In the world of Jorden in order to build a city you must find a pond that doesn't have an outflow or inflow of water. These pools are then sanctified by a holy person before the construction of the temple and the surrounding city. If you don't have a temple built around a pond you are considered a tributary of a nearby city and have to pay taxes in order to conduct sacred ritual festivals and to have a say in local government dealings.

*The Otez Temple is a sacred site built around one such pool.*