Rashemi

The Rashemi are a human ethnic group native to Rashemen.

History
The Rashemi are descendants of the nomadic tribes that were employed as mercenaries by Mulhorand and helped win the Orcgate Wars of -1075 DR to -1069 DR. They then forged the empire of Raumathar, which rivaled the Mulhorand and Unther empires in its day. In the centuries after, they fought many battles against the Narfell empire over the contested Rashemi tribal lands on the Priador plateau. Finally in -150 DR, the empires suffered a mutual defeat in a massive fiery clash involving an avatar of Kossuth and an army of fiends led by the demon lord Eltab. The armies of the Mulhorand empire quickly swept in and reoccupied the Priador plateau, and their descendants continue to subjugate the Rashemi of Thay today. For a time, Eltab ruled the lands of Rashemen, but the Witches of Rashemen aligned with the native Rashemi and the warrior Yvengi in -75 DR and forced the demon to flee. In the centuries since, Thay has attempted to take Rashemen from the Rashemi many times, but have always been repelled. Today, the Rashemi are the most numerous human ethnic group on the Priador plateau of Thay and in Rashemen. Minority groups of them can be found throughout the surrounding regions as well.

Physical appearance
Most are short (about 5 1/2 feet tall on average) and muscular, with a hardy physique. They commonly have dusky skin, dark eyes, and thick black hair. Men are especially hairy and may maintain a thick dark beard; baldness is virtually unknown in their culture. Women often wear their hair long and elaborately plaited.

Culture
Rashemi think of themselves as inhabitants of a harsh and beautiful land ruled by spirits and rarely display the arrogance of other human ethnic groups. Children are expected to earn their place in the world, rather than having it handed to them, and they view life as a series of challenges to face and defeat. They place a high value on individual accomplishment and strength, physical in Rashemen and magical in Thay. Elders are respected for their wisdom and mental strength. Rogues are very uncommon as little value is placed in the accumulation of wealth. Most young adult Rashemi travel extensively for a year as part of a coming-of-age ritual called dajemma, resulting in a population with considerable worldly knowledge. Formal schooling is not emphasized because of the strong warrior culture in Rashemen and the subjugation of the lower classes in Thay. However, many Rashemi are still literate.

Religion
The Rashemi commonly pray to "the Three" - Chauntea, Mielikki, and the Hidden One, Mystra. They also venerate many local spirits, unknown elsewhere in Faerûn. Other Rashemi may pray to the Mulhorandi pantheon or the four elemental deities, particularly Kossuth.