WORLD JUMP #1 INFORMATION: EL MINHA

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players el minha -- the red desert. El Minha is a city settled within the Red Desert, an impossibly massive and arid environment. It is a walled city, surrounded by overwhelmingly tall light-stoned walls and ferociously guarded by the Royal Crown Guard, who are stationed at every entrance. They allow in members of the Circle without much fanfare or bullying, used to tourists and the like, but they will be watching you while you are here. Weapons are not to be used within the city limits and the usage of magic, while not uncommon, is frowned upon if used maliciously or to cause trouble. To make a long story short? Mind your manners, and the Crown Guard won’t kick your ass into the Red Desert, because they are watching, and it wouldn’t take much to convince them. The residents within the city of El Minha are a hardy people, and the city is a sprawling metropolis in an otherwise desolated world. It’s a massive city with an equally massive tented marketplace that sells everything. You can find spices, jewelry, weaponry (swords, bows, and the like), armor, fancy board games, exotic fruits -- you can find it all in El Minha. Here, water is gold. El Minha is full of folks willing to make some coin, but everybody needs water. If you have water on your person, you can likely trade it for what you want, if you have enough. Haggling is the name of the game and the shopkeeps within the marketplaces are willing to argue to the last breath for their wares. They’re not here to play nice to the tourists, but they are here to make trades. The city itself is highly populated, stone walls stretching up stories at a time with sandy streets and fabric hanging between the structures and over alleyways. In the center of the city is the large tented marketplace that feels almost like a city in and of itself. There are always people wandering the streets, no matter the time of day, state of affairs, or weather. THE NATIVES As mentioned before, the natives of El Minha are hearty. They are well-acquainted with what it takes to survive, and are - you could say - experts in it. Droughts, plagues, wars, tyrants, and general bad luck have all bared down on these walls and the people have continued on. They are also all well acquainted with living in a bustling metropolis. They are used to seeing all sorts of tourists move through, to the point they could even seem unimpressed with even the most foreign of faces. That isn’t to say they aren’t friendly - they are salespeople, if nothing else. As it is with most cities, they vary greatly and widely in terms of status, personality, size, and demeanor. THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE The Royal Palace: El Minha is ruled by King Kathashun. He, should you ask the residents, seems to be a benevolent ruler. However, there is definitely a clear line between the rich and the poor in the city, and the poorer residents of El Minha hold some amount of bitterness toward their wealthy ruler. King Kathashun is young, no more than twenty-three, and seems to have recently ascended to the throne. His father was a tyrant, and King Kathashun is seen as a “brighter future” for El Minha . . . but he has definitely taken something of a hardline (like calling for the heads of certain criminals) against the Black Market in El Minha, which has garnered him some bitterness from the underbelly. The Syndicate: The Syndicate is the crime network that also maintained a heavy resistance network against the prior King. There are plenty of rumors that the Syndicate is the one who led the prior King to his grave, and King Kathashun has declared a war on the Syndicate. The Syndicate’s mantra seems to be “give to the poor, steal from the rich” type of group, with nothing extraordinarily malicious. However, they do have blood on their hands . . . certain nobles winding up dead from poison in their food, disappearing from their homes with no evidence of a struggle, that type of thing. It is impossible to get any one of the Syndicate to even admit knowledge of plans of such a thing, but the understanding and support is widely spread. They also run the local casino, which is a massive gold earner for the city, and gives them a stronger hold on politics and the economy than the Palace would like to admit. AREAS OF INTEREST The Golden Phoenix: The casino, run by the Syndicate, which is full of slot machines, card games, and weird lizard races! You can bet on any of these things, but the Golden Phoenix only takes coin. No water here! And no Royal Crown Guard either - anything that goes down here is up to the patrons to figure it out, and if it really gets out of hand, you may find a few dark-clothed individuals stepping in and removing anyone and everyone involved. The Royal Palace: King Kathashun has opened the gates to the Circle and the general public to explore the grounds, but not the inside of his home. Anyone who attempts to go inside the palace will be, respectfully, told to fuck off. The Fighting Ring: Citizens of El Minha fight it out to settle the scores! It’s sort of like a spoken fight club -- you can go and pay to watch people fight, or you can enter the ring yourself! Do you dare to challenge the Champion of El Minha? Or would you rather watch? No magic is allowed within the Fighting Ring, but there’s also nothing saying what happens if you cheat. The Grand Market: Step right up, step right up! You can peruse the massive market for anything you like! Spices, jewelry, weapons -- whatever you like, you can find it! There is a large variety, from cobbled together booths to grand, decorated carts, carrying all manner of items - both magical and non. But you’d better have some coin or some water, because these folks aren’t giving away anything for free. Also keep an eye out for pickpockets -- those little kids following you around definitely aren’t tailing you because they’re curious. They want your coin. The Sparkling Sapphire: King Kathashun has provided the members of the Circle with some free lodging that isn’t great, but definitely isn’t too shabby! You also get some free hookah that makes you ridiculously hungry and some weird liquor that makes your mouth numb, if you choose to drink it. The food, though, is spectacularly on point. The rooms in the Sparkling Sapphire are clean but plain, with either one or two beds. Food is served in the tavern on the first floor at breakfast and dinner, included in the room. Alcohol and snacks at any other time come with a small fee. MOD NOTE As this is our first world jump, we wanted to make sure everyone is aware of one things - this is your world to explore. Ask questions, get involved. We as mods are giving you a setting and a political landscape to play with as you'd like! What happens here in El Minha is entirely based on your character's involvement. Will they try and help the crown? The underbelly of the city? The general people out trying to make a buck? There will be NPCs to interact with, little background plots to get mixed up in, and a walled city to explore. Ask questions! Pull one of us aside for some cool plotting! Figure out what you want to do and how you want to do it, and go. Reminder: the log for this first world jump will be posted Friday, May 11th at 12 AM EST. This post is purely for plotting, and there's a place below for questions! Otherwise, feel free to leave a plotting comment below! Find some other Circle Members to explore with! Astoria is very excited for you to enjoy your first World Jump~ ♥

Comments

MOD QUESTIONS

[acatamods]

[mytearsaremine]

Quick question here-- do people with non-human traits get noticed as such or are they mostly overlooked?

[acatamods]

El Minha is a hub within a fairly diverse world, so non-human traits are mostly overlooked! While the natives are mostly humanoid, the people in El Minha are super diverse and it's a massive merchant city. A huge group of people like the Circle showing up is a non-event -- they want to sell you their wares, and casting outsiders out would prevent from doing that!

[sunborne]

SO DAYLIGHT IS INTERESTED IN THE FIGHTING RING AND WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN IT. What are the rules/unspoken rules for how one conducts themselves be it stepping into the ring or placing a bet?

And, of course, who is the Champion of El Minha? What are they like and what's spoken about them in and out of the ring?

[acatamods]

The rules of the fighting ring are fairly simple. If you wish to fight, your name is put on a list. Most days work on a relatively tournament-style schedule. If there is an opponent who has enough willpower to continue to fight through the regular cast of fighters and members of the ring, you might chance the possibility of meeting the Champion. There is something of a casual tone to these fights - if the Champion decides they want to enter early, they could. If they would rather watch, the list to get through could feel endless. It all depends on the participants performance in the ring.

As for placing bets, there are a fair amount of people present to take your money if you'd like to place a bet on any of the fighters! House versus opponent. It's up to you to chase down your winnings, but if asked, you will not be cheated of your coin. The last thing anyone needs is a fight breaking out of the ring.

There is not too much spoken about the Champion outside of the ring. They have a reputation of being the best fighter, the smartest and strongest of the lot, with honor and wit to match. However, who they are and what they are varies depending on who you pull aside. Tall tales run wild through El Minha, but from what you can gather - they came from nothing, they return to a life no one knows much of, and they are known far and wide as The Champion. There is a particular care taken to keeping the Champion's name and identity a secret, but unless you face them in the ring, too many questions could attract some unwanted attention from the more shadowed of folk.

[bulletbiter]

I'm still a bit groggy so I apologize if this has been answered somewhere, but - will powers be nerfed in this world?

[acatamods]

Canon powers are nerfed, yes! But you will retain the powers you've been given as being a part of the circle.

[rootandbranch]

Can Circle members with flight powers go beyond the walls? How far/what's out there?

[acatamods]

It is desert, as far and wide as the eye can see. Hundreds and hundreds of miles in every direction.

If a Circle member with flight would like to explore, it will take quite a bit of time and effort out in the hot sun and unforgiving heat, but there might be more to discover. With that chance of discovery, however, comes a heightened list of consequences as well.

[a_sharp_wit]

A few things out of curiosity mainly.

I assume all written text is translated for them much the same as their watches, yes?

Any idea what the local fashions may be like? Elizabeth isn't exactly one for following new trends but she might think dressing somewhat like the locals would make them more apt to confide in her.

[acatamods]

And yes, Astoria's influence while everyone is in El Minha is still present, so everything is still translated and understood by everyone in the Circle, and Circle members will have no issues communicating with anyone in El Minha.

The fashion is a bit of an amalgamation of a few different styles. As this is a merchant city, that is no stranger to strange tourists, it's possible to find a bit of anything around the city. In general, though, the natives dress in a fairly desert-fantasy style, with loose linens, patterned garments, layered clothing, etc. They will not look strangely on any type of style, especially because it means you're a tourist, and therefore more likely to spend a bit more coin than a native would on the local fashion.

[oohmami]

HELLO FRIENDS I have a few Qs for you!! And because I'm a little shit, I'll list 'em out for sake of ease:

1. Since Astoria is telling them about this trip before it happens, will she be preparing them with coin for trade or are they supposed to use whatever they had with them when they arrived at the temple?
2. Would she tell them it's a good idea to bring water or are they walking in a little blind?
3. How bad is the poverty divide here? Are there slum-type areas where Soma could potentially start a soup kitchen deal because he would definitely want to sample the local ingredients but also would be very unhappy to see hungry people on the streets :c

I think that's it!! For now, I will be obnoxious at you later if I think of anything else. Thank you!! ♥

[acatamods]

1. ) Astoria will be giving out a small bit of coin to each of the Circle Members that they will find on them once they arrive! It won't be nearly enough to live on for the span you are there, but it will be enough to make sure you don't immediately starve. Probably. ♥

2. ) She will not necessarily offer the information unprompted, but if asked she would warn that water will be valuable asset to have!

3. ) There is definitely a poverty divide. Back alleys and the edges of the city are where you'll find the poorer neighborhoods. These areas also have a definitive presence by The Syndicate, as the Guard is less likely to be able to keep a handle on the entire city. Setting up a soup kitchen is definitely an option! Just know that it will also probably attract some attention as well.

[look]

I hope you're ready for me to ask this every single time: What's the wildlife like? (I'm keeping Will's speak with animals power to the limits of the dnd spell, so I'm more interested in small beasts or birds than insects or fish, though the latter might be useful for food purposes.)

If there are animals, I may as well consolidate: for his actual chit-chat, Will would be interested in any gossip (do animals have gossip? maybe pets?), animals who would know a good source of water, and maybe any animals who have been inside the palace.

Unrelated to animals, the little pickpocket kids — are they open to being bought some food by a well meaning adult? Will would be interested in helping them though he's hoping more for an Aladdin street rat situation than an Oliver Twist gang.

[acatamods]

The wildlife in El Minha is about what you'd expect from a highly populated urban area- some birds, an arrangement of rodents, and some domesticated cat-like animals. Outside of the walls will be a different story, depending on how far Will is willing to explore and travel for the sake of talking to them!

Depending on the animals Will finds, there is definitely a change for gossip. However, most animals that have been inside the palace will remain there - birds, cats, pets, etc. There's a good chance he can get a few details about the layout of what the palace looks like from birds who have flown over it, but it will be extraordinarily difficult to find out any information of what's going on in the palace. However, given a fair amount of effort, it is possible for Will to track down a rodent, snake, or something else that may have been inside. That, on top of tracking down animals that may have spent some time in the city - the most that Will will be able to find out will be that something big is going to happen. The whole city feels on the verge of it. The ruled before was bad, very bad, and the one now is young. New. But it's a human thing, isn't it? To be worked up over something so silly.

They are! And they will certainly appreciate it! Depending on the level of trust gained (which will take some patience, as little pickpockets are used to playing tourists for money and food for little in return, and will be suspicious if questioned), there are possible ways to get both information and help from said street rats.

[flyingsolos]

Hello! When world-hopping, does everyone arrive together in somewhat of a massive huddle, or are they kind of generally scattered but still in the same vicinity?

[acatamods]

A bit of column A, a bit of column B! If you were with someone, you likely arrived with them! But Astoria will do her best to ensure you all stuck together, at least initially.
Clusters of Circle members will arrive near the front gate of El Minha . . . sort of. Some of you might wind up in a nearby sand dune until the Guard fishes you out. Sorry about that!

[buff_for_a_nerd]

Got a couple of questions! Are there any magical/supernatural type creatures/beings here? Sam will be attempting to dig into old records and books for the local lore, but also if any actually currently exist I feel like he would end up finding them one way or another.

Also, generally speaking how much trouble would he possibly get into for asking some questions about the people that have been killed lately? Maybe something like asking relatives/servants who worked with them about what they were doing prior to their untimely end?

[acatamods]

Hi! The population of El Minha is extraordinarily diverse, as it's a merchant city! So there are some magicians, mages, sorcerers, and the like wandering about using magic in their day-to-day lives! Some of the denizens of El Minha have horns, some have tails, and some look just like regular humans! It's a pretty diverse environment, and while non-human folk may get a glance or two, they really won't be bothered otherwise.

As for supernatural creatures -- the type that Sam would hunt -- there aren't a lot of things like that.

If Sam digs into the local lore and specific magical stuff, there is quite a bit on the Royal Family, and what El Minha calls the "blessing of the Phoenix and the powers of old" -- a powerful magical rite that only the Royal Family can wield. It's sort of how they picked the first thing a long ass time ago and that's kind of how they've done it ever since! Kathashun may be a good resource for Sam, if he's curious to learn more about it. ;)

[punshots]

Question about items that can be found in the marketplace! Would Prompto be able to find some batteries that would be compatible with his camera, powered by magic or otherwise?

[acatamods]

Yes he would! They may be a little on the expensive side, but with some odd jobs completed and a few extra errands run, Prompto can definitely afford it!

[thetenthstorm]

About The Sparkling Sapphire --

Do they have water available? I'm curious to just how well they're actually being treated you know because suspicious individuals

[purrtagonist]

Question about our little pickpocket friends! That I probably should have asked earlier-- What kinds of reactions would Akira get from them if he were to do a bit of pickpocketing himself on their turn, but donate all stolen proceeds to their cause instead of keeping them himself?

[tranquilforest]

Hello mods! A few questions now that we're a little further in:

1) How likely is it that the common people in the Syndicate-controlled parts of town would have information about the King and/or the overall political situation?
2) Food was mentioned, but would medical care of some kind also be welcomed by the poorer folk living in those portions of the city (albeit with the same level of scrutiny from Syndicate members)?
3) Where would be the best place to obtain information about the King and the overall history of the monarchy without asking the King himself?

Thanks very much!

[theminotaur]

a million years later, i have questions!

is the gold currency like gold doubloons/coins? if so, must it be the gold coins themselves for currency or could a chunk of gold work as well, would abigail find that sellers accept gold regardless of the appearance?