[WB-CITY] Dead Drop Gulch

"The gulch isn't a place for adventure and excitement.
This is where lost souls and souls who want to be lost wander in to never come back."

____________________________________________________

History

Dead Drop Gulch wasn't always known by this name. However, the town's original designation has been long lost to history, much like anything to do with its original purpose.

It was once supposed to be the crowning jewel of The Labyrinthe Caverns, the true first big metropolis that tatsukoi tried to establish in this treacherous layer. Surely the location was absolutely puzzling to anyone with a good sense within their head, but that's exactly why the exotic appeal called out for a young Barnaby H. Yussle, who saw the cheap development lands as a means to grow something big where nobody else would try to push on for progress.

But, as with many things in this life, Barnaby perhaps bit more than he could chew. His dreams of taming the caverns proved too big for his breaches, and as they say, "the abyss gives, the abyss takes". History says the original idea was to mine ores from the deep caverns, using these as a means to develop the place, bring in tourism, and create safe and stable paths to traverse The Labyrinthe. A few years in, and the difficulty of traversing as well as the many threats and loss of cargo, finally brought defeat to the town, now a mere husk of its former glory.

Dead Drop stands now as a forgotten relic of the past; not many tatsus know of its existence because it is so deep and off the beaten path within, but that's exactly why a grand number of its inhabitants prefer it like that.  Aside from the original families and their descendants, who traveled a long time ago in order to pioneer such dreams and earn from prospecting, the town is a nest for criminals and tatsukoi looking to hide themselves from the rest of the Cascades for one reason or another. Resources are scarce, and for many generations now, each Mayor has made sure to keep the absolute law of "an eye for an eye" the ruling game within the gulch.

People here don't trust outsiders, and outsiders shouldn't trust the people here, as many will seek to take advantage of naive tatsus who wander by. Shipments come by hidden routes which are hardly ever revealed, but rumors said that stolen goods are usually delivered and traded here by connections all over the Cascades. Somehow, someone definitely figured out a way to make it quite a lucrative and well-hidden business!

____________________________________________________

Geography & Climate

- As the name implies, the town is built between slopes and stone walls parallel to one another, facing an unsettling, dark, deep abyss that has never been explored before.

- Large stalagmites and stalactites sprout from the cave's ceiling and floor, while a deep ditch cuts through the middle of the town. Some stone pillars can be found between both sides and have apparently been deemed safe enough to be used within the town's infrastructure.

- Before even reaching the place, there are plenty of caverns, twists, and turns that can lead an unsuspecting traveler to get easily lost. It seems like the passageways that lead here have become more complicated over time by cave-ins and other disturbances, making the surroundings unreasonably difficult to navigate without proper previous knowledge of the systems.

- The days within the cave have an average temperature between 20 to 27cº (68 to 80ºF), with the nights dropping just around or a bit below 15cº (59ºF).

____________________________________________________

Infrasctructure

- Located in one of the deepest part of the Labyrinthe Caverns, sunlight is close to a myth around these parts. However, large glowing mushrooms abundantly found in the area can be reliably ground and used to produce "glow stone". In turn, glowstone is manufactured into bricks, or mixed on many apparatuses as a source of naturally made light. When used together with a certain magical gemstone, they can provide light reliably to certain areas, giving the town's outside its strange blueish hue. Some of the inhabitants choose to import warmer sources of light for their homes, but these can be quite expensive.

- Water is easily provided by many sources within the caves, including natural groundwater sources, the local stalactites, and some waterfalls and springs. All homes and businesses in Dead Drop Gulch have easy access to water for all sorts of domestic needs.

- Dead Drop's architecture originally envisioned all buildings carved directly from stone, giving it a rustic and exotic yet charming appearance. However, that plan fell apart quickly when people started getting tired of living in tents and precarious accommodation,s as the carving of stones took way longer than expected, giving way to some adaptive solutions. The quick and cheaper way to remedy the habitational problem was to rely on wood - large platforms were constructed to accommodate buildings, held together by strong lumber pillars and planks. To this day, these structures were the ones to remain, standing still as if challenging the brutal elements of the caves themselves. Over time, some structures got upgraded with metal parts to secure them in place reliably, but the vast majority of the builds still have to go through constant repair and look quite worn out over time. Since most inhabitants can't rely on supplies so often, they will improvise these with any scraps they may find, giving the whole town a truly mismatched appearance.

- To travel around town, one must rely on the many contraptions found along the gulch. The main ones, of course, being the iron bridges - once made entirely of wood, these structures were one of the few upgraded over the years, to avoid accidents and the potential loss of cargo. Some streets still have the old stairs carved out of stone within their walls, and can still reliably be used to access the different levels, but buildings have started to install experimental elevators on their outsides - rumor is the only truly reliable one can be found near the Mayor's house. Other than that, antique mine cards and rail may lead to certain spots on the outskirts of town, but it isn't advised to try using those if you don't know the local area.

- There is still one single school located in the area, where a small number of local children and teenagers can get their basic education at least.

____________________________________________________

Economy

-  The basis of the general economy in Dead Drop Gulch relies on the businesses controlled by the big names of the place. Of course, you will find a general store, bars, and even a hotel, but most of these smaller businesses could not function on their own without the supplies that the larger ones bring in.

- The many leftover mines found in the gulch still hide precious metals, gemstones, and magical stones not commonly found in other places of the Cascades. A good number of folks still work for the single mining company found here, "Brass & Sons", and much of their stock seems to move the economy here "legally".

- The unavoidable titanic airship found on the side of the slopes houses the "Chavalier's Hoarding Drake", a surprisingly sophisticated casino and one of the big money makers of the town. Built in town, the gigantic structure would originally be used to offer tours within the abyss to tourists and eventually be used as a means of transport out of town - a much larger-scale project that would require years of demolitions and the creation of many outposts on the trajectory. Today, it stands as yet another reminder that the high ambitions of some tatsukoi can lead to their own downfall.
More astonishing than the failures of greed and grandiose is the fact that nobles of all kinds (and some big shot names from high society and commerce) seem to make their way down to this very place to casually bet, play, and make business deals. Locals aren't really allowed inside, aside from working staff, but even if they were, most certainly know better than to try their luck in a place called "Hoarding Drake".

- Some mushroom and root farmers managed to explore safe groto areas to reliably grow both edible and inedible crops. They still have to rely on the Mayor's hauling company to have their goods delivered and sold, and they seem to get discounts on their taxes by growing whatever extra stock that the city hall might need during that season. Most farmers prefer not to think about what their crops might be used for besides sauces, soups, and medicine.

____________________________________________________

Culture

- Folks here seem to talk with a very distinct accent.

-  Usually, most inhabitants prefer to live a reserved life, not trying to rock the boat for whatever reason or seeking big changes. Discreetly, however, there is still a small sentiment of empathy and cooperation among the populace, where helping each other cautiously is more beneficial once one is trusted.

- Most people avoid straying too far from town for many reasons. There is an overabundance of local legends speaking about all kinds of risks and hazards, including shadow snatchers, cannibalistic monsters that roam the tunnels, strange echoing hymns coming from the mines, and at least one massive Crystalline Stalker believed to live somewhere among the caves or within the abyss.

- The town commemorates some of the regular festivals of the Cascades on their own ways, but in some cases slightly changes have been made, such as the Midwinter Wishes event being more about appreciating the glorworms that hide within the cave walls and ceiling during winter, seeking a warmer spot at this time of the year.

- There are a number of formal and informal rules that must be followed by the tatsukoi living here. Most of them have to do with keeping secrets and staying out of the Mayor's businesses, keeping to yourself, and being aware that revenge is a natural part of life as much as breathing is.

- The Sheriff makes sure that things run smoothly, serving as the peacemaker as well as the enforcer of the town's rules. The unusual thing about this position is that anyone can apply for it...by eliminating the current sheriff at any time. The current Sheriff is said to be a sharpshooter with a magical background who doesn't take attempts too kindly.
However, once a year a mockup festival "The Sheriff Showdown" happens in town where anyone can attempt to outsmart the sheriff and take his position, except no deadly weapons or lethal means are allowed to be used. It is one of the rare few moments where people actually seem to have fun coming up with schemes and playfully attempting to best law enforcement with jests and pranks.

- The Mayor lives on the highest part of the Gulch, overseeing the whole town. The mansion is said to house a large, lush garden, illuminated by the finest crystals "borrowed" especially from Archieom. Not many people have seen the place themselves, but it doesn't stop wild rumors from spreading around in all sorts of directions.
There are no elections in Dead Drop - the function of Mayor seems to have been passed down the same family for a few generations now.

____________________________________________________

Obs: I consent to the concept to be included/used on the site as part of the official lore! ♡