Aymaq (EYE-mok)
Aymaq was the unappealing swathe of land spanning from the Piercing Hills to the northern coast of Astagua. It was a small patch of land compared to the size of the other city-states, but it has since become one of the wealthiest regions in all of Vals'kar.
Violent Beginnings
Following The Great Sacrifice, the Orcs of Aymaq fell into the stereotypical brutality of their Oscadian brethren across the Crossroads Ocean. For centuries they fought one another, eliminating tribes, usurping leadership, and refusing to work with one another due to primal instincts, pride, or arrogance. All of this changed when the Piercing Hills, and the unique iron substrate within, were found. Tribal allegiance still exists in Aymaq, more as a tradition than anything else, but it has prevented meaningful research into who was first to discover the ore. The first person to find - and more importantly, use - the ore quickly established dominance over the rest of the tribes in Aymaq. The first Humans to make contact with Aymaq were not from Marka, but Vescania. According to the Aymaquans, Vescania was seeking to colonize the northern peninsula, completely unaware of the presence of Orcs. Meetings between the two communities were tense at first, but they quickly escalated into a brief and bloody conflict. With the aide of their superior weapons, the Orcs slaughtered all but a few of the Vescanians before sending them back to their home country. The Aqmaquans never forgot the flag of the attackers and incorrectly assumed they would never return to the peninsula. When the Humans of Marka first made contact with Aymaq, they were met with threats and misplaced anger. Either through the grace of the gods or a series of lucky conversations, the animosity Aymaquans held for Humans was put aside in the interest of economical gain. A trade alliance was created between Aymaq and Marka, and for several decades that's all that it was. Overtime, however, the states learned more and more of the other culture, and while they seldom understood one another, they respected each other's integrity. With or without this mutual respect, Aymaq was eager to provide support toMarka's war effort against Vescania. In their minds, the only assistance they would provide would be the sale of Piercing Ore, that they might profiteer off the conflict. To that end, they were against Unification for the threat it could pose to them should Vescania win the war.A Loss of Independence
Aymaq didn't count on Vescania remembering the superior craftsmanship of their weapons, however. As Vescania waged their war in Karinga, a fleet of Vescanian ships approached the Aymaq coast, dropping off hundreds of soldiers in an effort to take the Piercing Hills. Caught off guard, Aymaq was nearly lost to Vescania but managed to hold on to victory. This time, they didn't leave any survivors. Realizing the military might of Vescania and how lucky they were, Aymaq agreed to Unification. Their primary contribution for some time was just Piercing Ore, but after the population had licked their wounds, they wanted a taste of revenge. Despite Unification, however, Aymaquans were wary of fighting alongside anyone but the Humans of Marka - the Cairn, Elves, and Iaak were outsiders, even if they were temporary allies. And to Aymaq, that's all Unification was - a short-term solution to a short-term problem. When the War with Vescania ended, they sought to peacefully withdraw from Astagua and go about their own ways of life. The Unified Council didn't so much forbid the withdrawal as they did make it impossible; they told the Aymaquan representative, Bhodor, that should they withdraw from Astagua, they would no longer find a market selling Piercing Ore to the other states. Despite the protest from the Aymaquan people, Bhodor agreed to remain a part of Astagua as long as the Council looked the other way concerning the slaves they used to mine the ore. Each party understood they needed each other more than they needed to satisfy their moral obligations, and so an agreement was met. To this day, Aymaq is the only civilized state in Astagua that permits slavery, though there are whispers of workings from other states to end it.
History of Unified Council Delegates:
758 2E - 770 2E: Mohk Vihd 770 2E - 787 2E: Gralk Skullcrusher 787 2E - 807 2E: Hilak Vhur 807 2E - 823 2E: Tuvrod Chak 823 2E - 829 2E: Noshe Kil 829 2E - 855 2E: Crum Dhonh 855 2E - Present Day: Xoruk Goldtooth
Founding Date
The Mass Dying
Type
Geopolitical, Viscounty
Demonym
Aymaquan
Leader
Notable Members
Related Species
Comments