The Pilgrim's Gate
Located in the south center of the city, the Pilgrims' Gate is used by many travelers from the south. The gate leads into the Court District and the Pilgrims' District. From here a visitor can clearly see the Golden Mosque.
Only caravans are searched. Pilgrims, whether simple or grand, are passed into the city with no fuss or comment - but woe betide the smuggler who tries to pose as a pilgrim, for the keepers of the gate have sharp eyes. The gates are closed at night, but almost anyone can gain entrance by coming to the gate and calling out. Individuals who seek admittance after dark are given a much closer scrutiny; the city does not willingly open its gates to band of marauders.
The captain of the Pilgrims' Gate is Nura al-Hamiir, who delights in her job. She often welcomes pilgrims to Huzuz personally, for she feels she lives in the best city in the world. Nura is not a fool, and she has a keen eye for spotting nervous caravan masters, ones who may be attempting to smuggle goods in via secret compartments in wagons.
In charge of inspections and tax collections is Diyah al-Wasil, an oily little man with a bad complexion. He is thorough and competent, little escapes his eye, and he is a shrewd judge of the value of goods. Diyah, despite his looks, is very loyal to the Caliphate, and he believes rightly that his job is important to the welfare of the entire city.
Overall, the staff of the Pilgrims' Gate is very devoted. They do not accept bribes under any circumstances, and arrest those who offer bribes.
The gate itself is a huge archway with interlocking iron bars that slide across to shut it. There are a pair of wooden gates as well, but it is the iron bars that provide the real security. In keeping with the image of the City of Delights, the bars were long ago covered with a thin layer of gold. It is a sign of the times in Huzuz that none of the bars are even nicked, for there has not been an attack on the city in recent memory. The mamluks on guard do not relax their vigilance, however, because one never knows when trouble may start.
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