Sandvoyagers Guild

The Desert of Desolation is so large that going around it would add weeks or months to trade caravans' journeys. The desert itself is extraordinarily inhospitable, with baking heat, sandstorms, limited water and giant monsters. If the winds are blowing from the northwest, there is also the risk that the sandstorms will contain magically-charged sand from the Plains of Purple Dust, remnant of a cataclysmic ancient magical war. Bandits also roam the edges, particularly to the north.
To combat these dangers, the Sandvoyagers Guild was formed. Originally a group of expert desert guides and camel drivers, over the centuries it has gained a stranglehold on trade and takes a percentage of all goods ported across the sands. Now, only caravans affiliated with the Guild are allowed to readily cross the desert. Other caravans must carry bona fides that they are legitimate traders from the merchants of the southern cities of Phannaskul or Gheldaneth, or Yorjah and Seiros to the north. If they do not they are at risk of being arrested as brigands bearing stolen property, and their trade goods seized.
The Sandvoyagers Guild is headquartered in the Oasis of the White Palm, in the centre of the Desert of Desolation. It contains a large fortified encampment enclosing the Guild Hall, separate quarters for camel drivers, a secure warehouse for storage of valuable goods, a well, and a large inn for merchants and travellers. A semi-permanent bazaar has sprung up outside the gates of the Guildhouse, where north-bound and south-bound caravans meet. Many traders buy and sell goods directly from other caravans, instead of undertaking the time, risk, and expense of travelling all the way to the other end of the caravan route.
The Bralizzar Guildhouse is a large two-storey whitewashed brick building at the intersection of the two main roads, directly facing the Raj, administrative capital building for the region. The Guildhouse has thick, defensible walls with offices and other rooms lining them, all surrounding a central courtyard. A fountain plays in the courtyard under the shade of the carefully-tended palm trees and ferns. Merchants making deals to sell or purchase items from the Guild or join a Guild caravan all come to the Guildhouse to make their deals. Warehouses, camel pens and camel-drivers' quarters all adjoin the building and are easily accessible from the main route through Bralizzar from north to south.
Few passers-by in Bralizzar notice that some of the rough-looking men loitering in the area pay discreetly careful attention to the main gate and those entering and leaving. They are actually Guilder guards, ready to draw hidden weapons and leap to the defence of the Guildhouse should anyone attempt to plunder the riches within.
The Guild has long had a reputation for honesty - they will take your coin, but tell you they are doing so. However, that is starting to change. Camel-drivers have started to notice that although raiders and slavers have been hitting caravans going through the desert, a Guild caravan has never been attacked. Some of the caravans are exiting the desert larger than they entered. Although the camel-drivers are only talking amongst themselves for now, eventually word will spread.

Maps

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  North-eastern Desert of Desolation

  The north-eastern region of the Desert of Desolation is sparse and lightly settled, with a handful of groups clinging to life around the widely-scattered water sources. Ruins of the vanished Raurin Empire date back to before the River Athis dried up and the desert moved in. The Sandvoyagers Guild is the only reliable means of travel through the area for any who are not hardened adventurers.