White City

The White City is a neighborhood in Omrazir that sits overlooking the east district of Dawn from its site atop the Shining Hill, one of the most prominent landmarks in the city. It is the oldest neighborhood in Omrazir, and was once the nucleus of the ancient city of Elam Rassi. Originally named for the splendor of the marble-faced and pristinely limewashed buildings occupying much of the district, this now decrepit neighborhood has kept its name even though the poppies cultivated in window boxes and waste spaces are one of the few white things left here. Drug use and production are rife in the White City, and the most desperate and downtrodden of all the city's inhabitants tend either to start out or wind up here. Violence and corruption are endemic.

People

The core of the White City's population remains Razmani, many of whom can trace their ancestry back to the early inhabitants of Elam Rassi. These people tend to retain some measure of pride in their neighborhood, and to feel a sense of place and loyalty that has kept them here even through the worst of its decline. Though most of them are quite poor and some are as desperate as the worst of the neighborhood's inhabitants, still many of them attempt to keep the things around them in the best repair possible (poor as that often is) and to maintain the bonds of their ancient community. Aside from the Razmani, the racial makeup of the neighborhood spans the whole of the Sirdabi Caliphate and a fair portion of north Idiri and even Ruvera as well, the primary unifying character of these inhabitants being despair, tempered by a certain desperate self-destructive bravery. And yet many people still manage to make some kind of life for themselves and their families here, even in the midst of squalor and sorrow.

Government

Unlike most other Omrazi neighborhoods, the White City is represented not by a selected leader or a council of influential residents, but rather by a venerable lineage styling themselves the Kings of the Shining Hill. The Khordri family are feared more than loved, but even so the Razmani in particular feel a certain pride at being governed by true royalty from ancient days, who can make the bey himself sit up and take notice.

Local Landmarks

The Adamant Palace
Named for the hard shining stone of legend, the ancient seat of Razmani princes sits atop its own separate bluff just northeast of the bulk of the Shining Hill. It is a massive hulk of granite, marble, and alabaster, all stained with the residue of centuries, its colossal bulk only partly relieved by carved pillars and reliefs that are now half worn away by the years. The Adamant is now home to the Khordri family, those descendants of ancient Rassi kings who still rule the White City in their own way.

al-Sala'ah Mosque
The al-Sala'ah mosque is close to the center of the White City, just north of Shining Court at the intersection of Pearl and Dove Streets. It named for Sida Sala'ah, the Azadi holy woman called the White Dove, and is of relatively recent construction. This makes it stand out from its run-down and shabby surroundings, and it is a point of pride and a local gathering place for the residents of the White City.

Pearl Street Market
This ramshackle market can be found just up the street from the al-Sala'ah mosque, at the top of a long marble stair leading down to the Via Sanguinis. Despite its decrepitude it is the chief market for the White City, and besides daily essentials a number of far rarer and more interesting goods have been rumored to make their way here despite the best efforts of the Customs Inspectors.

Shining Hill Summit
Shining Hill Summit, the highest point of the entire Shining Hill, is the true heart of the White City despite its modern-day dereliction. Zohram's Folly, a great phonolite stele, once stood at the pinnacle proudly proclaiming the glory of Elam Rassi. Now it lies in pieces on the ground, the centerpiece of a shabby park. The once fine Shining Court neighborhood encircles the Summit, and it remains one of the better-kept parts of the area.

Food, Lodging, & Entertainment

The Breaking Wave
Located in Shining Court West just off the main square, the Breaking Wave offers simple lodgings and local food, including traditional Razmani dishes.

The Gilded Folly
Gambling and games of all kinds are on offer in this grand townhouse on the east side of the White City.

Lady Darouda's Exotics
An exquisite establishment set in Lily Lane, offering a choice array of tropical flowers and other exotic delights for the senses. The finest entertainment and discreet lodgings available.