Aljana
Aljana is the capital of the Bahami Federation and its largest city. Aljana is the most prosperous home of the Bahamis and the residence of the greatest of the island djinn, controlling over a vast number of humans and catfolk. The city has thrived both from the loot of numerous corsair raids, but also from the tribute offered by the other mukarribs of the Federation. The wealth pours in and offers new trade and commerce for anyone who attends, and the prosperity of the city is seen in the vibrant colors and life of the city, shining out like a gleaming gemstone in the Endless Ocean.
Demographics
The city of Aljana consists primarily of Bahami humans, but also contains a truly massive underclass of catfolk slaves. The catfolk act as the working laborers who make the city function and keep the economy churning. The majority of the Bahamis that live in the city are either associated with the merchant class or serve as corsairs and raiders. The most skilled craftsmen are mostly humans, but a handful of skilled catfolk have begun to enter slowly into a freed class at the very bottom of the rungs of Aljanan society.
Government
The rule of the city of Aljana falls to the Mukarrib of the island. The Mukarrib then appoints delegates and representatives throughout the city to accomplish tasks to maintain the infrastructure and defense. These individuals have every authority to act in the mukarrib's name and conduct business on his behalf. Beyond these administrators, there are a handful of other bureaucrats and taxation officials responsible for collecting tribute, but the majority of the effort is conducted by the Vizier of the ruling mukarrib house.
Those who break the law of the mukarrib face courts that administer via judges appointed by the island's ruler, who interpret and enforce law and order based on their whims and desires. In lieu of direct intervention or oversight by the mukarrib in a court case, the judges typically use precedent set by other cases on the island to determine guilt and punishment. Punishments typically include forced labor on a corsair barge, combat in the arena, or long term imprisonment, depending on the case.
Defences
The defenses of Aljana are formidable, but not exactly traditional. There exists no wall around the city, which stretches across the entire island, spread out. Instead, there are a handful of fortified estates and barracks, that offer a limited amount of protection in the case of invasion. Invasion does not happen often in the city's history, as the true cornerstone of the defenses is the massive corsair fleet that exists in perpetuity within the harbors and drydocks. Aljana is the largest port for raiders striking the shipping along the mainland's coastline, and all are bound to defend Aljana in the case of attack by sea. At any given time there are over sixty warships protecting the island, fully crewed with bloodthirsty marines. Within the city itself are over thirteen hundred guardsmen hired by House el-Farra to defend the city and protect it from internal threats.
The Shrine of Gisluf is the largest fortified center of the island, and is the residence of the greatest djinn in the Bahami Islands. He is defended by devoted mortal retainers, in additional to a host of mercenaries and elemental beings. These creatures are bound to the djinn's defense and he is known to use them in cases where the island itself is threatened by attack. The djinn is a powerful being in his own right, able to warp winds and weather around the island, throwing any would-be invaders off course and into the maw of the Endless Ocean.
Industry & Trade
The city of Aljana booms with industry, fueled by the wealth brought in by the great corsair fleet. Nearly every settlement in the Federation fuels tribute and taxes to the Malik of the Federation, bringing vast hoards of gold and treasure into the city. This has spurred new investment in the arts, and new artwork and creations fill the shops and streets, treasured by the other mukarribs and noble houses of the island. The city possesses the only official mint in the Federation, printing out new coinage, predominantly electrum coins to fuel economic growth. The rest of the city has shipyards and forges that work constantly, bringing a low level of smog into the air around the center of the city. The weapons and armor crafted by the artisans of Aljana are considered to be the finest in all of the islands.
The primary commerce that takes place in the city relies upon the sorting, sale, and distribution of the loot and goods taken from targeted ships in the Circle Sea and Endless Ocean. The goods on these vessels need to be cut and distributed equally among crew and chieftains along, and the commercial service of this distribution is big business all in itself. The resale of captured goods and luxuries also takes place here, along with the lucrative business of ransoming captives and hostages back to relevant family or corporations on the mainland. The fixers and go-betweens of Aljana are the best source for retrieving a kidnapping victim from a corsair raid in the islands.
Infrastructure
The shipyards of Aljana are the most productive in the Bahami Federation. Corsair ships can be produced at a rate of nearly one a day, fully armed and equipped. The profitability of these shipyards depends on the ongoing nature of piracy on the high seas, and the wealth gained from raiding has been reinvested heavily into the prosperity of Aljana. The roads of the city are all paved, with decent runoff for sewage, even in the slave ghettos of the catfolk. Mechanization has been slower to take root here than upon the mainland, with most of the machinery of the town still operated by hand, thanks to plentiful and free labor from the catfolk. The roads are lit by magical lighting at night, rather than oil, provided by the numerous wizards and sorcerers present within the island's caste system. These magic users are also responsible for the construction of the Crimson Spiral, a massive tower that looms large over the rest of the city.
The Shrine of Gisluf is another soaring landmark that rests within the city, marking the residence and home of the eponymous djinn that oversees the island of Aljana. The shrine is a fortified compound of its own, separate of the rest of the urban area. It is well paved and fancifully decorated with hundreds of statues and freestanding works of art contributed by those seeking favor with the powerful being. The shrine features gilded walls and paths, in a extravagant display of earthly opulence.
Assets
Aljana is home to multiple marketplaces and areas for exchange and commerce. Although they strictly cater solely to other Bahamis, the markets are still thriving, particularly with some of the finest weapons in the Federation. These weapons include ship based arsenals and melee and ranged weapons designed for use in the chaotic landscape of a naval battle on the ocean. Specialists in this form of combat abound, providing the advise and materials required for the continued creation of these weapons and the replacements of ones lost by corsairs on the high seas. Over eighty inns and hotels in the city cater to travelers and merchants from the other islands, in addition to pilgrims to see the Shrine of Gisluf.
Guilds and Factions
House el-Farra is the dominating faction within the city of Aljana, ruling after their hostile takeover in 923 AF. That's not to say that they are now unopposed. Among the myriad other interests, there are several dozen established families of nobility in Aljana, some dating back centuries in their wealth and influence. Each of these noble houses constitutes a faction all of their own, seeking to establish a new balance in which they establish supremacy over the Malik. There are several other influential groups that occasional act in conjunction with each other and rarely would a Malik of Aljana ignore their power and presence.
The corsairs are the largest faction outside of the noble houses, and by far the most important one. These professional raiders and marauders bring in the majority of income and wealth for the city. The sheer amount of coins accumulated by these maritime bandits keeps the economy of the city humming. They typically seek to further their own positions, and can be quite easily bought by a noble looking to create a splash or ferment a coup. As long as they are offered an ever larger share of the loot they bring in, the happier they will become.
Aljana possesses the most politically active middle class in the entire Bahami Federation. The influx of gold has allowed for artists, merchants, and bankers all to develop as part of a support system for corsairs and nobles alike. The city has attracted some of the finest artisans in Emicara, and certainly the most skilled in the islands. Although they lack the strength of arms of the other groups with a vested interest in the city, they do possess most of the vested interest. They are more than capable of bringing in mercenaries to accomplish what they need, and make up a large part of the workers in the city. Many nobles have attempted to court them in exchange for greater popularity.
Lastly, there exists the destitute and slaves. Predominantly made up of catfolk, this does include a handful of humans and other races who have been captured in corsair raids and never ransomed. The catfolk undertake most of the brute labor throughout the city, while the other races enslaved serve in harems or other household service. Although they lack any true political voice, the slaves often have access to people, making it them a group which could one day play a pivotal role in the city's future.
Founding Date
53 AF
Type
Capital
Population
189,000
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Aljanan
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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