Navavia (Location)

Navavia official motif

Navavia is an underwater city, located in the pacific sea (51°41'41.1"N 140°43'07.3"W). The city is protected by a large bubble, which makes it possible for elves to live there.

## History

In 1649 a group of Russian soldiers was sent on a journey to collect slaves from all over the world, 120 slaves in total. The group of slaves was separated into four units by the soldiers, called Daydream Unit, Nightmare Unit, Paralysis Unit and Delusion Unit. But the group of people refused to become slaves and killed all of the Russian soldiers, afterwards jumping into the water to kill themselves, in case someone would find them. This event is widely known as the Defiance Act.

After jumping into the water, they were found by merpeople who brought them to a deep part of the Pacific Ocean and left them there for a while, intending to come back later to experiment with them. This is also why the humans were temporarily able to breathe underwater. When the humans woke up they fled and looked for a way to get back to the Mortal Realm but since they were so deep underwater it was impossible and they decided to look for a way to survive instead.

They found a place that looked similar to a frozen pond and decided to start a camp there while looking for a solution and trying not do die underwater. They often walked over the pond-like thing and it seemed to grow very restless over time and when they suspected that it would explode, they immediately tried to flee but didn't get very far. When it exploded, they realized that it was actually a geysir containing not only water but also some chemical not known to humans yet. When the chemical reacted with the water, a large area (similar to a bubble) was created and the humans realized that the bubble was full of oxygen and they would be permanently able to live there. They then built a palace next to the geysir, that was named Lily Pond because it had looked like a pond at first and because many lilies grew in that area, and made it the center of their new home.

After centuries of living underwater, the humans' bodies changed and have different features than humans so they would still be able to live underwater. The people living underwater now referred to themselves as Elves and the bubble they were living in quickly got the name Navavia. The bubble also protected them from Merpeople, since they were not able to survive long if they came in contact with the pure air in the bubble.

After the new barrier had been created, the territory was divided by four, so every unit could reside in one of the quarters. The palace didn't have much purpose except being the center of Navavia. But when mutant mermaids got into the bubble and tried to harm them, there were two people who were especially brave and helpful during the First Merfolk War, Emperor Yungyan and Empress Amiuko. They were made the king and queen of Navavia as well as the founders of the fifth tribe, Lily Court, named after the Lily Pond since the new main royal family of Navavia resides in Lily Pond Palace, which was originally the palace the first people built.

## Political Structure

Navavia is separated into four tribes that each have their own royal families, but the highest power always belongs to Lily Court. Lily Court is sometimes referred to as the fifth tribe, but it's actually just a singular royal family clan. While monarchs in the four tribes have the titles King and Queen, the monarchs of Lily Court are referred to as Emperor and Empress. While the four tribes are mostly independent, they have to bend to the Lily Court's every word. Within the four tribes, there are different systems, values and rules.

## Known Inhabitants

### Former

* 120 Slaves
	+ 30 Daydream Unit members/Anemone Founders
	+ 30 Nightmare Unit members/Orchid Founders
	+ 30 Paralysis Unit members/Carnation Founders
	+ 30 Delusion Unit members/Daffodil Founders
* Emperor Yungyan I. (formerly an Orchid)
* Empress Amiuko of Lily Court (formerly an Anemone)

## 120 Slaves/Founders

The 120 slaves were from four different continents, each continent being represented by 30 slaves. Here's a list of how many people of what nation were included:

* 30 Asians
	+ 6 Chinese
	+ 5 Japanese
	+ 5 Koreans
	+ 4 Indians
	+ 3 Filipinos
	+ 3 Thais
	+ 3 Iranians
	+ 1 Mongolian
* 30 Europeans
	+ 6 Austrians
	+ 4 French
	+ 4 Swedish
	+ 3 Italians
	+ 3 Danish
	+ 3 Germans
	+ 2 British
	+ 2 Romanian
	+ 2 Greek
	+ 1 Turkish
* 30 Africans
	+ 6 Egyptians
	+ 4 Moroccans
	+ 4 Nigerians
	+ 3 Tanzanians
	+ 3 Ethiopians
	+ 3 South Africans
	+ 2 Mauritians
	+ 2 Algerians
	+ 2 Malagasy
	+ 1 Ugandan
* 30 Americans
	+ 6 Cheyennes
	+ 6 Apaches
	+ 5 Shawnees
	+ 5 Sioux
	+ 4 Shoshones
	+ 4 Mayans

## Traditions

### Traditional Clothing

Navavia's traditional clothing is very inspired by what Chinese people wore during the 17th century. At first they each wore clothing that was typical to their own cultures, but they quickly realized that Chinese clothing had many advantages underwater. For one, it had multiple layers and was very long yet flowy, so it wouldn't get too warm or too hot underwater. And for the few dangerous trips the people make into the actual water to get different kinds of food, wash things or do other things, they acted similar to a mermaid tail and allows them to be faster underwater. Over the years it has also established itself that people wore clothes in the color of their tribe or clothes that had at least ornaments or accessories of their tribe's color.

### Frozen Tears

Frozen Tears refers to the forehead symbol Navavians are required to wear. The forehead symbolizes wisdom, mind, power and intelligence to the people of Navavia and shortly after one is born, they are brought to Lily Pond Palace and left there for six hours. Since Lily Pond Palace is extremely cold, only the strongest children survive, but even the ones that survive are known to cry bitterly while there. Their tears are collected and as a reward, are used to make the tribes' official colors which are then used to paint the tribes' official motifs on their forehead. These forehead decorations are referred to as Frozen Tears. One always has to wear their Frozen Tear and one is only allowed to be "naked" in front of one's family, significant other and one's own children.

### Naming Conventions

#### Given Names

The 120 slaves suffered from amnesia because of the lack of air underwater. While they remembered where they were from, because of the language they spoke, they forgot their names. Instead of just choosing a random name in the language they spoke in, all 120 of them held a conference and together they created brandnew names that are mixtures of different cultures, so all of their former home countries would be represented. They then chose names from the new list and every child is given a name from this list as well. The list is referred to as the Auspicious Naming List.

#### Surname

Just like their given names, the slaves also forgot their surnames. Instead, each person created their own surname. At first they were names from their own language, but when couples started developing and people started being able to cultivate certain elements, thanks to the Essence Crystal, they came up with a new concept. Every couple (later family) was required to choose a name related to their tribes' element. Children are only going to keep that name until they start their own family, thus choosing a new name for their new family. Even if one doesn't have a partner and only adopts a child, they are required to choose a new name for the family. Only if a person doesn't have a partner or children their whole life, they are going to have the same name forever.