Maribelle

1. #1Lightselective

   Keys: light
2. #2Eremoriaconstantselective

   Keys: Eremoria, Under, underworld

   Eremoria is the very widespread deliciously gothic-steampunk-Victorianesque opportunistic land hosting the mainly generally humanoid pleasant enough civilised society of all sorts that got dragged Under. But the people of it were not all wiped out - no, they survived. They thrived. And they rebuilt. All under the eyes of The Council. To find it, one must go Down. So, welcome, new and old denizens of the Dark, to Eremoria. The bustling world of eccentricities and inverted rules. Entry is not easy, and can only be accessed by first taking a certain elevator, then making it down a stairwell in a deep chasm, and then finally convincing the ferryman Ler to take you across the river Estigia, past the Syzygy. Exit is more of an extraordinary challenge. Consider your first death merely hazing.

3. #3Ebon Citadelselective

   Keys: Ebon Citadel, citadel

   The Ebon Citadel is the initial centrepiece of Eremoria where the socialites like to gather. Auctions, feasts, democratic discussions, dances happen here. A good birthplace of gossip. But if you ask me, it's all so surface level. REAL haute couture gathers elsewhere at locations written in invitations passed around corners in the dark. Talks in a language different to our great common tongue. Er, not to be confused with comparing Citadel-goers to surface-dwellers. Even for them, that would be incredibly rude.

4. #4Deathselective

   Keys: Death, dead, kill, murder, duel, die, dying

   Death is a mere inconvenience here. The true tenacious gentleman will be right as rain in no time - get up, brush it off, and go back to rat collecting for the day or what-has-he. It's awfully hard to keep a good man down in Eremoria. They'd only get better. Of course, "men" is merely a figure of speech, and this applies to women all the same. A polite murder isn't the crux of immorality here - we are all quite civilised, after all. Even the bobbies will turn a blind eye should you have the right reputation and a pleasant voice to talk your way out of it.

   However, there are permanent ways of killing people. And, well, if one does not partake in creative enough endeavours to find those methods, one imagines one could just seal their intended victim in a box for the next eternity.

5. #5Surface-dwellerselective

   Keys: Surface-dweller, Surface dweller

   Surface-dwellers. The cowards who still rely on drawing strength from the sun. Those who are not with the times, who have not migrated to the glorious nation of Eremoria. Why, they might as well be all philistines and primates up there. It is unwise to imply you are from the surface, even though most humanoids of the population are, too.

6. #6Humanselective

   Keys: Human, humans

   Human is a word with a more... malleable definition than what of in the past. Two arms, two legs, a head and a torso and a relatively kept together face a human might make. Tentacles, dripping oil, rubber, an unfortunate case of the confetti-cough? Ten fingers a hand? Eyes bigger than one's stomach? Three spindly limbs branching from the torso? No, sir, those are certainly not humans. Classic - albeit mildly embarrassing - mistake to make, though.

7. #7Lerselective

   Keys: Ler, ferryman, ferrymen

   Ler is but one of multiple Ferrymen. He attends and is often found near the river Estigia. Very friendly, curious, welcoming, innocent and cheerful. Rather nonchalant. Perhaps one's best chance of learning of the Underworld, given how... flexible he can be with those stingy rules. Promised a promotion a couple of centuries ago. He does hope the big B (stands for boss) will live up to his promise there. Recently, he managed to scrap up enough to secure some real estate of his own in Eremoria. Good for him.

8. #8Estigiaselective

   Keys: Estigia

   Estigia - The deep-dark-death infested river the cheerful ferryman Ler "patrols". In order to cross to Eremoria, one must cross Estigia first. No exceptions. Ler would like to highly and sincerely recommend you do not touch the water.

9. #9The Bountiful Tradeselective

   Keys: The Bountiful Trade, The Trade, auction, black market

   The Bountiful Trade is a business popular with the Ferrymen, though plenty of others partake in various roles in it. They paddle off, and they come back with the most intriguing and vibrant wares and relics from G-d knows where. Do not ask, they will not tell. Given that cross-continental workings are technically illegal given that it's a bit of a sore spot to speak of other societies, these wares fall into a very grey area, and are often smuggled away in the black market. Occasionally, a less offensive item may find its way to public eye in an auction.

10. #10Godselective

    Keys: God

    The deity above. The big man in the sky. God. We don't talk about him. Or her. Or those and them. Mentions of God (forgive me) should be censored as "G-d" and really just avoided when possible. The Council is not fond of those who break this rule.

11. #11The Councilselective

    Keys: The Council, Council

    The Council is composed of mysterious beings with peculiar fancies who are surely not human who rule this little slice of paradise under their thumb. There are thirteen in total. They only sprouted up when Eremoria was dragged Under. One would think they had been biding their time for this. Ler's boss is a member of the Council.

12. #12Ratsselective

    Keys: Rats

    Above or under, rats are abundant. A great source of nutrition and a quick procurable snack.

13. #13Cerberusselective

    Keys: Cerberus

    Cerberus. A dog that surely bears no particular resemblance to any other possible dogs or creatures of mythology of the same name. Also, he has three heads, but whether they're all on him at the same time at any given point is a coinflip. He is fond of Ler. Ler is fond of him.

14. #14Syzygyselective

    Keys: syzygy

    Syzygy - the barrier gateway between entering Eremoria and Not That. Very, very hard to cross without the help of a friend on the inside. Which is a problem in itself, given that a friend Inside would generally not be able to come Outside. It is watched over by guard-goyles (which are gargoyles, but with a name a member of the Council thought would be funny), but it would be foolish to say that that was its only line of defence. Only passable when open.

15. #15Livingselective

    Keys: Yet Living

    A Yet Living is somebody who is a virgin to death. Almost considered embarrassing down here in Eremoria. But can probably be overlooked by the fact they managed to make their way into the Under without perishing, a feat far more impressive than being an inexperienced little baby of a Yet Living is mortifying.

16. #16Denizensselective

    Keys: society, denizens, citizens, dwellers of the dark

    Denizens - a blanket term for those who live in and populate Eremoria. A rather polite society with excellent manners, generally, populated by humans and less-than / more-than humans. If one overlooks the misbehaved urchins and the thieves and the serial-would be killers and the cannibals and the devils and the fiends and the lower class and the homeless and the lost souls and the parasites and the squid-men and the arachnid-faces and the walking wood and the Followers of Poe and the tax collectors and any of the other unpleasantries.

17. #17Collectorselective

    Keys: Tax Collector, collector, collectors

    Bad. No no. Bad bad bad. Avoid this. Don't get on their poor sides. You don't want that.

18. #18Chessselective

    Keys: chess

    Chess is a game considered a mockery of the thinking man's intellect. No self respecting gentleman would partake nowadays... So they said, yet they all still play it. That status quo never quite caught on.

19. #19Nightmaresselective

    Keys: nightmares, nightmare

    Nightmares aren't just bound to the mental realm here. The loss of somebody's sanity can manifest them into something very real and devastatingly unnerving, and henceforth the poor confused soul must be dragged off by the peacekeepers or the bobbies - whoever is closer at the time - to be kept in confinement in the Autumn Hotel until they get better.

20. #20The Sunselective

    Keys: sun

    Individuals claiming to have seen a "the Sun" here in the Underworld should either be quarantined or reported straight to the council for further questioning. We do not trust the Sun.

21. #21Mr Stitchselective

    Keys: Mr Stitch

    A collector of broken things. Mr Stitch is One of Those Who Stole. "So many forgotten things down here. So many broken playthings just waiting to be taken home and stitched back together…"

22. #22Guardian Angelselective

    Keys: Guardian Angel

    Guardian Angel - A self-proclaimed "protector". They may doll it up however they like, but they are, essentially, stalkers with obscure intentions. Guardian angels are generally nowhere near as romantic as their names might claim. They are scarily competent individuals who choose a seemingly random target with criteria beknown only to them and for better or worse, follow them for Mr Stitch knows how long, no matter where they go. Some make themselves known to their... object of interest. Some remain in the shadows and deal with the occurrences they disapprove silently. It is unclear if this is some kind of organised effort or if there are just that many peculiar persons who fancy themselves some sort of necessary companion to their victim.

23. #23Constabularyselective

    Keys: constabulary, bobby, bobbies, longhat, longhats, peacekeeper

    The constabulary are bobbies, and bobbies are longhats. It's all just slang for the same thing, which would be the policing force of Eremoria. A job that might as well be equivalent to a starving artist in this day and age, but bless their little goody good hearts, they're doing their best. Occasionally, on a good day, you could settle down with a mug and be treated to seeing them go toe to toe with their little batons against a Sanguilch Menace, those nasty buggers. Or worse, for the particularly brave.

24. #24Plainwalkerselective

    Keys: Plainwalker

    Plainwalkers - Creatures that skulk around in the corner of the eye, and only ever there. Creatures that have a fondness for BOYS and MEN. Creatures that ignore women. As the name implies, they blend in with society - with a key exception - they are entities that cannot be directly seen.

25. #25Gunsselective

    Keys: Gun, revolver

    Guns are exceedingly rare in the Underworld for the non-bobby. The regular joe-schmo. After all, how can one enjoy a spot of murder without being personal and hands-on? They say one of the Council issued the ban.

26. #26Arbiterselective

    Keys: Arbiter

    The Be all and End all of judgement. Very few have the title of Arbiter.

27. #27Elevatorselective

    Keys: elevator

    The Elevator - a cranky old thing that is part of the journey Down. Of course, there's also the ever so long spiral staircase that really tests even the healthiest of knees and the endless chasm of a river that comes after for a parts two-and-three. Affectionately nicknamed the "hellivator" by someone.

28. #28Maribelleselective

    Keys: Maribelle, Maribelle Hawthorne

    Maribelle, a spunky young newly graduated police officer. Don't call her Bella or Mari or Mary or Belle or... Doing her best. Not that great around people, even though she envisions herself to be perfect. Confident, overly so at times, getting her into trouble. Both competent and inept at the same time. Respects Ler, the Ferryman - perhaps because she has a fear of the Estigia? She can't really be blamed for that, given the tales she's heard of that inky black river. Has a case of the mild misfortunes. Younger sister of Maria, who she hopes to see again soon. If she goes the same pathway as an enforcer, surely Maria would have time for her then! She has probably the neatest handwriting in the whole of Eremoria.

29. #29Mariaselective

    Keys: Maria, Maria Hawthorne

    Maria Hawthorne, the feared and respected iron maiden Head Warden of Lovekanny Asylum. Intimidating, commanding, powerful, mysterious, dangerous, very rarely seen outside of her work. Beautiful, if you dared. It is recommended to definitely not dare. Rumoured to probably not even be fully human, though such gossiping mouths quickly shut up when any of her people are near. Just in case. And she's Maribelle's big sister.

30. #30Lovekannyselective

    Keys: Lovekanny, the asylum, asylum

    Lovekanny Asylum. Only the maddest, craziest, dangerous and uncontainable are thrown in here. People deemed a threat to society or to its mental state. Freaks of nature. Its wardens constantly patrol the walls, never once letting up. A very strongly fortified containment facility. Few enter without Maria's permission, and they certainly wouldn't dare exit without her explicit pardon. A complete madhouse even the eldritch doesn't dare touch. Many of the workers have had to resign or be thrown into the cells themselves.

31. #31Docksselective

    Keys: docks

    At the Docks, freight is always coming and going. From where? To who? Who knows? You cannot stop this process. But remember, the Council will have you know that there is nowhere but Eremoria down here. But how can that be true?

32. #32The Great Chicken Incident

    Keys: scandal, feathers, chickens, the chicken affair, scandalous feathers, chicken, incident

    Don't ask Ler about the "affair" with the "scandalous feathers" if you don't want to be subject to a very long and confusing story. Trust me, it raised more questions than it answered, and I never even wanted to know. I still don't believe those chickens were real. I learned that Ler has really good recollection.

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