Akkenbar Empire

Akkenbar Empire

(c. SH 0 - c. SH 1000) The Akkenbar Empire is based around one central city named Medj that boasts a population of over 500,000. The city has several districts including a forbidden city, a temple complex, a grand agora, and a massive amphitheatre. The culture is one of dominance and superiority. All other kingdoms and city-states and all other races (with the noted exception of elves, dwarves, and halflings, which are second-class citizens but not killed outright) are considered inferior and prime targets for conquest and/or annihilation. See corresponding locale here.

The success of the Akkenbar Empire and Medj can be attributed to several key factors including laws, trade, and warfare.

Remnants of a Lost Empire[edit]

At first it was thought to be a note. Several pieces of paper bound together with adhesive and missing any sort of cover were found in the great library of Spearsdale. The pages were stained, torn in places, sometimes missing completely, and the words were spotty from obvious weather-related exposure. Later, after the historians and archaeologists got their noses involved, it was revealed to be a journal, badly damaged, by a young traveler who referred to himself only as "V". Whatever the journal said, it was unmistakable that "V" was a master of calligraphy. The script was most peculiar. Each letter was identically formed as if by the most thoughtful and controlled hand. Ink blots, curving flourishes of letters or numbers, or the jagged off-kilter lines a script has when hastily written were absent entirely. The only deviation from this perfection came from its severe age and damages thereafter.

There are very few words successfully translated. The language seemed ancient, phonetic, and extraordinarily complex. Its lettering and grammar resembled Riedran. The punctuation, more complex, resembled goblin-based languages if written phonetically. Translation thus proved difficult. There was no Rose Stone or Gleam Scripture to aid. This language, dead as a door mouse by the looks of it, is unique to the world.

One of the words translated had root in Argon. Or the Argon word had a root in it. The Argon word was Akk-en which means "servant" or more literally "slave". The translation then (based on linguistic theory and a touch of speculation) of the word Akkenbar means "to slave" or "to slave for". The word that follows is more disturbing.

This word is thought to be a root for the Valian word "truth". Argon and Riedran both have variations; "tuk" and "ruth-woad" respectively. The word as written is tik-uth.

The name for this ancient people and their language is thus Akkenbar et Tik-uth. Literally: "The Slaves of One Truth."

One passage read (translated): "May the gods save us from these invaders, for surely we cannot save ourselves. They claim to bring "The One Truth". Instead they bring us chains -- (unreadable)-- killed them there and celebrated toward the sky -- (unreadable) -- 'We prostrate ourselves to you the one and supreme Tik-uth: the compassionate and forgiving.' Then they murdered the men who would not convert with them and the scholars who they found guilty of practicing black arts. The women were to be sold as chattel, the children to be raised as soldiers and the half-elves and demi-humans to be hung from the city's plaza as a warning to those that would pollute human blood with that of lesser races."

Laws[edit]

The legal code of the empire is vast and all-encompassing. Some examples include the banning of all non-sanctioned magic use, the banning of interbreeding between races (resulting in half-beings), the banning of all gods other than the One God El, and the regulation of property and money to fund the military.

Trade[edit]

Despite the draconic legal code, the empire will trade with just about anyone. In terms of making money, they are egalitarian. Medj was originally a trading mecca and her trade networks allowed for rapid expansion of the culture and dominance of Akkenbar. Merchants of other races and states are protected under the laws provided they did not try to spread their inferior beliefs or customs.

Warfare[edit]

The Akkenbar soldier or hoplite is trained from the time they are five. They live and breathe the life of a soldier and are the most feared and disciplined fighting force on the planet. They are organized through a meritocracy making the most able rise to the highest ranks. Often nobles will send a young son into the military to enhance the family name but this only works if the child shows aptitude in warfare. It is not uncommon for orphans or the children of criminals (raised by the state) to become generals and military governors.

Tactics[edit]

Military dominance and organization means nothing if the soldiers cannot win battles. Even the most elite armies can fall in the face of superior tactics from the opposing force. The Akkenbar army is organized thusly.

Infantry[edit]

Hoplites: These are the elite forces of the empire. Fully armored in chain and plate and fighting with long spears and short swords, they are the brute force on the battlefield. When fighting in a phalanx formation, even a small force of hoplites can decimate forces greater in number. They are the best of the best and only the strongest are chosen. They are also expensive to train and maintain so they are used as a tactical trump card.
Janissaries: This force is comprised mostly of conscripted slaves. When an area or region is conquered, much of the population is forced into slavery. Adult men who swear allegiance to Akkenbar often remain free depending on their occupation and race. Those who do not are either killed or enslaved. Their children can be sold or conscripted into the Janissary force where they are raised, indoctrinated and stripped of any cultural identity. Non-humans are often used for this purpose as well. This is one of the only avenues that will eventually mean a slave's freedom. Janissaries are thus very well disciplined and often more fanatical than their freeborn counterparts. They fight in leather or hide armor and use a broad sword and shield. In a pinch they can use the phalanx tactics of the hoplites when facing superior numbers. They are cheap and expendable, and are rarely outnumbered.
Archers: Comprised mostly of freeborn volunteers either too physically weak for hand-to-hand fighting or too stupid to work in highly organized groups. They are given minimal training, a bow, fifty arrows and a short sword. They wear a hodgepodge of scavenged armors. They are used mostly in ambushes and as garrisons for fortresses. Joining the army as an archer is considered a last resort for the poor or desperate. There is an elite group of archers called the "Brotherhood of Yew" and they are the exception to the rule that archers are little more than rabble with bows and arrows. The Brotherhood of Yew is comprised of the best archers and rangers (again, meritocracy) and can fill the sky with barrages of bodkin-tipped death. Because archery is a skill easy to learn and difficult to master, The Brotherhood of Yew is much valued on the battlefield.

Cavalry[edit]

The Scouts of Light: Nobles and their sons who desire fame and glory and can afford to own and maintain not just one but three horses opt to join the Scouts of Light. It is a reconnaissance force whose missions are rife with peril and danger. Armed with spears, short swords and hide or cloth armor, the Scouts of Light are meant to avoid, harass, and ride ahead to scout out potential dangers. In a pinch, and under skilled direction, they are able to charge enemy ranks or mow down retreating soldiers with great success. They are also used to accompany diplomats and royalty into foreign lands.

The Nightmare Riders: These are the shock troops of the Akkenbar Empire. They are heavily armored, highly skilled riders of nightmare steeds. The nightmare resembles a horse in form only, they have six legs instead of four, are usually an oily black, and have the sharp teeth of a carnivore. Taming a nightmare is dangerous and only the most skilled are able to pull it off. Thusly, Nightmare Riders are terrifying on the battlefield. They are another trump card that Akkenbar uses to brutalize her enemies. They are a small force, only about a thousand exist at any given time. They are the elite of the elite. To face a Nightmare Rider in battle is to face death himself.