Tyraturos (Tharch)
The tharch of Tyraturos is literally the crossroads of Thay. The Eastern Way crosses the High Road at the city that gives the tharch its name. This makes Tyraturos a hotbed of merchant activity, particularly in the slave trade. Just about any kind of slave can be found for sale here, including exotic creatures like lamias, centaurs, and the normally indomitable drow. The tharchion here is a former priest of Waukeen by the name of Dimon (LN male human Clr7 of Bane) who converted to the worship of Bane soon after the return of the Black Lord. The rampant corruption of Thay led Dimon to the worship of tyranny as a way to impose order on the squabbling factions of his homeland.
Tyraturos is the third-largest city in Thay, which makes it, as one observer noted, “one of the filthiest and most unpleasant cities in a filthy and unpleasant land.” Over 50,000 souls call this pit home, but that number can double during the high trade seasons of the spring and fall. While the city is not walled, it features a central citadel that houses a garrison of over 8,000 warriors who stand ready to quell any problems that may erupt. Here a traveler can purchase just about anything—or anyone—she could want. Contraband of all sorts used to be traded openly in Tyraturos, even though such crimes are punishable by a quick death. Before the tharchion’s conversion, it was accepted practice to bribe any potential prosecutor, but Dimon has discovered a new zeal for law under the Black Lord, and he has put a stop to the corruption of his officers.The tharchion taxes all goods moving along the great roads. Until recently, customs officials could be persuaded to be circumspect in their tax assessments, but under Dimon’s new laws, they are no longer willing to accept such persuasion. After Dimon made public examples of both the briber and the recipient of the bribe by ordering both drawn and quartered, the merchants of the city have resigned themselves to paying up as a cost of doing business.
