Gimbarish

The **Republic of Gimbarish**, known in ancient times as **Redjetesh**, is a nation located at the centre-north of the continent of Palkyras. It is surrounded by Sulgobur and Arvora to the northwest; the Tornarin Empire to the west; Bivos to the southwest; Vozolaz and Gornystar to the south; Iral, Iruwasa, and Siangwaan to the southeast; the Dunomin Ocean to the east; Uvjora and Heronoja to the northeast; and Paltirion with its many neighbouring republics to the north.

Its capital is the dusty metropolis of Gimbarish City, which is located at its southern parts along the Iaro River (Baval Olhi in Vozolaz).

## Flag

The National Flag of Gimbarish is a green rectangular banner with a yellow emblem in the middle, the Deẃ Jatin (Rē), which means "Hands of God (of the Bright Sun)". The green background symbolises life, and the religious-cultural emblem symbolises God having the endless power to maintain, oversee, and bless all of His creations, or His eternal protection over life itself.

## History

From the Kingdom of Rai and its division into two successors in the Second Age, to Redjetesh of the Sixteenth Age and its successors to the Sarmelonid era and beyond, the peoples who lived to the north of the Gauvajut lands had built and sustained one of the oldest civilisations on Jerde. They endured through many prosperous ages, catastrophes, and conquests, creating a long (though somewhat fragmented) history that tells of their survival and resilience. Their Battle of Kedesha against the unstable Gauvajut dynasties and their victory characterised the Fifteenth Age, and as a powerful nation during the Sixteenth Age their taxes towards any Eastern ship that visited its harbours sparked rivalries between it and the nations of the East.

At some time after the Kyrvotin Invasion and before the Cyan Senate-Vozonid War, the Gimbarsian civilisation got its current name under the rule of Pharaoh (Emperor) Watarnge, who built a garden-pyramid as his laboratory-fortress where its history is being preserved for extensive study. Later, its signature monotheist religion was founded by another pharaoh, Akhenaten, who claimed that the God of the Sun revealed His divine message to him, and his religion supplanted Gimbarish's native deities and endured through the millenia. Even then, the religion became more centralised to its current monotheist form, with the pharaoh losing his divine authority so only Jatin is to be worshipped, and idols of any form to be totally disallowed in ceremonies to Him (though He is represented with a solar disk with arms, like in this flag).

In this era, Gimbarish faced the ruin of the Tornarin conquest and lost much of its technology during the Second Kyrvotin Invasion like its neighbours. Then after rebuilding itself, it was conquered again by the Thralondians of the east, who forced its pharaoh-emperor to reduce much of his regalia to simple white robes and a turban. The remaining members of the old Gimbarsian state occupied the Vozonid province of Gornystar, where they formed an army out of runaway slaves in defiance against the Thralondian oppressors.

Gimbarish sometimes gained brief periods of independence by knighthoods of guerrilla crusaders that fought their Thralondian rulers in the name of their God and their people, until the later emperors joined their cause to celebrate the collapse of their oppressors after the ruinous Wraithstorm. At the same time, rebellions that broke out against nearby tyrants secretly used the Armed Sun of Jatin as their emblem, aided by the Gornystaris and the restored Gimbarsian government's forces.

Even then, the last Gimbarsian emperor, Agarenau, was overthrown in a revolution by the general Hunumash, as the latter sought to rapidly modernise Gimbarish to prepare it for war against its surrounding enemies. Meanwhile, Agarenau's grand vizier Pashnaweti went into Mirukuz. Although he intended to free several hostages from being executed, he and his followers helped a slave revolt escort its people into nearby Bīvos, where they are hailed as heroes. Hunumash's plans did help Gimbarish fend off the incursions of the Tornarin Empire in the west and the Trimallean government of Azgo to the south, until the collapse of the latter when Gimbarish offered to help the Azgovians rebuild their economy.

Gimbarish weathered more assaults from the Second Wraithstorm, the Abductor aliens, and the Wannaenid conquest of northern Azgo, causing its border and its buffer state of Gornystar to be fortified against those newer threats.

### Alternate timelines

In one alternate timeline, Hunumuash was killed by a Wannaenid bombing during his siege of Gimbarish City, while the Imperial Household, Pashnaweti, and his family were protected by the Vasannor (a team of superheroes from a Wannae-ruled 23rd century). Without their rebellion and stunned by the sudden arrival of Wannaenid aircraft over their domain, Hunumash's forces surrender and Gimbarish remains a monarchy, its armies retaining many troops that would had been lost to civil war. Agarenau, keeping his royal title, orders Pashnaweti to lead an army to rescue his country's hostages, using a local slave rebellion to help them weaken their hated Mirkuzian crime cartels.

## Geography

Gimbarish occupies a large sand desert located at the centre of the continent. To its west lie dozens of mountain ranges that extend southward, where lush forests descend to the arid lowlands as they follow the eastward streams; and a series of cool, forested mountains to the east complete their resulting rain shadow, while also having their share of tributaries that feed the central Iaro River. While the wetlands along the Iaro River provide fertile soil for much of Gimbarish's crops, people also grow crops along the western hills. Beyond the eastern ranges, the lands along Gimbarish's seacoast enjoy a cool, breezy temperate climate.

* Gimbarish City
* Lalaitar - a city along the west
* Sabauri - the southwestern regions fed by rivers. Known for being an astronomer's haven.
* Ferosi - the eastern seacoast, Gimbarish's only access to the sea. Located west of the Nereana Sea right next to the Bay of Wolves.
* Poljerat - a port along the eastern seacoast.
* Perwapet - "House of Wolves". Before the Thralondian Conquest, it was a resort town for nobles notorious for a quarrel that escalated into a violent clash between several noblemen.
* Washargimbzi Mountains
* Red Peaks - three pyramids topped with great spinel gems, all tombs of ancient kings that were formerly dedicated to the falcon god Horuw.
	+ To Kekhaulid travellers from the far south, these mountain-tombs were known as the Nests of Pulutokas, as they associated Horuw as an aspect of their own falcon god.
* Abu Sokar - a village east of the capital across the Great River, higher along the Washargimbzi Mountains.
* Bianipad - an industrial city at the temperate east coast. Since ancient times, this city was known as the Town of a Thousand Forges, continuing to be an industrial powerhouse to this day.
	+ It is also known for its soda drinks, sports (especially jousting), and videogame championships.
	+ Bianipad also has a large community of Norse immigrants, mostly sportspeople and businesspeople. Some Gimbarsians, having already known Zvestarid, also call this city Bjalipadan or Pobjalid, meaning "the white iron city" referring to the Norse minority's lighter skin. Yet over time it became an affectionate term for the Bianipadian jousting team, known as the Snow Leopards.

## Politics

Gimbarish is a republic, headed by a President and a Vice President.

## Military

Gimbarish is protected by its Republican Guard, which amasses an armoury of flying vehicles to quickly navigate across the desert.

Currently, the Gimbarsian government is developing its own advanced machinery, using technology gathered from the Green Pyramid, foreign imports, or a combination of both.

The Medjai Guard of modern Gimbarish is a revived version of the historical knighthood of the same name. It was founded by revolutionaries who fought against the Thralondian oppressors, until the Gimbarsian civil war split the order in half, in what is known as the Crisis. They nevertheless sided with the victorious armies of Hunumash and joined forces with surrendering military units to fortify the south after Agarenau was put under house arrest.

## Economy

Gimbarish is a developing country, and its economy consisted mostly of mining, agriculture (especially in wheat, barley, and wool), fishing, and forging glass from the sands of its desert.

Its currency is the *dabin*, and each *dabin* is made of 100 *qedat* (singular: *qed*).

## Demographics

The Gimbarsian race is brown-skinned, with black curly hair and brown eyes. Occasionally, some Gimbarsians are born with red hair.

Norse minorities thrive in the eastern seaports and the northern borderlands. Contrary to popular belief, the Norse of northern Gimbarish and the east coast are of two different cultures, even using two languages: north Gimbarsian Norse is closer to the New Republics, and east Gimbarsian Norse is closer to the one used in Heronoja.

Vozonids thrive at the southern border, while the east is inhabited by native tribes related to the Sakautari.

Among the exceptions of the world, Gimbarish is one of several nations where Ontemazei and Greyfolk live freely without harrassment or persecution. The Gimbarsian revolution even allowed ethnic Terrans, especially defectors, to be granted true equality.

## Culture

See also: Gimbarsian glossary

Soccer, sand hockey, dunesurfing, and racing are popular sports in Gimbarish. Gimbarsian people are noted for their penchant for coffee, reading newspapers, and their love of crossword puzzles.

Cats are very popular animals in Gimbarish, and they are given a lot of respect. That tradition dates back to the country's ancient history, when they even venerated a cat as a goddess.

The western provinces of Gimbarish have a lot of astronomy clubs, who enjoyed observing the clearer skies for the stars.

## Religion

See also: Gimbarsian mythology

Gimbarish is notable for its monotheist religion, which was founded thousands of years ago by the charismatic emperor Akhenaten; it is therefore one of a handful of monotheist nations in a polytheist world, alongside its neighbour and ally Bivos, and the distant realms of Kalambour, Zarijana, and the Greyfolk nation of Qogandra. It is centred around the compassionate solar deity Aten (also known as "Jatin"), whom His worshippers believe to be the sole existing God, and the creator and ruler of all existence.

Although Aten is commonly depicted either as a disk with arms, or sometimes as endless light, Gimbarsians *never* use images to worship Him, as it is considered it to be worshipping the image instead of God. Aten is usually worshipped with prayers, hymns, and offerings of incense.

Historically, Gimbarsians used to worship the emperor Akhenaten as a representative of their God, and they used to practice superstitions such as being afraid of the night. As later worshippers focused more on the infinity of Aten, they no longer feared nighttime (but embraced it as "one of Aten's best creations", like outer space, the stars, and the Moon) and they no longer worshipped their emperors. However, they sometimes swear to Me'e(t), a former goddess that now symbolises righteousness and Aten's laws over all of Creation.

The souls of believers were said to go to the City of Light with Aten after death. Unbelievers' souls were said to wander endlessly in "the void between Creation", while evildoers were said to be consumed by Chaos.

Unlike most people on Jerde who practice cremation, Gimbarsian Atenists prefer to bury their dead, only cremating whenever there is a plague or there is not enough land to mark graves. And unlike their polytheistic ancestors, Atenist burials tend to be simple, as they believed that they cannot take anything with them to the grave. The most lavish treatments in an Atenist burial would consist mostly of music, burning scented herbs, ornate cloth over the coffin, and a tiled grave; but these are considered unnecessary unless the person is an important figure in life (such as a hero or a president).

Religious fanaticism, extremism, racism, vulgarity, mob violence, brawling (although in television and video games it is allowed), and sexism are rejected among Atenists, as those go against their belief in "doing no harm" and "ensuring justice and honour". The resulting attitude made those same believers to become more disciplined, rational, and merciful to anyone of any race -- even towards non-humans such as the despised Ontemazei and hybrids -- but merciless towards foes that were considered as "cruel" or "warmongers", such as the armies and rulers of the Thralondian Empire, and the raiders of Mirukuz.

Many Gimbarsians also refuse alcohol for its ability to misdirect its drinkers' minds, smoking for harming the lungs, and pork out of their cultural traditions; although those three are not necessarily forbidden in their religion.

### Other religions

Freedom of religion is a protected right in Gimbarish's constitution, and atheists are tolerated in its society. Many Gimbarsian Atenists are proud of their religious tolerance and diversity.

A minority of Gimbarsians are worshippers of the old gods, or descendants of earlier converts, and their religion is tolerated to honour their aid for Gimbarish's resistance movement against Thralondian authorities. They are known as the Old Way.

Minorities recognised and supported by the government include Asatruar at the north and eastern coast; and worshippers of the Vozonid gods in the southern border, and parts of the west and north.

## Diplomacy

### Azgo

The borderlands between northern Azgo and Gimbarish are notorious for their sports rivalry, which was reignited after Azgo overthrew the Trimallean rulers. Jousting fans from both countries were very notorious for a lot of cussing whenever the two countries play in any championship, even if it is a friendly match.

## Terminology

### Negative

* Face-Painters
* Painted-Eyes - mocking term towards ethnic Gimbarsians due to their tradition of face paint around their eyes.
* Pyramid-Dwellers
* Sun Worshippers

## Trivia

* Gimbarish was inspired largely by ancient Egypt, and modern Egypt during the 1890s (such as during the setting of the 1999 film *The Mummy*) to the 1950s. It was also based on pop culture depictions of ancient Egypt and the latter Ottoman Empire during its modernisation, as the
* It was also based on two alternate-history scenarios: "What if ancient Egypt survived into the Renaissance?", and "What if Atenism survived?"
	+ The depiction of "Atenism" in the Rabydosverse is based on the teachings of "Orthodox Atenism" and Christianity: the author considered it as an equivalent of Christianity for its monotheism (like Zoroastrianism), conversion and tolerance of outsiders, and its focus on benevolence and love.
	+ In fact, this comparison also resulted in "Aten's Crusaders", knights on bikes and skimmers that guarded Gimbarish's remnants until the defeat and expulsion of its Thralondian governor.
* Gimbarish was one of the author's earliest ideas for the Rabydosverse during its early years (late 2015), to poke fun at the fanmade video series Pooh's Adventures. In the earlier drafts, "Gimbarish" was a fictional mountain in Egypt where time-travellers in a train battled bandits riding on horses.
	+ "Gimbarish" was based on the words "Jebel" (Arabic for "mountain"), the word "gibberish", and the Black Speech term "gimbatul" (meaning "find them").

* Many Gimbarsians are amused by foreign depictions of their country as "overridden with mummies and the undead". They answer these with parodic works that have said mummies and zombies being cursed corpses that can be defeated by strong faith in Aten or bullets doused with antibiotics, or as ravenous victims infected and driven by a severe disease that need to be burned and torn apart by bladed machinery.
* One popular deity from ancient Gimbarish was Madjed, the "Smiter". At first, he was thought to be a figure covered in a white cloak, until Marnosyn artists depicted him as a burning skeleton wearing a white cloak and who fires beams from his eye sockets.

### Why is it "peculiar"?

* It is one of a few nations in the world with a monotheist majority.
* It is one of several nations in the world where Ontemazei are accepted as equals, rather than killed on sight or hated.
	+ It also extended the same protections and rights to Greyfolk and even Terrans, like Rukania and Sevraeja.