Najer

The Emirate of Najer is a nation state situated on the Wandering Desert in the north-eastern corner of Nieden. It was founded on 04/07/2021 as a successor state to the Sterling Crownlands, following its dissolution. It is led by Emir Hiru and the territory governors, under his direction.

Government
The Emirate of Najer exists using a similar structure to the Sterling Crownlands government, featuring an absolute monarchy with the Emir at the head, and an advisory council to aid in affairs and discussion in the Wobambi Forum. In order to better manage the many towns across Najer, the Emirate is divided into three subregions: Andamooka, Central Najer, and Sicaria. Each territory has a governor who manages affairs in their region, essentially self-governing.

Relationships and alliances
Najer is something of an isolationist nation. They do not generally engage in war, but fiercely defend their cultural home, employing a policy of "take no land, give no land." Despite this, the Emirate often engages diplomatically with other nations and has several alliances, detailed below.
 * Uldarash
 * Bardonia
 * Alamayn
 * Solitudinem
 * Simulami Empire

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.

Pre-Emirate (10/16/2020-4/06/2021)
Najer as a nation began with the founding of Najera'jad on the 16th of October, where the Najer people gathered to the site of the discovery of the Buried Bells. The city would go on to become a founding member of the Silver Coalition, and later the Sterling Crownlands, with the ruler of Najera'jad, Avreham Basha, becoming the first Silver King. Following his murder, the passing of the crown to Noxnorrian kings, and the major events taking place, Najer fell out of focus from the world stage until the Crownlands were dissolved by the son of Avreham, Baram Basha.

Early Emirate (04/07/2021-05/10/2021)
Following the disbanding of the Crownlands on the 7th of April, Najer experienced a reformation. With a desire to rework their own government and move into the modern age, the leaders of the Najer founded the Emirate. Rejecting the title of High Seyoh, Dimitrio von Sturgeon became the first Emir, separating the old structures of Najer from the new.

On the 6th of May, Vulpur refugees from Floramia came to settle in Najer, founding the city of Neavulpur on the far western portion of the country. They became the Vulpinia Province

Middle Age (05/11/2021-06/07/2021)
On May 10th, DragonTypes and CreativeWarrior6 founded the city of Sicaria on an island off the coast of eastern Najer. By the 15th, Najer officials Bigfatpenn and FrogyCraftt came to visit. DragonTypes offered to buy the island from Najer, but Pen declined, asking Sicaria to become part of Najer. Sicaria agreed, marking the start of the middle age.

On the 22nd of May, the Order Müvielle annexed a sizeable portion of Andamooka territory. Pom Nafar, Kijaro, Simpville, and several temples were restored in order to enforce the legitimacy of the claim. Muvielle cited A) a need for more territory and B) the neglect of the southern ruins as their reason for these actions. This sparked immediate controversy, and plans for war were drawn up. Following firm denunciations from prominent powers like Bardonia, Uldarash and Viodoxa, a treaty was drawn up and published on the 25th of May. The Kijaro Treaty, as it was named, gave the annexed settlements back to the Emirate, apologized for Muvielle's actions, and opened the borders between the two countries.

On the 26th of May, elections were held for the provincial governorship. DragonTypes became the governor of the Najera'jad province, and swiftly renamed it Sicaria, moving the capital to the eponymous city. IronJaw607 became the governor of Central Najer. The governor of Vulpinia was chosen by a council, and the governor of Andamooka was chosen by the Emir.

At the end of May, with the discovery of Eldham, the people of Vulpinia emigrated, returning their territory to Najer, which became part of Sicaria province.

On the 7th of June, the inauguration for the new governors was held at the capital, marking the start of the modern age.

Modern Age (06/08/2021-Present)
Following their expulsion from Simulami lands, the Order of the Red Quarterstaff was invited by Governer IronJaw to settle on Najer lands, specifically a peninsula in northeastern Najer. (On the 26th of June) The Order began constructing a city, but some citizens of the Emirate, concerned about potential trouble, interrupted this. The Order was granted full citizenship status, but effectively functions as an enclave.

On the 22nd of July, the Emirate and the Simulami Empire signed a formal alliance- the Pisces Fellowship. This agreement was the culmination of tensions between the two nations. Clause 2C cited the two culture's similar views on land and foreign relations being cause for friendship rather than conflict. The pact reiterated many of the sentiments in the Treaty of Kijaro- a denunciation of cultural hatred and aggression against each other, as well as a promise of mutual defense and sovereignty.

On the 25th, a delegation from Mithusu visited Najer, ending up at Murmudas. The mayor of the town attempted to impersonate the government officials, which, along with prior offenses, led to his banishment from Najer. On the same day, an uproar in Sigtuna occurred, with internal affairs regarding elections prompting the citizens to cry foul. Fearing a rebellion, the head of the town called upon the nation's forces to quell his opposition. The disagreement was eventually resolved peacefully.

During the events of the Third Coalition war and The Battle of New Dorasterrock, Najer entered a state of readiness, anticipating a call from Bardonia for aid. Although such a call never came, what little military Najer has was rallied, with the Najer Coast Guard forming into a navy and many Najer towns enacting defenses against potential raids. After the Coalition victory at New Dorasterrock, Najer forces returned to a wary state of peacetime.

On the 30th of July, Najer officials made contact with a squatter nation known as the "Kingdom of Salem." They left grief all around the capital, and attempted to buy the land and their sovereignty, but as they refused to join Najer, negotiations ended up being unproductive. Two Najer, Just_Shooter and Hirudo6, scouted out the kingdom, located in an old mountaintop keep. They then rallied Najer forces and stormed the fortress. The leader of Salem, Splycerz, barricaded himself inside, taunting the Najer until war councilor Debi shot him off the wall. The strike team was quick to breach the fort and remove any remaining resistance.

On the 10th of August, another national meeting was held. Governor Ironjaw retired, the first governor to do so. The nation was sad to see him go. He passed the governorship of Central Najer to Hirudo6.

By September 15th, Najer's neighbor and ally Solitudinem had become the victim of a hostile takeover by an armed squatter group. Najer answered the call for aid and began mobilizing their troops and allies to force the squatters out. Nearly a dozen nations would pledge their support in the conflict and become part of the Coalition for the liberation of Solitudinem. Negotiations with the squatter group, known by many names, but most recently as 'Manifest,' were conducted, but most went very poorly.

Early on, Manifest claimed to have the support of Tortuga, the Frosterium, and the Second Empire of Plagatéa, but these claims were later discovered to be false. After support had evaporated for Manifest, they tried to back out of the war, but eventually a battle occurred on the 19th of September. Coalition forces would gather at the river across from the Hills of Bhaldor, where the Manifest squatters had set up camp, and begin the assault. Although Manifest had hired the Berry Bandits for an exorbitant fee, they quickly switched sides, turning on the squatters. After a quick rout, the defenders fled to a fort to the north called Castillo De Arena. They were slaughtered there too, with only a single casualty on the Coalition side. The remaining defenders were starved out or surrendered, until the fort was empty.

The Sapphire Commonwealth was founded on the 28th of September, with the Emirate as one of it's three core members. A few weeks later, on the 16th of October, Emir Dmitrio von Sturgeon would pass away, entrusting leadership of the nation to Hirudo Hijam's-son.

Officials
Emir
 * Hirudo6

Governors
 * Sicaria: Pending Selection
 * Central Najer: Pending Selection
 * Andamooka: _Luunas

War Councilors
 * BackToTheHub
 * d3bi
 * Just_Shooter

Ministers
 * Infrastructure and Development: Cowboy_Catboy
 * Cultural Affairs: RaptorTheOne

Settlements

 * Andamooka
 * Ajek Point
 * Hicto
 * Kijaro
 * Ohjan
 * Phinos
 * Pom-Nafar
 * Rajadon (Abandoned)
 * Sigtuna
 * Skahashi
 * Wobambi-on-Sea (Capital)
 * Temple Shi (Defaced)
 * Temple Ahjjarjen (Maintained)
 * Temple Tala'ii (Slight Disrepair)
 * Temple Orhnuu (Maintained)
 * Temple Jaand (Disrepair)


 * Central Najer
 * Campus Ordo
 * Mirwa
 * Murmudas
 * Naduunta (Abandoned)
 * Nahrayn (Provincial Capital)
 * Pomjad
 * Temple Jhai'nu (Maintained)
 * Temple Jumas (Slight Disrepair)
 * Temple Muda (Maintained)


 * Sicaria
 * Asri Vodon
 * Chribox (Abandoned)
 * Shahbah
 * Sicaria (Provincial Capital)
 * Fort Silver (Abandoned)
 * Icarus (Abandoned)
 * Kreig
 * Malachi (Abandoned)
 * Najera'jad (Cultural Capital)
 * Captainia (Abandoned)
 * Daedalus Ferry (Abandoned)
 * Fort Basha (Abandoned)
 * Neavulpur (Abandoned)