Fiction:Al-mi'raj Horde

The Al-mi'raj Empire is a small empire found in the tropical lands that was form when their ruler, Empress Kyria, forcibly unified the desperate tribes of who were ruled by tyrants and spent their time raiding one another. The Empire is highly decentralized being divided up into Satraps, which are largely allowed to run themselves and maintain their own culture and traditions. The are part of the and are one of Ringship's major military providers.

Early History
The Al-mi'raj did not begin in the Tropical Lands, they instead started out in the Eastern Jungles of the Fernia Domain found in the Western Forest. However, this was brought to an end when the Al-mi'raj made war upon the Skrulking Elves for hunting the dragons of the Domain to near extinction. The Al-mi'raj lost and were driven from the Fernia Domain and into the tropical lands. After years of nomadic wandering they came to rich, lust, fertile area and spread out into several distinct tribes. This would come to an end one day when a force of Skrulking invaded one of the islands in her territory. Furious at the intrusion the Chieftain of one of the tribes, Dawn Breaks Over Forest of the Dragon Fangs Tribe, gathered her forces to destroy these invaders. After meeting the main Skrulking force in open battle she defeated them and then head for the Skrulking colonies. The main force came back to fighter her again to prevent her army from reaching the colonies, but they were shortly eliminated and their commander killed. Dawn then had the Skrulking colonise leveled to ground and new Al-mi'raj colonies built in their place. Knowing that the Al-mi'raj would face further threats she set out to unit her people as one.

After establishing trade connections via diplomacy with the Togunda in order to bring in outside wealth Dawn set out to contact the other two island tribes, the Fire Fangs and the Lightning Fangs. Dawn found these tribes assaulted from all sides by Serplundi, Grunclaw, and facing Corvid Vampire infiltration from within. Facing threats from without and within the other two island tribes happily joined Dawn in her quest. Dawn mercilessly attacked and slaughtered all the Serplundi and Grunclaw in the area. She established an inquisition to root out and destroy the Corvids. After the threat had passed Dawn dissolved the inquisition into the military and set off to the mainland Al-mi'raj tribes.

There she brought three other tribes (Amethyst Fangs, Green Suns, and Gold Skulls) into her expanding empire either through diplomacy or force. However she found that she had competition. Another Tribe, the Rising Sun Tribe, had united two tribes into their own Empire, the Whirlpool Tribe and the Crescent Moon Tribe. The leader of the Rising Sun Empire refused to submit or work with dawn leading to war that lasted two years. Eventually though the rising Sun Empire was defeated and the Al-mi'raj was fully established.

Organization
The Empire is divided up into several administrative units called Satraps ruled over by a local governor. The Satraps are given a high amount of regional autonomy and are allowed to maintain their own culture, traditions, religion, and form of governance. One thing that is banned though is slavery. The Empire wields in the way of direct control over the Satraps, instead banking on cultural hegemony, military dominance, and maintaining the loyalty of the people. Satraps are required to pay the empire taxes, open trade, and provide men and women for the military, other then that they are left to manage their own affairs. To facilitate trade the Empire has a large interconnected system of roads and sea routes, as well as universalized currency, and a postal system.

Culture
The Empire has a very diverse culture due to large cross cultural exchange between the tribes of Al-mi'raj, however due to this exchange there are more then a few universal trends and beliefs that are consistent from tribe to tribe. The Al-mi'raj believe that there are five great evils that afflict this world; lies, cruelty, greed, despair, and betrayal. Conversely the believe the greatest virtues are truth, kindness, charity, happiness, and loyalty. To this they teach their children to "always speak truly, be hospitable to guests, give to the needy, lift the spirits of your friends, and stand by your brothers and sisters". Al-mi'raj have these values impressed upon them at an early age and are expected to live by them all throughout their adult life and teach their children to live the same. Other this all Al-mi'raj are taught by their parents how to fight and how to work with the great saurian beast tamed by their empire. As a whole the people of the Empire see life as something to be enjoyed and that depriving oneself of life's joys is to sin against one self. They enjoy grand feasts and parties, often with lots of alcohol and deserts.

Religion
Religious freedom is a guaranteed right of all who live within the Empire. Common forms of worship include the worship of Faz'ra and the Mendel Pantheon. The most common form of religion is the worship of Quetekhan, a powerful plumed serpent god of wisdom, war, and justice. Quetekhan is portrayed as a number of beasts fused into one, with the tail of rattlesnake, the feathers of quetzal, wings of an eagle, hood of a cobra, head of crocodile, saber fangs, and eyes that burn like stars. While often associated with the practice of sentient sacrifice this is only one aspect of his worship. Usually sacrifices to Quetekhan consist of animals, maze, and simple blood letting. When sentient sacrifice is made it is always prisoners of war captured from those enemies considered dishonorable (Skrulking for example are slaughtered by the basket load, while Zartusians are usually spared). Often honoring Quetekhan involves great banquettes of food filled with singing and dancing. While Quetekhan is often portrayed as a friendly, wise figure who create the Al-mi'raj and taught them, he is also shown to be fearsome and unyielding in his punishment of the wicked.

Territory
The territory Al-mi'raj Empire is found on the coasts of the tropical lands and mostly runs along the coast, though it does stretch inward and holds domain over a few near by islands.

Technology
While not the most advanced civilization, the Al-mi'raj Empire is of a fairly decent technological prowess. The utilize irrigation to help grow crops in the desert, have an advanced calendar, a system of writing, sturdy fishing and cargo ships, and a well kept network of roads and sea based trade lanes. One of their greatest advancements is their mastery of steel, able to create blades that strong, sharp, flexible, and noted for a distinct banding patter similar to water. They also have an advanced understanding of clockwork and glass making. Their cities are often larger they first appear, most of it being underground. The Ali-mi'raj even have vast fields of underground farm land growing mushrooms and cave dwelling creatures. However, where they truly excel is their mastery of magic which they use in fields such as combat to construction.

Species
Al-mi'raj=
 * Name -
 * Classification - Lesser Kelodhros

Gunstar Dragons=
 * Name -
 * Classification - Greater Kelodhros

Morningstar Dragons=
 * Name -
 * Classification - Greater Kelodhros

Military

 * Link

The Honored
The Honored are individuals who via heroic feets have been elevated by some unknown force into superbeings. All Honored gain enhance physical abilities, looks, and intelligence. Further more they gain an animal totem and gain enhanced powers and abilities related to that animal. Finally Honored are able to focus their skills into a caste of their choosing which makes them proficient in skills need to fulfill the role of their caste. The castes are Iron: great and powerful warriors, Platinum: exalted priests, Silver: cunning sorcerers, Bronze: stealthy spies and assassins, and Gold: charismatic diplomats.

Individuals
Dawn Breaks Over Forest=
 * Role - Empress/Gold Honored
 * Gender - Female
 * Magical Inclination - Light

Hammer Crushes Skull Dealing Death=
 * Role - General/Iron Honored
 * Gender - Male
 * Magical Inclination - Earth

Sliver Flame Burns In Lake=
 * Role - Bronze Honored
 * Gender - Male
 * Magical Inclination - Fire

Night Sky Reflected In Sunlit Pool=
 * Role - Silver Honored
 * Gender - Female
 * Magical Inclination - Chronomancy

Allies
Comrades in our battle to restore harmony.
 *  - Our blades are united, to smite our enemies and keep the peace.
 *  - We all rely on nature, thus we should always try to keep it safe.

Trade
May your coffers be filled.

Neutral
You are unknown to us.

At War
Servants of lies!
 *  - Our worst enemies.
 *  - Feral Brutes.
 *  - We'll melt you ice away withe fire!

Quotes from others

 * add Your own!

"The Brothers of the desert truly deserve our respect. No matter what, they keep their kind together."

Trivia

 * Theme - The Emerging Empire
 * Takes some inspiration from the historical Achaemenid Empire with a dash of Aztec inspirations.