Araby & the Old World

 

An ancient realm of Men, Araby is a strange and exotic country, ruled by powerful sultans and desert sheiks. Araby is located south of the Old World, west of Nehekhara and northwest of the Southlands' rainforests. It rises across vast expanses of desert, and we find its cities on the Coast of Araby, to the west, to the northern borders of the Southlands.

The Arabyans are a strange bunch, where the divide between man and woman, rich and poor are even sharper than in the Old World. They worship both a nameless (called "el" or simply "THE" by the Arabyans, though they will sometimes use el-ilah meaning "THE GOD" when talking to outsiders) monotheistic god (abhorrent in the eyes of all Old Worlders) that exist beyond the ken of mortals and never interfere directly in the affairs of the world (so basically not really a god), and a bewildering array of otherworldly spirits called genies (Old Worlders know them for what they are: daemons).

The Old World has a long history of violent interaction with Araby. Many years ago the Arabyans were steadily expanding their influence in the southern parts of the Old World, practically conquering Estalia and invading Bretonnia, Tilea, and the Border Princes. Eventually, the Kings of Bretonnia and the Emperors of the Reik became concerned the foreigners would overrun the entire Old World. In an unusual display of cooperation, a series of great military expeditions were mounted against the defenders, eventually driving them from the Old World. Much of the fighting was conducted by knightly orders led by noble sons and large numbers of Tilean mercenaries, all paid for by the great lords of the Old World.

The Knights Panther were famously founded during this period and spearheaded the counter invasion of Araby. It well well for a time but eventually the northerners were driven into the sea. Nowadays there is more trade than war but the conflict between the north and south have never completely ceased. The Knights Panther, for example, still continue to raid the coastlands and skirmish at sea with Arabyan corsairs.