Region of Lymia
A land of wonder, stories, and colorful bazaars overflowing with exotic luxuries, Lymia was a land that inspired people to be bold and brave. Known as the center of commerce across the world, images of honorable desert warriors, haughty sand wizards in flowy robes on flying carpets and monstrous snake people in hidden alleys came to mind when the mysterious land was discussed among foreigners - and they were not far from the truth.
Culture
The Ishkari culture is heavily influenced by honorable dealings, a respect for people and nature, and a cautious approach to magic and those that wield it. The valleys of Fallen Ishkar were the most abundant centers of agriculture in the ancient world, before volatile magic and vengeful gods destroyed it. The Ishkari of today carry on the traditions of old. They are a colorful people that enjoys a life in luxury and abundance of wonderful food, drinks, and storytelling.
Nature is dangerous and precious. Traversing the hazardous wildlands is a job for only the brave or despe-rate. The forces of nature humble mortals, but it also feeds them, and it demands respect and protection.
Magic is volatile and unpredictable. It should be wielded only by those that honor the past, and those that steer clear of the corruption it so often brings with it.
Find ways to make yourself useful. Never shut the door in the face of the needy, but don’t overstay your welcome either. Find a way to give back to the community that nurtured you and cared for you.
Life is short and precious. Live it to its fullest, and savor in all the wonders it brings. Quality AND quantity. Share the luxuries of life with those you love.
The dead envy the living. Appease the dead in their afterlife, so they do not come back and prey on the living.
The highlands are wild, but important. Be mindful of the people in the mountains, for they are wild and violent. Appreciate their strength, for the people in the valleys rely upon it to thrive in peace and wealth.
Deal fairly, or suffer greatly. Trade is the lifeblood of life in these lands. Honor your deals, so that others will want to deal with you in the future. To break a deal is to invoke the wrath of the gods, and it is punished accordingly.
Be open to new ideas. History teaches us that a closed mind lead to sorrow and the doom of entire communities. The world is full of wonders, and our people is nothing if not ingenious and open-minded towards foreign ideas.
History
Much of Lymias ancient history were lost during the fall of the Ishkari empire, buried beneath the sands in forgotten ruins and morbid catacombs of restless dead. These are the few historical remarks that are widely recognized across the Homelands as historically accurate.
Ancient times
The origins of Lymia today began with the ancient empire of Ishkar, known and feared throughout the Homelands in ancient times for their volatile magic and effective war campaigns against adjacent tribes and smaller kingdoms. The Ishkari Empire was vast at its heights, spanning from the augorian archipelago to the East, all the way to the Sea of Storms to the West. Many spectacular magical items and arcane designs can be traced back to this ancient empire, and their skill with spellcrafting has never been matched by subsequent empires across the Homelands. However, the splendor of this old empire would not last. Suffering from an internal uprising of the people, the Ishkari Pantheon of deities became involved in the revolutions, which escalated into full deicide when the seven children of Ishra, the patron goddess and mother of all deities, were slayed by her own children. Cursing her children and their followers in her death, she caused the fertile river valleys of the empire to wither and die, and the sands of the deserts soon covered the land, destroying the empire from the inside out.The dark ages
In the centuries that followed, the Ishkari found themselves incapable of restoring their empire to its former glory, and the region split into smaller realms that struggled to survive. The Ishkari became dependent on trade with the people they had formerly waged war upon, and their magical secrets died with these unsuccessful petty states to be buried and forgotten under the sands. Life outside of the cities and towns became the domain of highly specialized people, such as the desert dwarves and the sandwalker lizardfolk tribes.Phelorian protectorate
When the Phelorian Wars began, the region of Lymia consisted of some of the few city-states that had survived their brutal past and inhospitable surroundings. The Ishkari had relied upon trade with their surroundings, but their neighbors also relied on safe passage through the desert lands to reach foreign markets, which enabled the Ishkari to thrive, despite the curse of their fallen goddess. The Phelorian armies quickly dispatched of the feeble Lymian forces during the wars that began around 35 years ago, and the Lymians capitulated to favorable terms that would allow them great degrees of home rule by a degree of the Undying Emperor in Pheloria. During the wars, Lymia would boost the coffers of Pheloria, allowing her to continue her war efforts across the Homelands. Lymia did not rise up against Phelorian rule when the armies of the Undead Emperor imploded on the battlefields of distant Baleria. The continuous trade between Lymia and her distant ruler remain busy, and nothing please the rulers of the Lymian city-states more than a steady supply of gold and customers.Technological Level
The height of Lymian technology were without a doubt the steam-powered airships and the utilization of firearms, of which the arquebus were the most lethal. Transport by airship and possession of firearms were costly endeavors that were mostly reserved for the rich, which included adventurers that had recently come across small fortunes of their own.
Other notable Lymian technologies included the printing press. Newspapers in the region ranged from satirical prints to weekly newspapers that were sold by street vendors.
Many facets of Lymian life were influenced by magic and technology alike. Small gadgets of various mundane purposes, such as sweeping floors or providing a light breeze in the desert heat, were sold by skilled tinkerers in workshops across the cities. Most families possessed at least one or two of these minor magical trinkets, and they happily showed them off to visitors.
Type
Geopolitical, Protectorate
Capital
Alternative Names
Fallen Ishkar
Predecessor Organization
Demonym
Lymian
Government System
Plutocracy
Official State Religion
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