Ayah (Country)

The exotic nation of Ayah lies southwest of the Sea of Iskandar, forming the northern half of part of the Rigel Strait and the Canopus Gulf. Ayah is transcontinental country, made up of Aion's eastern section and Korrugat's inferior horn. The coastal areas of Ayah bordering the Endless Ocean typically have a temperate mediterranean climate or oceanic climate. Its more inland areas are warmer and semi-arid, while its most northern regions, below the towering Tyrfing Mountain Range, exhibit a cold desert climate. Although it possesses few resources of its own, Ayah's location makes it a center for trade, giving it direct access to Volsung, Vespia, the Sindu Isles, and the rest of the Strait A's. Ayah's spice trade, buoyed by its fruitful plantations and an aggressive approach to trading practices with other nations, is one of the country's main resources, allowing for a relatively prosperous life for its citizens. Its capital is Sheherazad, which lies on the middle of its coastline and is one of the wealthiest in Eingrad. Sheherazad sits on a peninsula at the junction between the Canopus Gulf and the Rigel Strait.

The ruler of Ayah is its sultan, currently Sindibad II, who oversees the the twelve merchant princes from his magnificent palace in Sheherazad. The merchant princes are not princes in the literal sense, but heads of banks, trading companies, and plantations, each with a personal army, and each locked in a constant struggle against all the others. They possess sufficient capital to resolve any external diplomatic quandaries with a well-aimed purse or threat of withdrawn trade. Ayahn politics is a constant tug of war between the princes, who all lobby and intercede to the sultan for policy. Ultimately, the sultan is the primary lawgiver of the nation, and his favor is the most prized possession in all of Ayah.

Game Master's Notes
Ayah's culture and architecture, including its palace and marketplace, is inspired by various countries of Islam, including Saudi Arabic, Persia, and most prominently the Ottoman Empire. Ayah is also inspired by the Iraqi city of Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age and the Indian city of Agra during the reign of the Mughal Empire. In the same, Ayahn features and appearance are imagined to be like Ottomans or those from the Middle East. The traditional Arabic accent is commonly found on Ayahn peoples.