Barada Points of Interest 16-21

16. The Markaz Alja-whara

This vast, open, cylindrical chamber is set on all sides with stunning tiles and glimmering jewels. Set into the very ceiling of this chamber, several hundred metres above the chamber’s floor is a gigantic diamond, which emanates a shaft of moonlight that illuminates the entire chamber, reflecting off the jewels and tiles to create a dazzling array of colour and light.

At intervals all the way down this richly adorned tower are platforms that protrude ever so slightly over the drop, each with their own passageways leading off into winding tunnelled streets. Citizens wander up and down between floors on curving, shallow ramps, travelling to-and-fro through this jewelled heart at the centre of the city.

At the very bottom of the chamber is a large fountain lying directly below the diamond in the ceiling. Heading off from the chamber are three large and imposing gates. The grandest of these, set with many gems and topped with a giant, brass sculpture of a dragon’s head denotes the home of the royal family, it’s gate closed. The next, covered in reliefs of figures at work is signposted as the Civic Quarter. The last, plain in design but headed with a symbol of a spike of wheat crossed with a curved sword is not signposted, although one might easily guess at the purpose of the chambers beyond.

Markaz Alja’whara means the Jewel at the Centre and is one of the many wonders of Barada. A very popular tourist attraction and the main thoroughfare between the city’s many districts. There are many vendors of refreshments such as Alagrian Delight and coffee that allow visitors to sit and take in the splendor. Coffee in Barada is typically served al-Oloq or al-Elreyna, which is to say bitter or sweetened.

As with most of the lighting within Barada, the light from the central diamond comes directly from the Shams Al’Oloq, which is located directly above this chamber. Due to the size of the diamond and the purity of the moonlight coming from it, it carries a little bit of Elreyna’s magic. A side effect of this is that any shapeshifters who should find themselves within the light of this chamber are forced to return to their true form.

17. The Palace Gates

Beyond the decorative gates at the Markaz Alja’whara lie a long, beautifully mosaiced tunnel. At its end, a military outpost akin to, if slightly smaller than, the Grand Gate above. Travellers who reach beyond this point would discover that they are now within the courtyard of a grand underground military fort, watched on all sides by the trained eyes of the Shovrhan’s elite, private regiment. Before them lies another grand gate which they would need to pass before finally setting eyes upon the spectacular, Alkazar Baradi.

18. Alkazar Baradi

The Alkazar Baradi lies within a vast cavern, its domed ceiling covered in dark black tiles, interspersed with a thousand white luminescent gems. With a thick layer of pristine sand underfoot, visitors could almost believe they were standing under the vast open night sky of the Bahalrama Desert.

An ornate pathway of deep blue and gold tile leads off through fountains and statuary towards the Shovrhanate Palace in the distance. At the chamber’s sides, gardens and follies abound. Standing, imposingly at the centre point of the path is a life-size and incredibly accurate golden statue of a dragon rampant, it’s face pointing up towards the sky. A faint flicker of light can be seen within its open maw.

The Alkazar itself, is a marvel, a seamless blend of palace and six-pointed asteramid set against the far wall of the cavern with brick expertly carved with intricate geometric designs.

The Alkazar Baradi is the home of the Great Shovrhan of Alagria and their family. The Shovrhanate are a line of half-dragons who are the royal family of Alagria, with traditionally passes to the oldest child of the sitting Shovrhan, but has also passed to siblings, cousins, nephews and nieces as circumstances require. The current Great Shovrhan is Remenyekidoh of the Clear Skies (M), who has been in post since 1475 and has presided over a long period of extended peace.

19. Civic Quarter

The grandness of the gateway quickly gives way to a large open thoroughfare, set on each side with a myriad of avenues and tunnels leading deeper within. At every street corner, dozens of plaques connected by small metal chains, hang down from the walls. Each plaque a direction in Alagrian and Common for a range of different Guildsmen and services.

Whether it be legal services, plumbing, tax collection, tunnel excavation… anything that involves the administration of Barada flows through this district. At intervals the small side tunnels give way to large administrative buildings each representing 9 of the city’s 10 guilds. Each one a unique design, grand and ministerial, protruding part way out of the rock walls.

The 10th Guild, the Guild Hisad have their guild headquarters out by the Steading under the Sands.

For more information on the city's guilds, view the Council of 10 Guilds  page.

20. Albaladia

At the far end of the Civic Quarter, past the cramped and winding side passages, grand Guild buildings, commemorative statues and decorative obelisks, stands the centre of Barada’s government, the council chambers of Albaladia. An imposing structure of dark basalt, obsidian and black marble that protrudes from the nearby sandstone. Across its face are reliefs depicting the symbols of the city’s 10 Guilds. Over the door, carved into an obsidian plaque and highlighted in gold is a phrase in Alagrian.

The Albaladia is the centre of the city’s government, where meetings are held for the Council of 3 Disciplines and the Council of 10 Guilds.

Albaladia is a name that comes from the Alagrian word for “municipal” and the words across the door are from an old poem passed down from the city’s founding: “without the stars, we come together a constellation, to chart our way through the night”

21. Entertainment District

A sprawl of earthly delights, the entertainment district stretches out through a series of interconnected tunnels and caves, each sporting jesters, food stalls, taverns and stages. Some ply their trades openly, assailing passers-by with dances and songs and tricks and performances all in a whirlwind of colour. Others still offer the delights of some higher quality of performance in some private viewing gallery away from the common thoroughfare.

A must for visitors to the city, the Entertainment District, which can be found halfway down the Markaz Alja’whara, is a year-round festival of delights. However, travellers should be wary, as the Entertainment District has a seedier underbelly. The district is also the home of a network of criminal organisations, Barada’s so-called “Eleventh Guild”, the The Guild Lusus.

The Nightingale’s Cry:

Deep, at the beating heart of the Entertainment District sits the Nightingale’s Cry. Above the door, a circular sign spins upon an axis as if caught in some non-existent breeze. On one side the image of a bird, on the other an empty cage.

The Nightingale’s Cry is a front for the Guild Lusus, and while most of its clientele come to be entertained by the tavern's delightful performers - the most famous of which is (Mesmerizing) Ignoma Ethule (Fire Genasi, F) - many come to entreat with the Guild, trading favours and gold for their illicit services.