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Azuri (Pendarin) - Militant Nobility

The Azuri are the descendants of one of the three mercenary armies that Baros-Dar gathered from the ashes of the Rhy-Kanna Empire and used to forge the Kingdom of Pendar. They are tall, many topping six feet in height, broad, and muscular. Their skin is an even shade of blackish-brown, their eyes range in color from burnt-amber to deep black-brown. Their hair is dark and kinky-curly. Facial hair is not uncommon. Among the Azuri hair style, the type of clothing worn, and the colors permitted are dictated by ages long traditions and customs. Generally blooded warriors, of either gender, shave their scalps and adorn themselves with ritual scars.

Traditional Azuri garb is impractical in the North Marches. In their hot and dry grasslands the Azuri wore loincloths and wrap-around blankets called shuka. Neither sex wore upper body garments. Since coming to the northern lands, the Azuri mode of dress has adapted to the colder climate. They tend to wear long slit-sided tunics with wide bell-sleeves over close-fitting long-sleeved white shirts, a thick cloth girdle, and baggy pantaloons tucked into calf-high boots. They retain their preference for clothing in brightly colored shades of blue, green, yellow, red, and black. These colors are often combined into stripes or plaids. Azuri men shave themselves bald and remove all facial hair. Azuri women weave their hair into elaborate braids, color it with natural and alchemical dyes, and shave off all their body hair.

The traditional Azuri weapon is the heavy spear. They avoid missile weapons considering them cowardly and rarely use shields for similar reasons. They prefer light or medium armors.

Heavy Spear, two-handed weapon, Cost: 14gp, Damage: 1d12, Critical: x3, Weight: 8 lb., Type: P. The heavy spear is a double weapon. The heavy spear is approximately six feet in total length, with the spear tip itself measuring between one and two feet in length. The edges of the spear tip are sharpened down into a sword-like blade that makes the weapon absolutely lethal in combat. (The heavy spear comes from the Nyambe: African Adventures book.)

The traditional Azuri diet consists of milk and meat. Again, since moving northward they have adjusted their diets to include the available local foodstuffs. Most of the meat in their diet comes from chicken, goat, and mutton. Beef is reserved for special occasions.

The Azuri are polygamous and tend to live in large extended family groups called gens. Azuri mothers are generally charged with raising the children and continue to have a very strong influence over their children even into late adulthood. All young adult Azuri go through a stage of proving themselves. Sibling rivalry is extremely fierce. The passage to adulthood is very important and accompanied by a ritual that involves hunting, slaying, and skinning a dangerous beast. Parts of the beast are fashioned into charms and fetishes kept by the victor as mementos of the victory. Young Azuri often do not survive these quests.

The Azuri practice a very private religion that reveres the powerful warrior spirits of their ancestors. As Azuri society revolves around warriors, most Azuri rituals involve combat.

Azuri have access to the following feats from Nyambe: African Adventures: Fearless, Impulsive, Sanguar, and Steadfast.

The Azuri are aristocrats in the County of Maldan (and elsewhere), they put themselves in charge by dint of force, guile, and raw determination. They don't take lightly to anyone else being able to look down their noses at them or even stand on equal footing.

147 years ago the Pendarin monarchy in the form of the Azuri nobility conquered what was then the March of Embelyon and renamed it the County of Maldan. The Azuri pretty much annihilated anyone who stood in their way. They had superior tactics, superior training, and superior equipment. They were born and bred to war with a centuries long tradition of conflict. They imposed the mandates of the Crown of Pendar upon Maldan and brought peace and stability to the land. No more do Orodradi clans feud, steal, raid, and burn the countryside. No more do Skoja raiders prey at will upon the coasts. No more do the brigands and woodland bandits of Morage and the Forest of Sorrows walk freely among the populace killing, looting, and robbing at their leisure.

Now it has not been an easy 147 years and the weight of the Crown of Pendar has not always rested lightly on the land. There has been rebellion, there has been kin slaying, and there has been death and disease. And not a few folk chafe at the constraints placed upon the folk of the County by the Royal Throne and by the Azuri nobles. But few would wish to see the return of the old days (unless they be Skoja or Orodradi). And none would dare question the willingness of the Throne of Pendar to enforce its will after Alder-Weald.

In 327PC Count Adom brought the Skoja of the Lothing Isles to heel by defeating Hegfer the Fat at the Battle of Vulpsteg on the isle of Loth-Marduk. Count Adom installed Bedwren Brangull as Baron of Loth-Maldan. The remaining Skoja lords pledged fealty to the Count in exchange for not being harried from the islands or killed to a man. The Azuri were deadly efficient.

The Azuri didn't show up in the North March swimming in riches. The Azuri Companies that came north spearheading the invasion didn't have lands of their own…

The Azuri originate from the far south beyond the Se'ech in the Black Kingdoms (think Nyambe). During the age of the Rhy-Kanna Empire many came north and found employment as mercenaries in the Empire's armies. They organized themselves into quasi-mystical/religious Companies and were employed as frontline shock troops, used to suppress native uprisings and slave revolts, stood garrison duty on the frontiers—all the sorts of things that mercenaries do when employed by empires. They were good at their jobs and well regarded by their Rhy-Kanna masters.

After the Rhy-Kanna fell, during the Bad Times the Azuri became sort of directionless (if not actually lost). They were far removed from their homelands in foreign countries that were in quite a bit of turmoil. In many cases the natives were very hostile. Baros-Dar rallied them and incorporated them into his Three Armies and then went on to forge the Kingdom of Pendar. During the creation of Pendar some of the Azuri Companies were given land and became instant nobles. This success drew Azuri Companies from other more distant parts of the former Empire—the later Companies were too late to be granted lands and made into nobles; but they did find employment in the armies of the new Kingdom of Pendar; doing the same general sorts of things they had been doing under the Rhy-Kanna. Each time the Kingdom expanded some of the Companies were granted lands and become nobles.

Fast-forward nearly 300 years from the crowning of Baros-Dar and the Kingdom of Pendar was still setting about "securing" its borders and adding new territories; it set its sights on the northern frontier of the old Empire: Almeryss and the North Marches (Havamal and Embelyon). By this time the Azuri Companies consist not only of those who's families have served in the Companies for generations but also of younger sons and daughters who don't stand to inherit lands of their own. They are a ready-made noble class waiting for people to rule and lands to lord.

The Azuri have a tradition of "musical spellcasters" called the Ngoma. This is a prestige class taken from Nyambe: African Adventures ©2002 Trident, Inc. d/b/a Atlas Games. Ngoma are practitioners of the secret Azuri tribal cult.

Male first names among the Azuri gens:

Abeid, Ajuma, Alimayu, Asimwe, Ato, Ayele, Babu, Bhoke, Bokhani, Bomani, Bwana, Cacanja, Chalis, Chandu, Chuma, Damu, Dedan, Elimu, Erasto, Fumo, Ghalib, Gicheru, Gikuyu, Guedado, Hauli, Idi, Idriis, Jadili, Jamal, Jaramogi, Jojo, Kagale, Kahero, Kalititi, Kalume, Kamau, Kamau, Kambui, Karanja, Karume, Kassahun, Kebiro, Kenan, Kenyatta, Kereenyaga, Ketema, Kiambu, Kikpurui, Kimani, Kimathi, Kinara, Kipchoge, Kipchumba, Kipkoskei, Kokaji, Kululu, Kumbuka, Liyongo, Lusala, Macharia, Machumu, Makonnen, Mathani, Matunde, Mbiyu, Mdogo, Mganga, Mkamba, Mogo, Mombera, Muenda, Mugeta, Mugo, Mureithi, Mwai, Mwando, Mwangi, Mzee, Nadif, Ndila, Ndungu, Nelion, Njau, Njonjo, Njoroge, Nyasore, Nyuni, Oboi, Odai, Oding, Oginga, Okang, Ole, Omari, Osano, Othieno, Peto, Pongwa, Rashaad, Safwani, Saitoti, Salif, Sentwaki, Tepelit, Thiongo, Tumbo, Ubwa, Venuste, Vual, Wachiru, Wahjoni, Wakili, Walialu, Wambua, Wamochia, Wang-Ombe, Wangugu, Wanjala, Wanjohi, Waweru, Weihwa, Wekesa, Wimana, Yakubu, Yaw, Yusufu, Zende.

Female first names among the Azuri gens:

Abia, Adong, Aisha, Amina, Amira, Andaiye, Asha, Ashia, Asura, Asya, Ayan, Ayanna, Aziza, Bahati, Bazao-Turunku, Bimnono, Chanya, Chausiku, Chuike, Daib, Dalila, Damamli, Dawa, Deiriai, Deka, Eddah, Ewunike, Fasaha, Fodeba, Fujo, Guedado, Gulai, Habiba, Hanuni, Hasina, Imara, Jaha, Jebet, Jemila, Kaaria, Kalifa, Kalititi, Kanika, Kariamu, Kenyetta, Kesi, Khatiti, Kibali, Lakeisha, Latifah, Layla, Lelo, Loiyan, Lulu, Makena, Mansa, Maulidi, Meja, Mgeni, Micere, Mijiza, Modiba, Mosi, Msiba, Muga, Mukumtagara, Muthoni, Muthoni, Nabila, Nadifa, Nafula, Najuma, Neemaka, Ngena, Ngina, Nigesa, Njeri, Njoki, Noni, Nuha, Nyokabi, Pili, Rhamah, Ruzuna, Saada, Sala, Shamba, Shamfa, Shangwe, Shiba, Soila, Sundiata, Tamasha, Tamu, Tekla, Uhuru, Uwingabiye, Wambui, Wangari, Wanjiro, Wanjiru, Yumna, Zubeda.

Surnames among the Azuri gens:

Abol, Adipo, Adumbe, Akii-Bua, Ampar, Angara, Anihla, Asiedu, Babla, Bagatui, Baiya, Barmasai, Barngetuny, Barsosio, Bayo, Bira, Birgen, Bitok, Biwott, Boit, Chelanga, Chepchumba, Chepkwony, Cheromei, Cherono, Cheruiyot, Chesire, Chipende, Chipkemie, Chudasama, Dulecha, Dunde, Ereng, Gacharia, Gachu, Gachukia, Gichonga, Gichure, Gikonyo, Gitonga, Gupta, Icharia, Ivuti, Jepleting, Kahangi, Kaigwa, Kamade, Kamau, Kamau, Kamzee, Kanana, Kanda, Kapkobi, Karai, Karim, Kariuki, Kariuki, Keino, Kemai, Kemboi, Kenyatta, Kenyatta, Keter, Kibaki, Kibet, Kibitok, Kibowen, Kilonzo, Kimaiyo, Kimani, Kimanthi, Kimutai, Kinsaka, Kinyor, Kinyua, Kiongo, Kipketer, Kipkoech, Kipkorir, Kipkunui, Kiplagat, Kiprotich, Kiptanui, Kiptoo, Kirop, Kirui, Kirwa, Kisulu, Kitur, Koech, Koimbori, Kola, Komen, Konchellah, Korir, Kororia, Kosgei, Koskei, Kwach, Lagat, Langat, Lekimeju, Lelel, Letipilia, Lihalakha, Lilimani, Limo, Loloupe, Lorupe, Lusalah, Lusweti, Maathai, Machuka, Maina, Maina, Maiyani, Malot, Maranga, Marango, Mariuki, Masamba, Masya, Matiba, Matiku, Matilu, Matuma, Mbareck, Mboya, Mbugua, Mbuvi, Mika, Misoi, Mitei, Modi, Mugo, Muhavi, Muliro, Mungai, Murunga, Muzorewa, Mwachofi, Mwale, Mwangi, Ndugo, Nduria, Ndururi, Ngetich, Ngilu, Ngotho, N'Gotho, Ngugi, Ngumi, Njoka, Nyaga, Nyariki, Nzibo, Ochiang, Ochieng, Odhiambo, Odhieng, Odindo, Odinga, Odoyo, Odumbe, Ohyancha, Okayu, Okoth, Oloo, Omoro, Omwayo, Ongeri, Onyancha, Oracho, Osewe, Otieno, Ouko, Owiti, Peponi, Phiri, Pnyango, Radull, Rono, Rotich, Ruto, Rutu, Saitoti, Sang, Sau, Semenya, Shah, Sheikh, Shikuku, Subano, Suji, Tanui, Tengelei, Tergat, Teroitich, Theuri, Thuku, Tikolo, Ukiru, Vader, Wairimu, Wakihuri, Wambugu, Wamuyu, Wandaba, Wekessa, Yego, Yongo, Zaman.

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