Carjalla
Government
Carajalla is the only city in the Riverlands to regularly send its denizens beyond the confines of the river proper. Where the Great River flows through the Wandering Wilds, it sustains a dense, lively swamp. Regionally known as The Flooded Forest, the city is run by the the Crew of Captains, the ship captains who travel the bayou. Each captain acts as law enforcement wherever they happen to be at the time, and they meet to collectively determine the outcome of situations that affect the city as a whole. A captain's word is law aboard their own ship.
Defences
Most captains are more than capable of preventing criminals from acting more than once, but piracy is an ongoing ordeal facing Carjallans. In particularly intolerable situations, the Crew of Captains bands together as an armada to drive off the pirates. The peace never lasts.
Industry & Trade
Carjalla provides clay and fibers for most of the Riverlands. As a city built on tree branches or in the mud, it has little use for stone from Rocaroja or metal from Valendro. With the swamp's abundance, it has no need for game from Zarurana and imports only small amounts of produce from Guadavera. These factors combine to make Carjalla the most isolated of the Riverland cities, but that doesn't mean Carjallans revere the River any less.
Infrastructure
Structures and buildings are set high on stilts or within the massive trees themselves. Bridges of rope and wood connect the city and keep folks clear of the riverboats and murky water.
Guilds and Factions
Ship captains forge loose alliances for trade and protection, but these come and go with the current. Weavers, hunters, and foragers form conclaves for defense when venturing out for their trade; a group has a better chance at negotiating with the bayou captains than an individual.
History
Legend holds that the Wandering Wilds were drawn to the spirit of the Great River. Those trees which could withstand the flood wandered to the expanding river and buried their roots to soak in the sacred waters.
Whatever its origins, Carjalla grew faster than any other city along the River. The swamp provided protection, raw materials, and food; it was an ideal place to settle. It was at its inception, and remains to this day, a place of opportunity. Any person with a skill in weaving can find work maintaining the bridges and homes, while any captain with a vessel that floats can ferry people from island to island. The Crew of Captains leave people to their own devices for the most part, and Carjallans don't ask questions.
Tourism
A deep swamp full of hard-eyed captains doesn't offer much of a draw as a vacation destination, but adventurers seeking to uncover the secrets of the bayou flock to Carjalla. Myths tell of ancient cities lost beneath the muddy waters and great beasts who grant wisdom and wishes. Black dragons are known to make lairs in the region, and the profit-minded are inclined to seek their hoards.
Carjalla has a thriving relic and magical artifact trade as a result. However, its relative isolation means that few magical experts are ever on hand to vet the wares. Great treasures can be found in the treetop shops, but so can deadly curses.
Architecture
Carjallans have taken advantage of the atmosphere and built their homes to support hanging gardens, with oversized eaves and latticed porches. Wooden docks are connected to warehouses and shops via spiraling staircases. Those with magical talent have shaped homes directly inside trees and woven furniture from living plants. Ladders and narrow stairs connect multi-level, multi-generational family homes.
Geography
Carjalla is a swamp. Muddy water hides large roots and even larger beasts, small islands support massive trees and a thriving mortal society, and thick vines tangle the unwary and offer aid to the cautious.
Natural Resources
Carjalla produces a nutrient-rich mud that is used as both fertilizer and a base for a sturdy clay. The reeds, grasses, and other fibrous plants provide raw fiber for cloth and clothing throughout the Riverlands, while its aquatic life sustains the people that live there. Carjallan catfish is considered a delicacy, but also an acquired taste.
Founding Date
11399
Alternative Name(s)
The Flooded Forest
Type
Large city
Population
40,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Carjallan
Location under
Owning Organization
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