Sarnath

Sarnath was a city in the Land of Mnar, the capital of the Mnar kingdom. It was destroyed and abandoned millenia ago.
== History ==
Founded by tribesmen more hardy than the rest, Sarnath was built on the shores of a great lake near a site where precious metals had been discovered. Not far from Sarnath stood the city of Ib, which was inhabited by the original residents of Mnar, a strange race of humanoid amphibians who were said to have descended from the Moon in a mist. The men of Sarnath found them to be offensive and so destroyed their city and cast their bodies into a lake. That night of conquest had been celebrated ever since.
Sarnath came to dominate Mnar, establishing a large kingdom. It had many victories, both political and military, and became a great power. Each year a great festival was held upon the anniversary of Ib's destruction. All the nobles of Mnar and beyond traveled to Sarnath to celebrate. Upon the one thousandth anniversary, a strange mist arose from the lake and the dead beings of Ib arose from their watery graves to slaughter and destroy. Sarnath stood for 1000 years and fell in a single night.
When the men of Ilarnek came to investigate, all they found was a vast marsh where once Sarnath had been. Nothing now remains of the greatness that was Sarnath, except for tales. Even the deposits of precious metals have vanished, although foolhardy treasure-seekers still search for easy riches. Few return, and those that do tell stories of strange lights upon the lake, and ghostly man-like apparitions stalking the water's edge.
== Architecture ==
Sarnath was surrounded by chiseled marble walls 137 meters high and wide enough that two chariots could pass each other on the top. The wall surrounded the city and was open to the lake where a giant sea wall stopped freak waves that occur once a year. The city streets were paved in onyx or granite.
Houses in Sarnath featured shining domes, walled gardens, and "lakelets". They were constructed of glazed bricks and quartz and featured types of construction not found anywhere else in the Dreamlands. Large palaces and mansions were also common, built very tall with massive paintings of armies and kings. The largest of these was the palace of the kings of Mnar. The king's throne was carved from a sold piece of ivory, and two golden lions sat astride the throne. The palace also contained many amphitheaters where men and lions fought.
== Religion ==
People of Sarnath worshipped mainly to Zo-Kalar, Tamash and Lobon, though many other gods also were worshipped there. Seventeen major gods worshipped in the huge towered temples while smaller gods were worshipped in small shrines. 
Many of the religious rites enacted by the high priests reflect the hatred of the Great Old One Bokrug. Bokrug was once worshipped in nearby Ib which the armies of Sarnath destroyed. At the time a carved green stone image of Bokrug was taken into Sarnath as a trophy and left on a crystallite altar.
Category:Places
Category:Cities