Akau

Built around a vast coral reef in relatively shallow northern waters of the Cobalt Sea is the great reef city of **Akau**. The reef boasts some of the largest coral structures on record, and within the crevices and amongst the giant organisms that make up the reef, a city has flourished.

The reef itself is known as the Leviathan Reef, for the sheer size of the corals that grow there indicate it was once home to much, much larger creatures than typically found now.

## Origin

The city was founded around 800 years ago as a trading hub. The area is relatively central in northern part of the undersea, and trade routes were long and arduous to undertake. A group of nomadic mermish traders decided that the great Leviathan Reef could be more than a landmark along the way, and started a trading outpost under one of the vast coral shelves. Within a few years the trade hub was bustling, and kept developing from there into a fully fledged city.

Akau became so reknown that is is considered by most as unofficial capital city of the Cobalt Sea.

## Population

Though founded by merfolk, Akau has never been considered a Mermish city: right from the beginning, it has been a diverse community of people living in cohesion with their environment, protecting and enriching the coral that supplies renewable resources.

Akau is the largest city in the Cobalt Sea, including its coastal regions, with a population of around eighty thousand.

Nearly a third of the population is fishfolk, with Merfolk and Cecaelia as other large population groups. Undine, Water Genasi, Crustacea, and Gillfolk make up large populations, with Sea Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes and Humans generally being more recent immigrants to the city. Akau also hosts the most established cohesive community of Deep Tieflings and has largely been a safe haven from persecution they might face in other communities.

There are many other races who call Akau home, or who visit for trade or business.

## Politics and Leadership

When Akau was first founded, everyone got a say in decisions made for the city. Leaders were selected and voted for by the people to carry out their will, and that system remains the centre of operations today, albeit in a way that has had to scale up with the size of the city. Several representatives per district are elected, known as "Community Proxy", depending on the size and services of the district, who are tasked with voting for legislation and proposals in line with their constituency.

## Relations

Akau fosters good relations with most undersea regions of the Cobalt Sea. Establishing links with major surface areas is a relatively recent development.

## Districts

The city is divided into 12 districts. The oldest districts exist at the bottom of the reef, sheltered by the overhanging coral shelves, while newer ones have developed higher up amongst the coral structure.

Although minimal formal planning has gone into the districts, similar businesses and industries have tended to crop up together, creating districts with distinct industries and atmospheres.

#### Basalt Beds

The largest and oldest district, nestled below the lowest shelves of the reef and expanding some way out onto the sea floor. Many of the buildings that formed the centre of the city in it's infancy have been repurposed as workshops, warehouses and residences. It would be a stretch to call any part of Akau lawless, but due to the sprawling population of the district, it's sometimes characterised as the "dodgy" part.

#### Pamu Underfields

The other district at the lowest point of the reef, an agricultural region that covers swathes of kelp fields and shellfish farms. Akau is a hub of trade in the undersea, but in times of strife the fertile farmland on the seabed around the Leviathan Reef have proved invaluable to the city, staving off famine.

#### Cerulean Cloisters

Made up of huge, winding coral caves this area is a functional temple district of the city. It is customary for newly arrived populations to be gifted some space for worship, religious observances and inter-faith mediation. This longstanding tradition has resulted in many people embracing a less formal kind of polytheistic worship, mixing and merging deities and beliefs from various cultures. Because of this, there seems like there's a constant parade of observances, festivals and events happening in the district.

#### Nereus Reach

Nereus Reach has become the modern official "centre" of the city, housing council buildings, embassies, guild headquarters and other bureaucratic buildings. Built on a huge coral shelf overlooking several other districts, most "official" city business is conducted from Nereus Reach.

#### Acropora Gardens

One of the most planned, less organically developed districts is the Acropora Gardens, which were built as a homage to the reef, to plant life, and to preservation of the environment. There are a number of research and environmental monitoring facilities in the Gardens, but the district has also become a desirable residential location. Artificial parks and botanical gardens are in abundance, and the great "green belt" of the city has helped to enshrine the care of health of the reef into the ethos of the city for generations.

#### Mohio

While places of learning can be found all over the city, the most notable institutions of learning can be found in Mohio. Several large archives, libraries and schools make up this district, including the Maelstrom Circle, a school of aquatic sorcery. Wizards from across the Cobalt Sea travel to Akau, hoping to be given access to the vault archives containing some of the most ancient sea magics.

#### Triteia Reach

Triteia Reach is known for being a district of industry. Most concerns with the maintenance of the city are dealt with here, and the area boasts many workshops and work yards. Construction and upkeep of the city is a consistent source of income for citizens and migrants alike, as well as a district packed full of specialist industries and points of interested both magical and technological.

#### The Salacian Arches

Once an area of sprawling temporary housing for refugees during a great crisis relatively early in the city's history. Much has been done to develop the area since, and the differing interests in the area are apparent in the patchwork of building styles and features. While remaining mostly residential, the area boasts the biggest market in the city, across squares and streets and built into the coral itself; chances are you'll find what you're looking for in the Arch Market.

#### Amphitrite's Balcony

Near the highest points of the reef is Amphitrite's Balcony, a district known as a centre of the arts and entertainment. The best light in the city is said to be the cause of such a district developing in this area, with promenades, galleries, and a huge amphitheatre. Large festivals and celebrations often take place in the district, and artists flock to make their homes here.

#### Neptune's Walk

Until recently, terran races had to go to extreme magical lengths to live amongst the aquatic races of Akau, and few "dry" areas existed throughout the city. But the recent development of a district known as Neptune's Walk has expanded on this magical and mechanical architecture; a collection of giant magical bubbles made of glass and metal, tethered to the reef, and connected by a bathysphere system have allowed for an entire "dry" district underwater.

#### Nommo Drop

Nommo Drop serves as a port and official entryway to the city. Perched on a large overhanging shelf of coral, visiting trade vessels dock here and can find markets, shipyards, and respite if they're only stopping on a visit, or move further into the city.

#### Fallen Eye

The Fallen Eye was once part of the Triteia Reach, the site of an impressive watchtower. During a historic storm - or leviathan attack, some say - the outcropping of coral broke away from the reef, and was strewn across the sea floor. The remains of the watchtower and the dead coral now make up the Fallen Eye, which is claimed officially as part of the city, but functions as a somewhat independent town in the shadow of the great reef. Citizens of the Fallen Eye often feel like the city doesn't give them the dues it does to the other districts.