City of Acheron

Acheron, capital of Qaddan, is one of the oldest and most influential trading cities in the civilized world. It began as a caravan halt between Gondwana and Mediterranea, little more than a cluster of sun-dried brick huts, and grew rich once the Kha-Em Canal was dug and trading powers such as Tharshesh and Sheba arose. Its great buildings are raised from huge stone blocks hauled by slaves from quarries to the south and southeast, in a style all its own, though pyramids and concentric-circle motifs betray early Atlantean influence.

Scholars come from many lands to study alchemy, astrology, sorcery and necromancy at its universities and at a public library thought the best in the world, while architects and engineers come to admire the canal, the Pharos lighthouse and the palace grounds, open to visitors only at set times of year. A true melting pot, the city welcomes nearly everyone; only Turanians need passes to enter.

Life is fairly comfortable for most residents. Slaves do the hard labor and by law may not be mistreated, though the term is loosely read. Many people are poor, but commoners pay no taxes and the state keeps food and housing cheap for native Qaddani. The few laws are strictly enforced, and every case goes to the Halls of Justice, where litigants plead before a high priest of Heru whose verdict only the Pharaoh can overturn.

Since the First Dynasty only Heru may be worshipped, and heretics were once killed on the spot. As the population grew more cosmopolitan, the rule was eased to allow other manifestations of Heru, such as the sun god Aten or the serpent Set, so the city now teems with cults claiming to honor one of his countless aspects.