AFRIS - Southern Nations
SOUTHERN NATIONS
The official cartographical term for the Southern Nations in Afris
Overview
When the Archons began construction of Life, the link between the Diamond and Womb Realms was the Chinvat Bridge. This allowed traversal by the Archons and Sophia through both planes of existence to aid in the construction of the Diamond Realm. The Chinvat Bridge originated at the center of the map as well as 4 additional cardinal points that the Bridge would link to. These five points were known as Thresholds and would allow for the crossing between the two realms by way of the Chinvat Bridge. During Construction, The Chinvat Bridge was accessible from any of the five Thresholds. The Archons constructed the world moving clockwise from each of the Thresholds and finally finishing in the West. Although the first peoples had names for all of the thresholds, the West Threshold was known as the Westbirthe.
In addition to the Five Thresholds, the Archons would also be able to travel directly to any of 7 points in the world. These 7 locations would line up in the shape of a seven-pointed star and would later become known as Pure Shrines.
After the Prime Exodus, the Ouroboros Gate was constructed to keep the Aeons from entering Life without a vessel and risk destroying themselves. The Gate was constructed at the Westbirthe Threshold since that was the final Threshold used by the Archons. The Chinvat Bridge was never meant to be closed, but the Ouroboros Gate was constructed hastily to prevent Aeons from obliterating themselves. It is for this reason that when the Gate was closed, a malfunction caused the Gate to move counterclockwise. This means the Gate originated in the west but now moved to the south. The Southern Threshold where the Gate resides would become known as the Abode of Song. This is where the Ouroboros Gate stayed, at the Threshold called the Abode of Song.
After many centuries, the region that housed the Westbirthe was cut off by the ocean and it was separated from the mainland. Because of this, those that held knowledge of the Gate in the West, were lost and the memory of it faded.
The center Threshold was lost to time and cities were built over it. It eventually became the city of Helena in the nation of Miridian. The North and East Threshold became sanctuaries for people that would pray and tend to the Thresholds, knowing that it was a beacon for the Gate. The North Threshold was on a mountain called Mount Meru and the Eastern Threshold sat atop a mountain called Mount Kailas.
Gatekeepers that passed on the secrets of the Afterlife were present from the first shrine in the north. These secrets led to the creation of the first religions. In the East came the Mandala of Two Realms. In the South came the Light of Ahva.
When the Gate returned to the south, the threshold became known as the Abode of Song. Here is where the Light of Ahva became the major religion of the Southern Desert region.
There are three major nations in the Southern Deserts. Wisperad, Vendihad and Masyana. Wisperadi people were known to have black hair and dark skin. Vendihadi people were known to have brown hair and dark skin. People from Masyana were noted to have red or rust colored hair and light brown skin.
masyana female clothing
The Broken Light of Ahva
The Abode of Song resides in what would become the nation of Masyana. People of the Desert initially gathered around the Abode of Song which led to the growth of a holy city called Estahker. The peoples of the desert region expanded from this holy city in Masyana and led to the expansion of the southern deserts into the Southern Nations. When this happened, the religion known as the Light of Ahva became strained among the people, with their views beginning to shift.
After many years, there grew a divide in the three nations of the South. Followers of the Light of Ahva began to interpret the teachings of liturgical texts differently, which led to conflict. The Light of Ahva religion split into two factions, the Farsee and the Majai.
The Farsee practitioners believed more in the body’s connection to the soul and that the benevolent Angra Manyu will instill change to unite the world and lead them to the Promised Land. The Majai followers believed more in the soul’s connection to the afterlife and that Ahura Mazda will be reborn in the body of a child and destroy the evil Angra Manyu that will seek to divide the world. What is known of the earliest liturgical texts called the Avesta, is mostly lost. However, the Farsee would adhere to the Gathas scripture and the Majai, the Yasna texts. As translated from ancient Light of Ahva scripture:
The twins, life and non-life exist as the children of creation. Death is the Dusk where Life is the Dawn.
The First Phoenix gave birth to two primal beings that were the embodiments of life and nonlife. As it shall always be. Two spirits of light, Good ( Vahyo ) and Bad ( Akem ), grow in opposition through word and through deed. There can be no grey in the light and the dark, which splits the fabric of existence in two. The left eye and the right eye open to see a vision of two worlds ( Ahva ): the spiritual ( Manhaya ) and corporeal ( Astavat ).
This passage can be referencing the splitting of Eternity after the Prime Exodus. However, it most likely refers to the split of the Light of Ahva religion itself. As the conflict grew more violent there came a solution. As a truce to avoid bloodshed, the Abode of Song was sealed away with a key known as the Seal of Asha, that resembled the holy symbol of the Light of Ahva. The Seal of Asha key was then split in two fragments. These two fragments fo the Seal would allow access to the Abode of Song if used together. The Farsee priests received the Star of Tanu fragment and the Majai priests received the Circle of Urvan fragment. Together they made up the true Ashavan Seal. The Abode of Song was sealed away and with it, the path of the Chinvat Bridge.
After this, it meant that regardless of race, one could still be a Farsee or Majai. These terms merely referenced the follower of a specific religion. Over the years, there was a rise and fall in the population of the two religions but Masyana held the devotion of the most Farsee. Wisperad and Vendihad became home to mainly Majai people. Hundreds of years later, this separation of the Light of Ahva, and the Ashavan Seal, would lead to a religious war among Vendihad and Masyana.
The War of Two Flames
Nearly 100 years before the time of Empress Anahita, a religious conflict began between Masyana and Vendihad. During this time, Estahker’s population fell as people began to settle throughout the desert. The city eventually became nearly abandoned except for the most devout Farsee priests.
Holy Warriors of the Farsee and the Majai engaged in nearly a century long war that began to weigh on the people of Masyana and Vendihad. The war would last through four Sultans in Masyana and three Shahs in Vendihad. After many years of warfare that saw even kingdoms from the north become involved in the religious conflict, a pact was made that could potentially end the fighting.
The self-proclaimed Sultan of Light has become the sultan of Masyana and believed himself to be the Saoshyant, or the Saviour. He desired to ascend to the Heavens by opening the Abode of Song and crossing the Chinvat bridge. To do this, he would require the Star of Tanu and the Circle of Urvan key fragments, the two keys held by their respective religious orders. The Star of Tanu was already held by Masyana as that is where the Farsee priests resided. The Sultan required the Circle of Urvan, held by the Majai order in Vendihad. To receive the key fragment, The Sultan would marry one of his 6 daughters to the Great Shah of Vendihad as a gesture of good faith and would thus unite the two countries in blood. In return, the Great Shah will relinquish the Circle of Urvan.
The princesses of Masyana are called the Sultana. The Great Shah considers the proposal but becomes enamored with a young female servant girl to the Sultana, a young red-haired woman by the name of Anahita. The servant girl is called the Shirazad and tends to the daughters and tells them stories. The Great Shah is taken by her beauty and steals her away to be with him instead, which the young Anahita agrees to. The Great Shah treats Anahita very well and she quickly grows to love him. She then becomes the Shahbanu, the queen of Vendihad.
The Sultan of Light is enraged by the insult and especially about not receiving the Majai Key. The Sultan then consults with a witch known as the Sand Spider to find out how to defeat the Great Shah and obtain the Circle of Urvan.
The Sand Spider
The Sand Spider has been a witch and advisor of sorts for many sultans before the Sultan of Light. She is an old woman that can apparently read the future as a Soothsayer. The Sand Spider also has a young apprentice named Yahaida that the Spider claims is her granddaughter. Although the girl is from Masyana, her hair is light, almost blonde. This is strange considering most Masyani have various hues of red. The Sand Spider uses a rare fruit from the South called the Haoma fruit to see her visions. If not prepared properly, the seeds of the Haoma fruit would make one that ingested it deathly ill. The witch would make a powerful extract that allowed her to view her visions.
The Sand Spider was overly strict with the young girl, but she was not cruel. This was because the Sand Spider used her to test the ripeness of the Haoma fruit for her. Despite this, she never became ill, and would somehow always know when the fruit was ripe. It came to the point that the Spider trusted the girl’s judgement without having her test the fruit. Still, Yahaida noticed that the Spider would never let her near the Sultan when he would consult with her.
One day, the girl dropped a potion and attempted to clean it while the Sultan was visiting and saw a strange familiarity in the Sultan’s eyes when he looked at her. That night, in her dreams she saw glimpses of the Sultan and a young woman but could not make out the vision.
The next night, the young girl steals a full Haoma fruit and takes a bite. Yahaida becomes catatonic but enters a vision where she learns the truth about the Sand Spider and the Sultan. In the vision, Yahaida sees that there was a beautiful young light haired Oracle in Masyana. This angered the aging Sand Spider who was growing older and was sought less by the Sultans. A younger looking Sultan of Light had just beguns to consult the Sand Spider as his father, the Sultan of Daybreak had. However, after the Sultan of Daybreak passed, his son attempted to seek counsel from the light haired Oracle instead. The Sand Spider grew jealous of the Oracle.
The Sultan of Light had just become the sultan and he wished for immortality after his father had died. The Oracle told him that there is a way for someone to obtain immortality, but he will not be able to attain it. The Sultan is frustrated and wants to know why. The Oracle states that he will not be granted immortality if he sires a seventh child. The Sultan is dismayed but continues to see the Oracle. She is a beautiful woman and the Oracle eventually becomes pregnant with his child. The Sultan becomes distraught because she will have his seventh child and deny him immortality. However, he cannot bring himself to harm her.
The Sultan did not realize that the Sand Spider had been spying on him and grown jealous. Even back then then the Spider was an old woman and had become envious of the Oracle’s youth and power. This was because the Oracle did not require the Haoma fruit for visions like the Spider did. In addition to this, the Oracle’s visions were never wrong.
The Sand Spider then came to the Sultan and offered him a way to be granted immortality. He was intrigued by the offer and all she wanted in return was for him to bring her the Oracle. The Sultan knew what the Spider intended to do. Since this was also a way for the Sultan to be rid of his issue, he brought her to the Sand Spider.
The Sand Spider learned that the Oracle had legitimate powers and wished to know her secret. The Oracle did not know of how she has her visions but only knew that it cannot be taught. The Sand Spider suspected as much and intends to kill the Oracle herself. The Oracle knew that this is where she would die but she had come to terms with that. She then eats an unripe Haoma fruit and immediately goes in to labor. Although the Sand Spider did intend to kill the Oracle out of jealousy, she instead helps her deliver the baby and takes it in as her own. The Oracle dies soon after. The Sand Spider then claims that the child is her granddaughter.
Yahaida awakens from her vision of the past and becomes overcome with grief of never knowing the truth and never knowing her mother. That night she confronts the Sand Spider before she tells her which fruit is ripe. The girl asks the Spider why she wanted her mother dead. The Sand Spider admits to her jealousy. The Oracle was young and beautiful and more powerful in her visions. She also admits that yes, she would have killed her mother herself if the Oracle had not eaten the unripe Haoma fruit. Yahaida asks why the Spider kept her. The Spider believed that the young girl would be a great asset in her visions. That she would have the same power as her mother. She was proven to be right.
Yahaida states that she understands now and offers the Sand Spider the Haoma fruit, claiming it is ripe. The Sand Spider knows better than to trust her now and admits that perhaps their time together has ended. Yahaida is unmoved and admits that if the Spider is unsure then she most likely never had powers to begin with. The Sand Spider attacks the young girl intending to kill her. However, the Spider then falls down dead as Yahaida simply poisoned her food earlier. It is true that the Sand Spider never had powers and only ever had hallucinations, brought on by the fruit.
Yahaida then takes the last two ripe Haoma fruit from the garden, along with a book of the Sand Spider’s research on her potions. She then leaves toward Vendihad, plotting the downfall of the Sultan of Light.
The Soothsayer
During her journey north towards Vendihad, the young girl learns that the ripe fruit has different properties if eaten by those with powers like her. If eaten, then their powers are amplified for a short time, depending on the amount of fruit eaten. Yahaida stops to rest at a small oasis outpost and attempts a vision with the fruit. In her vision, she sees the Great Shah and his wife the Shahbanu. The Shahbanu is a beautiful red-haired woman. Yahaida then sees that the Great Shah will die while eating his food. It almost appears that he is poisoned. Finally, she sees the Shahbanu clad all in gold. She appears to be on a pedestal of light with Yahaida and a white knight standing next to her. The Shahbanu is also pregnant.
Yahaida wakes from her vision and commits to seeking an audience with the Vendihadi Royals. She wishes to pledge herself to the Shahbanu.
Yahaida was taught many skills by the Sand Spider including thievery and concealment. She finds a way to enter the throne room to the Great Shah’s palace and confronts the Great Shah and the Shahbanu. The guards attempt to seize her but are stopped by Anahita the Shahbanu. Yahaida is grateful and refers to herself as the Soothsayer who has come to pledge her loyalty to the Shahbanu. The Great Shah misinterprets this to mean loyalty to him as well. He then asks what she can offer. She tells of her power of foresight. She has come to inform them that there will be an attempt on the life of the Great Shah. She tells the Shahbanu that she wishes to serve her. She believes the Shahbanu to be a rising phoenix who came from nothing and is now a queen.
The Shahbanu is captivated by the young girl and believes her claims. The Great Shah, however, is not convinced. He asks her how it will happen. They are told that there will be an assassin employed by the Sultan of Light. The Sultan has been consulting with a witch on how to defeat the Great Shah. She knows of this because she killed the witch herself.
The Great Shah is skeptical. He asks her to tell his fortune. The Soothsayer says that she has. The Great Shah picks up a small item from a table and asks the Soothsayer what is in his hand. The Soothsayer does not respond. The Great Shah then says that he believes that Yahaida is the assassin herself despite the Shahbanu trying to convince him otherwise.
The Shah tells his men to kill The Soothsayer. However, the Shahbanu convinces him to simply hold her captive as she may have valuable information. The Soothsayer is then thrown into the dungeon by the Great Shah. The Shahbanu does not protest. Guards are doubled around the Palace and part of the Black Phoenix army is called back from the battlefronts to lock down the city.
The Shahbanu visits the young Soothsayer and apologizes for the situation. The Soothsayer thanks her and already understood that the Shahbanu wished to speak with her more alone. Without the Great Shah’s presence. The Shahbanu admits that she wishes to learn more about the Soothsayer and introduces herself as Anahita. The Soothsayer tells Anahita that her name is Yahaida. They are both from Masyana, though have differing hair color, and the two become closer over several days.
The Soothsayer finally reveals that she has come to Vendihad to serve Anahita who will become the Empress. Anahita is confused. The Soothsayer explains that they will need to find a white knight in Vendihad. The knight is a prisoner, but he alone will turn the tides of the war. Anahita is unsure at first and does not believe that she can become an Empress. She asks why she should become an Empress if the Great Shah is ruler.
The Soothsayer states that nothing will stop the Great Shah from dying. Anahita must do this for herself, and for her child. Anahita is taken aback. She was unaware that she was pregnant. The Soothsayer confirms that she will help Anahita ascend the throne for the sake of her future.
Anahita is unsure of what to do with the information and lashes out at Yahaida. She cannot bring herself to speak to her anymore. Furthermore, she loves the Great Shah and does not wish for him to die. Especially now that Anahita has learned that she is pregnant. The Shahbanu leaves the Soothsayer, shaken by her fortune.
The Shimmering Knight
Eventually, Anahita tries to convince the Great Shah to locate the prisoner but he has no name or face. Anahita realizes that currently there is nothing that can be done about it. That same evening the Great Shah apparently dies from poison. This seemed impossible as there were food tasters that tested the food beforehand. In actuality, the Great Shah simply choked on his food.
This is what the Soothsayer had foreseen but had kept from Anahita.
Anahita is left alone as the widow to the Great Shah. The various leaders and noblemen of Vendihad begin to vie for power but Anahita is convinced now of the Soothsayer’s claims. She is also now driven to defeat the Sultan of Light for murdering her beloved Great Shah. She will become the new Empress of Vendihad.
The noblemen of Vendihad fear what the Sultan of Light will do and suggest a truce by giving the Sultan the Circle of Urvan. Anahita overhears this and sends the Circle of Urvan away. She sees it as an artifact that led to the current war and gives it to her servant and Majai follower named Zamya. Zamya is to take the key to the priests in Wisperad, which is an ally of Vendihad with many Majai followers. They will protect the key and keep it from the Sultan. Zamya takes her grandson, Vahuma and travels to Kivarenah, the capital city of Wisperad. She is accompanied by an escort provided by Anahita.
Anahita releases the Soothsayer and they locate the prisoner in a dungeon away from the city. His name is Victor Noble but they find that he is willingly remaining a prisoner. He believes that his power is a force of destructive evil and does not wish it on anyone. Anahita tells Victor that he is not evil, he has just lost his way. He must put his power to use for good. Anahita and the Soothsayer are able to convince the young man that he will not be evil if he himself fights evil. Victor can make amends if he fights for good. If he fights for them. Victor reluctantly agrees although states that his power severely weakens him, and he cannot it consecutively. Anahita states that he will only need to use it once.
Anahita returns and claims the throne of Vendihad. She is christened the Mourning Queen. A small portion of the Black Scepter army are still loyal to her. The nobles have organized a coup between them to overthrow the Mourning Queen. The remaining Black Scepter army moves against the Queen. However, Victor Noble uses his power to create a burst of white light that destroys everything in a small area. He uses this on the nobles and the Black Scepter army that have moved to attack him. They are completely obliterated by the blast of light.
Anahita does not wish to see her army destroyed and offers the remaining Black Scepter the opportunity to pledge their loyalty to her. After what they had just witnessed, the remaining Black Scepter lay down their arms and pledged their loyalty to Anahita. The Black Scepter is now christened the Phoenix Scepter.
Soon after, the Phoenix Scepter attack the cities of Masyana along with Victor Noble. Victor has been clad in all white armor and is now known as the Shimmering Knight. The Soothsayer gives Victor Noble the last Haoma fruit before he leaves. The cities are destroyed thanks to the assistance of the Shimmering Knight, who turns the tide with his power. In a final battle with the Sultan of Light, Victor ingests the entire Haoma fruit and can then use his power consecutively without consequence. He lays waste to the city of Masya and The Sultan of Light is destroyed.
After the war is won Anahita finally gives birth to her son with the help of the Soothsayer. She names him Sigh, the prince or Shahzadeh of the newly christened Sanguine Empire.
After this, most Masyani people flee the region and become refugees. The holy city of Estahker, which sat for many years in disrepair has been almost completely lost. The Masyani are unwilling to settle in a Holy place. The Farsee become less of a religion and more of a fringe order outside of Masyana. Their key, the Star of Tanu is taken by the Farsee priests but there are few that know where it was taken. Masyana now becomes the nearly deserted Valley of Masya and sits in ruin. Many Masyani sought refuge across the desert, in a perilous journey that saw many die in their trek through the desert. Some found their way to small settlements and towns in the desert. The most prominent of these was the Wisperadi trading town of Bahram.
Soon after, the Mourning Queen will regroup and grow her forces and quickly begin her conquest as an Empress. She sets her sights to the north in what is considered the Eastern Provinces. Vendihad becomes the Sanguine Empire and the Mourning Queen becomes the Empress of Gules.
See Anahita Bio
Daughters of Hashimed
When the cities of Masyana were destroyed, the region became a near wasteland called the Valley of Masya. The country of Masyana lay in ruin and people began to develop a sickness where white dots would appear underneath the eyes.
Hashimed was a young Farsee priest with a wife and 3 daughters. The daughter’s names are Varbeg and Greshas and the oldest named Burzine Mir. The youngest daughter Varbeg contracts the stange illness and passes. This prompts Hashimed to leave Masyana. Many others from Masyana begin to seek refuge elsewhere and traveled west toward Wisperad. Hashimed and his family join a caravan of other Farsee priests to cross the desert. With the priests, is the first time that Burzine Mir learns of the Chinvat Bridge as well as the key, the Ashavan Seal that was split in two. The Farsee priests no longer know of the whereabouts of the keys.
During their travels toward Wisperad, the other daughter, Greshas, would succumb to the heat and die of dehydration. The family is devastated and begins to fall apart. This causes the mother to wander into the desert away from the caravan at night. She never returns. Hashimed tries his best to bring Burzine Mir through the desert but others in the caravan begin to split off as well and travel becomes even more desperate. The remaining members of the caravan dwindle.
Soon after, a sandstorm begins to brew and Burzine Mir becomes separated from her father and the remaining caravan. Without any direction and the fear of losing her father, she unwittingly begins to move the sand in the storm. A few moments later, when the girl focuses, the storm begins to dissipate. Burzine Mir is unsure of what happened but finds her father soon after as well as an oasis. The remaining few in the caravan almost passed it in the storm but refresh themselves in the water.
Burzine Mir demonstrates her newfound powers to her father. She appears to be able to control the sand. Hashimed doesn’t immediately know what to make of his daughter’s ability but there are a few in the caravan that find it blasphemous. They believe the girl to be a heretic. The most extreme of them attempt to grab the girl. Hashimed defends her but is stabbed in the ensuing fight.
Distraught, Burzine Mir loses control of herself and retaliates against the Farsee priests in the caravan. She takes command of the earth and sand, using it to attack the others. She kills the remaining members of the caravan and she and her father are the only ones left. Hashimed is too injured to travel. Burzine Mir stays with him when they suddenly become surrounded by desert bandits. The leader of the bandits saw what the girl did and takes them in.
The leader of the bandits calls himself Azhi Dahaka. He takes the girl and her father to a cave that acts as one of the bandit’s hideouts. That night, Hashimed apologizes to Burzine Mir for failing her and their family. He then succumbs to his wounds. Burzine Mir is now the last surviving member of her family. Azhi Dahaka sympathises with the girl and he leaves her to herself. The bandit leader cares for the young girl and gives her food and water. Burzine Mir mourns for 3 months before leaving the cave but it takes a full year for her to speak.
Burzine Mir is taken in by the leader the bandits, which were known as the Ishrakii. Azhi Dahaka sees potential in her ability to control the sands and trains her as a thief. Burzine Mir grows up as a bandit, favored by the bandit leader. As the Ishrakii grow, so too does their bandit territory which sees them settle in a mountain near the city of Kivarenah.
Years pass and at some point, another young man is inducted into the bandit group. His name is Vahuma, who also has a unique power. His power is that of Muscle Mimicry which grants him mimetic reflexes to replicate any action he sees. This makes him a valuable asset as a thief and combatant in the ranks of the Ishrakii. Burzine Mir and Vahuma quickly become Azhi Dahaka’s most prized thieves. Vahuma and Burzine Mir grow closer over the years, eventually becoming lovers. It is during this time that Vahuma crossed the desert with his grandmother when he was a boy to deliver an ancient artifact to the Sultan years prior. It was known as the Circle of Urvan, one of the two keys to the Chinvat Bridge.
Azhi Dahaka has always had grand aspirations to take over the city of Kivarenah in Wisperad to become Sultan. Utilizing his best two pupils, he eventually plans to attack the city and depose the Sultan. He requires both Vahuma and Burzine Mir to defeat the protector of Kivarenah named the Dawn Roc. Vahuma is hesitant to do so because of his grandmother’s connection to the city, fearing her safety. Vahuma knows the city and the palace but he will not risk hurting those in the city. This prompts Vahuma to reevaluate his motives, for himself and Burzine Mir. He decides to leave the bandits and tries to convince Burzine Mir to leave with him. She at first considers this.
It is here when it is found out that Vahuma has some connection to the city of Kivarenah, and the bandit leader will not let his opportunity slip by. He insists that Vahuma and Burzine Mir will help him take the throne and he will allow them to leave afterward. However, Vahuma is not willing to attack the city. At this, Azhi Dahaka threatens to find his grandmother, Zamya. This leads to a confrontation between Vahuma and the bandit leader with a fight ensuing. Vahuma loses the fight but before Azhi Dahaka can kill him, the bandit leader is killed by Burzine Mir to protect Vahuma.
Vahuma sees this as them being free to now do what they want. However, Burzine Mir, believes that they have an opportunity. They could now take the throne themselves and rule together. She then reveals that Circle of Urvan in the palace is capable of summoning a great power. If they had it they could rule without opposition. Vahuma refuses.
Vahuma and Burzine Mir have a falling out, when he sees that she has become different, obsessive with attaining power and greatly interested in the artifact housed in Kivarenah. Burzine Mir seems to desire some level of control, which she sees in the seat of the Sultan. Vahuma leaves the bandits and Burzine Mir.
The True Yazata
Vahuma returns to Kivarenah to make amends for leaving his grandmother and catches the eye of the Sultan after stopping several thieves in the city. At this point, the previous True Yazata (High Champion) of Kivarenah was killed in a fire of his own making and the Sultan is in need of a new Yazata to take the Mantle of the Dawn Roc. Vahuma is at first hesitant to accept but is urged by the Sultan after it was suggested by his grandmother. Vahuma is quick to adopt the new persona of the Dawn Roc and begins to enjoy his new position as protector of the city.
After an initial run in with the new bandit leader of the Ishrakii, Vahuma recognizes Burzine Mir who has adopted the persona of the Zahhak. The Ishrakii has also ben redubbed the Drauga. Vahuma is hurt that Burzine Mir continued as the leader of the bandits but he also does not realize that she is hurt that he chose to leave her. Burzine Mir carries a deep resentment toward Vahuma for his newfound life without her but cannot admit that there is still love there for him. For his part, Vahuma has grown much closer to his newfound friends in the palace, the Sultan has become like a father to him, as well as the young princess who he begins to see as a little sister.
Vahuma however carries with him a guilt over his previous life as a bandit and seeks to make amends. Burzine Mir had never forgotten about the Circle of Urvan that is held inside the palace, though she can no longer reach it. That is until she is approached by a man with antlers and a red bull mask. The man is seeking to assemble the Ashavan Seal and has come to Burzine Mir to seek out the Circle of Urvan. He already possesses the Star of Tanu, the other key. Burzine Mir wishes to know why he seeks the Circle of Urvan. The man then tells her that he knows that she has lost those she cared for. He can help her reunite with her lost loved ones. Burzine Mir tells him that she knows where the Circle of Urvan is. They then begin to plan to take the key by staging an attack on the Palace of Asha.
Deserts of the South
Wisperad rests on the western side of the desert and runs south along the ocean. Wisperad is the largest region of the Southern Nations after the destruction of Masyana and the fall of Vendihad. Vendihad resides on the eastern half of the desert, north of Masyana. Along with Vendihad, Wisperad had mainly Majai practioners in their region. This changed after the destruction of Masyana and the Farsee became refugees that began to settle more in Wisperad.
Vendihad was once the strongest nation in the South despite being the smallest. When the Mourning Queen left the South and became the Empress of Gules, Vendihad began to experience the same sickness that festered in the Valley of Masya. This began the downfall of Vendihad. After the Empress of Gules died, Vendihad had already lost much of its power and its people to Wisperad. Vendihad still survived after the sickness faded but would never again be as it once was.
Masyana takes up a large region on the southern portion of the desert. It lies south of both Vendihad and Wisperad. The Abode of Song resides in Estahker which is part of the Masyana region. After the Light of Ahva was splintered into the Farsee and Majai, the Farsee became the most abundant in Masyana. They then became the sole caretakers of the Abode of Song which housed the Chinvat Bridge.
The Farsee believed in one day opening the Gate to allow for harmony and the connection of souls. This would be done by the benevolent Angra Manyu. The Majai believed in preserving what the Dina (Sophia) had created, which was the separation of Life and the Afterlife. This would be enacted by the Ahura Mazda sealing away the Angra Manyu.
South of Masyana is more desert and an unknown region with an unknown people. It is rumored that the people there are of the darkest skin and practice forgotten rituals like mummification. Their rulers are called Pharaohs who reside in great palaces shaped like the pyramids. Because there is sparse or rarely any trade between them and Masyana, not much else is known of them.
VENDIHAD
The Rulers of Vendihad are the Shahs. The Shahs were the chief the protectors of Circle of Urvan, the Majai key to the Abode of Song.
Around a century prior to the time of Anahita, Vendihad was ruled by the Red Shah. The Red Shah and the Sultan of Sacred Fire were among the rulers to fan the flames of a long dormant religious conflict and begin the War of Two Flames. The Red Shah was followed by the Dawn Shah, who was then succeeded by the Great Shah. Vendihad became the home to a significant amount of Majai priests and the order flourished under the Great Shah. Vendihadi people are distinguished by their dark brown skin and dark brown hair.
The capital city of Vendihad was called Saroza and home to the most recent ruler, the Great Shah of Vendihad. The Great Shah was unmarried thanks to his entire life being steeped in war. When he was offered the Sultanahs hand in marriage he considered the repercussions of relinquishing the Circle of Urvan key for a wife. However, when he became infatuated with the red haired Shirazad named Anahita, he could not keep himself from pursuing her. This ultimately led to the destruction of the nation of Masyana and the Great Shah being succeeded by Anahita herself, who would become the Empress of Gules. This also led to the Circle of Urvan being spirited away to the nation of Wisperad.
During the Rise of the Red Phoenix some Majai priests went north with the Empire to settle in Asio or Auro, though some stayed behind as well. After the subsequent death of the Empress, many Majai priests left Vendihad and found their way to Wisperad.
REGALIA
Information on the Regalia of Vendihad is has mostly been lost but has been closely related to that of Miridian during the reign of the Empress. The banners and colors of Vendihad under the Great Shah were white and red with a black scepter emblem. When the Empress Anahita came to power, this was changed to the more well known red and gold banner with black scepter of the Phoenix Scepter.
The emblem of the Empress, was a red symbol that represented the Ashavan Seal. This symbol was exclusive to the Empress and adorned much of her clothing but was absent from much of the banners and other colors of the Empire. The symbol was a combination of the circle of triangles that represented the Majai and the dotted star that represented Farsee. The circle resembled what would later become the Wisperadi emblem.
The Messenger Bird of Vendihad is no longer known but Vendihad did have the national bird that represented the country, which was the mythical Simurgh. This bird was the basis for what was later interpreted as the Phoenix which was a symbol closely related to the Empress during her lifetime.
MASYANA
The Rulers of Masyana are the Sultans. The Sultans were the chief protectors of the Star of Tanu, the Farsee fragment of the Ashavan Seal, the key that opened the Abode of Song.
Around a century prior to the time of Anahita, Masyana was ruled by the Sultan of Sacred Fire. The Sultan of Sacred Fire and the Red Shah were the rulers that would come to fan the flames of a long dormant religious conflict and begin the War of Two Flames. The Sultan of Sacred Fire was followed by the Sultan of Blackfire, who was then succeeded by the Sultan of Daybreak. When the Sultan of Daybreak died, his son became the Sultan of Light. The Sultan of Light was the last of the Sultans of Masyana. Masyana was always the nation with the most significant amount of Farsee priests and the order flourished under the Great Shah. Masyani people are distinguished by their lightly tanned skin and dark red or rust brown hair.
The capital city of Masyana was once known as Masya and was the ruling seat of the Sultans of Masyana. After the destruction of Masyana by the Shimmering Knight and the Phoenix Scepter, Masya became known as the Valley of Masya as most of the central cities lay in ruin. The Masyani people fled the region and sought refuge in Wisperad among other places. Estahker was almost completely forgotten as there were no longer many Farsee that would visit the Holy City.
After the Mourning Queen defeated Masyana in the War of Two Flames, the nation was left in disarray. Many Farsee fled the nation and the Star of Tanu key was taken elsewhere. Soon after, a strange sickness saw many people in Masyana die from coughing fits. The symptoms of the sickness were small white freckles underneath the eyes. The region became known as the Valley of Masya and there were few that remained thereafter.
When this happened, remnants of Masyana founded a small settlement north of Vendihad called Hatam. Hatam was a small region at the far eastern end of the Canyons of Atar. It sat at the base of the canyons where a river flowed through toward the ocean. The river itself would reach so far north that parts of it were fed from the Western Kingdoms. Hatam became home to the remaining members of the Farsee. The Star of Tanu eventually found its way to this settlement.
For some reason, those Masyani with red hair seemed to be the least affected by the sickness.
WISPERAD
The rulers of Wisperad are Sultans, the most recent of which is the White Sultan of Wisperad. The White Sultan was once a Majai high priest called the Mobed before he became the Sultan.
The capital city of Wisperad is called Kivarenah, which sits on the eastern edge of the desert and touches the sea. The seat of the the Sultan is in Kivarenah in the Palace of Asha. To the north of Kivarenah is the Canyons of Atar that run east toward the northern outpost called Denkard. Wisperadi people are distinguished by their brown skin and black hair.
Wisperad had managed to remain neutral for much of the War of Two Flames but became involved in the fighting around the time of the Dawn Shah as an ally of Vendidad. When the Great Shah was killed, an envoy from Vendidad named Zamya, came to the White Sultan and offered him the Circle of Urvan for safe keeping. Seeing as how the White Sultan had previously been a Majai priest, the Sultan accepted the Key.
Zamya, the servant of the Mourning Queen remained in the capital city of Kivarenah. Her grandson, Vahuma became the successor to the High Champion of Wisperad, the Simurgh.
Vahuma is the second Simurgh of Kivareneh. The first Simurgh was Ehrmati. Ehrmati was a Pyromancer that believed that he was greater than a man. The Simurgh would often clash with the Drauga and the Zahhak. However, Ehrmati was eventually killed not by the Zahhak or as a warrior or a hero. Ehrmati was killed in a fire that he started after a night of drinking.
After the first Simurgh’s death, the Zahhak became more brazen as a bandit but was met by the new Simurgh Vahuma who could match her in a fight. Vahuma’s power is that of Aeromancy which allows him to control wind and create gusts with body or sword.He and the Zahhak are physical equals and their fighting styles are very acrobatic.
The landscape of Kivareneh is not strictly a sandy desert. There is the ocean and a port on the west side, and there is foliage and rock formation to the east that lead away from the city. The mountainous area and the Atar Canyon are to the north, about a half a days ride from the Palace of Asha.
REGALIA
The Regalia of Wisperad is the White Flamebrand. This is demonstrated as a white tatoo, worn by representatives of the Sultan. The Ravashii, the guards of the Palace of Atar all bear this brand among other white tattoos.
The emblem of Wisperad is the Circle of Urvan a white design on a teal and rust banner. The Circle of Urvan is the symbol worn by the Shivan Scimatar, the warriors of Wisperad.
The Simurgh is the True Yazata (High Champion) of Wisperad. His symbol is an altered version of the Circle of Urvan.
The Messenger Bird of Wisperad is the Southern Goshawk.
History
Long before the War of Two Flames, the peoples of the desert began to branch out and create settlements, towns and cities away from the Holy City of Estahker. When the first three nations were still in their infancy, there were some that remained in Estahker. The Holy City was part of the nation of Masyana and as such, were its caretakers. The Red haired Masyani were among the last to leave Estahker as they were among the most devoted to the Light of Ahva. Over time, the red-haired peoples became slaves in their own nation for their devotion to the Light of Ahva.
Those in Masyana that had red hair were persecuted since the breaking of the Light of Ahva. The red haired Masyani had become slaves for generations and it was not until the reign of the Sultan of Sacred Fire that the slaves were freed. When the Sultan of Sacred Fire became involved in the War of Two Flames, he believed that the Masyani slaves were a more valuable as warriors than as slaves. For this reason, the red-haired Masyani were freed. Still, even around the time of Anahita, the red haired Masyani were among the poorest citizens from the region.
The Sultan of Sacred Fire was the first and only Sultan to be of red-haired ancestry which likely added to his freeing of the slaves. However, he was killed early on in his rule by another Masyani. He was succeeded by the brown-haired Sultan of Blackfire. The Sultan of Blackfire was the one who killed the previous Sultan.
Also, there are those Masyani that had become part of Miridian after the Empress’ occupation of Helena, that still resided there. After the Empress’s death, the desert people remained in Helena as they could not make the return trip to the desert. They were however relegated to certain poorer parts of Miridian and few no longer would reside in Helena. This was before the Emerald King became the ruler of Miridian.