The Rivan Codex: Ancient Texts of THE BELGARIAD and THE MALLOREON (The Belgariad / The Malloreon)
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Efforts by Tolnedran negotiators to break the strangle-hold Drasnia held over the northern trade at the time of the conferences which brought Drasnia into the Tolnedran commercial Empire were totally without success, and at that time Tolnedra began to look for another route to the east.
Enlisting the aid of Nyissan slavers, who had regular contact with the Murgos, Tolnedran commercial envoys were able to finally institute talks at Rak Goska. The difficulties involved in dealing with the grimly laconic Murgos can not be exaggerated. The talks—if they could be called such— continued intermittently for seventy years. Infuriatingly, the Murgos appeared indifferent to the fact that between them the Drasnians and Nadraks had a virtual monopoly on all east-west trade. Finally, however, in 3853 an agreement was finally reached which established the South Caravan Route between Tol Honeth and Rak Goska. This is a brutal route, and fully half of all caravans which attempt it are lost. The Murgos scrupulously patrol the route, and, while they respect the protected status of the Route itself, they regard all who stray from this often poorly-marked trail as invaders and fall upon them with great savagery.
The only possible alternative route is forever closed since it would involve crossing the Vale of Aldur on a direct line from Tol Honeth to the borders of Mishrak ac Thull, and the stubborn Algars steadfastly refuse even to discuss the matter or to permit any contact with the Angaraks across their eastern frontier.
Thus it is that most of the traditional sources of information concerning the history of a people are denied to us in our study of the Angaraks. The merchant has ever been the truest friend of the historian, and in a situation where trade is so severely limited, information is so scanty that much of our understanding of the Angaraks is the result of speculation and guess-work.
In essence, then, we have three tribes (or four—if one counts the Grolims as a separate people) who migrated out of the dim reaches of western Mallorea sometime at the end of the second millennium. Some ancient and unknown enmity existed between them and the Alorn peoples of the north, and for a thousand years they attempted to penetrate Drasnia and Algaria but were steadfastly repulsed by the legendary warriors of those lands. In time, those hostilities were reduced sufficiently to permit a certain minimal contact between the Angaraks and the peoples of the west.
In the fifth millennium, the Mallorean hordes under
Kal-Torak moved across the land bridge in northeastern Gor og Nadrak and were joined by the Nadraks, Thulls and Murgos in the invasion of the west. Defeated finally at the Battle of Vo Mimbre, the surviving western Angaraks fled back to their kingdoms along the shores of the Great Eastern Sea.
For a century following the invasion, there existed a state of virtual war along the borders between the Angaraks and the west. Skirmishes and ambushes between the opposing sides made those frontiers the most dangerous places in the known world.
Gradually, once again, relations began to normalize, and trade—though severely limited—was resumed along the North Caravan Route. Almost five hundred years, however, were to pass before the stiff-necked Murgos permitted the reopening of the South Caravan Route. Then, almost overnight, they quite suddenly relented—indeed seemed to welcome the resumption of commerce. Oddly, for the first time, there has been significant caravan traffic from the east, and the sight of mailed Murgo merchants and their Thullish porters in the streets and along the quays of Tol Honeth have become commonplace.
Alarmists have contended that these Angaraks are in fact spies probing the west in preparation for yet another invasion, but these are the counsels of timidity. Our own merchants in the south and those of the Drasnians in the north have witnessed no unusual military activity, and the numbers of the western Angaraks are so limited that without the aid of Mallorea they could not hope to mount a sustained campaign against the west. Kal-Torak is dead. His like will never appear again, and without such a leader to spur them on there is little likelihood that the hordes of Mallorea would ever again join with the western Angaraks in those desperate adventures which so nearly exterminated them in the past.
Gar Og Nadrak
COINAGE
All coins have the likeness of Torak on the face, and all coins—even though stamped in either Gar og Nadrak or Cthol Murgos are universal among the Angaraks. (Coinage originated in Mallorea.)
GOLD
Angaraks use large gold bars or ingots for major transactions. 10 lb. bar called a gold tenweight, worth about $20,000 5 lb. bar called a gold fiveweight, worth about $10,000 1 lb. bar called gold pound, worth about $2,000 ½ lb. bar called goldmark, worth about $1000
GOLD COINS
4 oz. coin called a goldpiece, worth about $500 2 oz. coin called a half goldpiece, worth about $250 1 oz. coin called quarter goldpiece, worth about $125 ½ oz. coin called gold token, worth about $62.50
SILVER
4 oz. coin, worth about $25
2 oz. coin, worth about $12.50
1 oz. coin, worth about $6.25
½ oz. coin, worth about $3.125
COPPER
Coins called ‘Coppers’, worth one hundredth of a silver token
COSTUME
Nadraks wear a lot of fur.
MEN
Pants, jackets of leather, mid-calf boots, fur caps (pretty Hunnish or Mongolian). Felt overcoats, belted and ankle-length. Fur robes in bitter weather. Leather vests in summer. Dress clothing for indoors is wool, linen or silk.
ARMOR
Breastplates and pointed helmets. Leather jackets with steel plates sewn on cover arms and shoulders. Same with pants. Long, slightly curved swords. Daggers. Nadrak clothing is usually black.
WOMEN
Gowns of fairly heavy material—richly ornamented and pretty concealing.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
Freer than other Angarak societies. Hunters, woodsmen and miners tend to be free spirits—their own men, subject directly to the King. Others are in clans, subject to chieftains. Reverse dowries for women you pay a man for his daughter—hence the interest in trade and in profit.
Note on slaves66– Among the Nadraks, slaves exist only for insurance purposes. Slaves are substitutes for Nadraks chosen for sacrifice. If you’re chosen, buy a slave and send him (or her) instead. Thus, slaves are worked but not seriously mistreated. The freemen—miners, woodsmen, hunters, etc. are for the most part exempt because sacrifices are chosen from the clans (so many each).
RANK
The King—Still subservient to Torak and must obey orders brought to him by Grolims from Mallorea.
The Jarls (Earls)—The Clan-chiefs subservient to the King.
The Warlords—Keepers of castles and leaders of groups of warriors—subservient to the Jarls.
The Warriors—Next in line.
The Peasantry—Farm workers. Not exactly serfs. They are used as soldiers.
Freemen—Merchants, woodsmen, hunters, miners. Can be quite wealthy. Mostly town dwellers.
MODES OF ADDRESS
The King—August Majesty
Other Nobles—My Lord
Warriors—Brave John or Mighty John
Freemen—Miner John, Merchant John, etc.
Peasants—John
Slaves—You or Slave. Never called by name
MANNERS
Nadraks are bold, war-like and rowdy. They are the most likeable of the Angaraks. They like to drink and they like to make money. They are somewhat less fearful of the Grolims than are other Angaraks.
All Angarak societies are cruel, and public executions (as well as the sacrifices) are a common entertainment. They are fanatic warriors, but tend to be a little flighty in combat— high-strung. Nadraks are not really trustworthy. Marriage is by purchase. Women have no rights.
HOLIDAYS
(Note: Erastide is not celebrated in the Angarak Kingdoms.)
Festival of Torak—Torak’s supposed birthday—a few sacrifices.
Day of the Grief Place—Date of a major battle in Drasnia— an orgy of sacrifice.
Day of the
Wounding—The day when Torak was burned by the Orb—several sacrifices.
Day of the Casting Out—The day when Belgarath, Cherek and the boys retrieved the Orb from Cthol Mishrak and Torak destroyed the city—many sacrifices.
POPULATION
Probably 3 ½—4 million Nadraks.
Mishrak Ac Thull
COINAGE
See Gar og Nadrak. Much barter among the Thulls.
COSTUME
The standard costume of the Thulls is a knee-length belted tunic with elbow-length sleeves (male and female) made of various fabrics. Soft leather shoes. Armor is a chain mail complete with helmet. Weapons are broadswords, maces and axes (weapons of strength) in winter fur cloaks and felt boots.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
Thulls tend to be stupid. Village life is about all they are really capable of. Their cities consist of neighborhoods that are little more than villages. Their farms are poor because of the thin topsoil, and the Thulls produce food only through great amounts of back-breaking labor. There is a certain amount of rough, somewhat childish, good humor among them which tends toward the earthy—even obscene.
The major source of income among them is the hiring out as porters to Murgos and Nadraks. This is customary and traditional. Though they will fight when banded into military companies under their own leaders, by custom when they are serving as porters they are not required to fight. This is the responsibility of the other Angaraks who have hired them.
Thullish women are sexually voracious, and infidelity is so common that it is not even taken seriously. They are somewhat driven to this by the heavy burden of sacrifice laid upon them by Torak. The Thulls are sacrificed in numbers sometimes ten times as large as are the Nadraks and Murgos. Since a pregnant woman is exempt, it is prudent for a Thullish woman to keep herself in that condition.
As with the Nadraks, slaves are used as substitutes in the sacrifices. Several Thulls, smarter than the average, have established vast slave-pens to the south of Mishrak Mardu. Worn-out, old or feeble slaves are bought cheap in large numbers from the Murgos and are held in the pens until required. They are sold to Thulls who might need them. It is customary for long caravans of these unfortunates to be driven along behind the Grolims who go about the country selecting sacrificial victims. As soon as he is chosen, a Thull goes to the slave broker and buys a substitute.
Because of the ever-present fear of being chosen, Thulls live in more or less constant fear. Their sometimes homicidal fury is the reaction to this fear. In their dealings, Thulls have to make a profit in order to build up a bankroll to buy substitutes. They run away from sacrifice often.
RANK
The King—Hereditary.
Lords of the Marks—Greater or lesser nobles depending on wealth.
Warriors—The standing army of the Thulls. Fairly large. Used to track down runaway sacrificial victims.
Guptors—A Thullish word meaning a wealthy man.
Commons—Farmers, porters, etc.
Slaves—Never used for work. Thulls do all their own. Slaves have only one purpose.
MODE OF ADDRESS
The King—Your Majesty
The Lords—Your lordship
Warriors—Your honor
Guptors—Your honor
Commons—By name
Slaves—Never addressed at all—simply goaded or whipped into motion
MANNERS
Thulls are not bright enough to have very much in the way of elaborate etiquette. They tend to be morose and sour—sullen. The good humor mentioned previously is a kind of release. They fear the Grolims.
Thullish women will quite literally couple at a moment’s notice. Always on the look-out for a chance at sex.
The court at Thull Mardu is little more than a large household with the King giving orders like a Sendarian farmer. There is a great lack of formality among them.
HOLIDAYS AND RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES
See Gar og Nadrak
POPULATION
Probably 5 million Thulls.
Cthol Murgos
COINAGE
See Gar og Nadrak
COSTUME
Murgo men always wear armor. Mail-shirts to the knee, breastplates, pointed helmets, all painted red, covered with black surcoats to mid-calf, substantial boots. Big broadswords and maces in combat, small-sword otherwise, also daggers. Some ornamentation on helmet and surcoat to indicate rank.
Murgo women are always kept in harems. Clothing is filmy and diaphanous.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
This is a military society and is rigidly organized. Divided into companies, battalions, regiments, etc. All rank is military. The society in the known part of Cthol Murgos is in actuality a sham set up to resemble a semi-normal society. This is also true of Murgo merchants. They are all spies. The seeming society in Rak Goska is a complete stage setting. Murgos are trained there for excursion into the west.
All work in Murgo society is done by slaves.
The real cities of the Murgos lie to the south and are unknown to westerners. They are actually base housing type cities—military posts.
Murgo men have more than one wife—up to four. One route to promotion is to produce lots of kids.
There are other peoples (unknown to the west) to the south of Cthol Murgos. These peoples are quite primitive and provide slaves.
There was an effort during the Angarak invasion of the 4860s to move a huge column of Murgos through the southern mountains to strike into southern Tolnedra, but the column started out too early and was overwhelmed by a spring blizzard in the mountains. If they had made it, the west would have fallen. There are literally millions of Murgos.
Note on Rak Cthol: This ceremonial capital of the Murgos is the ultimate bastion of Angaraks in the west. The Murgos are in charge, and the Kings of Gar og Nadrak and Mishrak ac Thull are subject to the King of Cthol Murgos. He gives the orders. These are conveyed to him by Grolims who are not only priests but messengers of Torak as well. Large numbers of Grolims are quartered in Rak Cthol as well as the crack ceremonial divisions of the King of the Murgos. The Ultimate Temple of Torak in the west is in Rak Cthol as well as the court of the King. It is hallowed by the fact that Torak stayed here while planning the invasion of the west. (His normal residence is in Mallorea.)
Here it is that Zedar has his base of operations.67 As personal advisor to Kal-Torak, Zedar has a great deal of power. He must, however, badger and force the Murgo General-King into doing his bidding.
Also at Rak Cthol selected Grolims study sorcery under Zedar’s instruction.
RANKS
The King—Commander in chief.
Generals, Colonels, captains, lieutenants, etc. (Titles of nobility are assigned to various of them for contact with westerners. Those titles have no meaning to the Murgos.)
MODES OF ADDRESS
From the King—My General, My Colonel, etc., ‘Sir’
To the King—‘Mighty arm of Torak’, ‘Your highness’
Ordinary warriors—addressed by rankar
Slaves are merely driven, like cattle
HOLIDAYS AND RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES
See Gar og Nadrak.
Murgos are fanatic zealots.
POPULATION
Probably ten million Murgos altogether. Maybe 70,000 in Rak Goska, a half million total in Rak Cthol, the rest to the south.
Mallorea
COINAGE
Varied. Only rarely does a Mallorean coin appear in the west.
COSTUME
Again it varies depending on the latitudes. Mostly Thull-like tunics. Further north, more clothing. Unisex garb.
Malloreans wear plate armor—breastplates. Upper and lower arm guards, upper and lower leg guards. Helmets with visors (buckle on). Large shields, broad-bladed spears, broadsword.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
Mallorea is a theocracy totally dominated by the Grolims. Torak’s ego is such that he refused to permit the Mallorean Angaraks any nobles or aristocracy. They are all
commoners.
There are no cities in Mallorea. They all live on farmsteads or in villages.68 The Grolims are administrators of districts and of the large villages. The vast bulk of Malloreans live in semi serfdom.