Post by El Borak on Feb 26, 2022 22:06:29 GMT -5
gov: Kingdom
Pantheon: Babylonian <Mesopotamian> <Canaanite>
Leader: Ziluman VI
CAPITAL: Damascus
Pop.: 65k
Other Cities (and pop.):
Acre: 25k
Amman: 20k
Beirut: 50k
Gaza: 20k <note: there is a Gaza in Yarbay>
Jaffa: 15k
Sidon: 10k <ISIS>
Tripoli: 20k
Tyre: 15k <cf. Adept's Gambit, by Fritz Leiber>
Loc.: Azir (Near)
Language: Sumerian
Pop.: 4,000,000
Flag/Emblem:
Flag: Back-to-back
(increscent<> and
decrescent<>) silver
crescents, on a blue
field.
<Get the flags out! - St. Ozzy>
Coinage: Babylonian Standard
Important Persons: Royal family, priests, nobs, officials, etc.
Alliances: Palu-Ea.
Hostilities: Aegypt (Phillistia), Hasur.
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: Frequent on Aegyptian border. Desert raids
now increasing against southern Hasur && might threaten Palmyra.
Intrigues: The intrigues ov this state are lejendary, for its lords are
scheming, greedy, && contentious. The exact nature ov current plots
&& machinations are, however, unknown to us.
Magickal Devices: The kingdom holds in its arsenal the dreaded Furnace
ov Souls, the Harp ov Hellspawning, Tauwid's Coffer, && the
Sealing Sword. Some few minor items are also in the state's hands, &&
others are held by its more powerful groups && individuals.
Alignment: Chaotic Good <garaths>
Thumbnail Sketches: The Kingdom ov Shamash holds around 25k
sq. miles ov territory along the coast ov the eastern Mare Librum,
between Hasur to the N && Yarbay to the S. Babylonia is its
eastern neighbor. The coastal region ov the state is very fertile, the
hills && highland regions suitable for some agriculture && grazing,
&& overall the AREA is probably the finest ov the Levant. The land is
quite attractive, with its great forests ov cypress && cedar, wild olive
&& various hardwoods && conifers, too. In woodlands, wilds,
&& the eastern semi-arid regions one encounters such game as
bear, wolf, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, ibex, wild camel
&& ass, wild sheep && g.o.a.t., pork, deer, gazelle, && various
sorts ov smaller creatures. There are some few sorts ov poisonous
snake, too, && crocodile are occasionally found in the rivers.
Damascus is a typical great, walled Oriental city ov the Near Azirian
sort. Space precludes our detailing ov it here. A glance at the other
cities ov this kingdom is sufficient to conjure images ov piracy, riches,
siege, && all the REST ov the lore ov this region. The reader desirous ov
gaining additional info should have no trouble finding it in any
# ov treatises && works ov geography && history.
Although often a vassal ov the Babylonians over the long course ov
its history, Shamash proved an apt pupil, && eventually arose to
become the virtual leader ov the cluster ov realms ov Babylonian
Pantheon belief && culture. While Babylonia remains the center ov
the web, && Yarbay the "Sword ov the S," Shamish influence is
undeniable in Medus<>, Scythus, && distant Turkistan, too. If Yarban
nomads ride the arid lands ov Afrik, those ov the Shamish tribes still
ride in the W ov Azir as the "Shield ov the North," albeit they are now
severed from their homeland through the expansion ov hostile,
intervening realms such as Khwarizm.
The state's peoples are ov the purest Western Yellow race, akin to the
Phoenicians && Yarbans--at eternal enmity w/ the former, &&
typically in close alliance with the latter (whom they generally lead, ||
at least influence heavily). Some small # ov the Shamish are
still nomadic, although most ov that sort are now found elsewhere.
Class is determined strictly by occupation, wealth, family, && favor
ov royal, noble, || official sort. Even w/ such determination, the
structure ov the society is very similar to the typical model, with 3/4
ov the pop. in the peasant tiers, somewhat more than
1/5 in the middle range, && less than 1/20 belonging to the aristocracy.
Slaves are commonly seen, about 10% ov the
pop. being thus oppressed. Their main employment is mine work,
laboring, && agricultural, with some few performing domestic work.
Crops ov barley,
wheat,
rice,
maize,
and millet are grown so as to provide for small xport.
Peas
and lentils are also cultivated.
Sesame,
tobacco,
and roses are grown for sale.
Many kinds of vegetables are gardened--melons of many sorts,
cucumbers,
marrows,
eggplant,
cauliflower,
broccoli,
cabbages,
lettuces,
artichokes,
carrots,
onions,
leeks,
shallots,
and potatoes among the most seen.
Vineyards produce grapes,
raisins,
and a fair wine.
Mulberry trees provide for silkworm culture.
Olives,
most citrus fruits,
and trees such as banana,
date,
fig,
peach,
almond,
apricot,
pomegranate,
pear,
and walnut are seen in numerous orchards && groves.
Livestock for draft incld. oxen, camel, horse, mule, && ass.
Good riding && warhorse herds are maintained.
Many sheep && g.o.a.t. are seen, but there are few cattle in the region.
Although not particularly rich in mineral wealth, Shamash still
manages to produce some iron, coal, oil, lime for cement, && a small
quantity ov very fine turquoise--possibly using Heka-induced growth
with regard to the gem material, as Aegypt has done for so long w/
most ov its old mines.
Besides its armies && colonists, Shamash xports xceptional
weapons && armor, foodstuffs ov various sort, cloth, rugs && carpets,
as well as various sorts ov other things ov minor importance
commercially.
