Baifa Monü Zhuan
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To add to the lore of Atrisia and bring a sci-fi staple forward
- Image Credit:
The Wellspring - Frozen
[*]Canon: N/A
[*]Links: [N/A
SETTING INFORMATION
- Landmark Name: Chitei kyōryū Terodon
- Classification: Geode
- Location: Atrisia
- Affiliation: Atrisian Commonwealth
- Size: Massive
- Population: Heavy
- Demographics: Atrisian
- Accessibility: Difficult to reach, being a massive geode under the surface of Atrisia there are small tubes that have been made and reach up to the surface in the forms of cave systems. Once inside it is fairly open with artificial lights that mimic the sun, flora and fauna and air. One can move around easily enough on carved walkways and through the crystals within that have water ways carved on the bottom.
- Description: Located deep within the earth and connected with geothermal tubes that were dug tens of thousands of years previously by Atrisian precursors. The underground world is considered an underworld in some of the myths, a massive forest of the dead but in truth it is a section of the world where time (in a relative term) stood still. Ancient Atrisian culture instead progressing and becoming more lavish without connection to the outside world. The massive stalagmites and stalactites that are crystal with drilled and shaped buildings. Have become overgrown with trees and vines.
Crystal Palace: The main home of the empress below and carved out of from looks a single shard of crystal over centuries.
Entry Points: Scattered around, the old tubes were once for mining and now serve mostly as remnants of. The atrisians of Chitei leave them forgotten and covered in some places or for the few rare ones that lead into a valuable resource just as subterranean breeding ground for fauna.
The Painted Maze: A mysterious area above Chitei filled with Murals dipicting the early history of Atrisia painted within a maze of caves filling it and made to be disorienting as the murals interconnect and swirl from floor to ceiling.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Ancient and seen in the oldest texts preserved on Atrisia. Chitei was at one point a fallout shelter from something that was found in other religions and planets. Not much is preserved and the oral tradition became embellished over the thousands of years to make whatever threat came from the skies and sought to enslave. The people fled down itno the mines and fould a hollow section of the earth and then scavenged what they could to shape the tunnels.
They built the pumps that drained some of the underground lakes to the surface and provided surface dwellers with crystals, jewels and other rare and precious materials from deep within the planet. Getting seeds and animals that could be raised down there under powerful artificial lights that were stolen from their oppressors. In time they were forgotten to ancient tales or turned into a sort of myth preserving the society.
The lost world of Chitei became just that lost as above reformations and history changed, stories became legends and legends became myths further and further until even they were just considered something someone told another person about around an ancient campfire. While below atrisian society continued, the ancient ways continuing as they entered more of a dark age with technological advancement stalled.
Instead its people focused on opulent outfits, ornate hair styles and jewelry. The more intricate, the more servants required to fit one of them into. As their society became stale decadence and lavish parties were thrown with three classes developing under the system within. The royal family itself that worked to maintain a monarchy under a divine mandate.
They lived high up in the crystal palace a structure that took several hundred years to carve from a massive shard of crystal. With riches stored throughout and advisor sages who served and had access to mysterious abilities and powers that many of them had never seen. The emperor or empress of Chitei held power through them.
Then below were the merchants and beings of moderate wealth and status. Holding the majority of positions such as farmers, lawyers and medical doctors. From them the wealth of Chitei came and filled the royal coffers as they spread far and wide across spires of rock and crystal and outwards into the small crevices filled with water and in some places magma.
The third class and lowest making up the largest part of the population was slaves, shaved bald with markings to indicate who they were. While they were seen as lower class it was important to foster them for working farms and mines. They cleared the fields, took the risks that brought money to the rich and so food was given to make sure they were strong.
Several reformations went through within the history when things were seeming to become more progressive. With often violent ends for either those wanting to rebel or in times of idealism the monarchy as it wasn't uncommon for somefo the children to want to rejoin the surface but then be struck down by a cousin. It wasn't until a plague swept through from by creatures from the surface that attention was paid once again.
Then quakes and rippling of power, many perished in a day it seemed and were never returned. A small group was sent to the surfaace and came out at Sarnoi learning what they could from the ancient city that still worshiped them and the old ways. It was informative but set the current ruler on a course of isolation as she ordered the tunnels protected by what fighters they had. Savage warriors who could move through the dark mines.
The first encounter was with an expedition that found them coming and mapping tunnels from an ancient mine shaft. When the group refused to turn back and fought they were brought before the emperor and empress of Chitei and explained that they had followed the quakes and what signs of something from the past. Ancient murals in the maze a place thought lost.
With this group willing to fight them reports came and a decision was made to bring them before the rulers. Several weeks past and a deal was struck to try and unite Chitei with Atrisia itself... namely they just had to allow some researchers and a way to be fashioned. Nothing big on their end as both underworld and surface would be able to benefit as reformations were sweeping across Atrisia for their new era.
