West Karnak
| The Dominion of West Karnak | |
| Subdivision type: | Region of Karnak |
| Capital: | Imaru-Anum |
| Population: | |
| Largest Cities: | (insert three here) |
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| Local Leadership Title: | Pschent |
| Local Government: | Semi-Federal Monarchy |
| Current leader: | Shoshenq IV |
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| Local language: | Karnak, Umraic, Common Tongue |
| Local Religion: | Umraism; Maatism; folk religions |
West Karnak is a region of Karnak, being a part of The Hexarchy since 1725 AN and under intermittent suzerainty of Karnak for much of its history, this being only the most recent of such times. Geologically, culturally, and politically distinct from its more populated neighbor, West Karnak is ruled by a locally elected government from Imarru-Anum, its capital city and named after a local god (lit. "light of Anum"). The region's native name of Anum derives from an old shared god of Maatism (also known as Re-Mun in Karnak), although worship practices and the god's very name now differ after centuries of cultural drift. The city was annexed by Karnak in 1725 AN after a long period of intermittent suzerainty. The region came under the Hexarchy's full control in the aftermath of the Dark Berry Civil War, during which bandit groups used the region's rugged interior as bases to launch raids into nearby Karnak. A military occupation followed, after which the government from Imarru-Anum was given local autonomy.
While there has always been a close cultural exchange between West Karnak and its recent suzerain for centuries, the region's long independence has produced a culture unique to itself. The region nearly separated from Karnak during the reign of Praetor Naram-Sin due to political stagnation, but military aid from Cakaristan kept order during the temporary period of weakness during the 1730's and 1740's AN. In the early 1750's, Karnak experienced a resurgence in power and influence, and was able to recover its full sovereignty over the region by 1755 AN. West Karnak remains a strategically vital area for both Karnak and The Hexarchy. Not only is the area profoundly rich in mineral wealth (much of which was discovered near 1750 AN, but its coastline ensures direct control of the southern Keltia coast and its interior anchors control over the Great Sandy Desert.
Location & Geography
West Karnak is located west of Karnak proper, south of the Great Sandy Desert, and bounded to the south and west by coastline. Northwest lies Amaland, a realm of Hurmu.
West Karnak's terrain widely varies, ranging from savanna plains, scrublands, rugged hill country, and isolated mountain valleys. Both the coastal area near Imarru-Anum and certain interior valleys are some of the most fertile areas on Micras, supporting a rapidly increasing population. Despite its varied and hospitable terrain, most of the region is sparsely populated, forming a contrast from the densely urbanized eastern heartlands of the nearby Abyd'os region of Karnak. The northern highlands and mountains serve as a natural barrier keeping the Great Sandy Desert in check, forming a hard boundary for the desert and shaping nearby caravan routes connecting Karnak to the distant settlements of the deep continental desert. While the coastal region quickly modernized, the inland areas to the north and west resist the winds of time. These regions consist of numerous fortress-style settlements, caravan towns, isolated temple-oriented communities, and a few newer urban settlements that grew in response to the region's considerable mineral wealth.
