Kesh

This page needs LOTS of updating; pulled from another setting.

Kesh shares the continent south of the Vodanan Empire with the Kingdom of Drakkenvald, neither filling the entire space of the continent, leaving space to nomads, bandits, and goblins between them. The lands of Kesh are also home to the lizard folk

Kesh is a kingdom ruled by a god, known also as "Kesh" that lives in its capital. This god has complete control of the river that runs through the kingdom, bringing life and vitality. When the river increases, life abounds, and the kingdom flourishes and can grow immense in size, but when the rivers wanes the kingdom shrinks, only covering a hundred miles out from the shores of the river, as the river basin further out dries out and life either fades or goes into hiding.

The Avatar of Kesh
Kesh's vitality and strength ebbs and flows with the avatar he resides in, gaining strength and power as his avatar grows to adulthood, but then wanes again as the body of his avatar ages and eventually dies, allowing him to inhabit his next avatar. Those that serve as his avatar are gifted with long life, often a couple hundred years. They also benefit from great power, both magical and physical.

Its considered bad to kill the avatar as the entire kingdom would wither and suffer until he inhabits his next vessel and comes of age. If the old avatar is allowed to live, the next avatar can grow and come to some maturity before Kesh changes to it, and there is less time between golden ages.

The Outlands
Anyone in Kesh would tell you that the Outlands (the lands that fall outside of those blessed by Kesh) are inhabitable, but ask quietly in the right places, and you'll hear something a little different. There are rumors of people living in the Outlands; people with no love for the Pharoah who are able to live in the harsh lands.

Dwarven Outlanders
The Dwarves have several underground colonies in the Outlands. They seem to have learned to use the giant desert serpents to help create them, and also use them to travel in, out, and between their colonies.

Halfling Outlanders
The Halflings have taken to the rocky hilly areas in the desert, building their homes in the rocks and either relying on Dwarf Outlanders or giant flying bugs to get to, from, and between their villages.