Anowhizh

At a Glance

The city sits on a flattened mound nearly a mile across. A sign near each gate proudly identifies Anowhizh as the "Oldest City on Vohnazni," which any native can identify as a Svimohzish name for Tellene. Ancient stone ruins throughout the city stand witness to the age of the habitation. The stone houses crowd the narrow streets, which are Further packed with ladders that lead up to rooftops, stone-rimmed wells that wear a constant halo of women with jars, and small carts pulled by cranky mules.
The people wear wraps, most of them with a single brilliant color. Hoods or scarves cover their heads, and all but the poorest wear straw sandals to protect their feet From the hot city streets. They are friendly to strangers who show them respect, but they will not tolerate abuse. The Ozhvinmishii culture encourages politeness to both guest and host.

Temples

The Church of the Life's Fire is the largest and oldest temple in the city. Its current building, rebuilt after an earthquake in 239 C.M. (428 I.R.), stands on the ruins of what might possibly be the oldest stone building on Tellene. The round building holds 1,200 worshipers on the highest of holy days, and their singing fills the city. Lone pilgrims and overnighted visitors sometimes report strange visions in the temple, certainly messages from the Raiser (although other clerics claim the visions are sendings from the dead clerics murdered 300 years ago by a high cleric who witnessed them stealing a portion of the tithes).
The current High Field Master is Hochul Emfid. Hochul stays very visible in the city, making sure he is invited to every noble parry and every social activity from ship launchings to the many marriages in the Mizani He is a plump individual with a permanent benign smile on his hairless face.
The Temple of the Founder's Creation proudly withstood the same earthquake that partially destroyed the Church of the Life's Fire. Its Master Builder now stands in front of the building as a statue; he requested that he be turned to stone and left standing in front of his building when he died. The current Master Builder, Borli the Bald, claims to have seen the fabled First Temple built by the Founder. Borli supposedly strode the Temple's main hall and passed through to the interior chambers, where he encountered a magical puzzle that he failed to solve; he blinked and found himself at the northern tip of Svimohzia. He does not discuss the First Temple's location, but he pays a premium for any derailed maps of the Vohven Jungle and many of his junior clerics quietly lead or send expeditions there in search of it.

Mages & Sages

Whemi Salpron is a sage of the ancient culture of the Svimohzish Isle. He is familiar with the language, religion, weapons, architecture, and royalty. While he is a capable wizard, he is better known as the owner of a small curio shop featuring antiques and rare herbs.
Mawhal the Foolish has recently returned from the local prison, where he spent twenty-five years for conjuring a demon in the middle of the city's streets. That he dismissed the demon before it killed anybody important (only three slaves and a peasant woman) is the only reason he was not beheaded instantly. A burglar broke into his abandoned home and stole his spellbooks, and the wizard is still trying to find a way to fit into a society that has long since left him behind. He humbly offers to train fledgling wizards if they can provide him with a scroll or partial spellbook to replace those he has lost. He mumbles to himself constantly and is slightly agoraphobic.
Sisi Mizani is one of the younger adult family members of the famous clan bearing her name and certainly a long way From becoming important in their opinions. Hence, she can afford to be flamboyant and playful. She has spent part of her inheritance in learning to be a wizard.

Underworld

The House of Knives has a large Following here, apparently all members of the same cult. They answer to High Backstabber Zohshanam, whose reputation even causes his own followers to tremble in fear. Instead of using poisons, Zohshanam uses a large kitchen knife, with which he can butcher a victim in a matter of moments.
The city's two largest bazaars are home to a few busy freelance thieves, one of who is a fabulously adept half-elven pickpocket that the city's officials have been trying to catch for three years. Dashahn works only one day in ten, but he routinely leaves the market with 1,000 gold pieces worth of jewelry and coins.

Government

The government of this ancient city is technically an appointed post, but the sovereigns of Ozhvinmish have approved of the head of the Mizani family for nearly 200 years. This vast family has deeply entrenched itself in the affairs of the city and controls most of the trade that enters and leaves the city's markets. The current head is Milhavin the Eagle-Eyed, although his age has deteriorated his once keen eyesight. Milhavin has led the family and the city for more than forty years and has spread his power base over so many nephews and nieces that no clear successor stands ripe for the reins of power.

Defences

Some 200 pikemen (breastplate, pike, shortsword) guard the city, and another 100 heavy infantry (halfplate, shield, longsword) augment them. Amar Shacel commands the troops. A native of Zenshahn, Amar impressed the Mizanis by bringing in a caravan of six wagons with their cargo intact after an attack by tasloi and carnivorous apes left his employer and two dozen other guards dead. Amax carries the ancient Protector of the First Empire, a magical bronze sword of strange shape that speaks with the voice of a king dead for at least 400 years. His reputation for honesty and fairness is legendary.

Industry & Trade

The city is largely self-sufficient. It produces its own materials and few others. It does not lie on any of the trade routes leading from the mineral-rich lmomena Hills to the capitals east and west of it, so those resources do not come through the city often. Most merchants also consider the port somewhat dangerous since sea devils, huge sharks, and seawolves have all been spotted by reliable sailors in the waters north and east of the city. Given the danger and insignificance of the reward, most merchants continue east to Kalamar or Zha-nehzmish or northwest to Brandobia.

Points of interest

An engineer named Ansven discovered a natural cave complex while digging out a foundation for a temple a few years ago and then mysteriously cancelled the project, earning an expulsion from his guild and serious financial penalties for breaking the contract. Ansven considers all the trouble worthwhile, however, because he believes that the cave complex might connect to the Grottos in the Ubikokeli Highlands. About once a year, he recruits adventurers to trek into the complex and explore as far north as the caves go.

Type

Large city

Population

22,200: About 2,000 of these are gnomes, dwarves, or halflings, in that order of prominence. The humans are pure Svimohzish.