Riverside, a smaller, modern city, sitting on top of the River Syde and found some ways away from the sprawl of Inside. The city has always been in a state of flux since it came to be a part of the Nexus. Powers have risen and fallen, disasters have struck, and the climate has always been unstable. Because of all this, the people of Riverside are a hardy lot. They know what it takes to survive, and it's not always pleasant. Riverside sits on the edge of the Nexus, so while it's still prone to the strangeness common there, it's far more stable than other parts of the Nexus. A city like this is not a safe and stable place, but for many it's home and for some it's even opportunity.
Welcome to Riverside.
► The Districts
Northside
Northside is the most prosperous part of the city. Many of the city's wealthiest live there, especially toward the center of the district. There a castle floats in the sky, housing the government of most of the entire city, Malechenar. Northside benefits from the careful eye of its rulers. There have been great strides taken toward making it the safest and most attractive part of the city.
Eastside
Eastside is mostly a middle-to-lower class, densely populated area. It's fairly multicultural, even by Nexus standards, and inhabited by a wide range of species and cultures. It has been a poorer area for most of its existence, but fairly recently they have rallied under a democratic government and, as a result, their lot has improved.
Southside
Southside has fallen far behind the development of the rest of the city. First it was emptied by it's queen's parting, and then claimed by villains. Now, however, the remaining major powers of the city have begun to lay their claim to the once empty territory. New construction has sprung up and people are gradually moving back in. It isn't free from turmoil, but progress is being made.
Westside
Westside is unique compared to the rest of the districts because it is covered by a cloak of darkness. During the day the Light of Evolution, an artificial sun suspended in the sky, provides light. However, it is still home to a higher density of people that are adverse to the light for a number of reasons.
The district has fallen on hard times since its government was absorbed into Malechenar. While the peace is being maintained, to an extent, it isn't given the same level of attention that Northside is despite security being hired out to MERC. As a result, it can be quite unstable there at times.
Wildside
The district has fallen on hard times since its government was absorbed into Malechenar. While the peace is being maintained, to an extent, it isn't given the same level of attention that Northside is despite security being hired out to MERC. As a result, it can be quite unstable there at times.
Though not a district in the traditional sense, Wildside is a distinct and relevant part of the city. Along the city's border, the cityscape gives way to forest. Sometimes it's a gradual blending, in other places it's a sharp cut separated by fences and small walls. Though roads and trails do cut through it, it's not recommended to travel through the trees at risk of provoking Wildside's guardian.
Previously there have been failed attempts to break through Wildside to allow the city proper to expand. They were largely unsuccessful. As a result, the city has been trending toward growing upward, rather than outward.
Previously there have been failed attempts to break through Wildside to allow the city proper to expand. They were largely unsuccessful. As a result, the city has been trending toward growing upward, rather than outward.
Riverside is a very modern city, and thus a person can find most of the expected amenities. All manner of stores, a hospital, parks and playgrounds, churches, you name it. Most of these places are run and attended to by the residents of the city, regular people without players to guide them most of the time. Players are free to invent and discard these places and the people in them as suits the needs of their roleplaying. Some have been named already, Moth Park, the Golden Flagon Tavern, Sawyer's Inn, but many more are out there.
There are a number of places that have been defined by players, and can be observed and interacted with. Some of these have been listed below for reference.
► SHOW SPOILER
Northside
- Eventide Manor Shadowcaller
► SHOW SPOILERAfter the departure of Malechenar castle, the remaining leadership in Northside needed a new base of operations. An old noble mansion has been retrofitted for the task. It's an old and suitably grand structure, adorned with gargoyles very similar to their past home.
- Third Circle LordDeathkeeper
► SHOW SPOILERThe Third Circle is a small, unassuming building, its sign over the door in bold red paint and its front window mostly kept clear to prevent the sunlight from fading any colors. It advertises all written words at affordable prices, and for adventurers to inquire within about jobs.
The interior is a soft wooden-brown with reds, and smells like a library full of old books. Most of the furniture is as you'd expect, save for the counter, which is normal height but has only minimal space behind it, likely due to the fact that the clerk is a two-foot-tall imp. Next to the counter is a large bulletin board covered in paper slips.
- New Hope Hospital Shadowcaller
► SHOW SPOILERThe once abandoned hospital in Eastside is in the process of being refurbished. It's been recently acquired after the invasion, and it's been restored along with the rebuilding in the city. It's not ready to take patients yet, but it's only a matter of time.
- Cosiellio's Temple Halae
► SHOW SPOILERThere's a small temple here that just finished construction last week. It's a fairly plain thing, more utilitarian than ostentatious, but it's made of marble and granite, giving it a glowing white appearance in the sun, with Cos' holy symbol in a large carved statue above the front door. It's a shield with feathered wings imposed along the front, giving it the impression of a heart. It's carved impeccably; it must have been done with magic.
A few of Cos' faithful are here almost all the time - given the informal nature of the temple, everybody drifts in to say a few prayers whenever they're feeling like they should, or whenever they have the time. Cos himself regularly visits, of course, and answers prayers directly. - Lotus Gardens UncleWolf
► SHOW SPOILERThe Lotus Gardens are a veritable Eden, a paradise in the middle of an otherwise fairly "normal" city. The entire section appears carved of white marble and smells of sweets, a hint of sweat, and exotic flowers, inviting all to come and stay in the Lotus Garden's Embrace.
Home to the Slaanesh Cult "The Masks", the population is full of exotic and beautiful appearing people who are always welcoming. Though many just live around the area, actual cultists seem few and far between, wearing their Masks as they patrol the streets as guards.
In the very center is the Mask Temple, a cathedral of white marble and stained glass windows, surrounded by paired statues of lovers locked in eternal embrace. - Parliament Buildings UncleWolf
► SHOW SPOILERConverted from several buildings in the middle of the district, it serves as the seat of the administration. The Mayor resides there.
Not far from the Town Hall, the small circular new building serves as the meeting place for the People's Parliament. It includes a large hall for meetings as well as offices for all the members.
The Hunter's hall once stood here, but it was destroyed in the invasion.
- DMside Zefir
► SHOW SPOILERDMside is a small district located in the east of Southside, close to the city's edge. It's main building is an iron cathedral of Deus Mechanicus. Around the cathedral are a number of factories, labs, and shops that work on robotics. A shield generator in front of the cathedral serves as its main defense against attacks.
- Xar'cha Residence Reinholdt
► SHOW SPOILERHome to the demon hunter Ilpholin Xar'cha, this large building appears more like a fortress than a residence. The entire thing being shaped like a spider where it expects you to enter through its mouth may be off-putting, but if one makes it up to the front door they will be warmly greeted by the local AI.
The immediate inside is much more welcoming with carefully arranged furniture designed around receiving guests. The majority of the rooms past this point serve a variety of purposes as they stretch deeper and deeper underground.
- Bloodsong's Oasis Ashen Lilies
► SHOW SPOILERLocated right on Westside’s bustling riverfront, the Oasis rises above its surrounding buildings like its namesake water feature, an elegant high-elven style manor house smack in the middle of its unassuming brownstone neighbors. Owned by an orc clan, the establishment was opened to cater mostly to orcs, goblins, lizardfolk, greenskins and beastfolk of all sorts that live and work the city's docks, providing an upscale alternative to the common dockside pub or Friday night chain-restaurant. The restaurant quickly gained buzz among the fine dining establishment, however, and now proudly serves all patrons, providing an island of glamour among the mostly downtrodden quarter.
Ritzy and well-lit, the main dining room presents a spacious promise of jazzy splendour, populated by an array of elegantly furnished tables ringing a large stage at the far end, and a heavy, aged-wood bar at the flank. The bar is appropriately dressed up with real bullet holes and scored with injuries from knife, battle-axe, and arrows, befitting the speakeasy theme. At the stage, live music every night, typically from the house jazz band, fronted by their elegant ettin lead singer (contralto and mezzo-soprano) completes the room with appropriately sultry flair, though guest performances are showcased on occasion, featuring artists from across the Nexus.
Other rooms include a large secondary floor for private events and pre-booked parties, as well as smaller, private dining rooms for rent, including balconies overlooking the main stage, and a larger speakeasy-style hidden bar behind the bookshelf, for VIP clients who want the utmost discretion to discuss certain... clandestine activities. - Club Pulse Shadowcaller
► SHOW SPOILERThe club is quite easily noticed by the huge neon sign outside, Pulse was easily recognized as Riversides largest nightclub. Beyond the line and the bouncer outside is a classic club layout with a large dance floor with loud music and flashing lights.
In a slightly more calm area of the club is the bar run by an one-eyed bartender called Ryo.
There are two stairs leading up to the upper floor where it's easier to talk and drink.
The atmosphere is pretty heavy as you walk inside with techno music playing very loud. - MagMart Lord Magtok
► SHOW SPOILERIf the individual entering has any sort of familiarity with the other MagMart, back when it was its own building apart from Mallside, they'll probably notice that this Riverside one doesn't look anywhere near as glamorous as its predecessor. It's a modest purple brick building, the glass display windows aren't even properly bulletproof, and the smelly homeless people usually employed to wander around about the front of the store in a wacky MagMascot costume with an enormous cyborg head are mysteriously absent.
That said, you can still find just about everything here that you can at the Mallside store. Curtains to carpets, macaroni to monkeys on motorcycles, groceries to zombies garlic. The staff is always happy to help (or else), and if you aren't entirely satisfied with your shopping experience, you can pay a small fee to watch the MagMart employee of your choosing get fired out the MagMart complimentary employee morale cannon. Except in this store, the 'morale cannon' is really more of a morale bazooka, and while it's still fun to watch, it's nowhere near as charming. - Toy Tinker Murkus
► SHOW SPOILERHere stands the Toy Tinker, a rich, ancient wooden building styled after the sort of boardwalk shop you might've found on Earth in the early American twentieth century. It's a crude blocky affair dominated by sweeping, simple architecture, built in two stories with a basement beneath. The front of the shop is covered by two long, shiny windows, behind which waits a plethora of playthings. Mostly metal work, plus some plastic or wood worked in. The various creatures move about with a life of their own, eyes aglow by some strange inner light. Dragons with clockwork guts waddle alongside tin soldiers run on batteries and copper wire. You can find just about any sort of toy here.
The Tinker supplies the most lifelike toys anywhere, guaranteed. Just don't ask how the proprietor makes them - unless you're looking for business of a different sort.
- Underground Hive Slii Arhem
► SHOW SPOILERBeneath the massive network of roots that bind the trees together are deep, winding tunnels that serve as a home to the bee colonies being kept by the orchard's guardian. These megalithic hives have even extended slightly under the city limits, and complaints about deep, sonorous buzzing in those sections of the city have increased substantially.
- Riftline Station
► SHOW SPOILERNot in Wildside proper, but on the fringes of the city is the bustling Riftline station. This huge station facilitates a lot of transportation in and out of the city, making commutes to Inside and other locations very quick.