Avbekhen

Avbekhen is an ancient settlement in the Treibsand Desert, one of the many cities of the Antuda Empire.

Government

Avbekhen was run by one of the Scaled Lords, those within the Antuda Empire who ruled over individual towns and cities, demanding unconditional respect. He had a group of advisors that helped make decisions, but the final say fell to the Scaled Lord

Defences

There were two walls to the city of Avbekhen. One outer one helped protect from invaders, while an inner one was created more to divide the lower from the upper class. Watchtowers are spread out along both of these walls, though they mostly lay in ruin now.

Infrastructure

A system of waterways run throughout the town, supplying water to the different buildings as well as allowing for quick and easy transport to different parts.

Guilds and Factions

The Scalebearers: Among the most infamous of the Antuda Empire's cities were the Scalebearers, those who made up the guard. They wore armor made from the scales of the serpents that prowled the Treibsand, giving them magical properties of protection. At the top, and as a result the ruler of the city, was the Scaled Lord.

History

Avbekhen was founded in the late Titanic Era as the Antuda Empire was beginning to take hold and the once might colossi that roamed the world were being defeated one by one. At the center of the city is the Enazuss Temple, a site of worship for the Great Serpent Bahal, who was revered as a god in the Antuda Empire. The Antuda people built towering obelisks around the city, each one detailing their civilizations feats and accomplishments, most of them circling around this temple.
Like most of the cities of the Antuda Empire, Avbekhen was built on the backs of human and elf slaves that were viewed as lesser creatures. This, combined with the fact that it was on a major trade route through the center of the desert, allowed the city to grow quickly from when it was founded. Though the nearest source of water was hundreds of miles away, they were able to construct aqueducts and other waterway to help channel the water to where it needed to go, an amazing accomplishment at the time.
Avbekhen lasted for thousands of years during the Primal Age, growing from a fledgling settlement into something of a shining city. At its height, there were over a hundred thousand people living within the walls.
The city fell as the rest of the Antuda Empire did, when the slaves revolted and overthrew their oppressors. Now, all that remains are remnants of the walls and houses, as well as the Enazuss Temple and its ornate pillars, mostly buried under dozens of feet of sand. There it stayed, until, finally, a group of archaeologists discovered the ancient ruins on a trek through the desert. Now, it is the home of a new clan: The Gathering of Scales has moved in, bent on discovering the secret beneath the pillars and the giant snake that they speak of.

Points of interest

The Enazuss Temple: The centerpoint of the city, culturally and literally, was the Enzauss temple. A large pyramid structure, it dominated the central square of the ancient city, creating a focal point that could be seen for miles. At its apex is a golden capstone with a continuous image of a snake slithering over its four faces. A dozen pillars, each detailing part of the story of a great serpent, surround the pyramid in a circle. Some are crumbling, portions of them scattered to dust, while others are in as pristine condition as the day they were erected.