Post by Kurosaki on Jul 25, 2010 20:36:12 GMT -5
Created by Gaius. Updated by Aubs.
◊- Name of Island: Veldesh
◊- Society: The Kingdom of Veldesh (The Veldeshi Queendom)
◊- Size of Island: Medium, about the size of Drum Island
◊- Location: Peace Route
◊- Log Pose Time: 14 Days
◊- Climatic Type: Spring Island
◊- Climate: The climate of the island is locked inside late spring, when the rain has just stopped to fall and the heat of summer is beginning to show. Not particularly temperate either, Veldesh is blessed with the perfect weather for growing. A land of plenty, the atmosphere provides everything the island needs to grow its famous flower forests, and keep the people happy all year long.
◊- Island Appearance: When viewed from a distance Veldesh appears much like any normal island. Rolling hills with a few moderately sized mountains. Because of the overall size of the island it might appear to be not as spectacular as some of the more compact locales of the world. The terrain is rather simple still, with hills covered in forests that reach up to a few mountain peaks. Tucked away within those peaks is the hive of activity, the capital of Queenstown. The island has a rocky coastline with built in sea walls made of jutting stone. However approach from the West is open and leads to the only good route near the city of Portsden, the sole port on the island. Portsden not only resides between some crags of stone but also resides on the only flat part of the island and services much of the people that do not live in the capital. Besides the high, rocky coast and ragged stone semi-islands around it, the majority of Veldesh is covered by large flower forests fit between squat mountains. Some of those same mountains have even been terraced to accommodate more flowers. Near the center of the island a few small mountains have grown together, separate from the others, this is where the city of Queenstown has been hollowed out.
◊- Flora and Fauna:
◊- Inhabitants:
◊- Missions: Mission # 73: A rare beast has awoken from it's slumber in the mountains of Veldesh Kingdom and is wreaking havoc. The beast is the abomination offspring of a bear and a gorilla, its name; "The Silverback Bear". The monster is enormous, measuring roughly 15 meters tall and its strength and speed are immeasurable. The world government is too busy dealing with other things to send someone to help them so the locals are offering a reward of 30,000 beri if someone manages to defeat it and stop its rampage.
◊- Island History: People first arrived in the land that would come to be known as Veldesh kingdom about 4,000 years ago. During that time a great civilization arose called the Mina. For nearly 1,000 years the Mina ruled the island and prospered before their culture came crashing down by unknown forces.
The island was mostly uninhabited for the next five hundred years serving occasionally as the base of several of the earliest pirates and rogues to travel the Grand Line. About 2,500 years ago though a small ship filled with refugees from a nearby country arrived and settled in what would eventually become the city of Portsden. Over the next century the decedents of the settlers expanded inward and eventually establish the kingdom of Veldesh. Portsden served as the nation’s capital until King Veldesh VII felt that it would be better to move seat of government farther inland. Kingstown was founded several months later at the base of a collection of mountains in the center of the island, and since then it has grown to be a large metropolis.
◊- Name of Island: Veldesh
◊- Society: The Kingdom of Veldesh (The Veldeshi Queendom)
◊- Size of Island: Medium, about the size of Drum Island
◊- Location: Peace Route
◊- Log Pose Time: 14 Days
◊- Climatic Type: Spring Island
◊- Climate: The climate of the island is locked inside late spring, when the rain has just stopped to fall and the heat of summer is beginning to show. Not particularly temperate either, Veldesh is blessed with the perfect weather for growing. A land of plenty, the atmosphere provides everything the island needs to grow its famous flower forests, and keep the people happy all year long.
◊- Island Appearance: When viewed from a distance Veldesh appears much like any normal island. Rolling hills with a few moderately sized mountains. Because of the overall size of the island it might appear to be not as spectacular as some of the more compact locales of the world. The terrain is rather simple still, with hills covered in forests that reach up to a few mountain peaks. Tucked away within those peaks is the hive of activity, the capital of Queenstown. The island has a rocky coastline with built in sea walls made of jutting stone. However approach from the West is open and leads to the only good route near the city of Portsden, the sole port on the island. Portsden not only resides between some crags of stone but also resides on the only flat part of the island and services much of the people that do not live in the capital. Besides the high, rocky coast and ragged stone semi-islands around it, the majority of Veldesh is covered by large flower forests fit between squat mountains. Some of those same mountains have even been terraced to accommodate more flowers. Near the center of the island a few small mountains have grown together, separate from the others, this is where the city of Queenstown has been hollowed out.
◊- Flora and Fauna:
Flora
Sol Trees: The vast majority of the flowers, and therefore the forestry on Veldesh. The Sol is a giant variety of sunflowers. They close up when the sun goes down, making them taller at night. They can be as tall 30 feet tall with stems as wide as trunks. The large flat area of the flower is also used as landing pads for the huge bees that pollenate the flowers. Petals on these massive flowers can come in all colors, and some have been breed for specific looks, like the legendary rainbow flower of the Queens private garden. Oddly enough, and old tradition for islanders consisted of boys earning their manhood by climbing to the top of the "trees" and collecting the huge seeds, a delicacy among the villagers.
Honey Trappers: A delicate looking flower that is coated in a watery, clear substance that is alluring to all insects on the island. However, the clear liquid substance is actually a very powerful paralyzing poison that affects the insects that ingest the substance, freezing their movements and causing the insect to stumble into the plant itself, where there is far more of the "Quicksilver", as it is called by the natives. The insect drowns in the poison and is gradually broken down by the plant for nourishment. The natives still know how to harvest the substance and use the poison on both human and insect alike, though most of the powerful poison is going to the World Gov't. Trappers only get about 10 feet tall, and are mostly bucket looking to maximize the quantity of quicksilver held.
Fauna
Rumble Bees: The most unique and only animal of importance on the island. Early society on Veldesh was based around these horse-size bumble bees. A generally aggressive animal the Rumble Bee is known for digging deep caverns inside the squat mountains of Veldesh, mostly because the beasts could not form their own external hive. To that end the things have been tamed over the years into beasts of burden who dig the famed tunnels of the islands immense gold deposit. Not all the animals have been tamed into steeds however, occasionally small pockets are found of queen-less workers in more secluded parts of the island. They are immediately inundated with royal fumes to bring them back into the fold.
◊- Inhabitants:
The most important aspect that makes up the dynamic people of Veldesh is the innate wealth of the island. Because of the obscene amount of gold buried in the hills of the island the people are by design very relaxed. Nothing is really hard here, no life is tough. However, the combination of the wealth of the populous and the symbiotic relationship with the Bees of the huge hive-island have created a “Hive-mind” throughout the country. This can best be illustrated by the generally lack of concern for most things by the people, and the willingness to believe what the Queen (human type) says. If the royal palace in Queenstown speaks the people listen without dissidents. They inherently trust the World Government and anything that it says. Finally, if one person were to speak out at something the mob would fall behind it quickly. So in short, the people are sometimes simple and very gullible, docile and community-oriented.◊- Prominent Organizations, Groups and Establishments:
Interestingly enough however the society has been broken into factions much like a beehive by the powers that be. Most notably is the warrior class who serve as guards for the island, adorned by a gold-plated helmet and the emblem of the honeycomb, the powerful simple of unity and strength. Next there is the mining and farming classes respectfully. These consist of the people that dig for gold using the bees and those that raise and use bees to pollinate the flowers of the island, the small ones of which are sold around the world. Finally we have the merchant class of people. These people are as you expect those that sell the many products that island produces, including gold. They act as nobles at the same time, being much fewer in number, even more wealthy and connected, and serving directly under the Queen. This is by design of course, as it keeps the Queen at the center of all export and makes all parties parley her for approval.
How do people become the class they desire you ask? Well they do not. Like any good hive there is a group of advisers that serve under the Queen who select what each child will become after birth, much like the Bees they try to emulate. We would be remiss however if we failed to mention the Queen and her direct advisers and staff who rarely leave the capital let alone the central castle. Her title is hereditary and her authority is absolute.
Veldeshi Queendom: Is the name known to the people of the Kingdom of Veldesh. In order to maintain harmony the names are used internally and externally respectfully. The Queendom is as you can imagine, controlled by the Queen. Ruling like a might Bee Queen would with supreme authority and pheromones her decisions are final. Over time more of the Bee society has been adopted into the culture of the island to include the all-important class system. Society is broken down into a few sects who specialize in certain tasks. Your class is selected for you by a group of advisors who are members of the Royal Family. How they decide is to the day a secret.◊- Trends:
Farming Class: One of the two provider classes on the island. The Farmers both raise the stable beast of burden for the island, the horse-sized Rumble Bee, and cultivate the flowers and plants that the island eats and sells around the Grand Line. This class is very populous and tends to consist of the most common looking people. They are considered essential to the island by hold the lowest esteem as the most common profession.
Mining Class: The other of the two provider classes, and arguable the more dramatic. The Miners utilize the Bees to dig tunnels in search of the supposed limitless gold on the island. This people are not as large in number as the farmers and are considered slightly more unique. Mostly comprised of hearty men and women who spend their time on the frontier this group is seen as just more appealing that the Farmers but still on the lower side of the spectrum.
Warrior Class: The sole group of defenders on the island who are not Marines, corralled into a base on the far east side of the island. They like all others are handpicked to train as a defense force for the island. Because of the islands close relationship with the World Government the Warriors are more like police than anything else, watching city walls and ensuring that peace is kept amongst the citizens, the Marines handle all the external threats. This is an outsider class that is viewed as essential to good order but more valuable and distinct that the providers.
Merchant Class: The middlemen of the island the merchants serve as the landed elite and the business owners of the Queendom. A few distinct families own the mines and precious farmland, and curiously enough their family members save few exceptions stay in the merchant class. Serving directly under the Queen it is best to understand the merchants as the Feudal Lords who control the territory outside of the two real cities on the island. All approval for action must go through the Queen, as must all large business dealings or any external ones.
Royal Family: The direct and peripheral family of the Queen. They are not sorted into another class for any reason but instead live inside the palace in Queenstown. Their only function in society is to select the other classes for the citizenry and serve at court, doing whatever it is the court does.
Fashion◊- NPCS:
Because of its mild weather and good cash flow the peoples range from the simple dress to the most extravagant. It’s not hard to see the levels of society at work in how they array themselves for each day. Merchants wear big, wide hats adorned with flowers, while farmers and miners will only wear useable garments. Warriors all have gold-plated helmets that make them look more like insects than anything else, and of course the royals wear whatever they feel like. Outside of springy gear and un-ragged people there is nothing special about the dress on the island.
Politics
Veldeshi Queendom: The homogenous, hereditary monarchy for the entire country of Veldesh. Whatever original political system that was in place on the island has since been formed into this all powerful society. Each member of the country is sorted into a working class by the royal family, and all provide something towards the greater good of the society. All the meanwhile power resides only in the Queen, who takes orders only from the World Government. Outside of the Queendom then the only real authority on the island comes from the World Government. On a quirky note, the majority of mores and customs that you see on the island can someone
Industry
Flowers: Because of all the bees on the island, both small and large, flowers grow here in abundance. The smaller ones, or normal size to the rest of the world are sold across the planet as top quality samples. Additionally, products made out of the larger species are sold for various prices. As lucrative as this business is however it pales in comparison to the most profitable business on Veldesh, Gold!
Gold: The wealth of the kingdom is based upon the astronomical amounts of gold that litter the hills and mountains of Veldesh. The Queen controls the gold mines by right, but has delegated the rights down to merchants who run the operations through the miners. The amount of gold flowing through the country has also lead to its ample usage on many things such as statues and roofs of important buildings.
Cuisine
A simple people the country doesn’t have many unique meals, though they apply honey to most things.
Fresh Produce: Due to the Spring Island climate and the profusion of bees the produce grown on the island is wonderful. Most of the diet for the citizenry comes from these many farm fresh foods.
Meat: Unfortunately, for all that the Rumble Bee can do it is not very tasty. Because of this it is not advisable to eat them, meaning that most of the livestock on the island are not for eating. Besides whatever small livestock the people own privately all meat is imported from other islands. Due to the wealth of the kingdom this doesn’t really cost them much in return.
None at this time.◊- Town(s)/Village(s)/City or Cities:
Portsden: One of two real cities on the island. Portsden is the only real port on the island, but has been fortunate enough to receive a great deal of money for its trouble over the years. Built inside an impressive circular seawall the town is compact and crowded. Just outside of this modestly flat area of the island however the landscape began to rise. To facilitate the large amount of people here, the city was a few stories tall on average, with each building close to its neighbor and at least 2 stories tall. The streets were made of cobblestone pulled off the mountains further into the island proper, and all were shined to perfection. Bad things didn’t happen here, so that shine would last a long time. The majority of the city is dedicated to selling and shipping the products of the Queendom, and is a much more outsider-friendly city than the capital, making it the perfect place for a few choice governmental organizations as well. With a bustling population and a generally wealthy populous, as most of the merchants maintain a home there, the people of the city are swanky to say the least. What poor people you find in the city are in certain districts, such as the lower side near the older, less frequented docks. If you leave the city however you will find the flower forests and the small homesteads of the more prodigious miners and farmers. Veldesh may be known for its rolling hills and moderate mountains, as well as it very peculiar forests. So, to find enough space amongst those different geographies was very fortunate. But that means that just outside the city walls was the countryside, and not far past that the capital of the Queendom.◊- Island Map:
Queenstown: The capital of the kingdom, or Queendom to use the local term. Besides the high, rocky coast and ragged stone semi-islands around it, the majority of Veldesh is covered by large flower forests fit between squat mountains. Some of those same mountains have even been terraced to accommodate more flowers. Near the center of the island a few small mountains have grown together, separate from the others, this is where the city of Queenstown has been hollowed out. One massive city taking up a few mountains, the town appears much like a large steeped cathedral, or a massive bee hive. All of the towers are spires, and every one of their roofs are covered in gold leaf. On the overall the city is compact, with most of the people living on the inside in many different rooms and floors, while the outside of the city serves more for moving around. Additionally, all garrisons and public works have an outward face on the exterior of the behemoth structure.
Near the top of the castle is a large, circular platform were many events are held, mostly of the royal kind. It was formed out of the second largest tower, which in itself serves as a lifeblood for the city, reaching almost all levels except those reserved for the royal family. Between all of the other towers there are courtyards and city streets to give the castle more square feet. Markets line most of the roads, as the walls of the castle provide succor from the winds that the many walkways do not. Generally the lower you are in the physical castle the less important you are to the society. The area’s nearest the remaining mountains, including the entryway into the city are inhabited by whoever lays claim to it, most of the catacomb like rooms are held by soldiers or mining families. Because the area is generally inside the mountains and lacks sunlight the people there have had to adapt in what they eat and how they live. Moreover the cloisters of rooms that make up the caves and “neighborhoods” down there have entryways that can be closed off by large circular doors, depending on what the owner wants. This can make for a very private area for a family that wishes to remain there.
As you rise in the city you find more sunlight and enter the actual castle part of the structure. As said before the exterior of the castle is generally for public use, with not many residential places. However, if you enter a building you can expect to go down large hallways that break off into internal courtyard fulls of apartments, estates with a single large entry door, or hidden corners that no one really uses. The center spire, the one containing the most towers if you’re lost by now, is home to all governmental concerns. The thing is compartmentalized so you may not notice that you are in a massive tower full of towers but in essence you are. The additions to the tower built on the outside more than likely have offices in them, different areas of interest for the royal family. Between some of these are large courtyards that are forested for the enjoyment of the royals. But, like any castle these areas eventually end and a final tower peaks. A series of flat roofs from other enterprises ends and entryway leads to a stone bridge. That bridge is the only entrance into the royal apartments and throne room, the area’s reserved for only royalty. Not much is known of those places however.
◊- Missions: Mission # 73: A rare beast has awoken from it's slumber in the mountains of Veldesh Kingdom and is wreaking havoc. The beast is the abomination offspring of a bear and a gorilla, its name; "The Silverback Bear". The monster is enormous, measuring roughly 15 meters tall and its strength and speed are immeasurable. The world government is too busy dealing with other things to send someone to help them so the locals are offering a reward of 30,000 beri if someone manages to defeat it and stop its rampage.
◊- Island History: People first arrived in the land that would come to be known as Veldesh kingdom about 4,000 years ago. During that time a great civilization arose called the Mina. For nearly 1,000 years the Mina ruled the island and prospered before their culture came crashing down by unknown forces.
The island was mostly uninhabited for the next five hundred years serving occasionally as the base of several of the earliest pirates and rogues to travel the Grand Line. About 2,500 years ago though a small ship filled with refugees from a nearby country arrived and settled in what would eventually become the city of Portsden. Over the next century the decedents of the settlers expanded inward and eventually establish the kingdom of Veldesh. Portsden served as the nation’s capital until King Veldesh VII felt that it would be better to move seat of government farther inland. Kingstown was founded several months later at the base of a collection of mountains in the center of the island, and since then it has grown to be a large metropolis.
New Records: While the age may be lost, at some point the peoples of Veldesh tamed the Rumble Bee and discovered a seemingly limitless amount of gold on the island. The World Government immediately took action and built a large naval base inside Portsden to secure the kingdom. Since then the nation has been so peaceful that the people have forgot almost entirely about conflict and they have developed a very trusting attitude as a nation. This however has led to the world government basically taking total control of the country. Finally, at some point in the history of this grand island the king was killed by his queen, who took power for herself after discovering that the Queen Rumble Bee was located beneath the capital city of Kingstown. Seeing that the fabled Bee race was controlled not by a man but by a woman, the Queen decided that she too should lead the country. Kingstown was changed to Queenstown and the Kingdom made into a Queendom, even if the World Government did not acknowledge this change. Since then the Veldeshi Queendom was slowly transformed to look more like the bee society that the Queen worshiped. It stands today as a stalwart ally of the World Government and a major player on the Peace Route.