Ylmazeyir

The Centaur Peoples of the Desert have not always been prominent- only recently did the nation known as Ylmazeyir exist, within the last few Sultans of the Akyildiz- before, they existed as a nearly invisible collection of tribes in the desert. Now, within the past few decades, they have more firmly established their sovereignty over the desert.
They do not care for preserving the old nations or relics- they've established their capital in the ruins of the Fallen City, with the relics of the old worlds marking the borders of the region. They reject the temples and monuments and authorities of old gods which they do not worship.
They care little for impressive amounts of gold- part of the reason they have coins of glass, meant to be strung about one's person in decoration, is because actual metal ore is heavy. What worth is their weight in gold- they cannot carry statues around on their backs. Statues and grand relics are left scattered about the desert- they serve better as navigational landmarks than they ever will as monuments or treasures. The coins strung about one's personage is a symbol of wealth and their own reputation, the silk they wear shows more impressive status than laboring around pounds of gold.

Culture

Holidays and Ceremonies

While they have several holidays, they also have a few ceremonies- Chief amongst them is the Canticle of Gold and Glass. As stated, the Ylmazeyir Centaurs have little respect for permanent structures, for great monuments, for heavy things that will one day sink below the sands- but this does not mean they do not preserve their culture.
The Canticle of Gold and Glass is the most revered ceremony of the Ylmazeyir centaurs: an unending, cycling hymn comprised of thousands of verses, sung in an unending chain- at any time, one or one hundred are participating, but always at least one voice continues, relieved when another steps in. Others yet compose new verses, approved by the ruling Sultans, documenting major events. And if the end is reached before a new verse is added, the Canticle begins anew- the oral history of Ylmazeyir is recorded in this singular Canticle, which may take the greater part of the year of uninterrupted verse to cycle through. Each verse is recorded and saved, and any bard, any musician, any orator, is expected to have this Canticle close at hand, at least a few key verses. It both honors the past, and serves to educate the young centaurs of their history, and stands as a testament to the enduring nature of Ylmazeyir's people.
If oral history and written documents agree, this Canticle has been sung, uninterrupted, for 217 years. The newest verse being written details how Sultan Ihsan Akyildiz, White Star of the Sand Vast, banished Horus-Re, Hawk-Deity of the Sun, from Ylmazeyir's realm, claiming the monuments. Early drafts of this verse end with: "Gods to the Old Keepers of these lands are long gone- their relics sit ruined and worn, and we live on. These temples, these gods, are weathered and defiled by the sands of the Desert.

Death Rites and Traditions

Centaurs are herd creatures- they live and breath the presence of their herd-mates, and they are incredibly tuned to the behaviors and emotions of others around them. For the centaurs of Ylmazeyir, the loss of one of their own- through age, famine, disease, war, anything- is tantamount to a lost limb. But like a lost limb, there is often little to do after its departure than move forward and adjust. The centaurs of the sub-herd grieve- like the Canticle of Gold and Glass, song and tone defines much of their world. There is a grieving song, named the Hallowed Winds, which is wordless, but nevertheless, the herd will sing together, in pitching tones which mimic and harmonize the desert winds, carrying the fallen’s spirit through the sands. It is believed, in a great sense, that the winds of the desert are brought by the thundering herds of the dead, and that by singing with the winds, it calls this herd to take its newest member. And as quickly as the desert winds can shift, Ylmazeyir moves on. Members are permitted to still grieve, but it is considered poor form to let a grieving member fixate on the loss. There is a common saying with death in Ylmazeyir: “We are born with the inevitable fate of death, but we are not born to die. There are greater things to do than grieve for inevitable loss- the world is for the living.” The body is often left in the desert- it will be stripped of valuables, but clothes are often left, and the body will be permitted to rot and desiccate, feeding the other creatures of the desert. If a centaur passes outside of the desert, their body is often brought to the edges of the desert, where the desert winds reach them. And if they cannot be brought to the desert, they are burned, and the ashes preserved. The ashes are then brought home, to the desert winds, where its remains may fly in the winds, to the herd.

Military Uniforms

The uniforms of the soldiers differ, based on if they are part of the Akinji (archers) or the Sipahi (cavalry). The Akinji, whose names are often precious gems and metals found in or near the deserts, often wear lighter chainmail and leather-strip armor and barding, with colorful clothes underneath. The Sipahi, whose names are the flora endemic to the desert, often wear lighter plated barding, but still, wear colorful clothing underneath.
Ultimately, headwear is perhaps the most important form of clothing. Turbans are by far the most common, worn by both men and women. The decoration, color, and more often follows the rest of the traditions of clothing. If one is actively serving in the Akinji, they will wear three feathers from their helmets, or if they are civilians clothes, their headwear- a tail feather and two flight feathers from a bird of prey which they must catch without killing- a proof of their ingenuity, patience, and dexterity. If one is actively serving in the Sipahi, they will wear the rattle of a rattlesnake from a cord on their turban or helmet- like the Akinji, they must catch and harvest this without killing the creatures, as proof of their ability to apply force or mercy when necessary, to strike when needed, and predict the movements of one’s enemy. When either retire, they may keep the decorations on their turbans, but it is moved from the right side to the left, as signifying of their change in service.

Public Agenda

Construction of a new home and new realm within the dunes of the Kagreni Desert

Assets

The great Capitol is built within the ruins of a great fallen city where the statues and relics are used as building materials or converted into tools and new artwork.

History

The centaurs of Ylmazeyir existed prior as minor herds in the region of the desert, though prior to its creation- they remained just small enough, just mobile enough, and just tame enough that they escaped much notice of the world at large. But it was not a sophisticated existence. Small herds moved around, occasionally communicating with each other, but mostly keeping to themselves. When the desert appeared, they did not see it as a tragedy, they saw it as opportunity. Naturally evolved towards arid climes, they forged into the desert, a great herd migration, but instead of towards an oasis, away. To them, the inhospitable desert was a way away from the control of other peoples- Theoidor, it’s children, or any other empire. And there, they could trade and grow and live on their own terms.

Military

Occasionally raising groups of well trained centaurs to protect the nation, Ylmazeyir does not seek to have a large military. War does not promote trade and especially in the years of the current sultan, Al-Akyildiz, Jingoism has been mostly shunned.
This may change as fears of Southern Agression drive the centuars into a cautious position.

Religion

While the gods the centaurs favor wax and wane, there is one constant that all centaurs of Ylmazeyir respect, if not revere- the desert. Not the sun, not the rains, not a god of the desert- but the desert itself. Gods may come and go- after all, the weathered, ruined temple of an old Hawk-god was forgotten until now, and his presence banished all the same- but the desert is a constant reminder of their lives, a constant companion
Ylmazeyir's centaurs often worship a sub-sect of the Faerunian Pantheon whose gods favor craft, survival, and peace- however, Ylmazeyir's history is long and storied, and the gods often wax and wane in favor, and thus no god has ever stayed favored for long. During Sultan Ihsan's reign, the favored god has been Helm, god of protection.

Trade & Transport

The centaurs are dedicated traders and caravan tenders. They are experts at transporting exotic goods and services across the Boundless Kargeni Deserts.
Noted prominent Vesir Haseki Nuray Parlayildiz was appointed to promote trade and protect the Sultan's wishes in terms of trade and negotiations with those peoples that which trade flows through, such as the great empire to the west, Pearidor Empire or, the Peoples within the Congress of Northern Civilized Peoples

Infrastructure

The peoples of the desert have adapted to the harsh environment and created vast caravanasary networks used to promote trade and travel. These routes are often difficult for noncentaurs to travel along but make excellent hgihways for the Stallions of the Sands.

Everything carries the inevitable fate of decay, but life is for the living

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

Anthem

Predecessor Organization

Akyildiz

Training Level

Semi-professional

Veterancy Level

Trained

Head of State

Sultan Ihsan Al-Akyildiz

Government System

Meritocracy

Power Structure

Feudal state

Currency

Glass and Gold Coinage, Inscribed with intricate signatures of the Sultans

Major Exports

Desert Roses are a rare and beuatiful flower harvested carefully in the Capital of Ylmazeyir . The centaurs have developed a way to create a dangerous poison usable in military operations.

Subsidiary Organizations