Post by Lord Rend on Mar 1, 2009 14:35:26 GMT -5
Greetings to everyone. Below is a basic description and outline of the setting for the game as well as the basic method of play/ moderation that I am basing the game around.
Method of Play:
The City of Gates is intended to be a loosely moderated role playing game with some plots involved. Any characters are welcome to join, even if they do not want to be involved with any plot that may be underway. Although initially I have a couple plots that I have thought of, the actions of other players could result in further storylines. For example, if a city official is killed during one of the storylines it may result in rioting or a power struggle in which player characters could establish themselves in a position of power within the city. Also, I would gladly welcome any suggestions for storyline ideas from those participating within the game.
Furthermore, for those who do not wish to participate in the more adventurous plots, there are also fairly individual stories that can take place. For example, your character could set up shop in the city market and work to establish a successful business there using whatever materials/ goods/ services are available or you can think up. For those people who do so, they may be somewhat affected by the consequences of other events; like in the case of a riot a shop might suffer some kind of damage. However, I will try to keep consequences realistic, the death of a minor relatively unknown or annoying bureaucrat in the real world would not start a riot, so it will not in this game either unless someone is working to try and incite such a riot. Believe me though, it would take effort to do so in such a case nonetheless.
Conversations, market business and fights between player characters are not necessarily going to be moderated, unless by request (and I will be reading all the posts, so I will see requests if you post them as an OOC comment) or if someone is clearly being unfair to their fellow players. Not that I suspect this will be an issue Interactions between non-player characters and player characters will be moderated simply from necessity, but will be kept realistic. There will also be such things as Assassin, Spy and Thieves Guilds, although interactions that happen there will be conducted via PMs between involved parties and myself, just in case someone happens to be spying on the meeting.
Above all, this is intended to be a fairly interactive RP and pretty much any interactions between characters are permitted (within the general bounds of content allowed on the forum). All suggestions and feedback will be carefully considered in order to help improve the game for everyone. One last thing before moving on: although the city of Vesperium is currently intended to be the main setting for this game I am more than happy to set up locations for events to occur in the other cities and even describe them in as much detail as Vesperium itself. Indeed, characters in the game can be with the other cities and working to destroy Vesperium if they so prefer.
The Game Setting:
History:
The ancient city of Vesperium is one of the three primary cities on the Chaotic Plane and was founded over four thousand years ago by those who had been dimensionally displaced from their own home dimensions, either by accident or intentional banishment. Originally founded by a vampiric race that fed on negative emotions, the original town was built in the middle of a naturally permanent eclipse. From these humble beginnings, the city grew thanks to the rich farmland that surrounded the town as well as nearby mineral-rich mountains. Eventually the town became a massive metropolis spanning hundreds of miles and occupied by countless people of innumerable races and time periods. These people not only brought along their own natural talents, but also their cultures, resulting in a city whose face is as varied as its people. With architecture ranging from the Romanesque styles of ancient Earth to modern skyscrapers, from pristine elven cities to underground abodes of drow, from the natural settings of the Fae to futuristic skyscrapers and cityscapes, the city represents nearly every era and type of civilization. With such variety, the culture of the city is equally mixed, but tolerant by necessity.
In terms of development there is a range of technology employed ranging from Roman and Medieval technology to incredibly advanced science-fiction type technology. Although mixed together in general, the more archaic sections of the city tend to rely more on magic than technology, leading to a pseudo separation of the two competing ideals. However, many projects that sustain the city (such as farming) use both magic and technology in equal measure. The most impressive of these projects are the Eight Gates, massive inter-dimensional portals that ease transit between the city and other planes or universes in addition to randomly creating random portals in various places. As a result, these portals are also considered a natural resource since they can accidentally suck up parts of landmasses (see Atlantis), and are a source of much envy from the other two cities of the Chaotic Plane.
As for government, Vesperium is divided up into several sectors, each ruled by a governor who is in charge of the city guard for that sector. These governors have more or less complete control of their sectors with regards to the law and how their sectors are governed, although they are ultimately held accountable to The Assembly, The Regal One and The Arbitors. The Assembly is made up of elected or appointed representatives from each of the sectors and serve as a watchdog committee as well as a legislature. Unlike traditional legislatures, The Assembly does not do anything beyond simply voting on the bills presented before them by The Regal One, who is essentially the executive branch of Vesperium. The Regal One is a title passed down to the first born child by heredity, meaning that The Regal One can be either male or female. They alone can propose laws for The Assembly to vote on and their power is enforced by the elite Monolith Guardians who act as the personal police force of The Regal One. However, The Regal One is not above the law as it is The Arbitors who decide when the title is passed. Should The Regal One misuse their power, The Arbitors may force them to give the title to the next in line. The Arbitors themselves serve as the courts and are duty-bound to enforce the laws passed by The Assembly. Their control of The Regal One comes from the fact that they can declare 'imperator nullius clamitor,' a term meaning that the title of Regal One can be claimed by the first person to kill the current Regal One.
The other cities on the Chaotic Plane, Magister and Auric, share a tenuous kind of peace with each other and Vesperium. This peace is only maintained due to the stability of each city and the fear of disrupting the thriving trade each city enjoys. Make no mistake however, if any of the cities should appear to weaken the others would not hesitate to attack in the hopes of suddenly gaining a much bigger piece of the proverbial pie. Due to this tension, a state of cold war exists between the three, with covert operatives serving in the place of armies. The lesser cities of the plane are often caught up in these struggles and many have simply fallen apart as a result of political manipulation from their larger neighbors.
City Layout:
Vesperium is a roughly circular city approximately two hundred and fifty miles across and surrounded by a pair of walls a mile thick each, with the outer wall being magically shielded and the inner wall being composed of metal towers generating force fields that serve as a wall. Outside of the walls smaller settlements have sprung up, particularly around the gates, in order to serve as exchange points for food and resources both leaving and entering the city. Within the walls the city is divided up into several sectors, each divided so that they all have approximately the same population or at least contain a vital industry. Due to the sheer size of the city, a mass transit network based on monorail lines has been constructed to connect all the sectors and main neighborhoods of the city.
Beyond the Walls:
Out-towns
Composed of the towns and farmlands outside of Vesperium's northern, southern and eastern walls but still within its sphere of political influence, the Out-towns are poorly defended. This is more due to the large area of this sector rather than a lack of city guards, and the city guards in this sector are often rather harried and overworked as they try to take care of the problems that crop up at the far ends of their realm. The governor for this sector is the Fae Lady Hana, who rules the sector from the White Fortress in the town of Outer Vasperium located near the North Gate. Lady Hana is widely considered to be a benevolent ruler, willing to bend the rules slightly in order to improve life for the people in her sector, but harsh to any who threaten those same people. This sector is characterized by a more rustic feel to it, with buildings tending toward Roman, medieval and Fae styles of construction. This sector is the only sector where one can find centaurs generally speaking.
Mirage
Located beyond the Western Mountains, Mirage is a desert province that serves as the main corridor of trade between Vesperium and the city of Magister, its rivers allowing for easy travel between the two and providing water for the inhabitants. As is fitting for a setting such as this, the general style of architecture is more Egyptian in nature and the inhabitants generally tend to be those that prefer desert environs. By far the most under populated sector of Vesperium, Mirage is only considered a separate sector because the city leadership decided that its proximity to Magister warranted sending in a full detachment of the sector guards. Ruled from the Obelisk Plaza by the reanimated mummy Pharaoh Radament, this sector has a monarchical system of government.
Within the Walls:
Underground:
Crystalis
One of the two underground sectors of the city, Crystalis is located under the Canals Sector and is well known for its massive crystal formations that formed due water dripping down from above. A number of different cave dwelling races live in these caverns, including drow, minotaurs and various others and their architecture reflects those influences well. The drow governor of this sector, Lord Ki'norath, is well known for his love of cloak and dagger type antics, which is likely how he managed to become the governor of a sector dominated politically by the matriarchal drow. His sector guards serve more as covert operatives and, on the surface, lawlessness seems to be the law of this sector. However, in truth it is more that those who can get away with it without being caught are allowed to do as they wish, otherwise you are subject to the law. Because of this philosophy, Crystalis has the best Spy and Thieves Guilds in the city, although assassins tend to avoid this place for fear that if they become skilled enough Ki'norath might view them as a personal threat. The sector capital is located inside the Crystal Pillar located in the Central Chamber of Crystalis.
This sector also contains a lower level of caverns that have been the site of intensive study due to the numerous ruins found down there. In addition to various artifacts, these ruins have also yielded tales of fantastic treasures, terrible dangers and stories of great power. These tales have attracted all kinds of treasure hunters and the like, all in search of money or power...
Hades
The other underground sector of the city is located under the western edge of the city, extending out under the walls and deep into the mountains located just beyond. A good deal of Vesperium's mineral wealth comes from this sector and, fittingly, it is home to many dwarves and gnomes as well as other races,some of which are of a darker nature. In addition to mineral wealth, this sector is also known for its nightmarish environment, several magma filled canals crisscross this sector in the deep ravines between the city blocks, forcing the inhabitants to construct bridges in order to travel about the caverns. The governor of this sector is actually a human by the name of Keton Gladius, which is a cause from unrest among the inhabitants since Keton actually purchased the position of governor from the previous governor. He runs Hades from his office in the corporate headquarters of the Beryl Mining Corporation in the sector of Quartzton and treats Hades much in the same way one would treat a business. Corruption is rampant among the sector guards, and they are more interested in keeping the sector profitable than anything else.
Aboveground:
Canals Sector
Located in the northwestern area of the city near the foot of the Western Mountains, the slopes overlooking the Canals Sector are riddled with with mineral springs which feed into the many canals that take the place of streets in this sector. Known as something of a vacation spot, the sector is centered on large lake that features sandy beaches and pristine forested isles that serve as home to some of the elves in Vesperium. The remaining elves generally take residence in the forested areas that surround the lake while mermaids, mermen and other aquatic races inhabit the lake itself. Rumors even persist that this sector is the home of a part of Atlantis, although the inhabitants deny it. The Sector governor for Canals Sector is currently the merman Titan, a gruff but fair man who strives hard to keep all the races of his sector happy.
Quartzton
Located on the western edge of the city just south of Canals Sector, Quartzton extends some ways up the slopes of the Western Mountains while still remaining within the city wall. One of the major human sectors, Quartzton is a fairly modern sector and features skyscrapers and other such modern buildings. In addition to being a residential sector, Quartzton is the other major mining sector of Vesperium and as such is also a commercial hub. As with the Silver City, Quartzton is ruled by a governor who works through and with a 'city council' to pass and enforce laws. These sectors are the most independent of the city sectors and have established their own independent court system, with the sector guard serving as a police force primarily. The sector governor is Locke Gladius, father of Keton Gladius and former president of the Beryl Mining Corporation, the largest company within Quartzton. Although suspicious in terms of circumstances, Locke seems to be a fairly honest politician save for his tendency to prefer the good life, which makes his a bit susceptible to accepting bribes.
Silver City
Located coreward of Quartzton, the Silver City is a modern sector that is a major human sector, with humans compromising almost half the population. While similar to Quartzton in terms of government structure, Silver City is headed by the political idealist Mark Scott, the youngest of the sector governors. Mr. Scott uses the sector guard as a police force, but also has established his own private guard force that serves as an investigation bureau and keeps the government of this sector relatively free of corruption.
Spires
This sector is located in the southwestern area of Vesperium and consists of a massive transportation hub surrounded by modern residential districts. This sector provides the only ground access to Skyland above as well as is the main hub for the monorail lines that run throughout the city. Oddly enough, this sector is also home to thriving thieves and assassins guilds and some of the best assassins in the city commonly work out of this sector. This sector also technically contains the infamous Glitter sub-sector, a Las-Vegas like sector that is still reminiscent of the mobster days in Chicago and Las-Vegas. This sub-sector is ruled by sector governor Aquinas in theory, but in actually the man is too lazy to bother enforcing laws outside of the transit hub, much less in a rogue area like Glitter. If the sector guard ever actually did anything beyond barricading themselves inside the transit hub an assessment of their qualities might be possible.
Skyland
Found on the southwestern edge of the city, Skylands is home to many avian races who find these floating isles more at home than the ground itself. Although mainly inhabited by races capable of flight such as dragons and griffins, bridges have been constructed to connect the isles in order to allow ground-bound visitors to travel about. This sector is governed by the Sphinx, a debateably odd choice for governor considering that she always speaks in riddles. However, since her speeches are more straightforward than many politicians, this choice probably lands on the wiser side of the debate line.
The Towers
Coreward of Skyland and Spires lies The Towers, a high tech sector featuring massive towers mixed in with more ecotopian neighborhoods and one or two post-apocalyptic wastelands where machines have overthrown the human race. It is strongly recommended that visitors avoid those areas unless they are wearing some kind of disguise and even then doing so will likely result in your life insurance company having a fit. Despite these dangers however, the sector is relatively safe to security drones and a diligent security force that is quick to respond to any emergency, provided they can find it in the urban maze that the towers of this sector create. The sector governor is the artificial intelligence construct A.I.R.I.C. (autonomous interactive response interface construct).
Due to the advanced technology readily available in this sector, it is a favorite target for thieves looking for some bit of technology to sell to the right buyer.
Forgery
Located in the southern area of the city, Forgery is the manufacturing center of Vesperium with various factories making up the majority of the cityscape here. A technology based sector, Forgery has everything from ancient blacksmith shops to advanced facilities that use nanotechnology to assemble products. Given the importance of this sector, the sector guard here are especially vigilant and are quick to crack down on any trouble that might be brewing. The governor for this sector is Lara Wethering a former Arbitor who is known for making snap judgments based on first impressions.
Ashland
On the southeastern edge of the city lies a massive inhabited graveyard known as Ashland. Named due to the ash and soot from the factories that continuously falls like snow here, Ashland is home to many undead races as well as races that prefer to live in such locals. Since many of the residents are technically already dead, this sector is a favorite target for assassins as they can practice their skills without being tried for murder. On the other hand, the sector guard generally tend to be gargoyles and can hide in plain sight, making these practice somewhat dangerous. The sector governor is a gargoyle by the name of Loki, although not much more is known about him.
Lowtown
Located coreward of Ashland, Lowtown is a medieval sector ruled by Duke Richard. The people of this sector get to experience the joys of life as it was during the Dark Ages of Earth, complete with a realistic enactment of serfdom. The Vesperium Board of Tourism recommends that you transfer all of your free capital to a secret account before you enter though, lest you be taxed into poverty and your vacation here becomes rather permanent.
Latium Neos
Located in the eastern area of the city, Latium Neos was founded as a new Roman Empire originally. Ruled by an Imperator and a Senate, this sector strives to be independent of the Vesperium government and as such views the rest of Vesperium as 'their allies.' Roman legions constantly patrol the streets in place of normal sector guards, making sure that no one dares to violate Roman sovereignty or the rule of Imperator Tiberius.
Pinnacle Towers
Found in the northeastern area of the city, Pinnacle towers is a Renaissance themed zone of the city with other influences present. The sector is ruled by the Baron Geoff.
Darkwood
Located in the northern area of the city, Darkwood consists of dense forests and Fae habitats. This sector is home to such creatures as werewolves, elves and other forest dwelling races. The sector guard for this area tend to be very territorial and do not interfere in the affairs of races other than their own. This results in the sector essentially having a division of the city guard for each of the races that live here and, as a consequence, the sector governor has to be very diplomatic with their degrees. The current governor of Darkwood is the elf Lord Eldritch, who also serves as chief diplomat of Vesperium.
Terminus Market
The main market for Vesperium, Terminus Market is a two mile wide ring of private shops located around the center of the city just inside the edge of the penumbra created by the eclipse, hence its name. The architecture of the market comes in a variety of styles, reflecting the tastes of the shop owners in the area. The Terminus Market is well known for selling pretty much anything and everything imaginable, from tiny nanocars for bacteria to magical spells to Death Star superlasers, if it exists it will be for sale here at some point most likely (the real question is can you afford what you want). Terminus Market is the sector of Judge Fenix, who has been charged with the task of preventing riots mostly. He is very bored with his job since riots are a rarity here.
Grand Penumbra
Forming a ring inside of the Terminus Market, Grand Penumbra contains the Eight Gates outside of an inner defense wall that separate the city core from the outer districts. This sector is directly ruled by The Regal One and the Monolith Guard serve as the guards for this sector.
Auroras Penumbra
This sector forms a ring inside of the Grand Penumbra and is a business and high tech residential district that also provides power for the entire city. Run by Governor Aegis, this sector is dominated by massive skyscrapers and four Plasma Spires which discharge ionized particles into the air, producing weak auroras only visible due to the natural darkness that pervades this sector.
Umbra Citadel
The center of the city the Umbra Citadel is a massive high tech and magic saturated fortress that houses The Regal One, The Assembly and The Arbitors. Ruled by The Regal One and protected by the Monolith Guards, the citadel is the center of government for the city and houses a massive bureaucracy corps. Beyond this little is known of the Citadel, normal citizens are only allowed inside the outer halls.
Imporant Technology:
I.R.I.S. (Information RetrIeval System)
The main database for all information relating to Vesperium, IRIS can answer most any question relating to people or locations in the city. It also acts as a translator allowing the inhabitants to understand each other without having to learn the myriad number of languages used in the city. The system works through a verbal interface and can be activated simply by saying "Calling IRIS" out loud anywhere within the city proper. From there the system uses magic to project sights and sounds to the user as they request, allowing them almost total privacy while actually using the system (although further requests still need to be at least whispered in order for the system to pick them up).
Monorails
The fastest way to travel around the city, Vesperium boasts an impressive network of rails, with a tracks running to all of the sub-sectors at least. Free to ride and running on a regular schedule that ensures you only have to wait fifteen minutes for a train during the day, the monorails are a necessity if one wants to travel through the city.
Fast Tracks
Useful for walking short distances in the city and covering a greater network than the monorails could allow, the fast tracks are rune magic empowered 'moving sidewalks' that run alongside the normal sidewalks. Using acceleration magic in conjunction with shielding magics, these tracks generate protective bubbles around those that step on them before accelerating them to near the speed of sound and rushing them to the other end of the track. These are very useful for traversing city blocks and also some long distance tracks are used to provide easier access to the Terminus Market.
________________________________
For those just arriving in the city:
With a bright flash and a surge of disorientation, the world around you fades and you suddenly find yourself lying in a darkened yet crowded plaza, the initial ill effects of your transistion fading rapidly as two golems in uniform lift you to your feet. Around you, the busy hustle continues without disruption as another golem of female modeling walks forward.
"Greetings new arrival, we welcome you to the Chaotic Plane city of Vesperium and apologize for the means by which you were brought here. The Great Gates have a tendency to snatch up random visitors without warning." the femal golem says in a friendly voice as she gestures toward the massive miles wide glowing archway behind you. "Of course, if you came here intentionally than we congratulate you on finding your way here, it is incredibly difficult to intentionally find the gates of Vesperium. In either case, if you wish to leave, the gates are free to use. If you wish to stay however, there is an important meeting that we must get you to right away." the golem continues as she hands you a small manual. "Here, take this guide, it will tell you everything about Vesperium that you will need to live here, although if you decide to leave this plane it will not follow you. Now if you wish to stay, we must get you to the Terminus Market right away, an important announcement is being made that may be of interest to you and help you start a life here. I will follow you to the meeting of course to answer any questions you may have as well as act as a recording device."
___________________________________
For residents of the city:
As usual, dawn came to the Chaotic Plane suddenly, the entire sky slowly beginning to glow as it usually did, running from black to violet to indigo to dark blue to lighter blue and finally to the pale green that would characterize the sky for most of the day. Off in the distance the planet that created the permanent eclipse over the center of the city could be seen high in the sky, its dark grey surface standing out in marked contrast to the sky around it. Indeed, it seemed to be a normal day in every aspect save one: today was the day of the big announcement that would be broadcast throughout the Terminus Market. Fortunately, the announcement was still an hour away, meaning that you have plenty of time to decide whether or not to attend.
_______________________________
For residents of Hades:
Slowly, the streetlamps that served in place of the sun in Hades brightened, announcing that daylight was breaking on the surface. With the constant orange illumination from the magma flows the lamps served no other purpose as their dim light made no noticeable difference in the ambient lighting of the streets save for in the area immediately around them. Even without them though, their was no mistaking the sound of distant explosions and machinery that marked the beginning of the mining day for the dwarves that lived here, which in truth was what most residents considered dawn. Indeed, it seemed to be a normal day in every aspect save one: today was the day of the big announcement that would be broadcast throughout the Terminus Market. Fortunately, the announcement was still an hour away, meaning that you have plenty of time to decide whether or not to attend. Of course, considering the rumors coming out of Crystalis, this announcement had something to do with some kind of treasure buried beneath the city.
___________________________________
For residents of Crystalis:
As usual, dawn came to the Chaotic Plane suddenly, the entire sky slowly beginning to glow as it usually did, running from black to violet to indigo to dark blue to lighter blue and finally to the pale green that would characterize the sky for most of the day. This light, while not normally visible underground was refracted and reflected through massive crystalline prisms that reached the surface, illuminating the caverns with a diffuse greenish light. Not that many of the residents cared much, dawn simply meant that their normal nighttime activities needed to be delayed as the dark alleyways ceased to be dark. Indeed, it seemed to be a normal day in every aspect save one: today was the day of the big announcement that would be broadcast throughout the Terminus Market. Fortunately, the announcement was still an hour away, meaning that you have plenty of time to decide whether or not to attend. Still, local rumors had it that whatever this announcement was it pertained to those old tunnels that had been discovered some time ago. Something to do with great wealth as well, but then again there were always rumors of that sort associated with such things.
Method of Play:
The City of Gates is intended to be a loosely moderated role playing game with some plots involved. Any characters are welcome to join, even if they do not want to be involved with any plot that may be underway. Although initially I have a couple plots that I have thought of, the actions of other players could result in further storylines. For example, if a city official is killed during one of the storylines it may result in rioting or a power struggle in which player characters could establish themselves in a position of power within the city. Also, I would gladly welcome any suggestions for storyline ideas from those participating within the game.
Furthermore, for those who do not wish to participate in the more adventurous plots, there are also fairly individual stories that can take place. For example, your character could set up shop in the city market and work to establish a successful business there using whatever materials/ goods/ services are available or you can think up. For those people who do so, they may be somewhat affected by the consequences of other events; like in the case of a riot a shop might suffer some kind of damage. However, I will try to keep consequences realistic, the death of a minor relatively unknown or annoying bureaucrat in the real world would not start a riot, so it will not in this game either unless someone is working to try and incite such a riot. Believe me though, it would take effort to do so in such a case nonetheless.
Conversations, market business and fights between player characters are not necessarily going to be moderated, unless by request (and I will be reading all the posts, so I will see requests if you post them as an OOC comment) or if someone is clearly being unfair to their fellow players. Not that I suspect this will be an issue Interactions between non-player characters and player characters will be moderated simply from necessity, but will be kept realistic. There will also be such things as Assassin, Spy and Thieves Guilds, although interactions that happen there will be conducted via PMs between involved parties and myself, just in case someone happens to be spying on the meeting.
Above all, this is intended to be a fairly interactive RP and pretty much any interactions between characters are permitted (within the general bounds of content allowed on the forum). All suggestions and feedback will be carefully considered in order to help improve the game for everyone. One last thing before moving on: although the city of Vesperium is currently intended to be the main setting for this game I am more than happy to set up locations for events to occur in the other cities and even describe them in as much detail as Vesperium itself. Indeed, characters in the game can be with the other cities and working to destroy Vesperium if they so prefer.
The Game Setting:
History:
The ancient city of Vesperium is one of the three primary cities on the Chaotic Plane and was founded over four thousand years ago by those who had been dimensionally displaced from their own home dimensions, either by accident or intentional banishment. Originally founded by a vampiric race that fed on negative emotions, the original town was built in the middle of a naturally permanent eclipse. From these humble beginnings, the city grew thanks to the rich farmland that surrounded the town as well as nearby mineral-rich mountains. Eventually the town became a massive metropolis spanning hundreds of miles and occupied by countless people of innumerable races and time periods. These people not only brought along their own natural talents, but also their cultures, resulting in a city whose face is as varied as its people. With architecture ranging from the Romanesque styles of ancient Earth to modern skyscrapers, from pristine elven cities to underground abodes of drow, from the natural settings of the Fae to futuristic skyscrapers and cityscapes, the city represents nearly every era and type of civilization. With such variety, the culture of the city is equally mixed, but tolerant by necessity.
In terms of development there is a range of technology employed ranging from Roman and Medieval technology to incredibly advanced science-fiction type technology. Although mixed together in general, the more archaic sections of the city tend to rely more on magic than technology, leading to a pseudo separation of the two competing ideals. However, many projects that sustain the city (such as farming) use both magic and technology in equal measure. The most impressive of these projects are the Eight Gates, massive inter-dimensional portals that ease transit between the city and other planes or universes in addition to randomly creating random portals in various places. As a result, these portals are also considered a natural resource since they can accidentally suck up parts of landmasses (see Atlantis), and are a source of much envy from the other two cities of the Chaotic Plane.
As for government, Vesperium is divided up into several sectors, each ruled by a governor who is in charge of the city guard for that sector. These governors have more or less complete control of their sectors with regards to the law and how their sectors are governed, although they are ultimately held accountable to The Assembly, The Regal One and The Arbitors. The Assembly is made up of elected or appointed representatives from each of the sectors and serve as a watchdog committee as well as a legislature. Unlike traditional legislatures, The Assembly does not do anything beyond simply voting on the bills presented before them by The Regal One, who is essentially the executive branch of Vesperium. The Regal One is a title passed down to the first born child by heredity, meaning that The Regal One can be either male or female. They alone can propose laws for The Assembly to vote on and their power is enforced by the elite Monolith Guardians who act as the personal police force of The Regal One. However, The Regal One is not above the law as it is The Arbitors who decide when the title is passed. Should The Regal One misuse their power, The Arbitors may force them to give the title to the next in line. The Arbitors themselves serve as the courts and are duty-bound to enforce the laws passed by The Assembly. Their control of The Regal One comes from the fact that they can declare 'imperator nullius clamitor,' a term meaning that the title of Regal One can be claimed by the first person to kill the current Regal One.
The other cities on the Chaotic Plane, Magister and Auric, share a tenuous kind of peace with each other and Vesperium. This peace is only maintained due to the stability of each city and the fear of disrupting the thriving trade each city enjoys. Make no mistake however, if any of the cities should appear to weaken the others would not hesitate to attack in the hopes of suddenly gaining a much bigger piece of the proverbial pie. Due to this tension, a state of cold war exists between the three, with covert operatives serving in the place of armies. The lesser cities of the plane are often caught up in these struggles and many have simply fallen apart as a result of political manipulation from their larger neighbors.
City Layout:
Vesperium is a roughly circular city approximately two hundred and fifty miles across and surrounded by a pair of walls a mile thick each, with the outer wall being magically shielded and the inner wall being composed of metal towers generating force fields that serve as a wall. Outside of the walls smaller settlements have sprung up, particularly around the gates, in order to serve as exchange points for food and resources both leaving and entering the city. Within the walls the city is divided up into several sectors, each divided so that they all have approximately the same population or at least contain a vital industry. Due to the sheer size of the city, a mass transit network based on monorail lines has been constructed to connect all the sectors and main neighborhoods of the city.
Beyond the Walls:
Out-towns
Composed of the towns and farmlands outside of Vesperium's northern, southern and eastern walls but still within its sphere of political influence, the Out-towns are poorly defended. This is more due to the large area of this sector rather than a lack of city guards, and the city guards in this sector are often rather harried and overworked as they try to take care of the problems that crop up at the far ends of their realm. The governor for this sector is the Fae Lady Hana, who rules the sector from the White Fortress in the town of Outer Vasperium located near the North Gate. Lady Hana is widely considered to be a benevolent ruler, willing to bend the rules slightly in order to improve life for the people in her sector, but harsh to any who threaten those same people. This sector is characterized by a more rustic feel to it, with buildings tending toward Roman, medieval and Fae styles of construction. This sector is the only sector where one can find centaurs generally speaking.
Mirage
Located beyond the Western Mountains, Mirage is a desert province that serves as the main corridor of trade between Vesperium and the city of Magister, its rivers allowing for easy travel between the two and providing water for the inhabitants. As is fitting for a setting such as this, the general style of architecture is more Egyptian in nature and the inhabitants generally tend to be those that prefer desert environs. By far the most under populated sector of Vesperium, Mirage is only considered a separate sector because the city leadership decided that its proximity to Magister warranted sending in a full detachment of the sector guards. Ruled from the Obelisk Plaza by the reanimated mummy Pharaoh Radament, this sector has a monarchical system of government.
Within the Walls:
Underground:
Crystalis
One of the two underground sectors of the city, Crystalis is located under the Canals Sector and is well known for its massive crystal formations that formed due water dripping down from above. A number of different cave dwelling races live in these caverns, including drow, minotaurs and various others and their architecture reflects those influences well. The drow governor of this sector, Lord Ki'norath, is well known for his love of cloak and dagger type antics, which is likely how he managed to become the governor of a sector dominated politically by the matriarchal drow. His sector guards serve more as covert operatives and, on the surface, lawlessness seems to be the law of this sector. However, in truth it is more that those who can get away with it without being caught are allowed to do as they wish, otherwise you are subject to the law. Because of this philosophy, Crystalis has the best Spy and Thieves Guilds in the city, although assassins tend to avoid this place for fear that if they become skilled enough Ki'norath might view them as a personal threat. The sector capital is located inside the Crystal Pillar located in the Central Chamber of Crystalis.
This sector also contains a lower level of caverns that have been the site of intensive study due to the numerous ruins found down there. In addition to various artifacts, these ruins have also yielded tales of fantastic treasures, terrible dangers and stories of great power. These tales have attracted all kinds of treasure hunters and the like, all in search of money or power...
Hades
The other underground sector of the city is located under the western edge of the city, extending out under the walls and deep into the mountains located just beyond. A good deal of Vesperium's mineral wealth comes from this sector and, fittingly, it is home to many dwarves and gnomes as well as other races,some of which are of a darker nature. In addition to mineral wealth, this sector is also known for its nightmarish environment, several magma filled canals crisscross this sector in the deep ravines between the city blocks, forcing the inhabitants to construct bridges in order to travel about the caverns. The governor of this sector is actually a human by the name of Keton Gladius, which is a cause from unrest among the inhabitants since Keton actually purchased the position of governor from the previous governor. He runs Hades from his office in the corporate headquarters of the Beryl Mining Corporation in the sector of Quartzton and treats Hades much in the same way one would treat a business. Corruption is rampant among the sector guards, and they are more interested in keeping the sector profitable than anything else.
Aboveground:
Canals Sector
Located in the northwestern area of the city near the foot of the Western Mountains, the slopes overlooking the Canals Sector are riddled with with mineral springs which feed into the many canals that take the place of streets in this sector. Known as something of a vacation spot, the sector is centered on large lake that features sandy beaches and pristine forested isles that serve as home to some of the elves in Vesperium. The remaining elves generally take residence in the forested areas that surround the lake while mermaids, mermen and other aquatic races inhabit the lake itself. Rumors even persist that this sector is the home of a part of Atlantis, although the inhabitants deny it. The Sector governor for Canals Sector is currently the merman Titan, a gruff but fair man who strives hard to keep all the races of his sector happy.
Quartzton
Located on the western edge of the city just south of Canals Sector, Quartzton extends some ways up the slopes of the Western Mountains while still remaining within the city wall. One of the major human sectors, Quartzton is a fairly modern sector and features skyscrapers and other such modern buildings. In addition to being a residential sector, Quartzton is the other major mining sector of Vesperium and as such is also a commercial hub. As with the Silver City, Quartzton is ruled by a governor who works through and with a 'city council' to pass and enforce laws. These sectors are the most independent of the city sectors and have established their own independent court system, with the sector guard serving as a police force primarily. The sector governor is Locke Gladius, father of Keton Gladius and former president of the Beryl Mining Corporation, the largest company within Quartzton. Although suspicious in terms of circumstances, Locke seems to be a fairly honest politician save for his tendency to prefer the good life, which makes his a bit susceptible to accepting bribes.
Silver City
Located coreward of Quartzton, the Silver City is a modern sector that is a major human sector, with humans compromising almost half the population. While similar to Quartzton in terms of government structure, Silver City is headed by the political idealist Mark Scott, the youngest of the sector governors. Mr. Scott uses the sector guard as a police force, but also has established his own private guard force that serves as an investigation bureau and keeps the government of this sector relatively free of corruption.
Spires
This sector is located in the southwestern area of Vesperium and consists of a massive transportation hub surrounded by modern residential districts. This sector provides the only ground access to Skyland above as well as is the main hub for the monorail lines that run throughout the city. Oddly enough, this sector is also home to thriving thieves and assassins guilds and some of the best assassins in the city commonly work out of this sector. This sector also technically contains the infamous Glitter sub-sector, a Las-Vegas like sector that is still reminiscent of the mobster days in Chicago and Las-Vegas. This sub-sector is ruled by sector governor Aquinas in theory, but in actually the man is too lazy to bother enforcing laws outside of the transit hub, much less in a rogue area like Glitter. If the sector guard ever actually did anything beyond barricading themselves inside the transit hub an assessment of their qualities might be possible.
Skyland
Found on the southwestern edge of the city, Skylands is home to many avian races who find these floating isles more at home than the ground itself. Although mainly inhabited by races capable of flight such as dragons and griffins, bridges have been constructed to connect the isles in order to allow ground-bound visitors to travel about. This sector is governed by the Sphinx, a debateably odd choice for governor considering that she always speaks in riddles. However, since her speeches are more straightforward than many politicians, this choice probably lands on the wiser side of the debate line.
The Towers
Coreward of Skyland and Spires lies The Towers, a high tech sector featuring massive towers mixed in with more ecotopian neighborhoods and one or two post-apocalyptic wastelands where machines have overthrown the human race. It is strongly recommended that visitors avoid those areas unless they are wearing some kind of disguise and even then doing so will likely result in your life insurance company having a fit. Despite these dangers however, the sector is relatively safe to security drones and a diligent security force that is quick to respond to any emergency, provided they can find it in the urban maze that the towers of this sector create. The sector governor is the artificial intelligence construct A.I.R.I.C. (autonomous interactive response interface construct).
Due to the advanced technology readily available in this sector, it is a favorite target for thieves looking for some bit of technology to sell to the right buyer.
Forgery
Located in the southern area of the city, Forgery is the manufacturing center of Vesperium with various factories making up the majority of the cityscape here. A technology based sector, Forgery has everything from ancient blacksmith shops to advanced facilities that use nanotechnology to assemble products. Given the importance of this sector, the sector guard here are especially vigilant and are quick to crack down on any trouble that might be brewing. The governor for this sector is Lara Wethering a former Arbitor who is known for making snap judgments based on first impressions.
Ashland
On the southeastern edge of the city lies a massive inhabited graveyard known as Ashland. Named due to the ash and soot from the factories that continuously falls like snow here, Ashland is home to many undead races as well as races that prefer to live in such locals. Since many of the residents are technically already dead, this sector is a favorite target for assassins as they can practice their skills without being tried for murder. On the other hand, the sector guard generally tend to be gargoyles and can hide in plain sight, making these practice somewhat dangerous. The sector governor is a gargoyle by the name of Loki, although not much more is known about him.
Lowtown
Located coreward of Ashland, Lowtown is a medieval sector ruled by Duke Richard. The people of this sector get to experience the joys of life as it was during the Dark Ages of Earth, complete with a realistic enactment of serfdom. The Vesperium Board of Tourism recommends that you transfer all of your free capital to a secret account before you enter though, lest you be taxed into poverty and your vacation here becomes rather permanent.
Latium Neos
Located in the eastern area of the city, Latium Neos was founded as a new Roman Empire originally. Ruled by an Imperator and a Senate, this sector strives to be independent of the Vesperium government and as such views the rest of Vesperium as 'their allies.' Roman legions constantly patrol the streets in place of normal sector guards, making sure that no one dares to violate Roman sovereignty or the rule of Imperator Tiberius.
Pinnacle Towers
Found in the northeastern area of the city, Pinnacle towers is a Renaissance themed zone of the city with other influences present. The sector is ruled by the Baron Geoff.
Darkwood
Located in the northern area of the city, Darkwood consists of dense forests and Fae habitats. This sector is home to such creatures as werewolves, elves and other forest dwelling races. The sector guard for this area tend to be very territorial and do not interfere in the affairs of races other than their own. This results in the sector essentially having a division of the city guard for each of the races that live here and, as a consequence, the sector governor has to be very diplomatic with their degrees. The current governor of Darkwood is the elf Lord Eldritch, who also serves as chief diplomat of Vesperium.
Terminus Market
The main market for Vesperium, Terminus Market is a two mile wide ring of private shops located around the center of the city just inside the edge of the penumbra created by the eclipse, hence its name. The architecture of the market comes in a variety of styles, reflecting the tastes of the shop owners in the area. The Terminus Market is well known for selling pretty much anything and everything imaginable, from tiny nanocars for bacteria to magical spells to Death Star superlasers, if it exists it will be for sale here at some point most likely (the real question is can you afford what you want). Terminus Market is the sector of Judge Fenix, who has been charged with the task of preventing riots mostly. He is very bored with his job since riots are a rarity here.
Grand Penumbra
Forming a ring inside of the Terminus Market, Grand Penumbra contains the Eight Gates outside of an inner defense wall that separate the city core from the outer districts. This sector is directly ruled by The Regal One and the Monolith Guard serve as the guards for this sector.
Auroras Penumbra
This sector forms a ring inside of the Grand Penumbra and is a business and high tech residential district that also provides power for the entire city. Run by Governor Aegis, this sector is dominated by massive skyscrapers and four Plasma Spires which discharge ionized particles into the air, producing weak auroras only visible due to the natural darkness that pervades this sector.
Umbra Citadel
The center of the city the Umbra Citadel is a massive high tech and magic saturated fortress that houses The Regal One, The Assembly and The Arbitors. Ruled by The Regal One and protected by the Monolith Guards, the citadel is the center of government for the city and houses a massive bureaucracy corps. Beyond this little is known of the Citadel, normal citizens are only allowed inside the outer halls.
Imporant Technology:
I.R.I.S. (Information RetrIeval System)
The main database for all information relating to Vesperium, IRIS can answer most any question relating to people or locations in the city. It also acts as a translator allowing the inhabitants to understand each other without having to learn the myriad number of languages used in the city. The system works through a verbal interface and can be activated simply by saying "Calling IRIS" out loud anywhere within the city proper. From there the system uses magic to project sights and sounds to the user as they request, allowing them almost total privacy while actually using the system (although further requests still need to be at least whispered in order for the system to pick them up).
Monorails
The fastest way to travel around the city, Vesperium boasts an impressive network of rails, with a tracks running to all of the sub-sectors at least. Free to ride and running on a regular schedule that ensures you only have to wait fifteen minutes for a train during the day, the monorails are a necessity if one wants to travel through the city.
Fast Tracks
Useful for walking short distances in the city and covering a greater network than the monorails could allow, the fast tracks are rune magic empowered 'moving sidewalks' that run alongside the normal sidewalks. Using acceleration magic in conjunction with shielding magics, these tracks generate protective bubbles around those that step on them before accelerating them to near the speed of sound and rushing them to the other end of the track. These are very useful for traversing city blocks and also some long distance tracks are used to provide easier access to the Terminus Market.
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For those just arriving in the city:
With a bright flash and a surge of disorientation, the world around you fades and you suddenly find yourself lying in a darkened yet crowded plaza, the initial ill effects of your transistion fading rapidly as two golems in uniform lift you to your feet. Around you, the busy hustle continues without disruption as another golem of female modeling walks forward.
"Greetings new arrival, we welcome you to the Chaotic Plane city of Vesperium and apologize for the means by which you were brought here. The Great Gates have a tendency to snatch up random visitors without warning." the femal golem says in a friendly voice as she gestures toward the massive miles wide glowing archway behind you. "Of course, if you came here intentionally than we congratulate you on finding your way here, it is incredibly difficult to intentionally find the gates of Vesperium. In either case, if you wish to leave, the gates are free to use. If you wish to stay however, there is an important meeting that we must get you to right away." the golem continues as she hands you a small manual. "Here, take this guide, it will tell you everything about Vesperium that you will need to live here, although if you decide to leave this plane it will not follow you. Now if you wish to stay, we must get you to the Terminus Market right away, an important announcement is being made that may be of interest to you and help you start a life here. I will follow you to the meeting of course to answer any questions you may have as well as act as a recording device."
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For residents of the city:
As usual, dawn came to the Chaotic Plane suddenly, the entire sky slowly beginning to glow as it usually did, running from black to violet to indigo to dark blue to lighter blue and finally to the pale green that would characterize the sky for most of the day. Off in the distance the planet that created the permanent eclipse over the center of the city could be seen high in the sky, its dark grey surface standing out in marked contrast to the sky around it. Indeed, it seemed to be a normal day in every aspect save one: today was the day of the big announcement that would be broadcast throughout the Terminus Market. Fortunately, the announcement was still an hour away, meaning that you have plenty of time to decide whether or not to attend.
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For residents of Hades:
Slowly, the streetlamps that served in place of the sun in Hades brightened, announcing that daylight was breaking on the surface. With the constant orange illumination from the magma flows the lamps served no other purpose as their dim light made no noticeable difference in the ambient lighting of the streets save for in the area immediately around them. Even without them though, their was no mistaking the sound of distant explosions and machinery that marked the beginning of the mining day for the dwarves that lived here, which in truth was what most residents considered dawn. Indeed, it seemed to be a normal day in every aspect save one: today was the day of the big announcement that would be broadcast throughout the Terminus Market. Fortunately, the announcement was still an hour away, meaning that you have plenty of time to decide whether or not to attend. Of course, considering the rumors coming out of Crystalis, this announcement had something to do with some kind of treasure buried beneath the city.
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For residents of Crystalis:
As usual, dawn came to the Chaotic Plane suddenly, the entire sky slowly beginning to glow as it usually did, running from black to violet to indigo to dark blue to lighter blue and finally to the pale green that would characterize the sky for most of the day. This light, while not normally visible underground was refracted and reflected through massive crystalline prisms that reached the surface, illuminating the caverns with a diffuse greenish light. Not that many of the residents cared much, dawn simply meant that their normal nighttime activities needed to be delayed as the dark alleyways ceased to be dark. Indeed, it seemed to be a normal day in every aspect save one: today was the day of the big announcement that would be broadcast throughout the Terminus Market. Fortunately, the announcement was still an hour away, meaning that you have plenty of time to decide whether or not to attend. Still, local rumors had it that whatever this announcement was it pertained to those old tunnels that had been discovered some time ago. Something to do with great wealth as well, but then again there were always rumors of that sort associated with such things.
