Umara
City of Knights
Situated on the mouth of the river Al-Yatir, about 170 miles northeast of Liham, Umara is a jewel of a coastal city, noted for its distinctive blue textiles and tilework. Though it appears peaceful today, its recent past is marked by the bloodshed of a barbarian incursion - an incursion which still lingers on the minds of those who dream of revenge.
Umara is noted for its blue dyes. Distinctive shades of cobalt and turquoise have become the unofficial city colors, bedecking tilework, clothing, and particularly the city's world-renowned carpets and textiles.
The native people of Umara are fairly typical of the coastal regions. The men are clean-shaven but keep their moustaches. The women, while unveiled, are modest in their dress and wear their hair in long, single braids that hang down their backs.
Today, mingling among these natives are the newlyestablished enlightened people of Astok - for the tribesmen who successfully conquered the city later brought their families to the verdant coast. The barbarians are slightly larger and hairier than the coastal natives, and the men like to keep their full beards. Otherwise, it would be difficult to distinguish the Astoks by their appearance alone. The Astoks do have their own language, however, and speak Midani with a harsh, almost threatening accent. Most natives have grown accustomed to these invaders. But former political heavyweights-holy leaders, courtiers, wealthy merchants, and military personnel-are irritated that these sweating barbarians are not only among them, but are adapting quite well.
Government
The Ruler:
Caliph Ubar khel Muhif, Khan of the Astok people, is the former leader of a barbarian hill tribe. He was recently enlightened and enlisted in the service of Umara's former caliph. After a disastrous series of battles with the city of Muluk, Khel Muhif staged a palace revolution, deposed the old braids that hang down their backs. caliph, married the caliph's daughter, and re- order before Qudra's troops arrived. Faced with the choice between a long siege and recognizing the coup, the mamluks hailed khel Muhif as the new leader of Umara.
To the surprise of many, khel Muhif has proved himself a capable ruler, though his court is still stocked with other barbarians. His only wife, Princess Maran ber Ubar, is his confidant and advisor.
The Court:
khel Muhif relies heavily on the advice of his wife, Princess Maran ber Ubar, daughter of the former caliph. Though he married Muran to claim the throne, he has come to admire her wisdom, and considers her the beloved jewel of an enlightened land. She, in turn, uses her position of power to integrate the Astok people into the population and to preserve the rights of the former nobles and merchants in the city. She loves the Khan as he does her. Though her rights are in some ways diminished, she likes his people's customs of having a single wife and no permissible divorce.
Opposing the princess is ur-Khan Mostok, a faithful follower of Khan Ubar. (He never refers to his old friend as "caliph.") Mostok feels his leader has become soft, decadent, and perhaps even "bewitched" by the love of his wife. When the revolution came, Mostok expected a quick bit of looting and debauchery before fleeing back to the hills. Instead, his leader remained in Umara, and, out of loyalty, he stayed too. Mostok is as uncomfortable with the city people as they are with him. He distrusts them, and awaits the day Umara's citizens will turn on his kind. He suspects that the princess is part of some larger plot along these lines.
Defences
- 3,000-man elite palace guard
- all members of age of the Astok tribe
- 2,000-man mercenary force, comprising other tribesmen, no unit larger than 400 men
- four separate mamluk military societies of 500 men each
- a 2,000-man local militia
- a 600-man cavalry, officially disbanded
- a six-ship navy, officially disbanded (formerly had ten ships, but four have been sold to the city of Muluk).
Industry & Trade
Points of interest
Major Mosques:
- Botu'Astok
- Jisan of the Floods
- Kor the Venerable
- Selan the Beautiful Moon
Botu'Astok is a legendary figure worshipped by the Astoks, who claim he is the primogenitor of their people. The caliph has decreed that Botu'Astok must be worshipped in the mosque as other deities; as such, Botu'Astok is considered a common god. Apparently, Botu'Astok does not object to his new surroundings, for his priests continue to receive their spells. In fact, many Umaran natives have taken to Botu'Astok as a god representing change and rebirth, and they hope the installation of a new ruling family will bring about a favorable change in the city's fortunes.
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