Mahali Chumvi Yakutana Mchanga ~ Where The Salt Meets The Sand

The Sayarii Worldbuilding Project: a Windpunk, Desert Adventure Setting for Fantasy RPGs

"A story is simply bone. The marrow, the life-full thing, is in the telling." - Qāāzami Proverb

Welcome to The Legends of Sayarii, an immersive and dynamic world-building project designed for roleplaying enthusiasts and game masters alike. Set in a rich, fantastical desert world filled with diverse cultures, unique magic systems, and intriguing characters, Sayarii offers endless opportunities for adventures and storytelling.

Sayarii is a realm of breathtaking landscapes, magical creatures, and twin moons. The world is home to various cultures, each with their own customs, beliefs, and abilities. Among these, the Mwandishi, nomadic masters of Manyoya Uchawi, an enigmatic form of Feather Magic. And in the cities Thaumaturges, the learned practitioners of Thaumaturgy, the study of magic distilled from the natural world.

Welcome to Sayarii

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Welcome to Sayarii,

a vibrant realm where magic, culture, and adventure intertwine beneath endless skies and across shifting sands. At its heart lies the city of Il-Wāāt ul'Ihāt Kathira, a melting pot bustling with trade, intrigue, and divine influence. Here, powerful demigods known as the Wapenzi oversee intricate political games alongside The Council, governing fourteen districts that range from the vibrant markets of Ma'jan to the eerie, submerged alleys of Ghamarat, and the labyrinthine underworld of Chini Kabisa.

Beyond the thriving streets of Kathira stretch diverse lands filled with hidden wonders and perilous adventures. From the fiercely independent island Frere City, Mji Mkongwe on the treacherous shores of Sangwe to the remote and politically volatile Eastern Sultanate, Ul'Harbiya Il'Sultaniya Saahilian, Sayarii is a land defined by its contradictions—a place where trade flourishes alongside piracy, and ancient traditions mingle freely with new magic.

Magic in Sayarii is unique and rare, born from necessity after the cataclysm known as the Great Fall stripped the worlds in habitants of their inherent magic. Now, magic must be painstakingly harvested from the essences and distillates of the magical creatures that wander the realm. The scarcity and power of magic make its wielders figures of both awe and suspicion—feared and revered in equal measure. The "New Gods" of Il-Wāāt ul'Ihāt Kathira, including the magical hive-minded Wapenzi, the Watchengali (an Abdead Vampyre), and the Rat, a ratfolk, rogue-warlock from Faerûn, exemplify this dual nature, living as both revered leaders and figures of deep mistrust.

New Lore Drop: Explore Mji Mkongwe, the Cliff-Bound Heart of the Shungwe Archipelago
  • May 15, 2025, 6:40 PM
  • Sayarii

We’re thrilled to unveil our latest lore entry: Mji Mkongwe, the only permanent settlement in the Shungwe Archipelago. Perched along the jagged terraces of Sangwe’s coastal cliffs, this city of nearly 12,000 permanent residents thrives at the confluence of trade winds, tide currents, and contraband economics.

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Rich with lore, Sayarii invites you into a dynamic setting ideal for roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and countless others. This living world, ever-expanding through detailed narratives and immersive storytelling resources, awaits game masters and adventurers eager to explore its mysteries and craft their unique sagas.

Sayarii offers two unique player character classes: the Baharia (Corsair), a versatile seafarer and skilled combatant adept at navigating both battles and trade winds, and the soon-to-be-released Mwili Wavizi, specialized resource hunters who track and confront magical creatures to supply the vital materials essential for sustaining magic in Sayarii.

All visitors are encouraged to delve into Sayarii's extensive lore to inspire and enrich their own tales. Patreon membership, while totally voluntary, is deeply appreciated and helps support the ongoing creation and expansion of Sayarii’s rich content. In the future, exclusive campaign content, such as the forthcoming "Feather Magic Chronicles," will be available through Patreon, crafted specifically to blend seamlessly into the fabric of Sayarii’s diverse landscapes and storied cultures.

Step boldly into Sayarii—a world not merely to visit, but to inhabit, explore, and shape through your stories. Your adventure begins here.

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Welcome, traveler, to Sayarii—an ancient world marked by extremes, where sprawling deserts stretch endlessly until they are met by the relentless embrace of vast seas. Life thrives in the delicate fringes where sand yields to saltwater, offering fertile ground for agriculture and habitable climates for diverse cultures. Meanwhile, nomadic peoples traverse the harsh interiors, trading scarce resources across the sands and seas, weaving communities together through necessity and ingenuity.

Sayarii has seen the rise and fall of two great civilizations. The current era, Ul'Eumr Il'Jadid (the New Age), has persisted for over six centuries, built upon the ruins of Ul'Mas Il'Saaqit—the Fallen Civilization—a technomagical empire that prospered for three millennia before its abrupt demise. This devastating collapse, known as Karithat ul'Qadima—the Great Fall—saw the wrath of the Old Gods unleashed upon the world. Cities were obliterated, entire populations vanished, and whole races were extinguished during a decade of relentless storms and floods.

The reasons behind this divine retribution remain a mystery. The Old Gods withdrew not only their favor but also the natural magic that once permeated the people of Sayarii. Survivors emerged solely from the "between places"—those traveling the seas, skies, or deserts, untouched by the catastrophic storms that erased civilizations overnight. These survivors forged scattered communities, piecing together a new existence from remnants and resilience.

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Today, rare individuals who have rediscovered the lost art of magic, or come from other realms, rise to prominence, sometimes revered as new gods, whether they seek or deserve such status or not. Technology, though employed, remains viewed with skepticism, and magic—once prevalent and now exceedingly scarce—is rigorously studied through thaumaturgy. Academics painstakingly distill magical essence from the remains of enchanted creatures, an art now meticulously preserved and taught in universities across Sayarii. This delicate dynamic shapes societies where wielders of magic can be simultaneously admired, worshipped, and deeply feared.

Despite underlying tensions, particularly between the Ul'Harbiya Il'Sultaniya Saahilian—the Eastern Empire—and the Mchanga Hasira—the Twin Seas Coast, peace has prevailed for five decades. Trade flourishes, the arts are celebrated, and a burgeoning middle class enjoys unprecedented prosperity, though wealth remains unevenly distributed.

The inhabitants of Sayarii today bear the marks of the Great Fall. Humans and Elves constitute the primary surviving humanoid races. In the Bara Kusini region, humans and elves have extensively intermingled, creating a vibrant populace with mixed heritages. Pure lineage is rare, valued, and often a source of pride among the elite, such as the Elves of the Eastern Empire or the skilled shipbuilding elves of Bayt ul'Zaytun and Belanore Alari.

Alongside these familiar races, new beings have emerged: the mystical Djinn, the avian Fēixiān, the elusive Nephilim giants who roam the seas, and enigmatic insectoid races of the southern deserts, whose cultures and origins remain shrouded in mystery. Sayarii brims with potential adventures, waiting to reward the courageous and curious who dare to explore its depths and unveil its secrets.