Nahrayn

Nahrayn is one of the largest cities in the Emirate of Najer, a metropolis founded on ancient ruins.

Origins
Nahrayn has its origins rooted in a group of proto-Najer nomads who came to the wandering deserts shortly after the arrival of humans in the area. Part of a religious minority of the Lost Gods faith, specifically a sect that revered Ajvudah, they isolated themselves from other early human groups and settled along a strip of land that was surrounded on either side with two different rivers.

Although this location was isolated, it was ideal for the settlers, due to several sources of clean water as well as a means of boat travel. They began building a home here. They carried knowledge of stonecarving techniques, and so began making a city-complex. While some of it was aboveground, much of their work extended below the surface, in particular due to the harsh storms and scorching sun that made life in the region difficult. This allowed them to flourish in the cool underground, raising livestock safely underneath, while growing hardy crops aboveground.

Due to their strong desire to preserve their knowledge and identity, these proto-nomads also engaged in much literary work, recording details about their daily lives, their stories, their history, and their culture. These were written in an ancestor language of the Najer language. Many of these were lost to time, but many survived. These texts remain largely untranslated due to the difference between their language and modern Najer language. It is estimated that their civilization lasted anywhere from 70 to 120 years, before an unknown calamity caused the nomads to leave. While the exact nature of the calamity is unspecified, it is theorized to be some sort of seismological event, as evidenced by the extreme destruction of the original structure. Whoever survived the calamity recorded what had happened and that they had left, but little else.

The city-complex was then lost to time. None knew of its existence and nature reclaimed it until it was buried beneath the sands. Eons later, Najera'jad, and later the Emirate of Najer would be founded in the wandering desert, the children of the people who had left the city, but Nahrayn would remain undiscovered for many years.

Modern Day
One fateful day, a lone Najer, Hirudo Talvos, would come to travel to the area where Nahrayn lay buried. Although not originally in his plotted course, an errant sandstorm caused him to become lost. Nearly out of food and water, he took shelter near a strange outcropping. This outcropping was not what it seemed, and was actually a statue built long ago. Upon realizing this, Hirudo was inspired, and began excavating the city further. Over the course of several years, more and more of the city would be unearthed, until the entire original settlement was once again aboveground. Although heavily damaged from the ancient calamity, repairs began and people began living in the city once more. Hirudo would continue to promote the city he had discovered, continually learning new secrets and growing more skilled.

The city would become a hub for international trade and tourism within Najer, with a thriving river-transportation business. Soon, the population of non-Najer began to grow, and quickly outnumbered those of the Najer. The city also expanded far beyond its original boundaries, with many foreign architectural styles introduced and incorporated into the city.

While Nahrayn became extremely successful as a city, the focus on the ancient proto-Najer language, culture, and architecture were relegated to a few individuals, led by Hirudo. Nahrayn's isolation from other Najer cities also led to the development of a unique and closed-off culture, that, while retaining trademark Najer values, would become dissonant with the rest of Najer as time went on. The leader of Nahrayn, Hirudo, also continued to gain more power. He became the governor of the province Nahrayn was located in, Jakeh'adh, in part due to Nahrayn's success. This change, however, also meant that he had less time to relegate to leading the city and promoting Najer culture. This issue only became more pronounced after the founding of the Sapphire Commonwealth and Hirudo's ascension as the Emir of Najer. As a result, many people began leaving the city, including many higher ups, leaving a much smaller population for the metropolis.

Eventually, Hirudo took it upon himself to revitalize the city. He spearheaded an effort to reform the city's government structure, as well as a massive reconstruction of many of the city's houses. Eventually, the time came that Hirudo desired to retire, and so he passed down management of Nahrayn to his son, Alsham. Alsham continued the work of his father, improving Nahrayn and governing its people. He reigned peacefully and prosperously.

Eventually, due to national political factors, Alsham followed in the footsteps of his father and was chosen to become the next Emir by Emir Asdrubal Hanno-faj niv Bacri, who was assassinated, in 101 AB. Several years later, in 104 AB, Alsham decided to move the capital of Najer to Nahrayn, as most of the federal and bureaucratic business was already handled there anyways. This boosted the prominence of the city in the following years, as many events and proceedings were now held there instead of at Wobambi-on-Sea.

Black Moon Incident
In 122 AB, the "Black Moon" event occurred. An unknown, but presumably malicious, entity summoned a large black sphere that began hovering over the central courtyard of Nahrayn. A group of political agitators, the Silkovs, quickly asserted themselves as the cause behind the event, claiming that the sphere was their religious sign and that all non-Silkov religions were perverse, and threatened to use the sphere to blow up Nahrayn. Despite their claims, however, nothing happened, and everyone left.

The sphere was later dragged outside the walls of Nahrayn, where it eventually crashed and shattered.

Plagatean Invasion
As the capital, Nahrayn was a prime target during the Plagatean Invasion. Plagatean forces struck at the city of Campus Ordo, located directly north of Nahrayn, and then moved down to assault Nahrayn. Due to a lack of time and resources, Nahrayn was not able to be fortified properly, nor evacuated. Rather than risk the destruction of the capital and the slaughter of their people, Najer officials, including Alsham, agreed that it was better to surrender, and so met the Plagateans with a white flag.

Following negotiations, Najer was annexed by Plagatea under the banner of the Empire of Greater Plagos, a union of Plagatea and Lunaris, although with very favorable terms. Nahrayn remained the capital of Najer internally during this time.

Alsham retired during this time, passing Nahrayn onto his son, Jakkev.

Freedom from Plagatea and coronation
Jakkev arranged for the independence of Najer along with the Prime Minister at the time, Jalim Habbei. He and the government decided to hold a coronation to commemorate a new era for Najer. The coronation was held in Nahrayn.

Government
Nahrayn is overseen by the high Seyoh of Nahrayn, with an advisory high and low council.

Flag
The flag of Nahrayn takes inspiration from the flag of Najer, and is based on the natural world. The yellow represents the wandering desert, and the blue saltire represents the intersection of the two rivers. The sun refers to the iconic sun of the Najer flag, and its green color represents the vitality of the people and the two rivers.