Description
Wider region
Sey'Kube lies on elevated ground amid a plateau in the Seret mountains. From the north, one can see the endless gulf of Liad, while to the south, the lowlands span into an infinite distance.
Smoky clouds rise from the white mantle of an outstandingly tall, rounded mountain in Sey'Kube's vista named Belnegand. It is supposedly the homeland of demons.
Thicket, olives and cypresses coat the stone outcroppings and hillsides. Vegetation is denser around the Sehrud river, which by the time it snakes around Sey'Kube is wide enough to facilitate travel and trade.
The mornings are commonly misty and fresh, with fog that glows golden in the gentle dawn light of soft hues of yellow and pink.
It is often sunny, yet thick fluffy clouds, opaque enough to shade the earth, drift across the landscape in the noon.
While there are many
villages in the vicinity, only those with a Sahiyi majority connect to Sey'Kube and the Shtakmat state on their own accord. (Even if so in secret)
Most of the nearby villages grow saffron or
plant orchard gardens, those growing local pomegranates or dates, while others focus on herding animals like cattle and goats on less fruitful land.
The Damaqu strain of Sereti horses is rumoured to originate from these plains. Perhaps it may just be true, for the best horses are bred and raised within local mountainside and valley pastures.
Architecture
Visiting Sey'Kube, one could only describe it as sublime. It doesn't have any grand domes, nor is it coated in gold on every street block. Yet it's beauty does not escape one's eye.
Ancient bougainvilleas and grapevines grow between white buildings; and on every well site, there are shades from tall figs and pomegranates for people to enjoy. (also locally called bleeding apples of paradise)
Many of the buildings sport arcaded elements or atriums, and towards the street are countless of ornately crafted mashrabiyas. The buildings are coated either in white or soft-beige plaster, not uncommonly also decorated. Commonly around the windows and above doorways are etchings of geometric ornaments like the seed of life and similar symbols, or naive floral murals in red and green.
Points of Interest
The walled gardens of Sey'Kube
Among groves of oleander pink and red, where the peacocks display their colours in bright emerald and gold, where gazelles freely move among guests without fear. There where the sweet scent of blossoming trees intoxicated all that lay within.
There, a solemn thought grows among the peaceful bushes.
I would have loved to have children of my own,
to have raised them back in Sahkrizil,
to have two, three, no, five from a loving wife,
in a home that is all my own.
Azrana lifted little Aisha high into the air. She lept into the sky like a dove, and her orange dress fluttered among the scented breeze of the grove. For a moment she even looked like a bird of paradise, dancing in the sky, before landing safely in the Kherkhanite's gentle blue hands.
Again and again, the little girl of amber skin embraced the air. Azrana almost feared that she would have flown away. Far from the fringe of Seret, travelling across the gulf of Liad to lands unknown. Perhaps even into heaven where honeyed dreams live.
Yet she returned with each of his throws.
And her cheerful laughter that filled the grove when she left his arms.
Azrana was at peace.
»Higher, Azrana, higher! I want to touch the clouds!«
»But if you get stuck on a cloud, how will I get you down?« The ogre chuckled, met with even louder laughter from the girl.
If only this moment could last forever.
Fatigued, Azrana fell to the ground, huddled among expired blossoms and decaying leaves. Aisha silently perched atop his chest, her eyes travelling from tree to tree before ending glued at the tallest tower on Sey'Kube.
The walled gardens of Sey'Kube are seemingly eternal. Lots of its land is dedicated towards trees and brushes, many of which are pomegranates, oleander, climbing roses and others. Many
plants that grow there are local, picked either for their sublime beauty or intense fragrance.
When the gardens bloom, the dominant colours are white and pink, with subtle hues of violet and orange.
The styling of the garden feels overly natural, with plants being left to grow naturally with little to no hand from gardeners. The footprint of the garden is almost as big as the rest of the city.
There is a watering hole in the middle of the gardens, which derives its spring water from within the walls.
100 golden peacocks make their home in the garden, gifted by the king Nagendra of Vedargas. Their bodies are black and brown, with blue and gold highlights and plumage. Ten pairs of emerald peacocks also roam the gardens freely with its many other denizens, like tame gazelles, antelopes and cheetahs.
On the opposite end of the gardens lies the walled keep. Its yard is now a place where the military commander
Arsalaan trains his troops in cavalry maneuvers and swordsmanship.
Many of the building complexes have thus been converted to suit the needs of their soldiers.
The keep was once the prime palace of Amir Husayn, but now most of its rooms have been dedicated by the Sayyiduna to be turned into scripture libraries or towards the teachings of Sahiyi doctrine, perhaps to appease the pacifist Sahiyi Mystics.
Most of the former internal gardens have remained, however, their opulence, since the change of leadership has been removed.