Khayu
Khayu was an old Kingdom when the great empires of the world were young.
Demography and Population
Nearly four million people live on the banks of the Siwa and Dendera rivers, the vast majority of them are human who have ruled over the land since time immemorial.
Nearly ten percent of the population is made up of Halflings, whose homeland lies in the south of Khayu in what they call the Land of the Sycamore along the blue river Ptah. For centuries the Halflings existed as nothing more than conquered slaves to their Khayan overlords, living and dying on the whims of their masters. They were used to build the great monuments of the Khayu valley; the black obelisks, the shimmering pyramids, and mighty sphinxes. Many were forced down into the mines and quarries from which Khayu drew its great mineral wealth. This all changed when Anshan Ahurazun conquered and overthrew the Pharaohs in 3446 A.C. when the conquering King of all the Cosmos freed all the Halflings in the Black Land and took them into his personal protection. After this harrying Halflings became a grave crime in Khayu.
The deserts surrounding the Khayu Valley are home to the Efreeti people, though their exactly where and how they live, or how many of them may exist, are entirely unknown to all.
Territories
The traditional lands of the Khayan Pharaohs stretch from the shores of the Great Green Sea in the West to the red Nekhen mountains in the East. They have longed laid claim to the deserts and lands to the north and south of the Khayu Valleym and following their conquest of the Halflings none have dared contest these claims.
The land of Khayu itself is divided into different territories, or Nomes. These Nomes include:
Atef-Pehu, The Land of the Sycamore: Located in the south-east of Khayu cut in twain by the fast, blue waters of the river Ptah, the Land of the Sycamore is the homeland of the Halflings. This land is known for its dates, honey, and rich farmland. Life is easy and good in the Land of the Sycamore.
Iqer, The Land of the Crocodile: The lush Land of the Crocodile lies along the west coast of Khayu. It is made of the southern banks of a complex network of river deltas where the Siwa and Dendera rivers meet the Great Green Sea. Though it has long been a swampy and inhospitable for centuries, after the Elves conquered Khayu they built an advanced series of dikes and dams that have turned the once unusable Nome into fertile farmland.
Ta-Seti, The Land of the Bow:
Theb-Ka, The Land of the Calf and Cow: The fertile farmland between the Siwa and Dendera rivers, the Land of the Calf and Cow provides huge amounts of food for the citizens of Khayu. As it is located in the center of the country, it is also the richest trading center in the Valley and is home to Menefre, Khayu's largest city.
Uab, The Land of Two Scepters: A Nome in the shadow of the Nekhen mountains, Uab is the ancient seat from which the Pharaohs ruled Khayu. The mystical city of Yamu holds many secrets, and was the location chosen by the Pharaohs of old on which to build their great pyramids. It is said the land is home to many spirits, and that they have placed a curse on the land until the Ahuran Elves are driven from Khayu.
Wenet, The Land of the Hare: The Land of the Hare in the midlands of Khayu are home to vast wheat fields and other farmlands. Though it turns to shrubland in the south, most of Wenet is rich and fertile and provides much of the bread consumed throughout Khayu. Often thought of as a boring Nome, there is little in Wenet to attract adventurers.
Wedjet, The Land of the Cobra: Wadjet lies in the far south of the Khayu valley where the deep chasms of stone meet the scorching sands of the Bekhen desert. This harsh, unforgiving land is home to the endless gold mines and every one of them since time began has been personally owned by the Pharaohs. Still, bold and hardy adventurers will brave the deadly desert sands to seek out lost treasure and find wealth and fame in these ancient lands. That is, if the monsters that call Wedjet home don't claim them first....
Religion
The men of Khayu follow a complex and polytheistic religion known as Khemetism. This ancient religion is built on traditional rites and superstitious beliefs that permeate the everyday lives of every man, woman, and child in Khayu. They believe that the Gods must be worshiped through sacrifice and prayer, and their omens then strictly obeyed in return lest their wrath descend upon the land as it was the Gods that controlled the wind and rain, the of the sea and the annual flooding of the rivers.
The most important God of the land is Amun-Ra, who reigns over Heaven from his throne of fire that is the Sun. His son, Osiris, guides and judges all mankind. The other Gods live in the Aether of the world, and it is from this ethereal space between the physical and the religious that they move the elements of Kaena itself to bring prosperity or ruin to the people of Khayu.
All men are endowed with Ka, or soul, and through worship their Ka will be weighed and brought to Heaven upon their death. A wicked man, however, may have their soul consumed by Apep, a cosmic serpent made of stars who feeds on the Ka of those unworthy of the afterlife. Those buried properly; mummified and wrapped in linen, will be welcomed by Osiris who will walk with them to heaven where they will live an eternal life in golden splendor. The splendor of the deceased can be seen every night, as the Khayans believe that the rings of Kaena are made up of the Ka of the deceased who guide their descendants from the night sky while Amun-Ra slumbers until morning.
Foreign Relations
Khayu is and always has been an isolated kingdom. The vast Great Seti desert to the north and the cruel Bekhen in the south have kept travelers from other parts of Casval from making the long journey to the lush river valley. For centuries the only contact Khayu had with the outside world was the odd Catfolk who would brave the Nekhen mountains or the rare Kynosian trader who sailed what the Khayans call the Great Green Sea.
Through these traders a legend of a land of sand and gold slowly began to grow. The great pharaohs and their grand sorcerers became objects of fascination to the kingdoms of the world, who knew Khayu only as a land where the Sun was god and the old magicks were strong.
At last, it was the Ahuran Elves who set out in force to cross the Bekhen desert to find out if the legends were true. With them came war and conquest, and the men of Khayu learned they had been right to isolate themselves from the world.
Agriculture & Industry
The Khayans grow a variety of crops for consumption, including grains, vegetables and fruits. However, their diets revolve around several staple crops, especially cereals and barley. Other major grains grown included einkorn wheat and emmer wheat, grown to make bread. Other staples for the majority of the population included beans, lentils, and later chickpeas and fava beans. Root crops, such as onions, garlic and radishes were grown, along with salad crops, such as lettuce and parsley.
Khayans reliy on agriculture for more than just the production of food. They are creative in their use of plants, using them for medicine, as part of their religious practices, and in the production of clothing. Herbs have the most varied purposes; they are used in cooking, medicine, as cosmetics and in the process of embalming. Papyrus is an extremely versatile crop that grows wild and is also heavily cultivated. The roots of the plant are eaten as food, but it is primarily used as an industrial crop. The stem of the plant is used to make boats, mats, and paper. Flax is another important industrial crop that has several uses. Its primary use was in the production of rope, and for linen which was the Khayans' principal material for making their clothing. Henna was grown for the production of dye.
Khayu is also a major producer of alabaster, gold, granite, limestone, and marble as well as fine gemstones such as amethyst, beryl, lapis lazuli, malachite, and turquoise.
We of Sedge and Bee
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Alternative Names
The Black Land, Land of the Twin Rivers
Demonym
Khayan
Currency
Bronze, Silver, and Gold coinage.
Official State Religion
Location
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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