The Crawling Courier Company handles deliveries across Nuvain for big or small requests. Operated primarily by Goblins, they use their innate abilities to cling to walls and a variety or surfaces to traverse paths that others would struggle with, or simply fall from. Longer distance communications or deliveries available. You can always tell a Courier post by the happy goblin face stamped onto a sign next to it. Like the song says: “Hire a Crawler today, it’s the Nuvain way!™️”
#Lore24 21/2/24

Though Greaves is the official name for the district, it has another name unofficially among the citizens: The Caps. Famous for its availability of services of the more adult variety, it is a place of impropriety that many faithful publicly decry. In private, however, many threats are made along the lines of “If I catch you with the harlots in the Kneecap again, you're going to lose yours!”
Greaves or The Caps by either name is a place of varied entertainment for the masses.
#Lore24 22/2/24

Almost as if by design, the only lifts directly from The Shades to anywhere on Nuvain go to The Pillars. Housing is reserved for members of the Engineer’s Guild and their families, as their job is primarily to maintain and protect the support pillars holding Nuvain upright (as much as is possible). Residents must present their Guild membership card before being allowed on any of the lifts as a safety precaution.
Further Nuvain access begins with the Bootland station funiculars.
#Lore24 23/2/24

Regardless of the district, structures are built on rings around Nuvain, with some partially carved into the statue for support. Those in the higher districts also enjoy the security of manasteel support beams, whereas closer to the ground, people make do. The Operators Guild run funiculars between the levels, but cross-guild restrictions dictate that an ascending funicular cannot serve as a descending one. This means traffic flow is an issue for the Traffic Controllers Guild.
#Lore24 24/2/24

The Nuvain Faithful are a cult that work behind the scenes to sabotage the mining guilds and regular citizens alike, with their belief that their savior could be restored via specific applications of manasteel, and the destruction of most of the structures withing the statue. Despite several arrests, the cult remain at large, and as adamant as ever. If you spot any suspicious behaviour, please report it to your nearest Reporter's Guild member, to be passed on to authorities.
#Lore24 25/2/24

The Repository sits within the domain of the Diadem district, though it is based near the statue’s mouth. It remains one of the few exceptions of places allowed public access within the district, as it is intended as a public library and educational facility. Non-residents or citizens below the Belt must present an issued transit pass, be accompanied by a member of Repository staff, or be in the hire of a member of the Authenticator’s Guild to vouch for their identity.
#Lore24 26/2/24

The Authenticator’s Guild works as creditors and verifiers for all manner of things, due to their magically compelled inability to lie. This comes from an artifact recovered from the ruins of Weisai, the citadel that Nuvain sacrificed to save her people from. Once you join the guild, you swear upon the artifact to tell no lies, and the magic takes hold. There is no known way to remove it. People wonder how it still works, but the Authenticators say it does, so it must be true.
#Lore24 27/2/24

A popular superstition among the miners of Nuvain says that although the gods are powerful, their intervention is too high-level to assist in smaller parts of a mortal life. In the unlikely event of a tunnel collapse, miners will pray to Captain Arno: A Tabaxi with (according to story) a predisposition to tunnel with extraordinary ease after having claws replaced with manasteel, vanishing once the job is done. No such individual is registered in town, and confirmation is spotty.
#Lore24 28/2/24

The agricultural landscape around Nuvain has expanded drastically since its pre-statue days, for a pair of very good reasons. Firstly, the population boom needing to be fed. Secondly, a new, highly tradable crop grown from the soils near citadel wreckage. Gosaberries resemble grain pods, but in a bright blue hue, and can be plucked individually. Easily fermentable, it produces a smooth liquor that has the mysterious effect of increasing one’s gravitational force for a time.
#Lore24 29/2/24

One of the greatest secrets of #Matea is that of all the great Citadels, there is one that still travels the skies. But with the effects of Rakhada’s Folly, people are only familiar with the magic that dwells within the city’s core, in the bowels of the engine control chambers. Like Bul-Ji-Ma, the citadel of Si’dae acted upon the orders of their Guiding Hand to push the magitek engines to, and past, their limits to escape doom.
Any wreckage, or survivors were never found.
#Lore24 1/3/24

One of the greatest secrets of #Matea is that of all the great Citadels, there is one that still travels the skies. But with the effects of Rakhada’s Folly, people are only familiar with the magic that dwells within the city’s core, in the bowels of the engine control chambers. Like Bul-Ji-Ma, the citadel of Si’dae acted upon the orders of their Guiding Hand to push the magitek engines to, and past, their limits to escape doom.
Any wreckage, or survivors were never found.
#Lore24 1/3/24

One of the greatest secrets of #Matea is that of all the great Citadels, there is one that still travels the skies. But with the effects of Rakhada’s Folly, people are only familiar with the magic that dwells within the city’s core, in the bowels of the engine control chambers. Like Bul-Ji-Ma, the citadel of Si’dae acted upon the orders of their Guiding Hand to push the magitek engines to, and past, their limits to escape doom.
Any wreckage, or survivors were never found.
#Lore24 1/3/24

In trying to reverse their descent, Si’dae unknowingly signed up for their own eternal damnation. The citadel still flies, but is locked in time. From a brief period before hearing the first distress calls, to its catastrophic destruction, the city and its populace experiences the same events on an endless loop, helpless to change their fate.
To outsiders, the only evidence they have of anything out of the ordinary is that occasionally, people get caught in loops of their own.
#Lore24 2/3/24

The effects of Si’dae’s passing overhead can be experienced anywhere on #Matea, excluding any extra-planar locations. Though the citadel and its residents experience the same length of time on repeat, external experiences report a variety of time differentials. Some say they felt the same 10 minutes for a full day, while others have had a day for a week. One unlucky merchant tells the tale of the time she spent reliving the same three day span for four years.
#Lore24 3/3/24

Through great chance and skill, one could make their way onto Si’dae, to experience life on the citadel, albeit in the same end-of-days loop. On the second loop, the citizens respond to you as a visitor. On the third, you appear as a neighbour or friend. Past the third loop, you become a resident, lost to time.
One might think they could bring someone with them and escape, but attempts result in the immediate aging of the resident, and the reversal of your memory.
#Lore24 4/3/24

Should someone escape from Si’dae’s clutches at the expense of another, they find their lives inverted; the escapee becomes a regular citizen of #Matea; their memory altered to fit, and their life now accounted for. It is in this way that one of the greatest secrets of Matea maintains its secrecy: Si’dae, the Last Citadel; the Citadel Out of Time.
Scholars argue over its existence, despite ancient records, and the remains of a designated docktown, citing the lack of ruin.
#Lore24 5/3/24

Many suspect, though none are sure, that the prevalence of giant crabs across #Matea is a holdover from the seafaring Tortle empire. Their domesticity shows that the crabs have no inherent fear response towards other races; a fact that has led to their capture, taming, and utilisation as a form of transportation and labour. Crab-drawn carriages cross the countryside, crab farming is a profitable lifestyle, and some even indulge in sporting competitions and breeding exhibitions.
#Lore24 6/3/24

Delicious, nutritious, and plentiful, schools of horses traverse the oceans, scavenging as they can. Many a seafarer sails out for their morning harvest with horse cages onboard in the hopes of collecting a delicacy. Boiled and seasoned in the correct manner, the meat slides right off the bone. Though aquatic, scholars have questioned how such a creature resembles land-bound mammals. But the facts are undeniable, and horse meat is one of the staples of coastal communities.
#Lore24 7/3/24

Wichi is the southernmost town on the map of #Matea. Despite the perpetual cold, it has a reputation as the most romantic location in the world. This is mostly due to the appearance of the Wedded Lights; an aurora that’s visible most nights. The story goes that the lights were one of the gifts that Father prepared for Mother as thanks for helping him create the world.
As people are people, residents of Wichi lean in, and work to make the town ever more romantic and hospitable.
#Lore24 8/3/24

On the northern continent of Butang, the Pobari Desert is a harsh environment, even for the seldom-seen residents. With surface water sources scarce, the people who choose to stay, or are otherwise unable to relocate, have adapted their lifestyles and residences. Whereas more forgiving climates allow for traditional buildings, those of the Pobari have chosen to descend, building and carving their cities into the stone under the shifting sands, to tap underground water supplies.
#Lore24 9/3/24

According to popular map depictions, the continent of Junalla is situated just off from the center, and is the smallest of the five recognised landmasses. Junalla is also home to the Jungles of Wheng, the Tabaxi home away from home. As a culture, they know they are outsiders to this world, and are only borrowing a place to stay until they choose to return. The jungle would be prized for its abundance of wood, if only the ones removed were not mysteriously poisonous...
#Lore24 10/3/24

The western continent of Nodoye is not only home to the previously mentioned capital of Dun, but is known for The Vow; a breathtaking canyon carved in layered bismuth. Though many wish to harvest the metal for their own uses, the site is protected by the religious sector, as according to the story, the canyon was formed when Sister raged against the Family in her war. The metallic coating was implemented as part of her peace treaty, which is where the name also comes from. (1/2)
#Lore24 11/3/24

The landscape imagery lends itself to picturing the outcome: Just because she was asked to make amends for her damages, that doesn’t mean Sister had to comply perfectly. The fractal square shapes of the canyon walls, while beautiful in rainbow hues, make traversal through the valley a potential deathtrap for the unprepared. But for those experienced enough, or brave enough to take the incredible risk, it can be the adventure of a lifetime with a visual feast.
(2/2)
#Lore24 11/3/24

Legend goes that somewhere in the frozen expanse of Gojaam, the southern continent, an oasis of warmth exists. Should you drink from its waters, there is a high chance you simply die. But if you manage to survive, not only will you become immune to extreme temperatures, but you will receive one true prophecy of your future for something guaranteed to be positive, even if it doesn’t appear so. The legend mentions a warrior grievously injured, but finding his true love as a result.
#Lore24 12/3/24

Nestled in the hillsides of Sou’je, the eastern continent, the city of Umpton is home to the banking guild and the Mint. Thankfully, having converted to paper currency before the Fall, and maintaining the presses without manasteel, the economy wasn’t hit as hard by disaster. They still maintain a massive vault hidden underneath the city with piles of gold and the original coins; in case anyone wished to manage a more physical savings account. But the treasure has its guards…
#Lore24 13/3/24

The gold storage vault of the Umpton Mint is protected by a number of Midasian Mimics. One bite, and you run the risk of contracting a magical disease that turns your body into a solid gold statue. If, however, you are antagonistic enough to get devoured, your body will become gold coins, to be excreted and added to the pile.
The Mimics are named for Verna Midasa, founding governess of the banking guild, discoverer and initial tamer of the Mimics, and on display within the vault.
#Lore24 14/3/24

Muchen is the site of the former Opera House, and retains its place as the cultural landmark of #Matea. Spanning the Daylan River in Sou'je, the city features numerous bridges than have largely survived the Fall, only losing some of their support structures. The Opera House fell apart as the manasteel skeleton dissolved, but the citizens rallied, and built a variety of smaller, more intimate venues, better able to cater for a number of artistic outlets.
#Lore24 15/3/24

The island of Cinera, far to the west of Nodoye is known for a curious reason: Colour no longer exists. Once a tropical rainforest, the land still exists, but only in greyscale. The studious folk of #Matea have investigated, finding no logical reason for the chromatic aberration. The effect follows the coastline and outwards. Any materials removed from the site retain their desaturation, and any left for long enough gain that trait, even after retrieval. Including living matter.
#Lore24 16/3/24

Tucked into one of the many inlets of Gojaam is the Deep Research Institute. Though manasteel was required during its construction, the facility is protected by layers of crystal panels acting as windows capable of resisting pressure. Abandoned and forgotten since the Fall, the Institute once collected valuable information about the denizens of the ocean far past where manned vessels could travel, and even a tunnelling project. The drill was constructed of manasteel, however.
#Lore24 17/3/24

The Gidan River in Nodoye is the largest and longest river on #Matea. While a fertile ground for the hunting of fish, horses, and other aquatic creatures, it is also home to the nesting grounds of saylen: creatures capable of disguising themselves as elves, they will feast upon anything they can find along the shores. Incapable of speech, their alluring song is enough to draw the unaware to their doom.
#Lore24 18/3/24

Before the Fall, the province of Gylead in Nodoye, north of Dun, was gradually abandoned as migrants sought richer pursuits than extracting oil. With the departure of manasteel from the world, their descendants have returned to reinvigorate the land. Across the arid plains, people tend to their livestock atop their mounts; a mix of the imported crab and the Gylead-specific dinosaur. Historically, the citizens have politely refused offers to train the creatures for use in warfare.
#Lore24 19/3/24

Port Pinako in Butang is a combination trade hub and wildlife refuge. The city’s architecture serves as a reminder of its history as a base of operations for the Tortle seafarers that once lived there. An isolated region of the city is protected as a sanctuary for turtles and tortoises alike; a decree that stands to this day. Pinako pepper is a valuable commodity among the locales that can afford the journey. While nearly flavourless alone, it greatly enhances any paired flavour.
#Lore24 20/3/24

The Weeping Bayou of Junalla was created by the Sister as a trap to slow down or disable enemy forces from marching on the Great Rift in the days of the Family War. A treacherous swampland of relentless storms, the ground is difficult at best to traverse. The name originates with the localised weather tending towards typhoon level rains and wind, though it has “good” days too. While there are many dangers, one that stands out is the Blightserpent. Beware its cursing bite!
#Lore24 21/3/24

The trade port of Chidabo, located in the northern shore of Gojaam, where the external temperature is still bearable for most of the year, is still a prosperous trade hub, owing to its easily accessible location between Junalla, Nodoye, and Sou’je. The famous Zeyta’s House held many grand auctions before Rakhada’s Folly, and though the offerings are perhaps not as fanciful, there are a great many items of interest to the keen-eyed profiteer.
#Lore24 22/3/24

Once, the King’s Road connected (the now renamed) Dun and the (now former) paired-capital of Danis; the docktown of Silwa’na. Since the Fall, the need to maintain it has been left by the wayside. Now it is a monument to the excess of the world that was, and a haven of the unsavoury. People that have been exiled from Dun under the new rule of the world that is can find a home along the trail, scavenging a life with the rest of the outcasts.
#Lore24 23/3/24

Sikado, in Junalla, is a city as much as it is a spectacle, though also known for the quality of artisans that study there. Once every two years, a lottery is held for any citizen to become mayor. During the first year, the main role is to construct one building, or other construction, to their dream specifications. The second year is for its demolition and recycling. It’s said that the first mayor to start this is the person whose feet #Matea uses as a measurement reference.
#Lore24 24/3/24

If not for people passing on the word of the events of the Fall, Nasè Grove would be still unaware of the events of the outside world. In an isolated section of the woods west of Nuvain, those of the persuasion of natural magic and lifestyle tend to the plants with care. A specialty they grow is a tree shaped into a spiral. A wooden disc on a track controls the direction of light as it grows. While hard to use in building, crafters admire its shape and strength for their art.
#Lore24 25/3/24

South-East of Umpton, out into the ocean, sits a solitary island. Lym is completely unassailable, so none know of the outlay of the interior. Records say it is likely the nesting place of Altreta the Small, a silver-scaled dragon. Large obsidian spikes prevent travellers from landing on the island via conventional means, and even on approach, they fall ill, and receive visions of themselves, their family and friends, begging them to turn back.
#Lore24 26/3/24

South of The Vow in Nodoye sits the island community of Nonjasseum. What was intended as a kind of retirement location has been reinvigorated as the home of a gladiatorial arena for all levels of experience. Suddenly having to learn physical skills in a world devoid of creature comforts leaving no time to adjust, the most skilled were veterans of previous conflicts; those who felt they’d already earned the right to peace. As such, entertainment typically trumps practicality.
#Lore24 27/3/24

Near the mountainous regions of Butang, shielded from the extreme temperatures of the Pobari Desert, the Tiefling city of Janapin is the home and refuge of the descendants of those summoned by Sister to fight her ill-fated war. More in tune with #Matea than their ancestors, Janapin citizens are known for their practice of mindfulness, community, and physical combat. Viewing weapons as largely unnecessary tools of warfare, they opt to train their bodies as a form of self-defense.
#Lore24 28/3/24