Free City of Qadakh

The Free City of Qadakh (pronounced: kah-DAK) is the capital of the independent nation of Qadakh bordering Illumina and Mýkitas to the East and Yaszria to the West and South, in Eldham. It lies on half of a large island just North across the ocean from the continent of Katsura. The city was founded on the 14th July 2021 by Flingbing when the region was part of the Sultanate of Tetra. Qadakhi citizens unanimously declaring their independence on the 3rd August 2021, with independence finally secured on the 30th August 2021. Once their independence was fully recognized by international community, Qadakh has proceeded to join the the Northern Lights (succeeded by the Constellation of the North). Qadakh is highly respected for its builders and architectes, sought after on all of Eldham.

Etymology
Hypothesis for the origin of the name "Qadakh" are numerous. One is that it was borrowed via Umarinian from the Old Tetrian expression ca-barth "peninsula" (ka-baat in Umarian), referring to the land that the Free City sits on.

According to the Annals of Hesti'a, the word "Qadakh" comes from the Modern Tetrian expression tajid alqabac tahle qirayih "to dance with a stone", referring to the pebble-herding nomads who wandered in the desert. The Hestian historians argue that the expression corrupted into "Qabakh" and eventually into "Qadakh" to reflect the lack of the phonem /b/ in the early Qadakhi pidgin.

Since the independence war, the term Qadakh started being used to refer to the nation, while the capital was officialy renamed "The Free City".

Prehistory
It is believed that the territory in which Qadakh sits on was previously a submerged landmass until at least 200,000 years ago. In fact, petrified seashells and giant fish skeletons were recently found on the mountains of Ar-Kath, leading researchers to believe that the region hosted a varied fauna and flora.

The last ice age brought fertile soils to the region known as the Desert of Qadakh. It allowed the foundation of the city of Calea, marking the foundation of the first sedentary civilization of the subcontinent. The city would later be pillaged and destroyed by the forces of the Qwe'tsn Empire, that was rising into a golden age in the subcontinent of As'ria.

The refugees from Calea and other similar settlements composed what would be known as the early Qadakhi nomadic tribles. They would bring stones from their old settlements in a ritual known as pebble-herding. Life was tough as sheparding stones over the great distances that pebbles require is physically exhausting and mentally draining, let alone in the mountainous terrain of the highlands. While an incredibly versatile material, pebbles are very nutrient poor.

Tetran period
Upon the establishment of the nearby city of Hesti'a, Qadakhi people came to appreciate the value in a sedentary lifestyle: its greater access to trade, more reliable resource production, and greater protection in case of invasion. The Qadakhi people remained in Hesti'a for hundreds of years. Upon the acsension of Tetra's current Sultana, emnity between the Qadakhi people grew after the prohibition of battery pebble farming within city limits. In protest, the pebble farmers released their stock into the city and the for several weeks, stones littered the streets of Hesti'a. Feral pebbles can be found across the deserts of both Tetra and Qadakh to this day.

In mid-2021, amid rising cultural tensions in Hesti'a, the Qadakhi people were expelled from the city, though they were permitted to found a new city across the other side of the vast desert. The Bay of Qadakh was decided upon as a suitable settlement location due to the presence of natural springs that run into the bay, the strategic placement of the bay over the ocean, and the presence of the ruins of a fort from an age long ago - which provided much needed defensibility and building materials in those early days. This fort underlies much of the core of the settlement, its outline still visible in older stone walls and the grid layout of the city's centre.

Economy
Qadakh is known as the “Jewel of the North” not only for its astonishing beauty, but for also its thriving economy and expansive markets, not to be confused with Volkoregrod or Miklagard which are also called the Jewel of the North. Due to the city's strategic location, early Qadakhis quickly found suitable anchorage for seafaring vessels, opening the gates to weary or lost merchants attempting to navigate the seas of Northwest Eldham. Following the ban on all mercantile activity by the Sultana of Tetra, Qadakh began issuing vast amounts of Smuggling Permits, both to citizens and foreign merchants upon arrival. The logical solution after the independence war would be for merchants to be welcome again. However, due to administrative difficulties, the leadership decided it was simpler to allow smuggling and keep the ban on merchants.

Local Businesses
In the map provided are gathered all the Qadakhi businesses known by the public eye, although you may find small shacks and stalls which are constantly appearing in the most remote nooks and crannies of the Free City. Who knows what bargains one may find for sale!

[1] The Prancing Duck
A bar owned by Bobsquddle.

[2] Seagully's Seafood
Seagully's Seafood is a restaurant (owned by seagullysully) that sits on a hill in the western area of the city. For awhile, it was the only building in that area, visited only by hungry fishermen or construction workers. Since the development of the western neighbourhood, the restaurant has become quite popular among locals (despite the potent smell of cooking fish wafting from the shutters). The owner is said to live above their establishment, though is rarely seen at home.

Sells; cooked salmon and cod. (Actual Owner: seagullysully)

[3] Arjam Springs
A bar with a brewery - owned by Halatian.

[4] The Lemon Lounge
The Lemon Lounge is a coffee shop situated on the main thoroughfare of Qadakh, owned by Theodore Camomile. It sells exotic teas and coffees, as well as a wide range of delicious homemade baked goods. The owner's extensive private library is open to the public, to allow customers to enjoy their goods while reading interesting tomes. This quaint café is very popular among citizens and visitors of Qadakh.

Sells; a random variety of exotic teas. (Actual Owner: seagullysully)

[5 & 6] Nook's & Crannie's
Harold Nook (a bookseller) and Annie Crannie (a baker) are lifelong friends who decided to open an establishment together - selling second-hand books and freshly baked goods. Their business is located right beside the entrance to the Free City, and certainly benefits from it. Many visitors stop by for some light reading and a cake, and enjoy chatting with the owners.

Sells; an assortment of books. (Actual Owner: seagullysully)

[7] Sheil Al Higar
A public bath house.

[8] The Masrah Theatre
A public theatre.

[9] Rampart Industries
An armoury and weaponry forge.

[10] Cacti Clothing
Cacti Clothing is a clothing and armour store on the main thoroughfare, situated beside the Lemon Lounge. It is a popular store and is known to frequently provide large discounts as and when the owner (Deborah 'DeeDee' Signer) desires. Customers are often told 'If it's too expensive today, come back tomorrow', and are encouraged to haggle with the owner, as DeeDee seems to find it thrilling. Custom and personalised clothing is available here, as DeeDee is quite the fashion designer.

Sells; leather boots and iron leggings. (Actual Owner: seagullysully)

[11] Hobbitson's Horticulture
Hobbitson's Horticulture is a plant nursery situated in Qadakh's underground market. Nestled in a corner, this small establishment appears overgrown and disused. The owner, Joseph (Joe) Hobbitson, is a fairly odd recluse who is often spotted poorly hiding behind trees and plants, or rushing into his basement office whenever customers appear. Neighbouring store-owners often question how the store has remained in business, as Joe is rarely seen actually working. Evelyn Roquefort, the owner of 'Edam & Eve's' has reported Joe to the police many times, as the man has often been found rummaging in her bins and running off with piles of Crunchy Cheese.

Sells; sea pickles. (Actual Owner: seagullysully)

[12] Edam & Eve's
Edam & Eve's is a cheese shop that sits below Cacti Clothing, and can be accessed only from the underground market. Evelyn Roquefort, the owner, is a cheerful woman who enjoys gossiping with customers and other store owners. She seems to be aware of many of Qadakh's hidden secrets, and can often be found talking animatedly with others for far longer than they'd like. She makes all of the cheese that she stocks herself, in the small cheese-making basement of her store. She owns a pet cow (Maggie 'the ferocious beast') who she treats like her own child, and who provides all of the milk used in Eve's cheese production.

Sells; a wide variety of cheeses, butter, cream cheese, and more! (Actual Owner: seagullysully)

[13] The Bellflower Bistro
A bistro owned by Wizzy.

[14] Hole in the Wall
A cheesemongers.

[15] Yoshi's Cheese Shop
A cheesemongers owned by Yoshi_Soup.

[16] The Flying Carpet
A drapery store owned by Morphean.

[17] The Murky Cauldron
The Murky Cauldron is an alchemy shop and the first shop to be situated within the Qadakhi sewers. Due to it's location, there is some suspicion about the source of water used to make the potions. The owner however insists that the foul taste of the potions has nothing to do with the water source. Being rumoured to also sell some illicit poisons, the Qadakhian police have inspected the nearby production facility situated beneath the constabulary headquarters but have assured the public that nothing but harmless jam is being produced there.

Sells; foul tasting potions, questionable concoctions, suspisious stews, fresh bottled water, no poisons at all.

[18] The Toking Toucan
A herbal remedy dispesary owned by Em.

[19] The Magic Toolbox
An enchanted tool store owned by Penobscott. Qadakhi citizens receive excellent discounts for top quality tools.

[20] Brews & Blues
This student coffee shop is located within the Academy, on the second floor. It is constantly busy, as students swarm to be caffeinated before class.

Sells; strong coffee. (Actual Owner: seagullysully)

[22] The Barrelmore Bros' Fishmongers
A fishmongers and seafood restaurant.

[26] Forge of Tartarus
A forge owned by Wizzy.

[27] The Glow Berry Garden Centre
A garden centre selling various plants and saplings.

[28] Attas' Building Materials
A stall smuggling common building materials, such as sandstone, bricks and warped wood.

[29] Stinky's Laundering
This small laundromat situated in the underground market is frequently visited by many of Qadakh's 'criminally inclined' citizens. Curious neighbours gossip about the place, wondering if clothing is the only item being laundered at this establishment... 'Stinky Stu', the owner, denies ever having heard of the place.

Sells; clean socks. (Actual Owner: Sharkondakis)

Cheese
First identified on cacti in the region, the rare bacteria Lactocactaceae is a key ingredient in Qadakhi cheese manufacture. After an unfortunate cross-contamination incident, the town's potato stockpile fell to blight; the disease proliferating at an alarming rate and threatened the settlement with famine. The Qadakhi people, frugal by nature, saw the opportunity amongst this catastrophe and thus, the Qadakhi cheese industry was born. This cheese became a favourite of foreign visitors, unique for its sharp, citrus-y flavour. It is commonly paired with imported melon as an aperitif or in various fish dishes.

Potatoes
Whilst nothing special, potatoes are a staple trade in Qadakhi markets, due to the lack of good quality soil in the region. Merchant-ship quartermasters frequent the various stalls to replenish their food reserves for long voyages, providing themselves and their crew with nutritious rations, and Qadakh with a healthy influx to the economy.

After the potato blights of the early settlement, considerable effort was made to develop blight-resistant varieties of potato. Because of this work, Qadakh now produces more varieties of potato than anywhere else in Eldham; able to replicate the taste of almost any other food. Visitors to the Free City might be surprised to learn that the steak they've been eating, is actually a baked steaked potato.

Kelp
Apart from potatoes and cheese, Dried Kelp is another food source popular in Qadakh, if not for it's taste, then merely for the fact that there is nothing else to eat in this desert. Having a flavour between dried paper and Grit (see below under Qadakh's Underworld), it is a flavor that Qadakhians are well accustomed to. It is especially popular among poor western Qadakhians who can't afford anything else or are too lazy to get anything else, due to Western Qadakh being built over land reclaimed from the ocean very poorly; with hardy and somewhat misguided Qadakhian kelp growing through the stones of many a basement and the sewers in the area- looking for sunlight in vain. There are many ways to eat dried kelp and so a large variety of Qadakhian dishes have come to utilize it as an ingredient. Some include: a Dried Kelp Potato sandwich; with dried kelp between two sliced potatoes, Dried Kelp on a stick, Dried Kelp Spaghetti meatballs; with potatoes substituting meatballs, Potatoes with a dried kelp salad, and Cheese stuffed with kelp (dried).

Tomes and Texts
The Academy of Qadakh attracts scholars from a wide range of disciplines from across Eldham. As such, various academic scriptures are published or auctioned to collectors, fellow academics, and entrepreneurs within Qadakh. Some coveted scriptures have been accredited throughout Eldham, such as Water: The Art of Getting Wet and Keeping your Pipes Clean and the Importance of Fibre, helping other developing settlements construct water management solutions.

Underworld
As Qadakh grew into a prospering city, it attracted visitors from all over Eldham. This included those willing to make a living in the grey areas of early Qadakhi law, who make use of the many tunnels under the city by day, and run packages across the city's rooftops by night. These days, most legally dubious activities are fronted by either the Tetrasect Syndicate or the Qadafia. These organisations grew to prominence after the discovery that when dried and ground, Qadakhi Crunchy Cheese forms a powerful psychedelic known by the street name Grit.

Law enforcement struggles to combat these groups, as the recreational drug looks, tastes and smells just like sand. This allows anyone caught in the possession of Grit an incredible amount of plausible deniability. On the 31st July 2021, Qadakhi officials announced the formation of a Sniffer Camel Unit, which are currently undergoing training; although with the recent loss of the entire Cobra Poisons Unit during a botched training exercise in the Armoury, confidence in law enforcement's ability to crack down is very low.

Construction and Landmarks
The first buildings in Qadakh were erected on the east side of the peninsula, facing the Bay of Qadakh. Expansion of the settlement has since expanded in all directions, most recently with large scale land reclamation projects. Below are listed some of the more notable landmarks and quarters of the city.

Eastern Market and Docks
Participating in the trade networks of North Western Eldham was an important early goal of Qadakh and the Eastern Market popped up almost immediately after the city's founding. Goods such as fine carpets and tapestries, flowers and plants, and fuel and redstone, as well as ship construction in the dry dock, can be found here to be bought and sold.

Much like the rest of the city, merchants are banned from the Eastern Markets and Docks. Smuggling is rife in the area, with many smugglers maintaining stalls in the market. Although it is clear that a vast amount of money and goods change hands here, visitors to the Free City would struggle to find a stall proprietor who will admit to ever making a sale.



Qadakh Lighthouse
Constructed by _fief_ on the 17th of July 2021 to guide ships in and out of the docks, the Qadakh Lighthouse stands proudly over the Bay of Qadakh. Much of the building's construction materials were salvaged from the castrum ruins found on the site.

Storehouse
Containing many of the goods that may or may not flow in and out of the Eastern Market and Docks, the Storehouse provides a safe, dry space for the storage of goods being loaded and unloaded onto ships out in the bay. Stall owners and traders pooled money and resources together to finance the construction and it was completed on the 18th July, 2021.

In addition to pure storage space, the Storehouse houses a workshop in one corner, to allow the production of tools, maintenance of equipment and the cooking of food, all on-site. The centre of the storehouse is a small courtyard, built to preserve an old Yucca Tree that has been growing on the site for at least a hundred years. This space is left as a spot of calm and tranquility in the busy Eastern Market quarter.

Castrum Ruins
The city of Qadakh is not the first settlement to have been built on this site. Current archaeological estimations place the ruins of the castrum at Qadakh at a year predating our modern day by perhaps thousands of years. Further study is required to authenticate this claim, but scholars believe it to be a remnant of the city of Calea, the first permanent city in the subcontinent of Tetra.

Today the ruins only hint at the grandeur the castrum must have once possessed. The roads and streets of the old fortress continue to be some of the busiest thoroughfares in Qadakh, and many buildings use the old walls as part of their construction. Keep your eyes peeled for the worn brick and granite rock of the castrum when exploring Qadakh.

Harbourmaster and Port Storage
Due to the remoteness of the Gulf of Tetra region, piracy has become an increasing problem in the surrounding waters of Qadakh. Key trade routes between nations such as Valore, Yaszuma, and Druk Yul have become ever more dangerous, as naval forces are stretched thin to protect coastal assets. Cunning Qadakhi citizens realised that merchants would pay a pretty penny to store goods destined for ports on the return journey. The high walls of Qadakh provide a much more dependable defence than a slow, overloaded merchant vessel. With the Bay of Qadakh becoming increasingly overwhelmed with the volume of trade, quickly outstripping capacity, a new and larger Harbour was designated and constructed on the West side of the peninsula.

Academy of Qadakh
Founded in the Northwest quarter of the old Castrum Ruins, the Academy stands proud amongst the narrow passages of Qadakh. With its large blue tiled dome, tall spires, and utilising advanced stonecutting and carving techniques, the building stands out from its surroundings. The Academy of Qadakh demonstrates the expert craftsmanship amongst the citizenry of Qadakh.

Famed across Eldham for its cartography, the transcribing and translation of ancient texts, as well as purely academic works, the Academy's shelves are kept stocked by a network of adventurous scholars who accompany merchant vessels coming in and out of Qadakhs ports. Thus the Academy of Qadakh forms a unique oasis of quiet discussion and contemplation in an otherwise bustling city.

Classes Offered
-      ‘Environmental Studies’ with Professor Moss. (Teaching Room A)

-      ‘Intro to Melittology’ with Professor B. Keeper. An introduction to beekeeping. (Teaching Room B)

-      ‘Geophysics & Hydrology’ with Professor Bismuth. (Teaching Room C)

-      ‘Advanced Horticulture’ with Professor Norman Cabbage. (Lecture Theatre A)

-      ‘Intro to Montology’ with Professor Matterhorn. An introduction to the study of mountainous terrain. (Lecture Theatre B)

-      ‘Architecture & Design 101’ with Professor D. Tale. (Lecture Theatre C)

-      ‘Monolith Studies’ with Dr Lucy Ferr. (Basement)

-      ‘Advanced Potion Brewing’ with Professor Bub. Lee. (Potions Laboratory)

Facilities
-      Library (‘The Egg of Knowledge’)

-      Satrap Flingbing’s Office

-      Vizier and Ketib Offices

-      Blues & Brews (Student Bar)

-      Various study spaces and seating areas.

-      Gender neutral bathroom.

-      The Student Union.

The Academy's Founder: Lord Atticus Ulrich (1961-2021). The grand Academy of Qadakh was established in 2021, thanks to the financial contributions of the late Lord Atticus Ulrich, who donated his entire life savings to ‘the pursuit of knowledge’ in his will. Without his generosity, the academy could not have been built.

Architect & Builder: Flingbing

Interior Designer: seagullysully

Foundation of The Free City
The founding of Qadakh in 14th July 2021 came about because of unrest within the city of Hesti'a. Hesti'a was undergoing a period of slow, extensive reconstruction with little end in sight. Combined with this, the new building codes and zoning laws in the Tetran Capital meant that almost all Qadakhis would be restricted from constructing their own homes. To meet this immediate need of shelter and ease the growing tensions, Flingbing petitioned the Tetran Royalty to permit a settlement expedition to what is now known as the Bay of Qadakh.

The Great Famine
Between the 16th and 26th of July 2021, Qadakh experienced a severe famine. While the natural springs provided access to clean, fresh water, the Bay of Qadakh initially contained very little suitable arable land. Additionally, much of the wheat being grown at the time was needed for animal feed - leather especially was sorely needed at this time.

Back then, much of the food production for the citizens of Qadakh consisted of sweet berries, which are not a very nutritious food source. In order to rectify the situation (the construction of large scale irrigation infeasible at the time), almost all wheat production was replaced with potatoes. As coal is a commonplace resource in Qadakh, a diet of cooked potatoes now makes up a staple of Qadakhi diet and come in innumerable varieties.

Independence Crisis
The road to independence was long and difficult for Qadakh, lasting four weeks from the 3rd to the 30th of August. The Assertion of Independence document outlining the justifications for independence, the plan forward for an independent Qadakh, and the assertion that this would not threaten the independence of the Sultanate of Tetra, was signed by every citizen of the Free City and thusly, every active citizen of Tetra bar the Sultana themselves.

The attitude by the Eldham international community towards independence movements was, and remains, generally very negative. Upon Qadakh declaring independence, there was immediate and aggressive backlash, with numerous bandits sent to the Free City, a $20,000 bounty set on Flingbing's head and several threats of all out war. The Sultana of Tetra levied numerous personal connections to officials from other nations across Eldham to throw their support behind Tetra and evidence of collusion between Qadakh and insurgent movements in other nations was fabricated by the Sultana to further demonise the fledgling nation. Many diplomats from other nations in Eldham proudly admitted to not reading Qadakh's Assertion of Independence.

Desperate to avoid total destruction, Qadakh went to the Northern Lights, a defensive alliance of nations in Northwest Eldham of which the Sultanate of Tetra was a member, to plead for assitance in finding a solution to the crisis before the conflict brought global powers to the region. Talks were to begin the following day, so Flingbing and MrAdz worked tirelessly through the night, compiling a document of evidence of all the original claims in Assertion of Independence, of tyrannical behaviour by the Sultana, and most importantly clear and indisputable absolution of the claims of Qadakhi collusion abroad.

Seeing this new evidence come to light, the opinion of the Northern Lights quickly shifted to sympathise with the Qadakhi cause. Watching the opinion of the room swing against them, the Sultana began to lash out and refuse to answer any questions posed to them. Old fueds between the Sultana and Northern Lights diplomats were brought up and the Sultanate of Tetra was dismissed from the alliance for toxic behaviour.

Despite the sympathy from the Northern Lights for the Qadakhi cause, they decided not to intervene on Qadakh's behalf. What followed were several weeks of tension in Qadakh. Soldiers and Citizens manned the walls of the city and looked out over the desert, but Tetran forces never came. After a while, greater and greater normalcy returned to the Free City, with the threats of destruction waning in the past and having no wish to march on Hesti'a, Qadakh kept its head down internationally. But with no international recognition for the nation, Qadakh's future at this point was uncertain. Qadakh appeared on no maps as a sovereign entity, due to the Sultana's connections to members of the Eldham Cartography Guild.

Three weeks into the crisis on the 23rd August, Qadakhi citizens woke up to the news that the Sultanate of Tetra has sold the land that Qadakh lies upon to Nova Regna. On the 28th August, the High King of Varn Torum came into posession of almost half of Nova Regna's territory, the means of this acquisition are unknown. As Nova Regna and Varn Torum had good relations, the sale of this land back to Nova Regna was agreed, but Nova Regna did not possess the funds at the time. To raise funds, Qadakh was offered its freedom in exchange for $200,000, which it immediately accepted.

Although not all of Qadakh's territorial claims are recognised by the international community and the border between Qadakh and Tetra lies just outside the Free City's main gate, Qadakh now became a fully independent and sovereign nation, its status as such indisputable.

Aegerian Invasion of Kaer Hrafin
On the 11th August 2021, a large group of new players announced their intentions to settle the lands of Kaer Hrafin (now Rattican) and Titan's Rest, and negotiations began with the new settlers making excessive demands of the two nations. Kaer Hrafin, requested assistance from the Northern Lights, and several nations quickly sent small contingents of forces to the nation, including from Qadakh.

Northern Lights forces gathered outside the settlement of Aegeria, to assess the numbers and strengths of enemy forces. Being a new settlement, the Aegerian's were very lightly armed, though numbers were nearly matched between the two sides. The rain was heavy at the time and utilising this, Bandit and State General of Nova Regna, WiriestComet629, using her riptide trident, fell from the sky and began to systematically turn the invaders inside out. Other Northern Lights forces looked on with horror, as bodies littered the floor and blood congealed with mud on the paths of the settlement.

New information rolled in stating that this was one of three such settlements in the area and so Northern Lights forces quickly dispersed to locate the remaining two. Qadakh soldiers present, Flingbing and Penobscott, quickly became distracted by a small abandonded tavern whose basement contained numerous barrels of Triple Distilled Vodka and Strong Absyinthe, while the other two settlements were found. The two soldiers drank and sang; a toast made to the absurdity of the situation that was unfolding. The screams of horror and sounds of battle rang out in the distance as the remaining invaders were torn to shreds.

Qadakh's first military action since declaring its independence is widely regarded as a monumental and overwhelming success and would form the basis for Qadakhi military doctrine. The event gained cultural significance in the nation too, with the phrase "you must be having a Hraf mate" coming to mean that one is functionally obselete in the current situation and by redefining one's own conditions of success in relation to the volume and strength of alcohol consumed, total victory can be achieved.

The Serial Killer
In recent months, Qadakh has been victim to a spree of single-instance killings; several high-profile residents have found themselves butchered, the bodies being found completely untouched, barring the victims' head. Reports of a "2-block tall, Steve-shaped creature" have so far been useless, but there is rumour that the perpetrator is terrifying not only in nature, but in visage. If you have any knowledge that might be helpful in bringing an end to these senseless deaths, please contact Qadakh authorities immediately.

Seagull Problems
Large and sometimes aggressive birds, seagulls in Qadakh can be especially cunning. Lamented for sneaking off with resources, keeping seagulls off of crops and out of the storehouse is considered an impossible task. Items taken by the birds are begrudgingly deemed acceptable losses. Do not approach if a seagull is spotted in the city, as they are known to pull a knife out over the smallest of issues.