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shards:ankhet

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shards:ankhet [2022/10/12 22:31] – [Akhar] whispershards:ankhet [2023/05/02 11:09] (current) – Struct data changed whisper
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 The Ankhet have a variety of creation stories, though all agree that Aten and Nephti were created by Mamut. Mamut was alone in the void and sought to rid itself of its loneliness. It created Aten, who would rule over birth, growth, and daylight, and Nephti, who would rule over death, decay, and the night. These two first gods had children, who each ruled over some other aspect of the Ankhet world. The Ankhet have a variety of creation stories, though all agree that Aten and Nephti were created by Mamut. Mamut was alone in the void and sought to rid itself of its loneliness. It created Aten, who would rule over birth, growth, and daylight, and Nephti, who would rule over death, decay, and the night. These two first gods had children, who each ruled over some other aspect of the Ankhet world.
  
-Each A'kari god has a counterpart. Each god, left unchecked, could lead to ruin. Not because they are good or evil, but because the Ankhet strongly believe in the concept of ta'am - balance. Without Nephti to decay and kill, Aten's growth would overrun their world until it consumed all of its resources. Nothing would be left. And so while Nephti could be seen as a destroyer, she was also a renewer. Aten, who represented life, could also represent unchecked growth, like a cancer.+Each Akhar god has a counterpart. Each god, left unchecked, could lead to ruin. Not because they are good or evil, but because the Ankhet strongly believe in the concept of ta'am - balance. Without Nephti to decay and kill, Aten's growth would overrun their world until it consumed all of its resources. Nothing would be left. And so while Nephti could be seen as a destroyer, she was also a renewer. Aten, who represented life, could also represent unchecked growth, like a cancer.
  
-For much of their history, the A'khar followed their principles of ta'am to ensure that life flourished, but not unchecked. Their people grew, their farming techniques advanced, and eventually they possessed technology that allowed them to travel to the heavens themselves.+For much of their history, the Akhar followed their principles of ta'am to ensure that life flourished, but not unchecked. Their people grew, their farming techniques advanced, and eventually they possessed technology that allowed them to travel to the heavens themselves.
  
 The Great Plague that struck their people changed their view on balance, but did not destroy it. It became clear that they had not done a sufficient job in culling life. They had clung to Aten too tightly and been rewarded with a terrifying plague that threatened not only their civilization, but all creatures on their world. Only by turning to Nephti - by casting away their living bodies and killing off all unchecked life that they find, could they restore balance once more. The Great Plague that struck their people changed their view on balance, but did not destroy it. It became clear that they had not done a sufficient job in culling life. They had clung to Aten too tightly and been rewarded with a terrifying plague that threatened not only their civilization, but all creatures on their world. Only by turning to Nephti - by casting away their living bodies and killing off all unchecked life that they find, could they restore balance once more.
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 === Eternity === === Eternity ===
  
-There is no concept of an afterlife in the A'khar religion. There is a notion of //continuance//, that some part of you continues and is reborn, but there is no true world between. At the end of their lives, an A'khar is judged for their deeds and misdeeds in life. If their life was found lacking, they would be extinguished and no longer be part of the cycle of rebirth.+There is no concept of an afterlife in the Akhar religion. There is a notion of //continuance//, that some part of you continues and is reborn, but there is no true world between for the people of Ankhet. At the end of their lives, an Akhar is judged for their deeds and misdeeds in life. If their life was found lacking, they would be extinguished and no longer be part of the cycle of rebirth.
  
 This approach to Eternity and worthiness has changed little since the Great Plague, but it has raised questions about their newfound ability to live for thousands of years and occupy new bodies. For some, they think that their long lives are a gift from Nephti for following her ways. For others, they worry that when their deeds are eventually weighed, the mistakes made over their long life will be too much. This approach to Eternity and worthiness has changed little since the Great Plague, but it has raised questions about their newfound ability to live for thousands of years and occupy new bodies. For some, they think that their long lives are a gift from Nephti for following her ways. For others, they worry that when their deeds are eventually weighed, the mistakes made over their long life will be too much.
  
 +==== Military Culture ====
 +
 +While the Ankhet have an abundance of craftspeople of all types, the majority of their culture centers around their military and its driving purpose. They view the sector as something like a garden that requires regular pruning if life is to survive. For the Ankhet, any branches, flowers, or weeds that grow outside of their appropriate place should be cut back immediately before things get worse.
 +
 +Accordingly, they spend a great deal of time training and developing new weapons for war. Each Ahkar warrior is a true master of their craft with at least a thousand years worth of experience.
 +
 +Perhaps because of their origins, Ahkar wear little armor beyond that which is part of them. Most will use a shield if their weapon of choice allows it. Armor finds its place on unit leaders and those in higher ranks, though it is only worn when they are going to war.
 +
 +Ahkar respect those who put up a good fight, to the point that they will intentionally leave stronger enemies alive so that they can fight them again in the future. They call this "honing the blade", though outsiders debate whether the blade being sharpened is the enemy or the Ahkar. They have no interest in granting mercy to anyone who has not earned the right.
 +
 +For larger scale conflicts, especially the purging of the other inhabitants of the Calliope sector, the Ankhet will often send only the minimum that their war leaders believe to be necessary to defeat their foe. Should they be defeated, they will give their opponent time to recover before sending a larger force. They continue this way until either the foe is defeated or they are forced into a larger engagement.
 ===== Government and Politics ===== ===== Government and Politics =====
  
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 When a society with a penchant for massive, elaborate structures and art projects that last a lifetime is given eternal life and untiring bodies, they double down. The Eternal Empire has no shortage of statues, buildings, and art installations that reach to the heavens and beyond. Stark lines are prevalent in their buildings, but every inch of their creations shows a mastery of their crafts. Stories and scriptures exalting their gods and their leaders are delicately carved into most of the surfaces of their works. When a society with a penchant for massive, elaborate structures and art projects that last a lifetime is given eternal life and untiring bodies, they double down. The Eternal Empire has no shortage of statues, buildings, and art installations that reach to the heavens and beyond. Stark lines are prevalent in their buildings, but every inch of their creations shows a mastery of their crafts. Stories and scriptures exalting their gods and their leaders are delicately carved into most of the surfaces of their works.
  
-For many Akhet, these projects are what gives their life meaning. They challenge themselves time and again to create true wonders. Accordingly, the places of their world are full of such wonder that it can be hard to comprehend the sheer scale and awe before you.+For many Akhet, these projects are what gives their life meaning. They challenge themselves time and again to create true wonders. Accordingly, the places of their worlds are full of such wonder that it can be hard to comprehend the sheer scale and awe before you. 
  
 +Each creation is given the space it requires to achieve maximum impact. The Empire has been known to claim worlds simply for their artistic potential.
 +
 +[[https://imgur.com/a/EVcMFws|Ankhet Environment Mood Board]]
 ==== Ships ==== ==== Ships ====
  
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 Only shuttles, transports, and fighter craft are smaller. These share the same general look and style as their parent craft on a smaller scale. Only shuttles, transports, and fighter craft are smaller. These share the same general look and style as their parent craft on a smaller scale.
  
 +{{ :shards:ankhetshipsupercomp.png?nolink |}}
 +
 +==== Fighting Craft ====
 +
 +While smaller craft exist within the Empire, most of the fighting is done by either titanic warforms and/or smaller, humanoid-sized robotic war beasts.
 +
 +Warforms vary in size from thirty meters to above one hundred, though their designs tend to remain consistent. Most warforms honor one of the Ankhet's gods with their design. Like their smaller counterpart, even the largest of warforms are surprisingly adaptable and nimble. Their limbs and bodies reconfigure into whatever weapon or feature they require; lost parts can be reattached or reconstituted from other Ankhet technology.
 +
 +{{ :shards:jackalcollage.png?nolink |}}
 +
 +==== Weaponry ====
 +
 +Ship and vehicle-based weaponry seems to appear as needed, drawing upon nearby or dormant components. If necessary, individual units will attach to larger craft and become weapon emplacements.
 +
 +Ankhet warriors have been seen to pick up smaller robots, who shift into weapon forms on the fly. Discarded, but functional, weapons produce heads and legs and join the fight on their own.
 +
 +===== Sound =====
 +
 +If you're looking for some inspiration music for the Ankhet, here's a few:
 +
 +  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tfGjnV7g9U]]
 +  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhPsb-9Rncs]]
 +  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_5ktlc0zjg]]
 +  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT--VYkmktU]]
 +  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zk1ghru0F0]]
 ===== Threat ===== ===== Threat =====
  
 The Eternal Empire represents a significant threat to all higher forms of life in the Calliope sector. They have made it their primary purpose in life to purify the sector of all higher life. The Eternal Empire represents a significant threat to all higher forms of life in the Calliope sector. They have made it their primary purpose in life to purify the sector of all higher life.
  
-They are technologically advanced and possess sufficient military strength that they can sustain a full-scale war on multiple fronts against opponents with strength comparable to that of the current shards. Only their religious need to seek balance - even in warfare - keeps them from eradicating all the life that they find.+They are technologically advanced and possess sufficient military strength that they can sustain a full-scale war on multiple fronts against opponents with strength comparable to that of the current shards. Only their religious need to seek balance - even in warfare - keeps them from immediately eradicating all the life that they find.
  
 +==== The Technophage ====
 +
 +The specific details of how the technophage came to be are known only to a few in the Ankhet. What is widely known is that it was created in response to a deadly, flesh-eating plague.
 +
 +Whether the technophage is an adapted version of that same plague or something else entirely, it displays traits similar to both a disease and a computer virus. Left unchecked in organics, it can convert limbs or even entire bodies in as little as an hour, rarely more than a day. Technology is similarly affected, though not always in as drastic a fashion.
 +
 +With appropriate countermeasures, the technophage can be resisted for a short time. Once it is halted, the technophage no longer converts flesh and metal into its own likeness - but any damage that has been done remains. Robust anti-virus systems and immune boosting systems are reasonably effective against the technophage, such that only the weak, damaged, or unprepared need be truly concerned about it.
 +
 +If not halted before the virus is able to alter a subjects mind or controlling systems, the infected quickly become loyal to the Eternal Empire and begins to act in what it believes to be the Empire's best interests. This has caused infiltration by sleeper agents in target empires that not even the Empire was aware of until they made their moves.
 +
 +All Ankhet technology relies on the technophage for its assembly, repair, and operation. Anyone attempting to analyze or reverse engineer their technology quickly finds their own tools turned against them.
 ===== Strengths and Weaknesses ===== ===== Strengths and Weaknesses =====
  
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 They are not impervious to damage, whether it be from technological or magic sources, but they are surprisingly hardy. Even their grunt units can prove a challenge for a skilled force, shrugging off damage that would easily down a similarly sized allied unit. Once wounded, they continue to crawl forward in an attempt to finish their task. They are not impervious to damage, whether it be from technological or magic sources, but they are surprisingly hardy. Even their grunt units can prove a challenge for a skilled force, shrugging off damage that would easily down a similarly sized allied unit. Once wounded, they continue to crawl forward in an attempt to finish their task.
 +===== Rumors and Quests =====
 +
 +==== Quests ====
 +  * The Eternal Empire is happy to promote strife in the sector. They fund numerous mercenary and bandit groups.
 +  * The many worlds of the Ankhet are full of dangers - but also many treasures for those bold enough to seek them out.
 +
 +==== Common Rumors ====
 +  * While the Ankhet seem genocidal, they readily trade with others, especially those who deal in fine arts.
 +  * The Ankhet respect strength above all other things. If they consider you to be worthy, they might not kill you. For now.
 +
 +==== Uncommon Rumors ====
 +  * The Eternal Empire is one of the greatest military strengths in the Calliope Sector.
 +  * A strange code of honor prohibits the Ankhet from destroying another empire without attempting to make the combat fair. Initially.
 +    * Anyone that the Ankhet deem too dangerous are exempt from this code, due to their religious beliefs taking precedence.
 +
 +==== Rare/Unsubstantiated Rumors ====
 +  * The Immortal Empress was behind the disease that led to the conversion of her people, as a way to secure her power.
 +  * Not all of the Akhar are robots - some still walk in flesh and blood.
  
 ===== OOC ===== ===== OOC =====
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 ---- struct data ---- ---- struct data ----
 shard.shard_name     : Ankhet, the Eternal Empire shard.shard_name     : Ankhet, the Eternal Empire
 +shard.shard_description : The Ankhet((ahn-kuh-het)) are fanatical purifiers bent on eradicating all sentient life from the sector. 
 +
 +Draws heavily from Ancient Egyptian culture and religion, with additional influences from Horizon: Zero Dawn, Zoids, and others.
 +shard.shard_manager  : whisper
 +shard.shard_active   : No
 ---- ----
  
shards/ankhet.1665635504.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/10/12 22:31 by whisper