Nergamesh (NURR-gah-mesh)

Nergamesh is a large and populous human nation on the eastern side of the southern jungles. Its hardy people worship the sacred duality of the god Etro, believing that the waxing and waning of the moon dictates the fortunes of mortalkind. Reflecting this is the kingdom's long history, marked by the violent rise and fall of dynasties. The nation has been refounded from naught but ashes several times over the past millenia.

Contents

Music

Forest City by mrainbowwj

Above: Nergamesh is a nation built atop the ancient legacy of Hargal, its people ever united under the rule of the divine Dragon Kings. Current generations raise their edifices besides the monuments of their forebears.

Location and climate

Nergamesh is cut-off from the Heartlands by the mountain realm of Achillonia and the warlike Amazons that dwell within.
Nergamesh is a vast jungle realm nestled between the White Peaks of Achillonia and the southern seas. It is a land of verdant jungles, craggy cliffs covered in vegetation, razor-sharp mesas that hide rain-swept oases, dark cenotes, great rivers, waterfalls and marshlands that stretch for miles upon miles.

Societal structure

The society of Nergamesh is divided into militaristic orders. The kingdom has a sovereign monarch, but beyond that recognizes no societal classes typical to a modern feudalism. Hargali culture adores physical power and strength of body, and thus it Is no great surprise that their society has been shaped by martial ideals. Each militaristic order (called “guards”) is represented by a totem beast that very much dictates the standing and reputation of the order. These orders form a hierarchy that – most often – one must climb through, should one desire to reach the highest levels. Each order is smaller and more influential than the last, meaning that the order of the Jackal consists of most of the population but holds little political power, while the Hydra Lords number in perhaps a dozen and yet command entire armies.
Governmental decisions are voted on in the Grand Moot – a gathering of the representatives of each Guard. Although the lowest-ranking classes are the largest, they have the least votes on any particular subject. A Guard has more votes to spend in the Moot than any lower Guard, but less than any higher Guard.
The hargali are tolerant of all races, but not of foreigners. Anyone is welcome within their borders regardless of their innate abilities or past history, but once there, all must adhere to the rules and doctrines of their society. Foreigners are treated with the same ruthlessly exploitative practices as born citizens. Everyone must pay taxes and otherwise pull their weight in society, and many foreigners have even been forcibly conscripted into one of the Guard after spending enough time in Nergamesh.

Class system

The Guard are listed below in order of influence. Every hargali man is recruited into one of the guard and subjected to military training, with women being responsible for matters of home and state in times of war. Clerics and druids are not included in the class system but enjoy high societal status and superior civil rights.

1. Dragon King: the dragon is the one creature above all, to which all must pay homage. Commands the Dragon Princes -- the bloodsworn protectors of the eternal Dragon Throne.
2. Hydra Lords: the hydra is a multi-headed beast, each working in unison, unkillable and unyielding. Military commanders.
3. Wyvern Guard: the wyvern is the most noble of beasts, a dauntless spirit, and a deadly predator. Elite of the elite, flying cavalry.
4. Basilisk Guard: the basilisk is a rare, mystical thing that inspires awe in the hearts of men and beast alike. Spellcaster warriors.
5. Tiger Guard: the tiger is the apex-predator; the ever-feared ruler of the jungle. Elite forces, few in number but bred for battle.
6. Heron Guard: the heron is the ever-observant master of its realm, and an indomitable warrior. Domestic guardians and keepers of the peace.
7. Condor Guard: the condor is a graceful hunter and a bringer of inescapable death, but frail. Marksman corps, elevated in rank above other basic military arms thanks to their deadliness.
8. Caiman Guard: the caiman is a merciless and uncaring killer, but lacking in ambition or guile. Veteran warriors, used as shock troopers and heavy infantry.
9. Viper Guard: the viper is a careful stalker and a deadly assassin, but flees before the mighty. Rogues, spies, archers, assasins, scouts and the like, used martially and domestically.
10. Jackal Guard: the fierce jackal is deadly in numbers, but easily cowed. Light infantry, backbone of hargali armies, traditionally wield shields with flails or spears.

Religion

The principles deities of the hargali are Ixel and Shaxel, the two faces of Etro. Ixel is a young man and represents life and healing. He is associated with the full moon. Shaxel is an old man that represents death and doom. He is associated with the new moon. Together they are represented as twins; symbols of duality and the cycle of life and death. Other widely worshipped deities are Ulfar (light) and Nyx (darkness) as well as Bahamut.
Clerics and druids are highly respected in Nergamesh. Clerics of Ixel and Shaxel are not only numerous but also influential. Clerics of other deities are less common.

Other names
Third Great Kingdom of Hargal
DETAILS
Civilization type
Kingdom
Founding Date
? ER
Government System
Stratocracy
Power Structure
Unitary state
Current leader
?
Leader title
Dragon King
Capital
Ur

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DEMOGRAPHY AND POPULATION
Nergali
Grey elves
Notable minority populations
Wood elves
Wood gnomes
Demonym
Nergali
Hargali
Languages
Kipput
Common

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Neighboring Nations

• Achillonia

The Nefarine Tree by Saimain

Above: Nergamesh is a vast nation with numerous wondrous and magical wonders hidden in its jungles.

SIGGRAPH Demo by Gabriel Yeganyan

Above: Some of the ruins of past Hargali dynasties are ancient enough to have faded from the memory of Nergamesh's people.

Falls Village 2 by Jeremy Fenske

Above: Such cliffside settlements can be found in the northern regions of Nergamesh, either by the slopes of the White Peaks or the sheer cliff of the Hargal Step.

Culture

Lunar Superstition

The prominence of the worship of Ixel and Shaxel (deities associated with the waxing and waning of the moon) makes the entire society of the hargali revolve around the lunar cycle. The new moon is the time of the dark god Shaxel, and it is a common belief that any works of men are cursed by Shaxel during that time; the hargali rarely begin great undertakings or military efforts during a new moon, and their society as a whole quiets down as citizens attempt to “weather the storm” of Shaxel’s evil reign. The old moon is the time of Ixel, the benevolent god of healing and rebirth, and during this time hargali society blossoms in all aspects; military campaigns are launched, civil constructions resume, grand festivals are held, and traders embark on voyages across Amanor.

Optimism

The perpetual cycle of misfortune and fortune has seeped into the very hearts and minds of the hargali and made them adverse to melancholy and greatly appreciative of times of joy. They accept even the greatest of setbacks and tragedies with grim stoicism, but revel in mirthful communal celebrations for even the most mundane of reasons. Hargali that travel abroad continue to pay close watch to the lunar cycle and plan their actions accordingly. Thanks to their rather positive outlook on life, hargali in foreign lands often make friends with gnomes.

Religious Resignation

When faced with bad odds and great adversity hargali are known to surrender rather easily, for they are quick to blame the god Shaxel for their misfortune. After all, isn’t it simply pointless to resist one’s fate by going against the will of a god? A defeated hargali will meet his end with little defiance, believing that it is natural for things to die so that they can rise again, stronger.

Language

The ancient language of the hargali is known as Kipput and has endured relatively unchanged for thousands of years. Common is exceedingly common in Nergamesh, due to the massive amounts of emigrants coming to live their lives within the strictly ordered society of the Hargali.

Magic

Druids are quite common. Hargali druidism is most often centered on worshipping nature deities. Wizardry is rare and there are perhaps only one or two magical academies in the whole kingdom. Sorcerers are common due to the fact that hargali bloodlines have ever mixed with those of dragons (and fey, more rarely).

Economy

Although the solitary mountains of the jungle hide valuable minerals, the people of ancient hargal have always thrived on the bounties provided by the uncounter myriad of flora and fauna found within their kingdom. Foodstuffs, exotic beasts and rare plants are found in abundance, giving rise to immense population growth and flourishing trade.

Technological level

Mixture of ancient and mid-feudal technology. The martial and religious society of Nergamesh relies strongly on tradition. Scientific growth is sacrificed in favor of civil advances and war efforts. Should the Hargali lack in any area of construction, military or civil engineering, they make up for it with magic.

Below: The Nergali prefer to build their plazas and markets as bulky, sheltered colonnades.

Guild Wars concept art

Military

All hargali men are trained warriors that can potentially be levied to fight in a war. Different Guards provide different types of troops for hargali armies from archers to infantry and even flying monsters. The hargali rarely field landbound cavalry due to their distinct inefficacy in jungle terrain. Instead, the hargali train mighty beasts of war: basilisks, wyverns, hydras and monstrous gorgobulls. Mightiest dragon kings have even made pacts with black wyrms.

Foreign relations

Nergamesh is always squabbling with the Dominion of Menyamar to the east. Border incidents with the amazon temples in the north are common, but the tribes of warrior maidens have not unified to march into hargali jungles for centuries. Nergamesh has ever found reliable trade partners to the east and south across the sea.

History

Nergamesh is called the “Third Great Kingdom of Hargal” due to the fact the hargali have suffered two nigh-apocalyptic conquests in the past two thousand years. Both times the warlike lizard-people of Menyamar have been instrumental in the fall of hargali dynasties. However, the tough and resilient men of Hargal have always risen from the ashes and prevailed, throwing out their conquerors and building their vast realm anew atop blood and bones.