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Port Oudarr
In the year 1913, due to unjust and intense government control, the nation of Windoch declared independence from its mother country of Qoplar, inciting a civil war. This war for freedom claimed countless casualties on both sides, and after a ten-year war, the nation of Windoch was declared the victor. Though Windoch gained its independence, it was not without cost. Port Oudarr, a critical city in fostering the rebellion and organizing war efforts, was sacrificed during a major gambit to swing the fight in Windoch’s favor. 17 years after the war ended, Windoch set out to restore Port Oudarr. The city’s restoration was an attempt to heal the nation’s wounds from the war, and more importantly, to serve as a reminder to Qoplar that they could stand as their own country.
After winning its independence, the nation had exploded in wealth. Over the course of two decades after the country’s founding, the economy of Windoch began to collapse. Windoch relied on a free capitalistic economy where the government had no control. This economic system, at first, led to a boon of new developments in the arts and technology. Eventually though, the nationalist pride and heavy spending that jump started their economy led to an unsustainable consumption of the new nation’s resources. On the brink of demise, Windoch risked destruction at their own hands.
Growing desperate, Windoch became the thing it hated in a last resort to save the budding country from absolute catastrophe. It began to follow suit in the ways of Quoplar’s government. The government slowly made efforts to establish order and control of its economy, and now the Windoch government is responsible for the organization and control of community goods, research efforts, and industrial pursuits.
Eight years ago, in 1958, Windoch had begun mining exhibitions within the Smoky Mountains at the border of Windoch and Quoplar in search of iron and other desperately needed resources. During one of these exhibitions, underground ancient ruins were unearthed. The architecture was otherworldly, and its location only supported the idea that the ruins were not made by man. The ruins were researched for only a year, but countless invaluable discoveries were made. The knowledge found within the ruins led to dramatic advancements in technology. After the ruins were drained of its resources, it became clear that this was only one of many, and the Windoch government was hungry for more. Study of the cave that housed the ruins led to a prevailing hypothesis - more ruins might be found below modern sea level, and if this were true, the advancements found in other locations may just propel Windoch out of their dark age of economic recession and back to the capitalist, laissez-faire model they believed in.
Over the next several years, Windoch - and later Qoplar, as government spies uncovered documents pertaining to Windoch’s discovery - began the Sea Sprint, a multinational race to the bottom of the ocean in search of resources. But for Windoch, however, this was more than just a resource game: this was a hunt for the lost temples and the knowledge within. Six months into 1965, a fourth temple was discovered beneath the waves of Oudarr Bay at Port Oudarr. This temple was larger than the rest, and in addition to even more writings, contained an artifact. The artifact was of a material no scientist had ever witnessed before; it behaved like steel but under specific conditions, would become soft and pliable for reshaping. This element was named Elthinium, and work to synthesize more began immediately.
After more research into Elthinium and even more investigation of the fourth temple, the Windoch government had made their most extraordinary discovery yet: who the ruins were made for. Their suspicions that the temples were otherworldly were confirmed, as they learned the temples were built in the name of a god they translated as “Belthedod”. A being of immense power and whose mere existence in their world could warp reality into an irreparable apocalypse, this creature is one that Windoch hopes they can avoid encountering. But in tampering with the Elthinium artifact they discovered, the Windoch government now believes that they have opened the floodgates, and it’s a matter of when, not if, this god from beyond comprehension will break into their world..
In current day, March 1966, it has not escaped the gaze of Windoch’s government that since the discovery of the fourth temple, things have been… shifting. Officials make strange decisions, scientists craft items with no apparent function, but become irritable if they are removed or disassembled. The walls in the room where the original Elthinium sample is kept tilt at odd angles if you keep your eyes open long enough. Caution is exercised as the research continues, but one thing is for certain: they cannot stop, not when they are so close to salvaging their economy and their nation’s pride. And not with Qopla’s spies so close to stealing their critical discoveries. After the discovery of the fourth temple, all eyes are now on Port Oudarr as current happenings become stranger and stranger by the day within the port city. To anyone on the street, some things certainly seem different, but only the government has any real understanding of how much the world is roiling beneath the waves.
The military in Port Oudarr is primarily made of men, drafted as young as 16 for training and able to be deployed at 20, as law says, men who do not serve are not eligible for voting rights or a say in politics. Most men who join stay in the grunt level of the army, leaving after their first term, or dedicating their lives to the cause. A majority of the upper echelon of the military is made up of women who served both in the military as part of the Sea-exploration for some time, as well as old men who survived the last war and became heroes. The military continues to grow and strangle the city with near martial law, the civilians growing restless as the city continues to strain for resources, the army working to jump-start the economy again any way it can. Military officers are acting as a police force, and executing force to claim authority where they want. Protest against their actions as to root out traitors was punished harshly, but only punished occasionally.
Religion is not a major factor in Oudarr, there is a general understanding of a god, or goddess, but nothing concrete and well defined. Churches are built and maintained as any other business structure. Basic prayer and reverence for an unnamed deity is common enough to be recognized but is not encouraged or discouraged by the general public. There is also a cult dedicated to Belthedod, an ancient and terrifying cosmic horror that lives beyond the realm of sanity. Past followers built temples dedicated to him across the continent, but were lost to the elements over the years. In the bay a megalithic temple has been discovered, the Windoch government is now there to study the temple and use Oudarr as a base of operations. Now, there are very few who worship Belthedod, and they usually keep their musings to themselves and those they want to convert to their cause.
As research into the ancient ruins of Belthedod continue, more and more technological advancements are made thanks to the discoveries in the temple. Technology to improve the harvesting of resources in and out of the sea is well funded and is publicly known and promoted by the government, both local and national. However, the reverse-engineering of more ancient technologies found in the ruins, and the development of new and interesting technologies has begun to take place, and the public is unaware of the source of this new information. And lastly, the people who are touched by Belthedod sometimes begin developing strange and arcane technologies but the results are almost always hidden from the public and the afflicted is kept out of public eye, however, those who are successful cause great and terrible things with little regard for the lives they affect.
Art dedicated to the research and development of technology and the exploration of the sea and the Belthedod ruins are everywhere. Promotional material for the exploration is on every television, in many movies, and on dozens and dozens of street corners. However, a subsection of the artistic community has begun to twist their works, becoming more abstract and cryptic. Many of those who witness these pieces also become infected with the influence and some even begin working on their own pieces, regardless of their interests, skills, or occupation. These infected artists often go as far as forgoing food, water, and important responsibilities to continue their work, sacrificing everything until their piece is done, even until death.
Unaware, Windoch and Qoplar woke an ancient cosmic horror in their desperation to explore and exploit the seas. Belthedod and its influence are far reaching and penetrative of all aspects of life in Oudarr and beyond. People of all walks of life are touched by this entity, how it affects people varies from person to person. Those in the sea, or closer to the shore are often affected faster and more easily, though rare, some individuals can sense the presence and are unaffected by Belthedod’s influence. Belthedod is known by many names: The Sleeping One, The Muse, The Voice of the Cosmos, The Whisper, and many more. However, its true name is known by a select few, particularly those who willingly worship it. To gain corporeal influence Belthedod promises so much to those open to it’s corrupting will, and whispers songs of inspiration to those who are unwilling. Those unwilling to serve will begin to see the world itself melt away and shape into things beyond comprehension, until they cave and worship, or fall into eternal madness. The end all goal of Belthedod is escape, to leave it’s realm and take this new world for itself.
Despite the rising paranoia and insanity caused by the cosmic horrors, the people of Port Oudarr have managed to keep social order and conduct intact. Within the city, there are people of all sorts of racial and ethnic backgrounds. For the most part, those of different ethnicities get along just fine, though it is apparent that the people of Port Oudarr show some hostility toward those that came from Quoplar over the past few years. As the only other super-power capable of beating Windoch in the Sea Sprint, there’s a genuine fear that those coming from Quoplar may be trying to undermine or derail the nation’s efforts. While it’s mostly name calling and slurs, the society certainly feels far from welcoming toward them, and as people become more and more desperate for resources, these conflicts only have a greater risk of getting out of hand, especially if a good accusation could leave behind food and a vacant home.
Similarly, the people of Quoplar react in a manner of disgust and disdain towards those that hail from Windoch, treating them with disrespect ever since the civil war. Despite their government efforts providing and redistributing wealth equally to all of its people, it’s clear that those that came from Windoch do not receive equal treatment anywhere in Quoplar.
As the economy of Windoch fell and resources dwindled, the wealth and stability of the people of Port Oudarr decayed to two extreme polar opposites - those that have money and those that do not - with very few sitting between. More essential jobs and professions prove to be better off, having more money and better educational opportunities, such as farmers, and the ever-important researchers and government workers tasked to the Sea Sprint. The artists, architects and other common citizens on the opposite end of the spectrum, however, are forced to rely on what government services are provided to sustain themselves week to week.
With the recent research into the depths and human capabilities in such environments, it was discovered that women are significantly more capable of surviving under such extreme conditions, and as a result are sought out for participation and training in the Sea Sprint. Their status in society has risen slightly above that of their male counterpart in response, shifting societal norms into a world perhaps strange to older generations that lived prior to the civil war. Quoplar, in contrast, has maintained its status quo, allowing those that can work and are able to participate in exploring the ocean floors to do so and be compensated for their capabilities and discoveries, regardless of their gender.
The rise of the woman sailor and explorer has affected Port Oudarr profoundly, as is the case with many port cities in Windoch with direct access to the ocean. Due to the shift in who is ashore and who is needed at sea to get ahead in the Sprint, a large amount of time an individual spends in Port Oudarr and on any ships leaving is with others of the same gender. Since a majority of women are undergoing training and participating in the Sea Sprint, the majority of the men are left working with each other on land in the city above. Before, it was far more likely to see a straight couple walking down the street, or out in the markets picking fruits for a picnic. But necessity is the mother of invention, and in this case, experimentation. The people of Port Oudarr find enjoyment and love where they can, and as a result, homosexual relationships have begun to appear more frequently and are more widely accepted than they were a few years ago. Quoplar, having maintained their society of more heterosexual relationships in their empire, have begun to use this fact to further discredit and diminish Windoch in comparison to themselves, stating its only evidence that the separating has made them fail to thing straight.
As the discoveries being made in the Sea Sprint have led into the ruins and temples of unknown origin, the people of both Windoch and Quoplar are beginning to suffer confusion and insanity, and the city of Port Oudarr has been most notably affected. The daily interactions have significantly shifted as its society has changed to support the Sea Sprint, and many rumors have begun to spread suggesting that some returning explorers seem… different. Neighbors and friends say that their minds wander, they mumble beneath their breath, and sometimes go as far as shutting themselves out from the rest of society, and no one has any clue as to why.
At the cusp of the Sea Sprint, the country of Windoch was the leader in the development of cutting edge technology, but after the discovery of the fourth temple of Belthedod, they may have doomed not only themselves, but all of humanity. Port Oudarr was at the height of its reign only just a few short months ago, but due to recent events, has slowly begun to fall to shambles.With the temple being discovered right off the coast of Port Oudarr, the Windoch government has slowly been taking control over the city through the use of its government. The Windoch government has learned just who these ruins were built for, but are willing to risk anything and everything in order to keep their country afloat. As of current day, Windoch’s government has begun their all-out war in the shadows in a battle against Belthedod, and are using Port Oudarr’s government as their means to do so, making it beckon to their every call and command.
Although many within the national government are battling against their unknown enemy named Belthedod, not all are aiding in the efforts. Some officials within the Windoch government believe it’s only a hoax or that Belthedod has no true power over them, while some are already under Belthedod’s influence, aiding them in sabotaging the humans efforts against them. With the national government controlling Port Oudarrs local government, almost all of their officials are left in the dark about current happenings, but completely understand that all is obviously not right. Most of Port Oudarrs officials have done their best to oppose the Windoch government’s orders, but sadly, their efforts have little to no effect.
The majority of the citizens of Port Oudarr still remain subservient to both their local and national governments, but a small minority have begun to disobey. Some of these rebels are Qopla spies attempting to learn some of Windoch’s secrets. Others are just citizens upset over the new abruptly established laws by Port Oudarr’s government. And some are just rebellious punk teens. But… some are under the influence of the cosmic horrors of Belthedor. Both governments struggle to weed out those who are followers of Belthedor or enemies of the state and those who are just disobedient citizens. Belthedor influences have not only tainted citizens, but officials within both Port Oudarr’s local government, and the nation of Windoch’s government itself. The poor government of Port Oudarr currently struggles against the cosmic horrors of Belthedor, the Qopla spies, its own country’s government, and even the citizens of the city.
Port Oudarr’s government is surrounded by invisible enemies, and must struggle against every one of them whilst trying to keep its public from panicking. Although both the national government of Windoch and the city’s government of Port Oudarr use everything in their power to ensure that most of these new paranormal cases are covered and hidden from the public, word has gotten out and there are whispers and gossip across the city of the recent paranormal events.
In order to keep both Port Oudarr’s public and the invading Qopa spies from gaining knowledge of the cosmic threat, Windoch’s government has begun to overtake and control the city of Port Oudarr’s government. Curfews have been established within certain areas of the city, and a slew of new laws have been founded. No dramatic laws have been set forth (yet), the coast has begun to be patrolled by the police and a select few citizens have been taken into custody out of the blue. Amongst some of the chattier housewives, there have been even whispers of martial law being put into place, but that’s nothing but gossip amongst the citizens. Against the government of Port Oudarr’s will, Windoch’s government has slowly begun to take control of the city, and have even made slight efforts to turn the city into a surveillance state in order to help aid in their struggle for both information and control against the oncoming horror.
Although, internally, both governments are slowly falling apart, the city’s citizens have miraculously been fooled into believing that all is fine, even though most don’t necessarily believe that entirely. Although they have their doubts, the citizens of Port Oudarr believe in their country, and still do their best to feign normalcy and go about their day; the milkmen still deliver milk, the supermarkets are still supplied, and your friendly neighborhood mailman still makes their daily rounds.
The race to the bottom of the ocean that Port Oudarr participates in is one partially bound in necessity. Windoch’s economy has been in a miserable state for the past six years as resources have dwindled in supply. The fledgling nation’s desire to have their own economic freedom from Qoplar, and to invest in the goods and services they created with reckless abandon, led to a ravenous consumption of resources in the name of progress and forging a national identity. This recklessly capitalist mentality, while ignoring the consequences, led to a rapid and uncontrollable economic fall. In the following years, precious metals and minerals have drained away, funneled into the nation’s mechanized pursuits to restore its materials. Important materials such as iron, tin, and copper have become difficult to find without significantly powerful machines and resources to reach reserves within the Smoky Mountains. The precious remaining resources are pushed into any effort that could yield more time and discovery of more material, and as such, economic power remains at an all-time low. Most people buy the essentials, and little else, because they have to. Otherwise, in a year or two more, Windoch will collapse.
With the situation at hand, the monetary divide has widened to a yawning chasm between the rich and the poor. A tiny portion of the population, due to their work or position, control the majority of the free wealth in the Windoch, and Port Oudarr’s population is no exception. Captains of industries pivotal in maintaining Windoch’s infrastructure, such as large farm owners and public transportation moguls, sit on a significantly higher economic rung, and use their wealth for their own gains in addition to, at the government’s prodding, funding other projects and important research endeavors. In Port Oudarr, some of those more wealthy include the Collinsons, the family which owns the largest fishery in the city, and the Ravekelms, who are responsible for maintaining and innovating the public rail systems that move goods and people throughout Port Oudarr and beyond its outskirts. Every now and again, whispers of grand balls held by these important families reach the ears of those living in the slums, inspiring rage and frustration for the majority of the population, who often struggle to even keep food on the table or keep a roof over their head, let alone invite others into their homes to feast, dance, and ignore the problems outside.
Some in the massive lower class are enticed into government work by the draw of a higher living wage. Women can look forward to a large amount of opportunities for economic movement if they choose to join up as sailors, scientists, and soldiers aboard a submarine involved in the Sea Sprint. Working aboard a “sprinter” also alleviates many of the costs of everyday life, as food and shelter are provided by working aboard. Considering the state many would be in otherwise, it’s no surprise that more women are signing up every year. For men, meanwhile, and any who choose not to go offshore, there are still bureaucratic positions with papers to file and a standing military with boots to fill. Any and all of these positions provide a noticeable step up in the living wage of a person, but there’s a hope that this will be temporary work - that one day, when the shortage is behind Windoch, the extreme oversight by the government won’t be needed, and those jobs can be replaced with more individual and entrepreneurial work.
Additionally, there’s one thing any citizen of Port Oudar, and Windoch at large, can do to earn some extra pocket change: reporting information to the government of suspicious activity, as a part of the Keep Oudarr Safe Initiative, or KOSI. It started simply enough, with the goal being to root out any Qopla spies within the nation and prevent them from discovering any imperative secrets or creating loss of life through terrorist attacks. Over the last six or so months, however, this definition has expanded to include people acting extremely erratically, natural anomalies, and other strange, potentially unexplainable occurrences. Reporting activity nets each citizen enough money for a few days of food, making the task well worth the time, and sometimes, worth lying for.
While the general population is upset that the government seems to be focused more on the Sea Sprint over taking care of its citizens, between Port Oudarr’s increasing military presence and KOSI efforts, these voices of discontent are kept to homes and small gatherings, if they’re heard at all. Speaking out risks being given up by a neighbor in exchange for a meal, and those who are taken in on suspicion of treason usually don’t come back. In other ways, the citizens of Port Oudarr try to support each other by keeping prices for their goods reasonable and, when they can, being less stringent on payment deadlines for bills. Despite the crumbling stability of the economy, the people have still found a way to maintain some semblance of structure, with some governmental assistance. Certain items will always be necessities - food, in particular - and as a result, trade in these goods creates a low threshold the economy cannot fall beneath. Port Oudarr is a major fishing hub, and exports their catch to other parts of the nation. There are also trades in technology from the city, exporting their knowledge and innovations to improve transportation and overall efficiency, which cuts down on costs and buys more time for the resource search. This sector in particular has been booming as of late, due to rapidly accelerating discoveries in the field after the unearthing of another temple in the bay - though its full significance is kept largely out of the public eye.
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