Narn - Religion and Society

Religion and Society

Most Narn subscribe to very strict personal codes of honor, though many other races in the past have tended to see the Narn as greedy, duplicitous, double-dealing and treacherous. Part of this view may stem from the influence of the Centauri and their hostility toward the Narn, but much of it stems from Narn behavior during the construction of their empire between the periods of the end of the first Centauri occupation and the Narn-Centauri War.

Narn society (both before and after their century of enslavement by the Centauri) is strictly hierarchical and based on a class system. Physical imperfections and impairments are customarily not recognized, which means any equipment to compensate for them, such as corrective lenses for visual impairment, have to come from other species' societies.

The Kha'Ri consists of 8 circles, with the royal families being First, spiritual leaders Second, government officials Third, and trainees Eighth. The ambassador to Babylon 5, G'Kar, was a member of the third circle. The Kha'Ri was based in the city of G'Khamazad on Narn. The rest of the people are divided into Skilled Workers, Plebeians, or the Lost (unemployed, criminals, and the mentally ill). Upward movement between classes is difficult for the majority. Narn cities are built in roughly concentric districts which reflect the social hierarchy.

The Narn are a deeply religious and socially conservative people. Narn have several religions and some Narn are not religious at all, but those that do subscribe to a faith take it very seriously. The holy Book of G'Quan is so revered that new copies must be hand written and identical in form to existing copies, including any imperfections in the pages, and rituals must be followed correctly or not done at all, a structure that Londo, the Centauri ambassador, takes advantage of in the Season 1 episode By Any Means Necessary. It is also considered sacrilegious to translate the Book into another language while thumping it is also frowned upon.

The Narn, like most races, also have winged beings of light in their myths (courtesy of Vorlon manipulation). These beings are similar to the angels of various human religions.

While serving an aggravated assault sentence on Babylon 5, G'Kar wrote down his thoughts and ideas on paper. During his service as Londo Mollari's bodyguard on Centauri Prime some years later, several loyal Narn combined his writings into the Book of G'Kar, which started, if not a new religion, then definitely a powerful cult. The Book of G'Kar was the first published Narn work to outsell the Book of G'Quan and is also copied by hand with all imperfections included (e.g. a coffee stain left by Garibaldi). Hundreds of Narn flocked to Babylon 5 to seek G'Kar's guidance, forcing him to unwillingly assume the persona of a religious icon.

A Shon'Kar is a Narn blood oath. The oath is sworn by a Narn against someone who wronged them or their family. An individual Narn is expected to not rest until the target of the Shon'Kar is dead. If the individual Narn fails, the family continues the Shon'Kar until the target is killed.

Narn never draw weapons unless they mean to use them. If a K'tok, a Narn sword, is drawn, then blood must be spilled before it may be sheathed (even if that blood is one's own).