Snow Island
--In 1610, a group of people came from North America to the little island off the southern coast of California, a group led by the Snow family. They colonized the island themselves, making a life there. As the United States grew and became involved in many wars, Snow Island remained neutral to the conflicts. As the U.S. developed their own laws and rules, they tried to force Snow Island to follow the same rituals even though the island was not officially part of the States. The Snow family refused again and again, until a secret treaty was signed noting that the island did not have to become part of the States as long as they severed all ties with the U.S. The Snow family agreed, and a copy of the treaty was placed in the possession of the Snows and the U.S.
--The island became wrapped in a civil war in 1675, when conflict broke out between the Snow family and another, the Green family. The Greens believed they could run things easier than the Snows, but most of the islanders disagreed. The Greens lost the battle in 1677, and submitted to the Snows.
--Snow Island has two seasons: The rainy season and the dry season. The dry season, beginning in the middle of April, lasts until the beginning of October, when the rainy season takes hold. All year the temperature remains above sixty-five degrees at its coolest, near one hundred twenty at its hottest. Natural fires are rare, though, and are easily put out with water from the surrounding ocean.
--Snow Island is separated into five districts: North, South, East, and West. The fifth district is Central, located in the center of the island. There is no segregation on the island, but the districts are rated with colors based on their danger level. The levels include Red, Orange, Yellow, and Green. South District is the most dangerous for loners, reaching the Red level, where the most deadly crimes are committed. It’s gated, though not like a cage, to warn outsiders where they are entering. Drug use, homelessness, and petty theft is not reported or handled by the island authorities.
--Central District is the least dangerous, at Green level, which house the public buildings. The only citizens who live in Central district is the Snow family.
--The Snows are no superior to any other islander. They suffer the same punishments for any crime or breach of law as does anyone else. The Snows are an old family, passing what power they do have along the line. It is not a title of nobility, because they have the same rights as anyone else.
--Their laws differ from those of the U.S. as well, but in minor ways. The U.S. has the texting while driving law, but on Snow Island, while the law is also in affect, it is filed under ‘reckless driving’ and not singled out.
--There is no seat belt law on the island, like there is in the States. The philosophy is that it’s your life and you cannot be controlled constantly, so if you want to make your life a little worse-off that is your fault. Not wearing a seat belt affects only the person without it on, and if they die then they took that chance, and they should have known the consequences.
--Snow Island is three hundred miles in diameter all the way around, a nearly-perfect circle. Most of the south, east, and northern shores are beaches, well-populated. Most of the western shore holds cliffs, sheer drops and thick forest-like areas and high hills.
--The south was once an industrial area, also containing science labs and two prisons. Now they are underground, housed within the immense magma chambers spreading far and wide. Everything there runs on clean energy and steam. Since cremation is mandatory on Snow Island, the crypts are located underground as well. The urns are placed on shelves carved into the stone walls, depending on where the family wants them.
--The island became wrapped in a civil war in 1675, when conflict broke out between the Snow family and another, the Green family. The Greens believed they could run things easier than the Snows, but most of the islanders disagreed. The Greens lost the battle in 1677, and submitted to the Snows.
--Snow Island has two seasons: The rainy season and the dry season. The dry season, beginning in the middle of April, lasts until the beginning of October, when the rainy season takes hold. All year the temperature remains above sixty-five degrees at its coolest, near one hundred twenty at its hottest. Natural fires are rare, though, and are easily put out with water from the surrounding ocean.
--Snow Island is separated into five districts: North, South, East, and West. The fifth district is Central, located in the center of the island. There is no segregation on the island, but the districts are rated with colors based on their danger level. The levels include Red, Orange, Yellow, and Green. South District is the most dangerous for loners, reaching the Red level, where the most deadly crimes are committed. It’s gated, though not like a cage, to warn outsiders where they are entering. Drug use, homelessness, and petty theft is not reported or handled by the island authorities.
--Central District is the least dangerous, at Green level, which house the public buildings. The only citizens who live in Central district is the Snow family.
--The Snows are no superior to any other islander. They suffer the same punishments for any crime or breach of law as does anyone else. The Snows are an old family, passing what power they do have along the line. It is not a title of nobility, because they have the same rights as anyone else.
--Their laws differ from those of the U.S. as well, but in minor ways. The U.S. has the texting while driving law, but on Snow Island, while the law is also in affect, it is filed under ‘reckless driving’ and not singled out.
--There is no seat belt law on the island, like there is in the States. The philosophy is that it’s your life and you cannot be controlled constantly, so if you want to make your life a little worse-off that is your fault. Not wearing a seat belt affects only the person without it on, and if they die then they took that chance, and they should have known the consequences.
--Snow Island is three hundred miles in diameter all the way around, a nearly-perfect circle. Most of the south, east, and northern shores are beaches, well-populated. Most of the western shore holds cliffs, sheer drops and thick forest-like areas and high hills.
--The south was once an industrial area, also containing science labs and two prisons. Now they are underground, housed within the immense magma chambers spreading far and wide. Everything there runs on clean energy and steam. Since cremation is mandatory on Snow Island, the crypts are located underground as well. The urns are placed on shelves carved into the stone walls, depending on where the family wants them.
Snow Island Districts
1. Central District: No housing areas except the Snow Estate. Contains the fire station, police department, and other public buildings which include malls, restaurants, libraries, factories, and so on. Danger level is green, the safest it can get.
2. South District: Gated but not like a cage, South District is the worst place to be if you cannot handle yourself. It’s danger level is red, the highest it can go, and drugs, violence, and petty crimes are never reported. Homelessness runs wild, and even some murders are rarely seen as a first resort, if they are ever reported.
3. East District: East District entertains more tourism than does the rest of the island, except the Central District. Its danger level is green when the tourist season is over, but yellow the rest of the year because with so many others the crime rates go up. Many residential areas, but not many upper-class homes.
4. West District: It’s a red level of danger because of the dense forested areas; with so much un-investigated ground and the sheer drops that are presented from the cliffs, the area may not be a well-populated area but it’s dangerous nonetheless. Murders are easily committed there, yet the bodies are difficult to recover in the dense underbrush.
5. North District: Gated communities and seemingly orderly streets, the danger level is low, or seems to be. Not much is known about North District, even to the Snow family, and most of the people there keep to themselves. Many secrets are kept in North District, and even the police try to avoid the place as much as possible.
Snow Academy: One mile to the northwest of Snow island is the small landmass that takes up a five mile radius. In the center of the landmass is Snow Academy, the high school-college combination where students live for most of their school years.
Daren Snow: At the age of twenty four, in the year 1608, Daren Snow of the Snow family was struck with a deadly, unknown disease that caused him to waste away to nothing. When he was near the brink of death, his parents sought the help of a mysterious man with a steel mask, who promised their son would be cured and back to normal, but only if they gave the man Daren's ability to age, meaning they must give him the young man's soul. His parents agreed, and now Daren Snow cannot age, nor can he be killed or stricken by disease.
2. South District: Gated but not like a cage, South District is the worst place to be if you cannot handle yourself. It’s danger level is red, the highest it can go, and drugs, violence, and petty crimes are never reported. Homelessness runs wild, and even some murders are rarely seen as a first resort, if they are ever reported.
3. East District: East District entertains more tourism than does the rest of the island, except the Central District. Its danger level is green when the tourist season is over, but yellow the rest of the year because with so many others the crime rates go up. Many residential areas, but not many upper-class homes.
4. West District: It’s a red level of danger because of the dense forested areas; with so much un-investigated ground and the sheer drops that are presented from the cliffs, the area may not be a well-populated area but it’s dangerous nonetheless. Murders are easily committed there, yet the bodies are difficult to recover in the dense underbrush.
5. North District: Gated communities and seemingly orderly streets, the danger level is low, or seems to be. Not much is known about North District, even to the Snow family, and most of the people there keep to themselves. Many secrets are kept in North District, and even the police try to avoid the place as much as possible.
Snow Academy: One mile to the northwest of Snow island is the small landmass that takes up a five mile radius. In the center of the landmass is Snow Academy, the high school-college combination where students live for most of their school years.
Daren Snow: At the age of twenty four, in the year 1608, Daren Snow of the Snow family was struck with a deadly, unknown disease that caused him to waste away to nothing. When he was near the brink of death, his parents sought the help of a mysterious man with a steel mask, who promised their son would be cured and back to normal, but only if they gave the man Daren's ability to age, meaning they must give him the young man's soul. His parents agreed, and now Daren Snow cannot age, nor can he be killed or stricken by disease.
*Note: The names, places, characters, games, and circumstances listed here are under copyright. They belong to me.
