Old Ashton
Old Ashton is a Fishing Community, located on the Vircook Isles off the coast of Ferallum. A small town connected to the mainland via a Stone Bridge, with floating docks between each of the isles. Besides being a fishing Village, Old Ashton serves as the Northern Gateway to the Strait of Ariados. It is a massive tourism location for all Pallet due to its history and tropical climate.
Demographics
Old Ashton has a population consisting of near 50% Aquatic Folk and 50% Land Dwellers. In particular, Wolfkin and Lizardfolk tend to flock to Old Ashton for the opportunity to craft using pearls and whale/leviathan bones. Despite being in Southern Pallet, ancestries, cultures and ancestries of all kind gather and reside in Old Ashton for the peaceful environment
Merfolk and Athamaru live within the waters around Old Ashton, being in what is largely considered “The Coral District”.
Government
Old Ashton is often viewed as a dictatorship, ruled by an Island Oni named Mukaga. He demands 20% of the earnings of those who live upon the island, but since he occupied the island he has dutifully defended the town in their times of need.
Industry & Trade
Old Ashton primary trade is in Boat Building, with Blacksmiths, Woodworkers and sailors being attracted to the Bridge District for the trade. The partnership between those of Land and Sea are able to craft some of the greatest ships in Pallet. Additionally fish, pearl jewelry, pottery and some exotic weaponry is also produced in Old Ashton.
Finally, Old Ashton’s primary export is sugar and coffee. The sugar is refined in the water mills that are powered by the tides coming in and out between the various islands, though it can also be sold raw. Due to the rugged territory Southern Pallet tends to be, access to sugar and coffee is rare and in high demand, tending to be able to be sold for a premium.
Infrastructure
In order to accomodate the various Aquatic Folk that live within the area, Boardwalks leading in and out of the water are widely available. Roads are well paved with special Sandstone to allow comfort for those accustomed to the ocean.
Pelagic Helmets and Supramarine Chairs are publically available to allow Aquatic Folk to traverse the surface more easily, donated from the Gallic Research Centre to help promote the union of the two cultures.
To keep the waters surrounding the island clean and fresh, elaborate pipe and sewage systems have been set up across the island, utilizing water pressure to get water around the island, purify it for consumption, and cleanse it from impurities to return it to the ocean. This system is maintained by both spectacular engineering, magic and alchemy to ensure it is always active. Surrounding the islands are floating trash cans people refer as seabins, that help filter the trash from the water.
Districts
The Bridge District
The Bridge leading to Old Ashton is home to much of the Trade in Old Ashton. With three layers consisting of a Blacksmith, Tavern, and Docks and Boatyard underneath, many businesses and traders set up upon the bridge to avoid the taxes the Mukaga Imposes upon the residents of Old Ashton, but likewise does not receive the protection they offer. Homes are built into the structure of the bridge for residents, underneath the arches consists of Aquaticlink Shipyards where specialized boats and ships are built, and on the surface of the bridge are various businesses that serve as tourist traps and overpriced vendors.Shoreline Commons
The Shoreline Commons are the location of the Harmonic Tides Resort, a large hotel that offers many amenities to allow tourists to enjoy the tropical environment. Due to its close proximity to the Resort, many businesses such as restaurants, bars and souvenir shops are set up here to take advantage of the tourists. Adventuring supplies such as blacksmiths and leather workers are also located here to take advantage of mercenaries and arriving adventurers who make Harmonic Tides Resort their base of operation. In addition to the hotel, this is also where the main dockyards and warehouses are for the island, supplying the island with imports across the world.Seabreeze Quarter
Unlike the tight roads and bustle of tourists of the Bridge District and Shoreline Commons, the Seabreeze Quarters are calmer and meant more for residential housing. The roads are less paved, and are more open than other districts, allowing for large gatherings for games, meetings, and clubs to meet. Tourists are welcome to participate in these events, though are often required to pay a small fee to do so. The Seabreeze Quarter is home to the Celestial Cask Brewing Co, a Brewery based on The Vircook Isles to be able to take advantage of the pure water produced by the waterworks. The formly salty water adds unique tastes to the alcohol they produce, and access to imports across Pallet allows them to experiment and create new brews.Coral Bay
A separate island connected to the main town by a bridge, Coral Bay is where the long standing residents of Old Ashton live. All the homes are waterfront properties, with most houses having direct access to the ocean to allow parking of boats directly in the house. Some homes are even directly upon the water, allowing an aquatic folk to live below and a land dweller to live above. Coral Bay is a crescent shaped island, within the center of the bay is the Great Straight Palace, home to Mukaga, the Island Guardian. The bay is surprisingly deep, shaped overtime by Mukaga to allow Aquatic folk to comfortably live within it. Finally, within the water between the Seabreeze Quarter and Coral Bay resides The Dive Bar, a world famous bar made from the remains of a submerged ship. Run by a drowning devil, it is a location where Landdwellers the Aquan can meet on mutual territory, the power of the owner allowing those to breathe, drink and eat in the aquatic environment without hindrance.Assets
Old Ashton subsides primarily on Mukaga’s Hoard, taking 20% of resident income to help keep everything independent from the neighbouring regions. People inflate costs for tourists to help cover these taxes, which the rich often don’t care much or notice.
Old Ashton has a fleet of multipurpose ships docked on the south side of the island. While most of these are meant for the purposes of selling, these ships can be quickly prepared and deployed for purposes of defending the island.
Deeper in land, away from the town are a number of farms for Coffee Beans and Sugar Canes, a popular product that can be produced all year long due to the climate and bringing consistant income to the islands.
History
For the longest time, the sea was the sea, ruled by the seafolk, and the surface was the surface, ruled by the surface dwellers. Very rarely did the two interact in matters other than trade.
This changed during the Arrival of Galalland, when the Demonic Incursion began. The region of Ferallum, while not below the floating isles, still suffered heavy incursion, some of the smaller states even joining the demons or taking advantage of the chaos to advance their own agenda.
The Strait of Ariados served as an important strategic port, being the entrance to the Ballaric Sea. To lose control of it, both those living upon the islands and within the sea would lose their supply lines.
Old Ashton was where the final stand to protect the Sea. At first only King Lynalheart, who was only 27 at the time, stood alongside his army against the battalion of the Infernal Legion.
They were on the losing end of the battle, with all but one of their Battleships destroyed and half of their men gone, they prepared for one final stand, the Sea Dwelling races made their appearance.
While King Lynalheart led his men to fend off the Legion, the Aquanic (colloquial term for Sea Dwellers) were permitted time to organize their own defenses, pincering and flanking the Demonic Horde to prevent them from escaping, pushing past the Old Ashton and the surface dwellers to take the brunt of the assault and allow the Surface Dwellers to regroup.
Once they did, with a combined assault of sea and sky, the two cultures were able to push back the incursion and secure the Strait.
Since then the newly dubbed Old Ashton was formed on the Island, being forever declared neutral territory where both cultures are permitted to tread. When Mukaga came and claimed the island two years later as his own, neither culture opposed it as they understood that not only would the island be protected, thus the strait of Ariados by extension, but the Mukaga would ensure the island would remain Neutral. Mukaga’s power can only control the island, and not the waters around it.
Points of interest
The Docks
Widely considered “Public Parking” for the most part. With enough room for the four large Fishing Vessels, they are overseen by the dockmaster, an Ulat-Kini named Muir.The Dive Bar
A Tavern that is entirely located underwater, one which both Land and Sea Dwellers can enjoy. Run by a Sarglagon, also known as a Drowning Devil, Delgon had claimed the spot of The Dive Bar as its Lair, allowing him to make the area be breathable for both Land and Sea Dwellers. From there, his control over murky water allows him to ensure alcohol flows as it should. With the alcohol flowing and the risk of drowning extremely minimal, eating in the tavern is also entirely possible due to Delgon keeping the water area crystal clear, though everything has a salty taste due to the ocean. For any other being, a tavern like this should not logically exist, but Delgon’s unique traits and abilities makes it entirely possible, making The Dive Bar a popular tourist attraction, and a natural bridge between Sea and Land Dwellers. He even has a bouncer wizard on staff to dry off patrons when they leave, for a modest fee, of course.The Memorial Boardwalk
A scenic boardwalk that travels to the nearby Coral Reefs. There is also a stage located here and a number of canoes and kayaks available for the public. The Memorial Boardwalk was built after the cooperation Land Dwellers and Sea Dweller during the Invasion, and in memory of those who was lost as a result.Coral Reefs
An extension of Old Ashton, the Coral Reefs serve as a home for the Aquatic Races of Old Ashton. Built primarily of remains of ships lost during the Demonic Invasion. The union of Land and Sea Dwellers will remain so long as the Coral Reefs remain healthy. As such, despite it being inhabited by the Aquatic Races, it's considered a community effort to keep it clean.The Arena
A Small, floating stage positioned away from the town. Here, the inhabitants of Old Ashton enjoy sparring and fighting. Being on the border to the Straight, the town is occasionally attacked by hostile Sahaugins and bandits, and this Arena, setup by Mukaga, helps keep people trained. Everyone on the island is encouraged to be trained in some sort of weapon.Market Square
A trading place for Surface and Sea Dwellers to exchange goods that can not normally be obtained by the others, for Seafolk this often refers to Metals and Jewelry, while for Surface Dwellers this is Tubers and Coral, luxuries for both races. Within the Market Square is a Merfolk Bonesmith, Aviana, while a jeweler named Maddy also works here.Tourism
Old Ashton is a tourist attraction not just because of the tropical climate, but also due to the history the island offers. Residing on the island is the Harmonic Tides Resort, a world famous vacation spot known for its amenities and location. Founded by Mukaga and handed off to the independent business owner, Barfolomew.
The Memorial Boardwalk is made of the remains of the ships lost during the demonic incursion, King Lynalheart’s first major victory as the Beast King. It has a number of remains from the lost ships.
On Old Ashton is the famous Dive Bar, a tavern existing entirely underwater where land dwellers can breathe as though they were aquatic folk. However, the barkeep, Delgor, prioritizes the locals, only allowing outsiders into the tavern upon paying a premium.
Finally, Merfolk are known to bring Land Dwellers out into the ocean for oceanianic tours among the sunken ships and coral reefs surrounding the island.
Geography
Old Ashton is a lush, diverse landscape with surrounding marine ecosystems. Rising dramatically from the surrounding turquoise waters, the island is enveloped in dense vegetation, featuring towering palm trees, vibrant flowers, and a variety of tropical plants. The island’s interior is marked by gently rolling hills and small freshwater streams that flow towards the coast, feeding into secluded lagoons.
The coastline is primarily composed of soft, white sandy beaches that curve around the island, offering picturesque views of the ocean. Off the coast, a rich network of coral reefs thrives in the warm, shallow waters, providing habitat for a diverse array of marine life. These vibrant coral formations are home to the indigenous Merfolk, who inhabit the underwater communities and play a vital role in the island's cultural and ecological balance. The clarity of the water allows for stunning visibility of the colorful marine ecosystems, making it a popular destination for both explorers and researchers interested in the unique interactions between land and sea.
Founding Date
5 LD
Type
Town
Population
130
Inhabitant Demonym
Ashians
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Additional Rulers/Owners
Related Tradition (Primary)
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