Jahal's Folly

Nestled in the southern crook of the northern half of Hidha-on, Jahal's Folly (historically, Jahal's Landing) is the center of trade that flows through the Brass Sea. The city is the most ancient human settlement in all of Hidha-on, and it is one with a troubled history. Currently, it is the center of power in Hidha-on, and is the suzerain state to all other cities on the peninsula. This has led to it becoming a highly wealthy city, but also a city that is running rampant with corruption. The city is also facing a massive refugee crisis as people flee from Sothasil hoping to find a more peaceful home away from the horrors of war. This has brought with it a fresh wave of poverty, crime, and disease that the city is still struggling to meet.

Features
The city of Jahal's Folly is officially divided into the following districts: the Palace District, the Stone Quarter, the Harbors, the Plantations, the Old City, the Caravansary, Guild Row, the Noble Estates, the Old Temples, the Necropolis, the Foreign Quarter, the Foreign Exchange District, and the Temple District. Unofficially, however, the city has several additional districts: the Slums, the Warrens, the Wharf, the Old Palace, and Ash Row. While the Merchant Lords do not officially recognize these latter districts as official districts of the city, and instead lump them with their surrounding district, they are treated as though they are entirely separate jurisdictions from the rest of the city at large.

Palace Quarter
The most opulent and guarded part of the city, the Palace Quarter dominates a small peninsula that juts out into Jahal's Bay. The quarter is home to the former palace of the Jahalabad Dynasty, which now serves as home to the Council of Merchants, Jahal's Folly's governing body. Several government buildings and the estates of governors and councillors are within the district. The Palace Quarter is the most idyllic location in all of Jahal's Folly, and its opulent gardens, fountains, and immaculate streets are all kept wonderfully maintained. The district is also said to be the most secure district in all of Jahal's Folly, and a reservist force of Lordsmen are kept on guard-duty at all times within the Palace Quarter's streets.

The beaches lining the peninsula are home to sea-side cottages, estates, and private docks where expensive sail boats and schooners sit at anchor. It is illegal for ships to fish in the waters immediately surrounding the peninsula, a law that is enforced by the Lordsmen's naval arm.

Stone Quarter
The area immediately to the north of the Palace Quarter is the Stone Quarter, so named for its massive stone walls that divide the Palace Quarter from the rest of the city. This quarter serves as the Lordsmen's primary base of operations in the city, and is home to numerous redoubts, gatehouses, armories, and living areas for soldiers and their families in addition to training and mustering yards for peasant militias. From the Stone Quarter, the Lordsmen exercise control over the rest of the city, and in a siege defenders can retreat to the heavy fortifications within the Stone Quarter.

Harbors
Just west of the Stone Quarter lies the harbors, where all trade ships pass through. The harbor is full of taverns, pubs, and inns that are filled with sailors and work crews. Many of the city's drainages empty into the harbor, which has given the harbor area a trademark stench that seems to cling to the area. What's more, the drainages often provide harborage for seedy criminals as well as dangerous sea creatures. Visitors to the harbor are advised not to go near the drainages during the winter months, as Radags have a tendency to come ashore and nest inside them.

Plantations
On the southeastern edge of the city is the massive plantation district that feeds the city. The plantation mostly grows foodstuffs that can withstand briny sea water, such as salt rice and brinemerrow, but it also is home to large comberry plantations and hack-leaf plants. The plantations are kept under tight guard by both Lordsmen and private mercenary companies.

Old City
The central part of the city, the Old City was once the downtown area of the city but as the city grew the markets gradually moved closer to the harbor and the north side of town. Though there are still many markets in the Old City, most of them are dedicated to goods that are produced within the city rather than the rich imports that the city is known for. The Old City now is more of a residential district, where the bulk of the citiy's middle class live.

Caravansary
A large, sprawling market area brimming with market stalls and merchant hawking their wares. When merchants come from the peninsula to do business within the city, they are required to do business within the caravansary. In addition to its many markets, the area is home to many inns, cantinas, and pubs, as well as cisterns, stables, offices for trade guilds that do business both within and outside of the city.

Guild Row
A large stretch of noble estates, foundries, manufacturing areas, and guild halls, Guild Row is the center of Jahal Folly's artisan guilds and trade networks. Nearly all artisan goods that flow in and out of Jahal's Folly come through or from Guild Row. Several high ranking guild members also own lavish estates in the area near to their resident guild.

History
The settlement of Jahal's Landing was founded in the year 840 SA when the Alethi Prince Jahalabad invaded the Almari city of Katal Nagaram and colonized it, starting the century-long War of Conquest Over Serpents. The Almari defenders and civilians alike were all put to the sword by the invaders, and the great temples were pillaged and burned, and their riches would be used by Jahalabad to fund his crusade against the Almari.

The Alethi colonizers burned, destroyed, and built on top of the Almari temples and palaces, building new ones atop of them.