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The Radhanite Merchant
Name: Tzipporah
Name Meaning: Bird, beauty
Age: 18-25
Ethnicity: Radhanite
Religion: Judaism
Abilities: Selling and trade techniques, speaks many languages, knowledge of international markets and merchants
History of the Radhanites: During the Early Middle Ages, Muslim polities of the Middle East and North Africa and Christian kingdoms of Europe often banned each other's merchants from entering their ports. Privateers of both sides raided the shipping of their adversaries at will. The Radhanites functioned as neutral go-betweens, keeping open the lines of communication and trade between the lands of the old Roman Empire and the Far East. As a result of the revenue they brought, Jewish merchants enjoyed significant privileges under the early
Carolingian dynasty in France and throughout the Muslim world, a fact that sometimes vexed local Church authorities.
BIO: Tzipporah is the daughter of an established, well-respected and wealthy Radhanite merchant named Zephyr. After Tzipporah's mother died giving birth to their last child (which sadly, also passed), Zephyr chose to embark his daughter on his travels throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East and teach her the way of the trade. With that honor came a lot of learning, including sociability, cunningness, wit, and oral knowledge of many languages. She spent her whole life exploring the world, and being exposed to many different people, religions, and politics.
Plot Idea(s): Because Radhanites did business with much of the medieval world, Tzipporah can be paired with virtually any male character. It will depend on what country or border we would like them to meet, the context, and he drama surrounding their encounter.
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The Gypsy
Name: Charani
Name meaning: Phoenix (in Romani)
Ethnicity: Romani, descendent of Indian ancestry
Age: 16-20
Religion: Undetermined
Religious History: Although their ancestors from India were Hindu, the Romani migrating communities were documented as adopting the religion of the countries they settled in.
Abilities: Fortune-telling, palm-reading, manipulation, dancing, singing
History of the Roma: The Romani, also known as Roma, are an Indo-Aryan people, traditionally nomadic itinerants living mostly in Europe, and diaspora populations in the Americas. Linguistic and genetic evidence suggest that the Romani as a people originated from the northern Indian subcontinent. They are dispersed, but their most concentrated populations are located in Europe, especially Central, Eastern and Southern Europe (including Turkey, Spain and Southern France). The Romani arrived in Mid-West Asia and Europe around 1007.
BIO: Charani is believed to be a reincarnation of a powerful
Dayan; an ancestor of her lineage in Indian and known witch. Although witchcraft is outlawed and viewed as malevolent in Indian cultures, as such in most European culture, the Romani community that surrounded Charani believed her to be gifted because of her bright green eyes. Despite these beliefs, Charani is not, in fact, a witch. She is, however, a skillful magician, someone who is capable of tricking her audience with the use of smoke, fire, and manipulation.
Plot Idea(s): Charani is always on the run. As word spreads of her enchanting ways, she finds herself at face with more and more enemies. Our characters could meet on the road, or deliberately, such as if someone is hunting her, or seeking the use of her powers (even if they don't exist).
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The Alchemist
Name: Ruqayyah (Roo-KIE-ah)
Name Meaning: Rise, ascent or spell, charm, incantation
Age: 18-25
Ethnicity: Arabian
Religion: Islam
Abilities: Medieval pharmacology, practicing alchemy, mixing and experimenting with medicine
BIO: Ruqayyah is an avid, migrating traveler who originated from the Middle East. An incredibly intelligent young woman, Ruqayyah was betrothed to a man she despised at just 13 years old. Seeking refuge from that fate, she runaway from home, taking only her the item that meant most to her -
her wooden box. Over the years, this box evolved to more than just a little girl<s treasure chest and instead, became a collection of herbs, oils, and medicines. Upon her travels, Ruqayyah began to experiment with alchemy, seeking to create potions and products that would help heal those who are injured, or sick. Over the years, she gained a favorable reputation as an alchemist, many seeking her services to help them.
Plot Idea(s): Because Ruqayyah is a traveler, she can be crossed with virtually any male character in virtually any country or timeline. Despite being a successful medicinal woman, I can imagine she would face her fair-share of accusations and discrimination, especially those who claim she is a Witch, or those who wish to exile her for her Muslim faith. These can be things we potentially incorporate in to the plot.
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The Khan Clan
Name: Oyuna
Name Meaning: Wisdom, of the mind
Age: 18-28
Ethnicity: Mongolian
Religion: Shamanism or Tengrism
Abilities: Intel on Khan empires, multi-lingual, well-educated in geography and methods of war
History of Genghis Khans: [Wikipedia] Genghis Khan was the founder and first
Great Khan and Emperor of the
Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of Northeast Asia. After founding the Empire and being proclaimed
Genghis Khan (meaning "Universal, oceanic, and firm/strong ruler and lord"), he launched the
Mongol invasions that conquered most of Eurasia, reaching as far west as Poland and the Levant in the Middle East.
BIO: Depending on the timeline we choose, Oyuna will be a member of the Khan family; a descendant of Genghis Khan. This can be anywhere from a daughter, niece, great-niece, grand-daughter, second or third cousin, etc. Either way, she is related by blood to Genghis, and is a member of royalty or high nobility. She is be the right-hand woman who a ruler of one of Khan's many expanding clans and kingdoms, and has extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of this expansive Mongolian power.
Plot Idea(s): As the Mongol Empire became one of the strongest and long-standing empires in medieval history, it welcome many international and foreign parties, as Genghis himself was a curious man. Since he allowed religious freedom in his Empire as well and supported trade and merchants, multitude of people with varying ways of life came through Mongol territories. This means we can pair Oyuna with virtually anyone from any part of the world.
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The Mongol Mistress
Name: Zolzaya
Name Meaning: Luck, fate, destiny
Age: 16-22
Ethnicity: Mongolian
Religion: Tengrism, Shamanism or Buddhism
Abilities: Multi-lingual, excellent cook and caretaker, seamstress, and well-educated
History of Genghis Khans: [Wikipedia] Genghis Khan was the founder and first
Great Khan and Emperor of the
Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of Northeast Asia. After founding the Empire and being proclaimed
Genghis Khan (meaning "Universal, oceanic, and firm/strong ruler and lord"), he launched the
Mongol invasions that conquered most of Eurasia, reaching as far west as Poland and the Levant in the Middle East.
BIO: Zolzaya is a mistress of one of the Khan leader (and his sons); a powerful man who had many children and many concubines. Zolzaya does not know who her real parents are, but she was born into the life of a maid and taken as a mistress at a young age because of her beauty. Hating the life of a promiscuous woman, she dreams of escaping but fears a life of poverty and worse, the wrath of the ones she will betray.
Plot Idea(s): Perhaps Zolzaya finally gets her chance to escape the life of a mistress when battle or war erupts in the Mongol Empire. Another option we can explore introducing a character that is from an entirely different land, culture and religion as Zolzaya. Because Genghis Khan ruled an Empire that allowed religious freedom, international trade and the welcoming of merchants, there are endless possibilities.
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The African Monarch
Name: Adaeze (Ah-day-zay)
Name Meaning: King's daughter
Age: 20-25
Ethnicity: West African (Mali Empire)
Religion: Traditional African Traditions mixed with Islam
Abilities:
History of the Mali Empire: The Mali Empire was an empire in West Africa from 1235 to 1670. The empire was founded by
Sundiata Keita (c. 1214 – c. 1255) and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially
Musa Keita. The
Manding languages were spoken in the empire. The rulers of the Mali Empire were called
mansa - a Mandinka word meaning "sultan" (king) or "emperor". The Mali Empire was the largest empire in West Africa and profoundly influenced the culture of West Africa through the spread of its language, laws and customs. The Mali Empire was known to be extremely rich in gold and was one of the major exporters of the metal.
BIO: Adaeze is the daughter of one of the Mali Mansas (Kings). She is his eldest daughter, but one of many siblings and a large family. She is betrothed to a Mali Maghan (Prince) and has a hefty dowry. Like many royalties in West Africa, the Mali Empire is rich in gold and also exported cotton, live animals and slaves. Adaeza's dowry had no shortage of those resources, including a full staff of maids, cooks, and caretakers.
Plot Idea(s): Although I have nothing specific in mind, if we were to pair Adaeze with a character of a different race, it would most likely be someone of Arabian, North African, or Middle Eastern heritage, based on the Trans-Saharan trade route. If we want to be creative, we could also stretch a storyline of another traveller, merchant, or soldier of some kind ending up in Mali or on that same trade route.
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The Inuk Skræling
Name: Amaruq
Name Meaning: Grey wolf
Age: 16-22
Ethnicity: Inuk (Inuit)
Religion: Animisn and Shamanism (Inuk traditions and practices)
Abilities: Great hunter, seamstress, and knowledge of the lands, knowledge of Old Norse
History of the Inuk People:
[Wikipedia]
Inuit (Inuk) are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Greenland, Canada and Alaska (United States). The
Inuit languages are part of the
Inuit-Yupik-Unangan family. Inuit are the descendants of what anthropologists call the
Thule people, who emerged from western
Alaska around 1000 CE. They had split from the related
Aleut group about 4000 years ago and from northeastern Siberian migrants. They spread eastwards across the Arctic. They displaced the related
Dorset culture, called the
Tuniit in Inuktitut, which was the last major
Paleo-Eskimo culture.
Skræling is the name the Norse Greenlanders used for the peoples they encountered in North America and Greenland. In surviving sources, it is first applied to the
Thule people, the proto-Inuit group with whom the Norse coexisted in Greenland after about the 13th century.
[The Canadian Encyclopedia] As early as the 11th century the Norse exerted an undetermined influence on the Inuit. The subsequent arrival of explorers, whalers, traders, missionaries, scientists and others began irreversible cultural changes. The Inuit themselves participated actively in these developments as guides, traders and models of survival.
BIO: Amaruq is an Indigenous Inuk woman part of a tribe inhabiting Greenland (or Northern regions of Canada, depending on the story). Her tribe assisted Norsemen invaders instead of fighting them, offering them food, clothing, and resources to survive the wicked winters. As a child, Amaruq was exposed to Vikings and visited their colonies frequently. From these experiences, she learned Old Norse and in turn, acted as a translator between the nations.
Plot Idea(s): We can easily pair Amaruq with a Viking or a descendant of a Norsemen since she would be able to communicate. Additionally, we can explore a scenario where Amaruq is enslaved, captured or kidnapped and taken away from Greenland (by the Norse or perhaps other foreign entities). The biggest challenge with Amaruq as a character will be spoken languages. We will have to get creative.
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The Enslaved Foreigner
Name: Kalyani
Name Meaning: Beautiful, lovely, auspicious
Age: 18-28
Ethnicity: Indian
Religion: Hindu
Abilities: Caretaker, cook, seamstress, clothing-maker
BIO: Kalyani is a traded slave and peasant from India. Fallen from royalty, she was once a member of high nobility to a Sultan family. After the fall of their rule, the family was broken apart and they fled to escape. Kalyani attempted to flee in the same fashion, but was enslaved by the new ruling power. She was taken as a house maid and forced into labor. However, the new Sultan was cruel and unforgiving, and when Kalyani refused to be his concubine, he sold her to the human slave trade.
Plot Idea(s): This can go many ways, considering the slave trade was so vast in medieval times. We can keep her in the South Asian region or even ship her to virtually any country or territories. I am thinking she is either purchased by your character or your character comes across her slave dealer, her master, or perhaps runs into her as she is trying to escape.
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The Sultana
Name: Sunita
Name Meaning: Well-conducted, wise
Age: 18-25
Ethnicity: Indian
Religion: Hinduism or Islam (depending on which Sultan she marries)
Abilities: Multi-lingual, well-educated, knowledgeable in many scriptures
BIO: Extremely beautiful, many Sultans and Princes fought for Sunita's hand in marriage, but only one succeeded. The man Princess Sunita saw as the most powerful man in the region. To Sunita, the Sultan with the most power equated to the husband with the most wealth; the most security. Although Sunita was not power-hungry like many men of the medieval world, she enjoyed the luxuries of fame, wealth, and nobility. However, Sunita was young when she chose a husband, and she was too naïve to understand that a power often equated to cruelty. The Sultan was cold, manipulative and abusive. Even though she sat on the throne by his side, as his wife and Sultana, Sunita sought secretly to escape his wrath.
Plot Idea(s): Sunita is a variant of a damsel in distress. Although she presents like a proud Sultana; a woman who holds her head high with beauty and grace, she is stubborn, and likely to refuse help or admit the need for help. Despite this, I imagine a pairing with her and a foreigner. Perhaps someone who is visiting the country for business, politics, or even curiosity. The two would become acquainted before business turns to pleasure.
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The Slavic Peasant
Name: Veroshka (Nick name: Vera)
Name Meaning: Faith, truth
Age: 17-23
Ethnicity: Slav
Religion: Slavic Paganism or Christianity
Abilities: Farmer, Caretaker, cook, seamstress, clothing-maker
History of the Slavs: [Wikipedia] When Slav migrations ended, their first state organizations appeared, each headed by a prince with a treasury and a military force. In the 7th century, the Frankish merchant Samo supported the Slavs against their Avar rulers and became the ruler of the first known Slav state in Central Europe,
Samo's Empire. Beginning in the 9th century, the Slavs gradually converted to Christianity (both Byzantine Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism). By the 12th century, they were the core population of a number of medieval Christian states: East Slavs in the
Kievan Rus', South Slavs in the
Bulgarian Empire, the
Kingdom of Croatia,
Banate of Bosnia and the
Grand Principality of Serbia, and West Slavs in the
Great Moravia, the
Kingdom of Poland,
Duchy of Bohemia and
Principality of Nitra. In the history the oldest known Slavic principality was
Carantania, established in the 7th century by the Eastern Alpine Slavs, the ancestors of the present-day Slovenes.
BIO: Veroshka is the youngest of several siblings who help her parents run a local farm. Although all others have married, Vera is the only remaining child, who has refused many seekers of her hand. Instead, she willingly stays with her parents, whom are aging and elderly, in order to help them work the farm. Despite being busy with most of the work, Vera has become known as an incredible seamstress and clothing-maker, garnering the attention of many locals seeking her bright-colored and traditional Slavic clothing.
Plot Idea(s): For this story, I'm thinking of an invasion of some kind. Perhaps foreigners or looming enemies make ground near her estate, and need shelter. Perhaps your character could be injured, starving, or needing new clothes. There are many ways to approach this!
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The Flower of Kiev
Name: Bozhena
Name Meaning: Divine
Age: 17-24
Ethnicity: East Slavic (Slav)
Religion: Slavic Paganism or Christianity
Abilities: Crop farmer and florist
History of Kiev: [Wikipedia]
Kievan or
Kyivan Rus' was a loose federation of East Slavic and Finno-Ugric peoples in Europe from the late 9th to the mid-13th century, under the reign of the
Varangian Rurik dynasty. The state began to decline during the late 11th century and the 12th century, disintegrating into various rival regional powers. It was further weakened by economic factors, such as the collapse of Rus' commercial ties to the Byzantine Empire due to the decline of Constantinople and the accompanying diminution of trade routes through its territory. The state finally fell to the
Mongol invasion of the 1240s.
BIO: Bozhena grew up with a simple life on a simple farm in a simple village. Her life as a child was otherwise boring, until she inherited the farm and began to cultivate its flora. For not her talent and crops of flowers, Bozhena would perhaps be just another village peasant. But with some of the most beautiful flowers in Kiev, Bozhena is often tasked with supplying flowers and crafts to members of nobility and royalty. This small fame has brought her a small fortune, elevating the wealth of her village and drawing attention from many members of nobility from across the lands.
Plot Idea(s): There are many options for pairings, since a lot of different kinds of people would be drawn to her business. Additionally, we could also have her deliver flowers, which would place her on the road where she can meet virtually any character.
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The Rus' Runaway
Name: Zorica (nick name: Zora)
Name Meaning: Dawn, aurora
Age: 18-25
Ethnicity: Russian or Serbian
Religion: Christianity
Abilities: Undetermined
History of Russia: [Wikipedia] Scandinavian Norsemen known as
Varangians in the East, began to venture along the waterways from the eastern Baltic to the Black and Caspian Seas in the mid-9th century. According to the earliest Russian chronicle, a Varangian named
Rurik was elected ruler, which had been previously dominated by the Khazars, and formed Kievan Rus' (until the 13th century). Oleg, Rurik's son Igor and Igor's son Sviatoslav subsequently subdued all local East Slavic tribes to Kievan rule, destroyed the
Khazar khaganate and launched several military expeditions to Byzantium and Persia.
By the end of the 10th century, the minority Norse military aristocracy had merged with the native Slavic population, which also absorbed Greek Christian influences. The state adopted Christianity from the Byzantine Empire in 988, beginning the synthesis of Byzantine and Slavic cultures that defined Orthodox Slavic culture for the next millennium.
Kievan Rus' ultimately disintegrated as a state due to the
Mongol invasions in 1237–1240 along with the resulting deaths of significant number of population. After the 13th century, Moscow became a political and cultural center. Moscow has become a center for the unification of Russian lands. By the end of the 15th century, Moscow united the northeastern and northwestern Russian principalities, in 1480 finally overthrew the Mongol yoke. The territories of the
Grand Duchy of Moscow became the
Tsardom of Russia in 1547.
BIO: Zorica is a young woman of nobility (or royalty) was betrothed to a powerful, but wicked ruler. Taking her hand by threatening her family, Zorica was forced to accept and marry him. Despite submitting to him, her husband's abuse and cruelty only grew with every passing day. One by one, all of her family was killed under suspicious circumstances, and soon, Zorica found herself alone, without support, and at the mercy of an evil man. One fateful day, Zorica sees an opportunity to runaway...
and takes it.
Plot Idea(s): I left the husband/ruler vague, as it will change depending on when we set the story. Regardless of who he is, I would like Zorica to escape/runaway, to which a completely manhunt to retrieve her would ensue. I'm thinking her husband is extremely possessive and
obsessed with Zorica, so we wants her returned to him
alive.
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The Bosnian Beauty
Name: Ludmila
Name Meaning: Favour of the people
Age: 17-24
Ethnicity: Bosnian
Religion: Catholicism
Abilities: Excellent
cook, caretaker, and farmer
History of Bosnia: [Wikipedia] The
Kingdom of Bosnia was a medieval kingdom that lasted from 1377 to 1463 and evolved out of the
Banate of Bosnia (1154–1377). Although Hungarian kings viewed Bosnia as under their sovereignty during this time, Bosnian rulers mostly acted independently in conducting diplomacy, governing the judicial system, granting towns and estates, minting coins, exploiting natural resources, and making trading agreements with other countries and independent cities.
BIO: Ludmila is one of 11 children from a large but mostly poor family. Despite their apparent poverty, Ludmila and her family got by with relative ease due to the trading nature of their village. As local farmers, Ludmila's and her extended family lived mostly close-by, and traded amongst each other and other local families for goods, such as food, clothing, and spices. Although kings claimed sovereignty to Bosnian lands time and time again, Ludmila's village remained largely unscathed or bothered by such political interactions.
Plot Idea(s): Ludmila is a simple character living a simply life, until... *insert drama here*. Send me your ideas!
