Kh'shiq

The Kh'shiq are the ever-watching superpowered pwersonal guard of God-King Khurzi. The God-King is never seen without at least six Kh'shiq at any given time. All Kh'shiq wear tolgomasks to hide, and symbolically forgo, their previous identities. Upon acceptance as Kh'shiq, the tolgomasks are fused to the face, turning the symbolic sacrifice of identity into reality. Many speculate that some Kh'shiq have served the Kingdom of Kh'Axros and several God-Kings for generations, though such a truth would be considered blasphemy.   Kh'shiq are chosen during the rare coronation ceremony for the new mortal vessel of the God-King Khurzi. The current God-King, his 488th reign, is nearing his end, having ruled for nearly three generations. A Khadaam will take place to coronate the new God-King and choose those worthy enough among the populace to become Kh'shiq.  

The First Kh'shiq

  The First Kh’Shiq are the only that bear names, so that their deeds may be remembered and honored properly in the Kh’Axros fashion. When hopeful Kh'shiq forgo their names, many believe the emptiness of self will allow for them to be empowered by one of the First hoping to serve their God-King again.  

Yimmik the Thousand Farmer

  Yimmik the Thousand Farmer was an Anointed, but merely a low-level bureaucrat who specialized in the transport of goods between fiefs. When the Rain of a Thousand Knives spread across Keshloam in a storm of violence, much of Kh’Axros’ infrastructure was destroyed, including the fleets of barge rafts and steppeskiffs needed to complete Yimmik’s work. Knowing that his people would need him now more than ever, Yimmik grabbed the few surviving Anointed who worked in distribution and set out on foot to personally deliver harvested driqstalks to every fief in the kingdom. His efforts nearly cost him his life, but Yimmik’s love of the God-King was rewarded with eternal servitude and he was named among the First Kh’Shiq.  

Siiza, Whose Eyes Burn Under Orn

  Siiza of the First Kh’Shiq earned her position by taming the wild six-legged Himmoxi, now vital to Kh’Axros way of life. When a hostile force invaded the often-attacked border Fief of Kh'Fekhek, all were killed except for Siiza. Known for being the fastest in the fief, her entire family sacrificed themselves to face combatants they had no hopes of beating so that Siiza could warn the God-King of the invasion. Wounded, scared, and exhausted, Siiza ran blindly from her home and into the night. It was only when the blinding glare of the morning woke Siiza that she realized where she was: lost in the impassable Brokeneye Ridge, a rugged and brutal range of gleaming crystal mountains that, during the light of day, are said to cause madness in anything with eyes. Siiza could not afford to move only at night, lest her delay cost any more Kh’Axri lives. So, Siiza did the only thing she could do: she cut her eyes out and continued on. In truth, the pain was a relief compared to the maddening glare of Orn on the Ridge.   In her bumbling, Siiza made her way across the steppes. Guided only by faith, Siiza could only think of her family and the other families at risk of the invading forces. Her love for the God-King pushed her forward like a beacon in her heart. Soon though, Siiza would not be alone.   After three days, Siiza could barely wake one morning. As the crystal beneath her began to slowly warm in the morning sun, Siiza contemplated staying there and letting Orn cook her, burn her to dust, obliterate her shame from the eyes of the God-King. As she began to pray, her voice barely a whisper past her cracked lips, she heard another sound: footsteps. Many of them. She called out, but only in a choking rasp. The footfalls suddenly rushed at her from every side and she curled up into a ball and screamed.   The flock of Himmoxi did not fear Siiza. Native to Brokeneye Ridge, the six-legged creatures knew no predators in the treacherous steppes. Not even the glare of Orn could touch them; these eyeless creatures navigated the Ridge by sound, vibration, and temperature, their ultra-sensitive hoof-like pads pulling all the information they could need from the ground beneath them. The Himmoxi were not stupid either: they could see that, although durable, Siiza wasnot supposed to be here would soon die. Instead of harming Siiza, the Himmoxi lifted her up and stretched her across three of their backs. The flock stormed off in unison, moving like a school of fish across the dazzling gleam of Brokeneye Ridge.   When the Himmoxi descended to Kh’Bixr, now with a hale and confident Siiza riding astride the prime at the head of the pack, her message of invasion was heeded with the force of a stampede. Somehow, even the Himmoxi understood the severity of the situation and returned to Kh'Fekhek with thousands of soldiers upon their backs. Since then, the Himmoxi have become a vital part to Kh’Axrian culture, their domestication taking them from the deadly gleam of Brokeneye Ridge and into every part of daily life.  

Zad Driq-Maker, the Rider of Destiny

  Zad earned his place as First Kh’Shiq for the miracles he performed with Driq processing. From the lonely north in Kh’Zar, Zad perfected processes to maximize driq production, usage, and potential. Zad bred the driq to carry more nutrients in their stalks and sustain large, calorie heavy roots. His hybridization efforts helped driq spread across the dry land of Kh’Axros and flourish. From there, he began to extract the individual properties of driq and create distillates that had various applications.   Drazzin is a heavy paste used in construction, which, when dry, is stronger than stone. Khaff is a ground up power that is added to water for an invigorating morning drink. Hassbone is a durable and dense material used in weapons and armor, but the extremely time-consuming and expensive manufacture makes it exceptionally rare, seen only among Marshals. Zad’s most explosive discovery however was driqthanol, an extremely combustible gas that Zad engineered to emanate from ripening fields of driq. Zad then bent his efforts to application and created a phenomena unique to Kh’Axros and their bespoke crop: the Driq Rider. These massive circular platforms, often ornately decorated and designed, convert the free-floating driqthanol into propulsion and skim across the tops of driq fields at incredible speeds. With applications in every aspect of Kh’Axrian life, Zad was awarded for his genius contributions to the might of the God-King and named among the First Kh'shiq