Lazular Printable version

Lazular

Physical Information

Size Moderate Location Foothills of the Seret Mountains, east of Kherkhana, beween the headwaters of the Baal-Asha and the Cairou Region Points of Interest Temple of the Six, Amir's palace, horse market

Societal Information

Primary Occupants Kaliti humans, Kherkhanite blue orcs, Abtati sand elves Government Monarchy Primary Language Kaliti, common trade dialects

Economic & Military Information

Defenses Hills, deserts, strong cavalry traditions Primary Exports Lapis lazuli, grain, horses Primary Imports Kherkhanite metalwork

OOC Info

Image Source City by Klaudia Bezaq, map by Harrier, flag courtesy of Nidraak, helmet by Stefan Senior, market by Nikola Sinitsa

Lazular aspires to rank among the great cities of Amol-Kalit, and is one of the chief breadbaskets of northern Liadain.

Overview

Demographics

The inhabitants are mostly Kaliti humans, with a minority of Kherkhanites - the blue orcs - and Abtati sand elves. A smattering of other species reflect Lazular's trade connections.

Designation

The trade city of Lazular has built its fortunes on its position convenient to the headwaters of two gigantic rivers - and the appetites of the cities downstream. Elbion and the portal ptone down the Cairou; Thakath, Ragash, and Mamsis down the Baal-Asha; even Kherkhana to the west, Lazular's most significant neighbor: they all import food, particularly grain. And Lazular provides.

Despite the natural barriers of deserts and mountains, grain fields dominate much of the land around Lazular's walls for dozens of miles. Various lords and merchants own and protect them, and infighting is common. Every summer sees at least one field burn. Lazular's fortunes march on.

Lazular also benefits from its proximity to Kherkhana, and not just through the availability of fine blades and excellent mountain warriors. Lazular is a natural link on the trade path between Kherkhana and the only portal stone in Amol-Kalit.

Description

Architecture

The Amir's palace, the Temple of the Six, the great horse market, and most major buildings follow traditional styles of Amol-Kalit.

Of note, tall and semi-hollow windcatcher towers provide cool air for many large buildings in Lazular.

Points of Interest

In recent years, the devout Amir Farid Ibn Baha and his deceased brother Melic completed a temple to the six great gods of the Annunaki pantheon. The Temple of the Six is one of the grandest such edifices in northern Amol-Kalit, and the largest building in Lazular. Lectors and armed devotees keep the temple secure but largely open for public worship.

The Amir's palace is more modest, and barely merits the name. Constructed by the Amir's great-grandfather, the palace is dominated by the royal stables. Previous rulers have sometimes flooded the streets with horsemen, a dire occurrence.


A man named Muktar, one of Lazular's wealthy grain merchants, owns one of the estates in the palace's shadow. Muktar's home is notorious for its constantly-running games of chance and skill, especially the Kaliti card game known as pakur.

An immense market is devoted to the trade and training of horses. By contrast, the grain trade has no such central nexus. Many merchants and nobles own magically preserved and secure granaries throughout the city.

The city has low and sturdy walls, sufficient to keep out mounted raiders but not arrows. Water supplies and sand stores are on hand in case of fire arrows and such.

History

Background

Amir Farid's ancestors founded Lazular a couple of centuries ago. These devout horse warriors took it from a nameless farming town to a major crossroads hub. The discovery of lapis lazuli gave them the revenue to establish firm trade links and start exporting what their partners demanded: grain in quantity.

Whether Lazular is really, truly subject to the Empire of Amol-Kalit is a matter of some debate. Since its grain exports contribute to feeding half the Empire's major cities, though, and in light of the Amir's devoutness, Lazular is now more or less part of the Empire.

Amir Farid lays claim to a broad swath of territory to the northeast. Fort Shalik, near the headwaters of the Cairou, is a centre of colonization.

Lore

Many peoples center their systems of prestige and power on horse breeding and horsemanship. Lazular and the nearby lands have a strong reputation in this respect. The Amir's horse archers and lancers have extensive experience against raiders and rivals. The Amir's most significant rival is often Arsalaan of the Shtakmat State, the Sayyiduna's highest general. Clashes with Sahiyi warbands, such as the band of the White Swallow, are relatively common in Lazular's sphere of influence.


Travelers have observed significant inequality in Lazular. Merchants, nobles, horse traders, warriors, lectors - they all reap the benefits of the city's wealth far more than the average grain farmer. Stability comes through four pillars: an absolute and proven guarantee that none will starve during famine years; the Amir's reputation as a strong leader; the dominant presence of the popular Annunaki religion; and the threat of the heretical Shtakmat State.

Over the past year or two, it's been noticed that the worst criminals tend to disappear from the Amir's prisons and turn up eviscerated by unofficial means. Rumor says that some well-connected individual has a taste for human sacrifice.

References

Unlikely Meetings
Skirmish in the Sands
The Strength of Foundations
Play the Hand of Fate
You knew what I was when you picked me up
Preventing Disaster
For Those in Need of Home and Homestead