The Oasis Temple City…
Nestled within the vast expanse of the desert lies the Oasis Temple City, the revered capital of the Shadow Fang Sect. This magnificent metropolis was built around a lush oasis, its verdant palms and lotus-filled canals, a stark contrast to the arid dunes that stretch beyond the walls.
The walls were white and tall, and if one looked closely, they could view a faint shimmer above the walls, forming a huge dome over the place. This protective dome protected the city from the harsh winds and the hot, overbearing sun.
The city's architecture was a blend of ancient Egyptian and mystical elements, reflecting the sect's deep connection to the mythologies of the sands.
The city was divided into distinct quarters, each with its own unique design, character, and purpose.
At the center of the city, closer to the oasis, stood the Central Pyramid Temple, a towering, pyramid-shaped structure dedicated to the sect's patron deities: Anubis, the god of the afterlife and protection, and Ra, the god of the sun and king of the Egyptian gods.
The temple's peak was adorned with a golden finial in the shape of a jackal's head and an ankh and staff, symbolizing the sect's affinity with the desert's fierce guardians.
The pyramid itself was very huge, stretching far and wide.
Next to the temple was the Oasis District: a serene area filled with lush greenery, tranquil water features, and winding pathways. This was where the core disciples and sometimes the elders of the sect strolled, seeking peace and enlightenment amidst nature's beauty.
Rumors had it that the Oasis District was blessed by the goddess Isis, granting the place a mystical presence. It was closed to people below the rank of core disciples, and even those at the core disciple rank had to meet certain requirements before they gained access to the place.
This place was a hub where many had experienced enlightenment in their cultivation paths. It was the second most protected place in the sect, only second to the Central Pyramid Temple.
At the borderlands of the city was the Warrior's Enclave. This was a fortified section of the city where martial artists and warriors trained in the sect's unique combat techniques, honing their skills to protect the city and uphold the sect's ideals.
It had arenas for sect members to test each other's prowess or even challenge themselves.
Unlike the lifeless desert beyond the city's white walls, the city pulsated with life, as disciples, merchants, and artisans went on about their daily routines.
The air was filled with the sounds of chanting, the scent of incense, and the soft rustling of sandstone. The city's layout encouraged a sense of community and spiritual growth, with each district designed to nurture different aspects of a disciple's journey.
The Oasis Temple City was the central hub of the Shadow Fang Sect, connected to three other significant locations, all close to the city.
The Obsidian Citadel...
Rising from the side of a scorched desert cliff, the Obsidian Citadel loomed like a dark monolith carved by forgotten hands. Built from shimmering black stones that absorbed the desert sun, the fortress exuded an eerie calm.
Legends had it that this citadel was built by the very hands of Anubis to protect his loved ones and keep out enemies. Though this legend was often questioned, as Anubis was a being related to death and mummification. Not a good character to portray a family.
The ancient structure served as the spiritual and administrative heart of the sect, home to its most revered elders and ascetic masters. Within its labyrinthine halls, meditation chambers hummed with low, resonant chants while incense filled the air with a scent of myrrh and burning herbs.
The citadel was not only a sanctuary, but also a crucible for enlightenment, though enlightenment here was much harder than in the Oasis District. It was a place where disciples, regardless of rank, underwent trials of mind and spirit under the stern guidance of powerful mentors.
Next was the most mystic and dangerous place in the sect. This was a place even elders trekked carefully when they found themselves there.
The Dunes of the Ancients...
Sprawling endlessly across the horizon, the Dunes of the Ancients were a shifting sea of golden sand. But before this sea of sand was the Dark Oasis, or so it was called. It was a living forest as has been told for ages. This place had an oasis, but unlike a normal oasis, this place had a waterfall and was very beautiful. But its beauty was its weapon.
Beasts of various ranks were all attracted to the place. The place was called the Dark Oasis because there was always bloodshed around it. Just staying there for a month would make one advance in ranks and even gain enlightenment, provided it was peaceful, and peace was never known in the Dark Oasis. Behind the oasis was the sea of golden sand, which was more dangerous than the oasis.
If one used beauty and beasts to induce fear and horror, then the other was fear and horror itself. In the sect, for one to become a Grand Elder or the Pharaoh (Sect Leader), one must survive at least five days in the Dunes of Ancients, or ten or more days for the latter.
This was why the Shadow Fang Sect was ranked among the top three sects in the world. The danger of just living in the sect was so high that the number of inner disciples and core disciples had never crossed the thousand mark.
The reason being that, if the Dunes of the Ancients was the test area for the elders, then the Dark Oasis was the test grounds for the inner disciples to rank up to core discipleship.
For outer disciples, they just needed to partake in the annual competitions and survive long enough to be recognized by any of the elders or core disciples to earn an inner disciple rank.
It was even said that the golden sands of the Dunes of the Ancients remembered whoever had crossed or fallen in the place.
The deeper one travels into the dunes, the more surreal reality becomes. Mirages blur with visions, and the echoes of he past beckon from beneath the sands.
Legends speak of the third oasis of the sect, somewhere at the heart of the dunes. The lost Oasis of Echoes. Little is known about it, and the only person who has survived to tell the tale is the Hidden Horus of the sect.
It is said that he met one of the Egyptian deities in the lost Oasis of Echoes.