Åsa

Åsa is the capital of Uudestaan. It is located in the heart of the country, high in the Luuraanko Mountains. The heart of the ancient city is located on top of Mount Aasoraan, but the city has since then spread out considerably, covering much of the surrounding valleys and mountain tops, making it the sixth largest urban area in the West New Americas. It straddles two River Sergei subsidiaries, the Ajor River and the Samja River. It is also the largest mountain city in the world, the highest, as well as one of, if not the oldest existing city. It is by some distance the largest city in Uudestaan, and has been the centre of the country’s government, history, culture and society for literally millennia.

History

Main article: History of the City of Åsa

Uudesan historians would like to claim that Åsa is easily the oldest city in the PEEL Region, citing that it was established in roughly 5013 BCE STS, however this is difficult to prove as the calendar used to date much of Uudestaan’s history often varied, and was finally abandoned over two hundred years ago, and that was before Uudestaan adopted the STS in 2051, so collaboration of events is proving difficult. However, historians and archaeologists have discovered evidence that primitive cave settlements have existed in around Åsa for most likely 10,000-12,000 years, and evidence does strongly hint that Uudestaan has existed as some form of nation for over 8,000 years. It is believed that Åsa was not the first capital of Uudestaan, some say it was the near mythological city of Arakinno, whose ruins still elude even the most dedicated of archaeologists. Uudesan legends cite that the people of Uudestaan gathered in Arakinno after the Uudesan God, Jumala, struck the world to banish the impure – leaving alive only his purest followers – those would become Uudesans. Around 5050 BCE, disaster befell Arakinno and all traces of the city were lost, as its people moved on. At this point Uudesans decided to spread out, and a large group, lead by the King, rediscovered the caves at Mount Aasoraan and so established their new capital.

By (roughly) 4650BCE, the top of Mount Aasoraan had also been settled, and the foundations of a grand palace were laid down. Despite harsh working conditions and years of difficulties, the Grand Palace was finally built for King Oran I. Small sections of the Grand Palace still exist in ruins in the grounds of the current Palace, including a long section of garden wall, which has been called Oran’s Wall as the King was renowned as a keen gardener.

Massive downpours in the 2500s BCE caused flash flooding that killed hundreds and swept away much of the city’s settlements in the Ajor valley, this sparked not only a brief civil war, as the disaster was blamed on King Por VI’s ineffective leadership angering Jumala, but also a decision to emphasise construction on the sides of the mountains themselves. The civil war succeeded in deposing Por VI and sweeping the Sajyyk Dynasty into power. They solidified their powerbase, and transformed their capital drastically. This changed the look of Åsa forever as over the next millennia, huge construction schemes were carried out on the side of Aasoraan and some of the surrounding mountains, either digging into the side of the mountains or adding to them, large areas were developed for housing – however this soon lead to an obvious “Pyramid” scheme with the King and Priests right at the top of the mountain, safe and sound, the well-off being able to afford the houses up the side of the mountain, and then those who couldn’t afford them being left on the valley floor. However, it was decided that the area around the actual rivers be left alone as flood plains – much of these plains still exist as parks even today, even though the rivers have since been “tamed”.

Åsa went through perhaps its darkest hour in 1156 BCE when the city was sacked by Cambrian invaders from the south, and King Majek III mortally wounded at the Battle of the Ajor Plains just outside the city. As the city burned, Majek ordered that Juhani, who was leading much of the Uudesan army against Stojak Tribesmen in the north at the time, to take effective control of the country. Juhani, thus now Marshal of Uudestaan, was able to rout the Stojak at the Battle of Tribyorg, and then rush south to defend Åsa. Unfortunately by the time they got there, much of Åsa was under the control of the Cambrians, and Juhani would have to brake through Cambrian lines to get to the city. Luckily Juhani’s followers were able to get messages into Åsa that Uudestaan still had a great army outside the gates, and the residents rose up against the occupying forces, to cause enough diversion to allow Juhani a chance to break through the mighty Cambrian lines. In a tactical move, Juhani outwitted the Cambrians and was able to smash through their lines after a diversionary feint caused them to weaken their defences. This did not win the battle, indeed the battle for Åsa continued for several months, and technically only fell the Uudesan way after the murder of the Crown Prince of Cambria and his family. It has gone down in history that this was by political rivals, though some very strongly believe that it was partially down to Juhani, who may have ordered the assassination of the Cambrian ruling family even before the main assault on Åsa, in a deliberate ploy to destroy the spirit of the Cambrian army – if it the murders were carried out convincingly. Juhani then trapped all the Cambrian’s attentions in Åsa allowing Uudesan agents a slightly better chance of slipping into Cambria undetected. Uudestaan’s Special Forces today still “unofficially” take pride in the belief that it was their ancestors that carried out this task and thus won the war for Uudestaan.

Following the murders, the nephew of the Crown Prince drew a huge amount of the army back to consolidate his position; because he was paranoid it was political rivals that murdered his uncle. What was left behind in Åsa was easily overcome, and the city made safe. King Kekkeor VIII, son of Majek III charged Marshal Juhani to oversee the construction of forts that would defend Åsa from future attack, and work began almost simultaneously on six forts in the heights around the capital, these would become known as “Juhani’s Ring”, and most of them still function today – one is now the Nation Defence College of Uudestaan were most UDF Officers receive their training. They also draw many tourists from around the country and region, offering commanding views of the city and surrounding countryside.

With the security of Juhani’s Ring, Åsa has been allowed to develop without much fear of attack. From about 1290 CE onwards, the city has been home to a string of successful and famous artists, and has received a permanent culture boon. By 1765 CE, King Fillan IV decreed that heavy industry would be banned from Åsa – according to legend it ruined his view – and thus the city has become famous mostly for its commercial assets – and of course its impressive, and vital, transportation links. In the last century, skyscrapers have finally reached Åsa and they now tower above the city, with bridges and monorails criss-crossing between them, as often direct links between mountains are built to save on congestion and commute time. The most impressive of these linking bridges is the Karelli Bridge that spans nearly a mile between Aasoran and its nearest neighbour, Mount Ajakban. It was along this bridge that over 250,000 protesters marched calling for change in the Uudesan Liberal Revolution in 1981.

Åsa

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