Brights, The
The Brights is a verdant haven in the otherwise unforgiving world of the Rocpocalypse. Abundant food is available for trade, and sweet honey mead flows in its central holding. Despite the wall of cars and demolished houses that surrounds the greenery, the district seems almost a utopia from afar. Up close however, one can see slaves working the fields, and are greeted with heavy gender biases, xenophobia, and traces of religious zealotry.
Major roads still run through the Brights, and are guarded by heavy toll gates at the borders. While the roads are in some amount of disrepair, heavily damaged areas have been patched over with wood and dirt. Most are still in use and all have been cleared of wrecked vehicles. Subdistricts are governed from large buildings that were once ruins but have since been added onto time and time again and made into homes. This hive of activity is centered around the holding of 12 Corn Hairs, where the district's queen, government and major food stores are located.
There are a number of more heavily fortified areas near the borders of the Brights. The largest of these is at the junction of 490 and 590, where Yeast Ave and Fenfield meet. Otherwise, the various major roads exiting the district all have fortified gates where tolls are collected and escorts through the Brights are provided. The Erie Canal has a similar outpost to the one at the highway junction as it is a major water supply for the area.
The Brights is officially known as Brighthaven by those living within, but is colloquially known as the Brights. It was given this name by its first ruler, who saw the place as a "bright spot in a world of darkness" due to its agricultural yield and the blessing of her goddess. The inhabitants of the Brights have since done their best to keep it untainted by the outside world, doing their best to limit traffic through and fend off those who seek the riches of the district.
Major roads still run through the Brights, and are guarded by heavy toll gates at the borders. While the roads are in some amount of disrepair, heavily damaged areas have been patched over with wood and dirt. Most are still in use and all have been cleared of wrecked vehicles. Subdistricts are governed from large buildings that were once ruins but have since been added onto time and time again and made into homes. This hive of activity is centered around the holding of 12 Corn Hairs, where the district's queen, government and major food stores are located.
There are a number of more heavily fortified areas near the borders of the Brights. The largest of these is at the junction of 490 and 590, where Yeast Ave and Fenfield meet. Otherwise, the various major roads exiting the district all have fortified gates where tolls are collected and escorts through the Brights are provided. The Erie Canal has a similar outpost to the one at the highway junction as it is a major water supply for the area.
The Brights is officially known as Brighthaven by those living within, but is colloquially known as the Brights. It was given this name by its first ruler, who saw the place as a "bright spot in a world of darkness" due to its agricultural yield and the blessing of her goddess. The inhabitants of the Brights have since done their best to keep it untainted by the outside world, doing their best to limit traffic through and fend off those who seek the riches of the district.
Demographics
The population of the Brights is fairly static throughout the district, but is concentrated on 12 Corn Hairs primarily. There are two major social classes in the Brights, divided along gender lines. The female population is definitively in power, and uses the male population as slave labor. As such, most of the wealth of the district is held by the upper female class. Men are well provided for in terms of necessities, but are otherwise second class citizens. Any position of authority, including military related jobs are held exclusively by women. Racial tensions are light, if existent at all. Heterosexuality is viewed as part of the duty inherent in keeping the society of the Brights in working order, but homosexuality is more socially acceptable due to the large gap in gender equality.
Much of the population worships a goddess of harvest and fertility, who was said to have led the first queen to the Brights. Bees are sacred to this goddess for their part in pollination, the gift of honey. Brightling society is somewhat modeled after the hive hierarchy of bees.
Much of the population worships a goddess of harvest and fertility, who was said to have led the first queen to the Brights. Bees are sacred to this goddess for their part in pollination, the gift of honey. Brightling society is somewhat modeled after the hive hierarchy of bees.
Government
The Brightlings are ruled by a queen, who is both chosen from and advised by the matriarchs of the various family groups in the Brights. She is chosen from among those matriarchs and rules until death, when another matriarch is chosen. The queen usually cedes control of her own family and district to a qualified female relative to better focus on the Brights as a whole.
12 Corn Hairs is the center of governmental authority in the Brights, as well as the repository of both its food stores and accumulated wealth. The queen spends much of her time there, venturing out to survey the district occasionally. Rather than leave to treat with foreign emissaries, they are brought to her. There are eleven subdistricts, typically run by one dominant family in the area, which is responsible for a number of things, namely food production, controlling its slave population, and protecting the borders and transportation routes of the Brights.
Below is a map denoting the subdistrict borders: (If borders aren't along major roads, move them mentally to the nearest major road. My line skills are subpar.)
12 Corn Hairs is the center of governmental authority in the Brights, as well as the repository of both its food stores and accumulated wealth. The queen spends much of her time there, venturing out to survey the district occasionally. Rather than leave to treat with foreign emissaries, they are brought to her. There are eleven subdistricts, typically run by one dominant family in the area, which is responsible for a number of things, namely food production, controlling its slave population, and protecting the borders and transportation routes of the Brights.
Below is a map denoting the subdistrict borders: (If borders aren't along major roads, move them mentally to the nearest major road. My line skills are subpar.)
Defences
Most broken down vehicles and many abandoned houses have been torn down and used to create a border between the Brights and the neighboring districts.
The Southern and Eastern borders in particular have barriers erected where possible, and the junction of 490 and 590 at the border between the Brights, Yeast Ave and Fenfield has a small fortified outpost. The Western border with Wedgeward is also walled, though patrols are less frequent and mostly focused on entrances to the district. The Northern border with Yeast Ave is established along 490, though it is far less heavily defended due to good relations with the neighboring district.
The Southern and Eastern borders in particular have barriers erected where possible, and the junction of 490 and 590 at the border between the Brights, Yeast Ave and Fenfield has a small fortified outpost. The Western border with Wedgeward is also walled, though patrols are less frequent and mostly focused on entrances to the district. The Northern border with Yeast Ave is established along 490, though it is far less heavily defended due to good relations with the neighboring district.
Industry & Trade
The Brights is known for its agricultural production, which it leverages in trade with neighboring districts. Grains are one of the more frequently grown crops, followed by other vegetables and some hardier fruit. Bee hives are frequent sights in the Brights, but their honey is harvested only rarely if at all due to its sacred nature. Many double as shrines to the Brightlings' goddess.
The peoples of Wedgeward and Yeast Ave in particular trade frequently with the Brightlings, for manufactured good and preserved food from the latter, and military, medical and scientific aid from the former. Relations with the faction in the east of The Roc have been established through Yeast Ave as well.
The peoples of Wedgeward and Yeast Ave in particular trade frequently with the Brightlings, for manufactured good and preserved food from the latter, and military, medical and scientific aid from the former. Relations with the faction in the east of The Roc have been established through Yeast Ave as well.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is fairly well maintained in the Brights. The major roads that divide the district are somewhat ramshackle, but are traversable with most vehicles. The highways that were previously 490 along the northern border with Yeast Ave and 590 running through the Brights are kept in good working order and are heavily guarded at the borders of the district. Tolls are exacted at these entrances to the district, and escorts are supplied to prevent outsiders from having too much access to the Brights. Most roads are clear of broken vehicles, and many abandoned houses have been torn down to create room for crops.
Water has been run from the small elevated lake in the north of the district, as well as from what was once the canal to the south. Both water sources are heavily guarded against outside intrusion, and sources of internal power in the district. There are a number of small ponds scattered throughout the district as well. These more consistent sources of water combined with rain cisterns help provide for both the people and crops of the Brights.
Water has been run from the small elevated lake in the north of the district, as well as from what was once the canal to the south. Both water sources are heavily guarded against outside intrusion, and sources of internal power in the district. There are a number of small ponds scattered throughout the district as well. These more consistent sources of water combined with rain cisterns help provide for both the people and crops of the Brights.
Assets
Much of the wealth of the Brights is in its surplus of food. Any additional goods that have been traded for as well as these food stores are largely kept in 12 Corn Hairs, though the individual families have their own caches as well.
Guilds and Factions
There are eleven subdistricts in the Brights, each of which is governed by an individual family group local to that area. Refer to the map above for a better view of each subdistrict.
1 ___: Controls much of the border with Wedgeward as well as the 490 toll gate near the Infinite Loop. Economically strong as a result. Has direct access to 12 Corn Hairs as wall, meaning more influence in the overarching government.
2 ___: Controls the lake and much of the Yeast Ave border, and has direct access to 12 Corn Hairs, leading to great influence over both the politics and economy of the Brights.
3 ___: Relatively small, has access to 12 Corn Hairs and 590, but not much else.
4 ___: Controls the entire border with Fenfield. This will lead to likely lesser economic strength as resources are diverted to defense, but greater political clout due to their necessity and control over the 490/590 junction fortification.
5 ___: Controls a decent chunk of the Wedgeward border and has some small lakes. Relatively powerful given their direct access to 12 Corn Hairs.
6 ___: Central subdistrict in the Brights, has access to 12 Corn Hairs, but not much else going for it.
7 ___: This subdistrict has access to 12 Corn Hairs and 590, but is fairly small.
8 ___: This district has access to 590, and is otherwise on the border with Pitts North, which is somewhat restricted.
9 ___: This subdistrict is fairly large, but isolated from 12 Corn Hairs. It has the best access to the canal, but also maintains most of the border with the Henry Ettas. 590 runs through the middle of the district, giving access to its western toll gate.
10 ___: Small district with access to 590. Although without significant economic strength, the family here claims direct lineage from the first queen, and is thought to be the area she first reclaimed, and as such has some religious pull. (Trent lives here, give him a non-obvious NPC!)
11 ___: This is one of the larger districts, and has some access to the canal. There is a fairly long border with both Henry Ettas East and Pitts North.
1 ___: Controls much of the border with Wedgeward as well as the 490 toll gate near the Infinite Loop. Economically strong as a result. Has direct access to 12 Corn Hairs as wall, meaning more influence in the overarching government.
2 ___: Controls the lake and much of the Yeast Ave border, and has direct access to 12 Corn Hairs, leading to great influence over both the politics and economy of the Brights.
3 ___: Relatively small, has access to 12 Corn Hairs and 590, but not much else.
4 ___: Controls the entire border with Fenfield. This will lead to likely lesser economic strength as resources are diverted to defense, but greater political clout due to their necessity and control over the 490/590 junction fortification.
5 ___: Controls a decent chunk of the Wedgeward border and has some small lakes. Relatively powerful given their direct access to 12 Corn Hairs.
6 ___: Central subdistrict in the Brights, has access to 12 Corn Hairs, but not much else going for it.
7 ___: This subdistrict has access to 12 Corn Hairs and 590, but is fairly small.
8 ___: This district has access to 590, and is otherwise on the border with Pitts North, which is somewhat restricted.
9 ___: This subdistrict is fairly large, but isolated from 12 Corn Hairs. It has the best access to the canal, but also maintains most of the border with the Henry Ettas. 590 runs through the middle of the district, giving access to its western toll gate.
10 ___: Small district with access to 590. Although without significant economic strength, the family here claims direct lineage from the first queen, and is thought to be the area she first reclaimed, and as such has some religious pull. (Trent lives here, give him a non-obvious NPC!)
11 ___: This is one of the larger districts, and has some access to the canal. There is a fairly long border with both Henry Ettas East and Pitts North.
History
The Brights was not always the lush agricultural center that it currently is. According to the tales told by the elders, it was once an uninhabited ghost town stalked by horrifying beasts until the goddess led the first queen and her family to subdistrict 10, where the first queen, with the help of nearby beehives, turned over the earth and the first farm in the Brights was created. This harvest was good, and with the goddess' blessing the first queen's family spread and reclaimed more and more of the district. As the population and agriculture grew in the district, it became known as Brighthaven due to it being a "bright spot in the darkness of the world." This has since been shortened to the Brights in colloquial usage.
Although almost all of the major families in the Brights can trace their line back to the first queen, her children eventually had families of their own, and their children in turn had families, resulting in the eleven major families that control the subdistricts. It has been some 30 years since the founding of the Brights, and the district is being ruled by its third queen at the moment.
Although almost all of the major families in the Brights can trace their line back to the first queen, her children eventually had families of their own, and their children in turn had families, resulting in the eleven major families that control the subdistricts. It has been some 30 years since the founding of the Brights, and the district is being ruled by its third queen at the moment.
Geography
Most of the Brights is farmland, interspersed with occasional ponds and some remaining and expanded upon houses. The fields are crisscrossed by fairly well maintained roads, though minor ones have become more akin to pathways instead. Many of the other houses and cars that had been there when the first queen arrived have been torn down and relocated to the borders of the district in use as defenses.
Alternative Name(s)
Brighthaven
Type
District
Population
~700-900
Inhabitant Demonym
Brightlings
Included Locations
Characters in Location
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