OOC: General Lore & Information

[Voss_]

The City of Ashkara

The City of Ashkara stands in a far removed corner of the Kingdom of Calimshan, nestled amidst desolate canyons in its arid expanse. Known throughout the desert kingdom for its rich quarries and unparalleled quality of precious gems.

Ashkara was built, destroyed and rebuilt several times over atop the ruins of a more ancient civilization. The only remnant of this forgotten dynasty that survived is its ancient palace. An awe-inspiring structure contrasting most of recent Ashtara.

The city is split in four districts.

• The Bronze Drudach, composed of a slum and the quarries.

• The Silver Drudach where most of the free citizens and petty merchants reside, it houses the 'House of Enlightenment' and Arena.

• The Gold Drudach, also known as 'The Walk of Al-Sayaad.' Houses the rich and elite, here resides the Tower of A'kar where the battlemages live. As well as various temples and estates where the powerful families of the city make their home.

• The Emerald Drudach houses the ancient palace of the city and residences of the royal family.

Among the cities of Calimshan, Ashkara enjoys a greater degree of independence. Due to its desolate location, great wealth and mercenary armies, the current Syl-Pasha Ralan el Pesarkhal had been content to leave the city to it's own devices. So long as the city remembers its place, and pays its tribute on time.

The Council

While the city is ruled by it's Pasha or Sultan, it has been tradition for them to gather a council of wise men to advise on various matters.

The council is the only place where the people can influence the governance of the city, outside being born with royal blood.

Vizar Ardashir el Ishak
It is not entirely known when Ardashir became the master of Ishak's Spire, but he has been a vizar of the court since before the birth of the current Pasha.

Many terrifying rumours paint Ardashir as a tyrant or monster, even some say he is a djinn. But in truth few outside the spire even get a chance to meet him. So to most, the man is an enigma.

He prefers to send a proxy to council meetings, rather than show up in person.

Vizar Osman al-Pashak
Second only to the Pasha in terms of wealth, the house of Pashak owns a majority of the gold and gem mines that bring Ashkara its wealth.

The previous head of the family almost destroyed their wealth, by recklessly expanding their mines. To not repeat this mistake Osman has focused on expanding business deals outside of Ashkara, giving him a much more shrewd and cautious reputation.

Alaric d'Armant
A foreigner and student to the former master of A'kar. Alaric took over the leadership of the battlemages rather abruptly when his predecessor challenged the Warlocks of the Inverse Spires and never returned. It is well known
that Alaric despises Vizar Ardashir for this fact.

Musar Ahmet Al-Kharid
A low ranking officer of the Askar military, Ahmet is the son of the former Sahrmak Al-Kharid who perished defending the city from a mercenary army of former slaves.

Ahmet himself earned his seat on the council purely from the achievements of his father, and is widely known to despise being compared to the former Sahrmak.

Captain Azra the Red Hand
Achieving the position of captain through a sheer talent of violence, Azra is the current leader of the mercenary band. Much like her predecessors she does not concern herself with the broader politics, only showing an interest in how to best make a profit.

Druzir of the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald Drudach
The respective Druzir or 'Majors' of the various district hold their own seat of the council.

Factions of Ashkara

The Askar
The Legion of Askar are the standing army of Ashkara, serving as both peace keepers and soldiers in times of war. They are composed of the free citizens of Ashkara, paid a wage and given greater respect than the lesser slave soldiers who protect the various drudach.

Previously the Askar were led by a Sahrmak of some renown, who perished in recent times defending the city from an army of former slave mercenaries. This void had yet to be filled, and the Askar are more divided for it.

The Battlemages of A'kar
Where the Askar are the sword and shield of Ashkara, the battlemages serve as the arcane arm of the military. Founded by Mansoor I a few decades ago, they are fiercely loyal to the sultan and his descendants.

It is common knowledge that the battlemages have had a consistent rivalry with the warlocks of Ishak since their arrival to the city a generations ago.

Warlocks of the Sunken Spires
It is said that a few generation ago Ashkara was almost destroyed by a terrible draught, the oasis that the city relied on had suddenly dried up and sickness spread through the streets. When all seemed most dire a magician who called herself 'Ishak' appeared and offered to restore the gift of water to the city. Her demands it was said were steep, but the desperate Pasha had no choice but to accept. And so she kept her word and the oasis once again filled up with life-giving waters.

This is where the warlocks of the spire found their origin. At first the warlocks resided in 'The Spire of Ishak' above the quarry and the mines under the magicians guidance. But when Ardashir took control, he inversed the spire, sinking it below the earth. From then on the magicians changed their name to 'The Warlocks of the Sunken Spire.'

Today they rarely emerge to face the light, rumoured to hide away underground. Practising fell rites, and bargaining for power with tyrannical beings of the elemental planes.

The Red Hand
Former slaves turned mercenaries, the Red Hand were part of an army that once laid siege on the City of Ashkara. When the fighting reached a stalemate one of Ashkara's clever Vizars offered a deal to a portion of the mercenary army.
The terms of this deal are not common knowledge, but soon after the mercenaries found themselves betrayed from within. Allowing the Askar to sally forth and defeat the invaders.

Today the Red Hand make up a large portion of Ashkara's standing army, hired as permanent mercenaries to fight in its wars and petty conflicts.

[Voss_]

I've recieved some feedback that the overal goal of the faction is unclear, so I will offer some minimal OOC guidance.

This is a faction for a longterm plot, and while there's an ultimate goal. Its up to your character what to do with it, or to even pursue it at all.

I will run events as they come up. If you have a plot-related idea you need a DM for feel free to contact me about it, like how plots are handled usually.

Faction Goal

Return to Ashkara and reclaim your position/title/wealth ect ect.

Short term Goal(s)

Gather allies within and without Arabel.
Find a way to return to Ashkara.
Protect the heir.
Survive.