Narshad

Locator Map of Narshad within the Memnosian Sea

Islands of Narshad, Gehemer, and Barse-Barra in the west Memnosian Sea.

This article is about the island. For information about the government, see Narsadese Republic.

The island of Narshad is the core territory of the Narsadese Republic and the cultural center of the Narshadic people. It is the largest island of the islands of the republic and rests in the western Memnosian Sea. Narshad is largish island with three major cities, the capital Talil, Syre, and Ilijjali. Narshad is the commercial hub of the western Memnosian Sea. The principle people of Narshad are the Narsadese, descended from the ancient Narshadite people who are Thammazite. The chief language of the island is Narsadese, part of the Thammazic Language family and related to Cospian and Khahonri. Most Narsadese consider themselves worshipers of the old Thammazite gods. There is a considerable Incarnandist minority on the island, followed by a much smaller Arathracian minority. Many human foreigners dwell as residents or even permanent residents in Narshad thanks to its commercial influence. The largest human minorities are refugees and merchants from Khesheph and Ebinóë. A small minority of Gorcorumbese giants chose to continue to dwell on the island as permitted by the Treaty of Johaulia (2685) following the Merchants War.

Asdarography and Climate

The island of Narshad rests in the western Memnosian Sea which is known as the Sea of Narshad. The island rests close to the Ambrinquan Peninsula and the neighboring land of Khesheph which is subject to the Gorcorumbese Empire of the Ephysgæes. In the Gehemerite Strait between Narshad and Khesheph rests the neighboring island of Gehemer. Mountains rest in the eastern half of the island. Narshad enjoys the ameliorating breezes of the sea. The climate is somewhat cool in the winter and warm with high humidity in the summer, tempered by hot dry gusts of wind from Danona in the mid to late summer. The northeastern portion of the island is heavily wooded with Cospian Cedars.

Commerce

Traditional galley of Narsadese merchants

Narsadese corpora mercia are making important contributions to the development of marine titancraft vessels for commerce and industry, including advancements in speed and tonnage of its titancraft vessels. Smaller merchants continue to employ traditional windships. In addition to its role as a commercial sea emporium, Narshad is an important destination for aerial merchants. The Narsadese merchant marine is well represented in the locks of the Shadmaus and ships grain throughout Thyria. It is often said that when Aurician merchants cannot find something, they go to Talil, Narshad. Narshad is also famous for its fishing fleets. The most powerful international Narsadese corpora mercia include the Memnosian Pearl and Trans-Weshif Commerce.

Narsadese Republic

Main article: Narsadese Republic

Flag of the Narsadese Republic

Narshad was liberated in 2684 from the Gorcorumbese Empire. The Treaty of Johaulia (2685) provided for the existence of an independent state in Narshad. Historically, the Narsadese people have been famous merchants throughout the Pallathantic Region. The Narsadese Republic is governed by the Shu'ah, a body of the ruling Mercantile Entities. The Shu'ah convenes in the Mercantile Palace in Talil and is composed of representatives from merchant families, companies, and corpora mercia. One of the qualifications of membership in the body is the payment of an annual tax based on representation and net worth. Commercial interests that are not part of the body are immune to payment of this tax. It is possible for a citizen never to pay any tax his entire life. For this reason, the republic is a tax haven and has drawn corpora mercia of small to middle ventures to establish their headquarters in Narshad.

The Republic has embassies throughout the west, especially in Aurice, Telmuric, Beh-Shelub, Elystrio, Verdida, Bryndyd, and Selexis which are major trading destinations for Narshad's merchant marine. Narshad has recently made several cooperative trade agreements with Xsys. Magistrates of the Gorcorumbese Empire have occasionally accused Narshad as being a haven for political dissidents and revolutionaries against the Ephysgæan regime. Treaties with Aurice, Republic of Ithatia, Oliblish, and the Sultanate of Beph-Themesh have secured Narshad from the military might of its neighbor, Gorcorumb. Thanks to these promises of protection, Narshad has been able to focus its wealth and energy on commercial enterprises.

Religion and Culture

Most Narsadese are Imzaami and the Imzaha religion plays an important part in the lives the Narsadese. Imzaami missionaries brought the message of Ammudiyn the Seer to Narshad in the fourteenth century, converting the ancestors of modern-day Narsadese. A minority of Narsadese citizens, especially in the cities, practice Incarnandism. In the rural towns of Narshad are a large minority of worshipers of the old Thammazite Gods which are tolerated. The worship of chaos gods is officially proscribed and done only in great secrecy. The worship of devils is also proscribed, due to Imzaami influence, and sometimes practitioners of the Old Religion are wrongly accused of worshiping devils.

See Also

• Gehemer
• Khesheph
• List of the Kings of Narshad
• Memnosian Sea
• Narsadese Republic
• List of Notable Narsadese