![[mur.png|250]] *His Serene Divinity, Soraya Rampaja IX, Shah of Mur, Warder of the Verdured Heights, Protector of the Inner Islands* **Government:** Independent city-states, ruled by individual governments **Capital:** Parth (pop. 59,000) **Major Towns:** Aran, Kerwat, Urul, Ger, Sin Belis, Hershar, Khugan, Geb **Provinces:** Parth, Aran, Kerwat, Urul, Ger, Sin Belis, Hershar, Khugan, Geb **Resources:** foodstuffs, cloth, gold, gems (III) **Coinage:** Io (pp), Chronepsis (gp), Lendys (ep), Astilabor (sp), Tamara (cp) **Population:** 190,000--Kobolds 45%, Lizardfolk 25%, Tabaxi 17%, thri-kreen 8%, Hybsils 4%, Other 1% **[[Languages for Genies & Giants|Languages.]]** Murian, Baklunish (low, ancient), Suh **Allies:** Risay, lizardfolk and merfolk of the Gulf of Gayar, Komal (sometimes) **Enemies:** None ___ [[Murian Characters]] ___ Almost 10,000 years ago when human civilization was still in its infancy, an unknown nomadic people had found a temporary home on the eastern edge of what is today the [[Dry Steppes]]. From fragments of artwork still remaining, it appears that they were a light-skinned and fair haired people and they were dogged ever northward by incessant ==goblinoid== raids until they were finally pushed through the jungles of Komal and the humanoids ceased their pursuit. The earliest recorded name of the region beyond the jungles where they settled is _Mur_. Until the last age, this was considered the southeastern corner of Telchuria, where that land once connected with Oerik. Most of the humans settled in the lower highlands, tending goats and growing olives and grapes. Befriending the indigenous tortrum tribes, within a few generations the humans had begun coalescing into towns and small palace complexes. Just as their culture was beginning to take root, hordes from the Dragon Empire descended on the Murian highlands from the northwest, burning many human settlements and driving most of the people to the coasts. Conflict was inevitable, and for centuries the region was awash in warfare as the coastal lizardfolk tried to fend of the humans. By strengthening their alliance with the native tortrum tribes, the humans were able to establish fortified locations, preventing their complete eradication by the combined forces of the local lizardfolk and the invading minotaurs and frogfolk. While the great majority of the humans fell, a few clans survived. Eventually the Dragon Empire fell, and over time former enemies in Mur became neighbors, eventually blending their lives and cultures. In a short time, these alliances grew into the first city-states of Mura, Coreth and Thefal. Over centuries this new hybrid Murian culture evolved and expanded along the coast, out into the offshore islands and pushed back into the highlands with a vengeance. Many new settlements were established, which grew into the myriad city-states that today make up the region. The temperate climate and plentiful foodstuffs made the Murian lifestyle much more leisurely than most outsiders could even imagine. As the Murian elite were freed from the manual labor required to maintain their civilization, they turned their attentions to other pass times, most notably war and violent forms of entertainment such as unarmed combat, mounted aerial duels and gladiatorial games. As they pushed further into the highlands and then through to the Wastelands of Pesh, the Murians found a new pastime to occupy themselves: monster hunting. Expeditions are constantly making raids into the region with each caravan leader competing to find the most dangerous and exotic creature. These creatures usually meet their ends in the fighting pits and arena of Mur while others are shipped around Oerik as far away as Risayn, Ekbir, Eta and even Tianshi. Forms of government and rulership vary from city-state to city-state with oligarchy being the most common form. In these states the elite, be they warriors or the wealthy, dominate and control state policy. Others have despots (or despotrixes), some benevolent, some anything but. One of their most ancient city-states, Coreth, is a democracy, having overthrown the Despotrix Halegtha and her demonic servants over two hundred years ago. Murians spend most of their time outdoors. This allows the Murians to develop themselves physically, through regular exercise, and mentally and politically from their ability to meet together in large numbers and spend time outside the confines of their own houses. Children are taught to read and write at an early age and study in local schools under a tutor until they are 14 years old at which time they are schooled in the fighting arts. At 21 they are considered adults and ready to serve their city-state in the military. While many continue on with military pursuits after their mandatory service, others instead focus their attentions on trade, exploration or matters arcane. Murian humans are fair-skinned, but because of their climate most are near-permanently tanned. Murian men and minotaurs take care to keep their beards short and neat and most adults clip their hair short as soon as they are of fighting age, so as to give enemy soldiers nothing to hold on to. Both men and women’s hair is regularly treated with scented oil. By ancient custom Murian women who follow martial paths typically shave their heads and darken their eyes with kohl. Though dark hair predominates, white-haired and blonde Murians are not unknown and auburn hair is thought to be very beautiful and desirable.