Post by Trippy Hare on Apr 18, 2005 4:17:20 GMT -5
Llanivaya, the Floating City, is located in the heart of Ivorsherlet, the massive forest that covers most of the central landmass of Eshathar. Using a combination of magic and brilliant engineering, the city remains suspended above the forest, anchored by enormous strands of Spidersilk, each over a meter in thickness. It is here that the Canid race- also known as Vayans- makes its home.
Llanivaya is the youngest kingdom in Eshathar, and has undergone many changes in its brief existence. Originally, various sentient, beast-like Breeds formed a coalition governmental structure after years of bitter rivalries and infighting. With a unified government established, the Breeds built a series of huts and similar structures onto the trees themselves. As a greater variety of Breeds joined the collective, the city was forced to expand to accommodate them.
This "Old City" was fraught with problems, most of which related to simple infrastructure. Transformation from nomadic lifestyles to a centralized, sedentary one was difficult, and issues of finding food and water, eliminating sewage, and other basic infrastructure had to be devised from scratch. Additionally, matters of residence had to be sorted out- Avians would need high roosts, while Weavers needed dark confines. Bearkin needed space, Molekin needed expansive tunnel networks, and Lunis needed a system of roads to facilitate travel between the interior and exterior of the forest. These issues proved to be too much for the flimsy and poorly organized Old City.
After several years of difficult negotiations between Breeds, the Vayan government agreed to build a more effective permanent seat of power within the forest. In order to alleviate the problems that had plagued the Old City, representative of every Breed in the coalition met to discuss the needs their people would have of any such city. Each Breed also brought unique skills into the coalition, and could thus provide specialists in the construction and defense of the new capital.
The construction of Llanivaya galvanized the various breeds, and helped fully integrate once disparate factions, like the Weavers and Bearkin. Each contributed to its construction, and provided for its defense. From the soaring Avians to the reclusive Weavers, every creature accepted into the collective served its part. While the world outside the forest fell into ruin, the world within it grew in both strength and cunning, and the crown jewel that would become the capital rose above the emerald sea of trees...and there it stayed.
The now-united Canid race is fiercely protective of the entire forest, but even more so of Llanivaya. There is a permanent standing Army operating from the forest beneath it, and Avian patrols in the surrounding forest at all times. Any non-Canid that gets too close to the city is summarily dispatched. Entire caravans have disappeared this way, lending credence to the superstition that surrounds the forest.
Llanivaya itself is governed by a Triumvirate Council, made up of one selected member of each clan: Avian, Lunis, Felis, and Consortium. There is also a Judicator, independent of the central governing body, who acts as a judge, to ensure that the policies of the Triumvirate are in accordance with the best interests of the populace. Only policies that are agreed upon unanimously are made into law.
Economically, Canids have stubbornly resisted using any form of currency within the city center, though frontier settlements and trade caravans have accepted the use of gold coins out of necessity. Times are changing, however, and the need for precious metals to mint into gold and silver coinage has led to an increase in the number of caravans and small villages outside of the forest's protection. Most trade within Llanivaya itself is still based upon a barter system, with coinage and precious metals and gems being used most often in nomadic caravans and cities outside of the forest.