Najer

The Emirate of Najer is a nation-state located in the Wandering Desert, in the north-eastern portion of Nieden. It was founded in 25 AB (the 7th of April, 2021), as a successor state to the Sterling Crownlands. It is currently led by Emir Alsham Talvos.

Early Prehistory
The area today known as Najer was first settled by descendants of a proto-nomadic group of humans who roamed Rathnir. As early as 20,000 years ago, they occupied the land, which was very fertile at the time. They moved around itinerantly, grazing flocks, fishing, and occasionally farming. There is very little archaeological evidence of the customs or beliefs of these early peoples.

Roughly 10,000 years before the Buried Bells were discovered (the event from which the Najer measure their Calendar, denoting the years before the Bells "BB" and the years after the Bells "AB"), an agricultural revolution and a booming population led a large group of these humans to congregate and to build a permanent settlement. They called it "Qwarakan." It was the first such city of its kind. It was massively successful, dominating virtually everything it interacted with, with only the furthest tribes escaping its influence.

It is believed that modern-day Najer culture is a direct ancestor of the ideas, language, religion, and culture of Qwarakan- it was the first time that the wandering tribes began to think of themselves as one people, and it was in Qwarakan that the term "Najer" first began to be commonly used. Religion was also standardized, with the people coming to understand the various deities they worshiped were actually the same beings.

Qwarakan civilization lasted around one or two millennia- scholars disagree when the collapse began and ended. It is agreed, however, that a combination of societal upheaval, over-farming, drought, and changing weather patterns damaged and irrevocably ruined Qwarakan. The lands, which had once been lush and fruitful, were suddenly overtaken by dunes of sand. Rain ceased to fall, and the sun became harsher. Some believe this was a result of purely human activities, while others argue that divine intervention was at play.

Fall of Qwarakan
Regardless, by about 8,000 BB, a mass emigration from Qwarakan had taken place, abandoning the city completely. This was notable in that many of the tribes left their homeland entirely, with some leaving to Syltör, others to Plagos, and according to some legends, a few as far away as Haven. Others simply scattered throughout the land, which would gain the title "the Wandering Deserts" for the speed at which the landscape seemed to shift and change rapidly. These scattered tribes re-adopted the nomadic ways that their Qwarakan ancestors had abandoned, with many of them relearning these traditions from the tribes that had never settled down.

Other tribes also immigrated into Najer. A group of proto-Noxists came into contact with a certain semi-nomadic Najer group, and the two eventually merged. They became known as the Bacri, and were unique in their worship and syncretization of the Noxist deity Baldemar, introducing him to Najer as Mayassioh. The Bacri would go on to be a strong and prominent clan in the millennia to come, being known as the masters of the steppe as well as skilled traders and horse breeders.

By 7,500, the recovering climate and the drastic decrease in population led to a general increase in peace and prosperity. Tribes began cooperating more freely as competition became less of a way of life. It was during this time that the "Poma" system was created, or at least standardized. In this system, designated groups of families traveled together and lived off the land. Each tribe, or Pom, had a small amount of land as a sort of "home base" or inheritance given to them and recognized by the neighboring Poms. This land might be used by non-traveling Pom members for farming and grazing of animals, and more rarely, for building villages. Each Pom would also have a number of scouts (known as the "Sei"), who would help the group to navigate and to plot safe courses to travel. Over time, the lead scout ("Seyoh"), often the most seasoned and dedicated of all the navigators, became synonymous with leadership and were considered de-facto tribe heads.

The people of the Wandering Desert led a peaceful existence during this time. Few travelers came from the south, due to the rugged mountains and raging rivers that impeded travel between the Najer and the southern Niedene lands. The harsh climate and lack of infrastructures also discouraged settlers from other lands.

Development of Civilization
This would not deter everyone, however, and over time a number of foreign groups began to settle Najer. A group of Lizardfolk came from the northwest around 4,500 BB, hoping to expand their island empire onto the mainland. They founded several villages along the northern coast of Najer, pushing out the human tribes that lived there. They came into bloody conflict many times with the mountain-dwelling Sidel tribe, and both groups were often in conflict with each other. However, over time, relations between the other human Poma and the Lizardfolk normalized significantly. Constant contact with the Najer and a disconnect with the island-bound Lizardfolk civilization led the reptilian settlers to adopt certain Najer customs.

One Pom that fled the Lizardfolk incursions began wandering to the other end of the deserts in search of a new home. They eventually ended up in the far northeastern regions, on a peninsula that faced Plagos. Accounts vary, but according to legend, a majority of this tribe planned to leave Najer entirely, fleeing to Plagos or even somewhere beyond Rathnir. Whether or not they did is unclear, but the people that stayed decided instead to build a city, and called it Ajek Shasad, meaning "point of departure" to commemorate either the people that left or their decision not to. It is estimated this took place around 4,400 BB.

This city, due to its prominent and ocean-bound location, quickly became a trade hub, attracting massive throngs of travelers, traders, and foreigners. Due to this, the city came to be known as Ajek Point, mixing Najer and Traveler's Tongue. It developed a unique culture, with a slight dialectical difference and a heavy focus on trade and commerce. This in turn created a perception that Ajek was something of a separate and unique entity for much of its history, not helped by the east-west cultural split that developed in Najer over time.

Approximately 4,100 BB, a severe drought struck the Wandering Deserts. It was unprecedented in living memory, and caused the widespread destruction of crops and resulted in many deaths. Very angry about this fact, many people turned to the gods for blame. It was said that the Najer deity of heat, flame, and perseverance, Ajvudah, had caused the famine out of spite. Those who primarily worshiped Ajvudah were caught up in association with her, and shared the blame for the famine. As a result, many who called Ajvudah their patron were expelled or forced to destroy their shrines or renounce their devotion.

Unwilling to submit or die, many Ajvudah worshipers chose to leave their communities and band together. Their community was extremely rough and fractured due to its chaotic origins, and would likely have fractured if it were not for a man known as Tejarel stepping up to lead the people. He proposed a plan to gain guidance from Ajvudah. Together, they decided that the will of their goddess was to build a community of their own, one that was separate and new. They journeyed into the wilderness, led by Tejarel, until he proclaimed that they had found the spot to build a city. They named their new settlement Nahrayn (meaning "two rivers" in an Old Najer dialect), on account of the fact of the two rivers that wound about them. They founded a theocratic, sedentary Seyohdom. Tejarel was their leader, and he went on to father a dynasty that led Nahrayn for hundreds of years. Worship of Ajvudah was also standardized, giving rise to the Mae-Ahso Faith. The people of Nahrayn eventually became known as the Hreyu, or riverfolk.

Metalworkers in Nahrayn are also credited with independently inventing metalworking techniques that allowed the process and working of non-meteoric iron. These metalworkers attributed their creations to their strict devotion to Ajvudah, who, as mentioned earlier, was respected as the divine mistress of heat. Use of standard iron tools slowly spread outside Nahryan, and eventually throughout all of Najer.

The period immediately after this was marked by a brief resurgence of war and violence as societal conditions worsened- the drought combined with incursion by the Lizardfolk in the west left a mark on many.

Rise of the Mahait
Around 1,200 BB, the Mahait Seyohdom was founded by a collection of industrious and ambitious eastern Poma. Like Ajek Point before them, their distance from mainline Najer culture (concentrated in the center and west of Najer) led to a distinct set of customs developing. This new entity was placed at an extremely advantageous trade nexus, being placed directly over the trade routes between the Nieden and Plagos continents, directly south of the major trade port Ajek Point, and providing access to the entire rest of Najer.

This allowed the Mahait to skyrocket in strength and notoriety, undergoing a minor technological revolution. This shocked other Poma, as previously eastern Najer had been considered a backwater primarily populated by poor fishers and peddlers, or worse, an outpost for the Niedene. With both Ajek Point and the Mahait Seyohdom being so distinct, both culturally and geographically, there began to be a growing perception of the east as "not Najer" in the sense that they had diverged and were no longer unified with the greater people. The Mahait were okay with this, and continued to solidify their sphere of influence.

Roughly 500 years later, in 761 BB, the Mahait invaded Ajek Point, hoping to use it to bolster their power, and were successful. This set off a shockwave of fear and alarm, causing many of the neighbors of the Mahait to rightly fear that they were next. After a series of councils, a delegation of Seyohs from a number of small Poma called upon the leaders of Nahrayn, asking them for protection from Mahait aggression. Eventually, a deal was struck, where the various tribes would join Nahrayn and follow its laws, creating the Nahrayn Confederacy. Due to the efforts of a few certain individuals, centralization quickly forged the disparate tribes into one entity, forming a state that would eventually come to rival the Mahait. However, this rivalry would be considered friendly, as more often than not, the Mahait and Nahrayn worked together closely, with both powers benefiting from the industries and skills of the other. The Mahait never pursued territorial gains in Nahrayn territory, nor did Nahrayn seek to antagonize the Mahait. By 634 BB, their relationship was such that certain leaders among both sides were considering joining forces to become a dual Seyohdom, a union of the two states. Once this became public, however, it created outrage among certain factions all across the east. Various interest groups, inside and outside both nations, were vehemently against such a union. Those inside were fiercely protective of their own power and identity, while those outside feared the unstoppable force that it would become. One extremist group assassinated the High Seyoh of the Mahait, claiming it as a victory for Nahrayn. This naturally outraged the Mahait, and they began to prepare for war against Nahrayn.

They marshaled their forces and struck at Nahrayn itself, attempting to overrun the city with the element of surprise. Thanks to the discipline of the Hreyu army, they were routed and pushed out of the city quickly. From this point, open war began, a period known as the Tribal Wars. The Nahrayn Confederacy began a campaign to occupy Mahait territory, acquiring many early victories. An attempt was also made to liberate Ajek Point, but was unsuccessful.

Their ability to hold their captured territory was also tenuous, and the Mahait began to slowly retake what they had lost by innovating new tactics and techniques. For several long years, both sides were at a stalemate, unable to capture or hold the enemy's territory for very long. So the war eventually turned into one of attrition, with both sides hoping the other would run out of supplies or willpower first. With both sides being very prideful, many doubted the latter would happen. The Mahait especially did not want the former to happen, as they were certain that the Confederacy had a greater surplus of food and supplies, and overall better preparation. As such, they devised a plan to end the war in one swift stroke. In a complex series of machinations, the Mahait were able to launch a massive attack on Nahrayn, a repeat of their first assault, which had kicked off the wars. This time, however, they were successful. Over several days of fierce and bloody combat, the Hreyu were pushed out of Nahrayn, their military unable to hold their positions. The Mahait took special effort to raze Nahrayn, toppling the tall structures and burning whatever they could. Its citizens were forced to flee with just whatever they could carry. Many of them resettled the surrounding regions- there was never any attempt to move back into Nahrayn and rebuild. The most prominent new settlement was a village called Raidamah, and it was from here Hreyu culture lived on in the humble Raidah Seyohdom.

The Mahait, terribly weakened, retreated back to their cities and attempted to recover. In 461 BB, invaders from Plagos conquered Ajek Point. This was the first true defeat of the Mahait, and the signaler of their eventual decline. This decline led to an increasing reliance on the rest of Najer, and by 400 BB, east and west Najer began to work more closely together, particularly through trade. The Bacri Pom, who dominated trade between the two sides of the region, were instrumental in this shift.

At some point after this, a strange group of people made landing on one of the island off of Najer's northern coasts. This island was already inhabited by the Lizardfolk who had settled there many years earlier, so this group slaughtered the inhabitants of the island. They claimed to be from another land, called Jagdas, and had been displaced after the destruction of their former home. The other nearby Lizardfolk became enraged when they learned these Jagdasians had slaughtered their kin, igniting a local rivalry that would endure for generations as the Lizardfolk and the new settlers raided and killed each other.

Rise of the Bacri
In 124 BB, the Bacri spearheaded the creation of a coalition of Poma, known as the League of the Open Sky, functioning as a military alliance and political hegemon in central Najer. This league contributed greatly to the stability of the region, drawing inspiration from a number of Mahait political philosophy texts. Other clans continued to join it in the years following as it increased in influence.

In 42 BB, gunpowder was introduced to the Bacri via trade with Escharia. They made great use of this new substance, and made several early firearms. Just a few years later, these would be used in 38 BB during the Coalition-Sidel War, wherein a Sidel clan (inhabiting the northwestern mountains of Najer) attacked a Coalition-allied clan for their resources. After a protracted war, the Bacri and the rest of the Coalition managed to expel the Sidel clan and harshly punished them, occupying their land and forcing them to pay reparations for the many who died in the conflict.

These reparations only increased the Bacri's immense wealth and power. At this point, they began distributing gunpowder weapons to the rest of Najer, monopolizing its production by hiding its creation process. This would not last, however, as a mere 10 years later, in 20 BB, their monopoly was ended, further increasing the use of gunpowder in Najer. The use of gunpowder would also have ramifications outside of Najer. As firearms became more widely used, and considering their effectiveness against many forms of armor, the traditional "elite warrior" diminished in effectiveness in warfare. Raids on the Wandering Desert increased in frequency, causing many to fear the potential long-term effects of gunpowder, and disrupting trade, catastrophically affecting the Bacri stranglehold on trade.

In 9 BB, through a twisted web of political events, uprisings, rebellions, and social upheaval, the Mahait Seyohdom collapsed. These events are collectively known as the Revenau Rebellion. Their civilization was utterly wasted, turning, in some places, to pure anarchy. Many of its people fled, with some going to the west and adopting mainline Najer customs, and others fleeing to other continents, particularly Sparwood. With trade from Escharia and Plagos thoroughly disrupted, Bacri influence in Najer was similarly curbed.

With the Bacri weakened, so too did the League of the Open Sky decline. Many of its members left, and others began jockeying for power within it. This severely limited their power, and much of Najer was left in disarray from the rapid increase in chaos.

Najera'jad (10/16/2020-10/26/2020)
In 1 BB, the Mosulia Bank and Stock Market, which was run by Dalatra Mosulia, crashed, causing a massive economic downturn. Many people lost their fortunes, and still others turned to banditry to support themselves. As a result, thousands of raiders streamed into Najer, hoping to loot the towns and communities of the desert nomads. Not only that, but an epidemic of Lycanthropy had stricken Rathnir several years earlier, and this invasion introduced it to Najer. Bandits and werewolves tore through the disunified Poma, plundering and killing indiscriminately. The Najer abandoned their towns and their flocks for their own safety, with thousands taking refuge in caves, in ancient temples, and others simply in the wilderness.

As the raiders continued their rampage, leveling many towns and villages, the people decided to fight back. They began launching counter-attacks, using hit-and-run techniques to strike at the invaders and then quickly retreat. Slowly but surely, the raiders either left or were eliminated, with many continuing onwards to Plagos. The werewolves were easily defeated once it was discovered that their weakness was the touch of a silver blade.

This wave of attack devastated Najer, which was already reeling from the end of the Mahait and Bacri influence. Tens of thousands lost their homes, and many had next to no worldly possessions- this was not taking into account those that perished at the hands of the looters either. However, this shared hardship did bring the Poma together.

Not only that, but being forced out of their homes and into ancient temples had also led them to rediscover many things that they had forgotten- deities that they no longer worshiped, a language they no longer spoke, and memories that they had not preserved. This ignited a cultural renaissance among the Najer, who became newly enthusiastic about their past, in spite of their terrible current state. In one temple, there was a legendary artifact- the Bells of Menkauhor. They had been incredibly elusive for thousands of years, but thanks to the raiders, they had been rediscovered in an almost completely buried temple by the Basha Pom. This discovery was the catalyst for the Basha tribe founding the city of Najera'jad (meaning "mountain of the people") in 1 AB (October 16th, 2020). While cities were not uncommon in the "separate" and distant east regions of Najer, for the nomadic and pastoral west, this was unheard of.

It took many years, but more and more tribes began to join with Najera'jad. The discovery of the Bells led people to believe that the Lost Gods were on the verge of rediscovery- like so much else, worship of their ancestral deities had been neglected and passed from memory through generations of travel and tribulation. Najera'jad imparted a new sense of hope to the ragged, raider-torn Wandering Deserts.

Silver Coalition (10/26/2020-1/1/2021)
Only a year later, in 2 AB, sailors from Helmia made landfall on the shores just outside Najera'jad. This marked the beginning of a burgeoning friendship between the Najer and Noxnorr, as they were called. Their friendship would quickly lead to them spearheading a confederation of nearby states. This confederation was dubbed the "Silver Coalition," after the weapons that had become commonplace due to the werewolf attacks and the silvery glow of the moon they had first met under. (October 26th, 2020)

This was another first for the Najer, as they had rarely interacted with people outside the Wandering Deserts, and never had they joined forces with outsiders before. However, it was clear that the Silver Coalition was a mighty force, and only getting more so by the day. More and more Poma joined the Coalition themselves under the leadership of Najera'jad, including the Lizardfolk, whose population had been reduced to a shell of its ancient self by constant conflict with others. Even the prideful people of the former Mahait Seyohdom, fearing they would be overtaken by the newly-strong Escharian Empire, were willing to join the Coalition, being one of the last groups to do so.

Shortly after, it came to the attention of the Coalition leaders that the Republic of Bardonia, a newly founded northern nation, was in danger of being invaded by the southern Empire of Uldarash. Hoping to aid Bardonia, the coalition sent their most skilled diplomat, Avreham Basha (StarSixSeven), who was also the leader of Najera'jad, to meet with Bardonia and potentially mediate between the two groups. This was to no avail, as war was declared. Avreham personally led a small contingent of Najer fighters in the battle that occurred in Dorasterrock, the Bardonian capital. Bardonia was victorious, and Avreham's meeting and aiding of Bardonia was the beginning of a friendship with the SC,. Avreham and Bardonia's leader at the time, Unic0rnb0i, also became close friends.

However, disaster would strike shortly thereafter as the Enfycene Plague swept across Rathnir, obliterating the global population. Najera'jad was hit especially hard, with over 60% of its population, which comprised a not-insignificant number of natural-born Najer, dying as a result. The Najer population, already significantly reduced as a result of the bandit and werewolf attacks only two years earlier, but this dropped it to dangerously low levels. People fled en masse, hoping to escape the disease.

As a way to harden morale, the Najer adopted the phrase "We Remain;" hearkening back to the extensive history that the people have, which span the lifetime of empires long forgotten. It is used both as a promise and a hope that the Najer people will persevere past any hardship: That they will remain, as they have done so for millennia.

Some fled the deserts entirely, but in 3 AB (November 5th, 2020), a group of people from Najera'jad left the city after the plague, hoping to resettle in another location. They eventually ended up in a ruin of a Mahait city located on a mountainside, and decided to build an outpost there. Their outpost eventually became the city of Kijaro, named after the Kijar mountains it was located near. Being so far from but culturally united to Najera'jad, it quickly became a full member of the Silver Coalition as well as a local power in its own right, with many various scattered Mahait groups joining it.

The construction of Kijaro paved the way, metaphorically and literally, for the construction of the Great Najer Road in 5 AB (November 18th, 2020), which linked Najera'jad to the Escharian Capital of Lileanen, allowing for trade to not just flow from north to east, but east to west as well. Its position was based on the old Bacri trade routes that had allowed them to become so rich 35 years earlier.

Trillium and the Sterling Crownlands (1/1/2021-4/6/2021)
It was also around this time that the Silver Coalition, Bardonia, and Escharia joined together in a massive alliance called the Trillium Alliance. Thanks to the efforts and diplomatic skills of Avreham Basha, the leader of Najera'jad, the three superpower nations had been brought together under a common goal- to enforce world peace. Avreham desired a world with no war, declaring the age of Pax Trilli, or the Trillium Peace.

In 12 AB, Avreham led a contingent of his supporters (who mainly hailed from the nations of Paludis and the Sand Republic) to Sovdal, the capital of fellow Silver Coalition state Noxnorr, and declared the dissolution of the Silver Coalition. In the original Noxist temple, he announced that he would be crowned as the first High King of the Sterling Crownlands, which brought all the member states of the Coalition under one banner as one nation. He then proceeded to declare the new country as the sole country of the true north, and that all alliances and foreign treaties of the previous coalition would be reevaluated by the new nobility. This event would be dubbed the "New Year's revolution," as it had taken place just as the new year dawned.

While most of the Coalition's former nations recognized the Crownlands with Avreham as its king, dissent brewed in other places. Noxnorr, while outwardly accepting the change in power, felt that Avreham had no right to rule them. Despite their close friendship, the forceful taking of the throne and the coronation in the first Noxist temple upset the people, sowing the seeds of discontent.

In other places, there was more open discontent. Kijaro had grown to enjoy its place as a regional power, and upon hearing the news of the Sterling Crownlands, declared independence. Najera'jad marched on Kijaro and quelled the rebellion, imprisoning the leaders of the movement and placing the city under direct control of the Crown.

Shortly after this, Empress Carpicious of Yimmu-Audal declared war on the Trillium Alliance and by association the Sterling Crownlands. To muster support within the nation, High King Avreham Basha, along with several Bardonian Senators, put together a plethora of propaganda, advertising the war as a defensive effort with the liberty of the north at stake. These efforts proved effective, as the Kingdoms of Coltmaere, Raykara, and Egalia agreed to fight on such pretenses for the Trillium Alliance.

By the end of the year 12 AB (January 7th, 2021), Noxnorr, who had secretly allied themselves with Yimmu-Audal, invited Audalad forces to the Silver Citadel, including Carpicious, their Empress. Certain of the nation's unity and strength, King Avreham personally armored several former Noxnorrian citizens for the upcoming battle. When Carpicious challenged this notion, the King handed the Sterling Crown to the high priest of Noxism to prove his point: That the solidarity of the country depended not on the crown, but the kings who led it. As soon as the crown was relinquished, however, all Noxnorrians in attendance rose up and revolted. While the ensuing bloodbath was confusing, it was clear that the forces of Yimmu-Audal were quickly slain and the First King of the Sterling Crownlands died by the hands of Kiwirion, despite the best efforts of the Kingsguard (TNTPiggles, Nura). It is said his blood still stains grass at the Noxist temple in the Silver Citadel.

Despite the heavy losses, the battle was Yimmu-Audal's first victory in the war. The Sterling Crown then passed to Dark Saigard, whose epithet quickly became "The Twice King," on account of being king of Noxnorr as well. The new king declared the Crownlands officially allied with Yimmu-Audal.

In 13 AB (January 9th, 2021), Sterling Forces marched to Urnu-Arrak to help the World Coalition defend the city from the Trillium Alliance. While the general soldiery was posted on defense, the Kingsguard (Nura, TNTPiggles, RonOriginal) initially chose to uphold their duty to defend their king against all threats.Despite being utterly surrounded, they repelled wave after wave of foes until it was clear that they would not be defeated in conventional combat. During a lull in the fighting, however, the Kingsguard turned on their ruling monarch and slew Dark Saigard, destroying many of the key outposts of the Coalition fighters, despite being beset upon yet again. Soon after, Coalition forces were depleted and Blue_Marble surrendered the city to Tzseu of Bardonia, wife of the late Empress Dalatra of Yimmu-Audal.

After the Battle, as Dark's heir Juli Aulder took to the Sterling Throne, the former Kingsguard released a statement explaining their actions as restorative to their honor, implying further resistance unless their grievances were met. They took issue with the betrayal of Avreham, the unprecedented alliance with Yimmu-Audal (abandoning their steadfast allies in Trillium), and the poor treatment of Sterling forces during the war. The Sand Republic presented these demands to the High Silver King. The meeting worked out smoothly and TSR was re-invited into the Crownlands.

A golden era of peace and strength of the Crownland began. They continued to work to uphold world peace, even despite the Trillium disbanding a few years later, fighting for the rights of smaller nations. The Sterling Crownlands were directly responsible for the fall of the Escharian Empire, as they stood in the way of their domination of the north. They demanded that the Escharians release their vassals in Plagos, as well as the majority of the nation of Reykara, threatening war should their conditions not be met. The Escharians, knowing they could not defeat the Crownlands, turned tail and ran. To save face, their leaders performed a ritual that sacrificed their grand capital of Lileannen in order to transform themselves into ghostly Shades. Following their forsaking, their Empire collapsed, causing massive instability worldwide.

Najer itself specifically prospered as well. The Najer population had begun to recover from the Enfycene Plague that had decimated them years earlier. A group of towns in the far east, even farther than Kijaro, banded together to form a new city, which they called Wobambi-on-Sea. It was the first city to reclaim its Mahait legacy, gaining a noteworthy reputation as a trading port. It was also the first city in the modern era to be populated and run by Mahait Poma proper, notably the Nanderang Pom. One young talent hailing from Wobambi, known as Dmitrio von Sturgeon (BigFatPenn), quickly rose through the ranks of Sterling Bureaucracy, gaining a position as head of infrastructure. He also later became the leader of Wobambi to boot. However, as the years passed, stability within the Crownlands began to look less certain. A succession crisis of the Kings led to the son of the first King, Baram Avreham-faj niv Basha, to take the Crown, and a number of nations declared independence as a result. To the south, the former Escharian leaders, who had turned themselves into vengeful spirits years earlier, laid waste to their former empire, slaughtering those that they believed were not faithful adherents to the Soleannen religion. This caused a massive wave of emigration and hordes of refugees poured across the Sterling border in hopes of settling there instead.

One group of refugees were becoming more troublesome than the rest. This group resided in a town known as "the Tail," after a mythological feline. They began planning a revolution in 21 AB (March 7th, 2021) within the Crownlands, planning with a number of other dissenters to revolt under an agreement known as the "Steel Compact." Having heard of the rebellious tendencies of eastern Najer, they invited Wobambi-on-Sea to be a part of their pact, which also included the nations of Aljazair and Baykonia.

However, this invitation would prove to be their undoing, as the leader of Wobambi, Dmitrio von Sturgeon, was a close friend of the current High King, Baram, due to their brotherhood as fellow Najer and their close association in the Sterling Government. Dmitrio worked as a mole within the Steel Compact, using information gained from the inside to topple the rebellion. With the help of a certain mercenary group, they launched an attack on the Tail, bringing a swift end to the Steel Compact.

However, this event caused High King Baram to realize that the new generation of nations was more ambitious than their predecessors and did not adhere to the old Sterling ways. Many people wished for a nation of their own. As a result, Baram planned to dissolve the Sterling Crownlands. Following months of discussion with the various community leaders, he announced in 25 AB (April 7th, 2021) that the Sterling Crownlands were no more. In its place were the new nations of Aljazair, the Emirate of Najer, Owyddnorr, Paludis, Lumeno, The Sand Republic, and Baykonia.

Independence and early Emirate (4/6/2021-6/7/2021)
For the first time in decades, the Najer were once more alone in the world. They were now an independent nation, a descendant of one of the greatest powers in all of history. They now had a King- Dmitrio von Sturgeon had been chosen to become their new ruler. They called their new leader an Emir, a term meaning "petty king," which honored their status as a former member state of the Sterling Crownlands. Dmitrio proved to be a worthy leader, gaining respect as a friendly and capable political veteran. He moved the capital from Najera'jad to his home, Wobambi-on-Sea. He put to use his skills in dealing with refugees, as, in 29 AB, a group of refugee Vulpur settled down in western Najer. They had been expelled by the southerly nation of Floramia, one of the few nations that the Escharian spirits had allowed to survive. They quickly established themselves in the ruin of an old Sterling Fort, which they claimed as their capital of Neavulpur. Later, (May 11th, 2021) Emir Sturgeon led a party to make contact with the Vulpur. He invited them to Wobambi, where they discussed the circumstances that had led the Vulpur there and what their goals and ambitions were. Eventually, a deal was struck wherein Vulpinia would become an autonomous vassal under Najer, creating the Vulpinia Province.

Shortly before this meeting, the Emir had also contacted the leaders of a tribe that had settled on an island off the northern coasts of Najer several decades earlier. Having adopted the Najer language, they now called themselves the Sikkari (meaning "rending wolves"), or Sicaria as they would commonly be known. They had had some relations with the mainland, but had generally maintained a separate existence from the rest of Najer. Their massacre of the Lizardfolk had made them unpopular with some.

The leader of the Sicarians, DragonTypes, met Emir von Sturgeon and the Vulpinian Frogycraft at the gates of their fort and offered to buy the island's independence officially. The Emir declined, and instead negotiated for Sicaria to join Najer. By 30 AB (May 15th, 2021), they officially did so.

Shortly after, troubles from the south began to reach upwards. Another of the post-Escharian nations, the Order Müvielle, had been seeking for some time to expand its borders through any means necessary. In 32 AB, (May 22) they officially announced that they had laid claim to a sizeable portion of Najer's southeastern territory, going almost all the way up to the capital, Wobambi. They also laid claim to Kijaro, which had fallen into disrepair in the years following the end of the Sterling Crownlands. They quickly and covertly moved their troops into the area in as little as a single day. By the time of their announcement, the cities within their claimed territory were already occupied. They called their new conquest "Aruwbar." Najer prepared for war, and a number of nations were outraged at the blatant imperialism. Bardonia, fast friends of Najer for years, as well as the Second Empire of Uldarash and the Imperial Archonate of Viodoxa, also denounced Müvielle's claims and threatened war if necessary. Knowing that going up against every world superpower at the time would be suicide, Müvielle reluctantly abandoned the territory. They signed the Treaty of Kijaro in 32 AB (May 25th, 2021), which put an end to hostilities between the two nations with a non-aggression pact.

Formative Era (6/7/2021-7/30/2021)
Following this, Emir Sturgeon began a reform campaign, hoping to better organize the nation through a provincial system. He declared that there would be elections to determine the governors held in the three major (excluding Vulpinia) Najer regions: Andamooka, Najera'jad (Province), and Jakeh'adh. DragonTypes of Sicaria won the election for Najera'jad province. He moved the regional capital to his home city and changed the name of the region to match, making it now the Sicaria Province. IronJaw (Ironjaw607), the proprietor of Ahjejeko Thesehi, won the governorship of Jakeh'adh. The governor of Andamooka became Hitomi Numachi (Luunas), and Vulpinia elected their own representative amongst themselves, who became the governor of Vulpinia province.

An inauguration for the governors was planned, but before this could take place, the Vulpinians emigrated from Najer to return to their ancestral home in Eldham in 33 AB (early June, 2021). Their land was returned to Najer, and the inauguration of the governors took place shortly thereafter (June 7th, 2021).

However, another group would soon come to Najer. A dimension-traversing organization known as the Order of the Red Quarterstaff was, around this time, expelled from Floramia, who had since united with the Order Müvielle to become the Simulami Empire. They were invited by Ironjaw of the Jakeh'adh Province to settle in his territory. They accepted his offer, and were given a home in the rugged mountains of central northern Najer, where they founded the city of Campus Ordo. This caused something of a stir with the locals, particularly the neighboring city of Pomjad. They protested the new arrivals, even sending raiders to halt the construction of the new city. These raiders were promptly reprimanded and fined for attacking their fellow citizens. Shortly after, the Order became a semi-autonomous vassal, the same as the Vulpinians had functioned before their departure. Around this time, a wandering nomad came, by apparent chance, to discover the ancient city of Nahrayn, which had been abandoned and buried centuries earlier, and forgotten by the passage of time. He began a campaign to rebuild and restore the city. This effort was a success, and it quickly became the most prominent location in the region. The nomad who had discovered it, Hirudo, also rose to prominence in the political sphere, working closely with governor Ironjaw.

Around this period, an anti-Simulami sentiment began brewing among the nation. Many groups had come to Najer to escape the wrath of their southern neighbors, or had lived alongside those who had, and this common experience led to hostile feelings towards Simulami, not helped by demeaning comments and discriminatory policies implemented in the earlier Floramian era. Particularly offensive was the "racial hierarchy" implemented by Floramia, which denied service to Najer travelers and traders, deeming them an inferior race. Emir Sturgeon saw this, and felt it was incorrect and unhealthy for this hate to brew between neighbors, so he and ZenoHUN of Simulami began talks.

The two leaders discovered that politically, they were more alike than they were different- both mainly wished to be left alone and to cooperate with their neighbors. In 40 AB, (July 22nd, 2021) they signed the Pisces Fellowship, a full mutual defense pact. This treaty brought the two nations even closer together, and although old grudges remained, they were put aside.

During the events of the Third Coalition war and The Battle of New Dorasterrock, (41 AB) Najer entered a state of readiness. Although they were in no state to send troops, they anticipated that their old ally, Bardonia, might call upon them for aid. Bardonian leadership, however, realized that the overwhelming coalition they were faced with was likely too much for them to handle, and so they ordered their forces to surrender and asked their allies to stand down, in order to fight another day. As such, Najer did not participate in the battle that later took place due to the Bardonian forces not being willing to submit so easily.

In 42 AB, (July 30th) Najer was invaded by a group known as the "Kingdom of Salem." They seized control of the abandoned fortress-city of Neavulpur on the eponymous Peninsula, and began aggressive negotiations, bombing the nearby city of Najera'jad and attacking Najer citizens in order to intimidate Najer into giving them sovereignty. They were asked to integrate or leave, but instead arrogantly tried to buy their independence instead.

A scouting party was sent, led by two up-and-coming Najer citizens, Shivareh of Kijaro (Just_Shooter) and Hirudo of Nahrayn (Hirudo6). They went to survey the land and scout out the invaders. After negotiations were unsuccessful and they were thrown out of the fort, they rallied Najer forces and called on their ally Irabella. They then launched a raid on the fortress. They easily overwhelmed the poorly-trained and undisciplined Salem forces. The leader of Salem, Splycerz, attempted to taunt the attacking forces, until he was shot and fell off the wall. The strike team quickly breached the fort, chasing down the would-be king and executed him. The rest of his lackeys fled shortly after, thus ending the Salem invasion.

Golden Age (07/30/2021-9/27/2021)
This event was the foundation of a new era for Najer's military, and was a massive success in gathering support for the creation of a new, formal military. This organization started out as a simple Coast Guard, but eventually evolved to become the Najer Armed Services, and was later made official by Emir von Sturgeon.

The following year (August 10th), during a national meeting, Governor Ironjaw retired. As the first of the original three governors to step down, this was a surprise to many. He passed the governorship of his province, Jakeh'adh, to Hirudo, the Seyoh of Nahryan, which by this point had become the de-facto regional capital.

In the year 48 AB (September 15th), Najer's neighbor nation of Solitudinem was abruptly invaded by a barbarian group known as "Dixie." Najer answered their call for help and began organizing a military campaign against the invaders. This was the first opportunity for the newly formed Najer Armed Services, or NAS, to test their mettle. Najer had not seen war in many years, so people were restless and eager for some sort of conflict. The people took to this task with gusto, obtaining the support of a half-dozen other nations in a Najer-led coalition. Negotiations with the invaders were short, and plans for an invasion were drawn up. This marked the start of the War of Solitudinem. While uncertain of the situation at first, the Najer coalition began planning. Although Dixie claimed to have the support of Tortuga, the Frosterium, and the Second Empire of Plagatéa, diplomatic visits with each country confirmed that this was not the case. This distressed the Dixies, and they quickly switched from offense to defense, fortifying their towns and camps. They also hired a mercenary group known as the Sweet Berry Bandits. However, due to some contacts that Najer possessed within the group, as well as the dishonorable actions of the Dixies, the Berry Bandits collaborated with the coalition to betray the Dixies. Intel was gathered, and in 49 AB (September 19th, 2021), an attack was launched.

Coalition forces gathered at the Solitudinem town of Purgatio, massing outside the settlement and preparing for battle, before marching to a Dixie base known as the Hills of Bhaldor. They quickly set up entrenchments, camps, and siege engines surrounding the Dixie forces. The Dixie army was hesitant at first, but encouraged by the Berry Bandits, soon led an assault on the coalition lines. The Berry Bandits fell back immediately, leaving the Dixies to get routed by the coalition forces.

Soon thereafter, scouts reported that the main Dixie army had fled Bhaldor using secret tunnels and fled to a more defensible fort to the north. The coalition began moving to meet them, and launched a second assault at the fortress. The Bandits fully turned on the Dixies, turning the battle into a bloodbath. They and the coalition army massacred the fighters while not suffering even a single casualty. The remainder surrendered or leapt off their fortress walls in defiance, and the fort was taken, ending the war. Shortly after this war, Governor DragonTypes would be killed under mysterious circumstances. Leonardo "Leo" Grey would take his place as governor of his province.

Sapphire Era (9/27/2021-04/13/2022)
In 50 AB, the Sapphire Commonwealth was founded. It was the union of three nations: The Empire of Plagatea, the Empire of Simulami, and the Emirate of Najer. All three nations hoped to emulate the success and strength of the Sterling Crownlands, as each of the member nations had struggled to attain relevancy on their own.

However, by this time, the aging Emir von Sturgeon's health began to rapidly decline. Hirudo, governor of Jakeh'adh and the Seyoh of Nahrayn, as well as von Sturgeon's cousin, became his unofficial protégé, taking the reins of many internal and diplomatic matters. A mere two years later, in 52 AB, von Sturgeon passed away. He revealed on his deathbed that Hirudo was to become the second Emir. Azzar, the leader of the Order of the Red Quarterstaff, became the governor in Hirudo's place

Under the Commonwealth and the rule of Hirudo, the Emirate was peaceful, if slightly stagnant. Najer participated minimally in the various wars and conquests undertaken by its fellow member states, preferring to advocate for peace and mediation internally.

Hirudo attempted to promote a greater knowledge of old Najer customs and history to his people. Two new Lost Gods were rediscovered as a result of his programs, Gafa, goddess of water, and Duyani, goddess of Flora. Under his rule, the Old Najer script was finally and fully deciphered, leading to a small cultural renaissance. This discovery was also significant in that it uncovered the existence of further new Lost Gods, namely Koshaf and Taramsej.

Following a series of failed attempts at imperialism in Helmia and Alamayn, the leaders of the Sapphire Commonwealth met together and decided to dissolve the nation in 64 AB (January 10th, 2022. Although it had never reached the same status as the legendary Sterling Crownlands, it provided them all with valuable experience in politics and in dealing with their neighbors.

Later that same year, Hitomi Numachi, governess of Andamooka, stepped down, passing the title to Shivareh Basha. This event would mark the departure of the last of the original three governors. Following this, Emir Hirudo would pursue both further internal reforms and greater diplomatic ties. A number of alliances and pacts were formally signed, building projects for the nation's big cities were undertaken, and the national religion was more heavily promoted. Pride in Najer culture experienced a resurgence in popularity during this time.

The Second Basha Pact was signed under Hirudo in 69 AB, which was a renewal of an earlier pact with the Second Empire of Uldarash.

In 75 AB, Najer's western lands were once again beset by invaders. A friend of a disaffected former Seyoh, who together ran the nation of Belmore in Eldham, began squatting on Dualfin Isle, assembling an army of mercenaries and foreign nations to enforce his claim. High officials in both Bardonia and the Soleannan Imperium, upset by Najer's alliances with Ryzan and Uldarash, traditional enemies of theirs, both offered aid. The Najer government took immediate action, entering into talks with a variety of parties. Through sheer force of diplomacy, the squatter's allies fell away one by one.

Although the invasion was successfully quelled, the event made the Emir realize that he was becoming too old. Not wishing to die clinging to power, Hirudo decided to step down from politics, and began making preparations to do so. He appointed Hitomi Numachi as the Calipha, or successor, to manage affairs during this period. Two years later, in 77 AB, Hirudo issued a declaration of his abdication and handed the crown of Najer to Hitomi, and departed Rathnir. His son, Alsham Talvos, took up leadership of his city, Nahrayn.

The Dark Ages (4/13/2022-07/01/2022)
The first actions Hitomi took were to rearrange the Wobambi Forum, and to sign several treaties with other nations. Azzar was stripped of his post as governor of Jakeh'adh for negligence and a conflict of interest, and the position was given to Alsham Talvos, son of the former Emir. Melthir Vikhrov and Asdrubal Hanno-faj niv Bacri were appointed as the federal quartermaster and Minister of Commerce, respectively.

Hitomi was quick to sign alliances with The Imperium and the Huitca Federation as well. Later, Orshav Basha stepped down as Governor of Najera'jad, and Ameri Susanda was appointed in his place. However, soon after this, Hitomi vanished from the public sphere completely, only communicating through letters to the members of the Najer government.

In 81 AB, the Church of The Lost Gods held a meeting in Najera'jad to decide the future of the religion, the first meeting of its kind.

Discontent began growing with Hitomi's absence. The people demanded someone who would be able to manage the affairs of the office of Emir, and so Hitomi chose Asdrubal to become the Caliph. Around this time, Hadarai Avalon retired as the Commandant of the Najer Armed Services, and Minalwa'juz took his place.

In 84 AB, Hitomi abruptly sent out a letter internationally declaring that Najer would be declaring war on Tortuga as part of a regional dispute over a small island. This prompted immediate outrage from Tortuga's leaders and allies, and only the swift thinking of the Wobambi forum and the retraction of Hitomi's declaration prevented the situation from spiraling out of control. In 87 AB, Asdrubal held a national meeting and announced an economic census of Najer. While both of these helped to calm people, the nation suffered under the neglect of Hitomi. Diplomatic letters were turned away, the capital was left to rot, and many blunders in foreign affairs, namely the Tortuga crisis 3 years earlier, nearly led to catastrophe.

This led to a breaking point when, evidently overwhelmed by the deluge of desparate letters and the pressure of her duties, Hitomi abdicated the throne to Asdrubal and vanished without a trace. The abruptness of her departure left many wondering about the specifics, and some even speculated that her abdication was merely a cover for her suicide.

Regardless, the people were happy to finally be free of Hitomi and hopeful for the future under Emir Asdrubal. The newly minted ruler was quick to assert control, and announced plans to reverse the missteps Hitomi made and fix persistent unresolved problems.

The Shifting Era (07/01/2022-9/21/2022)
Asdrubal's first actions were to immediately restart the diplomatic relations that had stagnated over time. Indeed, most of his rule was focused on improving not only Najer's relationships with its neighbors, but the state of the whole north. This began with the Pact of Elysium, an agreement made between Najer, Lennox, and the latter's colony, Elysium, in 92 AB (July 18th). Elysium, an underwater city, was given permission to build off the coast of Najer, and was governed under a joint vassalship between the two nations. This pact also gave rise to a non-aggression pact between Najer and Lennox, the first interaction Najer had had with a Yularan nation since the dissolution of the Sterling Crownlands nearly 80 years earlier. A number of newspapers were also founded around this time, including the Nomadic times and The Silver Moon.

In 94 AB (July 30th), a national meeting was held to determine the state of affairs and plans going forward. A number of new ideas were brought forth to fix problems within the nation, including such topics as the government, infrastructure, recruitment, events, and foreign affairs. One particular individual, Goldwyn Silkov, was especially insistent that Najer follow his ideas, derailing the meeting so he could talk. While this confused some, the participation was generally welcomed.

The following year (August 8th), Minalwa'juz went missing. The position of NAS commandant was passed to Soonsandbash of Sibkea. In 96 AB, the Rathnir Spice Guild officially opened their headquarters in Kafas niv Jaseda, Najer's market town, which had been under construction for several years. This was marked by an influx of people hoping to buy and sell, as well as an increased focus on spice-based commerce.

Around this time, a wandering monk named Ian petitioned the government to allow a shrine for his religion to be built in Najer. Seeing no harm, the government accepted and began helping him searching for a site to place his shrine. Eventually, a location on the Neavulpur peninsula was selected. Unfortunately, however, tensions arose with the people of the Silkov Camp, who were also religiously inclined. Monk Ian insulted their religion, and in retaliation, their leader, Goldwyn Silkov, ordered his followers to attack Ian and stop him from constructing his shrine. This naturally upset Ian and the government, and the Silkovs were fined 30,000 coins for their actions, upsetting them greatly.

Shortly after this, Emir Asdrubal grew sick for several months. The Caliph, Alsham Talvos, took up rule for this period. Asdrubal did not spend this time idly, however, as in 98 AB (August 29th), he announced that he had been working with other northern nation leaders to form the city state of the Silver Citadel, which had been a heavily contested and sought-after territory for many decades. This marked a distinct transition of the north to a more peaceful and harmonious place. In 100 AB, spy reports came in that Ian the monk, who had earlier provoked raids from his neighbors, was requesting that foreign powers come invade Najer, fearing that his shrine was in danger. Negotiations had been ongoing regarding the shrine, but upon learning of the back-handed dealing, Najer officials responded accordingly. They declared war on him immediately. None of the nations that Ian petitions came to help him, and so he was easily defeated and his shrine demolished. In an ironic twist, his fear he would lose his shrine was the cause of its destruction.

In the following years, Najer, through Emir Asdrubal, became very diplomatically active. He orchestrated three major treaties- mutual defense pacts with Daelyria and the Republic of Alamayn, as well as the Silver Peace Pact, a multinational NAP between Daelyria, Najer, Alamayn, Lennox, and Vallia.

Additionally, the Silkov family, who had launched a raid on Ian the Monk, started to gather support for a coup. They would disguise this attempt as governmental reforms, enabling them to gather support covertly and to attack the government for not being forward-thinking enough. They campaigned subtly for changes that would lead to their rise in power.

Around this time, PrinceOfPain, a strife seyoh within the Najer military, began attempting to take control of Najer's military from the inside. He promoted his friends to high positions, embezzled military funds, and misused NAS resources to spy on others illegally. He was fired from the NAS for this and for overstepping his duties.

Naturally upset by this, Pain then decided to launch a coup of his own against the government, using his connections in the military in an effort to upend the status quo. He also astroturfed support from within the nation by getting his allies to protest his removal. His ambitions led him to associate with the Silkovs, and they began working together to overthrow Najer.

Their plan was solidified when Susahnbash, the commandant of the military, also joined their plot. With him funneling NAS resources, Pain's underworld contacts, and the Silkov's political reform plan and manpower, they had what they needed to execute their coup.

They began to promote their reforms even more fervently, using the opportunity to tear down their political opponents who opposed the change, calling them traditional and backwards.

However, the government obtained copies of their plans, partially through espionage and partially through the carelessness of Pain. Although initially outwardly unreceptive to the change, Emir Asdrubal and several others composed a plan where they would implement the Silkov's reforms before they could propose them, limiting their popular momentum and preventing them from taking credit. The Emir began to officially host discussions on the direction that Najer should take, reviewing a number of bureaucratic and legal changes.

Frustrated by the government's interference in his plans, Goldwyn Silkov eventually contacted the Caliph of Najer, Alsham Talvos, attempting to sway him to join the conspiracy. He instead offered to mediate talks between Goldwyn and the government. A few meetings were had, which were attended by Goldwyn, Alsham, and naturally the Emir, but were unproductive, as Goldwyn's strong and obvious lust to become Emir was very off-putting to the others. Goldwyn was also unhappy with their proposed middle ground, wanting them to accept his plan wholesale.

However, before negotiations could conclude any of these reforms could take effect, the Emir was assassinated by an unknown assailant. He was found dead in Wobambi, having bled out from stab wounds. The whole nation mourned his death. It was later discovered that a divine vision had prompted Asdrubal to seek death at the hands of an unknown assailant, as he had been promised this would restore peace to Najer.

Alsham Talvos, the Caliph at the time, became the next Emir.

The Reforming Age (9/21/2022-1/3/2023)
Emir Alsham, though saddened by his friend and mentor's death, was inclined to finish what had been started. He continued reform talks, injecting a new energy into the quickly stagnating reforms. Several caucuses were organized, one for each of the three provinces, to hold discussions on how they would be split with input from those that lives in that area. With wisdom taken from a variety of advisors, the new laws and structures were revised and improved.

Goldwyn vanished during this time, seen only by his close advisors. He did not participate in the new reform talks after having been stymied by the late Emir Asdrubal. The government suspected he was behind the assassination, but never obtained any conclusive proof. They hoped he would not attempt to cause further trouble, and so did not prosecute him for his attempted coup.

In the meantime, Alsham annexed Najer's vassal of Elysium fully into the nation, with an official treaty being released in 102 AB (September 23rd).

In 103 AB (September 28th), the reforms were completed and the changes took effect. Over the next few months, the nation gradually shifted to accommodate these changes. In 105 AB, Najer celebrated its 100th anniversary. Many celebrations were held across the nation. Emir Alsham gave a speech and announced that the city of Nahrayn would become the new capital of Najer, replacing Wobambi-on-sea. The nation continued to flourish in the years following. The population began to grow, and ties with Najer's neighbors increased, particularly Daelyria.

In 112 AB (December 3rd), the followers of The Lost Gods announced that they had reorganized the Najer religion. It marked a notable break with the attempts of the past to standardize Najer spiritual beliefs, remaining decentralized and open for adaption. This new effort was remarkably successful, with many new proclaimed converts and an overall increased appreciation for culture.

Also around this time, a rebellion began brewing in the northwest of Najer. Susahnbash, a former collaborator of Goldwyn Silkov and would-be coup-maker, began a rebellion in his home city of Sibkea, which was managed by the Order of the Red Quarterstaff. He attempted to break free of their control, bringing in many foreign insurgents to help him. The Order, which manages a province under Najer, stepped in to quell the rebellion.

They met in battle in a valley south of Sibkea. The Order, with help from Lunaris, easily overcame them, routing the Sidel forces and capturing Susahnbash. As news of the rebellion came in, Susahnbash was stripped of his government positions.

Susahnbash eventually reached out to Goldwyn Silkov, his former friend, for aid. Goldwyn initially promised him a position of power in Silkovia, his city, now that Susahnbash was homeless. As the Sidel rebel arrived as Silkovia, however, he was turned away. He began camping out in the wilderness, alone and purposeless. He soon began planning his revenge- intending to ignite a civil war within Najer in order to utterly level the Order of the Red Quarterstaff.

Thanks to some well-placed contacts, however, word of his plan quickly came to light. Emir Talvos immediately banished Susahnbash from the nation, upsetting some who favored the rebel.

The Conspiring Era (1/3/2023-4/2/2023)
All was quiet for a few more years, until PrinceOfPain resurfaced. Having left Najer a few years prior, his return was unexpected. Intelligence reports came in to the government that Pain was working for Goldwyn Silkov yet again, contacting numerous mercenary groups to support the independence of Silkovia and the other towns under it. Pain directly named Goldwyn as his benefactor, which greatly alarmed the latter. Goldwyn contacted Emir Talvos, begging him to believe that Pain was acting on his own. Talvos responded that he believed Goldwyn and not to worry, but he was lying.

Emir Talvos immediately began preparations for a potential war with Goldwyn and Silkovia. PrinceOfPain was officially banished, prompting a number of former supporters to denounce him. The military was also mobilized. Most important of all, Talvos restarted talks with Daelyria about a potential union. Though neither nation was especially keen on joining forces, both had motivations to do so. They eventually formalized and announced the Daelyrian-Najer Union in 119 AB (January 21st, 2023).

Nearly immediately after, a national meeting was held. During the meeting, a paranormal entity manifested in the meeting place, the capitol building of Nahrayn. It demanded a sacrifice, eventually manifesting a large stone "moon" in the courtyard outside the building. Eventually, a Silkovian named Leoni offered herself as a sacrifice, and was taken away for a few minutes, before returning and proclaiming that all of Najer were sinners, and to convert to the Silkovian religion. This was met with derision by the crowd of attendees, and began arguing with Leoni. Goldwyn and a few others attempted to join Leoni, but before long whatever enchantment had been wrought on Leoni wore off, and they returned home.

A spy tailed them on their journey, learning that they did not know who or what had caused this event. Additionally, Leoni desired to use the Black Moon as a form of blackmail against Najer, threatening to blow up the capital if they did not grant Silkovia independence.

Goldwyn Silkov, apparently bolstered by the Black Moon, renewed his preparations to secede from Najer. He pestered nearby towns in an attempt to persuade them to join him, and prepared a document stating his demands for Najer. He also met with a member of the Gallo Mafia, hoping to gain their support and manpower in his independence attempt. However, this proved to be a fatal mistake, as the information he shared was quickly leaked back to Najer.

The leaked plans brought to light the potential impending invasion by Lunaris-Plagatea. This greatly worried the government, and especially the Emir, who feared that the latter would jump on Goldwyn's secession as a Casus Belli against Najer. He met with Goldwyn in an attempt to negotiate some sort of deal. This took quite some time, and other events were afoot. Another member of the government had contacted Lunaris-Plagatea, offering them Najer's cooperation in exchange for helping to wipe out the rebels. A deal was struck, and shortly thereafter the Emir demanded that Goldwyn and his lackeys leave Najer or face the consequences of their actions, backed by Lunaris-Plagatea.

This proved to be too much for Goldwyn, and in the midst of penning a letter begging other nations to help him, he died. Negotiations for Silkovia's fate were taken up by Leoni, along with a number of third-party intermediaries. Negotiations were lengthy and frenetic, but eventually a settlement was reached. Without their leader, Silkovia surrendered, and the rebellion was over. A dossier of intelligence documents was declassified and released to the public in 129 AB (April 2nd, 2023).

Around the same time, several of the provinces merged. The Silkov'jira and Teju'aja provinces merged back into Najera'jad. The Ajek and Nal'hreh provinces merged into the Ajek'hreh province.

Government
The Emirate functions with a similar structure to the Sterling Crownlands federal government, with an absolute monarch, the Emir, at the head, and an advisory council, the Grand Najer Forum, to aid in managing affairs across Najer and beyond. In order to most efficiently manage the land, the Emirate is divided into four provinces: Najera'jad, Sadahef, Ajek'hreh, and Mahait. Each province has a governor who oversees it, essentially governing however they choose.

Officials
Emir : Alsham Hirudo-faj niv Talvos

Governors

Relationships and alliances
Najer is a heavily isolationist nation, rarely engaging in affairs outside their borders. If they do engage in war, it is to defend themselves or their allies. Najer has a strict "take no land, give no land" policy, refusing to either conquer or sell land. Despite this, the Emirate often engages diplomatically with other nations. They generally deal only with their close neighbors, or any who wish to establish non-aggression pacts.

Culture

 * Main Article: Najer Culture

Najer culture is deeply rooted in its rich history, stemming from their role as a land of nomads and traders, to the people's heavy involvement with and support of the Silver Coalition and the Sterling Crownlands. This fusion has led to a mosaic of shared ideas and a diverse population, who commonly accept those who are different and exchange ideas between each other.

The national animal and symbol of the Emirate is the Zond, a mythical creature from ancient Najer folklore. The creature appears as a horse with an abnormally long neck, a spotted hide, and horns not unlike a dragon. Zond are elusive, like a mirage in the desert. Those who gaze upon its majesty are rewarded greatly with safe travels, clean water, and good trade deals. The earliest known accounts of the creature are depictions in the Qwarakan Archaeological Site, the location of potentially the earliest permanent Najer settlement.

The tribal Poma clan system is the traditional and time-honored system of Najer organization. However, its practice has declined over the years, as increasing numbers of Najers have flocked to cities as opportunities outside their walls grow scarcer. Today, it is seen primarily in Central Najer and the desolate outskirts of cities.

The "stereotypical" blue wandering trader tunic of the Najer people has also adapted with the times, still often worn by Najer and non-Najer born citizens alike, but now using dyes and textile tradition brought from abroad.

Najer culture is proud and protective of its history and ancestral lands. Many Najer travel to protect cultural sites and discover new ones buried in the desert sands, while others roam Rathnir collecting rare goods.

The Najer value sincerity, and have great disdain for deceit. While they do keep secrets, they prefer open discussion in all matters of life. Additionally, the Najer are well known for being gracious and generous hosts that never let anybody go hungry if they can help it.

Geography and Provinces
The Najer homelands have long been colloquially known as the Wandering Desert, a specific subregion of the Nieden continent. While primarily a mix of deserts and arid savannahs, it contains many pockets of more arable land, and is criss-crossed with rivers and mountains. Although traditionally sparsely populated, the population has been trending upwards for the past several decades, leading to the foundation of many new cities and the revival of old ones as well.

Najera'jad Province
Najera'jad is the ancient core of Najer culture and authority. It contains a rich history of the ancient city of New Bern, historical relics from the Sterling Crownlands, such as the Alamayn-Najer bridge, Fort Basha, and the Daedalus ferry. In the early days of unified Najer, the Basha, Taneen, and Rajid Pom lands formed the territorial foundation of Najera'jad-central rule, making it a historically significant location, the heartlands of Najer. After the fall of the Sterling Crownlands and the move of government to the far eastern Wobambi-on-sea, the region was left desolate for decades. It was not until later resettlement programs gave life to cities such as Sibkea and Kafas niv Jaseda that the region would once again be inhabited, but today it retains a strong reminder of the past.

It consists of the cities of Najera'jad, Kafas niv Jaseda, Nishaat, Silkovia, Sicaria, Dualfin Isle, Kigea'jad, and Flaehold Avalor.

Sadahef Province
Sadahef Province is the province home to the Order of the Red Quarterstaff, an organization dedicated to fostering peace and stability and dealing with great dangers. It has been their base of operations for decades, comprising the mountainous savannas of northern Najer, which were severely depopulated in Najer's early history by migration and disease. It has many examples of stunning medieval architecture, unique lore, and an established community.

It consists of the cities of Campus Ordo, Sibkea, Pomjad, and Mare d'Libertas.

Ajek'hreh Province
Ajek'hreh Provinceis the core of Emirate lands and the capital province of Najer, containing some of the oldest and prettiest cities in Najer. From the sprawling metropolis of Nahrayn to the coastal port of Ajek Point, beautiful architecture, dramatic landscapes, and rich culture reign.

It consists of the cities of Nahrayn, Ajek Point, Abu'Hamrah, Mirwa, and Hadu'Jira.

Mahait Province
Mahait Province is the south-easternmost part of Najer. It comprises a richly cultured region, the territories of the Mahait people, the glade elven forests, the storied Najer cities of Kijaro and Wobambi-on-sea, and more. It was and is a hotspot of activity, being the home to three Emirs.

It consists of the cities of Wobambi-on-Sea, Sigtuna, Ohjan, Kijaro, Hicto, Elmwood, and Spideria.