Azir

Azir
by User: Otto didact
Ethnicity	Makabaki
Capital	Azimir
Ruled by	Prime Aqasix Yanagawn the First
World	Roshar
Universe	Cosmere

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Azir is a kingdom in south-west Roshar. Its capital is Azimir. The people and language of Azir are both called the Azish.

Geography

Azir and the states of the Azish Empire on the world map

Azir is a land-locked state in the south-western part of Roshar, in the geographical region known as Makabak. The biggest Makabaki state, it covers the area of roughly 1,343,000 km², making it the seventh largest nation on Roshar. From south-east, it's bordered by Emul on a river that serves as its only way to access the sea. To the west of it lay Tashikk, Yezier and Desh, while in the north, it shares a long border with Yulay.

Like most of Makabak, Azir is rather dry and warm compared to the rest of Roshar, though it is still cooler than Iri. There are vast plains there, and few, if any rivers. A vast mountain range stretches across the country's nothern and north-eastern edge, with a wide gap pass due North leading to Yulay. The tower-city of Urithiru is not far from Azir, in the peaks almost exactly due east of Azimir.

Notable locations

• Azimir - the capital city of Azir. The Makabakam Oathgate is located there.
• Bronze Palace - the seat of Azish government and home of the Prime Aqasix, in Azimir
• Zawfix - a large city on the northern border, known for having shanty towns inside old mines

History

Origins and Sadees' occupation

Not much is known about the ancient history of Azir. During the Silver Kingdoms era, it was part of Makabakam, the largest of the Silver Kingdoms, with Azimir likely being Makabakam's capital. At some point, that country splintered into dozens of states that comprise modern Makabak, among them Azir.

Sadees the Sunmaker, the infamous Alethi warrior, conquered Azir as part of his bid to take over the entire continent during the reign of Prime Aqasix Snoxil. The occupation was extremely violent: up to ten percent of the country's population died, many of them due to Sadees seemingly seeking to actively eradicate the Azish. In some areas, Sadees ordered a certain number of executions a day. In others, he declared all men with hair at a certain length to be killed. Sadees rationalized this by claiming the Azish were uncivilized for not using eye color as a basis for their social hierarchy.

Following his passing, his kingdom was split between his sons, and the Azish regained their independence.

Era of Solitude

In the centuries since Sadees' conquest, Azir rose to the position of the cultural and political centre of Makabak. Many of its surrounding nations became client states to it, leading to the formation of the Azish Empire - a semi-formal name for the group of states led by the Prime Aqasix in all international matters.

The peace of the empire was broken in the final year of the Era of Solitude, as the Assassin in White killed two Primes in a row, leaving the country in a succession crisis as all prospective candidates attempted to avoid the position. This ended the night a group of thieves, including Lift and Gawx, attempted to rob the Bronze Palace. After Gawx was seemingly killed, Lift returned him to life with Regrowth. To the assembled courtiers (unaware of Lift's involvement), this was a miracle that proved that Gawx was the Prime they were looking for, and he was crowned as Yanagawn the First.

True Desolation

Like everywhere else, the Azish Parshmen awoke following the arrival of the Everstorm. Initially, they followed the example of their former masters and, rather than make war on them, sued the government for back pay. The Azish began negotiations, though they had no intention of giving in - rather, they sought to buy enough time to fortify their cities.

At the same time, they were in talks with Dalinar Kholin's buddying coalition in Urithiru. With Sadees' conquests still a sore memory, they were initially unwilling to allow the Alethi armies into their city, or unlock their Oathgate. However, after the talks with the singers fell through, they finally agreed, and ended up joining the coalition. The failure with the singers might've been caused by the arrival of the Fused, who organized them into an army and took them south, to Marat, perhaps in preparation for the attack on Thaylen City.

When the coalition leaders assumed that the Voidbringers would attack Jah Keved, the Azish agreed to send five batallions of their troops there to aid in repelling the attack. Later, when Thaylen City was pinpointed as the site of the attack, they moved their fleet to the nearby shores to intercept the Voidbringer forces. However, following the translation of the Eila Stele and the revelations it spurred, they backed off along with their ships. Their resolve to abandon the others was only strenghtened when they saw the Alethi forces attack the Thaylens - the influence of Nergaoul on Amaram's forces, though the Azish did not know that at the time.

After the Battle of Thaylen Field, Dalinar explained to them via spanreed what truly happened. The Azish were willing to renegotiate their participation in the alliance, though only if Dalinar was able to prove that he could control his troops.

Politics

Member states

The Azish Empire, despite its name, is closer in nature to a confederacy of states. It's composed of nine member countries: Tashikk, Yezier, Emul, Steen, Alm, Desh, Marat, Tukar and Azir itself. While all those nations consider the Prime Aqasix to be their emperor, other than Azir, they are subject in name only. However, leaders of nations within the Empire cannot marry without the Prime's permission, and the states themselves typically follow Azir's lead when dealing with international politics. Historically, Tashikk and Yezier are the closest to the Azish throne.

Government

The Azish government is a bureaucracy, composed of several levels of scribes. One may join the public servant caste by a written exam; though the test is nominally open to all citizens, the requirements for passing mean that most positions are taken by people whose social status is already high, as they're the only ones capable of affording sufficient education.

The highest-ranking members of the government, other than the Prime Aqasix, are the viziers. They serve as advisors to the Prime, with enough political pull to force their decisions on them, and are responsible for selecting a new Prime following the death of the previous one. Their high status and broad knowledge mean the next Prime will often be one of their number, as they can make their applications most convincing.

The Prime Aqasix

For more information, see Prime Aqasix.

The elected ruler of the Azish Empire bears the title of the Prime Aqasix. Their symbol of power is a traditional hat with sweeping sides called the Imperial Yuanazixin.

The Azish believe that they are never without a Prime. When a Prime dies, the election of a new one is considered as a search for the person who is, and always has been, a Prime. Any person, except for the scions, can apply for the position; however, the process requires many forms and essays, which are reviewed by viziers. The Azish pride themselves on this method, as it avoids succession wars.

The Prime is considered to belong to the public. Citizens can enter a lottery to watch the Prime sleep, eat, and perform other daily tasks. They can also collect and keep relics from the Prime, such as a nail clipping or a strand of hair.

When the Prime issues a mandate to the public, citizens have one month to make their grievances known before being forced to comply. These grievances are often displayed as logical arguments and protests.

Fabrials and Shards

Azir is known to have very few soulcasting Fabrials, the most famous of which has the ability to soulcast bronze. Many buildings in Azimir have bronze domes, and the Prime's palace even has decorative soulcast bronze trees.

Azimir is the side of ancient Makabakam's Oathgate. Presently, it's the site of the city's Grand Market, though it has been reopened by Lift during Dalinar Kholin's visit and returned to its prior function.

Azir has several Shardblades, known as the Imperial Shardblades. It's unknown how many of them they are or who wields them, but they can be loaned out to Empire's member states for various services. The Tashikki city of Yeddaw was created by them. Though it can be presumed that Azish have Shardplate, it's unknown how many sets of it are in their hands.

Culture

A folio page of Azish male public servant fashion from Liafor by Dan dos Santos

Social Order

The Azish social hierarchy is based on education and elevation through the bureaucratic governmental system. Viziers and scribes are among the highest ranking members of society. Scribes are stratified by level and then circle. The pattern on one's clothing indicates rank within the bureaucracy. Regular citizens who are not members of the government are known as discrete.

The Azish do not divide their population into lighteyes and darkeyes. In the Vorin countries, it's speculated that this is because there aren't enough pale-eyed Azish to form a self-sustainable social caste.

People

Azish people are described as being short and dark-skinned, deep brown, but not true black like some parshmen. Not all dark-skinned peoples are Azish, however. The Azish people have a smooth accent, like the Emuli. Very few are light-eyed. They are peaceful, and prefer education to war. However, in battle they use bows and spears. Most of the Worldsinger population is Azish.

Religion

The Azish religion focuses on the worship of the Heralds, known there as the Kadasixes. Chief among them is Jezrien - Yaezir in local parlance - who bears the title of the Kadasix of Kings. He's the patron of the Azish government, and the Prime Aqasix is considered his emissary to the world. The Primes themselves have some religious significance: per the Azish doctrine, a person is born a Prime, and the election process serves merely to find out who the current Prime is and give them their rightful place.

The Azish priests, called scions, are government officials. Both men and women can become one. Their main duty appears to be taking care of the spiritual side of the bureaucracy's day-to-day workings - they are seen blessing formal meetings and interpreting omens and events to discern the will of the Kadasixes. They also serve as clerks and scribes. Scions can be found in all ranks of the bureaucracy, with the most influential ones serving as the members of the Prime's circle of advisors along with the viziers.

Unlike Vorin ardents, scions are free men. In fact, becoming a high-ranking scion, or a priest-minister, is one of the highest honors for the Azish.

Scions typically travel across the country, blessing settlements and towns. For this reason, a scion cannot become the Prime Aqasix, although they are intimately involved in the selection process. During the holy conclave that chooses a new Prime, they are called upon to ensure the spiritual purity of the selection, provide theological viewpoint on the process and assist the viziers in picking the best candidate.

Notable scions

• Ethid - a Veristitalian and friend of Jasnah Kholin, who studies the lives of powerful men and, later, the Knights Radiant. She participates in the Prime selection process, and gives the opening blessings to the meeting that results in Yanagawn's crowning.
• Unoqua - the religious leader of Yanagawn's court. Along with other scions and viziers, he advises against continued alliance with Urithiru.

Clothing

The Azish are known for wearing vibrant, colorful clothing. They are usually seen in robes or cloth wraps. Each article of clothing has a traditional Azish pattern on it. Azish fashion styles have been heavily influenced by male civil servant outfits.

Food

The Azish have a legend about truthberry jam, a preserve made from an Azish fruit. Supposedly, those who consume the berries speak only the truth until the next sunset. The berries themselves are harmless, but the leaves and stalks of truthberry plants can be burned, which makes people intoxicated and euphoric. Shallan Davar remarks to Kabsal that they should be called birthberries due to the fact of intoxication.

Morality

In contrast to Vorin countries of the East, the Azish do not seem to practice the division between sexes. Women do not wear safehands, and men and women can be seen in both military and political positions without any indication that such is unusual. However, also in contrast to Vorin states, the Azish have somewhat stricter views on relationships. In a homosexual couple, one member is expected to apply for "social reassignment", and should thereafter behave - and be treated as - a member of the opposite gender.

Notable Azish

For more Azish citizens, see :Category: Azish.

• Prime Aqasix Yanagawn
• Sigzil
• Falksi

Trivia

• The Azish view of homosexuality is based on middle-ages Indian society, wherein the gay person would be "socially reassigned" and be expected to exist and act as the opposite gender.
• The Azish government is partially based on the Chinese Confucian system.
• Compared to Earth countries, Azir is only slightly larger than Peru, and a bit smaller than Mongolia.

Notes

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