Dir D̬aba
Demographics
Government
The government of D̬aba is a matriarchal authoritarian monarchy. All power flows from the Pasop (Queen). Dissent is only tolerated if the dissenter can dominate the Pasop or her officials, which has never occurred.
The Pasop is supported by a network of ministers who manage a strict but efficient bureaucracy responsible for the daily operations of both Dir D̬aba and the broader Sogcigdi region.
Defences
A high stone wall surrounds Dir D̬aba on all sides except where it borders Lake Cemtunni̋. The Lakeshore Ward lies outside the city wall. There is a single gate into the city, which is built into a stout gatehouse. Alchemist's Fire launchers sit atop towers at regular intervals along the wall, and fully a thousand thjodanalfen are conscripted into the military service to defend the capital. These conscripts train constantly and serve "short" enlistments of two decades.
Industry & Trade
Very little trade flows into or out of the city, though there is some commerce with Ceybyd, the outlying settlements, and an annual caravan to Khumrong on the surface.
Infrastructure
The city is located in a depression within a massive cavern, adjacent to a subterranean freshwater lake that covers an area of approximately 32 square miles. Channels carry water from the lake, known as Lake Cemtunni̋, throughout the city. Slaves are responsible for the removal and disposal of waste, including both garbage and excrement.
Districts
Dir D̬aba has five districts: the Lakeshore, the Royal Promontory, the Gateward, the Hive of Merchants, and the Carrion Bottoms.
The Lakeshore
The Lakeshore, as its name suggests, is the area of Dir D̬aba that lies directly next to Lake Cemtunni̋. Most of the people living and working in the Lakeshore earn their livelihoods by fishing the waters and gathering the fungal and plant life that thrive in the lake. This area is also home to several artisanal shops. There are a few small inns, the only ones in the city, since there is limited travel to and from the capital. Only a handful of farmers from surrounding settlements and dignitaries from Ceybyd occasionally visit the city.
The Royal Promontory
Against the wall opposite the lake, there is a rocky uplift. Although it is not as high as the surrounding caverns, it overlooks the depression where the city of Dir D̬aba is located. On this promontory, the Pasop and all the noble houses have their palaces. The shops in the Royal Promontory primarily sell luxury goods. This quarter is also home to the blackened temple of Imith, the Queen of Darkness. One hundred priestesses serve the Unmarkarey's chief deity within the temple and attend to her worship.
The Gateward
On the side of Dir D̬aba that faces the passage toward D̬aa, the Gateward surrounds the only gate in the city's walls. The majority of ordinary people live and work in this area, which is filled with shops and taverns. There are also two open-air markets where farmers from the surrounding settlements can sell their goods to the D̬abami. In addition, the Gateward is home to the temples of Evinshar Darkmoon and Korissin, the Beguiling Blade. While these temples are significant, they are not nearly as grand as the temple of Imith located on the Royal Promontory.
The Hive of Merchants
This small ward in the center of the city is bustling with offices, warehouses, and shops. The industrious merchants of Dir D̬aba live and work here. While the majority of trade is conducted with Ceybyd, there is also a limited exchange with nearby settlements and an annual caravan that travels to Khumrong on the surface.
The Carrion Bottoms
The Carrion Bottoms, located opposite the Gateward, is the lowest area of the city. It is frequently flooded due to a rising and unpredictable water table. The Pasop's poorest free subjects live here enduring a life of abject misery. Though few in number, they perform many of the less desirable jobs in the city.
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