Tavashahr

Tavashahr, formerly known as Yekhardeh, is a small but culturally-significant town in Garzama. As the birthplace of Tavanar Segyini, later Shah of the Segyini dynasty, it gained prominence - and its current name - when Tavanar declared that it should become the seat of his authority. Tavanar died before he could turn the town into his capital, but his extravagant tomb in the town - completed by his widow, Shahbanu Delbaz, after his death - is considered one of the finest architectural sites in Garzama. The expense involved in redeveloping the town has been identified as a cause in the decline of the Segyini dynasty, which soon suffered a series of military defeats that ended in the establishment of the new, unrelated, Gostardi dynasty. As well as the tomb itself, Tavanar's improvements to the settlement included the construction of a large domed audience hall which is decorated on the inside with expert paintings of landscapes and battle scenes, and several large stone garrisons and estates which have been repurposed to house multiple families. After her husband's death, Delbaz established a school in Tavashahr which she hoped would be a centre of learning for people from across Garzama; since the town never became a capital city, the desired wealth and students did not materialise, but the school survives in a more diminished form. Under Tavanar's influence, the local elites were encouraged to situate burial mounds and markers outside the walled garden surrounding his tomb, and this practice continues to the present day.

The Tomb of Tavanar

The visible part of this lavish tomb is rectangular in design, rising 150 feet to a sloping roof and with a width of 200 feet across its front and 100 feet on the left and right sides. At its rear, the tomb joins a cliff face, and appears to tunnel into it: records from the time of construction indicate that the inner chambers of the tomb were built into the cliff, to provide enough space to inter generations of descendants, but it is not known how far these tunnels and chambers go. The tomb's facade is constructed from shining white marble and decorated with precious stones and marbles in different colours, imported over great distances at huge expense, as well as statues and reliefs carved on location, depicting important moments from the history of Garzama and the Segyini dynasty. The entrance way, which is elevated above the ground level and is only accessible via a stone ramp, stands 20 feet high and is flanked by larger-than-life statues of Tavanar and his wife; the door is made of heavy stone and appears to be closed with mechanical locks, but the historical records contain no details about the design of the keys required to open them. Carved above the door is a record of Tavanar's lineage and his achievements (which most scholars agree to be greatly exaggerated).
During the construction of the tomb, and for the remaining years of the Segyini dynasty, a permanent guard was established to defend the tomb. Although this protection has long since lapsed, rumours that the area is haunted or protected by supernatural forces have deterred the locals from attempting to reuse its stone in their buildings, and seem to have also deterred potential grave-robbers: the tomb appears to still be sealed. Access to the tomb is made more difficult by a river tributary, the course of which was diverted to form a moat. Outside of this moat is a walled garden, which has become somewhat overgrown. Many of the statues erected among the plants and trees - figures from history and myth, as well as representations of animals and conquered peoples - are now suffering from erosion or other damage. Despite this state of disrepair, and the inaccessibility of the tomb itself, it remains an impressive site which is well-known in artistic and architectural circles around the world, and there are many stories surrounding the devoted relationship of Tavanar and Delbaz and the treasures which may have been buried with them. In point of fact, the wealth of the Segyini dynasty was greatly diminished by the cost of construction for this impractical site.

Defences

A set of large stone walls, 40 feet in height with four ostentatious carved gateways marking the cardinal points, encircles the area which Tavanar believed should be the furthest extent of the city. However, the current settlement lies far within these walls, and they are in a state of disrepair, unguarded and often used as a source of quarried stone. Some of the local farmland is contained within these walls, but much lies outside of them. The town lacks a standing militia.

Alternative Name(s)

Yekhardeh, Tavanar's Folly

Type

Town