Old Kingdom of Akhenaton (Ah-KEN-ah-ton)

Pharaohdom of Sokoleth's Faithful

The Old Kingdom of Akhenaton was an ancient Vasarthi kingdom, formed on the edge of the Khal-Hurun desert over 16,400 years ago (circa 15,000 AE) after the uniting of several powerful tribes. Much of the kingdom became obsessively focused on serving the ruling 'Pharaoh' - the mortal representor of the gods' will - and used everything from magic to slavery to build the grand yet terrible city of Tes'Khekhelzum around the central royal palace. Throughout its history, the Old Kingdom also came into constant conflict with the other Vasarthi tribes resisting their advance into new territories, and they turned much of their energy towards the worship of Sokoleth, god of darkness and death, to help them succeed in their plans. The god later became the kingdom's patron deity. The Old Kingdom stood for thousands of years and was succeeded by the Middle Kingdom of Akhenaton around 12,000 - 11,000 AE after it fell during the First Cleansing, a cataclysmic event supposedly set into motion by Sokoleth and his worshippers that rendered much of the southern part of the world inhospitable. The details of the Old Kingdom's downfall are still a topic of debate for scholars to this day.

History

Before the Old Kingdom rose from the desert sands, Akhenaton was a primitive land dominated by warring Vasarthi tribes that fought over access to the best oases. As well as fighting each other, they also came into constant conflict with the dragonborn clans, nomadic humans and wild elves that called the region home. It is widely believed by scholars that a need to unite for better protection, perhaps because of a larger-scale war than what the Vasarthi were typically used to, was the catalyst for the founding of the Old Kingdom. Tribes began to form alliances, merging under single, powerful leaders who ruled through force of arms and charisma. A growing population meant that the old ways of moving the tribe from one oasis in their territory to the next was becoming cumbersome. At this point, much of the coast of Akhenaton was semi-arid and ripe for settlement; one of the larger tribes at the time called the Kar'Jotah were the first to settle along the banks of the Ta'Tatchka River, creating what was essentially a fortified encampment surrounded by the first attempts at agricultural farmland, the latter of which was nourished by the fertile soil of the river. In time, other unified tribes became jealous of what the Kar'Jotah had, and they launched numerous attacks on the settlement to try and displace them and take the land for themselves. These early skirmishes ended with the Kar'Jotah being routed back into the Khal-Hurun desert, approximately 50 - 100 years after they first settled. Although losing their rich farmlands, the tribe built a new fortified position near the Malar Ridge, a small range of desert mountains with underground sources of water. The Kar'Jotah also found that their new base was teeming with lodes of copper, iron, tin, and gold. They used this to outfit their warriors with some of the finest metal weapons and armour of the era, placing the other tribes at a huge disadvantage. The bounties of the land they had worked so hard to settle in the first place became easy pickings for the outcasts-turned-raiders, and not long after this, they marched into their old settlement to reclaim it. Many of the tribes that had stood against them swore fealty rather than face extinction; the others that escaped slaughter returned to the desert whence they came, nomads once more. After their victory, the Kar'Jotah became a force to be reckoned with in the region. Clans of humans and elves that wandered into their territory were swiftly taken as slaves and put to work building up the defences of the newly-named city of Tes'Khekhelzum (translates roughly as 'The City of Bronze', more for its bronze-clad soldiers than anything structural). Initially, the tribe had been ruled by a triumvirate of the three most powerful tribe leaders, although they would argue about what to do with their newfound power more than actually make beneficial decisions. As such, the tribe struggled for centuries with indecisions and petty disputes that often overflowed into bloody, internal strife. One leader (his or her name lost to time, although they are often believed to have been the leader of the original Kar'Jotah tribe), finally stepped forwards and killed the other leaders and all who dissented to their absolute rule, pushing the tribe in the direction of becoming a kingdom with an established dynasty. With no one in Akhenaton in any position to challenge their rule, the Kingdom of Akhenaton flourished for centuries under the guidance of a long line of Pharaohs, all of which gradually came to represent the Vasarthi pantheon as their mortal representative. Although often considered cruel and power-hungry, the Pharaohs brought a stability to the region that had not ever been seen before, at least not since the time of the mythical dragonborn empire, if it had truly existed at all. They skirmished constantly with the Vasarthi tribes, dragonborn clans, and human and elven nomads, steadily pushing the stubborn peoples back or enslaving them as Akhenaton reached out for more territory - more resources they could use to build their burgeoning empire. Eventually however, the resistance to their expansion became more than just a thorn in the side; most of the Vasarthi tribes had allied once again to face the threat, waging a guerilla war on Old Kingdom outposts and settlements that left trade routes undefended and crop fields burned. Now facing a food crisis, the rigid discipline of the Akhenaton army faltered under the fluid tactics of the tribal warriors. It was around this time that the Pharaoh Caefar turned himself and his people towards the worship of Sokoleth, who according to legend had offered to help the Pharaoh subdue his enemies. Much of the history around this time, spanning a period of almost 250 years, is coloured with legend surrounding the rise of Sokonites to positions of higher power, as well as powers gifted to the line of Pharaohs that allowed them to rain destruction down upon the land. In return for these storied powers and a life long beyond a Vasarthi's natural span, the Pharaohs occasionally served as avatars of Sokoleth's will, truly becoming the mortal face of the god as they were supposed to be by letting him possess them. Although there is no historical proof of this actually happening, Akhene culture is rooted in the belief that the Old Kingdom was completely embroiled in the schemes of the god of darkness and death. Eventually, they became the catalyst for the First Cleansing, a magical disaster caused by Sokoleth trying to pull the mortal realm into his nightmarish domain of lightless void. It purportedly rendered a large part of the world (Akhenaton, Solkaddi, and the Southern Chain) barren and inhospitable, changing the landscape forever and bringing forth a dark age of thousands of years for the peoples left behind. As legend would have it, the grandson of Caefar, Pharaoh Bruzel, was the one to take on the form of Sokoleth and bring about the First Cleansing. He was supposedly stopped by the Vasarthi tribes, united under the banner of the legendary warrior Izarr Rez'Credir and his mate, Fariah Von'Krishri. Izarr managed to kill the Aspect of Sokoleth by reflecting his dark magic back on him, sending him back to his domain with no way back. Beyond this, it is known that the Old Kingdom's power structure crumbled after this point, with the worship of Sokoleth outlawed in Akhenaton. The Old Kingdom fell and was reputedly taken over by Izarr and his people, the former of which became the new Pharaoh of what is now known as the Middle Kingdom of Akhenaton, a struggling power that took many centuries to recover from the chaos wrought by Sokoleth.

Territories

The Old Kingdom claimed that all the land of Akhenaton belonged to them, although this was little more than a grandiose proclamation that rarely proved to be true throughout their history. In reality, the kingdom controlled much of the semi-arid coastal and river basin of the island, giving them access to fertile soil and vital trade networks that supplied much of the kingdom's considerable wealth. Despite this, the desert regions, particularly the Khal-Hurun Desert and the south-east side of the Malar Ridge, were considered largely hostile and out of their control, being populated by the Vasarthi tribes and nomadic peoples. Later in their history, these peoples struck deeper and deeper into Old Kingdom territory, making even the river basin a tenuously held region. At one point, the desert on the eastern side of the Ta'Tatchka River, north of the Malar Ridge, became populated with tribes settling in the largely untapped area, creating a problem for the Old Kingdom as they struggled to fend off attacks from both directions, with the tribes sailing down the river to disrupt trade and sink both civilian and military vessels. Although the Old Kingdom explored a good part of Solkaddi and the Southern Chain, they did not actively settle these lands; most of the Vasarthi from the kingdom who went to settle there did so off their own backs, most likely to escape the oppressive regime of the Pharaohs. 

Religion

For much of its history, the Old Kingdom of Akhenaton worshipped the Vasarthi Pantheon of gods in equal measure, with many temples to the various deities scattered across their territory in cities and towns. It was only later, under the reign of Pharaoh Caefar and his descendants, that the worship of Sokoleth became more prevalent. Many suppose that this was because of the supposed murder of Tesh'Nahal, king of the Gods, by Sokoleth, who was purportedly the one to usurp his brother's position of power. Some argue that the Old Kingdom turned to his worship more out of fear than a desire to gain power to use against the Vasarthi tribes and nomadic peoples opposing them; it is without question that Sokonites gained a much more prominent and respected position in society around this time period, perhaps almost tantamount to the Pharaoh himself. 

Agriculture & Industry

The Old Kingdom was very much a mix of agriculture and industry, with the fertile soil of the river basin being perfect for growing crops and grazing livestock, and the desert mountains of the Malar Ridge providing much of the metal and mineral wealth required for construction and producing weapons and armour. As such, most of the unskilled labour of the Old Kingdom was made up of farmers and miners; skilled craftsmen were generally paid by the Royal Palace to produce various items from raw materials. The two most profitable industries for the kingdom were that of glassmaking and parchment-making, with the latter being supported entirely by slaves, who were given the dangerous job of cutting reeds on the banks of the crocodile-infested Ta'Tatchka River.

Trade & Transport

The Palace Economy

By law, everything produced in the Old Kingdom had to go through the Royal Palace in Tes'Khekhelzum before being distributed among the populace. The Pharaoh would take his or her due to keep their household, high priests, and military fed and well-supplied before allowing the administrators to act as 'merchants' for the people, who would come to the palace simply to buy the things they needed. Even if a farmer wanted the grain he had harvested from the field he worked, he would have to pay for it. Some of the goods produced by the citizenry were also kept to one side in the palace for trade purposes. The money that the Pharaoh earned from this practice was theoretically supposed to go towards the upkeep of the kingdom; providing funding for better defences, new homes, serviceable roads, and the like. However, that was rarely the case. Pharaohs and their families lived lives of exquisite luxury, and often spent money on attaining more of that luxury or expensive vanity projects, such as monuments and elaborate tombs. Maintaining the grandeur of Tes'Khekhelzum (particularly the Royal Palace and temples) was commonly seen as one of the highest priorities the Pharaoh could have in service to their kingdom, with everything else that required funding being placed at the back of the queue until there was really no other choice but to spend money on it.

Limited Trade

Being one of the only major powers in such a large part of the world had its drawbacks; there was hardly anyone worth trading with. The Old Kingdom recognised early-on the importance the sea and the mighty Ta'Tatchka River had for potential trade routes, setting up a port some way to their east that became the impressive harbour city of Tes'Akhmusut. Exploring further to the east brought the Old Kingdom into contact with the Melote people, a civilisation of grand city-states that were on a similar technological level to them. Trade routes were quickly opened up for the import of luxuries like wine, furs, and wood, the latter of which was considered to be more valuable than gold in Akhenaton. In return, the Melotes were hungry for the plentiful bronze they used to bolster their militaries, as well as the slaves that they could get almost nowhere else due to the Melote prohibition of enslaving a fellow citizen. Land trade in the Old Kingdom was largely confined to distributing supplies to outer settlements and outposts within the kingdom's territories. Roads were generally in poor condition and dangerous to travel on; patrols stretched thin to combat threats from tribespeople and nomads meant that banditry was especially common, particularly in the Old Kingdom's later years.

Education

Education in the Old Kingdom was typically reserved for the highest social strata of society, namely the Pharaoh and his/her family, the priesthood, the administrators, advisors, and scribes, as well as the top military officers. Everyone else in society, including the artisans, ordinary soldiers (professional and levy), labourers, farmers, and slaves were strictly forbidden from seeking education outside of their trades, sometimes on punishment of death but usually under threat of exile and/or disfigurement. At the time, nothing about the limits on education was to do with cost, otherwise the richest artisans would have easily been able to afford the scrolls necessary to learn the basics of reading and writing; rather, it was to do with the expectations of the Pharaoh and knowing one's place in the world. Pharaohs viewed the education of the masses to be a dangerous thing that would lead to discontentment and open revolt. The palace economy of the Old Kingdom allowed for the Pharaohs to strictly control what their people could possess; when everything harvested and made went through the palace before being distributed, the tools of education could easily be kept out of the wrong hands. Those outside of the educated classes that were found in possession of writing materials, and sometimes with something as simple as a blank scroll, were generally executed. There is some proof that those who were discovered to have magical talent, no matter their place in society, were elevated to the priesthood to serve Atar, god of magic, and taught to read and write to further their arcane studies.

Sokoleth tar'vorak safar (Common: In Sokoleth's Name)

by Locklear

The crest of the Old Kingdom of Akhenaton carried the emblem of the inverted crescent moon on a black background; the symbol of their patron deity, Sokoleth, god of darkness and death.

c. 15,000 AE - c. ~11,000 AE

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

Tes'Khekhelzum

Alternative Names

Akhenaton; The Old Kingdom; Pharaohdom of Sokoleth's Faithful (official, secondary); Kingdom of Dogs (always derogatory, typically used by non-Vasarthi)

Successor Organization

• Middle Kingdom of Akhenaton

Demonym

Akhene

Leader Title

Pharaoh

Government System

Monarchy, Theocratic

Power Structure

Feudal state

Economic System

Palace economy

Currency

Assumed to be the same as the Middle Kingdom: gold half-moons (bhalzums); bronze tabs (khelzums); iron stamps (fhalzums); copper shards (rak'mhelzums)

Major Exports

• Bronze, including copper and tin
• Gold
• Glass
• Fine parchment
• Fruits, i.e. dates and figs
• Slaves

Major Imports

• Olives
• Wine
• Fruits, i.e. lemons, limes, oranges
• Furs
• Wood
• Silver
• Marble

Official State Religion

Vasarthi Pantheon

Official Languages

• Akheni

Related Ethnicities

• Akhene

A map of the Old Kingdom of Akhenaton and its known territories (minus the Melote States), circa 13,000 AE.