Coju, Gateway To The West

The city is a mix of people from the East and the West who have come to conduct trade or migrate to the other side of the continent. There has also been some racial mixing between the two, often facilitated through political marriages or Westerners settling in the city to encourage strong ties between the divided continent.

Golden Seats: A group of powerful noble families that have lived in the city since its founding, that rule and govern over it with their vast wealth and divide it into their small kingdoms.   Merchant Lords: A group of wealthy merchants rule over the city and hold sway over trade in it by monopolizing various traders and products within their sphere of influence.

Large Wall: A large stone wall protects the city from harm, may it be invaders or the elements of the desert that attempt to clash with it.   Harbor Defenses: Harbor chains and towers surround the outer limits of the its harbor to ensure that no hostile ships can enter its waters.

Hidden City

  Late in the time of the early desert, many cities were built along the coast and ruled over by the Paranth Sultanate in its ever-growing power and splendor it brought, yet not all would be controlled by them, as one city was all but left alone, for none knew that it existed, with that city being Coju. Starting as a small settlement on the Bay of Stones, the influx of refugees fleeing the growing desert led to its rapid development. In the decades that followed, it would become a major city along the bay, and for much of that time, it would be isolated from the rest of the East, lacking the knowledge of any other settlements, and no one knew that they even existed, with the desert separating them. This resulted in them becoming dependent on themselves and their means of survival by exploiting whatever land and resources they could acquire. Most of which would have them expand into the bay, looking for any resources amongst the islands in it, but would eventually discover themselves in contact with southern inhabitants of the Western Lands.   These were just fledgling realms ruled by various warlords and kings that never knew what lay beyond the mountains of The Spine. However, they were still intrigued by the foreigners who came to their shores offering rare items such as flowing silk robes and spices that were unknown to them, creating an extensive trade network that spanned ran from what is now Ardania to the Hyperian Isles, creating on of the first trades routes between the both sides of the continent, being exclusive to them. This brought about great wealth for the city and allowed it access to much-needed resources from foreign markets that could not be found in their barren lands. In the four centuries of isolation that followed, Coju would expand upon such trade, as it would be their lifeblood, bringing prosperity and greatness to their ever-expanding city through the wealth it generated. Yet that isolation would come to an end as news of the hidden city spread among Western traders who made contact with the powerful Paranth Sultanate, which finally reached their shores to expand its influence.  

Defying The Sun

  While Coju was mainly isolated for centuries, it was not foolish not to seek out other strands of civilization to the east, sending those loyal to the city to venture out into the harsh desert to find them. In that time, they encountered desert nomads and a few smaller settlements that managed to survive in the desert. Still, they eventually came across the Paranath Sultinate and its conquest of all in sight. Its leaders kept it secret and ensured that no one knew they existed for as long as possible. They would prepare for centuries for the day that they would be discovered, and when that day finally came, it was met with a power they had never truly seen before. Interactions between them and the sultanate began with somewhat peaceful diplomacy, as many were surprised that a city such as Coju managed to survive on its own for so long without expanding its borders into the inner desert for resources.   It was not until they realized that they had managed to create a vast trade network with many in the bountiful west who sought to gain more power over them to gain better access to the region. Yet the influence the Cojuese had was nothing to trifle with, and centuries of dealings with Western traders saw the sultanate unable to gain a hold on their markets, only angering them even more as they sought to achieve their destiny to rule all under the sun. This led to several wars with the city, known as the Coju Wars, with four in total, with the first three repelling the Paranthians as they were unable to take the city from harsh desert conditions and strong defenses by land and sea, with the final war seeing the city fall after a long four-year siege that starved it. Thus ending one of the few independent states of the Eastern lands that managed to defy the sultanate. From that point on, Coju would be under the control of the sultanate and various other powers, which would use its trade to enrich themselves.  

Western Sway

  Coju has always been more involved in trading with Western lands than their countrymen in the east, having a strong influence over trade in its southern regions. Having a large stock of exotic goods, they use it to gain greater wealth across the entire continent by selling goods from both sides for greater profits to their foreign partners as well as their own. It has made them one of the few Eastern cities to have maintained complete contact with the West at all times, in the search for various goods that would be more difficult to acquire in other places. It has granted extensive wealth and has put significant amounts of effort into perfecting their trade at home and abroad through their large merchant fleet. As long as trade with the West continues, their needs will be met, allowing them to flourish for years to come.  

Brewing Trouble

  Much has changed in recent years, placing the city on edge, and several threats have put the city in very real danger. The desert has become restless as sandstorms have become more frequent, consuming smaller settlements that have forced their inhabitants to find refuge behind their walls, all while worrying about an outbreak of the Withering Sands that has rabidly spread across the land. It has also caused issues with gathering resources, and production has become more difficult due to the fear of being taken by the storms. What's more, trade with their closest trade partner has all but ceased since the bloody War of the Raptors, having uprooted centuries of progress with attempts to make new deals with its new owners Vatian Empire bearing no fruit at this point. It has brought the city closer and closer to a crisis with no clear means of escape, and could bring about ruin should a solution not be found in time to end the strings of disaster that have befallen them.

Various people across the southern regions of the continent travel to the city, as it is the closest significant settlement in the east that is reachable by the Western Lands, allowing traders seeking to avoid long, arduous journeys by other means. This has led to diverse interactions between the two sides of the continent, as ships come and go without much issue, as they need only to cross the Bay of Stones to reach the other side to conduct local business.

Much of the city features a distinct style of stone and masonry that is entirely different from other settlements, reflecting influences from both Eastern and Western designs that resulted from years of cultural exchange in building practices. However, the oldest designs from the city's founding utilize many dome designs for government buildings, and statues of ancient faiths can be found across its main streets and squares.

The city is situated on the inner coast, bordering the Bay of Stones, an inner body of water at the southern tip of the continent of Kineth, where it has been built on a smooth rock formation that borders the sea. Beyond its lies the deep recesses of the Jantani Desert, where few people dare travel through unless they are prepared.

Metals: The city has control of various mines that are found on small islands in the bay of stones, where metals are processed to produce multiple items to be used to trade with.   Cloth: Various plant and animal materials are used to create extravagant clothing and various day-to-day items that are dyed to make them pleasing to the eye.