Editing Diaphane (section)

===Gnarides, helot client state===

The Gnarides are the helot culture in the lands near Diaphane. They were the original inhabitants of the area, driven away by the “Witch Sister.” Although once warlike, they have been conquered and subjugated, and now their clans are scattered through several petty kingdoms. They are pastoralists who raise mountain goats and make cheese, although they are known for being good spear hunters, and occasionally hired as mercenary spearmen. 

Gnaride culture revolves around their worship of the earth deity, which they view as both male and female. They build lingams – large standing stones representing the phallus of the god. They also have sacred caves – representing the goddess – called yoni caves. They practice barbaric fertility magic with these, and claim that is why the men of Diaphane fear to build tall structures that cast shadows, and why they will not abide dark caves. Only men deal with lingams and their magic, and only women deal with yonis and their magic. Having the shadow of a lingam stone fall on you is lucky, but also arouses carnal lust and blood lust. Entering the dark yoni cave aids in conception and childbirth. If women fall under the lingam’s shadow, they may become pregnant or barren. If men enter the yoni cave, they may return as women or pregnant. For obvious reasons, both of these actions are taboo. Outsiders rarely benefit from either lingam stones or yoni caves. Their magic-men are called Horned Men because they wear crowns of horns, and while they are good at dealing with female spirits, they are very unlucky with male spirits.

Occupations: Helot, Herder, Weaver, Hunter, Spearman, Horned Man
Suggested Skills: Animal Handling, Farming, Sex Appeal, Spear, Occult (spirits)
Social Background: Cultural Familiarity (1 pt., Diaphane), Gnaric (native language), Glossa (accented language)
Suggested Quirks: Broad-Minded, Proud, Lusty*
Sample Contact Groups: Clan, Former Lovers
Suggested Spells (for men): Incite Bloodlust (IQ/Average), Incite Carnal Lust (IQ/Hard)
Suggested Spells (for women): Increase Fertility (IQ/Hard), Ease Childbirth (IQ/Average)
Common Names: Dwight, Loeis, Amalie 
Rumor: “Gnaride spearmen boast that when they capture opponents in Flower Wars, the women want to never go back home, and the men to never face another Flower War again. Telling such tales makes Diaphanides very angry.” 

-- by Kakita Kojiro