Tarak
Tarak is a settlement located on the southwest edge of the Gennesaret Basin in Nioa's Mashiq region. It is the political seat of the Lordship of the Gennesaret and the Gannet, a feudal state under the vassalage of the Kingdom of Jeharoa in the Pilgrim States. It's strategic location along the road into the Gennesaret, the ruler of Tarak is able to control the movement of Mashiqi herdsmen as well as protect or blockade trade from Jeharoa to Ebelin and Alameen.
Demographics
Races:
- Human: 56%
- Dragonborn: 16%
- Tiefling: 14%
- High Folk (Aasimar; Elves; Half-elves; etc): 9%
- Other: 5%
- Mashiqi: 55%
- Pilgrim: 36%
- Qartagonian: 14%
- Other: ~2%
Government
Tarak is the seat of the Lord Paramour of the Gennesaret and the Gannet. The current Lord Paramour of the Gennesaret is Lord Tybalt I. The Lords of the Gennesaret and the Gannet are vassals to the larger Kingdom of Jeharoa and its current ruler, Queen Theodosia I.
Defences
Tarak Castle is an example of one of the first castles built by the Pilgrims that used a fortified tower structure and is a notable example of Pilgrim architecture, a mixture of Auloan, Iskendran, and Qartagonian designs. Many early Pilgrim castles that predate Tarak are merely towers built along the Pilgrim States during the early years of the First Pilgrim War. Today, the growing Qartagonian threat have forced the Pilgrims to update their castle design and prioritize defensive elements. Tarak's Castle is a prime example of a spur castle, a castle built on top of a mountain to take advantage of the natural topography, as it is built on the southern end of a plateau surrounded on three sides by steep hills. This has the advantage during a siege of concentrating an attack on only one side of the castle, so the defenders can locate most of their manpower there. Spur castles also take advantage of "glacis," a sloping hill that exposed attackers to the defenders. The steep hills around Tarak are characteristic of a glacis.
Industry & Trade
Tarak's population largely works as merchants and as civilian officials in the service of the Lordship of the Gennesaret and Gannet. Taxes from nearby settlements such as Kir Minya and Hornhollow are gathered here for the lord and many merchants also use it as a hub to sell goods to farmers and other rural denizens moving through the region.
The suburb is also home to a distillery and tavern known as the Spring Pear. Though small, the Spring Pear is quite popular and sold as far away as Jeharoa, particularly among Qartagonians.
The suburb is also home to a distillery and tavern known as the Spring Pear. Though small, the Spring Pear is quite popular and sold as far away as Jeharoa, particularly among Qartagonians.
History
As with much of the Mashiq, the landscape around The-Rock-In-The-Pass is drenched in mythic history, particularly the War of the Dawn. It is said that following being born through the Old Magic of the world at the Battle of Mount Castorai, Ezrahil—goddess of righteous struggle and justice—came upon the place that would one day be called The-Rock-In-The-Pass. It was here where she called the Unspoken One Valdra to battle. While the rest of the Heavenly Council hid away constructing the being of war known as Oheilion, the Truth Deliverant fought the Dread Dragoness alone, save for her companion, the Unyielding Lioness Re Mashar. The battle was so destructive, it carved the land around The-Rock-In-The-Pass away revealing the place that Ezrahil stood as a mighty crag raised above the earth. Eventually, the gods of the Heavenly Council completed their task and drew the Dread Dragoness away from The-Rock-In-The-Pass for the final battle of the War.
Tarak has been inhabited since at least the Middle The Mithril Era, and was an important city for the ancient kingdom of the Tarakids. It was conquered during the waning years of the Mithril Era by Shanindar(ethnicity) Emperor Tigrathan before it was later seized by the Palladians during their expansion into the Mashiq. During the The Palladian Era, a convent devoted to the goddess Ezrahil was built. After the The Sundered Era, the Palladian Empire crumbled and the Qartagonians arrived to take The-Rock-In-The-Pass. It is said the Qartagonians were forced into a great battle with the devotees of Ezrahil, for while they lived as cenobitic nuns, they had been well trained in battle and fortified their position. The Ezrahilites held their ground for many months before eventually falling to the Qartagonians, who slaughtered all inside. After such a long siege, the Qartagonians recognized the crag's potential as a military installation and built the foundations of the modern fortress atop the hill where Castle Tarak now stands. In 309 SE, the encampment at the top of Tarak was taken by the Pilgrim Army. It was the last major battle before the climatic Siege of Jeharoa that concluded the First Pilgrim War. It remains an important defensive position for the Kingdom of Jeharoa and is considered by some to be the 'second set of walls' that protects the Holy City, with the first being the fortress of Ebelin.
Tarak has been inhabited since at least the Middle The Mithril Era, and was an important city for the ancient kingdom of the Tarakids. It was conquered during the waning years of the Mithril Era by Shanindar(ethnicity) Emperor Tigrathan before it was later seized by the Palladians during their expansion into the Mashiq. During the The Palladian Era, a convent devoted to the goddess Ezrahil was built. After the The Sundered Era, the Palladian Empire crumbled and the Qartagonians arrived to take The-Rock-In-The-Pass. It is said the Qartagonians were forced into a great battle with the devotees of Ezrahil, for while they lived as cenobitic nuns, they had been well trained in battle and fortified their position. The Ezrahilites held their ground for many months before eventually falling to the Qartagonians, who slaughtered all inside. After such a long siege, the Qartagonians recognized the crag's potential as a military installation and built the foundations of the modern fortress atop the hill where Castle Tarak now stands. In 309 SE, the encampment at the top of Tarak was taken by the Pilgrim Army. It was the last major battle before the climatic Siege of Jeharoa that concluded the First Pilgrim War. It remains an important defensive position for the Kingdom of Jeharoa and is considered by some to be the 'second set of walls' that protects the Holy City, with the first being the fortress of Ebelin.
Tourism
Many of those who follow Ezrahil come to Tarak as it is believed to be the site of the Truth Deliverant's long struggle against the Dread Dragoness Valdra during the War of the Dawn. Within the castle walls lies the Stave of the Unyielding Lioness, a temple and shrine dedicated to Ezrahil's battle. The temple is said to contain a broken tooth from Ezrahil's companion, the giant winged lion Re Mashar, as a holy relic. Many religious pilgrims travel to the Stave and pray before the tooth for glory in battle and righteousness in life.
Geography
Tarak lies within the Vale of Harraken, a wide valley connecting the Gennesaret Basin to the Migdalmark. This places it 140 kilometres (87 mi) to the north of Jeharoa on the ancient Gennesaret Road. It is situated on a crag made of desert sandstone about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level. It has steep fosses or cliffs on three sides and a sloping hill on the fourth. From this vantage point, the castle has a view of Lake Gannet in the north, just beyond the fringes of the Vale of Harraken.
A town of about 3,277 people has been built up around the castle, though the settlement itself has suffered from depopulation over the past fifty years of Pilgrim occupation.
Two quarters make up the castle suburbs.The first is located on the slope leading to the castle itself and is known as the Undergate or sometimes, Tigrathan's Wall. Most of the buildings here are used by those in direct service to the Lord are for official business. Due to the depopulation of non-Pilgrims, most of the area is comprised of visiting officials, travelers, and courtiers that need to be within a proximity of the castle.
The second is located closer to the bottom of the valley and the Gennesaret Road. This quarter, called the Undercrag, hugs the base of the sandstone rock upon which the castle is build and is well shaded. Because of the cooler temperatures and its proximity to thermal springs, this area is ideal for growing tropical fruit trees such as the area's famed apricots, pears and pomegranates. Much of the settlement's local population lives here.
A town of about 3,277 people has been built up around the castle, though the settlement itself has suffered from depopulation over the past fifty years of Pilgrim occupation.
Two quarters make up the castle suburbs.The first is located on the slope leading to the castle itself and is known as the Undergate or sometimes, Tigrathan's Wall. Most of the buildings here are used by those in direct service to the Lord are for official business. Due to the depopulation of non-Pilgrims, most of the area is comprised of visiting officials, travelers, and courtiers that need to be within a proximity of the castle.
The second is located closer to the bottom of the valley and the Gennesaret Road. This quarter, called the Undercrag, hugs the base of the sandstone rock upon which the castle is build and is well shaded. Because of the cooler temperatures and its proximity to thermal springs, this area is ideal for growing tropical fruit trees such as the area's famed apricots, pears and pomegranates. Much of the settlement's local population lives here.
Natural Resources
Tarak's hot and dry climate makes subsistence agriculture difficult. However, beyond the suburb's footprint lie wadis capable of producing much grain, particularly barley and desert wheat. Several thermal springs also supply the township with freshwater and irrigation for small gardens of apricots, pomegranates, and pears.
Sigil:
An orange winged lion crowned by a golden seraphim sundisk on a sky-blue field.
Alternative Name(s)
Rock-In-The-Pass
Type
Town
Population
3277
Inhabitant Demonym
Tarakid
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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