The Kingdom of Akriteru
The land of Sand and Bones
The Akriteru Desert is a large region in Southern Astiria , found on the south-western side of the continent of Astiria. Now little more than a barren sea of sand, it once was home to one of the earliest Human civilizations of Varda. The name of the desert is taken from this once mighty culture, which is collectively referred to by historians as the Kingdom of Akriteru.
Arguably the birthplace of the Human species on Astiria, Akriteru was a powerful country that existed for over 2000 years. Its influence on the world was vital, as key technological advancements first came about from the early settlers of the desert, and would lead to humanity spreading across Varda far and wide.
The Origin of Humanity: Pre-Akriteru Civilization
Despite being a region known for little more than sand and the blazing heat of the sun, civilization was still able to thrive. This is owed largely to the Ankhara River, one of the largest rivers in the world. Its roots are found within the Grumvâlnur mountains to the east of the desert. The water from these mountains meandered through the desert, creating a fertile oasis ripe for farming. It is these conditions that led to early nomadic tribes settling around the river, with advancements in irrigation and agriculture leading to permanent settlements. City-states soon arose, along with basic religious practices revolving around the life-giving river and the winds of the desert. Soon, the unification of the tribes would lead to the first Human civilization on Varda.Old Dynastic Akriteru (4200 BA to 3200 BA)
Around the year 4200 BA, The first Pharun (or King) of Akriteru united all the city-states and tribes. The river cities would thrive, with writing, established trade and early temples soon becoming common-place. The spirituality of the people began to change and adapt as well, and soon it was to Four Great Deities that the people prayed: Meket, Resa, Tephet, and Nemet. Beliefs and rituals of these divine powers centred on balance and harmony between opposing forces. Not all was without strife in this time. Clashes with Dwarven Clans of the mountains were common, as well as the intimidating presence of the Elven Empire of Auraiddmir to the north. Raids from various tribes were also a constant threat, and the internal issues of succession led to several conflicts within the Kingdom itself. It would take a thousand years for Akriteru to stabilise, and soon a golden age would begin.The Low Kingdom (3200 BA to 2300 BA)
Several successions of strong Pharuns led to an explosion of innovation and security for the Akriteru Kingdom. Advancements in mathematics and engineering let to military campaigns that secured the countries borders and expanded its territory. Medicine and the health of the populace blossomed, and alongside this the cultural development of ritually preparing the dead for burial. Priestly classes became more influential across Akriteru along with the worship of the Four Great Deities, alongside a plethora of lesser Gods and Goddesses. Grand temples were erected, and the first monumental pyramids to honour the Pharuns of the past was built. Despite a period of relative prosperity, it was not to last. The period known as The Low Kingdom began with a series of strong leaders, but ended with several weak Pharuns. With them, they bought economic stagnation, which soon led to civil unrest.The Middle Kingdom (2150 BA to 1600 BA)
Around 150 years of turmoil almost ended the Kingdom of Akriteru, as the nation fragmented into rival city-states and a series of civil wars ensued. The first early nomadic Ogre tribes appeared to the south-east, and attacks and attempts at invasion also crippled Akriteru further. Eventually the infighting would come to an end and control was restored to the Pharuns. Defences were bolstered by key discoveries in the magical arts, and soon the country was secure once again. A shift in the mindset of its people was clear; temples were rebuilt, and the first acts of mummification began. Elaborate ceremonies for the recently deceased and a greater focus on the Goddess Nemet, who represented water and the afterlife, reflected the societal anxiety about mortality.The High Kingdom (1500 BA to 1150 BA)
Although the Kingdom had taken a darker tone in its belief, it still prospered and became a dominant power in Astiria. Wealth and influence stretched far, with trade and treaties with neighbour such as Elystrium, The Old Dwarvish Kingdom and even the newly founded Ogre Empire. Artistic and cultural achievements flourished, with pride taken in the great pyramids of the Pharuns, and elegant, intricate tomb complexes being prized. All would be undone around the year 1150 BA. At the time, the leader of Akriteru was Pharun Akhamesh, an erratic and paranoid man. The Pharun was obsessed with his own legacy, always comparing himself to those that came before. And he was woefully aware of his own mortality. What followed is a series of Seven Acts against the Four Great Deities to weaken them, in the belief that Akhamesh could take their power for himself. Temples were burnt, Priests massacred and the worship of the Gods was outlawed. The story is still told across Varda today, and is known as The Seven Acts of Akhamesh. The last act was a great ritual. Thousands were sacrificed to the Pharun in his attempt to become immortal. At the height of the ritual, a great surge of magic was unleashed as the barrier between The Weave and the Material Plane cracked. Pharun Akhamesh was torn asunder and his corpse dragged through time and space. The rest of the country would also suffer. Many fled as the waves of magical energy washed up and down the Ankhara river. The waters instantly turned to dust, from source to mouth. All those not quick enough to flee were killed instantly, their pleas to their abandoned Gods no longer heard. In an instant, the first Human civilization, that had lasted over 2000 years, had been purged of all life.Legacy of Akriteru
The fall of the Akriteru Kingdom had an effect across Astiria. The northern Kingdom of Elystrium felt it greatly, and the Ogres of the southern coasts would soon pillage what they could. Ankhara has been dry ever since the fateful ritual, its bed and banks exposed to the elements. With the life-giving water no longer present, the lands of the Akriteru Kingdom dried up and died, ending any hope of a new kingdom rising from the ashes. The great pyramids and monuments remain, although in a great state of disrepair. Despite the rumours of gold and jewels being buried in the sands, there are few that dare to explore the ancient Kingdom. Those that do return with tales of skeletal warriors guarding the tombs, still serving the mummified remains of the Pharuns of old. Magic still seems to permeate the land, and has turned it to a ruin of sand and the undead.The Four Great Deities
The religion of the Akriteru contained a plethora of Gods and Goddesses that the people worshipped. Many of these were seen as lesser deities, belonging to a unique and particular domain such as the forge, the home or simply the sand. Legends and tales of the lesser Gods changed across Akriteru's vast history. The Four Great Deities remained very much the same, and are often describe in the ancient texts as follows:
Meket (The Pillar) – Stability, Earth, Endurance, Order. Associated with the eastern desert and the Grumvâlnur mountains.
Resa (The Unfettered) – Chaos, Air, Change, Freedom. Linked to the western wind, which bought storms from the ocean.
Tephet (The Burning One) – War, Fire, Passion, Destruction. Associated with the sun in the northern desert, where it stays in the sky the longest.
Nemet (The Shrouded) – Mystery, Water, Fertility, the Afterlife. Tied to the southern horizon and the oceans of the Cerulean Expanse.
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