Noktyoul

We live where they died. The ruins we have built our cities upon are of unfathomable size— beyond what any of our kind could ever dream of constructing— and yet their creators were felled by our might. Their land is ours now, and with it— their secrets.

— Fourth Worm, Yixh

  Noktyoul is a sunny island nation along the northwestern corner of Rqet, built upon the bones of cities constructed by the ancient race who once lived there— who were wiped out by the Xholx who founded the nation to fulfill an ancient prophecy.   The history of Noktyoul and the Xholx who make up the grand majority of its population today are inseparable. The nation's very founding was the result of Xholx culture— which places great importance on omens and prophecies.  

When humans wither and crack under the punctured sun, a strange instrument will be heard over the horizon. Follow it— take to the seas— and we will find ourselves a new home where cities of untold age lie.

— The Yoz Prophecy

  This is the beginning of Noktyoul's history, though it is not the beginning for that of the Xholx— which offers important context. Before this, the Xholx had been a nomadic group occupying the infamous badlands within the continent of Lqet. Water and food were scarce, and thus they had warred with other groups in the badlands over even the smallest of oases throughout their history. This continued until they met one whose might matched their own, the Lighst, who defeated them during what is known as the Battle of Sand— as it was fought over what was thought to be a spring but turned out to be no more than a puddle— which evaporated by the time the fighting was over.   While the Lighst had won, they still did not have enough water for themselves, yet alone enough to subjugate the Xholx— and instead demanded that they never return to their lands, and send over their seven finest women as tribute. The Xholx saw sex differently than the Lighst, and sent them warriors— including the general who led them in the battle. Losing her would be a death sentence should the Xholx find themselves in another battle soon after, but they had no choice. While the Lighst ruler wished to add them to his growing harem of defeated foes— the women would make numerous attempts on his life over the following year, costing the man an eye, an ear, a son, and the final straw— his genitalia.   They were cast into a cavern and sealed within, left to fend for themselves against whatever monsters lurked in the darkness. The general, Loz, insisted that they wander to the core of the caverns— rather than try to escape through the entrance. They wandered deeper and deeper for a week, subsisting off insects found within. Only one monster dwelled in the dark, which was killed without major injuries. As the prisoners continued deeper, the air around them got thicker, like a fog— but it felt more viscous than that, as if they were treading through mud made air. Yet something compelled them to continue— a light in the distance.