Forty miles east of Cromlin lies a ruin largely forgotten by most of Athas. Rumors in the Ivory Triangle speak of Giustenal, a crumbled city on the far side of the Black Spine Mountains. Silt skimmers passing by the Bay of Maray steer far out on the shoals and give the city a wide berth, seeking to pass by swiftly and in daylight. Brave souls who venture near find a maze of walls and broken ramparts encircling Giustenal, many winding down into the silt for hundreds of yards. Silt horrors thrive beneath the dust here.
Within the maze, the city is half buried in silt. It appears deserted, and its ruins show evidence of a terrible sorcerous battle fought here long ago. Giustenal was destroyed swiftly but never sacked; the few looters who have raided the city claim that a great deal of treasure still lies in the ruins.
No people are known to linger nearby, but dangerous beasts lair in the remains of the city. From time to time, travelers passing by in the desert report feeling the lure of a psychic presence calling them toward Giustenal. All that is known about this mysterious spirit, referred to as the Caller, is the effect it has on its victims—trusted companions go into a shrieking, violent fit, killing pack animals or fellow travelers before fleeing into the desert, heading straight for the ruined city. Even those touched only lightly by the Caller’s power speak of feeling an unnatural desire to pass through the gates of Giustenal and be consumed. Some say that the Caller is the collective remnant of Giustenal’s long-dead populace, trapped on Athas by the mystical turbulence stirred up by the city’s destruction. Others believe that the Caller devours those it lures into the city, adding their souls to its own tormented legions.