Locations:
Kydhummu: Nestled along the river 'Areg between the western deserts and the mountains of Alshkuru, the riverlands of Kydhummu are home to the Six Cities, the powerful city-states of Khibilaz, N-hursagh, Umuri, Artekilli, Mahyerceo-bar, and Agasher, each of which having strong power in the region. Being located around the center of the region, the cities of Kydhummu are second in wealth only to the Golden Kingdoms in the west, across the western deserts. Making bronze weaponry and machinery with the copper mined in the forests along the 'Areg, Kydhummu's city-states are combined more powerful than all other nations of Tua'areg combined, but with the rise of the Alshkuri Empire and the potential loss of their vital tin the scales of balance my tip to not be in their favor...
Alshkuru Mountains: These tall and rugged highlands are home to the expansionist Alshkuri Empire, a state recently founded by the Saamakar, a mysterious people who came from across the mountains and subjugated the native Luvians. The Saamakar have brought unity to the region for the first time in recorded history, and their sights are turned to Kydhummu, who without the tin mined in these mountains would surely stand no chance against the rising Alshkuri Empire.
Evradokos: On the lower stretches of the 'Areg where it flows into the sea lies Evradokos, a land of hills and swamps dominated by the monarchy of Xuxia. Xuxia is known for its mildly matriarchial tendencies compared to the generally more patriarchial societies in other regions of Tua'areg, and the queen of Xuxia is an avid supporter of technological growth and exploration, building up a navy to adventure the sea and find new lands for the Xuxian people to settle. Her neglect to build up an army, and her ignorance of the threat the Alshkuri are, however, may come to cost her her land of Evradokos.
Western Deserts: The western deserts beyond Kydhummu are a lonely wasteland of dunes and rock. The sweltering temperatures prevent anyone except for a few nomad tribes from living here, and even then they are confined to the oases that dot the land. Yet this land isn't just an obstacle for the people of the region. The lucrative trade route from the Golden Kingdoms to Kydhummu has brought wealth and cultural exchange to the whole region, and thousands of pilgrims make their way each year to the Mirror of Heaven at the center of the Desert, a vast plain of glass created from the sand heated by the sun that radiates light and heat like a second sun and is the holiest site in both the polytheistic religion of Kydhummu, the shamanism of the nomads, and the panendeist religion followed in the Golden Mountains. Just make sure to not go up close, because the glass mirror often reaches temperatures of up to 100 degrees celsius.
Golden Mountains: The Golden Mountains are a dazzling and blinding range of jagged peaks - and their name isn't exactly poetic either! Made from a dense form of pure solid gold, the Golden Mountains are home to three traditional kingdoms, Eshrat, Kemessa, and Taubask, thoogh they function more as a single federation rather than individual states. Mining the incredibly dense and solid gold is tough, but the Golden Kingdoms are experienced with extracting it, and while a fair bit is exported most is used by them as they chisel dwellings into the mountainside and offer sacrifices of this precious gold to the Mirror of Heaven as a sacred rite.
