• Location • Little Ivorian

[Rumour]

Little Ivorian

In the west end of the Earth Quarter, there sits a towering white-stone statue of Ethelynda donned in armour and wielding a heavy shield and spear. The Immortal of Nobility, Honour, Protection, and Serpents signifies the beginning of Little Ivorian – a well-known neighbourhood whose demographic is comprised of 90% ithecal. The majority of ithecal who live here immigrated from nearby Ivorian and make their homes in the cheap wood and stone houses that line the streets.

Homes are interspersed with local ithecal-owned shops, and most residents find that they can obtain everything they need to live a simple life without venturing outside of their little community. The streets themselves, while lined with dirt like all other Earth Quarter neighbourhoods, are unusually well-kept and litter-free. At night, the streets are lit by the lanterns that hang outside most buildings, which lends itself to a feeling of safety mixed with the niggling thought that one is always being watched.

Little Ivorian, or ‘Scaletown’ as it is sometimes known, is a very close-knit community. It is filled with wood- and leatherworkers, blacksmiths, crafters, and artisans, many of whom have a strong work ethic and a deep sense of honour thanks to the Ivorian Empire’s military culture. Everyone knows everyone, and outsiders often find themselves unable to enter the neighbourhood without their presence being immediately known thanks to a strong intelligence network and trusted local leadership.

Lightning Knight presence is low in this area of the Earth Quarter, and the community has long patrolled itself to keep its residents safe from Rharne's criminal element. The leaders in this neighbourhood make it their mission to know the business of strangers and will not hesitate to report those who cause trouble to the city guard, though they tend not to interfere with those they deem harmless, which sometimes results in the occasional runaway or petty criminal seeking refuge here.

Little Ivorian NPC List

Moderator's Note: Players are welcome to use these NPCs if they're writing about this location.

Gaia

Race: Ithecal
DoB: 53rd of Ashan, 677
Title: The Matchmaker
Skills: Intelligence: 65, Leadership: 60, Intimidation: 55, Rhetoric: 50, Cooking: 45, Unarmed Combat: 40

Gaia exudes warmth, which can sometimes cause those who first meet her to underestimate her leadership. But those who pay attention to details will notice that the ithecal’s slitted brown eyes miss nothing; they are constantly alert and take in everything happening around her. Like many ithecal females, Gaia is 7.5 feet tall. Her heart-shaped snout has several sharp teeth protruding from an overbite, and her frame is often draped in simple wool or cotton dresses made of earthy colours. During the cold seasons, she frequently wraps herself in a fur-lined cloak and woolen scarf to ward off the chill.

As the unofficial leader of Little Ivorian, Gaia makes it her business to know everyone who lives here by name. She is well-loved and respected by the local community, and her name is often spoken with reverence. She is considered something of a matriarch and is called ‘The Matchmaker’ for her uncanny ability to help others make important connections. She helps new ithecal find houses and jobs, and hosts frequent dinners at her home to help long-time friends network with one another. Above all else, Gaia ensures everyone in her ‘family’ is taken care of. She fights for Little Ivorian’s interests before the Council and the Merchants’ Guild, and ensures that her neighbourhood is not overlooked by those in power.

Behind the scenes, Gaia runs a discrete intelligence network of ithecal who help her keep her fingers on Little Ivorian’s pulse. These anonymous ithecal are everywhere – they could be the baker, the weaponsmith, or the child sitting quietly on the side of the road. The network is spread throughout the neighborhood and provides Gaia with a wealth of information about the comings and goings of residents and strangers alike. It also allows her to quickly drive out the ‘bad eggs’ – those who enter Ivorian to cause trouble, or those who don’t fit in well with the other residents.

Braxton

Race: Ithecal
DoB: 12th of Vhalar, 672
Title: The Bard
Skills: Unarmed Combat: 65, Singing: 60, Intimidation: 55, Musical Instrument (Lute): 50, Drawing: 45, Blade (Dagger): 40

Braxton cuts a lean figure, though the leather jackets and cotton tunics he wears tend to hide it from view. He stands at 9 feet tall. Long, white scars run down the center of his back, hinting at past abuse. Perhaps as a result, his eyes, gold and slitted, tend to take in his surroundings with suspicion rather than curiosity. Wiry muscles, floppy brown hair, and a lined, angular face complete the man.

Braxton was born an artist. He draws whenever he can obtain paper and ink, and has been singing and playing music on his father’s lute ever since he was a child. As a result, he is commonly referred to around Little Ivorian as ‘The Bard’. But despite his seemingly social occupation, Braxton has a difficult time making friends. He prefers silence and sarcasm to conversation and kindness, and his sullen expression and caustic tone are off-putting to nearly everyone who meets him for the first time. He is slow to trust, rarely smiles, and never softens his voice for anyone but Gaia.

It is an open secret that Braxton is in love with Gaia. His is a stoic love – one that is never voiced and never addressed, but is made clear through his actions. He is often by her side, and doesn't hesitate to 'take care' of anyone who makes the mistake of threatening Gaia or her interests. Though the pair don’t live together, Braxton tends to be a rather permanent fixture at Gaia’s home; any who visit The Matchmaker are just as likely to find themselves greeted by The Bard as they are by Gaia herself. Much is made of this, but only Little Ivorian’s intelligence network knows if anything has ever happened between the pair – and, at least for now, they're not telling.

Credit: Rumour