Two Hundred Years Ago (1825)

The Empire of Jabal was a magnificent empire inhabited by thousands of people. The name Jabal was derived from the abundance of mountains in the region, most of which surrounded the empire entirely. The Empire of Jabal was bordered by the Farjum Sea, a sea with ancient and diverse histories filled with fearsome myths and legends. The land was home to numerous tribes, with linguistic diversity exceeding one hundred different languages. It was also a region rich in agriculture, livestock, and trade.

Mount Jaddum was the largest and most formidable mountain in the Empire of Jabal—a mountain shrouded in terror and dreadful events. According to tales passed down from generation to generation, in years long past the mountain served as the settlement of a tribe known as Gussum, while others claimed the tribe was called Hadira. These tribes, whose identity remains uncertain, were said to slaughter every female infant born on a Thursday, offering her blood to their deity that was fixed against the mountain. When the wife of their chief gave birth on a Thursday, they demanded that the baby girl be killed. However, the chief opposed them, declaring that such an act would not occur during his lifetime. Because he surpassed them all in wealth and power, they eventually relented. From that day onward, anyone who climbed the mountain would only have their skull roll down and fall—never again would their body be seen.

Others narrate that after the chief’s wife gave birth to a girl on a Thursday, once the news spread, the chief said farewell to no one. He gathered his family and the newborn and left the town. From that day, severe punishment befell anyone who climbed the mountain in the name of worship, for the deity was said to be enraged by their actions.

Despite the many religions present in the empire, three major faiths held significant influence: Islam, Christianity, and Traditional Religion.

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Islam

Islam is the religion in which Muslims worship Allah alone, without any partner. Muslims follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which are contained in the Holy Book (the Qur’an), revealed to him by Allah (the Exalted) through the Angel Jibril (Gabriel). They also follow his Hadiths, which embody the Sunnah—living righteously and avoiding disobedience to Allah.

Christianity

Christianity is the religion of Christians who worship Jesus Christ. His followers believe that he taught love, forgiveness, and peace. They believe Jesus was crucified, rose from the dead after three days, and then ascended to heaven. Christians use the Bible, a collection of writings in languages such as Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

Traditional Religion

Traditional religion is practiced through ancestral teachings handed down from parents and forefathers. Its adherents believe in charms, divination, magic, and superstitions, especially concerning certain places and days. This religion differs from Islam and Christianity because its followers worship various entities—such as water, fire, stones, idols, the sun, trees, graves, and more. They believe in assistance from spirits and jinn, as well as the souls of their ancestors. They also have no single written scripture used in worship.

However, within the Empire of Jabal, thousands of followers of traditional religions united to produce a single book. Its cover was carved from the skin of an ancient leopard, within which were preserved secret incantations and summoning rituals for jinn. Through this process, three sacred volumes were produced and used by the religions of the region. Yet an event that occurred some years later made the existence of these volumes a threat—one that endangered ambitions and cast fear into the hearts of the three kings ruling within the Empire.

The Kingdom of Kajjura (King Gambo)

The Kingdom of Judala (King Gidado)

The Kingdom of Zulwara (King Dikko)

These were the kingdoms and rulers surrounding the Empire of Jabal. Each ruled with authority, splendor, and royal dignity. None of the kings trusted the other, not without reason, but because of dark events that had transpired among them in the past.

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