Shem’s people are diverse, practically split into two distinct types, the nomads of the east and the urbanites of the west. These trading kingdoms are the homes of the meadow Shemites, who are generally of medium height with hook noses, dark eyes and blue-black hair. Some families have Stygian blood, however, and they are gigantic, broadly and strongly built, with the same sort of facial features as the shorter Shemites.
Clothing Styles
Western Shem: Meadow Shemite and Pelishtim clothing is made from wool or flax, except for priests and dignitaries, who may wear linen garments. In the winter, the clothing is thicker and coarser. Poor, urban Meadow Shemites usually go bare-chested and wear sheep-skin skirts tied at the waist, or wear simple sashed or belted tunics that are about kneelength. Women either add a shawl thrown over the left shoulder or long shawls which cover their entire bodies as a dress, but their right arm and shoulder are always left bare. Most men wear their hair long and parted in the middle. Some have curled black-blue beards but many also go cleanshaven. Women also wear their hair long, but they usually braid it into one long braid and wrap it on top of their heads in a coil. Women of all ranks usually wear headdresses when entertaining guests. In addition to linen skirts, the wealthy, urban male Meadow Shemites may choose to wear loose, floor-length robes with sleeves, usually made of expensive and luxurious materials such as linen and, for the ultra-wealthy, silk. The robes are usually embroidered and may be made of dyed fabric and trimmed with cloth-of-gold. The clothing of wealthy women is colourful and bright. Upper class women may also go bare-breasted or wear bejewelled straps crossing between their breasts, although they rarely forego their elaborate headdresses. A wealthy Shemite’s clothing smells of perfumes and incense. A Shemite will pay a fragrance’s weight in gold to obtain it, as perfumes and incense are rare and a sign of wealth. Only the wealthy can afford weaponry and they do not favour straight-blades. The Shemites of the cities fight with curved scimitars of bronze, iron or steel, depending on their
wealth or preference. Their gods designed the scimitar, or so the priests claim, and the straight blade is seen as offensive to the gods by some Shemites. Shemite bows, a gift from the gods also, are used by the nobles.
Life in Shem
Life in Shem Treasures, riches and beautiful things cause the hearts and souls of the Shemites to soar. They live to accumulate wealth and beauty, surrounding themselves with jewellery, so both men and women of the Meadow Shemites wear earrings and necklaces. Earrings and bracelets are commonly of gold and silver; necklaces are usually set with precious stones. During periods of celebration even more jewellery is worn. The display of exotic and beautiful jewellery (Games Master’s discretion) may earn a Meadow Shemite a +1 bonus to Reputation among other Meadow Shemites. Eastern Shem: The nomads of the east favour loose robes for clothing, which are useful in catching the wind and in retaining heat at night. The standard dress for one of the nomad men is a white, girdled khilat, a robe with full open sleeves, linen, cotton or silken breeches and a flowing headdress that falls to the shoulders called a kafieh and is banded about the temples with a triple circlet of braided camel-hair. The amount of embroidery on the khilat or kafieh indicates the relative position and wealth of the wearer. Cloaks are of camel hair and are solid coloured. They also wear turbans wrapped around spiked helmets. The women wear a chador, or a full-body over-dress that includes a ghutra. Beneath the chador, the women wear a body-shirt made of white gauze and voluminous bloomers. The outfit is complete with a broad, red and black handwoven belt, ghutra, a head-band and cloak. The chador has broad sleeves ending in a flap that can cover the hands. The necklines are high. The belt allows the dress to be hitched up to free the ankles. Their cloaks are identical to those worn by men except for being striped. Wealthier women own jackets or silk kaftans, which can be worn over the chador. Those nomads nearer the mountains, where it is cooler, wear thwabs instead of chadors. The clothing is loose and flowing to allow for easy movement and child-bearing, although the thwabs are a bit more form-fitting than the chador because of the cooler climate near the mountains. A woman often carries her entire wealth in
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