## VI. MERCENARY TRADITION & CONTRACTS
### A. The Adem Abroad
Adem are known throughout Temerant as:
- Elite mercenaries available for hire by those with sufficient coin and proper protocol.
- Judges and arbiters, called upon to settle disputes or test claims through combat.
- Teachers of their fighting arts to chosen students (rarely; most Adem keep their techniques secret).
### B. The Contract
An Adem mercenary's word is absolute:
- A contract, once agreed, is binding.
- Payment must be made in silver, at the agreed time, in the agreed amount.
- Deviation from contract terms brings shame to the Adem and may be cause for vendetta.
- An Adem will not break a contract even if circumstances change drastically.
This makes them simultaneously trustworthy and inflexible: they are the ultimate professional, but they cannot negotiate once committed.
### C. Hiring Adem
Those seeking Adem mercenaries must:
- Contact the appropriate path or school.
- Negotiate terms clearly and precisely.
- Provide payment in advance (or, for established patrons, on agreed schedule).
- Understand that the Adem will fulfill the contract as written, not as hoped.
An Adem hired to "protect a person" will do so; if that person is in danger through their own foolishness or duplicity, the Adem fulfills the contract regardless. They will not judge; they will not adjust; they will not negotiate.
---
## VII. RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER FACTIONS
Adem & University:
- Mutual professional respect.
- The University occasionally hires Adem as security or for specialized contracts.
- The Adem view the University's magic as legitimate but alien; they trust discipline over arcane arts.
Adem & Maer's Court:
- The Maer sometimes employs Adem mercenaries.
- Court culture baffles the Adem; they find the emotional performance and dishonesty distasteful.
- Despite this, contracts are honored with absolute professionalism.
Adem & Edema Ruh:
- Rumors of shared ancient origins create strange tension.
- Direct interaction is rare; the Ruh travel the roads while Adem remain in their mountains.
- Some Adem scholars secretly study Ruh songs, looking for fragments of the old Aedem Ruach tradition.
Adem & Tarbean Underground:
- The Adem have no use for thieves or criminals.
- Street folk view the Adem as impossibly foreign and inhuman.
- There is little interaction, though rumors speak of Adem visiting the city on mysterious business.
Adem & Chandrian:
- The Adem are aware of the Chandrian in ways other cultures are not.
- Their ancient poems describe the seven signs and their nature.
- Whether the Adem actively oppose the Chandrian or merely observe them is unclear.
---
## VIII. GENDER DYNAMICS
While Adem are matriarchal, gender roles are less restrictive than in other Temerant societies:
- Military: Both men and women train as warriors; gender does not determine combat role.
- Leadership: Women naturally hold many leadership positions, but men are not excluded.
- Reproduction: Biological sex matters for reproduction, but not for social role or opportunity.
- Relationships: The Adem view love and sexuality pragmatically; affairs and multiple partners are not scandalous if they do not interfere with duty.
This flexibility may derive from the matriarchal structure, or it may be a direct application of Lethani principles: do what is right, not what tradition demands.
---
## IX. SECRETS & MYSTERIES
### A. The True Purpose of the Lethani
Is the Lethani:
- A genuine philosophy developed over centuries?
- A discipline imposed by ancient law or curse?
- A structure designed to suppress or control the old Aedem Ruach powers?
- A response to the Creation War, designed to ensure the Adem never again fall victim to external chaos?
The Adem themselves may not fully know.
### B. The Singing Prohibition
Why is singing taboo? What trauma underlies this cultural shift?
- Was there a war between singers and warriors?
- Did the suppression of singing grant the Adem some defensive advantage?
- Is there a connection between singing and the Chandrian or other forbidden forces?
### C. Chandrian Knowledge
The Adem possess ancient poems about the Chandrian, their signs, and their nature:
- Where did this knowledge come from? Direct contact? Oral tradition? Prophecy?
- Do the Adem actively oppose the Chandrian, or merely observe?
- Would they share this knowledge with allies, or do they guard it absolutely?
### D. The Mountain Barriers
Why do the Adem remain isolated?
- Is it choice or necessity?
- What happens if an outsider attempts to enter Ademre without invitation?
- Are there barriers—physical, magical, or cultural—preventing easy access?
---
## X. PLOT HOOKS FOR GAMEMASTERS
1. The Broken Contract
An Adem mercenary hired by one faction has been contracted by another to work against the first. They cannot break either contract. Players must navigate the logical paradox or help the Adem find a path through the problem.
2. The Song Fragment
An ancient Adem song surfaces—a fragment about the Aedem Ruach and the Chandrian. Multiple factions seek it. Adem who encounter it may react strangely (recognition, shame, fear).
3. The Singing Student
A young Adem breaks taboo and begins singing. Elders respond with shame or punishment. Players must decide whether to protect the student or respect Adem law.
4. Hiring the Adem
Players seek to hire Adem mercenaries for a dangerous mission. They must navigate the hiring process, negotiate contracts precisely, and understand that the Adem will fulfill only what was agreed—nothing more.
5. The Disputed Contract
Two parties claim to have hired the same Adem warrior, resulting in conflicting orders. The Adem are paralyzed (unable to break either contract, unable to fulfill both). Players must resolve the dispute or face an Adem vendetta.
6. Journey to Ademre
Players are invited (or secretly venture) to the Mountains of Doubt to study the Lethani. They encounter Adem culture directly and must navigate profound differences in values, communication, and ethics.
7. The Emotional Adem
An Adem has suffered trauma or failure and is visibly struggling with emotional control. Other Adem treat them with pity; some view them as cursed. Players must navigate the shame and help them find a path back to balance.
---
## XI. NPC GENERATION TEMPLATE
```markdown
[Name], Adem [Path: Letantha / Passion / Joy / Restraint / other], [rank: Student / Accomplished / Master / Elder]
- Age: [20s–80s]
- Appearance: Pale skin, dark hair, [distinctive scar / tattoo / bearing]
- Specialization: [combat / judgment / teaching / investigation]
- Current Contract: [mercenary work for faction X / traveling on personal quest / studying at a path]
- Secret: [harbors forbidden emotion / knows about the Aedem Ruach / doubts the Lethani / has broken a minor law]
- Relationship to Outsiders: [curious / dismissive / respectful / wary]
- Flaw: [rigid adherence to contract despite changing circumstances / guilt over a past failure / struggle with emotions / skepticism about the Lethani's completeness]
- Notable Trait: [rare laugh / slight accent in speech / unusual tattoo / surprising gentleness despite reputation]
XII. USING ADEMRE IN YOUR GAME
The Adem and Lethani are ideal for:
• Exploring alien cultures: The Adem think fundamentally differently from other peoples.
• Moral dilemmas: The Lethani is not always aligned with conventional morality; it forces reassessment of right action.
• Restraint & expression: A culture where emotion is internal, not external, creates unique storytelling opportunities.
• Mercenary work: Adem contracts offer high-stakes, morally complex assignments.
• Ancient mysteries: The connection to the Ruach and Chandrian knowledge makes the Adem gatekeepers of deep lore.
The Adem reward those who approach them with respect, precision, and understanding—and punish those who treat them as mere warriors or exotic curiosities.