Ekilum
| Formal Name | Eki-Lum |
|---|---|
| Capital | Eki-Lum |
| Head of State | Xisuthros Hazdurim |
| Government Type | Monarchy - City States |
| Cultures | ~6.7 millions Midian, 200,000 Rastorii, ~100,000 Others |
| Religions | Mostly Midian |
| Population Density | Very High |
| Population | 7 millions |
Ekilum is a state located at the mouth of the Narzu river. The city is under the rule of the Hazdurim dynasty, a prestigious local dynasty elevated to the ruler of the city after submitting to the Tilai Khanate as a tributary and supporting the Khanate in its attempt to conquer the Ninurmah Empire. As a city in the crossroad between the Midian world and the Rastoriian world, Eki-Lum has benefitted greatly from river bound trade with the rest of the Khanate.
Eki Lum is a vassal of the Tilai Khanate and pay significant tributes, but maintain autonomy and its own army. It generally has hostile relationship with the Ninurmah Empire and is friendly with the Larsaki League.
History
Eki-Lum is an ancient city founded at a point where the Narzu river floats into a small lake with an island in the middle. The city of Eki-Lum was founded on the island and farm were constructed on artificial islands around the city. Throughout its history the city was a significant power thanks to its strategic position on the lower reach of the Narzu river and access to productive agricultural land.
During the 9th century, Eki-Lum became one of the city conquered by Ninurmah and part of its westernmost province. Eki-Lum however defected with its garrison to the side of the Tilai Khanate when they invaded Midia and handed over the key of the city, and were rewarded with the restoration of its independence by the Tilai Khanate. It eagerly supported the Tilai Khanate in its attempt to subjugate the rest of the Ninurmah Empire, but Eki-Lum's army proved to be particularly wanting during the war.
Since the Tilai conquest, the reigning Hazdurim dynasty has been engaging in intermittent warfare with Ninurmah - with the powerful city of Urud-Anbar lending it support as the Tilai Khanate focuses on its northern enemies.
Government
Eki-Lum is ruled by a King or Queen from the Hazdurim dynasty which claims divine mandate. Non-royal political power are generally held by powerful patricians and merchant families, reflecting Eki-Lum's position as a merchant city. The mage-priest and warrior-mage caste common in other Midian cultures are not as prominent in power as the merchants, who has been elevated to a high social status by the King himself to counterbalance the traditional nobility.
The government relies on agricultural tax and tariffs to function.
Economy
Eki-Lum has a relatively balanced agricultural economy, and benefits greatly from trade up and down the Narzu river, which it is in a great position to profit from taxing.
City / Region
Cities by population / prominence:
- Eki-Lum: 200,000. A trading city located on the upper reach of the Narzu river.
- Enkarum: 80,000. The second most important city with a deep water harbor nearby.
- Luglaz & Dumuzina: ~25,000, lesser cities located to the southeast.
Military
Eki-Lum's navy are relatively weak, suitable for riverine patrol. It however fields a relatively large army and eagerly utilizes firearms - many of which were initially imported from up the Narzu river and then reproduced by gunsmiths in Eki-Lum. Eki-Lum lacks a powerful, traditional warrior or mounted elites and field relatively few infantry, and instead rely on a levied army supplemented by professional firearms crops, pikemen, and shielded soldiers. Field artillery in the form of small swivel cannons are eagerly used. While magic-wielding elites exists, most of them are in the form of supporting healers rather than dedicated battle mages.
Eki-Lum's army can reach a peak number of over 200,000 should it be fully mobilized - though doing so will greatly stress the monarch's finance, and casualties are easily replaced compared to the elite army of the other Midian states.
Eki-Lum relies heavily on fortifications around sea and its border with Ninurmah Empire to offset its numerical disadvantages. There are few fortifications facing north except around key cities - as constructing a line of extra fortification would be financially stressful and evoke suspicion from its nominal overlord.