Fiction:Khaepsha-ultan

This is part of the Fantasy Universe.

The Khep Dominion is a nation that exists in the Eastern Plains of Koldenwelt. They are known for the construction of four pyramids that mark the North, East, South and West and the fact that they have managed to use solar energy as their main power source and develope heat rays. They have a large military but a small amount of civillians, most of whom are slaves to greater Anubi, the ruling body over the Khep Dominion. The slaves are the ancient Sarcophi, who are smaller and physically strong, but have not developed their own weapons. The area in which the Khep Dominion resides is covered with hot sand, heated by Koldenwelt's sun. Creatures such as Khep Beetles and Hor Eagles are common, and considered sacred by both the Anubi and Sarcophi. Also, Nekh Vultures and Serk Scorpions wait in the deserts to prey on unweary travellers who get lost in the territory of the Khep Dominion.

The Khep Dominion appeared 2,500 years ago and was formed by the now-extinct Sohet, who were considered gods by the descandents of the first Anubi and Sarcophi. Four statues of the Sohet still exist and one is placed near each pyramid respectively. The statues are guarded by elite Anubi warriors, for they are the last remains of the Sohet people. To the Anubi, advancement is important because they believe that the Sohet statues contain the souls of all the Sohet.

20,000 Years Ago
The Sohet civilization had ruled for 30,000 years before the coming of the Anubi and Sarcophi. When the two races reached intelligence, they worshipped the Sohet. However, the Sohet were in a time of civil war with each other. The leader respected by the Sarcophi, known as the Light One, was against the ideas of the Sohet respected by the Anubi, known as the Dark One. The war raged on until a mighty red Lunsincth, called the Destroyer by both the Sarcophi and Anubi, killed the Light One and the Dark One before leaving their structures in ruins. However, the Anubi and Sarcophi survived the attack of the Destroyer, and managed to rebuild. But all Sohet technology was destroyed or lost (with the exception of a single teleporter), so the Anubi enslaved the Sarcophi and used them to repair the structures out of their own improvised resources.

15,000 Years Ago
After 5,000 years of slavery, the Sarcophi launch a campaign against the Anubi. At first, the campaign is successful, with jewellery for Anubi women and statues for the Anubi to worship falls in number. However, the Anubi begin killing more of the Sarcophi, spreading fear into the Sarcophi citizens. But after 20 years more slavery and fear, the Sarcophi begin to gain an advantage through an individual, known as Aetes Hotep, and an Anubi traitor, Princess Neferet. Neferet led an army of other Anubi traitors and Sarcophi warriors against the rule of the sinister Anubi. During the conflict, the current Anubi ruler, King Ahu Aiari, was killed by Aetes by having an arrow shot through his forehead. Also, the Sarcophi manage to sink incoming Anubi ships by sending a beam of heat at the sails with their shields; the first heat rays. Aetes and Neferet abolish slavery and dedicate the Pyramids to those lost in the conflict.

10,000 Years Ago
The shared rule between the Sarcophi and Anubi has worked out well for the last 5,000 years. The Sohet Teleporter has been configured to run on solar energy, and heat rays have been developed. The Anubi and Sarcophi's boats have been armed with heat rays and rocks that can store solar energy, known as Solarites, are being mined in the South of the Eastern Plains, which is rich in Solarites. The Solarites are used to give the Khep Dominion's weaponry power and build structures. The current ruler was a Sarcophi known as Braheem Canopus. One day, he was assassinated by a rogue Anubi called Cechous, who took his place as king and brought back enslavement. Most important Sarcophi were killed by the Anubi and citizens were put to work unfairly in the mines. Cechous then demanded that the homes of the Sarcophi be burnt down, as revenge for all those years ago. He had once again put Anubi at a higher place in society.

5,000 Years Ago
In the last 5,000 years, the technology of the Khep Dominion has advanced much further. The heat rays are still powered by Solarites, but now instead of being put directly into the weapon, energy is extracted and put into a battery, which is also used to power lights. Also, the Khep Dominion has aircraft, although not like the helicopters of the Klaxxa, but hot air balloons. The balloons have not been armed, otherwise they would be too heavy to fly. They are used mostly for luxury, exploration and spying. The Sarcophi are still, however, enslaved by the Anubi, who have made military service compulsorary for all Anubi children whose fathers have unimportant jobs, such as farmers. The Khep Dominion are also moving in more directions, setting up mining towns.

Culture
The Khep Dominion are worshippers of the ancient Sohet, who had ruled over Aegyus for 30,000 years before being wiped out by civil war. The Anubi believed that the Dark One, an evil Sohet mage, would rule over them and give them all of the Eastern Plains. However, the Sarcophi believed that the Light One, the true Sohet Warrior-King, would unite the Eastern Plains and bring forward a new age of peace. Both races believe that the souls of the Sohet reside in the four remaining statues of the Sohet that are placed around each other the four Pyramids.

The Khep Dominion also have sacred animals, such as the famous Khep Beetle (who are believed to have helped the Sohet build their structures) and Hor Eagle (who are believed to have been messengers of the Sohet). They allow these creatures to roam freely around their territories, while creatures like Nekh Vultures and Serk Scorpions had to be tamed to be allowed into these territories. The people of the Khep Dominion know how deadly and volatile the Serk Scorpions are, and the Nekh Vultures are believed to be the ones who carry the souls of the dead through the Underworld.

The society of the Khep Dominion is an autocracy and has a class-system, with the Sarcophi being lower class to the Anubi. Sarcophi are used as slaves due to their endurance and strength, while the Anubi work as warriors and advisors for their king. Most of the military consists of Anubi, although the Sarcophi are used as cannon fodder. Sarcophi do not go unpaid, but the amounts they are paid has caused them to build their homes at the River Un, which is filled with fish. The Anubi would only allow this if they keep more of the fish caught.

Important jobs within the Khep Dominion are advisors, kings and slave traders. Less important jobs are farmers, merchants, builders, warriors and explorers. Those with these less important jobs have their children taken into compulsorary military training, where they are taught to be warriors. Sarcophi are not trained, however, only stolen of their free will to be put on the frontline. Also, Anubi do not need their children to help them because Sarcophi can do a better performance.

Weapons
See main article

The Khep Dominion's main weaponry is the Khopesh-like blade known as the Ashura. The Ashura, otherwise known as the "sickle sword", is famous for being wielded by the Anubi Deathguard, a group of elite Anubi warriors who protect King Massri and the four remaining Sohet statues. The Ashura is almost rivalled by the Talwar-like blade known as the Keshur, which is wielded by Sarcophi warriors. The Keshur is weaker than the Ashura, but if made from the appropriate materials, they can be just as strong.

The Khep Dominion's most famous weapon, however, is the Chifoph, or Heat Ray. They are the deadliest weapon the Dominion possesses, being able to burn through organic life and metals. The Chifoph has a molten tip at the end of it, which fires intense blasts of heat at targets. The weapon itself is two-handed.



The Chifoph is not the most advanced weapon of the Dominion, however. Underneath Aegyus are three ancient war machines, known as the Krishar, a.k.a. the Sohet Walkers. They are huge machines that walk on two mechanical legs, which fire intensified heat blasts that are so hot that they can do damage underwater. The Krishar are all-terrain and can travel underwater easily. They stand at 30-feet tall and were piloted by trained Sohet, although the Walkers have been modified to fit the size of the cockpit to the liking of Anubi. Currently, one Sohet Walker is ready for combat.