Post by David on Mar 23, 2006 16:02:41 GMT -5
The City of Kings:
The Free City of Muluk takes it name from the long, unbroken line of rulers whose history predates the Enlightened Throne in Huzuz. It is known for its exquisite regal purple dyes produced from the local indigo plants. Muluk lies along the shore of the Great Sea at the mouth of the River Al-Zalim. Like most of the Free Cities, Muluk is a fiercely independent martial state, engaged in unrelenting, low-grade conflict with the savage hill tribes of the nearby Furrowed Mountains, the ravaging pirates from the Corsair Isles, and the hostile armies f Umara and Qadib, both neighboring Free Cities.
The Ruler:
At the helm of this city is Caliph Aswiyah al-Muftahir eldest daughter of the great Caliph Ibrahim al-Muftahir, from whom she inherited her position. Her family has ruled Muluk since the city's founding by the legendary king, Amakin ibn Issad over nine centuries ago. Aswiyah, who prefers the title "Caliph" to the more traditonal female "Calipha", possesse all the craft and canniness of her predecessors, both male and female. She is a consummate politician. During her reign she as successfully allied alongside and against each of the other Free Cities in turn, always for the good of Muluk.
The Court:
The Caliph is grooming her daughter, Princess Hadra bint Aswiyah, to ascend to the throne in the event of her death. A sha'ir, the princess holds the rank of Sorcerer-General within Muluk's army, and has lef attacks against both of Muluks nearest neighbors, Qadib and Umara. Hadra's generalship is, in part, responsible for a recent palace revolution in Umara.
Population: 90,000
Distinguishing Features:
Indigo grows in abundance along the shores of the Al-Zalim. The purple dye produced by Muluk's craftsmen is unmatched throughout Zakhara as well as the barbarian nations to the North. By fiat f the Grand Caliph of Huzuz, all citizens of Muluk may wear this shade freely; as such, purple is the offical color of the City of Kings.
The people of Muluk are proud of their city's history and noble tradition. They tend to look down their noses at the citizens of other cities, and always expect the finest wine, the best seats, and the most comfortable conveyances. To say that they are effete snobs would be an insult to their long traditon of civilization and noble rule, but it would not be far off the mark. Truly, it may be said that Muluk has better leaders than it deserves.
Major Products: Trade, indigo dye, purple fabrics and clothing.
Armed Forces:
2,000 regular footmen, 5,000 milita, 1,000 cavalry (all under the command of Princess Hadra, the Sorcerer-General). Also, 1,500 mamluks of the Respected (including 500 cavarly) under the command of General Oman abid-Hazim. Finially, a 20 ship navy (including four large dhows purchased from Umara), used primarily to escort the "fabric fleet" of indigo cloth to Qudra for the trip south.
Major Mosques: Jisan, Kor, Zann, Selan, Hakiyah, Haku. In additon, a monument to Aswar al-Mutiq attracts the attention of kahins and mystics as a holy site.
Rumors and Lore:
The ruling dynasty of Muluk traces its ancestry back to the ancient kingdom of Al-Anwahr, a powerful city state in the heart of what is presently known as the Haunted Lands. Nine centuries ago, the region contained a fertile kingom ruled by Azaltin Ibn Issad. According to legend, Azaltin was visited by the Loregiver and tricked her into revealing the secret of immortality. Against her advice, Azaltin became immortal, but the process turned him into a hideous undead creature.
Azaltin had a brother, Amakim, a virtuous warrior who was much beloved by the people. After witnessing Azaltin's transformation, Amakim led a revolution to topple his monstrous brther from the throne. His forces triumphed over the undead king, but the brief civil war laid waste to much of Al-Anwahr. After his victory, Amakim led his subjects to a new kingdom by the ocean and named his new capitol In'aash, meaning "place of life-giving refreshment" in Old Anwahran.
In'aash was a well developed trading city long before the discovery of the Law of the Loregiver and the creation of the Enlightened Throne. When city after city fell before the wave of faith and understanding, many of the older emirs and sultans were toppled by their people. Caliph Aswal al-Mutiq heard the tales and was troubled, and when the first mystics and warriors brought enlightenment to his city he requested a private audience. For five days and five nights the messengers met with the Caliph in his private quarters, telling him of the Law of the Loregiver. The Caliph then deliberated by himself for five more days and nights. At the end of this time, he welcomed the Law into his city, recognized the Grand Caliph for his puissant wisdom, and stepped down from the throne to join his messengers in spreading the Law still farther. His eldest child succeeded him, as was customary, and renamed the city Muluk to reflect the beginning of enlightened rule in the kingdom. Since then Muluk has remained the oldest continual dynasty in the Free Cities.
Today, Caliph Aswal and Amakin Ibn Issad are revered as the city's most honored rulers. Legends of Amakim's brother are equally popular in Muluk. In modern folklore, Azaltin is universally portrayed as an archtypal, evil villain.
The Free City of Muluk takes it name from the long, unbroken line of rulers whose history predates the Enlightened Throne in Huzuz. It is known for its exquisite regal purple dyes produced from the local indigo plants. Muluk lies along the shore of the Great Sea at the mouth of the River Al-Zalim. Like most of the Free Cities, Muluk is a fiercely independent martial state, engaged in unrelenting, low-grade conflict with the savage hill tribes of the nearby Furrowed Mountains, the ravaging pirates from the Corsair Isles, and the hostile armies f Umara and Qadib, both neighboring Free Cities.
The Ruler:
At the helm of this city is Caliph Aswiyah al-Muftahir eldest daughter of the great Caliph Ibrahim al-Muftahir, from whom she inherited her position. Her family has ruled Muluk since the city's founding by the legendary king, Amakin ibn Issad over nine centuries ago. Aswiyah, who prefers the title "Caliph" to the more traditonal female "Calipha", possesse all the craft and canniness of her predecessors, both male and female. She is a consummate politician. During her reign she as successfully allied alongside and against each of the other Free Cities in turn, always for the good of Muluk.
The Court:
The Caliph is grooming her daughter, Princess Hadra bint Aswiyah, to ascend to the throne in the event of her death. A sha'ir, the princess holds the rank of Sorcerer-General within Muluk's army, and has lef attacks against both of Muluks nearest neighbors, Qadib and Umara. Hadra's generalship is, in part, responsible for a recent palace revolution in Umara.
Population: 90,000
Distinguishing Features:
Indigo grows in abundance along the shores of the Al-Zalim. The purple dye produced by Muluk's craftsmen is unmatched throughout Zakhara as well as the barbarian nations to the North. By fiat f the Grand Caliph of Huzuz, all citizens of Muluk may wear this shade freely; as such, purple is the offical color of the City of Kings.
The people of Muluk are proud of their city's history and noble tradition. They tend to look down their noses at the citizens of other cities, and always expect the finest wine, the best seats, and the most comfortable conveyances. To say that they are effete snobs would be an insult to their long traditon of civilization and noble rule, but it would not be far off the mark. Truly, it may be said that Muluk has better leaders than it deserves.
Major Products: Trade, indigo dye, purple fabrics and clothing.
Armed Forces:
2,000 regular footmen, 5,000 milita, 1,000 cavalry (all under the command of Princess Hadra, the Sorcerer-General). Also, 1,500 mamluks of the Respected (including 500 cavarly) under the command of General Oman abid-Hazim. Finially, a 20 ship navy (including four large dhows purchased from Umara), used primarily to escort the "fabric fleet" of indigo cloth to Qudra for the trip south.
Major Mosques: Jisan, Kor, Zann, Selan, Hakiyah, Haku. In additon, a monument to Aswar al-Mutiq attracts the attention of kahins and mystics as a holy site.
Rumors and Lore:
The ruling dynasty of Muluk traces its ancestry back to the ancient kingdom of Al-Anwahr, a powerful city state in the heart of what is presently known as the Haunted Lands. Nine centuries ago, the region contained a fertile kingom ruled by Azaltin Ibn Issad. According to legend, Azaltin was visited by the Loregiver and tricked her into revealing the secret of immortality. Against her advice, Azaltin became immortal, but the process turned him into a hideous undead creature.
Azaltin had a brother, Amakim, a virtuous warrior who was much beloved by the people. After witnessing Azaltin's transformation, Amakim led a revolution to topple his monstrous brther from the throne. His forces triumphed over the undead king, but the brief civil war laid waste to much of Al-Anwahr. After his victory, Amakim led his subjects to a new kingdom by the ocean and named his new capitol In'aash, meaning "place of life-giving refreshment" in Old Anwahran.
In'aash was a well developed trading city long before the discovery of the Law of the Loregiver and the creation of the Enlightened Throne. When city after city fell before the wave of faith and understanding, many of the older emirs and sultans were toppled by their people. Caliph Aswal al-Mutiq heard the tales and was troubled, and when the first mystics and warriors brought enlightenment to his city he requested a private audience. For five days and five nights the messengers met with the Caliph in his private quarters, telling him of the Law of the Loregiver. The Caliph then deliberated by himself for five more days and nights. At the end of this time, he welcomed the Law into his city, recognized the Grand Caliph for his puissant wisdom, and stepped down from the throne to join his messengers in spreading the Law still farther. His eldest child succeeded him, as was customary, and renamed the city Muluk to reflect the beginning of enlightened rule in the kingdom. Since then Muluk has remained the oldest continual dynasty in the Free Cities.
Today, Caliph Aswal and Amakin Ibn Issad are revered as the city's most honored rulers. Legends of Amakim's brother are equally popular in Muluk. In modern folklore, Azaltin is universally portrayed as an archtypal, evil villain.