Tamel (tahm-ELL)

What is Tamel?

Tamel boiled down into one word is 'exploitation'. Everything is built to be as efficient as possible, minimizing waste at every corner by only striving to give the bare minimum. This district only functions because of a common narcotic, marketed under different names to create the illusion of competition and breed a loyal following in turn. This drug, officially named 'pellets' is a sedative and hallucinogen which gives people the illusion of a true life. Children as young as 7 are made to work and are given pellets along with 3cp every week. Most people can barely afford rent, and those that can are direct pawns to the Gracious Family which rule this district.

Wards

Tamel is separated into six subdistricts, known locally as 'wards'. The most consistent thing between them is an abundance of flammable structures, and a general lack of hope in the populace.

Alkali

Alkali is by far the most wealthy ward in Tamel, even ignoring the Palace of Corvids that makes its home here. Everyone in Tamel dreams of one day living here and taking part in the famous Veiled Markets where rare goods from all over the Burlap Prison are traded and sold for high profits -- Even a simple glass bead can be sold for hundreds of gold pieces if a successful story is spun about the High Priestess of Yezev. However, it isn't just trinkets and baubles that are sold in Alkali -- An inordinate number of evictions take place in Alkali, many in broad daylight. These victims' spirits often make their home in Ravens Ward (see below), peddling music or other useless trinkets from the underworld.

Fishery Ward

Fosiwn's Fishery Ward was only recently recognized as anything more than a mad Corvid's personal playground. Only when they finally became a Benefactor did this little fishery, market, and living quarters gain any amount of respect, and only out of necessity. Little does anyone know, however, that Fosiwn has taken it upon themselves to create a true angel simply named Apotheosis.

Flint Street

Flint Street is the infamous home of the Inquisitors and those citizens unlucky enough to live near them. There are no restful nights on Flint Street -- There's always something happening, something out of place, something that shouldn't exist prowling the streets, or something that still needs to be found. No citizen is safe, as even the hint of a rumour could mean a broken front door and a thorough search for your house. Anyone forced to live in Flint Street has been consigned to paranoia and deprivation.

Raven's Ward

Raven's Ward is the home to three things -- Malevolent spirits, the impoverished, and the Crematorium. While the haunting melodies played on destitute spirits' instruments may bring an ironic sense of life to this ward, every fiddler and leiermann has an equally horrifying story behind their stay. Raven's Ward is a place of death, and there's no way to get around that fact.

The Tinderlanes

The Tinderlanes are a result of Venal's reclamation efforts bleeding into Tamel. There is nothing but stray goblins and the ashen remains of tinderbox apartments in this aptly named ward. Recently, these reclamation efforts have been spilling into Raven's ward and Flint Street, though the latter is reclaimed much slower than the former.

Wonder Lane

Wonder Lane is the most lively of the wards in Tamel. It essentially serves as a red light district, complete with several brothels, a pair of rivaled taverns, and a drug cartel known as Gussys House of Wonder. People from all over Idyllis come to Tamel just to visit this ward on its outskirts, never truly aware of the horrors behind 'The District of Wealth'. Wonder Lane has gained a massive amount of support from Frulotti in particular, due to their mutual goal of entertaining the masses, and much to the dismay of the Gracious Family.

Currency

Currency in Tamel is broken up into two categories -- coins and pellets. Coins function just like money in the Forgotten realms, but some vendors are only willing to trade (whether in general or with specific goods) for pellets. One pellet is roughly equivalent to 15gp, but this value means nothing outside of Tamel.

Concordance

The Concordance makes itself known to Tamel in one particular way -- blue moths. These little creatures flit around the moons and outside lampposts, acting much like normal moths but with a bright blue glow. When crushed and refined, blue moths function almost identically to pellets, leading many in Tamel to outright disregard their Mother Rena and the role of women throughout the district.

Locations

Tamel's crowded streets, towering apartments, and nightmarishly convoluted streets lead many to lose their way. However, with enough wandering one of these landmarks is sure to catch your eye.

The Crematorium

One of only three stone buildings in Tamel, this crematorium serves as both a home and a workplace for the many Kenku who aren't given opportunities anywhere else. Propaganda spills through speakers, and it's rare to find a Kenku in Tamel who can say anything else. The head of the Crematorium is Damph Crawscale, a particularly tragic soul raised and abused by Father Crokus himself. This menace of flesh and artifice feels no pleasure in his work, but doesn't see any other choice in the matter.

Gussy's House of Wonder

People are lured in by the purple and yellow lanterns above the streets and the smell of incense long before they can catch a glimpse of the House of Wonder. Serving mostly as a hookah lounge and brothel, frequent or distinguished guests are taken to see Kingpin Gussy upstairs. In this dimly lit room, guests are expected to either entertain the Tabaxi, offer exorbitant sums of money, or overdose on the floor. Despite the threat of death, the chance of joy is particularly tempting in this despondent district.

The Palace of Corvids

Known until recently as simply 'The Palace', this name became the new normal once the Owl left her Gracious family. Now occupied by a Magpie, a Crow, a Raven, and a Jay, this palace is the symbol of wealth and status that every devoted citizen aspire to. However, out of the 200,000 residents in Tamel, only 79 have ever stepped foot in this marble structure.

Southern Gate to Qean

Everyone would do well to avoid this groaning gate to the southwest. Hidden under Fosiwn's Apotheosis is a web of copper and steam leading straight to the district of abominations, Qean. Luckily, nobody has been brave enough to face Apotheosis for long enough to see what's underneath it.

Leadership

Tamel is incredibly hierarchical. Nobody has a position that someone higher up hasn't decided they deserve, and according to the populace "This isn't normal, it's perfect."

Father Crokus, the Crow

An antithesis to nature, the Gracious Father of Tamel lost any semblence of humanity long before Idyllis' creation. His flesh is steel, his face is a mess of tubes and pipes, and a large cloak and feathery cap intentionally keep his form ambiguous. Some have even dared to silently question whether he was even born male, seeing as his voice and form are so heavily distorted (though these rumours are often quickly stamped out by the Inquisitors). He holds nothing in his mind except contemptuous indifference, even towards his wife and children, and only sees people as a means to make a profit. There is nothing redeeming about this inhuman mess of artifice besides, arguably, his devotion to neutrality.

Mother Rena, the Raven

Mother Rena is intelligent, beautiful, and, in the eyes of many, completely unworthy of trust. She's an illusionist and the sole creator of Tamel's famous pellets. However, once the Concordance began and blue moths began fluttering around the streets, her sole claim to fame was called into question. Combined with the untimely disappearance of her daughter Tavine, the role of women as a whole has been brought into question throughout the district. At this point, even her position as part of the Gracious Family is at constant risk.

Brother Carlile, the Magpie

Carlile's goal is simple -- He wants to be the next Father. His incredible charisma makes him a fantastic ambassador, but ultimately his goal is control. He believes that the more his hand pushes and pulls the affairs of other districts, the more worthy he is of Tamel. However, his greed and lust for power don't stop within his borders. In the end, he wants to own the world and everyone in it. He's already taken control of Qean and parts of Kjana, and people throughout Idyllis are growing wary of the constant threat he poses to their independence.

Kier, the Jay

Kier is the most recent addition to the Family, taking the spot of Sister Tavine. He is incredibly benevolent, seeing people as people and believing that efficiency is best achieved through rewards for hard work. However, every attempt he makes at improving Tamel's living conditions has been hampered in these past five years. Despite this, even his presence in the Gracious Family is enough to spark some hope in Tamel's destitute populace.

Sister Tavine, the Owl

Now that Tavine has left her Family, her attempts to help the populace can finally be noticed. Prominent members of the Family hate her and her guild of hospitals, but that hasn't stopped her from helping Pharmacists, Brothers, and even Kier. In fact, her correspondence with Kier has led Tamel closer to an organized revolution than either of them ever thought possible.

Factions

Tamel is home to many factions with more insidious goals than they intially let on. All of them either serve the Family, or aim to warp the populace against them in some way or another.

The Family

The Family controls Tamel as much as a group people can. Everything from thoughts to actions to personalities are just pieces that the Gracious Family aims to move into an ideal position. There are four main ranks to people within the Family -- True Members, who reside in the palace and act as the heads of Tamel as a whole; Benefactors, who have contributed significantly to the Family and have made a name for themselves; Brothers, who exert control over wards; and Pharmacits, who act as the eyes, ears, and hands of the Family. The Family is friendly with Sublimity's Eyes and the Inquisitors, while finding enemies in the Omiccis and Panacea.

The Inquisitors

The Inquisitors make their home on Flint Street and have a duty to uphold Tamel's reputation. Whether it's through evicting citizens who spread rumours, burning contraband, or just spreading fear, the Inquisition is a constant threat to citizens' security, but a constant reassurance of the Family's. The Inquisitors find friends in the Family and are tentative allies with Panacea, but are enemies to the Omiccis and Sublimity's Eyes.

The Omiccis

The Omiccis are a family of toymakers and surgeons hailing from Paldoran. They recently moved to Tamel in hopes of making a name for themselves, but upon seeing the destitution and despondence rampant in the district, the famous Dr. Ffraide Omicci decided to make her mark thoughout the streets. With her surgical expertise, she makes an effort to painlessly remove at least one piece from each patient and orders her son Krim to stitch them into puppets and sell on the streets. This effort has inevitably caused a plague, which many have hesitated to point out in connection to the toys. After all, such cheap trinkets are one of the few ways to feel joy in these parts! Why would anyone want to take that away from people? The Omiccis are supported by Panacea and Sublimity's eyes, but are antagonitic towards the Family and the Inquisitors.

Panacea

Panacea is a group name given to Tavine's hospitals, all hidden in plain sight. The buildings may take the appearance of burnt remains in the Tinderlanes, a veiled market in Alkali, or any number of supposedly haunted buildings throughout Raven's Ward, often with doctors from outside of Tamel. This is the only truly benevolent faction in Tamel, and only because of Tavine's hatred of the Family -- Visits are free, everyone is served, and only the unlucky few who visit Doctor Omicci for surgeries are ever harmed.

Sublimity's Eyes

Fosiwn (and the Fishery Ward by extension) are deeply intertwined with Qean and its exploits. Sublimity's Eyes are a collective of hive-minded fish people dwelling in the Southern Gate to Qean, who aim to create an angel with Fosiwn's help. Everything around them is a means to this end, from copper pipes, spare tinder, stray pieces of glass, and people wandering the streets. The Fishery Ward would almost be safe if it weren't for these creatures roaming the area.

Current Problems

Tamel is home to a host of problems that threaten the populace, but they don't generally take notice on account of the Family's constant propaganda. Listed below are some of the most pressing threats to the Family and their agenda.

Plague

With Omicci Puppets' explosion in popularity, a strange mix of diseases seems to be spreading through the streets. Strange growths appear in people's throats or skin, the skin on their hands and feet rots slowly, and their thoughts seem to be connected somehow. Whether it's correlation or causation, nobody knows. The most confusing bit is that Omicci Puppets are stuffed with human parts due to 'a malevolent outside force', but most of the symptoms point to a fungal infection.

Venalites

Venal has long been a looming threat to the east of Tamel, but only with the Eighth Moon's disappearance did they begin their reclamation efforts. Starting with Flint Street and Raven's Ward, this band of goblins has slowly been burning their way to the west in an effort to take back the land that was stolen from them. This presents a clear threat to the Family and their efforts at efficiency, but they haven't even taken the effort to rebuild what they've lost (specifically because the lost pieces have come from Raven's Ward). They keep holding on to the hope that the Inquisitors will hold them back from expanding anywhere more important, but that looks increasingly less likely as the Venalites expand to the Crematorium.

Inquisition

Tensions have been running high with the Inquisitors for month now. The de facto leader, Bera, has begun questioning the Family and their motives. Being so open about his doubts is questionable on its own for someone of his status, especially given his rank among the Inquisitors. Lately, the faction as a whole has split, with a small number still trusting Bera's 'paranoid ravings' while others follow the second in command, Houndmaster Davu, and his blind faith in the Family. Few in Tamel truly know if Bera is on to anything, but the threat of eviction is enough to keep many from taking his side.

The Gutters

Sinewy limbs with long fingers have been dragging Pharmacists from the streets. It started with just one or two per month, but now it seems like every day someone needs replacing. Nobody knows whether Pharmacists are the only people affected, seeing as everyone below them are just faceless pawns to the Family, but the need to constantly replace devotees with those of potentially less faith is percieved as a constant threat.

Relations

Despite its many issues in dealing with citizens, many still seek out Tamel for their mass production of smaller goods and their incredible funding. While other districts hold Tamel in high regard, the reverse is often far from true -- Tamel's diplomats are at best indifferent and at worst actively hateful.

Yezev

"A bunch of moralizing devotees to some figure their own minds made up. We can't help but see them as parasites that take from others in return for hollow hope."

Paldoran

"As close a brother to us as we could hope. However, we can't help but think they'd do so much better for themselves if they kept more of their citizens alive."

Venal

"Venal has always been a threat to our streets. We regret not snuffing them out before they hurt us first, but there's nothing for us to do at this point."

The Old Roads

"Part of us doubts this can even be considered a district worth regarding. Who cares if one old man has seen the creation of a world -- We can let you see that daily, for a small price in devotion."

The Bastille

"We respect their power structure if nothing else. Unfortunately, that golden spear in the sky is just asking to be raided and destroyed at the slightest spark of a revolution."

Frulotti

"We have all the peace we need without snakes of ice and flame littering the sky and silly dances distracting our populace. Go beg for sympathy somewhere else."

Kjana

"The epitome of 'why didn't you just ask your parents'. We fully expect those three rings to get absorbed into Yezev, the Bastille, and Birial respectively within 10 years."

Birial

"We can respect the idea of 'our truth' as much as anyone else. Now, if only they taught our truth.

Qean

"This is a cancer, not a district. No matter either way, it's not like they've ever sought us out (or can, for that matter).

Perfect to a fault

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Capital

The Palace of Corvids

Alternative Names

The District of Wealth, the District of Economies

Demonym

Tameli

Leader Title

Father

Government System

Dictatorship

Power Structure

Autonomous area

Economic System

Palace economy

Currency

Tamel's official currency comes in the form of 13-sided coins, generally called eyes. However, all coins and Pellets are traded in the Veiled Markets of Alkali. Large transactions are almost unheard of among the populace, but they often come in the form of one platinum coin from the palace with an exorbitant interest rate.

Major Exports

Tamel's biggest exports are fish, narcotics, and funding. They distribute each to any district who pays.

Major Imports

Tamel's only consistent import is metal from Paldoran. Luxuries aren't in demand, nor can they be afforded.

Legislative Body

Kier, the Jay is the only person writing laws at this point. Before, all laws were made with a mutual agreement between the True Family.

Judicial Body

The Family interprets the laws, and makes no exceptions in enforcing them.

Executive Body

Pharmacists and the Beloved act as the executive body in Tamel. Pharmacists act more as scouts and reporters, while the Beloved act more as police and jailers.

Location

The Palace of Corvids

Controlled Territories

• Alkali
• Wonder Lane

Neighboring Nations

• Kjana
• Paldoran
• Venal

Notable Members

• Kier, the Jay