OOC Info Abura Development Thread

[Liminal]

So, a lot of you have expressed interest in helping me create locations and their associated NPCs, for which I thank you! This thread is for your submissions along those lines. Most of the details that follow were shamelessly stolen from the Syliras development thread that Nightmare created, because I like these questions.

Locations With the increasing desire to help out around the city, it has been decided to create a place where a player can submit locations. The rules for creating a location are simple. All locations submitted this way must be available to all players. Locations intended to be supervised by moderators need to be cleared by the DS. Locations typically will include NPCs which will be approved or denied separately. Locations must fit within the theme of Abura as described in the lore. The location cannot be used to create large sweeping changes to the dynamics in the city without permission. Code: Select all [frame2=#000000][color=#FFFFFF] [center][size=200][webfont=Gemerald]Location name[/webfont][/size][/center] [center][img]Location main image[/img][/center] [indent] The main body of the location. This should include where it is at, what it looks like inside and out. Who works or owns the location as applicable. Typical set ups vary. [size=120][b]Price List and NPCs[/b][/size] [tabset=300][tab=Price List,black,#FFFFFF]Notes here [b]Product table name here[/b] [table]Name | Price Product 1 | # GM [/table] [/tab] [tab=NPC 1,black,#FFFFFF][img2=left]NPC avatar here[/img2][b]Name:[/b] [b]Race:[/b] [b]DoB:[/b] [b]PoB:[/b] [b]Title:[/b] [b]Skills:[/b] [b]Additional Info:[/b] NPC description here[/tab][/tabset] [spoiler=Moderation Note]Moderated by all Storytellers of Abura. Feel free to self-moderate! [i]Location credits to [b]Your Name[/b][/i][/spoiler][/indent][/color][/frame2]

[Ssezzkero]

The Armarria Chambers

One of the first things one will see when plunging into the depths of the grotto is the Armarria Chambers. Built into the rocks that serve as a base for the aerial sections of the city, the Armarria is the largest and one of the most interesting living accommodations in Abura. Since the apartments are carved into the pale rock of the island, it is easy to display some of the amazing architectural art that Abura is known for. Like the rest of the city, there is no order or reason to the beauty. Some apartments are carved to resemble seashells and painted in extravagant colors to resemble their models. Others poke out of the rock in massive and complex arches, painted with complex optical illusions that seem to glimmer and move in the sea water.

The sizes of each apartment varies wildly, and different living quarters can be built at any time. Unlike other living quarters in Abura, the Armarria Chambers serve both as temporary and permanent housing for both Akvatari and sea-dwelling folk alike. Although temporary housing is available, for daily pricing as well as seasonal, it is encouraged to purchase your own quarters.

The interior of the Armarria Chambers is rather interesting in a city filled with artistic culture. The walls of a new apartment are almost always completely and utterly blank. In every other way, the high ceilings and minimal furniture cater to the Akvatari's flight and mobility as well as each individual's comfort, the lack of interior design seems odd. But this is another way that Armarria is unique, the bare white walls are simply nothing more than a canvas. Any Akvatari that enjoys painting, drawing or carving will find this opportunity to personalize their own hope absolutely delightful. Because sculpting and carving contributes greatly to interior design the walls are thick and curved to allow a tenant to augment the dimensions of each room. Although changing the layout of the apartment is impossible, and outlined as so upon purchase. However it is not uncommon to find a impression of a God or animal in an otherwise flat wall.

Although it is true that not all Akvatari are skilled in the physical and three dimensional arts, so the option to receive a blank apartment is left open upon purchase. If an Akvatari is fond of the work done by a previous owner, they may opt to keep it, if not, the walls will be scrubbed and painted. Reimancy assists in filling any carvings that have been made to the interior of the dwelling to return the chambers to a blank canvas for the next tenant.

Aside from the jumble of architecture that creates the exterior, and the interesting opportunity to decorate your own dwelling, the Armarria Chambers are known for another thing. Nearly four hundred years ago, when the establishment was first founded as a small inn, the original proprietor, Armarria, needed a way to secure air inside for the customers. Underwater life is not an issue for Akvatari because of the amount of time that they can hold their breathe, however, one cannot sleep underwater if they must wake every six hours for air. And so a solutions was quickly found. Enlisting the help of a powerful mage, Armarria created shields for all of the openings of each chamber. Any way for the salt water to leak in was effectively sealed off, allowing the inside of the establishment to be air, with no threat of water, no matter if a door or window has been left over or not.

Generations and generations have passed until the establishment came under the care of Leridel. Ever since the shields were placed, each owner was given the responsibility of learning the magic well enough to maintain the most important aspect of the Armarria Chambers, and Leridel has not taken such a duty lightly, especially since the Chambers have easily expanded tenfold since its opening.

 

NPCs

Name: Leridel
Race: Akvatari
DoB: Winter, 462AV
PoB: Abura
Title: Proprietor of the Armarria Chambers
Skills: Shielding (75), Leadership (60), Architecture (50), Reimancy (40), Sculpting (40)
Concept: Leridel is the eleventh owner of the Armarria Establishment, and for which she is very proud. Under the friendly Akvatari's care the establishment has gained an unparalleled reputation in good business. Although the maintenance of the shields has always been the owner's duty, Leridel has taken it upon herself to personally oversea the upkeep of each and every property. Maintains shields and attending to the cleanliness of the halls and exteriors helps her pass the time and improves the worth of the establishment. She can be approached at anytime for just about anything and will try to help. If she can't solve your problem, she'll definitely find someone who can.
Other: As an active owner of such a large business, she prefers to handle purchases herself, and can be found easily around the properties, touching up shields and keeping up conversation with multiple tenants.

Name: Eunuae
Race: Konti
DoB: Summer, 467AV
PoB: Mura
Title: Assistant to Leridel, Head Maid at the Armarria Chambers
Skills: Organization (65), Leadership (55), Teaching (40), Shielding (35)
Concept: Hailing from Mura, Eunae was not always named so. Although she had given up her previous name to adopt the Akvatari culture, she does not take such a name lightly, and therefore tells no one of it. Having attempted to train in Healing, for which the Konti are famous for, Eunuae found that it was not her calling. Unsure exactly of what her purpose in life was, she set off, ready to travel and find her purpose. Although some may think her resolution to remain in Abura working closely alongside Leridel, was not a great destiny or worthy calling, the Konti is quite content. She rarely ventures to the Aerial sections of the city, finding peace under the water and with the Akvatri.
Other: Although she is titled as head-maid, Eunuae does not often do actual maid work. She takes over the management of the maids in the establishment and assists Leridel in anything else she may need.

 

Housing and Maid Services

Housing
Housing with in the Armarria Chambers is free. Because the location tends to cater visiting non-Akvatari, all visitors and residents are encouraged to check in and out of their rooms with Leridel, so she can keep record of her establishment.

Houses vary from simple to elaborate with very rare luxurious sweets. They almost never include kitchens and are usually spacious on the inside. Feel free to make up the dimensions of your own living quarters.
Maid Services:
Although the apartments are free, the maid services are not included. If one plans to only stay for a season or less, the maids will come every tenth day to clean, and is an extra 1 sm for simple rooms and 2 sm for elaborate and luxurious rooms.

Maid services for more permanent residents can be purchased in bulk. It is 4 gm/season for every simple room and 6 gm/season for every elaborate room. The maids will come every tenth day to clean.

 

About The Shields

The shields placed on the Armarria Chambers are not very well known among the residents. They are obviously aware that there is a magic placed on each room to keep the inside from being filled with salt water, but the nature of the shields are not common knowledge.

Hundreds of years ago, each opening of each room had been coated with thick djed shields that block saltwater. The original owner, Armarria, used the help of a Konti mage to create these shields and has since passed this knowledge of how to create and maintain these shields to the consecutive owners. Although shielding is not a very secretive magic, Leridel and Eunae do not offer lessons. On occasion a shield does falter, and can quickly be put back up and the room cleaned up.

Each shield is virtually identical and hundreds of years old. Instead of blocking djed or light, each shield blocks salt water and specifically that. Everything else but salt water can pass through the shields with no issue, except salt water. Thus, the inside of each room behaves as if it was above water. Currents may carry through an open window, except instead of carrying saltwater it will continue through the shield using the air in the room which can imitate a draft that may come in through an opening door or window above shore. Its also no unheard of to see a fish fly through ones window, however they can be easily thrown back out, most underwater life is well aware of the dangers of nearing the Armarria Chambers by now. Each shield is constantly maintained by Leridel and Eunae.

Credit to Sezkero

[Liminal]

Sezkero - I really like this!

I have a few questions/comments, to wit:

1) Would the Akvatari actually charge money for renting/purchasing a room? In the Inner City, there are so many rooms available in the various towers and spires that anyone can just take possession of a vacant one. I can certainly see wanting someone to do recordkeeping and so forth, so that everyone knows who lives in which place, and the maid service could certainly come in handy, but I don't know about charging for the space. But what do you think?

2) Speaking of the maid service, it's probably the case that most of the actual maids wouldn't be Akvatari, since they don't have much interest in being employed doing manual labor.

3) It's probably worth noting that this would be the spot where most of the half-aks would live, since they can't fly.

4) I really like this one ^_^

[Ssezzkero]

Awesome! If you don't think there needs to be charge for the rooms, then that is cool, I can take it out. I wasn't quite sure if it was necessary anyway . I sort of figured that the Akvatari wouldn't want to do much work, which was why I made the head-maid a Konti, but again I was unsure. Maybe it could be a source of employment for visiting non-Akvatari?

Does that all sound okay?

[Liminal]

It sounds fine to me I'd take out the prices, and I think it would be an entirely reasonable place for any non-Akvatari who could navigate down there to work.

Combined with the thing about the half-Aks, that's about all I have. If you make those edits and post the results here, I can approve it and officially put it up! Thanks!

[Aventis]

CODE: SELECT ALL

Interpretive Greetings from Olsemn Interpretive Greetings from Olsemn is a somewhat peculiar shop, even considering Abura. It's a small building, painted to make it appear as if it were about to tumble over and fall on the spot, as the owner thought this would add a nice feel to the whole thing, though it has nothing to do with the actual services offered. Those services being interpretive greetings. Of course, this is facetious. Olsemn is known to say that, yes, these greetings are interpretive (meaning, in his words, that you may "interpret them as you please"), but really it's a way to make money insulting tourists or newcomers to the city that don't know much better. Olsemn's store is stationed near the docks and outside the inner city, and is accessible to those who travel by foot. The original conception of the store happened when Olsemn and his father were hovering about, and Olsemn was getting told once again how pointless his entire accidental existence was for the third time that day. This one was a bit different though, seeing as as his father was expressing his lack of talents. He said he wasn't even good at telling a stranger "hello" well. Of course there were other things listed, such as Olsemn's inability to breathe through his nostrils or wash his hair correctly once in a blue moon, but this hello comment set the Akvatari off. Once his father had said this, Olsemn turned around and yelled "Yeah, fine, whatever, dad! I'll show you!" and promptly founded this shop in autumn of 513 AV. Price List and NPCs   Price List Olsemn's assorted services Name Price Standard greeting(*1) 1 GM "Special" greeting(*2) 2 GM Special Happy Birthday Greeting(*3) 5 GM Oral obituary(*4) 1 GM Note: (*1) This is something usually along the lines of "Welcome to Abura, [apparent race here]. [Minor insult (Example: I don't like your hair)]. Thank you for your donation to Interpretive Greetings from Olsemn. Come again." (*2) Same as above, but Olsemn halfheartedly raises his hands when he welcomes you and puts some real effort into insulting you. (*3) Olsemn will get up from behind his desk, sing a "Happy Birthday" song while moving his arms in an offbeat rhythm, and then tell you approximately how much time you have left on this miserable rock until the sweet embrace of death, depending on your race. (*4) Olsemn will say "Today's deaths are my will to keep you in my shop. Thank you for your donation to Interpretive Greetings from Olsemn. Leave now. Come again."   Olsemn Name:Olsemn Race: Akvatari DoB: 472 AV PoB: Abura Title: Owner and Founder of Interpretive Greetings from Olsemn Skills: Socialization: 54 Observation: 60 Rhetoric: 59 Additional Info: Olsemn is the local nobody that owns and operates the Abura greeting store located at the docks. He seems to have nothing better to do than sit at his desk all day and wait to insult visitors and paying customers. Most who care enough to think about him blame his angst on daddy issues, but most don't care enough to think about him. His soul accomplishment of his forty years alive is this store. He does allow conversations with the paying customers, but it may not be the conversation you were hoping to have. Moderation Note : Moderated by all Storytellers of Abura. Feel free to self-moderate! Location credits to Aventis

[Philomena]

The House of Lives Lived Part museum, part birth registry, part archive, the House of Lives Lived is a difficult institution for foreigners to wrap their heads around. The building is one of the oldest in Abura, lying just to the west of the Spring. It is built of pale sandstone, a slender shaft that curves something like a scorpion’s tail, over a long open peristyle with a pool of the spring’s water. At the end, the pool pours into the beginning of the main canal of the city. The shaft itself is sealed with queerly constructed doors that seal the interior shaft from external humidity and sand. Inside, is the shaft itself - a cylindrical shaft going not only upwards to its tip, but also deep into the earth beneath. The edges of the shaft are lined with an unending spiral shelf, and on the shelf lies the boxes. AT the top of the shaft is a a winch with a basket, used for hauling things up and down the shaft. The boxes are the purpose of the entire archive. Every Akvatari born within the walls of Abura, stretching back even to the creation of the city in the aftermath of the Valterrian, has a box made for them, labelled with only their name and the date of their birth. The boxes themselves are simple - regular white-painted boxes (except for the very old boxes which are usually of bare wood), with a pane of glass for the front. It is the inside of the boxes that mark them as pure Akvatari. On birth, the parents or other interested adults will place some item of significance mounted onto the surface behind the glass - this can be anything from a sachet of the bare grass of the island from a hillock where the child was conceived to the feather of a bird who landed near the mother while she gave birth, or anything in between - the selection is as uniquely symbolic as the Akvatari who inspire them. Then, throughout the Akvatari’s life, they return periodically after events they deem significant, to add more contents to the box. Some of them can be quite ornate, others almost painfully stark, for the frequency of the additions is entirely at the discretion of the individual, but for two events - birth and death. AT death, a last item is brought, the death date is painted on the box, and it’s placed on the shelves again. At the tip of tower is an office, encased in glass. Here the geldscriers do their work. The geldscriers are a combination of artist, archivist and docent, not only constructing the boxes, but also frequently arranging the contents brought to be placed in them, organizing them, producing scholarship on them, and preserving those which become damaged or dirty. The chief geldscrier is Semiyr, or Mother Semiyr as she is more colloquially known, a witty, almost playful Akvatari of middle age, who has (by her own admission) greater skill in the artistic than the archival side of her work. She will protect the archives at almost any cost. NPCs   Semiyr Name: Semiyr Race: Akvatari DoB: Autumn 17, 465 PoB: The Spire of Red Lanterns, Abura, Akvatar Title: Geldscrier Skills: Carpentry - 20 Calligraphy - 45 Sculpting - 65 Research - 10 Additional Info: A bit chubby, and with a belly that bears the marks of several child-births, Semiyr’s just-silvering hair and heavy eyes give her an air of maternal comfort. Her wings are less like a butterfly’s than a moths, and tint across an array of grey, browns and creams. Kind and pleasant to talk to, Semiyr has an agile wit, and a finely tuned sense of humor, along with a deep affection for children, who tend to drift in and out of her home with great regularity. This is not to say that Semiyr does not bear the melancholy nature of her race, and her art explores themes of tragic irony, the nature of mortality, and estrangement from the Gods. Beginning life as a calligrapher, events in Semiyr’s past brought her into contact with the old geldscrier, from whom she learned her trade with a prodigious swiftness. The archives themselves are… idiosyncratic in the manner of their organization, under her command, but she cares for them with a zeal that can be startling to those who are more accustomed to her easy-going charm.   Belslea Name: Belslea Race: Akvatari DoB: Spring 43 17, 506 PoB: The Spire of Red Lanterns, Abura, Akvatar Title: Apprentice Geldscrier Skills: Singing - 20 Calligraphy - 8 Research - 5 Observation - 15 Additional Info: A child of almost comic solemnity, Belslea is the (very) young Geldscrier's apprentice at the House of Lives Lived. Belslea forgets the identity of her mother, and grew up mostly with her 'sister', Krindre the Leibsänger of the Spire of Red Lanterns. Krindre has a long relationship with Semiyr, and recommended the girl, on account of her observant, cautious nature. Belslea does not do the arranging, just yet, not being trained in the art of it yet, but is frequently sent on the retrievals and other errands - if one asks to see a particular box, it is likely Belslea who will seek it out in the shaft and retrieve it. Her reverence is still very personal - she reveres the records largely because she reveres the Geldscriers themselves, and they have given instruction to treat the boxes with great care. Belslea is still very much a child, if a solemn, quiet one. She has a tremendous curiosity about others, a deep love of stories, and a fondness for games of 'let's pretend'. Moderation Note : Moderated by all Storytellers of Abura. Feel free to self-moderate! Location credits to Philomena

[Philomena]

I made a few changes, cleaning up some bad code and adding a second NPC. Sorry for the mistakes first time around.

[Orin Fenix]

Songs, Strings, and Similar Things This airy shop is located at the very top of one of Abura’s more unusual towers. This is because the workshop attached to it needs easy access to the best light possible. However, indoor shutters exist such that is it entirely possible to shut the interior off completely. These shutters are waterproofed and specifically treated so that damp cannot seep through the wide windows that Akvatari can constantly be seen flitting in and out. A quarter of the domed and circular room is partitioned off, like a slice of pie, with one door leading into it. In there, Relendva keeps her woodworking station and the small forge she uses for her work. On occasion, she borrows supplies from other areas of Abura, for when she needs to make an instrument with parts she can’t handle herself in the space she has created. The rest of the room houses one of Abura’s most important businesses. Relendva’s musical instrument shop might be relatively new but it quickly caught the attention of the melancholic residents, who treasure the instruments she sells. While Relendva’s true expertise is in string instruments and she makes them herself, she can and often does make instruments from other families. And those she can’t make herself or doesn’t have the materials for, she orders from the traders who manage to come to Abura on a regular basis. Songs, Strings, and Similar Things is only accessible to those who can fly, although there is one balcony that permits chairs to land. Inside, there is no order at all. Instead, Relendva has her instruments on display in a rather haphazard manner. She places some on shelves, some on pegs, some behind screens and some in piles, but always in a safe way and one that is easily accessible to someone browsing the wares. This is because Relendva believes that visitors shouldn’t just be allowed to come to her and demand an instrument. If they are true practitioners of music, then they will take the time to find an instrument to call to them and fits their unique personality. This is because each one that Relendva crafts and purchases is so special in its own way. In fact, if asked, Relendva will sagely say that it is actually the instrument that chooses the player. Price List and NPCs   Price List In addition to the items below, Relendva will make personalized instruments and compositions upon request. Instruments and More Name Price Bagpipes 15 gm Bellows Organ 500 gm (upon request) Clappers 1 sm Drums, Buckle 2 gm Drums, Kettle 10 gm Drums, War 10 gm Fiddle 50 gm Flute, Metal 15 gm Flute, Wooden 5 gm Gamba 45 gm Harp 50 gm Gea’tar 80 gm Mandolin/Lute 55 gm Ocarina 3sm-15gm Rhythm Rattles 5 sm Trumpet 30 gm Music Book 4 gm Instrument Case, Simple 25% of instrument cost Instrument Case, Good 50% of instrument cost Instrument Case, Excellent 75% of instrument cost   Relendva Name: Relendva Race: Akvatari DoB: 26th of Spring, 493 AV PoB: Abura Title: Songstress and Instrument Maker Skills: Woodworking 66 Blacksmithing 43 Metalsmithing 39 Music Composition 58 Singing 35 Copying 28 Leatherworking 55 Etching 43 Carving 51 Musical Instrument: Harp 40 Musical Instrument: Lute 32 Musical Instrument: Fiddle 37 Painting 28 Additional Info: Relendva might be young to own such an important business in Abura, but she makes up for it with sheer dedication and skill. While she is at best a middling musician, she discovered early on that her true talents lie in the field of instrument making. And while she cannot always play instruments with the best, she discovered that she had a knack for creating the soulful tunes that Akvatari are so fond of. She was born with the pale lavender wings and tail that are her namesake. It is a soft, unassuming color, and one that she herself doesn’t think much of, since she would have much preferred either the darker more drab colors of her parents or the bright, vibrant hues of some of her compatriots. Still, most who see her would agree that it is a soothing color. Mostly, she keeps her hair in a bun to keep it out of her eyes. She hate when it gets tangled with whatever complicated item she happens to be working with. At first, this was the instruments that she played through most of her childhood and still picks up today. However, she quickly realized that unlike her peers, she was often able to repair the damage done to both her's and other’s instruments. While Akvatari are usually extremely careful with the mediums and objects they use to create their art, wear and tear always happens and strings sometimes snap for no apparent reason. She found her passion in this new line of work and apprenticed herself to the best instrument makers in the city. However, unlike them, who specialized in just one type of instrument, she found herself unwilling to compromise and so strived to master all the various arts necessary. And, for the most part, she has succeeded. When she finally felt comfortable enough, she opened up her own shop, with a workshop attached, and soon word spread about her creations. For Relendva, each instrument is a work of art and she gives it the care and attention she feels it deserves. So much so that she sometimes misses the entrance of customers when she’s not in the main room of the shop. In fact, she can lose herself hours at a time making sure a harp is carved just so or the bell on a trumpet is shaped to perfection. And while she’s not the bes businesswoman, she has a knack for matching instrument to person and making sure her children, as she sees them, find the best home. Moderation Note : Moderated by all Storytellers of Abura. Feel free to self-moderate! Location credits to Orin Fenix