The Rhennee of Lake Quag

The Rhennee that live around Lake Quag call themselves the Kar-Hoosh, or North Folk. They consider themselves a distinct tribal group of the Rhennee and their traditions do vary greatly from other Rhennee groups within the Flanaess, especially those of the Nyr Dyv, whom they mistrust.

For a start, unlike other Rhennee groups the Kar-Hoosh are quite matriarchal in nature. Women hold many of the highest positions within their society: the political and spritual leader of the Kar-Hoosh is the Himilda Hara ("Wife of Ships"). Given the dual political and spiritual role of the Himilda Hara, it is normal for her to have a good grasp of either divine or arcane powers. The Kar-Hoosh are, as a result, more comfortable with the use of magic than other Rhennee in the Flanaess. For this reason, if no other, Rhennee groups in the Flanaess often shun the Kar-Hoosh outright. The Kar-Hoosh have also adopted the worship of several of the gods of the Flanaess, in particular Procan and Boccob. This is but one example of the Kar-Hoosh having adopted the Flanaess as their home more than many other Rhennee group.

The Kar-Hoosh ply the waters of Lake Quag and its many rivers. In particular they use the trade waters of the Velverdyva river system and its tributaries to import and export goods into Perrenland and beyond. They are the most frequently used transport system for the Pax Mercuri, and have a long history of cooperation with that organisation. The Kar-Hoosh try and avoid the city of Greyhawk as much as possible, as it often brings them into contact with the Rhennee of the Nyr Dyv. This contact can turn ugly, as the Rhennee of the Nyr Dyv are very territorial and inclined to evil ways. The Kar-Hoosh for their part are more tolerant of the Nyr Dyv Rhennee, and in fact several Nyr Dyv Rhennee families have joined the Kar-Hoosh to escape the evil that has settled into their own clans.

In 325 CY the Kar-Hoosh formally swore the mercenary oath that is now known as the Pax Mercuri, and in doing so were able to travel and trade freely within Perrenese waters for over a hundred and fifty years. In the 480s their oath drew them into the first war against Iggwilv, and their skilled use of the waters of the lake and rivers was instrumental in keeping supplies flowing to resistance fighters and in strangling Iggwilv's ability to draw upon humanoid reinforcements from the North. This is something she is unlikely to forget in her new campaign, and the Kar-Hoosh are well aware of this.

For their services in this war the Kar-Hoosh where formally recognised by the then-Voormann of Perrenland, Tillmann "The Scourge" Sudmeer (an Oostmeer Meerijder) as a Meerijder clan during the victory celebrations of 491 CY, raising the number of major Meerijder clans back to three. Tillmann ceded some of his own clan's ancestral lands to hold as their own, namely the were the ruined town of Meerstadt and its surrounds on Flinderlord Island, now called Schleikers Island. Folklore recalls that this was done in some haste to placate a cry from a Vestmeer Graf at the ritual that all Meerijder must ritualistically and practically have a toe on the land, "lest they be forsaken by it". Thus to save face Tillmann gave up the rights to these lands: it is said Tillmann never forgave the Vestmeers for this. The fact that the Kar-Hoosh had been squatting in the ruins of the "plaguehuis" (plague town) for several generations was conveniently overlooked at the time.

As citizens of Perrenland, and members of the Meerijder clan to boot, the Kar-Hoosh enjoy all the privileges that this gives them. The Himilda Hara was formally sworn in as a Graf and holds a seat on the Council of Grafs, giving the Kar-Hoosh a political voice in the affairs of the nation. At the same time, the Ootlander tax was withdrawn from Rhennee goods and services, allowing the Kar-Hoosh to trade on an equal footing with the other Meerijders - something many Meerijder continue to complain about. For their own parts, the divided houses of the Meerijder (the Vestmeer and Oostmeer) could not sway the Kar-Hoosh to favour either side in the affair. In fact, over time the barge of the Himilda Hara has become the home for face-to-face negotiations between the two aggrieved clans, and some now call it the only place of reason in the whole Meerijder clan.

Kar-Hoosh clothing is generally quite baggy and very colourful. Due to the colder climate, the Kar-Hoosh adopted thick padded jerkins or vests often augmented with bits of leather or metal armour. Men wear bandannas and broad sashes instead of belts, while women wear long skirts and lots of jewellery and have their hair platted in a variety of styles. Both males and females often have ear piercings. Most of the Kar-Hoosh have black or brown hair although the occasional redhead or blonde also exists. The Kar-Hoosh do not hold to the stereotypical short and stocky body type associated with Rhennee, many of them are in fact quite slight or quite tall. The reason for this is that the Kar-Hoosh quickly saw the advantages of inter-racial marriage when then first arrived in The Flanaess. The mixing of bloodlines has been managed without comprising the Kar-Hoosh culture.

For further information, see the Meerijder Clan gazetteer entry.