a-Jadar

Purpose / Function

a-Jadar, the wall, separates the kingdom of Inqaa from a-Sahrat Nifa, the desert wastes, and all the danger therein. There is a small town close to the wall, a place the men guarding the wall go when they're off their shift, to rest and relax. It is a small, unimpressive town, with one tavern, and one hostel, some pleasure houses, and the like - the kind of place you'd see pirates and scallywags hanging around, though it's considerably less wet, and humid - even close to a-Nifa as it is.

Sensory & Appearance

Sweat is pretty much the perfume of a-Jadar. There's a cover that spans the entirety of the length of it, to protect from the blasting sun, but it's still impossible to not sweat. They all sweat all day.

Architecture

It is made from firebrick clay (and magic, of course, but shhh). It stands a hundred feet tall. There is a way out - through a gate in the dead centre, opened with a gear mechanism. But nobody ever goes out. Not really. The gears are rusted over, and very difficult to get working. Nobody wants to risk being stuck out there, with the monster of a-Nifa. It's reinforced with special magic, but the clay and brick is very strong also. The buildings in the town are all firebrick clay also. They're stout, and stodgy, like men slouched on a bar stool. It's all very grey, not very lush, not a springtime holiday, that's for sure. But it'll do. It's cooler and more comfortable than standing on the wall, keeping watch for nothing - literally nothing happens there.

History

The wall was created several generations ago, way prior to the beginning of our story - by the great explorer Basil al-Azim. He erected it because there came a problem of civilians in the small seaside town - which is what Inqaa was then, without the name of course - sneaking off and getting access to al-Nahr, without paying the fees, or waiting their turn. Which is unfair. So he erected the wall, and so it became a way for everyone to play fair. In the years AA, the wall was made stronger, as the kingdom grew. Magic was seeped into the structure, the town was built - for in Basil's original plan, there were no guards, nor any Wastes. Just a wall to keep things fair. It was impossible for people to go through anyway. The wall was enormous. But in future generations - namely the reign of the malik our story is interested in - it became more of a way to keep everyone in, not just people who didn't pay. It also kept magic out, for that's a secret they definitely wanted to keep under wraps. Underneath the wall, there's a tunnel, and the tunnel leads from the rooms of Saleh, al Malik, al Ealia straight to al-Nahr. Through this tunnel, guards make a long trek - it isn't uncomfortable, because the magic lines the walls, makes it feel less like a tunnel, more like a journey through heaven - and retrieve magic, etc. etc. It also allows for al-Malik to control the spread of the magic. He can imbue his whole kingdom with magic, or choose to only bless certain areas. You know - just because. He is in control anyway.
Now, a-Jadar is said to keep out a monster born from a-Nifa, and to leave through it would mean certain death (as Razi, the Anxious's parents found out). It also circles around the entire land, as is said to keep out an even worse beast from the surrounding sea. The world outside has gone to shit, basically, and there's no reason to go through a-Jadar, unless you want to die.

Alternative Names

Kingdom Wall

Type

Wall section

Environmental Effects

It is warmer by the wall than anywhere else, because of the desert on the other side of it. The air is thick, and stuffy, and desert winds blow over often. In the town, it is cooler, calmer. The wind is not intense or suffocating.

Owner

Saleh, al Malik, al Eali