Fanjosi is an opulent city, full of marble minarets, sprawling bazaars, paved streets, perfumed flower gardens, stained-glass windows and all other riches under the sun save women. This is no accident for the Men of the City curse women for being the root of all evils in this world and the next. By excluding the female from the City, the Fanjosites claim to keep alive the last fragment of the Golden Age. This policy, they say, is the source of riches and strength of the City of Men.
A large population lives outside the City Walls. Most of them are the women of Fanjosi. Because of this, these settlements are known as the "Women's Parts". Individually the districts outside the walls are known by a vile epithet of feminine nature, such as the "Gaping Chasm", the "Harpy's Lair", the "Iniquitous Pit" and the "Twin Mounds of Weakness". Due to severe sumptuary laws, the buildings are ramshackle, the streets are mud and the stench of filth is omnipresent.
The inhabitants of the city of Fanjosi are all men. Women are forbidden to enter the City and any that have done so has been met with a horrible death. A visitor witnessing the rare occasion of such a death, described it thus "First her corruptions were painfully revealed to the outside world by unseen assailants. They then consumed the Thing that once was a woman leaving behind only a horrid stench.". This magical ban has affected some Katelite males but not others. The cause appears to lie in secret practices of certain Katelite bloodlines which are taboo to outsiders.
The free men distinguish themselves by the manner of their birth. Two main classes are recognized: Pures and Halfbreeds. The Pures are of massive stature that rival the legendary Men-and-a-half. The Halfbreeds are still agimori although indistinguishable from most fonritans.
Of the male slaves, the blues are permitted to enter the borders of the City but are forced to sleep in the Women's Parts. Agimori and Wareran slaves are permitted to sleep within the City but only the Pures may own them.
A Halfbreed is any male agimor child that is born to a Fanjosite. In their infancy, they are raised in the Woman's Parts with their mother until the age of five. Then they are taken by the authorities to live in the City to live with their father.
The Pures are conceived in the Holy Days of Fanjosi. Various Incubi are summoned during the orgaistic temple rituals. After the services have ended, the incubi then fly beyond the city walls to plague the dreams of women. As a result, the women become pregnant and give birth to Pures. These are noticeable for not resembling the mother and in refusing to be nursed. Most Pures are born in the Women's Parts and are handed over to the City, where they are brought to nursed with the milk of the Pure. Pure Fanjosites are known to be born further afield, some as far as Golden Kareeshtu. Most are treated as changelings and simply killed. In some cities friendly to Fanjosi, resident halfbreeds are known to purchase the newborn Pure to take back to the City.
When a Pure reaches the age of five, he is enlisted in one of warrior schools and is rigorously schooled in the arts of War. Pures between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one are sent to live beyond the city walls armed with a knife. They are empowered to kill any woman, blue or stranger found out in the Women's Parts or in the lands of Fanjosi after dark. At the age of twenty-one, the Pure is enlisted in the Army and becomes a full citizen of Fanjosi.
Women are considered chattel and live in squalid servitude in the Women's parts or in the farms. Most Fanjosites view copulation with them as a necessary evil for begetting sons, a source of pride in Fanjosi.
By ancient custom, foreigners are not permitted to reside within the City Walls unless they have made themselves known to a Noble. For this reason, few foreigners live in Fanjosi. An enclave of Vadeli exists within the City and is a constant irritant to other Fonritans. But so long as the Vadeli satisfy the customary demands of the Fanjosites, they are unlikely to ever be expelled.
The people of Fanjosi speak Fanjosite, a dialect of Mondoran. The Men of Fanjosi are noted for using derogatory terms for women whenever possible.
Fanjosi is theoretically ruled by the Pure Assembly that meets amidst the Columns of Strength. In reality, the Assembly sees fit to acclaim as law the Pronouncements of Seseine that have been delivered to it by the Council of Divines. The Assembly also elects generals, judges, divines and other officials but these too are chosen on the advice of the Council.
The judges are notorious throughout Fonrit for the following custom: if a judge is unable to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused by an examination of the facts and witnesses, then he can compel the accused to make himself known. The verdict is then based on the satisfaction rendered by the accused.
The Fanjosites maintain a standing army composed of all Pure Fanjosites above the age of twenty-one. This army is well-equiped with armor, weapons, horses and elephants and has a fearsome reputation. If need be, the Fanjosites can raise additional contingents of halfbreeds and mercenaries.
Seseine, the God of Beauty is the only God of Fanjosi. He is worshipped by every Fanjosite in the City and they will admit no other god to be worshipped within the Walls of the City. The worship of Seseine is overseen by the Council of Divines, the body of priests that governs Fanjosi. They rule from within the Alablaster Temple of Seseine amidst the Fountains of Paradise.
Comments, praise and criticisms to Peter Metcalfe.
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