Marakoosh
Overview
Marakoosh is the main kingdom of the Savannah. The sprawling city is very compact with houses built into the massive and twisting wind-swept trees around the area. Thatch and clay-roofed homes overlap along the sprawling metropolis. It is rare for structures to have walls on all sides, instead option to let the surrounding air and elements inside the home to keep some of the hotter summer months more manageable. Temporary thatched walls swing down during rainy season with much of the lower-level streets converting to small rivers where water is herded through a simple, yet complex purifying system to save everything for the next year. The roped and bridged walkways above the lower-level streets are used year-round even when the lower levels aren't temporarily flooded.
Surrounding the city are flat plains as far as the eye can see. Within those plains are nestled some surrounding Gryph tribes lead by different hearth mothers. The plains give way to a large area of rock outcroppings and a canyon. The caynon is a forbidden place where monsters like to dwell beneath, in the dark and craggly places.
Surrounding the city are flat plains as far as the eye can see. Within those plains are nestled some surrounding Gryph tribes lead by different hearth mothers. The plains give way to a large area of rock outcroppings and a canyon. The caynon is a forbidden place where monsters like to dwell beneath, in the dark and craggly places.
Demographic
The city is diverse with a majority of humans, elves, and orcs making up the population.
Architecture
The city is composed of buildings nearly stacked upon each other with thatched or clay-tile rooftops and open walls. Bridged walkways act as an organized tangle of webs and roadways while there are also hard-packed streets on the lower levels. The city has a diverse set of boroughs throughout its sprawl. Besides the royal residence at the center, there is a tower on the southeast end, known as the Tower of Healers. This structure sits apart as the tallest building within Marakoosh. There are also large, clay walls that surround the city on all sides from the massive expanse of the plains beyond.
Points of Interest
Marakoosh Palace:
(pinterest Mokuy)
(pinterest Mokuy)
Sits within the city center of Marakoosh. The royal residences host many a ball and diplomatic dinner as well as host the royal family and bloodline. The royals here are called The Sovereign. They are a powerful and respected family.They wear red when they’re in mourning. The throne is inherited by the second-born daughter. If the royal family has no daughters it will be the second born son. The eldest is tasked with protecting the second born.
Tower of Healers:
The tallest structure in the city. With multiple, smaller towers surrounding it. The tallest tower houses the largest library and learning center in the city. There are multiple learning and training centers and magical, warded libraries at its core. People flock to the city for healing, learning, and training. Many of the most powerful healers in the land train here. Matriarch Bethesda has been leading the Tower of Healers for the past 50 years.There are classes and tests and it's very difficult to get high marks. Students have access to an expansive library in the main towers and subsequent libraries in the surrounding towers. They also get training in the field by visiting the city’s unique and diverse boroughs.
Communal Baths and Art District:
The baths are along the outskirt boroughs of the city just before the protective wall. It acts as a central place for people to gather their water, bath, trade, and socialize.
Army Training Grounds:
The training grounds are just outside the city wall of Marakoosh. They contain the massive army's barracks and training facilities. A smaller contingent is housed at the Palace itself and around the city's boroughs.
Gryph Tribes:
There are outposts of gryph tribes along the plains and rocky outcrops surrounding the Savannah. The tribes are run by hearth-mothers who keep tribal order and have final say on laws and verdicts of laws.Each tribe also has a Story Keeper, with history passed down through visual and spoken storytelling. It is said that story keepers possess a certain kind of magic for remembering much history and details and a gift for making even the most mundane things come alive for a listener. They are very similar to bards. The members of the gryph tribes make up the calvary to Marakoosh's massive land army. They are warriors who ride the winged beasts into the sky and are hte first line of defense against monsters and other enemies that approach the city from the plains or canyon.
The Canyon:
The canyon is a dark and forbidden place, just past the gryph tribes. It is home to the skorpoius beasts, massive spider creatures, that come out at night. This is also the area where wild gryphs live and roam, those beyond the plains.
(pinterest Mokuy)
(pinterest Mokuy)
Sits within the city center of Marakoosh. The royal residences host many a ball and diplomatic dinner as well as host the royal family and bloodline. The royals here are called The Sovereign. They are a powerful and respected family.They wear red when they’re in mourning. The throne is inherited by the second-born daughter. If the royal family has no daughters it will be the second born son. The eldest is tasked with protecting the second born.
Tower of Healers:
The tallest structure in the city. With multiple, smaller towers surrounding it. The tallest tower houses the largest library and learning center in the city. There are multiple learning and training centers and magical, warded libraries at its core. People flock to the city for healing, learning, and training. Many of the most powerful healers in the land train here. Matriarch Bethesda has been leading the Tower of Healers for the past 50 years.There are classes and tests and it's very difficult to get high marks. Students have access to an expansive library in the main towers and subsequent libraries in the surrounding towers. They also get training in the field by visiting the city’s unique and diverse boroughs.
Communal Baths and Art District:
The baths are along the outskirt boroughs of the city just before the protective wall. It acts as a central place for people to gather their water, bath, trade, and socialize.
Army Training Grounds:
The training grounds are just outside the city wall of Marakoosh. They contain the massive army's barracks and training facilities. A smaller contingent is housed at the Palace itself and around the city's boroughs.
Gryph Tribes:
There are outposts of gryph tribes along the plains and rocky outcrops surrounding the Savannah. The tribes are run by hearth-mothers who keep tribal order and have final say on laws and verdicts of laws.Each tribe also has a Story Keeper, with history passed down through visual and spoken storytelling. It is said that story keepers possess a certain kind of magic for remembering much history and details and a gift for making even the most mundane things come alive for a listener. They are very similar to bards. The members of the gryph tribes make up the calvary to Marakoosh's massive land army. They are warriors who ride the winged beasts into the sky and are hte first line of defense against monsters and other enemies that approach the city from the plains or canyon.
The Canyon:
The canyon is a dark and forbidden place, just past the gryph tribes. It is home to the skorpoius beasts, massive spider creatures, that come out at night. This is also the area where wild gryphs live and roam, those beyond the plains.
History
Marakoosh is a very powerful and often left-alone city in the middle of the Aberssai Savannah. The city is lead by The Sovereign, known as the royal family. The current family is very powerful and respected. This is a matriarchal society. The throne is inherited by the second-born daughter. If the royal family has no daughters it will be the second born son. The eldest is tasked with protecting the second born. The city has always had an extensive spy network that monitors what’s going on in the nations around them, espeically with Vel Anir to the South and the Empire to the West. But rarely will they get involved in other nation’s problems. They try to keep to their own politics. Marakoosh will not usually offer aid except to defend their own people and kingdom.
The Kingdom is also known for its Tower of Healers. People flock to the city to learn from some of the most powerful healers in the world. It is a very difficult school to get accepted to but the city is welcoming of all who wish to learn and bring their knowledge.
The Kingdom is also known for its massive land army and flying calvary, thanks to the gryph tribes along the plains. Because the city does not stick its nose in other city politics and with its massive army, this could be why the city has experienced a long period of relative peace.
Not to say the city doesn't have its challenges, especially with defending its own borders against the dark creatures of the canyon.
Current Royal Family:
Neveah - is the third-born sister and next in line for the throne. There was a recent scandal where it looks as if the second, born, Alysea, jumped to her own death.
Gabe - Oldest brother
Frenna - Oldest sister
Alysea - Youngest sister; deceased
Circle of Healers:
Currently lead by Matriarch Bethesda
The Kingdom is also known for its Tower of Healers. People flock to the city to learn from some of the most powerful healers in the world. It is a very difficult school to get accepted to but the city is welcoming of all who wish to learn and bring their knowledge.
The Kingdom is also known for its massive land army and flying calvary, thanks to the gryph tribes along the plains. Because the city does not stick its nose in other city politics and with its massive army, this could be why the city has experienced a long period of relative peace.
Not to say the city doesn't have its challenges, especially with defending its own borders against the dark creatures of the canyon.
Current Royal Family:
Neveah - is the third-born sister and next in line for the throne. There was a recent scandal where it looks as if the second, born, Alysea, jumped to her own death.
Gabe - Oldest brother
Frenna - Oldest sister
Alysea - Youngest sister; deceased
Circle of Healers:
Currently lead by Matriarch Bethesda