Considering the beautifully graceful manner in which Genifari are trained to move (especially in battle), it comes as a surprise to some that they have no tradition of dance. When asked, they will usually say that rhythmic movement of the body is silly and pointless, except when it serves a martial or magical purpose. Still, there have been a few Genifari expatriates who put their native training to good use as dancers in other lands; the most famous of these was Sheyha, the legendary "Tigress of Westgate" who, three centuries ago, so spellbound the old King of Westgate with her dancing that she became the virtual ruler of that city.

The following is an approximate profile of how the Ixinian workforce is allocated. The total equals more than 100% because there is often overlap in occupations.

Culture and Traditions

As may be readily imagined, the Genifari have a great many customs and traditions that are considered unusual or unique. Despite the location of Ixinos practically in the very heart of Faerun, the Genifari have been an isolated, xenophobic, and often hostile culture that is viewed by outsiders as bizarre at best, dangerous at worst.

Childbearing:

It is entirely the decision of each Genifari woman whether she wishes to have children or not; only about half of them choose to do so. Clan chieftains are usually expected to bear a daughter to carry on the succession, but there is no law requiring this, and some of them choose not to.

The spiritual and magical aspects of childbearing, including the concept of "birth-seeing", are dealt with in the section on The Pre-Eminence of Women.

When a Genifar wishes to conceive a child, she may ask the chieftain of another clan (never, by law, her own clan) for the loan of one of that clan's males for the purpose of conception. Usually the woman will have a particular male in mind, chosen after months of careful observation, interaction and investigation. The chieftain who receives the request will then set a price for the loan of the desired male. Men who are attractive or who have a history of fathering quality girl-children (as certified by the Birth-Seers) command higher prices. The price may range from 50 g.p. or its equivalent, to well over 1,000 g.p. for the most in-demand males. When the price has been agreed upon, the Birth-Seer will examine the prospective mother and set an optimal time for conception. After the mating has occurred, the male will be sent home with the agreed-upon price to give to his chieftain, as well as a small gift for himself. He will never have any role in raising the child he fathers, nor will he have any further intimate contact with the mother unless she chooses to initiate a romantic relationship of some level.

Most non-wealthy Genifari (and about half of the wealthy ones) will choose that method of finding a male to mate with. There is a second option that is especially popular among clan chieftains and other Genifari of significant wealth and power; that of seeking a mate from outside of Ixinos. This option usually involves commissioning a Birth-Seer to either go and approach a particular man the woman has in mind, or else to simply initiate a search for any man whom the Birth-Seer judges to be a good match, genetically. If the prospective father is willing, a price will be agreed upon (often a quite high one) and it will be arranged for the man to visit Ixinos (very temporarily!) to complete the transaction. The Birth-Seer charges a fee for her services in finding a foreign mate for a Genifar, and if this requires significant travel, trouble, or any risk, the fee can be high. Although finding a foreign mate is preferred, due to the fact that it minimizes inbreeding and introduces new genes to the pool, it is beyond the financial means of most Genifari.

One attractive feature about being a member of the She-Wolves, or an adventurer, is the fact that outside males can be readily found with no trouble or expense at all. The She-Wolves always have one or two Birth-Seers traveling with them for just such situations. Lone adventurers or members of small adventuring bands are usually on their own, however, and may wind up conceiving with no help from a Birth-Seer at all (thus having an even chance of a male or female child). Such "reckless mothering" is not actually prohibited, but it is frowned upon as irresponsible.

All Birth-Seers are priestesses of Selûne (in ancient days, the clergy of Sharo could be Birth-Seers as well). The priestesses of Lathea, however, take care of the actual childbirth. All Genifari are instructed in the basics of midwifery, in case they are called upon in an emergency situation, but it is far preferable to have a priestess of Lathea on hand when the time comes. These priestesses have spells and potions which can calm the pain of labor and deal with problem pregnancies. Among other things, they know a certain very gentle form of teleportation magic which can safely remove a baby from its mother's womb when a Caesarian section or episiotomy would otherwise be required. Normally, attempting to deliver a baby by teleport will kill the child at least half the time; however, the Lathean clergywomen can do it with a near 100% survival rate. This magic is used only when absolutely necessary, however.

Weather and circumstances permitting, Genifari women deliver their babies outdoors in the open air. Female babies born by the light of a full moon are said to be specially blessed by Selûne (and, when they grow up, are automatically accepted into that goddess' priesthood if they wish it and meet the ability score and alignment requirements).

Males are not allowed to be present when a Genifar is giving birth. An ancient law still on the books (of Drowish origin) states that any man who witnesses a woman giving birth should be blinded on the spot. This law is no longer enforced, but is left on the books as a way of making a point.

It is a capital offense on Ixinos for anyone, male or female, to strike or otherwise attack a baby (under 1 year old), a pregnant woman, or a nursing mother. This law is very much enforced.

Sexuality:

It is no secret that sexual and romantic relationships between women are common on Ixinos. However, lesbianism is not a universal characteristic of all Genifari, as is commonly assumed (or fantasized) by outsiders. As a general rule, about one-third of all Genifari are exclusively heterosexual, one-third are bisexual, and one-third seek out only other women as partners.

Sexual orientation does not have a dramatic effect on whether a given Genifar will wish to mate with a man for purposes of bearing a child. About 60% of heterosexual Genifari seek to do so, compared to 50% of bisexuals and 40% of lesbians.

Sexual relations between male and female Ixinians may only take place in the context of a sanctioned "pairing", with the appropriate fee being paid. If an attempt is made to circumvent this for any reason (financial reasons, lust, or even love), the clan chieftain of the offending male can demand appropriate payment from the chieftain of the woman's clan. The participating man and woman will be subjected to public humiliation, loss of status, and possible punishment at the hands of their chieftains.

There are no legal or social restrictions on assignations between consenting adult Ixinians of the same gender. A Genifar who has been heart-fasted is expected to remain monogamous with her heart-sister, but this is a social restriction and not a legal one.

Genifari are considered to come "of age" sexually at the time of their first menstruation. They may not mate with a male, however, until they have concluded their mandatory military training (usually around the age of 17 or 18). Male Ixinians are considered ready to contribute to the gene pool at age 16, but if the male or his chieftain wishes, this does not become mandatory until the age of 18.

Note that the custom of kissing, practiced so casually by outlanders, is seen by Genifari as an exclusively erotic gesture. Kisses -- even on the cheeks or hands -- are exchanged only by lovers and only in private. Public kissing is considered obscene and is socially forbidden. Young Genifari venturing out Ixinos for the first time, as adventurers or as members of the She-Wolves, are often shocked by what they consider the openly pornographic spectacle of public kissing. Ignorant outlander males who attempt to playfully "steal a kiss" from a Genifar, or even kiss her hand as an intended display of gallantry, have been known to pay for the mistake with their lives.

A Genifar greets a relative, platonic friend, or lover (in public) by pressing the palm of her hand against the palm of the other person's hand. They may clasp fingers or hold hands as a token of deep friendship or love.

Marriage:

Marriage, as that concept is understood elsewhere in the Realms, does not exist on Ixinos. Men are in too short supply for any one woman -- no matter how high her status -- to claim exclusive rights to one. In earlier times, the Queen usually had an exclusive harem of 4-6 men, but that custom is no longer practiced today.

In some cases, where love is known to exist between a Genifar and a male Ixinian, if the woman is well-regarded and of high status, the other Genifari may, out of respect, observe an unofficial "hands-off" policy toward that woman's chosen mate. However, this cannot be enforced by law.

Among the females, there is a tradition known as "heart-fasting" by which the two women agree to share their lives on a permanent basis. The ceremony may be performed by any priestess on the island, usually upon the night of a new moon. This union is permanent, regardless of any circumstances. Even after one of the "heart-sisters" dies, the survivor may not take another.

Heart-sisters share the same dwelling, and each woman is considered to have full membership in her sister's clan, as well as her own. Should one or both sisters choose to bear children, both share in the upbringing. They are considered to comprise a single household, and serve as each other's next of kin for purposes of inheritance and right of vengeance, should one die by violence or treachery.

Some 30% of all adult Genifari women eventually become heartfasted. Any women who have officially reached adulthood can become heart-sisters, but they are required to first undergo counseling by a priestess of either Lathea or Suna to ensure that they are ready for such a commitment. Most heartfastings occur between the ages of 20 and 30. Women from the same clan may and often do become heart-sisters, but they may not be more closely related than first cousins.

Naming:

The naming of a newborn female child is an important thing to the Genifari. When one is born, a priestess of Lathea (preferably the one who delivered the child) will spend the next sunrise or sunset in deep meditation. When she emerges, she will have in mind a name for the child provided to her by Lathea, or by the agents of that deity. The name will be anywhere from one to four syllables in length, and will have no precise meaning that mortals can understand; Genifari names are said to be in the language of the gods themselves, and to constitute the mystic formula that connects a woman's anima (soul) to the source of life. A name, once given, can never be changed, although aliases and nicknames may be used.

Female personal names always end with a vowel. The exact vowel used is chosen by the mother to indicate a special characteristic she wishes her daughter to have (this is known as the "Gift of Lathea"). Girls whose names end in "a" are heart-daughters (gifted with great kindness, beauty and charisma); those ending with an "e" (always voiced; there is no silent "e" in the Genifari language) are head-daughters (great intelligence or wisdom); those ending in "i" are hand-daughters (great speed and dexterity), and those ending in "o" are arm-daughters (strength and bravery). The letter "u" is not used and is considered unlucky, even evil. It is a deadly insult to address any Genifar substituting a "u" for the actual terminal vowel of her name.

Genifari with long names often are addressed by shortened nicknames, usually consisting of the first syllable of her name with the same terminal vowel as the full name. For example, a woman named Torithea would be nicknamed "Tora", never "Tori".

Players who are creating Genifari characters may give their characters any name they choose, but should select a terminal vowel based on the character's ability scores. If the player selects "Telar" as the character's base name, her final name would be "Telara" if Charisma is her highest attribute score; "Telaro" if either Strength or Constitution is highest; "Teláre" if Intelligence or Wisdom is highest; and "Telari" if Dexterity is highest. This is not an absolute rule, but the character should at least have a reasonably high score in the applicable attribute.

Appearance and Dress

For such an insular society, the people of Ixinos are remarkably diverse in appearance. Almost all body types, complexions and colorations can be found among the population.

The Ixinians are almost exclusively human. There are a tiny number of half-elves whose mothers took elven mates, and there are a handful of other demihuman females who adventured with Genifari companions and were later allowed to retire to the island as citizens.

The original settlers of Ixinos, who arrived some 1,500 years ago with the arch-sorceress Kuzello, were Raumari people, inhabiting the land then known as Raumathar (modern-day Thay, southern Thesk, and southern Rashemen). The Raumari were themselves quite diverse in appearance (they are the ancestors of most of the current inhabitants of Impiltur, Damara, the Vast, and parts of the Moonsea region). Of Kuzello's original party, however, the majority (60 in all) were her personal bodyguards, who were uniformly tall, muscular, and dark-haired, as per Kuzello's preferences. The rest of the group -- Kuzello's apprentices and her personal servants -- represented a wider spectrum of appearances. The genetic influence of the bodyguards is still quite strongly evident in today's Genifari, who tend to be taller and stronger than women from other parts of Faerûn.

For the first few centuries, the Genifari forcibly mated with unlucky sailors, pirates, and fisher-folk who ventured into the Vilhon Reach area. The seafarers tended to be mostly Chessentan, Untheri, or Raumari. The fisher-folk were almost all mahogany-skinned Turms (relatives of the Turami people of Mulhorand, and eventually the founders of Turmish).

As the centuries passed, Cormyreans and Dalesmen began to influence the Genifari's genetic makeup, and blonde and red hair became more common among them, as did fairer skin.

Genifari are taller and stronger than most women; they tend to be built more for speed, agility and endurance than for pure muscle. Use the following formula to randomly determine the height and weight of a Genifar character:

Height: 60 inches + 4d6 inches

Weight: 150 + 5d20 ÷ 100 x height in inches = weight in pounds

Ixinos is quite hot and humid for most of the year, although the sea breezes usually keep it from becoming too oppressive. The Ixinians' day-to-day clothing and their armor reflect the need to remain cool.

For everyday wear, Ixinians of both genders favor simple, belted, toga-like tunics. These are usually light-colored (white, yellow, sky-blue, emerald green, or pink) so as to reflect the sunlight away. Depending on personal preference and the need for ease of movement, these tunics may be anything from very short (upper thighs) to very long (ankle length). Undergarments are worn above (if needed) and below. The belts are usually either chain-link metal (for those who can afford it) or woven leather; it is to them that the Genifari tie their plumage. Either sandals or boots, as appropriate, are worn on the feet.

On formal occasions, wealthy or important Genifari wear elaborate, albeit light, gowns.

Those who work on fishing boats wear loose blouses and tight leather breeches, in order to maximize safety and minimize sunburn.

Hair, if it is straight, is usually worn either bobbed short or in a braid or ponytail.

Genifari wear jewelry in moderation. Necklaces, rings, bracelets, and ankle bracelets are fairly common, but earrings are just now beginning to come into favor. They were unknown on Ixinos until certain adventurers and members of the She-Wolves picked up the habit of wearing them during off-island journeys. The more traditional-minded Genifari still ridicule earrings as silly-looking, or even dangerous combat liabilities if they include hoops or dangling baubles.

Another reason for the prejudice against earrings (or any type of body piercing) has to do with an old superstition which holds that cutting into or puncturing the skin might permit a woman's anima to escape. This is still a part of Genifari culture, more through habit than actual belief. Most Genifari reflexively utter Selune's name when someone cuts herself, in much the same way people say "God bless you" when someone sneezes. The Ixinians view tattoos with great distaste.

The Ixinians value cleanliness, and bathe daily when possible. They never wear perfumes or scents. Most of them -- especially warriors -- shave their legs for the sake of comfort.

Ixinians have roughly the same standards of modesty in dress as people in most parts of Faerun. It is interesting, and somewhat important, to note that Genifari consider their abdomens to be the most private parts of their anatomy. It is the seat of childbearing, and the place where the woman creates a new anima when she carries a girl-child. It is considered indecent in the extreme for a woman to appear in public with her belly exposed. This is another thing that tends to shock Genifari who venture off of the island for the first time, since many women in this warm climate wear halters or cropped blouses (except in Turmish, where people dress more modestly). A Genifar who is intruded upon while undressed will reflexively attempt to cover her stomach first.

Character Classes

This section examines the place of the various character classes in the society of Ixinos.

ADEPT. Because arcane and divine spellcasting instruction is readily available on Ixinos to those with the gift, there are no adepts in this society.

ARISTOCRAT. The Genifari have an aristocracy of a sort -- clan chieftains and their close relatives have greater status than others, and anyone can attain "nobility" through heroic and admirable actions. Status is not, however, accepted as an excuse for neglecting one's duty to the society; even the most privileged Genifar at least pursues advancement as a warrior, if not in one of the PC classes. The aristocrat class is unknown on Ixinos.

BARBARIAN. Despite its isolationism, Ixinos is very much a civilized culture, and always has been. Barbarians do not exist among the Genifari.

BARD. Because bards require fairly extensive knowledge of the "wide world", they are less common on Ixinos than elsewhere in the Realms. They can be found, however, among the more adventurous and far-wandering Genifari. Perhaps two dozen bards call Ixinos home. The most famous is Ricara Alsani.

CLERIC. Clerics are plentiful on the island, tending to the congregations of Selûne, Lathea, Tormo, and four less prominent goddesses. See the section on Religion for more information.

COMMONER. Most men on Ixinos are commoners (a few are experts). Girls who have not yet commenced their military (or arcane, or divine) training are treated as 1st level commoners. Women who are physically or mentally incapable of holding any other class are also commoners, but all able-bodied and able-minded Genifari are required to pursue a more specialized class.

DRUID. Only two druids -- Kellomy Suthale and Halina -- reside on Ixinos, and they are "naturalized" Genifari rather than natives. The absence of large wilderness areas on the island makes this class fairly obscure from the Genifari viewpoint, as well as difficult to obtain training in. Genifari characters wishing to pursue this class can inquire about the possibility of going to the Emerald Enclave for instruction.

EXPERT. Some Ixinian men achieve membership in the expert class as craftsmen or artisans (though they cannot be guildmasters). Some women advance as experts as well, though only as a multiclass.

FIGHTER. The most popular of the standard PC classes, between 12-15% of all Genifari have at least one level of fighter. The more important a Genifar is within her clan or the society as a whole, the more likely she is to be a fighter rather than a warrior. However, fighters are found at every level of the society and PC Genifari can be fighters even if they are not wealthy or high-born.

MONK. This class requires the presence of a monastic organization which does not exist on Ixinos. Those Genifari who adventure off the island can, however, join such an organization and advance as monks without compromising their place in Genifari society.

PALADIN. Paladins have only existed on Ixinos for a few centuries (since the rise of the Tormoan faith) and have never been very numerous. There are fewer than a dozen on the island; most worship Tormo, although two or three venerate Lathea. The most famous (and most powerful) paladin of Ixinos is Theia Heithalata, the present commander of the She-Wolves.

PSION. The militaristic nature of Genifari society causes psychic warrior to be a more popular calling than psion among the small sisterhood of psionically endowed Genifari. There are four or five psions on Ixinos, who tend to be looked up to as teachers by the dozen-strong contingent of psychic warriors.

PSYCHIC WARRIOR. There are approximately a dozen of these deadly fighters on Ixinos. They are a tightly knit group (along with their much-admired psion comrades) and are known to be an exuberant lot with a penchant for swashbuckling. They train as a group (though they do not always adventure together), and when they turn their collective fury upon a common enemy, there are few beings in the Realms that can withstand them. The best (and noisiest) among them is Athanoreia zu'Thyia (CG hf PW12).

RANGER. Rangers are rare among the Genifari because of the lack of wilderness areas on Ixinos. Adventurers and scouts for the She-Wolves can become rangers, often multiclassing from their original fighter classes. Also, one of the sixteen clans (the Verenta) have a proud tradition of rangers in their midst due to frequent excursions into the mysterious Long Wood.

ROGUE. Because of the society's lawful nature and small size, thieving is virtually unknown as a profession on Ixinos. Adventurers, however, can certainly become rogues; usually they multiclass from the fighter or warrior class. Genifari rogues usually use their abilities to help their party during adventures, not to amass personal gain through thievery.

SORCERER. Sorcerers are as common on Ixinos as they are elsewhere in the Realms. They are about half as numerous as wizards, and are full and equal members of the Silver Sisterhood. In past centuries there was sometimes tense rivalry between the two traditions, but nowadays they treat each other with respect and work together constructively. They note that the two great spellcasters who founded Ixinos -- Kuzello and her drow companion Aespathia -- were a wizard and a sorceress, respectively.

WARRIOR. This is by far the most common character class on Ixinos; about seven out of every ten adult Genifari possess at least one level in it.

WIZARD. The wizards of Ixinos look back upon a long and illustrious history, and form the bulk of the powerful Silver Sisterhood.

PRESTIGE CLASSES. The amazon heroine prestige class is open to all Genifari who meet its requirements, and is the prestige class that is most common in the society (though amazon heroines are by no means numerous even on Ixinos).

Following is a list of the prestige classes presented in the various D&D sourcebooks, and indications of which ones are appropriate and inappropriate for Genifari characters. Prestige classes marked with an asterisk (*) can only be gained by adventuring away from Ixinos itself; the Amazon homeland does not offer the necessary training to obtain levels in them.