"When I retire from this life of travel and documentation, I would like to live out my days in The Home That Cannot Endure, I think. The people of this city are as caring, kind, and considerate as any I've come across. They love fun, behave as if their civilization depended on it, and always find a way. It's nearly utopian." - from the memoirs of Lewin Von Treet, Vault: the Land of Stuff and Things
Population: ~8000
Founded: 1250 (1140 years ago)
The Jungle That Bides Its Time has ever been a deadly place. Many species of animal and people have come and gone within its canopy, but the Tabaxi have endured through all of them. Through guile and physical prowess, the Tabaxi of the Arrowhead Isles have survived long enough to meet other peoples, promote trade, and build a civilization. And the form that civilization took was the city The Home That Cannot Endure.
Built as a massive circle with the middle missing, this city is well fortified first and foremost against the terrors of the jungle. The city is constructed on tiers, each one the same circumference and housing the same number of rooms. The population of the city neither grows nor decreases due to the life cycles and birthing patterns of the Tabaxi. There has always been room enough for all, and always will be. And in the event they do need more space, due to immigration from other lands, they begin construction on a new tier to the city.
Currently the city has eight tiers, each housing around a thousand people. Each tier has hundreds of "Chipinda," a chamber meant for housing a family as well as selling or advertising their goods and services. Each chipinda faces out to the jungle along the outer edge of the city creating a uniformity that adds to the beauty of the city's exterior.
A chipinda can range in sizes depending on the needs of the family, but it acts as both a place to call home and a storefront. Chipindas can come in many forms, from selling fruit and vegetables gathered in the jungle to housing a workshop for stone carvers. Families are known for what they do and the profession normally passes down through generations, though it's not an enforced rule.
The interior of The Home That Cannot Endure is a massive jungle void of dangerous predators and lethal flora. It is a way for the Tabaxi, and any others who would like, to retain their heritage as masters of the jungle while keeping their people safe. To keep their jungle prowess sharp, there is an eternal game of the Tabaxi version of "tag" going on at all times in the interior jungle. Known as "The Great Wild" it is one of the most important parts of the city's identity.
Overall, The City That Cannot Endure has endured despite its founders assumptions. Not only that, it has thrived and become a beacon of light in the darkness of the Arrowhead jungles.
(Since all domiciles and shops in The Home That Cannot Endure are standardizes in shape and size, there are no visible landmarks. Rather, the people of the city know their way around due to the relative position of certain families and shops. Instead of Landmarks, what follows is the description of the unique traits of each tier of the city.)
First Tier - the bottom of the city is also the oldest, founded as a defensive structure against the monster of the jungle and Lizardfolk before they were driven from the island. A wall surrounds the city and it is the duty and honor of most of the First Tier to maintain the wall. Due to this, many Chipindas on the first tier are masons, stonecutters, steelworkers, and hunters. Many of the families on the first tier are older and more established, and there are some who feel as though the first tier deserves more than the higher tiers. They protect the city, established the city, and see themselves as the beating heart of the city. More than any other, they do not get along with the Second Tier.
Second Tier - the first addition to the city, the second tier was built with an influx of people attempting to escape the fighting with the Lizardfolk across the isle. While the city welcome these refugees with open arms, there was a contingent which felt this second tier was being built for those who would enjoy the advantages of the city without having contributed to it. The second tier became a place to help balance the scales, providing resources necessary for a growing city. Textiles, homemaking, and feeding the people became the specialty of this tier. It is a need they continue to fill to this day, among many others, but they still see themselves as the bedrock of the city and the people who allowed for its continued growth.
Third Tier - by the time enough of the Tabaxi had arrived at the city to create a third tier, it became apparent the need for a more formal government was necessary. Leaders were selected, departments were founded, and many newcomers to the city, devoid of occupation, naturally fell into the role of organization. And those organizations eventually were looked to for leadership. So many of the city's guilds, leaders, and organizers made a home for themselves on the third tier. They fell into deciding how food was distributed, how taxes were collected, how Chipindas were assigned, and so on. Though many in the city feel they are unnecessary, there's little denying the politicians were what lead to the city's longevity.
Fourth Tier - when the fighting against the Lizardfolk ended, the Tabaxi realized they enjoyed the comradery and cooperation of the city more than the survival of the jungle. The fourth tier was built as most of the remaining Tabaxi clans came to the city. The success of the city was evident at this point, and many on the fourth tier basked in that success, easing effortlessly into mercantile professions. It is now the case that much of the monetary establishments exist on the fourth tier, and many of the city's merchants make their home there.
Fifth Tier - when the fifth tier was built, it was due to an influx of outsiders. Many ships arrived on the shores of the isle, and while non-contact was the initial protocol of The Home That Cannot Endure, it soon became obvious these people needed a new home. After a series of misunderstanding and infighting, these newcomers were given the fifth tier of the city, and it is here that many foreign trades and professions can be found. Since those first steps, the fifth tier has become a welcome addition to the city, with the Tabaxi not just enjoying the company of those outside their isle, but relying on them for expanding their horizons.
Sixth Tier - the sixth tier was built due to unfortunate circumstances. With new denizens from foreign lands came foreign diseases. One of these ravaged the city, creating a death toll never before seen in the Tabaxi homeland. Rushing the construction, the sixth tier was built to house those infected. Eventually, the plague ran it course, and those of the sixth tier were allowed to come home, but by that time, they had built quite a community. The sixth tier today is the most secluded tier, with families tracing their lineages back to those dark times when they were sequestered, alone, and scared. To that end, the sixth tier has become the most tight-knit community in the city.
Seventh Tier - when the plague occurred, the city realized it was woefully unprepared. To that end, the seventh tier was built as an open invitation for those who would study the healing arts. It soon evolved beyond that to house many of the families looking to break into new areas of study within a scholarly community. Libraries, schoolhouses, and laboratories were established, and the seventh tier became known as a place of learning. To this day, many come to the seventh tier with a mind for research and bettering the world even beyond the city walls.
Eighth Tier - the current top-most tier of the city is devoted to the magical arts. It soon became apparent with the construction of the seventh tier that many were now coming to The Home That Cannot Endure with the intent of sharing in a scholarly community. And some few of those people also has aspirations of a magical nature. So when the city became full and a new tier was necessary, it naturally became the destination for those who wished to know more about magic. While it is not a prominent magical institution, the eighth tier boasts a unique perspective on the ancient magics hidden away in the jungles of the Arrowhead Isles.
Fellowship Elsewhere - Male Tabaxi, oldest member of the city and head of a First Tier family
Myth from the Mire - Non-Binary Tabaxi, a great hunter of the second tier who has earned the first tier's respect
Holiday in Velvet - Female Tabaxi, in charge of finding homes for newcomers and keeping track of population
Perhaps the Abyss - Male Tabaxi, scholar heading up research into planar travel
Hallifax Grint - Male Human, expert in contagious diseases
Alas, Noble Stones - Female Tabaxi, lead forager and keeper of jungle knowledge