On the Northern Edge of the
Great Sand Sea is Duat Canyon. it's a deep canyon over a mile in depth and is over 60 miles in diameter. it's not visible from the horizon as few of its peaks are higher than the dunes of the sand sea that surrounds it. Traders crossing to
Guurzan call it Duat Canyon as it's feared to be one of the gates to the underworld.
Descending into the canyon is difficult with a few narrow passageways that reach the bottom. the ground is crusted over, making a crunching sound with every footstep. The occasional dust devil blows away the millenia of sands, revealing the white crystalline surface. While a wealth of salts, natron and other minerals could be mined here (and it has been attempted), the appearance of petrified animals and large bones of fantastical monsters have scared away many Khemitians. another story says a
Sun Barge was seen on the edge of an abyss, waiting to take passengers below. Thus, enforcing the mythos of the underworld.
Valley of Martyrs
If the stories are true, in -929 I.R, with the fall of the
Kingdom of Nubara, the people of Khemit tried to overthrow the one called the Sky Pharaoh for the atrocities he committed. Instead, they underestimated his power. in a mocking gesture, somewhere in Duat Canyon is a vast burial tomb he created with traitorous generals and viziers, failed rebel leaders, and assassins. Each given torturous end and epitaph explaining their failures. The exact location is unknown. It is assumed that every slave crew brought for additions to the tomb, were killed with no proper burial to become guardians in the next life. Even the Sky Pharaoh, when he was finally defeated in -900 I.R., his true name was stricken from the Obelisk of Kings and his burial location if he existed at all, remains a mystery.
Further back in time
In the Old Khemitian Period, there are legends that the
Setesh River had a different path, one that cut through the
Great Sand Sea spilling into Duat Canyon. Instead of a Canyon, Duat would have been a vast lake and a jewel in the heart of the ancient Khemitian Kingdom. Stories of temples to unknown gods dotted the islands within the lake and wealthy villas basked in its beauty. Without further investigation, these are just stories from Khemitian traders to pass the time.
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