The Burning Sand

Far beyond the coasts of Vlorrisfarne, across the seas plagued with the danger of pirates and ship-wrecking storms, lies a continent with a stretch of desert known as ‘the golden sands’. Following these sands will bring you to an oasis. Once plagued with a history of darkness, this place now shines bright – the empire’s mecca of fortune. Common jewels, no more than mere trinkets, line the streets. Gold, rubies, sapphires and more spill from the mines like clock-work. Fortune and trade are the ways of these people and it is here you will hear these whimsical words when a local refers to their homeland, “Welcome to Hem Malduhr, where the gold flows like sand.”

Sometimes referred by the locals as Malduris, Hem Malduhr, with its characteristic limestone and marble structures stand proudly by the great oasis as a beacon of democracy and culture.

Malduhrian Culture

While previously occupied primarily by dwarves, Hem Malduhr has been repopulated primarily by citizenry from the Draconean Republic, who bring with them a distinctly Hellenistic Greek aesthetic, tinged with Egyptian, early Roman, and North African cultures representing the city-states that from the nation. (While in the plane of Toril these earth-world nations to not exist, parallels can be found in cultural remnants of the old empires such as Mulhorand and Chessenta)

As a client-state of the l'Vlorisstulshar Empire, Hem Malduhr had been run under an oligarchy, though with the tabula rasa nature of the recent repopulation, it has adopted a more citizen-oriented democracy, thanks to the Draconean influence. Citizens are invited.

The mostly human populace which came to repopulate Hem Malduhr proud themselves in its democracy in which all citizens are permitted to take on an active role in keeping the wheels of democracy going. While being a somewhat militarized society, military service is not compulsory. However, it is expected that all citizens will defend their city, should it ever be in danger of an invasion.

Maldurians are a very religious folk, venerating dragons as deities, erecting temples and monuments, but also organising festivals to their glory.

History

In recent History, the jewel of the desert has gone through hard times. Cultists took the city over in order to harness the power from a large emerald which would have allowed them to summon an Archdemon. This attempt prompted the intervention of the Imperial Black Legion, which wiped out the cultists and occupied the city.

Realizing that their numbers were too thin, the few remaining dwarven locals peacefully petitioned the l'Vlorisstulshar Empire to include Hem Malduhr into the Imperial domain, in exchange for trade and support. As a result, a prominent noble of the area, Erik Hallkeeper was made the effective governor of the arid province.

Demonic troubles were far from over, however. With the disappearance of Erik Hallkeeper, the Whispermere saw an opportunity and declared war on the l'Vlorisstulshar Empire. The demonic forces subsequently besieged and occupied Hem Malduhr, causing heavy casualties on both sides.

As the war turned in the Empire’s favor, a ceasefire treaty was signed between the two realms. One of the terms of the treaty was the peaceful restitution of Hem Maldurh as an Imperial territory. The city was left semi-abandoned for a while, leaving brigand barons and other cutthroats to do as they pleased. Until Empress Qeth and Queen Regent Thea hired the Fighters Guild and deployed them in order to restore order in the streets. The guild now resides in Hem Malduhr in a more permanent capacity.

Between assassination attempts against their own operatives as well as members of the Imperial court, and the ever-growing looming shaddow that the black lich Ra’altherus began to cast over the realms and the world as a whole, the Fighters Guild was stretched thin. Until Aerrithyerius, also known as Arion Lonchoforos, the High Peacekeeper of Isk’Waere, convinced the people of his homeland, a distant country called Draconeum, to sail to the Aramile Strait and not only assist with the coming struggle against Ra’altherus but also to put a more permanent government in place.

In exchange for exclusive trading rights and an alliance with the Empire, the Draconeans agreed that Hem Malduhr should remain a semi-autonomous state within the l'Vlorisstulshar Empire. In a show of good faith, and with approval of the Imperial court, Draconeum put Arion Lonchoforos in charge as the city’s Archon.

Hem Malduhr's Laws

1) Above all else, mundane gems, ores, or any other material of value may not be removed from the mines without a permit from the city council. Magical gems must be presented for inspection and assessment by an officer of the Mages’ Guild before being released. Violation of this law may be answered with a sentence of hard labour and/or a period of time spent in the stocks commensurate with the severity of the assault.

2) Murder is forbidden, and depending on circumstance, may be answered with an extended sentence of hard labour, or execution.

3) Assault is forbidden, and may be answered with a sentence of hard labour and/or a period of time spent in the stocks commensurate with the severity of the assault.

4) Theft is forbidden, and may be answered with a sentence of hard labour and/or a period of time spent in the stocks commensurate with the severity of the theft. Repeated offenses may bring escalating punishment, up to and including amputation of the thief’s hands.

5) The right to consensual duels to resolve disputes or slights to one’s honour is sacrosanct, but must be overseen by a member of the city council or an officer of the Fighters’ Guild. This overseer shall be responsible for ensuring the fairness of the duel, and that any agreed-upon terms are acted upon in a timely manner. As is standard practice within Draconeum, the challenged party may choose the weapons and conditions of the duel, being either First Blood or Until Death.

6) Upon receiving citizenship, any Citizens of Hem Malduhr above the age of 20 may run for election to the city council.

7) Any merchants wishing to open a shop or have a stall in the Agora must apply for a permit with the city council, and may be subject to a taxation of one tenth of their monthly profits.

8) Treason is one of the worst crimes to the eyes of Hem Malduhr. Should any citizen be found guilty of such a crime, they may be ostracized and banished.

9) Hem Malduhr, being an Imperial protectorate, will not tolerate harbouring of any enemy of the Empire and its allies, or anyone wanted by them. Anyone found guilty of hiding a fugitive will be surrendered to the justice of those looking for them.

10) Dragonslayers are not permitted within the limits of the region. Being hailed as deities, dragons, specifically those of Isk’Waere, shall not be hunted. Those who cause harm to any Isk’Waerian dragons within Hem Malduhr will be immediately arrested, banished or in some cases, publicly executed.