The Eye Tyrant's Khanduq

'''The Eye Tyrant's Khanduq''' (Eraré Sabban, Taorahl Drudach, Hook Ward, Calimport) is a khanduq and bazaar in Calimport. So named due to a petrified beholder mounted proudly as the arched main gate'’s keystone, the Eye Tyrant'’s Khanduq is the heart of the bazaar in Taorahl Drudach. The khanduq is small compared to many across Calimport, but its functions compare to like services in any khanduq, no matter the size or opulence.

The khanduq itself seems relatively plain in its mud-brick appearance, though some remnants of earlier mosaics and brick patterning remains from long ago. The building is actually U-shaped, but a barbican gate fills the entrance area to close the khanduq as a square. The gate is a double portcullis with two doors that can be blocked from within the khanduq; six guards (each a F(1d6) with a scimitar, two daggers, and hand axe) remain at the gate at all times, a pair each atop the parapet and a pair at either portcullis. The gates are open to all from sunrise to sunset, and invited guests alone enter the khanduq after the gates have closed for the night. Anyone climbing the walls of the khanduq risks instant death from the rooftop guards.

The ground floor is typical of all khanduqs: A central courtyard holds a public well and a side trough for animals. The khanduq is open around and above the well, with roofs covering the rooms along the outer walls. The ground-floor rooms and stalls hold many animals, from mounts to draft oxen in six separate stables. Four warehouses for rent (often to those whose tents fill the surrounding bazaar) that span both floors; and the area directly across from the gate is the pasha’'s house-the private house of Pasha Vaadalen (N hm F0), the dour, secretive owner of the Eye Tyrant'’s Khanduq.

The second floor of the khanduq provides a covered balcony along which the pasha'’s many guests and associates can walk and discuss business. There are other rooms above, which are rented out as bazaar stalls on a daily basis (though most take care to pay in advance to hold onto their locations). The second floor of the pasha'’s domicile holds offices where he does business with khanduq visitors, living quarters for himself and his family (or jhasinas), and a room where the pasha'’s and any visitor's’ valuables are stored.

The shops and tents of the Eye Tyrant'’s Khanduq are attached either to its outer walls or form temporary, narrow streets among the wider avenues that once led great caravans into the structure. None of those businesses are much more than Class D buildings of one level that provide both sales and living space to their proprietors. Some of the more notable businesses are:

Ranil'’s Rugs and Tapestries (In TD14): While this shop has the prime sales spot in the khanduq on the second foor (next to the pasha'’s home), Ranil (LN hm F0) gains few riches from his excellent weaving. He owes more than 300 bicenta to the pasha from his gambling at El Ghaelidah, and has become, in effect, an indentured servant creating rich tapestries for the pasha'’s home in lieu of rent for his stall. Ranil'’s pride does not allow him to go to his uncle, Butrys Cineda (LG hm M14), in Wizard Ward either to gain the money to repay the losses or to turn one of his luxurious carpets into a flying carpet (the real reason the pasha is applying the pressure on Ranil). Maajan Silvers (In TD14): Nur yn Adan el Maajan (LE hm F0) is a broken old man. The silversmith'’s shop in the Eye Tyrant'’s Bazaar that remained in his family'’s hands for the past century now lies under the control of Pasha Vaadalen due to Nur'’s “defaulted loans” (which were really silver serving dishes the pasha kept refusing to accept “due to poor quality” despite pre-payment). While his four sons and two daughters urge that drastic action be taken against the pasha who has stolen their business, Nur plans to take the matter up with the sabbalad. Until that time, Majaan Silvers still delivers quality silverwork at reasonable prices. Fadila’'s Slippers and Boots (In TD14): Fadila el Voexil (NE hf F0) is the aging widow whose name adorns the khanduq shop, though she has little to do with the making or sale of these wares. Her fraternal-twin grandchildren Harun (N hm C1 of Sharess) and Oma (NG hf B1) make and sell the shoes capably, but their hearts are not in their work. Fadila’'s reputation of being able to create a copy of any footwear brought into her store comes to mind only among those old enough to remember Fadila'’s long-lost youth. The Yuadarzah Scimitars (TD11): While Nadim el Tuvok (CE hm T5) rarely wears a pleasant face or speaks a kind word, his scimitars and jambiyas are of a quality with which few argue. His prices, however, reflect both his understanding of his work and his ugly temper, and those who argue with him (beyond the simple haggling expected throughout Calimshan) about his prices sometimes find themselves on the business end of the products they wish to purchase. Wanda’'s Silken Fineries (TD12): Wanda Sildenmar (NE hef M6) runs this shop, often wearing some of her products to heighten interest in her raw silk scarves, veils, and curtains (if not bolts of silk, which take some time to collect). While hiding very little with her loose, diaphanous garb, she conceals her slightly tapered elf ears under her long auburn curls and never uses magic openly in public. A young widow originally from Iriaebor, she remains in Calimport to secretly learn more magic and to potentially learn of the location of any Shoon artifacts such as the Living Gem. The Yoxen'’s Yield Leathers (TD13): This tannery and leather-goods store provides raw leather and finished goods at cheap prices. Kahal el Mekkar (CE hm C3 of Shar) uses the high amount of traffic his business thus receives to establish as many contacts and collect any information he can for the Temple of Old Night and its high priests. Said'’s Herbs and Unguents (TD15): This tiny stall attracts attention both by its strong aromas of fresh herbs and spices and the loud bellows of the diminutive Tragas el Adhamen (NE halfm T6). The wily halfling is a contact point for many seeking the owner, Pasha Daud el Vehmet, who lives in Najja Sabban (W1) and ventures here rarely. Many clients believe Tragas to be Said, and he does not dissuade them.

The halfling knows that Daud takes him for granted, and much of what Tragas learns for the pasha (as well as the names or faces of those seeking him and his help in acquiring spell components) he also sells to Laakas, a wererat contact in the Muzad (through whom Voraya the lamia noble hears the information).

Shields Italazar (TD16): Kahim el Tunril (N hm F2; Str 16) is a slim man who seems more suited to a life of wizardry and scholarship rather than that of the forge and armory. His wiry strength undoes many larger foes in arm-wrestling matches at the Jet Jambiya, and his craftsmanship in armor makes his work a desired commodity. While he and his staff are often busy with orders for sets of armor for various pasha's’ guards at all times, an intriguing challenge in armormaking may get Kahim’'s attention. This is especially true if the job shows him new things, such as fixing ancient elven or Kozakuran armor or creating identical, replacement pieces (of which he always makes a third for himself as a model). Kahim’'s prize possession is a suit of elven chain mail someone left with him for a copy in common mail, but the customer never returned for it. Kahim seeks to elevate his craft to that of elf armorsmiths, and he learns more each tenday. The Anvil of Twelve Eyes (TD17): This dirty smithy seems to be of little import aside from its ironwork products. However, local legends tell that its name comes from an ancestor of Khaadil el Faddam (N hm F2), the current owner and smith, who slew a beholder during an early attempted invasion of the city from the Muzad during the Eye Tyrant Wars. The legend says that Kamal the Strong, interrupted in his work, picked up and threw his anvil directly into a beholder’s central eye, killing it. The anvil still serves its original purpose today, and while Khaadil puts little stock in the story, it brings him customers and thus the legend continues. The ironwork he does is satisfactory, but the true reason people come to Khaadil are for his small round shields with the beholder etched onto the shining metal.