Ithdhinar

**Ithdhinar,** formally **al-Ithdhinar**, is the capital city of the Empire of Aldhor and the holy city of Shovism. Situated on an isthmus between the Pure Sea and the Sea of Tranquility, Ithdhinar has remained as the cultural, scientific, social, and political center of the empire since the city's founding in 42 FS. Despite 39 recorded sieges throughout its three-thousand-year history, the city has only twice been lost to a hostile foreign power (once during the Sixth Crusade and once again during the Second Ymhyran War), thus also earning itself the nickname **Valthan** (lit. "behold!").

Prior to the foundation of Ithdhinar, the political geography of Muer was characterized by near-constant warfare between the Thirteen Tribes, each with their largely distinct politics and culture. Aldhor, the northernmost tribe, was able to unify the peninsula under the leadership of the Seven Sages, an effort that formally concluded in 0 FS. Over the next two decades, the Seven Sages set the foundation for Ithdhinar, which included establishing the Seven Academies Five Courts, publishing the first Registry, and constructing the city’s core infrastructure, including the Luegoethan Walls, Imperial Library, High Sanctuary, and Old Spire of Ithdhinar.

Ithdhinar's unique and well-developed infrastructure allowed for its population to skyrocket. Its proximity to the Pure Sea gave its inhabitants relatively easy access to fresh drinking water, while the Fields of Emir consistently yielded massive quantities of various grains. Combined with Aldhor's rapid conquests and the allure of Ithdhinar’s intellectual, economic, and political dominance, its population jumped from 104,783 per Census I in 48 FS to 1,104,366 per Census II in 158 FS (116 years after founding). Since then, Ithdhinar’s population has grown steadily despite the occasional siege. The most recent census, Census XLIX, reported an official population of 19,426,449, making it not only the most populous city in Anshuel but also the longest continuously inhabited city in Thir’s recorded history.

Ithdhinar has a total of 49 districts across the Upper City, Lower City, Open City, and Pith. The High Sancutary, which houses the High Court of Wisdom and the Imperial Library, is not considered a district, and only later became known as “district 0.” The only districts in the Pith are the two harbors on the Sea of Tranquility; the remainder of the Pith is unplanned and have not been given district designations. Ithdhinar is the only Aldhorian city administered directly by the High Court of Wisdom, making it the only territory under the direct rule of the Sages-Apparent.

## Etymology

The primary name for the city, Ithdhinar, came from the Shahuel *ith*, meaning "silver" or "white," and *dhinar,* which has been mostly translated as "peak" or "summit." Aldhorians consider the color white to be the most beautiful and pure, while the Shahuel root *dh-n-r* can refer to both the physical and the abstract (a common Aldhorian name, *Dhonar,* means "strength"). Combined with the Shahuel definite article *al*, we get *ai-Ithdhinar*, "the white peak," otherwise translated as "the high city of silver" or "the beautiful everlasting." The name itself is a direct reference to the Old Spiral of Ithdhinar, which was destroyed in the Sixth Crusade (the New Spiral, erected in 262 FS, is still standing today).

## Layout

Unsurprisingly, the geographical position of Ithdhinar is highly strategic. Due to Mallamir, most trade routes between Anshuel and Thaorem travel accross the Pure Sea, along the coastline of the Sea of Tranquility, or through Muer, and thus, Ithdhinar.

[40 miles]

either bisect the Pure Sea, travel along the coast of the Sea of Tranquility, or pass directly through Muer, and thus, Ithdhinar.

## Geography

Ithdhinar is located on the isthmus that connects Muer to the continent of Tharoem, bordering the Pure Sea to its west and the Sea of Tranquility to its east. By nature of the Pure Sea being at a higher elevation than the Sea of Tranquility, the Cliffs of [Dover] run along the entire isthmus, naturally separating the two bodies of water. Further west past the Pure Sea sits Mallamir, separating Anshuel from Tharoem, making the isthmus of Ithdhinar the only feasible way to travel effectively between the two continents on foot.