City of Akhang-Ahvar

The town where the adventure starts is Akhang-Ahvar. It stands equidistant between two ports on either side of the land (Hajdib in the east and Kurata to the west), the mysterious elven city in the northern forests and the fortified city of Trizzist in the southern mountains. Trade routes have existed for many centuries between these places, selling spices, cloth, goats and exotic trinkets in exchange for weapons of steel, furs and fine horses. The well-worn route is known as the Golden Road.
After the rainy season passes, there is a great festival of feasting and drinking and ritual bathing and washing of clothes, animals and babies, known as Jawm Al-Nahr, the Day of the River. This festival is the main reason that people come to the town. The annual trade and tourism benefit the economy greatly and merchants often profit sufficiently to live for the entire year between rainy seasons.
The people are mainly descended from those who arrived at the time of the Landing but about one quarter are of original nomadic tribal blood. Families mix freely in marriage and business and there is little want, crime or squallor.
The guard are employed to defend the town from invading monsters and bandits from the desert and also help to keep order at the time of the festival. The highest authority is the Vizier, who is head of law and judgement, also of trade and diplomacy. The Vizier lives well in his large villa and holds audience in the town palace, which faces onto the main town square.

Demographics

Humans, half-elves, dragonborn, gnomes. Merchants, craftsmen, innkeepers, tailors and weavers.

Government

Benevolent martial rule by guardsmen and their Sargeant. Taxes are paid in salt or goods.

Defences

Barracks holding 20 guards and a sargeant.

Industry & Trade

Tourism and passing trader and merchants supply most of the wealth in the town.

Infrastructure

There are many crafting factories and blacksmiths, as well as stables and tanneries. Vast salt drying pans lie outside of the town.

Architecture

Buildings are made of mud bricks, wooden poles and canvas awnings. Ancient stone buildings exist in the older parts of the city.

Natural Resources

Salt from the drying pans, leathers and meat from goats and camels and, of course, water from the many deep wells and underground rivers.

Alternative Name(s)

Mashuq Akhang, The Belly Stone, Markazan

Type

City

Population

25,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Akhangi

Related Tradition (Primary)

• Culinary Traditions in Akhang-Ahvar - a Tourists Guide

Characters in Location

• Vizier Ghadir Jalal