Ambrinqua

The ancient land of Ambrinqua, once a bevy of provinces in the Yophenthean Empire, is now the last remnant of the Gorcorumbese Empire of the Ephysgæes. Ambrinqua is thus a geographic term and not political. The human subjects of Ebinóë to the northwest and Khesheph to the southeast wish their nations to be free of the Gorcorumbese Geddamin and free of each other as well. The gradual yet irresistible decline and dismantling of the Gorcorumbese Empire hold out the prospect that these last countries nestled below the Ephysgæe Mountains will someday obtain their independence as Narshad and Jerushabla already have. Although Ambrinqua is physically attached to Danona, culturally it is attached to the neighboring nations and peoples of the Pallathantic, especially Corundy to the east and northwestern Weshif across the Memnosian Sea.

Map of Ambrinqua

Inhabitants

Humans and Geddamin are the most populous humanlike inhabitants of Ambrinqua. Halfling settlements are uncommon but not unknown. On occasion, Bovitaurs (Bucentaurs and Minotaurs), beastmen, and satyrs make their way into southwestern Ambrinquan until the humans or giants drive them out. Of the Humans, the largest groups are the Ebinóëse and the Thammazite.

Climate and Flora

Northern Ambrinqua or Ebinóë has a Pallathantic Climate with moderately warm summers and occasional rains and a cool very rainy winter. Southern Ambrinqua or Khesheph has a Memnosian Climate characterized by a long, hot, and dry summer, and cool, rainy winter. The two islands of Narshad off the coast of Khesheph enjoy similar weather with slightly more rain. The Ephysgæe Mountains run from the southwest of the peninsula nearly to the northeast. They are formed by volcanic lift and there is one semi-dormant volcano in their midst. These mountains catch much of the rain that comes from the north, ensuring that Ebinóë has lush woods of cypresses, boxwoods, oaks, bay laurels, Judas Trees, Cork Oaks, and stone pines where human encroachment has let them grow wild. Elsewhere in Ebinóë are cultivated olive orchards, fig orchards, and vineyards that produce excellent wines. The Ephysgæes themselves bear Ebinóëse pines and Grey Elms. Khesheph also has woodlands of cypress and pines and vineyards, but they are not so riotous due to less rainfall. The higher regions less soiled by human settlement bear great Cospian Cedars. Cospian farms cultivate olives, wines, lemon orchards, and almonds. The north slopes of the island of Narshad are home to majestic Cospian Cedars.

Cospian Cedar

The Cospian Cedar is very similar in size and appearance to Cedars of Lebanon on Earth. These trees were hewn down since ancient times to contract fine palaces and temples. Some of their groves are considered sacred to the gods. Today only a few great woods of Cospian Cedars survive, hugging the south slopes of the Ephysgæe Mountains. They are jealously guarded by the Geddamin who love to use the wood to build the interiors of their great domo palaces in Telmuric. Even the eleven foot high (3.25m) Geddamin are dwarfed by the mighty Cedars.

Politics

Map of Gorcorumbese Empire of the Ephysgæes, showing the fourteen eparchies.

Ambrinqua is geographically synonymous with Gorcorumb. The Empire is divided into fourteen eparchies, each controlled by a harmost (governor) installed by the ruling house of Gorcorumb which holds the Anaxy. The coastal islands are subject to the provincial government of the nearby mainland. Revolutionaries would like to see Gorcorumb reduced to four core territories of the Ephysgæe Mountains and the liberation of the ten other provinces, six to create the free state of Ebinóë and four to create Khesheph. The ruling Geddamin are clear that they have no intentions of further dismantling of their empire and argue that such notions of liberation are based on human prejudice to Geddamin giants, not against foreign rule. They cite the vast empire of Aurice and Magdala as examples of humans subject to foreign dominion and non-humans subject to humans.

In Gorcorumb, structures made of sandstone and other minerals rest at the base of the Ephysgæe Mountains and are home to the domo palaces of the ruling Gorcorumbese Nobles. In appearance, they resemble the towering mountains of Meteora on Earth in northern Greece.

Languages of Ambrinqua

There are three dominant language families spoken in Ambrinqua: Ebinóëse Language, Geddaminese (Ephysgæan Dialect), and Thammazic in Khesheph and the Narsadese Republic. Geddaminese Language is descended from the ancient Titanic Language. Ebinóëse comes from the Ithatian language to which it is closely related, and Cospian is similar to Khahonri spoken in Jerushabla and Oliblish. In Narshad and its satellite islands, the Narsadese Language is spoken which is closely related to Cospian. During the Middle Ages, the Erechórambic language Ambrinquan was spoken.

Flag of the Overlordship of Gorcorumb

See Also

• Ambrinquan Language
• Cospian Language
• Danona
• Dragoman
• Gazetteer of Asdar
• Geddaminese Language
• Gorcorumbese Empire of the Ephysgæes
• Jerushabla
• Khesheph
• Narshad
• Thammazic Languages
• Thyria