Gold Ring

Towards the later stages of the Rain Calendar, two male Nevrean merchants are carrying their wagon, on the street in the central area of Gold Ring. Here, all kind of Eltus race can be seen, Sergals, Nevreans (both females), and Agudners, plus some talyxians.

Gold Ring (ゴールドリング, shortly GR) is the nation of megalopolis exists surrounding of the Salt Lake ColVilous located on the Southern lands in Planet Tal.

Many cities and towns are spreading on the gulf coast of ColVilous while forming a shape similar to a crescent moon. Each area has been connected by land routes or sea routes.

This nation is by far the greatest combined city in Tal, can be said to be the heart of civilization and technology in the planet. Due to this, this nation is also known as the honorable name, "The Golden Metropolis".

Native residents in this nation are Sergals and Agudners, primarily their Southern species. Towards the later stages of the Rain Calendar, all kinds of three sentient Eltus races live here as Nevrean immigrants has settled. In addition to this, a wide variety of people who have a different nationality often come to visit or even immigrate here from various foreign lands.

The state of life here can be seen in the sketch comic series, Daily Life of Gold Ring.

Summary

Somewhere in Gold Ring, towards the later stages of the Rain Calendar. Here, in people, all kinds of three Eltus races can be seen, Sergals, Nevreans (two in an artwork, both are females), and Agudners. Also, some races who belong to Talyxian organism group can be seen there.

About 400 years ago before B.C.E., the origin of the nation had occurred based on symbiotic relationship between Sergals and Agudners who were living in Southern lands.

This nation features salts produced from the Salt Lake ColVilous and Sailzane desert as a main article of trade, and many specialists of crossing the desert who have existed from ancient time.

With the progress of the times, the nation has developed excellent local government systems, morals, technology, culture, and commerce.

There are rich material resources as a lot of trade goods have imported from various places in Planet Tal. Due to this, many people live a comparatively comfortable life compared with other regions where are residential area for Eltus folks, however, there is stil more or less disparity in wealth depends on the region and race.

In the nation and the surroundings, there are no large-scaled Talyxian natural environments such as forest where dangerous wildlife can occur. Due to this, Gold Ring is known as the place where has no or very few risk of hostile wildlife. The biggest problems in the city are crimes and problems that are caused by people.

Beginning and history

Several hundred years B.C.E., a part of the ancient Agurs (precursors to the modern Agudners) left their villages by the forests around the Lower Magoe and ventured out into the southern deserts, eventually encountering the nomadic gypsy Southern Sergals. Together they settled on the shores of the vast salt lake ColVilous. This settlement would eventually grow to become the Gold Ring. Here, the Southern Sergals and Agudners drafted a constitution to formalize their everlasting cooperation and friendship.

After that, until the beginning of the war, the Gold Ring existed as the city for Sergals and Agudners. There was limited cultural exchange with the west, the people of the western Vetla musical troupe (composed of Western Sergals and Native Nevreans) were limited to only visiting Gold Ring once every two to three years during large events like the Gold Ring Festival. Gold Ring's citizens had friendly relations with those in western cultures, but the basic laws and society still guaranteed equal rights only for Gold Ring native races (notably, excluding Nevreans) up until RC 70.

Prewar days

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  Gold Ring in prewar days. The city was place for Sergals and Agudners. A picture from Vilous Comic episode 3 - At the Festival.

Up until the beginning of the world war, the people of Gold Ring had passed comparatively calm and quiet days. Every system and culture was considerably traditional and not strict, even the currency system was not strictly defined. There was a rough barter system in most of Tal, and Gold Ring was no exception. In page 2 of Vilous Comic episode 3, one can see Ken, who wants shells as the toll for his shortcut, but only because he collects shells as his hobby.

While the main culture was composed of 'brown people' - native Gold Ring residents like Southern Sergals and Agudners who have brown or similar colors as their primary color - their daily culture and entertainment were quite flat and dull. In those times, the Gold Ring Festival was really large-scale and the most exciting event for everyone in Gold Ring, people attended the festival both for pleasure and in seeking excitement. You can see an example of these prewar times in the Vilous Comic episode 3, "At the Festival".

After the war

After the war started, and until a few years after the war ended, the Gold Ring Festival couldn't be held because the merchants couldn't work. Most of Tal had received significant damage due to a thoroughly destroyed distribution network as a consequence of the war. Reconstruction proceeded rapidly after the war because people who deeply love the festival and merchants traveled to Reono at full speed. And conversely, Nevreans and other western people came to Gold Ring where the population was decreasing.

The Gold Ring civilization advanced abruptly during this time. The cost of resources soared and many people began robbing things by force.

Male Nevreans were a primary driving force behind this rapid economic development. A lot of showy, rabid, rampant entertainments proliferated explosively because of the existence of male Nevreans, like floor shows, cabarets, and brothels. Gorgeous fashion also increased rapidly. 'Brown people' were attracted to their vivid color. Along with that, the advertising industry also developed rapidly. Every shop began to compete for customers. It becomes impossible to follow all trade with only the traditional barter system, so Gold Ring began minting currencies with a vague system in a fumbling way, and paper bills appeared at that time. But people, having never touched paper money until this, were very confused and frequently brawled during this period of unstable currency and rapid economic change. Peace and public order in Gold Ring temporarily deteriorated (also as a result of this, peoples' accumulated dissatisfaction and stress changed to antipathy against spooky and suspicious female Nevreans, this being one of the reasons widespread racial discrimination against Nevreans happened in Gold Ring after the world war). Due to this, the government of the Gold Ring began to review the Cevia system. Finally, strict currency system was defined properly after about RC 70.

Buildings

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  Lime, an urban male Nevrean is talking into his a handheld transceiver which has a similar role to a mobile telephone in the Earth. These are one of the latest and newest high-tech tools available in Modern Gold Ring, in the category of wireless machines that can transmit and receive communication signals.

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  A rich Southern Sergal enjoying his lunch.

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  Three urban male Nevreans are enjoying talking cheerfully and carefreely on the roof, under the night sky. Artwork comes from the Vilous Official Art Pack.

Major buildings are made from large single upright orangeish or yellowish stone blocks which have existed since the old days. People hollow out them and have used them as old buildings for a long time ago. There are also newer divisions that were built in early modern times. Most of the buildings are made of the sand wall or stone, they are similar to traditional buildings which can be seen in the Middle East on Earth.

Mysterious tall, cylindrical buildings can also be seen on the west coast. Nothing is known about these, and there are no windows or entrances. In modern times, most of these are modified by people and are used as housing. Some are also inhabited by primitive creatures.

2016/11/14 The canon was changed: buildings like this became located in the far south of Tal instead of Gold Ring's.

Areas

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  Easy sketch of Gold Ring map, water system, and so on.

Up to the modern era, residential areas within the nation are spreading while covering broadly two regions surrounding of the Salt Lake ColVilous, these ranges separate into northeast ~ southeast part and southwest part centering on the lake. These two regions feature different regionality and culture to some extent due to distance between cities.

Due to this, a whole aspect of the nation still cannot be said to be a perfect ring shape. However, as expansion and development of residential areas are continuing positively, it would completely encircle the outskirts of the lake in the future and live up to indicate the name of "Gold Ring".

The central city which is the heart of the nation is located in the northeast region.

In the central-most area in the northeast region, there are government facilities, government offices, and old temples that were made from large-sized rocks which have existed from ancient time. In this central city, there are also important areas where nobles, bureaucrats, and Judda live. While Judda lives in temples, on the opposite side of temples, there are dungeons and prisons for felons.

Buildings closer to the center are older than those further out, the oldest having existed since the founding of the city. Most of those have sublime appearances although they are old buildings.

People must pass through resident registration if they do business or live in the central area. It is not as strict on the outer edges, where everyone can build houses and do business freely.

Wildlife

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  Geiv, a male Southern Sergal is off work and watching the beautiful scenery of salt lake ColVilous. There, precious and rare Eltus plants a.k.a. "green plants" can be seen on the coast.

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  Bakku and Elica take their breath away towards a terrifying Talyxian Actinia within the cage, which has been caught and transported from Lower Magoe for the Arena show. A picture from Vilous Comic episode 3 - At the Festival.

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  Sergal soldiers are slaying a Talyxian tentacle monster, possibility escaped from the cage or farm after transported from the forest.

On the coast of Salt Lake ColVilous, precious and rare plants which belong to Eltus organism group and display beautiful green tones can be seen there, instead of Tal's common plant, alien plants which belong to Talyxian organism group. Because Talyxian plants cannot grow on there shore rocks and near areas as well due to the strong sea breeze. Meanwhile, as Eltus biome plants have tolerance for salt, on those areas are maintained as main habitat for these plants.

There is no dangerous and hostile wildlife in the city because there is no large-scaled natural environment which belongs to Talyxian biomes such as swamps and forests in the neighborhood of Gold Ring. Additionally, as the Gold Ring is surrounded by the Sailzane desert, it also functions to prevent potentiality that large-sized hostile Talyxian organism creatures which live in forests arrive in the city after traveling a desert. This benefit is brought from rich dense of salt in the Sailzane desert which works to make Talyxian creatures milder in nature.

Meanwhile, Talyxian animals which are familiar to people as domestic animals such as Cats, Dogs, Hamsters, Cows, Horses, Pigs, etc occupy the kind of animals which can be found in the city.

Due to this, large-sized wildlife which can be found Talyxian natural environments such as forests and swamps are rare in the city. This situation reached that these kinds of feral creatures had been consumed as the main entertainment for people. After caught in their habitat Talyxian biome place, they were transported into the city. And they would be used in the various purpose for fun. The Arena show in Vilous Comic episode 3 - At the Festival is noticeable example of this.

Some hostile animals Weasels could be breed under the legal permission, however, these introduced species sometimes get escaped from the farm and cause turmoil.

Citizens

Eltus races of the Gold Ring police. Agudner, female Nevrean, Southern Sergal.

The majority of citizens are comprised of Southern Sergals, Eastern Sergals, and Agudners. Urban Nevreans are fewer in number than Sergals or Agudners and they are still treated as foreign residents due to their newer history as citizens of Gold Ring.

After the world war but before the year 70 in Rain-Calendar, most Nevreans experienced racial discrimination for various reasons. Racial treatment for Nevreans was very unfair, merciless, and direful for a long time. Even their lives were downplayed and they were often sacrificed in "vore shows" (discussed later). This would ease gradually over time and eventually a new law was passed giving them fair 'human rights'.

Nobles who live in central areas are comprised of Sergals and Agudners primarily, keeping their races pure with strong bloodlines since the beginning of Gold Ring. The aristocratic Sergals of the central area are only pure Southern Sergals and have kept their traditional brown fur and extremely small build due to continued inbreeding and incest among aristocratic families.

Society and culture

Religion

There is a religion named "Gold Ring", same as the city's name. The concept is based on the relationship and history of Southern Sergals and Agudners. It brings together and organizes the community.

The Sun and the Ocean Long ago, an ancient lake was formed by the God of the Sun as proof of his existence. Filled deep with water, the lake was naught but a shadow-like void. But from this chaos, the three important elements were born — water, wind, and salt. The first living creatures emerged from the lake as a reflection of the Sun God. Then came land, which was formed from the creature's excrement. The salt was particularly important, as it marked the difference between the creatures of Eltus, and the alien creatures of Tal. It is said that a person will feel pain when salt is applied to an open wound because long ago the Gods used this sharp pain from salt to awaken the first fish using saltwater. This gift of awakening granted the Eltus creatures the senses, including touch, smell, and thought. It was this ability to process and feel which finally lead to the development of true emotions, something unique to the Eltus. Using these new traits, the Eltus people were born and were able to find each other and come together as a unified people.
Mankind In the legends, the original Eltus body was of a one kind human. But afterward, it had been divided into three parts: Sergal, Nevrean, and Agudner. Long ago, it is said that because mankind had acquired mighty power and took away the habitats of the other animals, thus the human form said to include all life was lost and reduced to an incomplete form. - The body was made of various kinds of things. The fish and birds and other beasts had disappeared and only a few species were lined up for the market. Under these circumstances, after a while, people's form mysteriously had come to resemble the fish, birds, and beasts.
Sergal Legends and Customs -The fish of body After being eaten, fish dissolve into the body and are reborn in the limbs. So that's why our people continue to swim so well and can run and jump. -The Sleeping Boat In Sergal culture, Sergals often sleep in a bedroom with a bed modeled after a boat. According to legend, it's said that during slumber the spirit returns to the bottom of the sea. There, the spirit hears the memories of the ancient sun, Vilous. This myth explains where dreams come from, and ties them to the creation story.
Agudner Legends and Customs The legend says that the first ancestor was made from a lump of soil. Because there was a sharp stone in the lump, horns grew from the head and hooves grew on the limbs.

Sexuality

As almost all kinds of sexuality and style in romance receive approval under a big tolerance in most of the Tal, there are various types in sexual performance and style of romance between different races in Gold Ring as well.

Due to their history and relationship, it is very common for there to be joint-families that are comprised of Sergals and Agudners. They cannot have a biological child with each other, however, they value their different race family regardless of actual blood relationship as having adopted family is a basic culture in regions where Sergal-Agudner friendship has been rooted deeply in.

As a noticeable uniqueness about sexuality which Sergals and Agudners share in their common sense, a homosexual relationship between Sergals and Agudners does not receive an antipathy or persecution from society by a reason which considers it as unproductive behavior. Because Eltus races cannot reproduce between different races, "romance between different races" and "romance between the same genders" are considered equally, in additional to pansexual nature which Sergals have.

Concerning Nevreans, their cultural standard towards romance and sexual behavior are further different from what Sergals and Agudners have. Because their exclusive and isolated homeland has kept their own culture and tradition in gender roles which form unparalleled style compared with other races. A noticeable example of this is that their native culture considers sexual intercourse exclusively for a strict reproductive purpose and never pursue it for pleasure or fun in any way. Besides, a homosexual romance between males is deeply rooted in their tradition, but it still never reaches to performing sexual behavior anyway. However, towards the modern era, immigrant Nevreans have assimilated into sexual culture and sense which native residents in Gold Ring have, after losing their original culture under the great difference in a social environment.

During the period which there was big racial discrimination against Nevreans, there were many people who prefer to have a sexual act with male Nevreans due to their pretty appearance and adorable behavior. In addition, actually a lot of male Nevreans also had engaged in providing sexual services for money at that time. Some males had even been 'kept' under rich people. Meanwhile, having a serious romantic relationship with Nevreans was not taken so well, especially in the case of having a relationship with female Nevreans. There were quite a lot of Nevreans who fell into carrying out improper activities such as theft and fraud due to a difficult life by poverty and unfair treatment. Because of this, having a romantic relationship with Nevreans beyond having temporary sexual act had been concerned by a reason of suspicion against Nevreans, such as "Nevrean may trick you".

Almost all sexualities between Eltus races are tolerated as long as there is no nature which harms others. However, matters which are related to Talyxians fall within the exceptions. Because Talyxians are considered to be 'animal' existence in comparison with Eltus races as 'human' existence, having a sexual or romantic relationship with Talyxians is generally considered to be kinky and abnormal behavior. Even in the case of Talyxian-Stalkers who could have a legal human right after RC70, they may be still considered to be the half-animal existence rather than perfect human. Due to this, having a sexual or romantic relationship with them may receive interest which comes from more or less undesirable curiosity.

Entertainments

In the old days before Nevreans came to the Gold Ring, people enjoyed familiar pastimes. Children were mainly playing marbles, tiddlywinks, hopscotch and so on. Adults were enjoying sexual flirtations and gamble-like games. It was exciting to hear the travel stories from merchants. When primitive creatures occasionally appeared in the city, people went to see them for fun.

Nevreans came to Gold Ring on year 33 of Rain-Calendar, and after the world war ended in year 50, the influence of male Nevreans led to a major shift in the everyday entertainment of the whole city. A lot of showy, rabid, rampant entertainments increased explosively, such as floor shows, cabarets, and brothels. Lust for pornography and violence also developed among the people. A lot of bloody shows were held in the markets and in places near the salt lake for bigger events: the dismantling of creatures that had been brought in from the forest, and watching fights between them. Along these, there are many other, strange entertainments.

A while after the world war, "vore shows" were held in underground theaters due to the influence of General Rain. They were performed by Sergals, Nevreans, and talyxian-stalkers mainly. Generally, for most of the events, the sacrifices were various creatures such as pigeons or cows. For more illegal places, however, even Eltus races were sacrificed. In these cases, most of the victims were Nevreans, due to the 'discrimination against Nevreans' that continued until after year 70 of Rain-calendar. Most of these were not clamped down on until 'human rights' for Nevreans were definitively guaranteed by law.

Politics

Government

Basic laws were guaranteed for only Sergals and Agudners until year 70 of the Rain-Calendar because they are native citizens of Gold Ring. Nevreans were treated as foreign residents, and did not have complete 'human rights'. Because of this, many of them were bought, put in the lower class, and treated in an inhumane manner. After year 70 of the Rain-calendar, new laws guaranteed definite 'human rights' for Nevreans, and treated them as "the third race of Gold Ring". In addition, talyxian-stalkers also have the same rights as an intelligent race. (Rooters are the exception to this and are inapplicable because they are in an extraordinary special position.)

The political system is a representative system by the nobles, who also sometimes consult talyxian-rooters for their opinions. There is no head of state or president in the Gold Ring. (There is the Judda, but they are more of a symbol and do not participate in politics.) Talyxian-Rooters can't participate in politics directly. There is a law among them that Talyxian-rooters must not participate in Eltus' politics directly and can only provide opinions when Eltus people need them.

This organized administration developed suddenly after the world war. Before the world war, it consisted of a considerably old and relaxed system. Seeing from the whole land, the welfare or the study is superior. But, it almost depends on mutual help action for it, so it is hard to say that it is established.

Legal issues

Murder, theft, and rape are prohibited by law indefinitely. However, all of theft and rape are not clamped down on because these cases can occur very frequently. If someone is detained and convicted, they receive punishment depending on the crime. In the dangerous areas, a careless person may be treated as the guilty one instead of the offenders. There are also often cases where things are justified through battle (trial by combat).

Eltus race people usually have a resident register and a domiciliary register. Because of this, they will suffer a suitable penalty when they receive retribution or punishment by law. It doesn't apply to ones who have no such register, but such individuals lack rights such as receiving vindication as a victim.

Gold Ring vigilance committee

Gold Ring vigilance committee flag

The vigilance committee rules a wide range of Southern lands (including Gold Ring, the neighboring municipalities, surrounding rural areas, and small towns). It has both roles of the police and the armies.

They are not definite armies such as the Shigu Clan, instead, they operate something like Self-Defense Forces in Japan. In the event of an emergency, vigilance committee members will be gathered and receive a salary for their service. Sometimes there are training events for such cases.

Gallery

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  Somewhere on a market street, Quzue and Priley the male Nevrean merchants pull their sale cart.

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  A festival. Every Eltus race is there. Sergals, Nevreans and Agudners can be seen.

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  Urban Nevreans. The female is enjoying an email via portable fax while the male talks from the window.

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