Ka Tajj

Ka Tajj has a small local government, whose main purpose is to regulate trade and prevent crimes. The government is led by an earl, who is chosen by the emperor of Tajj Neta. The earl and his family are charged with watching over the town and guiding its development, collecting taxes from the citizens, and employing a guard force to keep the people safe.

Ka Tajj has historically been a very safe city, and as such does not have particularly strong defences. There are several watchtowers posted in the harbor which would allow the city to see any attack by sea, as well as a few island outposts further out into the bay, which communicate with Ka Tajj by means of carrier birds. A short, stone wall surrounds the center of the town, although it has never been necessary for preventing an attack. The town guard serve also as a small military force, who are trained to hold off any attackers until more help can arrive.

Ka Tajj receives most of its wealth from import and export taxes placed on goods which pass through the harbor. Many of its citizens work as loggers and miners, collecting materials to be sold to the rest of the world. While there are many expensive and rare imports which pass through Ka Tajj, such as jewels, spices, and marble, most imports are simple materials which are necessary for daily life.

Although Ka Tajj is a small town, it is quite well developed. Large, dirt roads provide access to most of the town as well as the surrounding agricultural areas, and the main streets are made of basic concrete. A large port is situated at the edge of Ka Tajj along the bay, where foreign traders arrive with their goods. The city has several saw- and stonemills for processing and carving wood and stone, and most of the city's buildings are made out of wood, with the floors often made of stone or concrete.

Ka Tajj was founded long ago, before the era defined by the Unification Crusade. Ka Tajj was one of the original city-states of Eastern Natua, and was the birthplace of the storied Emperor Szeng. Its importance has shrunk significantly in the centuries following the unification and formation of the Tajj Netan Empire, and nowadays it mostly serves as a port of trade, hosting many foreign visitors but having little prominent culture of its own, and a population which has declined steadily since the days of old.

Most of the architecture in Ka Tajj is aligned with the traditional Tajj Netan style of architecture, wherein most buildings are constructed of strong woods from deciduous trees such as cherry or maple trees. Most buildings are two stories or less, although especially important buildings such as the town hall, temples, or the Earl's estate are likely to be up to five stories tall. Each floor tends to be a bit smaller than the one below it, to create a tapering effect toward the top of the building. The hardwood structures are often adorned with carved, softer woods which are painted most often in pink, blue, and red. Traditionally this wooden trim will be carved into curvy or spiraling shapes. Most buildings have foundations made of concrete, although the houses of the wealthy may be comprised partially of marble and other expensive, foreign stones.   It is normal for a house to contain a large, fenced-in garden in the backyard which is structurally attached to the house so that one of the home's exits leads directly into the garden. These gardens tend to contain a wide variety of species, and often include small ponds, streams, and sloped landscapes. The garden is seen as a sacred place in the home, and is often used for the practice of private ancestor worship.

Ka Tajj is located along the Ka Tajj River Delta, with its Eastern border reaching Nas Kotok Bay, and is surrounded on all other sides by humid continental forest which makes up a large portion of Tajj Neta. To the West, there are rolling hills which gradually transform into rugged, extremely tall mountains. To the far North lies the capital city of Suszeng, as well as a few small villages and outposts. Ka Tajj is the most populous settlement along the Ka Tajj River for several hundred miles, until the city of Tastasz is reached to the far West. Most travel out of Ka Tajj is done along the Ka Tajj river, or through the bay to the East.

Ka Tajj makes excellent use of its natural environment, harvesting a variety of woods from the surrounding forest, as well as limestone, granite, and other types of stone from the relatively nearby mountains. As it is a port city, the fishing industry is also quite large, and Ka Tajj exports lots of food both domestically and internationally.