Mola Ram
Mola Ram is a ruined city that resides in the south modern-day Aerla. Reportedly founded in 1528 AN by the rulers of Hatay as a regional capital for the Shahdad Region, the city prospered as a hotspot for the gas and oil extraction industry that dominated the region. After the collapse of Hatay, local rulers attempted to keep control of the city from the tribal warbands that flooded into the Shahdad Region. Archeological evidence suggests that any permanent settlements in the city ceased to be roughly around 1610 AN, with the inhabitants leaving the city for the surrounding countryside.
Some decades before the formation of Aerla, a mysterious religious order calling themselves the "Exalted State of the Mumin" began basing themselves out of the ruins of the city. The group attempted to establish a hermit kingdom throughout what is now the southern regions of Aerla, however it is reported that the group only held control of the city and some surrounding townships. The group seemingly abandoned the area in a sudden rush only a few years later. The reasons for their retreat ultimately remaining unknown, but it is told by some locals that due to the apparent oppressive nature of their society, a citizens militia was formed and ran them out of the area. It is unknown if the group ever survived this attack or where any surviving members reside.
After the formation of Aerla, the city was designated as an Area of Cultural Importance, and become a protected zone, with special permission being required to enter. The ruins are a frequent pilgrimage site for the numerous Umraists that reside within Aerla's borders.
