The Empire of Raq

The Grand Empire

11% Dragonborn

6% Half-Orcs

2% Halflings

1% Others

Salt

Silk

Spices

Weapons

The Empire of Raq was one of the Realms of Ahlus.

## History

The Empire of Raq was the first of the nations of Ahlus to be created, when Tohmos chose the first of the Ivory Emperors to receive his gift of nobility. For nearly nine hundred years it existed in central Ahlus, an Imperial Realm stretching from its western borders with Anorcor to the eastern coast of Tourmalini'i, containing nearly all of the Ironfangs, the entirety of the Shifting Dunes, and the jungles around Tvia Bay.

The Empire of Raq enjoyed prosperous rivalries with its neighbouring states, but this would in time catch the eye of the King of Tulis, seeking to expand the dominion of his lands. King Aubin IV Allaire would barter passage of his armies from the southwest through the territories of Lachlen through a marriage between his son and heir and the daughter of the ruler of the neighbouring Kingdom, whilst legions of mercenaries swept through passages weaving through the Iron Fangs to strike from the east.

King Aubin brought with him mages and wizards from the Guild of the Crimson Blossom, and their joined might would fell the Grand Empire. As part of their agreement, the Guild would claim the gemstone mines that were rich and numerous along the eastern aspect of the territory, whilst Tulis sought to reap the benefits of its new lands. The Empire had been built upon hundreds of miles of fertile grasslands, its coasts forested and ripe with sturdy timber. A booming population provided workforces and armies beyond that of the Tulisian borders, but this would in time serve against the Allaire family’s interests.

Supposedly granted a vision in the dark of tunnels winding, a miner would throw down his pick and instead turn upon his masters, wielding magical abilities previously unseen. Men resolute screamed themselves to death in the night and any that attempted to cut him down found themselves crushed into the dusty cobbles by hands of great unstoppable force. The more learned have since mused that the miner surely located the vessel of a genie of some sort, on account of the sudden development of powers, but in time even this would falter. Having served the purpose intended, the being behind these talents cast him aside, claiming another and another, stirring rebellion and dissent across Tulisian-occupied Raq. Eventually, an injured military general, left blinded from the wars when Tulis first invaded was regranted his sight in exchange for servitude. The man that would become the Sultan Igmilum would cause the fracturing of the Empire of Raq, forcing Tulisian administrators out and prompting immediate civil war and struggles over dominion of the lands of the Ivory Emperors.

By 876AG, the Empire of Raq had fragmented into five new Realms - Aaydda, Nidaynia, Ra-Larara, Ra-Galthe and Tviatin.

## Society

The people of the Empire of Raq were as varied and broad in culture as the regions over which it reached. Those few that settled within the Shifting Dunes did as the sands did and moved from place to place, living nomadic lives that periodically visited the cities sheltered within hills and mountains alike to trade. Those within the Ironfangs specialised in masonry and metalworking through construction of underground citadels that often put them in conflict with the dwarves of Mol Boramm and the denizens of the depths far below.

The Empire of Raq was ruled by an non-hereditary series of Ivory Emperors, each successive individual chosen by the one before. While familial relations did occur, it was instead more typical for the current Emperor to name their most zeal servant to take their place - declaring as the Empire and the Emperor were one and the same, it is only fitting that the most competent seneschal of the latter should protect the former.

The provision of gifts featured heavily through Qalraq culture. Though including the more literal and obvious sense of the word with regard to offers made to the Emperor and other authority figures, all manner of matters mundane were presented also as gift given - whether it be a meal prepared come nightfall, directions offered to a trade caravan or a kind word whispered in the correct ear.

Clothing and fashion within the Empire of Raq combined both refined finery with rugged practicality. Loose fitting robes and kaftans were favoured, particularly so those hued lightly as not to retain the heat of the sun, saches of lightweight silk to protect eyes and airways from the sand and arid air that western winds often stir into passing storms.