Khemhara
Khemhara, was the second largest area of the eight regions of Orden. A land of endless sand, giving it the title of The Infinite Desert.
History
Bounded on the west by the Granite Mountains and the east by the green forests of the Opal Empire, the desert was virtually uncrossable and considered by many impassable. In spite of this, the Khem-hor had mastered the moving sands and built a mighty empire there.
The first Pharaoh of the Khemharan Empire was Khorsekef the Infinite, who ruled for 3000 years. During this time[as of when?], the Khem-hor were trapped in a perceptual cycle without change or growth, names, likenesses, identities and even discoveries were endlessly recycled. All of this due to a powerful artifact that fueled the pharaoh's immortality. The truth was discovered and exposed by the great explorer Lady Agatamori, from Higara. During struggle against Lady Agatomori and Khorsekef, the pharaoh was transformed into the Timescape's most powerful mummy and trapped in the Abyssal Wasteland.[1]
Their traditions were based on their desert culture and the pantheon of One Thousand Gods. But by the Age of Chaos the new Pharaoh formally abolished the priestly caste, assumed all powers thereof, and declared Atum, a formerly obscure sun god, as the only true god thereby instituting the only known monotheistic human culture on Orden at the time.[citation needed]
Though his subjects initially resisted, the Pharaoh used his nearly unlimited power to banish the priestly caste, liberate the slaves they used as currency, and brought justice to the people. As a result, when Ajax came[as of when?], the people rose up to defend the Pharaoh, their country, and their newfound way of life.
But the former priests had their own ideas about who should be running the empire.
Technology
Bronze skinned, the people of the Infinite desert were on the cusp of exiting the Bronze Age[as of when?]. They had advanced mathematics, though not as advanced as the Hazar, and were the best stonemasons in the world. Their cities, made of stone, were extremely complex, dominated by pyramids and obelisks, and elaborate geometric design. When asked by outsiders why they built their cities along such mathematically precise designs, they answered enigmatically "to reach eternity."[citation needed]
Under Khorsekef's rule, inventions and discoveries were endlessly recycled and the Khem-hor made little progress in the way of technology.[2] After his defeat, the Khem-hor experienced and explosion of learning and innovation, working towards the Eternal Design in preparation for Khorsekef's prophesied return.[3]
People
Notable Khem-hor
Star-born
Their magic derives from their study of the heavens, upon which they had mapped a detailed and elaborate map of constellations. Theirs were the most advanced star-maps in the world. They divided the sky into 9 Houses, each dominated by a major constellation. These had a significant effect on a person over the course of their life, depending on when they were born.[citation needed]
- Depet A'a, The Great Ship - Travel
- Hemta Iteru, The Three Rivers - Home
- Atum, The Rays of The Sun - Health
- Sekhet, The Hunter - Valor and persistence
- Sehkem, The Scepter - Justice and righteousness
- Mew, The Cat - Secrets and loyalty
- Nen, The Infant - Life
- Pharaoh, The King - Leadership
- Kehpesh, The Sword - Wisdom
- Apep, The Sea Dragon - Fate, destiny
- Deshret Nedjem, The Desert Rose - Beauty and clarity of thought. Physical beauty and/or intelligence.
Places
References
- ↑ Matthew Colville, et al. Flee, Mortals!. (MCDM Productions), pp. 265.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Matthew Colville, et al. Kingdoms & Warfare. (MCDM Productions), pp. 160.
- ↑ Matthew Colville, et al. Kingdoms & Warfare. (MCDM Productions), pp. 162.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Matthew Colville, et al. Draw Steel Rules for Patreon Packet July 2024 (PDF). (Patreon), pp. 11. Retrieved on 2024-07-29.
- ↑ Beastheart and Monstrous Companions. (MCDM Productions), pp. 44-47.