The Life and Legacy of Ordumash
From Book Five of Kannes — Hamis
Ordumash famously refused to accept the title of king (Nis in Sippurite) or that of regent (Guddin in Sippurite), which had been a title reserved for Sdu’s proxy since the 8th age of Kamun. Instead he took the title of Kysis, an ancient moniker dating to the beginnings of the Sippurite age. Days after his official coronation, Ordumash made sweeping reforms to local planet state governments, considerably improving their organization and military forces. He annexed the remaining non-committed provinces, abolishing their fledging bureaucracies, replacing them with figureheads that were accountable directly to the king. Ordumash standardized the tax tribute of each planet-state, and required that they possess a standing army for the purpose of keeping order or for going to war. Sippurite warriors were trained in the techniques honed on Ordumash’s home world, the shadow art of Hstile which made them into an efficient unified fighting unit ordered by commander. Sippur then set out to subjugate other planet states of the known universe and fold them into a single empire.
Ordumash invaded Alluria and deposed its king in the twentieth year of his reign. After subjecting Allur to tribute, he went on to defeat his rivals at Lulzat, laying waste to the planet and levying heavy tribute to account for his own losses. After ensuring that Lulzat was not able to quickly recover from the devastation, Ordumash pressed on and conquered Mith and Aksa, then advanced to subdue the commercially viable spaceports of Saya. He took the ice planet Servan after a siege of three years, and burned many cities of the Vathi people to the ground.
After many successful campaigns during the expansion period, Ordumash instituted reforms to improve the administration of sectors of the Sippur state. He passed an edict stripping authority from high Sippur officials, which had been notoriously corrupt and excessive in their indulgences and reckless spending. The officials regularly went to war with one another, trading sides and allegiances as it served their interests. Some even took the title of king, fearing no reprisal from Ordumash due to long traditions of tribal rule. Ordumash addressed this by ordering the death of standing governors, and he replaced them with Vaslits, a part-Saurian race that was engineered to be loyal and act on the command of the king only. He minimized the power of other officials by reducing the size of their provinces, thus decreasing their resources should any desire to incite a revolt. Subsequently, there were more provinces but less power per each Vaslit.
Ordumash next reformed his army. Instead of conscripting a majority native Sippur army as per tradition, Ordumash commissioned tens of thousands from across his conquered provinces, promoting many to key strategic positions, a move which won the respect of native planets. The foreign standing army was mainly comprised of ground troops called Syylishsa, whereas the native Sippurites controlled the interstellar warships. He also increased the pay and standard allowances for his troops, beyond that of common area jobs, which elevated the desire for Sippurite loyalists to join. As a result of Ordumash’s military reforms, the Sippur Empire was armed with an expanded army native to the regions which Sippur planned to conquer.
Ordumash spent the remaining years of his reign quelling minor rebellions and expanding the borders of his capital Ordusyim on Orma. He ordered the construction of a massive library, the famous “Lost Library of Orma,” that housed ancient manuscripts and a great number of artifacts since plundered and destroyed during the much later reign of Snakakashkun. A significant portion of the library is fabled to have been preserved on the planet Niyu, the location of which has never been positively confirmed. When Ordumash died he was entombed on Orma. Until this day he is considered one of the greatest kings from antiquity, and his reported burial site is a destination for thousands of pilgrims every solar year.
Esharra was a Sippur princess who seized the title of Kysis of the Sippur Empire after the death of her father Ordumash. She hailed from Ordumash’s birth city Kyssin, although in appearance she more resembled the Sippurites of Magena, the realm of the oldest son of Ordumash, Marsud, her half-brother and next in line to the throne. Fearing that he would not be able to overcome his younger sister’s ambitions, Marsud fled to Allur seeking the protection of King Tuma Tuan.
Esharra was light in appearance with white hair and piercing eyes that often intimidated those brought before her. As a young princess, she traveled with Ordumash throughout the realm, especially in Urmia and Kamun, where she learned ancient Kamunan incantations, and in the ensuing years rose to become a prominent teacher in the famous schools of Basud. In later years she rose in prominence second only to Ordumash himself.
In the third year of her reign, Esharra was invited to the Feast of Lights, a customary festival of Hidge on Allur, which commemorated what the Allurians believe were the last lights of creation captured in the vast and sacred woodland realms outside of the city. Marsud, who had spent his years confined to Allur, longed to return to Orma and plotted to undermine his younger sister’s authority at the festival, secretly arranging for regional leaders to direct their festival performers to acknowledge him as king. Tuma Tuan cautioned him against such an act, to which Marsud responded, “Upon which day has this land been prepared for me? I am abandoned as a tragic joke within my own house. It is therefore by humor that I shall drive my point into a sharp stake meant for rights to the kingship.” Although presented as a jest, the actors’ performance conveyed the seriousness of Marsud’s intentions in the presence of his sister, who responded by striking one of the performers before leaving the theater. Upon departure, Esharra tempered her fury, keeping in mind that Tuma Tuan was a powerful lord whom had been at odds with Ordumash, and whom she was now dependent upon to retain order within Alluria.
Esharra summoned Tuma Tuan to her waystation, just beyond the Allurian moon, and by recalling the renowned diplomacy of her late father, she chose her words carefully while speaking, “I have been aware for some time Tuma Tuan, that my brother has sought refuge among the Allurians as if I have called for his life in payment for an expressed crime. And yet I have never issued such a call. Therefore, upon receipt of your invitation on his behalf, least among my thoughts was that House Ordumash would be made into a joke before your citizens.”
Tuma Tuan laughed and said, “A pity that all of House Ordumash had not accompanied you, great queen, for the wit of Marsud is notable among my people. But know that I have no part in his deceit. For it seemed fitting to me that a bond of reconciliation be struck betwixt sister and brother, and yet now I am aware that was never thy brother’s intent. Therefore, make whatever proclamation you deem just and I shall deliver him into your hands.”
But Esharra discerned a hidden motive behind Tuma Tuan’s words, for the execution of Marsud would be to his favor and turn many Allurians against her. Instead, Esharra made a pact with the Allurian king not to wage war against him as long as he kept her brother secure in exile. She also agreed to allow Tuma Tuan to collect tribute from all territories in his sector, without paying tribute to Sippur. In return, Tuma Tuan forbid Marsud to travel from the planet Allur. He also agreed to restrict his communications while undermining any claims he made to the throne.
“Esharra relished in the contempt that others had for her, and she boasted of her exploits that included the destruction of over 430 sovereign planets.”
With Marsud and his supporters isolated, Esharra prepared her troops to execute her plans for expansion. She built the fortress of Suult on Gaya as a remote outpost; giving her the ability to deploy forces from both her inner and outer reach. She next invaded Zunope and enslaved its citizens. Later that year, she defeated a coalition at Korokar, thereby gaining control of Vetad, Imra, and Sephus in Kamun. Esharra conquered Ahstad, destroyed Sepp, and won a significant victory over Kamunan troops at Ungars. Kamun rulers appealed for peace and agreed to pay tribute to Sippur, which would be delivered once every solar year. On Esharra’s return, she had Ungars rebuilt as the capital and settled it with Sippurites. She next conquered parts of Sutov and the Saurian planet of Encaratu. Esharra took the capital city on the planet Izako and stationed troops there as an administrative hub. She built new bases in Mith as well, the main being Esruken.
Esharra plundered the fertile planets of Urmia, stripping them of their vast resources and sending them to Sippur. Massive quantities of food, water and wildlife were left drifting through space or left stockpiled on various worlds to rot. This drew the disdain of Mulhampa from Kogor, who marched against Esharra and was quickly routed by her troops. The Sippur army then plundered Kogor and marched to Abin without meeting resistance, the people having retreated in their vessels or fled to their home planets. Esharra relished in the contempt that others had for her, and she boasted of her exploits that included the destruction of over 430 sovereign planets.
In time, Esharra felt safe enough in her rule to move against her potential rival to the throne, Marsud. She ordered one garrison to move against Zunope, and another against Allur led by Esharra herself. Esharra laid siege to Allur and Marsud fled. He was later captured in the swamps of the Shatuluan and executed. Allur yielded to Esharra and she was proclaimed Queen. She remained on Allur for 62 years and annually led the new-year procession as Queen of Allur. She had her son, crown-prince Yarasabblis, married to an Allurian noblewoman, and ordered him to stay in Allur to keep them under subjection.
Just before boarding a vessel headed to Encaratu, Esharra was attacked by Setya, daughter of Ninsun, for Esharra’s destruction of a planet in Alessa. Esharra fled to her citadel as her troops abandoned her in fear. Setya overpowered the citadel guard, gaining access to the fortified inner chambers where she met and tossed Esharra from the highest precipice to her death.
Yarasabblis next ascended to the throne. The guard that had been assigned to protect his mother feared for their lives. The corps leader, Mulkaldunken, claimed rights to the throne of Allur and gathered an alliance supported by Zunope, who wanted to exploit the unrest caused by Esharra’s death. Yarasabblis split his army and had one part attack the stationed enemy at Verin, while he and the rest of the army proceeded to capture the city planet of Cutta. The rebellion was defeated and Mulkaldunken fled. Allur was once again firmly under Sippur’s control. Mulkaldunken went into hiding with the help of Zunope mercenaries. The rebellion forces in Alluria were wiped out and an Allurian named Yunzi, who was raised at the Sippur court, was placed on the throne.
Mulkaldunken started to plot another rebellion. Yarasabblis and his army viciously fought against him again, and Mulkaldunken fled, this time directly to Zunope. Yarasabblis pursued him there, and razed many of the largest cities on the planet. The Zunopians turned Mulkaldunken over while pleading for peace, and Yarasabblis executed him along with his extended family.
The Sippur regent Yunzi proved to be disloyal to the empire and was taken back a prisoner. Yarasabblis tried to resolve the constant threat of Allurian rebellion by placing someone loyal to him on the throne, namely his son Sabblisud. It didn’t help. The Zunopians invaded northern Alluria in a complete surprise. Yarasabblis’s son was captured and taken to Zunope and his throne was taken over by Zunzak.
A large battle was fought against the Allurian rebels at Yelesargab, their king was captured and in turn taken to Orma. For the loss of his son, Yarasabblis launched another assault on Zunope where his army began to plunder and burn its cities. The Zunopeite king fled, but Yarasabblis was forced to return home due to the pressure from his military, many of whom grew weary of the long campaigns against Zunope. Another rebellion leader, named Kankadek claimed the Allurian throne for Zunope. The last great battle was fought when Yarasabblis destroyed the largest cities on Allur, and the entire planet was mostly unoccupied for several years.
Yarasabblis died after 1723 years of rule and was succeeded by his son Nakodadan, who had been governor of Allur, and was fighting against the influence of Ursatz at the time of his father’s death. During the first year of Nakodadan’s rule, a rebellion broke out in the lower reach of Alluria. Nakodadan swiftly attacked and relocated many of the planets inhabitants and forbade them from travelling off-world.
As king of Sippur, Nakodadan immediately had Allur rebuilt and made it one of his capitals. He then turned his attention to Saya — now allying itself with the rulers of Kamun against him — and sacked Tonnin. He also captured King Elsom of Sabu and kept him prisoner for some time in Allur. Having had enough of their constant plotting, Nakodadan next moved to subvert Kamun’s power by sectioning off the inner reach, which was accessible only by nine heavily trafficked trade routes since the time of Ordumash when Sippur closed all other tributaries. The routes were owned by the people, but had been managed by an overly complex bureaucracy.
Nakodadan ordered the blockage of all nine passages, thus preventing Kamunan traffic and exports, as well as imports, merchants, and migrants from entering from other regions. Those of Kamun’s inner reach began to despair and pleaded with Sippur for Nakodadan to come to terms and ease the blockage. Nakodadan began to allow those who were in the greatest need to receive provisions and to engage in limited travel. Two years later he launched a full invasion and conquered the region, chasing the imposter King Zunugab back to the planet Asut. Nakodadan quarantined Asut and depleted its natural resources. Zunugab was forced to surrender and yield his dominion to Sippur, thus bringing to an end the Asut Empire which was over 40,000 years old.
Sippur defeated the small kingdom of Gersu, annexed much of its territory, and expanded as far as Elysia. This was perhaps Sippur’s greatest territorial extent. However, the Sippurite Vaslits and puppet rulers in Kamun began to pledge Sippur for full independence under pressure from the Kamun populace, since the defeat of Asut. Nakodadan again planned to march on Kamun and put down the unrest; however, he became ill from a poisonous meal on the way and died. His elder son Orokash became king of Allur and his son Sundagashil became king of Sippur, with Sundagashil holding the senior position and Allur being subject to Orma.
Sundagashil continued to dominate Kamun, when not distracted by having to deal with pressures from Mith and the Axa tribes outside of Sippur. He installed a native Kamunan King, Samandes as a vassal. Fourteen years later, however, Samandes declared outright independence but pledged to maintain friendly relations with Sippur. Sundagashil accepted the agreement with the caveat of imposing heavy tax burdens on Kamun. Sundagashil’s older brother, Orokash also became infused with Allurian nationalism and grew tired of being subject to his brother.
Orokash attempted to organize a revolt against Sundagashil by rallying slave populations and puppet rulers against him. This rebellion lasted for several years until Allur was sacked and Orokash set fire to his citadel, killing himself along with the palace guard. Sundagashil then set out to punish those who had supported the Allurian revolt. He invaded Bodash and routed the Bodashins, taking many of their vessels and other possessions back to Orma after killing the Bodash kings. He next turned to his old rivals in Zunope and razed their capital cities, burning over 30 capital centers to the ground. However, nearly the entirety of his reign remained plagued by conflict.
