Wachoqo (wacˈhoqo)

The town of Wachoqo is a farming community of some 2,000 people located on the Plain of Desca, Aylaria. The plain is surrounded by ferrite-heavy mountains which block out ambient magical influence, and the lack of light pollution offers an unobstructed view of the night sky. In 5.850, these qualities made Wachoqo the prime site for the Aylari Institute for Scientific Observation's planned construction of its new observatory.
Since the Ollqimû Observatory was opened in 5.855, Wachoqo has gained an international reputation as the premier site for positioning astronomy in the northern hemisphere, and the site is reknowned for its stellar parallax photography and numerous contributions to the field of astrological metaphysics.

Notable work

The mountaintop portion of the observatory provides observational data for the nautical almanacs used throughout Aylaria, Lwakha, and Ophoné.
AISO also publishes its arcane findings in an annual journal, Astrological Metaphyics, currently editied by Drs. Azizi and Ixik Mkubwa.

by Eric Hill

Inequality and integration

When the observatory was established in 5.855, the population of Wachoqo were subsistance farmers, and the literacy rate in the village was below 10%. There was initially a considerable degree of friction between the farming community, who didn't like the "incomers'" attitudes when dealing with them, and the members of the Institute, who were offended that the site of their new enterprise should be mired in destitution.
Tensions eased somewhat after the appointment of Dr. Simiko Biryar as Director of the Observatory in 5.867. Dr Biryar, a devout Tilsenur, invited tribal leaders to observe the telescope in action. He thanked the community for their patience with the institute and vowed to make it a contributing member of the village.
Since then, the observatory has become a major employer, with nearly one in four residents of the village filling roles ranging from janitorial to technical. Adult literacy and numeracy has increased year-on-year since 5.868, and the instutute runs a higher education programme in the local community. In 5.923, Dr. Biryar came out of retirement to personally welcome Nes si'Richyhkiqap si'Pim onto the faculty - the first AISO member to have been born in Wachoqo.

Demographics

The village population is 70% ialy and 30% Ljudoy. The staff at the observatory, posted for up to five years at a time, can be any species.

Founding Date

5.428

Type

Village

Population

2,185

Inhabitant Demonym

Wachoqous

Location under

Xohura

Owning Organization

Aylaria