THE MERCHANT TOWN OF LATENT
Credit goes to Lucind for the Map.
DESCRIPTION - LOCATION - PEOPLE - COAT OF ARMS - THE LANTIAN SPEAR & SHIELD - CLIMATE - FLORA - FAUNA - PRODUCTION/TRADE - SOURCES
Latent is a merchant town located on the eastern shore not too far from the Leviathan Stadium. Along with Durem and Barton, as well as the newly developing Akea, it is one of the largest cities in the northeastern lands. The city is composed of a large number of people far and wide, including the native Atlanteans, with around 8,000 inhabitants. Over the years, the business within the Stadium became such a neccessity for the town, because of the ravaging wars within the lands. Because of this, business has sprouted up within the country, thanks to the Stadium.
- Description:
Latent is a thriving town full of trade and growth. The fishing market has kept the people living for generations, and still thrives due to the bountiful source of food, the Leviathan Sea. The Latent market is one of the most diverse in Gaia.
The town is divided into two areas; the Inner City and the Outer City. The Outer City includes the area on the shore of the Leviathan Sea, and the south and southeastern border of town, facing the forest that surrounds the Stadium. The Inner City is everything inside the borders and the northern border. The two primary entry points to the city are the Northern Gate to the northeast of the town, and the large port. But this is only one part of Latent. The other Latent, not visible easily for the traveller, is as extended as the visible one. Built on a flat rocky shore which contains a lot of caverns, the sewers under Latent are older as the town itself. And it is said that the "funny" business which flourishes there, is far more important than the transactions made in the upper town...
The Northern Gate
The Northern gate is part of an essential trade route with Barton. The Northeastern road is watched at all times by a marshall of the city, from a watchtower adjacent to the gate. The gate is closed after dark, and any merchant caravans that wish to enter must obtain special permission, or wait until morning.
The Outer City
Surrounding the houses and the gardens is the Outer City, a maze of streets, buildings and general urban chaos. Some twenty percent of this area are used by hunters and fishers living in this area. The fishers gather fish from the sea and prepare their flesh to be eaten, and their parts to be traded. Hunters hunt for food and gather lumber in the forest on the outside of town. Many buildings are libraries or training centers, others are profitable businesses. This quarter also houses the entrance to the tunnels that run into the cave network under Latent. There is even a school for young ones, teaching mainly history, languages and about other races, as in the market square they are a common site. At the very edge of this area is the sheer face of the inner wall that reaches up into the sky, encircling the city. But the wall isn't solid by any means.
The Shrine of Water
The most noticable structure in the Outer City is the Shrine of Water located near the shore. The Water Shrine is a small, but a beautiful temple located on the eastern shore. It is triangular in shape, and the point is facing towards the center of the sea. It is constructed of fine marble, hued with bluish green. In the center is a fountain where fishers and sailors usually ask for blessings before using the waters.
The Arwood (Grove of Arvins)
A short walk to the east of the town will bring one to an Arwood; a grove in honor of Arvins, a legendary Hunter. The path closer to the town is less adorned, but as one walks along, moss is fund, and eventually, hearth bushes develop. The path comes to a circular grove inhabited by various trees that do not normally grow in the region. The grove is tended by hunters in the town daily, and one is usually found somewhere in the vicinity of the Arwood.
The Gardens
Roads leave the Inner City square in four directions (northeast, west, southeast - to the three portcullis on the inner walls, and to the gates of the city beyond and east to the harbor). Move in any direction out of the market area and you are presented by the gardens that encircle the Market Square and for a while you start to understand why this place is so beautiful. The gardens echo beauty, growing wild and ornamental plants from far away places. Here the gardens follow the concentric theme created by the walls, wrapping around the central square. There are no paths emanating from the roads that pass to the outer edges of the city, but if you look carefully you can make out the tracks worn by centuries of feet passing over the grass. Certain parts of the gardens are simply carpets of flowers for most of the year, that not even the roughest of rogues would wish to disturb.
The Residential Areas
It is hard to tell where the gardens end and the residential areas begin. People live above your head as you stroll through certain areas of the gardens. You can hear them singing, laughing, but you can't see them when you look up. What you make out however, are the crisscross walkways that link dwellings, the spiral staircases up towers, and flowers cascading fromrailways. Along the road, and sometimes well away from them, with no obvious way to reach them, are small stone or wood dwellings. What is different in Latent is that housing administration fulfils a rather different role, as property is not distributed. Rather it is the duty of the owners to give the house to a neighbor, should they, for whatever reason, leave, who will ensure that it is not left unlived in for too long. Housing administration keep tabs on quality craftsmen, and can give advice on who is right for those jobs that are usually caused by high winds; administration will also organize any necessary repairs needed to empty houses, and will find somewhere to put up those who find themselves without a place to stay.
The Inner City
The buildings in the Inner City are generally large and built of stone, steel, brick-- all the modern day conveinces. The homes here are built towards the outskirts; closer to the Outer City. Where the main business takes place is in the very center of the town. The Inner City is always busy. It is filled with taverns, inns, businesses, and trading houses, as well as the area known as the 'Trade Route'. Upon the trade route, one can buy various items for your everyday needs. From the basic weaponry to even some of the rarest weapons(if your lucky), the training equipment one can use in order to further their training, the armorments to help bring out defense, and the other miscelaneous items that can be of use...
The Fountain
A large fountain in a lake stands at the northern end of the Inner City. The sculpture is of the world itself, supported by two Leviathans, and the other elements are to be found at their feet and around the disc that they support. Water cascades from the disc of of the world into the pool, the edges of which are planted with herbs with healing and food usages, which residents are free to collect on a sort of bring and take basis. If one takes from the poolside, one must also plant something in return.
The Lantian Train Station
The Lantian Train Station is a gloriously crafted building. The entrance looks like something from the Greek Era with pillars holding the arched entrance. Each pillar is a swirling Leviathan holding the roof up as if it is biting the material with its majestic jaws. Once inside, the lobby of the building is dotted with a few cafés, coffee shops, and small stores where odds and ends can be bought, such as newspapers and magazines. The ceiling is high here, nearly fifty feet up, and instead of a normal ceiling, it is covered in three massive skylights. The tiled floor stretches all the way to the ticket lines.
At the ticket booths, one purchases a ticket and can grab a map of the city complete with a numbering system marking all of the major interests for tourists and visitors. Tickets can be purchased for many destinations including Lament, Strata, Barton, Aekea, and Durem. The train platform can hold up to six different arriving or departing trains, and a PA system calls out across the building to alert travelers of departing, or arriving coaches. Screens can be found just beyond the ticket booths detailing this information for all to see. Security is there, but rarely seen since many security cameras dotting the complex watch activities and alert officials that something is wrong. If extra assistance is needed, a quick phone call to the Shields usually suffices. However, for the most part, things go as usual, and the employees do their best to accommodate travelers’ needs.
Other Interesting Buildings
It would go without saying that I should not mention some of the smaller but still well-known places in Latent such as the most prominent establishment in the town, "Fallen Star Tavern", and its competitor, the White Deer- which boasts 'over forty types of drinks, liquors, ales, spirits, and other potations', or the Apothecary's Flask, which sells all sorts of medicinal, chemical, and herbal concoctions.
Numerous merchants also run establishments in the area, such as "Dark City", a small shop whose owner claims to have visited Leviathan Island and returned with treasurel. Here you'll find a nice and comfortable place to read, buy or rent new and used books, talk with friends about what you've currently read, chat about nonsense or just relax.
A traveler will have his or her choice of numerous inns and bedplaces; on the cheaper end of the scale are such places as Tarhand�s Cothouse down by port (mostly frequented by the dockyard sorts and the poorer merchants) while those with a few gold coins to jingle would probably continue to a more posh setting.
If that same traveler then needed to replace a few items or completely replenish his supplies, the popular and broadly-stocked Orrin Chandler's would have much of what he required. If seeking swords, daggers, or basic armour, one cannot do better than the dwarven-owned and operated Dwarven Arms (an unimaginative but accurate name for the huge weaponsmithy!). For soft goods, the long-established weaving firm of Sergetha & Daughters has a great deal of made-up stock and can weave-to-order most individual requests.
Eating establishments are on every street of the city, and range from the tiny fish-fry stalls and temporary ale-tents to the elegant frescoed rooms of Leviathan Falls Fine Food. Taverns, beer-halls, pubs, and other drinking holes may also be found throughout the city.
If seeking entertainment in the evening, the East Side of the city, is an area a visibly-armed man may choose to wander with sufficient coin to purchase more exotic drinks, emotion-altering substances, or paid companionship. However, the second-lowest Step of the city is somewhat safer and has the more discreet establishments such as the simply-named "Jenny�s" to recommend it.
And finally, if the adventurous traveler should run short of money during his stay, he always has the option of risking his future at Fribben the Human�s shop, where the ample-bodied money-lender will gladly discuss terms with him.
Other Places Include:
-KFC (Kentucky Fried Chocobo)
-The Bistro (Italian Resturaunt)
-Bobs Hotdog Stand (hot dogs obviously...)
-Sharons Chilly Ice Cream Shop (31 trillion flavors...)
-Bessy Bovine's Quality Steakhouse (steak & burgers)
-Me Chinese (Cantonese Cusine)
-Nihon-Tofu (Japanese and a wide selection of vegetarian dishes)
-Sweeny Tods Meat Pies (meat pies obviously, now serving Soylent Cola...)
-Pins & Needles Tattoo parlor (what the bloody F**k do you think they do there?)
The Underground
Ever since the Stadium had been introduced, Latent has regained some of its splendor however, the trade in the upper town is not the same as it was in former times, but that doesn�t affect the business in the sewers.
The underground Latent is built on rocky ground, but has many caves which are connected with each other. It is said that once a civilisation of giants existed here which built the sewers, but there is no proof for it, though the caves are connected through a number of big tunnels as well as very small opening. There exists a net of channels in the underground which is flooded regularly with seawater when the tide is high, especially when the currents are strong during the winter months. Latent gets rid of its debris this way. Due to the openness to both sides , to the sea in the west and the east, the sewers can be a dangerous place to be. It is hard to predict how high the level of water is at a given time or in which direction it is flowing. So only skilled people are able to visit the sewers and anyone who has to hide from authorities of the upper town might find refuge or a silent death.
The Docks
The docks are connected both to the town and the stadium. Latent has it's own seperate docking area for fishing boats and commercial use, while the Stadium itself, however, has a much more industrial type port at the base of the cliff that the stadium is sitting upon. Such a construction allows the 'basement level' of the stadium, to be intertwined with parts of the cave system beneath it, eventually emerging near the base of the cliff where the port is built into it.
The harbour itself is a maze of small wooden jetties stretching quite some considerable distance along the sand and pebble beach at the foot of the cliffs.Hundreds of ships may be tethered to these jetties at a time. As well as small fishing vessels, identifyable by their distinctive shape: long thin boats, often shaped or painted to look like the great creatures of the deep, and often called Dragon Boats, one may see merchant boats from all over Gaia, stopping here, or simply docking to trade. As a result, a small market of its own exists within the docks, as people trade from their boats.
The Traders Inn (Floatilla)
Another favourite spot is the Traders Inn, or the Floatilla. Made up of two large, anchored vessels, the Floatilla is the best place for a new merchant to start his career. All day merchants travel to the Floatilla, set up shop, and reside inside the landlocked vessels for the time they are in the city. It is rumored that the Floatilla harbours a black market. A myriad of smuggled items, such as jewels, artifacts, weapons, and even foreign women (prostitutes) and slaves are said to be sold and traded here. Besides the illegal market, the Floatilla harbours various mercenary gangs who will do anything for money.
Location:
Latent is located in the Gaian province of Barton, and is a major trade center among the major cities. The city is nestled between the Leviathan Stadium, and the forest.
People:
The intial inhabitants of Latent were the surviving remainder of a lost tribe. Their skin is usually white in color, though darker shades of color have been seen as well. Their hair color varies from white blonde to dark brown. The eye colors of the Lantians also vary but are mostly shades of blue. There are also various body types, but for the most part are of an average height.
They have a wandering spirit and are always looking for adventure. They cherish freedom and they are willing to suffer for it. They are extremely difficult to rule and often they decline to defiantly. However, they obey willingly if they respect the person in charge.
The strong ties these people have to the sea, which they deem as their life-giver, show fully as they consider the sea their territory and lay claim to whatever they find in it, whether it is alive, dead or sunken.
The Lantians have an unusual metabolic and circulatory adaptation. This adaptation, which has evolved over many thousands of years, allows them to dive at depths that would cause instant death to a normal human. It also allows them to stay longer without oxygen and to slow their heartbeats to a point where others might think think these people were already dead.
In town the men and women wear various manners of clothing. The men often wear single layered pants while the women wear dresses made of soft cottons; the more elaborate dresses are sewn with crushed oyster shells.
Lantian diet consists mainly of seafood and things they can get from the sea. Their bread, and other compliments all come from the sea. The bread is made from special seaweed, which is baked into flat shells upon which other seafood can be put into it.
The Lantian population is characterized by a remarkable tolerance to foreigners. Everybody can be fully accepted to their society and enjoy the same treatment as the locals as long as he/she can speak their dialect and respects their ethics.
Because of the location of Latent, and the fact that the town is a port, many people from all over Gaia pass through the town. Merchants from northern Gaia, immigrants from across the sea, fighters seekign fame, and adventurers seeking the mysterious all have an impact on the rich cultural background of this town.
The people of Latent greatly respect the Island of Leviathan and have created numerous superstitions about it. The thick haze and strange noises that come from the northern sea add even more to the superstition. Some say that the island is haunted with ghosts of those lost at sea. Some believe that an actual Leviathan still lingers, and curses the place. Some have come up with even wilder theories such as the entire island is haunted by elven skeleton zombis, or a demon lord of the sea resides there and kills anyone who comes close to his horrible magic. No one has ever been brave enough to actually venture there and find out the truth.
Coat of Arms/Sign:
The Latent coat of arms is a silver Leviathan within a triangle. The triangle represents unity between the three major towns of Gaia: Barton, Latent and Durem. The silver colour is a symbol of productivity. Silver is also used because it is a valued metal that can be found in the Gaian region.
The Lantian Spear & Shield
Uniforms
The Lantian Spear: The uniform of the Spear is as shown above. A long, two-toned coat serves as the top for the uniform; the forearms and chest of which is white, the rest being a dark blue, as well as the fastening buttons which hold the two layers of the coat together; there is a black shield-shaped crest on the left upper arm of the coat, which contains a silver spear with a leviathan wrapped about it. The slacks of the uniform are the same dark blue as the coat, and are held up with a silver-buckled, black belt. The ensemble is gloveless, although they can be worn, and any shoes are allowed. Women can wear skirts if they wish, but they may also wear long dresses or slacks.
The Lantian Shield: The Shield's uniform is very similar to that of the spear, except that it is solid blue instead of two-toned. And instead of having the silver-and-black patch on the upper left arm of the uniform, the Lantian coat-of-arms is sewn on the right breast of their coats in silver thread.
Members
The Lantian Spear: Members of the Spear are few, but powerful. Considering the class of people that travel through Latent to the Stadium, you wouldn't want a regular old police force, now would you? Altogether there is maybe two dozen members, but they are all a minimum of A-class fighters. They prefer to keep their identities a secret, and not very many people have seen them - at least none that are willing to talk, for fear of persecution. All fugitives are apprehended and taken to a containment center somewhere near Latent, although the location is secret. Their leader is a warrior of immense power, obviously, but no member of the Spear to date has spoken personally with him; they typically recieve orders by telepathic means. When they are off duty, which is often, they pose as regular people and wander the streets of Latent; some actually live there, or at least nearby. And, indeed, the only time they don the infamous blue-and-white coat is when a true threat to Latent is posed, or a string of crimes have been committed that are particularily haenous. For all other crimes, the duty falls to the Lantian Shield.
The Lantian Shield: The Shield is a force of everyday Lantians that have signed up to defend their home, and vary greatly in strength. Some are high-class warriors such as can be found at the Stadium, but some are simple residents with no special powers that simply wish to keep their community safe. They can be armed with any weapon, and are based out of a squat, two-story building located near the center of Latent. The basement and second story are holding facilities for prisoners, the lowers facilities for more dangerous suspects, and the first floor is the base of operations. At any given time there is maybe twenty members of the Shield at the station, and a hundred or so out on the streets.
Summary
The Lantian Spear: The Spear is basically a special forces, only called upon for high-profile fugitives and powerful criminals that the Shield can't handle. Their numbers are few, but fiercely proud and dedicated; with the strength to back it up. The Spear is their life, and they devote themselves wholely to it.
The Lantian Shield: A basic police force of dedicated Lantians. They are numerous in number and diverse in their members; none are turned aside, except for those with shady pasts. Just like any police force there is dirty members, but they are clean for the most part. They are very useful in keeping tabs on basic criminals, but the villians that are too much for them are always referred to the Spear.
Climate:
The spring season is generally cool while the summer is quite humid. Precipitation in the winter time is usually in the form of rain, but occasionally a soft snow occurs. There is a lot of rain, especially in the summer. The town often is lightly foggy near the coast, but never so much as to obscure vision.
Flora:
Latent is surrounded by quite a large forest, akin to Barton Forest. Various other small bushes can be found in the area such as the teki tree and the hearthbush. Some people keep small gardens, usually wielding berries of some sort.
Fauna:
Not many animals would be found inside of the city itself. Birds tend to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Wolves roam around the outside of the city and a hunter may come across the occasional Gaian bear. The most popular animal in the town is the fish of course. Khendochar, and mithrilfish are just a few of many fish living in the sea.
Production/Trade:
Latent serves as the center of the Gaian trade routes. As a result, the town has a number of large storage areas, where traded goods are stored to be transported to their proper locations.
Latent produces mainly fishing and hunting supplies, and trades for weapons, clothing, and other materials with the other Gaian cities. Because trade is very high in Latent, the town has available to them resources from all over the continent. The primary business in the town are weaponmaking and fishing related jobs.
Trade takes place primarily with Barton, which yields them cloth and dye. The more exquisite furniture in the town is imported from Durem.
Resources. The large forest surrounding the city provides food, herbs and lumber. Additionally the sea provides food, water, and minerals. Also, an essential trade route has been established upon this sea.
To the northeast of the town, a small mining community was established. Though not greatly pursued by the Gaians, silver mining is a common job among people in general.
