Fayah

Isolated, walled city at the the edge the Hamshafrah Forest as it extends into the foothills of the southern Taachlaz Mountains. The walled city nestled against the sheer walls of Thalrock Peak, and is situated at the exit of the Hrazdan River where it tumbles down as a waterfall. The river bisects the urban western section from the fields and vineyards along, called the Greenway, on eastern bank and hills. The city is sectioned off into wards by the aqueducts leading roughly east to west carying water from the Hrazdan beforing spilling out the western city wall.

Demographics

40% Nadab 50% Deep Dwarfs 5% Kannish (predominantly elves, though smattering of other heritages/species) Smattering of Cold Ones, Dragonborn from Sharn, Dwarfs from Nar and Zinar, Melneans from the far west and Sea Tribes from I Nangwa

Defences

Low stone walls (8 feet) with wooden palisade 15 feet outside the walls

Industry & Trade

The Quarries and Mines of Fayah are situated to the north in the Taachlaz mountains, and provide most of the industry in Fayah. Chief exports are stone for building, semiprecious stones and metals.
Clay from the Hrazdan river bed is used for a stylized pottery unique to the region which dates back prior to Mabahan expansion into the south, and are prized by other cities in southern Mabaha, and are gaining a niche market in the capital, Buqbah and the port city of Coahuatepat.
This reach of the Hamshafra Whisperblade Forrest stretches into the foothills around the Hrazdan, providing lumber, wild hackberries, nectarines, appricots and cherries. Wild boar and venison from the woods is prevalent in the diet of Fayah, as are smelt and bream caught in the Hrazdan. Alpaca are used as pack animals in and around Fayah.
A small number of cattle are grazed in the Sheikh's fields within the walls, and in and around the pampas grass outside the northwestern walls.
Smaller 1-4 person boats can navigate the upper Hrazdan, it cannot be used to carry large or heavy loads of ore, gems. In the past quarried stone was floated in specialized rafts that were pulled down the river, with alpaca and oxen used to steady them over some of the rougher cataracts. For smaller goods, alpaca are used to pack goods down the road to the cross roads, where goods can be floated down to the port city of Tarabrah

Districts

The Palace Grounds

Built on the highest hill in Fayah, the palace grounds complex, called "the Palace" by locals, are bounded by gleaming white walls surrounded by a 20 foot wide arcade. Other than the three dwarfen spires, the palace grounds are the most dominant landmark in the city, overlooking even the aqueducts. The last two generations of Nadabi sheikhs have built upwards in what may be an unconscious attempt to exceed the height of the natural spires to the north.

The Sheikh's Apartments

Grand Temple of Nuk

Open to the masses on all holidays, including weekly prayers Stand between the wall and the Sheikh's Apartments

Gardens

Royal gardens surround the Sheikh's apartments. Filled with water features fuled by the nearby Emir's Aqueduct

Royal Stables and Barracks

Tranquil Heights

Situated between the Emirs Aqueduct to the north, the Trade Aqueduct to the south and the Palace Grounds to the west, the Tranquil Heights are where the wealthy and politicaly influential of Fayah live. Shops in this distict tend to be luxury goods such as fine silks and jewlers. Consulates from Kannish city states and the Imamah of Jamah can be found nestled among the villas in the Tranquil Heights

Smiths' Lanterns

Tanners, potters, arifiers and smithys line the western short of the Hrazdan River from the People's Crossing to the southern wall.

Artificers Market

Home to several tinkerers, artificers and the occasional con-artifst, this small bustling district along the Royal Road is the perfect place to find a small clockwork device to impress your friends.

Bread Basket

Daily food market where produce from the Greenway is sold.

Scholars' Roads

Dominated by the College of Fayah and the Iron Archive in the western part of the district, many travel to the eastern part of the district for cheap rent, gambling dens and gin halls. Most of the alchemy and magic shops of Fayah can be found in the Scholars' Roads as well.

The College of Fayah

Focuses on natural science, alchemy, religion

The Iron Archive

The principal library of Fayah,

Scriveners Row

Multiple book binders, paper and ink shops catering to scholars and students of the college

Shrine to Itai, the Sage lost amongst the scrolls

Small outdoor shrine hidden amongst the alleys of the northern reaches of the Scholars' Roads

Gloomweave

The Spires

The three Deep Dwarfen spires dominate north western Fayah. Carved from the living stone, the outer facing architecture displays massive liknesses of dwarfs in the act of creation, with subtle incorporation of natural stone formations that highlight the natural features of the cliff faces. They did not escape the Mabahan Expansion without damage, however, and many of the carvings are marred. Some effort has been made to repair small sections, but not on the grand scale that created the once unified project. Today, balconies, windows, smoke vents and occasional moon gardens dot the faces of the spires, hinting at their former grandeur.

West Spire

The smallest of the three spires, the western spire is home to upper echelons of modern Deep Dwarfish society in Fayah. In addition, the Clearing House, a traditional Zirazi inn is found here.

Central Spire

The largest of the three spires, Central Spire houses the major clan halls, the old new forge (Hin-Nor Forge), Thrain's Apartments (home of T'aguhi Suzmeian), aparments of the major clan heads, the gem-market, steel market, and Conclave of Hachvel and the Conclave of Tachvel

East Spire

The east spire houses ancient, largely inert mechanisms powered by the initial underwater flowing of the Hrazdan River from its source further in the foot hills. It still is the source of the under-mountain aqueduct that feeds water to Central Spire. East spire also houses both the large underground farms, which grow various lichen, fungi, roots, tubers and pale ferns, and have hidden terraces facing northwest that provide lettuces, cacti and fruit trees.

Guilds and Factions

Mabahan Nadab make up the majority of the population, and make up most of the governing body

A small contingent of Zirazian Deep Dwarfs remain in the settlement. At <1000 feet above sea level, this small foothill outpost in the south of the Taachlaz Mountains was never large. Why these holdouts remain is a mystery to many of the town, and there is distrust between the Mabahan and Zirazian factions. The mabahans fear that the Deep Dwarfs may have ongoing contact with the government from the Diarchy of Ziraz. The Deep Dwarfs have long memories and remember stories of what lies beneath the Taachlazi Mountins, and think the Nadab foolish for not guarding it carefully. The distrust between these factions is deep enough (the Mabahan Expansion into this region is within memory for many of the Dwarfs) that neither fully communicate their fears to the other.

Stone Cutters Guild; includes both Deep Dwarfs and Nadab; the local institution that is the most integrated between the two ethnicities.

Woodsmans Guild; primarily Nadab, other mixed nationalities

A band of Kannish elves and their retainers have settled in the town. They are headed by a second son of a wealthy merchant who hopes to forge a trade route between Fayah and the Kan Federation. Secretly he hopes to amass enough wealth and power to take over the town and join the Federation

Bedine, followers of the Way of the Path, are attempting to chart paths through the Taachlazi Grass Sea and solidify western trade routes. They have been unsuccessful as of yet.

A small Kannish thieves guild has come with Kannish elves and are importing hallucinogens and hoping to export ancient dwarfish artifacts if possible.

Points of interest

Pillars of Achluz

The pillars of Achluz are the last remnants of a once grand statue of Diarch Achluz, founder of the deep dwarf settlement now known as Fayah. It had been carved from a prominent spire of rock overlooking the Hrazdan river, forming an arch leading to the deep dwarfen gates. During the fighting the statue was felled during the seige and magical bombardment, and all that remains are the feet up to the knees. There are rumors that some of the finer details of the statue have been maintained in the possession of the Sheikh's palace now ruled by Yonah Har-Zahav.

Aqueducts

Fayah is marked by large aqueducts that bring water from the Hrazdan River east, to irrigate growing fields maintained within the city walls, and west to bring drinking water to the businesses and homes of Fayah's residents - rich and poor. The spires of the deep dwarfs are the major exception - though they never seem to want for water. Most assume that either natural aquifers are maintained by the dwarfs, or that tunnels siphon some of the Hrazdan's water closer to its underground source.
Architecturally, on close inspection the aqueducts bear the hallmarks of Deep Dwarfen construction with simple lines and prominently displayed naturally occurring coloration in the stonework. However, much additional work has been done to decorate the edifaces in a more ornate, Nadabi style.

Emir's Aqueduct

Running from north to south and then turning sharply west, the Emir's Aqueduct provides water to the southern commercial districts and to the royal quarters and noble regions of Fayah. The western portion is particularly ornately plastered, with large images of the Emir and his family and religious iconography.

People's Aqueduct

A northern addition to the Emir's Aqueduct, the People's Aqueduct separates the wealthier Nadabi distrcis from the working and lower class living areas. It is simply decorated with royal and religious imagery, but also with images of Nadabi life, including traveling scenes of the Bedine and scholarly pursuits in the arts and sciences. It is considered a status symbol to live close to the aqueduct, and thus larger estates cling to it sides.

Geenway Aqueducts (north and south)

These utilitarian aqueducts are most similar to the original Deep Dwarfish forms - though the northern greenway aqueduct does have intricate frescos on its northern side as it runs along with Sheik's fields.

Clocktower of Fayah

Towering 30 feet above the surrounding, low lying buildings of the trade district, the Clocktower of Fayah is the prinicipal landmark of the Trade and Workshop districts. The inner workings were imported from the work-shops of Buqbah and are maintained by a specialized team that live in the Artificers Market

Type

City

Inhabitant Demonym

Fayashi

Included Locations

Owner/Ruler

Yonah Har-Zahav

Additional Rulers/Owners

Ruling/Owning Rank

Sheikh

Characters in Location