Simoom Castle

When viewed at a great distance, Simoom Castle is often mistaken for a mirage appearing, through the heat haze, to float in mid-air. Closer examination, however, does nothing to change the picture; the fortress does, in fact, truly hover high above the desert sands. Centuries ago, a great wizard of one of the desert tribes subjugated the air elementals of the local oasis. The wizard commanded the elementals to build a castle to protect the oasis and the tribes that defended it. They built a sturdy castle of brick and the elementals lifted it, along with the massive chunk of earth and rock upon which it stood, into the sky. The magical winds they wrought hold it aloft above the oasis’ center to this day.

Most locals think that the castle floats via strange natural phenomena, as the castle has been suspended as long as any of them have lived, and they themselves see only formless swirling winds between the castle and the sands. The truth is that the elementals are still present, both upholding and defending the castle, enslaved by grim magic, the nexus of which is a jewel hidden deep within the castle. Were that to be destroyed, the spell would be broken, the elementals freed, and the castle would crash into the oasis below, likely killing everyone inside and out. A wise liberator might attempt to persuade or compell the elementals to aid in lowering the castle once freed, however Simoom’s new ruler, Taragu, has no intention of allowing this simple weakness to be widely known.

Taragu is said to possess powerful magic (though none seem to know for sure, and the taciturn ruler is happy for rumors to run rampant) and he cultivates a fearsome persona. His favorite display is receiving audiences from a throne the shape of a massive demon’s head, carved from bloodstone, in whose maw Taragu sits. He has been known to invite travelers up to the castle, in the guise of welcoming them to the oasis, but it is often out of a desire for useful information or because they possess something powerful he wants.

Simoom’s guards and staff are locals taken unceremoniously from the oasis and kept for years with little opportunity to leave the castle for the duration of their tenure. Personnel and supplies are transferred via massive lifts, powered by camels harnessed to their mechanisms. Locals can usually find a passerby to present an opportunity to, or beg for aid from, as the oasis is always an enticing place for travelers to rest and resupply. Some visitors have even begun to arrive with more than recuperation on their minds, as rumors of a great treasure in the fortress, supposedly guarded by a djinn, seep out into the wider world.