Iskiram

Sultanate of Iskiram
Flag
Capital	Sahiyat
Official languages	Iskirami
Religion	Oze'uis
Demonym(s)	Iskirami
Government	absolute monarchy
• Sultan	Ahmad Iskiram III
• Lord Regent	Sevket Iskiram
Establishment
• Usman Sultanate	c. 1900 BC
• Turay Sultanate	c. 1350 BC
• Atallah Sultanate	31 BC
• Sharaf Sultanate	321 AD
• Rahimi Sultanate	1401
• Wakim Sultanate	1710
• Iskiram Sultanate	1893

The Sultanate of Iskiram is an absolute monarchy on the continent of Neria which borders Serriel.

History

Early Sultanates

• Usman (1900 - 1600 BC) Made widespread use of bronze. Capital city of Foujil. Fell into decline after the death of its ruler.
• Turay (1350 - 30 BC) Extremely imperialistic - expanded territory five-fold. Capital city of Foujil. Fell after being invaded on both sides by rival kingdoms.
• Atallah (31 BC - 320 AD) Near-merging of Priest and Lord castes. Capital city of Foujil. Fell after an epidemic and famine.
• Sharaf (321 AD - 1398 AD) Adopted the Feudal system in the 9th Century. Capital city of Khor Wadair. Merged with Rahimi after marriage.
• Rahimi (1401 - 1704 AD) Reformation of Oze’uis Church by Priest Haashid el-Siddiqi, introduction of Lord-Governors and Guilds. Capital city of Khor Wadair. Fell after Sultan Siraaj the Fifth died without an heir. House Wakim used prior marriages to claim the throne.
• Wakim (1710 - 1893 AD) Abolished the caste system to appeal to the poor and forced technological advances on the populace, despite unpopularity among reactionary houses. Capital city of Sahiyat (new title of Khor Wadair). When Sultan Afet Wakim the Seventh died, his 6 year old son was obviously in no position to govern and the land split apart into warring states afterwards.
• Iskiram (1893 - present) Re-conquered lands and annexed warlords during the Unification Wars. Capital city of Sahiyat. House Iskiram, being one of the stronger houses prior to the splintering, saw itself as the successor state and would gradually expand and incorporate other houses' territories into its own by force or diplomacy over the 20th century.

Unification Wars

A series of wars fought from the 1900s all the way up to the 1990s. Later on, an “Old Coalition” would form opposing the Sultanate, which was attempting to unify various kingdoms under its rule. It was also ideological, with the Old Coalition opposing the Sultanate’s increasing ties with the “Western” world. In February of 2000, a nuclear weapon would be detonated in the city of Foujil, killing 156k people in the subsequent blast, with many victims dying afterwards from radiation and injuries. 30k soldiers and high-ranking officers (stationed there as the city was a command center on the front lines) make up part of this number. “Dirty bombs” would also be detonated in the days and weeks after, until the Sultanate was able to claim victory upon the capture of the last Coalition city. The military of the Sultanate and the nation as a whole is still recovering, with the Royal Army particularly considered a shell of its former self. Food and crops in the surrounding area are still irradiated.

Exile of House Erehiohks

During the Unification Wars, house Erehiohks (one of the houses opposing the Sultanate) was forced to attack others, or risk starvation and total annihilation. Due to their opposition, their house was supposed to be wiped out, but fled to the desert wasteland to escape this. Now they roam the dunes, having become exactly what they wanted to escape in the past - exiles.

Their overseeing leader known by the moniker of “the Lost Brother,” who refuses to go by his original name, only has the goal of survival for the exiled house and their people. He’s even resorted to kidnapping fellow exiles and forcing them on ships heading out of the Sultanate lands in order to keep them alive, even if they wish to remain by his side and defend them.

Their main goal is summarized in this phrase: “Survival is all that matters, for the Sand consumes all else.”

The act of being exiled and cut off from society has left them worse for wear - mentioning the event of the exiling will get one beaten to a pulp or lynched by an angry mob. Every year, two exiles get sent to Sultanate territory, willing or not, to ask for forgiveness. They get turned around at the gates and cannot return, for it would lead to their death.

The exiled do not care much for gender role, as their situation is too dire to segregate their workforce. They are obligated to pull their weight no matter their gender. Manafaa exiled to the deserts often join house “Erehiohks,” which has a loose, decentralized structure. Bandits belonging to the House often harass envoys and loot villages, though others attempt to trade or simply become self-sustaining.

Serriel-Iskiram War

Main article: Serriel-Iskiram War

Culture

Food

The diet in the Sultanate consists mainly of meat and eggs with grain - there are very little greens. Dried fruits are also popular. As most lands in the Sultanate are desert, farms are often artificial or greenhouses.

They are, of course, famous for their coffee. A popular drink in the Sultanate is berry juice or beer mixed with capsaicin to add flavor, known as “Desert Heat.” The juice is often carbonated. Another popular drink is yogurt diluted with water, often with salt or mint added. Turnip juice, millet wine (a malted drink made with fermented grains and cinnamon, which has a low amount of alcohol) and a drink made from orchids are also popular.

Warrior Culture

“Honor” is extremely important to both men and women in the Sultanate, to the extent of having dishonor be a crime. Modern-day soldiers attempt to follow their ancient Code of Honor (mithaq sharaf,) though adhering to it in the modern day is increasingly hard. Many of the sons in “warrior houses” are trained in dueling and knife-fighting, and officers in the military carry sabers on them.

Weapons and weapon-making are glorified in Sultanate warrior culture, often considered prized possessions in their families. A near-universal marriage rite among them is presenting an ornately decorated dagger or knife to the bride, who will then return it with the handle facing them if it is accepted, and the blade facing them if refused. A more uncommon variant is presenting a decorated gun instead. When dealing with strangers, someone from a warrior house would ask them to sit at a table with them and lay their weapons on it - this allows them to see what weapons their guest is carrying, and also see the quality and craftsmanship of their weapons.

Duels are common among those from warrior houses, although duels to the death are uncommon and must be approved by the Royal Court.

Water Ceremony

Although the use of water as a currency had been replaced with gold and later paper money, a “water ceremony” to signify friendship and protection is still commonly practiced, especially among those who live in the desert. A pint of water is shared between them and conversation begins - secrets are shared, favors are asked, and stories are told. To finish this water ceremony, the pint of water must be finished and the phrase “The water remembers.” must be uttered by both. Lying in a water ceremony is seen as a grave insult that brings dishonor - however, asking for large favors is also frowned upon. Killing someone you performed a water ceremony with is seen as a curse, and gets one exiled or killed for being an Oathbreaker. “Water charms” signify that a ceremony has taken place, normally a trinket or talisman filled with water, or made out of a blue mineral. Craftsmen often custom-make these with names engraved on them.

Caste System

1. Sultan (sultan) / Lord Regent (alribu rayjint)
2. Lord-Governor (hakim alrabi)
3. Lord (rabi)
4. High Priest (eazim kahin)
5. Priest (kahin)
6. Cataphracts (kataafrakat)
7. Warrior (muharib)
8. Guildsmen (tajir)
9. Commoner (falh)
10. Women (alnisa) [non-noble]
11. Exile (manafaa) / Gladiator-Wanderer (almasarie)

The Sultan controls Lord-Governors. The Lord-Governors control individual Lords and nobles, and Priests of the established church reside in their lands.

Priests are exempt from taxes and granted other special protections, with many of them active in local politics and intrigue.

Cataphracts or Lord-Soldiers are an old class of warriors that were seen as the epitome of a warrior’s ideals and seen as the best of the best. They were sworn to defend the Emirate and follow their code of honor. When not summoned to do battle, many of them sought to maintain their status by participating in martial games or going on adventures throughout the land.

Soldiers served under the banners of their lords and were seen as an ideal for all men to strive for. They provided martial service to their lord and were expected to be paid regularly. They were also exempt from menial labor.

Guildsmen were merchants, businessmen, and entrepreneurs striving to make a name for themselves and earn a profit while doing so. This social class included both Guildmasters (comparable to CEOs) and individual salesmen. They were required to purchase their title from a local lord before being considered a tajir, and were legally barred from conducting business without one. Guildsmen were only required to pay rent to their lord and are exempt from taxation, so this group formed the closest thing to a middle class in the Sultanate prior to reforms in the mid-1800s. Some soldiers, after leaving service to their lord, become mercenaries - they were known as murtaziq.

Peasants were the largest rung of society, and by far the largest. While peasants had the freedom to move if their lord displeased them, they were granted some legal protections to prevent abuses by Lords, who had their titles and land stripped if mistreatment came to light. Additionally, strong social norms and tradition assisted in keeping lords from abusing them en-masse. They worked for Guilds and provide guilds the fruit of their labor, keeping a portion of their earnings while paying the other half to their lord as taxes.

Non-noblewomen were and still are a subjugated underclass in traditional society, being discouraged from scholarly things, unable to join the military, and are expected to cook and clean the household while looking over the children. Their marriages are often arranged by male elders of their House, and are sometimes used as political tools to create alliances. However, they do have power in some ways. As they raise children, they can hold influence with them over their husbands. When married, their former house can lose a lot of face or honor if she’s mistreated or divorced. Wars and feuds have broken out over divorces or accusations that the husband is mistreating their wife.

In the event that someone becomes mortally ill, finding themselves lacking the pride or honor to continue to live, or simply become tired of their existence undergo a ritualistic suicide and take the title of Gladiator-Wanderer. They will give up their possessions to leader of their house and make their journey into the desert. The only things they keep are their weapons, which they use to fight animals or other wanderers so that they may die in honorable combat.

In the event that two gladiators meet, they first draw their weapons and adopt a passive stance, followed by each of them telling stories and the reason why they became a Wanderer-Gladiator, along with how they want their remains dealt with. When both sides finish, combat will begin with a mutual wish of luck so that the more worthy of death loses with pride. The winner is responsible for taking care of the corpse. Renouncing the title of Almasarie is difficult. Some may wish to return after being granted a second outlook or hope. Some houses see their decision as cowardly and refuse to accept them, or are overjoyed that they have learned a lesson.

In the event that someone is exiled from their House and does not take up the title of Almasarie, either due to fear of death, unwillingness, or stubbornness, they are marked as a Manafaa (exile) by the House Leader and must take it as their last name. Manafaa are houseless, and form an underclass. It is difficult if not impossible to advance socially or politically, and are often oppressed or mistreated by others who see them as troublemakers or criminals. The only way to return after banishment is to be adopted back into the House, which happens rarely.

Two years ago, the Lord Regent declared an edict that required clans to send a formal request to the Royal Court if they wish to banish a house member as a Manafaa. The court must side with a clan leader or they do not become an exile. This has caused a backlash as the courts are known for being arbitrary.

They are not permitted to petition their local lord to express any grievances, and are not permitted to social services by private enterprise or state entities. They are not full citizens and considered residents, which excludes them from many other services.

Interestingly, Manafaa are the only social class allowed to serve in the personal guard of the Sultan and his family. This relies on the fact that the Manafaa of the Manafaa Guard are despised and envied by decorated officers that otherwise would serve in traditional guard duties. They are socially isolated and unable to advance politically, which means they rely on the Sultan and protecting his family, which means they wouldn’t try to launch a coup or replace the Sultan without themselves being slaughtered. They cannot have children or hold any sort of political/military position.

Modern Day

The majority of businesses are under control of Tajir, who are sometimes referred to as the “new elite.” Many commoners work for a guild-corporation.

Although in the 1800s the caste system as a whole was dismantled, people still continued to be in jobs considered “traditional” to their role. For example, the Muharib and Kataafrakat are often raised from birth to be in the military. It is a well-known secret that inter-caste marriage is rare.

“Warrior houses” came into prominence prior to the dismantling of the caste system, when noble houses that lacked land or resources instead devoted themselves to serving the military of the Sultanate. In modern day, “warrior houses” make up a large percentage of officers and generals.

Men who request and admit attraction to a woman must go to the man responsible for their well-being, boasting or offering gifts to them as well. Ignoring the ritual of arranged marriage is seen as an insult, especially among noblemen. A man abusing or mistreating his wife is considered to have dishonored himself and his wife’s house.

Religion

Oze'uis was created after the fall of the third Sultanate. The conquering neighbors incorporated the native religion of Z'uis into their own monotheistic religion of Ozast. Z'uis revolved around the worship of spirits. Ozast revolved around the worship of the Great One, the creator deity who molded humanity from clay and dirt before breathing life into them. Oze'uis claims that the Great Soul breathed magic into the first humans, and incorporates all of the souls of the dead into them after their passing.

Oze’uis is “the one who is many.” All souls become a part of Oze’uis upon death, and as such they have no gender. Due to the incorporation of Z’uis into Ozast, many spirits (also known as “Aspects of Oze’uis”) have been acknowledged to exist, with the Church interpreting them as one of the many faces of the Great One. These Aspects are not omnipotent, but have influence over whatever their domain is. For example, someone might pray to the Aspect of the Rain for a storm, or for the Aspect of the Farmer for a good harvest.

This Church has seen power become increasingly centralized into influential priests, until 2 years ago. High Priest Yasin Abboud used a moral panic over “demonic influences” to solidify his own power base and begin an inquisition. After a confrontation with the Lord Regent himself, an agreement was made to reform the Church. Yasin oversees the entire church, who has authority over the church and its doctrine.

Warrior Priests are highly respected and form an elite fighting force in the Sultanate, going into battle with runes drawn on their armor and chanting to the Great Soul for their blessing. Worship is communal, with villages coming together for feasts or festivals to give thanks to the Great Soul and their ancestors for good tidings, or to ask for favors. Priests guide service, provide interpretations of Oze’uis’ intentions, or assist in contacting aspects of Oze’uis.

Dancing, smoking, drinking, and consumption of a hallucinogenic “spirit powder” take place in festivals. When an Aspect bestows their blessing upon someone, convulsions may happen - this is seen as an honor. The Church interprets convulsions as the Aspect overwhelming the vessel. Aspects normally communicate in the form of vague visions - normally warnings, prophecies, or advice. Displeasure is shown by having misfortunes of varying severity happen.

Followers believe that the soul simply inhabits the body upon birth. Upon death, they believe the soul joins their ancestors and the Great Soul. If someone dies a good person, they join Oze’uis. If they die an evil person, they are barred from joining them, and are doomed to wander the world as an exiled spirit - becoming an Manafaa in death.

Relationships are defined in Oze’uis theology as Lust (physical desire) Love (romantic desire) and Duty (proper desire.) In this context, priests preach against love and lust becoming more important than dutiful relationships. A same-sex couple is just as bad as a heterosexual couple that does not wish to have children, because love or lust is more important than their duty. The view varies within the church, but most priests are equally frustrated with homosexual relationships on equal terms as childless marriage. Because marriages are often political contracts between two houses to combine their dynasty, there are no mechanisms in place for same-sex marriage.

In the 1700s, a priest named Hashiid was able to amass a following around himself due to charismatic sermons calling out the extremely corrupt Oze’uis Church. High Priest Mudrik was killed after being stabbed by a concubine, and the High Priest after him, Aadil, had a game of breaking as many of the Church’s rules as he could in a day. Hashiid threatened to smite the leadership of the Church with Oze’uis’ wrath unless he became High Priest, and the higher-ranking members of the Church were unwilling to risk it - due to the fact that multiple assassination attempts against him failed in seeming divine intervention (or luck.) Hashiid was able to reform the Church and purge many corrupt members in it, but died a few years later after fasting for a month.

The Akhaniite Brotherhood, also known as the Brotherhood, is a military order under the command of a High Priest with the right to bear arms and dispense justice against “spiritual threats to the Sultanate,” following the revelation that a secretive religious cult infiltrated the Sultanate government. In its short existence, it has arrested several hundred individuals and seized many tomes and documents they claim are evidence of demonic involvement.

They are commanded by High Priest Yasin, who directly oversees a council of Guildmasters appointed by him. The Guildmasters form an elite council under him, and advise him on day to day matters of the Brotherhood. They also command operations through their subordinates, the Chapter Masters.

Chapter Masters run individual chapters of the Brotherhood in their specific settlement or city. They oversee the Akhaniite officers and are responsible for running their chapter.

Individual officers are referred to as Akhaniites. They are often called the “Steel Masks” due to their tendency to wear steel masks on patrol. The Steel Masks oversee small groups of Akhan, who are normally lightly equipped commoners that identify those deemed influenced by demons.

Straying too far from tradition, such as being a radical feminist, an anarchist, or communist can make them consider someone influenced. Denouncing the Brotherhood is also seen as a sign, because “if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.”