Often referred to as the Sunken City, Tzo'ar is a sprawling dying city of ancient origin that lies on the banks of Var Sevios lake. The heart of the Divvermarsh runs through the core of the city and has all but swallowed it up. The northern outskirts are protected by the mysterious Orchid Wall though often the interior of the city is more dangerous than beyond the wall. Several powerful factions vie for control of the city for a multitude of reasons including access to ancient relics and technology of the Ancients, sources of useable power, food, and treasure. Beneath the city lies the Breathless Gutter the twisted and endless remains of cities built upon by the Ancients. For reasons still being discovered, within just a few generations, the north eastern half of the city collapsed into a huge sinkhole known as the Cleft leaving a huge 100'+ drop straight into the lowest reaches of the sodden soil.

motifs

Several types of architecture are notable within the city, each one having a unique appearance that reflects the civilization from which it was constructed.

the ancients

Buildings of sleek minimal construction consisting of little embellishment or gaudiness. The ancients were highly advanced and used magic arts to sail in the void sea beyond the clouds. The remains of their civilization are the most common, as the fall of their civilization marked the beginning of known history within the region of the Dromad Dunes.

kelnath

Occasionally seen on the surface of Tzo'ar in the oldest parts of the city, the Kelnathian remains are ornate gardens, ziggurats decorated in gold, obsidian obelisks carved with ancient symbols and depictions of their herald and symbol, Lamassu. The Kelnath in legend are said to have been cursed due to their lavishly opulent lifestyles leading to societal decay.

adder

Only found on the surface in hidden places, the constructions of this prehistoric civilization included intricate masonry, relief sculptures, large statues, and mandalic symbolism. Traditionally the Adder ruins are associated with snakes due to the artwork sporting snakes throughout.

major locations

The Sunken City is massive beyond comprehension and sports a nearly endless number of notable locations and landmarks within its walls. There are some that are known to even the most remote and isolated groups due to their massive influence on the city.

orchid wall

A 40 mile wall that protects the northern side of the city. The wall mysteriously arcs with electrical energy at seemingly random intervals and is the subject of study for many interested in the lost knowledge of the Ancients. The wall is believed to be a barrier that prevents the jungles of the Emerald Basin from encroaching into the city.

the cleft

A huge sinkhole that covers over 300 square miles to the north east of the city. The Cleft appeared within memory of just a few generations and is a place avoided by most within the city. Divvermarsh weeps into the gash leaving the depths flooded and nearly impossible to navigate.

the breathless gutter

The many generations that came before the Ancients built atop one another leaving the lower depths full of ancient secrets and treasures. Due to the swell of the Divvermarsh into the city, the lower reaches have been flooded or are extremely difficult to traverse. Due to their age these dank regions of the city are home to horrific creatures and strange races.

new tzo'ar

A small 5 mile area on the southernmost peninsula of the city. Likely the ruler's seat of the Ancients, New Tzo'ar is protected by a thick alloy wall and gate. Entry is prohibited by all of those who do not submit to the authority of the Mad King. The palace dwellers are wealthy and wear bright colorful clothing to denote their status among one another. It is common for the residents to distract themselves by consuming lotus powder in large amounts in giant communal hookahs leaving them hallucinating for days on end.

factions of the city

Several powerful groups have established themselves as forces to be feared within the walls of the city. Some operate in grand gestures of power while others prefer to use subtlety and intrigue to control the city from the shadows.

ratling cabal

Residents of the Breathless Gutter, the Ratling Cabal are a loosely associated group of plague-bearing vermin. They skulk in the grime and filth below the streets of the city. The Ratlings are brutal overlords and are run by a shadowy council of individuals known only in rumor. It is known that anything spoken in the presence of a rodent will make its way into the ear of the Ratling leadership.

cats

The city is home to thousands of domestic and wild cats many of which are housed in large temples dedicated to their comfort and pleasure. Though they do not use their numbers or their power in direct ways, the cats of the Sunken City are well treated and respected by all (besides the ratlings). Many factions work with the cats to spy, blackmail, and divine their future. Legend says that those who harm a cat and are not protected by the cabal of the Ratlings are found dead in an unnerving manner.

lotus growers

Experts in lotus cultivation, the Lotus Growers hold a monopoly over the psychedelic flower. Due to the high demand of their product, the Lotus Growers have become an extremely wealthy organization that has their greedy hands in nearly every enterprise in the city.

thieves guild

Peddlers in Gnosis, the Thieves' Guild can be found virtually everywhere across the surface of Sigg. Their arrival in the Sunken City predates even the Ancients. The guild is known for their ability to access things which should not be accessed and are paid handsomely for their skills.

disciples of nod

Highly intelligent scholars, the Disciples of Nod are an organization of magic-users who seek to bring Tzo'ar back into its former glory. They shun religious belief and seek to transcend the their mortal bodies in exchange for eternal bodies of magic. The disciples follow the tenants of the ancient scholar Nod, who taught power and ferocity are what should rule rather than honor or nobility. Despite their brutal ideologies, their colleges established throughout the city are meccas for those interested in enhancing their magic-using capabilities. The disciples are one of the main customers of the Lotus Growers due to the plant's capabilities of enhancing magical training and practice.

order of the mad king

A relatively small faction in the city, the Order of the Mad King (OMK) has complete control over the beautiful walled palace of New Tzo'ar. The OMK has little interest in the ongoings of the rabble outside the palace walls, but do interact when there is rumor of plots against the Mad King. All are welcome into the palace but must first accept the laws and liege of the Mad King while within his realm. The OMK facilitates trade of rare and exotic items found within the city, but it is believed the Mad King keeps all the best finds for himself. The identity of the Mad King is unknown, but many rumors claim he is likely more than a normal man.

"Miles wide and protected to the north by the Orchid Wall, the Sunken City of Tzo'ar is slowly dragged into the depths of Var Sevios. The city was once home to hundreds of iterations of empires across the lost past. Now a stinking mire pulses through the streets of the city like arteries as the wicked inhabitants skirmish over the pathetic scraps of thousands of lost histories." -- Excerpts from 'Secrets of the Sunken City', in the Scripta Rota.

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