Post by amisi on Jun 7, 2009 13:08:21 GMT -5
Created by Aubs
◊- Name of Island: Bravo Bravissimo
◊- Society: Elite Society
◊- Size of Island: Large
◊- Location: The Nightmare Route
◊- Log Pose Time: 2 Weeks and 1 day (15 days)
◊- Climatic Type: Summer Night
◊- Climate: The island is caught in perpetual darkness, always at that odd point of night where the residual sunlight is gone. Only one day a year does the sun come out, even though the night never has any clouds. The weather is warm, like a mid-summers night, with enough heat to prickly your skin with sweat. This is perhaps a charming place to live, if you only look at weather alone.
◊- Island Appearance: From a distance the island would appear as nothing more than a large, compact group of mountains. Viciously tall these goliaths have been on the island since eternia. However, what majestic beauty there was here is long since gone. For you see within the group of stone there was a reservoir of fresh water drawn from rivers on the mountain ice caps. Down they went, all the water compiling into a large lake that you would never have seen unless you have braved the slopes around it. Now, Long ago adventures came to the island, as they did everywhere in those days, and wandered up and down the ridges until they did in fact find the other side of the fortress, and down below they saw that massive lake of sparkling clean water.
Not long after one of those mountains came down. To be specific, the largest and most prominent of all the mountains was torn asunder, leaving in its wake the much smaller ones, and for that matter a large amount of open space around the water. Industry made sure of that. From its ruin a city made of its stone sprang up in the valley that had once contained the beautiful lake. Nowadays you can only see that dominant city from one side, having the approach for its single port. From every other side the island would like nothing but that old range of mountains. Steely and tall. So now if you come upon this island you will see instead a high stone wall stretching out over the water even, with large arches that act as conduits for coming and going vessels. In the distance behind those walls you will see mountains, but then just as quickly the city will overtake you.
◊- Flora and Fauna:Flora
Glow Fruit Tree: As much of the island has become a single city, and as the island itself was a mountain range there are few specially types of plants indigenous to the land. The most spectacular of these is actually not from this habitat. Instead, with trade came the famed Glow Fruit Tree, which has been planted inside the heart of the city. As you can imagine the Glow Fruit Tree bears special fruit that light up in the darkness like fireflies, though they are about the size of peaches. The tree itself looks much like a living oak, with myriad branches and long overgrown leaves that fall like vines to the ground. Amidst those tangles are the fabulous fruit that light up the city from the water’s edge.
Fauna
Sparkling Flamingo: These birds would appear to be simple water-waders, but instead of a pink hue they come in all shades and colors, with peaks of the sheer opposite color of their feathers no matter the shade. Standing nearly 6 feet tall on spindly legs they are also capable of kicking passerby’s with vicious force. How they get to be these many colors or this rude temperament is unknown. However, they are pretty to look at and when given food they are very cheerful and will but on a show for you. It is when they are annoyed that you should watch out.
Brava: Some say that the island got its time from this strange creature which is now almost extinct. The Brava looks like a wild dog mating with both a mountain cat and a fox, leaving a strange but powerful creature in its stead. Generally the animal has black legs with small, agile feet like that of a fox, but with the retractable claws of a cat; which lead up to the body of a coyote or wolf, powerful and lean. For a head the creature has ears like a fox, but the nose and eyes of a cat. Its tail is long and muscled like a lion on the females, but the males have stubs breed for not being pulled off in combat. As pups they are up to 2 feet tall and weigh in at about 30 pounds, but as adults they will continue to grow until they die. The largest ever recorded was over ten feet long (without a tail) and weighed in at 300 pounds. On average you can expect a 5 foot beat with 170 pounds of muscle. Beware as these predators are fast, agile and powerful. They feed on everything they can find, but do not venture down to the lowlands much anymore for fear of hunters. As nothing else on the island is specialized like they are, nothing really stands a chance.
◊- Inhabitants:While most islands might have some peoples attached to it, Bravo Bravissimo does not. It was an uninhabited island before those explorers arrived, and after their departure only those bent on transforming the place ever came to visit. As such the island has no natural people, and has a rather short history. Those that reside there now fall into three main categories. First there is the Rich, the noble class that has paid to create the lavish island that now rests were once there was mountain. The Rich are essentially Nobles from all over the world who come to the island for relaxation, as you will hardly find a more peaceful place on the Nightmare route. Those people only live near the water, deep within the original wall in the canal city at the center of the composite metropolis. In reality the Rich do not actually live in Bravo, they rent for their stay in the many resort homes on the water’s edge.
Then there is the Middles, those people that own the businesses that cater only to the Rich. While most of their clients could afford their own staff, the Middles make a living off supplying a different one for them, allowing the Rich to feel as if on vacation, away from their problems. They more or less run the city, and because of that status live in all the houses on the top level of the stonework, seated above all else but separate from the Waterfront where the Rich live. You could call the wealthiest of these men the actual Nobles of Bravo but the actual Nobility that frequent the casino and resort Waterfront would not appreciate hearing that.
The last of our denizens are the Help. They are the myriad workers that serve the Rich through the Middles. Generally they live throughout the rest of the city, with a very small percent affording houses on the cheapest part of the upper terrace, and the vast majority living in the lower terraces of stone walkways that reach all the way down to the water’s surface. The poorest don’t even have actual stone under them but instead live on the wooden framework that has been created from refuse over the years. Even though the Help vastly outnumbers all over peoples on the island they still remain poor and hungry. By looking at one you would see how pale most are, and how shoddily dressed, usually with third generation hammy downs patched together over the years. Despite all of this the Help continue their work, day in and day out.
But if you thought that everyone on the island would just sit back and be mistreated then you are sadly mistaken. For you see, there are those members of the Help that desire nothing more than to take from those men that are placed above their status. As such, a subgroup has formed within the Help of outlaws that stick to the dark crevices of the bulwark city, and to the alleys of the terrace. They have no uniform and they have no status, but they exist to do as they please. As you would expect of a dark city they make up the riffraff and nar-do-wells, but you will never know by looking at a man inside Bravo if he is a simple worker or the mastermind that makes his living by tricking the Rich and stealing from the Middles. Apparently they have a color though, a deep red that signifies the blood they are willing to spill for their freedom from the Rich.
◊- Prominent Organizations, Groups and Establishments:Casino Resorts- Above all else on the island of Bravo Bravissimo there are the resort casinos on the water front of the original lake. Inhabited by the Rich when they are around, the multiple resorts that cut up and control parts of the lake are kept in top condition by everyone else on the island. Each resort has a least one high stakes casino, multiple restaurants, bars and pools to go with large properties for walking and relaxing. The owners and therefore recipients of the profit from these establishments are none other than the Middles.
The Middles- Considering that the Rich are Nobles who come to the island of Bravo Bravissimo to relax they can’t really be considered residents. As such, the Middles take the title of Nobility for the island, as they are the actual landed elite. They own the businesses that operate for the sole purpose of pleasing the greater Nobles. The island operates not at their whim but at the crack of their whip. Presiding on the terrace, or the uppermost ring of stone battlements that encircle the city, the Middles are perhaps the most powerful force on the island.
The Crime- The wildcard on the island, the Crime is a series of thieves of lesser and greater organizations who desire only to cut out a living under the watchful eye of the Middles. Some are violent while others are only shrewd, but all of them are cunning enough to not be found. Living deep within the recesses of the towering city, down by the murky waters edge outside of the reach of law, the Crime does business as it pleases. In the darkness of the city you can find anything you desire, but it will costs you. No one knows who runs the collection of gangs, or even if there is a leadership element at all. Every member is anonymous But watch out for the color red, as some say that it marks them and their willingness to spill Noble blood.
◊- Trends:Fashion
Rich: If you were to imagine what they would wear, it would probably be correct. Their dress is not based on anything logical or practical. Either they follow what is fashionable on their island or in the Holy Land, or they wear the robes of a Celestial Dragon. Expect lavish details though, as they can afford them
Middle: The Middles also dress like Nobles, though they are lower key in their looks. Mostly dressed in suits with a simple pin displaying their resort or family name. There are traditional robes that have the Family colors or what not, but they would only ever been seen in the company of the other Middles.
Help: The help dress as a normal person would, ranging from rags to normal servants clothes. Most of what they own come from their employer, and to that end there is a large discrepancy in who has what. What keeps them from fighting over what little there is, is unknown.
Crime: It is unclear what the Crime wears. It might be dependent on who they work for, as with the Help, or it might be overly lavish, as very few people seem then in the end. There is a rumor that the many groups have decided on the color red as their trademark, so it is possible that they wear red clothing of some kind.
Politics
Politics of Pleasure- Politics on Bravo Bravissimo center around who can make the most money. You make the most money by bringing the most Rich to your hotel and casinos. Everything else is not important, whether that is worker pay or epidemic on the lower terraces. If the problem does not affect the Middles there is no change to be had, and unless the Rich care the Middles do not. There is no formal government on the island, nor is there is a Marine presence. Private security is contracted for the Waterfront and the streets are policed by perhaps the most well taken-care-of Help. What order there is comes from the Middles and their closed meetings done in some hall, which moves depending on who is throwing the party that month. Change does not come quickly to Bravo Bravissimo, only money does.
The Politics of Pleasure do not include the Help or the Crime, who operate at a level beneath. It is unclear how the Help organize themselves or who the Crime operates.
Industry
Entertainment- The only industry of note on the island is entertainment. All other exploits work only to increase the amount of high rollers and wealth visitors that can be brought to the island. Every other operation is a mom and pop business that probably only exists to help the lower community survive, but no one above that echelon would be aware of it. The amount of money brought in by the entertainment industry controls all, and whoever is making the most money is the most powerful. Because the entertainment industry is so important in fact, there is almost no production of food, meaning all goods are imported and paid for with profit from entertainment. This makes food very expensive.
Underground- Because of the Crime, you could find just about anything on Bravo Bravissimo, deep within its recesses. But how much money is made and how exactly to enter the field is unknown. It may be dangerous to go and find out as well.
Cuisine
There are two kinds of food on the island, that which is made by highly paid chefs for the Rich and to a lesser extent the Middles. This food is impeccable, and is perhaps some of the best on the Grand Line. Anything you could desire they will have for you, though because of the location everything is imported and therefore more expensive. The second type of food is that which is made by the Help. They have to eat as well, despite what everyone else might think. After spending insane amounts for the food, it is usually made into large pots and fed to all. This means that meals are usually simple and not usually have meat in it. There are a few members of the lower classes that try to grow things, but the lack of sunlight and small spaces provided to them makes it hard to grow anything substantial.
◊- NPCS:None Yet◊- Town(s)/Village(s)/City or Cities:It may seem strange but we will begin this description of the island not from the outside in but from the inside out. To really understand the island of Bravo Bravissimo you must start at the middle and go to the edges, because honestly no one cares about the edges of this town. As the island is basically a single city with a looming set of mountains behind it, we will refer to both the city and the island as the same thing.
The Waterfront: The Waterfront is the area blocked off for the Rich’s use, and is built where the original center of the lake from the island proper once stood. The lake was so big and deep however that it was augmented for the usage of the island, meaning that they artificially dammed it. This allowed the entrepreneurs to create islands in the water which serve as the backbone of the buildings created since. What you get then is more or less a canal city with a few distinctly large hubs that are the casino resorts. Everything else between these hubs has been created by ferrying the original mountains and forming them into fake islands. Only a few feet above the well maintained water the streets here are pristine, cleaned and trimmed, with small amounts of foliage such as tall cattails or the Glow Fruit Tree which act as streetlights. There are a few small parks where one could relax as well, if that is more you style. There are almost no homes here however, as most are only visiting. Instead it is all shopping, food and more entertainment in this part of town. But just as the fun begins the looming stone wall carved from the old mountains cuts off the Waterfront. Over 300 feet tall the Stone separates this place from the rest of Bravo Bravissimo.
The Stone: The stone circle that surrounds the Waterfront is known simply as the Stone. It is broken into subsections based on and location compared to the whole circle. Essentially, there is a large, 500 foot tall wall and rampart that encircles the entire city. It is for all intents and purposes the city itself however. From the very edge of the circle that looks out over the ocean to the other end nestled up against the mountains and everything in between, including the small circle around the Waterfront, is the city proper. This is because the houses are built on top of and inside the walls. The wealthier houses are on top of the wall, which is called the Terrace, while the poorer homes are inside sections of the wall or tacked onto the sides. There is only one ring on the top level, cut off by stone “bridges” if you will that connect the smaller wall in the center of the city to the outside. This allows movement throughout the city in more than just a circular direction. Because the walls of the city are so big they can house walkways inside themselves as well, which led to smaller terraces being made on the lower levels walkways, which are big enough to hold city blocks. To simplify then, what you have is a massive stone wall that is so large that the city is built on top and inside of it. It is built with bridges and walkways that allow you to move around the city in different ways, with parks and outdoor sections present on the terraces. And because the wall is 400 feet high there are many levels to it, with the best kept levels being at the top and the worst kept at the bottom. And finally, because there is water at the bottom of this structure, most travel down at the lowest level is done in small junk boats. The small amount of land forged from the remains of the old mountain are quartered off for mysterious reasons. Amidst all of this stone is final aspect of the city, the wooden structures built off the stone at the lower terraces that house the overlarge population of Help and Crime.
The Sprawl: Those wooden structures built from refuse wood that house the many people of the lower classes, the same ones that allow for movement to the many crannies of the city that are used to house people and property are called the Sprawl. The city was not deigned to hold this many people so the very creative poor ones designed these systems and buildings for their uses. A common example of Sprawl is a set of wooden shops that run down the side of massive stone wall, with a dock at the bottom for ships and a few platforms for small houses or bars. Most would think that these decks and porches built between stone structures would be interesting, but they are probably the most dangerous places in the dangerous city. Built on old material they have a chance of falling at any time, and it is much easier to hide things down in the darkness of a perpetually dark place than to keep it out in open. Considering how big the stone structure is here there are many nooks and crannies to hide in, and only by adding wooden walkways to them can you appreciate how much there is in this dense city. Generally only those that are too poor to afford rent on the terraces of the Stone live in the lawless Sprawl, but some prefer it that way.
◊- Island Map: None
◊- Missions: N/A
◊- Island History: The history of Bravo Bravissimo begins with the mountains and the lake. The island has a very large, compact group of mountains surrounding a large freshwater lake. Now, Long ago adventures came to the island, as they did everywhere in those days, and wandered up and down the ridges until they did in fact find the other side of the fortress, and down below they saw that massive lake of sparkling clean water. One man, whose name is forgotten these days decided that this was the place to be. He knew deep down in his heart that this was the place to found a city, the only issue was the mountains making it hard to establish. When he returned to his island he knew he would need to propose to the government in order to get the funds to colonize the island. He told them of a beautiful island caught in perpetual night, with stars that would light up the sky for them all day and night. The vote was unanimously against, because they could not find any natural resources there. However, a businessman approached our adventure and changed the rules.
He said that he would pay any expense to have the island, the adventure must only take him and his associates there. The adventurer agreed, and the group did in fact go to the island once more, this time with a huge ship towing barges full of mining equipment. Not long after one of those mountains came down. To be specific, the largest and most prominent of all the mountains was torn asunder, leaving in its wake the much smaller ones, and for that matter a large amount of open space around the water. The businessman said that they must use the stone they were carting away to create the city here of his dreams, and by this time the adventurer had no say in what was happening within the operation, so slowly the stone was moved and carted down to the water to build the original city that we now call the Waterfront.
From its ruin a city made of its stone sprang up in the valley that had once contained the beautiful lake. The businessman knew that he could turn this place into a wonderful resort for his clients, a little escape in the middle of the Grand Line. But what he found while he was tearing down the mountain to secure his city was that he had too much stone and not enough money to make his dream city. So he found his own backers for a project, a making of other cities on the island that you could fund yourself and be king of. What he didn’t tell his investors was that they weren’t in charge of the blueprints, leaving him to design themselves. He already had his city, and now he had room to move but too much stone, so he decided he would just expand his city. The investors couldn’t have his city of course, but they could be next to it, but in order to be safe they would need an outer wall that surrounded the now combined cities.
And so they built the largest wall they could, and found that as the wall began to finally encircle the area that the mountain had once occupied that the wall had been made so big in fact that there was no room for cities inside of it. There was only a limited amount of space because of the lake which had been position as the center. Now artificially damned by the businessman’s decree it had expanded and flooded much of the little ground that was left after stripping the mountain down to its base. So without telling anyone he turned it all into just one big city, essentially making the island a few mountains shadowing down on a massive, circle stone city that reached all the way to the ocean. Then his final genius idea came to fruition. He didn’t have the space to build inside the walls, but the walls were so big he could just build the city on top of them. From these 500 foot tall walls then came the terraces and walkways to connect back to his original wall around the best part of the old, deep, clean lake.
The Businessman died not long after completing his blueprint, which caused the investors to travel to the island and see what was left to them. When they finally did arrived they were dismayed at what they saw, but knew that too much had been done for too long to change the blueprints. The walls were too big, the water too deep and wide now. But one man knew that there was a solution, he is the one truly called the Founder of Bravo Bravissimo, whose name was actually Bravo Bravissimo oddly enough. The decision was made by his hand, with whatever support he could muster from the other many investors that they should colonize the island now with who they had. There was already hundreds of workers here, and their families could make up the government, and there best asset, the Waterfront City could become a resort for the World Nobles to come to. No one had more money than Nobles, and this would be the perfect place to spend so.
So finally, the Investors settled the island and became the Middles, putting all their money in the Waterfront to turn it into the place to be on the Grand Line. The workers became the Help, though their families were rounded up for them along with many orphans and homeless back in the motherland to make the numbers work out right.
That was only a few hundred years ago. Since then, not much has changed. Still in darkness Bravo Bravissimo remains a never-ending work in progress, with someone always try to come out on top.