Phyraxgia

An ancient subterranean desert realm of antediluvian temples, great obelisks, and vast ziggurats. Phyraxgia a decadent, sinister menace, a cradle of Dark Magic where the living worship capricious gods and the dead refuse to stay silent.

Phyraxgia is an isolated desert kingdom of ancient magic, cyclopean monuments and time-lost necropolis. Dominion of the Pharahess of Veilnakhet, Phyraxgia dominates the largest portion of The Dsja'taresh Desert. This river kingdom is a tranquil oasis of ancient knowledge and queer customs, a land that enjoys the harmony and stability it's rulers have brought for countless centuries in the otherwise turbulent underworld. Yet beyond its cities and monuments, Phyraxgia casts a shadow filled with ancient terrors. Beneath its veneer is a dark and treacherous land, perilous to those fool hearty enough to venture without the permission of its rulers, both living and the dead.
The very nature of the Dsja'taresh begins to noticeably twist and change the further one ventures into the Dominion of Phyraxgia, these cursed lands surround the great city of Veilnakhet, the most opulent, grandiose and ancient of any of the southern Dral'azie settlements. Proud and powerful of strange gods and rich in magic, their sorcerers and priests are rightly feared throughout the underworld. Wishing to be left alone, to engage in its own selfish pursuits, caring little for what is beyond its borders. Considered to be a place of twisted power of strange gods and weird and powerful magic best left undisturbed, even the most daring treasure hunters give it a wide berth. It is a land where the dead refuse to rest and the restless horrors of the desert stalk the dune seas. Monolithic pyramids, gold encrusted monuments and sprawling labyrinthine tombs of this venerable civilisation break the unending monotony of the bleached sands, many more remain hidden far beneath the landscape.

… It is here, in heart of these wretched sands do you see it, Phyraxgia. It's great cites of towering spires and pyramids, rise far above the seemingly endless expanse… and with it comes the wander cadavers that crawl out from beneath the sands…

— Burmihr Etomunt, Dvergar explorer and prospector.

Geography

The mysterious desert vistas of the underworld are an enigma to many scholars and academics, their simple existence is seemingly inconceivable and incomprehensible. Vast vaults of impossible terrain, ecosystems and weather patterns, bathed in the light of a dying celestial body, that should not exist in these far flung subterranean depths laying hidden beneath the world. Phyraxgia is no different, its perilous scorching deserts surround the verdant Nirkana valley and the vast river deltas to the south that finally joins the inky waters of the boiling Abyss, by all natural laws should not exist.

... Phyraxgia is a tale of two lands, the river valley and the desert, life and death, order and disorder...

The Nirkana Valley

Carving it’s course through the landscape, the great river Nirkana runs the length of Phyraxgia. Tumbling forth from the Dsja'taresh Highlands., this dark ribbon in the midst of the sweltering desert snakes its way across the land, cutting deep channels in cliffs as it thunders toward the Boiling Abyss, the vast underocean to the south. Here the Nirkana begins to fan out into an immense spread of waterways, islands, lakes and swamps before joining the sea. This southern region is typically referred to as the Delta, the agricultural heart and foundation of the Kingdom that settled amongst its banks. The Nirkana reshaped an otherwise desolate landscape creating a dark ribbon of wet black soil forming verdant mashes teeming life and sweltering in humidity, narrow waterways pass by muddy banks, thickets of papyrus, reeds and lotus flowers. Phyraxgians refer to this soil as Nehq'oridi, believed to be the ancient Veilnakarii word for life giver.

by Jonas De Ro.jpg

During the winter seasons on the surface, the underworld becomes wetter, it's oceans and enormous river galleries rise dramatically increase as water flood into the world below. The Nirkana is no exception to this. The Southern regions of the Nirkana delta is the wettest and most humid amongst this dark ribbon of Oasis, during this winter season the riverbanks begin to overflow, flooding the fields and nourishing them with silt. These season of floods last for several months, renewing the land and fertilising the farms.

Renowned for its magically infused waters, the Nirkana is the very lifeblood of the Kingdom, bringing to life a lush valley within the otherwise lifeless desert. It’s cities cling to the course of the river, providing much needed life and magical power to sustain its people. Stretching over a dozen miles away from the riverbanks of the Nirkana are fertile land, the waters abundant bounty giving life to the lush valley around Veilnakhet, catering for every physical need and nurturing all aspects of the river kingdom and those that call it home. Whether pastureland that feeds the livestock, expanses or magically worked farms, irrigated fields of crops are used to keep it’s people fed or to make clothes and trade goods of all kinds. Finding their way to the major settlements, while excess goods are exported up the Nirkana to other regions of Phyraxgia and further afield. Linen, grain, jewellery, perfumes and spell scrolls from Phyraxgia can be found throughout underworld and much sought after. The bulk of these high quality imports and exports are moved by trade caravans that brave the deserts and the boats and barges that frequently ply the length and breadth of the river day and night all year round.

The Boiling Abyss

Phyraxgians believe the Boiling Abyss to be the source of the Morblithe, the sea surrounding is a dark, murky black, save for the seven bays where the rivers seven mouths flow out from. Bones frequently wash up from the Boiling Abyss on all the shores, normally charred black. It’s said the magic flowing out of the great rivers infuses life into the world, causing various skeletons to re-form and come to life. Sometimes not in the combinations they originally died in. These reformed, randomised skeletons are restored in various forms allowing for many different kinds of creatures to exist.

by Nalak-bel

The Nirkana is an abundant source of life, a verdant oasis of rich plant life and untamed steaming jungles can be found upon its banks. Fed by the very same waters that give feed the Kingdom itself, reaching outward from the riverbeds into savannas and plains. It is a refuge from the ravages of the unforgiving desert, that wears away at these fertile lands, becoming a habitat for countless creatures, including many species of birds, fish and amphibians that have come to call its rich black waters home. Stretching outward from the Valley and Delta are vast open swathes of savanna and tall grasslands. Home to countless herd animals and bird that graze here, offering the perfect hunting grounds for predators. Such idyllic vistas and abundance of vegetation and food also attracted far more monstrous creatures lurking beneath its picturesque surface. Gargantuan carnivorous reptiles, strange predatory felines, ferocious crocodilian behemoths and virulent cobra headed hydras are known to lurk deep in the swamps, bogs and dense jungles of the delta.

The river is a source of life and fertility, the desert a bringer of death and famine. This is the relationship between the Nehq'oridi and the Asanibis, and is how the people of Phyraxgia view life. Not as two entities to be treated separately, but as one whole.

— Varjjiah Veil'Itholren

The Desert Terrain.

Phyraxgia is a realm of dichotomy, whilst the verdant valley surrounding the Nirkana is populous and prosperous beyond its environs stretches the scorching Phyrxagian landscape, a largely featureless dry and arid desert that seems to stretch on for eternity with no shade, water or protection. Referred to Asanibis or red land by its people, the desert is an unforgiving endless wilderness of windswept dunes and scourging, ever shifting sands and constantly changing topography. Preying upon those foolish enough to brave them in the search of treasure, suffer a most grisly death. Strong winds frequently blow across the from the depths of the Dsja’taresh, carrying fine dust and sand aloft commonly causing silt storms that can make it difficult to breath, shifting dunes and covering tracks and paths making it difficult to navigate, and easy for inexperienced travellers to become disorientated and lost. The most ferocious whirlwinds and sandstorms pelt travellers, stripping unprotected flesh from bone. Such storms only last for a few hours, however during certain times of the year one can rage for days and drastically alter the landscape for hundreds of miles beyond recognition. Other perils are more inconspicuous and insidious; quicksand, sinkholes, heat shimmers and visual distortions have run afoul of many unwitting traveller, perishing from heat exhaustion, suffocation or worse. Hazards that dwellers of these deserts are quite accustomed to.

Natural occurring seismic activity in the underworld cause waves within the vast caverns walls, ceilings and floors, generating air flow and currents throughout the underworld. Within the vast vaults of the Djsa'taresh this occurs on a much larger scale, generating wind that sweeping across the sands and forming the dunes and other features one would expect from deserts found on the overworld.

Across the length and breadth of the Asanibis and the vast dune seas beyond, it is not uncommon to see the monotony of the endless sands broken by sudden outcrops of stone rising up from out of the ground. These rocky bluffs and jagged formation are varied in size and structure, from long, tall wall-like structures that run parallel to one another, to numerous stone monoliths densely clustered together forming narrow channels and deep gulley's allowing the wind to funnel through, occasional resulting in small whirlwinds. Another curious physical feature found throughout the deserts regions of Phyraxgia are the great fissures and immense sandy trenches carved throughout the dunes in the wake of Sandwurms as they breach the surface. Known amongst the denizens of the deserts as the sunken paths, these trenches provide safety from sandstorms, and a welcome respite from the glaring heat to travellers and merchant caravans braving the deserts, travelling along them or waiting for the cooler evenings as the hollow sun wane. Highly unstable and prone to sand slides they run the risks of collapsing back in on themselves and burying those take refuge alive. There is also the likely risk of attracting the very Sandwurms that gouged these troughs out in the first instance.

by Laspainter

Perils of the Asanibis

Despite the Asanibis being a barren place, but it is far from empty or uninhabited. Numerous terrors are whispered to prowl these bleak sands, from packs of carnivorous lizards, giant scorpions and swarms of ravenous insects scour the deserts and rivers of flesh eating beetles have been rumoured to swallow up entire caravan trains and anything that crosses their path to ghosts of countless unquiet spirits and elementals that haunt the great mortuary temples and forgotten tombs. Flocks of carrion circle carcasses, picked clean before they rise once more, to wander the desolate wastes again for all eternity. But perhaps the most feared denizen of the Asanibis and the larger Dsja’taresh are the Sandwurms. These colossal creatures spend most of their lives underground, lying in wait under the desert sand, until the slightest tremor or footstep alters them to the presence of prey. Capable of travelling through the dune seas at starling speed, like a serpent through water, they are typically found in the deeper desert. If these monstrosities are not enough to contend with, there are the tribes of desert nomads, their raiders and bandits prey upon travellers and trader caravans who stray too far from the beaten path. Knowing these sands and it's rocky outcrops better than any city-dweller or outlander ever could hope.

by Sam Burley

by Chris Rahn

Strewn throughout the vast open desert, emerge half buried ruins of long forgotten tombs, vast necropolises and numerous outcrops where one can hardly move without unearthing some ancient statue or sculpture. These echoes of the past lay preserved tantalisingly beneath the sands, monuments vaster and grander than anything seen beyond Phyraxgias borders. Sought after and exhumed by explorers and archaeologist, whether to glimpse upon the power of their forebears or to be plunder them for forbidden knowledge and the trove of riches thought to lie inside. Devious traps and ancient powerful curses are set upon these places, tales of the horrific fates that await tomb robbers and explorers that would dare plunder these ruins have spread far and wide. Ancient protective spells cause blood to turn into sand and skin to blister and boil, entropic wards slowly emaciate and wither away intruders and ancestral guardians awaken after centuries of slumber, to mercilessly hunt down those who dared foul the sanctity of these hallowed places. Such are the dangers that no one has ever truly explored the deepest ruins of the desert and returned to tell the tale.

Dust Wraiths

Those who are unfortunate enough to be caught in a sandstorm typically have the forethought to seek cover or burrow down to wait it out. There are people who are unlucky enough to catch the attention of something more dangerous than the sourcing sands that buffet and beleaguer them. Out of these storms, wicked incorporeal entities called as Dust Wraiths patrol their course. These vengeful undead seek the essence of the living to drain away their vitality as the storm forces those seeking refuge helpless against their assaults, leaving only withering desecrated husks for the sands to claim. Some believe that the storms that transport these wicked aberrations are unnatural and are controlled by the wraiths themselves. Though this supernatural phenomena is more common in Phyraxgia's arid Asanibis, dust wraiths are known to stalk the whole length of the Dsja'taresh, and the fearsome sandstorms that rage across it.

Denizens of Phyraxgia

The territory is home to a number of societies, the most prominent of which being the Phyraxgians, whose name is derived from the region itself. Other cultures, such as the nomadic Dravarii Clans, Girtablilu, and Ophidians, coexist with the Phyraxgians in the Nirkana valley and delta, or have been pushed to the outskirts of the desert areas.

Political landscape

Phyraxgia is reigned over by a formidable group of Dral'azie Aelfaune named after the region. These Phyraxgians have called the verdant river valley and the desolate deserts home for more than three thousand years the desert realm has stood independent from the rest of the Dral'azie city-states. Defiant from the control of the Empress of Dragh'zeruel, forcing Phryaxgia to adopted a policy of isolation over the centuries, defending their borders fiercely from outside threats to their sovereignty. The Kingdom of Phyraxgia has been ruled over by the Pharahess, worshiped as living deities they remain the dominate power in the region, hold dominion over the kingdom and the nomarchs of its six great cities. These cities consolidate Phryaxgian control over the river valley, and by extension influence over the surrounding regions and those that call them home.
The arid plains and deserts surrounding Phyraxgia are inhabited by nomadic tribes of Dravarii and Girtablilu who occasionally try to raid or settle in the fertile Nirkana River valley.

Settlements

Settlements in Phyraxgia are safe a haven from the undead infested desert beyond, shining bastions of magnificent towering spires and monolithic structures crafted from marble and limestone rising up far above the seemingly unending monotony of the sands. Each of these large cities along the River Nirkana contributes to the prosperity of the kingdom and the richness of its culture. Every city has Its own allure that is unique to it. The majestic splendour of their elaborate pyramids and grand necropolises, intricate temple complexes where it's people offer sacrifices dedicated to their benevolent gods and gold-encrusted monuments of sphinxes and other beasts of Phyraxgian mythology are the envy of the underworld. Despite the perils beyond their walls, it is not the dead that most should be concerned about in these safe havens, the problems and dangers that plague the people come from the schemes and machinations of nobles and sorcerer elites.

Standing resolute upon the black waters of the Nirkana, Veilnakhet stands proudly in prime position upon its waters, the first and greatest city of Phryaxgia,it is the seat of power of the Pharahess and capital of the river kingdom. Veilnakhet is the epitome of Phyraxian civilisations opulence and grandeur, commanding a palpable aura of mystique and pharaonic authority. It's citizens pride themselves in their rich culture and heritage gives them a confidence that others mistake for arrogance, even by Dral'azie standards.

Widely considered to be an important religious site, it was here that Pharahess Nefraijat Iseueri's body was reputedly prepared for the afterlife and laid to rest. Since that time the once opulent tomb grew into a vast necropolis, becoming home to the dead of the Phyraxgian elite for millennia now. The mortuary cult that reside here are guardians of the tombs, overseeing the care of the dead, they plays an important part in the final journey of most inhabitants of Phyraxgia, embalming the bodies of the deceased to ward away the horror of unlife.

Lights flicker and wane among the dark spires and towers of the city of sorcery. Sinyda'phraxx is synonymous with its school of darks arts and the sorceresses that dominate the city from their towers. Home to the Supreme Sorceresses and the Convent of Sorcerers, Sinyda'phraxx is a place of learning, teaching and administration over the Dark Mages and Necromancers of Phyraxgian society. Those that languish in the city below are completely disregarded entirely, dedicated to the slaves and servants to the magic elites.

The Royal Scarab Of House Itholren And The Pharahess Of Phyraxgia.

Table Of Contents

Geography

History

The Nirkana Valley

The Desert Terrain

Travel and Transportation

Perils Of The Desert

The Legacy Of Nefraijat - Phyraxgian Unlife

The Land Of The Dead.

Dynasties Of The Dead

Denizens Of Phyraxgia

Political Landscape

Settlements

Bestiary Of Phyraxgia

The words Phyraxgia and Phyraxgian, comes from an ancient Veilnakarii word for "Peoples that serve the sunless depths". Most likely referring to Aulreth, or Nekharahs domain in the abyssal realm.

The Great Nirkana

Open full size

Type

Desert

Location under

The Dsja'taresh Desert

Included Locations

• Imenakhet

Owner/Ruler

Calithis Vel'Itholren

Owning Organization

Il'ron'dii Itholren - Great House Itholren

Related Ethnicities

• Phyraxgian.

Characters in Location

• Varjjiah Pharaekh

Inhabiting Species

• Arellund
• Dral'azie
• Dravarii
• Girtablilu
• Gra'Quaitus
• Ophidian.
• Silinratath
• Zh'irajihn

History

The Origins of Phyraxgia and the wider Dsja'taresh are of much debate, much of what was the ancient Hasheeban desert was cast down into the underworld during the cataclysmic events of the Sundering, however the sheer extent of the Dsja'taresh suggests an already existing body of sand existed long before the Sundering occurred. Phyraxgia itself and its foundation is much easier to correlate in a hypsographical context. Phyraxgia is linked with the Veilnakarii and the fall of their once mighty surface kingdom into the underworld. Scattering the monuments and entire civilisation into the abyss. Much of the vast necropolises and unremembered ruins that are burried deep beneath the sands come from the ancient Aelfaune civilisations that dominated the ancient world before the Tellurian calendar.
How exactly the Phyraxgians Veilnakarii ancestors and the great river Nirkana came to be is another mystery, with very little historical evidence. Phyraxgian mythology from this early period speaks of how a river spirit called Nirkana was summoned to bring forth the waters by their venerated goddess Nekharah. Other tellings have it that it was Nekharah herself who cut open one of her veins and spilled forth the waters from the great steps into the lands, or that the river was here long before the fall, that the Dsja'taresh was the promised land their gods had long prophesised. Whatever the truth maybe, what is known for certain is that eventually, in 1844 FA. The city of Veilnakhet was founded by the short lived new Pharahess Zanakhet Veil'Itholren whom the city would take its name after. Over the next few centuries other settlements would spring up around the banks of the Nirkana and throughout the Delta and the length of the Nirkana Valley.
Over the coming millennia, the decedents of the Veilnakarii would expand, seeking out and exhuming the lost treasures of their past from the sands. Transforming this underground oasis into a strong and powerful nation. This new dominion would come to be called Phyraxgia, reinvigorating the culture and customs of their past and giving them new meaning, they plied their knowledge of ancient and powerful dark magic and necromantic lore, unknown and lost to the rest of the Dral'azie ilk.

Travel and Transportation

Travelling across the landscape of Phyraxgia can be troublesome at the best of times. It is ill advised by most to travel the hinterlands of the lush Nirkana valley by foot, let alone crossing the unforgiving sands beyond. Covering such a huge area, most of the desert is inaccessible due to its extreme environmental conditions and the dangerous creatures that dwell there. Inaccessibility to many parts of the desert has led to the settlements and tribes developing different methods to cross the sands and avoid a gruesome fate under the hollow sun. The most common, and considerably safest method of traveling through Phyraxgia for most visitors would be by river. Numerous boats and barges ferry cargo, people and livestock up and down the length of the Nirkana river all year round. One can reach any major settlement by boat. From the provincial capital of Veilnakhet, many traders have been known to board boats that go beyond the borders of Phyraxgia to the distant city state of Zhennu'janai and beyond. The river path forgoes the threat of desert raiders, the scourge of the undead and attacks by native wildlife that plague the land routes. Occasionally some boats are beset by giant water serpents or worse…
The peoples of Phyraxgia have been known to indenture numerous creatures, from fearsome saurians, strange majestic beasts and the more monstrous creatures and insectoids from the deserts and vast jungles regions to the north. Tamed and broken in as working animals, war mounts or curiosities. Many of these offering alternative methods of travel across land routes. The feathered predatory raptors of Phyraxgia in particular have for centuries been a favoured mount of the Phyraxgian warrior class, whilst merchants pertain to favour the strong behemoth Garthans to pull their caravans across the wastes. Such methods are also found elsewhere across the Dsja'taresh Deserts.
The tribes and nomads that call the sands home, came up with a different solution to navigating the dune seas. Sandships. Cruising across the desert, these strange vessels ride just above the sands on a pair of narrow pontoons. While the vessels built by the nomad peoples are small, fast and agile. The idea was adopted by the civilised cultures of the desert region, building larger more substantial vessels, capable of transporting large amount of goods quickly across trade routes throughout the entire underdesert. These larger vessels have become a target for bandits and a favourite snack for larger sandwyrms.

The Legacy of Nefraijat - Phyraxgian unlife

In the far distant past, legends tell of how the grand sorcerers and architects of the ancient Veilnakarii were commanded by the infamous Pharahess Nefraijat Iseueri to devise monolithic tomb-engines to generate masses of necrotic energies, allowing the Pharahess, and her sorcerers to commune with the Morblithe. Giving them command over the veil of death and allowing them control over an eternal unrelenting army of the dead that legend says lay dormant beneath the sands, awaiting the command of the Pharahess to emerge during times of upheaval or great crisis. These vast obsidian capped monoliths, obelisks and forgotten ziggurats can be found scattered far throughout the dominion, slowly sinking beanath the sands. Their construction unknowingly unleashed a necromantic phenomenon commonly called Phyraxgian unlife, a testament that the Legacy of Nefraijat was anything but myth.

by N-HANCE STUDIO

The Land of the Dead.

Despite the opulence and graduate this ancient and venerable culture boasts that can rival any other found throughout the underworld, Phyraxgian is not a place for the faint of heart. Perhaps the greatest danger that exists amongst the dunes, are the undead that shamble across them, explorers intrepid enough to brave these sands believe they have stumbled into the realm of the dead. A necrotic phenomenon commonly known as Phyraxgian unlife, any creature that would perish in these sands does not stay dead. Their shambling corpse would rise again to wander the desolate sands, every kind of unfortunate creatures, exile or explorer that has come to an unfortunate end becomes a wretched walking cadavers, curse is an endless torment to forever wander the land with an insatiable hunger and involuntarily attacking and destroying anything living they stumble across.
Cursed, desiccated mummies and dispossessed carcasses roam these deserts, whilst carefully embalmed mummies attend the needs of the living of Veilnakhet and the settlements of the Nirkana. Necromancy and the undead are a significant feature that permeates throughout every aspect of Phyraxgia, seeping into the very sands themselves.
Funerary barges are a commonly sight seen travelling down the Nirkana, passing through the towering gates of ?? toward the Necropolis of Nekharah. From here they enter the care of the priests of the mortuary cult and white necromancers that reside there. These guardians and custodians of the dead will prepare the bodies for the afterlife. In order to advert the fate of unlife the dead of Phyraxgia must be embalmed in the proper manner, carefully wrapped and adorned with ensorcelled cartouches before being laid to rest in tombs to slumber, earning their respite in the afterlife.

by Grezgorz Kutkowski

Dynasties of the dead.

In these dreaded desert where only dead men walk, the long deceased rulers of the distant past lay peacefully beneath the shifting sands in their opulent tombs and necropolises. The people they ruled over long dead and the cities they called home naught but dried ash and shifting sand. Like most earthly remains under the sands of Phyraxgia, it had been known for these monarchs of the distant past to not stay quiet. When they awaken from this deep sleep, their dreaded legions of warriors and servants buried alongside them also stir from their tombs. Ancient, emotionless and spiteful, possessing a bitter resentment to life they no longer possess. Rising from the scorching sands, brandishing archaic weapons of tarnished bronze and priceless gold long buried beneath the sands, seeking to claim the land anew. Understandably the re-emergence of these antediluvian figures can cause severe issues with the current Pharahess. Resulting in open conflict with these mummified liches and their retinues of undead servants they have brough forth to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

Bestiary of Phyraxgia

by SerenityOnyx

by SerenityOnyx