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Expanded Universe: Krajina Božstiev
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The Portal Between Universes On Saturday, June 20, 2020, at exactly 5:44 p.m. EDT, the exact time of the Summer Solstice in NYC, portals to another universe opened all around the city. Those portals lead to a place called Krajina Božstiev. This was nothing new for the Bureau; they had dealt with inter-dimensional phenomena before. But this time, they were only able to close all but one of the portals. They were at least able to shrink the portal to the size of a large doorway. To monitor the ongoing situation, the Bureau set up a tollbooth just outside the portal. To cross between the two universes, characters will need to check with a Bureau agent at the tollbooth. This is to ensure that when the Bureau finally finds a way to close the portal, no one from this universe will be trapped on the other side. Portal Location On the Krajina Božstiev side, the portal is located in an alley that opens into one of the Merchant Class marketplaces of the City. Portal Description The Bureau has built a frame around the portal to make it easier to monitor, and they have placed their tollbooth on the left side of the portal. The portal is the size of a large door. Characters can only bring what they can carry. Krajina Božstiev Krajina Božstiev is an ancient city with deep roots in the ancient ways. Deities are worshiped here; with the Deities in balance with one another again, people are relearning the Old Ways. Expanded Universe Boundaries Expanded Universe Facts:
The Culture of Krajina Božstiev The Culture of Krajina Božstiev is rich and fascinating. Fashion • Commoners:   • Merchant classes:    • Nobility/Royalty:    • City Guard:  The clothing that would be available for purchase in the Markets would be for the lower classes—for commoners mostly, and some merchant class items. All the fancier stuff is tailor-made. But rich fabrics are on bolts all over the markets, sold by the measurement. (All clothing pictures credit to http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/PoleCostume.htm) Art Music Written Word and Oral Storytelling However, the people of Krajina Božstiev really enjoy an entertaining storyteller. These folks can have an almost celebrity status in the city for their ability to weave a compelling story with their voice. The City Krajina Božstiev is a walled city. High stone walls surround the whole of the city which contains numerous markets, taverns, brothels, trades districts, an impressive library, a temple dedicated to the Unknowable God, and the Royal Palace. The streets are winding, lined with houses and places of business. And they are usually packed with people here to do trade or work or travel. There is a clear class distinction between the royals and noblemen and then everyone else: merchants, tradesmen, farmers, skilled laborers. And it's readily apparent in their clothes and where everyone lives. The Royal Palace is towards the east end of the city, and the noblemen live over near the Palace. The houses become less fancy and more rustic the further west one travels in the city. Krajina Božstiev is a big city with about a million people living in or passing through at any given time. The population is very diverse - given it is the biggest city in the region and a hub for trade from around their known world. None of your characters will seem too out of place because of this - they will certainly be viewed as foreigners, but the people here are used to foreigners. Outside the City walls are rolling hills covered in grass or forests for as far as the eye can see. Though the air is drier than NYC, this is hardly a desert. Herd animals graze on the hills and in the far distance, farms can be seen. There are a number of NPCs the characters can interact with throughout the city. The Markets Krajina Božstiev has many bustling, sprawling open air markets. These markets are littered around the city of Krajina Božstiev and there is no rhyme or reason to where they are located in the city. These markets are busy, and always packed with people trying to buy or sell wares. Characters can shop and trade. This world uses its own currencies or accepts trades. The things this market finds valuable: • Anything with writing in/on it • Woven fabrics/clothing • Knit fabrics/clothing • Pictures (prints/postcards) • Children's picture books w/words • Picture books without words • Bottled water Electronics might fetch you a nice price or trade, but beware—as soon as those batteries run out every merchant in the city will know what an unfair trade it was and shut your character out. And you don't want to miss out. The markets of Krajina Božstiev are a wondrous place. Many different wares can be found here and they change every day: fabrics, dyes, spices (some you've never heard of or tried before!), glass beads, handcrafted items, daggars and knives, simple clothing, blankets, and unfamiliar fruits and vegetables. The Library The Library is impressive in size, but its contents are also impressive. This is a "chained library"—all the books are kept locked to the shelves on chains, and can only be accessed by talking to the head Librarian. Books are expensive, whether they are hand-drawn or printed (movable type is a thing in this setting, but it's a new invention). And thieves are common. So the books are jealously guarded by the head Librarian. Characters are welcome to enter and read the books of the Library, though they can't take anything with them. The books remained chained to the shelves at all times. Characters can read about the boring histories of the past rulers of this city, the farmer's almanacs, and old religions. These are the most interesting books (click each triangle to expand): Book 1: Ancient Deities of Krajina BožstievThe natural state of the Ancient Deities was that of pairs. Each Deity had another half to balance them. When worshiped together, the world was harmonious and peaceful. Also, when worshiped together, the Deities existed in their balanced form.However, when worship of the Deities was unequal between the pairings, Deities reverted to their unbalanced form. The following were the known Deities of Ancient Krajina Božstiev and their balanced and unbalanced forms: Nádej - Balanced: Spirit of Hope and Compassion. Unbalanced: Spirit of Inaction and Complacency. Strach - Balanced: Spirit of Justice and Protection. Unbalanced: Spirit of Fear. Zmätok - Balanced: Spirit of Chance and Fortune. Unbalanced: Spirit of Chaos. Usporiadať - Balanced: Spirit of Order. Unbalanced: Spirit of Conformity. Rozbroj - Balanced: Independence. Unbalanced: Spirit of Mischief. Povinnosť - Balanced: Spirit of Duty and Loyalty. Unbalanced: Spirit of Oppression. Vedomosti - Balanced: Spirit of Wisdom and Learning. Unbalanced: Spirit of Arrogance. Nevedomosť - Balanced: Spirit of Intuition and Faith. Unbalanced: Spirit of Ignorance. [OOC: Handwritten addendum added in the modern time by the Head Librarian:] The Eight Deities are no longer lost to the past. After the most recent Summar Solstice of [DATE (OOC: While the Krajina Božstiev date is odd to any Earth reader, players can know this correlates with the June 2020 Game Plot)], the Eight Deities were restored on the altar in the new Temple of the Eight Deities. All is in balance, again. Book 2: The Stone Festival of Krajina BožstievThe Stone Festival of Krajina Božstiev is celebrated each year on the Summer Solstice.Each stone is said to give the owner a blessing from a specific Deity. The stones physical attributes (all are tear-drop shaped) and supposed blessings are as follows: Hope Stone: rose quartz, fights off despair—a gift from Nádej Stone of Justice: snowflake obsidian, blesses the holder with mild protection—a gift from Strach Luck Stone: citrine, gives mild good luck—a gift from Zmätok Stone of Success: labradorite, gives mild success in the holder's endeavors—a gift from Usporiadať Stone of Happiness: agate, blesses the holder with a happy life—a gift from Rozbroj Courage Stone: tiger’s eye, blesses the holder with courage—a gift from Povinnosť Stone of Wisdom: amethyst, makes the holder more focused—a gift from Vedomosti Stone of Intuition: malachite, blesses the holder with knowing right from wrong—a gift from Nevedomosť Book 3: Myths of the Old Deities of Krajina Božstiev Vol. 1Long ago, an army came to the lands surrounding Krajina Božstiev. Their weapons were strange and powerful and mighty. The City’s king called in the people living around the City and sheltered them inside the walls. The king petitioned for an army of soldiers to hold back the invading army, but even when every able man and woman put on armor, the City was surrounded and outnumbered. The people despaired. The advantage of the City walls could not protect against famine or illness. The king’s advisors gave council, telling him to ask the Deities for help. One suggested asking Povinnosť to give them more loyal soldiers—but the king knew they had already asked everyone they could. There were no more people to make soldiers out of. One suggested asking Nevedomosť to develop a winning battle strategy—but the king knew with the size of the enemy’s army no mortal battle tactic could defeat them. One suggested asking Nádej to negotiate a peaceful surrender—but the king knew the other army did not intend to make them a vassal, but to take everything from this land and leave nothing for them to live off of. So the king left his throne room and went to the balcony. He looked down at the city and said: “Zmätok, only you have the chance at defeating this army that besieges our gates. I humbly ask for your help in our most darkest hour.” Zmätok heard the pleas of the king and was impressed by the king’s faith. They went to their divine garden and harvested all their divine cruciferous vegetables and prepared a feast for a god. That night they consumed many plates of beans, cauliflower, and asparagus that had been grown in the fertile soil of the garden of the gods. And when they were full, they went to the highest tower of the City Gates and turned their back to the army. They ignored the many jeers of the enemy because they knew what was going to happen next. The sound of their divine flatulence echoed across the land for days. The smell lingered even longer, choking the enemy army where they stood around the city until they could handle no more. After the third day of mass desertions, the army withdrew. The people protected inside the city wall created city gardens in honor of Zmätok and their divine cruciferous vegetables. Book 4: Myths of the Old Deities of Krajina Božstiev, Vol. 2The Deities were having a banquet where much wine was consumed by all. In a drunken declaration, Vedomosti claimed they were the best Deity because they were the most knowledgeable. Strach, also drunk, declared Vedomosti to be wrong, because without justice, there could be no pursuit of learning, so they were the best Deity. Usporiadať slurred their challenge to the two boastful Deities—they were the best Deity because they kept the world in order. Usporidat challenged both Strach and Vedomosti to prove their claim with a leg wrestling match. Nevedomosť objected to this stupidity, because, they claimed, they knew stupidity when they saw it. But Zmätok and Rozbroj interjected, saying that a challenge such as this needed to run its course but that Nádej should be the judge. Nádej agreed to be judge. And so it began, the leg wrestling match that would determine who was the best Deity among them all. Usporiadať passed out in their chair. Vedomosti tripped trying to stand from the table. And Strach fell on their way to the designated area for wrestling. Nádej declared no one the winner. Book 5: Myths of the Old Deities of Krajina Božstiev, Vol. 3The Deities once ruled this land. All were worshiped equally. Because of the people’s devotion to all the Deities, society thrived. But over time, people forgot the dual nature of the Deities—that they should be worshiped equally, and that twin pairings much be worshiped together, or the world would become unbalanced. First, people turned to worshiping just Nádej than Strach and for a time, that was how things were. And they as a pair, were strong and ruled over the other Deities. There was relative peace. But then more people started to worship Nádej than they did Strach, and a temple was built solely for the worship of Nádej. Strach became jealous of Nádej’s popularity and made a secret pact with the Deities Usporiadať and Nevedomosť, and with their added strength, Strach corrupted more hearts of humans than Nádej could save. Strach corrupted the people with fear, despair, and rage. As Strach ate at the hearts of humans like a cancer, humans gave into their darker natures and turned on one another. Nádej became complacent. The Acolytes of Nádej, seeing the corruption of people, first entreated Nádej to help, but Nádej did not listen. Next they approached Strach, asking them to relent their punishment on the humans. But Strach would not relent. Then the Acolytes turned to the other Deities for assistance, but none would heed their plea for help. So, for the good of humanity, the Acolytes of the Temple of Nádej, understanding the consequence of Strach’s wrath and Nádej’s inaction, trapped Strach at the cost of Nádej’s own existence. In secret, the Acolytes sealed both Nádej and Strach deep in a cavern under the hills near the city, a cavern accessible only through the Nádej's Temple. And after they sealed in Nádej and Strach, the Acolytes pulled the Temple down around them so the entrance to the cavern trapping Nádej and Strach could not be found. Usporiadať and Nevedomosť, not knowing what happened to Strach, grew bored with tempting the hearts of humans and turned to other endeavors. Nevedomosť, seeing a power vacuum in religion, took the altar that had once belonged in the Temple of Nádej and made a new religion—creating the Temple of the Unknowable God in service to Nevedomosť. Without knowing it, people worshiped Nevedomosť. Nevedomosť gouged out the ring of hope stones in Nádej’s altar and replaced them with their own stones—stones of malachite. In an act of desperation, one Acolyte of Nádej, having studied the old histories of the Deities and suspecting there could be another way to balance, created a way to release Nádej and Strach. He believed the world needed both of them, and the rest of the Deities, too, but all in balance with each other. This Acolyte hoped that one day, someone could help break the seals holding Nádej and Strach, then rebuild the worship of all the Deities and restore balance. [OOC: Handwritten addendum added in the modern time by the Head Librarian:] The Eight Deities are no longer lost to the past. After the most recent Summar Solstice of [DATE (OOC: While the Krajina Božstiev date is odd to any Earth reader, players can know this correlates with the June 2020 Game Plot)], the Eight Deities were restored on the altar in the new Temple of the Eight Deities. All is in balance, again. The Public Baths Once known as the Temple of the Unknowable God, this ornate building has been converted into a luxurious public bath. For a fee, patrons of all classes can enjoy the soothing steam and waters of this bathhouse, though the royals and nobles certainly have more luxurious (and separate) accommodations from the lower classes. The building's previous owners spared no expense in covering everything in gold. There is so much gold! It covers everything, the molding on the walls, the furniture, the stained glass windows seem to use primarily yellow tinted glass giving all the light inside the temple a deep glow. Does this much gold remind you of someone back in the US? (And actually, this wasn't in the original tour of the building when it was the Temple of the Unknowable God—but now characters can actually see the building's toilets and though primitive by our standards, a lot is still covered in gold.) As a bathhouse, the gold just makes one feel pampered. The City Gates There are 6 gates in total—2 each at east and west, 1 each north and south. These gates are impressive: large wooden doors that look impenetrable when closed, but are wide enough to let two large horse-drawn carts through at a time when open. The gates are connected by the walls that surround the whole city. Between each gate are a series of towers located along the wall that can communicated via flags or fires, depending on urgency. If your character is polite and respectful, they may convince the City Guard to give a tour of the wall and towers. These gates are the only way in and out of the city. Once they are locked at night, anyone caught outside is stuck until they are opened in the early morning. Taverns and Brothels The city has many taverns and brothels. The food and drink are both good—if a bit more on the earthy end of the culinary spectrum (but look, do not eat the pumpernickel bread, you do NOT want to know what they put in that dough). As long as the money keeps flowing, patronage is welcome. Some taverns have musicians who play hand-held instruments; dancing is encouraged when musicians play. The best taverns have story-tellers for entertainment and those are always fun to watch. Gambling with dice is common in these taverns and there are no regulations on the gambling that happens here—so betters beware. Some taverns also have rooms for rent—but honestly, who wants a straw tick mattress when you have such modern amenities at home. The brothels—well, we all know what goes on there. And you sure better show your money up front or you're out on your ass. The Hills Surrounding the City While this is a drier region of the country, this hills are covered in grass in parts and forests in other parts. And for the most part, these hills seem like normal hills. Herd animals graze on the hills. Woodland creatures live in the forests. The hills are generally peaceful. And though it might be frustrating to get locked out of the city at night, it's more than likely, if your character is dressed well enough, that they will survive the night in the hills unscathed. It is quite peaceful out in the hills—though during the time of the Unbalanced Deities, these hills often shook with tremors. They do not shake anymore and haven't since all the Deities were restored to the altar in the new Temple of the Eight Deities. The Royal Palace The Royal Palace is located at the very east end of the city. The neighborhoods that surround the palace belong to the noblemen of the city. The lower Palace grounds are open to the public, they are a series of connected gardens. Beautiful flowers and trees grow along paths that wind around ponds. It's very peaceful and a wonderful way to pass the day. No one without an invite can go to the upper Palace grounds (which is were the Palace building is located), save for days when Court is held. The King's Court is held regularly and any person of the city is free to come and watch from that galley on those days. Laws and punishment are usually just, and it's interesting to watch a royal Court in session. Once a year, at the end of the Summer Solstice Stone Festival celebration (two weeks after the Summer Solstice) the King throws a royal ball. This is by invitation only. However, the whole city can see the fireworks display during the night, so that is fun for all. The New Temple The Temple of the Eight Deities is in a bit of a state at the moment. It was once dedicated only to the Deity Nádej, until it was ruined by the Deity's acolytes. That was long ago. But the space as been reclaimed now that the people of have returned to the Old Ways of worshiping all Deities equally. The parts of the Temple still standing have a simplistic grace to them. Hewn from dark granite and polished, the only ornamentation is a band of moon and suns carved into the rock in what would have been at waist high on the wall, and at the ceiling. Some of the old ceiling chunks still sport the carvings. New acolytes are working hard to restore this ruin to what it once was. In the main chamber, in a place of prominence, is an altar. The altar is simple, made from dark granite, with the same sun and moon imagery facing the edge of the altar's tablet. On top of the tablet are sixteen tear-dropped shaped stones arranged in a circle, two of each kind: rose quartz, snowflake obsidian, citrine, labradorite, agate, tiger's eye, amethyst, and malachite. The stones represent the eight deities, worshiped equally. The acolytes welcome visitors. Questions I have questions! 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