The Tahari

The sound of hoof beats resounds across the desert as raiders descend upon a slowly moving caravan. Barges journey along the sluggish waters of the Lower Fayeen, carrying travelers towards the mighty Cartius and the jungles of Schendi. In the Bazaar, merchants haggle over silks and spices, salt and the fates of two and four legged beasts, their words lost in the din of the crowd.

Welcome to Teehra, land of Sand and Salt. A land of extremes, inhospitable and deadly, searing heat by day, plagued by dust storms and hordes of biting flies. Caravan travelers may cross a seemingly endless sea of salt dunes, cresting wave after wave until suddenly a lush paradise appears. Nesting in a valley they may find an oasis, or, they may attempt to travel through the Voltai mountains.

The desert is dotted with cities and Oasis; Kasrah, Klima, Teehra and Tor, the Oasis of the Battle of Red Rock, Oasis of Farad, Oasis of Four Palm's. Outside the cities and civilized areas there are no roads to speak of. The desert is ever moving and permanent roads do not exist. Most common routes of trade through the desert are simple paths used by the members of the tribes that inhabit the area, travelers and caravans. Wadi's, or seasonal watercourses that flood once or twice a year during the rains, but are otherwise dry and solid are also utilized by the caravans, the ground being relatively firm and even.

Resting at the southern tip of the Voltai Mountain range, next to the Lower Fayeen River, lays Teehra. It is an essential outpost to support and preserve merchant trade and the precious salt caravans that come out of the Tahari. The people who inhabit Teehra are divided into four groups; Dayf Alsharf or, Honored Guest, Badu or, Nomads, Rijal Qabayil or, Tribesmen and eabd or slave.(**Courtesy of Google Translate**). Teehra is a land held by the proud Aretai, whose vassal tribes include; Arani, Luraz, Raviri, Tashid, Ti and Zevar.

"To my right were the lines of the Aretai. The Aretai themselves, of course, with black kaffiyeh and white agal cording, held their center. Their right flank was held by the Luraz and the Tashid. Their left flank was held by the Raviri, and four minor tribes, the Ti, the Zevar, the Arani and the Tajuks.
"Tribesman of Gor" page 301

Teehra is a well settled community whose roots run deep. A man often lives in the same house as his father, and in the same community as his grandfather. The city takes pride in its continuity, with building and businesses offering proof of the wealth of the Aretai and its vassal tribes. Traders from far-off lands frequently visit Teehra. It is here, where caravan routes and barges that travel the lower Fayeen meet.

Teehra is a melting of peoples and it is their lifestyle that separates them. The people of Teerha fall into broad groups, those who are nomads, called Badu who prefer to travel and the Rijal Qabayil who have settled. The Badu are driven by simple needs; independence, grazing land to sustain their herds, water, food. They prefer to camp outside of the city walls when the need for trade brings them to the city. Rijal Qabayil, known to the Badu as "the other half" is stationary. They are Artisans, merchants, farmers and craftsmen. Individuals who must travel, like physicians or tinkers are considered Rijal Qabayil because their lives are linked to the city.

For the most part, the peoples who have settled within Teehra are moderately wealthy. The Badu, by contrast do not place their wealth in material things, but by necessity travel light. Outside of the walls of Teehra are several fief's managed by landholder's who owe their allegiance to the Pasha. These holdings consist of farms and fisher huts. The landholders have basic rights to use and manage the land, to receive income or produce from the land; and to give some or all of the land to their family members, and to be secure in their own governance. Additionally, landholders are responsible for offering aids to the Pasha; these can be monetary, military or trade.

The Badu and the Rijal Qabayil tend to view one another with a touch of distain. Even the poorest of landholders see themselves are more cultured and or civilized then the Badu. It is believes that the Badu have chosen an austere existence without even the most basic of comforts-a roof over their heads, access to fresh water, a full stomach even regular baths. The Rijal Qabayil and landholders have the ability to be educated by the Initiates, and are also therefore more pious then the Badu.

The Badu, of course, maintain the opposite opinion. After all, what could be more pious then to eschew those comforts that would make one soft, to exchange freedom for material things? The Badu believe themselves equal to each other, something that cannot be said for the Rijal Qabayil whose inequality of wealth leads to disparities that do not exist in the Badu culture.

Despite these differences in lifestyle the Badu and Rijal Qabayil coexist, and consider themselves to be of "one tribe" in Teerha, Aretai. They share a common language, common culture and a common code of ethics and behavior which shape their everyday lives; honor, home and family, and hospitality.