Post by Rennat on Jan 30, 2016 15:36:52 GMT -5
Gaia's Wake: A Setting
MIRACLE, the FIRST CITY
Terrain
City-scape, rubble, topped structures, a few Yggdrasil producing park-type areas. One center Yggdrasil, housed by what was once the skyscraper of a reputable company, provides solace for outsiders and adventurers.
Population
1.5 million
Important Areas
Tower of Yggdrasil, Shopping District, Miracle Living, Danger Zone
Description
Formerly the third most populous state in the US, Chicago, Illinois, the city of Miracle was naught but a collection of collapsed buildings, a dried up riverbed, and ghost-town loneliness. This was before the arrival of the beastkind, who found the alleys and nooks and crannies to be the ideal makings of a nesting place. Even reduced mostly to rubble, a lone skyscraper and an eerie Ferris wheel still gave the skyline a phantom notion of its past grandeur. An enormous Yggdrasil, one of the largest in Torn, resides at its center, molded with the remaining architecture of a skyscraper. It may have toppled under the weight of a crumbling world, had the tree not provided a sturdy foundation. Many of the branches have broken through the outer layer of the building, making the Yggdrasil appear to be partially stone. This remaining skyscraper serves as a protective beacon for the entirety of Miracle, and the Reborn fortunate enough to have manifested nearby were well-taken care of by the Yggdrasil fruit and a nourishing pond. However, the impending doom of the world outside the walls of the Yggdrasil building was enough to both keep the group in and also fuel their desires to see what remained outside.
Meanwhile, others on the outside wanted in just as badly. Though few remembered Chicago, and even fewer had lived there themselves, the Reborn scattered on the outskirts nonetheless felt a sense of duty to reclaim the city from the beastkind that had overtaken it. Many, in fact, in the first thirteen days before the arrival of the beastkind, had taken up shelter in the city's remaining shelters. Some were even set-up as actual for the homeless and confused, but those not in direct sight of the Yggdrasil were forcibly evacuated by self-claimed 'officials' who had taken the reigns of the operation as soon as the first few nightmarish creatures began to pop up. Some believed them to be the demons of hell, and that this new existence was really a form of purgatory, despite the explanations of Gaia's Decree. All citizens of the broken city were shoved to the Yggdrasil, which the creatures who not approach, and were not reunited with those outside for a great many months. Finally, those daring individuals who organized groups to infiltrate the city and reclaim led the outsiders to reunite with those who, for a short time, they had come to know and establish community with. They called it a Miracle the city had survived the Fall at all, and even more so that a community could form under such harsh circumstances, and thus the name stuck.
Guarded, covered routes were constructed, allowing those on the outside to venture into the land called the Wilds. The rapidly growing government of Miracle began commissioning navigators to map the Wilds, secure outsider to join their ranks, and allow the city to prosper into a full-fledged empire. Of course, it is still much to early for such dreams to have a place in reality. Miracle is divided into a bustling shopping district, apartment complexes rented out to citizens in exchange for the talents of their Virtues and valuable pre-Fall artifacts, and the Tower of Yggdrasil, where all public proclamations are given. A barrier has been constructed to surround the city, which ensures citizens do not venture outside of the city proper into the Danger Zone. Life is almost as it once was in Chicago, albeit without electricity, and the people have almost founded a sense of realism out of their new city.
Meanwhile, others on the outside wanted in just as badly. Though few remembered Chicago, and even fewer had lived there themselves, the Reborn scattered on the outskirts nonetheless felt a sense of duty to reclaim the city from the beastkind that had overtaken it. Many, in fact, in the first thirteen days before the arrival of the beastkind, had taken up shelter in the city's remaining shelters. Some were even set-up as actual for the homeless and confused, but those not in direct sight of the Yggdrasil were forcibly evacuated by self-claimed 'officials' who had taken the reigns of the operation as soon as the first few nightmarish creatures began to pop up. Some believed them to be the demons of hell, and that this new existence was really a form of purgatory, despite the explanations of Gaia's Decree. All citizens of the broken city were shoved to the Yggdrasil, which the creatures who not approach, and were not reunited with those outside for a great many months. Finally, those daring individuals who organized groups to infiltrate the city and reclaim led the outsiders to reunite with those who, for a short time, they had come to know and establish community with. They called it a Miracle the city had survived the Fall at all, and even more so that a community could form under such harsh circumstances, and thus the name stuck.
Guarded, covered routes were constructed, allowing those on the outside to venture into the land called the Wilds. The rapidly growing government of Miracle began commissioning navigators to map the Wilds, secure outsider to join their ranks, and allow the city to prosper into a full-fledged empire. Of course, it is still much to early for such dreams to have a place in reality. Miracle is divided into a bustling shopping district, apartment complexes rented out to citizens in exchange for the talents of their Virtues and valuable pre-Fall artifacts, and the Tower of Yggdrasil, where all public proclamations are given. A barrier has been constructed to surround the city, which ensures citizens do not venture outside of the city proper into the Danger Zone. Life is almost as it once was in Chicago, albeit without electricity, and the people have almost founded a sense of realism out of their new city.
WITHERED
Terrain
Barren, mostly frozen, covered in glaciers. Dotted with Yggdrasil, and though the grass, trees, and water provided offer safe haven from beastkind, they do little in terms of warmth.
Population
60 million (and steadily decreasing)
Important Areas
N/A
Description
Most Reborn remember northern United States and Canada were cold places, colder than anywhere else in the country because of their proximity to the North Pole. However, in the same fashion of many locations in Gaia's Wake, Withered has taken on a histrionic version of its much less tame counterpart. Whereas the land had once been livable, Withered is now more or less a barren wasteland of infertile soil and ice. The Yggdrasil found there provide the same sustenance as any other, but compounded with the freezing cold temperature, it was difficult to start a settlement in Withered even with the trees' advantages. In order to restore the earth to its former glory, many Reborn have decided something must be done about Withered: eventually, at least. Right now, the governing body of Miracle daily sends expedition groups to the lands to chart maps, examine the wildlife, and procure artifacts. Some small communities have appeared, made up of hermits loathe to join up in the hustle and bustle of Miracle-life, or too old to venture down south toward Dried.
DRIED
Terrain
Dry, as the name might suggest, with rolling hills of sand and a generally high temperature. Yggdrasil in dried do allow for relief from heat by providing the much-fabled oasis to the desert fantasy, and many Reborn have actually settled permanently near these oasis in remembrance of beach vacations.
Population
100 million
Important Areas
N/A
Description
Dried is best described a desert wasteland, taking up the space of southwestern North America and the northern tip of South America below. Mostly made of sand, mountains, and vicious beasts, one would not think the territory would see quite as much activity as it does. Much of Dried is mapped because its conditions make for above average exploring, with Yggdrasil oases dotted rather frequently across the landscape of sand dunes. A rather aggressive variety of beastkind make their home in Dried, with nests popping up any place Yggdrasil are not, especially in the underground or in Fall-craters. Many scavengers take up settlement in Dried specifically to reap the benefit of the beastkind, whose meat is often the best-tasting, and whose additional poached materials make sturdy clothing, armor, weapons, and even jewelry.
UNCHARTED
Terrain
Barren, mostly frozen, covered in glaciers. Dotted with Yggdrasil, and though the grass, trees, and water provided offer safe haven from beastkind, they do little in terms of warmth.
Population
150 million
Important Areas
N/A
Description
Very little information is known about the mysterious Uncharted, named for its surprising lack of maps. However, what little has been mapped, just on the outskirts of Miracle, has been found to have a rather temperate atmosphere, yet insanely diverse beastkind population. Many who have become bored with Miracle have taken to charting the Uncharted, or at least claiming it for their own, and making money of those who either wanted to move out into its unknown lands or purchase maps to barter for other goods.