Nakhasi
Origins and the Rise of Empire
The Nakhasi were among the earliest post-Prime peoples shaped by a Steward—in this case, Huichi, whose indirect approach favored subtle evolution over forceful design. Unlike her siblings, Huichi did not micromanage her creations. She nudged, she planted seeds—and so the Nakhasi became a people shaped not by divine intervention, but by self-refinement, ambition, and adaptation. They were the first mortals to found a lasting empire, a sprawling confederation of city-states and tribute-collecting protectorates. At its height, the Nakhasi Empire was a marvel of diplomacy, martial ingenuity, and philosophical contradiction. Under the guidance of the demigod Mok Tun, born of Huichi and a mortal woman named Syla, they built temples, minted laws, codified philosophy—and spread their influence across the continent. This empire did not erase other cultures but absorbed them. Conquered peoples retained their own rulers, languages, and customs, so long as they paid tribute and acknowledged the Nakhasi cultural superiority. It was not tolerance—it was calculated pragmatism. Nakhasi intellectual culture began as an elitist detachment from emotion: “Reason shed of mercy or favor is order.” Their nobles disdained emotional displays, favoring stoic logic, precision, and the elegant architecture of control. Over time, this fractured into two dominant schools of thought:- The Rational Idealists: The philosophical elite—many descended from Mok Tun’s vision—believed in separating emotion from logic, striving for harmonious, calculated co-prosperity. They established early systems of public education, welfare, and civic discourse—not from altruism, but from a belief that optimized prosperity benefitted all.
- The Purifiers: A more militant sect sought to "cleanse the old" and install a new order by force. They co-opted the rhetoric of harmony to justify hierarchical systems and the expansion of militarized control. To them, order was beauty—and beauty required pruning.
The Fall of Mok Tun and the Shattering of the Empire
Eventually, Mok Tun, burdened by centuries of leadership and a growing fear of true immortality locked into a life and role he no longer wished for, sought release. He approached his sister—rumored to be tied to the passage of Soulforce between Death and the Moon Gate—and asked her for a final mercy. She obliged. His death unbalanced the empire, as no singular will remained to maintain equilibrium between the ideological factions. Civil war followed. So too did external invasions, and over time, the Nakhasi Imperium dissolved into fractured fiefdoms.Founding of Kyokuri and the Philosophy of Renewal
In the wake of collapse, a final act was undertaken. A coalition of pacifist Nakhasi escaped to Kyokuri, where they enacted a swift and silent purge of the last militant sect. There, they founded the philosophical tradition now known as the Harmonious Way—a path of balance, intentional living, and personal transformation. Though the serpent and shedding skin remained useful metaphors in their canon, they were no longer treated as divine symbols, but natural processes: one sheds, one transforms, one grows. In modern Kyokuri, the Harmonious Way is embraced by many peoples, not just Nakhasi. While a Nakhasi origin is acknowledged, few followers dwell on that history. The old reverence has been tempered into quiet practice.The Nakhasi Today
Most Nakhasi now live scattered across Alathor, integrated into other regions and nations. They rarely identify solely by race, preferring regional affiliations—Virondian, Helvanian, Yeorian. Their cultural presence is subtle: a fondness for long-form debate, elegant minimalist fashion, and personal discipline rather than rigid codes. The old serpent imagery still appears—on jewelry, tattoos, and philosophical texts—but more often as a symbol of transition and control, not heritage or mysticism.Echoes in Aurorum
Interestingly, The Exalted of Aurorum—a rigid theocracy under the Steward Zun-3—bear striking resemblance to the Purifier sect of the ancient Nakhasi. Though most Aurorans are not racially Nakhasi, their obsession with hierarchy, purity, and order is a philosophical descendant of the same ideals. Some Exalted scholars even claim they are the rightful heirs to the Nakhasi vision of empire, purified of its weaknesses. This claim is highly controversial among Nakhasi pacifists and Kyokuri spiritualists, but the similarities are hard to ignore.Cultural Traits and Ideals
Physical Appearance:- Faces: Oval-shaped with almond eyes, high cheekbones, and sharp, angular jaws.
- Skin: Shades of silvery-blue or gold, often textured or subtly iridescent.
- Eyes: Commonly bright green, amber, gray, or gold.
- Aging: Their muted expressions and slow emotional displays give them a preternaturally youthful appearance well into old age.
- Ideal Nakhasi beauty is discipline made visible—figures that are lithe, poised, and still.
- Beauty is found in discipline and clarity—streamlined clothing, deliberate gestures, and poised silence.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Lifespan
75 years
Average Height
Male, 5'5" to 6'0"
Female, 5'3" to 5'7"
Average Weight
Male, 150 - 185lbs
Female, 90 to 120lbs
Average Physique
Their builds are similar to the Maia, though a bit shorter and stockier on average, but still lean. Their leanness, though, is more dense and more powerful than what one might first suspect. They can appear both rigid and fluid, and are usually somewhere in between. They physiques give the impression of coiled springs tense and ready to unload, but their demeanor and movements reveal it is a tension and power that most Nakhasi are in complete control of.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Skin tones range between pale blues, greens, and tans. Stronger, darker hues and/or larger, pointier ears suggest to some of cross-breeding with Maia somewhere in the heritage, which most noble families would denounce (a sort of cultural denial of the old Nakhasi Empire's misuse of the Maian people). However, it is not a trait that is generally frowned upon amongst the common people - and, overall, has become less-frowned upon in general, even among some noble families, in the more modern age of widespread diversity.
Their skin often holds patterns in gold or silver, extending across their backs, arms, and sometimes chest and face. These are natural, and were even considered desirable and an aspect of beauty in considering a mate, and so there are some noble families that take great pride in wearing clothing that puts their markings on display.
Related Organizations
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