The Nahar Empire

On the day of the Three Faces’ Reverence, Nahar awakened long before sunrise. Even before the first rays touched the white stone of the palaces and minarets, the temple courtyards were already filled with the deep echoes of drums and the drawn-out voices of priests reciting ancient prayers to the Goddess.

The capital, built of pale marble and carved sandstone, seemed to be bathed in golden light during these days. Narrow streets between tall buildings were adorned with indigo silk banners, white ribbons, and branches of myrtle. The inner gardens of the palaces were filled with the fragrance of jasmine, roses, and incense, while the waters of marble fountains reflected the flames of hundreds of oil lamps lit in honor of the Maiden, the Mother, and the Elder.

The people of Nahar welcomed the festival dressed in their finest garments. Women covered their hair with delicate fabrics embroidered with gold and adorned with precious stones, while men wore long silk and linen kaftans, fastened with belts bearing the emblems of their families. The streets carried the mingled voices of merchants, scholars, warriors, and travelers who had arrived from distant lands to witness the celebration of the great North African Empire.

At the foot of the temples, offerings were placed: bowls of wine and water, fresh fruits, white flowers, incense, and small golden ornaments symbolizing prosperity and gratitude. Mothers brought the jewelry of their daughters, warriors laid the symbols of their family arms upon the altars, and ruling houses gave their vows to preserve the bloodline of the dynasty and the prosperity of the state.

Above the squares, the banners of the Empire fluttered in the warm air, while among the colonnades of the palace complexes the music of the celebration echoed — lyres, flutes, and drums accompanied the processions where priests, nobles, and common people passed before the statues of the Three-Faced Goddess.