Qunari Beliefs

When the Qunari first came to Thedas they sought not only to conquer new lands, but to spread enlightenment as well. Centuries have passed since their arrival and a truce long since been made with all but Tevinter, but the Qunari have never abandoned their intent to bring their philosophy to all. The Qunari regard their present situation as a period of extended investigation into their potential future foes and converts. Trade gives them a chance to closely study their adversaries, the better to bring about their eventual illumination when conflict resumes.

## The Qun:

The Qun is the philosophy that guides the Qunari. It is the most important force in their culture, the lens through which they view life itself. It is impossible to overstate its importance; even the name “Qunari” literally means “People of the Qun.” Interestingly, from the Qunari point of view, anyone who accepts the Qun becomes “Qunari.” Even though others in Thedas may only regard the giant bronze-skinned folk of the north as Qunari, the People of the Qun apply that label differently. (Presumably, those of the bronze-skinned race once had a distinct name for their racial people, as opposed to those who cleave to Qunari beliefs whatever their race, but no one left living in Thedas remembers it today.) “Qun” refers to both the writings of the Ashkaari Koslun and the philosophy based on it. (“Ashkaari” means “One who seeks,” and is the title given to all Qunari philosophers, scientists, and holy persons.) Koslun wrote the Qun so long ago that very little is remembered of him. He may not have even been of the race that others of Thedas call Qunari, but contemporary Qunari regard this as immaterial. What he was is not as important as what he wrote. Some Chantry scholars translate “Qun” as “the Way,” but the Qunari say that it simultaneously encompasses “not the Way.” Practically speaking, the Qun defines the role of everyone and everything in Qunari society, all activities of the religious and secular spheres. Qunari devote their lives to their duty as set down in the Qun, which demands that each individual excel in the role for which they are best equipped. Qunari know which roles they are best equipped for because they are raised communally by the Tamassrans, an order of priestess-teachers who monitor and evaluate their charges, and decide which roles they must undertake. The Qunari are fanatically devoted to maintaining the Qun’s dictates in their society. The Ben-Hassrath are those charged with enforcing Qunari religious law, and are infamously brutal with those who transgress. Qunari who disavow the Qun are exiled, becoming “Tal-Vashoth.” Qunari find the idea of invisible, omnipotent gods ridiculous. They acknowledge the existence of demons and powerful spirits, but consider their veneration inane. They tolerate the hallowing of gods, spirits, and demons in recently conquered lands because they believe that these practices will inevitably die out once these populations embrace the Qun and become Qunari.

## The Rivaini:

The dark-skinned Rivaini were converted to the Qun by force in centuries past, but because its philosophies are not at great odds with their native beliefs, both coexist in contemporary Rivain. By contrast, the Chant of Light has never been widely adopted among the Rivaini. This is largely because the Rivaini tribal religion revolves around the consultation of wisewomen, seers, and hedge mages who allow themselves to be possessed by spirits in order to prophesy and work magic, a mélange of practices that are all anathema to the Chantry. Little else is known about this remote group’s religious practices in the central nations of Thedas.