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BARTON TOWN
LOCATION - ARCHITECTURE - PROMINENT BUILDINGS/SIGHTS - OCCUPATION
LOCATION - ARCHITECTURE - PROMINENT BUILDINGS/SIGHTS - OCCUPATION
Barton Town is known as the Heart of Gaia. After many worldly events and accounts, Barton alone has stood strong and steadfast. Placed directly in the center of all Gaian's lives, this is a place of tranquility and happiness. Much of Gaia's worldly events, not to mention isolated incedents have taken place here, from fights to merrymaking. Collecting candy to singing carols to scaring the bajebus out of a cat. All in all, Barton is a place of peace.
Or so it was. The unforeseen precedent of an organized attack on Barton's people prompted an extreme change to not only the city itself, but to the way the entire community was perceived. Barton had ceased to be the peaceful people-friendly neighborhood.
The idea that they were so aptly defenseless in the face of attackers coming from within the town itself would easily set any city to become paranoid and frightened.
Though no more, as the safety of the general public was no longer of their own concern. While similarly emerging from within Barton itself, the soldiers of Deity Incorporated arrived in time to limit the numerous casualties and maintain the remnants of the still-standing town. Converting the town into a veritable fortress while maintaining the populous in a benevolent police state.
Their presence here is now integral to the town and it's safety.
Reminders of the attack are everywhere, though the town has returned to business as usual. Damaged buildings and roads, wreckage from fallen structures, and in some places; bullet holes still mar the city. Deity has collected bodies from both sides and cleaned a majority of the damage to a point where it no longer impedes the city's business but is still ever-present.
- Location:
Placed in the east-north-east section of the continent, Barton is the center of civilian Gaian life. Gaia is surrounded entirely by planes and flatlands, all stretching for miles. Very little forest, but plenty of vegitation. In every cardinal direction is plains, but after a little while, there's always something. To the east far enough is Aekea River, which feeds directly into the Sea of Gambino. To the north is Bass'ken Lake, home of the most prominent fishing store in ALL of Gaia. There are very few defining features of this against any other plains. The area is entirely... bland.
All of this is unchanged. Deity's involvement has change only the face of the town and it's inner workings. Each entrance to the city has become a checkpoint under Deity military control. These checkpoints are manned around the clock by armed soldiers that may, occasionally, stop and question those entering the city. Other times they may simply wave them through, or even stop and search vehicles.
The checkpoints have also erected large metal gates at each of the cardinal entrances. These ten foot tall slabs of metal close only in the event of an emergency. Otherwise they remain open to allow traffic back and forth.
Architecture:
Barton's building's style is actually very unique, rather cartoony, actually. The buildings are all sorts of shapes, from square to circle. Roofs are cones, cylinders, stars, blocks, curved... There are actual differances from one side of the street to the other. Believe it or not.
The average house in Barton is singlestory. In fact, almost all buildings this town are, save the Forum Tavern and the Arena.
Depending on the area, some buildings within Barton have been destroyed and now sit as piles of rubble. Elsewhere, many more buildings are obviously damaged from the various means employed by Undead army.
A more pertinent change is the sudden change in Barton's population. Many families lack homes, as they were lost in the attack. Many other homes are damaged while also missing the citizens that once lived in them.
Numerous rapid-built temporary structures have risen throughout the city. Where the occupying forces have not adopted public buildings to their own purposes, skeletal frameworks of silvery metal serve the purposes needed for the military.
Prominent Buildings and Sights:
- Barton Arena - A once bustling centerplace of town, filled with action and combat, Barton Arena has quieted down, and has actually become a place of art and intelectual competition. Everything from fashion fights to artistic arguements, this place is the thinker's favorite place to be.
The Bloodworks arena was one of the main points of attack used by the invading Undead forces. Underground tunnels constructed by the zombies connect to the floor of the floor of the arena to wherever else this network leads.
In an effort to close this place of entry, the entire structure has been closed off. The once-open center of the arena has been sealed by a large doming lid placed there by the Deity military. This lid acts as a roof to further prevent anything from getting in-- even by air.
Soldiers are on watch at all times day or night. Civilians are no longer allowed on the premises. Attempts to gain entry can be met with mixed warnings that they shouldn't be here, or demands for them to leave the area at gunpoint. One of the most heavily guarded and involved places for the occupying military, there are even soldiers placed on the roof to watch the surrounding area. These can be easily seen from a distance, and their presence easily reinforces the ban on the area.
- Ye Forum Tavern - This place has existed longer than most of Barton. From an oldtime bar to a modern cornucopia of liquor and technological interface. The back room, which once held fine wines and ales, now holds rows and columns of computers, linked up to one massive ISP juggler. For two-hundred fifty computers, a thousand ISP easy. Plus all the computers in Barton make up the most popular past time in Gaia : Roleplaying.
Deity prefers life in the city to remain as "business as usual" as possible. Businesses are allowed to operate normally.
- Barton Circle - Surrounding a thirty-five foot fountain, this street is popular for the romantic Gaians. A scenic view of many other sights, not to mention the great light shows of the fountain. As stated, romance is abound here.
- The Love House - ...Undisclosed...
- Barton Boutique - One of the most successful shops in all of Gaia, it is owned by Ian Bibbilibidibben. Operated by Ian and his cat, Rufus. Almost any clothing item on earth can be found here.
This business is also allowed to continue normally.
- The Train Station - The only link to the actual residential area of Barton Town, this place is booming with buses and trains going in and out, to and from 'Towns'.
This is the only other entrance to the city outside of the four gates. As such, this area is heavily patrolled for suspicious individuals coming or going by bus and train. Bus and Train stations are host to many soldiers that often stop and question people they deem suspicious.
- OCCUPATION
Deity personnel -
Soldiers employed by Deity Incorporated are completely human. They are easily distinguished apart from the average Barton citizen. Clad in military fatigues, armor, and carrying weapons.
An average soldier is typically clad in dark blue fatigues with grey metallic-looking armor worn over it. Chest plates that cover front in back and with small contouring pauldrons, helmets, thigh guards, knee plates, and greaves that cover non-metal boots that all only provide protection to the front.
They all carry weapons openly. Pistols strapped at their hips, fully automatic assault weapons either at the ready or slung across their backs. While they may carry the weapons out and ready, they will never point the weapons or make hostiles movements unless threatened.
These soldiers are a common sight and a small patrol is never far away. They deal with the people to answer questions, deal with disturbances, and help out in any way that may be required. Within reason, of course.
Though in much fewer number, the infamous ranks of the Deity Powered Infantry can be found in town as well. The armoured hulks do not wander the street and do not deal with the public at large. Most commonly found to be utterly silent they will not speak to citizens or answer questions, nor will they stop when regarded by non-military personnel. Powered infantry travel in large groups and always have somewhere to be. Their size and the weapons they carry make grand warnings to everyone, even if their intent is not malicious.
It's not wise to get in their way.
Deity vehicles -
Deity military did not walk here. Signature grey/blue camo pattern vehicles carrying the Deity emblem are a fixture to Barton's roads. Large trucks with covered beds carry either troops or supplies from outside to the inner workings of Barton. Lightweight military vehicles patrol the area with unarmored soldiers in a more expedient way than their counterparts on foot alone. While these transports and light vehicles may be unthreatening, they're not alone.
Armored vehicles and troop carriers with various kinds and sizes of mounted weaponry can sometimes be seen rolling the street. There has been no known combat usage of these vehicles to date, but the knowledge that an APC or middleweight strike vehicle might be around any corner does wonders for crime rate. A majority of these armored combat vehicles come out after curfew when the sun goes down. It's then that strike vehicles watch the city with spotlights for any kind of violation of curfew.
Airborne vehicles play a much smaller part in interacting with the city on the whole. Craft like these don't block traffic or stop ominously at streetcorners, but instead tear through the sky on a regular basis. Delivering needed parties quickly, or just being watchful eyes for those on the ground. At night, low-flying aircraft help watch the perimeter and city streets with infrared spotters.
These aerial vehicles land and take off from the rooftop of the Deity Field Office building, the pair of landing pads in Barton Square, and the newly-acquired Arena roof with some frequency.
However, as of late the number of supply trucks entering Barton have escalated beyond the normal transit number seen when the occupying forces first arrived. Many of these trucks can be followed to the Arena where they disappear within and emerge some time later.
Deity Structures -
To some surprise, the Deity Field Office in Barton has for the most part played a small role in the military operations here. This is largely in part by the military's own initiative to bring with them the things they needed. Deity Corps Engineers have since erected a small village of silver-grey metal single-story structures in the remnants of Barton Square. This is the main gateway for military-civilian relations. Those without shelter can find it here. Medical and other basic survival needs are rendered to civilians for free from the on-staff volunteers.
Built on public land this cluster of buildings is far from off-limits. That said, some buildings have doors with locks, and warnings stenciled across them to ward off all but authorized personnel only. Intrusion into these buildings is a sure way to be detained.
As opposed to the 'everyone welcome' policy of the Barton Square, the Arena will not allow anyone in or even near. Approaching the area will warrant demands to see proper authorization. If you don't have this, you are escorted away. There are always guards on duty, and they aren't always friendly.
Although the newly-installed gates to the city are not a primary installation of the Deity military. These checkpoints have large metal gates that slide across the road, as well as obstacles that rise from the street itself. The gates have yet been given a reason to close, but they are remotely operated and can be shut at a moments notice from the military command station.
People are allowed to enter and leave through here freely. Though people on the outside coming in may be allowed entry without stopping, questioned, or even pulled aside and searched.
A smaller series is gates sits in wait, unnoticed, at the Barton train station. While smaller, they are made to withstand a speeding locomotive to completely deny access to the city in any way if Deity saw fit. The train station also has a higher-than average complement of soldiers. These often stop people they deem suspicious and search them. Being questioned is now a regular part of traveling by train.
