Cities/Regions

[Zaim al-Daleel]

Hiyal, City of Intrigue

Location: 360 miles northeast of golden Huzuz
Ruler: Sultana Alurah bint Asrah

Pop: 600,000 perm. + 300,000 transient
Features: smoky pallor and unpleasant odor caused by it foundries and kilns.

Reputation of residents: untrustworthy, duplicitous, and sharp in their business dealings

The court:
> Sultana Asrah
> Prince Omar bin Alurah
> Imam Raman bin Alurah
> Princess Hannah bint Alurah
> Princess Alurah bin Alurah

Key figures outside the court:
> Harayah al-Mabhum aka Harayah the Unclear. A powerful and aged sorceress
> Kasit al-Galaba the bard
> Fuladayah bint Bulad, recently orphaned daughter of the master swordmaker Bulad the Steelmaker. Bulad was one of the finest weaponsmiths in Zakhara. Fuladayah is herself a master weaponsmith. She has let it be known to all that she wants revenge against those who killed her father. Despite being found with a knife in his back, Bulad's death was ruled "accidental" by the magistrate confirming her belief that someone in power is involved.

Tajar, City of Trade

Location: 300 miles west of golden Huzuz
Ruler: Sheihk Ali al-Hadd

Population: 180,000
Features: Tajar is a major trading site in Zakhara.

Reputation of residents: proud, boisterous people, quick to take offense. Street music is common here, and the often volume outweighs proficiency. Merchant haggling often leads to drawn swords, and daggers are driven into walls to underline a point.

Huzuz, City of Delights

Nestled between the Golden Gulf and Suq Bay, is one of Zakhara's most spectacular cities. Its shimmering spires can be seen for miles across the water, inviting sailors to approach. Here the first Grand Caliph received the vision of the Loregiver, which contained Fate's wisdom and the Law. Today the city is still the seat of the Grand Caliph, the "heart of the heart" of the enlightened lands. Its ruler, Grand Caliph Khalil al-Assad al-Zahir, Master of the Enlightened Throne, Most High Sovereign of the Land of Fate, the Worthy of the Gods, Scourge of the Unbeliever, Confidant of the Genies, is the most powerful man in Zakhara. This city of over two million is known far and wide for its beautiful architecture, often called Huzuz the Golden. Its domes and minarets are clad in gold, tile, and inlaid glass, all reflecting the sun. The city positively glows. Notable features include the Palace of the Grand Caliph, the Public Gardens, and the Grand Bazaar. Its Golden Mosque is the object of pilgrimage of most Zakharans. The city is known for its far-ranging merchants, its universities, sages, and textiles. Tourism is also a considerable source of revenue, especially visits to the Grand Mosque and the Court of Enlightenment.

The Cities of the Pantheon

The League of the Pantheon, or the Pantheist League, is a cluster of cities on the Crowded Sea and along the eastern side of the Golden Gulf, backed by the mountain ranges of Al-Akara and Al-Sayaj. These cities share a common outlook above and beyond that of other cities paying ultimate creed to the Grand Caliph. Pantheists recognize only five gods; Hajama, Kor, Najm, Selan, and a local deity named Jauhar (whom Pantheists consider a major god). Within these cities - Fahhas, Hilm, Hudid, I'tiraf, Mahabba, and Talab - the worship of other gods is forbidden. According to Pantheists, only the five deities of the Pantheon (there are other Zakharan deities worshiped in other cities) deserve the worship of civilized men and women. These are the gods whose priests first swore allegiance to the Law of the Loregiver. All other deities are "latecomers." This conservative religious belief is the force that binds the Pantheist cities into a cohesive whole - into a refuge for "those who know the truly enlightened gods."

Politics and religion are tightly interwoven in the Pantheist League. The church is powerful, and secular leaders are often religious leaders as well. Staunchly moralist, Pantheists are almost hidebound in their traditional values. The traditions of the past guide their actions in the future. That which is new is deemed dangerous, and that which is different is suspicious. Both men and women cover their faces in public and conceal the shape of their bodies beneath billowing robes, lest the sight of the opposite sex cause anyone's thoughts to stray from the moral path. Apparently, this system works well for the Pantheist League cities, for they are successful and prosperous. Unlike the Free Cities of Northern Zakhara, the closely knit Pantheist communities are not hindered by continual efforts to conspire against each other in petty wars. And unlike the Pearl Cities, the cities of the Pantheon have fewer beggars and impoverished citizens on their streets.
The Pantheist League does engage in trade, but much of that trade may need to be done through intermediaries. Among the products that attract outside attention are the crystal and glassware available in I'tiraf, glass lenses, telescopes, and books found in Hudid, and the fine medical knowledge to be had in Talab.


Ruined Kingdoms

Cities built upon the ruins of the ancient Nog and Kadar empires, they are home to a mixed bag of petty tyrants. Some of these tyrants seek to rule with the blessing of Huzuz. Others seek to regain the glories of their predecessors - savage rulers from a distant and long-buried past The politics of this land is often the subject of Huzuz, Hiyal, Pantheon, and Afyal meddling. 4000 years ago, this region of mighty river valleys, forests, and desert was home to the kingdoms of Nog and Kadar. All that remains from those ancient civilizations are crumbling ruins, tombs of forgotten rulers, and temples of lost gods. In this vast, relatively unexplored, and very wild corner of Zakhara three major cities are found, all in the southeastern quarter - Rog'osto, Kadarasto, and Dihiliz (the only one not built on the ruins of old capitals).

Dihiliz is located on a broad plateau about 50 miles up the mighty Nogaro River. Dubbed the Gateway City, it is a popular debarkation point for those seeking fortune and high adventure in the Ruined Kingdoms of the continent. It also serves as a major trading center between the inland towns and the civlized world. Dihiliz is very much a frontier town, located on the edges of Zakharan civlization. It is the clearing house for goods looted from the ruins of Nog and Kadar. In theory, each ruin or site of treasures is registered with the Ministry of Secrets, and the treasure removed under the auspices of the Ministry of Riches. In reality, plunder flows freely from the Ruined Kingdoms as the Nogaro River itself. Aside from antiquites (and corruption), the main products of Dihliz are rice and serving as a trading point to and around the Pantheon cities.

By following the Nogaro River about 100 miles inland from Dihliz, a traveler reaches the sinister city of Kadarasto. It is said to be an ancient, alien-looking place, perched upon the bluff overlooking the river . The city's architecutre - heavy, angular, and depressing - is unique in the Land of Fate. Some sages believe Kadarasto was once the capital of Kadar, though it is not known for sure. Most of the populace is believed to derive its income from rice and more notably the antiquites trade - i.e. tomb robbing. Even less well known is Rog'osto, "City of Spires." Located over 300 miles up the Nogaro River, the city is famed forts its unique metal towers soaring toward the sky, gleaming in the sun. It is believed that this was once the site of the captial of Nog.

The Pearl Cities

The Pearl Cities line a coast bordering the Crowded Sea and the western shores of the Golden Gulf, tucked between the cool, shimmering waves and the hot sands of the High Desert. These cities - Ajayib, Gana, Jumlat, Silkak, and Tajar - are among the wealthiest in the Land of Fate. Only Jumlat and Gana actually produce pearls, but all maintain a rich trade in these objects of beauty, as well as in frankincense, myrrh, coffee, valuable metals, spices, fine fish, woods, and exotic ware from faraway lands. Trade, in fact, is the second law of the people of the Pearl. Frequently it gives the true Law, that of the Loregiver, strong competition. Lending institutions and speculative ventures are common. So are usurious loans and unseen charges. A traveler in the lands of the Pearl should remember that nothing is truly free and heed this rule of conduct: Ask questions first, haggle second, and buy last.

The Pearl Cities contain both some of the wealthiest Zakharans and some of the poorest. The richest live in luxurious pavilions and palatial manors dot the surrounding countryside. The poorest are the beggars and exploited workers, who far outnumber the rich. As a group, the people of the Pearl Cities are proud, almost haugthy, and easily insulted. In the eyes of Pantheists, the gaudy peacocks of the Pearl Cities are little more than decadent law-breakers who have forgotten the nature and spirit of the Loregiver's Law.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

Caravans heading northwest from Tajar often are tempted to cross this gloomy anvil to reduce their travel time. Few survive to complete the trip. The obstacles here are numerous and daunting.

Blinding dust storms prevent a camel rider from seeing the ears of his mount. Rain seldom falls, and natural sources of water are as rare as rose blossoms. A day of blistering heat may precede an evening so cold that a traveler may awaken with frost in his beard. Worse, the Anvil is home to the House of Sihr, a tribe of enlightened jann led by Amir Bouladin al-Mutajalli, a janni of legendary ruthlessness. The amir assumes the worst of strangers; be prepared to explain your business while dodging his scimitar. My advice: Ignore the tales of lost treasure cities buried beneath its sands and circumvent the Anvil by any means.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

The best-known and arguably most hospitable oasis in the High Desert, Jamal boasts a mud-brick caravanserai large enough to house a small army, with a pool so clear you can count the pebbles on the bottom.

Hungry travelers may feast on baitan-jan, a leafy eggplant that grows profusely on the eastern perimeter. Camels may graze in the primrose-covered hills to the north.

Though the House of Asab, a wealthy and imperious desert tribe, claims the oasis as their own, they generally permit travelers to use it, so long as said travelers do not overstay their welcome.

The pious may address the enlightened gods in the Jamal temple, a cylindrical structure of wind-blasted granite topped by a minaret etched with dozens of religious aphorisms.

Though the ravages of time have left most of the words indecipherable, an intact aphorism near the bottom of the minaret clearly reads: .How can any man born of earth claim to divine the true purposes of the gods?. Rumor has it that inquisitive djinn periodically return to the temple on the darkest nights of the summer to debate the meaning of this aphorism.

Humans bearing fresh apples, a favorite treat of the djinn, are allowed to join the debate. The djinn sometimes reward perception and sagacity with wishes, but punish trivial musings with face slaps and other physical reprimands.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

Southeast of the Genies' Anvil, the Mountains of Forgotten Dreams claim peaks as high as 5,000 feet, many of them former volcanoes; you can still find sprinkles of chalky ash in the foothills along with chunks of porous lava rocks. Traversing the mountains poses few problems, thanks to the wide passes slicing the range every few miles. Travelers should be wary of falling boulders, many of which are large enough to squash camels.

Few animals live in the central peaks, but the lower slopes contain enough brush to support rabbits, jackals, and wild dogs. Of particular interest to traders are the white saluqi, a type of miniature greyhound popular with sportsmen and collectors. White saluqi grow no taller than a man's knee, but are as fast as gazelles and as strong as mules. They have stubby tails, sharp teeth, and short fur. Excellent hunters, white saluqi pursue their quarry relentlessly, chasing rabbits until they fall from exhaustion. And I have never seen a dog so fearless. I once witnessed a saluqi slay a scorpion the size of a war horse. White saluqi make loyal, affectionate pets and bring up to 50 gp in the bazaars of Tajar.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

A foul and dreadful place, the Pit of the Ghuls is a deep valley surrounded by a ring of granite hills, many of them laced with labyrinthine passages that wind deep inside the earth. Winds blowing across its cold sand carry the stench of decay, like that of a fish left too long in the sun. Vicious creatures lurk here, many engaged in territorial conflicts marked by an abhorrent level of brutality. A renegade djinni, for instance, has constructed a palace from the skulls of his foes, while a hyena-headed giant impales his enemies on the thorns of immense cacti.

A talkative nomad told me that the pit once contained an ocean, ruled by an arrogant giant who demanded that the gods recognize him as an equal. The gods responded by hurling a moon-sized boulder into the ocean, splashing the water into the surrounding desert and crushing the giant and his army of minions. The pit swallowed the boulder. The Lake of the Ghuls, a salty pool in the northern section of the pit, holds what remains of the ocean. Spirits of the giant and his minions stalk the pit, preying on any traveler foolish enough to trespass.

And why would anyone trespass? The reason is as old as the desert itself: greed. The giant ordered the creation of seven life-size statues in his own image, one each of gold, silver, turquoise, onyx, emerald, amber, and ruby.

The arm of the turquoise statue was recovered several years ago and now resides in a museum in Ajayib. The remaining statues, including the rest of the turquoise figure, lie buried somewhere in the pit. Treasure seekers must face not only the spirits of the giant and his aides, but a multitude of other horrors, including wolves that speak like men, vultures with claws like scimitars, and gargantuan scorpions made of fire.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

A natural granite column, the Spire of Kor looms over the desert sands ten miles west of Raziz. It rises nearly 400 feet and is topped by a plateau of black quartz.

About a century ago, nine mystics from Raziz claimed the column in honor of Kor, the Great God of Wisdom. With a djinni’s help, they carved a spiral path around the column leading to the quartz plateau. There they conducted religious ceremonies for worshipers from across the desert.

The ceremonies were discontinued when a Tajari caravan discovered the broken bodies of all nine mystics near the base of the column. Some believe that the mystics had offended Kor, and the enraged god hurled them from the plateau. Others, myself included, believe that they were engaging in a private ritual involving large amounts of wine; the revelers stumbled off the edge of the plateau and fell to the ground by accident.

It is rumored that on the High Holy Day of Ahad - the first day following the end of Qawafil (June) - the skeletons of the nine mystics dig themselves from their sandy graves, scuttle up the side of the spire like spiders, then spend the night pleading with Kor to forgive them. At dawn, they return to their graves.