Ank'Harel
A city in Marquet, the center of Rumedam Desert, and the center of culture, history, and power for the continent. It is also known as the Jewel of Hope, the translation of its name from the northern Marquesian dialect, and the Jewel of Marquet.
The city is ovular in shape, standing on differently leveled platforms, with enormous, 65-foot-tall outer walls that have tall guard towers decoratively shaped like hands cradling the walls from underneath. Within the city are around a hundred tall, multi-level spires. Many buildings have pointed rooftops and colorful murals. The city is draped in multicolored cloth that hang across the buildings and red cobblestone streets. The gates of the city close at night, and many caravans camp outside. Ank'Harel is surrounded by a web of smaller villages.
Points of Interest
Alluvium District
The Circlet Walk
Step Aside Inn and TavernThis cozy establishment is a local favorite, known for its delicious food and a cheery atmosphere that invites folks to “step aside” from their daily troubles and rest a while. Desert flowers flourish in planters that decorate the tavern’s windowsills and bar, and the upstairs rooms are redolent with the scents of garlic rice and fried meats wafting up from the kitchen. On the most sweltering days, the tavern offers its signature dessert: haluh, a dish from the southwestern Marquesian coast consisting of shaved ice and sweet milk topped with jackfruit or kurrak, coconut strips, and sweet purple yam.
The place is run by two former mercenaries: Irawan, a lawful good, elf veteran, and his husband Calinao, a neutral good, elf druid. Unbeknownst to many, Irawan and Calinao were among the original Scarbearers who came to Ank’Harel during the city’s nascent years and defiantly showed to J’mon Sa Ord the scars they earned during their defense of the realm. The couple has long since retired from mercenary life, but they serve the people of the city in other ways. If the phrase “Pardon my steps as I pass through” is whispered to either Irawan or Calinao, they’ll lead the individual to a safe house beneath the tavern, where the beneficiary is welcome to stay until other arrangements can be made.
Guided District
- Temple of The Mentor: The Cobalt Soul archive.
The Ridge
River District
A number of canals begin in the River District. The spring, the perpetual oasis that fuels the city is located here. It is noted that many of the caravans of Marquest travel to and from this district in particular.
Sand-Herald District
Located at the upper central platform of the city.
Places of note:
- Cerulean Palace: the seat of government and court in Ank'Harel
- Tower of J'mon Sa Ord: A building adjacent to the palace, made for watching over the entire city.
- Scarlet Prison, also known as the Scarlet Oubliette: Dungeon located beneath the Cerulean Palace. It is rumored that people are placed there to be tortured or to be part of various experiments.
- Bowl of Judgement: The site of duels sanctioned by the Hand of Ord (old-school tradition). Near the Cerulean Palace.
- Indala Skyport
Sigil District
A district on the south-eastern side of the city. The streets here are paved with an opaline material, including a very faint trace of whitestone particles.
Places of note:
- Crystal Chateau: A large multi-tiered structure made of a smokey quartz mixed with white marble. There is a large white iron heavy gate that surrounds the building itself and a fairly well-kept garden grown around the chateau. A small stream runs trough the trees with a bridge off the main path that leads to the chateau. The water seems to butt up against the chateau and vanish beneath it.
- Excavation Pit: A 150 foot wide pit whose excavation is overseen by the Allegiance of Allsight.
- Omnival Library
Suncut Bazaar
Distinguished by strands of crimson flags that run across the street corners, the Suncut Bazaar features a few shops that go indoors, but mostly open sky and hundreds of various tents, carts, pop-up stand-ups, and even the center of the street, blankets set out, with the various merchants there with their wares strewn across the ground, waiting for anybody to come and approach.
Places of note:
- Luck's Run: A casino.
- The Corner Cove: An Inn within the Suncut Bazaar.
- The Debt's Respite: A tavern in Ank'Harel.
- Oddities & Eccentricities: A curiousity stall.
- The Shade: A lounge tavern with a distinctive, dark green tent steeple.
- Bone Garden: Trades construction materials at the most northern side of the Suncut Bazaar.
Demographics
It has a mostly human population with a wide variety of people living here. Everyone seems to mesh together without prejudice. Notably, a number of dark-skinned halflings, a few half-elves, some half-orcs, as well as tieflings are known to call this city home. This has become more of a mixing pot in the last 200 years, so many more races will be seen here. It is uncommon to see the more 'vulgar' or 'less sociable' folk like goblins, bugbears and dark elves in this city.
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