Ibne Alfas

Races: Leonin, Yuan-Ti Pureblood, Dragonborn, Aarakocra

Ibne Alfas: The Desert Jewel of Jana

The Ibne Alfas region is a breathtaking land of golden sand dunes, shimmering oases, and endless skies. Situated in the arid northwest of the continent, it is a land of extremes—scorching days and frigid nights—that has shaped its people into a hardy, yet vibrant culture. The region is dominated by vast, undulating dunes that tower like natural fortresses, their crests shifting with each gust of the dry wind. These Dunes of the Eternal Sun stretch for miles, concealing lost ruins, ancient treasures, and long-buried secrets. The only respite from the harsh desert heat is the life-giving river known as the River Neferset, a sparkling ribbon of azure that carves its way through the dunes like a vein of sapphire.

The Kingdom of Ibne Alfas: A Land of Joy and Tradition

Ibne Alfas is ruled by the Leonin Pharaoh Khamose the Radiant, a charismatic and beloved leader who has brought prosperity and joy to his people. Known for his regal presence, powerful frame, and fiery mane, Khamose embodies the strength and courage of the desert lions. His reign is marked by his profound devotion to his people, whom he refers to as his "Pride of the Sands." By his side is his loyal and devoted consort, the Dragonborn general Rhazal the Steelfang, a stern and powerful warrior who tempers the Pharaoh’s passion with calm wisdom and strategic insight. Their union has become a symbol of unity and strength in the region, representing the harmonious blending of the Leonin and Dragonborn people.
The people of Ibne Alfas are a diverse mix of Leonin, Yuan-Ti Purebloods, Aarakocra, Dragonborn, and Lizardfolk, each contributing their unique strengths and perspectives to the culture. Despite the harshness of their environment, the citizens are a joyful and robust people, known for their elaborate festivals, lively music, and a fierce love for competition. The region is famous for its Sand Games, a series of daring races, acrobatic feats, and trials of strength held amidst the shifting dunes. The grandest of these events is the Great Mirage, a biennial festival that draws spectators and competitors from across all of Jana. During the Great Mirage, sand surfing champions ride down the colossal dunes on polished boards, warriors engage in mock duels atop chariot-like sand skiffs, and the people gather to dance and sing under the stars. This apolitical event serves as a time of unity, celebrating the strength, grace, and resilience of all races.

The Capital City: Ramada

The city of Ramada, the only major settlement in the region, sits along the banks of the River Neferset, which the locals call the Celestial Vein in reverence. Ramada’s architecture is a mesmerizing blend of soaring minarets, domed palaces, and towering ziggurats, all painted in sun-baked shades of ochre, crimson, and ivory. The buildings are adorned with intricate mosaics of turquoise and lapis lazuli, reflecting the river’s sacred blue hue. Open courtyards and rooftop gardens abound, each a verdant oasis filled with lush palms, fragrant jasmine, and fountains that tinkle like laughter in the night.
Ramada’s streets are alive with color and activity, bustling with merchants hawking everything from exotic spices and silks to enchanted artifacts said to be dug up from the deep sands. The scent of incense and roasting meats fills the air, and the calls of street performers and storytellers ring out in the bazaars. Grand plazas host nightly revels, where dancers swirl in costumes adorned with beads and feathers, and the sound of drums and flutes echoes through the cool desert night.
At the heart of the city stands the Golden Palace, the seat of Pharaoh Khamose’s rule. It is a magnificent structure, its walls lined with gilded carvings of the Leonin ancestors and the deeds of past rulers. The palace overlooks the Celestial Vein, where the water glows with a faint, ethereal light at night, said to be a blessing from the water gods themselves. Within its marble halls, Pharaoh Khamose and Rhazal host vibrant court sessions, where problems are solved as much through poetry and song as through edict and decree.

The Water Gods and the Faith of Ibne Alfas

The people of Ibne Alfas are devout followers of the water gods, whom they believe to be the true lifeblood of the desert. Chief among these deities are Istishia, the god of elemental water and purification, and Deep Sashelas, the elven deity of rivers and waters. The faithful of Ibne Alfas see water as the most precious of gifts, and even a drop is never wasted. Rituals of purification are performed daily, and the people make pilgrimages to the riverbanks to offer prayers and thanks.

The Mysterious Pyramids of the Shifting Sands

Dotting the desert are the Pyramids of the Shifting Sands, ancient structures that predate even the oldest recorded histories of Ibne Alfas. These towering edifices of black stone rise starkly from the dunes, their surfaces covered in strange hieroglyphs and glowing runes that pulse with a faint, eerie light during the darkest hours of the night. Most of the pyramids are half-buried, visible only as shadowed spires jutting from the sand, but a few—such as the Pyramid of Khaliq—remain fully exposed, casting long shadows over the desert.
The origins of these pyramids are shrouded in mystery. Local legends say they were built by an ancient civilization known only as the Serpens Imperium, a race of serpentine sorcerer-kings who ruled the desert long before the Leonin tribes established their dominance. The Serpens Imperium was said to have harnessed the dark energies of the underworld to extend their lives and enslave the spirits of the desert. Their empire ended abruptly in what the legends call the Night of the Black Moon, when the gods of water turned against the serpent kings, sealing their spirits inside the very pyramids they had built as monuments to their power.
The pyramids are believed to be cursed, and the people of Ibne Alfas steer clear of them, for it is said that the dead do not rest within their shadowed halls. Whispers tell of Necromancers, both Yuan-Ti and rogue spellcasters, who seek out these forbidden places, hoping to tap into the ancient magics that still linger in the tombs. Though the Pharaoh has outlawed all such practices, a hidden cult known as the Children of Khaliq has formed, its members drawn to the pyramids like moths to a flame. These cultists, clad in robes of shadowy silk and marked with tattoos of serpents coiling around their limbs, believe that the true power of the Serpens Imperium can be unlocked and used to reclaim the desert from the rule of the Pharaoh.

The Great Mirage: The Apolitical Games of Ibne Alfas

The Great Mirage is a grand event held every two years in Ramada, attracting competitors from every corner of Jana. Named after the illusionary heatwaves that ripple across the sands, the games are a showcase of athletic prowess, artistic performance, and magical mastery. Unlike other regional contests, the Great Mirage is strictly apolitical, with Pharaoh Khamose personally overseeing its organization to ensure that no military or political disputes taint the spirit of the games.
Events include the Dune Dash, a grueling sand surfing race down the steepest dune in Ibne Alfas; the Dance of the Djinn, where contestants perform magical displays of light and sound; and the Trial of Sands, a test of endurance where warriors must navigate the burning dunes with only minimal supplies, battling both the elements and summoned sand elementals. Victors of each event receive a crown of sun-gold, said to bless them with the favor of the gods for a full year.
The Great Mirage serves as a time of joy and unity, with the people of Ibne Alfas sharing their traditions and hospitality with their guests. Yet, in the shadows, the Children of Khaliq watch and wait, whispering their blasphemous prophecies of a time when the sands will run red, and the Serpens Imperium will rise once more.

Present Day Ibne Alfas: A Kingdom on the Edge of Light and Shadow

Despite the beauty and prosperity of Ramada, dark clouds gather on the horizon. The Children of Khaliq grow bolder, and sightings of undead creatures wandering the desert have become more frequent. Pharaoh Khamose and Rhazal remain beloved figures, and the people trust in their wisdom and strength, but whispers of a curse spreading from the pyramids have begun to spread.
The people of Ibne Alfas stand at a crossroads, caught between the joyous light of their vibrant culture and the shadowy past that lurks beneath the sands. Will they remain the joyful and proud guardians of the desert, or will the dark power of the pyramids consume them once more? Only the shifting sands of fate can tell.

Pharaoh Khamose the Radiant and his consort General Rhazal the Steelfang

Location under

Jana: The Continent of Boundless Magic