Tarwa'kem (Nation)
Built into the mountains on the northwestern coast of Halinor, Tarwa'kem has loads of history behind it and as much weight behind their contemporary power. While that might has been doubted in recent years with the ascension of the young Sultana, the combined influence of the Monetarist Council and their vast resources insures that Tarwa'kem remains a relevant and fearsome player on Aspiria.
Tarwa'kem is inspired by and uses Egyptian names, especially for its traditional dwarven population. While humans have grown more in influence, particularly in the power-centered ruling family and mercantile council, outside of those groups the sprawl of influence reflects a pan-Arabic region.
Structure
Tarwa'kem is ruled first and foremost by the Sultan (or Sultana, in the case of a female ruler). In theory their word is law; in practice, Tarwa'kem's strength is in its purse, and the Monetarist Council holds the purse strings. Traditionalists and progressives battle amongst the population but interestingly enough the Council tends to hold to traditions. The most charitable interpretation is that their preference is to guide the economy rather than the full breadth of law and order the Sultana must do; more pragmatic minds tend to believe that the money is just too good with business as is.
In theory all men in Tarwa'kem are created equal. In practice, of course, money defines the classes. At the top is naturally the Sultana and her family. As long as the line of succession remains clear, there's little more to say--however in the case of a lack of heir or, as happened most recently, an heir too young to take rule, things get a little trickier. Below this level are the League members, the elitest of the elite merchants that effectively dictate trade and keep the economy moving. They are joined by noble families and the eldest of the surviving dwarven clans. As the relative strength of noble claim and power dwindles (and so too does the coin), so too does social status. At the bottom live the impoverished, but even they sit above the slaves (and the D'yadyans).
In the Sixth Stygian Age the Karo'kem Dynasty began, ousting what had previously been a thousand and more years of dwarven rule. Many forget that the mountain kingdom was a stronghold of dwarven clans, so long they have been out of the forefront of power. Old clans still remain, however, as does their mark on what truly rules Tarwa'kem--the economy.
Culture
Tarwa'kem is a nation of extremes. Both incredible luxury and shocking poverty may be found here, but all must at least put on the airs. The truly destitute are the only ones without glamor; those merely struggling to exist find some opportunity for color in their wardrobe, some extravagence to adorn themselves, some show of charity or generosity to demonstrate to their friends that their status is higher than the truth. These little lies are a reflection of the culture--the truth is not so important as what one works towards. The people of Tarwa'kem are incredibly hard workers, and they believe that will make them wealthy. Nevermind if it's not yet true; it will be.
Of course, the sad conclusion that 'hard work makes wealth' and hard work as a virtue means that if one is not wealthy, one is not virtuous. So displays of wealth are cultural practice as well. The friction this generates among the nation's poor has found new fuel in their young Sultana Neema Karo'kem, newly ascended after coming of age and no longer bound by her mercantile advisors. New wiggle room has seen her struggling for ways for her nation's wealth to live ALL boats; this wiggling has inevitably drawn harsh criticism and rankling from the League. This resentment has not yet bubbled over, but sharp critique has started to fester deep in Tarwa'kem's people.
Particularly the capital city but all of Tarwa'kem celebrates the arts and the divine, particularly as it lends itself to ostentation. Their indulgence in blood sport both legal and not; in drugs both legal and not; and in lewder entertainments (both legal and not) is a reflection of their, well, drive to chase a profit whether legally or not. Their is a strong sense of individualism, an almost sanctity of caveat emptor, and a competitiveness that some question might go too far. Nevertheless, if one is seeking a melting pot of culture in the most bustling and varied cities in Halinor, one will find them nowhere but Tarwa'kem.
The wealth of mountains, the night of earth
Founding Date
Third Radiant Age
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Demonym
Tarwa'kin
Location
Notable Members
Comments