The Boloxol Turnpike
The Boloxol Turnpike, colloquially known simply as The Pike, is an elevated road connecting the capitols of Boloxol and Kakaani. Originally a natural isthmus, the rulers of Boloxol and Kakaani jointly pooled the resources to build a large, multi-tiered road to pass over the dangerous terrain below. Specifically, the natural level of the isthmus, known regionally as the Span of Engletrie, is home to a dark, dense jungle, which frequently floods with depths up to ten feet when heavy storms pass over the surrounding sea. Travel through the Span is strongly discouraged by the governments of both Boloxol and Kakaani; in most cases, those attempting to organize expeditions into the Span are arrested. Very few accounts from the Span exist; those that do describe previously unknown horrors and impossible monsters lurking in every shadow.
Although intended to serve as an elevated turnpike strictly for ease of transportation, workers quickly began building semi-permanent structures off of the sides of the Pike to make their commutes to and from work easier. In the fifteen years that it took to complete construction of the Pike, more than two dozen permanent settlements had been established, with residents committed to living and working on the Pike itself.
Originally a series of tiered roads over one hundred feet wide, the Pike quickly evolved into a capitol of illicit commerce, with carts and stalls soon evolving into permanent store fronts, pubs, inns, and brothels, with countless businesses and gangs controlling different neighborhoods along the length of the road.
While the upper road is most commonly thought of in reference to the Pike, the five lower tiers each have their own distinct cultures, largely descended from the original builders in that zone. Most prominent during the Age of Ascendants is Easthallow, a neighborhood designed and inhabited by small folk - Halflings, Goblins, Kobolds, and the occasional Dwarf.
Although the residents of the Pike typically align themselves with the political and cultural standards of Boloxol, technically neither the Prince of Boloxol nor the Magistrate of Kakaani recognize the Pike as part of their constituency. This has allowed the residents of the Pike to create their own laws, their own cultures and religions, and their own social standards, which are oftentimes distinct and varied from one neighborhood to the next.
From a global perspective, the Pike is at the center of trade and industry, due not only to its ideal location with easy ports for both ships and airships, but also to its ridiculously lax legal proceedings, and general disdain for the legal and political declarations of both Boloxol and Kakaani. Simply put, those looking for anything that would be considered illegal elsewhere on Seori typically come to the Pike to get the job done. It is home to countless criminal organizations, artificers and scientists, mercenaries and bounty hunters. And while the Pike offers a high-risk existence, those who manage to survive there often earn high rewards over the course of their lifetimes.
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