Zuhkar (zuːkʰar)

Zukhar is a small volcanic island near the center of the Sabaen Archipelago. It has been the center of a controversy within the Malikate of Saba, as it is claimed by two different Muhafazahs. The Malika of Saba has washed her hands of this dispute, leaving the issue in the hands of the Malikate's civil service, and tensions between the Qutra Muhafazah and the Aatma Muhafazah have been growing for years.

The central location of the island within the archipelago makes it a significant port. It is roughly halfway between the islands of Qutra and Saba, and less than two hundred miles from the island of Vipa. This proximity to Vipa is the basis for the Aatma Muhafazah's claim for the island. However, it is primarily inhabited by humans from the Suhqatri ethnicity who migrated there before the founding of the Malikate of Saba, and was part of the Kingdom of Suhq, not a possession of the Nagarajya. According to the Qutra Muhafazah, this means that it is one of the islands controlled from Mehrida on Qutra. When the Muhafazah system was set up, Zuhkar was initially allocated to Aatma Muhafazah over the objections of the local residents and the Qutra Muhafazah, and then reallocated to Qutra after the Abna Suhq Rebellion two centuries later. There is only one notable settlement on the island, which is the port town of Hanish.

Notable Spirits

The island of Zuhkar is the home and body of the Deva named Kaba. This deva has been bound beneath the ruins of their temple since the Abna Suhq Rebellion, for the role played by the priests of Kaba during the uprising. The Malika of Saba used the power of Kaba's true name to bind the deva into a cage made of stone and dreams, and has shown no intention of ever releasing the god to walk among the people again.

The imprisonment of Kaba was a great blow to the people of Zuhkar. Before the rebellion, the deva and their priests would regularly provide miracles of healing and abundance, making Zuhkar an easy place to thrive. When these gifts were removed, life upon Zuhkar became much harder, especially when plague ravaged the island a generation later. Many fled the island for better homes elsewhere, and the remaining residents have sent repeated pleas to the Malika for the release of their god, all of which have been ignored.

Geography

Zuhkar is the largest of a small group of islands located near the center of the Sabaen Archipelago. It is the only island in the group to have any residents, and the entire group is typically referred to as simply 'Zuhkar' by anyone not from the islands themselves. It is a volcanic island, with the mountain of Jabal al-Zukhar dominating the central portion of the island. Jabal al-Zukhar has not erupted in recorded history, and is believed to be extinct.

Type

Island

Location under

Sabaen Archipelago

Included Locations

• Hanish

Geographic Details

Location: Southeastern Region
Latitude: 8.46 degrees North
Longitude: 30.7 degrees East
Average Elevation: 331 ft
Highest Point: 4,603 ft (Jabal al-Zuhkar)
Lowest Point: 0 ft
Area: 50.19 sq mi