Second Szöhaúmu Empire

## Miszasakéth Szöhaúmu

Flag of the empire, known as the "Horned Flag" (Szöhaúmu: Oxaotuth Misza). Lining its borders is the Szöhaúmu Alphabet symbol for "?," and in the center is a representation of a general or warlord adorned with commanding horns.

### Motto

"Ta Paelun, ta Mehupaelun, a ta Utïvazahun" (English: An Idea, a Dream, and a Castle)

### Ethnic Groups

Primary: SzöhaúmuMinority: Tűvcí, Ószutanu, ..., ..., Zhómno, ..., Hemno, Bala

### Religion

Primary: Collectivist PaelunismMinority: Individualist Paelunism, Cűwótóq, Sorcerer Paelunism, Neléda

### Population

~12,985,000

The **Second Szöhaúmu Empire** (Szöhaúmu: Miszasaké[th] Szöhaúmu Öbe̋), sometimes called by its homeland of **Meszöhaúmu** (Szöhaúmu: Meszöhaúmu[n]) for short is a major human empire in Mézaxómu on the continent of Zumäro (Szöhaúmu: Zumezahu[th]). It is located primarily along the Pahovöthava River, upon which most of its important cities such as Akaafósi, Vazamehun, and Bekétóxi are found. It is the overlord of the feudal polities of , , , , , , , , , , , , and , as well as the protectorates of the Mbavó, , , and .

## Etymology

The Szöhaúmu Empire received its name from the ethnic founders, elite, and plurality of the empire: the Szöhaúmu people. The term "Szöhaúmu" is unknown in origin and stretches back for nearly two millenia in various forms, with the oldest writings referring to themselves as the "Sziúhaúmu." The nickname for the empire of "Meszöhaúmu" stems from *me[th]* and *szöhaúmu*, literally translating as "Szöhaúmu land."

## History

The over 10,000-year prehistory of Meszöhaúmu prior to the dominance of the Szöhaúmu is very fragmentary. It is known that immediately before the current period, the Szöhaúmu came from the west along a primarily southern route, largely avoiding the lakes in which the Zhómno, Hemno, and Hozhéno ancestors already lived. The culture and language of the people who lived along the Pahovöthava are as a result lost, although the Bala claim descent as the native inhabitants of the lower section of the river. Records from the only contemporary authors in Ásdend (Szöhaúmu: "Pahozathame[th]) don't provide a concrete answer, but the term *Hirkadána Fáran, "*Hirkadána Delta," being used to refer to the mouth of the Pahovöthava in ancient sources provides at least some evidence in support of the Rgdanic hypothesis. Such theories and claims have been strongly denied and suppressed by historic Szöhaúmu powers who (would until recently) portray the empire(s) and its people as eternal.

### Arrival of the Old Szöhaúmu

*Main Articles: Prehistoric Meszöhaúmu, Ötazusziun*

It is not known exactly when or why the Old Szöhaúmu started to cross the Bagalúpuu Hills (Szöhaúmu: Bakaalopu[th]) and Hwídhat Lakes (Szöhaúmu: Özu[th]) region to settle in the Pahovöthava Basin, but by the year 500 BUA they were the dominant force in the area. Szöhaúmu writings first began several centuries later around 250 BUA with the creation of the first city states, beginning the age of recorded history in Mézaxómu.

These early Szöhaúmu writings sought to legitimize their rule of Mézaxómu's largest river and claimed they were born from the waters by the total harmony of the world manifesting itself physically. This was done at the behest of a primordial being called variously *Ötazusziun*, *Iotazusziun*, *Mehusziun*, or *Sziésziun*. As the Szöhaúmu ethnoreligion transformed into Paelunism, spiritualism came to dominate over mythology and the old creation story fell out of favor. However, it has never been fully abandoned and within the country the factuality of the migration of the Old Szöhaúmu is still fiercely debated.

### City States

*Main Articles: Szöhaúmu League Period, Évuhi, Kazi, Omosétivi, War of Origin*

The first city states of the Szöhaúmu emerged shortly before 250 BUA and were centered around the Akaszamu, Pahoviösozaxu, and lower Pahovöthava rivers. Among the first and most influential of these states were Évuhi, Kazi, and Omosétivi. The largest of these states was Évuhi, located at the site of the modern city of the same name.

For over a hundred years, the confederal institutions through which the Szöhaúmu leagues formed were slowly eroded by the Akemu dynasty. The Akemu of Évuhi also swelled to such a dominant size due to their eastward expansion into the dry left bank of the Pahovöthava, waging war against the native inhabitants frequently. With the increasing centralization and size of the Kingdom of Évuhi, the Kazi-led League of the Akaszamu and the Omosétivi-led Palamehuu League created a coalition in the lower 200s BUA. A border conflict between the minor city state of Miszumubeké and Évuhi several years later would be the catalyst for the War of Origin.

Despite numerical superiority, the League of the Akaszamu experienced substantial difficulties due to Évuhisze̋ coordination and the unwillingness of the Palamehuu leadership to cooperate. The defeat of the Akaszamusze̋ army at the Battle of Nabilopusikïï in 199 BUA stirred the *kalamözuu* of the Palamehuu League into action. The army of the Palamehuu sought out to meet with the Akaszamusze̋ leadership to discuss a unified war plan, but experienced a divide when King Liizaszä of Évuhi began to march in the direction of Omosétivi. In the end, the Omosétivisze̋ returned to defend their city in a disastrous battle while the states under their influence met with the League of the Akaszamu, effectively merging the leagues following the conquest of Omosétivi.

By 195 BUA, many city states along western Meszöhaúmu began to peacefully fold, lowering coalition morale. The Évuhisze̋ gained another advantage with the Treaty of Sktula, where the Bala agreed to a peace with Évuhi who renounced all claims over the river island of Balangd in exchange for Bala mercenary services. This treaty would be a start of the long martial relationship between the Szöhaúmu and the Bala. Armed with reinforcements, *miszasze̋* Liizaszä began a campaign down the Pahoviösozaxu with little resistance. The final coalition stand took place just outside Kazi, where a narrow battle was won thanks to a valiant charge by Bala integusorcerer cavalry. In the aftermath of the War of Origin, almost all of the Szöhaúmu were united, and the First Empire came into existence in 196 BUA.

### The First Empire

*Main Articles: First Szöhaúmu Empire, ...*

The first century of the First Szöhaúmu Empire's existence was marked by recovery from the war and border conflict. King Liizaszä's successor, King Viöszené, sought about systematically destroying the institutions established by the more southerly city states. Among these was the centralizing of the various types of Szöhaúmu folk beliefs into an official national religion, known at the time as *Pahopaelun*, "river thought," and eventually turning into the modern varieties of Paelunism. A clear feudal system was also soon established based on nobility and the clergy in order to better govern the unprecedentedly large country, the first of its kind in Mézaxómu.

While governmental innovations took place within the empire, demographic changes were occurring without. The East Veshkics had launched their invasion of the upper Pahovöthava Basin during the century preceding, and its affects became notable in Szöhaúmu society. A migration down the river of a people known as the Mapilu by the Old Szöhaúmu occurred as they attempted to escape the Veshkic conquests, which soon triggered a famine. To make matters even worse, records by 151 BUA mention Veshkics marching south after the Mapilu, claiming they were a slave people. While the empire resisted well, the West Veshkics instead pushed further, settling along the Tynfek Bay and across Semilu. Contemporary sources such as the Book of Barbarians mention that as a result, trade towards the north and west grinded to a halt.