Katab
Katab is the waterbearing jewel of Qabir, an ancient engineering marvel city built from fine Ashlar masonry and abundant with intricate architectural details. Katab that has always served as a significant political, cultural, and economic center of the region, strategically located near the crossroads of major trade routes that connected the Qabir Peninsula with the Enkar, the Aklon and Meru. Katab was once the 'final stop' on Qabir's spice road before spices journeyed down the Ahmar Sea to the Crown sea, and while over the last few decades, trade of frankincense, myrrh, and various spices have resumed via Himarian trade ships leaving from Katab, the city's greatest asset is now its ability to maintain and develop thriving crops in the desert.
Facilitated by the famous Katab Dam, a wonder of the world, small rivers and lakes which form in the flooded canyons of the Ahl Alsahra Maze have been backed up into an impressively vast reservior which utilizes both Archaean ruins and engineered shafts to channel water to various closed off farms and orchards within the mountains adjacent to the city. It's believed that the original foundations of the dam and the city itself date from the Age of River Kings, originally used to cultivate extensive surrounding farms along the southern coast of Qabir. The dam's construction and maintenance has led to the resident Sabani to develoip advanced engineering skills and a complex system of governance to manage water distribution. Katab is a bustling city a diverse population consisting of traders, merchants, craftsmen, and farmers, but the three main ethnicities within the city are the Sabani, Himarians and Ashanites:
Sabani: Masters of Trade and Engineering The Sabani people are the original occupants of Katab renowned for their expertise in trade, particularly the lucrative incense and water business. They are also exceptional engineers, whose dams, water boreholes, and other remarkable feats of engineering enable Katab to flourish despite the surrounding desert. As the inheritors of the ancient city, they have carried forward the legacy of their ancestors, constructing palaces, temples, and public buildings with finely cut stones and intricate architectural details. Himarian: Sophisticated Mariners and Traders The Himarians are a hawkish cultural and political group with a strong presence along the Ahmar Sea. Once citizens of a rival kingdom Known for their literacy and sophistication, they boast their own written language and are considered somewhat divisive within Katab. Controlling much of the frankincense trade, the Himarians maintain a trade network stretching from Majya to Tarsa. They worship a vast pantheon of gods, which is reflected in the numerous temples and religious sites throughout Katab. Engaging in trade with faraway lands such as Lam and Roda, the Himarians have further enriched the city's culture and prosperity. Ashanites: Stewards of the Land Before the Fall, the Ashanites were rural residents of the surrounding kingdom beyond the city of Katab, living along the nearby coasts of the Algarkal Ledge. They operated numerous farms and settlements dedicated to harvesting various forms of incense and food crops. Known as salt-of-the-earth people, the Ashanites cultivated extensive orchards and irrigation systems that still mark the rocky escarpments where they once lived freely. Katab has a long history of the worship of the moon goddess Almaqah whose massive temple dominates Katab's religious district.
Diver of Katab The great dams of Katab require constant maintenance, and the ducts within them are often clogged by strange creatures. You have double advantage while holding your breath, and have advantage while fighting in water.
Peacebringer of Katab You are trained in ways which peace can be brought to the restless dead and have limited ability to command them. Sailor of Katab
Type
Large city
Location under
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