Uqbar

Bordered by the Kintaas Empire in the North and West, and by the Traline River in the east, this kingdom was ruled by a dynasty of scholar-kings during the late 9th and early 10th centuries. The economic base of Uqbar consisted primarily of semi-nomadic animal husbandry. Clans of shepherds maintained distinct villages primarily for winter use and travelled throughout the north eastern regions of Urtyne during the summer. While the inherant instability of the tribal/nomadic system prevented the dynasty (founded by Komol Ty in roughly 870 c.e.) from exerting significant political control in the region, the dynasty distinguished itself as a patron of various arts, and glimpses of a rich cultural legacy survive. In particular, the kingdom was notable for epic and extremely long poems aparently derived from nomadic songs and stories. In general these consisted of a few core stanzas which were repeated almost endlessly with minor but significant changes in the lyrics. The name for these poems was urik-yamga, or "endless river," implying that, in theory, the recitation could be infinite. Indeed, on during major festivals, a poem relating to the festival was often recited for days on end by a school of reciters working in rotation. The dynasty also supported metal craftsmen who are in particular known for crafting round mirrors, some of which have been found in grave sites as far away as China.

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