Asargam people
General description
The Asargam people were the only human people of Emniyama. They lived there since times unimaginable, but only during the Era of the Trees did they rise to power. Their homeland was Emniyamas now devastated Southwest, from where they expanded, building an empire without equal. At the height of their power they were technologically advanced enough to stretch out to three other continents - Auchulpa, Erana and Iseigu - where they eradicated those opposing them and established colonies. They eventually angered the gods by becoming too powerful. This led to the destruction of their people in an event called 'The Great Scorching', which started the short lived Era of the Fire and eventually led to todays Era of the Earth.
History
Actually not much is known about the Asargam people. Especially the early phases of their history are shrouded in the mists of the past. This is due to the Great Scorching, which devastated the entire homeland of the Asargam people as well as all major settlements elsewhere. This divine intervention was far fom surgical though. Many peoples were affected and one can hardly imagine, how many less known or widespread cultures were wiped out in the process as well or at least reduced to a state of utter weightlessness.
Sources on their history
What remains is mostly archaeological evidence. In some places on Emniyama, their are still half molten walls or remnants of fundaments. On Auchulpa nothing of Asargam origin has been found, but the Vayazza, a local sea elf people, mention them in some places in their historical writings. The Thujha, an illiterate Joun people of southern Auchulpa made stone carvings on their battles with the Asargam, one of which even offers a vivid impression of the Asargam Empires most well known weapons, the Vimãna. Another Auchulpa source on them is a battle song of the local Raijonneen.
Apart from that, some Andaperna peoples and the precursors of the Messellat Mdûlûn mention them in their historical writings, albeit only briefly. One of the most obvious influences they left on Erana is that on Messellat Mdûlûn architecture, which borrowed strongly from Asargams stone architecture.
The peoples of Iseigu were and are still illiterate. Their history is recorded in songs, that are meticulously learned by heart across the many islands of Iseigu. These songs form some kind of common memory culture and are a strong element of unity across Iseigu. As the Asargam Empire has also invaded the continent of Iseigu at the height of its power, they became incorporated into the songs. Their main value is the preservation of many sound- and colour-related information on the Asargam people, that would otherwise have been lost.
Apart from that, some Andaperna peoples and the precursors of the Messellat Mdûlûn mention them in their historical writings, albeit only briefly. One of the most obvious influences they left on Erana is that on Messellat Mdûlûn architecture, which borrowed strongly from Asargams stone architecture.
The peoples of Iseigu were and are still illiterate. Their history is recorded in songs, that are meticulously learned by heart across the many islands of Iseigu. These songs form some kind of common memory culture and are a strong element of unity across Iseigu. As the Asargam Empire has also invaded the continent of Iseigu at the height of its power, they became incorporated into the songs. Their main value is the preservation of many sound- and colour-related information on the Asargam people, that would otherwise have been lost.
Organization
The only political condition the Asargam people lived in we know today is the Asargam Empire, which was a hereditary monarchy. The government was so complex though, that it is very likely, that the monarchy was a relatively new invention. Many elements, like the orders of wizards, of which the Order of the Five Sages is the most well known and some kind of elder council of unclear finction and power indicate, that democratic or oligarchic elements were also present and probably inherited from earlier stages of Asargams history.
Otherwise the government was roughly dicided into three partitions: organisation/civil affairs, military and science/research/magic. How exactly these three parts worked together is unknown. Interestingly the emperor was not the head of the military, but rather the civil affairs, though, although some emperors also ventured into the other two fields, indicating that they were somewhat absolute from the system.
Economy, culture and crafts
The Asargam people were tremendously skilled stonesmiths and were known to have had massive structures, built of stone blocks weighing several hundred kilograms to two or three tons. Most of the rocks on Emniyama are hard stones like granite, yet they managed to cut the stones so exactly, that even dry-built walls were said to have been airtight.
A lot less is known about almost every other aspect of their culture. They were very technologically advanced and also used magic in unimaginable ways. It can safely be said that they mastered crafts in a lot of different fields.
Their origins are pretty much unknown though. Whether they were pastoralists or practised agriculture early on will probably always stay a secret. Also what goods they produced and how they traded with other peoples is mostly a mystery. The only hints to such information are in some Andaperna scriptures, which are notoriously detailled, when things revolve around trade lelated issues. There the Asargam people are described as being interested in establishing trade with the Andaperna people and that they were very interested in honey.
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