Imya of Axuum
Imya is in eastern Libynos, on a broad peninsula between the Boiling Sea and the Ruby Sea. Separated from Numeda to the northwest by the Karaman Mountains, the country has very different terrain than its desert neighbor. The northeast has verdant woodlands while the central plain is well-watered and lightly-wooded savannah. Coastline makes up about two-thirds of the country’s border, and sea industries provide a livelihood for many people.
For most of its history, Imya, secure behind the barrier of the Karaman Mountains, was left largely alone by the great powers of Libynos. It has long traded with other peoples, largely through the sea lanes via its major ports, but otherwise has been a bit of a backwater. Then, about 250 years, ships of the Kingdom of Axuum from central Libynos landed in Imya’s coastal cities, bearing marines and siege equipment. The complacent Imyans had but a small army that the forces of the invaders completely overwhelmed. In less than a year, Axuum had secured all of the major settlements of Imya and began the process of stripping the land of as much wealth as possible.
Today, Imya is ruled by a royal governor (known as the nem-mulya) appointed by King Urtigaddi of Axuum. Governors (or mulyas) with authority over cities and regions within Imya are appointed by the nem-mulya at Saphar from the local population, but are expected in return to pay tribute to the nem-mulya and to pay the requisite tributes and taxes required by the king. Axuumite traders have a monopoly on exports; Imyan merchants or craftspeople can sell quantities of goods only within the country or to an Axuumite, not to any foreign traders. (Personal sales to foreigners are grudgingly permitted, though officials often check up on businesses that seem to attract a lot of foreign customers.)
Of course, the Axuumite monopoly has led to efforts to circumvent these restrictions.
Fishing villages line the Imyan coast, and a fishing boat during the day can easily become a smuggler’s boat at night. This requires contacts outside the country, though, because a small boat needs to meet another boat or ship at sea, not try to sail hundreds of miles to the nearest country that is not Axuum. One place where smugglers have found good success is along the far northern coast of Imya. From a sheltered bay or cove, a small boat can transport cargo to one of the mountainous islands in Cinnabar Bay, where another boat can pick it up and carry it on to the markets in Shabbis. Such smuggling is dangerous, as the nem-mulya is known to employ spies, but some Imyans are sufficiently angry or desperate to take such risks, particularly if it allows them to strike back at those who are siphoning off the wealth of their country.
Other Imyans express their displeasure with the Axuum dominion by contacting Numedan corsairs with information on the day and time of the departure of richly-laden merchant ships, anticipating that the corsairs will be willing to reward such useful information, or at least pay something for it the next time.
In addition to establishing a trade monopoly, Axuum has made other changes in Imya to increase the amount of wealth taken from the area. For example, the criminal code in Imya was modified to ensure an adequate supply of convicts sentenced to serve in the adamantium mines in the Karaman Mountains. Also, about 30 years ago the king of Axuum decided to introduce great elephants into Imya’s central savannah to increase the availability of ivory. Several towns and villages were displaced to give the elephants plenty of room to roam; now only the smallest villages are left in what has come to be called “Elephant Country.”
At least outwardly, most of the people of Imya worship the deities of Khemit, which were introduced by the Axuumites with the conquest. In many locales, temples and shrines to the old gods were simply allowed to fall to ruin while larger, more elaborate temples to the new gods were built. Despite the risks of discovery, some Imyans managed to pass down knowledge of the old ways and continue to worship the old gods, though in secret. After two and a half centuries, however, fewer Imyans recall the ancient prayers and rituals.
The changes imposed by Axuum have been backed up by a strong contingent of the Royal Army, which has been stationed in Imya since the conquest. (The king feels it does soldiers good to have a chance to be active outside the country, and it keeps them sharp in case Axuum should ever be threatened.) Each city has at least one company of soldiers billeted there in a fortress or reinforced barracks, and even some towns are required to host a contingent of Axuumite troops.
Region
Imya of Axuum
Comments