Nerukhet
Located in the southeastern region of Druskenvald, Nerukhet is covered in desolate, jagged mountain ranges and crumbled ruins devoid of life. Deep beneath the earth are massive, sprawling caverns that lead to the treasure of Nerukhet. Glittering gemstone geodes shine across the monumental cities and webbed tunnels. The people here strive for greatness in all aspects of life, many hoping to establish their place in history as the chosen of their gods.
Beneath the surface though, conflict and unrest put the province on threads holding it together, and far lower in the darkest depths hide more dark secrets.
Provincial Folklore
Tears of the Gods
The massive, sparkling gemstones found throughout Nerukhet are known as Tears of Gods. Legend says they were gifted by the gods of the land, who wept when the province's First Kingdom fell to a great cataclysm, calling the survivors to a new promised land to rebuild their civilization with these magical gems that hum with divine vitality.
Granting long life, sharp mind, strong body, and sturdy constitution, the tears are greatly coveted, but they are collected en masse by the wealthiest and most noble families of the province. They vary in size, color, and power, and are used as currency and worn as signs of status and influence.
The Bejeweled
The people of Nerukhet live in harmony with enormous divine insects and arachnids known as the Bejewled. These creatures are believed to be the heralds of the gods and share a special psychic bond with the province's inhabitants. They assist with all manner of tasks required by their masters. Most Bejeweled are spiders the size of large hounds, can be found in every household no matter what wealth or station. They assist with everyday tasks and spin the silk that clothes and adorns the province. Huge locusts provide air travel across the vast subterranean province. Enormous scarabs are monumental in the construction of the homes, temples, and palaces of its cities. The rarest, most powerful, and most highly sought-after Bejeweled are dragon-sized scorpions that are used as symbols of divinity by the prominent houses that command them.
Noteworthy Folk
God King Xanatep
Said to be the only silkborn that ascended to divinity and achieved immortality. The supreme ruler of Nerukhet who begrudgingly pledges fealty to Phillip Druskenvald. The master of Vekloriash the Amethyst Dread (largest and deadliest bejeweled scorpion) and the only one to possess great dragonfly wings. Aims to increase the greatness of Nerukhet. Rules from the top of the colossal monument flanked ziggurat in Arakir, the Skittering City. Allows the various factions, houses, and families to squabble and settle disputes on their own, even as it comes to war. If such conflicts ever threatens the security or prosperity of the province, he descends upon the battle atop Vekloriash and brings an end to the fighting, often resulting in the total annihilation of both sides. Through the Tears of the Gods, he can see across all of Nerukhet, so few escape his watchful and merciless gaze.
Sister Hourglass
Extreme opulence and over-indulgence are a constant concern, especially among the wealthy and the noble. Sister Hourglass thrives and weaves an ever-growing web of deceit and treachery that threatens to topple the civilization of the province. (Oh no...she's hot as fuck...)
Uses spells that manipulate the mind of her victims, pulls the strings of the ruling classes and guides Nerukhet to its eventual self-destruction. Her swarms of spiders feed her whispers and secrets she uses to tighten her grip around the province. On rare occasion that her numerous disguises are uncovered, her eldritch webs and venomous fangs leave no witnesses.
Location Location Location
Arakir, the Skittering City
The massive, many-tiered capital of Nerukhet. Filled with glittering temples to the many gods of the province, imposing tombs of the most legendary historical figures, and magnificient palaces of the most prosperous houses, Arakir stands as a monument to its people. Illuminated by radiant geodes, the capital buzzes with countless bejeweled alongside the bustling lives of the silkborn and other people who live there. Beautiful gardens flourish with colorful vegetation that should not be able to thrive underground. The immense Lapis Library contains numerous ancient texts, both historical and poetic, that stretch back millennia. And the most infamous location in the city is the Tunnel of Claws, where wild and vicious bejeweled scorpions unclaimed by masters lurk and hunt.
The Crawling Doom
A ruined place of death and horror in the deepest and darkest pit of Nerukhet. The people of the First Kingdom grew hedonistic, envious, and overzealous for grandeur and began worshipping a strange entity that promised wealth, greatness, and immortality in exchange for offerings of depravity. This ultimately led to its downfall. The remnants of the First Kingdom collapsed into a pit, where a fleshy, squirming aberration resides within the cursed depths of the province. It shatters the minds of all who see it, and the mightiest priests and magicians of Nerukhet have sealed it away with intricate spells and blessings. But every year, a piece of the protective barrier cracks, and the thing in the darkness waits.