In the unforgiving embrace of the Great Ennedi Desert, where the sands meet the Bay of Mahajamba, lies Zouar—a town that thrives against all odds. The air is a heavy blend of salt and sweat, and the sun is an ever-present overseer. Yet, the bay's waters offer a respite, teeming with fish that form the cornerstone of the town's economy. A smattering of islands near the coast serve as the town's breadbasket, their fertile soil yielding sorghum, fonio, cowpeas, and the precious baobab fruit. In a land where wood is a luxury, ships are the ultimate status symbol, owned only by the wealthy.
Guiding Zouar through its daily dance with the elements is Chieftain Ealdred Stonegrip, a Sand Elf male with skin the color of sun-baked clay and eyes like polished turquoise. Ealdred is a pragmatic leader, his governance as steady as the tides. His wife, Selene, is a Moon Elf female who specializes in water purification magic. They have a single child, a Sand Elf daughter named Lyra, who is studying maritime navigation.
Under Ealdred's watchful eye, three major businesses have anchored themselves in Zouar's economy:
Ealdred's inner circle includes his chief advisor, Varook, a wise male Lizardfolk with a deep understanding of desert ecology, and his bodyguard, Yara, a skilled female Tiefling warrior.
In Zouar, the desert's harshness is tempered by the bounty of the bay, and life thrives in the balance. It's a town where the line between survival and prosperity is as thin as a fishing line, yet under Chieftain Ealdred's steadfast rule, that line has never snapped.