Pohâni
The Pohâni (Shagâni for Scholars), also known as the Scholars of Zajâna, are a learned caste of chroniclers, geographers, natural philosophers, and historians dedicated to the systematic study of Mûr Ghala. Their work encompasses the lands, peoples, climates, fauna, and recorded history of the region, as well as the preservation of oral traditions and ancient records that might otherwise be lost to time.
The Pohâni are based primarily in the city of Zajâna, whose prominence as a center of learning has earned it the widespread epithet "City of Scholars". Within Zajâna, the Pohâni maintain libraries, scriptoria, observatories, and lecture halls where knowledge is collected, copied, debated, and taught. Many of the oldest surviving maps, travel accounts, and historical annals of Mûr Ghala are attributed to Pohâni authors.
Membership among the Pohâni is earned through long study rather than birth. Apprentices may begin as copyists or attendants, gradually advancing through instruction in languages, record-keeping, geography, and historical method. Senior scholars often specialize in particular regions or disciplines, such as river systems, desert climates, dynastic histories, or the customs of distant peoples. While the Pohâni are not a political body, their records and counsel are frequently sought by rulers, merchants, and explorers, and the ruling Doorwards are chosen from their number.
Although centered in Zajâna, the influence of the Pohâni extends far beyond the city itself. Scholars are known to travel widely throughout Mûr Ghala, accompanying caravans or expeditions to observe and document lands firsthand. Their emphasis on careful observation and preservation of knowledge has made them one of the most enduring and respected intellectual institutions in the region.
