Tulak seems to be a city chock-full of contradictions. Originally founded by a sect of Northmen Sahmenites (a rare breed) it was still ruled by Sahmen kings until recent years. The last such king was Kasi Maru, the tenth monarch from the fourth dynasty since foundation. He died a glorious death in the lair of the wyrm of Ang-Ashad in a successful attempt to recover The Sword of Sahmen. His twin children were too young to rule and the head of the Tulak Inquisition stepped up to take the reins of power as Regent until the royal children come of age. Stornus Wence was supported in his bid for the regency by arch mage Valdrad, the man at who's behest the Inquisition was set up to combat the dark influence of Hesterus' empire.
Magus Valdrad is thought by many to be the true power in Tulak and to have been so for many years. He is certainly the oldest and longest established Tulakian having come to the city nearly three hundred years ago after his famous falling out with his one-time friends and fellow princes Hesterus, Megiarcho and Nazarish. Of the three Haquarians in that group only the Magus chose to follow the light path of Haquar and this choice made him acceptable to the people of Tulak.
About eight years ago Tulak mysteriously sunk by several yards, a fairly sudden process that thankfully halted before the sea swallowed the port-city. As a result about three quarters of the city now has canals rather than steets and travellers must pay to be taxied around in gondolas.
The Inquisition although established to root out evil are widely held to be corrupt and are thoroughly hated by the population and visitors to Tulak alike. Despite the presence of demon-masked Inquisitors hauling people away for torture the city is still predominantly Sahmenite and the Sahmen high priest is a major figure.
The Inquisition have made Tulak a very intolerant place but despite this it has a small population of dwarves and, even more surprisingly, a small population of Suoccona-worshipping ogres! The latter welcomed into the city during the few years when Cursiter-exile Paradessa Bot-Zarlis (former high priestess of Suocona) was married to Kasi-Maru.
Tulak has temples to:
Shrines to: