http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/5368/riverside.png
Thanks to Darklord Bright.
Riverside, a small, modern city outside the reach of Remnant control. The city has always been known by one defining factor, it's status as a hive of scum and villainy. A number of factions vie for footholds in the city, though they are largely peaceful at the moment. No doubt some would jump at the opportunity to expand their influence. Being the hive and scum and villainy that it is, the police are corrupt, the streets can be dangerous, and shady deals and dark alleys are plenty. Welcome to Riverside.
Northside:Quote:
Current Events:
- A flying castle thing is hovering ominously over the center of the city.
- The weather is consistently cloudy and dismal.
SpoilerNorthside, the richer part of Riverside. If you have money then you can get just about anything in Northside. That is if you know the right people. There is something odd about this part of Riverside though. Hardly a beggar or street urchin to be seen. In fact for a place of scum and villainy this place is too clean. Northside is the one that wears the best mask in Riverside. The best at covering up deaths and drug deals. The best at making everyone think that there is nothing wrong because everybody pays their protectors and rulers of Northside with what they ask for. This is Northside. A rich mask that hides the dirty city for what it is.
Eastside:
SpoilerComing Soon
Westside:
SpoilerWestside, where vampires walk openly on the street. Mostly because said vampires govern this part of the city. The city has been cloaked in a field of eternal night allowing the vampires to walk freely. Furthermore, each mortal citizen is required to donate blood to sustain the vampires. In exchange, the streets are kept clean, for the most part. Of course, the cover of darkness does attract criminals as well as less beneficent creatures of the night.
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Factions:
Spoiler
- The Followers of Scaal: Northside
SpoilerThe followers of Scaal are spoken of in hushed tones. When a black robed figure goes by people stop talking and give him the space he needs. These are the followers of Scaal. Not much is known about them besides they possess great magic, they protect this part of the city and its inhabitants for the right price, and rumors have it that Scaal is some sort of god or demon perhaps.
Played by ApeofLight.- Tenebras: Westside
SpoilerThe vampires of Riverside came to the Nexus from the city of Gul-Thadar, a city where vampires and humans live in harmony. They took up the role of governing Westside after the city's leadership collapsed. Humans and vampires alike fill their ranks. They aren't above unsavory methods or shady deals, but they keep a good public face.
((All vampire NPCs associated with Tenebras should be assumed to be controlled by Gulaghar unless otherwise stated.))
Played by Gulaghar.- The River Court: Eastside
SpoilerFounded and led by Genesis, the Queen of Rings, the River Court is dedicated to the improvement of their city, by means of the strange powers their fair folk Queen provides. It extends its blessings to all, but maintains a somewhat more selective inner circle of the Queen's favorites, each of whom has their own royal title.
Played by Vael.- The Sacred Order of Cunningham: Citywide
SpoilerPurpose: Religious order who runs an orphanage in West Riverside and the Red Zone of Inside. Their Inside presence is much smaller than their presence in Riverside
Alignment: "Compassion! Courtesy! Let's be really **** polite to everyone!"
Locations: Riverside Cathedral of the Sacred Order of Cunningham (Westside)
Sacred Order of Cunningham Westside Children's Home
Sacred Order of Cunningham Inside Children's Home
Inside Temple of the Sacred Order of Cunningham
The Sisters and Elders of the Sacred Order of Cunningham have a perspective based religion with a hodge-podge of beliefs pulled from science fiction and popular culture. They are not a celibate order, and in fact strongly promote marriage and sex (in that order) with the goal of having large families.
All of their abilities are based on their faith, which means their symbols, holy water, etc are completely mundane if there is no one of the Order there to believe in it. Their 'do bad stuff to evil people' or 'do good stuff to good people' powers are completely based on their perspective. It's possible they could 'Turn Undead' a living creature who they believed was undead or 'Smite Evil' a good person that they believed to be evil, and their healing magic will generally not harm anyone that they are trying to help*. They are unable to raise the dead.
Except for the orphans and their caretakers, the members of the Order do not live in one location. Families have their own homes, and go to the Cathedral for holy services or group events. You know, sort of like people treat their RL churches.
Because it is a subjective religion, vampires and other undead can enter holy grounds if the vampire in questions believes they can and believes their motives to be pure.
(*within godmodding rules, of course)
Played by happyturtle.
Places Within:
SpoilerNorthside
- Moth Park:
SpoilerAbout 100 acres, the moth park is approximately rectangular in shape, with a bandshell/performance stage at the north end, a soccer (football) field and softball diamond at the south and a forested area in the center.
It also holds two playgrounds (swing sets, slides, monkey bars) several fountains (most of which are nonfunctional) various statues and a network of walking paths.
Since the re-opening, Moth park is pretty popular with the local residents as well as those who come into the area to work or visit.- Police Station: ApeofLight and Gulaghar
SpoilerThe police station is a large but simple brick building. All police activity is based out of this building. It's outfitted with interrogation rooms, a few offices, and other rooms that a police station would have.- Riverside Hospital:
SpoilerThis hospital is the only one currently in Riverside. It was built after the old hospital burned down some years ago. As a result, it's of fairly modern design. It works just like a normal, modern hospital would with the exception of magic being used along normal medical procedures to achieve better results.- Sawyer's Inn:
SpoilerThe inside of Sawyer's is beautiful, though humble. Whoever keeps the place, keeps it in fine condition.
The dark wooden floors are waxed and shiny. There are four wooden pillars that reach up to the ceiling. The four walls are painted in a brick red, with light grey accents.
Along the left wall there is a large hearth fire burning, with a dog and cat sleeping together. The dog raises it's head slightly to observe the newcomers, but doesn't rush to sniff them out.
Along the right wall is the customer service area, with a dining hall just past it. The smell of freshly baked bread and some kind of meat can be smelled eminating from beyond.
And then there is the back wall. There is a set of stairs leading up and another leading down. Both sets are made of the same wood as the pillars and floor.- Temple of Dalachrech: Earl of Purple
SpoilerThis building closely resembles all the other semi-detached houses along this road. The temple takes up both halves of the house, however; although the building has been designed such that the halves don't match to maintain the illusion of seperate owners. It has a red tile roof and is constructed from red brick, although the left half has been painted white. There's a pair of garages and two front doors, both of which work.
The temple is a private location. Please PM Earl of Purple before visiting.
Eastside
- Fallow’s Furry & Feathered Friends: Earl of Purple
SpoilerThe shop is lit up with bright lights and neon advertising. Around the store is a secure, electrified fence and there's four watch towers in the corners. The gate is near a large, secure-looking building within which are three ogre guards. Inside lie four warehouses, a large collection of aquariums and gigantic tanks, a squat and ugly toilet block and three seperate bunkers for customers to evacuate into should something more dangerous escape, such as a smilodon from the Mammal House, a wyvern from the Reptile House, a giant carnivorous slug from the Invertebrate House or something worse. Patrolling the wide, open spaces are the occasional group of six uniformed humans armed with net-guns. Slaves can be bought here if one asks the right questions.- Golden Flagon Tavern:
SpoilerThe Golden Flagon Tavern was once the main hideout of the local mafia. It was destroyed, but recently it has been fully restored. It still tends to attract the unsavory sort, but the owner keeps things civil.
The tavern is very old fashioned. It's a stone building with polished, wooden supports. A fire always warms it's large hearth and the drinks always good. It makes for a comfortable atmosphere.- Light's Heart: Shadowcaller
SpoilerThe citadel rises up like something taken from a sci-fi movie. The walls are golden colored, untainted by age and dirt. Like something that was just build just recently.
Five towers have been built into the wall, standing no less then 40 feet tall, looking like they have been cut out from the same stone.
Above the towers rises the citadel itself, completely square in form and made of the same golden stone it have numerous arrow slits carved out at the upper floors.
Leading around it's form is a wooden staircase going from the top of the citadel to the courtyard below.The only visible entrance is the massive gate made of obsidian colored wood which stands wide open, inviting anyone inside.- Wellspring Tower: Vael
SpoilerThe Walls: Made of thick glass and capped with walkways of stone, the walls and their five, short, twisted square towers are arranged in a perfect pentagon. Each wall has its own gate, which leads to one of the blue paths in the courtyard.
Courtyard: The blue paths of the courtyard and the river form spiraling patterns that focus on the tower itself, and are edged with statues, fountains, and pools. From the courtyard, one can admire the strange design of the tower, a massive spire of twisting stone and glass that appears as a tree without leaves; further, one can listen to the tower's song, created by the flowing of water and air through the hollowed tubing on the tower.
Library: Rather than books the library stores a vast array of unusual objects, from art pieces to weapons to plants. Each of these objects has a history, and many of them were created by Genesis. The library is kept by Sigrun, the lorekeeper, and it can usually be found on the lower floors of the tower.
Armory: Usually positioned nearby the library, the armory is a relatively small but well guarded room in which most currently unusued weapons are stored and also kept ready for combat. Hilda the handler is in charge of the armory.
Throne Room: Near the top of the tower is the throne room, a circular room with five levels, at the top of which is the throne of Genesis. It is only used for the most formal events. Ragna the scribe can always be found at the right hand of the throne when it is being used.
Basement: Though easily seen from the lower floor of the tower, it is apparently inaccessible, the only opening to it cut off with magic and a curtain of water. Whatever is inside, it glows strangely.
Westside
- Club Pulse:
SpoilerThe club is quite easily noticed by the huge neon sign outside, Pulse was easily recognized as Riversides largest nightclub. Beyond the line and the bouncer outside is a classic club layout with a large dance floor with loud music and flashing lights.
In a slightly more calm area of the club is the bar run by an one-eyed bartender called Ryo.
There are two stairs leading up to the upper floor where it's easier to talk and drink.
The atmosphere is pretty heavy as you walk inside with techno music playing very loud.- Evolution Industries: Darkcomet
SpoilerThe Westside branch of EI. The main building is a fairly nondescript, tall (not a skyscraper or anything, but still with several floors) modern one, with a large Evolution Industries logo on it.- Exbourne Manor: Gulaghar
SpoilerExbourne manor is rather old, though kept in excellent condition since it was restored when Tenebras moved in. The rooms are large and spacious, and most of the public areas have been painted in bright pastels and decorated with vases of flowers.
The ground floor largely consists of the lofty entrance hall, a comfortable living room, and the kitchen. Ramiro's office is also on the ground floor for easy access. The second and third floor have mostly bedrooms and attached washrooms. The basement serves as rooms for the servants primarily. In a separate part of the basement is a large vault as well as an Evolution Industries Class 2 MACE Unit which provides the building with electricity. Finally, the attic contains whatever it is that creates the darkness field within Westside.
The manor is surrounded by a courtyard. An iron fence surrounds it, and a number of trees provide privacy along the sides and behind the building. The courtyard is grassy and has a cobblestone trail leading to the front door. Behind the manor is a private garden. The courtyard's gate is almost always left open.- MagMart: Lord Magtok
SpoilerIf the individual entering has any sort of familiarity with the other MagMart, back when it was its own building apart from Mallside, they'll probably notice that this Riverside one doesn't look anywhere near as glamorous as its predecessor. It's a modest purple brick building, the glass display windows aren't even properly bulletproof, and the smelly homeless people usually employed to wander around about the front of the store in a wacky MagMascot costume with an enormous cyborg head are mysteriously absent.
That said, you can still find just about everything here that you can at the Mallside store. Curtains to carpets, macaroni to monkeys on motorcycles, groceries to zombies garlic. The staff is always happy to help (or else), and if you aren't entirely satisfied with your shopping experience, you can pay a small fee to watch the MagMart employee of your choosing get fired out the MagMart complimentary employee morale cannon. Except in this store, the 'morale cannon' is really more of a morale bazooka, and while it's still fun to watch, it's nowhere near as charming.- The Cathedral of the Sacred Order of Cunningham: happyturtle
SpoilerThe Westside Cathedral is large enough to house people for emergency purposes, but in general, only the family of the pastor and the groundskeeper live there.
Pastor Rockwell is the Pastor
Sister Janice is the Pastor's wife, and a skilled hippiemancer.
History: by Lex-kat
SpoilerLong, long ago, Riverside was a simple fishing village.
It was able to blossom into a city once trade begun, because of it's placement not only on the river, but between most of the other small villages within this area of the Nexus.
Of course, this means that the Merchants were able to take over the government of the city. But other than that, it remained quite peaceful.
Very few other cities attack Riverside, and it would remain neutral in conflicts. Though, due to the few that did try to attack it, the citizens of Riverside did develop a small military force. For protection purposes only, of course.
For years, Riverside grew in power, yet never exerted it over any of the other villages. That is, until a man named Johnny Duluth came to power.
At first, the people loved him. He was fair and just. And soon, he brought even more prosperity to Riverside.
Then a change. A small force of unknown marauders besieged the city. Mayor Johnny declared a state of emergency, reorganized the military, and with the help of some of his aides, transformed them into a offensive unit.
After a long 4 month battle, Riverside won a decisive victory. But they didn't stop there. Mayor Johnny declared that a nearby village was responsible for the attack.
He personally led the military and crushed the village with no resistance.
Some Merchants balked at this, and tried to warn the citizens of the dangers of allowing Mayor Johnny to take this power.
They were all silenced, one way or the other. Bought off, murdered, or their families kidnapped and held hostage.
By the time the residents realized what was happening, it was too late. They found themselves over run by the same marauders that they had "defeated" before.
Soon, the city was run by a Mafia-dictatorship, and Johnny Duluth was it's mayor.
What the citizens didn't know, was that Johnny Duluth was just a puppet. There was another man pulling his strings.
Ezekial Von Hookes, a prominent member of the Merchant class had employed Johnny for just this. He even arranged for his own daughter, Patricia, to be kidnapped, tortured, and finally returned to him a gibbering mess.
Mayor Johnny ruled Riverside for thirty years, before dying of a sudden heart attack at the age of 78.
A kinder, gentler man took his place, returning Riverside to a peaceful, defensive center of commerce it was before Johnny Duluth took over.
The citizens were happy. But deep within the dark corners, and under the city foundations, the Mafia still ruled. Ezekial passed his hidden empire to his son-in-law, Cameron.
Cameron and Patricia (yes that Patricia) had a son, Frederick Von Hookes. Cameron raised his son to be his successor. Slowly the citizens of Riverside became aware, yet intentionally ignorant, of the criminals that were truly in charge.
People would disappear, and the police did nothing. There were rumors of daughters from surrounding villages being kidnapped and sold to wealthy men, or held under the bar for the local prostitution ring.
By the time Frederick "retired", and Jonah took over, everyone in the city knew that the city was run by a mostly hidden group of men, maybe some women.
When Reinholdt came to town, and murdered Johan, and set the prostitutes free, business came to a screeching halt.
The Green Flagon Bar, where Johan ran his business out of, shut down for repairs. But has only just recently reopened.
There is rumors that Frederick has returned. ASnd people are afraid. Where Johan was cunning, Frederick was brutal.
++++++++++++++++++
The police are owned by the Mafia. Unless you wish to die, you turn a blind eye to any crime you see.
For the most part, the citizens are protected. Only those who try to reform or change the current system find themselves on the wrong end of the "law".
Otherwise, the victims are from the more rural villages surrounding Riverside.
The Mafia has dealings with people in other large cities, including the Empire run Inside. Though most of those are in deep hiding since the Empire took over.
More recently, SAINT, the Assassins guild has sprung up in the cities underworld. Since there has been no fighting between the guild and the Mafia, it is assumed that they have a peaceful agreement with each other.
Of course, in the most recent happenings, the Golden Flagon has been shot up recently when a human female and some blue girl came asking questions.
Soon after they disappeared, an earthquake struck the twon, felling many buildings. A strange man named Riv is reported to have been to blame. How that can be, the citizens do not know.
They are currently rebuilding.
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