Imarru-Lugal

Imarru-Lugal is the name of both a city and territory founded by The Hexarchy in the Skerry Isles in the early days of 1690 AN. The settlement, given a name that literally translates to "Light of the King," was founded for exactly two reasons: to extend trade to neighbors places out of The Hexarchy's sovereign reach, and to extend diplomacy abroad.

The city-territory is entirely self-governed. While not considered one of the Realms, the territory's importance as an offshore embassy of sorts as well as a vital trading link lends the city and the island considerable importance. As The Hexarchy lacks a blue-water navy, it depends on maintaining friendly diplomatic ties with nations from both the Raspur Pact and the USSO to deter aggression against the isolated territory. The island, nonetheless, is still equipped with a strong security force to deter pirates.

The city's freeport status is a tool that both the settlers and The Hexarchy's central government hope to act as a tool to modernize the nation through trade, as well as establish a source of income due to the island's resort-like climate -- especially in the countryside outside of the relatively small port city. These factors, in tandem with the island's excellent location, are hoped to bring the island (and its mother country) significant investment opportunities at home and abroad, and to serve as a model of the country's ongoing modernization.

As of 1690, the island has only about 50,000 inhabitants in total, sent in small waves in privately chartered vessels from the mainland. This consists in part of new settlers (about a quarter of the population), traders (about ten percent) and skilled construction workers sent to accommodate them (another 15 percent). A significant portion of the population (nearly 40%) also includes travelers heavily laden with debt, who exchanged a trip there and fifteen years of (paid) labor in exchange for having their debts, crimes, or other minor transgressions against others (and the state) forgiven. The remaining portion of the population is a security force meant to keep the islanders safe from either malcontent laborers or from pirates.

Interactions[1] between these settlers and the original inhabitants of the island, initially amicable, quickly broke down following an unfortunate banquet held on the lake-island settlement of Calēkhōpraksis which ended in an emissary's spilt entrails roasting on a grill before his eyes whilst native braves wetted their spearpoints in the gaping abdominal wound. The culinary redistribution of mana that ensued helped to embolden the lugals of the seven inter-connected 'swamp valleys' radiating from the lake in preparation for the interesting times ahead.