Dihliz
The Gateway City
Located on a broad plateau about 50 miles up the Nogaro River, Dihliz is the only major city in the Ruined Kingdoms that has not been built on the wreckage of an older metropolis. 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 civilized world.
Given its physical position as well as its politics, Dihliz is a frontier city, uncivilized when compared to other Zakharan settlements. It is the clearing house for goods looted from the ruins of Nog and Kadar. In theory, each ruin or site of treasure is registered with the Ministry of Secrets, and the treasure removed from those sites is registered with the Ministry of Riches. In reality, however, plunder flows as freely from the Ruined Kingdoms as the Nogaro River itself. Those who register with the ministries do so to create a thin veneer of legality (obtaining some protection) and to avoid arousing the suspicion of city patrols, who might then discover the most valuable (and truly secret) treasure vaults.
The buildings of Dihliz are a collection of baked brick and distinctive stone. The stone was hauled from a distant temple, or so it is claimed, for the city radiates a low level of magic, sufficient to scramble most detect magic spells. The palace and ministries, made of stone from Afyal, are exempt from this effect. Other divination spells, including identify and legend lore, are not affected by the temple stone.
The Gateway City is a melting pot, home to natives of the Ruined Kingdoms, people who have emigrated from Afyal, and treasure-seekers from around the Land of Fate. They are energetic, curious, progressive, and, above all, acquisitive. Those who visit Dihliz should heed the following recommendations: keep your eye on your equipment, your hands on your valuables, and a short leash on members of your household.
The Gateway City was established 100 years ago at the will of the padishah of Afyal, Alonka al-Aqil, for two reasons: (1) regulating the flow of magical antiquities out of this land, and (2) providing an interim base for trade to and around the Pantheon cities. Since then, the Grand Caliph has regularly assigned a new caliph to Dihliz about every five years-or as soon as the corruption becomes obvious yet again. Part of the problem: the Grand Caliph appoints each new emir upon the recommendation of the padishah of Afyal. The past two generations of rulers from that island nation have been more interested in appealing to courtiers-and in continuing to receive their share of the treasure haul - than in exerting the force of civilization.
Government
The Ruler:
Emira Hassana Alim al-Gaib was recently a merchant from Afyal. Upon the recommendation of the padishah of Afyal, she was appointed emira by the Grand Caliph for a provisional period of five years. It is now year four, and Hassana is busy hiding away her riches for her inevitable retirement.
The emira operates a wide-open town, the sort favored by adventurers (especially foreigners). Interpretation of the Law is loose, and usually to the advantage of the emira and her cronies.
In keeping with Afyal's tradition, the emira has four husbands.
One husband serves in the court of Afyal. The second serves in the court of Huzuz. The third maintains the family's trading route between Afyal and Jumlat. The fourth and youngest, Ebu min Hassana, commands the cavalry forces of Dihliz. Min Hassana is a former desert rider from the Haunted Lands. The cavalrymen he leads are charged with protecting the city and seeking out those who clandestinely rob the ruins (as opposed to those who work with the Ministry of Secret's knowledge). About three times a year, Min Hassana takes a band of his riders up past Kadarasto for several weeks of patrolling.
The Court:
The Ministry of Secrets registers and catalogs all ruins and treasure sites between the borders of the Pantheon and the Sempadan Forest. It is headed up by the emira's long-time associate, an unenlightened native of the Haunted Land named Amin Nur. By insisting upon continual reorganization and review, Amin guarantees that the Ministry of Secrets is always in a shambles. Scrolls and reports are frequently misfiled, stolen, or lost, but suitable amount of gold always seems to bring the needed document or information to light. Individuals who visit the ministry in hopes of obtaining a map or a license to plunder often bring dinars instead of scribes.
The Ministry of Riches is responsible for detailing and applying a minor tax to all treasure extracted from the ruins. The ministry is run (and fairly responsibly run at that) by another of the emira's companions, Jel al-Galiz, who holds the title "Minister of Riches." Conscientious and dependable, Jel realizes that most of the treasure hauled from the river valley alone disappears overland, or is smuggled out of the area, with no reports made whatsoever. She focuses her attention on ancient magics, striving to control (or at least regulate) their flow. In particular, she watches for useful or dangerous magical items. Her bureau imposes only a 1 percent tax on monetary treasure, and the ministry pays full price (5 times XP value) for most of the rare magical treasures that are brought to it.
Further, individuals who work with the system-and with Jel al-Galiz - often receive grants to explore newly discovered ruins (or to investigate other, nonpaying tomb-raiders).
Defences
- 1,000 city guards
- 1,000 cavalrymen under the command of Ebu min Hassana
- navy (term used loosely) of 8 river barges with rowers.
Industry & Trade
Points of interest
Major Mosques:
Maps
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Dihliz, The Gateway City
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