Gold Ring
Gold Ring (ゴールドリング) is the nation of megalopolis on the gulf coast of the Salt Lake ColVilous where is located on the Southern lands in Planet Tal. 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 golden metropolis".
Currently, the residential areas 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. Each area has been connected by land routes or sea routes. A whole aspect of the nation rather looks like forming a shape similar to a crescent moon, 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".
Towards the modern era of Rain-Calendar, citizens include all kinds of sentient races on Planet Tal. Primal citizens are Sergals and Agudners, the Southern species being natives here. Although Nevreans live here as well, they are few in number as they originally arrived as emigrants.
A lot of people live a comfortable life, but the degree of comfort varies according to place and race. There is no danger of wild creatures because there is no hostile wildlife in the city and no nearby forests. The biggest problems in the city are crimes and problems that are caused by people.
The state of life here can be seen in the Vilous comic Daily Life of Gold Ring.
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
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
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.
A rich Southern Sergal enjoying his lunch. Artwork comes from the Vilous Official Art Pack.
Three urban male Nevreans are enjoying talking cheerfully and carefreely on the roof, under the night sky.
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
Easy sketch of Gold Ring map, water system, and so on.
Up to the modern era, residential areas in the Gold Ring is broadly separated into two divisions. Northeast to southeast region from the center of Salt Lake ColVilous, and southwest region. These two divisions feature different regionality and culture to some extent due to distance between cities.
The central city which is the heart of the city 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
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.
Talyxian hamsters are sold in the street stall of the festival, they are familiar creatures as pet animals.
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.
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
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. |
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Mankind |
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Sergal Legends and Customs |
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Agudner Legends and Customs |
Sexuality
As almost all kinds of sexuality and style in romance are allowed under a big tolerance in most of the Tal, there is various sexual performance between different races in the 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.
Noticeable uniqueness in sexuality in common sense which Sergals and Agudners share, homosexual relationships between Sergals and Agudners basically do not receive an antipathy from society 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.
Nevreans had a greatly different and more unparalleled standard and sense in romance and sexual behavior from this due to their own gender culture and tradition. However, towards the modern era, they have assimilated into sexual culture and sense which native races in the 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, some Nevreans especially males had been even 'kept' under rich people.
Almost all sexualities between Eltus races are allowed unless there is no nature which harms others, however, having a sexual relationship with Talyxians is generally considered to be kinky and abnormal behavior. Because Talyxians are basically considered to be 'animal' existence with comparison from Eltus races as 'human' existence, even Talyxian-Stalkers who could have a legal human right after RC70 may still be considered to be the half-animal existence.
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
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
Somewhere on a market street, Quzue and Priley the male Nevrean merchants pull their sale cart.
A festival. Every Eltus race is there. Sergals, Nevreans and Agudners can be seen.
Sergal soldiers are slaying a tentacle creature that attacked the city. Note: The Nevrean couple is male (left) and female (right).
Chatting urban male Nevreans. Picture from the Vilous Official Art Pack.
Urban Nevreans. The female is enjoying an email via portable fax while the male talks from the window.
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