In a world where ancient civilizations clash with divine forces, an enigmatic horror threatens reality itself. Powerful factions struggle to control lost knowledge, while warriors, scholars, and mystics seek answers hidden within forgotten ruins and celestial signs. As chaos spreads, alliances form, magic awakens, and the fate of gods and mortals alike hangs in the balance.
Reheka: The Land of Eternal Renewal
Overview
Nestled along the banks of the Sunfire River, Reheka is a land of blazing deserts, fertile oases, and grand temples dedicated to the Bennukar's celestial heritage. A culture rooted in reverence for the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth, the Bennukar embody both the destructive and life-giving aspects of fire and the sun. Reheka's skyline is dominated by towering obelisks and flame-lit shrines that shimmer with golden brilliance under the noonday sun.
Beach and Desert Ecosystem
Landscape Overview
Reheka's coastline is a blend of sandy shores and volcanic stones. Inland, the terrain transitions to an arid desert dotted with oases and fiery dunes under an unrelenting sun.
Flora
Firebloom Cactus
Description: Bright orange cactus with flame-like flowers.
Role in Ecosystem: Source of water and nectar in the desert.
Sunfire Algae
Description: Algae thriving along sandy beaches, glowing under sunlight.
Role in Ecosystem: Provides nutrients to aquatic life and stabilizes water edges.
Fauna
Sand Striders
Description: Small, nimble lizards with sun-resistant scales.
Role in Ecosystem: Control insect populations.
Ash Falcons
Description: Birds of prey with fiery plumage that blend with the dunes.
Role in Ecosystem: Apex hunters of the desert sky.
Architecture & Environment
- Solar Spires and Obelisks: Gleaming monuments crafted from sunstone and basalt rise high into the sky, topped with eternal flames fueled by alchemical oils. These structures serve both as beacons and as spiritual conduits to the heavens.
- Sunfire Canals: Irrigated by the Sunfire River, these canals glow with an iridescent sheen. Sacred Bennukar ceremonies are often held along their banks, with water symbolizing the renewal brought by the merging of fire and life.
- Pillared Temples: Colossal structures adorned with intricate carvings of Bennukar myths. Flame motifs and hieroglyphic inscriptions cover the walls, narrating stories of phoenix-like rebirth and divine intervention.
- Fire Gardens: Lush gardens at the heart of cities, where vibrant flowers and plants bloom despite the arid environment. The Bennukar tend to these gardens using alchemical mixtures imbued with solar energy.
Culture & Society
- Language & Names: Bennukar speak Rehekan, a language rich with fiery metaphors and symbols. Names like Akhtiris (meaning "Radiant One") and Sekheret ("Daughter of the Flame") reflect their close connection to solar deities and their blazing spirits.
- Art & Music: Their art is vibrant and luminous, with murals and tapestries depicting dramatic rebirths and battles against darkness. Music is performed with instruments like the fiery lyre, whose strings emit a warm glow, and burnished drums that resonate with deep, rhythmic beats echoing the pulse of the sun.
- Education & Lore: Bennukar lore is preserved in grand libraries built from sun-hardened clay. These repositories house glyphic scrolls detailing histories, celestial alignments, and ancient alchemical recipes.
Occupations & Roles
Flamekeepers
Role: Priests and priestesses charged with maintaining the eternal flames in Reheka's temples.
Notable Figure: Sekhatari, the first Flamekeeper, who reignited the sacred flame after a great sandstorm threatened to extinguish it.
Solar Artisans
Role: Artists and builders who craft the stunning architecture and relics of Reheka, blending art with alchemy.
Notable Figure: Terenahk, who designed the Sunspire Temple and infused its stone with firelight.
Ashwardens
Role: Guardians and warriors who embody the cycle of destruction and renewal. They protect the land from invaders, wielding weapons imbued with flames.
Notable Figure: Menakhis, a legendary warrior who rose from ashes to defend Reheka against a great shadow.
River Cultivators
Role: Farmers who harness the life-giving power of the massive river, cultivating nutrient-rich crops and cattle that sustain Reheka’s people.
Notable Figure: Khensu-Hetep, the first River Cultivator, who devised irrigation channels that allowed crops to thrive in the arid climate.
Sand Foragers
Role: Gatherers who traverse the desert, harvesting rare minerals, medicinal plants, and hidden water sources.
Notable Figure: Hesemak, famed for discovering the hidden wells beneath the shifting dunes, ensuring survival during droughts.
Coastal Harvesters
Role: Fishermen and pearl divers who utilize the ocean’s bounty, providing seafood, salt, and precious pearls for trade and sustenance.
Notable Figure: Naburah, a fearless diver who uncovered sacred pearls believed to hold celestial blessings.
Royal Court Scholars
Role: Advisors and historians who serve the Pharaoh, recording the kingdom’s history and deciphering celestial omens.
Notable Figure: Seteh-Sa, a revered scholar who foretold the rise and fall of dynasties through the patterns of the stars.
The Pharaoh’s Council
Role: High-ranking officials who manage the kingdom’s affairs, including military strategy, diplomacy, and religious ceremonies.
Notable Figure: Ankhu-Ra, a shrewd diplomat who secured peace treaties with neighboring tribes.
Timber Crafters
Role: Woodworkers specializing in shaping sacred acacia and imported cedar for temples, ships, and ceremonial furniture.
Notable Figure: Merenku, known for constructing the Pharaoh’s sun chariot, which was said to glide across the sands with divine speed.
Carvers of the Forgotten Trees
Role: Craftsmen who create intricate carvings and sacred sculptures from the few surviving ancient trees deep in the river valleys.
Notable Figure: Hedu-Mehet, whose carvings are believed to house the spirits of ancestors, whispering wisdom to those who listen.
Bronze Smiths
Role: Metalworkers specializing in bronze weaponry, armor, and tools, crucial for both warfare and daily life.
Notable Figure: Rekhmet, a master smith who crafted spears said to shine like the midday sun.
Jewelsmiths
Role: Artisans who shape gold, silver, and rare stones into exquisite jewelry, often imbued with divine blessings.
Notable Figure: Nefer-Katu, a smith whose amulets were said to ward off misfortune.
Fire Smiths
Role: Specialists who forge enchanted weapons using volcanic minerals, their blades imbued with heat and magic.
Notable Figure: Resh-Ka, who crafted a sword that never cooled, glowing with the eternal flame of Reheka.
Silk Weavers of the Dawn
Role: Textile artists who weave delicate fabrics infused with enchantments to enhance movement, beauty, and protection.
Notable Figure: Nesheta, who wove the Pharaoh’s ceremonial robe, rumored to shimmer like the rising sun.
Desert Silk Harvesters
Role: Gatherers who extract silk from rare desert worms and special plant, crafting resilient fabrics and string prized by nobility.
Notable Figure: Tatenu, who discovered techniques that made desert silk as smooth as river-woven threads.
Sun-Blessed Enchanters
Role: Magi who harness solar energy to craft spells and artifacts that radiate divine warmth and protection.
Notable Figure: Heptamut, an enchanter who forged mirrors that reflected the sun’s strength.
Moonlight Scribes
Role: Mystics who inscribe celestial texts, translating the movements of the stars into prophecies and magic.
Notable Figure: Selkhotep, whose writings predicted the coming of a great storm through lunar shifts.
Blood Glyph Carvers
Role: Sorcerers who carve magical glyphs into stone or metal, infusing them with blood rituals for enhanced power.
Notable Figure: Akhtes, infamous for crafting a glyph that sealed a demon beneath the sands of Reheka.
Customs & Traditions
- The Phoenix Festival: A yearly celebration of rebirth and renewal, marked by processions, fire dances, and the igniting of massive pyres that symbolize the destruction of the old to pave the way for the new.
- The Rite of Ashes: Upon death, Bennukar are cremated in sacred ceremonies, their ashes scattered into the Sunfire River, symbolizing their return to the eternal cycle.
- The Solar Conclave: A gathering of Flamekeepers and rulers every decade to interpret celestial signs and ensure harmony between Reheka and its gods.
Beliefs & Deities
- Atonis, The Sunfather: The chief deity of Reheka, representing the sun's life-giving warmth and its purifying flames.
- Sekheni, Lady of Ashes: A goddess of rebirth who walks between the worlds of the living and the dead, guiding souls to their renewal.
- Bennu-Ra, The Eternal Phoenix: The Bennukar's sacred ancestor, a divine being of fire and light who embodies their ideals of resilience and renewal.
- Ra, The Father of Life: The creator of the world and father of Bennu-Ra whos name is kept secert to preserve it's sacredness.
Daily Life
- Education: Young Bennukar learn not only the arts of writing and alchemy but also the disciplines of combat, fire manipulation, philosophy, and a trade.
- Commerce: Markets are vibrant hubs of trade, where artisans sell radiant jewelry, sun-dyed fabrics, and alchemical potions. Bartering is often conducted under the shadow of flame-lit awnings.
- Festivities: Fire dancers and storytellers perform nightly in grand plazas, recounting legends of Bennukar heroes and their celestial ties.
Interactions with the Outside World: Although deeply proud and self-sufficient, the Bennukar of Reheka occasionally send emissaries, known as Sunwardens, to explore and forge alliances. These emissaries carry flame-tipped staves symbolizing their connection to Atonis.
Notable Locations
- The Sunspire Temple: The holiest site in Reheka, where the eternal flame burns brightest, said to have been lit by Bennu-Ra itself.
- The Fields of Ember: A sprawling desert where flames dance eternally above the sand. Pilgrims travel here to seek enlightenment and commune with Sekheni.
- The Ashen Oasis: An oasis where the waters shimmer with solar energy, believed to heal wounds and reinvigorate the spirit.