The Golden City

Azmith's logic-defying capital city. A marvel of engineering built in the Rogue Sands. City of unimaginable wealth and luxury, but only for the lucky few. Slaves drive the industry, and it's bazaars are filled with exotic goods and bountiful treasures.

Mickaël Souchon, later known as Armen Samit, was born in the village of Vai’Mihat, or "The Well," to a wealthy noble family of Sunan and Mahavida heritage. Though he spent his early years in Azmith, his family moved to Suna when he was twelve. Despite leaving, Mickaël carried a lifelong fondness for the desert sands of his birthplace. Raised in privilege, he attended prestigious schools where he immersed himself in art, science, and philosophy. As a young man, he frequented scholarly forums, engaging in debates, experiments, and solitary nights mapping stars or pondering civil engineering and economics—fields he found particularly compelling. One pivotal night, after spending days in a hilltop observatory overlooking the sea, Mickaël had a dream that would define his future. Entities from the night sky appeared, revealing visions of a grand destiny and the secrets of a land he longed to return to: Azmith. While the details remain vague, his family recounted that the dream awakened a newfound zeal in him. From that moment, Mickaël believed he was destined to build a great kingdom in the desert sands that had shaped his early life. The Golden City would become that Great Kingdom

The City of Gold is a sprawling metropolis that defies logic, thriving in the unforgiving expanse of the Azmith Desert. Its mystique lies in its exclusivity—entry is permitted only to those with wealth to spare. As a dominant city-state, it controls the most economically valuable parts of Azmith, wielding unparalleled influence over trade and commerce. A global economic powerhouse, its bazaars overflow with goods from across the realm, drawing merchants eager to strike fortunes despite the exorbitant prices. Yet, beneath its glittering exterior lies a darker reality: the city thrives on ruthless business practices, with profit taking precedence over ethics. The city operates as an oligarchy, ruled by the Gilded Council, an assembly of the wealthiest and most influential citizens. Membership is determined by wealth, and fortunes are often built on mining operations, trade monopolies, and slave ownership. The council wields absolute power, dictating laws, trade policies, and military actions.

At its core is an institutionalized system of slavery, driving much of the city's industry and commerce. This exploitation has become a normalized part of Azmith's culture, deeply ingrained over centuries. The City of Gold's reputation as a hub of wealth is matched by its notoriety for seedy black markets and a harsh social hierarchy where respect is dictated by the size of one's coin purse. The Golden City's culture reflects its wealth and desert surroundings. Art, music, and architecture are infused with gold and precious stones, celebrating luxury and opulence. Festivals are grand and extravagant, often held to display the council’s power or celebrate the city's mining yields. The people of the Golden City are pragmatic and ambitious, their attitudes shaped by the harsh desert and the city's competitive social structure. While the elite revel in decadence, the lower classes navigate a precarious existence, their livelihoods dependent on the whims of those above them.