Bad-biliad

Bad-Biliad is a nation of Arif. It is squeezed in the badlands and canyons of western Arif, between the Biliad river and its great canyon, and the volcanic shield mountains of Der Totem along the border with Exympor.

The city of Kairah is one of the greatest in the world, lying on the wide delta of the Biliad. Harvests are bountiful and reliable, from the regular flooding of the river, and the surrounding hills and mountains provide safe refuge when the river swells. It acts as the central trade city for the entire nation, all along the Biliad river, and also as a hub for merchants traveling the coast, which may come from as far away as Indonardel, and perhaps continue on to Exympor in their quest for rare spices and valuables.

Kairah is also highly defensible, being chiefly accessible by sea, which lends Bad-Biliad a certain sense of security in the face of increasing pressure from Zhuma in the east. Security is a highly prioritized segment of Bad-Biliad politics; the country lost a third of its territory to a Zhuman invasion only 20 years ago, including the entire northern and north-eastern regions of the country, which lay beyond and to the east of the Biliad. Consequently, Bad-Biliad has a large standing army, to discourage further expansion by the ever-hungry Zhuman Empire.

The cities of Ras-Karga and Ras-Biliad lie along the Biliad river. Both still belong to Bad-Biliad, although the greater part of the cities lie on the eastern banks of the river. These cities were besieged by the Zhuman armies for over two years, but the Zhuman generals eventually conceded that the sieges were impossible to maintain. The attempted blockades were constantly circumvented by locals who could navigate the local topology better than the invaders, and the occupying forces were bled nearly continuously in a never-ending series of skirmishes, surprise attacks, and traps laid by the mountain men of Bad-Biliad.

After the Zhuman armies retreated, both cities were fortified, including the trails and passes leading to the cities. They are now considered impregnable to mundane armies, although the Bad-Biliad generals worry that the Water-Witch of Zhuma will leave her cushy palace to bring Bad-Biliad to final ruin and rule all of Arif.