Stygian

Stygia is a theocratic menace, ruled nominally by a king but dominated by priests and sorcerers. Other regions and kingdoms of the Hyborian Age fear Stygia, a land of nameless horror devoted to the malevolent god Set. The population is notably insular, clustered mostly around the fertile lands along the Styx where the people wear mantles to show status and profession.

The cult of Set, dominate Stygian society. Temples own most of the arable land, and the priesthood operates Stygia’s government. Those same priests limit outside contact, but they do trade silk, ivory, skins, papyrus, and slaves. Set is at the head of a pantheon of “hideous, half-bestial gods” that are only a little less grim than Set himself. The remnants of the pre-human race found among the aristocracy are considered to be living representatives of these horrid gods. In fact, they insist upon it. The king himself is considered the living representative of Set. Stygians must raise their arms in obeisance when approaching all images of the gods, whether a statue or one of the abnormally tall nobles sitting on their thrones

## Stygian Religion

Set is the dread serpent-god of Stygia, the blighted land of the serpentine River Styx. Serpents and snakes have complex symbolism, and Father Set (Great Old Serpent) is a complex deity. Snakes are symbols of fertility, especially agricultural fertility. In an otherwise desert landscape dominated by a river, which is itself snake-like, that provides agricultural fertility, it is not hard to see how a snake came to be the dominant symbol of a culture.

In Stygia, the diadem of the kings is often in the form of a cobra, a symbol of the royal power to strike out at enemies. The snake is a source of fear and fascination for many, making it a duplicitous villain and a wise mentor. Set is likewise both fearsome and venerated. He is the archetypical devil for many of the western religions of the Hyborian Age.

The Stygians believe a person is comprised of multiple parts. The *Ba* is a person’s soul. The *Xu* is a person’s mind. The *Ka* is a person’s personality . The *Xa* is a person’s physicality body. Only the *Xa* is mortal and can perish. The priest are the guides and typically hold the knowledge of the Book of the Dead.

It is said that Thoth-Amon helped forge the bracelet warn in the Exile Lands. Which as the ability to traps the Xa, allowing the rest to unite when the body is at rest.

## Class System

Mysterious Stygia organises its inscrutable society in a strict class system based largely upon physical racial characteristics in a pyramid formtion, with the wide base of the pyramid built from the common scribes. They function as clerks, record-keepers, tax collectors, supply distributors and accountants. Being a ‘common’ scribe is a respectful title and higher in status than a nonliterate overseer of a farm.

* Set, sit above all
* Stygian royalty and nobility are relatively tall people with black hair and fair skin, as were their ancient forebears, the original inhabitants of Stygia.
* Below these, the haughty, ruling elite aristocrats priests and the powerful middle class are dusky-skinned, hawk nosed men. Interestingly, it is this caste which most non-Stygians consider to be true Stygians. Holding the reins of power in the government and in the temples, the aristocracy leaves the nobles free to hang about the court at Luxur.
* The warrior caste are a tall and muscular breed, also hawk-nosed and dusky skinned.
* The lowest classes of serfs and slaves are of mixed heritage, a hybrid of various foreign and Stygian bloods.
* Below this are the foreign mercenaries employed to bolster Stygia’s army.

Mysterious Stygia organises its inscrutable society in a strict class system based largely upon physical racial characteristics.

Set, sit above all

Stygian royalty and nobility are relatively tall people with black hair and fair skin, as were their ancient forebears, the original inhabitants of Stygia.

Below these, the haughty, ruling elite aristocrats priests and the powerful middle class are dusky-skinned, hawk nosed men. Interestingly, it is this caste which most non-Stygians consider to be true Stygians. Holding the reins of power in the government and in the temples, the aristocracy leaves the nobles free to hang about the court at Luxur.

The warrior caste are a tall and muscular breed, also hawk-nosed and dusky skinned. The lowest classes of serfs and slaves are of mixed heritage, a hybrid of various foreign and Stygian bloods. Below this are the foreign mercenaries employed to bolster Stygia’s army.

## **Stereotype Summary**

Stygian's are devoted, religious and proud people, who are always in service to Set, then the King or Queen.

mainly if you have position within their strict class system The Cult Set.

sacrifices by the cults

They are considered a mid level conflict character played typically in groups.

## **Based On**

Stygian's are based mostly on ancient Egyptians who follow the God Set. There is also a big influence on greek culture.

## **Game Mechanics**

* Perks: Stygian Deception and Forked Tongue
* Disadvantage: All buildings (not outpost) must be built within 2 grid areas of places that give corruption.
* Prefered God: Set
* Restricted Gods: Crom, Jhebbal Sag, Mitra, Ymir, Yog