Alogaula
Alogaula is a small town just south of Algola, the capital city of Russai on Norrab. It has a population just over nine thousand, the farming industry dominating the region.
Alogaula's name comes from the Algol, Norrab's longest river and the source of life for millions of the planet's inhabitants. The town is approximately seven hundred years old, its founding dating back to the War for the Algol.
The town has seen a massive population decrease in the last hundred years, with its people finding better work and social opportunities in larger cities, such as Algola and the Seven Falls. At its highest point, Alogaula had a population of thirty three thousand.
Since the dispersing of over half the town's population, Alogaula has been struggling. It is ranked one of the worst towns to live in, in the Coastal Russai region.
Location
Alogaula is three miles south of Algola. It is positioned between two large hills, the Algol running through. Two small tributaries run down these hills, cutting through the town. Alogaula's territory is expansive, claiming just over twelve square kilometres of land. Eighty percent of its territory is used for farmlands, both for growing crops and keeping domesticated animals.
Industry
Alogaula's largest industry is farming. Vegetable crops are most grown, with a few fruit tree orchards to the north and south of the town. Crops are rotated with the seasons, so produce is readily available all times of the year.
Menzes Fruit, a Russaian fruits company, owns a large factory on the outskirts of Alogaula. It packs fruits grown in the town, distributing it across the country.
Flowers are another major export for Alogaula. With its rich silty soil nourished by the Algol nearby, flower fields thrive in the region. Two star paradisia, a flowering plant species from Venus, were imported onto the planet five years ago, and are now thriving as one of the only alien species on the planet.
Landmarks
As a historical town with over a thousand years of history, there is no shortage of important landmarks. The Alogoa Water Tower is the town's tallest building, reaching sixty-seven metres. The Alisiem was once an arena for norrat fighting, and is now a museum detailing the town's rich history.
In the centre of Alogaula is a three story building originally serving as a home for the Alogaula Royal Family. They believed in living the same lives as civilians in their territory, in order for them to understand what their people needed. Since the Alogaula Royal Family no longer exists, the building is now a tourist site and historical landmark.
History
The War for the Algol was a conflict lasting fifty years. It involved several battles between countries fighting for more territory covering the river. These battles took the lives of millions of innocent civilians, causing internal conflict within countries. Countless organised groups of civilians claimed independence from their native countries, forming tiny city-states.
Alogaula was one such state. During its initial independence, Alogaula had a population of twenty-five thousand. The walled town had a large territory compared to other city-states, with an impressive military force to back it up. Alogaula was almost immediately invaded by Russai, the country it attempted to break free from.
Alogaula won a five day long conflict, with the six-hundred Russaian soldiers dying in battle, and Alogaula only losing ten percent of its military unit. Alogaulan soldiers were provided with weaponry far superior to Russai's. It raises many questions as to their existence, and how the state was able to develop them.
Independence
The sovereign state remained independent for almost four hundred years, growing its population while strictly keeping to its claimed territory. Russai was not happy with this, its governing bodies trying to threaten Alogaula into peacefully re-joining the country. Alogaula's territory was incredibly valuable, built atop cobalt and lithium mines.
Russai's Ministry of Foreign Affairs frequently met up with Alogaula's various leaders over the four hundred years in an attempt to establish a good relationship. A civil partnership was eventually formed, however Alogaula's leaders were never ready to call Russai its ally.
Rejoining Russai
Alogaula's new prince, Abahi, came to power after his father passed in 1678. He was quick to establish a close bond with Russai's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary Juhai Osore. The two were photographed together in a number of cafes and outlets, sparking controversy. People were quick to speculate about the two's relationship, the public divided between supporting and criticising their actions.
Nonetheless, within his first year of rule Prince Abahi declared Alogaula a non-sovereign city-state in an attempt to slowly merge the territory with Russai. Most of the public were opposed to this, many calling for a change in leadership.
Alogaula officially merged with Russai in 1692.
A town, even a rural community that was likely spread out that far, losing that much of their population would be disastrous indeed, especially for a farming community. Full credit to those whom have somehow found a way to continue to eke out a life there, and keep some sense of community and some semblance of community functionality.