Alwarika

Alwarika is large city, known colloquially as the last oasis. It's distance from other settlements and oases gives it this familiar name, and it often treated as a safe haven for travelers to rest and prepare for the next leg of their journey. The city's water is sourced from a large lake, around which the city is built. Despite the city's size and importance, it is not designated the capital of Tifira, however it is regarded by most as one of the next major cities. The city is walled, blocks of sandstone reaching toward the sky. Fortifications still exist from a conflict that history has nearly forgotten, but the citizens and leaders of Alwarika take comfort in the fact that they could be used to protect the city again if necessary. Alwarika is known as a place where wealth comes to change hands, but never to stay in the city for long.
Alwarika is separated into 4 distinct quarters. The most prevalent is the market and trading quarter. This is home to the trading post where traveling merchants will set up stalls to sell their wares. Local artisans, herders, and farmers can be found in permanent residences at the market, selling goods and supplies to travelers as well as their fellow locals. This is also where a few boarding houses are constructed, so that those who are not staying in the city for long periods need not leave this district unless they have business elsewhere. The main city gate opens directly into this district.
The second largest quarter is the main residential area. Space is used efficiently, and most homes are small and close together, if not outright sharing outer walls. There is little need for excess in the oasis, as many residents spend most of their time tending to their business. For most artisans, though, their home doubles as their workshop and they tend to take their leisure elsewhere. The business district is next in size, and here the buildings are not as close together and tend to be larger. Official business of the city, wealthy residents, and houses of worship can all be found here, though smaller houses of worship are located in the other districts for convenience. Considered the most luxurious part of the city, the paths leading into it are guarded in order to prevent crime and unruly activity.
The smallest district is the entertainment section of the city. This area houses a few theaters, where shows of varying type are put on offer for locals and visitors alike. There is also a red lantern area, where sex and drug trades are present but do not thrive to the same extent they do in other major cities. A strategically placed house of worship is located near these amusements, some say to foster guilt rather than offer true help to the faithful. This is typically the only other area often visited by travelers, as they seek amusement and diversion to recover from or prepare for journeys through the desert. The diversions offered by the entertainment district are a necessary part of the life of hardworking Alwarikan citizens.