Umakwa

Umakwa (天市, "Sky City  in'' Yaszumatti) is a sky island chain and the current capital city of Raiyuna. It's the largest chain of sky islands in Eldham and is the most defining landmark in the nation of Raiyuna and the region of Katsura as a whole, as well as being the largest city in Eldham by population.

Before First Unification (~900 B.Y.M. - 1 Y.M.)
The defining sky island chain of Umakwa was constructed by the incoming Umarín settlers that arrived in Eldham after fleeing the Kingdom of Almador in Rathnir. The Umarín built floating island chains as temples and sanctuaries but none of them would be of any large size until the creation of Umakwa.

The island cluster was designed to be the highest and largest of all the Umarín's natural structures. The city built atop of it would serve as the de-facto center of Umarín civilization and would attain a sacred status within Umarín society.

The city was founded on the edge of the control of the Qwe'tsn Empire, just out of reach. The Qwe'tsn had long wished to control their eastern borderlands and began a campaign to extend their borders to encompass the rest of the modern Katsura region. Umakwa was at the frontline of this attempt at conquest, allying with the nearby Kaszatti Kingdom of Kaszara, defeating the Qwe'tsn at the Battle of Crimson River.

Umakwa and Kaszara have ever since held a strong bond between each other. The two states began regularly trading resources and knowledge between each other. Umakwa would eventually negotiate with the Kaszatti to form the Kingdom of Atu'asura, with Umakwa as the nation's new capital.

After First Unification (1 Y.M. - Present Day)
The city would gain its first influx of non-Umarín immigrants following the creation of Atu'asura, Kaszatti immigrants who wished to finally begin a life in lush and non-arid land. The Kaszatti would settle under the main islands initially, creating the undercity of Kanijakwa, but as time passed, more and more Kaszatti found themselves living on the islands themselves.

Umakwa kept its important status through the ages, eventually growing into one of the most important cities in Katsura. Today it remains the capital of Raiyuna and the nation's largest city.

Governorship of Mecr (4 Y.M. – 7 Y.M.)
The governorship period of Mecr of Umakwa was a pivotal time in the history of the city. This period can be considered a renaissance period for the city, as it saw a tremendous amount of growth and development in the city.

At the start of 4 Y.M. Umakwa had been reduced to small village of 8 people as a result of the turbulent times of the era prior. The largest city of Raiyuna (called Yaszuma back then) was the city of Kinnomachi located in the province of Osziro which had up to 50 people living there, including the ruler of Raiyuna at the time: Eolde (Mellonlord). To combat population decline a large architectural revolution was proclaimed, which oversaw the construction of several architectural marvels that continue to define the city to this day. This includes the early constructions of the government district, with important landmarks such as the Royal Palace, The Grand Library, The Storage Facility and the Dual Pagoda Towers. Two new housing districts were made, including the large Ashina District in the east and the smaller Oni District to the north. Finally the upper part of the Koyuku (Market) district was constructed during this period, which still serves as the economic centre of Raiyuna. Additional smaller side projects included the Nether Portal Island the Qadakh Embassy. These buildings not only served practical purposes but also served as symbols of the city's prosperity and cultural richness.

One of the most significant achievements as a result of this period was the increase in population, from just 8 people to a thriving community of over a 100 people. This increase was due to the the implemented policies and programs that attracted new residents to the city. Umakwa would overtake Kinnomachi as the cultural and governmental centre of Raiyuna. As the city grew into size and population the Governor Mecr realized that it became impossible to regulate all tasks within the city. Perhaps one of the most significant achievements of this Period was the creation of the first local government structure in the country. This structure was a blueprint for local governance that would later be implemented in all of Raiyuna.

Finally, it's worth noting that the Umakwa Renaissance was also characterized by several important figures who played key roles in the city's growth and development. Mecr, of course, as Governor and Mayor of Umakwa, but he was aided by Nixie, the main architect behind many of the city's iconic buildings. Jaxon_Dax, the second in command, who in charge of most of the local government jobs and would later gain higher positions within Umakwa. And finally; Pointtech, a large contractor, also played a significant role in the construction of many of these structures.

In conclusion, the governorship period of Mecr of Umakwa was a critical time in the city's history. It was a time of growth, development, and cultural richness that continues to define the city to this day. The legacy of this period is felt not only in Umakwa but throughout all of Raiyuna, where the local government structure created during this time remains a cornerstone of governance to this day.

Geography
Umakwa as a general location is divided into two distinct halves: Umakwa Proper and Kanijakwa. Umakwa is the main cluster of sky islands situated above the mouth of the Tokumoria River, in the southwestern portion of Yaszuma. Kanijakwa is a large area below Umakwa Proper.

Umakwa Proper
The sky islands of Umakwa are distinctively much bulkier and larger than the rest of Eldham's sky islands that sport much more serpentine and slim shapes. The islands themselves are mostly flat but have been designed with jagged and overgrown stone edges that extend several meters into the air at their peaks. The true reasoning behind these structures are unknown but several theories exist linking their creation to security or safety reasons.

Bamboo is overall the most common plant in the city, huge bamboo fields once spread across the islands, now reduced to only roadside planters and in royal gardens. Spruce trees are the most common type of tree across the islands, accompanied with various other forms of greenery and even with the eventual pond which holds many different kinds of plants and even animals.

Even a completely new breed of horse had managed to rapidly evolve after being brought up onto the islands thousands of years ago, growing to adapt to the lower atmospheric density.

Kanijawa
The undercity of Umakwa or Kanija is nearly entirely flatlands surrounded by various kinds of forests. This flat land allows for markets, housing and massive farms that spread across most of the city's home province to this day, growing wheat, potatoes, carrots, etc.

Biodiversity in Kanija is considerably higher than in Umakwa, Kanija holds many more kinds of trees, bushes, plants, and other kinds of life.