The Buried Empire of Kheth-Moran
The Sundering (1,247 years ago)
The great empire of Kheth-Moran once stretched across the known world, a civilization of impossible towers and floating cities powered by bound elementals and enslaved djinn. Their hubris knew no bounds—they sought to chain the very gods themselves.
The Empire's Peak
- Population: Over 10 million across dozens of cities
- Technology: Magical automation, flying vehicles, weather control
- Government: Immortal Pharaoh-Kings who had transcended mortality
- Military: Legions of construct soldiers and bound demons
- Magic: Mastery over all schools, including forbidden time magic
The Great Mistake
The Pharaoh-Kings discovered a way to harvest divine essence directly from the gods. They built the Godforge, a massive ritual site designed to drain power from celestial beings. The ritual began during the Crimson Eclipse, when all three moons aligned.
The Divine Retribution
The gods, both good and evil, united against this ultimate blasphemy. They shattered the barriers between planes, unleashing:
- The Sandstorm Eternal: A supernatural storm that buried entire cities
- The Curse of Thirst: Water turned to dust in their mouths
- The Madness of the Deep: Citizens turned on each other in frenzied violence
- The Elemental Rebellion: All bound spirits broke free simultaneously
Major Ruins
The Godforge Complex
Location: Beneath the Screaming Peaks, 12 days north of The Skeld
Depth: 200 feet below current sand level
Dangers: Temporal anomalies, mad constructs, divine curses
Treasures: Artifacts of god-binding, time manipulation devices
The Necropolis of the Pharaoh-Kings
Location: Under the Bone Desert, near Dusthaven
Depth: Multiple levels, deepest at 300 feet
Dangers: Undead pharaohs, mummy lords, cursed treasures
Treasures: Immortality elixirs, soul gems, resurrection chambers
The Floating Citadel of Aethros
Location: Crashed in the Glass Desert, 8 days east of Mirajhaven
Depth: Partially exposed, most sections buried
Dangers: Unstable gravity fields, crystal golems, trapped air elementals
Treasures: Flying carpets, weather control orbs, elemental binding circles
Legendary Artifacts
The Crown of Storms
Power: Control weather within 100 miles
Curse: Wearer ages 1 year per use
Location: Worn by Pharaoh-King Thutmose, buried in his tomb
The Hourglass of Eternity
Power: Stop time for 1 minute once per day
Curse: Each use has 5% chance of aging user 10 years
Location: Hidden in the Godforge's temporal laboratory
The Djinn's Lamp of Binding
Power: Contains a bound greater djinn who grants 3 wishes
Curse: Each wish corrupts the wisher's soul
Location: Lost in the ruins of the Grand Bazaar
Active Threats
The Sleepless Pharaoh
Thutmose the Eternal still "rules" from his buried throne room, sending undead servants to reclaim his empire. His mummy lord form commands 200 mummies, 50 wights, and 12 wraiths of his former advisors.
The Construct Legion
Thousands of magical automatons still patrol the buried cities, following their last orders:
- Sand Golems: Patrol the perimeter of ruins
- Crystal Sentinels: Guard important locations
- Brass Soldiers: Hunt intruders in the tunnels
Environmental Hazards
Temporal Anomalies
Areas where time magic went wrong:
- Time Loops: Repeat the same few minutes endlessly
- Acceleration Zones: Age creatures rapidly
- Stasis Fields: Freeze everything in time
Divine Curses
The gods' wrath still lingers:
- Thirst Curse: Water turns to sand when touched
- Madness Plague: Causes violent insanity
- Bone Rot: Flesh falls from bones
Treasure Hunting Guidelines
Preparation Required: Divine protection, magical wards, survival gear, escape plans
Warning Signs: Glowing runes, whispering voices, temperature changes, moving shadows, perfect preservation
The Empire's Influence Today
Despite its destruction, Kheth-Moran's legacy lives on:
- Architecture: Modern buildings copy empire designs
- Magic: Some spells are rediscovered empire techniques
- Languages: Many words derive from empire dialects
- Technology: Water wheels and windmills based on empire plans
Ongoing Mysteries
- The Missing Pharaoh: One ruler's tomb has never been found
- The Lost City: Rumors of an unburied empire city
- The Godforge's Purpose: Its true function remains unclear
- The Crimson Eclipse: Will it happen again?