Irzali

The Irzali are the original inhabitants of the Sirdabi Caliphate's eastern province of Irzal, a land long conquered but with a distinct and highly cultured tradition. In ancient days they possessed a great empire of their own, a distinction they have never forgotten despite having lived the last several hundred years under a succession of different foreign rulers.

Science, philosophy, and literature have long flourished here, and some of the greatest wines of the caliphate are produced in these lands. Irzali have an independent and sometimes rebellious streak that often makes them obnoxious to their rulers.

Appearance

Having long existed at one of the great crossroads of the world, Irzali present a varied appearance blending traits of western Ruleska with the lands to the east. Southwestern Irzali tend to have more aquiline and angular features, while those from the northeast often have rounder faces with small noses and occasionally almond-shaped eyes. Their skin is generally lightly tanned to olive or sallow while their hair is largely on the darker side, though lighter browns and even dark blond and copper are not unheard of. While their eyes also tend to be dark, they represent nearly every color from inky blue to deep violet or chocolate brown.

Dress

As members of the Sirdabi Caliphate, the typical apparel of Irzali can vary somewhat depending on which province they live in and the dominant culture there. But wherever they reside Irzali are known for having a sharp sense of style, and they have a love for fine fabrics and vibrant colors that shows up most strongly in their home province of Irzal.

Both men and women typically wear multilayered clothing, with long shirts, tunics, or dresses over the loose fitting sirwaal that gather at the ankle. Women also commonly wear skirts in place of sirwaal, with over- and underskirts layered upon one another, and side slits or hems of varying lengths to display the different layers. Vests are common as well, whether sturdy tooled leather or luxurious silks and brocades. Both sexes often wear wide sashes as belts. Women's headgear typically consists of colorful headscarves, short or long, and often tied at the back of the head. Men wear turbans, plain or patterned, or the much beloved kolah namadi, a rounded and brimless hat of felt. Wherever possible, Irzali prefer patterned fabric or eye-catching combinations of colors.