The Kingdom of Sarrenesh

Kingdom of Sarrenesh
The Kingdom of Sarrenesh resides to the northeast of the Kingdom of Uldia. The capital city is Sarrenesh and is ruled by Emir Kavesh-Al-Sumal.

History
The land of what is currently Sarrenesh was little more than warring states until around 500 years ago. The four small city-states that had formed vied for power and control of the region and the few large rivers that went through the desert, allowing the populace to survive on its banks. Warring between one another for resources, land and conquest threatened to flood the three rivers of the land in blood. One city-state near the coast gained the upper hand through political alliances that helped seal their position as the main center and ruling house of the newly found kingdom of Sarrenesh.

Though the newly founded Kingdom could not rest, as it held the roving bands of Gnollish raiders, ogres, orcish incursions from the south looking to raid, pillage and enslave their people. The four city-states were reluctant to help one another when the surrounding regions were raided, farms and fields burned and their countrymen taken away in chains or brutally massacred, the scars of their wars in the past ran deep. The first Emir, Tarrin-Al-Korrek, was a capable commander and through the act of fending off various roving warbands with the use of archers and camel cavalry earned the support of the various noble houses within the city-stats to lend more troops as their fields were being safe guarded from raiders. Pushing back the raiding bands to the twisting sands, the Kingdom was allowed its first breathing room 10 long years after its founding and the work to rebuild and fortify its position and holdings would begin.

The Blue Terror
A peace reigned over the region for over 225 years, the occasional raiding warband arriving from the south or from out within the sandy wastelands that would be fought back, but peace and stability allowed for the kingdom to rebuild and focus on its trading network within Sarrenesh's port. That changed however as without warning a large swath of fields to the northern region of the kingdom had erupted into blue flames, refugees of farmers, slaves and the like fled towards Sarrenesh, telling tales of a horrific blue monster that flew through the air and ignited their land in an electrical field of death and fire.

A blue dragon had made its roost out in the northern sands, within one of the coastal mountain regions and held its dominion of the land. The monster would launch the occasional raid nearly every other week, sweeping into towns, villages and causing death, havoc and destruction as it would take livestock, treasures and anyone it could grasp in its claws back to its lair, never to be seen again. Little stopped this creature, arrows bouncing off of its scales, it breath weapon decimating the town guards foolhardy enough to try and fight the creature, or those simply caught fleeing in its path. After years of the creature raiding, and several valiant attempts to stop it, the current Emir of the kingdom put out a call for arms, the strongest warriors within the kingdom to gather and strive forth to stop the monster. The heroes, nine in total, were sent forth to fight the creature and returned victories, albeit with only five of them remaining. The five remaining heros were granted accolades, titles, and powers that exist even to this day, while the four fallen have been immortalized within the royal courtyard of Sarrenesh's palace, a monument to their sacrifice. The dragon itself had its head dragged back to keep and its skull hang above the door entering the great hall as a trophy that hangs there to this day.

Trade and Stability
After the events of the Blue Terror, a relative peace held the land up until its present day. An occasional skirmish of the local lord's lands and resources cropped up but was quickly finished or squashed as the Sarreneshites began to focus solely on their trading, ships heading out to foreign land to make deals, caravans traveled to the south of the Kingdom of Uldia, to the heart of Aetha and other various towns within the kingdom. Though no kingdom wide threats exist in the current realm, roaming raiding tribes still scour the sands along with the ferocious beasts the prey on the weak and stranded for sustenance.

Geography
The shifting sands dominate the southern and middle regions of Sarrenesh, giving way to rocky badlands to the north with little vegetation or sustenance in terms of food or water, life is made difficult for any trying to roam the cascading dunes or traverse the harsh badlands to the north. Life is found within the three main rivers that flow from the mountains to the west and towards the coast to the east, bringing large amount of fertile land suitable for farming for food and luxury crops.

The borders of the kingdom are tall, rocky mountains that have a few mountain passes made externally or internally through the use of the few dwavern cities that dot the southern region and allow for easy trade between Uldia and Sarrenesh...if one pays the toll to the dwarves, that is.

Inhabitants
Sarrenesh holds mostly a human population, elves are almost unheard of within the region, the most populous race within the kingdom is the catfolk, having joined the humans' city-states some centuries from their nomadic lifestlye, they now dot the various towns, villages and cities with the occasional nomadic band still seen out in the desert. The other various races rise and fall depending on the region and trade, with the capital Sarrenesh boasting the largest melting pot of races.

Military
The military of the King of Sarrenesh is held dominantly by the ruling houses of the kingdom, with the royal Emir usually boasting the largest of these forces. Mercenaries are a common sight as well, usually employed to guard merchants, their ships and caravans across the sea of water or desert. Dedicated to fast fighting, the Kingdom of Sarrenesh does not fight with a large amount of heavy infantry, using what little they have to bog down their encroaching foes while camel or horse archers and lancers ride down the flanks and skirmishers on foot pepper the enemy from afar. Magic is commonly used on the battle field as the few wizards the kingdom can employ are garrisoned and attached to battalions with the same level of authority of a captain or second in command. Usually looked to for battle tactics and strategies, these sharp minds are trained to aid the kingdom in times of crisis and are valued in their weight in platinum.

Trade Goods
The Kingdom of Sarrenesh boast a massive trading empire of papyrus, silk, spices, valuable ores in the making of high quality steel, precious metals of gold, gems and silver.

Religion
Religion plays a large part within the Kingdom of Sarrenesh, the harsh and unforgiving desert leaves many to worship, beg, and call upon the aid of the god to grant them safety for their harvest, trade goods, and the security of their lands. The worship of Horus, he who has blessed the ruling family, is seen as the god of War and Law, the fiery emblem of the falcon is he who judges criminals executed, ensures that warriors are protected in battle, and are joined in the afterlife should they fall in valiant struggle against their foes. Abadar is the second most common god, worshipped by tradesmen, merchants, and even mercenaries to guard the caravans and trading ships they protect. Religious ceremonies and holidays are a common occurrence throughout the kingdom in worship and offerings to their gods.

Magic
Magic is not common out in the countryside of the kingdom, however it is utilized and treasured within the four City's walls. Sarrenesh boasting a large tower dedicated to training future wizards and those of the arcane scholarly pursuits called Tower of Colors.

Technology
Technology has not yet made its way over to Sarrenesh in large strides, a couple of airships hold docking into a massive spire of the city, being studied on how to make further in order to increase the length of their trade and combat capabilities. Firearms are non-existent within the realm, instead relying on cavalry and archery for its military might.

Crimes and Punshiment
The Kingdom of Sarrenesh is a harsh land, ruled by the Emir of the land with the local lords holding dominion over their lands. The laws vary from city-state to city-state in the finer details, but the general laws of man apply, many minor offenses not listed here resulting in a fine or imprisonment of a maximum of five days.
 * Theft is usually punished by removal of one finger, or hand should a finger of already been removed. Theft of a noble's goods, or goods worth more than 100 gold pieces will result in execution by hanging.
 * Assault of a free man is to be punished by public flogging and time in the pillory. Assault of a slave results in a fine relative to the slave's value, a noble master may seek further physical punishment of the offender.
 * Murder of a free citizen shall result in execution by hanging, murder of slave shall be deferred to the slave's owner and the Slaver's Guild for proper compensation.
 * Cruel and abhorrent treatment of slaves will result in a fine, and acquisition of slaves to be resold.
 * Disobedience to the faith of the kingdom's subjects, or slandering of its good name is punishable by imprisonment or stoning depending on the degree. Foreign worship is allowed so long as it harms no one, and they do not disrespect the faith proper.
 * Counterfeiting coins, or the selling of goods under false pretenses with significant proof of falsehood, will result in the confiscation of all gold and items. The offending party shall be stripped and sold on the slave market, noble born will be ransomed back to their families.
 * Treason is to result with the offending party crucified along the rocky coast of the shores.
 * More to come.