“To know El-Dhabouri is to know the silence of stone, the weight of tradition, and the pride of a people who do not bend to the winds of the world.”


In the south-eastern reaches of Anarkand lies the Kingdom of El-Dhabouri. To many outsiders, it appears as a relic of the past, a nation untouched by the hum of machinery or the pulse of global trade. Yet, within its hex-scorched borders and vast stone-built cities lies a civilisation fiercely proud of its autonomy, heritage, and unwavering faith in self-sufficiency.


El-Dhabouri’s terrain is composed primarily of rocky highlands, dry plateaus, and mineral-rich valleys, with pockets of lush greenery that appear like jewels amidst the golden sands. The nation’s 20+ major cities are renowned for their architectural symmetry - a deliberate expression of order and unity. Each city follows the King's Code of Design, a set of laws dictating building materials, layout, and aesthetic principles to ensure that every Dhaboura settlement mirrors the same ideal vision of strength and purity.


At the heart of the kingdom lies El-Gogar, the capital, a fortress city of sandstone towers, golden domes, and winding passageways. From above, it resembles an intricate mosaic of squares and triangles, a geometric harmony symbolising divine balance.


The people of El-Dhabouri are known for their stoic discipline, communal living, and strict adherence to ancient codes. Education focuses less on science and innovation, and more on philosophy, mathematics, architecture, and the oral histories of the realm. Their way of life prizes the virtues of honour, loyalty, and restraint, and any deviation from these principles is met with harsh societal disdain.


While much of Anarkand has embraced the Hex-driven age of technology, El-Dhabouri rejects it outright. Electricity, advanced machinery, and digital communication are often banned within city limits. Instead, the Dhaboura have perfected stone, water, and wind-based engineering, using ingenious irrigation systems and natural energy methods that allow their cities to thrive without external assistance.


To the world, they appear backward; to themselves, they are pure - uncorrupted by the “Hex-borne chaos” that they believe has enslaved other nations.


The Kingdom of El-Dhabouri is a hereditary monarchy, ruled by the House of Al-Gogar, a royal line said to descend from the First Builder himself. The current ruler, King Ashoka II Al-Gogar, is a deeply conservative monarch, revered as both sovereign and spiritual custodian of the Dhabouria way. He presides from the Golden Hall of Stones, where an assembly of high scholars, architects, and lineage elders advises him.


The Dhabouria Charter of Conduct, a centuries-old document etched into obsidian tablets in the capital, governs all aspects of life in the kingdom. It outlines the duties of citizens, the architecture of cities, the rights of visitors, and even the acceptable forms of expression and dress.


Violation of these ancient tenets is considered both a civil and spiritual crime.


El-Dhabouri’s isolationist stance is absolute. The kingdom maintains no open trade routes, and foreign merchants are not permitted to establish permanent residence. All imports and exports are state-controlled through the Office of Interior Dealings, which only allows limited exchange of materials deemed essential to the kingdom’s survival.

Outsiders are tolerated only under strict conditions defined in the Dhaboura Charter for Visitors, which includes:

Limited Visitation Time. No foreigner may remain within the kingdom for longer than 30 Earth days.

Designated Quarters. All visitors must reside within assigned “Stone Quarters” built on the outskirts of major cities.

Surveillance and Escort. Each visitor is assigned a Royal Watcher, who ensures adherence to local customs and restrictions.

Cultural Non-Interference Clause. Foreigners are forbidden from proselytising, distributing foreign technologies, or attempting to introduce new ideologies.

Oath of Departure. Before leaving, all visitors must swear an oath before the Gate of Return, vowing not to share details of Dhabouri customs, city layouts, or internal affairs.

Violation of the charter is punishable by imprisonment in a subterranean fortress said to be inescapable.


El-Dhabouri’s people follow the Path of the Builder, a belief system that venerates The Great Artisan, an unseen divine force believed to have shaped both the land and its people from living stone. The Builder’s essence, according to their faith, still flows beneath the ground; a “slow heartbeat” that sustains all life in the region.


Temples dominate every city. These are silent sanctuaries with no priests or preachers; instead, citizens meditate in solitude before vast carved effigies of hands and tools, the symbols of creation and patience.


This religion is more philosophical than doctrinal; it teaches self-mastery, discipline, and the belief that all truth is found through labour and silence.


Despite its technological abstinence, El-Dhabouri is far from impoverished. The kingdom’s economy thrives on mineral wealth, rare stone exports, and architectural consultancy. Their masons, builders, and stonemancers are considered some of the best in Anarkand, often contracted (through heavily restricted terms) by foreign powers for the construction of monumental structures.


Internally, their economy functions on a closed circular model, with all industries owned by extended family guilds under the oversight of the royal treasury. Money exists, but barter and honour-debt remain the dominant forms of exchange in rural areas.


Modern nations often attempt to entice El-Dhabouri into the wider global market, particularly Radamis and Iccus, but these efforts are consistently rebuffed with a single phrase etched above the gates of El-Gogar:
“We build for eternity, not for profit.”


However, in recent decades, scholars have noted a quiet shift within the kingdom: younger Dhabourians — particularly those in border cities — have begun to question the strict isolationist doctrine. Whispers of reform circulate in the courtyards and markets of El-Gogar, though few dare to voice them openly.