Al-Wazif

Al-Wazif (pronounced ahl wozz-EEF) is a grassland region of Yrth. Citizens of al-Wazif are called Wazifis, of which there are approximately six million.
== Ecology ==
Al-Wazif is primarily a rolling grassland, hilly in the north and flattening out in the south and east, with fishing villages dotting the coast and rivers. Antelope, wild horses, striders and bison are common, and everywhere their herds go, the predators follow--powerful-jawed bushwolves, wolves, lions, and jackals, depending on the region. The grass hides countless small mammals, and quails, grouse, and hawks patrol the skies in search of them.
== Culture ==
Al-Wazif is primarily Sunni Muslim, retaining many of their cultural habits and traditions of their Earthly counterparts. Muslims of Yrth pray towards the holy city of Geb'al-Din, and make journeys to it annually.
=== Nonhumans ===
Few nonhumans are native to al-Wazif, although those that live there are treated fairly well. There are few elves, almost no dwarves, some halfling villages, and many goblins in the cities.
=== Ranks and Status ===
Positions in government use a mishmash of Arabic and Turkish titles from Earth.
Level 	Title 	Other Titles
Admin Rank 6	Bey 	
5 	Emir 	
4 	Atabeg 	
3 	Khedive	Tribal Sheikhs and Landed 'Amirs
2 	Ra'is 	Tribal Sheikhs and Landed 'Amirs
Amirs, military leaders approximate to knights, hold Military Rank 1-4.
Military Rank	Title
4 	Amir al-umara / Amir of Amirs
3 	Amir (for instance, of a regiment of horsemen or sailors)
2 	Knight captain
1 	Lesser commander
0 	Ordinary soldiers
=== Food and Drink ===
Alcohol is generally not partaken in Al-Wazif society, but it is still legal, considered a custom of the Christian minority in the region.Banestorm, p.68
=== Magic ===
The Islam of Yrth has no particular prohibition against magic. There are no exceptions made between regular and magical crimes. Just as a kitchen knife can be a deadly weapon, so too can magic be used for good or evil. Wazifi wizards are required to declare themselves on completing their course of basic studies, often serving the government for two years in the army. Wazifi magicians are concerned about the anti-magic movements in al-Haz, as it may forbid them from journeying Geb'al-Din. As in most places on Yrth, making pacts with demonic creatures is absolutely prohibited.
=== Banestorm Response ===
There is supposedly a group called "The Roving Inspectors" that capture or collect Banestorm victims in al-Wazif.p.89
== Major Settlements ==
* Bannock
* Quazr As-Sawh
* As-Siyassi
*Shaniyabad
* Tredroy (officially its own state)
* Gebel Thamad
* Sa'azraq
== History ==
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=== Before al-Wazif ===
* 1160: The Holy City of Geb'al Din is founded in what would eventually become al-Haz.
*The First Megalan War: In the late 1300s, Megalan legions invaded the Al-Wazif region, though this was before it was officially known as such.
* The Ivorian War (1424-1428): A crusade by Prince Ivor. Captured some territory, but stalled out.
* The "Grand Crusade": A crusade by Aurelius I.
=== Al-Wazif's Early Years ===
* 1444 AD: Northern Muslims of the region get tired of being crusaded against, officially founding al-Wazif.Banestorm, p.9
* 1519: Megalan legions based in Cardiel attack al-Wazif in "The Easter Crusade", pushing into the east. Cardiel, still greatly upset by the crusades, revolts. Megalan forces retreat back to Cardiel to quash riots, losing the ground they gained in al-Wazif. Megalos signs a truce with al-Wazif in 1525.
=== The Counterattacks ===
* 1555: Al-Wazif attacks Megalos in the decade-long Bannock War.
** Cardien Muslims rebuke the effort
** 1557: al-Wazif penetrates Megalan border to gain back lost groundBanestorm, p.12
** 1567: al-Wazif captures Bannock and (briefly) Craine.
* 1589: al-Haz, al-Wazif and Cardiel grant charter to Tredroy, confirming its place as an independent entity.
* 1805: Al-Wazif helps Cardiel annex the Duchy of Hadaton
* 1837: The Blueshoal Conflict, a local dispute between two nobles, turns into a war between al-Wazif and Cardiel. It is quickly resolves.
=== The Border Wars and Aftermath ===
* 1840: The Border Wars establish the boundary between al-Wazif and Megalos. Bannock becomes Megalan again.
=== The Mages' War ===
* 1924, after many provocations, al-Wazif invades Megalos. Wazif armies capture Bannock (again) and besiege Craine and Raphael.Banestorm, p.14 
** Extensive use of mages in battle and support roles give Wazifi forces a powerful advantage against Megalos, particularly when facing the Hospitallers of New Jerusalem
** Megalan reinforcements arrive in the east, including mages of their own. This battle of fire vs fire results in the Great Raphael Fire,fanon title for event which levels most of the city.
* 1928, Megalos drives al-Wazif back across the original border. 
=== New Era and Frontier Wars ===
* 1989: Caliph Ishaq of al-Wazif dies; his son, Hafsa at-Talib succeeds him.
** Raid of 1989: Emir Ayyub captures Taveon of Dekamera during a raid by Hafsa 
* 1991: Frontier Bannock Wars: Emir Harun abd-Ishaq invents a pretext to attack Bannock (again).
** 1995: Both sides have lost thousands, and with little to show for it. Megalos legion generals use an ambiguously phrased command from the Emperor to sue for peace.
** 1999, the official end to the Bannock Wars
== Trivia ==
* Some Cardien ballads about recent wars between al-Wazif and Megalos use the melody from The Beatles' "Yesterday", although only outworlders (such at those from the Banestorms) recognize it.Banestorm, p.35
== References ==
* GURPS Banestorm, mainly p.129-137
Category:Fictional Settings