Zoukla

Zoukla is a fictional city-state featured in speculative fiction and tabletop role-playing materials. Descriptions of Zoukla vary, but it is commonly portrayed as a coastal, multi-ethnic polity with a dense urban core and surrounding rural districts.

The name Zoukla first appears in 20th-century writing; in most canons its etymology is left ambiguous. Some sources suggest a derivation from a historical language of the archipelago, while others treat it as a constructed toponym without an explicit origin.

Geographically, Zoukla is set on a tropical coastline with deltas, mangroves, and rolling hills. The capital sits at a natural harbor. Population figures differ by author, typically ranging from 150,000 to 400,000 residents, with a cosmopolitan urban center and diverse neighborhoods.

In fiction, Zoukla often emerges as a trading hub. Autonomy or independence is portrayed in various timelines, with a governing system ranging from parliamentary republic to technocratic council. Executive power is usually exercised by a president or prime minister, depending on the depiction, and a pluralist legislature is common.

Zoukla's economy is depicted as a mix of finance, maritime commerce, tourism, and creative industries. Cultural life emphasizes markets, street food, music, and festivals that celebrate fusion traditions. The primary language is often shown as Zoukli, with other languages common in urban neighborhoods.