Askelia Chasm

The Askelia Chasm is a huge market based in the crater of the floating city, Askelia. Due to the location being in Central Aervos, it is one of the biggest trading hubs in the world. WIth a market of this size, one can find almost anything, and the chasm is well known for its clandestine black market.

Demographics

A large portion of the people found in the Chasm are Askelian Citizens buying and selling before going back up to their homes. Being the biggest trade hub in the world however, it is not hard to find any race who have goods to sell travel to trade at the Chasm. It also attracts people searching for items you couldn't find in any regular market.

Government

The Chasm is on a perpetual scale between how much control the city of Askelia has over the proceedings of the Chasm Market. When the Askelian Government saw the settlement becoming a profitable market, they tried to get involved, taxing the traders and merchants, claiming the Chasm as Askelian land. There was a large pushback against this, with some violent encounters taking place. Due to a differing amount of reasons, like political pressure and some extortion, the taxing was removed. The larger the Chasm Marketplace grew, the more vulnerable it grew towards internal criminal activities, as well as external forces, such as bandits and raiders. The Chasm leadership then petitioned Askelia to provide protection, and in return, the city placing taxes on transcations again. While still receiving backlash, some saw the necessary evil, and others did not perceive it that way. Askelia's presence in the Chasm still remains a controversial topic for any Chasmgoer.

Defences

The current defence for the city is Askelian soldiers patrolling and protecting the settlement. There have been attempts to have form an internal security force, but all attempts have proved either ineffective or financially nonviable.

History

The Chasm Marketplace was formed when traders decided they did not want to make the lengthy ascension to the city to trade. Establishing the crater as a new marketplace, Askelian merchants were now forced to descend into the Chasm to buy and sell. The central location made it an ideal location for other nations and merchants to meet and trade. Eventually the Chasm grew the reputation for having almost anything that could be sold on Aervos. This led to large growth and attention from around the world, resulting in the massive trade hub it has become.

Architecture

The Chasm is a mostly random assortment of some newly built structures, tents ranging from large dome tents to individual merchant tents, hastily built shacks, lean-tos, and converted ruins.

Geography

The Askelian Chasm is located in the crater made by the ascension of the city of Askelia into the sky.

Type

Large town

Population

The Chasm does not have a very large civilian population, with most of the occupants being the merchants, traders and shopkeepers that run their businesses there.