Qurath

Quarth is a settlement located in the heart of the Ironspike Savannah, a vast, sun-drenched landscape in Astrium. The city of the Khenra people, who only recently came to Astrium in the last 50 years, has quickly established itself as a burgeoning and thriving hub of culture, trade, and martial prowess. Built around the Khenra’s nomadic roots, Quarth retains an air of tradition while embracing its new home in Astrium.
Shops
Shifting Sands Apothecary A well-respected shop run by a Khenra herbalist named Ishti, who is known for her deep knowledge of desert flora and fey-infused ingredients. The apothecary specializes in rare herbal remedies, salves for desert-born diseases, and potions made from unique herbs native to the Ironspike Savannah. In recent years, it has also begun offering potions with minor magical properties—like resistance to heat or increased speed—sourced from Feywild influences near the savannah.
Sunforge Armory A blacksmith shop dedicated to crafting weapons and armor for the Khenra warriors. Dorek, a Goliath master smith who came from the stronghold mountains, runs the armory alongside his apprentices. The shop is famous for forging bonecrafted weapons—particularly spears and javelins—that are made from the remains of large beasts native to the savannah. Sunforged Armor, a popular item, is created by heating steel under intense desert sun rays, resulting in highly durable, heat-resistant armor.
Scorchiron Smithy A weaponsmith specializing in melee and ranged weapons designed for both hunting the great beasts of the savannah and for defense in battle. Owned by Rehan, a veteran Khenra warrior, the smithy offers traditional Khenra weapons such as dual-bladed swords, hunting knives, and intricately crafted bows. Scorchiron’s finest work, the Sandstorm Blade, is said to be enchanted to whip up desert winds during combat.
Dustveil Tailors This tailoring shop is known for its craftsmanship in designing light, durable clothing suited to the desert environment. Halla, a Fairy tailor, weaves garments using materials that reflect the vibrant yet practical nature of Khenra culture. The tailor specializes in sand cloaks that are enchanted to blend with the shifting sands, offering protection from the sun and concealment during hunts. Special attire for festivals like the Sun and Sand Festival is also crafted here, featuring intricate patterns and vibrant colors.
Amberwind General Goods A general store where travelers and locals can stock up on all manner of provisions. Amberwind, run by a friendly Harengon named Pip and his Khenra partner Arun, offers foodstuffs, water supplies, clothing, and basic tools for both desert life and adventuring. The store also stocks survival kits tailored for navigating the Ironspike Savannah, including sand lenses, heat-resistant waterskins, and beast-luring incense.
The Gloaming Bazaar (Magic Item Vendor) This magical vendor is a clandestine market operating from within the winding alleys of The Wind's Market. While it does not publicly advertise its wares, those in the know can find powerful, rare magic items here. The Gloaming Bazaar specializes in items that harness desert magic or Feywild energies, such as mirage cloaks that make the wearer harder to track in open spaces, sunflare gems that can be used to conjure fireballs, and sandstrider boots, which allow faster travel across sand dunes.
The Shielded Grove (Armorer Shop) A specialist shop run by a Khenra duo, Khorik and Sakha, who craft heavy armor for Khenra warriors and anyone who seeks strong protection. Their signature product is Scalehide Armor, crafted from the scales of large desert beasts and imbued with minor protective enchantments. They also forge armor for battle mounts, making it a key destination for those who want to outfit themselves and their companions for combat in the savannah’s harsh terrain.

Demographics

85% Khenra (canine-headed humanoids) 10% Minotaur, Humans Tielflings 5% Other (nomads, travelers, and refugees)

Government

Quarth is governed by the Twin Ascendants, a pair of Khenra leaders who are chosen every seven years through ritual combat, demonstrating the Khenra’s deep-seated belief in the strength and wisdom of two individuals leading in balance. The Twin Ascendants, typically a pair of siblings or close kin, serve as both spiritual leaders and martial commanders. They are advised by a council of elders known as the Speakers of the Savannah, who handle daily civic matters and disputes.

Defences

Quarth's defenses are a mixture of natural and martial. The Khenra warriors are highly trained in swift, guerilla-style tactics, and the Ironspike Watch, an elite force of soldiers, patrols the savannah around the city. Warbeasts, large desert creatures trained by the Khenra, are also used in battle or as mounts.
Fortified Barracks: Located in the Ember’s Edge, these structures house the city’s soldiers and warbeasts.
Sandward Wall: The defensive wall surrounding the heart of Quarth. Reinforced with iron spikes and sandstone, it serves to protect from desert raiders and wandering beasts.

Industry & Trade

Primary Industry: Craftsmanship of bone-based tools, weaponry, and armor; mercenary services. Trade: Quarth is known for exporting spices, bonecraft weapons, and medicinal herbs. They import iron, textiles, and grain, as the arid land is not suitable for large-scale agriculture.

Infrastructure

Water Supply: The Sandglow Well: The primary source of fresh water for the city, this well taps into a deep underground river. The water is drawn using a system of pulleys and stored in reservoirs throughout the city. The well is seen as a lifeline, and its maintenance is a priority for the Khenra.
Aqueducts: A network of small aqueducts made from sandstone channels water from the Sandglow Well to different parts of the city. These aqueducts are carefully maintained to ensure a steady water supply, especially during the dry season.
Roads & Transportation:
The Salt Roads: A series of well-traveled trade routes connecting Quarth to other settlements and coastal cities. The roads are regularly patrolled by the Dunehawks to protect merchants and travelers from marauders or wild beasts.
Beast-Drawn Carts: The Khenra rely on large warbeasts not just for combat but also for transportation. These massive creatures are often used to pull carts carrying goods and resources into the city. Specialized stables and training facilities for these creatures are located in Ember’s Edge.
Defensive Structures:
Sandward Wall: A fortified wall encircling Quarth, built from local sandstone and reinforced with iron spikes to deter invaders. Watchtowers are positioned along the wall, manned by the Ironspike Watch who oversee the defense of the city.
Fortified Barracks: The military outpost located in Ember's Edge where the city’s soldiers and elite Dunehawks train and live. These barracks are built with thick sandstone walls and reinforced iron doors. Nearby armories store weapons and equipment for rapid deployment.
Public Facilities:
The Arena of Trials: More than just a location for combat trials, the Arena is a public gathering space for festivals, rituals, and important ceremonies. The Arena also functions as a training ground for young Khenra warriors, where they hone their skills in mock battles.
Wind Towers: Tall structures designed to catch the desert winds and naturally ventilate the city’s buildings. These towers help reduce the extreme heat during the day and are an essential part of Quarth’s architectural design, allowing for a more comfortable environment.
Trade & Markets:
Wind’s Market: The bustling trade district, built around a central plaza, where local artisans, traders, and visiting merchants gather to sell their goods. Everything from exotic spices, medicinal herbs, and bone weapons to rare Ember Crystals can be found here.
Boneweaver Guildhalls: These guildhalls not only serve as workshops for the city’s artisans but are also hubs for trade negotiations. The Boneweavers’ crafted goods, particularly weapons, are highly sought after and often traded with other regions of Astrium.
Religious & Cultural Sites:
The Ancestor’s Path: A sacred site within the city, this area is where Khenra pay homage to their ancestors. It features massive stone cairns and totems, with smaller shrines for individual families. Rituals and ceremonies honoring the dead are held here regularly.
The Sunfire Temple: A place of worship dedicated to the Khenra’s ancient sun deity. Located in Ascendant’s Perch, the temple is a focal point for religious practices and a symbol of the Khenra’s connection to the land and their spiritual beliefs.
Quarth’s infrastructure is a testament to the Khenra’s resilience and adaptability. Although their arrival in Astrium is relatively recent, their ability to establish a well-defended, resource-rich settlement in the Ironspike Savannah has allowed them to thrive and solidify their place in this new world.

Districts

Ascendant's Perch: The heart of governance where the Twin Ascendants live and train. The Perch is home to the Arena of Trials, where future leaders are selected.
Wind's Market: A bustling trade district where merchants from across Astrium come to sell rare goods and spices, drawn by the Khenra’s reputation for trade and martial items.
Boneweaver Quarter: A district named for its tradition of bonecraft and ancestral totems. It’s where the Khenra artisans make weapons, jewelry, and armor from the bones of great beasts they hunt.
Ember's Edge: The outskirts of the city, home to smithies, barracks, and the military forces of Quarth. It is also where the nomadic Khenra houses are set up when they temporarily return to the city.

Assets

Equipment: Bonecrafted Weapons & Armor: Quarth is renowned for its unique weaponry and armor made from the bones of great beasts that roam the Ironspike Savannah. These items are not only strong and durable but hold significant cultural and symbolic value for the Khenra. Some notable items include:
Savannah Blades: Long curved swords forged with bone hilts and adorned with tribal markings. Bone Shields: Lightweight but strong shields made from the reinforced bones of massive desert creatures. Hunting Spears: Crafted from the tusks of beasts, these spears are highly effective and are seen as a symbol of status among the Khenra hunters. Warbeast Saddles & Gear: Specialized equipment used to ride and command the large desert creatures that the Khenra train for war and hunting. These saddles are equipped with additional armor for the beasts, and the reins are made from strong, braided plant fibers.
Iron Tools & Machinery: While Quarth does not produce large quantities of iron, it imports refined metal goods such as farming tools, construction equipment, and blacksmithing supplies, used mainly for reinforcing buildings and crafting smaller, high-precision tools.
Stores & Warehouses:
Spice Vaults: Underground vaults within the Wind's Market where exotic spices and valuable herbs are stored. These spices are a major trade commodity and are carefully guarded against both thieves and the elements.
Sandstone Silos: Large silos built to store grains and other staple food items, imported from other parts of Astrium. As the Ironspike Savannah’s arid climate is unsuitable for most forms of agriculture, the preservation of food supplies is critical to Quarth’s survival.
Boneweaver Armories: Storage houses within the Boneweaver Quarter where the city’s most prized bonecrafted weapons and armor are kept. These armories also function as a stockpile for military use, ensuring that Quarth’s warriors are always well-equipped.
Beast Stables: Secure areas in Ember’s Edge where the warbeasts and mounts are kept. These stables are essential assets as they house the large, tamed creatures used by the Khenra for battle and transport.
Valuables:
Ancestral Relics: Quarth holds many ancient Khenra artifacts, passed down through generations. These relics include ceremonial weapons, totems, and jewelry crafted from rare materials, often imbued with symbolic or even magical significance. These are stored within the Ancestor’s Path, a sacred area.
The Ember Crystals: Rare, glowing red crystals found only in deep caves beneath the Ironspike Savannah. These crystals are used in rituals and believed to enhance the abilities of the Khenra warriors who carry them. The Ember Crystals are among the city’s most guarded treasures.

Guilds and Factions

Boneweavers’ Guild: An artisan guild specializing in the crafting of bone tools and totems. They hold sway over the city’s cultural traditions, ensuring the preservation of ancient Khenra crafting techniques. The Dunehawks: A faction of desert rangers and scouts who act as protectors of the Khenra people, known for their mastery of the savannah’s dangerous terrain and their swift, silent strikes. Scions of the Sun: A martial faction focused on training warriors and offering their services as mercenaries to other regions of Astrium. They also defend the city from external threats.

Points of interest

Arena of Trials: The central arena in the Ascendant's Perch where both Khenra combatants and visiting warriors come to prove their worth and where leadership challenges are held.
Salt Roads: An ancient pathway connecting Quarth to the safe ways out of the Ironspike Savannah, vital for trade and used by caravans importing precious metals and other resources.
The Sandglow Well: A massive well in the Wind's Market that provides the settlement with fresh water. Its depths are said to reach an underground river flowing from deep within the Ironspike Savannah.
The Ancestor’s Path: A revered site where Khenra pay homage to their fallen ancestors, marked by ancient totems and cairns. It is a sacred place for the Khenra, where rituals are held under the moonlight.
The Whispering Spires: These are natural rock formations located on the outskirts of the city that emit a faint sound when the wind passes through them, believed to be the whispers of past Khenra warriors.

Tourism

The Festival of Sun and Sand - 19th Mortisfall.
The Festival of Sun and Sand is the most important holiday for the Khenra people of Quarth, celebrated every year at the height of summer on the longest day of the year. It is a time to honor the Sunfire Deity, the Khenra’s ancient god of the sun, strength, and survival, who is believed to have guided their ancestors across deserts and into Astrium. The festival also marks the Khenra’s arrival in Astrium 50 years ago, celebrating their endurance, unity, and prosperity in their new homeland.

Traditions and Activities: The Procession of the Ancestors On the first day, a grand procession takes place, beginning at The Ancestor’s Path and moving through the streets of Quarth. Khenra families carry banners adorned with symbols of their ancestors, representing the strength and wisdom of their lineage. The procession culminates at the Sunfire Temple, where offerings are made in honor of the Sunfire Deity and the ancestors. Incense is burned, and the community comes together in a moment of silent reflection, acknowledging their shared journey through the sands.
The Trial of Endurance Warriors and athletes from across Quarth—and even neighboring regions—compete in the Trial of Endurance. Participants must race across the hot desert sands of the Ironspike Savannah, facing obstacles such as dunes, heat, and wild beasts. The Arena of Trials serves as the finish line, where the victor is crowned Sun Champion and awarded a ceremonial bonecrafted spear. This competition symbolizes the Khenra’s resilience and their ability to overcome even the harshest of challenges.
Feast of the Savannah As the sun sets the city gathers for a grand feast in Wind’s Market. Tables are laden with dishes made from local game, spices, and fruits, representing the bounty of the Ironspike Savannah. Food is shared among all, from the wealthiest merchants to the humblest families. Music and dance fill the streets as traditional Khenra songs are sung, and the city revels in a sense of communal unity and abundance.
4. The Dance of the Sunfire A large bonfire is lit in Ascendant’s Perch, representing the Sunfire Deity’s eternal light. Around the bonfire, performers don golden and red robes that symbolize the sun, performing the Dance of the Sunfire—a mesmerizing display of movement that imitates the rise, blaze, and fall of the sun across the savannah. It is believed that this ritual dance strengthens the bond between the Khenra people and the sun, ensuring their prosperity for the coming year.
5. The Binding of Sands Ritual The last event of the festival is a sacred ceremony where sand from different parts of the Ironspike Savannah is gathered and mixed with the sand that the Khenra carried from their original homeland. This mixture is placed in the Sandglow Well, symbolizing the unification of their past and present. This act is meant to remind the Khenra that no matter where they travel, they are always bound by their history and shared experience.
Festival Symbolism: Sun: The central symbol of the festival, representing strength, guidance, and the endurance of the Khenra people. Sand: Represents both the desert from which the Khenra came and the Ironspike Savannah that they now call home. Ancestral Banners: Families carry these during the procession, each depicting the unique story and lineage of that family. Bone Weapons: Many events and rituals feature bonecrafted weapons, a nod to the Khenra’s deep connection to the land and their survival in Astrium. Impact on the City: During the Festival of Sun and Sand, Quarth is transformed. Markets swell with visitors from other parts of Astrium, looking to experience the Khenra culture and witness the grand spectacle. Merchants sell souvenirs, crafts, and food, contributing to the city’s economy. Many deals are made during this time, particularly trade arrangements that extend well beyond the borders of the Ironspike Savannah. It’s a time when diplomacy is as active as celebration.
This holiday is not only a time for festivity but also serves as a cultural cornerstone for the Khenra, reinforcing their resilience and connection to the sun, their ancestors, and their shared history.

Architecture

Quarth’s architecture is simple yet striking, with sandstone structures adorned with bones of the great beasts that roam the Ironspike Savannah. Many buildings are painted in rich ochres and reds to reflect the desert sun. The city is also known for its use of wind towers, natural ventilation systems that allow airflow through buildings, providing relief from the harsh savannah heat.

Natural Resources

Bonecraft: The remains of the large beasts that roam the savannah provide material for tools, weapons, and artifacts. Medicinal Herbs: The Ironspike Savannah is home to rare plants that have healing properties, often used by Khenra healers. Spices: Exotic spices grow along the desert's edge and are highly valued by traders and foreign merchants.

Founding Date

853AD

Type

Town

Population

12000

Location under

Ironspike Savannah

Characters in Location

• Sandrunner Senakra Sunpelt