The Empire of Múrkhàn
War has ravaged Múrkhàn since its first volcanoes erupted, and the people of this realm remain just as divided as the canyons which scar its landscape. Even before the Múrkhaní conquest, the native Hànasen Clans constantly battled each other for glory, honor, and for sport. But the invading Múrkhaní eventually took control, and the first Imperial Dynasty was born.
Peace in the Múrkhàn Empire has always been elusive, as the Hànasen Clans continuously try to regain their independence through violent revolts. During the Second Dynasty, in an effort to quench these sparks of rebellion, the Múrkhaní Imperials built stadiums to hold sporting events against the Hànasens. They were called Games of Honor, which included competitions of strength and agility, along with fights to the death.
For a while, the Games did quell the uprisings, but after the Múrkhaní were found to be cheating, several Hànasen Clans united and waged an attack against the capital city of Ajhmok. The Múrkhaní troops drove these rebels back towards the Dead Lands, and have since built a fortified wall across the desert to protect the heart of their Empire from any more attacks. |
Though the Múrkhaní Imperials and Hànasen Clans may have deep historical divides, their traditions have blended over the centuries. Strength is revered above all else, and being a warrior is an honor for both men and women who train at an early age in the art of self-defense.
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The rites surrounding death are of great importance for the people of Múrkhàn. Whereas beheading and burning the body is seen as sacrilege and is therefore done to enemies, mummification is considered an honor since the mummified body is believed to preserve the soul so that it may become immortal in the after-life.
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The patron deity of Múrkhàn is Mok, the God of Fire and Flames, and he is the embodiment of strength. Most often, Mok is depicted as a fearsome dragon which was said to have been born from the first eruption of the Volcano Mok, though occasionally he is seen as other nightmarish creatures, or even as a volcano.
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It is often said that no one can topple the Múrkhaní Emperor except Mok himself.