Ešērate of Aḫīalbu

Vampirism has deep roots in the Aḫīalbu region, with many tribes practicing it ritually in order to gain power over their foes. Primarily utilized by the proto-Kašātu subset of Ursumar, this use of vampirism allowed them to compete with the Iajephic tribes in the region. While the vampiric condition is reviled in most of the world, here it was seen as a strength, a blessing of the gods. Though heretical, this was essentially ignored by the Divine Empires to the north, so long as these tribes paid tribute. However, during the Divinity of Latter Bāblus, its subjects began expanding south into lands ruled by the proto-Kašātu. The mixing of soldiers and tribesmen eventually cam eto constitute the modern Kašātu, and the cities of Ešu and Marbad extracted wealth from the interior. At first, the reception of vampires was hostile, with the practice being pushed out of most of the savanna and relegated to south of Divine Empire's reach. However, increasingly these vampire chieftains, despite their harsh nature and barbaric practices, began to be seen as assets, and cautious agreements with tribes of this sort began to grow.

The Divinity of Ashēryku saw these vampires as a valuable tool to bring the region under direct control. By using them to conquer south and spread the Kašātu, the Divine Empire could be expanded, but their controversial nature would leave the vampires dependent on the Divine Emperor. In order to manage this plan, the Ešērate of Aḫīalbu was established. Governed from the city of Ešu, each of the vampiric tribes were established as autonomous sectors of the Ešērate, and granted subsidies and weapons in return for their conquests. This strategy worked so well that Ashēryku would see many Iajephic tribes capitulate rather than fight, and their lands would become a new autonomous region shortly after. This same story was repeated a few more times as various local powers signed agreements to become subjects of the Divine Empire rather than see vampires loosed on their people. With the end of the military conquests, Aḫīalbu would eventually incorporate all subsidiary vampire tribes and become a governance that was ruled by vampires in all but name.

The Bēlqūašdic period saw little change in the status of the Vampires, save that their autonomous expansion was definitively halted and they were more used as special forces in war. However, due to Bēlqūašdu preferring to expand via influence rather than war, these troops were rarely used and their energies focused on governing the region. This status quo remained until the defeat of Bēlqūašdu by the centaur Tögsgölgüi Ord, when vampiric forces were sidelined because it would be bad optics- leading, they claimed, to defeat. This sowed the seeds of disloyalty, but they would not sprout until the Grand Republic of Annišāḫūtu, newly established, seized control over the coast and the autonomous southern delta. Attempting to rally the population of the south, the vampires were instead met with a refusal to choose a side. Electing to invade and dissolve the Iajephic autonomous region as well as that ruled by the elves, their forces made little progress in skirmishes against either Annišāḫūtu or the newly established Šūtūmuddê, the lone autonomous region to survive in the south. Instead, they have been forced to bide their time and wait for a more opportune time.

Luckily, if there's one thing vampires are good at, it's waiting.

So long as there isn't a tender, beating heart in the vicinity...