Kalara was the sole city on the planet Obsidian. As with many desert settlements on Earth and Vulcan, it was built of thick mud bricks with high windows, surrounding an oasis, and itself surrounded by a defensive wall. The city was ruled by a council and an executive leader; as of 2296, that leader was Sern Leshon. In the mid 2290s, a Starfleet mission was built in Kalara, against one of the walls. The mission leader, Captain David Rabin, emulated the clan markings on the city's other buildings by painting the Hebrew words "Shalom" and "L'chaim" on the mission. (TOS novel: Vulcan's Forge)