Ahuric Empire (KdM Map Game)

The Ahuric Empire was a medieval monarchy located in the, that, at it's height, ruled over much of the and parts of  and. Although the formation of the Kingdom of Ahuras and the Gerrhan Empire date back centuries, the Ahuric Empire would be formally declared by King Mustafa I in 1242, whom would absorb the territories of Grane following a short civil war over it's rightful successor. Since then, it would go on to expand across most of the peninsula, stopping the Second Daevite Empire from conquering the Near East before ultimately being overthrown by the Mamlukes led by Xairata, with Atouman support, in 1543.

Unification
Prior to unification, the Adnanian peninsula existed under the rule of a number of petty kingdoms, including Ahuras, Al-Qarsoon, Alagadda Azarkhate, pagan-ruled Aegypt, Grane, Hejaz, Oman, Rahmat Amirate, Salala, Sulaym, Oman, Yemen, and Zahira. While the Gerrhan Empire still existed in some capacity, it's overall power projection had grown limited during the medieval era, likely as a result of the rise of various Arzhamic empires. By the 13th century, it's colonial possession consisted only of the Maldives, with problems arrising after King Al-Aziz III's children purely consisted of daughters rather than proper heirs. While many members of the Council would attempt at usurping power for themselves, King Al-Aziz III would defeat a number of aristocratic princes at the Battle of Jubail, and shortly afterwards, would seek out foreign princes for rule.

In 1234, King Al-Aziz III would present King Aqeel II with his many daughters, seeking some sort of proper succession regarding his rule. However, King Aqeel II would see Al-Aziz's attempts as weak, and while allowing the King and his daughters to spend a night in Adnan, were to be declined officially. In a turn of events, Aqeel II's eldest son, Mustafa, would fall in love with Al-Aziz III's eldest daughter, Fatima, with both having a secret romance in the following years. In 1237, King Al-Aziz III would suffer from what historians think was a stroke, dying in February and leaving the state of Gerrha without a proper successor that would ultimately collapse the state itself.

Although King Aqeel II did not wish to push for suzereignty over the coast, the young prince Mustafa would build a slave army and go on to pillage much of the coast in an attempt to sieze power. In what many historians describe as one of the most brutal sieges of the late middle ages, the Sack of Grane from 1238 to 1240 would see the destruction of the city, with treasures being looted by Mustafa's slave army and the deaths of numerous... Following the siege, Mustafa and Fatima would officiate their love in marriage, with Mustafa becoming King of Grane and formally uniting both respective realms under the same dynasty.

After King Aqeel II's death in 1242, King Mustafa would formally declare the Ahuric Empire in 1242. As monarch, Mustafa would reign for twelve years, during which time he would continue to expand the state of Ahuras by sieging the cities of Kalba and Ibri, which had the time were ruled by the Rahmat dynasty that had remained in exile there at the time following their defeat against the Mongol Empire. By the end of the decade, much of Oman would be absorbed, with the following coastal Adnanite states being annexed shortly afterwards.

Religion
Religion often played an important role in the Ahuric Society. The Ahuric Royalty were entirely Zoroastrian, as was the majority of the populous at its inception. Other religions were present as well, with a large Assyrian presence in Assyria (where else would they be?), a minor cult of [No idea] presence in the west, a minor but eventually very imporant Nabatean presence in the North-Western reaches of the Adnanite peninsula. Vitally, though, was the Arzhamite presence in parts of Oman and patches in the Northern sections of the Empire.

After the loss of Assyria and Grane, the situation became quite different. The loyal Assyrians in the nation were replaced by a disloyal Arzhamite presence. The Zoroastrians became more extreme, giving birth to groups like the Divine Rule Party. The nation as a whole were outraged, leading to a decrease in Arzhamism in Oman, as Omani Arzhamites left the nation in search for a more tolerant society or converted to avoid discrimination. The military was scaled up to "protect Zoroastrianism", an excuse to show off their strength to neighbouring nations. As the foretold war never came, the general attitude changed. Tolerance was preached and spread to the majority (but not all, and this is important). The northern sections of the Empire, holding a great many Arzhamites, flourished. The change was not fast by any means, but thanks to the change of monarch, it was catalysed significantly.

While the national attitude remained the same, things were rotting in the Council of Advisors. King Aqeel had long left the nation in the hands of his Viziers, travelling the world. The Vizierites slowly grew a following of anti-arzhamite allies. The "Banishment" of the Divine Rule Party led to a stronghold of anti-arzhamite views in the Order of Avesta, one that would be rather important in the coming years. In the context of religion, this had led to a strong split in the nation, a split between tolerant Zoroastrians and extremist Zoroastrians loyal to the viziers.

As expected, civil war broke through the nation. On religious terms, this once again led a shift. Arzhamites were given much more power, as they backed the King. This is considered one of the reasons for the collapse of the nation to the Atoumans. In the aftermath, the majority of the nation had become tolerant of the Arzhmites or were hiding their anger. This was the mentality for many years until the growth of the Atoumans.

As the Atoumans became a significant threat, once again religion was held as a unifying force for the people. This, however, was a failed endeavour. The northern reaches of the empire were Arzhamite, as were parts of Oman. The military was powerful, but without the backing of the entire populous, there was no way the empire was able to defend itself from the Atoumans. However, this era did lead to a greater effort to export Zoroastrianism, succeeding in areas of the Swahili and the Kingdom of Imerina (later the Empire of Matagaskar), which eventually encompassed the entire island of Madagascar and carried the torch of Zoroastrianism.

Administration
The Ahuric Empire is an absolute monarchy, with advisors and statesmen dealing with much of the administrative affairs, and many tribes who are left largely on their own with their own land and laws and rules.

Bureacracy
While the Ahuric Empire, basking in the growth of trade and income might seem very united, throughout much of it's existence, an inner conflict would fought between by the reformist faction, consisting mainly of younger individuals, whom collectively pushed for a number of reforms, chief of which being the introduction of an "assembly of advisors", with more extremist members calling for a constitution and limiting imperial rule. The other combating faction, the conservatives, would intend to continue the status quo, with an absolute monarch in control, while keeping the Adnanite tribes largely untouched. Due to this, a number of polities would rise in the aristocracy, such as:
 * The Divine Rule Party: A party advocating a theocratic leadership based upon extremely conservative Zoroastrianism. They want a nation ruled by an arch priest, who rules for life.
 * The Absolutists: A zealous group of monarchists who advocate complete rule by the monarch. They differ from the conservatives, who want less interference with the tribes, by advocating for bringing all the tribes under rule, by force if necessary.
 * The People's Assembly Party: A party advocating for the complete removal of the monarchy. This is a fringe party and largely underground and contains many members of the Cult of Alagadda.
 * Home Rule Party: A party pushing for home rule. They advocate decentralisation and for regions to be allowed to rule themselves. A few of the recently urbanised tribes are a part of this party.
 * The Peasant's Party: Even more underground than the People's Assembly, and having split from them due to their peculiar ideology, this party advocates for small councils of people in charge of their own land, all coming together to form the United Councils of Ahuras (Insert Soviet Anthem)

While the term party is used, these were often small collections of people, grouped together with no real political power. They have, however, been rather instrumental in the history of the nation, with the Divine Rule Party effectively creating the Order of Avesta and causing significant chaos in the Vizierite Civil War. The decentralisation of the nation near the end of its existence is often attributed to a number of advisors with close ties to the Home Rule Party. These small fringe groups never ruled or controlled the nation, but were always a factor in the equation of Ahuras.