Sumatra

"This place is often called the Shifting Town. No-one stays here for long, except for me, it seems."

— Faysal Qaderi, Alopari archeologist

Sumatra is a small town on the outskirts of Naskaya, which is known for housing migrants and refugees. It is quite a wholesome and welcoming place, in contrast to the rest of the country, which can be hostile to immigrants. In fact, this area is often signposted as the go-to area for new visitors and tourists because of the atmosphere and wealth of information you can find there.

History

"They were relentless and their soldiers chased us for weeks. It seems there is no respite from the Empire."

— Part of a diary entry written in the Age of Triumph

In the last 20 years of the Age of Triumph, the Eshon Empire expanded significantly, claiming many territories at the expense of many cultures in the Red Desert. Many escaped the oppressive regime by moving to the neighbouring country, Naskaya, which was protected and more safer. However, the native population began to have concerns over the amount of immigrants going into the country.
To solve this, a group of them set up a small area on the outskirts of the country. This was originally just an encampment, but as their home countries were too dangerous to return to, they built a few homes to settle there. Over time, the area grew as more people escaped the Eshon Empire's grasp.
After the Empire collapsed during the Ice Age, Sumatra became a starting point for migrants wanting to move into Naskaya, or for those who just needed a brief respite from their perilous journeys. In recent years, it became a hub for travellers as well, providing them with crucial information so they could safely pass through the desert.

Demographics

Everyone in Sumatra is an immigrant, so there is a wide range of cultures and species there. During the Age of Triumph, a majority of migrants were from the Eshon Empire's territories. The rest were people who travelled the Red Desert and needed a place to stay.
After the Ice Age, most Sumatran residents were originally from the middle of the Red Desert. As it was full of disasters and sandstorms, people would often leave their home towns to move to safer parts of the desert.

Population Breakdown

Alopari

The Alopari have the largest population in Sumatra. Although most live in the countries in the centre of the Red Desert, some of them move from to the outskirts for a better or safer life. Though most stay in their own corner, younger Alopari have become more integrated with the rest of the town.

Elves

Elves are the minority in Sumatra, because there aren't as many in the Red Desert altogether. People used to think there were many more in Sumatra because they were often confused with the Alopari, who also had pointed ears. Most Elves already live in the desert's wealthier countries, so don't migrate much as others.

Humans

Despite having the largest global population of all humanoids, there are surprisingly few Humans in Sumatra. Most Humans are tourists who come from outside the Red Desert, and tend to leave the fastest. This makes Sumatra one of the few towns and cities with a small Human population.

Type

Town

Residency

The nature of the town means that there are no permanent residents, and is often compared to the shifting sands of the desert. In fact, that was the agreement the town's founders made with Naskaya's government before it was recognised as a town in the country. If people want to stay in Naskaya permanently, they'll need to apply for citizenship. Once it is accepted, they need to move out of the town within a certain timeframe.