The Sovereign City of Azmarin
Demographics
Azmarin is proud to call itself one of the most diverse nations on Arda'aman. As a port city, Azmarin sees a huge influx of people from all over the globe, most of whom are just passing through, but many decide to stay permanently. The city has developed a reputation for accepting anyone of any race or creed, regardless of any prejudice the rest of the world may feel toward them. As such, Azmarin has a larger-than-average population of tieflings, half-orcs, hobgoblins, etc. There are very few drow in Azmarin, both due to their rarity on the surface and to the city's sunny climate. Genasi, especially water and air genasi, also have a larger-than-average population in Azmarin, while fire genasi are almost unheard of, for obvious reasons.
In addition to its diversity of land-dwelling races (called "drylanders" in Azmarin), the city also boasts a large water-dwelling population. Indeed, Azmarin is the only major amphibious city on Arda'aman. The majority of these water-dwellers are merfolk, but there are a number of sea elves, selkie, cecaelia, etc. among their numbers as well. Tritons in particular are seen both in the merfolk clan (officially the Azmarin Clan of Merfolk and Sea Dwellers) and the drylanders, and most of them can trace their ancestors back to Namoros Alenyath's pod over eight thousand years ago. A small number of druids belonging to drylander races also choose to live with the merfolk clan using their magic.
Government
Modern Day
The government of Azmarin is split into two semi-independent entities: one to govern the merfolk clan and the other to govern the drylanders. In manners concerning both the drylanders and the merfolk, the drylander government has final say, but if the drylander administration at the time has any decency at all they make it a joint decision with the merfolk council. If not, they fall out of favor and usually don't last another term*.Drylander
The drylander government is split into three branches: an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. The executive branch is headed by the governor, who also serves as the figurehead of the Azmarin government. Elections are held every four years, with a limit on four terms per governor. A Parliament with two representatives from each district and one representative from the Alenyath pod—typically the family's current head of house—is in charge of the legislative branch. The judicial branch is made up of a system of courts—one for each district—headed by a Grand Court, which oversees cases that cross district borders, or involve the merfolk clan, or call into question the legality of certain laws. While it is still technically an acceptible punishment to order someone to walk the plank in the Grand Court system, it hasn't been used as a sentence since 7954.Merfolk Clan
Internal matters are all determined by a central council of seven of the wisest merfolk (or anyone else living in the clan). A new councilmember is elected whenever their predecessor dies or steps down. Clan members can vote and run for both the council seats and the governorship, but drylanders cannot vote for the council seats. If a councilor becomes governor they must give up their seat on the council, and there is an underwater City Hall for merfolk governors, with permanent teleportation sigils connecting it to the one on land.History
Originally, when Azmarin was nothing more than a small human settlement, it was ruled by the captain of the ship who brought them there, a man named Godfrey Carter. When he grew too old to lead, he chose his successor from the remaining settlers, and so on and so forth, until year 1 ACI when King Namoros was coronated. The next seven thousand five hundred years marked the Monarchical Era in Azmarin's history, with the crown being passed down from father to son to daughter, etc. Year 7492 saw the Schism War, a three month series of skirmishes which gave the merfolk clan its semi-independence. This was overseen by Queen Clarynn after the previous king was killed during the war. Not ten years later, Queen Clarynn began transitioning Azmarin to the democratic system still in place today. In her last act as queen, she appointed the halfling Winston Elderberry as Azmarin's first governor, with the understanding that all future governors would be democratically elected.Defences
The Azmarin government keeps a number of magic-users on retainer for the city's frequent natural disasters. Under normal circumstances, they help facilitate travel and communication between the drylanders and the merfolk, making potions, casting spells, but when the time comes they also defend the city from hurricanes and, on rare occasions, invading forces by using spells like Prismatic Wall, Control Water/Weather/Winds, etc. In extreme, imminent annihilation circumstances, they even have a contingency plan to cast Etherealness over the entire city.
Industry & Trade
Azmarin is famous for its exports of high end pearl jewelry. A small, competitive market of merfolk brands supply the most exquisite pieces. These five families—for the businesses have been passed down through generations, and some can even trace their roots all the way back to the first migration to Azmarin—each have their own, unique style, and they guard the secrets of their craft fiercely. Only the most elite can afford their work, and their pieces frequently end up in museums.
Due to the volcanic soil, grapes are easily grown in Azmarin. As a result, the city is also well known for its distinct wineries. Innumerable vintners have sprouted up on Iclid, the relatively flat island that makes up the smaller crescent of the ancient caldera.
By far the city's largest export, however, is its seafood. Merfolk farm shellfish and seaweed, while drylanders and merfolk alike—often working in tandem—fish the deeper waters surrounding Azmarin.
Despite these exports, Azmarin is still primarily a port city, and the majority of its revenue stream comes from tariffs placed on the goods passing through Serenity Port. Most ships would rather pay the tax than risk crossing the Marized Ocean in one trip. Given the fact that it is the only major island in the middle of the ocean, Azmarin has a monopoly on all trade crossing it, but trade agreements with Sylanta and Haolong, the two largest countries on either side of the ocean, keep Azmarin's tariffs from rising too high.
In Azmarin itself, the crafting district is situated mainly along the shipyards, since the bulk of the city's craftsmen focus on shipbuilding and repairs. The Old Marketplace just north of the town square houses most of the generations-old tailors, blacksmiths, leatherworkers, etc., while The Boardwalk, a long, wide stretch of the Serenity District, is home to the newer businesses and tourist traps.
Geography
Azmarin is made up of two main islands, Marin and Iclid, with narrow straits separating them. These islands form the caldera of a long-dead volcano.
Marin is the larger, eastern island, dominated by a single mountain at its center, atop which is the newly opened Azmarin Skyport. The outer coast is lined with huge cliffs, while the inner coast has a gentler slope. This is where the vast majority of Azmarin's population lives.
Iclid is the smaller, western island. It is relatively flat compared to Marin, and is covered mainly by grape farms and wineries.
The wider strait to the north is too dangerous for large ships to pass through due to a string of tall, knobby rock formations trailing off Marin called Waukeen's Knuckles. It was named after the common depictions of the godess Waukeen holding Azmarin in her hand, since the formations look something like giant fingers protruding from the ocean. The smaller strait, creatively named the Strait of Azmarin, is the entrance to Serenity Cove and Port Serenity. Once ships pass through the strait and enter the islands' protection, the water becomes perfectly still, hence the name.
*That and the the merfolk council has a tendency to curse any governor who tries to screw them over, which, due to an interesting loophole in the law, is within their legal right to do so. It is not, however, within anyone else’s legal right to do so. No governor has ever closed this loophole for fear of being cursed.
Alternative Name(s)
The Floating City
Type
Large city
Inhabitant Demonym
Azmarinian
Included Locations
Characters in Location
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