Yumoa (You-Mo-a)

"I stood in awe, marveling at the pure beauty that stood before me. A tree of deep pink, majestic it stood within the courtyard gardens, honored and ordained as if it were the embodiment of the gods itself. It was here beneath this blossoming life, I experienced true serenity." - Senran Raxusis - Finding the Golden Gates. 22512

    The ancient city of Yumoa has stood at the heart of Chikage since the times of the First Radiance under the Golden Sky. A huge city spanning wide across the continent, consuming and assimilating the surrounding landscapes into a cast network of bright shining stone and wood. The deep forests that once dominated the eastern regions of Chikage have been integrated deep into the cities infrastructure and layout. Due to this, the parklands the city boasts are impressive, with beautiful canals, awe inspiring walkways and near unmanageable levels of natural beauty found in the design of its many residencies and structures.   Being a predominantly elven city, Yumoa holds firm to its ancient traditions dating back to before the founding of the city as it is now. Great marriage rituals, Kon'yaku ceremonies and large organized annual festivals are a large part of the cities rich culture. That is not to say that the city keeps purely to its old elven customs though. In the many thousands of years since the kingdom of Yumoa was founded, humans, dwarves and even the halfling races have seen significant growth, prompting gradual developments in traditions and the changes to many laws.  The most recent law being changed in regard to the rights of the Goblin race, finally being allowed legal rights to purchase properties and own independent businesses within Yumoa itself. Within the city you will find a large human and halfling population with gnomes, kitsune, Tieflings and even Asimar walking around the streets daily without even batting an eye. However, a firm refusal by the more ingrained peoples has led to cultural tension between traditional and modernity. And in recent years has led to a steady decline in the dwarvern and hybrid populations, moving to lands more liberal and favorable for them socially.   A defining marker of Yumoa is the great cherry tree Keihatsu. A tree older than the city itself that sits at the heart of the cities grand palace. Its leaves shimmer a beautiful radiant pink that shine far across the city, basking the people in a comforting serene glow of love. It is said in the ancient texts that on his road to enlightenment. the First Radiance sat and meditated under the gaze of the tree after making an offering of his very last morsels of food. Yet for one year, the First Radiance sat focused, unmoved by the hunger that was consuming him until he reached his true epiphany. As to many now, the tree has become a site of great pilgrimage, sacred ground that is to be above any and all laws made by mortal men. Within Yumoas walls, it is now commonplace to find many travelers and even foreign historians, clerics and adventurers making the journey to the tree to bask in its holy light, eager or curious to see if they can even glimpse the nirvana that was once found that led to the glory of the founding of the Golden Sky.