Location: City of Lost Angels – The Victorian West
Basic Information
- Name: City of Lost Angels
- Type of Location: City
- Region: South past the Bonelands
- Affiliation: Under the influence of the enigmatic Benefactor.
Description
- Visual Description: A city of stark contrasts, from the decaying grandeur of Victorian architecture in the center of the city, to the makeshift resilience of wild west individualism. The inner city gleams with opulence, while the lower city bears the marks of struggle and survival. While those with influence and power reside on large swaths of property, the more downtrodden folk deal with sparse wooden construction or even tin ramshackle huts. The southern rim is home to a rail station.
- Atmosphere: A place of mystery and duality, with the frontier-style buildings and wild west aesthetic blend with the upper echelon.
- Sounds and Smells: The central city is filled with the sounds of laughter and music from the House of Generosity, mixed with the subtle fragrance of perfumes and exotic spices. In contrast, the lower city carries the sounds of industry, the clatter of carriage wheels on cobblestones, and the occasional shout, overlaid with the smells of smoke, sweat, and fear. Rich notes of leather and dust permeate the entirety.
History
- Founding and Development: Once a thriving metropolis symbolizing the pinnacle of progress and unity.
- Notable Events: Its fracturing into the inner and outer city divisions, marked by the rise of the Benefactor.
- Legends and Lore: It is said that the Benefactor’s chandelier is a fascinating thing to behold. It is said to be the crown jewel of not only the House of Generosity’s ballroom, but the entirety of the city itself.
Inhabitants
- Demographics: A sharp divide between the affluent residents of the inner city and the hardy souls of the outer city.
- Culture and Society: The inner city is characterized by extravagant displays of wealth and power, while the lower city embodies resilience, adventure, and a certain lawlessness.
- Leadership and Factions: Dominated by the unseen Benefactor, whose influence permeates every aspect of city life. This is also the training and recruitment mecca for the Steelbacks. There are also rumors of a rebel group called the Umbra Vulpes.
Points of Interest
The House of Generosity
A magnificent structure in the inner city, hosting grand galas, feasts, and auctions for the elite, rumored to house a mysterious device central to the Benefactor’s power. Tall, five stories high, and constructed of black wood and tall stained glass windows. Gargoyles perch on the eaves, observing those below.
The Rail Station
Where the Steelbacks come in and out, with the only rail linking the city together with the Steel Fortress.
The Outer City
The heart of survival and grit, where people have adapted to the dangers of disappearances with hardiness and the safety of numbers.
The Silly Goose Saloon
A well-known saloon that provides the best live entertainment, cold drinks, warm company, and tables to lose your money or seize your fortune. While Derek handles the downstairs bar, providing a gruff ear and grub to its patrons, Claire runs the softer side of things upstairs. The owner and proprietor, Clark, is an actual goose.
The First Step
An orphanage that has traveling surveyors and guardians who seek out abandoned or lost children and give them a second chance at life.
Dangers and Defenses
- Enemies and Monsters: The city’s dangers are more human than monstrous, concealing charming daggers beneath rich cloaks of silk and frivolity.
- Traps and Hazards: Beyond physical dangers, the city is rife with social and political pitfalls, particularly for those challenging the status quo or delving too deep into its secrets.
- Defensive Measures: The residents of the lower city rely on community and vigilance for protection, while the inner city’s defenses are more subtle, involving guards, gated communities, and magical safeguards.
Economy and Resources
- Trade: The city thrives on trade between the classes, with the lower city providing labor and raw materials, and the inner city offering technological innovations and luxury goods.
- Resources: A mix of technological advancements, spirits and gambling, and people.
- Technological Artifacts: The city is the de-facto armory and technological research hub for the Steelbacks, relying on past technology and artifacts for inspiration, with the mysterious guiding hand of the Benefactor to shape and weaponize the people.
Adventures and Quests
- Plot Hooks: Investigating the disappearances, uncovering the nature of the mysterious device, or navigating the political intrigue of the House of Generosity.
- Challenges: Bridging the societal divide, confronting the Benefactor’s agents, or dealing with the moral dilemmas posed by the city’s duality.
- Rewards: Discovering ancient secrets, gaining powerful allies, or acquiring unique technological artifacts.
Roleplaying Tips
- Themes and Motifs: The wild west grit meshed with Victorian opulence.
- NPC Interaction: Characters should embody hardened people of the frontier, bandits, kindly folk, and rebels. For the inner city, the posh snobbish elite, blind to the trials of those they deem their lessers.
- Environmental Effects: Accents in twangs and drawls. Language that reflects the old age of saloons and the country. The dust is harsh and House of Generosity imposing.