In southern Kessia the black pillars of the desert have begun to weep dark and bitter tasting blood.
In the southern ranges of the continent of Atercia lies the subcontinent and desert region of Kessia. A blistering expanse of sand and barren rock that was once home to the greatest human civilization of prehistory. Their fall marks the beginning of the modern age of humanity and although the Kessian people still inhabit a few remaining outposts, the larger part of the Kessian kingdom was destroyed and the resulting cataclysm devastated the region.
Despite the dangers, many peoples in the north hold Kessia in a revered and almost mythical regard, spending time and money to explore and recover lost artifacts and knowledge. Much of the technology and advances and many of the ethnic varieties of humans can trace their origins back to the Kessians.
Most of the region is now a hostile wasteland and magically toxic to life. The few remaining settlements survive through trade, luck and sheer determination.
Kessians are brown skinned, regal and beautiful people, with dark or light brown coloured hair and golden or green eyes. They are also arrogant, expressive and quick to anger if provoked or reminded of their lost history and culture. Kessians have adapted somewhat to live in particularly hot dry conditions, they can last longer without water than other humanoids but do not have any stark differences to their bodies that sets them apart.
Kessians today resemble the ancient Kessians in almost every respect except the appearance of wealth. Ancient kessians trapped themselves in gold, silver, precious gemstones, silks and extrangant styles of clothing. Today the majority of the kessian people struggle to survive on a daily basis and have lost the everyday grandeur that was so visible in the past. Instead Kessians wear dark clothing to protect themselves from the heat and occial magical tempests that sweep across the land.
The history of ancient Kessia is a long and storied affair, reaching back thousands of years with many periods of growth, stagnation, conquest and peace. Unfortunately it would seem, just like the other races, humans are not immune to self destructive tendencies and despite their advancements the Kessians bought their doom upon themselves.
Kessians first appeared as a separate and distinguable ethnicity sometime around 2400 years BC (Before Collapse). Settling in the rich river delta of the Lise, these early Kessians were the first to discover farming on a large scale and were able to fast track their civilization to more advanced heights in a short amount of time. In around 2000 BC the first cities were already springing up along the river and even spreading along the coastline, city states and kingdoms would form around the same time and by 1960 BC the First Kessian kingdom centered around the capital of Nazoa was declared by the brilliant, charismatic and cruel First King.
Kessians bemoan the lost age and glory of their people. They are well aware they live in what amounts to the ruins of former palaces, gardens and temples and obsessed with trying to recover that glory in whatever way they can. For most this means surviving against the odds stacked against them but other take more direct means and a significant number of kessians venture into the desert in search of knowledge and power every year. In fact the economy is so focused around the recovery of ancient texts and technology that the Kessians have almost become an entire people of adventures, explorers and treasure hunters.Common, Kessian Home Region
Kessia Religion
Any
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