Qindaras

The town of Qindaras sits at the convergence of the many streams that run into the Torath River, and is the most populated settlement on the Plains of Dust with a population of approximately three thousand. It has been developed since the Cataclysm, being a prime focal point for any journey across the wasteland, and is now a town divided into six districts each ruled by a nominal lord who in turn serves a single leader - the potenate Aniirin, a descendant of the original Aniirin the wicked, a black-robed mage and founder of the town.

A high wall protects the town, and the streets are patrolled by Gnolls in the service to Aniirin who also wield the town ruler’s own evil magic to keep the people oppressed and subservient.

Qindaras is known as a safe haven for renegade mages, the Conclave of High Sorcery having been forced to enter into a non-aggression treaty with the ancient Aniirin while they focused on war with the Kingpriest of Istar. Following the Cataclysm the town remained intact thanks to the magic of Aniirin II, however later rulers allowed Qindaras to fall into disrepair until the line of Aniirin was deposed by the mage Lyim Rhistadt, who took on the reginal name Aniirin IV to keep with tradition. When his war against the Conclave failed the townspeople started to rebuild and chose a new potentate, keeping the line of Aniirins active.

The rulers of Qindaras govern from a grand palace at the heart of the town, situated at the meeting point of the six districts. Encircled by a sixty-foot high granite wall, the palace is filled with stained glass windows and topped with five hundred minarets, a set of marble steps leading up to massive brass double-doors. The palace entrance is ringed by thirty columns of black and white marble inscribed with magical runes, and at the foot of the steps before the main door, a twenty-foot high statue of Aniirin the Wicked stands and has been maintained in good order by those who honour the line of rulers.