This post belongs to the #AtoZchallenge 2024, where I attempt to turn a word a day into something that can be used in Role Playing Games.
The Ghawazi is a female dancer that dances traditional rural Egyptian dances in public, these dances later evolved into modern belly-dancing. They were often not danced alone, but accompanied by narration and music. Strangely enough, the word originally meant conqueror, because the dancers conquered the audiences hearts. Originally, they were not considered erotic dancers, but that changed during the 19th century.
Funny enough, belly-dancing seems to be an enormously healthly kind of sport, which improves dexterity and strength, while also relaxing the spine.
How to integrate it into your typical fantasy RPG?
- They could be a take on the amazon society: a feared female warrior society, known for conquering wherever they please, but who in civilian life favour belly-dancing.
- Or, of course, the warrior looks for a trainer who has him learn belly-dancing.
- The Ghawazi could be a school of magicians specialized in charm spells.
I like this!
Here would be my take using some of the ideas above (and feel free to run with this as you like) the Ghawazi are also known a „Sword Dancers“ a sect of female martial artists who train in dance like movements. They look graceful, until you put a sword in their hands and the same movements are now deadly.
Yeah this is something I could work with.
—
Tim Brannan
The Other Side: 2024 A to Z of Dungeons & Dragons.
Oh, sword dancers are definitely a good idea too – there is a sport called sabre dancing, after all. Thanks for sharing the idea!