Aspity

1. #1

   Keys: The Plague, Sand Plague, Sand Pest, Sand Fever

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   It is a disease of seemingly unknown origin that kills whoever contracts it, it is heavily implied that the Plague is sentient, which would explain the seemingly total powerlessness of science in the struggle against it. Five years ago, the first outbreak of Sand Fever occurred, it broke out in the Crude Sprawl and it was possible to localize; thanks to the unusual layout of the city, the district was boarded up quickly and the infection did not spread. Isidor Burakh and his students were able to suppress the outbreak and avoid infection by drinking experimental twyrine extracts. Although many townsfolk speak highly about Isidor for his work, Isidor did not take praise for his role in that victory, he did not like to talk about it and attributed the suppression of the Plague only to happy coincidence. Currently, there's a second outbreak, spreading from Isidor's house, having claimed his life and now flooding the surrounding districts known as the Tanners, Skinners, and Hindquarters. The entire Town is an a dire epidemic, with doctors such as Artemy Burakh and Daniil Dankovsky to aid the situation, though on opposing ends of medicine. Quarantine zones are often barbaric, guards shooting infected that attempt to leave and the sick dead in the streets. The only remedy is a concoction of rare pills and medicines known as Shmowder, poisonous to the user but cures the plague of the individual survives the intense side effects. These are often traded by children, and are hard to find. Otherwise, it's just a matter of which elixirs will ease the pain of inevitable oblivion. A panacea from Artemy and a vaccine from Daniil are being worked on, however.

2. #2

   Keys: Shmowder, Shmowders

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   A mix of randomly chosen drugs. Those were created by children to "play Plague." The random recipe produced an unexpected result—the powder completely removes the effects of Sand Plague infection, but severely damages health.

3. #3

   Keys: Panacea

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   An organic antiserum based on the antibodies that were procured from a mysterious source by Artemy Burakh. Completely destroys any traces of infection on any of its stages. Does not bring any harm to one's health.

4. #4

   Keys: Vaccine

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   A unique prophylactic drug based on a live culture of the Sand Plague. Even if one's immunity is completely suppressed by the infection, given a safe environment it will be restored in 25 minutes. Maintains one's immunity in infected districts for four hours. Produced by Daniil Dankovsky.

5. #5

   Keys: The Kin, Khatanghe, Kinfolk

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   The Kin are the indigenous people of the Steppe, living both in the Town as well as independently throughout the Steppe, containing multiple clans, they are often collected into one name, "the Kin". Many of the Kin's beliefs remain within their culture, though some aspects have been adopted by the Town - such as frowning upon sharp objects and cutting other people. Many non-Kinsfolk within Town abide by these beliefs as old superstitions to adhere by rather than a sense of religious beliefs. Those who live within the Abattoir claim to be closer to the Earth, and abide by the traditions and beliefs of the Kin far more closely than even those who live within Shekhen and outside of Town. The connection that those within the Abattoir claim to hold is likely due to a lack of outside influence, such as colonization, or natural life such as multiculturalism. Many of the Kin who live in Town work under the Bull Enterprise. Those who do not remain nomadic, or live in settlements. Neither the Earth nor the human body was made to be cut into. The Earth is sacred, so excavation too deep into the "earth's flesh" is a severe crime. As such, wells and organized digging are prohibited except by butchers. Only Butchers may cut into cattle, and cutting into the body of a human is both a capital offense and a powerful taboo. While the menkhu are traditionally able to open human bodies, they are still regarded with some distaste. The Kin participates heavily in the meat industry of the Town, yet when the railroad was first built it was treated with great suspicion. Sometimes the rails were even sabotaged during their construction, or trains would just disappear. The Olgimskys and other leaders of the Town made no real attempt to do anything about this. Those from the Capital consider the rail that leads to the Town to be cursed. For several decades, the Kin have been under the employment of the Olgimsky family. Those under their employment live within the Termitary, a communal housing project that gives workers of the Bull Enterprise dedicated shelter for themselves and their families. The Bull Enterprise is responsible for cutting, processing, packaging, and selling meat, primarily cattle. Many groceries have popped up around the Termitary to profit off of the meat being sold. Most of the product is sent off to the Capital via train. The Olgimsky leaders, such as Big Vlad, proclaim that the practises of the Bull Enterprise gives the Kin meaning and purpose. The business model allows for an imbalance of power, where the Kin are seen as ungrateful workers if they push back against the manipulated generosity of the Olgimsky family. Leaders have been put in place by Big Vlad to ensure his control over his workers, such as Overseer Tycheek and Oyun.

6. #6

   Keys: The Steppe, Steppe

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   The Steppe borders the town from the south, and is accessible from the Bridge Square, the Spleen, the Station, the Warehouses, the Factory, and the Crude Sprawl. There are two major marshes located in the Steppe, which connect to the Guzzle and Gullet tributaries. The Steppe is plentiful with herbs and swevery, and has locations such as; The Abbatoir The Ragi Barrow, which is a congregation center and ritual site for the Kin. It is said to be the place of blood, and as such bulls are sometimes sacrificed here by yargachin. The Cemetery, which holds a larger graveyard and the mortician's lodge. Shekhen

7. #7

   Keys: Boddho

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   A female personification of the Earth, styled as a mother. She is similar to Bos Turokh (as the progenitor of existence) and there is debate over the deities. The land is her body and thus cannot be excavated or dug into. Boddho is said to have created all life and considers them all as her children.

8. #8

   Keys: Children of Boddho, Child of Boddho

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   While Boddho created all life, only Steppe natives and the "spirits conjured by the earth" are formally considered to be "Children of Boddho." They sacrifice blood to the ground to help Boddho thrive and grow, and believe in the preservation of the laws of nature. Herb brides too dance, letting their bare feet touch mother Boddho in an almost loving caress. This dancing prompts growth of twyre. The process of sacrificing blood to Boddho is a mutual transaction, as it too prompts growth of blades of twyre

9. #9

   Keys: Bos Turokh

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   Bos Turokh is a bull deity known as the 'World Bull', and the central figure in Steppe culture. He created the universe after consuming Suok, the personification of evil. He encompasses everything. His earthly manifestation is known as Bos Primigenius, which is the Latin name for the extinct species of cattle and the aurochs, described as a half-human, half-bull hybrid. There are said to be very few auroch left in existence.

10. #10

    Keys: Suok

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    Suok is a void of consuming darkness which Bos Turokh devoured, smothering her progression with his body. She now resides underground, within the World Bull, and is said to be the source all evil things. She is sometimes referred to as "Mother" or "Stepmother" Suok. She is equated with death, and blood is sacrificed in the Circle of Blood to sate her. She, or perhaps her shabnak, is described in the Tales as a two-headed being with an eyeless black face and a noseless white face in constant conflict with each other.

11. #11

    Keys: Shekhen

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    Shekhen is the abandoned steppe village which can be found by following a foot trail from the doors of the Abattoir southeast through a series of standing stones. The village contains two functional water barrels and three herb gardens, which grow all varieties of basic twyre.

12. #12

    Keys: Herb Bride, Herb Brides

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    Herb Brides are young women of the Kin who communicate with the Earth and perform intricate, spiritual dances to bring herbs to the surface. Herb Brides are considered deeply sacred, as they are crucial to a good harvest. Their dresses often split open as they dance, due to the passion and intensity brought forward.

13. #13

    Keys: Worm, Odongh

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    Worms are creatures of the Steppe that serve as gatherers in the Kin. They are described as "half-people, crude and unshapely and unfinished", and are considered to be what remains after the Earth creates Men. They typically have big, egg-shaped heads with bulging eyes, murmuring and moaning to communicate. Stubby and bulky in size, humanoid in shape. Many worms live in yurts in the Steppe. However, according to townsfolk, Worms don't usually stay in place for long — they travel and break camps for the night. Some also work in Town as ferrymen, who ferry passengers up the Gorkhon river. Some Worms live near the Town, though they are few and far between, located mostly within the Crude Sprawl.

14. #14

    Keys: Butcher, Yargachin

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    Butchers are workers of the Abattoir, who are tasked with the the slaughter of bulls and the processing of their meat. They are referred to by the Kin as "Yargachin", which is meant to refer to both a butcher and a surgeon. While butchers are traditionally able to dissect bulls, they are still forbidden from the dissection of human bodies. According to tradition, they are also the only ones permitted to dig in the earth.

15. #15

    Keys: Menkhu, Those Who Know The Lines

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    The menkhu are a special caste who are allowed to open bodies. While menkhu are notable for their ability to dissect human bodies, their main purpose seems to be the dissection of bulls. The right to open bodies is passed down through family inheritance, as it's a sensitive, highly revered and respected role.

16. #16

    Keys: Shabnak-adyr, Shabnak-adyg

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    An evil, feminine spirit said to be made of clay and bone. She devours people and spreads the Sand Plague. She is infamous among the townsfolk. Isidor Burakh is said to have seen her shortly before dying in the second, current Sand Pest Pandemic, and thus his and Simon Kain's deaths are initially blamed on her.

17. #17

    Keys: Town-on-Gorkhon, The Town

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    The Town is a small, remote settlement, lost in the Eastern steppe. It developed from the Bull Enterprise—the town's meat-making industry, owned and operated by the Olgimskys. Unique and isolated, the Town combines various eras of history and all aspects of humanity. The town's population is approximately seventeen-thousand people, thirty percent of which live in the Termitary and work for the Bull Enterprise. The Town's population is comprised of both Townsfolk and Kinsfolk. Traditions that permeate from the Steppe into the Townfolk are; Few people fish in the River Gorkhon for fear of sharp objects like hooks. It is frowned upon to carry sharp objects such and knives and needles at all. Despite this, many still do. Digging well and holes (or otherwise piercing the Earth) is forbidden. Cutting bodies is taboo to everyone outside of a select few people called Menkhu. Before the outbreak, townspeople engaged in a blind bartering game in which they exchanged unlabeled packages. Locals refuse to drink water drawn from the River Gorkhon and instead prefer to drink stored water imported from rivers farther from the Gorkhon. Due to its remote location the Town relies heavily upon supplies from outside sources in order to survive. In exchange for the meat produced by the Bull Enterprise the Town receives shipments of things that cannot be found in the Town such as sugar and medicine. These supplies arrive in the Town through the Train Station. A few months before the outbreak the shipment of supplies stopped, sending the Town into a deficit for a number of items. The relationship between the Town and the outside world is often compared to the relationship between a mother and a child, connected by an umbilical cord - the Station. The Town is divided into three areas by two tributaries of the Gorkhon river: The Guzzle and the Gullet. Each quarter has a name and divided by districts.

18. #18

    Keys: The Earth Quarter, Earth Quarter

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    The eastern part of town, by the Guzzle, which has these districts; The Tanners, which holds the family estate of the Saburovs, a grocery and pharmacy. The Skinners, which holds the Termitary, a grocery and tailor, plus a place of ancient lore, The Bone Stake Lot, an open lot with a large spike of bone situated in the middle. It is occasionally referred to as a splinter, as in Kin legend it is said Suok was once walking there, became stuck, and with some effort broke free, fracturing and losing a piece of herself in the process. The Hindquarters, which notably holds Isidor's home, a grocery, pharmacy, and tailor. The Factory, which holds the Bull Enterprise businesses. The Crude Sprawl, where Aspity's hospice resides and the greater Steppe borders.

19. #19

    Keys: The Knots Quarter, Knots Quarter

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    The middle portion of the town, between Guzzle and Gullet, which has these districts; The Flank, which holds a grocery and tailor The Chine, which holds a pharmacy The Backbone, which notably holds the Town Hall, a grocery, and a Stairway to Heaven, an art piece of impossible architecture made by Peter Stamatin, the local artist. The Marrow, which notably holds a theatre, pharmacy, and a children's playground. The Gut, which holds the Olgimsky's estate, a pharmacy and tailor. The Maw, which holds a grocery. The Spleen, which holds another Stairway To Heaven and a tailor The Warehouses, a downtrodden and dangerous district specifically, holding a black market shop and delinquents. The Station, which holds the town's railroad station, and a place of ancient lore, The Gumstone, a vertical assortment of rocks in a spiral pattern. It grows herbs around the rocks specifically.

20. #20

    Keys: The Stone Yard Quarter, Stone Yard Quarter

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    This is the western portion of the town, by the Gullet, which has these districts; The Cape, a graveyard The Atrium, which holds a grocery and tailor, plus another Stairway to Heaven The Bridge Square, which notably holds the Cathedral, the Kains' family estate, and a pharmacy. It also holds the Polyhedron.

21. #21

    Keys: The Polyhedron, Polyhedron

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    The Polyhedron is a joint project of the Stamatin architects and the Kain family. It is said to be a miracle—that it breaks the established laws of the Earth and physics. It is a large structure, like a hornet's nest impaled on a pin. With one glance at the Polyhedron, it's obvious that it overcomes the laws of gravity. It is said that the Polyhedron can make dreams a reality; it can take the unique feelings of childhood and allow people to relive them. A work of art, made of paper—it was built out of its own blueprints and schematics. At night, the Polyhedron glows from the inside. The color of this glow may vary—from a cozy, lampshade-like tone to a disquieting scarlet. The Polyhedron houses about 700 children and still has enough space to let more people inside, kids claim that they don't see Polyhedron's walls at all - they're able too look right thorugh them. Only children can view the "miracles" of the tower. Adults see Polyhedron as a glass tower, as they are not able to understand its secrets. It's a generally revered structure, but those more aligned with the Kin instead view it as a cancer, harming the earth and Boddho.

22. #22

    Keys: The Abattoir, Abattoir

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    The Abattoir, also known as Olonngo, an ancient temple turned into a slaughterhouse to some, or is the womb from which the whole city was born, as it's the heart of the Bull Project (the economic basis of the city). The Foreman is the main broker of labor between the Abattoir and the Town. The Abattoir can be accessed through one of three gates: the Gates of Labour, which are used by the workers; the Gates of Sorrow, through which slaughtered bulls are taken away by the railway track; and the Bulljaw, a corridor in the depths of the Abattoir, the route that Supremes take when they come from the Steppe to be celebrated. Opening and closing the gates is subject to complex laws established by the Foreman.

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