Kamuhn

## Overview

Kamuhn is a large and powerful empire in the northwest of Surala during the Second Age on Illen. Its population, agriculture, and commerce heavily rely upon the River Nej and the Great Delta, as it is hot and dry, receiving little rain, save for in a few coastal regions.

It has an expansive history, since the land now known as Kamuhn today was first inhabited by humans after the Great War. Kamuhn is known for being expansionist and militaristic, especially to the neighboring nations it has conquered and to those it wishes to conquer one day. Thus, a variety of people's inhabit Kamuhn in addition to vast majority of Khameen like the Bovani, Neri, Jadei, Kani, Gazani, Hokari, T'burhdi, Pylmerians, and Iluryians.

## History

### First Peoples

Since the beginning of the Second Age, Thak Dwarves inhabited the land upon the Nej until the Great War, when they retreated into the Mountains of Myth of Thakuvanel. Now uninhabited, humans from the surrounding lands came to live there after the Great War; they feared the dragons and the Great Warlock and much of the land was scorched, so it took years for flora and fauna to return and allow for humans to live there. In the north, there came four tribes: Kadar, Bulaq, Si’ai, and Chanmar; there were two in the south: Ka'um and Geli.

For a time there was peace, but war broke out for control of the fertile lands on the banks of the river lands. After the Wars of the Nej, the Kadar tribe dominated the north and the Ka'um tribe ruled the south.

### First Dynasty

Rather than warring again, the King of Ka’uma married the Queen of Kadar, thus becoming co-monarchs of Nejrale, the first Empire upon the Nej. The dynasty of Ka’uma-Kadar lasted nearly four centuries, until surrounding raiders, nomadic remnants of Geli and Si’ai, began to conquer their territory; Musai, which was at the time called Mrasanum, was captured and the royal family was killed, save for one son, Turmahn, who was married to the Geli Princess and a daughter, Klea, who was married to the Si’ai Prince.

The Age of Turmoil was marked by the rule of these nomadic tribes turned sedentary oppressors of the Nejreme, the people of the Nej, and the subsequent civil war. The Si'ai controlled the north and the Geli the south, though together they ruled from Mrasanum, as if they were continuing the Ka'uma-Kadar dynasty with Turmahn and Klea. However, not all fell to their rule.

The League of the Delta refused their rule and aided resistance against them. It was made up of Etyr, Samyr, Terlur, Mu'adak (Anasandros), Keshlur, and Keshar, its leader. Nineteen years after the fall of Mrasanum, it was liberated from the Si’ai and Geli; the rest of the north was freed soon after. Klea and her children were taken into custody by the League of the Delta, while Turmahn and his family fled south to the Geli lands, where he mustered an army, declaring himself the Emperor of the Second Nejrale Empire, King of Geli, and Protector of Si’ai.

The League offered him treaty, if they kept the Princess and her family alive. He refused their terms, instead offering them peace if they sent him his sister and her family. To his chagrin, the League of the Delta sent him his sister and her family in wooden sarcophaguses, their corpses long-rotten.

The Rebellion of Liberation raged for a year, but neither side gained much territory or advantage on the other, thus it became a decade’s long conflict, reliant heavily upon espionage and assassination. Eventually, Turmahn and his family were killed, so the Geli were without a leader to unify them. Then the League marched south, while the Geli retreated and fought among each other for power, until it reached Turlur and pushed the Geli out of Nejrale. Some of the Geli went into Neris, while others went further south and integrated with the T'burhdi.

### Second Dynasty

After the war, the League of the Delta ruled in the interim until a new dynasty could be properly established. It was agreed that the six ruling houses of the League would unify through many marriages, until there was a clear monarch descending from each house to sit the throne and rule, though this would take many generations.

Their plan was as this:

* An heir of Etyr would marry an heir of Mu'adak, an heir of Keshlur would marry an heir of Samyr, and an heir of Terlur would marry an heir of Keshar.
* Heirs of Etyr and Mu'adak would marry heirs of Keshlur and Samyr, as well as Terlur and Keshar.
* Heirs of Etyr, Mu'adak, Keshlur, and Samyr would marry heirs of Etyr, Mu'adak, Terlur, and Keshar and heirs of Keshlur, Samyr, Terlur, and Keshar
* Their children would then marry each other, and their eldest son would be crowned Emperor

On the Day of Love, the great houses assembled in Keshar with all their families and noble servants in attendance to watch the first of many weddings that would take place over many generations. But then the army of Keshar marched into the Chapel of Jewels, capturing the greatest families of Nejrale. Then the Lord of Keshar declared himself Emperor and none were able to oppose him. Thus the dynasty of Jarsam was established and ruled over the new empire upon the Nej: Kamnar, which lasted nearly a thousand years.

The Emperors of Jarsam ruled so long as they did primarily due to their political savvy by marrying other great houses frequently, ensuring their loyalty, and by maintaining a powerful royal army and bureaucracy. They established the Orders of Scribes, Scholars, Coinsmen, Priests, and Viziers, who performed many important duties across the empire, and were able to keep an eye on regional nobles. Also, at more tenuous times of their reign, they slowly conquered Hokar and Kan, keeping the regional nobles’ armies away from the heartland and making them happy by letting them share in the wealth of conquest.

The Conquest of Hokar took place over twenty years, after the Pylmerian Emperor Anasandro humiliated Kamnar, when he sacked and colonized Mu'adak and renamed it Anasandros. The Conquest of Kan took place after a great flood, heavier than the usual annual floods, ruining the crops of Kamnai farmers. And though there was much food in reserve, there was panic that many could starve. Nobles were frustrated with the royal family, as some started to believe the Gods no longer favored them to rule. To quell their anger, the Emperor proposed to conquer Kan, an island nation rich with food and gold, as well as potential slaves, though far weaker than Kamnar. He spent five years conquering Kan, though it should have only taken him months to do so.

Kamnar, however, fell into trouble like Nejrale before it by invasions of outlanders. The Jadei, Bovani, and Neri, converged upon the empire at similar times, taking control over half of it. The Emperor was unable to handle the threat, so it was his Grand Vizier who led the empire from total collpase during the Era of Ruin, the decade that Kamnar fell from grace and splendor.

### Third Dynasty

The Grand Vizier ceded those lands that had been conquered already to the invaders in exchange for peace. During this time, he overthrew the Emperor, established the dynasty of Efanem and the Kingdom of Kamuhn, and determined how he would liberate his land and people.

When war resumed, he had many of the foreign leaders assassinated, and in the wake of the absence of their leadership, resumed full control over the Great Delta and northern coast from the Bovani and Jadei, until pushing them out of Kamuhn and Hokar, although he left Kan to Jadeu. Then he went south, and liberated it from the Neri, who had taken the Osumyr Hills. When his Reconquest of Kamuhn was complete, he bid for peace; the other powers accepted this, however, not all in Kamuhn were satisfied with what they had retaken.

### Fourth Dynasty

There were two centuries of peace and prosperity under house Efanem, but a cadet branch, Nakharn, was proud of its military tradition and the old glory of Kamuhn that could only be found in battle and conquest. When rumors of another Neri invasion began to stir, house Nakharn, leaders of the Royal Military, began to prepare for war, while the Emperor of Efanem preferred peace. Thus House Nakharn rose to power after a coup by Grand General Karnon, a cousin to the Emperor.

Emperor Karnon, known to those outside of Kamuhn as Karnon the Cruel, established the Order of Generals and Admirals and portrayed himself and his kin as favored by the Gods. He ordered the Scribes to alter the Primordial Truths and the Scriptures, which the Order of Priests thought was a disgrace. Thus, the Grand Priest was removed from the Grand Council, while the Grand General and Grand Admiral were given seats. However, due to House Nakharn's military might, it has maintained power until the present day, since roughly two centuries ago, although plots are astir to unseat them from their great power.

House Nakharn was ruthless when it conquered foreign lands. First, they went to Neris, where Karnon the Cruel savagely murdered the Neri and pillaged their land; only a remnant escaped, who's descendants now inhabit New Neris. Next, he went to the Bovani Coast and did the same. Finally, he assembled a fleet and set sail for Jadeu, which was conquered within a year; the nearby islands of Gazan and Kan offered themselves willingly into the realm of Kamuhn, after hearing of the Emperor’s cruelty.

Karnon the Cruel then established Anapket, also called Efsai, as his capital and ordered for the Palace of Pyramids to be built. He ruled a peaceful realm until his death by a secret dagger in the shadows found its way into his heart.

At news of his death, the Bovani Coast rebelled with the help of Erdan and Baqaar, but the new emperor saw to it to put the rebellion down quickly. Yet, a pattern was set for House Nakharn. While its line and rule were strong, the conquered regions often and frequently rebelled against Kamuhn. These rebellions were often aided by other powers such as Erdan, Baqaar, and Adum. Thus a long game of politics and war has been played for nearly two centuries between these notable nations of Surala.

There have been eleven rebellions in Bovan and five in Jadeu, yet they occur less often with time due to Kameen colonization of these conquered lands. The colonizers are sympathetic to their homeland and enjoy elevated status in the other lands.

The Kameen have successfully quelled every rebellion except for one: the Bovani Civil War of 2A 1746. Many in western Bovan sought independence, while the east was conflicted among itself. Kameen officials rounded up and executed many known sympathizers to the Bovani independence movement in the west in hopes of scaring the populace into complacency, or at least causing it to be divided, but it had the opposite effect. An enraged public killed Kameen guards and soldiers with anything they could: poison, sword, spear, dagger, and stone. When Bovani warriors, who were being aided by the Erdani, Baqaari, and Adumites, marched to liberate their western cities, they found them empty of soldiers but full of loyalists who cheered their arrival. Soon after, they received a message from the Emperor declaring that there could be peace and the west could secede, so long as the east remained a part of Kamuhn.

While many military resources have been dedicated to quelling rebellions, Kamuhn has made many military excursions beyond its borders. With its navy, it has raided and sacked cities in Bovan, Erdan, Baqaar, and Adum. It has also ventured south into central Surala, establishing fortified outposts along the Nej and its navigable tributaries. Though it has not annexed these lands formally, Kamuhn exerts considerable control wherever their outposts are built; many soldiers and colonists are sent south to engage in research, diplomacy, and trade. Though some tribes and kingdoms ally themselves closely to the Kameen, not all do, leading to frequent skirmishes between them and the Kameen.

#### Present Day

Emperor Ranahm and Crown Prince Ahmon are leading the effort to end the rebellion in East Bovan.

Prince Ramos resides at the Fort of Dunes, a massive fortress twenty miles south of Anapket. He has been charged with commanding it's current garrison of 10,000 men and 1,000 new recruits into the Royal Legion.

In their absence from the capital, Princess Apaclea is serving as Regent of Kamuhn in Anapket.

## Geography

### Regions

Kamuhn wholly controls six nations and half of a seventh. These regions are Kamuhn, Neris, Hokar, East Bovan, Gazan, Jadeu, and Kan.

#### Kamuhn

Kamuhn is mostly dry and hot, except upon the coast and in its far south, where it tends to be more temperate and humid, though still warm and with rain only occasionally.

The River Nej is the most significant feature of Kamuhn's geography. It is a great river that many depend on for life and livelihood, stretching well over one thousand miles from the center of Surala and winding its way north through the Sea of Dunes and into the Great Delta, where it disperses in many trails that lead into the sea.

In the south, the Osumyr Hills rise slowly yet reach high into the sky. Because of their height, they capture the occasional rainclouds from the southeast that are able to blow through Adum and plains of southeast Neris; these rains are much weaker than those faced by lands to the south. The hills are host to many plants and crops, though these are often able to withstand droughts. Flora that requires more water is grown closer to the river, where irrigated fields cover the banks of the Nej.

However, in recent times, the rulers of House Thalemra, have been digging craters into the peaks of the hills to capture rainwater, so that a more consistent water supply can be had to water the hillside crops. It is their hope that they can grow more expensive crops that require more water, which currently only grew nearby the Nej, so they can generate more wealth for themselves and their land.

The center of Kamuhn is dominated the Sea of Dunes, a massive desert bisected by the Nej and caught between the Mountains of Myth to the west and the Plateau of Hokar to the east. It is hot and dry, with rare, but powerful winds that can shift the dunes and stir up massive sandstorms.

The Great Delta in the north is where most Kameen live due to its fertile lands that are heavily irrigated and farmed. Its large populace enjoy a more pleasant climate than those in the heartland, but it is still quite hot and dry, though sandstorms and torrential winds are extremely rare.

The Maze of Mesas marks the border between the Kameen heartland and the Bovani Coast. Those who try to pass through it face certain death from the sun or creatures that lurk within. It is a labyrinth with sharp, winding turns and steep, rising mesas and buttes block the way and view, making it hard to navigate. It can only be passed in two places: the North Road along the coast of the Sea of Slaves and the Dry Gate that blocks the way between the Maze and the Mountains of Myth.

#### Neris

To its west, Neris is marked by the Osumyr Hills, which it shares with Kamuhn, though its portion is far from the Nej. Its northern mountains, the Snake Fang Mountains, are covered by the thick Serpent's Jungle, while southeast Neris rolls mostly flat in the fertile Plains of Vengeance, as the Kameen call it; the Neri refer to it as the Plains of Sorrow, for that is where they were beaten in battle by Kamuhn.

#### Hokar

Along its coast, Hokar is blanketed by the hilly Jungle of Cul Daal, with only sparse clearings for fields. Cul Daal is sandwiched between the Golden Sea and the Plateau of Hokar that dominates the lands to its west and Kamuhn's east.

#### Bovan

Bovan is marked by the well-irrigated Bas'shur Plains and the small Dehser Hills that dot its northern coast until it runs into the Guardian Mountains in its south, where the land becomes hotter and drier.

#### Gazan

Gazan is a small island, having only one mountain. the Lonely Peak, at its center and a few hills surrounding it, until they descend into flat plains that level into the sea.

#### Jadeu

The Dagger Mountains stab the sky in its southwest, while the north and southeast are only slightly hilly and temperate.

#### Kan

Kan has the lush, gently rolling Golden Hills that provide bountiful harvests.

### Notable Cities

There are many cities across the Empire of Kamuhn. Due to the hot and dry climate of the land, proximity to water is a necessity for life, so that cities of note are upon the Nej, within the Delta, or along the sea coast, save for three in Neris. Notable cities in the empire are regional centers for trade and government with populations of 20,000 or more.

* Kamuhn
	+ Turlur - south gate
	+ Turyr - south garden
	+ Mephman - central route
	+ Efadak - new seaport
	+ Nejak - river place
	+ Kassam - desert central
	+ Anapket (Efsai) - royal water land
	+ Samshar - middle gem
	+ Mansam - center middle
	+ Keshanak - north royal place
	+ Nejyr - Nej garden
	+ Luret - delta gate
	+ Railur - west gate
	+ Anemkarak - king's boat port
	+ Keshar - north gem (Kesh'shar) - colloquially referred to as Keshar because of double "sh" sound when formally said "Kesh'shar"
	+ Aisak - holy place
	+ Manet - center delta
	+ Musai - old capital (Mrasanum)
	+ Anasandros - city of Anasandro (Mu'adak)
	+ Keshlur - north gate
	+ Etyr - delta garden
	+ Samyr - middle garden
	+ Turet - south delta
	+ Terlur - east gate
	+ Etak - delta place
	+ Keshadak - north seaport
	+ Terkarak - east seaport
* Neris
	+ Kerram (not upon the Nej, Delta or coast)
	+ Sejoë (not upon the Nej, Delta or coast)
	+ Taloë
	+ Namroë
	+ Namram
	+ Sejram (not upon the Nej, Delta or coast)
	+ Talram
* Hokar
	+ Hassan
	+ Tahalla
	+ Korat
	+ Tadakar
	+ Sehenat
	+ Korsan
	+ Hojat
	+ Sehendekar
* East Bovan (Bovan/Bovani Coast)
	+ Neem
	+ Bejaïn
	+ Navuran
	+ Eeben
	+ Ajaïe
	+ Bovar
* Gazan
	+ Gazan
* Jadeu
	+ Beruyan
	+ Ishran
	+ Jashirba
	+ Telbera
	+ Jeru
	+ Tevra
* Kan
	+ Lera
	+ Pasyra
	+ Pannel
	+ Lessam

## Government

The Empire of Kamuhn is ruled by its Emperor, who is aided by the Grand Council that advises him and manages the Orders, bureaucratic organizations that perform governmental duties across the empire.

Regions of Kamuhn are more directly governed by Overseers, nobles appointed by the Emperor from their respective regions.

Cities in Kamuhn are ruled by noble families and their households.

### Royal Family

The royal family consists of the Emperor, his wife, children, and grandchildren, as well as his siblings, nephews, and nieces.

Members of the royal family are addressed as *your majesty* and *your radiance.*

### Grand Council

The Grand Council consists of the Grand Vizier, Grand General, Grand Admiral, Grand Coinsman, Grand Scholar, and Grand Scribe.

The current Grand Council members are as follows:

* Grand Vizier Ihmet Kaht, Lord of Musai
* Grand General Ahkmahn ?
* Grand Admiral Akanon Safu, Lord of Keshar
* Grand Coinsman Bakahn Azub, Lord of Luret
* Grand Scholar Eijahl, a commoner from Anasandros
* Grand Scribe Ihem Anab, Lord of Anemkarak

### Grand Orders

There are six Grand Orders in Kamuhn:

* Order of Viziers
	+ The Viziers are responsible for conducting most governance across the empire. They assist the other Orders in their operations, as well as conducting judicial and civil service affairs. Viziers serve their nobles closely, often taking more of an administrative role than their employer.
* Order of Generals
	+ The Generals are responsible for managing the Royal Army and overseeing regional nobles', as well as constructing and operating military bases and expeditions within and outside the empire.
* Order of Admirals
	+ The Admirals are responsible for managing the Royal Navy and the ports across the empire. They oversee shipbuilding for both the naval and merchant fleets.
* Order of Coinsmen
	+ The Coinsmen are responsible for managing the finances of the empire. They manage banks and advise local rulers on trade and tax policies, as well as researching investments for the governing nobles.
* Order of Scholars
	+ The Scholars are responsible for conducting research about the world to discover new technologies and teaching the nobles. They conduct most of their research at the Pyramid of Scholars in Anapket, while individual scholars are sent to the homes of nobles where they can teach the heirs of the empire.
* Order of Scribes
	+ The Scribes are responsible with writing, recording, and sending messages, news, and imperial decrees across the Empire. They operate a vast network of trained doves that carry them.

Each order has its own duties that it fulfills across the Empire.

The Order of Priests is no longer associated with the royal government, but is still subject to its regulations and rules. It publicly maintains an amicable façade of reverence to the royal family, but the true and secret feelings of the priests and priestesses of Kamuhn are much darker. They conduct worship services and sacrifices to the six Gods, and praise the royal family. But in the depths of their temples, they practice secret dark magic.

### Noble Families

Nobles in Kamuhn are addressed as *my lord* and *my lady* by those of lower rank. Those of similar or higher rank who choose to use these titles do so out of respect.

The noble families of the Empire and their respective cities are as follows:

* Kamuhn
	+ Turlur - Kurnak
	+ Turyr - Efkurnak
	+ Mephman - Thalemra
	+ Efadak - Efthalemra
	+ Nejak - Ihanabra
	+ Kassam - Rekhemra
	+ Anapket - Nakharn
	+ Samshar - Efnakharn
	+ Mansam - Samemra
	+ Keshanak - Nejemra
	+ Nejyr - Efazub
	+ Luret - Azub
	+ Railur - Raiahd
	+ Anemkarak - Anab
	+ Keshar - Safu
	+ Aisak - Aisahd
	+ Manet - Manahd
	+ Musai - Kaht
	+ Anasandros - Noble Council of Anasandros (there are many noble families in Anasandros)
	+ Keshlur - Elanab
	+ Etyr - Emyr
	+ Samyr - Samemyr
	+ Turet - Turemyr
	+ Terlur - Nejharn
	+ Etak - Etthalemra
	+ Keshadak - Anadharn
	+ Terkarak - Terahd
* Neris
	+ Kerram
	+ Sejoë
	+ Taloë
	+ Namroë
	+ Namram
	+ Sejram
	+ Talram
* Hokar
	+ Hassan
	+ Tahalla
	+ Korat
	+ Tadakar
	+ Sehenat
	+ Korsan
	+ Hojat
	+ Sehendekar
* East Bovan
	+ Neem
	+ Bejaïn
	+ Navuran
	+ Eeben
	+ Ajaïe
	+ Bovar
* Gazan
	+ Gazan
* Jadeu
	+ Beruyan
	+ Ishran
	+ Jashirba
	+ Telbera
	+ Jeru
	+ Tevra
* Kan
	+ Lera
	+ Pasyra
	+ Pannel
	+ Lessam

### Overseers

Overseers, being noble, can be referred to in the aforementioned ways, but *your highness* is often used, as it helps to distinguish Overseers from regular nobles.

The current Overseers in the Empire are as follows:

* Kamuhn: Princess Regent Apaclea
* Neris: Lord Chaakar Hait
* Hokar: Lady Krasna K'lau
* East Bovan: Lord Saash Vabir
* Kan: Lord Agalla Devar
* Jadeu: Lord Namti Reshar
* Gazan: Lord Gefar Agol

### Capital Cities

The current capital of Kamuhn under its fourth dynasty, Nakharn, is Anapket. Kamuhn's previous capital was Musai, under the third dynasty, Efanem. The second dynasty, Jarsam, ruled from both Keshar, its ancestral city, and Musai, when the nation was known as Kamnar. Mrasanum, now called Musai, was the capital of Nejrale, for the first dynasty, Ka'uma-Kadar.

## Language

The Kameen language is largely made up of monosyllabic words that are combined with others to make other words. There are a few that are multiple syllables. These words are made up of symbols with various sounds.

List of Monosyllabic Words:

* Nej - river
* An - royal
* Em - man
* Ap - water
* Ket - land
* Lur - gate
* Et - delta
* Meph (mef) - route
* Man - center
* Kar - boat
* Os - plant
* Um - ball
* Yr (eer) - garden
* Ad - sea
* Kesh - north
* Tur - south
* Mu - old
* Ef - new
* Shar - gem
* Sam - central
* Sai - capital
* Tar - east
* Rai - west
* Ak - place
* Kas - desert
* Em - man
* En - woman
* Nak - stone
* Kur - brave
* Ulm - grey
* Kru - love
* On - leader
* Ahm - above
* Ram - all
* Ran - all
* Ih - dignified
* Met - one
* Nat - foreigner
* Ab - servant
* Ei - student
* Jahl - knowledge
* Bak -
* Han -
* Az -
* Ub -
* Ahk -
* Er - strength
* Ahd - protector
* Rekh - great
* Ra - many
* Ais - holy
* Mahn -

List of Multiple Syllable Words:

* Akan - inspiration
* Emen- person
* Emenra - people
* Apa - loyal
* Clea - flower
* Eser - gentle
* Emra - family
* Emshar - proud
* Jobaisem - ?

List of Symbols: