Ansar

A citizen of Ansar observes a pair of ziggurats, symbols of Ashuri pride

Ansar is the capital city of the Ashuri State. It lies within the arid province of Scavenger Land; however it is able to mitigate the harshness of their home province due to their location on the coastline. It is also Ashur's main trading city, making it vital for the national economy, and is a hot spot for mercenaries looking for work - in large part due to the city's military heritage. However, its population is limited by the less-than-desirable home province.

As well as its role in the trade and mercenary markets, Ansar is also a notable city for architecture and literature. The city is home to many Ashuri ziggurats, a type of pyramid almost entirely unique to Ashur. As well as this Ansar is also home to the Royal Library of Bilgames, a building that holds one of the largest collections of literature in the known world.

## **Characteristics**

### **Geography**

Like many Carrion Kingdom cities, Ansar is located on the southern coastline. The city itself is built in and around an isolated bay, as well as a small island just outside it. This means that there are plenty of sea lanes that come in and out of the city. The same is true for roads, giving travellers a plethora of choice in terms of routes to take.

From the city, people can travel to a variety of different places. To the north, up the dried riverbed, one will eventually reach the famed Tower of Bilgames, the tomb and final resting place of Ashur's founder. To the east one will eventually reach the mountainous Great Escarpment and, eventually, the sandy desert areas of the Dead Sands. To the west, one will eventually reach various other kingdoms, such as Babilim.

### **Demographics**

Like many Carrion King cities, Ashur is a very diverse place. One can expect to find a variety of different races and people here. There are notable populations of Carrionites, Gnolls and Humans, as one might expect, but there is also a notable minority of High Elves that call the city home. These High Elves are likely scholars or admirers of Bilgames (a High Elf by birth). In addition, the prosperous mercenary trade in Ansar also means there are notable populations of races traditionally more inclined for such work, such as Orcs and Minotaurs.

### **Economy**

Ansar has very few innate natural resources to exploit, like minerals and ores, however it is still able to maintain a good economy as a trading city. Ansar has access to some of the most popular sea lanes in the world and is a natural stopping point for those on a long-distance journey - often traders and merchants. This allows Ansar to charge import and income taxes that ensure their economy stays afloat. Their true bread-and-butter, though, is their exploitation of the mercenary industry. Ansar is a popular city for mercenaries seeking employment (and employers seeking mercenaries). Knowing this, the city takes a small cut for each mercenary hired within its walls. These small amounts add up quite quickly and makes up a decent chunk of the local economy.

### **Culture**

Ansar is well renowned for its contributions to architecture, art and literature. The city itself is full of terraced pyramid structures called ziggurats, a notable differentiation from the simpler pyramids of the other kingdoms. These pyramids are often covered in intricate patterns and bright colours that truly make them stand out as symbols of beauty. As well as that the city is full of fancy carvings and obelisks made from marble, stone and ivory.

But perhaps the single most important cultural building in Ansar is the Royal Library of Bilgames. This great library holds one the largest collections of books and texts in the known world. But the building itself is also a major architectural feat, especially for the time it was built.

## **Layout**

### **Notable Locations**

* **Royal Library of Bilgames -** also known simply as the Great Library, this building is home to Bilgames' extensive collection of writings, books, and texts. The library is open to all peoples and scribes work replicating the texts so they can be sent to places aboard.
* **Walls of Bilgames -** built during the later years of Bilgames' reign, the city walls of Assur are known for their formidable size. They are protected by 157 towers and the main gates are flanked by giant Lamassu statues. The walls themselves are also said to be adorned with sculptures and wall reliefs.

## **Trivia**

* Ansar is based on the typical capital of the Assyrian Empire, Assur (though the Assyrians had multiple capitals throughout its history).
* The Royal Library of Bilgames is mainly based on the Library of Ashurbanipal, but also incorporates elements from the Great Library of Alexandria as well.
* The Walls of Bilgames are inspired by the Walls of Sargon at Dur-Sharrukin. Many elements were taken from this, including the large number of towers.