the zutraim sultanates - azcrets

General information

The Zutraim Sultanates is an empire rife with a civil war, it is heavily populated by nomads and its landscape is primarily the vast Azcrestsian desert, though oasis cities, ravines and canyons exist all over the deserts.
Many of the conflicts that ravage the land were started over the water and oasis', as water is the most valuable currency in the desert. The only animals that are kept are either baggage animals or food. 

Recent History

Currently a long standing power struggle between four of the largest provinces has the entire region locked in a civil war.
Due to the Divide mountains and the Serpent sea largely blocking Azcrets off from Thearos and Acria, the effects of the Acrian and Blood wars haven’t really been felt in Azcrets, nor did they see a reason or way for them to insert themselves in these conflicts.

Examples of Culture

While the population is largely nomadic, there are a few cities centered around the lakes and oases that dot the desert. While a traveler could encounter most of the known sentient species within the sultanates they would be most likely to encounter humans when traveling the region. The ruling families are mainly human, with the exception of a few elven houses, and they are the most numerous of the region's population but one might also encounter elves or orcs and there is even a fairly prevalent population of changelings.

The region's capital, Ouahe Hadaya, is located between a huge freshwater oases and the western sea and was known as a hub for trade before the civil war, aptly nicknamed “the capital of trade”, having established trade routes with most of Azcrets and even Thearos; through the dwarven tunnels of the Divide mountains.
The country used to be teeming with trade and was in the past highly successful but since the civil war started, pillagers and looters have become common sight and as is, the Sultanates are in dire straits and getting desperate to end the war by any means necessary.
Despite the difficulties presented by the war, each city maintains a large bazaar at its heart, the bazaar of Ouahe Hadaya being the largest of them all. In these bazaars locals and travelers can find a wide variety of general products and cuisines of all types from across Azcrets and beyond, sometimes even magical artifacts.

While many gods are worshiped within the Sultanates; the most common god is Raavanerys, a deity of the sun, but Angarika, the Lady of fire, is also fairly common.
If a traveler comes to the Sultanates seeking fame and fortune and isn’t afraid to risk life and limb then they might want to seek out the famous but brutal fighting pits dedicated to Raavanerys.

The most notable leaders of the Sultanates and participants of the civil war:

The Sultan of Ouahe Hadaya; Hussan Sa'd Dvoric. He was only 17 when the previous Sultan, his father died and he ascended, but 19 years have passed. He began as a naive, eager ruler but his advisors slowly took all his power away. The real rulers behind the scenes are his chancellor, general and his wife. They have the backing of the army and most of the city's noble houses.

The Sultan of Ouahe Tanyapor, Emir Dara al-Din Mostafa. Younger brother of Hussans father, he’s only Hussans elder by 4 years and he doesn't think that his nephew should have the throne due to a lack of willpower. Furthermore he has the backing of the general populace and has put together a sizable army to take Ouahe Hadaya and unite the two sultanates under his rule.

Chieftain Gezgu Koro. An orc chief that united the various orc and beast tribes of the northern canyons. Little is known about the Azcretsian orcs but they have made it clear that any who enter their domain does not return.

Her holiness Maia Deqube Delia, high prophet of the glorious Raavanerys. A religious elven zealot, she took what started as a small cult and has built a commune sizable enough to rival any of the other larger players in the conflict. She presides as Sultan of Ouahe Sogayyapor