New Wathis
"Speak when it is wise, Listen when it is not"…Telran Proverb.
Capital: Wathisia
Major Settlements: The Holy City of Da'malus, Cul'bit, Jul'mase
Ruler: Senmi El Eshiun, Queen of the Seven Vails, Empress of the Nine Tribes, Keeper of the Sacred Telran, Daughter of the True People, and Mother to the World.
Government: Matriarchy
Major Races: Human, Zedniqi, Elan(?), Half-Giant, Ifrit, Oread, Sylph, Undine(?), Ratkins, Living Ghoul.
Major Faiths: See Current Events.
Resources: Spices, linens, oil, perfumes.
Languages: Common, Bartogue, GutterCommon, Telrush (High language of New Wathis, spoken by the noble and old families).
History
The Desert of Siwath once spanned a vast track of Porphrya. Here the Genie Overlords held sway, vast empires dedicated to the Elemental Masters vie for power with the cruel Gh'l Godkings. The Epic of Galghulesh tells of the Kingdom of M'harret, who's very cities were lifted from the sands of the Siwath and floated over the scorching desert at the whim of the Djinn Lord Qarryn. It also tells of the rain of blood that followed the cruel city as a hundred slaves a day were put to death to fuel the foul magicks that kept the city aloft.
Within the Ruined Tomb of Tanghu, the Golden Scrolls of Aversl tell of the titanic monoliths the Gh'l rose in their likenesses, to watch over the expansive burial cities where the Godking's followers were entombed so that they could continue to serve beyond death.
It was into this world that Senmi El Sioban was born during the apex of a full solar eclipse. A daughter of the black sun, Sioban was of pale skin that was said to appear luminous in the light of a full moon. Word of her exotic beauty spread, despite her parents attempt to conceal it and soon an emissary of the Efreeti Firelord Mal'eket came to her village to claim her. Sioban watched her parents put to ash, their offense was to weep when the emissary took her away. Sioban's life was no longer hers, if it ever truely had been, for those who served the Firelord not of elemental birth, never did so long.
Then the Calling came to pass and the NewGod Wars erupted across Porphrya. The Siwath was thrown into turmoil, as the Elemental Lords power was now challenged by the coming of the new gods and the Genie Kings hold on their realms began to falter. The Gh'l were smote upon the searing sands for their arrogant overreaching, their monolithic creations shattered and buried. During a catastrophic battle over the Furnace Palace of Mal'eket, the Fire lords forces clashed with new gods. An aasimar crashed through the ruby skylight above the Efreeti's harem, mortally wounded its celestial essence bled upon the basalt tiles. A Fire Guard Salamander followed, the infernal heat of its body, fueled by seething rage setting the rich furnishing ablaze and warping the tiles beneath its serpentine form. As the creature raised its molten spear to finish the celestial knight, it felt a cold spike at the base of its neck, shuddered and collapsed, its body cooling as its life leached away. Laying beyond the dead guard, Sioban had fallen, her once porcelain skin a ruin and blistered wreck. The aasimar crawled to her broken body, he cradled her within his heavenly arms and whispered to her and placed his hand on her chest as the light of his divine form faded.
Later the battle had passed, the Palace lay a broken ruin, collapsing upon itself, its Lord a fallen ruin within. Sioban woke to find her body whole, and a small medallion resting on her chest. There was no sign of the planar warrior she aided, only the ashen remains of the salamander she had felled and the husk of the harem and a feint tug in her mind. A nagging that demanded to be heard, so Sioban listened.
Three weeks into the deep desert she had walked alone. When she was wary shade found her, when she thirst, an oasis would be in her path. Till she found a cave in the Teeth of Calinsur, a jut of jagged mountains in the deep Siwath. Oddly the cave had within a door, with a puzzle lock, the key of which matched the medallion she had woken with. What passed within has never been recorded. Only it is said that is where Sioban came to be the Keeper of the Sacred Telran. She returned from the deep desert and began to gather her scattered people. She led them to throw off the chains of the Genie lords and carved from the edge of the Siwath a state of their own.
Current Events
New Wathis is not the most verdant of lands, but it provides the last reprise before the scorching maw of the desert. Nestled into the rough foothills and river valleys, New Wathis holds many expansive cities, their whitewashed walls, marbled plazas and hanging gardens offering an earthly paradise.
However all the gleams is no gold. Though the matriarchal rule is not openly opposed, there are those that would welcome a return to the Elemental rule of old. Though temples abound, none are dedicated to any one of the new gods and many still make the offerings of old, tracing their lineage to the days of the Genie.
Additionally merchant guilds and trading houses hold sway over entire cities and outside of the capital of Jul'mase and the direct eye of the Mother of the True People, it is said that anything is available if one but have the coin.
Other remnants of the old have crept into urban underbelly of New Wathis as well. Ratkins and living Ghouls are said to prowl the gutters and twisted sewer mazes. And if one chooses to see, markings and graffiti abound, claiming territory in the name of the secrete societies of the shadow kingdoms.
Note: As a cultural norm, the surname of a person is spoken first.
Major Settlements
Jul'mase is the most expansive of the urban sprawls of New Wathis. It is also the seat of political power as well, being home to the oldest families including the current ruler who is a direct blood descendent of Sioban the First.
Wathisia is the capital of New Wathis, though not as expansive as Jul'mase it is one of the newest cities and houses ten fold the number of people. All roads pass through Wathisia, as it is the hearth of the kingdom both physically and metaphorically.
Cul'bit is second only to Jul'mase in size and is home to the largest number of Merchant Guild Houses and is the economic center of New Wathis.
The Holy City of Da'malus is the most distant of the cities, laying on the border of the Siwath. It holds the largest center of temples and is also home to the largest concentration of elemental cults.
Intrigues (Hooks)
- Caravans are being raided, nothing new, save nothing is being taken and a mark of the old Elemental Lord is left at each site.
- People are vanishing from the streets at night, livestock have also begun to go missing. Something is coming in the dark and it is hungry.
- Rumor of a child that walked out of the deep desert alone, speaking of the return of the Elemental lords and the reclaiming of the ancient ways.
Regional Traits
Old Blood Yours is of the old kingdom, granting you a +2 trait bonus on saves against any Elemental Magic.
Sandborn You know the ways of the desert, born and bred. You gain a +1 trait bonus to all survival skill checks within desert terrain and it is always a class skill.
