Kazkaya

Kazkaya, sometimes alternatively called Kaxkaya (Lo'Oi: Kaxkáa), is a sprawling city within the State of Kramenix and currently the second largest city by population in the entirety of the United Socialist States of Eldham; as well as being at multiple points in Stoneworks history the largest city on the server. The largest city by population in the USSE today is Akaishiro, which has over 20 more residents than contemporary Kazkaya. The only cities that have historically rivaled Kazkaya in size-both physically and by means of population- have been Urak, Qadakh, Umakwa, Aroforn, and Rezuraia.

It is well known for being an international trading hub with a large harbor on the busy Haxhoit Sea and for being a home to several government, military, and business buildings making it a common landmark for diplomatic and state matters. Today, the city encompasses a total of three large boroughs/neighborhoods and multiple open areas reserved for future construction, logging, and farming. The literal territorial size of the city has been cut down over time in light of the current war meta; which favors smaller claims.

It's founder is Urabon Gaboliver and its current mayor is Miril Gaboliver. Since its founding it has been constantly and permanently inhabited, very rarely falling below 100 total citizens.

Founding
On July 19th, 2021, Gaboliver Urabon and Attila Richthofen began building a small settlement on the Isle of Tumiria within the State of Croscograd in the USSE. It was the first settlement to begin being built after the Kunir War in the nation as many had been displaced and forced to move West and there was a desperate need for new settlements and cities.

Technically, there were buildings on the isle prior to its settlement by Urabon and Richthofen; in the form of a watchout tower and an igloo. The watchout tower was commissioned by the executive government to enforce the borders of the USSE in the weeks following its founding; that tower exists to this day.

The city was nearly named Orgostahd as per the suggestion of Korwin Rogale, but this was voided and the city was ultimately named Kazkaya however it has been often called Kaxkaya or Kaskaya as alternative spellings.

Expansion
The city ultimately had a rather slow start consisting of an empty dockyard and a few desolate roads and buildings. This would change drastically though as under the Presidency of Xeroise Ronango'O, the nation began to quickly grow and rejuvenate after the Kunir War, a trend that would be followed up under the Presidency of Quintus Solokov. During this time Kazkaya grew from a small population of a few to a massive city of nearly 50 people.

Kazkaya Farms
On September 10th of 2021, to accommodate the city's gargantuan size and expansion, farmland West of the Yotoshad River was split into a different claim named Kazkaya Farms. It acted as a small shanty town with several small abodes, large farms, and most notably, Kazkaya's graveyard where featured the heads of beloved people from throughout the nation and abroad.

The 'Lethean Maldings'
Kazkaya became a hub of production in preparation for war against the self-declared Loyalists who supported Lethe of Laria in his secession, being used by citizens to grind for experience. However, on the 16th of November, war was officially declared, with Kazkaya being the predominate target for Loyalist and Mars Exulte forces, chosen by Zaidan's leader, Loppi Duck. Thankfully, through diplomacy, war was averted, with the city escaping major harm. The city's population at this time was, at one point, as high as 130 people.

Iversteiyan and Sylvanian Occupation
During the middle of 2023, the city found itself in particular strife. War was threatened by Sylvanian and Leidenite officials against the USSE, and in an attempt to thwart their war effort, the leadership of the USSE made a deal with a player named Kelz from the nation of Iversteiya. This involved Kelz taking ownership of the city but it still remained in control and in the nation claim of the USSE - in exchange, Sylvania and Leiden would call off any war effort.

This went well for an extensive period of time, until September of 2023. The Clone War began to take place and anger began to be fueled between the USSE and CATO once more - with Sylvania being a member of CATO, was was Iversteiya. The USSE funded, armed, and took place in battles against CATO during the Clone War, which CATO devastatingly lost. Kelz and other members of a mercenary group called the Hands were placed in a 'reign of terror' by the Stoneworks admin team which prevented them from taking place in war. Angered by this, the Hands decided to fight anyways in the Clone War, including Kelz. Ultimately, Kelz, knowing she would be banned, gave her claims to Sylvania, including Kazkaya. This broke the deal that the USSE had made with Iversteiya and further aggravated tensions. The leadership of the Hands were all permanently banned, including Kelz.

In the aftermath, Kazkaya was illegally occupied by Ufxr of Sylvania. The USSE immediately moved all of its items to other cities like Akaishiro, and defenses were made in Nizkaya and Vostroya. A campaign of terrorism began with the USSE sponsoring bandits to attack Sylvanian cities such as Noxwind every single day for nearly a month. Ultimately, at least 20+ people were indefinitely displaced from Kazkaya during the Sylvanian occupation after they forcefully kicked out residents or people were forced to flee with seeming war in the horizon. The pressure the USSE placed on Sylvania however led to mass outrage in the foreign government, with Sylvanians even speaking of secession. Ultimately, the Sylvanian government forces Ufxr to give the city of Kazkaya back to the USSE, ending the Sylvanian Occupation and the Cold War between the two, in addition to the terror that was inflicted on cities such as Noxwind.

During the Iversteiyan occupation the city was often referred to as Kelzkaya, and during the Sylvanian occupation the city was referred to as Letheskaya, in praise of the notorious USSE traitor who seceded Laria away from the USSE in favor of Sylvanian officials. The city was promptly renamed to Kazkaya/Kaxkaya with the end of the occupations and any Sylvanian influence on the city was completely destroyed, with monuments being made in remembrance of the end to the occupation. Once the city was reclaimed by the USSE, the population was around 75 people.

Economy
Kazkaya is considered to be the economic center of Eastern Eldham and especially the USSE. It maintains several businesses both domestic and foreign, and most notably has an expansive foreign market dockyard where foreigners can come and sell their goods. It was at numerous points on the server's history the single largest producer and exporter of products such as experience bottles, enchanted gear, and other goods.

Crime
Kazkaya has a reputation as the capital of crime within Serrona, with multiple gangs and criminal families fighting for control of sections of the city. Theft is relatively common and has become a part of the city's cultural landscape. Raids by the People's Security Bureau are additionally frequent because of frequent robberies; with massive thefts being commonplace. The city is known to have a massive series of underground tunnels where illegal commerce and products are made and grown.

Geography
The historic sectors of Kazkaya is built almost entirely on the island of Tumiria which is surrounded by the Yotoshad River and the Haxhoit Sea. Much of the city's farms though are built West of the Yotoshad River near the borough of New Crosotex. It's attachment to the river and sea make it an excellent trading destination as it has direct maritime access to many ports belonging to historical nations such as Xeka, Batu, Kaladinia, Notos, and more. Furthermore the river gives travelers direct fast travel to cities like Laria.

Boroughs
The city of Kazkaya has historically and recently been divided into three boroughs; which lack autonomous status and as such respond directly to the city government structure. These include Kazkaya East (Lo'Oi: Kaxkáa Sago), Kazkaya West Lo'Oi: Kaxkáa Kosa), and New Crosotex (Lo'Oi: Béa Krosotex).

Kazkaya East is the single most populated borough; estimated to include about 90% of the city's population. It is where most of the city's government buildings, residential apartments, military apparatuses, markets, and other things of substance are. It is also the oldest of the three boroughs.

Kazkaya West, also frequently called 'Kazkaya Farms' (Lo'Oi: Kaxkáa Magés) has little to no homes and is almost entirely dedicated to industry. It boasts one of the server's largest experience farms and at the Northern peninsula of the borough lays Kazkaya Farms Cemetary which is, to best of common knowledge, may be the oldest still existing cemetery on Eldham and boasts the remains of many of the USSE's most famous residents; including former General Secretaries, Generals of War, and even executed criminals.

New Crosotex has in multiple points in time flipped between being a sovereign city and a borough of Kazkaya and was the last borough to be incorporated into the city. It was founded following the abandonment of Crosotex during the fallout and attempted ethnic cleansing of the Kunir War. To this date it remains the smallest of the three boroughs and nowadays is largely relegated to recreational activities. It features a massive unfinished frame of a building intended at one point to be the chamber of the USSE's National Assembly which, if completed, would have been the single largest structure in the USSE before that title fell to the actually completed buildings of the Haxhoit Sea Damn, the Kolsson Castle in modern Nielsensbyian, and the People's Security Bureau Prison in Vostroya. Today the borough has an ice hockey rink and ice boat racing track.

Architecture
The city loosely follows the architecture of Laria. There are also notable buildings such as: the parliament/assembly building, the library, and the unfinished temple, and a large airship that towers over the cities skies

The parliament/assembly building was build by Rogale and is mainly used for presidential speeches and debates.

Perhaps the single most notable buildings in Kazkaya include the Kazkaya Cathedral which has hosted numerous weddings and been noted by many visiting diplomats to be among the most gorgeous building interiors on all of Stoneworks. Honorable mentions include the Kazkaya Dockyards which serve as a trading hub, the historic Kazkaya Farms Windmill, the large former embassy building to Notos, the experience farms, Fort Kazkaya, and the statue in the military district in Kazkaya East.

Notable Residents
Gaboliver Urabon - Co-founder and mayor incumbent

Attila Richthofen - Co-founder and politician

Rogale - Politician

MrBluePig - Politician

Chrisamar Lorenzen - Politician