Best of Greyhawk VII - Le Monde de Greyhawk

over the collected states of the Baklunish, or is the Caliphate of Ekbir something new in the Baklunish experience?Certainly, to a large extent Ekbir will mirror the Theocracy of the Pale, more religiously tolerant perhaps, but with adefinite sense of a state religion and state power. Is the god of the people of Ekbir someone like Kor? Or might thegod of ultimate law, merciful and compassionate, be another version of Pholtus?And what of the Caliph's interests in the other states of the broken empire? To what extent has the religionof Ekbir been institutionalized in places like Zeif, Tusmit, or Ket? What is the relationship of this religion to thevarious tribal gods it attempts to displace? Might the Baklunish believe in a sort of overgod, and is the Caliphate ofEkbir the first appearance of the overgod on Oerth? What would be his relationship to an older deity like Istus?My guess is that the god of Ekbir is originally a tough, lawful desert god, transported to the corrupt citiesby virtuous dervishes and nomads. Perhaps, as far the nomads were concerned, it was the lawless worship of theother gods that brought down the Empire in the first place. Now, the worship of this god has spread throughout theBaklunish world (the god is almost certainly the same who helped create the Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar in theolder days). I see this god, then, as up-and-coming, replacing some of the older gods of the past (and these wouldinclude animistic gods like Geshtai as well as divinatory gods like Istus). There is some evidence that the followers ofthis god at one time sought to expand their worship into the Flanaess (along with the borders of the Baklunishworld). Why else would there be an order of Knights dedicated to keeping them at bay? But it may be that the timeis right for another holy war to mobilize the forces of the Baklunish. According to the original DMG (the only sourceI ever use on such matters), the Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar was lost in the Bandit Kingdoms. Might the time notbe proper to recover it? And what of the Jacinth of Inestimable Beauty once possessed by the Sultan Jehef Pereen?That passed first into Ket and then down into Keoland--no doubt it is now somewhere in the area of the Hold of theSea Princes. The Baklunish would surely want their treasures returned.I would suggest that DMs putting some of these plots into motion consider the religious and political stateof the Baklunish at present. I see a very powerful Caliphate which technically is the center of Empire and a bunch ofsquabbling rulers who are vassals or satraps of various sorts. This would involve a slight reorganization of theBaklunish states along medieval lines, but would result in some interesting cloak and dagger stuff, especially forplayers who are encouraged at first to see the Baklunish as a single, undifferentiated mass.Subj: Re: Baklunish politicsQSamanthaI see the ancient Baklunish Empire as very much in the Persian model, with a church trying to get theEmperor to accept Caliph status, much as the Pope wanted to crown Charlemagne in an attempt to exert some controlover him. Unlike Charlemagne, the Baklunish Emperor didn't need the religious trappings.When the Empire was destroyed, the aptly described shattered remains had to fend for themselves. Thechurch set up Ekbir. Zeif claimed descent from the Peacock Throne. Tusmit is just happy to be free from both. Now,if they can just keep the Paynims at bay.I see all three states squabbling mightily, unifying only in the face of danger (The Paynims) or when acharismatic leader appears to declare Jihad on the Eastern Flaneass.Subj: Re: Baklunish GodsQSamanthaI don't see Ekbir as devoted to one god but the same pantheon as Zief and Tusmit. Similarly, I see Ekbir asvery tolerant religiously. The only exception to this is theocracy. Ekbir believes fervently in theocracy and this iswhat it would export. Once theocratic control is established, the mullahs are more than willing to tolerate behaviorand beliefs not their own. They will just tax you in accordance with how far from their norm you are. Only when areligious fervor seizes the people, usually resulting in a Jihad, does this easy going manner change.*End of the Best of Greyhawk 7*