Naga

### Population

100,000 (Human 37%, Half-elf 15%, Elf 10%, Dwarf 10%, Halfling 10%, Gnome 10%, Other 8%)

### Local Pantheons

Enlightened, Nut, Tefnut, Thoth, Surya, Rudra, Ratri

### People Of Note

Al’ia bint-Hazir

Naga is something of a sister city to Laziz, devoting five months of the year to the pearl harvesting industry. Because the land surrounding Naga is particularly fertile, its inhabitants can turn to frankincense harvest when the pearling season has passed. Its people are generally wealthier than the residents of Laziz. Even the lower classes of Naga are proud to call Naga their home.

Sultan Yusef bin Ahmad al-Wadi is known for his wisdom in matters of the law. This venerable ruler encourages trade and industry in his city. He discourages power from concentrating in anyone else’s grasp for an extended period of time. As a result, talented individuals, adventurers, and merchants continually pass through his court, with few of them remaining for long.

The only permanent member of the sultan’s court is his chief vizier, a human sea mage named Al’ia bint-Hazir. She has served at the sultan’s side for several decades. According to a well-known rumor, the sultan once proposed marriage to her, but she responded that she would rather serve at his side than at his feet. The sultan has never married, nor has he officially recognized any of the sons and daughters from his harem (a matter many find disgraceful). Rumor also says that Al’ia has secretly borne the sultan several sons over the years, and that she has spirited them away for training in far lands. Now as old and wizened as the sultan himself, Al’ia continues to rule at his side. She often advises compassion over harsh justice.

Naga has looser control over its pearl trade than Laziz. Its captains are more independent and its merchant class larger. The quality of captains ranges from fair to average (instead of harsh to horrid, as in Laziz). Most of Naga’s captains practice the type of economic slavery that is common in Laziz, but Naga also has a few progressive captains who practice more humane methods of pearl diving. There are even several cases in which Naga’s captains have retained a sea mage to cast airy water around the divers, allowing them to remain beneath the surface for prolonged periods without ill effects.

Such regular use of magic is not cheap. As a result, the independent captains often break (or at least severely bend) the vow that keeps them out of the pearl beds seven months a year. Naga’s ships and divers are sometimes caught by the sea elves and locathah that migrate into the pearl beds from the south. Such divers work at their own risk.

At the end of the pearl season, Naga holds a three-day celebration known as the Festival of the Pearl. This is the time when accounts are settled between the pearl divers and captains, and a great feast is distributed among the people by the sultan and mosque officials. The celebration is marked by dancing in the street and the occasional breaking of the Law (such as public insobriety and lewdness), giving Naga a reputation as a wild city. Once pearl season is officially over, a number of ships and their crews become available for hire to adventurers and merchants. Still poor, most divers join such crews or migrate to harvest frankincense. A handful will have saved enough money to support themselves until the next pearl season. Very few will have saved enough to afford a small boat and become a captain themselves.

The end of the Festival of the Pearl marks the official beginning of an annual challenge or contest conducted by the sultan: the Great Task of the Pearl. The “task” is to bring some wonder or marvel from abroad to the city and present it to the sultan. Those interested have seven months to complete the task before the inauguration of the new pearl season. During this period, a number of adventurers and other wonder-workers pass through the court, bringing all manner of strange beasts, fantastic treasures, and mighty and unique magic. The chief judge verifies that the items are safe and secured before presentation. Whoever produces the most wonderful item is awarded with great treasures, magic, positions in courts, or favors from the sultan. For example, one noted pirate gained a full pardon upon delivering the head of a sahuagin queen. All other items become property of the sultan, regardless of their value. That’s the price one pays for participating in the Great Task of the Pearl.

## People

The people of Naga are generally well enough off (if not overly wealthy) and tend to have a fairly good outlook on things. They are shrewd with their money and make excellent entrepreneurs.