Avaris (pronounced ah-VAR-iss) is a city at the located at the closest point between the Chaska Sea and the Kilche Sea. The canal the city is built around is incredibly important to global trade, and ships flying all manner of flags pass through Avaris.
Geography
The Chaska and Kilche seas are not naturally connected; even at their closest point, a thin land bridge lies between them. The city of Avaris lies on this land bridge, built around an artificial canal. Multiple canals have been constructed, damaged or left to decay, and later restored and expanded over the city’s history - the current canal, known as the Mafkat Canal, is the sixth.
Avaris is a critically important city for trade and maritime travel. The vast majority of goods and travelers moving between the population centers of the north and south pass through the city at some point, instead of taking the much longer journeys over land or around the continent. Avaris maintains a policy of not questioning those who pass through the canal, as long as they obey local laws and pay the requisite fees. As a result, it is not uncommon to see pirate ships docked next to the vessels of pirate hunters, forced into a temporary truce. Despite the seedy reputations of many that pass through the port, Avaris has long maintained a reputation as a neutral safe zone.
Demographics
The city’s roughly 40,000 inhabitants are incredibly diverse, a factor of the sheer number of people that pass through from distant parts of the world. Determining the exact number of inhabitants can be difficult, as at any time a significant portion of those present in the city are only there temporarily. Individuals of every ancestry in the world can be found in the docks, markets, and streets of Avaris.
Culture
Among permanent residents, Avaris is culturally and socially quite closely connected to Khapesh. Despite living away from the Aur River, many of the cultural and religious practices retain the same characteristics. However, the extremely cosmopolitan nature of the city has contributed to a unique cultural fusion. Temples to all manner of deities can be found in the city, and street vendors hawk the cuisine of peoples far and wide.
Historically, and in the Khapeshan tradition, Khenmu is the patron deity of Avaris, The god's grand temple is located in the city, the only outside of Khapesh proper.
Government
Khapesh has very close ties with the city state of Avaris. Nearly all Khapeshan trade within the Kilche Sea passes through the ports of Avaris, and Khapesh maintains something of a client state relationship with the city. The city is mostly left to continue its day to day operations under its own terms, but issues surrounding trade and diplomacy are dictated by Khapeshan administrators.