Oasis of Taz

The Oasis of Taz is a vast, shimmering artificial lake at the heart of the Ushim Desert, with a sprawling citystate of the same name hugging its southern shores. It stands as the only true permanent settlement in the region, sustained by the will of the marid Taz, who bends nature itself to keep this jewel of civilization alive in a desert that would otherwise devour it. The city is a paradise among paradises—a dazzling spectacle of magelights, jeweled towers, and lavish markets, where promises of wealth and pleasure draw countless visitors, yet few depart with anything but debt.

Description

History

Once upon a time, Taz ruled a vast underwater court in the Elemental Plane of Water—a prideful and ambitious marid with few rivals. Yet, through circumstances he shares with no one, he was exiled from his home and stripped of his noble standing. Refusing to drown in humiliation, Taz turned his exile into an empire, forging a new dominion upon the Material Plane. He carved an oasis out of the heart of the unforgiving Ushim Desert, bending the land’s thirst to his command. Thus was born the Oasis of Taz, a glittering mirage made real.

To most of Al’Taj, such a feat is madness. Nothing built in Ushim should stand for long—yet for more than a century, the Oasis endures, radiant and impossible. Its marble pools, silken markets, and jeweled towers gleam beneath a scorching sun, drawing wanderers and merchants alike. It is a haven for those hungry for fortune or redemption, a paradise where every wish has a price. Beneath its luxury, though, the city’s lifeblood is Taz’s will alone—a reminder that even in exile, a marid’s pride is great.

Government

The Oasis has a single government: Taz himself. Sections of the city are overseen by certain merchant families, and every one of the city’s magnificent businesses has its own manager, but Taz holds the final authority on all matters. Within his domain, he is immensely powerful and capable of speaking to multiple people at once. Warlocks sworn to Taz and his direct descendants often carry out his will whenever he is busy or chooses not to intervene personally.

Economy

The Oasis of Taz is possibly the richest city in Al'Taj. Much of its wealth comes from tourism: the city regularly advertises its existence with posters and flyers, and heavily discounted skiffs ferry visitors from Aecho and Kestor’s Past. Humanoids and other beings alike flock to the city for its attractions—gambling halls, restaurants, aquariums, zoos, theaters, fighting pits, spas, and resorts all pull in vast amounts of gold, with many visitors going into debt in the process. Beyond tourism, the city has valuable exports: the lake itself holds treasures otherwise found only in the Plane of Water, from pearls the size of fruit to shells as hard as diamond, and it is said the freshest fish on the Material Plane can only be found here.

Climate

Much like the lake it surrounds, the climate of Taz is artificial. The weather in the city and surrounding area is consistently comfortable- neither too hot nor cold, regardless of season or hour. During certain times of year Taz may will the weather to be warmer or colder, with the city receiving a single blanket of snow in the winter. Beyond this 'sphere' of influence, the land surrounding Taz is a harsh desert that follows the normal seasons.

Districts

Taz is a beautiful place that does its best to funnel people throughout the city to its various attractions.

The First Wish Casino and Resort: The premiere casino and gambling hall within the city. Dimensional magic ensures that the inside of the already huge building is big enough to fit almost a miniature town inside of it, featuring every manner of game and contest that one could bet money on. It also features expansive spas and recreational activities, and a world-class restaurant.

Amusement District: A long stretch of perpetually changing road, where only the best merchants, performers, chefs, and more are permitted to set up shop and create a near intoxicating open air market. Brand new buildings and tents pop up here on the regular, and those given the privilege to set up here compete heavily to maintain their spot as long as possible.

The Sarmadi Conservatory: An impressive zoo, garden, and aquarium filled with seemingly endless specimens of exotic flora and fauna, part of it submerged directly into the lake. The Conservatory regularly hires trackers to deliver new specimens, with every creature inside a new and exciting spectacle.

The Palace of Taz: A pearlescent castle half submerged into the Oasis. The seat of Taz's power, where few are ever allowed to enter.

Factions

Taz Himself: Above all else, Taz exists. The entire city exists as his personal achievement, and both he and his warlocks will do nothing to maintain the city's status as a place of perfection.

The Families: Over the years, several families have passed down the ownership and management of several of the city's higher businesses. While they don't have any power over the city's ruler, they're given significant authority within their own territories, and only loosely follow Taz's idea of maintaining paradise.

The Delver's Guild: The Guild has its own branch here in the Oasis, as it does everywhere. Like many things in the city, it has heavy influence from Taz himself, but the Guild still upholds most if not all of the same values it does everywhere else.

Trivia

• The Oasis of Taz was first conceptualized as having a grand tournament going on. This concept was later reused for the Soul Strikers tournament and Serath Prime.