KADESH (Rajahstan of)
Location: South of the Adri Varma Plateau, southwest of Peshmir, north of Baratkand. OW
Area: 20,500 sq. mi. (53,095 sq. km.).
Population: 30,000.
Languages: Sindhi, some Thyatian (Darokinian dialect).
Coinage: Sindhi Standard: guru (25 gp), rupee (5 gp), bhani (gp), khundar (sp), piaster (cp).
Taxes: The three privileged castes-himaya, rishiya, and jadugerya (fighters, clerics, and mages)-of Kadesh owe annual taxes of 25% on all profits, taxes, services and goods received from others, but this tax may be waived if they offer their services to the government or others of the privileged castes. Members of the prajaya caste (farmers and craftsmen) owe 25% of all produce to their mumlyket, with another 25% going to the rishiyas for spiritual services. The kuliya caste (slaves and unskilled labourers) are not taxed. Additionally, a white-skinned sub-caste (called urdu-varna) must pay a poll tax of one khundar per person.
Government Type: Independent feudal monarchy. The ruler of Kadesh is allied to the Master of Hule.
Industries: Agriculture, logging, trapping, trade (fur).
Important Figures: Kabir Rudraksha (Maharajah), Salmalin Mahavir (Cult Leader).
Flora and Fauna: Monsters that are found in this regions of Sind include animal herds, giant ants, bandits (in the desert), basilisks, camels, cockatrices, djinn, red dragons, efreet, elephants, ghouls, gnolls, giant lizards, lupins, manscorpions, mummies, giant scorpions, shadows, sphinxes, and trolls.
Further Reading: Champions of Mystara boxed set, previous almanacs.
Description by Vadin Kalidasa.
Kadesh, the most rebellious of all of Sind's mumlykets. The warriors of Kadesh have won their freedom from the ul Nervi dynasty at last, but has their victory only placed them under the reign of the Master of Hule? Only time may tell.
The Land
Heavily forested mountains make up the majority of the terrain of this northern nation. Loggers work, day and night, to harvest the valuable woods that are the backbone of Kadesh's economy. Given the scarcity of forests in the southern mumlykets, Kadesh has long cornered the market as a lumber supplier. The opening of trade ties with the Turtle Clan of the Atruaghin region may threaten to cut into this trade, however. Fortunately, several silver mines in the mountains provide a secondary means of income to the nation. In the north of Kadesh, the River Gangis nurtures some fertile farmlands as it wends its way down to Lake Hast. Many small hamlets can be found in this region, sending foodstuffs down to the logging settlements in the south.
The People
The concept of karma is revered among the people of Kadesh more so than anywhere else in Sind. They firmly believe that deeds performed in life will affect how they are reincarnated by the Immortals after their deaths. Every act they do is undertaken with a preconceived idea of how they want to come back into the world. It should come as little surprise, then, that Aksyri and Kala, both Immortals concerned with rebirth, are the most highly honoured in Kadesh.
Why the Kadeshi are so concerned with reincarnation is a matter of academic debate and study. The most prevalent theory is that they look forward to their next life because their current ones are so unrewarding. Whether this belief is true or not, there is little disputing that the prajaya (farmers and craftsmen) and kuliya (servants) castes are treated very poorly in Kadesh. The maharajahs have long taxed them heavily, and are even rumoured to kidnap their own people and force them to work in the silver mines.
The himaya (warriors) of Kadesh are among the most capable and gifted of all in Sind-perhaps the world. They train hard and regularly, waging war on the humanoids of the mountains and even raiding neighbouring mumlykets. The Kadeshi claim that their himaya are continually being reincarnated by the Immortals, bringing with them the experiences and strategic knowledge of many lifetimes.
Recent History
Kadesh was the last mumlyket to capitulate to the unification of Sind, only reluctantly agreeing to join Rajadhiraja Narenda ul Nervi after neighbouring Gunjab was conquered. The Kadeshi still proudly proclaim that they were never defeated by outsiders, and there is little doubt that a war with the himaya of Kadesh would be costly to any invader. Kadesh always chafed under the unification, however, and they were the first to side with the invading forces of the Master of Hule. Indeed, without the assistance of Kadesh, the Master's forces would have been hard pressed in their bid to conquer Sind. Last year, in negotiations between the Master of Hule and Sind, Kadesh was granted its independence once more. Now, the nation is currently at war with Peshmir, to the north, over differences between the ruling maharajahs (who happen to be father and son). The rest of Sind remains neutral, as does Hule (officially), for fear that hostilities might erupt once more with the lands to the far west.
Rumours
The notorious cult of assassins, the Buraiya, has long been
believed to have been centred in the nation of Kadesh. Their ties with the Immortal Kala and their
supposed powers over the karmic cycle are often linked to the despotic
rulership of the nation's maharajahs and lesser leaders. If they are, indeed, reincarnated from
lifetime to lifetime as some say, it is little wonder the people of Kadesh have
suffered so long as they have.