Post by Mr. Pooka on Dec 24, 2021 21:55:06 GMT -5
The World of Sphinxes
Welcome to the exciting and magical world of Sphinxes!
Khemet
From the greatest city of Ahket bursting with life, magic, trade and wonder to the incomprehensible ruins of the ancients, Khemet is a land of wonder and endless opportunities for exploration. Most living cities of Ahket are found along the Great River and it's tributaries, filled with a growing population of Sphinxes from many backgrounds and bloodlines, as well as pockets of Netjer and a few other rarer peoples. The farther one travels from the water the rarer life though there are always exceptions! Wandering tribes of Sphinxes, ascetic cults and even the odd village might be found living around smaller water features like an oasis or seasonal mountain stream or even a life giving magical features such as a mystically renewing fountain or tiny area of constant inexplicable rainfall. Seemingly endless ruined cities, megalithic remnants and curious magical features dot the drier landscape as if scattered at random. Many of been explored by daring adventurers and bold Tomb Robbers but countless more remain still unfound, hidden by every shifting sands and crumbling magical protections. It is not uncommon for a particularly harsh storm to carry away the millions of pounds of sand revealing some ancient ruins near even heavily populated areas, only to bury it's secrets again a few days later! Most current cites are either built upon these ancient ruins or have been occupied for countless lifetimes and often hide their own secrets buried beneath or hidden in ancient architecture. Even in the eternal city of Ahket, the largest and most populous city of Khemet, the people were shocked to find a massive library and ancient underground complex under the great mighty Sphinx statue just outside the city walls!
Faith and Spirituality shapes much of Khemet's society. Great temples dedicated to the large pantheon tend to dominate the local architecture with massive buildings and monolithic statuary. While a great many Gods and Goddesses are revered the most important faith in Khemet (and a several other places around the world!) is Bastet a dualistic Goddess of all things cats and the patron of Sphinxes. She is a complex Goddess and her priestess are often divided into two main cooperating factions to better represent her all encompassing portfolio, one of selfcare (bordering on hedonism) and one of warriors!
Khemet is a very open pantheistic society with many faiths being worshiped, some as patrons, some seasonally and others as life's situations demand! There are many priests and priestess who worship and preach the pantheon as a whole though most faiths also have specialties priests or priestess who's focus to one faith is a lifelong commitment of devotion. It is also not uncommon for the influence of some faiths to wax and wane over time with the some even being lost to time or, more rarely revived from ancient history. Most Sphinxes of Khemet are also often quick to accept outsiders faiths and customs though it is rare for these other faiths to catch on or be worshiped locally. It is also commonly accepted that Sphinxes and Netjer share the same pantheon and both often envision the Gods and Goddesses in their own forms which is also believed to be why many of the more ancient temples display diverse interpretations of the pantheon.
~ Ahket
The eternal city of Ahket is the shining beacon of Khemet! It is the largest know city in Khemet and is bursting with countless Sphinxes of all types, traits, faiths and so much more. Centuries of ambitions and innovative architects have created a true wonder to overwhelm the senses! Awe-inspiring Temples, Sprawling noble estates, mountainous pyramids, impossibly massive statues, endless winding streets, a park larger then some villages, a market that makes one feel like you are traveling the world, and countless shops, city services and open grounds for every type of gathering only begins to describe the gem of Khemet. Most of the city is wrapped in a massive stone wall open only at a few gates and the docks. Being the biggest and brightest city does seem to have the side effect of drawing attention, both curious and dangerous but the locals tend to take these events in stride and some even look forward to what the next 'thing' might be as they make for great conversation and are the source of memorable adventures!
Ahket is filled with interesting Sphinxes! While there are of course many peasants who make up the majority of the population there are also many entertainers, soldiers, and thieves as well as more advanced professionals like elite charioteers, physicians, courtiers, and priests along with tomb robbers and unfortunately even assassins...
~ Sebaduat
Hidden in an eternal sandstorm, Sebaduat is a city of portals built by unknown Sphinxes for unknown reasons but now (presumed) abandoned! Portals both hidden and obvious are scattered liberal about the city creating a sometimes perilous place to adventure. Countless Sphinxes have disappeared never to be seen again searching this place, but conversely Sphinxes from dozens of other times and place stumble into Sebaduat joining our world! Sphinxification is of special note... some visitors who travel to Sebaduat from elsewhere may not have been Sphinxes before entering the portal and find themselves in new bodies to match the peoples of their new world! (This effect does happen via other means of traveling this world, but majority come through Sebaduat and the place is associated with the phenomenon). Some few portals seem to be static providing semi-reliable means to visit other places but most are wild and unfocused, moving and changing at the behest of unknown whims!
Here's a description of Sebaduat scribed for the Pharaoh's library from an adventurer who managed to return from their extradimensional adventure and escape the sand shrouded city!
"It was impossible! Beyond the archway that by all means should have led into the crumbling ruins of a large building, possibly a temple, it instead opened onto a street paved with flat stones.
Along each side of you were numerous stone and white plastered buildings painted in hieroglyphic images. Much like any well-kept Khemetic (Egyptian) city. Tall palm trees thrived, planted in an esthetically pleasing manner, but still kept somehow well maintained to not have overgrown their gardens.
The city didn't seem to be too large, perhaps only the scale of a district in Ahket, but it was beautiful.
But the city itself wasn't the most surprising sight, towering above the city was what seemed to be the serene carved face of a Sphinx. He lay in repose, his massive front legs spread out before him with a large portion of this city nestled in between his protective grasp. His pupilless eyes were painted in kohl and open, watching, unblinking. There was something truly unearthly about this 'statue' of impossibly immense size.
The sky itself was dark, stars never seen before glittered and twinkled brightly in the sky, brighter then they have ever shown in Khemet. The moon hung heavy and full in the sky, it's silvery glow bathing the scene. The sky's luminescence kept the city itself lit as brightly as twilight.
Around the edge of the city a wall of swirling sand could be seen, as if a sandstorm raged but was stopped short somehow by some unknown force.
A few of the town's doorways had a strange, mild glow around the frames, as if they were traced in some gleaming effect."
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Merit
Far to the south in Upper Khemet is the glorious city of Merit, known as the city of Love. Only recently opened and revealed, the city had remained hidden from Sphinxes for centuries to protect it from invasion or plunder but recent events made it evident that the rare fertility magic known to the Priestess of Hathor was desperately needed! Merit is a stunningly beautiful city built in ancient style but meticulously maintained and all built centrally radiating out from a magnificent Temple of Hathor. Statues, architecture and other city sights depicting cows and the Goddess Hathor were prominent nearly everywhere and the Netjer of the city are warm and welcoming, if still a little wary of meeting outsiders. In the span of only a few years several Sphinxes have moved to Merit and many Cows have moved to Ahket or travel across Khemet to spread their blessings! There are rumours that parts of the city still remain cloaked in illusion to keep them hidden until diplomatic promises are tempered with time and action...
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Atlantis
Much of Atlantis is in disrepair with a population much less then what it must have been in the past, it is a sprawling city of ancient and sometimes alien construction encapsulated under a protective dome deep in some as of yet unknown sea. Curious lighting and strange sounds can unsettle new visitors but with time it's strangeness can transform into a surreal beauty! Separated from all outside contact for untold centuries, the remaining Atlanteans have developed a unique culture revolving around their prolific psychic powers, crystal artifacts and ancient secret rituals. One such ritual used by the cities protectors transforms rigorously tested Sphinxes into aquatic mer-sphinxes to better fight the dangerous monsters of the deep as well as harvest the sea's bounty. Only recently a crystal portal was discovered near Ahket that opened the way to Atlantis tying the two cities and opening promising diplomacy. The Atlanteans had been plagued by a terrifying alien Kraken and a failing network of crystal technology causing the dome to slowly shrink and trips outside the dome to become deadly serious though a team of Sphinxes from Ahket were able to team up with the locals to help with both problems! The Kraken had been destroyed and the power of the cities dome had been reenergized, causing it to grow, recovering many parts of the city that had been lost to the sea. Countless treasure and adventure awaited any willing to explore these waterlogged districts, not to mention the other city ruins that had been abandoned by the shrinking Atlantean population.
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Lamoria
Vampires, werewolves, necromancers, unseelie faeries, hags, unhinged scientists and monsters of all types are drawn to the shadowlands of Lamoria. While outsiders might refer to Lamoria as a country or nation it more a collection of fractured baronies, petty kingdoms, independent city states, haunted estates scattered across an unforgiving land of blackened forests, cursed swamps and ancient battlefields. Many of these places are lorded over by a Shadowlord or more rarely a group of Shadowlords, though it should be noted that not all of them refer to themselves as a Shadowlord refusing to play along with anyone's naming conventions. No single leader has ever amassed the power or influence to control more than a fraction of the land though countless have tried and failed... While occasionally a 'diplomat from Lamoria' has made it's way to other lands, they are usually only representing an individual Shadowlord or perhaps their own purpose. While these lands feel steeped in evil and madness there are still heroes and champions who brave fighting against the darkness... though many fail and it's these tales the various Shadowlords like to spread as a warning or even purely as entertainment with a rival frenemy over a cup of warm blood.
~ Crux (also called 'Port of the Crossing' on some older maps)
A small coastal city in Lamoria on a massive freshwater sea known as the Restless Deep. Crux has become a trading city and neutral ground between the rival Shadowlords. A dark, mysterious council rules the city from the shadows and enforces the neutrality. With magic, gargoyles and a collection of other frightening agents they keep the peace for unknown reasons.
Crux has all the amenities that most people would need and is a bustling, if subdued trading post. It is one of the few places in Lamoria that has any semblance of night life even if a few people still simply go missing with modest frequency. Inns, taverns and halls are open at all hours, more than happy to take the coins of travelers, sailors and adventurers alike.
There is a another curious magic about Crux. Several times a year trading ships, caravans and even the odd lone traveler just ... end up in Crux. It was not their destination and there is often a confusion about the whys and hows but the locals are always welcoming and wielding large bags of coins and gems the universal cure for most merchants unease.
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Hellas
Filled with winged Sphinxes, Hellas is a historically important land of Sphinxes with a diverse topography of fertile farmland, erratic mountain clusters, rocky coastlines and hundreds of islands. Artistically nestled into these natural wonders are truly ancient cities of sporting a variety of classical styles that virtually drip with history. Major Temples, libraries, halls of learning, public schools, bath houses, and amphitheatres line cobblestone streets along with private schools, decadent noble estates and excusive philosophical organizations. Pantheistic faith permeates much of Hellas, as it does in Ahket, but it is sometimes rivaled by philosophy, science and theoretical ideals. Hellas believes itself to be the birthplace of both intellectualism as well as truly wild and epic adventures and it's Sphinxes are equally proud of these contradictory achievements!
While Hellas prefers to be defined by it's civilized culture there are still many wild, exciting and dangerous lands just outside of it's cities, lairing in mountain caves or hidden on misty islands. Maenads, satyrs and a tribes of Amazons are just a few examples of Hellas wilder side!
~ Phix
An architectural masterpiece, Phix is the capitol city of Hellas acting as a showcase of the local Sphinxes art, culture and wealth along with being it's major port for international trade. It is also the city most likely to find other varieties of Sphinxes as well as the other rare creature or people. Many extravagant temples are on display in and around the city though the image that is most often conjured by storytellers, artists and travellers is the delightful
Temple of Aphrodite, the cities patron Goddess. It's popularity is at an all time high and it's rumoured that the High Priestess Peristeri will be featured on a series of the cities golden coin currency! Many travelers from around the world find Phix to be an incredible destination worthy of world adventure, though the local Sphinxes consider Phix the starting point of outward quests!
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Katterheim
Calm inner fjord waters gently lapped at the icy pebble-stone shore of Katterheim. Once you had sailed past the humbling ice-capped cliff-sides and entered this sheltered bay, Katterheim beckoned travelers and guests into the vast settlement of Sphinxes of the north. Beyond the shore, which was cluttered with fishing shacks, a log yard, shipbuilding rig and several dragon ships, was a warm and welcoming city of wooden homes and longhouses with a broad main thoroughfare. A magnificent Grand Hall could clearly be seen in the center of town being the tallest building in the whole city. Each house was made with pride that was clearly showing in both function and form. Entrances were carved with runes, knotwork or pictographs and maintained with care. Wood-smoke promised warm shelter and food while livestock, mostly goats and chickens, wandered the city undisturbed. A few larger creatures were penned in on the far side of the city and even had their own longhouse which all of the local owners shared to keep them healthy and warm throughout the long and cold winters.
Standing out among the cityscape were the lodges of Katterheim's mighty and independent Warbands, each decorated with the groups icons, symbols and trophies. Prideful competitions frequently broke out among these lodges, especially during major festivals like Yule, each trying to outdo each other in every way from sport to gift-giving.
Along streets and between houses Runestones could be found everywhere. Some were functional, marking streets or special areas, many were personal statements or religious proclamations placed near personal homes or longhouses. Curiously a few were written in unreadable older types of runes or had become to worn to read but were left where they were planted out of reverence and respect for the past.
While most of the pantheon was represented with at least a few worshipers, Freya was the patron deity of Katterheim and her image was often seen carved into lodgepoles, entrance-ways, decorative shields and runestones all around the city. While her main temple was a short walk from the city, many shrines to the goddess could be found in homes and longhouses and she was the patron of several warbands. Her Priestess and Volva could be found in all parts of Katterheim sharing wisdom or visions for the benefit of all.
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Hanashima
Hanashima is a beautiful and mountainous island Empire on the cusp of possibly becoming a Shogunate. The next few years will be telling as the noble factions and samurai families deal with the assassination of their empress... and her return as a ghost. The Empress Haruka was beloved in life and her continued existence as a ghost is unsettling for some but perhaps she can overcome the situation and become a timeless leader! For a brief period the Shogun Ikemizu Suizen overthrew the increasingly erratic Empress in order to stabilize the land and prevent a new major war. While the 'Empress' turned out to be an imposter and the Shogun returned power to the rightful Empress, some samurai families enjoyed the rise in power and may be tempted to push for a return to a Shogunate...
Current politics aside, Hanashima is a mostly stable country encompassing most of the main Island as well as several smaller islands... though there are some outlying kingdoms and smaller nations that cling to their own independence and represent many curious cultures. While the nation does show a strong face there are still many wild and dangerous places populated by Oni, Kitsune, Yukionna and a plethora of Yokai and even the cities are haunted by rumours of growing independent ninja families.
~ Teien
Much of Hanashima's culture can be found in full bloom in the capitol city of Teien! Armies of Ashigaru and Samurai keep the city safe, with many Samurai families required to stay in the city every other year, often leaving spouses and children to live in it's safer aura even when they returned to their own castles and lands. Artists, Dancers, Actors, Geisha and Oiran all add many layered taste of culture to the city, and are mostly found in the Hanamachi district, a wonderland of inns, taverns, theatres and tea houses. Mystical kineticists from many traditions also populate the city, often working in armies or as freelance adventurers. Miko, priests and priestess maintain the plethora of shrines and temples in and out side of the city tending to local spirits and great Gods alike! Festivals are frequent in the city and strengthen ties to both the city's spirits as well as each other.
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Albion
Several years ago an entourage of personalities from Albion traveled to Ahket to hold a Medieval fair, leaving behind an eclectic smattering of culture and style such as the heavy metal full plate style of armour, wizards with showy magics and new styles of bardic music among many other treats. Some of those bards shared tales of their homeland, but each seems to have wildly different takes on this land of Kings, druids, painted warriors, politically motivated rogues, ensorcelled lakes and fairy pranksters! As of yet, none have helped sort these puzzle pieces leading to more than a few Sphinxes determined to find out more about these magically steeped lands!
~ Widdershins
Widdershins school of magic has been an institution of learning for over a century in Albion and many witches and wizards through the lands learned their basics in it's winding halls. Recently the school has chosen to open it's doors to Sphinxes from many different lands with the hopes of both sharing it's lore as well as learning other traditions of magic to add to it's curricular. The current headmaster, Odhren Really was admittedly a bit surprised at the lack of debate or pushback on this new direction and so far the first year has been going swimmingly! Barely any injuries and only two missing students... perhaps a new record is in the making? Ah, there was still a few months, best not count his eggs and all that...
More information on the school and houses can be found here - Widdershins
~ Mal'tolgalen
Here there be dragons!
~ Avalon
Is this place even real or is it simply made up to encourage Sphinxes to toss coins to traveling bards?
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Aeon
Little is known about the city of Aeon at this time... This City Out of Time is the home of Time Raptors and possibly a few other... things. During a series of temporal anomalies that plagued Khemet's past, present and future, the city of Aeon used their vast knowledge of time (and possibly magic and or technology or ??) to propel the entire city forward in time to what most Sphinxes consider the present in order to save it from a foreseen cataclysm. It's current location is a secret but the Raptors have made diplomatic overtures to the Pharaoh. Only a few Sphinxes have seen the city and all that is know is from their descriptions. The architecture is supposed to be exceptionally grand though the styles are unfamiliar, more natural seeming with an appreciation for materials in their natural state or occasionally the complete opposite with extremely artistically modified unnatural shapes. There is a massive great pyramid of unknown purpose, a vast university with a library that is rumoured to be filled with books from all time periods. A temporal zoo has also been mentioned but no Sphinx has ever seen it for verification!
Most of Aeon's secrets are still shrouded in mystery though many Time Raptors now travel Khemet (and perhaps beyond) and most peoples consider them a type of Netjer, with no argument from the Raptors themselves! Perhaps diplomacy (or foolhardy adventurers!) might be able to open the gates of Aeon in the future.
Many remnants of the ancient past were pulled forward in time with Aeon's leap in history...
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"The City"
Brooding skyscrapers stand watch over the winding cluttered streets of the unnamed city while glamorous flashing signs lure the local Sphinxes into wild dance parties and private clubs. Any Sphinx looking for a something a touch more... risky might try to find a way into one of the cities even wilder Speakeasys if they dare darkened back alleys. Heists, robberies and stickups have become an increasingly growing problem and hardly a week goes by without hearing the 'rata-tat-tat' of a Tommy gun somewhere in the distance, presumably aimed at the local law fighting the losing war on crime stoically every night. Wealthy business moguls, local celebrities and the idle rich inhabit gated estates on the hills surrounding much of the city always ready to through an extravagant party of legend all trying to outdo the other. Dig just a little deeper under the flashy lights, endless party clubs and vibrant nightlife and you will start to find secrets and mystery... private clubs that are covers for secret societies, invitation only parties front for cults of old faith rituals both benign and a few much darker! In poorer parts of The City, there are Sphinxes who now have to make the choice of paying rent or investing in a weapon to join one of the growing gang families...
Just beyond the city are the gently rolling hills of local farmers who are mostly simple folk who just shake their heads at the cities going's on... and beyond them is the Woods... no one goes into the Woods, that would be crazy. There is a highway that leads into the Wood but really that's the wrong direction! Everyone knows everything leads to the city not away from it!
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The Moon
Daring space explorers, cutting edge scientists, renowned space Vikings and wild Amazons inhabit the curious alien landscape and sprawling beautiful complexes of the Moon! Oddly coloured mutant animals and bizarre plants thrive in it's cratered hills and crystalline ocean. During the time anomaly a ship filled with Moon women descended upon Ahket inviting other females to their planet while secretly abducting a few males for study all at the behest of their great Queen! While exploring this futuristic outpost seems difficult now, as the Time anomalies have been stopped, it seems simply 'touching' this time period has strengthened potential passageways and Space Explorers sometimes journey to Khemet via Sebaduat, or in one case from Aeon. Also the portal system left behind by the Atlanteans that opened the portal to Atlantis had several other location devices left without power or seemingly broken, but one of the listed destinations was 'The Moon'! Who knows what's up there in the current time... Also the Moon Rabbits of Hanashima have no comment on this topic either...
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S.T.E.A.M.
Spectacular Travelling Ether Aeroship Metropolis... or S.T.E.A.M. for short, is a village sized ship held aloft by a mixture of old technology and innovative magic... as well as many Sphinxes ready to debate those definitions! Many other flying ships of eclectic variety dock on or cling to the main city-ship adding to the patchwork feel of this wonderful place. A collection of gearheads, ethertechs, explorers, philosophers and others who refused to see boundaries in any shape or form. Run by a council of captains, S.T.E.A.M. is often traveling in search of 'treasures' like artifacts of the ancients, technologies of unknown origin, hidden repositories of lore or rooting out the primeval Serpent Folk wherever they are found. The council is currently functioning quite well considering the wildly different philosophies, politics and giant personalities of its members! There are several other groups, clubs, organizations and secret societies existing on the ship, such as the Naut Society (preeminent specialists in diverse fields) and The Iron Agents (an autonomous security/police force, many of whom are Aesops, that works for the captains as well as working independently but transparently for the greater good). In the city of S.T.E.A.M. you can find all manner of trinkets and finery from around the world, access to 'new' technology such as mechanical wings and dive deep into lectures on anthropology, philosophy and techno-magic.
Last seen heading east away from Ahket. Current location unknown.
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The Duat
The spiritual land of the dead that clings to the living world through Khemet...
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Other places!
There is still many more places to explore both around the world, and via the many portals that lead to other times and places or even closer dimensions that cling to our own such as the duat! Many, many other places have been briefly visited or referenced and it's these lands we meet Sphinxes like these...
