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Post by Oscar Levine on Jan 14, 2012 16:42:18 GMT -5
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Post by Oscar Levine on Jan 14, 2012 17:07:46 GMT -5
Shangrila By the sea, in the deserted lands of Queensland, Australia, lies Shangrila; the White City, the Paradise, the City of Dreams. Cut off from the rest of the world by thick walls, no outsiders was ever meant to enter Shangrila.... nor leave. The famine and poverty of the outside world doesn't bother the Shangrilans, who lives uncomplicated lives served to them on a silver platter. It seems, however, that the winds of change can't be controlled by their sophisticated weather control system...
Hesperia
Hesperia is the northern district of Shangrila, and it’s the poorest district in the city. Even if the poverty of the Hesperians is incomparable to that of the Wasteland, or even some industrialized countries before the war, they’re considered to be the lowest class; only judged by income and influence. Most of the Hesperian inhabitants work as cleaners, construction or factory workers, and are sometimes hired by people from the higher districts for work around the household.
Since most businesses of Shangrila are inherited from family to family, most people born in the Hesperian district will live there all their lives; as will their children. This has created a strong community feeling amongst the inhabitants, and even a workers’ union that sometimes goes out in strike for fairer conditions.
Most families in Hesperia live in their own houses, with one or two floors, and most people also have their own garden if not shared with others. There are also quite a few apartment complexes. Of course, they have indoor plumbing, electricity all hours a day, and access to the local television network, as all other Shangrilans do, but they doesn’t dwell in the unnecessary luxury privileged to the higher classes.
Hesperia also have a small market district, and whilst not comparable with the shopping areas of Avalon or Eden, it is very popular among the Hesperians themselves. Here, they can also indulge in nightly pleasures to forget their hardship, and recreate in order to face another day as frowned upon by the wealthier people.
Avalon
Avalon is located to the north west of the city core, and is considered the business district of Shangrila. Most of the bigger companies have located their industries in this area, and here you can also find smaller business such as independent craftsmen or smaller companies with no connections to the larger industries in Shangrila.
The western parts of Avalon are inhabited by bankers, business managers, and people of occupations that are of higher influence than those living in Hesperia. In the better parts of Avalon you can also find artists, lawyers, and some managers that prefer to live close to their business, so it’s a rich neighbourhood with large houses, and a few apartments for rent that is located in tower blocks. It is still considered middle-class by Shangrilan standards, though.
Some Avalonians can afford to hire housekeeping services from Hesperia, creating a mindset of superiority even if the poorer people living in Avalon is still considered less worthy by people from Eden or Elysia. Due to the many kinds of different people from different backgrounds that inhabit Avalon, the community isn’t nearly as tight as that of Hesperia. Most Avalonians keep to their contacts in either Hesperia or Eden (depending in their class) when it comes to recreational interests. Avalon is all about business.
Eden
Eden is the core of Shangrila, located in the center of the luxurious resort. Eden has the most impressive architecture of the entire city, with tower blocks reaching high towards the sky: so high, that they can be seen from the outer ring wall. In Eden, it’s all about showing off: companies as well as rich people compete in building the highest or the most expensive blocks. The city core have huge architectural differences to Avalon and Hesperia; clearly marking the line between worthy and un-worthy.
Eden is inhabited by the intellectual expertise of Shangrila; lawyers with expertise in their field, high-ranked doctors, and famous scientists. The people of Eden deal with the logistic and scientific problems of Shangrila, and even a handful of the people living here might’ve grown up in Avalon, most of the inhabitants was born in this district and have stayed here. Few ever move in.
The shopping district of Eden has something to suit your every need; superb cuisine, jewellery, the latest fashion, food markets and electronics. It’s specifically designed so that the inhabitants of Eden, or Elysia, never have to visit the lower layers of the city if they need something: which, in fact, they also never do. Some people might actually frown upon those who visit Avalon or Hesperia if it’s not in business.
In Eden, you can also find the beautiful boardwalk; an exclusive walking lane by the sea, and a highly valued pleasure for the inhabitants. The boardwalk is a structure of piers, beautiful beaches and even tunnels leading out from shore and under the sea, offering a superb view of the marine life forms that lives in the wonderous barrier reef outside Shangrila.
Elysia
Elysia is the smallest district of Shangrila, located to the south of Eden and separated from the rest of the districts by walls. It’s the home of all the S.Ins, families, and some of their co-operatives. Into Elysia, no-one is ever born; only people of extreme influence, power and wealth (or in rare cases, by invitation) have access to Elysia, making Eden the official highest district of Shangrila.
Some businesses, only concerning those of importance, is located here, but for pleasures such as shopping or dining, the inhabitants of Elysia visits Eden instead. The tower blocks of Elysia are fewer than those of Eden, but no matter how much is spent on improvements, it seems like no other district can match the beauty of the houses and blocks built in Elysia. All the inhabitants of Elysia are owners of the biggest companies, earning more than they can spend, each day, every day.
However, even to the Elysians, some parts of the district seem to be cut off: anonymous buildings where few people come and go, and where no man can enter on a whim due to the incredibly high security. |
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Post by Oscar Levine on Jan 14, 2012 17:11:46 GMT -5
Shangrila’s weather control system After complicated and tiresome technical research and advancement, the Shangrilans learned in the early 2020’s not only to perceive the weather, but to control it with a combination of electrical pulses and newly developed chemicals. This technology has guaranteed the survival of Shangrila, making it self-sufficient on crops and meat. Loyal expertise work hard with creating the perfect balance between successful agriculture and a tropical resort, without any caring of the consequences this might have on the surrounding lands. |
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Post by Oscar Levine on Jan 14, 2012 17:19:08 GMT -5
The Wasteland The unforgiving, abandoned lands outside Shangrila’s walls, where once cities stood and plants grew. All that has long since passed; the kangaroos and mice of the Wasteland live of dried vegetation and shrubberies, hunted by Dingos for food. Travelling caravans and wanderers should be on the lookout; these are desperate times, and the nomad people of the Wasteland aren’t as privileged as the townsfolk of Fata Morgana, Occham's Razor or Old Ripa...
Fata Morgana
By outsiders maliciously nicknamed “Fat Morgan”, Fata Morgana is the biggest city in the Wasteland and thus also considered the capital by its inhabitants. Fata Morgana lies by the shore, a two week journey by foot from Shangrila’s outer ring wall, making the White City only a myth seen by almost none. Most of the people that live in Fata Morgana are fishermen, but a technical advancement in turning sea-water into fresh water with solar power has made a small-scale agriculture with corn and root crop possible.
The houses of Fata Morgana are mostly built by bricks and steel, which offers protection from the colder winter winds from the sea, but turns into burning ovens in summer heat. The odor from fish carcass and drain, evoked in the sun, is considered characteristic for the populous town. Some households have restricted access to electricity, which sometimes makes the use of refrigerators or stoves possible.
Fata Morgana is run by a small party, that’s elected by popular vote on the election that’s held once every three years. The current government, which has been sitting for almost ten years, has successfully revolutionized the market by introducing a currency based on the old Australian dollar. However, this has led to lesser trading probabilities with outside cities that are still based on the old barter-exchange system, and the problem of classes has started to arise inside the city walls.
The voices of communists, conservatives, and religious fanatics have awoken in Fata Morgana; looking to introduce other ways or old ways if they win next year’s election. And if not… well, violence can solve everything, can it not?
Occham’s Razor
Lying just a little bit further south of Fata Morgana, Occham’s Razor was founded by religious fanatics believing Judgement Day was passed upon mankind when the war begun. This left a few righteous ones remaining to rebuild the society and repopulate the earth; now the inhabitants of Occham’s Razor, or “the Razors” as they are also called. The mayor is the totalitarian ruler of the small town, and is also considered to be the main priest.
When not involved in religious readings or meetings, the citizens of Occham’s Razor makes a living out of fishing and herding. The houses are created from old fabric, scrap metal and plastic from a nearby dump, which has also been providing the city with fuel for warmth and items for trading for several years. Fresh water is always a scarce commodity in Occham’s Razor, only privileged to the highest ranked priests and purest families, which is contra productive to their goal of repopulating since the city has the highest mortality rate in the Wasteland.
The inhabitants of Occham’s Razor keep to themselves, and they’re only almost friendly to merchants or caravans that pass though now and then. The surrounding world is not worthy of partaking in what has been bestowed upon the Razors; and maybe, these sinners that the devil forgot should be sent back to hell where they belong…
Old Ripa
Old Ripa is the smallest known town in the Wasteland; it’s only inhabited by a few hundred people, living under the harsh conditions it means being only two days walk to the west from Shangrila’s outer ring wall. The weather is heavily influenced by Shangrila’s weather control system; periods of extreme drought are followed up by flooding by the nearby dried out river. Thus, Old Ripa is heavily dependent on caravans and trading for supplies of crops.
Many of the houses are built of wood and left over building material of plastic or metal, on stocks, to prevent damage due to periods of heavy rain. Abandoned houses are demolished to provide better living conditions to those inhabitants that remain: the people of Old Ripa know that every resource count, no matter how insignificant it might be.
Old Ripa is based on a highly moral structure; they have no leader, and no written laws. Instead, the oldest inhabitants get together to discuss what’s to be done, and town meetings are called whenever the need arises. Even if the town slowly dies due to the leaving population, who seeks luck in Fata Morgana instead, the good mood is kept up by the few remaining.
Rumors say, however, that some of the people of Old Ripa have seen more of Shangrila than just the outer wall… |
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Post by Oscar Levine on Jan 14, 2012 17:19:27 GMT -5
What happened to the rest of the world? The answer is: no one knows. Australia haven’t had any contact with the outside world since the war begun in 2012, so the war might still be raging or the western world has turned into a nuclear wasteland. Rumors go that New Zealand might still be inhabited, but any tries to contact the islands has been unsuccessful.
Maybe there’s still people out there, living among the remains of human civilization, or maybe one country is standing; for the people of Australia, it remains a mystery. |
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