Nafiri Zal

In all my travels, the small town of Nafiri Zal is probably among the most surreal locations I have seen. What I first thought were buildings were actually large piles of bricks of salt rock. What I first thought were ditches were actually the entrances to home which had been carved out of the earth. The sun hung high in the air, and bright white ground should have been baking. Instead, it was covered in a thin film of water, the air was cool, and the very light itself seemed to move only with trepidation and anxiety.

— from Twofold Armageddon: The Modern Ngavari by Quondrus Betelon

Demographics

The people who work and live in Nafiri Zal are all, according to the laws of the Dominion of Kul Khalesi, Khalesine Citizens, and only very rarely are any of them non-Ashfolk.

Government

Authority over Nafiri Zal is held by a mayor appointed by vote of the Khalesine Assembly, with no defined term-length. Generally, most citizens who live in Kul Khalesi itself defer to the people who live in Nafiri Zal, who send a handful of their number as representatives. These representatives are entrusted both to vote in the stead of those back in Nafiri Zal, and to read statements written by those who could not attend.

Defences

Nafiri Zal has no defense infrastructure, because it does not need it. The inhospitable nature and monstrous ash wraiths of the Ashen Wastes keeps any raiders or invaders at bay, and the nature of the Salted Earth wards of the ash wraiths.
There is a small garrison of the Sentinels, which keeps the peace, and also watches for salt smuggling and unlicensed mining operations.

Industry & Trade

Nafiri Zal is the center of the salt mining industry in the Dominion of Kul Khalesi. It serves as the administrative hub for mines based around the Salted Earth, as well as the location where the salt is stored before being shipped to Kul Khalesi.

Infrastructure

A large number of salt mines are under the control of Nafiri Zal, both active and inactive.

Assets

Though not its primary location of storage in the Dominion of Kul Khalesi, Nafiri Zal usually has a large amount of salt on hand at any given time. All other resources are brought in from the city by caravan.

Guilds and Factions

The Khalesine Salt Miner's Guild has a domineering presence in Nafiri Zal, which happens to be the only guild in the Dominion of Kul Khalesi with its administration based outside the city of Kul Khalesi. It does most of its business with the Governor of Nafiri Zal and their agents.
The Priesthood of Shadow and Dream has a small presence in Nafiri Zal, where it has an easier time growing than Kul Khalesi, due to the meager presence of the Sentinels, which serves as law-enforcement for the Dominion.

Architecture

All of the permanent buildings in Nafiri Zal have been carved into the ground, and are made almost entirely out of salt rock, with small sheds built from small, salt rock bricks with either wooden doors, or no proper doors at all. The interiors have floors carved into rough rectangles, and arched or domed roofs.

Natural Resources

The people of Nafiri Zal live, sweat, and breathe salt. Salt rock is all that Nafiri Zal has, but Nafiri Zal has a seemingly inexhaustible supply of salt, and it is incredibly valuable.

Type

Town

Population

752

Location under

Salted Earth

Owning Organization

Dominion of Ngavar