The Abandoned Palace of Al'Jaboorzi

artist unknown, source

This massive edifice was once the palace of a powerful but frivilous emir who spent his realm's wealth creating this palace in the middle of the desert. Al'Jaboorzi may have been the legitimate ruler of Abbashan but he was by no means a good ruler - this now-crumbling manse stands as testimony to his foolishness. 

The palace is located about half-way between Abbashan and Jaboor in the Emirate of Abbashan and was constructed between 805AC and 817AC, It was an active, thriving palace for only 10 years before being caught between a three-way battle between the forces of Al-Kalim on their war of conversion and conquest, Thyatian forces trying to hold onto their territories and Alphatian raiders just trying to cause havoc. There were running skirmishes through magnificent halls, luxurious dining rooms and once-peaceful courtyards. Soldiers charged, mages cast powerful spells and clerics healed the injured and joined in with the melee, while palace servants ran for their lives. After several weeks the palace was partially looted by the various forces and then abandoned, leaving the dead where they lay.

Various groups have moved in and tried to claim ownership of the palace, but it is so vast and sprawling that it would take a regiment to properly occupy and control this ruin. The Whip-scorpion Raiders, a band of human bandits and brigands have made the northwest corner their base. This has one major asset - a well for drinking water, and the Whip-Scorpions guard it jealously. These bandits will raid caravans and travellers between Jaboor and Abbashan. Interestingly they have occasionally traded some of their water if force of arms is not appropriate for dealing with others. Also some regularly disguise themselves as normal traders and travel in pairs to both Abbashan and Jaboor to gather information. 

Higher up, in the towers and minarets, a necromantic priest of Chaos is believed to have re-animated and summoned various types of undead, including those slain during the palace's demise. Anyone venturing higher than the 5th floor will encounter skeletons, zombies and even skeletal giant rats. Lower down in the southwest corner there are a number of gnoll bands that have formed a loose coalition, though given their in-fighting they cannot be considered a single group.  They hate and despise all humans and will skirmish with the Whip-Scorpion Raiders. 

There are many parts of the palace that are left to vermin and wildlife, as well as strange monsters that have wandered in. One of the minarets has become the lair to a family of desert wyverns (slimmer, pale brown but mostly the same as normal wyverns) that roam the desert looking for sheep, camels and the occasional lone human. 

The wealth that the Palace of Al'Jaboorzi contains can only be guessed at. Although partially looted during the battle that ended its time as a proper palace, many items of value were left behind - either they were too bulky or were not recognised as valuable. The current inhabitants have more time to examine the contents, at least within the territories they control, and both the Whip-Scorpion bandits and the gnoll packs have accumulated considerable wealth from the palace interior, supplemented by raiding and robbing travellers.