Caravanserai

Caravanserai, also called caravansary, was a type of a large building found in the southern lands of Faerûn and further south, in the lands of Zakhara. Caravanserais were used for a similar purpose as regular caravan inns.

Description
Typical caravanserais were sturdy square stone structures with a large central courtyard separated from the outside of the building by a portal. Both the gates and the courtyards were big enough to accommodate at least one entire caravan. The main structure could be as tall as three stories along the trade routs, up to six stories in big cities, and only a single floor when stationed on a less active route.

The main managerial office usually was placed above the entrance portal where the owned greeted customers and did business, and had a private entrance, often quite secure – iron-bound door.

Locations
Caravanserais were built along busy trade routs and served as attended waystations. Most commonly, these buildings could be found in Zakhara, the Land of Fate. In major settlements, caravanserais could be found by the main gates.

Services
Similarly to regular inns, caravanserais offered meals and lodgings to traveling caravaners, sundries, shelter and feed for the beasts of burden, as well as secure cargo storage. Freshwater in caravanserais was available from nearby springs, wells, or pumps on the premises. Unlike inns, however, caravanserais often offered other services related to the caravan trade, such as metalsmithing, harness-crafting, cloth and food retail, and of corse – entertainment. Long-term leases were also available for interested customers. In Zakhara, such lodgings could be purchased for a sum of 30 to 60 gold pieces. Such apartments were kept clean and ready for the leaser to arrive. They often were purchased by caravaners as second homes.

Most establishments were ran by a single family, while other supporting business belonged to distant family members and fiends of the owner's family.

Notable Carvanserais

 * House of Wo, a notable establishment in the City of Delights, Huzuz, ran by ajami named Wo in the 14 century DR.
 * Merchant's Home, a resplendent five-floor tall caravanserai in Huzuz.