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the tribes which tend them. They are very primitive groups, and the
chiefs are to varying degrees powerful particularly in the north.
Each tribe has its own huge pasturelands. The authority of the King
is far from absolute in the north.
*This was not retained.
COMMONERS
All others. All Drasnian men are bearers of arms.
MILITARY
Units organized on the family-tribe basis.
MODES OF ADDRESS
Addressed by Rank, thus 'King John', 'Prince Fred'. Commoners
called 'Worthy John' or 'Friend John'.
Drasnians are polite and have a great sense of humor. The transition
from calling someone 'Worthy John' to calling him 'Friend John' is
extremely elaborate, and Drasnians are amused when outsiders
attempt to go through the stages of the process.
Note - Drasnians have developed an elaborate 'finger language'
consisting of barely perceptible gestures. Can hold entire
conversations with each other even while talking to some foreign merchant.
Highly useful in trade negotiations and in their espionage work...
*The 'secret language' proved to be very useful, although it was just an aside
in the
Preliminaries.
HOLIDAYS
Erastide
Festival of Belar
Dras's Birthday
Day of Sorrow (when Angaraks invaded) early June (Lent here)
Day of Victory (Battle of Vo Mimbre) late June
POPULATION
Population approximately l '' million
Algaria
GEOGRAPHY
With the exception of the Aldurfens to the north and the area south
of the low range of hills that mark the upper reaches of the Aldur
River, Algaria is a vast, rolling grassland lying between the two arms
of the mountain range that forms the spine of the continent. The
land is fertile and well-watered by the Aldur and could be profitably
farmed, but the Algars prefer instead to remain semi-primitive
herdsmen. Virgin gold occasionally appears in transactions with
the Algars, but no hint of its source can be found.
The Algarian herds are the finest in the known world and provide
meat for most of the kingdoms of the west. The yearly cattle-drive
to Muros in Sendaria along the Great North Road is one of the
genuinely magnificent spectacles one may behold. Centuries of
carefully controlled breeding have made Algar horses un-surpassed.