As explained in the book,
Nomads always kept their traditional beliefs alive, despite their
conversion to foreign religions. But what may not be clear, is how strong
and long lasting the remnants of the old beliefs could have been, mixed with the
new Religion into a kind of singular syncretism. This offers opportunities
for interesting role-playing.
Alexis Levshkin, a Russian
traveler in the 19th Century, wrote a full report on the Kazaks, plenty of
prejudices for our modern 21st century eyes, but also a great
source of information about the life of the Nomads at this time, which was
certainly not much different as centuries before. The author wrote a chapter
about the faith and religion of these tribes which have converted to Islam
centuries ago: it confirms how these conversions have been superficial and how
the traditional beliefs, including Tengriism, resisted in a form or another.
