Rata Metrica

"'We asura will tell you, victory is a matter of ingenuity, not muscle. Even magic is just a cog in the Eternal Alchemy.'""—Zojja, Senator and Member in Good Standing of the College of Synergetics"Rata Metrica is a geometric, floating city off the coast of Ascaria. Xenophobic and isolationist, the asura who call it home have turned all of their resources inward, developing what may well be the most advanced society in all of Akuhara. There have been many attempts to discern Rata Metrica's secrets, but every offer is refused, and every spy is displaced back into the ocean.

The Founding
Nobody is certain where Rata Metrica came from, or how it was founded. Asura have no cities anywhere else in Akuhara (at least, that anyone knows about), and the technology present in Rata Metrica is far beyond anything created by any other Ascarian nation.

Some scholars theorize that the asura hail from an alternate dimension, explaining their bizarre appearance and scientific prowess. Others believe that the city itself is from the far future, and that the asura have mastered the art of time travel. Still others think that the asura are not individual beings, but fleshy meat-puppets, operated by a single, invisible nether deity. If any of these positions hold any merit, however, the asura do not say.

Rata Metrica is currently located off the western coast of Ascaria, fifteen miles over the open ocean. The asura maintain no docks, and keeps no regular contact with the rest of the world. Occasionally, a dignitary representing the city or a deviant out for adventure will leave, but otherwise it's a small wonder that anybody knows the city exists at all.

Sections of the city have been hollowed out into hydroponic farms, and fresh water is filtered directly from the ocean. All the amenities of a modern city are present, with markets, parks, and luxurious living spaces. The largest structures in the city, however, are dedicated to the asuran labs and colleges. These three primary schools of thought dominate the Rata Metrican skyline, towering over the city streets, a trio of monuments to asuran genius.

Asuran Physiology
By human standards, asura are very short. An asura is usually between two feet ten inches and three feet eleven inches tall. They typically have slender builds, with the head, hands, and feet in somewhat exaggerated proportions. The head in particular is a wide, flat ellipsoid whose width is extended further by large, highly articulate ears which usually drop from the sides of the head. Asura eyes are large and come in a variety of colors; some theorize that their size is the evolutionary result of being a subterranean race, as small frames can easier traverse their traditional homes in the depths. Their mouths are wide and filled with pointed, shark-like teeth. Asura typically have grayish skin and dark hair. Male and female asura are very similar in appearance; they are mostly differentiated by voice and ear structure.

In matters of childbirth and early development, little is known outside of the knowledge that asura give birth to live young in the same manner as humans (that is, they are placental mammals). An asura child's first words can come as soon as the day after their birth. An asura will live 5-10% longer than a human, assuming no laboratory mishaps.

Zamek, the Biomancer
The only known instance of an outsider being welcomed into Rata Metrica was in the case of Zamek, an elf. Records from Ostirmirk's Maestro's Library detail the elf's history, although they are occasionally conflicting. What the experts agree upon is that Zamek, at one point or another, became obsessed with duplicating himself.

He pursued the study of cloning with a singular determination. Some claim that he succeeded, and this was what granted him entry to Rata Metrica. Others claim that the asura saw in him an aspect of themselves, and they allowed him entry to the city and their laboratories. Regardless, Zamek is a resident of Rata Metrica, and continues his work, duplicating himself and duplicating his duplicates a hundred times over.

All Zameks share the original's skill in the sciences, particularly in genetic modification. Through the use of special elixirs, Zameks can take on any number of physical traits, ranging from wings to gills. It is for this reason that Zameks are highly regarded as a major source of physical labor in Rata Metrica, although some scholars claim that the Zameks are outright enslaved.

It is of note that Zameks are inconsistent, but they are more open to communication than the asura. This may have to do with the steady genetic degeneration they are all experiencing, which has necessitated cybernetic prostheses to allow them to function. They research with the asura, but they also comb the world in search for a cure.