Dathys
by WingofCootPopulation 80,000 (25,000 within city walls; 55,000 elsewhere in valley)
Dathys is the cultural and religious heart of Deshret, despite the political and trade preeminence of Protia. It is said to be the site of the first Nithian footstep on Vaniae (a small hill on the west side of the valley which is today a sacred site), and became the heart of the Deshri cultural resistance to Imperial assimilation after the taking of Protia and the decline in Ankhata's status. While the High Cleric must spend much of his time in Protia, he has a second official residence, and his nominal 'home' temple, in Dathys.
The oasis valley of Dathys is far larger than the actual city. This is an almost circular basin/valley of about 500 square miles, roughly 25 miles in diameter. At the center of the basin is Lake Nu, a large and rich body of water covering about 15 square miles. Most of the flat floor of the basin is farmland, with pastures and small woods on the slopes. Thus, the majority of Dathys' population does not live in the city itself but as farmers on their farmland.
The city of Dathys is on the shore of Lake Nu. It is most noted for its Temple District. After a major reconstruction and construction of new temples about five local centuries (eight Mystaran centuries) ago, this has fourteen huge and lavish temples: one to each of the nine Immortals forming the Ennead, one to the Ennead as a whole, and one to the Immortals of each of the four elemental Spheres (these latter temples include small shrines to individual Immortals not in the Ennead). A few individual smaller and older temples considered too important to destroy/replace in the reconstruction also still exist, so a few Immortals have two temples in Dathys.
In addition to the huge number of scattered farmers' residences, two towns or clusters of settlement besides the city itself are also in the valley - one centered around the hill believed to be the "first footstep" on Vaniae, one a fishing village opposite shore of the lake from the city.
The Imperial garrison in Dathys is cautious not to tread on Deshri sensibilities. Of course they still follow Brissard, as all Imperial soldiers are required to do, but they are careful not to say anything negative about the local Immortals, and do not attempt to convert Deshri to the Imperial cult.