Great Jerohm
Great Jerohm, also known as the desert city, was a city situated in the desert of the Zenwey continent, beyond the northern coast of Zenwey in the desert that had to be crossed before reaching the dangerous northern regions. The city was noted for its herbs and its people, who were initially described as very friendly to outside visitors.
Overview
Great Jerohm occupied a position of geographic and strategic importance as a waypoint between the settled regions of Zenwey and the perilous northern territories beyond the desert. The city's leadership was known to engage in trade, exchanging locally available herbs and supplies for weapons and other goods brought by travelers. The city also faced a dangerous threat from across the desert to the north, and enemies of those in Great Jerohm were known to have ambushed the people of Zenwey. Despite this threat, the city's cannoneers proved capable defenders, as raiders were described as no match for them.
The narrator of The Blood of Giants acknowledged knowing little of the city firsthand, with much of the available information coming from their father's logs, which described Great Jerohm as friendly.
History
Great Jerohm was visited by Baron Theodore von Monocle during an early mission, an event later recalled by Harkerpal. On that expedition, the Baron brought back herbs from the city to the Tribes of Zenwey. The city's leadership sought weapons in exchange for those herbs, and the Baron made the decision to trade guns with the people of Great Jerohm.
During a subsequent visit recorded in the narrator's father's logs, Harkerpal traded gold stores at Great Jerohm for supplies. The crew of the expedition carried trade goods to exchange for information and to replenish food and water supplies. The people of Great Jerohm were described as very friendly during this period, though they became less friendly when the airship flew in the area for several weeks.
A log entry referenced in The Blood of Giants noted that Great Jerohm was under siege at one point, though the crew was described as fortunate to return during that time. The raiders besieging the city were reported to be no match for the cannoneers stationed there.
Role in The Blood of Giants
In The Blood of Giants, Great Jerohm was referenced in a log entry preceding the main action of the narrative. Harkerpal recalled the city from an early mission, noting: "I remember the desert city, Great Jerohm, and the long travel north."
A log entry also recorded: "We came across a city in a desert beyond, which the locals call Great Jerohm," and referenced "my decision to trade the weapons with the people of Great Jerohm."
During the main events of the book, Harkerpal suggested an expedition on foot to find the city, as it was believed he might need to visit Great Jerohm to procure parts for the engine capacitor, stating: "I may need to find the city of Great Jerohm in order to procure what I need." Great Jerohm was also a place where Harkerpal had previously found supplies.
Additionally, Zaira von Monocle intended to find Great Jerohm in order to gather supplies and obtain information related to the serum. A woman encountered in the jungle provided information connected to the city. Enemies of those in Great Jerohm were also noted to have ambushed the people of Zenwey during this period.
On the world map
The official world map marks this city in south-central Zenwey, south of the Sinking Castle, spelled Great Jehrom. The Blood of Giants spells it Great Jerohm throughout. In the novel, the Baron's log reaches it while "traveling along the northern coast", and the threat to the city comes "from across the desert to the north". On the map, the city sits in the south of the continent. Both points are left for the author to rule on.
In A History of Rislandia
According to A History of Rislandia, Great Jerohm is the capital of Nyanzi, with an estimated population of approximately 60,000. This makes it a major political and demographic centre rather than simply a desert waypoint, a detail not addressed in the novels.
The sourcebook describes Great Jerohm as a prime example of Nyanzi mechanized city technology: it is a city that rises from the sand during the day and descends at night, retreating below the surface to escape the desert heat. The bible quotes the city directly as "a city that rises from the sand during the day and descends at night." This extraordinary engineering is cited as representative of the Nyanzi Engineer Guilds' capabilities.
The sourcebook also confirms the trade connection established in the novels — the Baron's crew traveled to Great Jerohm and traded weapons for medicinal herbs there — and notes the city's position within the broader Zenwey Desert trade network.