Tusmit

Ruled by His Exalted Splendor, the Pasha of Tusmit, Muammar Qharan

The Tuflik River forms the southern border of Tusmit, while the Blashikmund separates Tusmit from Ekbir to the west and north. The Yatil Mountains and the Tusman Hills make up Tusmit's eastern border. The landscape is not as gentle here as in Ekbir, but it is a fertile country. Most of the northern interior is given to farming, and its people are generally uneducated. Along the Tuflik are the nation's larger cities, where nearly anything is available for the right price. Skilled artisans of all trades work in the cities of the Tuflik valley, and Tusmite weapons and armor are among the finest in all the Baklunish lands.
The nation's military consists mostly of medium cavalry, led by Farises by no means as noble as their counterparts in Ekbir. A force of heavy infantry is maintained by the pasha, augmented by mercenaries from the Tusman hill-tribes in time of war. In fact, mercenaries from all the surrounding nations can be found in southern Tusmit: Uli, Perrender, Paynims, even dwarves from the Yatils and Crystalmists are welcome. Along with warriors, mercenary thieves and assassins sell their services here, and almost as openly.
Few outsiders visit Tusmit's back country, for the only wealth there is in raw materials, and the natives are not welcoming. The True Faith is dominant in the north, so lawlessness is not tolerated. Only those wishing to visit the grand mufti of the Yatils are known to travel here, for the arduous journey is begun from Tusmit north of the Tusman Hills. Traditionally, the pasha would make this trek at least once, to receive the blessing of the grand mufti that would assure the loyalty of the northern lords. The current pasha has chosen not to do this, nor has he acknowledged the caliph of Ekbir's spiritual authority, instead pledging his loyalty to the sultan of Zeif. So far, this tactic has been successful, but if new challenges arise that require the pasha to call upon the loyalties of his northern nobles, he will be hard pressed to win them.

History

Tusmit has been an independent nation for almost two and a half centuries. Originally a province of Zeif, Tusmit came to be dominated by the caliphate following the Nomad Intrusion of Ekbir. After the exile of the legendary Daoud Pasha, a ruler loyal to the caliph was instated, and the construction of hospices and schools of the Exalted Faith was begun. Resistance to the high level of taxation was almost immediate among the aristocracy, though the common folk were not unduly troubled, Many of the country nobles soon turned to the fanatical True Faith, while the decadent urban aristocracy of the south tried to find compromise with earnest reformers of Ekbir.
While the new pasha was required to remain loyal to Ekbir, the nobles became recalcitrant and no longer accepted the authority of the caliph. A compromise of sorts was reached when the grand mufti of the Yatils, the principal cleric of the True Faith, was imposed upon to grant the status of "orem" to the pasha, meaning "one set apart." Few besides the pasha of Tusmit have ever held the status, though it has been granted to some sages and wizards over the years. The pasha became a servant of both the Exalted and the True Faith, and he thus held the loyalty of his obstinate subjects.
Tusmit was able for many years to play off various domineering nations and parties against each other, while giving complete loyalty to none. Jadhim/orem (LN male human F15), the last of the "set apart" pashas, was deposed by the charismatic young Faris, Muammar Qharan, nearly ten years ago. Most of the nation supported this action, thinking that Muammar would be more aggressive as pasha than his calculating predecessor had been. Muammar strongly allied Tusmit with Zeif, abandoning all claims to the rich holdings south of the Tuflik in favor of the sultanate. Jadhim/orem fled Sefmur for the court of the caliph, his oldest rival. He resides there now under house arrest, and Tusmit does not wish his return.
As pasha, Muammar has been reasonably effective, though there is pressure on him to appear before the grand mufti if he wishes to retain his office. It is increasingly unlikely that he will ever do so, for the great cleric of the True Faith would doubtless judge him very harshly. So far, the alliance with Zeif has prevented any action by Ekbir, and the pasha has not had need of the forces of his northern nobles. The inhabitants of the Tuflik Valley are still quite pleased with his rule, despite earlier concerns about the growing influence of Zeif in the region.

Government: Independent feudal monarchy having only noble houses; only the chosen monarch is considered royalty
Capital: Sefmur
Major Towns: Sefmur (pop. 21,000), Blashikdur (pop. 9,900), Vilayad (pop. 12,200)
Provinces: One capital emirate (Sefmur), eleven sheikdoms
Resources: Foodstuffs, silver, gold
Coinage: Minaret (pp), fountain (gp), fez (ep), hookah (sp), token (cp)
Population: 273,000—Human 79% (Bo), Dwarf 8% (mountain), Halfling 6%, Elf 3%, Gnome 2%, Half-elf 1%, Half-orc 1%
Languages: Common, Ancient Baklunish, Dwarven, Halfling
Alignments: LN*, N, LG
Religions: Al'Akbar, Istus, Geshtai, Mouqol, Xan Yae, other Baklunish gods
Allies: Zeif, Ket (sometimes)
Enemies: Ekbir (sometimes), Ket (sometimes), Paynims (sometimes), Knights of the Watch

  Location in the Flanaess