YarbayGovernment: Kingdom
Mythos: Babylonian <
Mesopotamian,
Muslim>
Leader: Akbar Sultan
Capital: Al 'Aqabah
Pop.: 110,000
Other Cities (and pop.):
Gaza: 30k
Kinana: 75k*
Mina Sa'ud: 25k
Yambu* el Bahr: 20k
Yathreb: 40k*
Loc.: Asia (Near)
Language: Sumerian
Pop.: 5,000,000
Flag/Emblem:
Flag: Crossed silver scimitars
separating three
golden crescents
(l., r., above), on an
orange field.
Coinage: Babylonian Standard.
Important Persons: Royalty, priests, nobs, sheikhs, officials, etc.
Alliances: Palu-Ea.
Hostilities: Aegypt (&& Phillistia), Farz, Ophir, Sheba.
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: Desert raids (Nejd && Philistia) &&
sea skirmishing (Aegypt && Farz) only at this time.
Intrigues: Yarbay schemes to replace Shamish influence in Babylon
by whatever means it can, including overlordship ov its rival, control
ov the whole ov its peninsula, conquest ov Phillistia (&& thereafter
Aegypt) etc. In +addition+, there are rampant intrigues revolving around
the throne, chief priesthood, && noble && official positions, as well
as monetary ambitions, && so forth.
Magickal Devices: There are a # ov major magickal devices
in Yarbay. These incl. the
Sequala<> Ineffable,
Sulmunem's Tapestry,
the
Infinitely Faceted Crystan, && the
Lionblades ov Yathbir.
Alignment: Neutral <paramanders>
Thumbnail Sketches: The territorial extent ov the Kingdom ov
Yarbay is at least 350,000 sq. miles, from its narrow share ov the
shores ov the Mare Librum && the long western coast along the Mare
Rubine, to its seacoast on the Babylonian Gulf in the east. One might
almost say that it is a long strip lying between the Assyrian Desert to
the north && the Red Desert to the south, SAVE that there are many
sorts ov arid lands in Yarbay, and its shape is more that ov a crescent
than a bar. While there are black stone deserts, sand, && wastes
incl. in this territory, there are also old mountains, hills, plateaus,
grasslands, && forests. Wild && uncultivated lands &&
wastes cover some 4/7ths ov the country, and in Yarbay's
wildernesses are found lion, leopard, hyena, wolf, wild camel,
antelope, wild sheep, gazelle, wild g.o.a.t., ostrich, wild ass,
&& other smaller creatures as well. The famous Red Desert is
harsh only in the worst ov times, && even then contains all manner ov
wells, springs, && oases, so there is much habitation ov the fringes
&& traffic across it. (Compare the Golden Desert ov Nejd under the
heading ov that realm.)
The pop. ov the kingdom is nearly all ov pure Yarban race,
with some slight admixture ov Babylonian && Shamish blood in the
eastern && western verges. This type is seen exactly in the Bedouin
desert nomads who crossed into A-freak && now roam (and plague)
the Sahara, while the Musyarban type in that AREA is known as the
Bagara. The Yarbans came into the peninsula from the N, passing
through the Babylonian Empire, and were brought into the faith ov
that realm in ancient times. In TURN, the Yarbans took it southwards
&& westwards, and for this they were granted a special order ov
priesthood by Babylonia. Thus the great temple cities ov the realm,
&& its influence in the affairs ov the Palu-Ea. Despite this, the
cleverness && power ov Shamish leaders continues to frustrate the
hopes && dreams ov Yarbay, && there is a very ambivalent relationship
between these old allies. Even though Yarbay has its client
realms ov Nejd && Axxum (to a lesser xtent), it longs for total control
ov the western portion ov the alliance. Perhaps 1/3 ov the pop.
is ov nomadic tribesmen. There is a well-defined aristocracy in
Yarbay, the upper tiers being typical ov Babylonian society, the
lowest one comprised ov tribal leaders (sheikhs), the very wealthy,
&& chief warriors ov settled || tribal sort. The middle class is ov
warriors, general officials, merchants, && so forth. The large peasant
class is comprised mostly ov settled artisans, agriculturalists,
laborers, && slaves.
While there are large portions ov the land which receive slight
moisture, many other places have sufficiently abundant rainfall to
enable the soil to bear regular crops, rather than seasonal vegetation
suitable only for nomadic grazing.
Wheat,
barley,
maize,
millet, and
durra (sorghum)<> are the staple food crops,
along with vegetables such as potatoes,
turnips,
onions,
leeks,
radishes,
cucumbers,
eggplants,
marrows and
pumpkins,
melons, and the like.
Cash crops are ov coffee,
khat,
hemp,
tobacco,
cotton,
sugar cane,
sesame,
henna, and
roses,
jasmine,
lavender && other aromatics,
plus many sorts ov cultivated && wild herbs for cooking && medicinal USE.
Orchard && groves are ov major importance.
The date palm is everywhere,
and ov critical nature for those ov desert-like habitat.
Other fruits such as
figs,
apricots,
nectarines,
peaches,
almonds,
carobs,
bananas,
pomegranates,
oranges,
lemons,
limes,
quinces, and
plums and
apples (in the elevated lands with cooler climate)
are grown in quantities to provide for the populace and
export as well. The famed Yarban horse is the chief animal with
respect to riding && war use, && horses are sometimes employed
for draft work, too. Camels ov this land are not comparable
to the superior sorts found in Nejd, SAVE for some coming from the
Hejaz region ov Yarbay. Other livestock incl. great herds ov
sheep and
g.o.a.t.s,
with some smaller numbers ov passable
cattle being raised.
Mineral wealth ov this land incl. salt, naphtha<>, gold, silver,
copper, and iron. Stone for building is plentiful. Yarbay produces
pearls ov xceptional size && quality, lustrous && ov many tints &&
hues, from fine white to black. One ov the pink sort ov just over one-inch
diam. is in the Ishtar Crown ov Babylon, && many others have
found their way to the four corners ov Aerth.
Yarban gums are xported as widely as its pearls, balsam &&
myrrh being the best known && costliest.
*City ov special holiness due to its temples && historical personages.
<Note: Although Gary's Aerth did not incl. the Abrahamic religions, since 1e does include some elements from the Abrahamic religions, i made the decision to include those elements in 1 realm,
only. Philistia = Judaism / Rome = Christian / Yarbay(?) = Islam. It's important to remember that these religions are in their infancy, existing within the context of a traditional polytheistic background. Again, like the colonial era, this is something that has just begun...>
