Arshanti (Are-shawn-tee)
A Lost Civilization
The Arshanti were a people of Lagonan origin who formed a kingdom in the eastern sands of what is now known as the Tel-Raiq Desert. Believed to have lived about twelve thousand years ago, the ancient civilization thrived alongside the Dwarves of Tel-Raiq. Archaeologists in Arnt Batin also believe the nation fell not long after the Dwarven-Draconic War. Today, Arshanti history is studied by many looking to uncover the mystery behind the nation's technologies and culture far ahead of its time.
The Mandate of the Seven Suns
The most informative and valuable discovery in recent archaeological history has been the translation of an ancient Arshanti tablet, unearthed in the year 424 in the famous Ensurrabi Excavation Site. The tablet tells a story known as the Mandate of the Seven Suns, showing the story of a man rising to power and becoming known as the "Philosopher King Tanhkam Urrabi, Brightest Among Seven Suns" before his betrayal and murder by his queen. The tablet is thought to have been made not long after the fall of the Arshanti civilization, leading historians to believe in the Philosopher King being one of the last of Arshanti royalty. The translation of this poem has allowed linguists and archaeologists to work together and translate more of the Arshanti language, allowing a deeper understanding of how stories and legends often found on unearthed pottery and murals speak volumes about the culture and history of this ancient kingdom.A New Kingdom
Discoveries have led researchers to uncover clues about how the Arshanti thrived as long as they did. Prior to the rule of Tankham Urrabi, the tribe was ruled by Karkin Arshanti, the Slave King. Karkin, through his leadership, dominated many of the mannish tribes in the eastern sands of Tel-Raiq. Karkin Arshanti was known to be a tyrant, with depictions on murals and tablets showing his rule to be one with an iron fist. He was harsh on his subjects, often executing his subjects for looking at him. The first law of the Arshanti was made by him, saying: To have No Name, you are but a slave. To own One, you are a commoner. Two is royalty, and Three is divinity. The discovery of this law allowed researchers to craft more detailed understandings of how Arshanti society was eventually structured, and this law of names seems to persist throughout the nation's history.An Inspired People
Despite the tyranny of the Slave King, the kingdom flourished, expanding its borders to house most of the eastern Tel-Raiq Desert. Some believe this may be due to their collective belief in an entity known as the Spirit of Enlightenment. Spoken of in many religious scriptures and the Mandate of the Seven Suns, mentions of the Spirit date back to uncovered tombs and murals located close to the center of Tel-Raiq- close to the dangerous quicksilver sea shown on maps today. Depictions of the Spirit are of a great silver dragon and the people give praise to the entity for granting strength, protection and inspiration to the Arshanti. Often seen in tombs is this phrase following an obituary:May your rest be Everlasting, for your Work is done. May the Brightest guide your will to Enlightenment.
There are twelve Arshanti tombs that have been uncovered as of now. Shockingly well preserved since existing under the sands for millennia, these tombs know little decay before their excavations. Buried with the dead are objects of comfort, namely pillows, quilts and bottles of alcohol. The inside of these tombs are covered in murals depicting the life of the inhabitants, and it has been found that weapons and armour are never seen in these crypts- even ones housing fallen warriors. Archaeologists comb the desert sands for more to this day.
A Golden Age
Modern translations of Arshanti history depict a golden age of technological, philosophical and societal advancement- one that lasted through a majority of the kingdom's existence. Sources on this topic lead to the rise of the Philosopher King; Tunkham Urrabi, Brightest Among Seven Suns. The poem Mandate of the Seven Suns tells of Urrabi as a vessel of the Spirit of Enlightenment, and sources show that the Philosopher King led the nation with kindness, compassion, and unity. The Arshanti then practiced monumental achievements in medicinal practices, trade and architecture; this led to buildings and technologies that could rival even today's artisans. A notable product of the golden age is a mural on a temple's floors in the Ensurrabi Site- depicting a starmap previously thought to only be possible through today's astronomical equipment. Oddly, there are no known accounts of rulers succeeding Urrabi, despite the several thousand years of time between Urrabi's coronation and the fall of his nation. The only explanation many historians subscribe to is that Tunkham Urrabi was a ruler so loved by his people that his name is one given to every monarch the nation enjoyed; it does not, however, explain the similarity of governmental practices across the final thousands of years of translated Arshanti history. The final line of the Mandate of the Seven Suns does say that the Spirit of Enlightenment lives on past Urrabi's death, and more work is being done to uncover this mystery.Collapse
Not much is known about the collapse of the Arshanti civilization. All that we know today is that Urrabi's death, depicted in his Mandate, was caused by his queen Ensa Lotii who desired his throne. The Mandate is the youngest known Arshanti artifact, and researchers cannot help but wonder if the death of a great monarch followed by the Dwarven-Draconic War led to the kingdom's fall. Today, anthropologists work to uncover the great mysteries regarding the Arshanti; entire schools are dedicated to finding out where the Spirit of Enlightenment originated, and why it seems Tunkham Urrabi held his throne for over three thousand years. Amenadiel Ensurrabi is closely followed as the man most likely to uncover the secrets of the lost civilization, as the archaeologist works almost tirelessly to search the sands of Tel-Raiq for answers.
Type
Geopolitical, Empire