Muluk: City of Kings Population: 90,000 Major Products: Trade, indigo dye, purple fabrics and clothing.
The Free City of Muluk takes it name from the long, unbroken line of rulers whose history predates the Enlightened Throne in Huzuz It is known for its exquisite regal purple dyes produced from local indigo plants. Muluk lies along the shore of the Great Sea at the mouth of the River Al-Zalim. Like most of the Free Cities, Muluk is a fiercely independent martial state, engaged in unrelenting, low-grade conflict with the savage hill tribes of the nearby Furrowed Mountains, the ravaging pirates from the Corsair Isles, and the hostile armies of Umara and Qadib, both neighboring Free Cities.
The Ruler:
At the helm of this city is Caliph Aswiyah al-Muftahir, eldest daughter of the great Caliph Ibrahim al-Muftahir, from whom she inherited her position. Her family has ruled Muluk since the city’s founding by the legendary king, Amakim ibn Issad over nine centuries ago. Aswiyah, who prefers the title “Caliph” to the more traditional female “Calipha,” possesses all the craft and canniness of her predecessors, both male and female. She is a consummate politician. During her reign she has successfully allied alongside and against each of the other Free Cities in turn, always for the good of Muluk.
The Court:
The Caliph is grooming her daughter, Princess Hadra bint Aswiyah to ascend to throne in the event of her death. A sha’ir, the princess holds the rank of Sorcerer-General within Muluk’s army, and has led attacks against both of Muluk’s nearest neighbors, Qadib and Umarra. Hadra’s generalship is, in part, responsible for a recent palace revolution in Umara.
Distinguishing Features:
Indigo grows in abundance along the shores of the Al-Zalim. The purple dye produced by Muluk’s craftsmen is unmatched throughout Zakhara as well as the barbarian nations to the North. By fiat of the Grand Caliph of Huzuz, all citizens of Muluk may wear this shade freely; as such, purple is the official color of the City of Kings. The people of Muluk are proud of their city’s history and noble tradition. They tend to look down their noses at the citizens of other cities, and always expect the finest wine, the best seats, and the most comfortable conveyances. To say that they are effete snobs would be an insult to their long tradition of civilization and noble rule, but it would not be far off the mark. Truly, it may be said that Muluk has better leaders than it deserves.
Armed Forces:
2,000 regular footmen, 5,000 militia, 1,000 cavalry (all under the command of Princess Hadra, the Sorcerer-General). Also, 1,500 mamluks of the Respected (including 500 cavalry) under the command of General Oman abid-Hazim. Finally, a 20-ship navy (including four large dhows purchased from Umara), used primarily to escort the “fabric fleet” of indigo cloth to Qudra for the trip south.
Major Mosques:
Jisan, Kor, Zann, and Selan, Hakiyah, Haku. In addition, a monument to Aswar al-Mutiq attracts the attention of kahins and mystics as a holy site.
Rumors and Lore:
The ruling dynasty of Muluk traces its ancestry back to the ancient kingdom of Al-Anwahr, a powerful city state in the heart of what is presently known as the Haunted Lands. Nine centuries ago, the region contained a fertile kingdom ruled by Azaltin Ibn Issad. According to legend, Azaltin was visited by the Loregiver and tricked her into revealing the secret of immortality. Against her advice, Azaltin became immortal, but the process turned him into a hideous undead creature.
Azaltin had a brother, Amakim, a virtuous warrior who was much beloved by the people. After witnessing Azaltin’s transformation, Amakim led a revolution to topple his monstrous brother from the throne. His forces triumphed over the undead king, but the brief civil war laid waste to much of Al-Anwahr. After his victory, Amakim led his subjects to a new kingdom by the ocean and named his new capitol In’aash, meaning “place of life-giving refreshment” in Old Anwahran In’aash was a well-developed trading city long before the discovery of the Law of Loregiver and the creation of the Enlightened Throne.
When city after city fell before the wave of faith and understanding, many of the older emirs and sultans were toppled by their people. Caliph Aswal al-Mutiq heard the tales and was troubled, and when the first mystics and warriors brought enlightenment to his city he requested a private audience. For five days and five nights the messengers met with the Caliph in his private quarters, telling him of the Law of the Loregiver. The Caliph then deliberated by himself for five more days and nights. At the end of this time, he welcomed the Law into his city, recognized the Grand Caliph for his puissant wisdom, and stepped down from his throne to join his messengers in spreading the Law still farther. His eldest child succeeded him, as was customary, and renamed the city Muluk to reflect the beginning of enlightened rule in the kingdom.
Since then Muluk has remained the oldest continual dynasty in the Free Cities. Today, Caliph Aswal and Amakim Ibn Issad are revered as the city’s most honored rulers. Legends of Amakim’s brother are equally popular in Muluk. In modern folklore, Azaltin is universally portrayed as an archetypal, evil villain.
The Kingdom of Lions
This ancient text, warded by enchantments to prevent its disintegration over time, was written by Azaltin Ibn Issad nearly a thousand years ago in the ancient language of Old Anwahran. The symbol of Anwahran kingship is prominently displayed on the book’s cover: a regal lion of gold on a malachite green field. Successful completion of the adventure “Eleven Baneful Gates” will result in this book’s discovery. This priceless archeological treasure chronicles the history of Al-Anwahr, up to and including Amakim’s revolution. The kingdom’s rulers, prominent citizens, intrigues, trade, and wars are described with detailed, objective accuracy. Perhaps the most interesting part of the book, from the standpoint of adventurers, is the final chapter, which describes Azaltin’s transformation into an immortal and his brother’s revolution. Azaltin portrays Amakim as a weak-willed, foolish man, easily swayed by an important vizier named Zeenab. When Azaltin left the kingdom in his brother’s hands for a decade, Zeenab wormed his way into Amakim’s heart. After Azaltin returned to claim his kingdom after becoming immortal, his privations in the desert had reduced his body to a shrunken husk. Amakim was so horrified by his brother’s appearance that Zeenab easily convinced him that Azaltin had become an undead monster. Zeenab then manipulated Amakim, unwittingly, into launching the revolution against Al-Anwahr’s rightful king.
The Kindgom of Lions ends on a sad note: “Too late have I come to realize Zeenab’s venomous hold on my misguided brother. Even as I write this, his army plunders the palace, and I must hide this history where Zeenab will never find it, so that future generations will know the truth behind my brother’s treachery and my kingdom’s proud history.” The implications of the tome’s discovery are explored in the adventure “Dead Bearing Witness.”
