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Desierto Towering, gold-encrusted monuments break the unending monotony of a horizon formed of sun-blasted sand. Awe-inspiring, animal-headed gods worshipped by the people, offering them care and protection from the horrors of the desert. A wide, life-giving river offers its abundant bounty, providing for every physical need. Happy, hopeful people offer sacrifices in grand temples dedicated to their benevolent gods, addressing their spiritual needs. They know that this life—wonderful as it is—is just the beginning, the prelude to the perfection that awaits them in the afterlife, promised to them by their Pharaoh. Desierto is a nation of dichotomy. Beyond the lush river valley lies endless, scorching desert. Accursed, desiccated mummies roam the desert, serpentine beasts, and more. The nomadic inhabitants of Desierto eke out a meager existence from the unforgiving land. Some have built small outposts to defend the few oases, while others delve into long-lost catacombs in search of the untold riches that must surely lay buried there. There are also those who live as mercenaries, taking coin for their service before disappearing back into the lawless wastelands. Culture Languages: Desiertian (Persian and Arabic). Religion: Desiertian religion is a complex system of polytheistic beliefs and rituals that form an integral part of Desiertian culture. It centers on the Desiertian's interactions with many deities believed to be present in, and in control of the world. Rituals such as prayer and offerings are provided to the gods to gain their favor. Formal religious practice centers on the pharaohs, the rulers of Desierto, believed to possess divine powers by virtue of their positions. They act as intermediaries between their people and the gods, and are obligated to sustain the gods through rituals and offerings so that they could maintain Ma'at, the order of the cosmos, and repel Isfet, which is chaos. The state dedicates enormous resources to religious rituals and to the construction of temples. Religion Equivalent: Ancient Egyptian. Politics Government System: Theocracy. Head of Government: Pharaoh. Current Leader: Ramesheres.  Citizens Appearance: The standard appearance of the native population of Desierto is white or tan skin, and black, brown, or white hair. Though, it is not uncommon to see other hair colors. The eye colors widely vary.  Geography Climate: Desierto has an arid climate in which there is an excess of evaporation over precipitation. The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in the desert climates hold little moisture and evaporate the little rainfall they receive. Regions: The largest region in Desierto is called the Sand Expanse, a desert littered with remnants of lost civilizations and roamed by marauding mummies, ravenous sandworms, malicious creatures, and a host of unimaginable terrors. Cities: Besides the capital Ankhet, there are some other notable cities in Desierto. Qadath is a powerful merchant city ruled by the Merchant Lords, and Baran is a city with a rich culture of its own as well. Most of the other locations inhabited in Desierto are smaller settlements near oases or moving nomad caravans.  |
