Summer of Lore #59: The City of Taraka

All over Shokiyu, the city of Taraka stands out as a shining symbol of the world's trade and culture, with some of its nicknames being "the glittering rainbow city" and "the jewel of the desert" Built by one of the famous Laryan family years ago as a gift to a kind daughter, Taraka has grown and flourished as a center of trade, research, and art.

Nestled inside a rare river basin (not unlike Egypt and the Nile in our world), Tarakans are more than happy to share their immense wealth--in their words, "even the poor deserve a taste of the royal life."

Ever since the city was built, a member of the Laryan family has served as its ruler. While most of the Laryans have been wise and just rulers, there have been some that were not so great, and it is these Laryans that are publicly shamed so that their mistakes are not repeated. Thankfully, the current Laryan, Natiliene, is well loved and well liked for her kindness, wisdom, and wit. Though young, she has made her mark on the city, continuing her father's legacy of stamping out corruption and making it very clear that abusing the city's wealth and mistreating the poor will not be tolerated.

Among the many attractions in Taraka:

--The Royal Theater of Shokiyu--one of Shokiyu's oldest theaters, Natiliene spearheaded a campaign to have it restored. It still hosts daily performances of some of the most loved plays in the Shokiyan repertoire and the hottest new plays. It is a tradition for a new play to receive its hundredth performance here--a sign that it has been formally accepted into the canon of great plays.

--The Crystal Arena--One of Natiliene's favorite places to visit, this spacious arena is made entirely from crystal mined from the nearby desert quarries, and tournaments of all stripes are held daily

--The Jeweled District--Home to many casinos and other wonders, many of the buildings here were carved from jewels

--The Great Hall--Another one of Natiliene's favorite spots to visit, this beautiful palace carved from diamond (its full name is The Great Hall of Performance Art) hosts concerts, dance troupes, comedians, and storytellers of every stripe.