Harrud

Ashta Harrud is the oldest human city in the known world, and the oldest of any outside of Daphoa. It is the capital and cultural heart of a territory spanning half the continent, and is the cradle and birthplace of humanity.

Geography & Weather

Ashta Harrud is located in the southern part of the continent, following its east coast. The region is primarily hot and arid, with the city itself being built around the mouth of the Arrakie River where it flows into the Uthlin Ocean. To the southwest is a chain of rolling mountains called Fenthira's Spine, which curves south and east. The Spine serves as a partial barrier between the desert and the more humid jungles of the Sotuei Cauldron, tapering off well before reaching the coast. This gap is home to a millennia-old trade road connecting the human nation to the srryn.

History

Ashta Harrud and its territories were originally united under the warlord Pree Faarax gith Harrud, who settled most the coast and founded the city before his death. In human tradition, he was succeeded by his son, and though his bloodline retained control of its territories for a mere handful of generations it would forever bear his name.

During the War of Fire, Ashta Harrud was first to experience first-hand the rage of the nefortu as driven by Bayyal and Its devils. In particular, the devil dog Kyez-Pancuma singlehandedly razed two thirds of Harrud's arable land before being bound to a swath of land now known as the Crimson Sands. Binding the devil to the land had stopped it from continuing its destruction, but had ensured the land where it was bound would never heal. This included the destruction of the Arrakie River, which once ran through those lands. The city itself was essentially entirely destroyed, and survivors of the incredible violence faced famine on a massive scale.

Ashta Harrud would again face destruction at the hands of the nation of Gogoth, after the mad general Felsa successfully took the city. Though the city was retaken and the Gogothi driven out, they used their command of fire magic to once again raze the lands of Harrud.

The lands claimed by Ashta Harrud officially begin at the Eoshith Arroyo north of the Ngahe Waste, but the Crimson Sands have served as a natural barrier since their creation and in particular since the collapse of the Republic of Earendam and subsequent waning of trade through the region.

Culture

Owing to its affiliation with Ashur, its bloody history, and its practice of punitive slavery, Ashta Harrud has a somewhat dark reputation in the north.

The royal house of Harrud still nominally exists, but the status of the royal family is largely ornamental as Harrud is at least nominally a democracy. Each province sends representatives to Ashta Harrud to vote on relevant matters.

The Dolgraelite tradition of gladiatorial combat continues to be one of Harrud's most popular sports, with talented gladiators achieving a celebrity status.

Religion

Ashur is the primary god of the Harrudim, where It is revered as the fathomless black of the night sky. Connected to these religious rites, the Harrudim are credited with having their own lineage of void magic as ancient as the shuddeni's summoning: the Path of Nightfall.

Lilune has retained a perpetual presence in the region and city ever since its founding, but Her popularity among the populace waxes and wanes. As in most places She has influence, the Harrudim take particular note of bloodlines and heredity, and expansionist fervor comes and goes. Most of Lilune's holy places are found on the literal fringes, high in the mountains surrounding the desert.

Dolgrael has likewise been present since Harrud's founding and is revered by craftsmen and soldiers alike. Many of the world's most ancient martial techniques and schools of war come from the Harrudim, and the famous Vashel originally hailed from the region and was instrumental to its founding.

Serachel has been present in Harrud since at least the War of Fire, and the region is home to unique forms of worship that survived the fall of Vechiae. There was a surge in Serachelian presence in Harrud after the War of Night owing to the exodus of Daphoan diaspora following Serachel's binding and His religion being outlawed. Native Serachelians have since become marginalized in many places Daphoan aelin hold sway, including Ashta Harrud itself. Some Harrudim claim the god actually originated there in the south and not in Vechiae at all, though Daphoans in particular reject this claim.

Iandir's touch is felt across Harrud's government as in all places, and the practice of punitive slavery is explicitly an Iandiric institution.

Jolinn's influence in the region is divided between more traditional forms and the ancient and strange ocean mystery-cults found along the coast. After the War of Fire, Jolinnites from the north came bearing the Chalice of Jolinn to help restore and bring solace to the region, establishing their own outpost of faith. Many social reforms across the Harrudim empire can be traced back to Jolinnite influence.