Ustran Pazeel
Though a city of the Buntesveldt whose atabeg sits on the Veldtrada, Ustran Pazeel is different from any other city of the region. For one, it used to be known as Graffa. Some 200 years ago, the herzog of Graffa married a noblewoman from Pelshtaria, whose father was from the Ammuyad Caliphate. Their son became an adherent of Mah-Barek and in his youth traveled to the capital of the caliphate at Hava. Eventually, he took an Ammuyad name (including the new family name of Kurgan) and made the town welcome to merchants from Pelshtaria and the caliphate, many of whom ended up settling in the region. Eventually, its leaders chose to rename it Ustran Pazeel (Pelshtarian for “source of blue waters”), and for themselves adopted the title of atabeg.
Over time, the city has grown substantially, both from internal growth and from immigration, though unfortunately without much forethought. In addition, a number of its leaders ended up being less-than-virtuous, taking bribes and seeking ways to make gold, whether legally or illegally. As a consequence, today Ustran Pazeel is a sprawling mass of alleys, markets, and slums, with gladiator pits (a tradition taken from cities in southern Libynos) and other vices. It is also the largest port city of the Buntesveldt, with a large portion of the sea trade (particularly from the caliphate) passing through its harbor.
Ustran Pazeel and Bliski have a long-standing rivalry as the two largest cities. More than political, this can be personal, as many on the Buntesveldt treat the citizens of Ustran Pazeel as foreigners, no matter how long they or their families may have lived here. In addition, Bliski continues to host the Veldtrada, its herzog is the speaker of the Veldtrada, and a captain of Bliski is always commander of Alkis Anvil — all privileges that the atabegs believe should be shared with their city. So far, however, bureaucratic corruption has robbed Ustran Pazeel of the financial and military power to challenge Bliski, even though the latter is smaller.
Settlement
Ustran Pazeel, City of
Type
Large city
Owning Organization
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