Thousands of years ago, Khorsim was a rich city-state located in central Amakhant, a midpoint on the routes by which spices from Kheshija moved, and were sold to the Triad Nations.

Khorsim was ruled by the Thari, elected and enthroned by vote of the Khorsim Senate, a legislative body composed of those merchants in Khorsim wealthy enough to buy a seat there. There also was an elective council of 8 representatives, who were said to represent the actual common people of Khorsim and hold veto power over the Senate (as well as each other). All crimes and disputes were settled by a magistrate judge at the appropriate level.

Despite its great wealth and culture, Khorsim was plagued by decadent and effete rulers, and was slowly starting to decline.

Enter Khemza the Grand Ravishal (a mage-warrior-priest), who plotted to overturn the incompetent nobility and take power for phimself. Through shrewd political machinations, phi made the rest of the Senate phis puppets and became the de facto ruler of Khorsim.

Eventually, phi seemingly abdicated phis position to a successor as custom demanded, but even then, this successor was merely a puppet. After Khemza's passing, future holders of phis title would inherit the name Khemza, and would ceremonially "become" Khemza phimself.

As it turns out, this was more than mere ceremony: during their inauguration, they were given a special circlet to wear. This circlet contained Khemsa's spirit, and phis will immediately tried to overpower the wearer's mind. If the wearer's will was too weak to fight back, then Khemsa ousted that person's soul and took over their body, with access to the victim's memories so phi could pass as them.

If they managed to stay in control and fight back, then phi willingly took a backseat and acted as an advisor. Generations later, this practice was discovered, and the circlet destroyed in a bloody revolution. Thus ended the reign of Khemza. Even though phis spirit has since moved on, his legacy continues to endure in Khorsim's culture.