Nog

Nog was a fallen kingdom and empire of a race of giants in the land of Zakhara.

Geography
This empire was situated in the jungles around the Nogaro River and adjacent river valleys, southeast of the Haunted Lands and South of the World Pillar Mountains and Jungle of Monsters.

History
Nog was believed to be younger than the other known lost empire in the region, Kadar. Much like Kadar, historians in Zakhara considered the history of Nog to be convoluted and confusing. This was because it seemed to have gone through several different dynasties, which may or may not have simultaneously ruled different regions along the Nogaro. Whether or not Nog and Kadar were considered enemies was one of many aspects of their history that historians in Zakhara were uncertain of.

Unlike some regions, both Nog and Kadar resisted the Zakharan faith of Enlightenment. Some tried to claim that genies were created to punish them both for being sacrilege, or that they were initially unleashed upon the Prime Material plane for this reason. Others proposed that their empire eventually fell due to corruption, greed, and exclusion from the West.

Those who believed in the former told that a minor power among the Zakharan pantheon traveled throughout the cities of both empires in a mortal disguise and warned them that the Great Gods were angry with them. After being met with ridicule and thrown stones, the wisest among the pantheon suggested that they appoint the genies to be their generals and carry out their will. But another minor power among the pantheon traveled to them once more and warned them of the cleansing to come. Managing to convince some, he took those few away on ships with their great treasures to what would be known as the Steaming Isles. Some believed that inhabitants of both empires also fled to the island of Jazirat al-Gawwar.

By the 14th century DR, the inhabitants of Nog had degenerated into what were known as jungle giants.

Around 1367 DR, the Society of Shifting Sands began actively searching the ruins of this empire for magical artifacts.

Religion
The people of Nog both feared and revered nature, including the Nogaro River itself. Living idols were considered to be remnants of their civilization's faith.