Principalities of Tel-Raiq
Regions
The three most prosperous regions of Tel-Raiq are split into three main administrative portions, each of which are permitted to be taxed and tithed by the Emir. Each of these regions are preceded by the title Asah, meaning province or principality. The Khavir and the Vitriolic Sea are exempted from taxation from the Emir: the former by longstanding royal decree, and the latter by difficulty of enforcement and lack of permanent population.Asah Zurezd
The southwestern region of Tel Raiq.Asah Batin
The northwestern region of Tel-Raiq.Asah Dayed
The northeastern region of Tel-Raiq The KhavirFor about a hundred miles surrounding the sea exists a barren wasteland populated by close knit clans, bandits, mysterious priests, and strange desert creatures. To the east of these wastes lies the Khavir, or "The Breathing Desert". Here lies the homeland of the Erzihari, and though it is harsh living, unlike the lands close to the sea, the learned and careful may subsist off the land. Additionally, a few isolated Dwarven communities dot the Khavir. The Vitriolic Sea
A massive inland sea, unusually composed of strange fluids blooming with poisonous metals and salts, surrounded by an immense desert. The seas and islands are filled with strange flora and fauna endemic to the location.
Cultures
The Erzihari and Vairyan peoples
During the early reign of the empire, the Erzihari were primarily nomadic and conquered the kingdoms of the Vairya, adopting many of their practices and organizational techniques along the way. After doing so, they declared their new state independent of the Empire and were summarily defeated, but offered enough resistance that they could negotiate an arrangement where their new state would be officially recognized and become a satrap of the empire, rather than the empire forcibly restoring the Vairyan dynasty. Thus the Erzihari seized control of Tel Raiq, where the extensive and complex Vaiyan nobility plied their still remaining resources, extensive libraries, and many skilled servants (many among them being expert artisans themselves for religious reasons), to become a new middle class. With this new caste holding much of the expertise and skill set to maintain existing infrastructure, the former Vaiyan nobility maintained their influence while losing their (official) titles. Now, the Erzihari still nominally rule Tel Raiq, but political reforms have led a system of merchant and artisan representatives having a part in governance, mostly on matters of logistics and trade, justified by their skill set and vast expertise in their given trades. The Erzihari Emir (King) still holds sole sovereignty in the nation’s military and security, but in other matters often has to make arrangements, negotiate, or squabble with the mercantile council. Additionally, the Erzihari religion, which is primarily ethnic and does not actively proselytize, has fallen out of sorts after a initial brief surge, now really only practiced among the Erzihari nobility and commoners. In contrast, Teluhasna, the religion of the Vairyans, has had much greater popularity, even having spread to Ulnost and other corners of the former empire.Dwarves
The Ahul Ahl-Kanath, or Men of the Channels, maintain some of the largest and most ancient cisterns in the wasteland, living in cool, moist chambers carved alongside these immense reservoirs, and ventilated with square towers with yawning vents, often the only visible part of a dwelling at a distance. They rarely permit outsiders to settle near their water hoards, though they send their water barons to make small trade on busy roads, sating thirsty travelers. Although certainly insular, the Dwarves of Tel-Raiq keep a representative present at the Emir's court, and many adventurous souls attend and contribute to academies and businesses outside of their enclaves. Some poorer, or desperate enclaves turn to banditry or mercenary work, converting their channel guard to offensive purposes.
Type
National Territory
Population
~100,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Arnt Batini
Characters in Location