Valúat

Valúat is an old city in Malónat, located on the northwestern shore of Úvelan Lake in the northeastern part of the country. It forms the heart of the traditional territory of the Valúnites, one of the five tribes of Útels that live in Malónat, and is an important producer of papyrus, baskets, mats and other things made from reeds, which grow in abundance in the region. Fishing is another major industry in the city, and Valúat is famed for its stews and other fish-based dishes.

Demographics

Most of the inhabitants are local Valúnites, along with Malóns and a small community of Faþilítans from across the lake.

Government

Matters specific to each caste are handled by a meeting of the elders of each family, who regularly send one of their own to the assembly of representatives of each caste to solve issues that prove hard to solve. When that fails, those issues are reported and solved by the annual Yt-Þarizen in Úlmora.

Defences

A palisade surrounds the city, though it's role is to mark its ceremonial boundaries rather than outright defense.

History

Valúat was originally built by a tribe of Alalaríans, who were among the first to adopt Útel culture in the northern part of Ela'k Forest and often warred with the Malóns of Úlmora, who held fast to their ancient customs and beliefs. Valúat was eventually conquered by the latter, but the Malón chiefs gradually adopted the Valúnites' culture to appease them until it supplanted their own for the most part.

Architecture

The buildings in Valúat are a mixture of reed huts and stilt-houses, a style dating back to the ancient Alalaríans, along with wooden structures similar to those found throughout Ela'k Forest. The former are mostly found on the outskirts of the city as well as in surrounding towns and villages.

Geography

Much of the marshy area surrounding the city has been drained and turned into farmland to feed the people there, though some has been set aside for hunting and to gather reeds.

Type

City

Owning Organization

Malónat