Laws

📜 The Law of the Tahari

The Grand Desert will have roaming guards of 5 horse or camel pack warriors who patrol the whole area to enforce these laws.

Proclaimed by the Chieftains of the Desert,
Recorded by the Keepers of Salt and Water.

I. The Law of Water

1. Water is life. None may be denied a drink who thirsts, even an enemy.

2. He who pollutes a well or steals water from the guarded cistern commits a crime against all tribes.

3. To waste water wantonly is to insult the desert itself.

II. The Law of Honor

1. A man’s word is his bond; an oath once spoken binds him before all.

2. To betray an oath is to cast away one’s name and place among the people.

3. Vengeance, when called by honor, is permitted, but it must be just and measured.

III. The Law of Tribe and Blood

1. Every man owes loyalty first to his tribe, and through it, to the desert.

2. Feuds between tribes are to be declared openly, not waged in secret.

3. Peace between tribes is sealed by the sharing of salt and water; such a pact may not be broken save by grave dishonor.

IV. The Law of Faith

1. Sacred places—shrines, wells, and tombs—are inviolate.

2. To shed blood upon holy ground is forbidden.

3. False prophecy, or claiming the voice of the divine without truth, brings death by the judgment of the elders.

V. The Law of Women and Bondsmen

1. Free women shall be honored and guarded, walking veiled before strangers.

2. A bondsman or bondswoman is the property of their master, yet remains under the protection of tribal honor.

3. To harm another’s property without cause is to invite blood-debt.

4. A woman who kneels freely and renounces her veil may not later reclaim her freedom save by gift of her master.

VI. The Law of Trade and Salt

1. The trade routes are sacred arteries of life.

2. To cheat a merchant under tribal protection is theft before the gods.

3. The salt trade is holy; to corrupt it is to forfeit both hand and honor.

4. Toll and tribute belong to those who guard the oasis; to evade them is treachery.

VII. The Law of Justice

1. Judgment shall be rendered by the chieftain, or by combat before the tribe.

2. The guilty may face death, exile, or the trial of the sands.

3. Mercy may be granted only once; to offend again is to be cast to the desert.

VIII. The Law of Guests and Bread

1. He who eats your bread and drinks your water is your guest, and may not be harmed beneath your roof.

2. To betray a guest is the deepest dishonor.

3. To betray one’s host is to be cast out, nameless, to the burning sands.

IX. The Law of the Desert

1. The desert gives and the desert takes.

2. None may rule the sands; we live by their mercy.

3. To forget this is to be swallowed by them.

Punishments and Justice

• Justice is swift and personal. There are no large court systems; disputes are handled by tribal councils, chieftains, or through duels or feuds.

• Typical punishments include:

  • Death (by sword or spear) for murder, treachery, or oath-breaking.

  • Mutilation or enslavement for theft or dishonor.

  • Fines or restitution (in salt, goods, or kaiila) for lesser offenses.

🐫 4. Slavery and Gender Roles

• The Tahari observes the standard Gorean institution of slavery:

  • Free men have authority over women and slaves.

  • Kajirae (female slaves) serve men in both domestic and sexual capacities.

  • Male slaves (kajiri) exist but are rare in the desert.

• Women among the free are veiled, modest, and carefully guarded — reflecting both Gorean patriarchy and Islamic/Bedouin-inspired Tahari culture.

• The veil laws are strict: a free woman appearing unveiled among men could be collared (enslaved) under Tahari custom.

🕌 5. Religion and Oaths

• The Tahari tribes recognize the Gorean Priest-Kings only distantly; religion is expressed more through customary codes and reverence for oaths.

• Oaths are often sworn “by the salt” or “by the stones of the desert,” making them sacred and binding.

• Breaking such an oath brings great shame and may mark a man as shamed (one who cannot be trusted or housed).

⚔️ 6. Warfare and Conduct

• The tribes are often at war over water wells, salt rights, and trade routes.

• Rules of combat emphasize bravery, loyalty, and skill with the scimitar or kaiila-mounted spear.

• Treachery in open battle is despised, but deception and cunning raids are respected as tactics of survival.

💰 7. Trade and Economics

• The red salt of Kasra, dates, leathers, and kaiila are central to the desert economy.

• Trade is protected by agreements of peace between tribes or with cities — violation of trade pacts is dishonorable and often leads to feud.

• Merchants operate under salt contracts, which are sworn agreements backed by sacred oaths and tribal enforcement.

🧕 8. Social Hierarchy

From highest to lowest:

1. Tribal leaders / Ubars / Pashas

2. Warriors

3. Merchants and craftsmen

4. Farmers or herders (if any)

5. Slaves

Each class has its own obligations, but honor transcends class — even a poor man can command respect if honorable.