60 years ago
The port city of Markut lies on the east coast of the continent and has been a center of power in eastern Abkhazia for centuries. It is located on the seven-armed delta mouth of the river from which it takes its name, into the Sea of the Sun Birth. This privileged position allowed it to exploit maritime and inland shipping early on to gain extraordinary wealth. This wealth turned the city into a magnet for members of all humanoid races, transforming the city into a pluralistic melting pot. With the masses came also great intellectuals and the most talented magicians who found their way into the "seven-armed city" (or the "seven-armed kraken," depending on whether you ask a citizen of Markut or someone from anywhere else).
The Olivio University, founded 450 years ago by the famous chronicler Lucio Olivio, is still one of the most respected teaching and research institutions on the continent. The Markut Magic Academy, undoubtedly punished with a more boring name but equally esteemed, set the gold standard for centuries as well. In particular, the academy's expertise in conjuration and divination spells was undisputed throughout the continent. While Lezina was the capital of the human empire before the Dragon Wars, Markut gained increasing importance at that time. This may be due to the more pluralistic views of its inhabitants, who welcomed anyone within their walls who was willing to respect the laws of the city. At that time, Markut enjoyed great autonomy under the rule of a marquis.
When the Dragon Fires raged over Abkhazia, parts of the city burned down in firestorms, but the well-organized military defense and protection spells of the magicians, combined with a courageous civilian population that snuffed out fires in the bud, saved the city from worse. The skulls of the dragons brought down from the sky over the city still greet ships arriving in the harbor today. In the following centuries of the Abkhazian Empire, Markut continued to grow until, according to scholars' estimates, over a million inhabitants lived within the city walls. The space freed during the Dragon Wars was filled with magnificent marble buildings; the white domes of the marble towers, reflecting the sunlight, still fill every visitor with amazement today.
Thirteen years ago, when all signs in the empire pointed to war, the rightful emperor Ruard Lopesa wisely rushed to Markut and secured the loyalty and support of the wealthy city and surrounding regions. This is probably one of the most important reasons for Ruard's armies' great military successes during the first phase of the Partition War. During the war, the population continued to increase as thousands of refugees from the western regions of the continent flooded into the city, as Markut could guarantee at least a stable food supply thanks to its surrounding fertile lands untouched by the war. However, the mood in the city changed increasingly as the atrocities committed by the magicians of the usurper Neban at the front became known. The magicians of the city were increasingly seen as either incapable of opposing the Timurians in friendlier minds or as collaborating with the enemy in hostile ones. When Gebra disappeared from existence and the Karysto (the chief magician) of the Markut Magician Academy did not feel it necessary to publicly criticize the situation, a mob of Khanian soldiers and civilians gathered outside the academy and tried to break in. When the Karysto ordered the academy to defend itself against the angry mob with flame spells, the mood finally turned. In a fateful night in 865 AGF, angry citizens marched through the streets, committing numerous lynchings of magicians, and the white marble towers of the city were bathed in red light from burning magician houses. This "Night of Khanian Steel" was to serve as a model for many other cities in the empire and would lead to the exodus of many magic-capable people. When the war turned into a ceasefire, Markut was declared the capital of the Eastern Empire of Khania, and Ruard had the former Magicig Academy rebuilt into his royal palace.
Today, Markut is the undisputed social, economic, and religious center of the Eastern Empire of Khania. While the events of ten years ago still reflect in some places, the seven-armed city as a whole has found a new identity. An identity in which magic no longer has a place.
Especially revered gods: Abadar, Cayden Cailean, Iomedae, Irori.
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