The Continent of Avram by @The-Wizard-of-Zaar (The Wizard Of Zaar)

This is the continent of Avram.

Warm, sunny and isolated. It's essentially a valley roughly the size of Europe.

Avram is surrounded by high, nigh impassable mountain ranges all around save for it's Southern coastline. It's mountainous borders are harsh, barren and largely inhospitable, forcing those living in Avram to live in the lowlands. It is a continent where inland hills, deserts, forests, lakes and oases blend in together. Two of Avram's largest bodies of water aside from the seas to the South are it's two long, forking rivers; the River Hanwa in the West and the River Lhaar to the East.

Avram was once ruled by the various nations and kingdoms of it's indigenous people's. However these nations of the native Avramite people's were on a gradual decline, and with the arrival and invasion of the Eym people's from the far off Western continent of Aneen... This decline was accelerated, then more and more rapidly so with the arrival of the Yashan people.

The two dominant nations of Avram today are those founded primarily by the Eym; the Kingdom of Lykon and it's capital of Nilo Timikos to the West, Nilo Timikos is the very first city the Eym migrants to Avram ever built and it has grown in size, importance, wealth and splendour ever since. The Kingdom of Lykon is historically a powerful, aggressive and tyrannical nation; conquering the Kingdom of Lefar and aggressively expanding Eastward and dominating the majority of the Coast, making it even to this day the premier naval power in Avram... Despite it's waning military power on land, and it's creeping decline of external influence and internal cohesion. This decay of the system is largely due to the gradual and parasitic usurping of power by the Yashan, who carelessly plunder and exploit Lykon's resources and people for their own gain.

Corruption is rife in the Kingdom of Lykon, the current king (King Urkeleis Tar) himself is a clear and blatant puppet of Yashan control. Much of Lykon's Eym land owning nobility, merchant class and military aristocracy are largely bought and paid for by the Yashan; assisting in the plunder of their own nation out of greed and self interest. They will also to some extent turn a blind eye to the Yashan people's voracious appetite for more and new slaves.

To the far East is it's uneasy rival and often outright enemy;

The Free Republic of the East, with it's capital of Kymar to it's very Eastern frontier. Kymar is an ancient and long abandoned city; native Avramites consider it an evil, cursed and haunted place, a city they refuse to enter. However to the Yashan and Sargari, it is a fabled place; one foretold in both of their religions. It is a somewhat holy and significant site for the Yashan, but for the Sargari it is far more sacred and important. In fact in the religion of Agra, it is the most holy and sacred place outside of the fabled Sargari homeland of Sarga. Kymar is easily the largest, most populous and industrialized city on the entire continent.

The Free Republic of the East being currently the continents most militarily powerful and industrialized nation, it is also the most rapidly growing in terms of population, urban development and expansion. However though enjoying a more solid unity and fierce patriotism to the nation and it's ideals (Ideals such as equality, economic opportunity, liberty and the hardline criminalization of slavery in all it's forms.) from it's citizens in comparison to Lykon, be they Eym, Avramite or Sargari...

The Sargari and their Vesras have since the founding of the Free Republic governed in partnership with the Taanist Senate, and gradually created a demand for their services and people in agriculture, construction, manufacturing and military; slowly squeezing out other people's from the work force. The Vesras also have influence over the law of the Free Republic, to the degree that there are two sets of laws in the Free Republic; a religious law that applies to Sargari and egregiously forbidden or blasphemous acts in the Sargari religion of Agra. In addition to these are the universal, national laws often reformed and updated by the Taanist model of democracy. It is a mixed bag policy, as it seemingly hurts and benefits the Sargari in certain aspects, hurting them in others; as this combination also harms and aids others in a variety of ways. Enough so people are largely content with the system.

The clear and violent hatred between the Sargari and Shammarim peoples is also the origin of much civil unrest and rioting within the cities and rural areas of the Free East.

It's even facetiously joked that for the Free East to engage in wars with Lykon is in fact merely to keep the Sargari focused on an external enemy- Particularly their oldest and most hated enemy; the Yashan.

In addition to these two mighty and steadily growing nations is the Akabda, once a part of the Avramite Kingdom of Lefar. The Akabda is much like the rest of old Lefar, a land conquered by the Kingdom of Lykon. Though the last remaining leaders and autonomous collection of Lefari people have cleverly managed to negotiate their autonomy with the Kingdom of Lykon. The Akabda is a protectorate of Lykon and pays a heavy tribute to it's conquerors; the true political and military capital of the Akabda is the Lykonnian city of Krassos, a port city originally founded as a fortress by and named after Lykon's first united King- The warmongering tyrant, King Krassos Tar. However for the Lefari people themselves, the great city of Afamet is their spiritual capital and the home of their surviving royal family.

Avramites have never been a fully united race, and today they are more divided than ever. The Shammarim (Those Avramites who worship the Sun as their chief and most revered deity) are split into hundreds, if not thousands of clans, tribes, townships and small cities; however among those stand out two great city states, two small nations that exist in constant defiance against the Free Republic of the East.

The mighty, isolated and incredibly well defended City/Kingdom of Alba in the rocky and treacherous Jeder Alanbad ranges of Northern Avram. A nation who's people have long battled with the Free Republic to much success, and still do so to this day. Jeder Alanbad is nothing short of a nightmare for large caravans and armies to climb and traverse. Even the mobile and fast moving likes of Forosians and Kadar struggle to claim victory in the Jeder Alanbad. This harsh, mountainous terrain on the surface seems barren, but in actuality is littered with many tiny, hidden and fertile valleys. Which are home to many rugged and fierce tribes of Shammarim herdsmen.

The city of Alba itself is a massive, fortress city. Manned by uncharacteristically professional and organized soldiers loyal to their King; many times the Free Republic has tried to lay siege to Alba and gain footholds in the Jeder Alanbad, every time they have failed. The Jeder Alanbad is a place where the locals manage to out stealth squads of Kadar and outlast armies of Stratikion... A rarity for the Shammarim in particular.

To the far Southern Coast on the Southern tip of the Saleb Peninsula is the prosperous port city of Sewa. Unlike most Avramites, Sewa is not ruled by a monarchy; but a democracy akin to that of the Free Republic and modelled on the Democratic ideals brought over by the Eym. Sewa is an unattainable prize for both the Kingdom of Lykon and the Free Republic. It is a fierce and robust economic competitor and many times the two Eym nations have warred with Sewa and each other to try and claim the great city and it's satellite island colony of Salbad.

But Sewa has always repelled them, either in direct naval warfare or by aiding one side against the other. Where Alba is an economic hub and bastion of power for Avramites in the North; Sewa excels in this position for Avramites in the South... As well as maintaining discreet trade and ties with Afamet in the West.

But all four people's of Avram today are in full agreement on two things; the strange and foreign merchants of Shalia (A mysterious, unseen land said to be far, far to the East) should be welcomed, accommodated and protected when visiting.

In addition; if any new visitors from Aneen are to arrive in Avram... Whether it be through the long, perilous mountain pass West of Nilo Timikos. Where the Eym, Yashan and Sargari entered Avram from; Or for new arrivals from the West are to arrive by sea.

True Avramite, Eym, Yashani and even Sargari will lay aside differences and KILL these outsiders. For it is agreed they cannot be allowed to return home West to reveal and verify the location of Avram to those back in Aneen.

It would mean the end for all in Avram, regardless of race.