Tsur al Qadim -- a Map

[Apologies for the formatting, the Scribes couldn't figure out how to include an image that 'embiggens' when selected]

The self-proclaimed Lords of the Crag Althis and Zet Frin have had interests in the ruins of Tsur al Qadim for some time now, ever since their clearing and securing of the fortress-crag adjacent to the formidable Tower Invincible. With a force of men-at-arms they hold the ancient fort that had once been a part of the citadel of Old Tsur, intimidating the bandits and beasts that roam the streets of the ruins like hungry dogs.

Long has it been overdue to provide them with a little more context for their holding, and to supply them with certain rumors promised of old--and to that end the Scribes (and referee) now produce a map of Old Tsurr, with the intent also to at last deliver the rumors to the lordly twain.

And indeed, other interests now seem to be burgeoning concerning the extensive ruins of the ancient city. A strange woman, cognomen Sylvaine, has taken rooms of the Gatehouse of the Kantor Kabljauhof and expressed to her fellow patrons there her great desire to brave the ruins in company of strong sword-arms and sorcerous minds ... no doubt details concerning her errand will be forthcoming soon!

click to 'embiggen'

Named Locations:

(From top left corner, working right and down)

the Pallbearers' Way
The east-west road leading from the Mourners' Gate of Cothon east to the Necropolis of the Tel, skirting the northern limits of Old Tsur's ruins; several processions can be seen on the road in the image above, including a chlen-drawn cart

Jebal Gutha
i.e. Mount Gutha, the source of a once-sacred spring whose waters ran through the center of the city. The spring was blocked up by Kzinti during the Man-Kzin Wars, and now water only flows during snowmelt, or during rainy weather

the Tower Invincible
Alone among all the ruins of Old Tsur, this tower stands still intact, protected even now by a magical barrier of force that prevents any attempt to approach the tower (or batter it with catapult-shot); it is from the dungeons beneath that the dreaded Elver Worms come forth once each generation to lay waste the countryside

Hastati Gate
The broken "Gate of Spearmen" is the most familiar landmark to the mourners who walk the Pallbearers' Way, other than Jebal Gutha looming over it. Though the gate is broken, the barbican remains in good order as an outpost of the Poor Brothers of the Dead

Crag Keep
The internal remnants of the old citadel has been cleared and occupied by Lords Althis and Zet Frin. Though a superstructure once topped the crag-top, it was razed during the Man-Kzin wars and never rebuilt

al Qanat Stepwell
Once the city's main public bath, great halls are said to be carved into the sides of the huge stepwell, decorated with wondrous mosaics, and of course rumored still to be filled with forgotten treasures. Unfortunately, the stairs have long been neglected, and the waters are said to be cursed and to give off evil vapors

the Virgin Spring
Site of an ancient and dreadful crime against a maiden, and a terrible vengeance thereafter, the spring here was then transformed into a place of worship for a demi-goddess of maidens and childbirth. Stories of a water-maiden granting a magic sword to an ancient king-governor of Tsur are probably interpolations from foreign traditions, but they cling to the place nevertheless, even as the willows and nenuphars continue to grow around the clear waters

Khidron Gate
The gate overlooking the once fertile Khidron Valley, the fields and orchards of which were salted by merciless Kzinti raiders

Gutha Streambed
As noted concerning Jebal Gutha, this stream, once a source of clean water for the central city, has since dried up almost entirely. Water flows along the streambed only during snowmelt after the long winter, or during especially rainy seasons, though there are sections of the stream that retain standing water throughout most or all of the year

Bashan's Gate
The eponymous noble of this gate was renowned in song for his extravagant wealth, as well as his bow-strong arms and kyni-keen sight. He was the most famous castellan of the barbican, and so his name remains attached to it, even in its current fallen state. Inevitably, tales of Bashan's wealth also inspire tales of ancient hoards lost within

Takfarn's Tower
One of the two towers remaining of the city's inner walls, bearing the name of an ancient warrior-prince. It is generally agreed that the tower bears his name because his flayed body was displayed from its heights after his failed rebellion

Beb al Khanduq
This "Barbican of the Moat" is the other of the two towers remaining of the city's inner fortifications. It stands guard over the crumbling main bridge which is no longer necessary to cross the dry streambed of the Gutha

Siddighine Arena
The great arena built by ancient king-governor Siddig Tahir for the great games organized by himself and his nephews. Subsequent rulers expanded the arena, and the fighter- and beast-pits beneath the structure are known to be extensive

Wahat al Qamari
The so-called "Pool of the Moon" is a smaller stepwell than al Qanat, said to be even more beautiful than those opulent baths; at this point, no shortage of rumors tell that the waters remain pure, a wondrous mirror to the Fortress Moon on certain nights, and to hold miraculous magic--of wondrous healing? of transport to the Moon? &c.

the Hasmoneon
The Palace-Acropolis of Old Tsur, where its king-governors and their servants ran the business of the city (and later, empire). Originally a major shrine, while the citadel on Mount Gutha served as the royal palace, at some point the king-governors expanded and took residence in the Hasmoneon; then, by the time of the later Man-Kzin Wars, the governors had relocated again to an even finer palace, though the Hasmoneon remained the center of the maioral administration

Jebal Hatori
Or "Hill of the Stony Horror" because of how a certain formation of rock resembles the fabled hatori of the desert. Though far outside the range of the hatori, the rocks are nevertheless known to hide fearsome dnelu, and the heights to sometimes hold nests of gerednya, lri, or giriku, either in natural caves, or the abandoned outbuildings of the Palace Hasmonean.
The palace-complex remains extensive, even in ruin, and legends maintain that certain sections were so well guarded by sorcery or ru'un that even the ravaging Kzinti could not loot them; consequently, there may be areas within the complex that are untouched by tomb-raiders even to this day ...

Burgh al 'Ahmaq
Called the "Tower of the Fool" it is uncertain just how the epithet arose. Fanciful stories abound--the Tower of the Fool is a common subject for folktales told by peasants making fun of their pretentious  "betters" by having the nobles in the tale engage in ever more ridiculous forms of folly while questing for (or in) the tower. Perhaps indeed that's all there is to the name, in the end?