Ash Palace of Sareyand

**The Ash Palace of Sareyand** was the residence of Eledas I Sarelzuir, the governor of Sareyand. Following his expulsion of the gnollish pack of Zagmarrk who inhabited the city of Raxaklu, Eledas built the residence on the ruins of a gnoll palace of Proxacha Eklu from the Age of Monsters, deciding that it provided the perfect foundation for his own palace. Built on a hilltop overlooking the city, it served as an important administrative center to the Sarelzuir governors of Sareyand.

## The Burning of the Ash Palace

During Jaher’s eastern campaigns in Haless, his 3 year old daughter Jexis remained behind, spending her early years growing up in Bulwar. Jaher was unable to oversee the administrative needs of Bulwar at the time, and the governors appointed to rule in Jaher’s stead sought greater political power for themselves. Eledas I Sarelzuir was the appointed protector of Jexis while Jaher was on campaign, and amidst this power struggle he sought to use her as a political pawn to consolidate power for himself. Other governors grew worried and anxious, with some planning to even kill Jexis altogether.

### The Aftermath of the Burning

At the age of 5, the palace was set on fire killing many. Jexis survived, however was left with scars all over her face, which would lead to her only being seen in public wearing a golden mask. Following this, Elizar, Jexis' older half-brother, took on the responsibility of her protection, and sought revenge against those responsible. The governor of Setadazar, Thelrion Nestezuir, was suspected by many to be the one responsible for the burning. At the age of 18, following the death of Jaerel and the collapse of the eastern Phoenix Empire, Jexis seized power and control of the remains of the empire, with Elizar as her right hand, who was sent to subdue and destroy her opponents who did not submit to her rule. Notably, as an act of revenge for his alleged part in the burning of the palace, in 1137 Jexis sent Elizar to lead an army to sack and loot the city of Setadazar. During this event, which would be known as the Slaughter of Setadazar, Elizar ordered the killing of Thelrion’s infant son before his eyes, after which he was shackled and paraded through the streets of several Bulwari cities. The following year, Jexis instituted the first ban on human magic, following the discovery of documents that linked the former governor with a group of Bulwari magi who appeared to be the true reason behind the burning.

## The Ash Palace after Jexis

The Ash Palace remained in ruins beside a smaller area rebuilt by Eledas II Sarelzuir to serve as his royal residence following the First Cinder War. The Cinder Wars had brought great economic devastation to Bulwar, including to the Sarelzuir demesnes, which made reconstruction a complicated, difficult, and expensive prospect. Plans had been drawn up, and minor construction projects had taken place following the end of the Cinder Wars, however the Jadd conquest of Sareyand halted all construction entirely, with future restoration plans being scrapped. The ruins were visited by Jaddar, who erected a small shrine dedicated to the memory of his mother. The ruins were left intact until the construction of the imperial capital of Jaddanzar in 1645 when the ruins served as the foundations of the Suraelic Barracks and the Jaddanzar Officer Academy.