Namiri Rebels

> *"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night wake in the day to find it was nothing but vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible. Those men... are us."* - quote from Al Namir, leader of the Namiri Rebels.
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The Namiri Rebels, also known as the Followers of Al Namir, are a collection of various autonomous revolutionary, rebel, and insurgent groups. These otherwise unimportant cells are all united under the leadership of the man known as Al Namir - The Leopard.

The Namiri Rebels claim to be primarily fighting for a shift away from the wealth-centric doctrine of the current Carrion Kings. They desire increased worker's rights, welfare for the poor, less power for hired mercenary groups and, if necessary, the establishment of an independent multi-cultural state. Since their initial inception many have flocked to the Namiri cause, from mercenaries to ex-slaves.

Despite having limited manpower and resources, the Namiri Rebels have had a string of military successes against various kingdoms. Most notably, the capture of Fort Ninurta from Ashur. As more people flock to their banner and the various rebel cells rack up more success, perhaps the changes they dream of might not be as unrealistic as some might think.

## **History**

The Dead Sands have always been plagued with insurgents and bandits, people that seek personal fortunes and disruption to the status quo. However, the Namiri Rebels are a recent and different threat.

The exact history of the Namiri Rebels begins with one man. Known only as Al Namir (meaning 'The Leopard') he was born into slavery, where he suffered an upbringing of pain and hardship. If you choose to believe the stories, he killed his captors and escaped into the desert, where he taught himself to survive. However, Al Namir had a grudge. He saw the society he was raised in - and it disgusted him. Thus, he decided to force the change that, in his opinion, was necessary for the greater good of all peoples. And if the Carrion Kingdoms couldn't accept that change, he'd have to create a nation that would.

And so, with his goal in mind, Al Namir conducted raids into slave camps, mines, and places of the disenfranchised. Overtime he gained a reputation and gathered more and more people to his banner. Other, similar, movements even swore loyalty to him as their leader, creating the rebel network we know today. Since then, the rebels have been a permanent thorn in the side of the Carrion Kingdoms for a little over a decade, conducting raids into their territory and causing disruption wherever and whenever they can.

Though the rebels have had success after success, they have had nothing majorly notable until recently. The main cell, led by Al Namir himself, captured the castle of Fort Nintura from the Ashuri State. This marks an important change, for the rebels now control a notable settlement - and a military fort at that. And it is likely that the rebels are just beginning, continuing their campaign until they forge the state they wish to see, one way or another.

## **Geography**

As collective of various cells, the Namiri Rebels hold small pieces of territory all across the Dead Sands. These places are typically in isolated places, like mountains and caves, and are often little more than a small camp or two. They also do not maintain a permanent hold on the land in the same way the Carrion Kingdoms do. Theirs is a life of constant movement and relocation, such is the way of guerrilla warfare. That being said, the capture of Fort Ninurta is the first time the Namiri Rebels have legitimately occupied a major settlement - and potentially marks a shift away from constant relocation.

The Namiri Rebels are a multi-racial, multi-cultural group. Their movement is based around the ideas of freedom and expression, ideas that individuals from all races can rally behind. As a result, their ranks comprise many different peoples and backgrounds. Escaped Tabaxi slaves live on equal footing with ex-noble Imperials. All are granted equal importance in the Namiri cells, which has allowed diversity to thrive.

## **Politics**

The specific political structures of the Namiri Rebels are complex and difficult to explain. All Namiri cells are united under the military leadership of Al Namir, hence the name 'Namiri Rebels.' It is Al Namir that makes the largest decisions, those that effect all cells, such as grand strategy and treaty-making. But each cell is also semi-autonomous, being able to make their own decisions. If a cell must retreat to another location or conduct a smaller-scale raid, they are able to do so without Al Namir's permission. This makes the rebel groups significantly more efficient than larger military forces, being able to adapt on the fly.

Each Namiri cell has its own leadership structure. Some cells are led by single leaders, chosen for being the strongest or smartest amongst them. Others are led by groups of people, like councils. Some are even somewhat anarchistic in nature, united only through their common aims. Cells can make their own internal laws and rules, as long as those rules do not violate the core principles of the wider network. Exclusion based on race, gender, social standing, and other such traits is strictly forbidden, for example.

As one might expect, the Namiri Rebels are surrounded by enemies. They are despised by practically all Carrion Kingdoms for, from their perspective, fighting to destroy the primary principles of their culture. Ashur, in particular, is in active conflict with the rebels after the capture of the previously Ashuri-held Fort Ninurta.

## **Economy**

The Namiri Rebels do not have an economy in the same way an actual state might. They control no major cities and have no resources to exploit. They are also an unrecognised government and so have no official trading partners. That being said, the rebels are still able to acquire resources and funding through less simple and peaceful means. The main way that Namiri cells acquire resources is through raiding. A plethora of trade comes through the Dead Sands, trade that is often vulnerable and thus easy targets for raids. Robery and mugging near Namiri camps is not an uncommon occurrence, though most rebels attempt to only target caravans loyal to the Carrion Kingdoms, if they don't work for the state directly.

With the capture of Fort Nintura, the rebels now have a small population under their rule. This means the rebel leadership could raise more money through taxation, however they have yet to implement this policy - believing that it would turn the populace against them. Instead, the rebels that control the fort rely on donations and volunteering - a system that is perhaps less effective for money-raising, but more effective for control. There is, of course, also overseas funding to consider. Officially, the Namiri Rebels have no trade partners, but it is said that some foreign powers (such as the Empire of Man) secretly provide funding and resources to various rebel cells.

## **Culture**

Despite being comprised of mostly smaller groups, the Namiri Rebels still have traditions and practices that could be considered a form of culture. Their society is mostly one of deep connection, community, and trust - something that is reflected in their traditions. For example, in most cells all members will eat together in communal sit-downs, a practice that is supposed to establish bonds of kinship within the members of the cell. Being stuck in the wilderness, Namiri cuisine is known to be quite creative. Their use of spices is also said to be special, being able to make otherwise unappetising dishes taste immaculate.

## **Trivia**

* The Namiri Rebels were originally created so the Carrion Kingdoms could have an enemy that wasn't just themselves, with major historical inspirations being the Arab Revolt of World War One and the Kingdom of Hejaz (present-day Saudi Arabia).