Qibairatar
                                                Eastern Himalayas
                                                27.26° N, 89.70° E
                                                    104 inhabitants

Soon, the map will not show country borders or roads.

 

Qibairatar (pronounced chee-bye-rah-tar) is a settlement founded in the middle of February, year 3026, in the eastern Himalayan foothills. Established during the first phase of global depopulation—when total human population had fallen below 150,000—Qibairatar emerged as a resource-extractive and agrarian community structured around quarrying, freshwater fisheries, and grain cultivation.

By Day 7 of its existence, Qibairatar had reached a population of 68 inhabitants and existed within a world population of approximately 282,000 people distributed across 3,000 settlements.

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Foundation

Qibairatar was founded on 12th of February 3026 by a small mobile group seeking defensible terrain, freshwater access, and workable soil. The site was selected for three primary geographic advantages:

• A freshwater lake (Lake Dorji) suitable for fishing and boat deployment.

• A nearby stone outcrop accessible for quarrying.

• Arable land within walking distance of both water and stone.

Initial shelter consisted of shacks and huts arranged southeast of the lake, later linked by dirt paths. Quarry operations began immediately west of the settlement, establishing stone extraction as the economic core from the first days.

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Geography

Qibairatar lies within a temperate montane zone characterized by:

• Mixed forest cover suitable for timber extraction.

• Loamy soil in valley clearings appropriate for grain cultivation.

• Rocky substrata enabling high-yield stone quarrying.

• Seasonal freshwater stability from a glacially fed lake.

The settlement developed along a triangular axis connecting the lake (northwest), quarry (southwest), and fields (south), with residential structures forming a central cluster east to these production zones.

By Day 7, quarry expansion visibly altered the southwestern landscape, enlarging extraction terraces and reducing exposed forest margin near work routes.

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Demographics

Population growth during the first week was rapid, increasing from fewer than 50 inhabitants on Day 2 to 61 inhabitants by Day 6. Migration from smaller or failing settlements contributed to this rise.

Housing distribution evolved as follows:

• Early phase: majority in shacks and huts.

• Day 5–6: expansion of cabins to accommodate skilled laborers.

• Villas reserved for planners, coordinators, and long-term residents.

• A central district housing administrative and storage functions.

By Day 7:

• Housing distribution underwent consolidation by Day 7:

• 48 inhabitants in cabins

• 10 in villas

• 10 in the central district

The elimination of shacks and huts by its first week marked a structural transition from provisional to standardized housing. Cabins became the dominant residential form, indicating material stabilization and reduced reliance on temporary shelter.

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Economy

Primary Sectors

Quarrying
Quarrying represents approximately two-thirds of total labor allocation, reflecting strategic prioritization of durable construction and defensive capacity.

Fishing and Boating
Aquatic food production formed the nutritional base during early expansion, and remains the nutritional foundation of the settlement. Lake operations are stable and exhibit minimal volatility.

Agriculture
By Day 6, fields produced nearly 40 units of grain daily. However, the suspension of agricultural labor on the subsequent day reflects deliberate labor reallocation toward quarry expansion. Grain stockpiles serve as strategic reserves rather than immediate consumption inputs.

Forestry
Net wood growth remains marginally positive. Increased cabin concentration significantly raised consumption, though sustainability remains intact.

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Governance and Social Organization

Qibairatar operates through informal council structures rather than codified law. Quarry coordination has centralized under experienced labor organizers. Resource accounting is managed through the central district. Decision-making has shifted toward production optimization rather than expansion of housing.

Food distribution remains centralized but non-rationed due to surplus conditions. The settling and then disappearance of shacks and huts suggests increasing structural cohesion and reduced material inequality at the housing level, even as functional specialization intensifies.

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Culture

Within its first week, Qibairatar developed:

• A labor-timed daily schedule structured around quarry shifts and boat launches.

• A forest preservation norm prohibiting felling trees within sight of the central district.

• Dusk observances conducted by elder hut residents marking days since Collapse.

• Linguistic differentiation between “earth” (processed material reserves) and “soil” (arable land).

Communal identity is closely tied to the lake and quarry, representing sustenance and permanence respectively.

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Development Trajectory

Qibairatar’s rapid stone production and expanding grain surplus position it above median settlement size and output during the early post-Collapse period. Structural challenges identified during the first week include:

• Low accumulated stone reserves relative to extraction.

• Increasing wood consumption as cabin housing expands.

• Underutilized tool capacity limiting technological advancement.

If surplus grain and wood production continue, Qibairatar is projected to transition from expansionary construction to infrastructural consolidation within its first seasonal cycle.