Zhara - The Oasis in the Desert

Located nearly a hundred leagues from the coast and deep within the Faraz Desert, Zhara stands as a magical and welcome respite from the oppressive heat and and light of the unforgiving sun.  Within the walls of Zhara is one of the oldest and most sophisticated cultures in the Lands of Legend.  Commerce, art, music, literature and magic all thrive in the capital city of the Empire of Aurulant.

Demographics

The majority of Zharans are Human and Goblin, with a sizeable Salimar minority.  Dwarves own a part of the Bazaar District and there is a Dwarf Satrap with a palace among the Golden Towers.  Lizardfolk and Beastfolk can be found living in Zhara.  Elves and Treefolk rarely come to the City of Fountains, and Karhu are even more rare.

Government

The Warlord of Aurulant controls Zhara in the name of the Yellow Empress.  Most of the day to day operation is handled by a group of bureaucrats, handpicked for their skill in running parts of the city.  This group is headed by the chief tax collector, known as the Chief Yavar.

Defences

The main city of Zhara is protected by a thick curtain wall of reinforced sandstone, with watchtowers stationed along the perimeter.  The walls are patrolled at all times by soldiers of the Warlord.  Three gates with mighty doors of petrified wood and iron portcullises, are manned during the day by troops in the pay of the Chief Yavar, the head tax collector for the Empire.

Industry & Trade

Zhara is a trading hub.  The Dwarven cities of Heim'Heitt on the western slopes of the Rampart Mountains on the border of Aurulant, and Heim'Askorin in the mountain south of Hobriland, bring their trade primarily through Zhara to reach foreign markets.  From the desert comes mined salt and sandstone, and gold, copper and silver from mines in the northern hills bordering Osseus.  From up the Alhaya River comes all manner of goods from the rest of the continent. From each transaction, Zhara takes a tax.

Districts

Zhara has several districts, both inside and outside the city walls. They are:

• Sandsgate - located outside the sandstone walls of Zhara, Sandsgate is the cheapest district in the city. Most inhabitants of Sandsgate are foreigners, laborers or the poor. Sandsgate is the only district where weapons can be openly carried without the express permission of the city authorities.


• Three Wells - Three Wells is the original location of Zhara, as it contains the three springs that according to legend, the godling Azeera the Golden conjured from the desert sands to found an empire. The majority of citizens live within this district, which also contains tea shops, coffee houses, and any shops that provide services. The Three Wells of Azeera, large marble fountains that flow through the wall and form the Alhaya River, are located here, guarded by the Fountain Guard, a special cadre of the Warlord's elite soldiers that protect all three well to ensure nothing befouls them.


• The Bazaar - all manner of things can be found for sale in the Great Bazaar. The Bazaar houses shops that range from temporary tent stalls to two story stone buildings. The Minaret of the Moon, the largest temple to the goddess Clea, sits in the center of the city, which is in this district.


• The Golden Towers and the Yellow Citadel - The Golden Towers district is the exclusive neighborhood of the nobility, particularly the 14 Golden Houses that control Aurulant. Foreigners can only enter the district by special permission, and no weapons are permitted except those worn by the Warlord's personal guard. Aurulant's premier school of magic, the Minaret of Mehnaz (vulgarly known as the Silent Tower), is a prominent landmark of the district, as is the Yellow Citadel, the opulent home and headquarters of the Empress.

Architecture

Much of Zhara is built either of bricks made from mud and straw, smoothed into adobe, or by sandstone quarried from nearby outcroppings.  Common and middle class Zharans often live in tenements built around a common cistern or garden; open balconies are common, as are flat roofs.  Richer Zharans will have a villa, usually built surrounding an interior garden with stone columns and a covered portico.  Glass windows, while not unheard of, are typically not used in Zhara.
The nobles of the Golden Families have built small palaces, each marked by a single tower that gives the Golden Towers district its name.
The outside of most buildings are not adorned with color, as the sands of the desert tend to wear away any paint or whitewash.  However, the inside of dwellings are often painted in the style that most delights the owner.

Climate

A true desert city, Zhara's days are hot and dry, while its nights range from balmy to bitterly cold, depending on the season.  Rain only occurs very rarely.  To fend off the worst excesses of the heat, servants will soak cotton awnings in water overnight and raise them in the heat of midmorning.  The resulting steam and mist cools the air and makes the days slightly more bearable, especially in the Bazaar district. 
Sandstorms are an occasional hazard in Zhara, although the walls protect its citizens from the worst of such storms.

Maps

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  Zhara

Founding Date

Year 101 of the Second Age

Founders

• Azeera the Golden

Alternative Name(s)

The Oasis, The Great Wadi, The City of Fountains

Population

52,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Zharans

Owner/Ruler

Empress Qadhra VI

Ruling/Owning Rank

Yellow Empress

Owning Organization

Aurulant - The Desert Empire

Related Traditions

• The Casting of the Mune

Characters in Location

• Empress Qadhra VI