Vërðïm

Vërðïm was a city-state founded anywhere from 2-10 Anta-Eimarae, 25026 AYM. The unofficial capital of the largely disorganized tribe of Varhoŋïð, it was one of the largest cities in the Amoŋot Desert and a fundamental component of politics in the Desert and the Hýyo-Wýðúr. It was ruled by the Öšdúu-Vërðïm, one of the most powerful and longest-reigning Öšdúu, from 25025 to 24891 AYM, before transitioning to become the ruler of the new tribe of Sangus.

History

Prelude and Etymology

The site of Vërðïm was originally that of the 11th Wëbëlup-Wýðúr placed during the Wýðúric Expedition in 25026 AYM. These Wëbëlup-Wýðúr were long wooden poles on which were fastened various hanging trinkets and other such objects. Meant to be seen from far away, these objects were arranged to display their respective number. Vërðïm likely is an amalgamation of Eðïŋ, or simply, 'the eleventh', referring to the number it was designated.

The Wëbëlup-Wýðúr of Vërðïm served as the centerpiece of the city around which other buildings were built. A well-known site during the Ýmor-Maðúšýï and Ýmor-Yarmurïŋ eras, it remained standing until it was severely damaged some time after the formation of the Sangus Tribe.

Despite the planting of the Wëbëlup-Wýðúr, the site of Vërðïm remained uninhabited during the Expedition itself, as the only city founded by them directly was Güðün, the site of the third Wëbëlup-Wýðúr. Instead, the massive popularity boost generated by the Wýðúric Expedition's successful return to the Ïlýrhonid Tribe caused a massive influx of emigrations to the Amoŋot Desert. From there, the natural sites for settlement, besides the already-established city of Güðün, would be the extremely noticeable Wëbëlup-Wýðúr. Thus, almost all of them were settled and subsequently founded in the mere months after the Wýðúric Expedition.

Founding

The 'Founding' of Vërðïm is inconclusive. This is due to the gradual process by which emigrants flowed from the Ïlýrhonid Tribe into the Hýyó-Wýðúr. By nature, they would gather at and around the only such major landmarks in the area, those being the Wëbëlup-Wýðúr. As more and more individuals came, the numbers around each such landmark would grow until the population was comparable to a city, which is itself an arbitrary value. This is further muddled by the lack of concrete records during this initial period, as the area was brand new and still very much in flux for most inhabitants.

What is known is that the city of Vërðïm was subject to the same sociocultural forces that pervaded the Hýyó-Wýðúr, that being most prominently summed up in the term Púlö-Ïlýrhonid, or Ïlýrhonidian Question. This question was merely a decision as to whether one should continue adhering to the Ïlýrhonid Tribe's cultural values and styles (Ëvoðo-Reïlýrhonid) or divert from them (Ëvoðro-Ýmïlýrhonid). Unlike other tribes which were founded on some common goal or cultural interest, the Hýyó-Wýðúr were a melting pot of different families, worldviews, and opinions, and as each individual grappled with this question, they would naturally migrate to be with those who had views similar to their own.

Those who felt strongly about this question, and their opinions regarding it, would move to be closest to (if they were strongly adherent) or farthest away from (if they were strongly divergent) the Ïlýrhonid Tribe. However, in the middle cities like Vërðïm, the indifference to the Púlö-Ïlýrhonid resulted in other issues taking its place. Indeed, the many feuds would branch out to affect cultural opinions separate from the Ïlýrhonid Question itself, like particular cultural traditions and holidays, familial relations, and other such contentious parts of society. On average, the farther-out cities, where the Púlö-Ïlýrhonid was most dominant, consisted of very few, if any, competing groups, and were able to coalesce in a span of half a year to a full year. In contrast, middle cities like Vërðïm were littered with at least 9 separate groups, all of whom engaged in bitter infighting that took multiple years to resolve.

Öšdúu-Vërðïm

Main Article: Öšdúu-Vërðïm

The individual who did the most to resolve the many disputes was Vörrügša who, after 4-5 years of constant fighting, coerced all sides to sign the Pact of Vërðïm in 25021 AYM. Crucially, he was backed by his elder brother Kŋýöšremb, whose marauder army was used to a large extent to subdue the warring sides. That same year, Kŋýöšremb was murdered, and it would be this murder that would catapult Vörrügša from a simple diplomat to the leader of the entire city, that is, the newly-created role of Öšdúu-Vërðïm.

Vörrügša

Main Article: Vörrügša

Vörrügša, using his newly-inherited army, would round up the most powerful members of the various factions and, in the central area of the city, dismember each of them. Vörrügša would then make his throne from the skulls, particularly the Оö-Ëtavú, of each corpse, symbolizing the official coalescence of tribal power from the divided regional leaders to the supreme city-wide king. This bloody event marked the formal creation of the Öšdúu-Vërðïm, and was celebrated throughout Vërðian history as the date of 3 Suta-Eimarae.

From then on, Vörrügša would reign as an absolute ruler until his death in 25013 AYM. He ruled in fear, and cemented his power over the city by building the first of several walls around the then-city limits in 25018 AYM. He was also the main architect behind a number of mining projects, which cleared away the innermost rings of buildings to make way for a massive hole some 40 meters deep. He would also commission the creation of records documenting the actions of his reign, which is the reason why so much information is known about him.

Vïhlü-Tkor

Main Article: Vïhlü-Tkor

Vïhlü-Tkor was the second Öšdúu-Vërðïm, reigning from 25013 to 24998 AYM. His reign was uneventful, at least in terms of the historical record. His main action was to greatly enlarge the mining industry by widening the hole and creating several tunnels that ran across the city's layout, both in an attempt to extract more rock for the growing populace. The excess rock would be stockpiled in a specially-constructed building that replaced the original Wëbëlup-Wýðúr.

Starting from 25010 AYM, the city of Vërðïm and the rest of the Hýyó-Wýðúr would be the target of a number of raids from the Maðúšýï, the neighbors to the south. The raids on Vërðïm itself would be especially vicious, resulting in the collapse of the mines and the outside walls, and widespread murder and chaos. Vïhlü-Tkor would himself lead the defenses and the rebuilding process, earning much praise and popularity from members of the city. In 25000 AYM, following the collapse of the mines, Vïhlü-Tkor would begin looking towards the newly-founded city of Ožërhýŋ, whose proximity to the Arbin Watershed created the possibility of trade between it and Vërðïm. However, he died in 24998 AYM before these hopes could be realized, and they were further delayed by repeated raids and the outbreak of the First Varhoŋïan War in 24976 AYM.

Žülfaðïŋ-Ürkaž

Main Article: Žülfaðïŋ-Ürkaž

Žülfaðïŋ-Ürkaž was the third Öšdúu-Vërðïm, reigning from 24998 to 24974 AYM.