Nahrayn

Nahrayn is a city and Najer cultural site.

Origins
Nahrayn was founded several thousand years in what is now present-day Najer. A group of Najer nomads settled between two rivers, building a massive city-complex out of the sand and stone. They zealously recorded everything about their lives, from trade manifests, to architectural plans, to books of poems and religious rituals. They stored all of this underground in a series of tunnels. However, due to an unknown impetus, all the city's inhabitants left, leaving the settlement to be lost, buried in the sand for eons. Najer developed around it while it languished in the desert.

Thousands of years passed, until one lone nomad would come across a piece of the city unburied by the happenstance of a desert storm. Intrigued, he began uncovering more. Fascinated by the city and the secrets it might hold, he sent out a call for others to aid him. Many scholars, geologists, and other Najer would come to visit, study, and learn. Eventually, people began setting up permanent residence, and before long, Nahrayn evolved into a proper city once more.

That lone nomad, named Hirudo, rose to lead the city. He quickly recruited another human named Madrihta, a foreigner, but devoted to the city more firmly than many Najer. They worked together to excavate, restore, and invite people to the city.

2021
August 6th- the Nahrayn Market officially opens, giving a new area for shops in the city.

August 9th- Emissaries from the city of Konushum make contact with Nahrayn, claiming that the city was part of the cultural legacy of a people called the Castellans.

August 12th- Nahrayn enters into a trade deal with the city of Novus.

August 15th- The religious district opens up, with several temples being built.

August 17th- Construction on the city hall begins. Many citizens came together to donate materials, supplies, and energy to complete it. The first stage was completed on 8-20-21.

August 27th- A provincial meeting for Central Najer was held in the Palace of Nahrayn.

September 2nd- The Nahrayn guard helps to expel the squatter camp of Clover that had appeared on the southern border.

September 18th- Nahrayn hosts the wedding of Etzli Tizoc, a Huitcan who had citizenship in the city. It was attended by a number of Huitcan and Auroran dignitaries.

September 19th- Many citizens of Nahrayn sally forth to defend the nation of Solitudinem from the invasion of the Dixie squatters, bringing home many trophies and much glory.

September 20th- Citizen sloths-on-speed is promoted to Executive, marking the first such advancement since the early days of the city.

Notable Landmarks

 * Nahrayn Central Square
 * A large open space in the center of the city with a statue of a Zond. It was here that the city was first discovered.
 * Faultline Tower
 * A premium housing area that towers over the core residential district. It was so named due to the uneven terrain on which it was built.
 * The Colossus of Nahrayn
 * A massive statue located in the marketplace, representing the Lost God of Fire.
 * The Granary
 * A bulk crop storage facility that can be found in the farm district.
 * Nahrayn City Hall
 * A massively complex palace and public meeting hall that spans most of the government district.

Religion
Officially, the same as national Najer, Nahrayn has no state religion currently. However, the city has a distinct focus on The Lost Gods, specifically the Lost God of Fire.

Symbols

 * The Colossus of Nahrayn
 * Probably the most overt, this statue is thought to depict the Lost God of Fire. The black pedestal it rests on represents dark, fertile soil, its legs planted underground to signify the god's connection and commitment to the people. In one arm, it holds a pan of life-giving water, bringing abundance and life. In the other, it holds a lantern of blue flame, guiding all those who are lost toward it.
 * Soul Lanterns
 * These blue lanterns hold a special place in the worship of the Lost God of Fire. Their exact significance is still being studied.
 * Peculiar Architecture
 * Something many have noticed is the raised platforms that comprise much of the city. It is thought that these have some symbolism, but like the soul lanterns, their exact meaning is still being studied.

Government
Nahrayn is overseen by a council of Executives that fulfill many roles and oversee the growth of the city as a whole. Underneath them, there are a variety of positions organized into different ministries, such as infrastructure, defense, statesmanship, and commerce.

Flag
The flag of Nahrayn takes cues from the flag of Najer, and is based on the natural world. The yellow represents the wandering desert, and the blue saltire represents the intersection of the two rivers. The sun refers to the iconic sun of the Najer flag, and its green color represents the life that flows from the city.