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| location:york [2017/02/23 05:50] – [Richard's Lake] luca | location:york [2018/12/28 07:21] (current) – [Phenomena] sasquatch may be -A- species luca |
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| ====== York ====== | ====== York ====== |
| | :!: Logo Pending! | | | {{:location:yorksymbol.png|}} | |
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| York is a city-state of [[planet/albion|Albion]], situated in the tundra spread across the southwest area of [[planet/albion#nalbin|Nalbin]]. York is governed by the [[society/kingdom_of_albion|Kingdom of Albion]]. It is also called the Grey Sector by locals thanks to the chilly weather and expanses of taiga. | York is a city-state of [[planet/albion|Albion]], situated in the tundra spread across the southwest area of [[planet/albion#nalbin|Nalbin]]. York is governed by the [[society/kingdom_of_albion|Kingdom of Albion]]. It is also called the Grey Sector by locals thanks to the chilly weather and expanses of taiga. |
| York's demographics are mostly human, with other humanoid aliens who thrive in cold conditions present. Amongst humans, the cultural demographics are primarily Hagbloods and Greasehearts. The presence of Hagbloods goes back a long way due to magic colleges being established locally after the Old War concluded, and Greasehearts were responsible for erecting the protective domes over populated areas and creating the industry to support it. Other cultures have enclaves here and there, but deign to live outside of the domes of York. | York's demographics are mostly human, with other humanoid aliens who thrive in cold conditions present. Amongst humans, the cultural demographics are primarily Hagbloods and Greasehearts. The presence of Hagbloods goes back a long way due to magic colleges being established locally after the Old War concluded, and Greasehearts were responsible for erecting the protective domes over populated areas and creating the industry to support it. Other cultures have enclaves here and there, but deign to live outside of the domes of York. |
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| The outlook of York's populace is a traditional-leaning, and conservative outlook amongst residents whose families have direct connections to the Old War - either affected by it, participating in it, or building a future out of it. Expatriates and travellers who come to York for the universities and rich magical culture are steadily introducing liberal ideas, but they are resisted by the traditionally inclined Governor and political establishment. The most common crimes include public nuisance, arson, infractions in the blanket of magic misuse laws, and contacting Weird Things without proper protections or qualifications. | The outlook of York's populace is a traditional-leaning, and conservative outlook amongst residents whose families have direct connections to the Old War - either affected by it, participating in it, or building a future out of it. Expatriates and travellers who come to York for the universities and rich magical culture are steadily introducing liberal ideas, but they are resisted by the traditionally inclined Governor and political establishment. The most common crimes include public nuisance, arson, infractions in the blanket of magic misuse laws, and contacting [[/weird_things]] without proper protections or qualifications. |
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| === Notable People === | === Notable People === |
| * **Erin "Emmy" Lee Pardo** - A foreigner in York's parliament, Erin Lee the sister of the governor of Poyning, Amy Lee. Erin and Ulysses Vernon are working with each other to ensure the refinery technology used throughout York is working up to spec and standard. The agreed end-goal is the modernisation of York, making it a more attractive place for travellers, workers, and investors. In return, a handful of key exports to Poyning have reduced or completely eliminated tariffs. She is concerned primarily by worker's rights, union thuggery, and auditing and repealing useless or counterproductive regulation. | * **Erin "Emmy" Lee Pardo** - A foreigner in York's parliament, Erin Lee the sister of the governor of Poyning, Amy Lee. Erin and Ulysses Vernon are working with each other to ensure the refinery technology used throughout York is working up to spec and standard. The agreed end-goal is the modernisation of York, making it a more attractive place for travellers, workers, and investors. In return, a handful of key exports to Poyning have reduced or completely eliminated tariffs. She is concerned primarily by worker's rights, union thuggery, and auditing and repealing useless or counterproductive regulation. |
| * **Dame Geraldine Massey** - Head of the Parliament Guard, and nicknamed "Vernon's Shadow" for her unwavering loyalty to the Governor of the day, particularly the Vernon family. Dame Massey is a soldier at heart, previously holding the rank of Colonel in Albion's military, fighting with archaic weaponry, caster rifles, and wearing archaic armour empowered by magic runes. In addition to overseeing the protection of York's parliamentarians, she serves as one of York's chief defence strategists. She is commonly alleged to have fought a dragon, and bears numerous scars across her body from the fight. She neither confirms, nor denies this, and refuses to go into further detail. | * **Dame Geraldine Massey** - Head of the Parliament Guard, and nicknamed "Vernon's Shadow" for her unwavering loyalty to the Governor of the day, particularly the Vernon family. Dame Massey is a soldier at heart, previously holding the rank of Colonel in Albion's military, fighting with archaic weaponry, caster rifles, and wearing archaic armour empowered by magic runes. In addition to overseeing the protection of York's parliamentarians, she serves as one of York's chief defence strategists. She is commonly alleged to have fought a dragon, and bears numerous scars across her body from the fight. She neither confirms, nor denies this, and refuses to go into further detail. |
| * **Harald Stowe** - Harald Stowe was, by even the kindest of accounts from his peers, an arsehole. He was originally a lecturer at Horrigan University who went on to try his hand at local politics for the benefit of the institution. As his lust for power rose, he found himself a thrall of a wicked thing beyond his control, and became an unnatural creature of dead flesh and hunger for the weak. The rest of the Stowe family quickly cut ties with his bloody works when they came to light, and were quick to assist authorities in outing his lairs. He was hanged from the neck in [[calendar/pa_66]] and entombed in an unmarked grave with a brick in his mouth((It's tradition for undesirable mages to get 'bricked' after execution, and superstition.)). York's citizens are glad that he's gone, that his name is mud, and his legacy is buried, but allege Harald's wickedness lives on in his bloodline. They see it in the behaviour of his offspring, particularly Lady Jessica Stowe... | * **Harald Stowe** - Harald Stowe was, by even the kindest of accounts from his peers, an arsehole. He was originally a lecturer at Horrigan University who went on to try his hand at local politics for the benefit of the institution. As his lust for power rose, he found himself a thrall of a wicked thing beyond his control, and became an unnatural creature of dead flesh and hunger for the weak. The rest of the Stowe family quickly cut ties with his bloody works when they came to light, and were quick to assist authorities in outing his lairs. He was hanged from the neck in [[calendar/pa_66]] and entombed in an unmarked grave with a brick in his mouth((It's tradition for undesirable mages to get 'bricked' after execution and superstition - as they will not be able to move their mouth to use a spell in death.)). York's citizens are glad that he's gone, that his name is mud, and his legacy is buried, but allege Harald's wickedness lives on in his bloodline. They see it in the behaviour of his offspring, particularly Lady Jessica Stowe... |
| * **Businesspeople** | * **Businesspeople** |
| * **Terrence McCann** - An industrialist and a contender for York's governance. A Greaseheart man whose family was responsible for building the first countermeasures to York's harsh temperatures. The McCann family's innovations were since refined by others into the flexible domes currently used throughout, and the McCann family business became a secondary, but long-running player in York. Terrence has aspirations to go for the position of Governor, but his word as a businessman in McCann Metals is better respected. | * **Terrence McCann** - An industrialist and a contender for York's governance. A Greaseheart man whose family was responsible for building the first countermeasures to York's harsh temperatures. The McCann family's innovations were since refined by others into the flexible domes currently used throughout, and the McCann family business became a secondary, but long-running player in York. Terrence has aspirations to go for the position of Governor, but his word as a businessman in McCann Metals is better respected. |
| * **Crunch Fistkick** and **Crush Footpunch** - Real names Pierre and Adrian Brewer, Crunch and Crush are a brother-pair of outlandishly manly celebrities, renowned for being typecast as the largest, muscular, and most intimidating bad guys on screen. Together revelling in the image of being huge and full on. On set, they often compete against each other playfully if they are within shouting distance. It isn't uncommon to see them get injured when they try to one up each other in front of the camera. A solution was soon found: Don't cast them together. People are unsure of whether these two are serious about being so manly, but they sure look like it! | * **Crunch Fistkick** and **Crush Footpunch** - Real names Pierre and Adrian Brewer, Crunch and Crush are a brother-pair of outlandishly manly celebrities, renowned for being typecast as the largest, muscular, and most intimidating bad guys on screen. Together revelling in the image of being huge and full on. On set, they often compete against each other playfully if they are within shouting distance. It isn't uncommon to see them get injured when they try to one up each other in front of the camera. A solution was soon found: Don't cast them together. People are unsure of whether these two are serious about being so manly, but they sure look like it! |
| * **Bridget Kuniklo** - The local contact and reporter for [[company/astro_news_radio]], responsible for collating and transmitting local news broadcasts to Astro. Bridget is a plain looking lady in her mid thirties, known for the distinctive beanie and goggles she wears on cold days. She is surprisingly deadpan on camera, despite the numerous and frequently bizzare magic-related accidents she covers for the evening news. | * **Bridget Kuniklo** - The local contact and reporter for [[company/astro_news_radio]], responsible for collating and transmitting local news broadcasts to Astro. Bridget is a plain looking lady in her mid thirties, known for the distinctive beanie and goggles she wears on cold days. She is surprisingly deadpan on camera, despite the numerous and frequently bizzare magic-related accidents she covers for the evening news. |
| | * **Geoffrey Magnussen** - This athlete native to Manhaven has competed in dozens of amateur wrestling tournaments around York, and Albion. He became an interplanetary sensation in the Aleph Cluster, rising to fame in the Albion Wrestling Tournament by putting his enemies from far and wide away with the patented Blizzard Suplex. After winning a handful of gold and silver medals, he decided to start competing in professional wrestling shows - acting as a face who relies on his olympic pedigree and clout. [[https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1309541320|He can also be downloaded for use in Fire Pro Wrestling World.]] |
| * **Maxwell Pantera** - A star football player for the York Boreals, and its captain. Boys and girls alike are likely to have a picture of him somewhere in their bedroom. In addition to captaining the team, Pantera also fields as a striker or attacker. Max frequently uses the lulls in his schedule to make visits to schools, teaching kids the importance of good fitness, teamwork, and charity - as well as signing autographs and showing them his awesome kicking skills. | * **Maxwell Pantera** - A star football player for the York Boreals, and its captain. Boys and girls alike are likely to have a picture of him somewhere in their bedroom. In addition to captaining the team, Pantera also fields as a striker or attacker. Max frequently uses the lulls in his schedule to make visits to schools, teaching kids the importance of good fitness, teamwork, and charity - as well as signing autographs and showing them his awesome kicking skills. |
| | * **Other** |
| | * **Professor James Ulrich** - A grey-haired, bearded and bespectacled lecturer at Horrigan University in his late fifties, Professor Ulrich is famous in the Thaumatology community for writing dozens of papers on the physics and properties of [[/weird_things#physics_of_weirds_and_the_weald|The Weald and Weird Things]], including how to communicate with and summon them. He is also noted to have travelled into planes on the Weald in his younger days with his faithful companion - a spectral sighthound by the name of **Billy**. At the moment between lectures and lulls in his research, Professor Ulrich shares some of his findings with the world at large via video blogging. He's not familiar with the computer technology involved however, but Billy knows how to fill the gap. |
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| | ==== Phenomena ==== |
| | As one of Albion's oldest cities and a nexus for magicians, and lots of raw resources through trade and refinery, York is a hot-spot of strange phenomena. |
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| | * **Spirit Lights** - Out in **Freyr's Fen**, travellers and locals report seeing glowing wisps hovering over the bogs and marshes. Old wives say that these lights are the spirits of people who died traversing the swamp. Said spirits are full of hate and malice, trying to lure others to a similar fate. Modernised locals believe it could just be self-igniting swamp gas, and following them into a dark marsh is a bad idea generally. |
| | * **Ragwood** and the **Guiding Larch Trees of Ragwood** - As described in [[/location/york#the_wilderness|The Wilderness of York]] down below, Ragwood is a strange location, where no tree or plant appears to respect each other's personal space - often growing into and through each other, gnarling and tangling to create an unnavigable, dark mess of a forest that continually shifts each month. In addition, the forest beneath the canopy is always shrouded in a dark, sometimes purple fog. |
| | * Conversely, the only type of tree that does not tangle, crook, or appear 'wrong' are [[wp>Larch]] trees, even exuding a small area of exclusion where roots do not trip, the leaves filter sunlight in. The reason for this occurrence is not known, but locals believe it is a curse of some sort upon the woods, and the forest is fighting back by placing its will in the Larch. |
| | * **Solstice and Equinox Events** - Mages, Psionics, and others with a connection to the Weald, or those interested in traditional crafts and worships find the solar events of Solstice and Equinox to be auspicious. The position of Albion in relation to Aleph Null's sun is not magical in of itself, but many spell-casters believe that such events lend power to certain rituals. |
| | * In addition to normal, state-hosted celebrations of these events, mages will come together to perform large rituals together, bolstered by their belief. This gives the York Constabulary and Police Department a headache - as the increased international traffic means there's more people with potentially ill intention to worry about. |
| | * **Gremlins** - Derived from Greaseheart tall tales and mythos, Gremlins are responsible for all the misplaced tools, small and annoying faults in machinery, and the one item in a batch of product being faulty. They are frequently characterised as little, foot-tall things with wicked grins and innate technical knowledge aiming to sabotage and waylay work. |
| | * Workers sometimes engage in inane tasks during lulls in their job to ward off Gremlins, such as leaving a cold beer and chips out to placate the creatures or dancing and singing bawdy songs to entertain the Gremlins and stop them from wrecking havoc. |
| | * It isn't unheard of for Gremlins to interrupt the works of magicians by causing similar annoyances. Misplacing magical reagents, spoiling ingredients, and spilling hazardous liquids. Mages are better equipped at keeping Gremlins away with wards and guards, instead of negotiating by proxy or entertaining the Gremlin's wicked sense of humour. |
| | * **Sasquatch** - A common tall tale among the lumberjacks and timber yard workers of York is a large, furred humanoid who wanders through the woods and living as a nomadic hunter-gatherer, leaving large footprints the size of a man's forearm in the forest floor. Attempts to capture pictures of the creature are bound to fail somehow - photographs are blurry, camera footage is out of focus throughout, and surveying drones experience data corruption upon return. |
| | * The only reliable source of information regarding the creature's movements are eyewitness accounts and word of mouth. Some huntsmen take it on themselves to track the Sasquatch down, and follow its movements. Witnesses reports come from all over York's outskirts, suggesting that there is more than one, or the Sasquatch may be a species. The Sasquatch is generally shy towards humanoids, and shuns civilisation. |
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| ==== Economy ==== | ==== Economy ==== |
| York's economy is reliant on its trade of refinery and export of materials. York's forests provide lumber, which is refined into timber and shipped throughout Albion. The attraction of working with heavy machinery drew throngs of Greasehearts willing to put their back into working with foundries, mills, and getting it all moved around and sold. York also shares close trade ties with Longuyon for its raw materials. Once prepared and packed onto a train or through Null, the products are exported primarily to Regum, Iwerddon, Myrddin, and back to Longuyon. | York's economy is reliant on its trade of refinery and export of materials. York's forests provide lumber, which is refined into timber and shipped throughout Albion. The attraction of working with heavy machinery drew throngs of Greasehearts willing to put their back into working with foundries, mills, and getting it all moved around and sold. York also shares close trade ties with Longuyon for its raw materials. Once prepared and packed onto a train or through Null, the products are exported primarily to Regum, Iwerddon, Myrddin, and back to Longuyon. |
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| The Boreal star of the Grey Sector is famous for hosting a handful of magic schools. They were built shortly after [[calendar/pa_0|PA 0]] as monuments to victory. Many Albionites flock to York for its magic tuition, and other magic-derived services such as divination, apothecary, and transmuting. Scores of casters meet twice-yearly in loose convention at Solstice and Equinox. In doing so, they the town a tourist and business attraction, becoming home to many jewellers and gemcutters((Spellcasters, Psions, and anyone in between are highly lucrative clients.)). However, this concentration of power also attracts attention from unwelcome influences, such as Weird Things, fiends, or malign spellcasters. | The Boreal star of the Grey Sector is famous for hosting a handful of magic schools. They were built shortly after [[calendar/pa_0|PA 0]] as monuments to victory. Many Albionites flock to York for its magic tuition, and other magic-derived services such as divination, apothecary, and transmuting. Scores of casters meet twice-yearly in loose convention at Solstice and Equinox. In doing so, they the town a tourist and business attraction, becoming home to many jewellers and gemcutters((Spellcasters, Psions, and anyone in between are highly lucrative clients.)). However, this concentration of power also attracts attention from unwelcome influences, such as [[/weird_things]], fiends, or malign spellcasters. |
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| === Common Occupations === | === Common Occupations === |
| |**Service Spellcaster**|Magic|Sells magic spells as a service, and other magic-related items to the public.|AC50000.00 to AC100000.00|Requires good connections and magery.| | |**Service Spellcaster**|Magic|Sells magic spells as a service, and other magic-related items to the public.|AC50000.00 to AC100000.00|Requires good connections and magery.| |
| |**Wilderness Ranger**|Civic|Patrols the taiga for pest species, monitors the state of the wilderness, and scouts for bandits.|AC43000.00 to AC75000.00|Hazardous. Arctic survival skills desired.| | |**Wilderness Ranger**|Civic|Patrols the taiga for pest species, monitors the state of the wilderness, and scouts for bandits.|AC43000.00 to AC75000.00|Hazardous. Arctic survival skills desired.| |
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| | | {{:location:york_viewingobnull.png|}}\\ A far-off view of York from the north-east shore of Nalbin looking inland, capturing a nuclear halo event on [[planet/albion/null|Orbital Object Null]] in the distance.\\ //Art by [[user/osaka]]// | |
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| ==== Aesthetics ==== | ==== Aesthetics ==== |
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| === Creating the Dome === | === Creating the Dome === |
| Viewed from above, these buildings often look like a series of circles and other interlocking shapes, designed to keep the biting wind and rain of the tundra out, and create a controlled environment. Viewed from the side, most of the dome is covered with transparent [[material:hellenium]], while the very cap, any points which support load, and are opaque. Underneath this dome, artificial weather creates semi-temperate conditions, and better soil. Heat is recycled from industrial processes, in addition to providing power. The exterior domes sport solar panels, alongside fusion power for York's city-state. | Viewed from above, these buildings often look like a series of circles and other interlocking shapes, designed to keep the biting wind and rain of the tundra out, and create a controlled environment. Viewed from the side, most of the dome is covered with transparent [[material:hellenium]], while the very cap, any points which support load, and edges near the walls are opaque. Underneath this dome, artificial weather creates semi-temperate conditions, and better soil. Heat is recycled from industrial processes, in addition to providing power. The exterior domes sport solar panels, alongside fusion power for York's city-state. |
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| === Under the Dome === | === Under the Dome === |
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| ===== Provinces ===== | ===== Provinces ===== |
| | :!: Map pending! | | | {{:location:york_map.png|}} | |
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| York is divided into three major provinces, and a surrounding wilderness. Running through York is the **River Unestam**, dividing Valley run and Richard's Lake from Mt. Cranth. Each province of York contains (at minimum) a school, a supermarket, a police station, a fire station, a hospital, a community centre, and the infrastructure and opportunities to find employment. Notably, each providence of York hosts a university of spellcasting tuition: **Greyvander Academy** in Valley Run, **Horrigan University** in Richard's Lake, and **Ulminster College** in Mt. Cranth. | York is divided into three major provinces, and a surrounding wilderness. Running through York is the **River Unestam**, dividing Valley run and Richard's Lake from Mt. Cranth. Each province of York contains (at minimum) a school, a supermarket, a police station, a fire station, a hospital, a community centre, and the infrastructure and opportunities to find employment. Notably, each providence of York hosts a university of spellcasting tuition: **Greyvander Academy** in Valley Run, **Horrigan University** in Richard's Lake, and **Ulminster College** in Mt. Cranth. |
| * **Horrigan University** - Founded by a pact of warlocks who aided York for mutual survival, the castle-like grounds of Horrigan University stretch around the mountain. | * **Horrigan University** - Founded by a pact of warlocks who aided York for mutual survival, the castle-like grounds of Horrigan University stretch around the mountain. |
| * **Football Team:** Horrigan Harriers (Blue and White, Lancers, "Cry havoc! Loose the Harriers! Rah rah rah!") | * **Football Team:** Horrigan Harriers (Blue and White, Lancers, "Cry havoc! Loose the Harriers! Rah rah rah!") |
| * The academic centre on campus is the **Library of Others**, a building containing volumes on Weird Things, entities, patrons, and other denizens - friendly or otherwise. | * The academic centre on campus is the **Library of Others**, a building containing volumes on [[/weird_things]], entities, patrons, and other denizens - friendly or otherwise. |
| * In an effort to attract scholars and cultivate contemporary sciences, Horrigan hosts a bustling **Biology Dome** for cultivating and studying exotic flora and fauna. | * In an effort to attract scholars and cultivate contemporary sciences, Horrigan hosts a bustling **Biology Dome** for cultivating and studying exotic flora and fauna. |
| * **Packer's Row** - Stretching north is the pan-like valley of Packer's Row, built atop stony outcroppings and occasionally reinforced with steel. | * **Packer's Row** - Stretching north is the pan-like valley of Packer's Row, built atop stony outcroppings and occasionally reinforced with steel. |