Overview
The Tuflik River forms the southern border of Tusmit, while the Blashikmund separates Tusmit from Ekbir to the west and north. The Yatil Mountains and the Tusman Hills make up Tusmit’s eastern border. The landscape is not as gentle here as in Ekbir, but it is a fertile country. Most of the northern interior is given to farming, and its people are generally uneducated. Along the Tuflik are the nation’s larger cities, where nearly anything is available for the right price. Skilled artisans of all trades work in the cities of the Tuflik valley, and Tusmite weapons and armor are among the finest in all the Baklunish lands.
The nation’s military consists mostly of medium cavalry, led by Farises by no means as noble as their counterparts in Ekbir. A force of heavy infantry is maintained by the pasha, augmented by mercenaries from the Tusman hill-tribes in time of war. In fact, mercenaries from all the surrounding nations can be found in southern Tusmit: Ulli, Perrender, Paynims, even dwarves from the Yatils and Crystalmists are welcome. Along with warriors, mercenary thieves and assassins sell their services here, and almost as openly.
Few outsiders visit Tusmit’s back country, for the only wealth there is in raw materials, and the natives are not welcoming. The True Faith is dominant in the north, so lawlessness is not tolerated. Only those wishing to visit the grand mufti of the Yatils are known to travel here, for the arduous journey is begun from Tusmit north of the Tusman Hills. Traditionally, the pasha would make this trek at least once, to receive the blessing of the grand mufti that would assure the loyalty of the northern lords. The current pasha has chosen not to do this, nor has he acknowledged the caliph of Ekbir’s spiritual authority, instead pledging his loyalty to the sultan of Zeif. So far, this tactic has been successful, but if new challenges arise that require the pasha to call upon the loyalties of his northern nobles, he will be hard pressed to win them.
Tismut — Ones Set Apart
Tusmit has been an independent nation for almost two and a half centuries. Originally a province of Zeif, Tusmit came to be dominated by the caliphate following the Nomad Intrusion of Ekbir. After the exile of the legendary Daoud Pasha, a ruler loyal to the caliph was instated, and the construction of hospices and schools of the Exalted Faith was begun. Resistance to the high level of taxation was almost immediate among the aristocracy, though the common folk were not unduly troubled. Many of the country nobles soon turned to the fanatical True Faith, while the decadent urban aristocracy of the south tried to find compromise with earnest reformers of Ekbir.
While the new pasha was required to remain loyal to Ekbir, the nobles became recalcitrant and no longer accepted the authority of the caliph. A compromise of sorts was reached when the grand mufti of the Yatils, the principal cleric of the True Faith, was imposed upon to grant the status of “orem” to the pasha, meaning “one set apart.” Few besides the pasha of Tusmit have ever held the status, though it has been granted to some sages and wizards over the years. The pasha became a servant of both the Exalted and the True Faith, and he thus held the loyalty of his obstinate subjects.