Ank'Harel

Ank'Harel is a metropolis built around an oasis in the center of Marquesian desert, the center of Rumedam Desert, and the center of culture, history, and power for the continent. It is also known as the Jewel of Hope, the translation of its name from the northern Marquesian dialect, and the Jewel of Marquet. Ank'Harel was built over four hundred years ago, co-jointly with J'mon Sa Ord who since reigned over it.

Description
Ank'Harel, described by Jarett Howarth as being "comparable, a bit bigger" relative to Emon, is nestled around a source of fresh water, among clay-rich mountains in the center of vast sands of the Rumedam Desert and surrounded by a wide web of smaller villages.. It stands on three differently leveled plateaus, elevating the Ridge, the Guided District, and the Cerulean Palace.

Ank'Harel is ovular in shape with enormous, 65-foot-tall outer walls and tall guard towers, decoratively shaped like hands cradling the walls from underneath. Within the city, there are many tall spires and buildings with pointed rooftops and colorful murals. The structures are often draped in multicolored cloth and the streets are mostly paved with red cobblestone.

The gates of the city close at night, and many caravans camp outside.

Points of interest

 * A Kingly Home: An establishment that appears as furniture store, but inside is a secret hideout for Asharru with a hidden passage behind a basement cabinet, leading toward the Suncut Bazaar.

Alluvium District

 * Ajir's Whetstone: A squalid hostel

The Circlet Walk

 * Step Aside: A comfortable tavern and an inn

Guided District
The Guided District contains a number of ornate houses of worship to each of the Prime Deities with deccorated with minarets and gilded spires. The poor may find food and clothing here. The Hands of Ord also maintain a notable presence here.
 * Blessing Well: A public place of spiritual guidance, not attached any specific source of divinity. Located at the heart of the Guided District, the well is a concave stone courtyard of deep blue bricks, speckled with silver to reflect an image of the night sky. People come to the well seeking calm and to commune with the divine, feeling renewed purpose as they emerge hours later from the its depths. The water of the well is specifically used in holy ceremonies and is separate from that in the city canals. Drinking it bestows a terrible divine curse upon the drinker that even the most potent mortal magic can't undo.
 * Crossings of Eventide: A necropolis of series of tombs carved into the cliffs, bordering the Guided District, and adorned with reliefs depicting the most important deeds of the tombs' occupants. At the base of the cliff built a small temple dedicated to Duskmaven.
 * Temple of the Mentor: The main base of operation of the Cobalt Soul in Marquet, a vast archive of knowledge and a temple to Ioun. Iwo Zalarre is the high curator of the temple who oversees all visitors to the public archives and registers requests for access to the private archive.
 * Tower of Memory: The headquarters of the Sentinels of Memory situated on the far western side of the Guided District. The tower is octagonal in shape and shifted at a slightly crooked angle. It shows visible signs of disrepair with cracks between the ivory bricks and creaking wooden floorboards. The building was slated for demolition before Watcher Trast purchased it to house his small but zealous group of followers.

The Ridge
The Ridge is Ank'Harel's industrial district, abundant with smithies, foundries, shipyards, and warehouses. It sits atop one of the city's three plateaus and on the north side borders the mountain.


 * Alsfarin Union Shipyard: The base of operations of the Alsfarin Union and a shipyard, off limit to anyone except employees. Since all skyships in operation across Exandria must come to the shipyard once a year and undergo a maintenance and do the necessary repairs, the area of the shipyard is a manifold of cultures, flocking from across the globe.
 * Sunfire Forge: A premium blacksmith and weapons manufacturer in Ank'Harel, partially embedded in the mountainside. The place is named after the forge's unique power source: liquid sunlight, obtained from the iridescent crystals cladding its roof. "The consistent heat of this concentrated form of energy allows for the creation of fine metalwork that incorporates fragile components such as arcane minerals and gem dust." The forge is operated by a smith, as well as a businesswoman, Rohaya Tak since 816 PD. In addition to usual metalwork, Rohaya produces cannons for use on sailing ships and skyships.

River District
This district is where the oasis on which Ank'Harel was built is located. It is also where a number of canals originate, for water flowing from the spring of the oasis; and where many caravans coming to Ank'Harel make their first stop.


 * Harried Mongoose: A modest tavern

Sand-Herald District
The Sand-Herald District is the heart of military activity and law enforcement in Ank'Harel, housinig the headquarters of the local police force, the Hands of Ord. Commonly the district populate mostly by wealthy stratum of society: merchants, sudden winners of tournaments in the Bowl of Judgment, and local performance celebrities. It located at the upper central platform of the city.


 * Cerulean Palace: The seat of government and court in Ank'harel.
 * Tower of J'mon Sa Ord: A building adjacent to the palace, made for watching over the entire city.
 * Scarlet Prison, also known as the Scarlet Oubliette: Dungeon located beneath the Cerulean Palace. It is rumored that people are placed there to be tortured or to be part of various experiments.
 * Ord Bastion: A major feature of the district, second in size only behind the Cerulean Palace. In contrast to the elaborate architecture of the palace, the immense walls of Ord Bastion are built from durable mud bricks and undecorated except for simple, angular carvings that adorn the tops of the building's watchtowers. Primarily, the bastion is the training center and the barracks for the members of the Hands of Ord, but since their membership is a lifelong commitment, many members have brought their families to live in the bastion.
 * Bowl of Judgment:: On the north side the district and near the Cerulean Palace, warriors fight each other in the immense circular depression that has been carved into the ground. Sporting tournaments frequently organized in the Bowl of Judgemnt, distinguished by the Grand Tournament, held only once in the calendar year. At each competition, spectators can wager to predict the winner of the upcoming match, or become a participant themselves, paying an entry fee of 20 gold. Although most scuffles end with one participant surrendering or falling unconscious, death is always a possible outcome in the Bowl of Judgment. Each match is ringmastered by Sheed Caltor. The headquarters of the mercenary group known as the Scarbearers.
 * Indala Skyport: A skyport constructed in the earliest days of skyship travel. Its central terminal is renowned across the world for its intricate stained-glass ceiling, which "depicts a mosaic of the surface of Exandria with glowing dots moving across it, representing each skyship the Alsfarin Union currently has in flight".
 * Lap of the Gods: A wealthy resort

Sigil District
The Sigil District is a smaller district on the south-eastern side of Ank'Harel but also one of the more bustling. Daily people from across the city attend two available places of learning to gain knowledge of various kind of intellectual depth and area of pursuits. The Allegiance of Allsight has the dominant presence in the Sigil District, many members of which affiliated with the faculties and staffs of Crystal Chateau and Teres Schoolhouse.

Institutions made up of both the weathered buldings constructed in the beginning of Ank'Harel's history and newer structures, and buildings representing cultures from across Exandria, neighboring Marquesian-style domes of the Crystal Chateau. The streets here are paved in an opalescent stone that includes traces of whitestone particles.


 * Crystal Chateau: An elite university and the headquarters of the Allegiance of Allsight. A monumental, elaborate, multi-story building of white marble and smoky quartz. Its grounds include gardens and a small stream, running through the greenary and around the building before flowing under an opening into the main hall of the chateau. The building is surrounded by a large, white-painted iron fence, restricting access to all except members of the Allegiance of Allsight. Though not all members of the Allegiance are students or professors at the university, every enrollee must first become the member. Tuition is free for all residents of Ank'Harel, since the Chateau's expenses are subsidized by the city in the expectation that the university's graduates will use their gifts to protect Ank'Harel and enhance its prestige across the world. Jor Raashid is the gatekeeper for the Crystal Chateau.


 * Maw of Cael Morrow: A 150 foot wide pit in the center of the Sigil District whose excavation is overseen by the Allegiance of Allsight. To conduct its exploration into the ruins of Cael Morrow, the organization turned a public square into an excavation site with a 10-foot-wide path spirals down along the edge of the maw, descending hundreds of feet below. The maw is roped-off, the access is prohibited to all except for holders of Allegiance of Allsight badges, and the area is patrolled by members of the Scarbearers under the leadership of Hakzorne.
 * Omnival Library: A collection of texst from across Exandria located on the northeast side of the Sigil District in the enormous tower of stone columns and archways that form the circumference high up into the sky. Any individual is in the right to borrow from the library, though access to the most "esoteric and delicate" materials needs approbation of an Allegiance of Allsight headmaster. The library is managed by Bookkeeper Khime.
 * Teres Schoolhouse: The larger of the city's two universities, Teres Schoolhouse occupies a large portion of the Sigil District, but its physical presence is not as imposing as that of the Crystal Chateau. The schoolhouse is less stringent in its approach, offersing a curriculum that features practical applications of magic as well as a wide range of trade skills. Academic schedules are typically divided into two semesters, each five months long. There are also single-session educational seminars available for anyone to attend. Tuition is free for all residents of Ank'Harel.
 * Teleportation Atrium: A domed building containing a permanent teleportation circle. Most teleportation tablets made by the Allegiance of Allsight are attuned to this circle.
 * The Frog and Kebab: A popular tavern, serving no actual frogs, which is frequented by students of the Crystal Chateau.
 * Emerald Ibis Relic Hall: The hall where the Allegiance of Allsight examines newly discovered items. It is guarded by green glass statues shaped like giant ibises.
 * Scroll's Alcove: An apartment building mostly used by professors at the Crystal Chateau and visiting guest lecturers.
 * Lawbearer's Librams: The most extensive legal library in the city among dozens in the Sigil District.
 * Boughs of the Wildmother: A giant sycamore tree where students often make it their place of study during the day. Rumors say a ghost lurks in its vicinity at night.

Suncut Bazaar
Distinguished by strands of flags of all colors, hanging from the street corners, the Suncut Bazaar is an open-air market! the center of commerce in Ank'Harel. Most of the permanent, densely packed stone buildings are shopes that sell artisan goods and establishments that buy and sell magic items and nonmagical trinkets. The walls of the Suncut Bazaar are made of sandstone and patrolled day and night by Hands of Ord.


 * Luck's Run: A world-famous casino owned and operated by Adima Shemsilver in the center of the Suncut Bazaar.
 * Bone Garden: A pawn shop, antique store, and warehouse of seemingly worthless or irrelevant items near the main entrance of the bazaar or at the most northern side of it. The shop has become a running joke among the residents of Ank'Harel who inconclusively search for a lost item, adding that "it'll probably end up among the Bones within the week". The Bone Garden is run by Rerosha, a nonverbal young woman, communicating through facial expressions, gestures, and her gray parrot named Akil.
 * The Corner Cove: An inn within the Suncut Bazaar.
 * The Debt's Respite: A tavern in Ank'Harel run by Treev Bonebreaker and a place of gathering of the mercenary group known as the Scarbearers.
 * First Eclipse: A tavern, owned and operated by Satzrak Runestrider, a blue dragonborn loyal to the Consortium of the Vermilion Dream, and the covert headquarters of the consortium, accessed by knocking three times on a cask lid with a painted red crescent moon, which opens a hidden door. The tavern uses old ale barrels turned upside down instead of tables, and only one such barrel has a lid that bears the symbol. If asked about it, servers are told to explain that this lid represents the "house ale". The secret room is used only for private mission briefings and rare gatherings of all five of the faction's masters.
 * Golden Chip: A casino with poor lodging standards.
 * Oddities & Eccentricities: A curiosity stall managed by Nisaba.
 * Mystic Pursuits: An establishment managed by Amkezne, a tiefling mage who dropout from Crystal Chateau and makes a living selling overpriced, allegedly magically enchanted trinkets or telling one's future to wide-eyed tourists. An invisible stalker watches over this collection and attacks anyone who tries to steal from it.
 * The Shade: A lounge tavern with a distinctive, dark green steeple.

Demographics
During their short travels to Ank'Harel, Vox Machina noted that it has a mostly human population with minority populations of halflings, half-elves, half-orcs, and tieflings. There seemed to be little prejudice, particularly none like that which tieflings at the time experienced in Emon. They noted that elves and gnomes were particularly uncommon, with Scanlan receiving some odd looks, and goliaths were unheard of.

Factions

 * Allegiance of Allsight: A group that runs a scholarly institution in the city.
 * Alsfarin Union: A group responsible for the creation and maintenance of brumestones and skyships.
 * Cobalt Soul: A faction of scholars searching for knowledge and ways to share it. They originated in Wildemount but franchised in Ank'Harel nearly 150 years before 836 PD.
 * Consortium of the Vermilion Dream: A secret mystical society dedicated to discovering more about the the magic of Ruidus.
 * Hand of Ord: The police force maintaining peace in the city and reinforcing the law of Ank'Harel, Code of Ord.
 * Scarbearers: A group of the most prominent mercenaries in the city.
 * The Sentinels of Memory: An group of ardent individuals who fear the city of Cael Morrow, due to lack of information about it, and willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that no one speak of the city.
 * The Veil: The largest crime syndicate in Ank'Harel, nestling a secret network of spies, thieves, and assassins.
 * Den of Drujah: A criminal organisation which ran rather violent activities in the city around 730-740 PD, until an unknown assassin wearing Cabal's Ruin eliminated the den around 760 PD.

Government
J'mon Sa Ord rules Ank'Harel since its emergence hundreds years ago. Because of the dragon's reclusive nature, it is extremely difficult to gain an audience with them and an elderly female human named Gameshega is Ank'Harel's Grandmaven, or acting chancellor.

The Code of Ord is the main source of law in Ank'Harel: theft, exploitation, and murder are the worst crimes, punishments for which range from life in prison to permanent exile from the city. Worship of the Betrayer Gods is punished on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the reverence. Possession of the forbidden iconography is typically sentenced to a few weeks of imprisonment, but someone who conducts rites dedicated to a Betrayer God is treated more severely.

Laws are enforced by the Hands of Ord, the primary guard protecting the city of Ank'Harel and nearby townships and villages. Offenses for which guilt has not been proven or that involve particularly heinous crimes are ruled on by the judges in the Cerulean Palace and, as the last resort, by J'mon Sa Ord.

Culture
Worship of all Prime Deities is welcomed in Ank'Harel, when dedication to the Betrayer Gods is punished by law.

The city is known to cultivate and prepare food uncommon to the other parts of Exandria, including kurrak fruit, fusaka, and Sandkheg's Hide. "Be pleased" is common expression of politeness, accompanied with a small bow, preferably with the hand down towards the stomach. People of Ank'Harel speak the northern dialect of the Marquesian language.

Founding
Ank'Harel was established before 436 PD with the help of J'mon Sa Ord, the city's constant head of state, as an oasis trading post in the Rumedam Desert, among few sources of fresh water and inhabitable places in the desert. It was built atop the Drowned City of Cael Morrow, a civilization wiped out in the Calamity, the ruins of which remain intact in 836 PD. When more newcomers began to take part in the development of the city: upgraded unpaved roads to stone streets, and reinforced walls with towers and parapets. Ank'Harel began to prosper, becoming a cultural crossroads for people from across Marquet and the other continents.

When Riskel Daxio attempted to flee Emon before being captured by Vox Machina, a leader of the Clasp stated that Daxio was heading to Ank'Harel.

Before Vox Machina travelled to Ank'harel in search of the vestige Cabal's Ruin, Jarett told them to greet people with the phrase "Be pleased", and that water was as valuable as coin. Once they arrived at Ank'harel, the gates were closed for the night so the group camped inside Scanlan's Magnificent Mansion. Guards from the Hand of Ord expressed concern about the 'strange magic' of the mansion, and advised them not to use it within the city.

Once inside the city, the guards advised them to keep their weapons sheathed. The party visited several areas, including the Suncut Bazaar, noting the similarity to Emon and the range of races of the inhabitants. They next visited two taverns: The Shade, a lounge tavern with a hookah bar, and the Debt's Respite. While at these taverns, they tried Sandkheg's Hide, an extremely strong local beverage.

They visited the Cerulean Palace to seek an audience with J'mon Sa Ord, the ruler of the city. Once inside the palace, they traveled up a tower to a central chamber that looked upon the majority of the desert.

After their audience with J'mon Sa Ord, Vox Machina visited the Luck's Run casino where Scanlan completed his spice deal. After getting kicked out of the casino, the group went back to their rooms at the Debt's Respite.

The next day, the group visited the Crystal Chateau on the upper-class side of the city, where Percy noticed traces of Whitestone in the cobblestone.

Behind the scenes
According to Matthew Mercer, Ank'Harel is distinctly influenced by real-world Arab culture. Ahead of Campaign 3, Matt wrote in a blog post on the official Critical Role website that the city of Ank'Harel was "deeply realized and fleshed out" with the help of others on the Call of the Netherdeep adventure module from Wizards of the Coast. Makenzie De Armas, a Wizards of the Coast writer on Call of the Netherdeep, stated that the writing team wished to make Ank'Harel cosmopolitan without creating a monolith of any culture and that southern and western Marquet are inspired by her Filipino heritage. She described seeing the setting reflecting her Southeast Asian identity as "important and cathartic".