The river Iris has supported the Kingdom of Carthus for thousands of years. Some speculate, Kul-Elna to be one of the first human settlements on Naphus and this city has always relied on the Iris for water, food, irrigation, transportation, trade, and a great many other things.
One of the most lucrative profession’s on the water aside from the fishing are guides. Those traveling up and down the river will often hire a guide to ensure one does not get lost or end up on of the rivers more dangerous tributaries.
The Iris river spans a distance of over 500 miles and life in the desert would be impossible without it. This river is notorious however for leading many newcomers on the river astray with its many tributaries and curving turns. It’s because of how often the river turns and bends its way through the desert that soil can support life here. The sediments from up river in the kingdom of Laruvia flow down the river and fertilize the soils every year with the annual floods.
The Iris river is expansive enough to cater not only to the needs of civilization but also to the vast spectrum of living animals and monsters that rely on the river as well. Large crocodiles and ferocious lizardfolk hunt in the waters and among its banks for unsuspecting prey. Some of the more dangerous and feared creatures have been driven to the edge of existence here, prowling or swimming in the outer tributaries of the river while most local fisherman prefer the main artery of the Iris.
Plants found on the Iris River include Papyrus, water lettuce, water hyacinth, and floating lotus flowers to name a few. Examples of animals that call the Iris home are Crocodiles, soft-shelled turtles, large or giant lizards, snakes, cranes and hippopotamus. All of the plants and animals that live here help to maintain the circle of life that has thrived here on the Iris river for millennia.
The river provides two very important resources for maintaining life in the desert, food and water. That however, is not all that it offers. Seaweed can be pulled from the riverbed and burned along the shores for Soda Ash. This river is the only river on Naphus whose seaweed pulls salt from the after and stores it in its leaves and roots, resulting in very clear blue water. Soda ash is often used in the production of glass in this region.
In times long ago, the river was used to transport thousands upon thousands of large stone blocks that would be used in the construction of the pharaohs tombs all across the Carthus. These large stones were floated down river and then hauled to the location of the tomb. None of Carthus’s tombs would have been possible without the assistance of the Iris River.
When the Pharaoh Atem was reborn in Kul-Elna, his rage towards Krivbekna and his invading armies was so great, the Iris River reflected his rage and turned red like blood. All peoples of the Iris were terrified by their god-kings power and rage that none would dare defy him and his liberation of his kingdom and the destruction of his enemy.
