Part 70 (1/2)

Under the Surmante Emperors (3619-3941), the Nansurium enjoyed its greatest period of growth and military ascendancy, culminating in the rule of Surmante Xatantius I (3644-93), who subdued the Cepaloran tribes as far north as the Vindauga River, and who even managed to capture the ancient Nilnames.h.i.+ capital of Invis.h.i.+, thus very nearly restoring all the so-called Western Empire that had once belonged to Cenei. But his practice of debasing the talent in order to finance his endless wars fairly wrecked the empire's economy. By the time Fan'oukarji I embarked on his White Jihad in 3743, the empire still had not recovered from Xatantius's excesses. His Surmante descendants found themselves embroiled in never-ending wars they could ill afford, let alone win. Scarce resources and an intransigent commitment to the Ceneian model of warfare, which seemed incapable of coping with Kianene tactics, conspired to render the empire's decline an inevitability.

The dynasty of the most recent claimants to the Imperial Mantle, the Ikurei, arose as the result of a coup brought about by the turmoil following the loss of s.h.i.+gek to the Kianene in 3933 (in the so-called Dagger Jihad of Fan'oukarji III). A former Exalt-General, Ikurei Sorius I reorganized both the Imperial Army and the empire, changes that allowed him and his descendants to defeat no fewer than three full-scale Fanim invasions. The Nansur Empire has enjoyed a precarious stability ever since, though it remains continually fearful of the prospect that the Scylvendi tribes might unite once again.

Nansurium-See Nansur Empire Nansur Empire.

Narradha, Hringa (4093-4111)-The youngest brother of Prince Hringa Skaiyelt, slain at Mengedda. (4093-4111)-The youngest brother of Prince Hringa Skaiyelt, slain at Mengedda.

Nascenti-The nine primary disciples of Anasurimbor Kellhus, the so-called ”Thanes of the Warrior-Prophet.”

Nasueret Column-Also known as the ”Ninth Column.” A Column of the Nansur Imperial Army, traditionally stationed on the Kianene frontier. Their device is the Black Imperial Sun halved by an eagle's wing.

Nau-Cayuti (2119-40)-”Blessed Son” (Umeritic) The youngest son of Celmomas II and the famed ”scourge of Golgotterath.” Nau-Cayuti is famed for his heroism and martial brilliance during the dark days after the fall of Aorsi (2136), when Kuniuri stood alone against Golgotterath. Many of his exploits, such as the Slaying of Tanhafut the Red and the Theft of the Heron Spear, are recounted in (2119-40)-”Blessed Son” (Umeritic) The youngest son of Celmomas II and the famed ”scourge of Golgotterath.” Nau-Cayuti is famed for his heroism and martial brilliance during the dark days after the fall of Aorsi (2136), when Kuniuri stood alone against Golgotterath. Many of his exploits, such as the Slaying of Tanhafut the Red and the Theft of the Heron Spear, are recounted in The Sagas The Sagas.

Naures River-An important river system in eastern Nilnamesh.

Nautzera, Seidru (4038- )-A senior member of the Mandate Quorum. See (4038- )-A senior member of the Mandate Quorum. See Mandate, School of Mandate, School of.

Near Antiquity-Sometimes called the Ceneian Age. The historical period beginning in 2155 (the end of the Apocalypse) and ending with the Sack of Cenei in 3351. See Far Antiquity Far Antiquity.

Neleost Sea-A large inland sea located in northwestern Earwa that formed the traditional northern frontier for those nations arising from the Aumris River Valley.

Nenciphon-The administrative capital of Kian, and one of the great cities of the Three Seas, founded by Fan'oukarji I in 3752.

Nergaota-A semi-mountainous fiefdom in northwestern Galeoth, renowned for the quality of its wool.

Nersei, House-The ruling House of Conriya since the Aoknyssian Uprisings of 3942, which saw the entire line of King Nejata Medekki murdered. The Black Eagle on White is their device.

Nerum-A minor port city and the administrative capital of Jurisada, located on the coast just south of Amoteu.

Neuropuncture-The Dunyain art of producing various behaviours by probing the exposed brain with fine needles.

Ngarau (4062- )-The Grand Seneschal to Ikurei Xerius III. (4062- )-The Grand Seneschal to Ikurei Xerius III.

Nil'giccas (?- )-The Nonman King of Ishterebinth. (?- )-The Nonman King of Ishterebinth.

Nilnamesh-A populous Ketyai nation on the extreme southwest edge of the Three Seas, famed for its ceramics, spices, and stubborn refusal to relinquish its exotic versions of Kiunnat either to Inrithism or to Fanimry. Primarily for geographical reasons, the fertile plains to the south of the Hinayati Mountains have long enjoyed cultural and political independence from the Three Seas. Casidas was the first to remark that the Nilnames.h.i.+ were an ”inward people,” both in the sense of their obsession with the plight of their souls and in their utter disdain for outland Princes. Only two periods in their history cut against this tendency. The first is the Old Invis.h.i.+ period (1023-1572), when Nilnamesh was united under a series of aggressively expansionist Kings based in Invis.h.i.+, which is now the traditional spiritual capital of Nilnamesh. In 1322 and then again in 1326, Anzumarapata II inflicted crus.h.i.+ng defeats on the s.h.i.+geki, and for some thirty years compelled tribute from the proud river kingdom. Then, in 2483, Sarnagiri V, leading a coalition of Princes, was routed by Triamis the Great, and Nilnamesh found itself a province (albeit an unruly one) for more than a thousand years.

The era following the collapse of the Ceneian Empire is commonly called the New Invis.h.i.+ period, though none of the ancient city's Kings has been able to hold more than a fraction of Nilnamesh for more than a generation.