Arelith: Lost Kingdom of Sheba-Yad
Author: Adelyn Belle'rose
Rozen Chalice Publishing, a division of East Arelith Trading
Original Publication: Eleasis, 183 AR
Revised & Updated Edition: Hammer, 185 AR
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"The Arelith Antiquarian Society is instituted to examine, preserve, and publish all antiquities connected with the art, language, literature, and history of the Arelith Archipelago. Articles bearing this notation have been selected for conservation regardless of race, faith, alignment, or affiliation. While all efforts have been made to ensure the information within is accurate regarding the subject matter covered, we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any other inconsistencies herein, whether such errors or omissions are the result of negligence, accident, or any other cause. If errors, inaccuracies, or omissions are discovered, please contact the author who will address the issue."
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INTRODUCTION
Long before Zanshibon was drawn into the 363rd layer of the Abyss, giving rise to the Lost Desert, the sun-scorched island of Sibayad was once the seat of power for an ancient Kingdom. Though much about this bygone empire remains a mystery, recent archaeological surveys and the discovery of several unique artifacts have shed light on its long-forgotten history. Together, we will journey back to a time before the major settlements of Arelith's mainland to explore the region's first -and forgotten- kingdom.
I. KINGDOM OF SHEBA-YAD
Nestled in the Nelanther Isles south of the Arelith Archipelago, the ancient empire of Sheba-Yad emerged as a beacon of wealth and power. This secluded island, encircled by the treacherous waters of the Sapphire Coast, was a land of stark contrasts: arid deserts, lush oases, and fertile coastal regions. Its ruling kings, known as Governor of Sheba-Yad and Warden of the Sapphire Coast, built a mighty empire that would become the major center of civilization within the region. Beloved by their people, a glimpse of their doctrine is captured in the recovered transcript below:
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"...In the season of rains, Reshef the Younger, Governor of Sheba-Yad and Warden of the Sapphire Coast, decreed that ten percent of crops were to be stored up. The people celebrated the foresight of the..."
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II. FAITH & MAGIC
The people of Sheba-Yad were devout worshippers of the Mulhorandi pantheon, drawing strength and inspiration from their gods. Their reverence for these deities shaped their culture, laws, and daily lives. Alongside their strong spiritual convictions, the local population fully embraced the unrestricted use of the arcane, as magic was not only accepted but actively promoted within the kingdom. All forms of spellcraft flourished, including the more questionable arts of necromancy. Sorcerers, wizards, and geomancers were revered, and their knowledge contributed to the realm's formidable reputation. From defense to construction to agriculture, the magi of Sheba-Yad utilized their talents to foster growth and prosperity, transforming once arid desert lands into a resplendent oasis paradise.
III. TRADE & COMMERCE
Located near several key shipping lanes, Sheba-Yad flourished into a significant regional trade hub, amassing immense wealth through its vibrant markets. Exotic wares of rare spices, precious stones, and intricate textiles from distant lands filled its bazaars, all brought ashore at the coastal port and carried inland along the Spice Road. This wealth was further bolstered through the exploitation of resources and the abduction of native populations from mainland Arelith. A practice that would lead to one of the more sordid aspects of Sheba-Yad's prosperity and the moniker for the island's primary sea route . . . Slaver's Run.
IV: THE GREAT TOMBS
One of Sheba-Yad's more astonishing achievements was the construction of three vast tomb complexes adjacent to its primary settlement. These tombs, constructed to honor the ruling dynasties, were marvels of ancient engineering. The empire leveraged its surplus of exotic slaves, including giants, whose immense strength was crucial in excavating the deep and elaborate structures, as detailed below from recovered engravings.
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"...cavation on the tomb complex is proceeding as planned. The giants sent to aid us are a blessing from Ptah! They lift stones the size of a man with ease..."
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Once completed, each complex was an intricate labyrinth filled with clever traps, deadly magics, and the animated mummified remains of those who perished in their creation. These measures served to protect the burial chambers and handcrafted sarcophagi holding the kingdom's venerated dead, though time would deteriorate their once resplendent architecture.
V. THE SERPENTFALL WAR
The only significant challenge to Sheba-Yad's dominance came from the Vrael Olo, a cunning and fierce race of serpent-like beings that inhabited the island's once fertile northern coastal region from their mountain stronghold. Initially, the two coexisted uneasily, but increasing raids by the Yuan-ti escalated tensions, culminating in open conflict. The war between Sheba-Yad and the serpentfolk was fierce and brutal, though its duration remains obscured. With their cunning and dark sorceries, the Yuan-ti posed a formidable threat to the kingdom, and rather than risk ultimate defeat, a decisive end was sought.
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"...-Ti raids have increased in ferocity. We have sent for the royal geomancers to address this threat. They will think twice about further raids when we bury their temple complex under a mountain of rock..."
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Sheba-Yad's geomancers, masters of earth magic, turned the tide of the war. In a decisive confrontation, the magi buried the scaled ones' settlement and temple complex beneath tons of mountain rock, effectively crippling their power. The defeat left the Yuan-ti broken and scattered, with survivors relocating to the dense jungle regions of Arelith's Southern Peninsula. Over the centuries, their descendants have eked out a meager existence, forever haunted by the memory of past glory and desperately seeking to reclaim their heritage. A glimpse of which can be found within a black bronze snake statuette recovered from the ruins of their once proud mountain citadel.
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A tarnished statuette of a snake, cast in black bronze and etched with exquisite detail. One eye is filled with a small emerald, the other is empty. An inscription in draconic runs along it's belly.
"The season of the rains is come. Our sacrifices are heeded. Blessings of Merrshaulk are with us."
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The cataclysmic sandstorm of 184 AR, which reshaped the entire isle, also swallowed the northern coastal mountain ruins of the ancient Yuan-ti kingdom. In this devastating act of nature, all remnants of their once-mighty civilization vanished, erasing the last fragment of the Vrael Olo's enduring legacy from the island.
VI. LEGACY OF SHEBA-YAD
For reasons that remain a mystery, the Kingdom of Sheba-Yad fell into decline and eventual collapse. Over the centuries that followed, the island's name would evolve from Sheba-Yad to Sibayad, a transformation shaped by the power of retelling and mispronunciation. Eventually the Merchant League, a coalition of traders and opportunists, would settle in the ruins of the kingdom's largest settlement, establishing a semblance of power and control. By capitalizing on the past achievements of Sheba-Yad geomancers, the Merchant League exploited the discovered wellspring of geothermal springs and subterranean aquifers to create a new desert refuge. Though they would never reclaim the grandeur of the Lost Kingdom, they would nonetheless thrive by exploiting its ruins, despoiling its tombs, and plundering treasures long since buried beneath shifting sands with the aid of visiting adventurers.
After the devastating sandstorm of 184 AR, the Merchant League made the historic decision to formally declare their burgeoning oasis an official settlement. They introduced new laws, established the elected office of Vizier to oversee governance, and opened their trade bazaar to all races and creeds.
VII. CONCLUSION
The Kingdom of Sheba-Yad, once a beacon of power and wealth within the archipelago, stands today as a haunting reminder of the impermanence of human endeavor. Its legacy, etched in grand tombs, desecrated ruins, and the very sands of the island itself, tells a tale of a civilization that thrived through faith, magic, and unrestricted commerce. Yet, like many great empires, it was not invincible to the forces of time and conflict. Though despoiled and desecrated, the present-day isle of Sibayad continues to inspire and intrigue those who seek to uncover the truths of the ancient world, urging us to learn from its history and preserve our own knowledge less it to be lost within the sands of time's relentless hourglass.
FIN
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
* Book(s) & Written Record(s):
[1] Adelyn Belle'rose, "Survey: Canyon of Lost Kings"
[2] Aelran Erelra et al., "Survey: Sibayad Outskirts, Desert Coast, & Mountain Ruins"
[3] Amadeo Pneuma, "Map of the Lost Desert, First Edition"
[3] Elennei Zaale'Orbb et al., "Survey: Ulakh Uvuesh"
[4] Nella Fryar, "Lost Desert of Sibayad: Its Supernatural Origins"
[5] Nicolas Duval, "Zanshiboon/363rd Layer of the Abyss"
[6] Adelyn Belle'rose, "Khamsin Storm Damage Survey, 184 AR"
* Artifacts
[1] Ancient Tablet of Reshef the Younger
[2] Black Bronze Snake Statuette
* Interview(s):
[1] Tayyeb Jalil, Magistrate of the Merchant League
[2] Izzika, Archaeologist
[3] Arkhan Crestflame, Translator
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The modest portrait of a young vermilion-haired woman with pallid flesh is positioned next to the paragraph below. Her emerald gaze looks intently at the reader, betraying the aspect's alluring facade with callous indifference. A subtle smirk, hinting at a predatory nature, appears hidden within the corners of full upturned lips.
"For years, the vampire Adelyn Belle'rose has captivated readers with her historical works upon the island of Arelith. Once the curator of the Cordor Museum, she breathed life into the past through engaging exhibits and displays. Later, as a key member of Andunor's Erudite Arcanum, she spearheaded the investigation into Shadow Wharftown's Third Iteration. Her eventual collaboration with the Merchant League of Sibayad led to discovering its forgotten past. Through initiatives like the Arelith Antiquarian Society and the East Arelith Trading Company, she tirelessly advocates for the preservation of knowledge throughout the archipelago."