Free Cities of Al-Khet
The Free Cities of Al-Khet stand as a proud alliance of four powerful city-states—Nefra, Thal'shara, Zhinra, and Y'Matara—each a distinct jewel in the sands of the Osirion Wastes. Together, they form an economic and political powerhouse in the southeastern region, rooted in an alliance that balances tradition, wealth, and a fierce sense of independence. Their influence extends across the desert, with each city-state lending its unique strengths and cultural identity to the collective might of Al-Khet.
Nefra
Nefra is the heart of trade in Al-Khet, ruled by a council of powerful Merchant Lords who control its lucrative markets, known especially for the notorious slave auctions of Khennet-Aru. In Nefra, wealth is power, and those who rise in status do so with sharp minds and sharper alliances. However, Nefra is a city of stark contrasts; while the Merchant Lords bask in luxury, the lower classes toil in the scorching sun, struggling for survival beneath the shadows of towering palaces. Still, Nefra’s bustling economy fuels the prosperity of the Free Cities and maintains its role as a dominant force in regional trade.Thal’shara
Thal'shara, a city built on the strength of its Trading Houses, is renowned for its mercantile prowess and relentless pursuit of profit. Here, powerful family-owned Houses control resources and trade networks, each maintaining private armies and webs of spies to secure their assets and outmaneuver rivals. This city’s economy is as much about information and leverage as it is about goods, and merchants in Thal'shara trade secrets and alliances as readily as they do silk and spices. Though their internal rivalries are fierce, the Trading Houses unite against any threat to Thal'shara's dominance, preserving its status as a city of ambition and intrigue.Y'Matara
Y'Matara, the “Gateway of Al-Khet,” is strategically located at the confluence of the Nekhet and Sahri Rivers. Known for its role as a diplomatic hub, Y'Matara maintains neutrality, allowing it to serve as a center for alliances, negotiations, and trade between distant lands. The city’s vast Merchants Quarter and embassies attract diplomats, traders, and emissaries from across Al-Khet. The Divine Pharaoh Sethet-Ka, who holds absolute power here, enforces a strict social order among Y’Matara’s citizens, ensuring both unity and pride. Each month, he presides over the Festival of Crimson Sands, where gladiatorial battles captivate the populace, reinforcing his authority and indulging their taste for spectacle. However, rumors circulate of Sethet-Ka’s waning favor with the divine, as his attention shifts to amassing treasures rather than appeasing the powers that granted him his rule.Zhinra
Zhinra serves as Al-Khet’s seat of aristocratic decadence, where noble families oversee the production of rare narcotics that make their way across the region and beyond. The nobility of Zhinra live in opulent excess, hosting grand festivals and indulging in luxuries while exercising a refined but ruthless control over the lower classes. Their power lies not only in wealth but in the dependency they foster through their potent exports, controlling the lives of both the addicted and the indebted. Despite its elegant veneer, Zhinra is a place of underlying darkness, where social hierarchies are unyielding, and the consequences of failure are brutal.History
1600 CE - The Al-Khetian Fracture
The death of Pharoah Queen Atenara in 1600 CE, brought about by a mysterious and unexplained illness, marked the beginning of the end of the Empire of Al-Khet. In the wake of her passing, Sethet-Ka rose to claim the title of Divine Pharaoh, but his ascension was contested and failed to unify the fracturing provinces. Without a clear succession and amid mounting internal divisions, the once-mighty empire splintered. City-states, governors, and former provincial commanders asserted their own sovereignty, giving rise to the Free Cities of Al-Khet. While they claimed descent from imperial traditions, these cities operated independently, competing for influence over trade routes, river crossings, and abandoned imperial fortresses.Diplomacy
Type
Alliance, Cultural
Predecessor Organization
Location
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities