Cities of the Ancients

The so-called **Cities of the Ancients** covered jungle-filled **East Zakhara**, an area left vacant by the ruin of former empires. Influence of Huzuz, Afyal and the League of the Pantheon on the local rulers was strong, but so was that of their savage history.

## Geography

For centuries past, this region of mighty river valleys, forests, and desert was home to the kingdoms of Nog and Kadar. All that remained from those ancient civilizations were crumbling ruins, tombs of forgotten rulers, and temples of lost gods. Their legacy was strong enough, however, that the whole region was also called the **Ruined Kingdoms**. In this vast, relatively unexplored, and very wild corner of mainland Zakhara, three major cities were found, all in the southeastern quarter - Rog'osto, Kadarasto, and Dihliz (the only one not built on the ruins of old capitals).

The large islands of Sahu - influenced by Kadar and the ancient followers of Thasmudyan - and Afyal - each featuring a lost civilization of its own - were considered both part of the Ruined Kingdoms and Crowded Sea regions.

East Zakhara is enclosed by the Haunted Lands in the North and West, the Sea of Foreigners in the North and East, the Crowded Sea, specifically the islands of Bariya and Harab, in the South, and the Cities of the Pantheon in the West, where Al-Sayaj Mountains form a natural barrier.

## Notable locations

### Settlements

* Dihliz
* Kadarasto
* Medina al-Afyal
* Rog'osto

### Islands

* Afyal
* Sahu

### Fallen empires

* Afyal
* Kadar
* Nog
* New Dynasty of the Necromancer Kings

### Rivers

* Al-Iltifat
* Kadan
* Nogaro
* Abdo

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jeff Grubb (August 1992). *Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara)*. (TSR, Inc), p. 104. ISBN 978-1560763291.
2. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). *Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara)*. (TSR, Inc), p. 124. ISBN 978-1560763291.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jeff Grubb (August 1992). *Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara)*. (TSR, Inc), pp. {{#regex:27, 105|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-1560763291.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Steve Kurtz (1994). *Al-Qadim: Ruined Kingdoms: Campaign Guide*. (TSR, Inc), pp. {{#regex:4–5|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 1-56076-815-0.
5. ↑ Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). *Arabian Adventures*. (TSR, Inc), pp. {{#regex:12–13|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-1560763581.
6. ↑ Steve Kurtz (April 1, 1995). *The Complete Book of Necromancers*. (TSR, Inc), pp. {{#regex:107–108|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 0-7869-0106-3.
7. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). *Land of Fate (Maps)*. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 978-1560763291.

### Sources

* Jeff Grubb (August 1992). *Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara)*. (TSR, Inc), pp. {{#regex:27, 104–113|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-1560763291.
* Steve Kurtz (1994). *Al-Qadim: Ruined Kingdoms: Campaign Guide*. (TSR, Inc), pp. {{#regex:16–29|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 1-56076-815-0.

### Further reading

* Steve Kurtz (1994). *Al-Qadim: Ruined Kingdoms: Adventure Book*. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 1-56076-815-0.
* Steve Kurtz (1994). *Al-Qadim: Cities of Bone*. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 1-56076-847-9.

### Connections

**Ruined Kingdoms**
The Cities of the Ancients
Dihliz • Kadarasto • Medina al-Afyal • Rog'osto
**Other Settlements**
Jinutt • Matrad • Misbahd • Sagat

Zakharan regions
**Cultural regions**
 Cities of the Heart • Free Cities • Pearl Cities • Cities of the Pantheon • **Cities of the Ancients**
High Desert • Haunted Lands • Crowded Sea • Land of the Yak-Men

**Geographical regions**
 Northwest • North • Northeast • West • Interior • **East** • Southwest • South • Southeast