View source for Cities of the Ancients

{{Location
| type          = Region
| name          = Cities of the Ancients
| image         = RuinedKingdomsIA.JPG
| caption       = Map of the Cities of the Ancients region to the east of the red outline.
| aliases       = East Zakhara, Ruined Kingdoms<ref name="LoF-p104">{{Cite book/Land of Fate/Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara|104}}</ref>
| capital       = 
| area          = [[Zakhara]], [[Toril]]<ref name="LoF-p104"/>
| size          = 
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| languages     = [[Midani]], [[Kadari]], [[Noga]], [[Affa]]<ref>{{Cite book/Land of Fate/Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara|124}}</ref> 
| races         = 
| religion      = [[Zakharan pantheon]]
| currency      =
| reckoning     = DR
| population1   = 
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| alignment     = 
| allegiances    = [[Grand Caliph]]<ref name="LoF-p27">{{Cite book/Land of Fate/Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara|27, 105}}</ref>
| usethe        = yes
| useon         = 
| inhabitants   = yes
| locations     = yes
| organizations = yes
| settlements   = yes
| items         = yes
}}
The so-called '''Cities of the Ancients''' covered jungle-filled '''East [[Zakhara]]''', an area left vacant by the ruin of former empires.<ref name="LoF-p104"/> The influence of [[Huzuz]], [[Afyal]] and the [[Cities of the Pantheon|League of the Pantheon]] on the local rulers was strong, but so was that of their savage history.<ref name="LoF-p27"/>

==Geography==
For centuries past, this region of mighty river valleys, forests, and desert was home to the kingdoms of [[Nog]] and [[Kadar]].<ref name="RK4">{{Cite book/Ruined Kingdoms/Campaign Guide|4-5}}</ref> All that remained from those ancient civilizations were crumbling ruins, tombs of forgotten rulers, and temples of lost gods.<ref name="RK4"/> Their legacy was strong enough, however, that the whole region was also called the '''Ruined Kingdoms'''.<ref name="LoF-p104"/> In this vast, relatively unexplored, and very wild corner of mainland [[Zakhara]], three major cities were found, all in the southeastern quarter - [[Rog'osto]], [[Kadarasto]], and [[Dihliz]] (the only one not built on the ruins of old capitals).<ref name="LoF-p104"/>

The large islands of [[Sahu]] - influenced by Kadar and the ancient followers of [[Thasmudyan]] - and Afyal - each featuring a lost civilization of its own - were considered both part of the Ruined Kingdoms and [[Crowded Sea]] regions.<ref name="LoF-p104"/><ref>{{Cite book/Arabian Adventures|12-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book/The Complete Book of Necromancers|107-108}}</ref>

East Zakhara is enclosed by the [[Haunted Lands]] in the North and West, the [[Foreigners' Sea]] in the North and East, the Crowded Sea, specifically the islands of [[Bariya]] and [[Harab]], in the South, and the [[Cities of the Pantheon]] in the West, where [[Al-Sayaj Mountains]] form a natural barrier.<ref>{{Cite book/Land of Fate/Map}}</ref>

==Inhabitants==
Most of the population in this region descended from the scattered tribes that dominated the jungles, though many foreigners also lived here. Natives of the region were tall and muscular, perhaps due to the [[Jungle giant|giant's]] blood mixed with their lineage, if the claims could be believed. Most natives were proud and xenophobic. They were often considered poor compared to the standards of the rest of [[Zakharan pantheon|enlightened]] Zakhara.<ref name="CoB.CG-p18">{{Cite book/Cities of Bone/Campaign Guide|18}}</ref>

==Notable locations==
===Settlements===
*[[Dihliz]]
*[[Kadarasto]]
*[[Medina al-Afyal]]
*[[Rog'osto]]

===Islands===
*[[Afyal]]
*[[Sahu]]

===Fallen empires===
*Afyal
*[[Kadar]]
*[[Nog]]
*[[New Dynasty of the Necromancer Kings]]

===Rivers===
*[[Al-Iltifat River|Al-Iltifat]]
*[[Kadan River|Kadan]]
*[[Nogaro River|Nogaro]]
*[[River Abdo|Abdo]]
==Appendix==
===Appearances===
:;Licensed Adventures & Organized Play
::{{Refonly}}
::<small>''[[Where the Teak Snakes Slither]]''</small>

===Sources===
*{{Cite book/Land of Fate/Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara|27, 104-113}}
*{{Cite book/Ruined Kingdoms/Campaign Guide|16-29}}

===Further Reading===
*{{Cite book/Ruined Kingdoms}}
*{{Cite book/Cities of Bone}}

===References===
{{Refs}}

===Connections===
{{Cities of the Ancients}}
{{ZakharaRegions}}
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Locations on the Foreigners' Sea]]
[[Category:Locations on the Crowded Sea]]
[[Category:Locations in East Zakhara]]
[[Category:Locations in Zakhara]]
[[Category:Locations on Toril]]
[[Category:Locations]]