SOBEKNEFERU
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: To create a secondary city on Halm
Image Credit: Ev Shipard // Artstation (x)
Canon: N/A
Links: N/A
City Name: Sobekneferu
Classification: Urban Center
Location: Halm
Affiliation: First Order
Demographics: 15% Gran | 70% Human | 15% Other
In the wake of Halm becoming part of the First Order, there has been a massive influx of Humans in the form of First Imperials and travelers from other parts of the galaxy. Drawing both archaeologists and smugglers alike. The already immigrated Gran find themselves suddenly outnumbered but racial tensions are kept to a minimum thanks in part to the First Order’s own policies and regulations.
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Wealth: Moderate
The spaceport city of Sobekneferu boasts two of the major ports for Halm as a whole, with the main exports as glasteel, transparisteel, precious gems, jewlery and a plant known as “Veroa” the Veroa is a strange plant that when broken can provide remedies against insect bites, heal sunburned skin and removes unwanted natural oil from skin, scale or fur (depending on species). After this comes the export of the root vegetable, Caroot - hardened purple almost black root vegetable that has become the staple of many Halm based cuisines. Imports to Sobekneferu includes modern building materials, weapons (as regulated by the First Order), medical supplies, and other foodstuffs. The city keeps a relatively balanced book and is currently burgeoning on growth.
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Stability: High
Prior to the First Order’s arrival the city maintained a high level security through its own guards with a zero tolerance for disobedience let alone crime. As the First Order’s banner rose over the planet of Halm the addition of First Imperial Planetary Guards and Stormtroopers has made it easier on the city’s police force while they transition into First Order Military Police.
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Description: With Pyramids, Obelisks and towering monuments to the past the city of Sobekneferu or simply, “Sobek” stands out as a unique blend of past, present and future. Sobek was founded sometime during the centuries of darkness. Based along the Tiyi River where the river floods soft, fertile farmlands once a year. Livestock graze at the grass and feed on the grain, fish are abundant throughout the year as the River flows out onto the Bastet Sea. Temples made to worship the gods and goddess, devoted to the Cosmic Balance, to the Force and other religions now dot the city’s landscape as beautiful spaceports, speeder pads see the traffic through from one of Sobek to the other.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Nefertari University: The premiere university in Sobek, and perhaps all of Halm. The University is perhaps the best university for the study of ancient Galactic History, Xenomorphology, and Architecture. The University traces its history to Nikatoris’s daughter Terazi who founded it in honor of her mother and the hopes of promoting education, and equality.
Meritame Temple: Meritamen Temple located in the Southern end of the city, this temple was built by Nikatoris’s best friend and lover Meritame. Meritame built the Temple as a tomb and this is where the worship of Nikatoris began and is considered the pilgrimage site to be for those who worship her. Meritame is buried beside her lover and they are guarded by the Guardians of Sobek. The Temple is a highlight within the Sobek Skyline.
Guardians of Sobek: The Guardians of Sobek are the elite temple guards who care for Nikatoris’s tomb and the tombs of her priestesses, and family. They are regarded to be among the fiercest warriors of all Sobek.
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Bintanath Archaeological Society of Halm: Located behind the Battle Arena, the BASH or the Bintanath Archaeological Society of Halm considers themselves to be among the best Archaeologists within the region. BASH is always eager to rush out to a dig or a prospective site to secure it and gain credit for discoveries, donations and otherwise make their names known to those who will hear it. They are as much as one doesn’t like to admit it, among the best due to their meticulous work and dedication to the craft.
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The Warrior’s Guild: A proud guild that still teaches many of Sobek’s ancient fighting techniques including the all but forgotten chariot fighting. Only the best of the best are accepted into the Warrior’s Guild and now with the First Order’s arrival, the Guild hopes to contribute some of its finest to any branch of the military willing to accept them.
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The Architect’s Guild: Architecture and construction are prime here on Sobek and within the surrounding areas, the Architect’s Guild oversees much of this and promotes competition of some of the finest tradesman, architects and other valuable assets that make many of Sobek’s buildings beautiful and strong. The Architect’s Guild is located in the centermost fixture of the city giving them direct access to all roads and skylanes enabling the guild to move supplies and equipment at the most efficient pace.
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Osirison Bazaar: A large independent shopping center that caters to the new and the exotic while still playing host to traditional fare. If you can’t find it at Orisison’s then you can’t find it anywhere on Halm my friend. It’s home to some of the best home cooked Halm cuisines and legend has it that somewhere within the Bazaar are the secrets to Halm’s past.
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Neithikret Battle Arena: In which the greatest warriors from around Halm come to test their mettle those who prove themselves worthy have an opportunity to join the Warrior’s Guild, others who have been a cast aside and not dead may be recruited by various mercenary groups. The Battle Arena is considered some of the finest in entertainment this side of the Tiyi River.
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Sobekneferu's Tomb: A pyramid marks the tomb wherein Sobekneferu is buried, the woman for whom the city is named. It is said that Nikatoris's most elite guards, those who died with her family guard this tomb. It is filled with traps, and many grave robbers who attempt to come into this tomb do not emerge and are often taken by the tomb itself.
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Shere Ahmali's Tomb: Shere Ahmali was the mother of Nikatoris who gave her life for her daughter. The legend says a man tried to have his way with Nikatoryis and her mother fought him off and in doing so bestowed her life essence to Nikatoris as she passed. As an adult, one of her first orders were to construct this tomb for her mother. Shere Ahmali's remains are said to have not been buried in the tomb but scattered along the Tiyi River giving the River its bountiful inundation.
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Sobek Warrior Statues: Line the City's Skylines and are said to have within them the mummified remains of Sobek Guardians, who will come back to life to protect the city from harm if and when the need arises. The statues act as their conduit, according to legend - although it is only legend and has never been seen.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
It is said that Nikatoris founded Sobekneferu in honor of her grandmother, although who she was remains debatable. Some say she was Kaleesh, others, Falleen and still others say Kiffar or Twi’lek or just a human woman who wanted a city to herself. Hieroglyphs are not clear as to which species Nikatoris was as she is always depicted wearing a catlike head dress. It was said she planted the first Veroa and Caroot seeds, and it was she who gave the barley its unique taste with the touch of her hand. She is often worshipped on Sobek for those who have grown up here feel that she is the Mother of All Neferu. Sobek is a historical city filled with the secrets of the past, of Halm’s past from the thousands of years that it has been here. And as the city grew, so did it look to others on Halm to find them and unite with them but it was not always like this. The city that is now called New Heliopolis was once a rival for resources and even though the First Order now houses them both, still - there are rivalries that still goad both cities into tense meetings. Or at least their inhabitants, as the city marches toward the future so to does her construction change making use of new age durasteel and moving out and around the older parts of the city.
And as older parts of the city begin to fail, present construction and architectural efforts move swiftly to keep them upright. To maintain the past so that Sobek can always be reminded of where it came from and where it wants to go. For it can never forget its purpose, and the purpose is to always honor Nikatoris, the Great Mother.
