Post by Loogs on Mar 19, 2016 13:46:54 GMT -5
Welcome to the official reference topic for the Archipelago setting! Changes to this topic will reflect everything that's been submitted here. This topic contains the most current version of the map and location descriptions.
WEST TENGAISHIMA
Bryn Tawel
A quiet little coastal town a stone's throw away from Whelkshore where the people mostly mind their own business, but things are always a bit... uncanny...
Population: 6,000
Terrain: Rocky cliffs and hilly terrain here. There's also a strange, perpetual fog in the area. Seems like no matter the time of year the place is always misty somehow?
Flavor: Bryn Tawel is very quiet. Nothing big goes down here, nothing like Winstone big, but things are never quite what they seem. Any other unsuspecting person would think there aren't a lot of Powers or magical presence here, but then you hear the mysterious singing out at sea on the nights where the fog is at its thickest, and you see the unidentifiable bones wash up on shore, and the ghostly black fox on the hill at the corner of your eye that vanishes when you blink, and, well... you start thinking twice a little more.
Otherwise, Bryn Tawel locals are usually very kind and hospitable, though perhaps a bit passive-aggressive if you don't fit the reserved and demure model that they hold as standard. Powers are treated just fine, again, as long as they don't start causing big problems or attract too much attention to themselves.
Locations:
+ The Salty Siren: A quaint little grill on the coast. The locals recommend the lemon cod, it's really quite exquisite.
+ Taliesin Lighthouse: This lighthouse has been abandoned for decades, but for some reason... it's always lit up at night???
Important People: no one yet.
Relevant RPs:
-Smooth Sailing
Trivia:
Greffant Village
Pronounced: Gref-FAHNT (French)
A farming town that uses a multitude of cutting edge agricultural techniques to guarantee them the greatest crop yields in the entire world. However, these untested techniques have been proving to have some unforseen consequences.
Population: 12,000
Terrain: Surrounded by the immense Dents de Peigne Forest on all sides, Greffant is largely isolated from the hustle and bustle of the Archipelago as a whole. The village itself is mostly well-sized farming homes with a small main drag for shopping, with rolling fields and complexes of greenhouses out to edge of the towering woods. There are a few squat cinderblock buildings hidden in the quieter corners of the village, where scientists busily work away on their next innovations.
Society:
Locations:
+ Dents de Peigne Forest: A massive forest of gigantic trees (easily the size of redwoods, with some even larger than that), it encircles Greffant. There are only two roads through it, one going from Paymarble to Greffant, and the other from Greffant to Brightmeadow. It's frequently avoided by travelers, are there are many reports of mysterious phenomenas and sightings of non-human entities. Scientific testing has found that the forest actually predates the Archipelago (which current theories say emerged from the ocean in the 1940's) by hundreds of years.
Farmers who live near the edge of the forest frequently leave offerings by their crops, claiming that it appeases some unseen society of elves/fey that dwells in the depths of the primordial wood.
Important People:
- Maude: The Summoner expatriate Maude makes her home in the trees of Dents de Peigne, constructing lean-tos and hammocks hundreds of feet above the forest floor, and living off of what she can glean from the harvests and "elf offerings" from the local farmers. She's occasionally seen by villagers when they're passing through. They've dubbed this pale figure they see flitting through the canopy "The Maiden's Ghost", always attaching some story of a gristly happening to explain why she haunts the deep woods.
Unique Species:
Due to genetic engineering, Greffant Village boasts a host of species found nowhere else in the world.
* a Porteurs de Miel/Honeyhawks: These immense honeybees (roughly the side of a man's fist) are a common sight throughout town. Though alarming at first, these insects are actually quite tame and even affectionate, and will gladly eat offered sweets. Though commonly referred to as "stingless", they actually do have proportionate stingers, but have been engineered to lack the muscles to extend said stingers. They live in building sized hives, kept on trailers and moved around the village to help pollinate the crops.
* The Greffant Imperial: A butterfly engineered to have striping on their wings resembling the French flag. Their larva subsist entirely on weeds and other unwanted plants, and the adults have been engineered to be attracted only to a specific scent present in the flowers of Greffant's crop. They're viewed as the emblem for Greffant, and deliberately harming one actually counts as a misdemeanor under local law. Almost every year, there's a moral panic when a few misguided Imperials are spotted in Garden's Well, with the populace there claiming this'll be the year where they settle down there and become an invasive species.
* The Giant Ichneumons: These are much more a figure of urban legend than any confirmed reality, but almost every resident has claimed to see one at some point. These cat-sized parasitic wasps are believed to paralyze large mammalian pests (groundhogs, raccoons, rats, etc.) and use their still living bodies to incubate their flesh eating larvae. Despite the certainty of the town that they exist, there's been no confirmed scientific evidence of them.
Relevant RPs:
Trivia:
~ People from Greffant Village are referred to as "Greffantien" or "Les Greffantiens" as a group. Brightfeldians infamously have collectively nicknamed people from Greffant Village "Frenchy", however.
~ Greffant Village typically doesn't deal much with other cities in the Archipelago, except for shipping ridiculously large produce to them. The only cities they regularly deal with are Brightmeadow, which frequently exchanges their meat and egg products for feed for their livestock, and Garden's Well, that views their bioengineering of plants to be borderline blasphemous. As such, Brightfeldians have an affectionate relationship with Greffant, seeing it as the only other city of "real farmers" in the Archipelago. On the other hand, Garden's Well, where traditional horticulture is viewed as artform, will have nothing to do whatsoever with Greffant Village. There is no quicker way to get slapped in Garden's Well than asking "Oh, did you get that from Greffant?"
Paymarble
placeholder text
Population: ? ? ?
Terrain:
Locations:
Important People:
Relevant Works:
Whelkshore
A quaint coastal city where Powers aren't just welcomed, but upheld as heroes and role models.
Population: 17,000
Terrain: Whelkshore is right on the shoreline of the main island of the Archipelago, adjacent to the bitter-cold deep sea currents that flow into Bryn Tawel. As such, they've got mild weather tending towards the brisk, with low hills full of scrub pines and other coastal plants. The streets are largely cobbled in brick, and the homes are primarily Capes. Most businesses are in stout but well-kept brick buildings, dating back to the 1960's.
Society: Due to having a number of famous and benevolent Powers among their populace for over a decade now, Whelkshore is the most Power-friendly city in the entire Archipelago. Powers are treated as minor celebrities, and it's not uncommon for the local tabloids to keep tabs on all of their comings and goings. This fame isn't without a price however; expectations of Powers run high, and they're expected to constantly be interceding in emergencies and conflicts. Because of this constant societal pressure, very few Powers find themselves willing to settle down in Whelkshore for the long term.
Locations:
+ Zebedee Taylor's Home: A repurposed warehouse at the fringe of the city, Zebedee Taylor lives here. He bought a neighboring house in an adjacent lot, where he frequently has other Powers staying as guests. Natalie Ulima, Rie Nepas, and Thyra Russell can commonly be found hanging around here.
+ The Vitreous Coast: A section of coastline that was melted into black glass by a clash between Powers years ago. Though initially seen as an eyesore, it was soon adopted as a prime tourist attraction and is a frequent must-see spot for visitors to the Archipelago.
Important People:
- Zebedee Taylor: A youthful Power from another dimension, he quickly won the hearts of the populace with his self-sacrificing heroics and constant compassion. He managed to spin this appeal into a seat on the city council, which he held for several years, until being framed for a murder of his aide. Though he was proven innocent, he still proves to be a largely polarizing figure to the people of Whelkshore as a whole.
- Sly: Another traveler from another world, Sly is less well known, but arguably the organizing force behind the Powers in Cherrygrove. He frequently takes young Powers under his wing, and helps them find their way in life. Though he seemingly only has a small home across the street from Zebedee, he actually has a sprawling underground laboratory that extends beneath much of the surrounding city.
- Sylvia Natalie Ulima: The third of the well known Powers in Whelkshore, and arguably the one with the best public relationship in the present day. She's known for vehemently believing all Powers should be held accountable for their own actions, and a staunchly opposed stance to any organizations of Powers looking to creep into the Archipelago and gain influence. She's gained some measure of international fame as a Summoner hunter, having singlehandedly chased off their dreaded warriors on several occasions.
- Ender Kimoned †
Location: COMING SOON
Relevant RPs: Triannual, End Game
Trivia:
~ People from Whelkshore are referred to as "'shorers"
~ The main newspaper is Whelkshore is the "Whelkshore Gazetteer", but there are a variety of gossip rags as well, frequently dealing in information and rumors about various Powers and other figures of interest in the Archipelago.
~ Whelkshore and Winstone City are on fairly negative terms with eachother; Whelkshore sees Winstone as complicating their own lives by starting trouble with Powers in their territory, whereas the general populace of Winstone views Whelkshore's pro-Powers stance as precariously embracing a bunch of fickle and dangerous individuals that'll inevitably come back to haunt them.
Winstone City
[it sure is a place. this is placeholder text]
Population: gonna ballpark it at 200,000
Terrain: ? ? ? u misspelled terrian m8
Society: here there be mobsters
Locations:
+ Hotel Ansonia: a hotel. It burned down
+ d'Arcangel's: a fancy restaurant
+ Demitasse: a coffee shop
+ Passione Rosa: a restaurant
+ Felice Potabile: A seedy bar.
+ Winstone Gallery of Art
Important People:
- Terrian Brogue
- The Giarretiera brothers (Nico, Massimo, Cesare)
- Rhys Whitticker
Location: COMING SOON
Relevant RPs: Ishkabibble, The Case of the Burgled Boullogne, Obscured Truth
Trivia:
~ Whelkshore and Winstone City are on fairly negative terms with eachother; Whelkshore sees Winstone as complicating their own lives by starting trouble with Powers in their territory, whereas the general populace of Winstone views Whelkshore's pro-Powers stance as precariously embracing a bunch of fickle and dangerous individuals that'll inevitably come back to haunt them.
EAST TENGAISHIMA
Ebisupolis
A coastal resort town.
Population: ? ? ?
Terrain: It's beachy. Think Miami, Daytona, etc.
Locations:
Important People:
Relevant Works:
Monmorency
its archipelago vegas
Population: ~400,000
Terrain: there is a lake
Important Locations:
+ Maraschino: An LGBTQ+ friendly nightclub. The queerest, most happening spot in Monmorency.
Important People:
- Helen Mercury
Relevant Works: The Illustrious Ballad of Sailor Celeste
Prostrel
its up north
Population: ~20,000
Terrain: Prostrel is the northernmost city in the Archipelago, built on a steep cliffside. As a result, the city planning is unique in that much of it is built vertically and right against the cliff walls.
Locations:
+ Schwartzwald's
Important People:
- Emily Schwartzwald
Relevant Works: Happy Birthday Pleiades
Shoheki-cho
A mainland city, and a hub of activity. Being one of the biggest cities of the Archipelago, it has business, it has tourism and it has recreation. It's widely known for being the site of the battle against Pandora and the sacrifice of one young girl who gave her life to save the entire world. A statue was erected close to, but not on, the site of the final battle. The site of the final battle remained left in its ruined state as a tribute.
Population: 1,000,000
Terrain: Shoheki-cho was built as a city. While it follows the natural rise and dip of the hills, it's mainly a flat area that is made up of concrete and tarmac. The buildings have elements of their original architecture, but the interiors have been modernized as per demand, nowadays. It's mostly tall buildings with small parks dotted around, and the outskirts have the buildings shrink slightly for the residential areas (mostly rent-only).
Society: It's a social hub of the Archipelago with a massive tourism trade. It has the typical tourist trademarks that are tributes to Times Square and Shibuya Crossing, so every other person there is a tourist who wants to visit the area. The residents of the area are relatively open-minded and accepting of this, and of Powers, since their lives were saved thanks to a small group of Powers. The society runs itself, outside of tourism, with major technology companies based in the area and the almost self-managing retail pulling in the big business. The city, as a whole, has superstitions regarding the still-ruined area that once housed the Crescent Mage Library, and barely anyone stops by to look at it any more.
Locations:
+ Crescent Mage Library Ruins. While the only people who visit are typically tourists wanting to see the site, not many stay longer than a few minutes. Some of the mystically-versed tend to linger, but even they disappear rather quickly. Local superstition say the area is taboo, mystical for some reason and it's an area that even the hardiest of veterans feel unease when visiting.
+ Memorial Statue. A statue erected to celebrate the young girl who played a part, and gave her life, to save the city. It is always kept in pristine condition, even by the kids who were born after the cataclysm that nearly ruined the city. It's not uncommon for people to lay flowers by the statue as their own way of paying tribute.
+ Residential Area. Mostly on the outskirts of the city, though there are pockets within the city itself. Rent in the city is extortionate, and it's not exactly cheap on the outskirts but it is an affordable rate providing the average person didn't mind putting in extra hours at their job.
+ Commercial District. The shopping area. While not limited to this area, what with shops and streets of shops intersperced across the city, this is the most successful and highly visited shopping area of the city. From thrift to high-street to couture, old technology like phonograms and record players to the newest phones and television sets, this is the place to get it.
+ Business District. Adjacent to the Commercial District, this is the SRS BSNS area of the city. As expected, it has the tallest buildings and the older architecture, closer to the centre of the city. Inside the buildings were not just typical office buildings, but research and development labs, testing facilities and on-site gyms for most of the companies operating.
Location: East Tengaishima
MOTUWEHE
Demoiselle
this is what we renamed from Mudbloom
Population: ? ? ?
Terrain: idk
Locations:
+ Terminer Academy for Exceptional Youth
Important People:
- Thyra Russell
Relevant Works: (Dis)Orientation, (Dis)Appointments, (Dis)Tasteful
SALCESTER
Ban Saithong
placeholder text
Population: ? ? ?
Terrain:
Locations:
Important People:
Relevant Works:
Pagong City
A fortress city on an isolated island that lives outside the reach of government authority.
Population: 40,000
Terrain: Not a whole lot of open ground. Pagong City is a densely packed block of high-rise buildings covering a few acres on a tiny island. Alleyways are very narrow and networks of staircases and walkways connect all the buildings. The rooftops are packed with TV antennas, water tanks and clotheslines. Some buildings use the rooftop space to grow community gardens, and recently there has been an effort to install solar technology as an alternative way to generate energy. The bottom floor receives very little sunlight and is illuminated only by artificial lights.
Society: It would seem at first glance that Pagong City is a hotbed of crime and outlaws; however, most of its residents live peaceful, ordinary lives. The city was founded by Pinoy gangs escaping decades of imperialist regimes in the Philippines and attracted refugees from other occupied Southeast Asian countries. Violent crime was more prevalent in the mid-20th century, but things have calmed down a bit lately.
Still, it’s dark and it’s seedy and lawless, so nonviolent crimes such as gambling and drug use and prostitution are common. Pagong City is an insular slum where few people get out and even fewer can get themselves in. The residents are highly adaptable to the environment and have found ways to work around the problems that come with living in a place where Archipelago jurisdiction fears to tread.
Powers are welcome just like any other person; which is to say, they’re not welcome if they’re outsiders unless they’re accompanied by one of theirs. It should be noted that many of the gangs in Pagong are run by Powers.
Locations:
+ Haribon Square: The only patch of land within Pagong that ever sees any sunlight. A popular communal area for families and festive events.
Important People:
- Halley Cometta: Hails (ha) from Pagong City, but escaped in her early 20’s and now spends most of her time on the road running courier jobs. She returns periodically to visit family and friends.
Location: A fair distance west of Salcester.
Relevant RPs: nothing yet!!
Trivia:
~ The most prevalent language is a Tagalog variant written in Baybayin, a linguistic precedent set by the pro-indigenous Pinoy who founded the city. Other common languages spoken are Vietnamese and Chinese, and Spanish and English are taught in schools.
Salcester
“Unbroken by Sea or Sword"
A harbor city ruined by clashing Powers almost a decade ago, it has risen from the ashes as a space-age metropolis with cutting edge technology.
Population: ? ? ?
Terrain: destroyed
Locations:
+ Long Day Cabaret: A fancy strip club right outside of city limits, that did very brisk trade with all the workers that came in for the reconstruction.
+ Miracle Corner: A cafe rebuilt from one of the nearest businesses to ground zero that still had some walls standing. It's very much a feel good venue, hosts poetry nights and small-time musicians, and always has a dedicated rotation of buskers outside (probably with some rules to avoid drama). After hours, they use their space to host support groups. Their coffee is so so (a little bit too try hard), but their staff is very friendly and considerate.
+ The Tiverton: Named after the mayor who passed away during the attack (who had long been a patron of the arts and frequent attendee at the old theater) . It's a beautiful and elegant venue, with sweeping silvery designs heavily reminiscent of art deco. There are some issues; the theater comes with state of the art holographic projectors, but nobody really has the years in yet you would need to know how to really work them.
Important People:
Relevant Works:
NEW ELLIS
Gay Island
Named for its discoverer, Richard Gay, the small island off the northern coast of New Ellis is famous for the unicorn sightings in its forest.
Population: 1,500
Terrain: There is a forest in the middle of the island.
Locations:
+ The Two of Hearts: A quaint British-style pub/dive bar. A bit lax about carding people.
Important People: n/a
Location: Off the Northern coast of New Ellis
Relevant RPs: Happy Birthday Pleiades, (Tiger Lab 1)
WEST TENGAISHIMA
Bryn Tawel
A quiet little coastal town a stone's throw away from Whelkshore where the people mostly mind their own business, but things are always a bit... uncanny...
Population: 6,000
Terrain: Rocky cliffs and hilly terrain here. There's also a strange, perpetual fog in the area. Seems like no matter the time of year the place is always misty somehow?
Flavor: Bryn Tawel is very quiet. Nothing big goes down here, nothing like Winstone big, but things are never quite what they seem. Any other unsuspecting person would think there aren't a lot of Powers or magical presence here, but then you hear the mysterious singing out at sea on the nights where the fog is at its thickest, and you see the unidentifiable bones wash up on shore, and the ghostly black fox on the hill at the corner of your eye that vanishes when you blink, and, well... you start thinking twice a little more.
Otherwise, Bryn Tawel locals are usually very kind and hospitable, though perhaps a bit passive-aggressive if you don't fit the reserved and demure model that they hold as standard. Powers are treated just fine, again, as long as they don't start causing big problems or attract too much attention to themselves.
Locations:
+ The Salty Siren: A quaint little grill on the coast. The locals recommend the lemon cod, it's really quite exquisite.
+ Taliesin Lighthouse: This lighthouse has been abandoned for decades, but for some reason... it's always lit up at night???
Important People: no one yet.
Relevant RPs:
-Smooth Sailing
Trivia:
Greffant Village
Pronounced: Gref-FAHNT (French)
A farming town that uses a multitude of cutting edge agricultural techniques to guarantee them the greatest crop yields in the entire world. However, these untested techniques have been proving to have some unforseen consequences.
Population: 12,000
Terrain: Surrounded by the immense Dents de Peigne Forest on all sides, Greffant is largely isolated from the hustle and bustle of the Archipelago as a whole. The village itself is mostly well-sized farming homes with a small main drag for shopping, with rolling fields and complexes of greenhouses out to edge of the towering woods. There are a few squat cinderblock buildings hidden in the quieter corners of the village, where scientists busily work away on their next innovations.
Society:
Locations:
+ Dents de Peigne Forest: A massive forest of gigantic trees (easily the size of redwoods, with some even larger than that), it encircles Greffant. There are only two roads through it, one going from Paymarble to Greffant, and the other from Greffant to Brightmeadow. It's frequently avoided by travelers, are there are many reports of mysterious phenomenas and sightings of non-human entities. Scientific testing has found that the forest actually predates the Archipelago (which current theories say emerged from the ocean in the 1940's) by hundreds of years.
Farmers who live near the edge of the forest frequently leave offerings by their crops, claiming that it appeases some unseen society of elves/fey that dwells in the depths of the primordial wood.
Important People:
- Maude: The Summoner expatriate Maude makes her home in the trees of Dents de Peigne, constructing lean-tos and hammocks hundreds of feet above the forest floor, and living off of what she can glean from the harvests and "elf offerings" from the local farmers. She's occasionally seen by villagers when they're passing through. They've dubbed this pale figure they see flitting through the canopy "The Maiden's Ghost", always attaching some story of a gristly happening to explain why she haunts the deep woods.
Unique Species:
Due to genetic engineering, Greffant Village boasts a host of species found nowhere else in the world.
* a Porteurs de Miel/Honeyhawks: These immense honeybees (roughly the side of a man's fist) are a common sight throughout town. Though alarming at first, these insects are actually quite tame and even affectionate, and will gladly eat offered sweets. Though commonly referred to as "stingless", they actually do have proportionate stingers, but have been engineered to lack the muscles to extend said stingers. They live in building sized hives, kept on trailers and moved around the village to help pollinate the crops.
* The Greffant Imperial: A butterfly engineered to have striping on their wings resembling the French flag. Their larva subsist entirely on weeds and other unwanted plants, and the adults have been engineered to be attracted only to a specific scent present in the flowers of Greffant's crop. They're viewed as the emblem for Greffant, and deliberately harming one actually counts as a misdemeanor under local law. Almost every year, there's a moral panic when a few misguided Imperials are spotted in Garden's Well, with the populace there claiming this'll be the year where they settle down there and become an invasive species.
* The Giant Ichneumons: These are much more a figure of urban legend than any confirmed reality, but almost every resident has claimed to see one at some point. These cat-sized parasitic wasps are believed to paralyze large mammalian pests (groundhogs, raccoons, rats, etc.) and use their still living bodies to incubate their flesh eating larvae. Despite the certainty of the town that they exist, there's been no confirmed scientific evidence of them.
Relevant RPs:
Trivia:
~ People from Greffant Village are referred to as "Greffantien" or "Les Greffantiens" as a group. Brightfeldians infamously have collectively nicknamed people from Greffant Village "Frenchy", however.
~ Greffant Village typically doesn't deal much with other cities in the Archipelago, except for shipping ridiculously large produce to them. The only cities they regularly deal with are Brightmeadow, which frequently exchanges their meat and egg products for feed for their livestock, and Garden's Well, that views their bioengineering of plants to be borderline blasphemous. As such, Brightfeldians have an affectionate relationship with Greffant, seeing it as the only other city of "real farmers" in the Archipelago. On the other hand, Garden's Well, where traditional horticulture is viewed as artform, will have nothing to do whatsoever with Greffant Village. There is no quicker way to get slapped in Garden's Well than asking "Oh, did you get that from Greffant?"
Paymarble
placeholder text
Population: ? ? ?
Terrain:
Locations:
Important People:
Relevant Works:
Whelkshore
A quaint coastal city where Powers aren't just welcomed, but upheld as heroes and role models.
Population: 17,000
Terrain: Whelkshore is right on the shoreline of the main island of the Archipelago, adjacent to the bitter-cold deep sea currents that flow into Bryn Tawel. As such, they've got mild weather tending towards the brisk, with low hills full of scrub pines and other coastal plants. The streets are largely cobbled in brick, and the homes are primarily Capes. Most businesses are in stout but well-kept brick buildings, dating back to the 1960's.
Society: Due to having a number of famous and benevolent Powers among their populace for over a decade now, Whelkshore is the most Power-friendly city in the entire Archipelago. Powers are treated as minor celebrities, and it's not uncommon for the local tabloids to keep tabs on all of their comings and goings. This fame isn't without a price however; expectations of Powers run high, and they're expected to constantly be interceding in emergencies and conflicts. Because of this constant societal pressure, very few Powers find themselves willing to settle down in Whelkshore for the long term.
Locations:
+ Zebedee Taylor's Home: A repurposed warehouse at the fringe of the city, Zebedee Taylor lives here. He bought a neighboring house in an adjacent lot, where he frequently has other Powers staying as guests. Natalie Ulima, Rie Nepas, and Thyra Russell can commonly be found hanging around here.
+ The Vitreous Coast: A section of coastline that was melted into black glass by a clash between Powers years ago. Though initially seen as an eyesore, it was soon adopted as a prime tourist attraction and is a frequent must-see spot for visitors to the Archipelago.
Important People:
- Zebedee Taylor: A youthful Power from another dimension, he quickly won the hearts of the populace with his self-sacrificing heroics and constant compassion. He managed to spin this appeal into a seat on the city council, which he held for several years, until being framed for a murder of his aide. Though he was proven innocent, he still proves to be a largely polarizing figure to the people of Whelkshore as a whole.
- Sly: Another traveler from another world, Sly is less well known, but arguably the organizing force behind the Powers in Cherrygrove. He frequently takes young Powers under his wing, and helps them find their way in life. Though he seemingly only has a small home across the street from Zebedee, he actually has a sprawling underground laboratory that extends beneath much of the surrounding city.
- Sylvia Natalie Ulima: The third of the well known Powers in Whelkshore, and arguably the one with the best public relationship in the present day. She's known for vehemently believing all Powers should be held accountable for their own actions, and a staunchly opposed stance to any organizations of Powers looking to creep into the Archipelago and gain influence. She's gained some measure of international fame as a Summoner hunter, having singlehandedly chased off their dreaded warriors on several occasions.
- Ender Kimoned †
Location: COMING SOON
Relevant RPs: Triannual, End Game
Trivia:
~ People from Whelkshore are referred to as "'shorers"
~ The main newspaper is Whelkshore is the "Whelkshore Gazetteer", but there are a variety of gossip rags as well, frequently dealing in information and rumors about various Powers and other figures of interest in the Archipelago.
~ Whelkshore and Winstone City are on fairly negative terms with eachother; Whelkshore sees Winstone as complicating their own lives by starting trouble with Powers in their territory, whereas the general populace of Winstone views Whelkshore's pro-Powers stance as precariously embracing a bunch of fickle and dangerous individuals that'll inevitably come back to haunt them.
Winstone City
[it sure is a place. this is placeholder text]
Population: gonna ballpark it at 200,000
Terrain: ? ? ? u misspelled terrian m8
Society: here there be mobsters
Locations:
+ Hotel Ansonia: a hotel. It burned down
+ d'Arcangel's: a fancy restaurant
+ Demitasse: a coffee shop
+ Passione Rosa: a restaurant
+ Felice Potabile: A seedy bar.
+ Winstone Gallery of Art
Important People:
- Terrian Brogue
- The Giarretiera brothers (Nico, Massimo, Cesare)
- Rhys Whitticker
Location: COMING SOON
Relevant RPs: Ishkabibble, The Case of the Burgled Boullogne, Obscured Truth
Trivia:
~ Whelkshore and Winstone City are on fairly negative terms with eachother; Whelkshore sees Winstone as complicating their own lives by starting trouble with Powers in their territory, whereas the general populace of Winstone views Whelkshore's pro-Powers stance as precariously embracing a bunch of fickle and dangerous individuals that'll inevitably come back to haunt them.
EAST TENGAISHIMA
Ebisupolis
A coastal resort town.
Population: ? ? ?
Terrain: It's beachy. Think Miami, Daytona, etc.
Locations:
Important People:
Relevant Works:
Monmorency
its archipelago vegas
Population: ~400,000
Terrain: there is a lake
Important Locations:
+ Maraschino: An LGBTQ+ friendly nightclub. The queerest, most happening spot in Monmorency.
Important People:
- Helen Mercury
Relevant Works: The Illustrious Ballad of Sailor Celeste
Prostrel
its up north
Population: ~20,000
Terrain: Prostrel is the northernmost city in the Archipelago, built on a steep cliffside. As a result, the city planning is unique in that much of it is built vertically and right against the cliff walls.
Locations:
+ Schwartzwald's
Important People:
- Emily Schwartzwald
Relevant Works: Happy Birthday Pleiades
Shoheki-cho
A mainland city, and a hub of activity. Being one of the biggest cities of the Archipelago, it has business, it has tourism and it has recreation. It's widely known for being the site of the battle against Pandora and the sacrifice of one young girl who gave her life to save the entire world. A statue was erected close to, but not on, the site of the final battle. The site of the final battle remained left in its ruined state as a tribute.
Population: 1,000,000
Terrain: Shoheki-cho was built as a city. While it follows the natural rise and dip of the hills, it's mainly a flat area that is made up of concrete and tarmac. The buildings have elements of their original architecture, but the interiors have been modernized as per demand, nowadays. It's mostly tall buildings with small parks dotted around, and the outskirts have the buildings shrink slightly for the residential areas (mostly rent-only).
Society: It's a social hub of the Archipelago with a massive tourism trade. It has the typical tourist trademarks that are tributes to Times Square and Shibuya Crossing, so every other person there is a tourist who wants to visit the area. The residents of the area are relatively open-minded and accepting of this, and of Powers, since their lives were saved thanks to a small group of Powers. The society runs itself, outside of tourism, with major technology companies based in the area and the almost self-managing retail pulling in the big business. The city, as a whole, has superstitions regarding the still-ruined area that once housed the Crescent Mage Library, and barely anyone stops by to look at it any more.
Locations:
+ Crescent Mage Library Ruins. While the only people who visit are typically tourists wanting to see the site, not many stay longer than a few minutes. Some of the mystically-versed tend to linger, but even they disappear rather quickly. Local superstition say the area is taboo, mystical for some reason and it's an area that even the hardiest of veterans feel unease when visiting.
+ Memorial Statue. A statue erected to celebrate the young girl who played a part, and gave her life, to save the city. It is always kept in pristine condition, even by the kids who were born after the cataclysm that nearly ruined the city. It's not uncommon for people to lay flowers by the statue as their own way of paying tribute.
+ Residential Area. Mostly on the outskirts of the city, though there are pockets within the city itself. Rent in the city is extortionate, and it's not exactly cheap on the outskirts but it is an affordable rate providing the average person didn't mind putting in extra hours at their job.
+ Commercial District. The shopping area. While not limited to this area, what with shops and streets of shops intersperced across the city, this is the most successful and highly visited shopping area of the city. From thrift to high-street to couture, old technology like phonograms and record players to the newest phones and television sets, this is the place to get it.
+ Business District. Adjacent to the Commercial District, this is the SRS BSNS area of the city. As expected, it has the tallest buildings and the older architecture, closer to the centre of the city. Inside the buildings were not just typical office buildings, but research and development labs, testing facilities and on-site gyms for most of the companies operating.
Location: East Tengaishima
MOTUWEHE
Demoiselle
this is what we renamed from Mudbloom
Population: ? ? ?
Terrain: idk
Locations:
+ Terminer Academy for Exceptional Youth
Important People:
- Thyra Russell
Relevant Works: (Dis)Orientation, (Dis)Appointments, (Dis)Tasteful
SALCESTER
Ban Saithong
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Population: ? ? ?
Terrain:
Locations:
Important People:
Relevant Works:
Pagong City
A fortress city on an isolated island that lives outside the reach of government authority.
Population: 40,000
Terrain: Not a whole lot of open ground. Pagong City is a densely packed block of high-rise buildings covering a few acres on a tiny island. Alleyways are very narrow and networks of staircases and walkways connect all the buildings. The rooftops are packed with TV antennas, water tanks and clotheslines. Some buildings use the rooftop space to grow community gardens, and recently there has been an effort to install solar technology as an alternative way to generate energy. The bottom floor receives very little sunlight and is illuminated only by artificial lights.
Society: It would seem at first glance that Pagong City is a hotbed of crime and outlaws; however, most of its residents live peaceful, ordinary lives. The city was founded by Pinoy gangs escaping decades of imperialist regimes in the Philippines and attracted refugees from other occupied Southeast Asian countries. Violent crime was more prevalent in the mid-20th century, but things have calmed down a bit lately.
Still, it’s dark and it’s seedy and lawless, so nonviolent crimes such as gambling and drug use and prostitution are common. Pagong City is an insular slum where few people get out and even fewer can get themselves in. The residents are highly adaptable to the environment and have found ways to work around the problems that come with living in a place where Archipelago jurisdiction fears to tread.
Powers are welcome just like any other person; which is to say, they’re not welcome if they’re outsiders unless they’re accompanied by one of theirs. It should be noted that many of the gangs in Pagong are run by Powers.
Locations:
+ Haribon Square: The only patch of land within Pagong that ever sees any sunlight. A popular communal area for families and festive events.
Important People:
- Halley Cometta: Hails (ha) from Pagong City, but escaped in her early 20’s and now spends most of her time on the road running courier jobs. She returns periodically to visit family and friends.
Location: A fair distance west of Salcester.
Relevant RPs: nothing yet!!
Trivia:
~ The most prevalent language is a Tagalog variant written in Baybayin, a linguistic precedent set by the pro-indigenous Pinoy who founded the city. Other common languages spoken are Vietnamese and Chinese, and Spanish and English are taught in schools.
Salcester
“Unbroken by Sea or Sword"
A harbor city ruined by clashing Powers almost a decade ago, it has risen from the ashes as a space-age metropolis with cutting edge technology.
Population: ? ? ?
Terrain: destroyed
Locations:
+ Long Day Cabaret: A fancy strip club right outside of city limits, that did very brisk trade with all the workers that came in for the reconstruction.
+ Miracle Corner: A cafe rebuilt from one of the nearest businesses to ground zero that still had some walls standing. It's very much a feel good venue, hosts poetry nights and small-time musicians, and always has a dedicated rotation of buskers outside (probably with some rules to avoid drama). After hours, they use their space to host support groups. Their coffee is so so (a little bit too try hard), but their staff is very friendly and considerate.
+ The Tiverton: Named after the mayor who passed away during the attack (who had long been a patron of the arts and frequent attendee at the old theater) . It's a beautiful and elegant venue, with sweeping silvery designs heavily reminiscent of art deco. There are some issues; the theater comes with state of the art holographic projectors, but nobody really has the years in yet you would need to know how to really work them.
Important People:
Relevant Works:
NEW ELLIS
Gay Island
Named for its discoverer, Richard Gay, the small island off the northern coast of New Ellis is famous for the unicorn sightings in its forest.
Population: 1,500
Terrain: There is a forest in the middle of the island.
Locations:
+ The Two of Hearts: A quaint British-style pub/dive bar. A bit lax about carding people.
Important People: n/a
Location: Off the Northern coast of New Ellis
Relevant RPs: Happy Birthday Pleiades, (Tiger Lab 1)