Jabal Alasid
The places where the Cold War runs hot
Mount Lion · The Jewel of the Desert
The Jabal Alasid is a mobile palace built on one of the land fortresses still active since the Great War. Its gold-clad structure of steel and white marble travels across the deserts of Arabia. The court receives diplomats, businesspeople, artists, and celebrities from both blocs, drawn by its oil wealth and hospitality.
Origins and operation
The Leviathan took part in the unification of Arabia after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Its continued operation depends on immense oil consumption, which the court sustains as a display of wealth.
Thousands of servants maintain the fortress and attend its guests. They live in cramped interior quarters; those who are punished are sent to work in the boiler rooms. Beneath the reception complexes, the Jabal Alasid retains the military capability to raze cities and bring governments to heel.
Royal Palace
The upper quarters contain marble walls, golden ceilings, fountains, palm groves, swimming pools, and grand glass halls. The complex includes a private airfield and a mosque with a golden dome.
The Royal Guard protects the court’s spaces. Access to the palace interiors is restricted, and only some visitors see its most private quarters.
Guest House
The Guest House functions as a luxury complex for ambassadors and guests from the international elite. It contains a spa, Roman baths, and the Lion Casino. Its receptions and celebrations rank among the most exclusive and wildest parties on the planet.
Surveillance extends to guests’ private activities. Cameras and spies record their visits while access to luxuries, favors, and vices creates compromising situations.
The Diwan and oil interests
The Diwan of External Affairs operates from the palace and uses hospitality to gather information. Guests’ secrets feed operations involving corruption, pressure, and blackmail against those who decide contracts, concessions, prices, and supplies.
It is the most powerful oil agency and seeks to dominate the global market. The FNC and IURR compete to retain access to the court and its resources while their own agencies try to limit the Diwan’s influence.