Yarkand

Yarkand marks a vital waypoint on the caravan route to Lop, positioned beyond Kashgar Valley along the Old Silk Road. Marco Polo names it among the logistical stops his group will traverse under Mongol guard, highlighting its place in the dusty trails of Central Asia. Travelers pass through its markets and oases amid rising tensions, where merchants haggle and emissaries like Tegana plot, the air thick with spice scents and whispers of court intrigue drawing the Doctor's wary group deeper into Polo's scheme.