Important Locations
il'Jhain Abdos Headquarters
il'Jhain Abdos is headquartered in Irrakam, in a stretch of land between the Outlander’s Quarter and the Jya’s keep. The headquarters is a long, two story building made of baked white clay, with three wooden doors set in the front and rows of windows. The motto is written on the clay on either side of the door, in Tradespeak on the left and in Fallien on the right. One might wonder why they bothered putting three doors, as each door opens into the same room, a wide post-office like setup, with three desks and three posting boards, and a member of each faction sitting behind that desk, waiting for patrons, employees and prospective employees to enter.
There are quarters for employees of all three factions on the bottom floor, built around the perimeter: simple rooms, consisting of a bed and a place to store gear when it’s not being used. The il’Jhain leaders do not advise you to leave your belongs there when you are not. These rooms are only free when, again, you’re actually sleeping in them. You may only keep the same room over multiple stays (or multiple nights) if you pay a small fee, either daily or a lump sum up front. Given the martial nature of life as an il’Jhain runner, they prefer the lump sum.
The top floor is laid out almost exactly like the floor below, only slightly smaller, with an open sitting room where the office is and quarters along the outside edge. The size difference is to allow for the open ledges on the bottom floor’s roof that serve as a sort of patio, with a ladder to the top floor’s roof. There are no walls on the patio or the roof, so you’re advised to walk with care.
Stables: The post on Irrakam and the three main waypoints contain large stables, capable of providing shelter for about fifteen to twenty beasts. They are connected directly to the posts, in case of attack or sandstorm.
Waypoints
Waypoints, like the headquarters, are neutral territory. No rider can attack another rider while at a waypoint – but once a rider is outside of ten yards, all bets are off.
- Waypoint - Oasis: The Waypoint in the Oasis is a large white tent set over a small cavern that serves as the waypoint’s stables. Mounted on the tent’s middle support pole is a large transparent gem that reflects silver-white, no matter the color of the light shining on it. Rumor has it that if the gem ever stops shining, it means the ghost of Fallien will rise to destroy the Outlanders – repeated attempts to cause the gem to fail have been unsuccessful.
- Waypoint – Spicefields: The waypoint in the Spicefields is built within the ruins of what used to be a village, right on the edge of the farm-lands. Parts are still burned out and collapsing, but other parts are slowly being rebuilt using a strange thatching made from the stalks of bushes, and somewhat amateur stucco-work. It is surrounded by a three foot high wall made of stones. A watchtower still rises over the southern edge of the ruined village, and it is here that the guardians of the waypoint stay. There is a large, dark gem mounted on the Southern side of the watchtower that seems to suck in all light that touches it.
- Waypoint - Outlander’s Post: This waypoint is simply a low building, a mixture of more-modern stucco and brightly colored tent fabrics. There is no gem on this waypoint, but it does have a rather large sign on it, proclaiming its position with the il’Jhain.
Stations
Stations are spread out every one hundred and fifty to two-hundred miles along the routes. The stations consist only of a stable and a small barracks. They are manned by teams of three, rotating once a month. During that month the only real contact they have with anyone is with the riders. They have enough rations and water for that month, and it is kept under careful lock and key. Their stables are considerably smaller than the main waypoints, only capable of housing five or six beasts, though the stables are still connected to the main buildings.