Elhaj

"Welcome to Elhaj, the trade hub of Nars'kah!
What can I get you? Exotic spices from Etala? The finest silk from Apelard? Perhaps some rare herbs from the Garden of Olvalen?"

— Merchant

Elhaj is the capital of Marim - one of the Kingdoms of Nars'kah. The city is famed for its expansive bazaars, enormous marketplaces where merchants from all over the world sell their goods to travellers and passers-by. The most common goods found in the city include spices, herbs and incense.

Government

Elhaj is the capital city of Marim, and so as well as being a trade hub it is also the centre of the Kingdom's sultanate. Sultan Jahmal resides within the palace, located in the heart of the city, and has brought about economic growth in the city by encouraging the international trade - providing incentives to foreign traders who set up outposts in the area and providing very favourable tax rates.

Infrastructure

Gatesh Harbour

At the centre of every coastal trading hub, is a magnificent harbour - Gatesh is no exception. It spans across the bay, providing a wealth of space for merchant ships to dock whilst they trade their goods. It was originally far smaller, only covering a portion of the bay, but as the amount of trade began to increase the harbour was required to expand in order to cope with the amount of merchants.

Bazaar District

Unsurprisingly, the busiest part of Elhaj is the Bazaar District. It is here that merchants come to sell their goods, in the chaotic marketplace filled with deafeningly loud crowds.

At first, the Bazaar District was an assault on the senses in every way imaginable - you wonder how such a chaotic place can be a trading hub as the cries of merchants fill the air, tens of native tongues clash and fight as they compete for your attention, and your coin.

But if you look beneath the chaos you can find so much, the streets are permanently scented with every kind of spice and herb in existence - giving everyone who walks by a bizarre mix of perfume and poison. If that were not enough, you can turn the corner to find thousands of varieties of incense - filling the market with smoke. Take some time to stop by one of the food stalls and you can try the cuisines of every culture in existence, the traditional meals of the desert kingdoms can be tasted within minutes of the contemporary cuisine of the elves.

Elhaj is commotion personified - but it is the most interesting city I've ever seen.

— Niccolo Chiatenne

Geography

Elhaj is located along the coast of Marim, providing easy access to merchant ships. The city itself it mostly flat, with no significantly highland areas other than a few hills around the city.

Type

Large city

Population

46,000

Characters in Location

• Jahmal Hanim