The Midbari Desert
Statistics
Population: 15 million total
Kingdom-7 million
Emirate-4 million
Hajiri-2.5 million
Ibexi-1 million
Condors-500 thousand
Daggers-Thousands of Members
Faction: Yuwanist
Capital: Emirate-Dawakah
Daggers-al-Ghamuz
Kingdom-Aihtifakhur
Condors-Migratory
Ibexi-No Centarlized Capital
Hajiri-Itzk'ehk
Government Type: Regional Confederation
Kingdom-Elective Monarchy voted upon by semi-hereditary plutocratic aristocracy
Emirate-Tribal Feudalism led by hereditary Emir
Daggers-Assassin Order with leader appointed by Rey'alam
Ibexi-Isolationist disunified tribes
Hajiri-Matriarchial Oligarchy
Condors-Allied migratory bands
Government Descriptions:
The Midbari Desert is a region defined by a loose confederation of allied states, with the greatest cooperation existing in military and economics. The most powerful of these states is the Midbari Kingdom, which exists around the eastern rivers of the desert. The territories of the Kingdom are divided into numerous emirates, each governed by an Emir who decides upon their successor, which is often based hereditarily but is not necessarily so. Emirs may also decide to not have lifetime appointments and to appoint successors in a similar fashion as the Malik, but most do not do so. Those who do do so because anyone who has been an Emir at some point in the Kingdom is given a vote for who should be the next Malik, or King. The more living Emirs a certain Emirate has, the more votes. Voting power is also given to certain influential merchants, as well as the leader of the Kingdom Dagger Base and the King of Gushawar, who is given three votes. The Malik is given complete executive control and universal control of the capital of Aihtifakhur for a decade, after which they return to their previous position. The Midbari Kingdom wished for all humans in the desert to be unified under one government. The Emirate of Nur'alam disagreed.
The Emirate of Nur'alam has been under the control of the Sharaqim dynasty since its creation. The Sharaqi Emir has nearly complete control of the area from his capital of Dawakah. Governance, however, outside of major cities still lies in the hands of the various sheiks and tribal chieftains of the desert, the power of whom is greatly respected by the Emirate, who contrarily completely disregards the power of the Midbari kingdom.
The Daggers are an order of assassins who operate from their mountain bases, the head of which is al-Ghamuz, atop the desert's largest mountain of Satir. They are led by a Mentor appointed by Rey'alam herself, though each fortress also has its own leader who oversees that branch of Daggers, still respecting the Mentor's leadership. The Mentor of the Daggers also oversees the various Dagger Temples located around the world.
The Condors are large, sentient birds who have organized and coordinated their migratory flight patterns. Though disorganized, high levels of communication still exist between the various flocks.
The Ibexi lands are isolationist, and also not unified, with each Ibexi tribe completely autonomous. That said, the Ibexi still agree to patrol their borders if a tribe is close to them, and there isn't any conflict between tribes.
The Hajiri operate under a Matriarchy, led by an elder female oligarchy. A single head matriarch exists, who then appoints the matriarchs of the various regions and tunnels. After the head matriarch dies, the lower matriarchs she appointed decide upon which of them should be her successor. The matriarchs usually delegate military leadership to various male warriors and mages.
Head of State: Kingdom-Saeidam al-Dahir
Emirate-Altaram al-Sharaqim
Daggers-al-Lahash (The Whisper)
Ibexi-None, Emissary is Muh'aman
Hajiri-R'kaane
Condors-None
Currency: Quartz Coin, Kawar
Languages: Midbari spoken universally, Hajiri and Condors have their own languages. Edhelywlin Elvish and Gushawari languages are spoken by some merchants and by the Kingdom's aristocracy.
History
In the time of the last Pantheon, the god Midbar created the Midbari desert, and populated it with the Midbarites, a goat-like people of his creation, and his human followers. The sentient Condors of the region had already existed there, but in small numbers. He gave them the Midbari language to communicate with each other, and by the Midbarites was loved. When Justinian was created, he killed Midbar, and many of the human sheiks began worshipping Justinian, and took over the desert. The Midbarites, enraged by the death of their creator, waged war against the Justinian worshippers, refusing to cease their worship of a dead god. Unceasing in their devotion to Midbar, they were nearly driven to extinction. At the same time, a human resistance began to form, led by a divine champion of Yuwan named Mala al-Tafub, who utilized the desert to her advantage by controlling the sand, used to supplement her skill with a dagger, her followers, fighting in the same fashion, being known as the Daggers. She became greatly renowned as the years of her resistance went on, and she began to be known as Rey'alam, or the Queen of Sand.
289 years ago, the armies and avatars of Yuwan and Justinian clashed in the Midbari Desert, a battle where Rey'alam and her Daggers were of course participants. It was also the battle in which Rey'alam died, and ascended as a celestial servant of Yuwan. She used her newfound power to completely take her native desert as Yuwanist land, and created the ant-like Hajiri to defend the region's hostile borders. She became revered among the people of the deserts, and people began to worship her directly, often in conjuction with Yuwan, all but the Midbarites, who she allowed to only worship Midbar, so long as they would serve her militarily, and provide one great warrior she would imbue with power, known as the Emissary. They became known as the Aiba'ecksi, or Children of a Dead God, otherwise known as Ibexi. Her Daggers became an order of assassins, who act to this day as her personal hand.
Though she began overseeing the Midbari Desert, she did not rule it directly, and 200 years ago, in the eastern desert, around the rivers where the population was at its densest and Yuwan still was worshipped supremely, the Emirs of the region wished for Midbari Human unification, stripping the sheiks and chiefs of the their power and founding the Midbari Kingdom. The only Emir who disagreed with their dismantling of the traditions was Taqmua al-Sharaqim, the Emir of Dawakah, a newly founded city far in the west, out in the desert. He refused to be a part of the new Kingdom, and all the sheiks and nomads of the desert pledged their support for him. He, a worshipper of Rey'alam, also believed the name of the Midbari Desert was outdated, and named his Emirate the Emirate of Nur'alam, or the Land of Sand.
Meanwhile, in the far west, the Hajiri began to dig their subterranean dwellings. Around a century ago, the Hajiri found large gem deposits deep underground in their territories. Because they couldn't pay to start major mining operations, human prospectors began coming to their lands to invest in building mines. Over time, a system developed where the Hajiri would mine the ores, caravans from the Emirate would transport them, and they would usually be sold in the Midbari Kingdom. One family began to prosper from this far more than others; the Dahir of the Kingdom. The Dahir family became major bankers, placing members of their family in courts all around the Yuwanist world. The head of the Dahir family was given a vote for King, and they began marrying into various powerful families around the Kingdom, or influencing them in other ways, and recently, a Dahir was elected king.
Another historical event of note is that during the Ourobosian-Gushawari war, the Kingdom and the Ibexi sent an army to fight for Gushawar.
Attributes
One of the obvious attributes of the Midbari Desert is that it is disunified, something that acts as both an advantage and disadvantage. While disunity can harm coordination and development, it also allows for a greater military variety, and were any of the Midbari Polities to fall, it wouldn't spell disaster for any of the other ones. A major military advantage of the desert is the desert itself, which causes great attrition to foreign invaders. The most glaring military disadvantage is the lack of military technology. Gunpowder weapons amongst the Midbari are largely nonexistent, with the exception being the Kingdom's bombards. The Kingdom is also responsible for feeding practically the entire desert. All in all, the Midbari Desert's biggest weakness is how much power is concentrated in the Kingdom.
Magically, sacrifices derive from a few things. One of them is the Daggers; if they can, all killings the Daggers could possibly do are done through sacrifice to Rey'alam. Aside from that, in both the Emirate and the Kingdom, sacrifice is a punishment for many crimes, including murder, Justinian or Red God worship, rape, and others depending on the region. Animal sacrifice is the most common sacrifice day to day, with Kingdom farmers sacrifices at least some of their livestock to Yuwan, Condors often picking off random desert creatures to sacrifice, and other such sacrifices occurring regularly. Ibexi also perform animal sacrifice, although this is purely ceremonial, the sacrifices being directed towards a god that is now dead. Because of this, Ibexi, aside from the Emissary, can use no magic, although compensate with their size and strength.
The magic invented by Rey'alam, and the main type of magic used by the Daggers, is the control of sand. When concentrated, Sand Magic can cause massive sandstorms, but usually is small and just used for combat, with Daggers carrying a jar of sand on them during missions. Some more powerful Daggers, especially the Mentor, can also utilize illusion magic, which they use to disguise both Dagger members and bases. While sand magic being used for combat outside of the Daggers is uncommon, sand gardens for use of art and meditation are common among magic users throughout the Midbari Desert. A handful of members of the Daggers, mostly Divine Champions, can also teleport from one Dagger Base to another using a combination of Sand and Yuwanist magic.
In the Kingdom, soon after its creation, a notion arose that the Midbari Kingdom must become the "Flame of Yuwan". Many magic users began taking this literally, and fire magic is extremely common among magic users throughout the Kingdom. With the Kingdom being heavily Yuwanist, divination and Yuwanist visions are more common than anywhere else in the region, with the Dahir using these fortune tellers for investment. While illegal everywhere else, slavery is common in the Kingdom, being the backbone of labor, though slavery in the Kingdom is not quite as widespread and integral as other parts of the world.
The Condors almost universally are talented magicians, and will combine all magic applications from all regions in combat. They also will use magic to enhance their eyesight even more, or to increase their strength to carry off opponents.
The magic used by the Hajiri is far different than that used in other parts of the region. Residing in dark, humid caves, the Hajiri needed a source of light, and fire couldn't be used. Because of this, the Hajiri started using magical lights. Upon discovering a species of edible bioluminescent mushrooms, the Hajiri began farming these throughout the caves, and used them as a source of light, but their magic light was still used. Eventually, it was found that were more energy to be put into these magic lights, they were a major source of heat, and so the magic lights started to be used to heat their food, light blasting powder, and in combat. Female Hajiri mages, from which the Matriarchs are pulled, are also expert healers, while Male Hajiri mages are experts in combat, and will also use magic to increase their balance and stamina, and combine regular weapons with Hajiri light magic.
Despite the Hajiri being the source of most Midbari economic power, and protecting the region's borders from hostile neighbors, there is massive discrimination against the Hajiri in all other parts of the region, to a point where the only area where humans and Hajiri both cohabitate are along the Hajiri-Emirate border. Hajiri are perceived as repulsive and primitive by human standards, though the Emirate and and Daggers cooperate with the Hajiri militarily, while the Kingdom doesn't care for them at all.
Geography
The Kingdom's capital of Aihtifakhur is the located in the center of the river island of Aizdira. At around 400,000 people, Aihtifakhur is the largest city in the region.
To northeast of Aihtifakhur, at the tip of Aizdira, is Jamina, the largest port in the Midbari Desert and the third largest city at 50,000 people.
In the center of the desert lies the Emirate's capital of Dawakah, based around an oasis and the second largest city at around 150,000.
The Hajiri capital of Itzk'ehk isn't a city, but rather the center of a large and extensive system of tunnels. While the Emirate is largely defined by desert, there are also a number of semi-forested mountain ranges all around the area.
Racial Information
Majority Race: Humans at 73% are the ruling race of the Daggers, the Kingdom, and the Emirate. They also largely economically control the Hajiri lands. Midbari humans have dark, tan skin, darkened by the desert sun, and curly dark hair.
Minority Races: The Hajiri are the second largest racial group in the region, at 17%. They rule over the Western Hajiri Lands, and are an arthropodic, ant-like people. They burrow in tunnels underground, and are largely resistant to the desert heat. Despite their difference from the average being, Hajiri are as emotionally and intellectually advanced as humans, though are rarely treated as such.
After the Hajiri are the Ibexi at 7% of the population, and maintain complete control over the Ibexi lands throughout the region. Ibexi populations also exist in the Emirate and Kingdom, where they serve as warriors and guards. Cynics and isolationists, Ibexi are far, far stronger than humans, standing on average of 10 feet for a male and 8 feet for a female, and live longer, but use no magic.
The smallest race percentage wise in the Midbari Desert are the Condors; giant, sentient vultures with magical affinity who are also completely carnivorous. Usually migratory, Condors also are used as aerial cavalry, messengers, and lookouts, and make up 3% of the population.
Religious Information
State Religion: Yuwanism, syncretic with the worship of Rey'alam. Ibexi solely worship the dead god Midbar.
Patron Deity: Yuwan and Rey'alam
Religious Demographics: 25% worship solely Yuwan, but still respect the power and authority of Rey'alam. This population is concentrated almost entirely in the Kingdom. 40% worship Yuwan and Rey'alam equally. This is spread around the entire region, though this religious faction makes up the majority up the Hajiri, and the entirety of the Condors. 28% worship Rey'alam primarily, though with the understanding that she is less powerful than Yuwan. These are the majority of the Emirate and the entirety of the Daggers. The remaining 7% are the Ibexi, who worship Midbar solely and without exception. A number of bandits also worship the Turquoise Lord, though their numbers aren't significant, and they don't do so zealously.
Artifacts and Relics: The most famous Masterless Artifact in the Midbari Desert is the Mace of Midbar, the weapon of the now dead god Midbar. This weapon is now used as the weapon of the Emissary, and is the main source of the Emissary's magic. It imbues them with incredible strength and speed, and thick, armored skin. It also can be thrown and returned by its user, and is designed to be handled by an Ibexi.
The Dagger of Rey'alam is a bound artefact, originally the weapon used by Rey'alam as a mortal. Typically carried by the Dagger Mentor, the Dagger, aside from being a powerful weapon in melee, gives the user great magical strength, and allows them to create powerful sandstorms and illusions.
The final bound artefact of the region is the Kaqani Staff. The Kaqani tree was a large tree that had miraculously grown in the middle of the desert, and was believed to be the remnants of the forests that made up the region before the arrival of Midbar. The tree was sacred to the Condors, who saw it as the remnants of their past, and soon became a favorite pilgrimage stop among all races in the region. When the Justinians took over, they had the tree destroyed, with only one large chunk of wood being salvaged from it. When Rey'alam ascended, she fashioned it into a staff, imbuing it with great power, said to mirror the spirit of the Kaqani tree; it will always oppose the nature of whatever it's being used against. For example, if being cast at the desert itself, the staff would create a storm. If being cast at a wall, it would create an explosion. Rey'alam didn't realize how much magical energy existed in the tree, and couldn't predict the outcome of any spell. Because of this, she had the staff locked away in al-Yidam, only to be used in case of emergency. The Hajiri claim that they should be able to use it, their mages being masters with staffs, and believing the Kaqani staff would help them greatly in defending the borders. The Condors also wish to use it, or at least be able to keep it, the staff being the last remnants of their homeland, and Condors being the most able magic users in the region.
Holy Site: Ayuuf is a village located in the heart of what is now the Emirate. Right next to it was the location of the Battle of Ayuuf, where Rey'alam and a small force of Daggers destroyed a massive Midbari Justinian army, who had been on its way to fight the Yuwanists in the East. This battle was a major turning point in the future alignment of the Midbari Desert, and, by some perspectives, in the Justinian-Yuwan war as a whole, since it allowed Yuwanist forces to enter the region. It was after this defeat that the al-Jadim family, who had led the Justinian forces, departed for Archonnen, and became known as Amantus.
Notable Magic Institutions: The Daggers themselves are a magical institution, with all its members being at least somewhat proficient in Sand Magic. The Dagger Temples also are home to a much more peaceful variety of Sand Magic. These temples, in cities and towns all around the Yuwanist world, preach the tranquil side of Dagger philosophy, and offer courses in meditation and various aerobic exercises.
The Kingdom is also home to the Dahir Alchemical Academy. This prestigious alchemical school was founded fairly recently, owned and founded by the Dahir family, offering scholarships to bright young human students all over the region. Though some see this as altruism, it's more so the Dahir family's investments are always at the cutting edge of technology. It is currently headed by Musbara al-Dahir, Jamal al-Dahir's brother who abdicated his right to head the family so that he could focus on science and the arts.
The Condors, though without and official magical institute, also are constantly studying magic and various ways it could be manipulated. The Hajiri do the same with light magic.
Religious Interpretations/Culture: With Rey'alam being far more admired and worshipped than most Yuwanist Celestial Servants, Midbari religious culture is very unique. There are some, especially among the Daggers, who view Rey'alam as greater than Yuwan, and should be an actual god. Others, though still believing that Yuwan is the rightful head of the Pantheon, still believe that Rey'alam should become a part of it, rather than remain a celestial servant. Many in the Kingdom, especially among the wealthy, believe that, while Rey'alam is respectable, is not someone who should be worshipped, and instead should simply remain a tool of Yuwan. Among the Condors, there exists some significant discontent with the state of existence in general, believing that the problems of the world, such as the destruction of the pre-Midbari forest, is primarily caused by the gods. Because of this, a much higher percentage of Condors are Misotheist than practically any other race, though they will still worship gods simply for the magic.
Hajiri tend to worship Yuwan and Rey'alam equally, though there are some who worship Rey'alam more. Because they were created by Rey'alam through sand, sculpting and glassmaking are considered religious pursuits by the Hajiri, and Hajiri glassware would be highly valuable if people weren't racist.
In the village of Ayuuf, the Battle Day festival is a major event that brings in thousands of pilgrims every year. Ritual bathing in the Ayuuf oasis and the sacrificing of various animals to Rey'alam define many of the festivities, as well as the usual music and dancing. Among the Condors, pilgrimages to the former site of the Kaqani tree still occur every year, with practically every condor making the pilgrimage at some point that year. They are meant to bring a twig or seed with them, hoping that the tree somehow finds a way to become whole again. The Ibexi worship of Midbar is incredibly complicated and intricate, the traditions of which have been passed down orally though the generations. A small, small number of Ibexi wish for their people to accept the new gods, but will hardly ever say anything, knowing they would face expulsion. Sacrifices to Rey'alam are done through slitting the sacrifice's throat and allowing the blood to seep into a sand altar.
Military Information
Total Military Size: 230,000 Total
Daggers-5,000
Hajiri-50,000
Emirate-75,000
Kingdom-100,000
Listed Heroes: (bolded are most powerful)
Ibexi
Muh'aman
Condors
Blackfeather
Hajiri
K'naan
Emirate
Afus al-Sharaqi
Eadiina al-Harbil
Shawdin al-Dhaer
Nafir al-Haris
Kingdom
Qawia al-Dahir
Malghat al-Risa
Ghazish al-Mameluke
Narbira al-Taqim
Daggers
al-Lahash (The Whisper)
al-Ram (The Hand)
al-Falanhl (The Clever)
al-Qasiun (The Vengeance)
Military Doctrine:
Hajiri
The Hajiri rely on stealth and hit and run tactics, as well as their knowledge of the desert, in battle, due to the lack of professionalism amongst Hajiri warriors. In combat, Hajiri rely on their speed and skill rather than strength, wearing hardly any armor, and being born with a natural exoskeleton. In combat, Hajiri warriors carry long, double sided spears and scythes, as well as clubs and knives, which they can carry simultaneously with the polearms due to an extra pair of limbs. Hajiri men participate in the army through a cyclical conscription, excepting the male Hajiri mages, who are the elite of the Hajiri army and fight full time.
Emirate
The Emirate's military is somewhat disorganized, but at the same time versatile. With the ability to fight in both pitch battle and guerrilla strikes, the Emirate army is composed of Archers, Cavalry, Infantry, and Mages, with a negligible amount of artillery. Like the Hajiri, the Emirate prefers maneuverability to heavy armor, though still gives its non exoskeleton-having human warriors light armor. While recruitment is largely the responsibility of the Sheiks, who are also military leaders, the Emir does maintain a personal standing army.
Kingdom
The only true professional military in the region, the Kingdom's army is largely defensive, with heavy plated infantry and cavalry. The Kingdom also uses bombards. The Kingdom and the Emirate are both renowned for their archers, with the Emirate using archers to pick off specific targets while the Kingdom prefers mass volleys. The Kingdom also makes use of hand cannons to an extent, though is not too overwhelmed by their performance. The Kingdom's navy, the only one in the Desert, while somewhat competent, is severely lacking, and could only be relied upon in taking the infrequent river pirates. The Malik maintains complete control over the Kingdom's military, and the generals he appoints are also given votes for the next king.
Daggers
The Daggers originated as an irregular force of guerrillas under Rey'alam, but have since transformed into an order of assassins. The true hand of Rey'alam, the Daggers try to prevent wars before they happen, starting covert operations all over hostile territory. That said, the Daggers will defend their bases when needed, and can and have performed as part of an actual army.
Condors
The Condors do not maintain an army of their own, instead joining the armies of the Emirate and Kingdom, where they perform as air cavalry and mages, and help the Daggers to defend their bases in exchange for roosting rights. In combat, Condors prefer not to fight in any sort of melee, instead making use of their magical ability.
Ibexi
Like the Condors, the Ibexi do not maintain their own army, and join the armies of the Emirate and Kingdom, where they are used for their size and strength. Ibexi traditionally fight with maces and shields, and in the Kingdom are used defensively, helping to strengthen their lines, while the Emirate allows their Ibexi warriors (which do not exist in nearly the same quantity) to maintain their preferred nudity, and are used to break enemy lines.
Military Units
Emirate Infantry
Mainly drawn from the Mountains and Oasis villages, the Emirate's standard infantry arms itself with spears and shields, as well as a short sword for when the shield is lost. Emirate Infantry, unlike other components of the Emirate's army, try to form tight formations, used to box in enemies as a means of allowing better opportunities for the more offensive elements of the Emirate army.
Emirate Cavalry
Emirate Cavalry is, as a rule, light. In fact, the individual pictured is armored quite heavily for a Emirate Cavalryman. Armed with a sword, shield, and some ranged weapon, whether those be javelins or a bow, the Emirate's cavalry is used to skirmish with enemy forces from the flanks of an enemy army, and to chase down broken units. Cavalry is drawn from nomads and other desert populations of the Emirate, with horses provided by both the Sheiks and the Emir. In pitch battle, condors are used in a similar capacity from the sky, using magic instead of projectiles.
Emirate Archers
One of the driving forces of the Emirate army, Emirate archers are highly skilled with their bows, being drawn from all elements of Emirate society. Archers in the Emirate are used to wittle down enemy formations, usually finding some sort of elevated advantage to create specific targets rather than simply volley their arrows. Though archers are given daggers or short swords to protect themselves, the Emirate tries to keep their archers out of harm's way.
Nomadic Camel Riders
Camels are quite a common site in the Emirate, being the primary mode of transportation for Nomads across the desert. That said, their use is primarily limited to domestic use, seeing as dead camels make for a dead caravan. The only people who use Camels in a militant role are bandits and nomads when fighting said bandits. Were camels to be used in combat on a large scale, it would likely be in a defensive capacity.
Emirate Lancers
The heaviest unit in the Emirate army, the Lancers are used to completely destroy enemy lines. The finest horsemen in the Emirate, Lancers are recruited for the Emir's personal army, with only the Emir capable of paying for their armor, and are given the strongest horses in all Nur'alam. Acting as shock cavalry, once the light cavalry and archers have weakened the enemy army, and the infantry has properly maneuvered them into place, the Lancers are the final piece of the puzzle, breaking enemy moral by strategically targeting their charges to the weakest spots of an enemy formation. Ibexi are also used for a similar role, though due to their lessened speed are more likely to attack alongside the infantry.
Muzaiin
Fervently religious and dangerously zealous, Muzaiin follow a radical philosophy based on that of the Daggers, but with much...creative liberty. While the Daggers seek to protect life through the use of death, the Muzaiin seek to use death to protect life they view as worthy; more specifically, Yuwanist life, as well as those who worship the celestial servants of Yuwan. Muzaiin bands form around the Emirate, with their bases ranging from a house in a village to an isolated camp set up in some mountain cave, spending their days praying, sacrificing, and training. They tend to have a hatred of Ibexi, viewing them as backwards pagans holding onto a nonexistent past, and in the past, radical Muzaiin have snuck into Ibexi lands and sacrificed one of these perceived pagans. When these sacrificed have been made to Rey'alam, justice was handed out appropriately. Moderate Yuwanists with a pacifistic outlook towards Justinian have also been targeted. Muzaiin have also destroyed bandit groups worshipping the Turquoise lord. Muzaiin are lightly armored, and, following their interpretation of Dagger philosophy, refuse to use shields, usually only armed with a sword, and use both fire and sand magic. While Muzaiin are powerful and skilled, with a nearly impenetrable morale, and volunteer readily to fight in combat, the Emir must be careful in accepting these offers, with Muzaiin being unpredictable and tending to only follow the orders of their band's leader, rather than military officials, and often charging the enemy at the wrong time.
al-Hurrasin
Loosely translating to "The Rangers", Hurrasin are some of the most elite fighters in the Emirate. In an army, Hurrasin are used as trackers, as well as irregular skirmishers who in pitch battle fight alongside the archers, or perhaps move even closer, while otherwise harassing enemy armies and disrupting supply lines in other situations. Hurrasin are not organized by Sheiks or Emirs, but instead are independent fraternities operating all over the desert, hired out to police certain areas, take down groups of bandits, guard caravans, track lost people, and other such jobs in which their skills would be useful. The Emir, especially during wartimes, will also hire Hurrasin fraternities to join his army, other armies, and scout around for enemies, giving them the license to carry out Guerrilla campaigns against enemy forces in case of invasion. In combat, Hurrasin carry swords, shields, and bows, being some of the most skilled men in the Emirate with each. Hurrasin typically fight on foot, but tend to travel via camel.
Mainly drawn from the Mountains and Oasis villages, the Emirate's standard infantry arms itself with spears and shields, as well as a short sword for when the shield is lost. Emirate Infantry, unlike other components of the Emirate's army, try to form tight formations, used to box in enemies as a means of allowing better opportunities for the more offensive elements of the Emirate army.
Emirate Cavalry
Emirate Cavalry is, as a rule, light. In fact, the individual pictured is armored quite heavily for a Emirate Cavalryman. Armed with a sword, shield, and some ranged weapon, whether those be javelins or a bow, the Emirate's cavalry is used to skirmish with enemy forces from the flanks of an enemy army, and to chase down broken units. Cavalry is drawn from nomads and other desert populations of the Emirate, with horses provided by both the Sheiks and the Emir. In pitch battle, condors are used in a similar capacity from the sky, using magic instead of projectiles.
Emirate Archers
One of the driving forces of the Emirate army, Emirate archers are highly skilled with their bows, being drawn from all elements of Emirate society. Archers in the Emirate are used to wittle down enemy formations, usually finding some sort of elevated advantage to create specific targets rather than simply volley their arrows. Though archers are given daggers or short swords to protect themselves, the Emirate tries to keep their archers out of harm's way.
Nomadic Camel Riders
Camels are quite a common site in the Emirate, being the primary mode of transportation for Nomads across the desert. That said, their use is primarily limited to domestic use, seeing as dead camels make for a dead caravan. The only people who use Camels in a militant role are bandits and nomads when fighting said bandits. Were camels to be used in combat on a large scale, it would likely be in a defensive capacity.
Emirate Lancers
The heaviest unit in the Emirate army, the Lancers are used to completely destroy enemy lines. The finest horsemen in the Emirate, Lancers are recruited for the Emir's personal army, with only the Emir capable of paying for their armor, and are given the strongest horses in all Nur'alam. Acting as shock cavalry, once the light cavalry and archers have weakened the enemy army, and the infantry has properly maneuvered them into place, the Lancers are the final piece of the puzzle, breaking enemy moral by strategically targeting their charges to the weakest spots of an enemy formation. Ibexi are also used for a similar role, though due to their lessened speed are more likely to attack alongside the infantry.
Muzaiin
Fervently religious and dangerously zealous, Muzaiin follow a radical philosophy based on that of the Daggers, but with much...creative liberty. While the Daggers seek to protect life through the use of death, the Muzaiin seek to use death to protect life they view as worthy; more specifically, Yuwanist life, as well as those who worship the celestial servants of Yuwan. Muzaiin bands form around the Emirate, with their bases ranging from a house in a village to an isolated camp set up in some mountain cave, spending their days praying, sacrificing, and training. They tend to have a hatred of Ibexi, viewing them as backwards pagans holding onto a nonexistent past, and in the past, radical Muzaiin have snuck into Ibexi lands and sacrificed one of these perceived pagans. When these sacrificed have been made to Rey'alam, justice was handed out appropriately. Moderate Yuwanists with a pacifistic outlook towards Justinian have also been targeted. Muzaiin have also destroyed bandit groups worshipping the Turquoise lord. Muzaiin are lightly armored, and, following their interpretation of Dagger philosophy, refuse to use shields, usually only armed with a sword, and use both fire and sand magic. While Muzaiin are powerful and skilled, with a nearly impenetrable morale, and volunteer readily to fight in combat, the Emir must be careful in accepting these offers, with Muzaiin being unpredictable and tending to only follow the orders of their band's leader, rather than military officials, and often charging the enemy at the wrong time.
al-Hurrasin
Loosely translating to "The Rangers", Hurrasin are some of the most elite fighters in the Emirate. In an army, Hurrasin are used as trackers, as well as irregular skirmishers who in pitch battle fight alongside the archers, or perhaps move even closer, while otherwise harassing enemy armies and disrupting supply lines in other situations. Hurrasin are not organized by Sheiks or Emirs, but instead are independent fraternities operating all over the desert, hired out to police certain areas, take down groups of bandits, guard caravans, track lost people, and other such jobs in which their skills would be useful. The Emir, especially during wartimes, will also hire Hurrasin fraternities to join his army, other armies, and scout around for enemies, giving them the license to carry out Guerrilla campaigns against enemy forces in case of invasion. In combat, Hurrasin carry swords, shields, and bows, being some of the most skilled men in the Emirate with each. Hurrasin typically fight on foot, but tend to travel via camel.
Kingdom Infantry
The Kingdom's infantry is very heavily armored, forming tight defensive formations, though with a capability to attack offensively if needed. The Infantry goes into battle with heavy plate armor, along with a scimitar, plated shield, and a couple of javelins, which are thrown either before a charge, or as the enemy is charging. Like with the rest of the army, recruitment of the infantry is the responsibility of the Malik, typically drawn from the urban cities of the Kingdom. Armored Ibexi help the infantry to reinforce their lines.
Kingdom Archers
Drawn from the rural farmlands and the sparse desert population of the Kingdom, the Kingdom's archers are usually deployed behind infantry lines, used to volley arrows over a long distance and weaken enemy formations. With the prevalence of fire magic in the Kingdom, Kingdom archers also make a good use of flaming arrows, especially in a siege.
Kingdom Cavalry
Kingdom Cavalry is heavily armored in plates, using lance and saber to charge through the enemy. The Cavalry is usually drawn from wealthier elements of society, though lower class cavalrymen exist as well. Standard Cavalry in the Kingdom is somewhat similar to the Lancers of the Emirate, though with different armor, larger shields, and existing in a much larger quantity.
Fire Magi
Following the philosophy of being the 'flames of Yuwan', Yuwanist Fire Magi in the Kingdom cannot be recruited by the King himself, but many volunteer to join the army, largely with fanatic, militant, Yuwanist zealotry. Fire magi also typically stay behind infantry lines, and cooperate with each other to spew large flames at the enemy, or to light whole volleys of arrows ablaze. Because of their cooperative nature in combat, as well as the complex rituals involved in maximizing the power of each spell, the frequency of spells in battle used by the Fire Magi is quite low, although when it is used, it hits hard. Some younger fire magi are skilled in hand to hand combat, and fight alongside the infantry, using their magic at a short range. A large quantity of Fire Magi volunteered for the Kingdom's expeditionary force during the Gushawari-Ouroborasia war. Other military magi include the Condors, used as an aerial cavalry.
Hand Cannons
While the use of hand cannons in the Kingdom is relatively low, they still exist, with hand cannon users typically lining up with the infantry to weaken enemy charges or defensive lines, then retreating behind infantry lines to reload, or when the infantry is engaged in melee.
Bombards
The mainstay of Kingdom artillery, Bombards range in size, with the one pictured being quite large for a Kingdom Bombard. Bombards in the Kingdom are usually used in siege, though smaller varieties can and have been useful in pitch battle as well. Bombards are both manufactured domestically and imported from other Yuwanist powers.
Mamelukes
The Elite of the Kingdom's Army, Mamelukes are slaves, handpicked from birth to fight for the Kingdom, and from childhood trained in combat. Once they reach adulthood, Mamelukes are put into the King's army, and are proficient in all weapons, from sword, to lance, to bow. While Mamelukes are most famously used as heavy cavalry, Mamelukes are also used as infantry, archers, and even light cavalry. While Mamelukes are hit during training to instill discipline, beatings on Mameluke children are much less than with most slaves, and cease completely once a Mameluke enters the military. Mamelukes are also better fed than other slaves, and even other soldiers, although are completely unpaid. Mamelukes are emancipated once their service is complete, formally at the age of 40, though freedom can come earlier if a Mameluke is injured to a point where they cannot fight. When freed, they are given a large sum of money, even larger if they saw combat. Most former Mamelukes invest this sum into the Dahir bank, and due to these investments, as well as using their military connections, a large number of former Mamelukes have become quite wealthy, with others becoming military commanders, and a few even becoming nobles. Recently, the Malik Saeidam al-Dahir has lowered the age of emancipation for Mamelukes to 35, with an option for an additional 5 years service for a larger monetary sum.
The Kingdom's infantry is very heavily armored, forming tight defensive formations, though with a capability to attack offensively if needed. The Infantry goes into battle with heavy plate armor, along with a scimitar, plated shield, and a couple of javelins, which are thrown either before a charge, or as the enemy is charging. Like with the rest of the army, recruitment of the infantry is the responsibility of the Malik, typically drawn from the urban cities of the Kingdom. Armored Ibexi help the infantry to reinforce their lines.
Kingdom Archers
Drawn from the rural farmlands and the sparse desert population of the Kingdom, the Kingdom's archers are usually deployed behind infantry lines, used to volley arrows over a long distance and weaken enemy formations. With the prevalence of fire magic in the Kingdom, Kingdom archers also make a good use of flaming arrows, especially in a siege.
Kingdom Cavalry
Kingdom Cavalry is heavily armored in plates, using lance and saber to charge through the enemy. The Cavalry is usually drawn from wealthier elements of society, though lower class cavalrymen exist as well. Standard Cavalry in the Kingdom is somewhat similar to the Lancers of the Emirate, though with different armor, larger shields, and existing in a much larger quantity.
Fire Magi
Following the philosophy of being the 'flames of Yuwan', Yuwanist Fire Magi in the Kingdom cannot be recruited by the King himself, but many volunteer to join the army, largely with fanatic, militant, Yuwanist zealotry. Fire magi also typically stay behind infantry lines, and cooperate with each other to spew large flames at the enemy, or to light whole volleys of arrows ablaze. Because of their cooperative nature in combat, as well as the complex rituals involved in maximizing the power of each spell, the frequency of spells in battle used by the Fire Magi is quite low, although when it is used, it hits hard. Some younger fire magi are skilled in hand to hand combat, and fight alongside the infantry, using their magic at a short range. A large quantity of Fire Magi volunteered for the Kingdom's expeditionary force during the Gushawari-Ouroborasia war. Other military magi include the Condors, used as an aerial cavalry.
Hand Cannons
While the use of hand cannons in the Kingdom is relatively low, they still exist, with hand cannon users typically lining up with the infantry to weaken enemy charges or defensive lines, then retreating behind infantry lines to reload, or when the infantry is engaged in melee.
Bombards
The mainstay of Kingdom artillery, Bombards range in size, with the one pictured being quite large for a Kingdom Bombard. Bombards in the Kingdom are usually used in siege, though smaller varieties can and have been useful in pitch battle as well. Bombards are both manufactured domestically and imported from other Yuwanist powers.
Mamelukes
The Elite of the Kingdom's Army, Mamelukes are slaves, handpicked from birth to fight for the Kingdom, and from childhood trained in combat. Once they reach adulthood, Mamelukes are put into the King's army, and are proficient in all weapons, from sword, to lance, to bow. While Mamelukes are most famously used as heavy cavalry, Mamelukes are also used as infantry, archers, and even light cavalry. While Mamelukes are hit during training to instill discipline, beatings on Mameluke children are much less than with most slaves, and cease completely once a Mameluke enters the military. Mamelukes are also better fed than other slaves, and even other soldiers, although are completely unpaid. Mamelukes are emancipated once their service is complete, formally at the age of 40, though freedom can come earlier if a Mameluke is injured to a point where they cannot fight. When freed, they are given a large sum of money, even larger if they saw combat. Most former Mamelukes invest this sum into the Dahir bank, and due to these investments, as well as using their military connections, a large number of former Mamelukes have become quite wealthy, with others becoming military commanders, and a few even becoming nobles. Recently, the Malik Saeidam al-Dahir has lowered the age of emancipation for Mamelukes to 35, with an option for an additional 5 years service for a larger monetary sum.
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