Nathlekh

Nathlekh (the City of Cats) was the capital of the Shou nation of Nathlan.

Located at the western edge of the Gulthmere Forest on the shores of the Lake of the Long Arm, Nathlekh was built around a granite plug, atop which The Pride of Nobanion stood, seemingly as an extension of the rock. Originally populated by feline lycanthropes worshiping Nobanion and Sharess. It had a significant population of mundane cats (including lions) and it's mysterious rulers were known as the Cat Lords, all of these factors certainly earned it its moniker.

Settled by more and more immigrants from Kara-Tur over the centuries, by 1479 DR, the city had become populated almost entirely by Shou and the small nation of Nathlan had grown up around it. The citizens of Nathlekh were suspicious of outsiders. They forbade anyone not of Shou decent (especially non-humans) from taking up residence in the city and restricted visitors to a single, special section of the city.

History
In 1386 DR, the Spellplague caused the ground underneath the Shou ward of the city to rise several hundred feet higher up then the rest of the city. This destroyed much of the non-Shou parts of the city.

In 1394 DR, the city outlawed refugees and fey from entering the city.

Law & Order
Under the Cat Lords, a trio of lammasu judges passed judgement once a week on lawbreakers.

Places of Interest

 * Sky District : This was the name given to the Shou ward of the city that rested on the high ground.


 * The Dragon Bridge : The wide and thick stone bridge that went from the ground near the piers on Long Arm Lake to rise in a diagonal line up to the Sky District. The bridge was so named for its supporting arches, each of which took the form of a sculpted, sinuous stone dragon. Each successively larger stone dragon statue bore the weight of its span differently. A series of three massive, gated checkpoints guarded the bridge.

Foreign Quarter

 * The Bear Pit : A western-style warehouse that hides an underground gambling den and fighting arena where bets are placed on captured dogs and other animals. The White Petal tong, who run the establishment, occasionally have people who've crossed them fight the animals. The building backs onto a confusing maze of alleyways.


 * Chiang Emporium : The main base of a shou trading coster that operates along the Dragon Coast and the Sea of Fallen Stars. Owned and operated by the Chiang Clan, a powerful family that seems to consist entirely of women.


 * Flying Tiger Inn : On the outside, this inn appears to have been built in the western style but inside, it is decorated exclusively in the style of the shou. Owned and operated by Master Woo, a small bald man with a very long white mustache.


 * Four Winds tea house : A traditional shou tea house owned by the influential Neng Clan. Propriety is important here and those who offend shou social norms will be asked to leave.


 * Ho Fan Dye Works : This old factory on East Street, located at the edge of the industrial area in the Foreign Quarter, is an old building that acts as the White Petal tong's headquarters. The tong's elderly Grandmaster Tsui Shoku lives here, well-protected by guards, traps and other defenses.


 * House of Flowers : The local temple of Kelemvor, although not a shou god, this temple is where the annual Night of Fallen Petals occurs in the city.


 * Ironhand's Forge : A high-quality smithy run by the shield dwarf Elmund Ironhand, who opened his business in 1469 DR and enjoys the company of the shou despite their haughtiness and pride.


 * Lo-Yun's butcher's shop : This otherwise average looking but smelly butcher's shop stands atop a soundproofed dojo operated by the White Petal tong. Lo-Yun's pigs are quite accustomed to being fed human meat.


 * Mak Won Emporium : Next door to the Flying Tiger, this shop sells everything an alchemist could ever need. The owner is an elderly shou man named Yu Mak Won.


 * Mensyn's Wares : A cobbler's and leatherworking shop owned by the eccentric and incredibly rich halfling Jonster Yate - one of the Seven Burghers of New Velar.


 * Snow Blossom gambling house : A traditional shou building laquered in red, green and gold with a sleeping stone dragon reclining on the roof. This popular gambling den is operated by Tak Mei as a front for the White Petal tong but its games are rigged - run by expert cheats and con men. The criminals use debts accrued by the patrons to blackmail them.


 * Temple of Tymora : A beautiful building run by a priest named Markle. Brother Berak - originally from Westgate - and a shou man known as Brother Mu, help Markle.


 * Yi Amahl's shop : A prophet from Almraiven sells coffee and calishite trinkets herewith his apprentice Petec.