Khari used to be a nondescript Rahadoum fishing village near the mouth of the great river Mazir. A thousand
years ago, however, Rahadoum was beset by a host of internal and external problems to the extent it withdrew its protection of craft
travelling that important trade route. Knowing that the river traffic was also important to the fledgeling realm of
Gherant Rahadoum persuaded the new realm to police the river to cope with the growing number of river pirates that took advantage of Rahadoum's weakness. In return Gherant was allowed to use
Khari as a base and fortify it.
The new rulers of Khari were wise enough to realise that at some stage
Rahadoum would decide to renege on the agreement and constructed the defences accordingly so that the garrison
might repel not only river pirates but also a full scale assault by the Rahadoum army. So forbidding were the defences that it was not until -632 that such an assault materialised. By then, however, Gherant itself was a major regional power and after several months of heavy losses
the Ramadan generals withdrew and a peace treaty was signed. As part of that treaty Gherant agreed that no dissident military force would
ever be housed in the city since Rahadoums laws meant many of the banned Rahadoum gods had temples and followers in the city.
Culturally and architecturally Khari is more like Rahadoum cities like Azir and Manaket than Gherant Coast cities like
Westcrown or Boren. It is also a city of spies as Rahadoum likes to keep its eye
on its dissident factions and indeed has come to see the advantage of having them all in one place. The Khari authorities themselves
also spy on these factions to make sure they dont cause too much trouble for the city. As a result many have moved their headquarters
to Coren where at least Rahadoum spies tend to stand out more.
Khari's population has now reached 20,000 and has sprawled beyond its original walls. It is an important part of the regions trade network
and many Rahadoum and Gherant merchants have permanent bases and warehouses here. Culturally it is one of the most diverse cities in the area
with many eastern influences having reached it since the Mazir forms part of a great transcontinental trade route. Despite having, in -226,
gained its independence from Westcrown Khari has defence treaties with all the Gherant Coast cities. They all recognise that should Khari
fall there would be an unfortunate domino effect.