This page originally consists of the work of Lt. Murgen, published on the Birthright forum.
My D&D group is currently running a campaign in Cerilia, and our adventures have taken us into Khinasi lands. During the Christmas haitus, I did some research and developed a fairly extensive cultural background for the Khinasi. I post it here for people to review and comment on.
Design notes: Inspiration was taken from the Moorish culture of Spain, The Ottoman Empire, and The Persian Empire. For naval and shipping information, it was taken from Chinese ship styles. Much of the legal codes of the Khinasi were adaptations of Zoroastrian beliefs. Some of it was direct copies from other websites. As such, I claim no credit for the research and publishing of these ideas.
9 values drive the Khinasi culture. Everything unique to their society stems from one of these values. Different areas of the Khinasi lands value each one greater or lesser depending on history, geography, and philosophy. Khinasi society expects these values to be represented by every single person on a daily basis. The sum total of how these values are shown is referred to as Sayim, or ?face.? Sayim is how one is seen in the community. It is a reflection of both current actions and past deeds of both the individual and the Family.
Like all cultures honor and grace are more often known by their absence than by their presence. As such the notes describe the state of culture that the Khinasi aspire too - not that in which they necessarily live. They are therefore the sort of document that would have been given to a noble Anuirean ambassador by the Khinasi court to which the ambassador is to be resident that the ambassador might familiarize themselves with Khinasi ways and avoid giving offense.
Rather than edit Lt. Murgen's stuff to death when wikifying it to make it 'even handed', an observation banner has been placed on the documents and edits limited to pedantry and links.