Jabal Alasid
Leviathans
Mount Lion · The Jewel of the Desert
The Jabal Alasid is a mobile fortress that travels across the deserts of Arabia and serves as the royal family’s palace. Its steel and marble structure, painted white and clad in gold, displays the kingdom’s power and oil wealth.
Origins and transformation
It was used during the unification of Arabia after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. It remained active after the Great War, when fuel consumption had forced other powers to abandon their Leviathans.
Its upper structure was remodeled into a palace complex with fountains, palm groves, swimming pools, a private airfield, and grand reception halls. The Guest House contains luxury accommodations, a spa, and the Lion Casino. The complex retains a mosque with a golden dome.
The traveling court
The palace hosts some of the most exclusive and wildest parties on the planet. Artists, intellectuals, and celebrities mingle with diplomats and representatives of both blocs seeking the royal family’s favor and access to its oil resources.
These receptions and visits make the fortress a setting for negotiation, intrigue, and secret agreements. The Diwan of External Affairs is headquartered there.
Operation and military capability
Keeping the Leviathan moving consumes extraordinary quantities of oil. Thousands of servants keep it running and attend the court; many live in cramped quarters inside, while those being punished work in the boiler rooms.
Beneath the palace complex, the Jabal Alasid remains a military fortress capable of razing cities and bringing governments to heel. The Royal Guard protects the court’s quarters.