Medieval India

Medieval India is the result of many waves of conquerors, the Aryans, killing and subjugating all the races they encountered along their nomadic rampages. When these Aryans settled down they became a new race of Indian natives, overlords of all their conquered peoples. Over time the racial distinctions have blurred, but the Brahmanas (spiritual elite) and Ksatriyas (warrior class) still rule over the lower classes by divine right written into the holy scriptures.

There are four major social classes, distinguished by trade and entered only by birth. It is nearly impossible to rise from the class you were born into, although you can rise within a class and hope for better in the next life. Each class is referred to by its color:

White for the spiritual elite (the Brahmanas).
Red for the warriors, politicians, administrators, and kings (the Ksatriyas).
Yellow for the merchants, peasants, and farmers (the Vaisys).
Black for artisans, craftsmen, servants, and other menials (the Sudras).

In Kirti, where this campaign takes place, the lines dividing the social classes are not as firm as elsewhere, but they still exist. Choosing a social class will affect how your character is treated in different settings. It should be appropriate to the character's profession and history, but need not be restricted by them. For example a priest of the most powerful god Brahman would almost certainly be white, but a hedge priest to some agricultural or mercantile power could reasonable be yellow.

Women in medieval India had few rights outside the home. For example, only in extreme cases could a woman own property, and in some places women were considered property themselves. The customs of Kirti are not so oppressive. Since the usual reason for such customs is the supposed inability of women to defend themselves and their possessions, a strong willed women could break the rules and get by on her own. More realistically a female adventurer would have a male companion to "protect" her, even if she actually ran things from behind the scenes.

For more information on medieval Indian culture and religion, see the chapter in Legends & Lore on Indian Mythology.

Hell and Glory - 08 MAY 95

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