-◙- LOCATIONS -◙- [UNDER CONSTRUCTION!]
{ Pulled from your life, by a force unknown and seemingly squeezed through the fabric of space and time itself, you lose consciousness only to wake from it on a hard stone ground. Shivering in the cold, you realize that you're naked, laying on worn gray stones, an odd light making your shadow seem alive. Blinking your squinting eyes, you raise up and look around at a city, only not one you're familiar with. It looks old and new at the same time, worn. Both dead and alive. To your left, from the direction of what seems to be a temple where two figures in white are coming towards you. A noise draws your attention forward. Marching is heard coming towards you and you see what seems to be five soldiers, their guns at the ready and trained on you. Slowly you get to your feet, mind whirling with possible explanations... }
Welcome to Veles, city of the Gate. Located in and on top of the former city of Minsk, in Belarusian SSR. The year is 1952, to those who arrive sometimes it's the future or sometime far in the past. The details of how it came to be are, at the same time, miraculous and frightening.
In order to drive out the Nazi's who were occupying in WWII, Russia and the United States tested a new technology here (at least that's the OFFICIAL story). The results were catastrophic and involved the whole world. Suffice it to say, very few normal people survived. Those who did, tried to rebuild the civilization that was lost to them, around a curious side effect of the new technology. It provided power, a new burgeoning religion and... visitors to help with the progress.
◙ Veles is composed of four districts, all centered and powered by the Flux-Gate at the center of the city. It's rather shaped like a pie, the districts in wedges, spanning out in a circle from the city center or "Victory Square".
Map Legend is in this LINK HERE.
♦ "Victory Square" , is at the city center, built around the Gate. The Gate is 'protected' by a tall fence, with one entrance opening to the south. To the west of the Gate is the Temple of Veles , it's doors facing east, towards the Gate, the temple courtyard built around it. It is the home of the new and growing religion of the city. The followers worship the Gate itself, for it sustains the settlement and life there. It has it's own clergy and 'monks' who tend to the Gate and it's visitors; and they also are responsible for the upkeep of the Plaza surrounding both the Gate and the temple. Worshipers and the own Temple guards are around the gate, twenty-four hours a day, worshiping and paying homage. The Plaza is a simple one, but to keep the citizens happy, it has some of the few flowers that will grow, all planted around a reflecting pool. It should be mentioned it is an offense punishable by death at the hands of the faithful to pick the flowers or pollute the pool. The temple itself has three parts. The sanctuary, where the faithful worship the deities of the Gate, in the back the residences of the Priests and Monks, small, sparse cells where they bed down and meditate on the Gate. The third part is the home of the "Temple Virgins". The only ones allowed to enter the fence and get in close contact with the gate. They are sons, daughters and young followers who were pure before being given or joining the temple. One can "commune" with these "virgins" to draw closer to the deity of the gate... for a donation to the temple of course...
♦Branching in the northward direction is the residential district, District One. All residents are housed in this district. The 'better' side of District One is to the east. This is where the scientists, officials (religious and secular) and politicians are housed in more elaborately built town homes and sometimes even single family dwellings. To the west are where the 'common' folk live. The better housing is to the front, apartments, built mostly uniform but some of them renovated from existing buildings. It is in the center of this side that the Gaters are housed. Their housing consists of two (at the moment) buildings. In a state of renovation and disrepair, "Niflheim" and "Midgard" are rather dingy and hastily put together. Former tenements, it is all the city would spare towards the Gaters who are revered and reviled at the same time. Past the home of the arrivals, is the 'bad' side of District One. Not renovated yet and still in the midst of clean up, shady dealings, illegal activities and dangerous persons are known to 'hang out' there. The military tries to keep tabs and conducts raids into the area often, but the dealings and activities never stop for long.
Tenements, District 1
♦To the west, is District Two, the commercial district. Shops, two restaurants and gathering places (such as bars) are all located in this side of the city. The better, cleaner shops, the 'nicer' restaurant and the better bars (where the bartenders actually clean the glass, instead of just wiping them) are located closer to the city center. At the rear of the district are the seeder versions of the mentioned. Dark, dingy bars in ramshackle buildings, a 'diner' where you're taking your life in your hands to eat the food (mystery meat rules there) and shops where you can almost buy anything... for a price.
♦Southward, is District Three, the political and military presence in the city. A combination of stragglers from various European armies, even a few from North America combine, along with the mostly Slavic and Russian army to make up the fighting force of Veles . Since this is essentially a socialist military state, most of the official leaders of the city are former or current military persons. The supreme leader (read dictator) makes announcements, moving among the people (at least in the 'better' areas). The real power however resides in the Counsel of Six who are unknown and unseen to the general populace. It is they who give the 'President' his edicts and announcements, writing them and keeping everything in line. No one knows of them except the most elite of the elite. They are shrouded in mystery even to those who know of them, only known to be the six original finders of the Flux-Gate and the founders of the current city of Veles . They prefer to rule from behind their puppet, keeping their anonymity. Located inside the military community are the barracks for the low level soldiers, military offices and their own commissary, the military run hospital (the only one), the 'state building' (located in the middle of the district) where trials and official meetings are held. The office of the 'supreme leader' is also here. A training area for the soldiers is to the rear of the district, with a firing range. The last major building there, is the prison. Located or rather built onto the outside wall, it houses some 50 inmates currently, with room for 100 more. There is a gallows in the front yard where public hangings are performed, a warning to those who think about breaking the law.
♦Lastly, to the east, is District Four, the science and agricultural district. The two are intertwined now, as scientists seek a way to bring back crops and various livestock from virtual extinction. Utilizing old technology and some dropped from the all-powerful Flux-gate, several breeds of animals and plants have been successfully bred and grown to feed the city. Two kinds of cattle, a breed of poultry, as well a breed of sheep and pig have been bred successfully. Crop wise, potatoes, oats, barley and rye make up the best and hardiest. Fledgling crops of sugar beets, tomatoes, radishes, carrots and cabbage are grown but available sparsely. Programs to grow other fruits and vegetables are always going on behind the doors of the science division. Another purpose of the science district is a study of the gate and it's 'visitors'. Various experiments and research going on behind closed doors, try to answer some of the burning questions left by the Gate and the oddities of some of it's visitors.
♦Around the city is the wall. Designed to keep 'undesirables' out and to keep people in, for their own protection. Sentries walk the wall twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, armed with gun along with two rather large guns, mounted on the wall at each of the cities two entrances. The one to the south and the one to the east. Outside the walls is a barren wasteland. A frozen tundra that leads into a frozen desert, where few things survive and grow naturally. No communication with other cities, if there are any, is possible. As far as the people of Veles know, they are the last humans alive on earth.
Welcome to Veles, city of the Gate. Located in and on top of the former city of Minsk, in Belarusian SSR. The year is 1952, to those who arrive sometimes it's the future or sometime far in the past. The details of how it came to be are, at the same time, miraculous and frightening.
In order to drive out the Nazi's who were occupying in WWII, Russia and the United States tested a new technology here (at least that's the OFFICIAL story). The results were catastrophic and involved the whole world. Suffice it to say, very few normal people survived. Those who did, tried to rebuild the civilization that was lost to them, around a curious side effect of the new technology. It provided power, a new burgeoning religion and... visitors to help with the progress.
◙ Veles is composed of four districts, all centered and powered by the Flux-Gate at the center of the city. It's rather shaped like a pie, the districts in wedges, spanning out in a circle from the city center or "Victory Square".
Map Legend is in this LINK HERE.
♦ "Victory Square" , is at the city center, built around the Gate. The Gate is 'protected' by a tall fence, with one entrance opening to the south. To the west of the Gate is the Temple of Veles , it's doors facing east, towards the Gate, the temple courtyard built around it. It is the home of the new and growing religion of the city. The followers worship the Gate itself, for it sustains the settlement and life there. It has it's own clergy and 'monks' who tend to the Gate and it's visitors; and they also are responsible for the upkeep of the Plaza surrounding both the Gate and the temple. Worshipers and the own Temple guards are around the gate, twenty-four hours a day, worshiping and paying homage. The Plaza is a simple one, but to keep the citizens happy, it has some of the few flowers that will grow, all planted around a reflecting pool. It should be mentioned it is an offense punishable by death at the hands of the faithful to pick the flowers or pollute the pool. The temple itself has three parts. The sanctuary, where the faithful worship the deities of the Gate, in the back the residences of the Priests and Monks, small, sparse cells where they bed down and meditate on the Gate. The third part is the home of the "Temple Virgins". The only ones allowed to enter the fence and get in close contact with the gate. They are sons, daughters and young followers who were pure before being given or joining the temple. One can "commune" with these "virgins" to draw closer to the deity of the gate... for a donation to the temple of course...
♦Branching in the northward direction is the residential district, District One. All residents are housed in this district. The 'better' side of District One is to the east. This is where the scientists, officials (religious and secular) and politicians are housed in more elaborately built town homes and sometimes even single family dwellings. To the west are where the 'common' folk live. The better housing is to the front, apartments, built mostly uniform but some of them renovated from existing buildings. It is in the center of this side that the Gaters are housed. Their housing consists of two (at the moment) buildings. In a state of renovation and disrepair, "Niflheim" and "Midgard" are rather dingy and hastily put together. Former tenements, it is all the city would spare towards the Gaters who are revered and reviled at the same time. Past the home of the arrivals, is the 'bad' side of District One. Not renovated yet and still in the midst of clean up, shady dealings, illegal activities and dangerous persons are known to 'hang out' there. The military tries to keep tabs and conducts raids into the area often, but the dealings and activities never stop for long.
Tenements, District 1
♦To the west, is District Two, the commercial district. Shops, two restaurants and gathering places (such as bars) are all located in this side of the city. The better, cleaner shops, the 'nicer' restaurant and the better bars (where the bartenders actually clean the glass, instead of just wiping them) are located closer to the city center. At the rear of the district are the seeder versions of the mentioned. Dark, dingy bars in ramshackle buildings, a 'diner' where you're taking your life in your hands to eat the food (mystery meat rules there) and shops where you can almost buy anything... for a price.
♦Southward, is District Three, the political and military presence in the city. A combination of stragglers from various European armies, even a few from North America combine, along with the mostly Slavic and Russian army to make up the fighting force of Veles . Since this is essentially a socialist military state, most of the official leaders of the city are former or current military persons. The supreme leader (read dictator) makes announcements, moving among the people (at least in the 'better' areas). The real power however resides in the Counsel of Six who are unknown and unseen to the general populace. It is they who give the 'President' his edicts and announcements, writing them and keeping everything in line. No one knows of them except the most elite of the elite. They are shrouded in mystery even to those who know of them, only known to be the six original finders of the Flux-Gate and the founders of the current city of Veles . They prefer to rule from behind their puppet, keeping their anonymity. Located inside the military community are the barracks for the low level soldiers, military offices and their own commissary, the military run hospital (the only one), the 'state building' (located in the middle of the district) where trials and official meetings are held. The office of the 'supreme leader' is also here. A training area for the soldiers is to the rear of the district, with a firing range. The last major building there, is the prison. Located or rather built onto the outside wall, it houses some 50 inmates currently, with room for 100 more. There is a gallows in the front yard where public hangings are performed, a warning to those who think about breaking the law.
♦Lastly, to the east, is District Four, the science and agricultural district. The two are intertwined now, as scientists seek a way to bring back crops and various livestock from virtual extinction. Utilizing old technology and some dropped from the all-powerful Flux-gate, several breeds of animals and plants have been successfully bred and grown to feed the city. Two kinds of cattle, a breed of poultry, as well a breed of sheep and pig have been bred successfully. Crop wise, potatoes, oats, barley and rye make up the best and hardiest. Fledgling crops of sugar beets, tomatoes, radishes, carrots and cabbage are grown but available sparsely. Programs to grow other fruits and vegetables are always going on behind the doors of the science division. Another purpose of the science district is a study of the gate and it's 'visitors'. Various experiments and research going on behind closed doors, try to answer some of the burning questions left by the Gate and the oddities of some of it's visitors.
♦Around the city is the wall. Designed to keep 'undesirables' out and to keep people in, for their own protection. Sentries walk the wall twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, armed with gun along with two rather large guns, mounted on the wall at each of the cities two entrances. The one to the south and the one to the east. Outside the walls is a barren wasteland. A frozen tundra that leads into a frozen desert, where few things survive and grow naturally. No communication with other cities, if there are any, is possible. As far as the people of Veles know, they are the last humans alive on earth.