Pjaia

Overview

Pjaia (/Pʰaia/ Paia) is the largest city and capital of Ajudige. Pjaia is located in the Kingdom of Ajudige, one of the three historic kingdoms that form the greater Three Kingdoms of Ajudige. It plays an important role in regional affairs, cultural influence, and history. Since the city's capturing by Ajudigioux revolutionists in 1656, the city has been an epicenter of artistic, innovation, and cultural evolution. 

History

The Neolithic Period (7000-2200 B.C.E.)

Humans first arrived into what is now Ajudige via a land bridge that connected the island to the mainland in what is now Fort Kazanova. These first Ajudige share a common ancestor of the Wendat, Choctaw, Gathawk, and Durbanian First Peoples. Around 3000 B.C.E., Ajudige was permanantly disconnected from the mainland further isolating the ancient Ajudigioux. People first started settling in what is now Pjaia around the same time the land bridge eroded. Many scholars and historians believe these first peoples enjoyed the many natural hot springs in the hills and the fertile flat coastal plains for agriculture.  

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Geography

Topography

Pjaia is located on a peninsula on the eastern-most point of the island of Ajudige. It is surrounded by the San Luis Sea to its north and east, the Bay of Pjaia to its south, and the interior plains of Ajudige to its west. Pjaia's main ferry port sits on the deepest section of ocean that the city borders. The city is built onto the hillside of an ancient volcano whose northern flank slid into the ocean due to erosion, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other volcanic activity. 

Ecology and Biodiversity

Pjaia was built on top of one the largest San Luisian Phoenix Palm forests in recorded existence. However, Pjaia's forest was isolated from the other palm forests that were once common in the San Luis Sea region and caused it to boast a heightened level of biodiversity. The soil of Pjaia was rocky and lacked the nutrients that would be needed to allow large organisms to thrive. Outside of the San Luisian Palm, the Pjaian Pine (Pjaianian cryptomerioides) is a coniferous tree that is endemic to the Pjaia area. The range of the Pjaian Pine range from the Bay of Pjaia up the hillside to the cliffs at the Ancient City. Today, many Pjaian Pines can be found lining the streets of the city as well as parks and other open spaces. The oldest and most mature Pjaian Pines are found in the Ancient City. 

Climate

The Köppen Climate classifiation of Pjaia is CsB (Warm-Summer Mediterranean Climate). It has warm to mildly hot and dry summers, cool and moist winters with heightened precipitation due to its oceanic location, and experiences four distinctive seasons, two of those being transitional seasons. 

Demographics

According to the 2020 Ajudige National Census, the racial make up of Pjaia is 63.7% Indigenous San Luisian, 6.3% White, 12.5% Asian, 8.5% Hispanic or Latino, 5.1% Two or More Races, 1.3% Black, 2.1% Pacific Islander, and 0.5% Other

People of Asian ancestry are primarily made up Filipinos. Rough estimates put the division of the Asian-Ajudige population as 60% Filipino, 10% Korean, 10% Chinese, 7% Japanese, 5% Lebanese and Palestinian, 3% Indian (ancestry location within the country of India), and 5% as other Asian ethnicities. Majority of the Asian population is Filipino due to Spanish colonization that brought over many Filipino families to work on plantations in Ajudige. These Filipinos mainly come from the northern provinces of the Philippines, including Batanes, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Manila Capital Territory. 

White ancestry in Ajudige is predominantly Spanish. Records of European ethnic groups are not recorded in Ajudige, however the vast majority of European-Ajudige ancestry can trace their heritage to southern Spain, mainly Granada, Malaga, and Cadiz. However, Ajuruba was the only city to be occupied by the Dutch, which makes many Ajurubaioux of Dutch and Flemish origin with their ancestry tracing back to Antwerp, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, and Amsterdam.

The Latino population of Ajudige is the fast growing ethnic group in the country, with many citizens of Latin American countries moving to another former Spanish colony for a better job opportunities and security. Many Latinos have move to Ajudige from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, and Chile. However, there is also a sizeable Brazilian population within the country from massive Brazilian migration in the 1960s.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity 

Historically, Pjaia has been one of the most progressive cities in the world for queer and trans rights. Dating back to the Ajudigioux Revolution of 1642, Ajudige legalized homosexuality. Many queer and trans peoples around the world sought refuge in the country due to its cultural tolerance and wide acceptance of homosexuality. Pjaia had the largest influx of queer and trans migrants out of any other city in Ajudige. Many refugees fled execution in both British and French Cascadia, Spanish Occupied New Durban, and other new world colonies. 

Today, Pjaia's queer population makes up around 23.6% of the total population of the city, making it one of the queerest cities in the world. Majority of the queer demographic in Pjaia identify as bisexual. Pjaia also boasts many queer-inclusive spaces as well as a queer ballroom circuit that they share with Cascadia and Tulpfloerdam.

Culture

Performing Arts

Pjaia has been the focal point of artistic innovation ever since people first permanently settled in the area. The Pjaia Philharmonic Orchestra is a world acclaimed and award winning ensemble established in 1790 during the Later Ajudige Renaissance. The ensemble performs at the Ajudige National Palace of Arts (Palasio do Ajruteux del'Ajudige), as well as the Pjredexte School of Ballet, Ajudige National Opera, Pjaia Folk Music Society, and the Ajudige-Philippine Dancing and Orchestral Troupe.

Historically, Pjaia has been the focal point of regional artistic movements with the Ajudige Renaissance sparking many romantic-era movements in Cascadia, Ellester, Durban, and other external regions like Tulpfloerdam, Molis, and Jakobstad. The artistic themes that have been most prevalent in Pjaian history is unity with nature, deeply romantic expression, and revolution. Romantic expression has been one of the traits that has defined Pjaia and gave the city one of its most popular nicknames, "The City of Romance" with many domestic and regional authors writing stories regarding deep romantic desires, sexual expression, and courting while visiting or residing in Pjaia.