Anfa
The capital city of Marrakesh, located in the northeasternmost parts Shamsi Desert. Francais nobles will call Anfa the city of "white towers" or Tours Blanches as most of the archtecture of Anfa are sunbleached or painted white, the towers found throughout the city stabbing upward from the coast. Inside the city, the buidlings and streets are painted with bright colors, patterns or even murals. The towers are built into the homes of the ruling class or religious leaders, the geer, but also serve to guide ships to their port. Anfa is among the most influential ports in Emynea! Whether by sea or passing through Flumen Pontem, Marrakesh serves as the gate into Alkelbulan and Anfa is not only their capital but their primary port. Here, sailors brave the frigid waters of Keyh Sea or prepare their merchandise for the long trek across the Shamsi Desert.
A surprisingly large number of musicians have emerged from Anfa, some of these joining travelling entertainer troupes as they journey across the Accian territories while others have even become famous in the city of Accia, far more respectful of artsists than most of Marrakesh. One particular style called aita is popular, a traditional folk style from the countryside. It's name means "to call, cry or lament", performed by groups of musicians, singers and dancers called shikhats. AMTP recruits in particular enjoy mixing their different styles of music with local folk styles and insturments. And while musicians, called griot, aren't well respected in their society, their streets are thriving with music, especially the sound of drums.
A surprisingly large number of musicians have emerged from Anfa, some of these joining travelling entertainer troupes as they journey across the Accian territories while others have even become famous in the city of Accia, far more respectful of artsists than most of Marrakesh. One particular style called aita is popular, a traditional folk style from the countryside. It's name means "to call, cry or lament", performed by groups of musicians, singers and dancers called shikhats. AMTP recruits in particular enjoy mixing their different styles of music with local folk styles and insturments. And while musicians, called griot, aren't well respected in their society, their streets are thriving with music, especially the sound of drums.
Demography
Anfa has more diversity than most other Alkelbulian cities as it is the largest port in northern Alkelbulan. Most are Arabiyy, Imaziɣen and Haratin. However, there are smaller populations of Wollof, Fulbe, Mande, Eluzian and Yehudim peoples.Ethnic Groups
Geography
Anfa is a port city located along the shores of the Keyh Sea, these frigid waters separating them from the Frozen Wastes and Nordreyjar to their north but also connecting them to the Eluzian Valley and Russkie when skirting along Skaney (even if these waters are plagued by monstrosities and Storm Vikings). The land itself consists of fertile plains and forests broken up by the mountains of Idraren Draren before converting into desert, the Shamsi Desert. This leaves Anfa in a strange climate, the radiant deserts of Shamsi at their back and the frigid seas and arctic wind of the Keyh Sea set before them. This is perhaps why it has gained popularity as a getaway.
Government
The city of Anfa is separated into eight districts administered by different Wollof, Fulbe and Imaziɣen-Arabiyy nobles. The government of Marrakesh itself, including Anfa, is headed by their Sultan who lives in the palace. Accian villas are built nearby, Eluzian nobility involved in most if not all political proceedings. The Sultan of Marrakesh descends from both the original Arabiyy conquerors and a daughter of Ilnid himself, connecting them to Khalifah al-Rasul and Ahl al-Bayt.
Marrakesh and Accia have established a number of treaties and concessions which maintain their usual form of government, culture and religion while still functioning as a territory of the Kingdom of Accia. Their government defers to the power and demands of the Ten Houses, at first the Chevalier House which was later transfered to the Minx House. There was considerable corruption, embezzelment and bribery uncovered in Anfa under the management of the Chevalier, upper nobility heavily involved in the abuse of lower castes and misappropriation of funds meant for their development. When this corruption was exposed, many parts of the city rioted in outrage, put down with a heavy hand which continues to break the faith of their working class has in their government. It is only the aid of the Minx House amid this near anarchy, building schools and offering supplies, that the citizens of Anfa might place their tenuous hope.
Marrakesh and Accia have established a number of treaties and concessions which maintain their usual form of government, culture and religion while still functioning as a territory of the Kingdom of Accia. Their government defers to the power and demands of the Ten Houses, at first the Chevalier House which was later transfered to the Minx House. There was considerable corruption, embezzelment and bribery uncovered in Anfa under the management of the Chevalier, upper nobility heavily involved in the abuse of lower castes and misappropriation of funds meant for their development. When this corruption was exposed, many parts of the city rioted in outrage, put down with a heavy hand which continues to break the faith of their working class has in their government. It is only the aid of the Minx House amid this near anarchy, building schools and offering supplies, that the citizens of Anfa might place their tenuous hope.
Trade
The economy of Anfa is based on trade and agriculture, especially trade with the Kingdom of Accia, Arabiyyah and the Frozen Wastes. They are also known to export fish, artisan goods, raw materials, glass, textiles, enchantments, grains and general goods from across Emynea but also those crafted by their own nyeenyo artisans. A common saying has arised that "there is always a sale to be made in Anfa". The city has grown in unexpected ways since the kingdom overtook them, one being the development of tourism! Beautiful villas, whitewashed and decorated with blue tiles and built in Arabiyyan styles, are found along the hilltops of Anfa, overlooking the city and the sea. Wealthy nobles of both Alkelbulan and Accia vacation in Anfa, enjoying its unique beauty and enjoying their diverse markets. Meanwhile, working class Haratin continue to live in overcrowded, delapidated slums while the aristocrats of Anfa entertain these foreign powers, profitting off of the work of lower castes.
History
Anfa was originally an Imaziɣen settlement, serving as the primary port and point of trade with both the Quiris and sailors from the Eluzian Valley. They had even formed a confederation of Imazighen tribes and were attempting to build their own empire called Barghawata. However, they were defeated by Arabiyy tribes, forced to assimilate into the Arabiyyan population and culture. Now, there is rarely an Arabiyy in Anfa who doesn't also carry Imaziɣen blood.
When the Kingdom of Accia conquered Marrakesh, they did so by seige and eventual invasion. They started by cutting off sea routes into Anfa and setting up a baricade outside the city to stop merchant suppliers from reaching Anfa. The Mobile Division of the Accian Military engaged in a back and forth between their cavalry and Imaziɣen nomads trying to break through the barricade. These attacks were unpredictable, lacking any centralized organization, but ferocious none the less. When the kingdom suffered surprising casualties from these attacks, rather than backing off the kingdom instead had the Aquatic and Ranged Divisions open fire on the city indiscriminately over the coarse of several days. Special Division also infiltrated Anfa between attacks, wreaking havoc and setting fires before opening the gates for the rest of their army. Thousands of citizens were killed in this attack and the Chevalier General leading their invasion took control of the city. While rebuilding Anfa, they continued to collect taxes from Marrakeshian citizens and gathered the first round of "recruits" for the Accian Military Training Program. This first generation of assimilated, Anfa citizens went on to become the pollice force working under the authority of the Chevalier.
Under the guidance of the Chevalier and Accian merchants, the city was rebuilt to enforce the social segregation of their caste system. Haratin slums were consolidated into a series of housing zones along the outter edges of Anfa, grid patterned neighborhoods and simple homes designed for the working class. However, outside of the original construction, little maintenance, repairs or development is afforded to these settlements and they are kept along the peripheries of the city far from wealthy residents and their guests. The rest of the city has been refurbished with intricate and stark white stonework, expansive mosques and sprawling markets.
When the Kingdom of Accia conquered Marrakesh, they did so by seige and eventual invasion. They started by cutting off sea routes into Anfa and setting up a baricade outside the city to stop merchant suppliers from reaching Anfa. The Mobile Division of the Accian Military engaged in a back and forth between their cavalry and Imaziɣen nomads trying to break through the barricade. These attacks were unpredictable, lacking any centralized organization, but ferocious none the less. When the kingdom suffered surprising casualties from these attacks, rather than backing off the kingdom instead had the Aquatic and Ranged Divisions open fire on the city indiscriminately over the coarse of several days. Special Division also infiltrated Anfa between attacks, wreaking havoc and setting fires before opening the gates for the rest of their army. Thousands of citizens were killed in this attack and the Chevalier General leading their invasion took control of the city. While rebuilding Anfa, they continued to collect taxes from Marrakeshian citizens and gathered the first round of "recruits" for the Accian Military Training Program. This first generation of assimilated, Anfa citizens went on to become the pollice force working under the authority of the Chevalier.
Under the guidance of the Chevalier and Accian merchants, the city was rebuilt to enforce the social segregation of their caste system. Haratin slums were consolidated into a series of housing zones along the outter edges of Anfa, grid patterned neighborhoods and simple homes designed for the working class. However, outside of the original construction, little maintenance, repairs or development is afforded to these settlements and they are kept along the peripheries of the city far from wealthy residents and their guests. The rest of the city has been refurbished with intricate and stark white stonework, expansive mosques and sprawling markets.
Architecture
Anfa's architecture has been touched up by many cultures over the eras. Anfa started as a simple ksour, a fortified city built by the Imaziɣen. From there, the city was expanded and updated with Arabiyyan and Quiris architects under outside occupations. Yet when most of the city was destroyed by the Accian seige, Anfa was rebuilt according to Francais styles.
Overall, the city is segragated into different districts according to their caste system. The city was once populated by slums and shanty towns, the home of the many slaves and indentured servants which were such an important component to their lifestyle. While the kingdom forced them to free these slaves, they did little to nothing to help the newly freed Haratin to step on equal grounds with their once owners. Most significantly, they did nothing to alter the laws allowing only geer, members of wealthy and influential families, to own property.
Overall, the city is segragated into different districts according to their caste system. The city was once populated by slums and shanty towns, the home of the many slaves and indentured servants which were such an important component to their lifestyle. While the kingdom forced them to free these slaves, they did little to nothing to help the newly freed Haratin to step on equal grounds with their once owners. Most significantly, they did nothing to alter the laws allowing only geer, members of wealthy and influential families, to own property.
After the reconstruction of the city, they demolished these slums and moved the Haratin to the edges of the city into grid-shaped residential zones with the bare minimum of infrastructure. They have done little to no maintenance or expansion of these new slums, the Haratin population camping outside the city walls or into more rural settings as their population grows. The newly freed up land within Anfa was transformed into markets, villas and even resorts designed to draw in wealthy tourists or meant to host potential trade partners. These are spacious and luxuriant, built to impress and to show off this city's unique mixture of North Alkelbulian and Accian culture.
The palace itself, named El Mechouar Essaid or "Venue of Happiness", sits along the end of the city's mechaour, a courtyard and public square set before the entrance of a palace. Festivals, public assemblies, parades and the like occur in the mechaour while the palace itself is walled off. Anfa's largest mosque is found on the other side of this courtyard. The royal family of the Sultan lives within the palace, protected by a host of royal guards. The grounds even include a school specifically designed for the Sultan's children and a considerable library.
The palace grounds are host to expansive gardens, heavily influenced by Francais styles if not imitating the gardens of Accia itself. However, Arabiyyan traditions are still prevalent, especially in their choice of local plants. Despite these beautiful styles, the feature most visitors will immediately notice is instead the presence of rare beasts throughout these gardens. Whether this influence came from the Chevalier House, known for beastkeeping interests, or from the practices of Ilnid's court is uncertain. Ilinid himself enjoys taming and keeping difficult and rare animals, a portion of palace grounds in most Caliphates host to rare beasts and plants.
The palace grounds are host to expansive gardens, heavily influenced by Francais styles if not imitating the gardens of Accia itself. However, Arabiyyan traditions are still prevalent, especially in their choice of local plants. Despite these beautiful styles, the feature most visitors will immediately notice is instead the presence of rare beasts throughout these gardens. Whether this influence came from the Chevalier House, known for beastkeeping interests, or from the practices of Ilnid's court is uncertain. Ilinid himself enjoys taming and keeping difficult and rare animals, a portion of palace grounds in most Caliphates host to rare beasts and plants.
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