Yarma

Yarma
Capital	Yarma (city)
Ruler	Grand Mayor Lakena
Government	Democracy
Demonym	Yarmani
Adjective	Yarman
Languages	Various; Aserdian and Common especially
Religions	Various deities and pantheons

Yarma
Nation	Yarma
Demonym	Yarmani
Adjective	Yarman
Population	~30,000
Demographics	Various ancestries

Yarma (pronounced YAR-mah) is a bustling city just past the western edge of the Khurazar Mountains, on the coast of the Gulf of Aserdus. Yarma is an important destination or departure point for caravans along the trans-Sangora trade routes, and the city's markets are full of goods from far away. The city is a major center of learning as well, with the House of Treasure possibly the largest library in the world.

Geography, flora, and fauna

The city of Yarma is located at the mouth of the Yarma River at the point where the river flows into the Gulf of Aserdus. The river runs through a region of mostly arid grasslands, a transitional zone between the desert of the Sangora Desolation and the expansive tropical grasslands and forests of Brightmarch. The city-state controls some territory on both sides of the river, much of which has been converted into farmland and pastureland.

From the city, the peaks of the Khurazar Mountains are visible in the distance. The Yarma River flows between the farthest west of the foothills of the mountain range, but Yarma itself is located on mostly flat terrain.

The climate of the region is warm year-round but not excessively hot. Thunderstorms are the most severe weather the city has to contend with, though these sometimes bring only lightning without rain.

Most of the native flora to the region are grasses, shrubs, and trees that are well-accustomed to long dry periods. Animals like elephants, ostriches, jackals, and antelopes are common, as are smaller creatures like armadillos, foxes, and a large array of birds. Invasive ankhegs and ankhravs are a nuisance in the region, and giant basilisks can be a threat away from the city.

History

Yarma has grown slowly over the millennia, from a small village in an opportune location to a bustling metropolis.

Demographics

Over its history, peoples of varying backgrounds and ancestries have congregated in Yarma. Today the city is highly cosmopolitan, a thriving melting pot whose ancestors arrived from around the Gulf of Aserdus and across Brightmarch. Humans, dwarves, elves, gnolls, catfolk, and half-elves account for most of the city-state's population, alongside smaller minorities of grippli, gnomes, halflings, lizardfolk, and others. Yarma is one of the few cities to have a sizable anadi population, who often find themselves far more welcome in their natural form than they might be elsewhere.

While most inhabitants of the region live in the city of Yarma, small outlying towns and villages can be found on both sides of the river as well as slightly up the coast.

Culture

Religion

A variety of gods are widely worshiped in Yarma. Mazludeh and Kazutal are perhaps the two most popular, and both have multiple temples in the city. The empyreal lords Shei, Winlas, and Zohls have many followers in Yarma as well, as do deities like Abadar and Irori. Among the city's many dwarves, the worship of Folgrit and Kols is especially emphasized.

Society

Despite the size of the city, the culture of Yarma emphasizes the value of a close-knit community. Helping one's neighbors whenever possible is seen as simply an ordinary facet of life in the city, and neighborhood gatherings are quite common. Holidays, weddings, and other important occasions are seen as cause for celebration for the whole neighborhood.

Feral cats roam freely through the streets, alleys, and marketplaces of the city. Most Yarmans see these cats as basically pets of the city, and many put out food scraps to feed them.

Traditions

Among the many festivals that take place in the city, none are looked forward to by Yarmans quite as much as the Decennial Festivals that take place to mark each ten years. This event goes on for the entire month of Desnus, essentially bringing all normal activity in the city to a halt as everyone involves themselves in the celebrations. Parades, floats down the river, displays of visually impressive magic, and parties lasting entire nights are common during the event, and more recently fireworks have been introduced.

Languages

As a trade center, a variety of languages are used in Yarma. Most inhabitants of the city use Aserdian or Common for ease of communication, but many others can be heard in the city's marketplaces. Dwarven is spoken especially widely, due to the presence of the Akwarai and Kharakunite dwarves, as is Elven due to visitors from Eleivana. Anadi, Iruxi, and other racial languages see widespread use as well.

Markets

Yarma is well known for its marketplaces in which goods from far and wide can be found. While there are others as well, the most famous of these is the floating River Market. Held weekly, during this market the various floating stalls congregate in the part of the river that runs through the Sun Plaza. Both sides of the plaza itself usually fill with more conventional stalls and tents at this time as well.

Fashion

Most Yarmans dress in loose, flowing clothes, practical the warm conditions in which they live. Sewn leather sandals are the most common footwear. Clothing is commonly dyed bright colors, and the city has a sizable dye-producing industry, mostly based around cochineal insects.

Travel

The caravans of the Akwarai dwarves frequently visit Yarma. A rotating series of tent encampments are often set up just outside the city itself, as caravans continually arrive, stay for a time, then depart once again.

Government

Yarma is a direct democracy in which every adult resident of the city can vote. Both neighborhood councilors and the overall leader of the city, known as the Grand Mayor, are elected in this manner. The current Grand Mayor is Lakena, an extremely well-liked elderly gnome. Seen almost as a grandmother to many in the city, Lakena has been continually reelected almost unopposed for the last sixty years.

Neighborhood councilors are responsible for managing the affairs of their respective parts of the city, everything from mediating neighborhood disputes to ensuring the distribution of food and supplies to the needy. Most councilors are respected elders who rely far more on their personal connections than on formal state institutions to achieve their goals. Similarly, rather than being an aloof administrator, the Grand Mayor is widely seen as an advisor to any residents of the city who requires assistance. Despite the size of the metropolis, Lakena has for decades maintained a policy of talking to all who seek her guidance, frequently spending twelve hours a day or more in the walking through city's markets simply conversing with anyone and everyone.

Elections take place every ten years. These are not only civic affairs but celebratory as well, as they coincide with the city's Decennial Festivals.

Economy

The markets of Yarma are full of goods from both near and far away. The vast majority of caravans heading from Khapesh along the trans-Sangora trade routes do so with the goal of selling their goods in Yarma, and Brightmarcher merchants likewise trade their wares in the city. Yarma is the largest trade hub in the region, any many make a good living by buying and selling trade goods or offering their services to the visiting caravaneers.Template:CitiesYarma