Ulthar (the city)

Ulthar is an ancient town in the West, by the River Skai. It is named after Ulthar, one of the Elder Gods. Ulthar is ruled by the burgomaster. It is one of the safest places of the Dreamlands. A feudal-type city of tradesmen and farmers, Ulthar is the largest of the three towns of the Skai River Valley, and is the terminus for many caravans which come to the Valley from Dylath-Leen by the Southern Sea, or Cuppar-Nombo in the desert.
== Architecture ==
Ulthar is said to be one of the most pleasant places in Dreamlands. The town is built on several hills which stand on the banks of the river Skai. Surrounded by suburbs of "little green cottages and neatly fenced farms" the centre of the town is composed of pink buildings, topped with old, peaked, red tiled roofs, overhanging upper stories and numberless chimney-pots". In "The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe" the old part of the town is described as "half-timbered buildings with overhung second stories and peaked roofs, the occasional shrine or public building of heavy granite or blocks of labradorite".
Above the town on the area's highest hill is the modest, ivy-clad stone tower of the Temple of the Elder Gods, home to priests and their ancient records under the watchful eye of patriarch Atal.
== Cats ==
Ulthar is best known for its cats which are intelligent and can communicate with humans that speak their language. No man in Ulthar may kill a cat. This law was introduced after a strange event that once took place in Ulthar. There was an aged couple who nursed an inveterate hatred of cats and killed all they could. The Ultharians lamented this slaughter, but were so mild-mannered they didn't dare confront the assassins. 
One day a caravan of southern wanderers arrived to town. Among them was an orphan boy, Menes, whose only comfort was a black kitten. The kitten disappeared, and townsfolk told Menes about the aged couple. The boy invoked a prayer before leaving town that caused the local felines to swarm the cat-killers' house and devour them. Upon witnessing the result, the local politicians passed a law forbidding the killing of cats. It is told that Barzai the Wise was that who advised the Ultharians on this law.
== Places ==
* Temple of the Elder Gods
*University of Ulthar
*The Zoog's Folly tavern
== Famous residents ==
* Barzai the Wise
* High Priest Atal
*Hight Priest Bierce
*Old Kranon (the burgomaster at the times of Barzai)
*Vellitt Boe (a teacher in the local university)
*Grant Enderby (a quarrier)
*Shang (a blacksmith)
*Nith (a notary)
*Thul (a stonecutter)
*Zath (a coroner)
*The old cotter and his wife (two elderly residents who spent their time killing local cats)
Category:Places
Category:Cities
Category:The West