Nalathesh

A hot, arid nation spanning the south of a great desert, Nalathesh is hard for travelers to access and is shrouded in mystery. Traders that do reach the desert kingdom can barter for delicious spices, gilded works of magnificent art, and the finest blown glass this side of the Cloudpierce Range.

Nalathesh holds many secrets. It is one of the few nations that has floating islands soaring above its more temperate steppes to the south, and none have been able to determine exactly how these mountains of limestone maintain their endless flight. An enormous pit of flesh in the center of the nation draws much curiosity and fear from the outside world, and Nalatheshi scholars and miners work together in a gritty mining town to uncover the Flesh Pit’s secrets.

Nalathesh is an absolute monarchy ruled by an immortal Godking - or so says the ruler. The Godking only ever appears in public wearing a solid gold mask, so hushed speculations hold that the Godking is not one person, but many; the mask must surely be passed down from generation to generation.

On the whole, the Godking rules with a reasonably level hand, and so while taxes may be high most common folk are content with the system as it is.

Academic.

Nalathesh tries to import as much academic talent as it can from other nations. Nalatheshi scholars eagerly learn from anyone who has news of the outside world or who might share new alchemical practices. The scholarly among Nalathesh are all part of a national guild dedicated to research, experimentation, and archiving of any magical item or creature that they can uncover. Nalatheshi scholars often live in developing towns alongside frontiersmen that delve into the Flesh Pit or the Chasm in search of treasure.

Aristocratic and Political.

The Godking makes every decision of substance in Nalathesh, and his will is enforced by his Radiant Princes. These are highly educated magic- using military commanders capable of serving on the battlefield or in a legislative hall as needed. Nalathesh’s godking is named Neferu, and while he is somewhat unpopular among the common folk, he has also made Nalathesh quite prosperous. His right hand man, General Tenemei, oversees the Radiant Princes. While Neferu is begrudgingly respected, General Tenemei is outright feared for his cruelty. Prominent nobles, including the Luxxor family, publicly support the current administration and privately pressure Neferu to remove Tenemei from power.

Mercantile and Trade.

Nalathesh’s caravans of traders are very skilled at surviving in the desert, and so while fewer traders come to Nalathesh directly, many Nalatheshi caravans trade with their nearest neighbors: Lesmishan to the north, Husk and Falth to the west, and Hadla to the south.

Bridgemoor sits directly on Nalathesh’s eastern border, and traders from Bridgemoor do frequently traverse Nalathesh due to their easy access to the nation. Nalatheshi traders also travel through Bridgemoor to reach Kendaria.

Militant.

Nalathesh’s military is well-trained and well- equipped. All soldiers respond directly to the Godking or his commanders. The elite Bronzeguard are a legion of cavaliers that ride dracani into combat, decimating threats to the kingdom. They often patrol the Flesh Pit to ensure that its foul presence does not spread.

While far from the largest standing military on Gathandia, Nalathesh invests a tremendous amount of money and magical research into making their military as strong as possible.

Religious.

Worship of the Godking is mandatory. National taxes are seen as a religious responsibility, and any sign of insincerity in one’s worship of the Godking is punishable with imprisonment.

Social.

Nalatheshi culture revolves around the Godking, international trade, and the harsh but fascinating truths of desert living. Shade and wind are often celebrated as gifts from the Godking’s mercy, and sudden rainstorms might cause merchants and laborers to stop their work for the day and engage in revelry.

Underworld.

A vast criminal network lurks throughout the nation, thus far undiscovered by the Godking. Known as the Sandsnakes, this network smuggles information, spices, and fine goods to the powerful and corrupt bankers of Lesmishan.

Aridala

A sprawling metropolis of multistory adobe apartments, vibrant bazaars, and confusing alleys, Aridala is the capital of Nalathesh. It rests on the only lake in the kingdom that doesn’t dry up each summer. The Godking’s palace is carved into the side of a sandstone cliff and is some of the most stunning architecture in Gathandia. The streets of Aridala are well maintained and crime is virtually nonexistent under the watchful eyes of the Radiant Princes.

Points of Interest

The Desert. Most of Nalathesh is arid, scrubby desert. The terrain varies between pebbly sand in some areas, crumbling canyons in others, and rolling hills through the rest. Survival in this desert is easy for those who can identify edible plants and who know how to avoid venomous snakes and insects, but can be deadly for the uninformed. The crescent of land in Nalathesh’s south is much more fertile, sporting larger trees and greener grasses thanks to multitudinous freshwater springs.

The Flesh Pit. Near the center of Nalathesh’s expansive desert, there dwells a great pit of flesh. Miners have found that they can harvest this flesh and it makes fine jerky. Scientists use the flesh to conduct experiments with caustic reagents. Occasionally, the flesh awakens and eats some unfortunate folk, but the Bronzeguard stands ready for such events.

At the heart of the Flesh Pit, a full-grown M’l’ykkri waits with its hungering maw.

The Great Chasm. About half of Nalathesh’s border overlooks the Great Chasm. See Bridgemoor’s Points of Interest.

Floating Islands. Soaring above the fresh springs and lush greenery in the south of the kingdom, a chain of limestone islands float like immortal guardians. Legend has it that the Godking keeps them aloft through sheer force of will as a sign of his power, but many scholars quietly doubt that this is the case. No one has yet been able to reach the floating islands; some of the Bronzeguard have tried with their dracani, but to no avail.

Quest Ideas

• A person of interest has gone missing in the Flesh Pit.

• Miners want to find a new vein of minerals within theGreat Chasm.

• The Godking is suspicious that criminal activity is happening in one of his cities and sends the heroes to investigate.

• Criminals in one of the Godking’s distant cities recruit the heroes to help them smuggle spices out of the nation.

• Scholars want the heroes to find a way to reach the floating islands and see what’s on top.