Baraji-Awanna

The city is bathed in a golden light as the sun sets over the plains of the Maba Lowlands.
The imperial capital is a sprawling metropolis. Rising from the ashes of the old world, the Great City of Paradise was built amid the ruins of the old Khana city of Kabakoma in the heartlands of the ancient empire. Baraji-Awanna is actually made up of two separate cities.
The city of Baraji is mostly inhabited by the native Maban people. Constructed not long after the Age of Ash, the city grew from the settlement of the most successful ashen-age tribes in the area, when their chieftain proclaimed himself the Maban king. Baraji is a large city in its own right, and possesses many great buildings. Temples, libraries, universities and museums are among these buildings, and they stand in celebration of the new cultural enlightenment that has arisen in the years since the city's founding. The city is dotted with wells, whose water runs sweet to the taste, and grants life to great public gardens. Baraji is a true oasis, a refuge from the harsh world outside its walls.
Six miles from Baraji is the city of Alijɛnɛ, the holy city that surrounds the palace of Awa. At the centre of Alijɛnɛ, the palace itself sits atop a small hill, and along with a number of smaller, domed buildings, it is encircled by a lush garden and enclosed by a thick, defensive wall. Beyond this wall is a moat-like canal, and on the far bank, the courts of justice, and the halls of government are situated within full view of the god-emperor's throne room. Not far from the palace, a great temple is dedicated to the god-emperor. And throughout Alijɛnɛ, domed buildings and fenced off thickets and groves are home to the Solian sorcerers who have risen to lead the religious cult.

The long road between these two great cities is lined with a continuous row of habitations. Filled with simple dwellings constructed from stone and acacia wood, this third town grew as the populations of Baraji and Alijɛnɛ steadily rose. As the population became too great to contain within the confines of the city walls, more and more houses began to spring up outside of the city gates. In addition to this population growth, shops and taverns began to be erected along the road to service those travelling between the great cities, as well as the people from the surrounding houses and farmlands. Slowly but surely, the land between the two cities was urbanised and the colossal metropolis that is the imperial capital was truly born.

Alternative Name(s)

The Great City of Paradise

Type

Capital

Location under

Maba Lowlands

Characters in Location

• Awa