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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 7588342" data-attributes="member: 92305">Ideas from CONAN and the Shadows of the SinnBelthaarThis is a small city state in Shem that lies northeast of Khor Kalba.  It forms the most northern border of Khalar Zym’s conquered lands.The people of Belthaar are rebellious, and they hate Zym’s tight fisted rule.  After Zym fell, most of Belthaar’s army went south to lay siege on Khor Kalba with the Shemite horde.  A troop of men crossed the border west into Argos, occupying Sa’leen.The diety of Belthaar is Nergal, and the city state is one of the few places in the world where that dark god is worshipped openly.Troops from Belthaar have occupied Sa’leen due to the open presence of Nergal in both cities.Belthaar is located north of the coastline and east of the border with Argos.  It is a small city state that sits on the west side of the Ophrat river.  Together with the similar city states of Zaol and Ghezath, the trio forms an allied area referred to as the Susrah.  All three cities feed from the Ophrat as it takes a ninety degree turn for its ocean mouth.  “Susrahites” are peoples who come from this region of Shem—from one of these three cities.Currently, the combined armies of the Susrah are engaged against the defenders of Khor Kalba.  This siege has been continuing since the death of Khalar Zym some three years past.  Khor Kalba sits on the coast, southwest from Susrah.It is not uncommon for hostilities and even short wars to break out amongst the three cities of the Susrah.  But, this usually dies down when the realization sets in that each of the three is stronger together, as an alliance, than they are independently.  They depend on each other for trade, and when they act together, their bargaining power is stronger when they act as one in the Susrah rather than in their own interests as a single, small city state.The siege on Khor Kalba, now stretching into more than three years, has become a point of contention between the trio of cities.  Zaol and Ghezath tend to band togther against Belthaar in this matter, and the two are close to going to war against Belthaar.  But, King Simashattar has kept a lid on the boiling pot by capturing a princeling of Ghezath and holding him hostage, knowing that Zaol will not act alone, without the advantage of Ghezath.  In addition, Zaol came to negotiate for the princeling’s release, and the silver tongued Simashattar negotiated a separate truce with Zaol, refocusing the alliance on their siege at Khor Kalba.Belthaar is a gloomy place (they worship Nergal!) of ancient foundations.  Its serpentine streets wind their way between mighty monuments and hoary towers.  The population averages 12,000 people.Belthaar is ruled by a petty king named Simashattar III.  The army boasts 2,000 pikemen and 500 charioteers.</blockquote>

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