Istaflumina
Istaflumina is a region of fertile river plains and rolling hills bounded by the deep Ashurian Desert on the west and the high Zakros Mountains on the east. Isolated by these barriers, this region has changed more slowly than other parts of Libynos. As a result, it is the location of some of the most ancient cities in the world, now developed into city-states supported by the plentiful agricultural resources of the area. The fertile plain around the central rivers combines with the protecting mountain range to yield bountiful harvests, enough to feed the heavily urbanized populations.
Being home to civilizations whose roots go back to ancient times, ancient stories are told here and, in several cities, records of long-ago ages are carefully maintained. They recall a time when the empire of the Assurians reached far to the west, including the lands now covered by the sands of the Ashurian Desert. In those days, these western lands were much wetter than they are now, with grasses and crops growing amid cities and settlements. But then, more than 3,600 years ago, the Tropic of Arden was created and the lands changed. The western Zakros Mountains exploded with volcanic activity. The winds also changed, and with that the lifegiving rains ceased to fall in those western lands. Those grassy plains where the Assurians forged an empire dried up and were covered with ash, and later, sand. They had no choice but to withdraw to their original homeland in the valley of the two rivers where conditions were much better.
The rivers there ran more strongly, with plenty of water to irrigate crops. In these new circumstances, fewer people were needed to farm and they were able to produce food for many more people. The city-states grew much larger, and the kings had people available to build beautiful civic buildings and strong walls, and to field large armies. The various kingdoms of the area rose and fell as empires: Zumarians, Assurians, Hakhadians, Adenians, Ealimites, Parphelonians, and more.
About 1,000 years ago, the poles of the world shifted, and the climate took another change. This time, Istaflumina became cooler, and farming became slightly more difficult. The land is still mostly good and well-watered, but crops do not grow as quickly and more hands are needed to grow enough food for everyone. This is probably part of the reason that no empire is currently ascendant throughout the region; more people needed for farming leaves fewer available as soldiers. However, the balance is always subject to change.
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