Ashtafos

Ashtafos [Ash-ta-fos] is a city of Nunindae on the continent of Talasi. Its name is Kaziri in origin and translates to "The City of Ashtaf", more literally, "The City of God". Ashtafos is located in the western half of the Terra Aurea, on the northern bend of the Aratu river. The city is governed by a Palaean (lit. gathering of houses), where the most respected members of each clan in the city are sent to Ashtafos Keep to discuss matters of immediate political importance. The other clans in the Palaean are presided over by a single empowered clan whose members are given the honor to live in Ashtafos Keep as its caretakers. This empowered clan is referred to as the Ur-Palae (lit. family of chiefs), and the eldest member of the Ur-Palae is known as the Ur-Kaz (lit. chief of the Kaziri). The Ur-Kaz simultaneously holds the position of Baron within the government of the Grand Principality of Nunindae. In this way, the Ur-Kaz may represent Ashtafos' interests in Nunindae's High Council.
Alongside the Palaean, the city's decisions are guided by the influence of the cult of Ashtaf-Elam, the patron god of Ashtafos. Before any decision can be finalized, the Palaean consults this cult of star mystics to determine whether or not Ashtaf-Elam approves of their suggested course of action.
== History ==
=== Founding ===
Ashtafos was founded by a migration of Kaziri nomads whose culture is indigenous to the Terra Aurea savanna of eastern Talasi, known to them as the Kazhawat (lit. Grassy Mother of the Kaziri). The Kaziri people had wandered the savanna for centuries prior to Ashtafos' settlement. The founding myth of Ashtafos claims that upon reaching the northern bend of the Aratu river, the Kaziri migration witnessed a star descend into the river with great force. That star is said to be Ashtaf-Elam, who then spoke divine truth to the eunuchs that were present among the Kaziri. At the behest of these divinely inspired eunuchs, the Kaziri migration came to its end, and they settled on the bank of the Aratu river. Scholars have not yet determined whether this myth has any element of historicity. Some have speculated that the star in question could have been a broken fragment of Iristor's Comet, a real comet that is itself the subject of debate regarding its mythical origins. Or it could perhaps have been an unrelated meteor. Regardless, evidence does suggest that prior to Ashtafos' founding, the Kaziri lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers, and avid equestrians. There are, to this day, clans of Kaziri that were not part of the migration, and thus did not settle at Ashtafos. They persist in their nomadic lifestyle further east in the Terra Aurea.
=== Early History ===
Ashtafos remained an independent settlement for the first five years after its founding. In [Undetermined Date], Ashtafos was absorbed into the neighboring nation of Nunindae. Despite this loss of independence, Ashtafos was still permitted to practice its culture and religion, and the local government of the city remained the Palaean. The position of Baron of Ashtafos was then given to the reigning Ur-Kaz, Slonomaki dia-Kalai, by the Grand Prince of Nunindae, Chorboi I. This combining of political ranks would allow all future Ur-Kazes to represent the interests of Ashtafos in the government of their overlord.
== Culture ==
=== Politics ===
The local politics of Ashtafos are inherently tied to the culture and infrastructure of the city. This is due to the city's organization around the "palae", or clan dwelling. A palae is a neighborhood of interconnected dwellings that often share outside walls and fences. The dwellings in these neighborhoods are occupied by the various extended family members of a clan, who all live and work alongside each other from day to day. The structural importance of the clan to Ashtafosian society transfers upwards to the city's governance, whereby each clan sends one of their most respected family members to represent the interests of the clan and their palae in Ashtafos' governing body, the Palaean. The Palaean is then presided over by an empowered clan known as the Ur-Palae that act as the caretakers of Ashtafos Keep, and arbitrators over political discussions. The Ur-Palae is superseded by its eldest family member, the Ur-Kaz, who acts as the final judge and executor of the Palaean's decisions, provided the Cult of Ashtaf-Elam relays divine approval. Every Ur-Kaz also simultaneously holds the position of Baron within the wider nation of Nunindae.
On the first day of each month, the representatives of the Palaean gather to share news and voice disputes. It is then the responsibility of the Ur-Palae to provide their keep's hospitality to the gathered citizens, and it is the duty of the Ur-Kaz to keep order. Other clan members may witness and even take part in the discussions of the Palaean, but only one chosen representative of each clan may voice the final position of their palae. 
Existing Clans in alphabetical order:
Ashtaf	A non-hereditary clan name that is bestowed upon a faithful aspirant, once she completes the ritual that elevates her as a priestess of the Cult of Ashtaf-Elam. This clan name serves to mark its bearers as being kept by Ashtaf-Elam, thus being divine eunuchs in the eyes of their religion. They do not possess a palae, rather the priestesses of Clan Ashtaf reside in the temple of Ashtaf-Elam.
Hashtu	
Kozra 	
The Ur-Palae and consequently the Ur-Kaz can be removed from power if a majority of clans cast a vote of no-confidence in their ability to lead. They can also be removed from power by the Cult of Ashtaf-Elam, if the priestesses deem that the members of the Ur-Palae are insufficiently faithful. When the position of Ur-Palae is not occupied by a clan, then the priestesses of Clan Ashtaf will arbitrate discussions until the Palaean elects a new Ur-Palae. Once elected, a clan will hold the honor of Ur-Palae indefinitely.
Clans that have served as the Ur-Palae, and their Ur-Kazes in historical order:
DATE 	UR-PALAE	UR-KAZ
Uncertain Date	Hashtu 	Jaro de-Hashia
Uncertain Date	Hashtu 	Slonomaki dia-Kalai