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LOCATIONS
LOCATIONS
The village itself is quiet. Surrounded by greenery and only a handful of buildings, one might think that this place lacks quite a bit. The mountains can be seen in the distance, and a peaceful river runs through the entire valley flowing past every location. Dirt paths lead in all directions, but luckily it's easy enough to find the wooden arrow signs that point you in the right direction.
VILLAGE
Main Meeting Hall - At the eastern edge of the village next to the largest sakura tree, there sits a longhouse with a wrap-around porch, glowing by the light of several lanterns. Should anyone venture inside, they'll find a number of long benches set up against the walls. At the head of the building are two chairs, a sun and a moon carved into the back of each. The area in the center is wide open, allowing plenty of space to move around and while decor is lacking, hanging from the walls are several scrolls of interest. There's also a large scroll above the two chairs in the back depicting some useful information. Finally, on a small table in between the two chairs, there sits a handful of pencils, scraps of paper, and a black metal voting box that cannot be removed.
Flower Garden & Koi Pond - Not far from the meeting hall there's a brightly colored flower garden. Flowers of all kinds can be found here growing on bushes and in patches around the area, always in bloom and ready to be admired. At the center of the garden is a koi pond, home to several fish and water lilies. There are even stone benches throughout the area to let visitors sit and admire the beauty around them.
Farmlands - In the western portion of the village away from the buildings, farmlands spread for several acres. A bright red barn sits at the edge of the property and holds all of the tools one could need including shovels, rakes, and even a tractor. Horses and cows can be found roaming the area, and a chicken coop can be found just to the left of the barn. Orchards of various fruit trees can also be found here along with rows of vegetables. You may have to do some digging to find what you really want though.
Hot Springs - To the south of the village just past the buildings is a long winding path, the dirt leveling out into smooth stone and leading you right to a natural hot spring. Clusters of stone separate the water into small pools and create natural ledges and alcoves. With waters that are crystal clear and always the perfect temperature, this is the perfect place to relax after a long day.
Amphitheater - It's hard to miss the amphitheater to the north of the village, a circular outdoor stage surrounded by several rows of seating. Though the stage is covered it's entirely visible no matter where you happen to sit. This stone stage is the perfect place to put on a show, practice a routine or even give a speech. And strangely, it seems as though this has been designed to perfectly accommodate at no more than forty people. If you need some props or set pieces for your performance, perhaps a word with your hosts would be in order.
Armory & Training Hall - This enclosed arena is home to swords, shields, and other weaponry, serving as a place for visitors to practice their combat skills. There are also tools to care for each weapon, along with a small space purposefully designed for those who wish to practice hand-to-hand instead. In addition, there is a small book meant for visitors to sign out weapons they wish to take with them. Until a weapon is signed out, it cannot be taken from the armory.
Shrine - Walking under the tall archways will lead straight to a shrine gently encased by trees and alongside the river running through the village. Lanterns hang from the walls to light your way along the path to the front. At the head of the shrine rests an offering box along with a basin of water to purify yourself before paying your respects. When you look up, however, you'll also find a bell hanging above your head to ring and announce your arrival. Whether looking to give thanks or to ask for guidance (or just wandering in on accident), there's a feeling of serenity in this place the moment you enter.
Boutique - One of the smaller buildings in this village, this place is much bigger on the inside than it seems. Rows and rows of clothing hang from racks inside ranging in all colors, textures and sizes. Tools for creating and altering clothing such as needles, spools of thread, scissors, paper and colored pencils can be found in a cabinet toward the rear of the shop, just to the left of the shoe rack. Clothing for all occasions can be found here should one be determined enough to look, and it seems that whatever you pick is a perfect fit every time.
Library - Two stories tall, this building stands out simply due to its height. Books are perfectly shelved inside from floor to ceiling, some in better condition than others. On the lower floor visitors will find tomes of the fictional kind, generic tales or even fictional books they're familiar with. On the upper floor, however, resides a collection of nonfiction books including encyclopedias, self-help books, atlases and history books. Visitors are free to take as many books as they'd like at a time.
Kitchen - While you're more than welcome to farm for your own food, for those of you with less-than-stellar cooking skills the kitchen provides all that you could possibly want. Stocked with fresh food and the proper equipment to cook it, the kitchen is open at all hours of the day. While modern amenities may not be as abundant as fresh ingredients, they might suddenly appear in the corner of your eye once you think of them. Beverages of all kind can also be found in the cabinets. Please drink responsibly.
Houses - Placed in clusters around the village are 16 identical slant-roofed houses. Each house is meant to accommodate two people. Please see the rooming page for more detailed information.
FIRE
Following the paths to the north of the main village, wanderers will find themselves stumbling upon a desert terrain. Stretching for a few miles, the dusty, rocky area is home to geysers, small volcanos, and heat-dwellers such as reptiles, bugs and coyotes. The volcanos are testy, streams of lava running over boulders intermittently and steam vents appear beneath your feet as you explore the area. Tucked away in this region, however, is the largest volcano with a wide arched doorway carved into the front. Entering the room, one will find layers and platforms of stone, streams of lava and firepits available for your disposal to train with your new abilities. Try not to make the volcano explode though.
WATER
Heading to the south, wanderers will feel the salty breeze before they come upon a sandy beach. With the ocean gently lapping at the shore, this little slice of paradise is home to large waves and little tide pools. The water's just a little on the chilly side but clear enough to swim in and see the fish, sea turtles, and sharks below. On occasion the tide comes in, great waves drowning everything in their path but it never quite touches the path to the village. Standing on the beach is a towering stone and sand castle, the wooden drawbridge down and inviting visitors in. Inside, one will find rivers and tide pools flowing past floating platforms. An arena perfect for training your craft, the temperature inside the castle will increase or decrease with the tide.
EARTH
To the west, wanderers will notice that the pathway grows darker as the rocks overhead begin to close in. Forming pathways and overhangs, the dirt in this terrain is only second to the vines and moss hanging from the cliffs around you. Forest animals can be found in this region ranging from chipmunks to bears, and while they tend to stick to themselves some of them aren't as friendly with newcomers. At the heart of this region a monstrous cave can be found. Lit by torches that never seem to go out, rocks of all shapes and sizes are found here with crystals sprouting from floor and ceiling. Perfect for you those looking for a challenge, the cave opens up to multiple tunnels and the structure itself cannot be moved no matter how hard you fight.
AIR
The incline to the east rises higher and higher as you venture toward the mountains, walking upward and disappearing into the trees. The branches are steady beneath you and provide footholds to hoist yourself up with each step. These trees make for decent stepping stones to enter into the clouds where the air is fresh and a sharp wind blows continually. Looking back, it's easy to see the whole village from this angle but the flurry of leaves and mist may distract you. The rumble of thunder can be heard from this high, and as the trees cluster together and you approach the mountains you'll come across a flat ravine between two peaks. A perfect funnel for gusts of air, this arena is often shrouded in clouds and provides its fighters with the element of surprise.
WEEK ONE;
Stepping through the gateway, you’ll find yourself splashing through ankle-deep water as your feet sink into the plush, damp carpet. The only reprieve is the staircase at the end of the hallway, a short flight up to a door and another stairwell. The water remains below you as you climb and you only escape to dryer lands as you reach a set of double-doors that can be opened.
Leaving behind the flooded area, visitors enter a grand foyer surrounded by pillars, wooden railings & plush furniture. The marble flooring echos beneath your feet as you step forward and see a path to your right, and a grand staircase splitting off to the right and to the left. Around the corner an elevator can be found, but it will only take guests to the lower floors. There are several places to explore, so perhaps it’s best to see all of them.
The main floor is home to a few different doors, though some seem to be locked. Perhaps there's a trick to getting them to open if the strange scanning device near each is any indication. Behind two doors lay living quarters, a bit more comfortable than those found back at the village. Each suite is home to a bed, a bathroom, and lounging areas. One room includes a cozy lounge complete with a fireplace, while the other features a sitting room with couches and glass cases full of pottery and ancient artifacts. Neither room is very luxurious, but both are livable and comfortable, not to mention private. Further investigation of these rooms result in even more surprises. Behind one door lies a full kitchen, the sort of space one might find in a restaurant with tools and amenities more advance than the village including a walk-in freezer. Beyond the last door, the sound of clinking metal can be heard as you enter...a casino? Yes, a casino, with several tables for playing card games, three slot machines, and what appears to be a huge baccarat table. There’s also a full bar to the side containing several kinds of alcohol.
As you make your way upstairs to the next floor, a long hallway greets you fill with empty meeting rooms. Most of the doors lead to a dead end, but it’s the double-doors nearby that swing open. Inside lay dozens of hospital beds set up side by side, stripped of their bedding and metal frames beginning to rust. Looking past the beds, you may notice three doors are built into the wall at the back of the room. Despite its appearance, there are still no medical supplies to be found here. Two of the doors in the back are permanently closed, forcing you onward through the third into an operating room. Containing a storage supply room with a variety of chemicals and compounds, a medical exam room, rusted medical tools, and two test dummies, this place may assist with first aid training.
For those who choose to go down the elevator instead, an array of rooms can be found here as well. Visitors will find that a smaller door leads to a chapel, a room with only a few pews to meditate and pray should you wish. Uncomfortably close together, the narrow aisle is fairly short but abruptly stops at the head of the room. An ornate coffin rests on a platform, a lock on the side of it with a number pad attached. Anyone who lingers too long, however, will hear a faint knocking coming from the inside of the box.
Finally, on the very bottom floor only three doors may be opened. One leads to an even larger library than what can be found in the village, filled with books from floor to ceiling on two floors. There are even more resources available for any subject you wish to learn about, along with some fiction scattered through. The second door opens to another short hallway, but you might not linger for longer than necessary. Four square rooms can be found here, solitary confinement chambers equip with a bed, a sink, a toilet and a desk. Dingy and uncared for, these rooms are not meant for comfort in the slightest.
But all things must come to an end and at the very end of the hall two doors appear. No matter which door you enter a large, nonagon metal space greets you. It’s empty and unremarkable except for the tubes circling the room from fixed points near the ceiling. While this is the perfect space to gather groups of people or even practice with your abilities, the room is much warmer than the rest of this place. Straight across from the entrances a black swirling mass looms. Your gateway home awaits.