Raam’s nobles are known as nawabs, families of high caste that have amassed wealth and property over the centuries. From their estates (which are fortified with mercenary guards), the nawabs wage war against one another to crush opposition and rally supporters. Each family is an armed faction, and all are little better than bandits, demanding tolls from anyone seeking to use the roads crossing their lands.
Each mansabdar, mercenary, criminal gang, and commoner in Raam swears allegiance to one of the nawab warlords; to do otherwise is to risk enmity from all. The leading warlords include Nawab Maarham, a human demagogue who is virtually a crime lord with control of the gangs in the poorer quarters of the city; Nawab Urdun-Mor, a militant dwarf who controls the arena and many mansabdars; and Nawab Shialha, a female elf with strong ties to elven tribes outside the city.