Omens In Ashes

Overview

Being the oldest city in Noar, the people of Nejem see themselves as focused and wise beings. Their gifts of sight have proved useful throughout the ages, though disparity still exists within the walls of the city. Tradition is of the utmost importance to the N’jiin people, and any defiance is always dealt with swiftly. Title and station divides the wealthy from the poor, something the leaders of the city hold tight to. Foreigners, especially Humans, are regarded with caution, as protecting the N’jiin way of life is paramount to the people of Nejem.

History

Nejem is the oldest man-made city in the world of Noar, a trait that is reflected in the timeless sandstone buildings and weathered walls. The Temple of Nesein sits in the heart of the city, framed by a mountain range known as The Red Hills. The architecture is old, reminiscent of a time long forgotten, modeled after the gods themselves. Its not clear which god made the N’jiin people, though some believe it was Sryn, most N’jiin say they are made of sand and clay, as much apart of the desert as the hills themselves.

Timeline

M0897 The first Ajal is tamed and ridden into battle.
M1009 A woman called Kalia Ezneth returns to Nejem and leads an expedition into the desert. The town of Ezneth is founded on the site of a prosperous gold mine.
M1407 Dasum Scythe is crowned Sultan.
M1408 Great Revolt.
M1410 Dasum Scythe murdered and the Scorpion Guard are founded.

Legend

Temple storytellers tell a tale of enslavement by the Sun God, Sryn, insisting he made the N’jiin people to do his bidding. They were forced to build Sryn’s temple out in the desert, and some believe the city of Nejem was what came next. Others believe the construction of the city began in the Age of Defiance, some time after the rule of the Titans. None can be sure, but what is known is that the walls have many stories to tell, and the desert beyond is full of adventure and mystery.

The Capital

Nejem

Nejem is a sprawling metropolis that radiates in neat lines from the bank of the river. Houses run down perfectly straight streets expanding from the central hub of the city where the Temple of Nesein is located, following the pattern of a sun and its rays.

Within the lakeside hub the houses and shops of the wealthy are made from stone and marble. Moving away from the river the houses are made from a mixture of sand, straw, mud and water that has been baked in the sun. Visitors to the city will rarely venture into the poorer sectors of the city, as rooms to rent, hostels and eating houses are generally located within the hub.

Nejem is a vibrant and noisy city, it’s people enjoy wearing colourful clothes in fine fabrics such as silks and thin imported linens. Incense is popular and lends a pleasant smell to the air, masking many of the more unsavoury smells that could rise from so many people living so close together. Generally clean, there is a veritable unseen army of slaves employed to keep the streets of refuse and litter. Though anyone found fouling streets or leaving rubbish will quickly find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Travel & Villages

The City of Nejem is surrounded by vast desert, an endless sea of sand few manage to traverse safely, and a death sentence to anyone without a local guide. Visitors to the city arrive by ship via the River Nahi and rarely venture beyond the safety and comfort of the city walls.

The desert sands are temperamental, moving underfoot and shifting on the horizon. Terrifying sandstorms can rise at a moment’s notice and obscure the sun from the sky for days at a time. Water is as precious as diamonds out there alone on the sand, and beyond the winding River Nahi, there are no other major bodies of water to be found within the unforgiving desert.

Ezneth


Ezneth is a small town that feels as though it’s in the centre of the desert. From Nejem, it’s a gruelling twenty-day journey by camel to the oasis, which is famous for its rich mines and near perfect minerals.

Ezneth has a fluctuating population of around 150 people and approximately 30 soldiers from the Scorpion Guard at any one time, mostly miners who live in tents surrounding the oasis itself. Except for a few sandstone forts on the outskirts of the town, where the Scorpion Guard stay and train, there are no permanent buildings in Ezneth, as townsfolk locals have long adapted to the constant changes within the desert and regularly move their tents, depending on how the trees will provide the best shelter from the regular sand storms. It is not uncommon for a mine to be profitable one day, and so deeply covered in sand the next, that it is reclaimed by the desert. Though there is a popular belief in Ezneth, that when one mine is hidden, a new one is always revealed.

The oasis is an oval shaped lake of freshwater, surrounded by lush grasses and trees. Circling the bottom end of the lake, is a great stone statue of a basilisk stretching nearly a mile in length. The statue is ancient and revered by the people of Ezneth. Many believe that the statue is in fact, the great Sirith who led Kalia Ezneth to the oasis and the mines, so far out in the desert.

Ezneth is a place of hard work, and families are few and far between. The age expectancy of a man who lives in Ezenth declines rapidly after the age of twenty, his years at the whim of an unforgiving desert. Although a man can also become rich enough to live those remaining years comfortably, if he is willing to make such a sacrifice. In the height of Blaze, everyone except half of the guard, who are forced to remain, abandon Ezneth for 30 days spanning midsummer. This is because the oasis is overrun with baby sand snakes that soon vanish into the desert. Ajal will not fly within ten miles of the oasis itself, making the safest way to journey there by way of travelling caravan.

Life in Ezneth is harsh, which prevents it from being a popular location. An isolated outpost, it relies on a travelling caravan to transport riches back to Nejem and return with food, clothing and building materials to keep the colony going. The Scorpion Guard are used to protect the travelling caravans and the oasis itself, as it contains a vital source of wealth to the Sultan. The Sultan after all, receives a healthy percentage of anything pulled from the ground.

Settlements & Titles

There are no player settlements or titles to date. To have one added, submit an application to the Help Desk.

Geography

Nejem is one of the single biggest owned territories in all of Noar, boasting gorgeous beaches, crystal clear lakes, the world’s fourth longest river, and endless, sweeping dunes. Perhaps the most exciting part of Nejem’s geography, is that it is always changing. Whole mountain ranges of rocky terrain have been buried by the sand for generations, only to reappear again. The moving dunes seem to have a mind of their own, pictured in the north one year, only to be found in the south the next.

Small, glittering oases litter the desert, hidden amongst the rolling dunes. It is said that a man can wander for days on end without running into an oasis, while another might think himself mad with all his luck. They, like the dunes, never seem to exist in any one place for too long, or so the people of Nejem say. Some say that beneath every bright star an oasis can be found, while others believe luke and religion walk hand in hand.

Climate

The climate in Nejem is deceptive. While the season of Harvest and Blaze are absolutely unbearable for most foreigners, the N’jiin race are well adapted to the heat, preferring it to mild Blooms and chilly Frosts. While the days are extremely hot, the nights are the complete opposite. During the winter season of Frost, nights in the desert are cold enough to see a thin layer of ice form on the dunes, making a strange but wonderful backdrop for the city from the docks, often looking as if it were framed by snow capped mountains.

The city bathhouses see the most use in Frost, when the locals start to feel the cold and need a place to warm up. During the daytime, even in Frost, the sands get hot enough to heat weapons left lying about to the point where they are impossible to pick up without gloves. Animals native to Nejem like the Ajal and desert horses, elephants and birds, have long evolved to deal with the extreme climate fluctuations. Visitors, however, are warned not to venture out into surrounding lands without a guide. They should take proper resources along with them, including enough water to survive should they get lost or the knowledge to find some should the run out.

Sandstorms occur all year round but are at their worst in Blaze and Frost, when hot and cold air meet, creating wild thunderstorms. The city walls and lakeside district are usually protected from these types of storms, but out in the desert most people find themselves defenceless against such storms. In extremely bad cases, the sand has been known to cut flesh like a razor, whirling skyward in a giant cylinder that is topped by forks of lightning, setting fire to anything in its path.

Surroundings

Nejem’s closest neighbour is the city of Vayne, though the people of Nejem also consider Renmere and Aramane close enough to do trade with. The ocean to the south of Nejem and the north of Aramane is the fastest route to Rathos, though few have any dealings with the small pirate nation. Trade ships are often too big to send through this waterway, where they risk running into underwater sandbars, hidden reefs and jagged rocks.

Maps and Landmarks

Red Hills

The Red Hills are the sandstone mountains that make up the backdrop of Nejem city, spanning for many miles out into the desert. They got their name from the red earth that makes them so recognisable, but it is the animals that raise their young here, Ajal and Eagles, in sky top nests, that makes them so appealing.

Valley of Bones

Once a famed battle field, the Valley of Bones is now no more than a wasteland, cursed by the lingering spirits of the dead. It is said that so many N’jiin soldiers died here during the Age of Defiance, that the sands turned white due to the amount of bones that were worn down and crushed over time to form the sands. Some find peace here, while other feel a strange unease.

Parched Sea

The parched sea was once a Great Lake that stretched as far as the eye could see. Now it is no more than a flat lake bed the moving dunes of Nejem seem to avoid. No one is sure why the lake disappeared, though they believe it happened during the early years of the Age of Man. There are many theories and stories as to why the lake was drained, some of which have led to the belief that it will once again be filled when Lochren’s champion walks the earth.

Sryn’s Sun Temple

Hidden beneath the moving dunes of Nejem, the Sun God’s Temple is said to be full of many treasures that will allow man to wield the power of the gods, including the Sun Stone of Life and Immortality. Sryn is said to watch over the temple during the day time, while the Moon Goddess plays tricks on any who venture too close at night. All that is known is that none have explored it for almost a hundred years, for fear of traps and certain death. It is seen some time to time, however, peeking out of the sands, only to move and disappear again.

Nesein’s City Temple

At the heart of the city lies the Temple of Neeson, a place of worship and healing. All are welcome here, including strangers to the city. The temple is sacred, busy, and open all hours of the day and night.

Nahi River

One of the longest and deepest rivers in the world of Noar, the Nahi River is known as the Gateway to Nejem. It is the fastest way to get to the Black Lake, around which the city of Nejem was formed. The Scorpion Guard patrols these waters day and night and it is said none may enter without their knowledge.

Black Lake

As one of the top ten biggest lakes in Noar, the Black Lake is Nejem is the most famous and widely recognised lake in all the world. This is due to its colour and strange buoyancy. No ship has ever sunk in the Black Lake, though many have attempted to see this happen. People have also found that they are incapable of sinking in the thick, black waters. Some believe this is due to the amount of salt in the lake. None are sure why the water is black, but some have a theory that it is due to an ancient sea monster that lives beneath the land.

Coastline

The coastline is far too vast to be patrolled by the Scorpion Fleet, and as unwritten rule, most of the Sultan’s guard ships only sail up and down the west coast. Nejem is set far inland enough that it needn't fear attacks from the sea, as any intruder would first have to cross the desert to launch their attack, putting them at a huge disadvantage.

Attempts in the past have been made by outsiders to try and secure the River Nahi when waging war, only to realise the people of Nejem are far to self sufficient to rely on access to the sea in order to survive. Instances such as this, however, do tend to update traders who rely on sending their goods down the river. In recent years, some of the larger merchant families have invested in their own patrol ships, seeing to it that the river is kept clear for trade.

The west coast consists of high, sandy cliffs, which are near impossible to climb with anything other than the clothes on one’s back. To the north, the situation is much the same, only the weather is hotter up there, which usually spells death for less experienced travellers. The south is rocky and unforgiving, a graveyard for many pirate and merchant ships alike. Then finally to the east as crystal clear white beaches with beautiful palm trees and tropical fauna and flora. The land is considered so far from the city’s reach that even few N’jiin have ever stepped foot there or seen the white sandy beaches for themselves.

Culture

Life in Nejem is busy. The city streets are always alive and thriving with merchants and traders working to make a living. The atmosphere is easy-going, despite the busy chaos, and life is enjoyable for the most part. The temple is the hub of the city, and most N’jiin people are highly religious, spending most of the mornings or evenings there, talking to this god and that.

Night food markets entertain the adults while adolescents are usually found hanging out near the docks, talking to strangers from far away lands and gambling away their allowances for a bit of fun. Rain is rare in Nejem, usually occurring overnight. The ground, however, is kept moist for growing crops and tropical trees due to the cold temperatures at night.

Scattered about the city are a number of gardens, none quite as popular as a place called the Hanging Basket. This local hangout showcases a wide range of outdoor pools, tropical birds on display in ornate cages, and charming flowers grown from hanging baskets that drape across doorways, adding to the magic and beauty of the place.

Smoke houses are also quite popular, a place where locals gather to talk and smoke from a Hukka pipe. The floors are usually covered in brightly coloured cushions and detailed carpets, expertly woven by some of the best craftsmen and women in Nejem. Detailed tapestries decorate the walls, depicting the history of Nejem and the wider world of Noar.

Demographics

A recent census of the city estimated that there are just under 32,000 people living in the city of Nejem, with an extra two to three thousand surviving in the harsh desert beyond the safety of the city walls.

Of these totals, N’jiin make up 77%, followed by Mix Bloods at 8%, Humans at a close 7%, Ecrede 5%, and Tasavi 3%.

Housing


The majority of houses in Nejem are square and have only one room. They are made from sand, river mud and straw, mixed with water and formed before the framing is dried in the sun. With a flat roof, these designs stack well and often work for running lines used for drying clothes. Houses run down perfectly straight streets expanding from the central hub of the city where the Temple of Nesein is located, following the pattern of a sun and its rays.

Due to the uniform nature of the city’s colour, the people of Nejem love to wear brightly coloured clothing and the streets are often strung with banners and bunting to brighten them up. At equal points interspersed there are square trading hubs with market stalls and workshops, offices, bath houses, and stationed guards.

Closer to the city wall and the river beyond, the houses grow steadily bigger, expanding to two rooms with the second often used as a workshop. The closer to water of Black Lake a family lives, the wealthier they are.

Beside the lake itself is the Royal Palace, home to the only nobility in Nejem. Wealthy merchant houses line the shores and fringe the busy docks, their buildings made from a pale marbled stone which stays cool during the blistering days in the desert. Closer to the water, there are beautiful gardens, most of them private, with three dedicated to the original sons are open to the public.

Religion & Temples

The sons of Nufer Sahai chose to rule the city of Nejem together, splitting it into three factions. Kerem’s people chose to worship Nesein, God of Fortune and Visions. Aethea, Goddess of Love and Peace, was worshiped by the people who followed Emel, and Saban, considered the most ambitious of his brothers, chose to put his faith in Rhum, God of Sacrifice and War.

Once upon a time there was strict adherence to the rules of worship within Nejem, those with the gifts of foresight, for example, often strictly worshiped Rhum, as Saban once had. Nowadays, factions lean more towards mindsets than tradition, and while individuals are free to worship whoever they please, there are certain extremists who adhere to the old ways.

Temple of Sryn

The Temple of Sryn lies long lost in the desert, beyond the Red Hill, the Valley of Bones, and the Parched Sea. In stories the temple in so tall it touches the clouds, but in reality, the Temple of Sryn was simple, made of sandstone and polished stone. It was constructed by the N’jiin people and admired so much by the Sun God, that he chose to fill it with all his worldly treasures, trinkets and jewels he had collected travelling the world of Noar in the form of man.

Over the years, the temple was buried by sand, and formed part of what is now known as the Moving Dunes of Nejem. Some say the temple also moves, revealed and buried again every year in the season of Frost, revealing itself only by moonlight, a trick of the Moon Goddess herself.

Temple of Nesein

Unlike the lost Temple of Sryn, the Temple of Nesein, God of Fortune and Visions, can be found much closer to home, situated in the heart of Nejem City. The temple is one of the largest buildings in the city and, for most, is a place of silence prayer and worship. Healers from far and wide come here to offer their services for free in the house of Nesein, hoping to earn his favour.

Rituals & Traditions

Sahul an’i Paji - Otherwise known as Day of the Dead among the N’jiin people and practiced on the first day of Blaze. This is a tradition celebrated among the people, regardless of their location, to commemorate friends and family who’ve passed away. Unlike the ceremony of the Path of Three, Sahul an’i Paji is a week long festival that offers music, dance, and food as sources of entertainment, along with eye popping colors that paint the streets at the beat of every drum. Before the festivities begin, portraits, artwork, crafted items, or other items that honor loved ones are placed on altars lined with flowers, candles, and incense as a place of worship and prayer. These altars are decorated with bright, soft fabrics and holy relics to honor the Gods their loved ones had prayed to. Once food and music have been offered to the dead, usually on the first night of the festival, the entertainment truly begins. The preceding days are celebrated by the living, reminding each to enjoy the company of family and friends while they’re still alive.

Cekaj Nyjoi - A N’jiin tradition of sacrifice, one that is mainly practice in the city of Nejem as there are limited laws against who may be offered up for this celebration. From as far back as the first account of a N’jiin scribe within Nejem territory, the people have always believed that their powers were a blessing from Nesein, given only by the grace of his will. When the royal bloodlines dwindled in numbers, it was believed that the Sultan of Nejem had forsaken worship to Nesein and, out of wrath, the God cursed the people with misfortune. Thus, Cekaj Nyjoi, or Gods’ Favor, was created.

Cekaj Nyjoi begins in Blaze when the royal body issues a decree for sacrifices. Three scholars from the palace, all masters of their sight, accompany a seer who visits the common people weekly to search for their candidates. Several are chosen throughout the weeks, some men, some women, regardless of age or race, and are escorted back to the palace whether willingly or by force. Prepping begins as these individuals are washed in holy water with scented soaps and oils and clothed in refine silks. They are fed a diet of vegetables, broth, and are given comfortable lodging until the scholars and seer return to assess them. One by one, these individuals are sent away, given payment to compensate for their time away from work and family, until only two remain.

On the last day of Blaze, Cekaj Nyjoi is announced as well as the names of the sacrifices, so that all may celebrate the heroes who will renew their gifts in the coming day. The night is spent in as much relaxation as the temple and palace can offer the sacrifices before morning, where they are escorted into personal palkis and carried to the main temple grounds. There, they are given drugged wine and tied to stone pillars before the seer lights a blue fire between the two and carves their eyes out with a ceremonial blade. The eyes are sacrificed into the flame with a prayer to Nesein before a spell is enacted that syphons the essence from the two still fastened to the pillars until their bodies crumble into dust and their energy, consumed by fire.

Holidays

Midwinter

The days in Frost are short, and midwinter the shortest of them all. In the three days before midwinter, the people of Nejem fast, eating only when the sun is missing from the sky. However, the day of Midwinter itself is a celebration of light and Syrn, and the people of Nejem have been known to party until the sun rises again the following day. This day is given as a holiday to most servants within the city. They paint their faces with coloured chalk and wear their brightest clothes. Bonfires are lit on most streets and from the air the city appears to glow. Street vendors selling sweets and snacks are popular during the small hours of darkness before the dawn begins. Couples who want to conceive are encouraged to spend the night celebrating privately until the dawn.

Marriage & Divorce

Unity to another within the N’jiin culture is considered a very sacred and holy matter, especially within the royal circles. There are no second chances once two people have taken their vows as one, so the process of courtship and marriage is a long and tedious one. Courting an individual can take many years and even then, the two may never marry if they discover they’re not as compatible as they had hoped. Marriage within N’jiin society means that the couple has exposed their past deeds to each other, defining in those experiences what makes them who they are, have the strength to support and guide them with present conflicts, and have woven themselves onto future pathways with their significant other, through hardship and sickness. When N’jiin decide to marry, it is for life, as it takes time and dedication to truly know another person to the extent of their being.

When a formal courtship has been marked, the man will offer to his partner a decorative tie, called a Tsychi, that is to be wrapped around her wrist, arm, neck, or braided into her hair. The tsychi is extravagant and jeweled so any who look upon it will know that another seeks her attention. Thus the pair enter into a courtship with a small amount of rules presiding over their relationship. During the courtship, the woman must wear the tsychi at all times. She must refrain from touching other men, be it casually or sexually, unless explicit permission has been given from her partner. She must also remain pure and/or abstain from intercourse until the ceremony of the path of three has been completed. Should the courtship be detrimental to her health or her partner has abused her to the point of trauma, the woman is not to leave it unless agreed upon by both parties. Within a courtship, the man is not required to wear a tsychi, though it is common most don one as a sign of possession by their female interest. Men carry the right to defend their courtship if they find another male attempting to steal their significant other’s attention. This may range from simple assault to murder, depending on the situation. Men may also challenge a courtship if they feel it is wrong, but risk losing status should they lose (have their beards cut, heads shaved, jewels and finery taken).

Courtship is a time for the partners to come to know each other. Every trait, every flaw and virtue, every joyful and soul crushing memory that makes them who they are. It is a time of understanding, to see who they are and who they will become.

When the time comes to propose marriage, it is actually the woman who will offer up part of her tsychi and either tie it around her partner’s arm, beard, or weave it into their hair with a vow of unity that is usually performed in front of family as witnesses. The Vow of Unity promises their marriage while the Path of Three ceremony solidifies it.

The Path of Three details the walk of life from the past, the present, and the future. As with their abilities and culture, N’jiin also weave into their marriage the significance and importance of these three pillars, marking three days to celebrate and commemorate each. The first day is celebrated by honoring the dead, normally ancestors of both families who have passed on for one reason or another. This is meant as a solemn day where gifts fill family crypts or temples and those who were loved are remembered with their favorite things. The second day is meant for party and celebration, a time where food and wine is of abundance and dance and music spill forth from the home and onto the streets around. The husband and wife punctuate the day by sharing a kiss within a necklace of Wild Poppies, meant to represent everlasting love. Finally, the third day ties everything up, literally. To represent their future together, the husband and wife come together before a priest of the temple for the ceremony of the Path of Three.

Sand is laid about in a large circle that the two must walk within, their hands tied together by the tsychi. As they walk opposite the other, they repeat the vows given to them by the priest, their footprints covering that of their partners, interwoven and joined together within the sands. They walk until the vows are finished and thus, they are wed and may consummate their marriage.

Unity Vows:
“On this day, I give you my heart, My promise: That I will walk with you, hand in hand, wherever our journey leads us. Living, learning, loving, together, until the Gods see us part in death.”

Food

Dates are eaten very widely in the desert and included in lots of dishes. The most common meats the N’jiin cook with are goat, mutton, camel, snake, and chicken. Eggs are also widely used by many of the rich and poor alike. Fruits and vegetables consist of watermelons, apples, green onions, cucumbers, corn, hot peppers, melons, bell peppers, radishes, carrots, cabbage, soybeans, pears, tomatoes, squash, and spinach. Many farmers raise alfalfa as feed for their animals.

On a particularly bad year when the crops fail due to heat and lack of water, meat is the go to meal for most families. Rich and often hot spices are used to mask the flavours of any foods that has seen their use-by date, as it is frowned upon to waste food in the N’jiin culture. A lot of time is spent preparing meals. Most meats are dried, salted, or slow cooked. The N’jiin people aren’t known for smoking meat, but do so for foreigners.

Music

The Pungi and Oud are thought to be the most popular instruments in N’jiin culture. The Pungi is a simple folk instrument traditionally played by snake charmers. Good intonation depends on using the right air pressure and requires a certain practice, something the N’jiin race have mastered. The Pungi is thus a very entertaining, expressive solo instrument, but is considered difficult to use together with other melodies or harmonic instruments.

The Oud is a plucked instrument with a pear-shaped sound-box built around a mould, and a short angled back neck. The gut strings are plucked with a piece of tortoise shell or an eagle feather, producing a deep, dark sound. Its three resonating sound holes and short neck help to manifest a sound that evokes scenes of the desert, royal palaces, and smoke-filled cafés. N’jiin Ouds are tuned low, making a heavier, throatier sound than other Ouds played around the world of Noar.

Language

Rahni is the official language of the N’jiin people. It is pleasing to the ear and soft, but has often been described as mumbled and difficult to decipher. Words are strung together in a way that leaves little room for pause, something the N’jiin people are able to achieve effortlessly.

A lot of families, especially wealthy merchant families, hire fluent common speakers to teach the Common tongue to their children, understanding that, even while they do not like it, Common is one of the most widely used languages in the world of Noar and helps further trade opportunities with foreign countries and races.

Folktales

Ajal and Sirith

Every little child knows that it is dangerous to wander out into the desert surrounding the city of Nejem, because the mighty Sirith could rise out of the sand and swallow them with a single gulp. A Sirith is an enormous basilisk who lives beneath the sands, the movement of its body creating the vast sand dunes across the desert.

Ajal and Sirith are ancient enemies, a Sirith preferring to come out during the day and bask in the sun, while the Ajal are more suited to the cooler temperatures of night, protected by their thick fur. It is rumoured that only an Ajal can face a Sirith and survive, though there is rarely a victor in such a battle.

The First Ajal

Magic has always been permitted and welcomed within Nejem, though some practises remain taboo. A handful of generations after the first Sultan founded the city, a woman was born with the ability to manipulate the dead. Azhumi was a beauty of Nejem, even if she was considered to be slightly odd. Employed by the Sultan as a court entertainer, she would make the bones of the dead dance. Her most infamous performance involved the raising on an enormous snake skeleton from the sands beyond the city walls, and having it slither through the streets of the new city to curl at the feet of the Sultan himself.

By night, however, Azhumi was immersed in her own experimentation. Tired of simply bestowing temporary life to dead beings and their bones, she gathered parts of living creatures and held them in magic as she studied them and learnt the secrets of their true essence. Azhumi was seen less and less by daylight as the years wore on, and as an old woman, with grey hair down to her calves, she presented her creation to the Sultan. A beautiful beast of animated parts, an Ajal, a black, winged-lion.

The creature was beautiful to behold, even though it had been created from such a perverse practice. Though the Sultan knew he should find it revolting and macabre, there seemed so much life within it. The spell to animate the animal would not last forever, and the creature stretched out its paws and extended its wings, preparing to take its final rest. However, the gods had witnessed and been impressed by Ahumi’s grasp on necromancy, and Karamea materialised in the city to look upon the spectacle. The goddess saw the Ajal and felt sorry for the magnificent beast, moved by the sorrow of the creatures short life.

In an act of mercy, the Goddess of Life created a mate for the Ajal, sculpting the creature from the sand before colouring her with the night itself. The original beast was granted true life and the animals gifted, by the Goddess, to the Sultan and his people. Azhumi died in this moment, her life given in exchange for her creature.

The founding of Ezneth

Kalia Ezneth was the oldest daughter of a merchant listed in the Book of Stars, Sinot, marked with a single bronze star. By the time Kalia had turned eight, her father had learned of her gift of Truesight. Blessed with this ability, Kalia was able to judge the quality of a jewel in a single glance. Sinot was a poor merchant who enjoyed his wine more than most, often leaving Kalia to trade alone at their market stall located on the outlying edge of the city, beyond the city walls and beside the desert itself.

One day, the market was very quiet because of a sandstorm brewing out in the desert. The wind lifted the gold and red sand in a spiral, throwing it in anger across the sky. Sinot had left Kalia alone at the stall, promising the girl that she would be beaten if she returned before all of the jewels were sold. Kalia could see the storm approaching and she was frightened. But worse than her fear of the sands, was her fear of returning too soon to her father. So she stayed beside her stall. Even as the other vendors packed away, and the market emptied with everyone running into their homes, Kalia stayed by her stall.

Soon the sand was blasted against her, scratching her hands in the first brush of the storm. The girl bowed her head against the fury, feeling the sands scraping the skin from her face and the uncovered parts of her body, like tiny shards of glass biting at her skin. But still she stood at her stall.

In the centre of the storm was a great Sirith, twisting and writhing through the dunes. The Sirith saw the girl beside the stall and he stared at her.

“Girl,” he hissed, as the storm twisted around them, cutting them off from the rest of the city. “Why do you not run from me?”

“Because I am afraid,” Kalia shielded her eyes and looked up at the great basilisk, careful not to meet his gaze and be turned to stone.

“Afraid?” He laughed. “Am I not the most terrible creature in this desert land?”

Kalia was a clever girl and she knew that Sirith were vain creatures and that it was never wise to contradict them. So she nodded and bowed.

“You are indeed terrible, mighty Sirith, but I fear what I will find at home.”

The Sirith stared at the girl then, and perhaps he felt sorry for her, for he looked down at the petty jewels she had gathered on the table top, covered in sand. Some believe that the Sirith are deeply protective of their young, which is why this day, he had raged so fiercely across the desert sands.

“Those are some fine stones,” he told the girl, “climb onto my back, and I will take you across the desert to a place you will find better stones and a richer mine than any man has dreamed.”

“If I go with you, how will I find my way back home?” Kalia asked.

The Sirith grinned and showed his brilliant fangs as the storm started to die down around them, the sand settling in heaps throughout the marketplace.

“It sounds as though there is no home for you to return to,” the Sirith replied. “Now come with me, I am not a patient being.”

The girl looked down at the small collection of gems, then back at the basilisk. She had made her decision.

Sinot woke long after the storm had passed and realised his daughter had not returned. There was no trace or sign of her at their market stall, though all of their jewels remained fixed in place, as if by some kind of magic.

Many years later, a woman returned to Nejem who called herself Kalia Ezneth. She led a group of miners out to the desert to the richest seam of minerals and gold they had ever seen. A small town grew within the desert oasis which came to be named after its founder. Circling the oldest mine, is an ancient statue in the shape of a basilisk. Made of a heavy stone, its body stretches around the edge of the water, as though basking in the sun.

Society

Noble Houses

There is only one royal house in the city of Nejem, known as The House of Sol. The royal family is made up of three key roles, that of Sultan (king of kings in Nejem), Sultanah (his queen), and any sons and daughters they may have, who go by the title of prince and princess. The royal family live together in The Palace of The Second Sun, better known by most as The House of Suva. Together they rule over the Sultanate (kingdom), overseeing major issues, both local and foreign. The N’jiin’s worship of Sryn, God of Sun and Sky, is reflected in every square inch of the palace, from it detailed tinted glass sunroofs in the shape of a symbolic sun, to its very foundations, which sends out tunnels beneath the earth to reflect the sun’s rays. Down in the tunnels, a long history of Sultans and their families have been buried, believed to guard the living from this sacred place of rest.

Merchant Houses

Merchants have long sought to distinguish themselves from the common folk they live among. While anyone can set up a business and begin trading with relative ease within the city marketplace, in order to trade internationally a merchant’s goods must be of a certain quality, and his or her standing amongst the community, reputable. This is to protect the international perception of Nejem which, like its culture and beliefs, is fiercely guarded. Not just anyone can represent the community and be considered elite. In order to trade internationally, a merchant must earn this right by building a profitable business and having their family’s name listed in the Book of Stars.

The Book of Stars is the measure by which all businesses, and therefore Merchant Houses, are measured by. Sand is the lowest rank, assigned to every day, registered salesmen and women. Bronze is next, allowing Merchants to set up shop in the best parts of the city, along the busiest streets, and even on the waterfront. Most people are in business a year, showing successful profits on the books before the are promoted to the tier of Bronze Star. Silver allows Merchants to trade nationally and on a global scale. Gold is reserved for the most elite Merchant families, those who go on to become members of The Council of Sol, individuals who help advise the Sultan. Some of these families are even lucky enough to have one of their sons or daughters betrothed to the prince or princess.

Merchant Houses ranked Gold

Barak (symbol a gemstone)

When is comes to precious stones, the Barak Merchant House have cornered the market in all things shiny. The buy, sell, and distribute worldwide. As well as this, they own the one and only bank in all of Nejem, which is believed by them to be the most secure building in all of Noar. One of their family stores can be found on every major street corner within the heart of Nejem, having even expanded to foreign cities, such as Renmere, Clead, and Aramane.

Dogan (symbol wavy dagger)

The Dogan Merchant House have a long history of providing the Royal Family with well sourced information. They buy and sell slaves from right across the world of Noar, training the best to work as skilled assassins, bull dancers, musicians, and hired help. No slave is bought or sold in the city without going through this wealthy merchant family.

Mirac (symbol spinning wheel)

Everyone in Nejem knows the name Mirac, for this merchant house is said to design and manufacture the most sought-after clothes, materials, fabrics, linens, and carpets in not only Nejem, but all of Noar. The Mirac Merchant House, are one of the most long standing in the Book of Stars, said to date back to the first Sultan in recorded history. They dress to impress and employ a large number of the city’s most poor to prepare, mend, stitch, and distribute their wears, making them very popular amongst the N’jiin people.

Merchant Houses ranked Silver

Berk (symbol hunters bow)

The Berk Merchant House are animal handlers, famed for their beautiful mounts, including black desert horses, their national treasure the Ajal, elephants, camels, snakes, and many a winged beast. They train hawks and Eagles for hunting, with supply shops and tanneries found throughout the city of Nejem. In the last fifty years, they have been producing fine and coloured leathers for the Mirac Merchant House.

Ihsan (symbol palm tree)

The Ihsan Merchant House are one of the biggest producers of balms and beauty products worldwide. They specialise in making natural products from coconut milk. They grow, prepare, manufacturer, bottle, and distribute their own products, often selling in bulk overseas at twice the price they can get in Nejem, seldom leaving enough for supply in their own city, which has made them unpopular at ties. Their cold pressed coconut oil is of the highest quality, and more recently, the family has branched out into making sweets and chocolates, as well as a wide range of hair and skin products.

Lale (symbol tulip flower)

Fresh food stalls throughout Nejem are supplied by the Lale Merchant House. They grow, source, prepare, and distribute through the city, and have partnered up with the Ihsan Merchant House in the past to reach out to a wider market in nearby Vayne and Renmere. Recently, the family has expanded their business, choosing to grow their own cattle, goats, and other livestock for slaughter. They own a lot of the land on the west coast, where the land is greener and more profitable come the growing season.

Pembe (symbol raindrop)

The Pembe Merchant House own every bathhouse in Nejem, and only two years ago, also set up shop in Aramane. They pride themselves on sourcing and using the best, natural minerals in their bathhouses, serving customers from all classes. They have separated their business into two parts, one that targets and serves the wealthy, and the other servicing the poor. They train their own staff, providing individuals for house visits, professionally trained to offer massages and clean services. The Royal Family has even been known to use their services once in a while, visiting their luxury bathhouses in the most wealthy district of the city.

Volkan (symbol ship)

The Volkan Merchant House are the most well known shipwrights in Nejem, working on a large scale operation down at the ports. They own most of the dock and the trade ships that come and go from Nejem all year round. Most of the other silver and gold star merchants rely on the Volkan family to deliver their goods near and far without a hitch. The Volkan family stem from a long line of pirates, said to have been the first group of N’jiin people to circumnavigate the Noar seas, some years after the Ecrede had already done so.

Education

Only high status individuals or royalty are afforded a formal education, usually by hiring a private tutor. Much of what is practiced among the common people are their language and writing, most of which is made up of intricate symbols. History is taught through oral lore which is passed down from the royal scribes to the people, detailing events the N’jiin have suffered and overcome as a whole, on holidays and major festivals. It is rare that N’jiin seek knowledge from books, adapting to a hands on and visual approach rather than text. Those who don’t reside within Nejem might find their knowledge of the world more plentiful than the citizens there. However, Nejem is home to many Masters of the Arts and, while books might be lacking, experience is not.

As reading is a skill only the upper-class acquire, storytelling has become ingrained in the N’jiin culture. A lot of street performers have adapted their acts to tell stories, sometimes without words, and many of these acts, have become commonplace. Puppeteering, snake taming, bull dancing, and acrobatics are just some of the skills incorporated into everyday acts seen and performed around the city. Members of lower socioeconomic groups tend to take up these acts, with the wealthy generally profiting from their work, via management, control of where acts are performed at certain venues, and equipment, costume and makeup hire.

Economy & Employment

While employment in Nejem is generally very good, the lower-class far outnumber the upper and middle-class, which had led to high levels of unemployment in the past, which always leads to an increase in crime-rates. Many of the merchant houses offer fair wage and reliable, be it sometimes seasonal, work. There is no social benefit system set up for the poor in Nejem, but the city is dotted with food-banks, run by volunteers who dedicate their own time, energy and money, to providing meals for the less fortunate. If an individual wants work in Nejem, their best bet is to contact the local merchant houses or go into business themselves.

By far the most popular option for struggling families, has always been to have their sons and daughters sign up to the city military, also called The Scorpion Guard. There individuals earn a little more than the average citizen, and usually have the option to travel abroad. Other popular jobs include farmers, herders, blacksmiths, weavers, miners, servants, shipwrights, traders, builders, and private tutors.

Historical Epithets

Nazim Ozan - King of Kings
Nufer Sahai - The Gilded Rose
Kerem Ozan - The Tame
Saban Ozan - Of Fire and Sand
Emel Ozan - The Just

Royal Epithets

Sadi Nuell - The Blessed
Talia Tal - The Desert Rose
Jabir Nuell - The Fearless
Ogen Nuell - The Promised
Yasmin Nuell - The Fated

Merchant Epithets

Barak - The Ruby Eyed
Dogan - The Cutthroat
Mirac - Of Silk and Sash
Berk - Of Wood and Steel
Ihsan - The Pampered Paw
Lale - The Golden Tulip
Pembe - The Endless Spring
Volkan - Of Sea and Shore

Government & Politics

Sultan

The Sultan’s word and decision is law, what he says goes. The Sultan does not need to explain his decisions and can not be challenged once he has made one. The Sultan is free to move about the city as he pleases, always accompanied by at least ten of the Royal Guard.

Sultanah

The Sultanah reports only to the Sultan and if free to give orders just as easily as he can. The Sultan is the only person who can overrule the decision of the Sultanah. She too is heavily guarded when moving about the city, though at more of a distance. The Sultanah’s sole job is raising the Sultan’s children and settling any diplomatic disputes.

Prince

A prince takes orders from the Sultan, his mother the Sultanah, and the Royal Guard, who are in charge and responsible for his safety at all times.

Princess

A princess takes orders from the Sultan, her mother the Sultanah, and the Royal Guard, who are in charge and responsible for her safety at all times.

The Three Seers

This group of three is made up of three individuals, either man or woman, who are considered the most accurate of any of the N’jiin in their visions. The Three Seers guide the Sultan with visions of the past, present and future, proving valuable to the royal family. They are out through a number of difficult tests in order to gain the trust of the Sultan. They are paid well and able to live and work within the palace, though many choose to reside within the Temple of Nesein.

Royal Guard

The Royal Guards are sworn to protect the Sultan and his family. This protection is extended to any guests while under their roof. Royal Guards report directly to the head of the Royal Guard or the Sultan himself. They are able to make arrests just as any City Guard can, but they are higher on the food-chain as far as guards go.

City Guard

The life of a City Guard is rough, tasked with all the messy jobs and patrols no one else wants to do. They are the main enforcement for law and order within the city of Nejem, charged with exacting punishment, dragging criminals off to jail and collecting evidence. City Guards report only to the head of the City Guard or any of the Royal Guards.

Sea Guard

The sailors of the Sea Guard have little to do with the business of City Guards, patrolling only the open waters of the coast, the River Nahi and the ports. They have little power outside of these areas, and report to the head of the Sea Guard, Merchants, and the head of the Royal Guard.

Merchants

Considered the backbone of the economy, Merchants are afforded a lot more privileges than the common folk. They are allowed to be out after city curfew (midnight), wander about the palace, and come and go from the docks as they please. This, however, does not put them above the law. When it comes to crime, they are treated just as anyone else would be.

National Army

The N’jiin Military is known as the Scorpion Guard. They are separated into three categories, distinguishable only by the design and coloration of the armor they wear.

White and Gold denotes the Sultan’s Royal Guard. These men and women are highly trained to work with both sword and bow. Poison, however, is the weapon of choice in Nejem, and all arrow tips used by the Royal Guard are doused in poison. They are among the best Shapeshifters, known for donning the physical traits of animals, such as sprouting wings, to aid them in combat.

Red and Black symbolises the City Guard. The City Guard makes up the majority of the Nejem Military. They are required to take care of all matters on and within the walls of the city. They are trained in mounted combat, and have mastered certain weapons, such as daggers, nets, spears, and crossbows. Wind and Earth Magic are their go to casting spells, though most as also trained healers.

Blue and Black: The Sea Guard are trained to patrol the borders of Nejem. They are trained for close combat, and considered far more acrobatic than the Royal or City Guard. They are sailors at heart, good swimmers, and expert animal handlers. Weapons used by the Sea Guard include cannons, throwing knives, whips, and short swords. They use Water Magic to their advantage and are considered excellent illusionists.

International Army

As the N’jiin are so highly protective of their culture and goods, and aware of the crime that already exists in the poorest parts of their city, they do not have any international forces outside of patrolling to the west of their own coastline. The salt River Nahi that weaves through the sands to the deepwater port of Nejem, is also closely protected by naval ships, owned and operated by the Sea Guard.

Law & Order

No Theft
No Violence
No Piracy
No Murder
No Littering
No Wasting Water
No Mistreating Slaves
No Unauthorised Use of Magic

Crime & Punishment

Punishment in Nejem is swift, but not hasty. When accused of a crime a person will be taken prisoner. Evidence against them will be presented in a court and a judge will make a ruling. Except in the case of a member of royalty being arrested, this ruling is final and any punishment immediately enacted. It is not unusual for someone to be arrested, tried and executed within the same day, as keeping prisoners is expensive. The people of Nejem are known for the consideration they give to all things before taking action and, due to the swift delivery of punishment, sometimes delay the reporting of a crime in acknowledgement of the consequences.

Punishment can take a variety of forms, tattooing of a small x on the right cheek for a thief on the first three occasions followed by the swift, but no less painful, loss of limb on a fourth offence. Murderers often face trial by combat as a spectacle, but only on their first charge, never a second. After that, they are simply cut up and fed to the Ajal. Punishment is never dished out in the form of losing sight. Fraud and tax evasion are treated equally as theft. The Sultan, nor do the Merchant Houses, forgive missing income.

Factions

The Scorpion Guard

The Scorpion Guard didn’t exist until the Great Revolt that took place during the reign of Dasum Scythe, a half born N’jiin man to a Human mother. A few attempts were made on the Sultan’s life in the first season of his rule, both in the streets of Nejem and the Palace. The following year, in M1408, the Sultan had hired enough sellswords to protect him day and night, but these measures were not enough to put a halt to the hate the N’jiin people had for him. When he was murdered two years later on a routine trip to Vayne, the Scorpion Guard was born, sworn in to serve the next Sultan and any who followed after him.

Foreign Relations

Positive
Renmere
Aramane
Clead

Neutral
Vayne
Ryon

Negative
Emanys
Rathos
Crixus

Magic

Nejem and the N’jiin people embrace Magic for all it is, and individuals are allowed to practice openly, refining their skills in specially designed teaching temples. Many practiced and ill-experienced individuals use these temples to train alongside like-minded folk. These temples are situated beyond the city gates, with one located within a ten minute walk of any of the four main gates.

Slavery

Slavery in Nejem is a measure of status. Only the wealthy can afford to keep slaves, as even a slave must eat, drink and be cared for. The N’jiin are a civilised people who treat their slaves with dignity, going as far as to provide them medical care if required. Slaves are distinguishable by their shaved heads and drab clothing, usually dressed in simple tones of white, grey, and tan coloured cloth.

Slaves are usually tasked with jobs such as cleaning, caring for young, or work out in the fields. Pleasure slaves don’t exist in N’jiin, as prostitution is a highly paid profession. Of course, there are those who deal in Blackmarket trades, buying and selling slaves for all kinds of purposes, both in and outside of Nejem. The punishment for abusing a slave is the loss of a finger, one for each charge against the individual.