Sanctuary

City of Thieves

Regions > Alaran Peninsula > Almuria > Sanctuary

Is There Honor Among Thieves?

Sanctuary, on the north coast of the Alaran Peninsula in the province known as Almuria, was originally built by runaway slaves of the tiefling empire of Bael Turath. It was later occupied by the armies of Bael Turath, and was a prosperous trading port until it was conquered 60 years ago by the Dominium’s Protectorate crusaders.
The town is divided into three major parts: Jewelers’ Quarter, Processional, and Westside. Upper class people live in Jewelers’ Quarter with its rich shops and luxurious homes. They commonly hire private guards for their part of the city. These are the nobility who don’t have a place at the palace, guildmasters, successful business people, and exiled foreigners.
The middle section, Processional, is regularly patrolled by the town guard. Many shop owners and workers are military veterans, retired adventurers, or mercenaries. Most residents are employees of the people who own shops here, or in the richer parts of town.
Westside is the poor side of town, and a tough neighborhood avoided by people from the rest of the town. Part of this neighborhood is called The Maze, and is avoided by even the residents of Westside. The Maze is the hangout of thieves, murderers, felons, and the very unlucky.
Other areas of note are the Bazaar, where merchants gather and cultures mingle; the Street of Red Lanterns, an area of hedonism; and the Avenue of Temples, where the gods are worshipped. Downwind is across the river and is so utterly despicable that no one would live there who could avoid it. Even thieves avoid it.
Sanctuary’s people are primarily humans and tieflings. They are a varied and disorganized lot, likely to seek their own self-interests before the interests of the town. There are obvious powers in the town. The governor, Kyros Elliniko, a nephew of the emperor of the Dominium; Antarah Ibn Shaddād, the head of the Temple of the Elemental Princes — catering to the tiefling population; Alī al-Zaybaq, the uncrowned king of Sanctuary’s underworld; Melika, the Queen of the Street of Red Lanterns; and Menelaus Meletios, high priest of Erathis.
Groups also center around the cultural affiliations of lesser leaders, and each of these groups tends to have a home area or neighborhood. The main cultural groups include the Al Alarain, the tiefling desert nomads of Alara; the Vistani, gypsy-like human wanderers; the citizens of the Dominium, who are like foreigners here; and Bounders, sailors of the many lands to the east.
Government: Military Occupation (Governor)
Population: 4,200 (large town)
Exports: Slaves, wheat, barley, olives (olive oil), livestock (camels, goats), silphium (culinary & medicinal herb)
Languages: Domini (Common), Turathi (dialect of Primordial/Tieflings), Siquijoan (dialect of Elvish/Bounders), Vistani (dialect of Draconic/Vistani)

Locations

Estates
Avenue of Temples
Governor’s Palace
Red Lanterns
The Bazaar
The Maze
Caravan Square
Downwind
Swamp of Night Secrets

Type

Large town

Population

4,200

Location under

Almuria