brotherhood
region. Those bands that migrated into the vast Amedio Jungle and
Hepmonaland are so altered as to be no longer typical of the race; they
are tan to brown with heavy freckling.
The predominant racial strain and
particular admixtures of each of the major states of the Flanaess is given
in the list which follows. The first letter is the predominant strain.
Thus, "OSf" would mean an admixture of Oeridian with a strong
Suel strain and a weak Flan mix, as the "f" is uncapitalized.
Had it been "OSF" (with a capital F), the indication would be
that the Flan influence was only scarcely less than that of the Suel.
Almor -
OS |
Ratik
- Sof |
Bandit
Kingdoms - OFSb |
Rel
Astra - Os |
Bissel -
OSB |
Sea
Barons - So |
Bone
March - (SO) |
Sea
Princes - SOf |
Dyvers -
OSfb |
South
Province - Os |
Gran
March - SOf |
Spindrift
Isles - So |
Great
Kingdom - OS |
Stench -
OFS |
Greyhawk
- OSfb |
Ulek,
County - OFS |
Highfolk
- Os |
Ulek,
Duchy - (Sfo) |
Idee
- OS |
Ulek,
Principality - (SO) |
Irongate
- Os |
Urnst,
County - SO |
Keoland
- Sof |
Valley
of the Mage - OBf |
Lordship
of the Isles - So |
Veluna
- Osf |
Nyrond
- Os |
Verbobonc
- Ofs |
Pomarj
- (SO) |
Wild
Coast - Sof |
Yeomanry - SOf |
The inmixture of Ocridian and Suel
is expressed as (SO) in the list. The original Flannae stock Shows up with
either Oeridian or Suloise or both as a coppery or bronze overtone.
Oeridian and Baklunish develops a fairly light complexion, but the skin
coloration is true yellow. A hybrid of Baklunish and Flannae gives a
golden-copper or golden-bronze color which is possibly the most attractive
complexion of any of the admixtures of the basic races.
In general, the skin color of an
individual is of no particular importance. The dark Flan complexion shows
up quite often in most nations. By contrast, the nobles of the Great
Kingdom are proud of being light-skinned, just as the rulers of Tenh are
overly conscious of the supposed superiority of their deep bronze color.
In the central region of the Flanaess, from western Urnst Duchy to Geoff,
there is little heed paid to either skin color or racial type, whether
human or demi-human (or even humanoid, in some places). The main exception
to this is the demi-human kingdoms, where humankind is judged inferior,
especially in Celene.
acial
and National Dress
Oeridians typically favor checks and
plaids. Aerdi and Nyrondal houses tend to wear plaids, while the southern
and western Oeridians favor checks, often of a diamond pattern or similar
variation from the standard square. Clothing tends toward tight-legged
trousers, close-fitting upper garments, and capes or cloaks.
Suloise folk have long used solid
colors. Aristocratic houses have two or more such colors in their dress,
so parti-colored garments are not uncommon. Similarly, the Suel people
tend to favor display of emblems or tokens on their garments, typically of
a contrasting color to their basic one. Dress was originally loose
pantaloons topped by a baggy blouse. This form of dress has heen changed
to meet the needs of the varying climates, so the nonhern Suloise
barbarians wear furs and skin garments, while those in the southern-most
area have replaced the blouse with vest-like upper wear.
Flannae once wore brightly-hued
body paints, with yellow ochre and vermilion being the favorites. While
the Rovers of the Barrens still use considerable body painting (where
their high boots, loincloth and chest and arm leather don't cover them),
the more civilized Flan dress in the mode currently fashionable in their
portion of the continent. Garments, however, tend to be of solid primary
colors, with very bright hues predominant.
Baklunish peoples are of two sorts. The
northern branch favors bright patterns and gaudy colors. They wear gowns
and robes, or else short breeks and flowing coats. The poorer folk even
wear gaudy prints, although their garments are typically a one-piece
coverall with whatever additional garb they can add. The southern branch
likes parti-colors of a more pastel hue. Their dress is complex and full
of many puffs and slashes when adorned for special events. They commonly
wear rough hide and cloth when traveling or at war, with shields and
banners showing clan colors.
Dwarven folk love shades of brown, red,
and gray contrasted with a bright splash of color and picked out with as
much precious metal as they can possibly wear. Leather is a favorite
material, with wool being popular also. Dwarves wear clothing similar to
that of the Oeridians.
Elves of the Sylvan ilk dress similiar
to Suloise, except their colors are pale tints of green, fawn, ecru, and
dove gray. High elves are similar in mode of apparel, but they add blues,
lilacs, and purples to the more natural forest hues of their woodland kin.
Hunting and war garments are brown, russet, or tan. Gray elves wear very
complex and flowing garb of pure white, sun yellow, silver and gold lame'
set off by polished leather of contrasting colors and highlighted by
jewels. All elvenkind wear cloaks, especially when traveling. These
garments are neutral gray or gray-green.
Gnomes and halflings dress in a similar
fashion, often replacing their trousers with knee-length britches. The
gnomes favor more stolid colors - brown breeks, a tan blouse, green boots
and belt, with a dark brown jacket or coat. A halfling in the same garb
might have a yellow shirt and top off with a cap of green with a bright
yellow feather in it. Both races will often wear striped clothing. When
hunting or at war, they likewise favor garb of a curiously mottled sort,
with greens and browns intermixed.