Bahami Federation
The Bahami Federation is a collection of island states that work together for more or less common cause. Nearly an alliance rather than a true unified state, every island follows the same principles. Every island has its own djinn which protects its people and settlements in exchange for a worthy annual tribute. The islands themselves stretch for hundreds of miles east, and many of the contained kingdoms regularly rise and fall, especially on islands with smaller populations. It is said that anyone can become an Bahami mukarrib (priest-king) if they can find an island and convince its djinn to protect them from the yearly hurricanes and lesser storms and floods.
Structure
The Bahami Federation is organized more as of a confederacy than a truly unified state. Every major island has an mukarrib that rules over the people and is the direct correspondent with the djinn of the island. The said mukarrib is the one who dictates laws and punishments to the people of their island. While each mukarrib may have their own sets of laws, there are only a handful of regional variances. Depending on the size of the island, a mukarrib may handle all jurisprudence and legislative affairs himself or he may require a network of bureaucrats, judges, and administrators. Nearly all mukarribs take cues from the Malik of Aljana, the richest and most powerful of the mukarribs, who has taken upon himself the burden of dictating foreign policy for the islands. Traditionally the Malik takes a hands-off approach, only occasionally declaring a "Tumli" which is a final order or statement that can be challenged only with the risk of war. The Maliks hand these out sparingly, wary of potential conflicts among their peers.
History
For centuries after the fall of the Nameless Empire, the Bahami Islands fought among themselves with reckless abandon. Every island was its own petty kingdom, and in the first century AF, they were subjected to an invasion of ships from the east, far over the Endless Ocean. These marauders and invaders brought down the petty kingdoms of old and made their own encampments and fortresses. They eventually intermingled with the locals and a new culture began to emerge. The invaders fought almost as much as their predecessors in the islands had, and it wasn't long before they turned upon each other. Every emirate was its own independent state, and the rise and fall of island conquerors was a constant fact of life, even as they would all raid towards the west and south.
In the sixth century AF, this all changed, as the Jakonian Empire, at the height of its power, sought to pacify the lands that had been blighting it for nearly two centuries. A massive expeditionary fleet was sent east, and island after island was conquered. The island of Aljana was the most powerful of the holdouts, and they soon rallied the remaining emirates of the east. In 680, the Bahami and Jakonian fleets met in full force at the Battle of Manabudh, north of the island of Aljana. The battle was tactically a stalemate, but the loss of warships was enough to bring to an end the Jakonian offensives. They fell back and focused on preserving their own territories.
For the Bahamis the war never ended and the ruler of Aljana was proclaimed a "Malik" and marked the leader of the newly unified Bahami Federation. He was to be a war leader and mediator for the other mukarribs, as they sought to reclaim the lands of their people and push back the Jakonians. A relentless naval war began, with few major battles, but thousands of ship to ship skirmishes as the Bahamis intensified their raids and attacks on the Jakonian Empire. At first this was unnoticed by the Jakonians, as few ships returned to harbor, and it was hardly a pressing priority. The Imperial Navy was able to hold back most of these advances, but starting with the smaller islands, the Jakonians began to abandon their footholds. It was not until after the Battle of Conecuh Lake that the Imperial grip truly slipped and throughout the 10th Century, the islands rebelled, often with the help of Bahami privateers and mercenaries.
With the Bahami people restored and unified under a single banner, they are in an unusual position. After centuries of being focused on a single unified enemy, the Bahamis are once again ending up at each other's throats. The demands of the djinni seem to grow every year, and more and more raids are required to satiate them. The Bahamis fight each other, but have also stepped up raids in the west. The increase in attacks seems to have provoked more and more response from the Jakonian Empire, and it seems very likely that a new major war could be on the horizon.
Demography and Population
The largest segment of the Bahami population is Bahami humans. There a surprising number of minorities scattered throughout the the islands. The largest of these is easily the catfolk. Arriving only one to two hundred years ago, the catfolk have shown up in large numbers, claiming to be refugees from some disaster to the far east over the Unending Ocean. The threat they fled may or may not be real, but the last ones arrived eighty years ago, and no more have come to the Federation since. The catfolk were enslaved by the Bahamis and today make up the bulk of the Bahami labor force. Over forty percent of the nation's population now consists of catfolk slaves. There are also minorities of other races throughout the islands, including immigrants who have found the Bahamis to actually be fairly accommodating hosts, assuming you bring valuable skills or wares. Some legends even claim that several islands host hidden dwarf fortresses, which remain quiet and isolated to avoid detection of other races and enemies.
Military
The military of the Bahami Federation is strictly managed from an island to island basis. Every Mukarrib has their own armed forces, which be organized or deployed in radically different members. Nearly all of the mukarribs have different ideas towards tactics, the use of magic, or even prioritizing marines versus ranged naval combat. The same applies to the warships and corsairs of the emirs, all of which have custom designs and construction. There are few organized military forces or professional warriors of any kinds, although the privateers sent out with frequency probably come the closest to professional soldiers throughout the islands. The elite guards of the Malik would be the next, but the Bahamis have little to no practice with major land battles or wars.
Technological Level
The Bahami Federation has very little technological and scientific development of their own nature. They remain very much behind the mainland states, beyond the items that are taken in raids and attacks. This is mostly attributed to a lack of education, but it is also widely because of the need for the constant stream of resources to the djinn of the islands. Even with these disadvantages, the islands have proven themselves effective in nautical advancements, bringing many new ideas and concepts to navigation and naval combat. Being constantly outgunned by Imperial Navy warships, they often have to innovate and adapt to survive, much less triumph, in many battle situations.
Religion
The worship of djinn in the Bahami Federation is not just a state religion, but also the way of life. Ask any Bahami resident about their dedication to the faith, and they will be shocked to consider any option other than worshiping the djinn of their island. Even the catfolk who have arrived as slaves follow this faith, knowing that the djinn offer protection against the devastating storms that travel across the Endless Ocean like titans. Very few would risk following another faith as many djinn are jealous and have been known to allow entire towns to be destroyed in a storm should even a small shrine to a deity be placed within its territory.
Foreign Relations
The Bahami Federation has few open diplomatic relations with other nations. The Federation typically views anyone else at sea as prey for their pirates and privateers. The Malik has realized, however, that coordinated diplomatic activities can make plundering a bit more profitable. They have therefore come to an arrangement with the Free City of Riveraineville to instead focus their efforts on the Jakonian Empire and the Kingdom of Recfrere. Similar agreements and protection money have been extorted from the Free Cities of Augustin and Capcora. The Bahamis prize their relationship to Riveraineville the most, as they find the merchants and dealers there highly lucrative, and a good source to buy quality weapons and goods from regions away from the prying eyes of the Empire.
Agriculture & Industry
The agriculture of the Bahami Federation relies mostly upon exotic fruits and cash crops including spices and tobacco. Only a few plantations are willing risk their bottom line of profit to grow foodstuffs, and most people rely on small gardens and chicken farms to provide day to day sustenance. The fishing industry however, is very important to the Emirates, and fishermen bring in tons of fish every day to feed the people of the islands, making it a staple of the Bahami diet.
Industry in the Bahami Federation focuses mostly upon the construction of warships and raiders. Nearly every island has at least one shipyard, and no nation in Emicara produces more ships than the Federation each year. Bahami ships are known to be fast and durable, made to survive harsh hurricane while being able to outpace most mainland battleships and interceptors. Only the shipyards of Riveraineville are said to be able to produce better ships and they rarely have the same capacity.
Education
Education is rare at best within the Bahami Federation. Nobles will educate their children usually by buying slave tutors from the South Island market in Bimini. These slaves will tutor their children in the ways of the world outside of the islands, while the corsairs will teach them of the ways within. The average worker and slave in the Emirates receives no education whatsoever. There are no higher centers of learning or education in the Federation, no universities or colleges, and those seeking knowledge in magic or engineering must either travel abroad or become an apprentice to one who resides locally.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure of the Federation widely differs from island to island. Some islands with greater wealth have paved roads, stone foundations, and even some primitive sewage systems. The majority have dirt roads and less developed homes. Many have stone shelters built in highland areas that allow for protection in the case of a major storm, flood, or invasion, protecting against all but the worst of conditions. It is always the case, however, that the best roads are the ones leading to the shrine of the local djinn, allowing for a constant flow of tribute to keep the island safe.
The one element of infrastructure that is consistent throughout all of the islands is the condition of the ports and harbors. A safe harbor is the most important element of being an emir, allowing ships to leave for raids and return with booty. An island without a functioning harbor is an island close to collapse. Therefore, massive expense is put into maintaining shipping channels and creating fortresses to protect choke-points and straits that enable the island to defend itself against a seaborne attack.
By the Djinni We Are Saved
Founding Date
Riftwane 8, 681
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Demonym
Bahami
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Theocratic
Power Structure
Federation
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Copper/Silver/Electrum/Gold
Major Exports
Ships, exotic fruits, spices, tobacco, slaves
Major Imports
Lumber, grains, iron ore, slaves
Legislative Body
Covenant of Mukarribs
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
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