Dylath-Leen depicted by Frej Agelii
A large city in the West located in the mouth of the river Skai by the Southern Sea. It is built mostly of basalt and has many thin angular towers which pierce the sky. Its streets are dark and uninviting, and a haze of smoke hangs over the city except when strong winds blow in from the sea. Dylath-Leen is ruled by a prince.
The city has a bad reputation throughout the Dreamlands as a home for criminals, assassins, and other wicked people. The ruling prince utilizes his Eyes of Dylath-Leen - a sort of secret police - to investigate crime only when important persons are involved. Otherwise, he allows citizens to pretty much do whatever they want.
Dylath-Leen is famous for the comings and goings of the mysterious Black Galleys.
Economy[]
Dylath-Leen is the largest trade city of the West. It has a port from where ships sail to the southern lands. Its harbor, known as the Bay of Wharves, is filled with over one hundred docks and quays of various sizes. There are always at least a dozen ships from every land on Earth, and few which are thought not to be on Earth, at anchor here.
Black Galleys[]
A source of fear and superstition from across the Southern Sea. They trade unique rubies to the bazaars of Dylath-Leen in exchange for gold and "fat black men of Parg whom they bought by the pound" which they take back with them to the moon.
Fan-made map of Dylath-Leen by TeamGirl-Differel
The traders that interact with human merchants are men of Leng disguised with turbans to cover their horns. Despite this their wide mouths and sinister reputation lead to distrust in the human population. But the real owners of galleys are toad-like moon-beasts. At Dylath-Leen they remain below decks for weeks and only emerge through the ship's hatches when they return to the Moon.
Once the alien traders brought to the city the biggest ruby ever seen, leaving it on a pedestal in the main square as a false token of esteem. The magical influence of this great jewel bewitched the people, and in the end they became slaves to be led away to the black galleys. Men of Leng invaded the city, but Titus Crow and Henri-Laurent de Marigny were able to throw them out.
Known citizens[]
- Bo-Kareth, innkeeper
- Litha, Bo-Kareth's daughter
Appearances[]
- "The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath" (H. P. Lovecraft, 1943)
- "Dylath-Leen" (B. Lumley, 1971, later became part of "The Clock of Dreams")
- "The Clock of Dreams" (B. Lumley, 1978)