Common Legends and Lore: Aljann
by Sir Rezaldo Perelli, Master of the Adventurers Guild
Year - 750
“Thank you for reading, brave adventurers, this issue I bring you to the burning sands of Aljann, the mighty kingdom of the River Sharo, and member of the human alliance.
In the southern reaches of the continent of Pyrennia stretches deserts from coast to coast, an unending sea of sands and sun where almost nothing lives. Cutting through the heart of this wasteland is the life-giving River Sharo, whose flooded banks feed not only Aljann, but much of The Pact. It is here that immense cities have been erected over the centuries, monuments and statues which instill awe at their grandiosity and longevity.
For Aljann is an old kingdom with endless myth and legend. Those of which can be seen in the pyramids and spires that are so old not even King Anshar, the ruler of Aljann, can name their builders. Because of the many treasure-laden tombs and ruins built and lost over the centuries, explorers flock to the region.
Of all human kingdoms, Aljann is the one with the most precarious political situation. While Mansguard struggles with court intrigue, and Tempesta with public corruption, Aljann has openly fought several bloody civil wars in it’s past. Each of the three main cities in Aljann are more like competitors than arms of a single body. The latest civil war only ended 15 years ago, leading to the seat of power moving from Sharremish to Oemm, which has cut deep scars.
To understand Aljann is to understand the cities and thier issues:
Furtherst up river is Oemm, current seat of King Anshar. This grain powerhouse has accumulated incredible wealth, enough to challenge even Tempesta. Oemm is known for being the prime beneficiary of the Aljanni slavery system, with the landscape full of noble houses each with a small army of Ekaran slaves. The large and powerful noble class of Oemm is both famous and infamous for their revelry and excess. While Oemm rules Aljann, it is seen by the other powers as illegitimate, as it won the previous civil war through treacherous means.
Next is Sharremish, the previous rulers of Aljann. In an aged land, they are by far the ones with the deepest past, according to legend they are refugees from an ancient curse with turned their ancestors to leather men roaming the desert, unable to die. Sharremish is a proud and militaristic power, with what is arguably the toughest military man for man in all of The Pact. It is in this city where the largest of pyramids lie, and the deadliest of assassins hide in shadow. Sharremish, while proud, is currently a neutered city, humiliated by it’s defeat in the civil war when Oemm attacked the city in a surprise attack.
Last is Bhavana Sahi, perhaps the least “Aljanni” of the cities. During earlier wars Sharremish and Oemm conquered the Ekaran people and enslaved their entire civilization. To process and work this massive slave workforce a trading post on The River Sharo grew to massive proportions, becoming just as large and powerful as the other cities. To help quell the increasingly rebellious Ekara, the Aljanni allowed more and more Ekaran influence and power, even permitting them to rule the city, at least in name. Bhavana Sahi these days seems to be a captive power, not wanting to be in the Aljanni Kingdom, but not powerful enough to break away.
I have only scratched the surface of this confusing, but fantastic kingdom, and I am sure many of my future entries will dive deeper into the region.”
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