Free City of Qadakh

[Last Updated: 12/08/2021]

Qadakh (pronounced: kah-DAK) is an independent city-state bordering the Sultanate of Tetra to the East and Valore to the West, in Eldham. It lies on a peninsula jutting out into the ocean in Annoros, the Gulf of Tetra to its east. The city was founded on the 14th July 2021 by Flingbing when the region was part of the Sultanate of Tetra, with Qadakhi citizens declaring their independence on the 3rd August 2021.

Early History
The Qadakhi people originated in the highlands in the North of Qadakh as a goat-herding people. Upon the establishment of the nearby city of Hesti'a, Qadakhi people came to appreciate the value in a sedentary lifestyle: greater access to trade, more reliable resource production and greater protection in case of invasion.

In mid-2021, amid rising 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 centre.

Industry and 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. 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.

Cheese
First identified on cacti, the rare bacteria Lactocactaceae is a key ingredient in Qadakhi cheese manufacture. After a unfortunate cross-contamination incident, the then-town's stockpile of potatoes became infected, the disease proliferating at an alarming rate and triggering fears of a 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.

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 'homegrown' coveted scriptures have been accredited throughout Eldham, such as “Water, Why is it such a Bastard?” and "Keeping your Pipes Clean and the Importance of Fibre", helping other developing settlements construct water management solutions.

Qadakh's 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 the Tetrasect Syndicate. This organisation grew to prominence after discovering that when dried and ground, Qadakhi Crunchy Cheese forms a powerful psychedelic known by the street name Grit.

Law enforcement is struggling however, as the recreational drug looks 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, nobody is holding out much hope.

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. 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 a dry dock for the construction of ships, can be found here to be bought and sold.

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.

Storehouse
Containing many of the goods that 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 shipping merchant 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.

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 unrest in the Gulf of Tetra region, piracy has become an increasing problem in the surrounding waters of Qadakh. Key trade routes between factions such as Valore, Yaszuma, and Druk Yul have become ever more dangerous, as naval forces are stretched thin to protect coastal assets. A cunning Qadakhi citizen realised that merchants would pay a pretty penny to store goods destined for ports on the return journey. The high walls of Qadakh providing a much more dependable defence than a slow, overloaded merchant vessel.

Academy of Qadakh
Founded in the Northwest quarter of the Castrum Ruins, the Academy stands out amongst the narrow passages of Qadakh. With its large blue tiled domes, 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, 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.

Though a popular location for academia, Qadakh itself lacked the resources to facilitate research until a visiting noble - frustrated at having to mix with the “common rabble” of sailors and traders - funded the construction of the Academy as a place dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge.

Foundation of Qadakh
The founding of Qadakh in 14th July 2021 came about because Hesti'a was undergoing an period of extensive reconstruction, with little end in sight. Combined with this, the new building codes and zoning laws in the Tetran Capital meant that many Qadakhis would be limited or even restricted in the construction of their own homes. To meet this immediate need of shelter, 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.

Much of the food production for the citizens of Qadakh consisted of sweet berries, not a very nutritious food source. In order to quickly rectify the situation (the construction of large scale irrigation infeasible at the time), most of the wheat production was replaced with potatoes - coal being a commonplace resource in Qadakh. A diet of cooked potatoes made up the majority of this early Qadakhi diet.

Independence Crisis
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The Serial Killer
In recent months, Qadakh has been victim to a spree of single-instance killings; high-profile residents have found themselves butchered, and have returned to their gear to find everything present, barring their own 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.