[WB-CITY] Valewarren (Aka. The Vale)

Valewarren… also known as ‘The Vale”

“You are never truly alone in the Vale… here is where one life meets the next.”
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Reaching the Vale

The journey to Valewarren is not as treacherous as one would initially believe, deep within the winding caves and treacherous drops of the caverns there are markers engraved with glittering jewels that seem to be encased in a rich magical energy that hums with glowing light when any Tatsukoi approaches the marker. Following these jewel engravings will eventually lead one through the winding tunnels to meet the entrance to Valewarren and the guiding lights that lead tatsukoi further into the city.

What is Valewarren like?

The Vale resides on the fourth layer of Mare Noctis, deep within the ever expansive and treacherous caverns. The city is carved from the very stone of the caverns that have claimed so many lives in Mare Noctis, designed to be a resting place at minimum and a permanent home for others that decide to no longer brave the rest of the climb.

As a whole Valewarren is an ever expanding city of stone and enchantment, artificial light powered through limited technology and magical prowess illuminates the streets along with the natural life of the caves closed off ecosystem. The homes here are carved into the formations of the cave with some even being used as supportive structures for the cave system that the city is built within.

Along the sides of the cavern there is a vibrant ecosystem that has adapted to live within the harsh mostly lightless environment. Many glowing lichen, mushrooms, and much more are found here with many Tatsukoi finding a hobby and livelihood in farming these unique species to trade through the markets. It is not uncommon to find that many families of tatsukoi have large 'fields' and farms of plantlife that they have tended to for years now. 

WHAT IS Valebarren’s Economy Like? 

TheVale works primarily on a barter and trade system for much of their economical trading and sales. Many Tatsukoi find that due to the city’s rich traditions of providing safe travels to passersby and to those that decide to stay within the Vale that the entire community is built to support one another through hardships. Many Tatsukoi will lend a helping paw in any form that they can.

Outside of inner city barter and trade, those of Valewarren make a living off of being a guide through the fourth layer of Mare Noctis with some guides making the journey many times a month to take others through the difficult labyrinth in hopes that they may pass easier than many that lose their lives to the treacherous cave systems. In the same breath, there are a group of trading merchants that spend their times going back and forth between the layers of Mare Noctis that call the Vale their home primarily. This merchants guild often bring groups of tatsukoi to and from in their travels along with stocks of items from other layers back to the Vale and vice versa. 

Meet the vale's founder

Emryn is the elusive figurehead of Valewarren, semi-reclusive by nature since the loss of his dear brother to these very cave systems; he is still a prominent part of many of Valewarren’s festivals and events. Despite his reclusive nature, Emryn is often spoken of in high praise and respect by those of the Vale as many believe that his strong spirit and deep connection to the magic essence is what provides such a sanctuary to Valewarren.

When others are asked to describe Emryn since he is so rarely seen, the founding tatsukoi is described as a surprisingly gentle giant despite his rugged appearance and some even see the tatsukoi as particularly handsome despite the scars that apparently cover parts of his body. The youngest tatsukoi claim that Emryn will occasionally tell them stories when they find him by the statue of his brother.

VALEWARREN'S 'STATUE TO THE LOST'

At the entrance of the Vale, one of the first things that any arrival sees is the massive statue that rises before a pool of ever circling water that always appears to have the faintest glow. Cascades of water fall from the hands of the statue that overlooks the stone city and around the base of the statue are offerings, melted candles, blessings, and trinkets. 

Said statue features the fallen tatsukoi named Emeriss, the brother of the Vale's founder Emryn. The young tatsukoi lost his life during the climb of the falls in a tragedy that shook Emryn to his core, abandoning his climb to the 6th level to instead build a santuary to those that get lost in the fourth layer in an attempt to make sure that no one else every befell the same fate at his brother. 

The statue to the lost serves as a memorial to any and all that failed on their journey and many superstitously believe that Emeriss overlooks those that pass through the fourth layer and thus leave offerings and blessings to the spirit in hopes for safe travels themselves. While uncomfirmed, many whom live within the vale swear that they have seen the ghostly figure of Emeriss amongst the caverns as if leading them through to safety

VALEWARREN'S MYSTIC POOLS

At the entrance to the Vale there is a massive pool of faintly glowing water that appears to have a massive cavern that extends below the surface. Emryn speaks that the waters are part of a great aquifer system that helps to fuel to the very life of Valewarren and thus the city was built around it. The waters are said to always be the favoured temperature of the tatsukoi that slips within them and though there is always a current in the water it never seems to be dangerous levels despite the whirlpools that form across the surface. Many of the eldest tatsukoi of the Vale say that the Mystic Pool is filled with a deep magical essence that protects the Vale and those blessed by it, which others believe it to be little more than outlandish superstition.

VALEWARREN'S FESTIVALS & TRADITIONS

[Festival] "Rememberence Festival" 
The main festival held in Valewarren, this event is hosted once a year in the best temperatures and usually when many tatsukoi are making their journey through the layers of Mare Noctis. The Remeberence Festival is held as a week long event for Tatsukoi to honor those that have passed one way or another through their journeys. Each 'night cycle' of the Vale tatsukoi join at the edge of the Mystic's Pool (Near the statue of Emeriss) to release a token into the waters. Some use natural flower rafts, others make tiny paper boats, others use mechanical toys, any offering that floats can be placed into the waters where they float to the center to be pulled into the currents below. The offerings seen as a form of passing one's memory on to the next life in rememberence. Many leave tokens or light candles around the statue in a larger memorial to the meaning behind the Vale and the comfort that the city brings to them.

[Festival] "Festival of Shine" 
A smaller festival, this is held once a year in the Vale usually as a celebration for the young tatsukoi to enjoy and to spark their interests in creations and magic. The Festival of Shine is one where many show off their magical abillity through dazzling displays, crafted fireworks, and creations of many form. This festival is equally one that Emryn always attends to encourage bravery and growth in the tatsukoi that believe they can not achieve great things. 

[Tradition] "Just a Stone's Throw away" 
This is a small tradition that has become common place, when friends or family have arguments or disputes it is not uncommon to see them toss a small stone/rock/gemstone at the door/home of the tatsukoi they are in a fued with. This is to remind them that even when they are not in the best of terms, that the other is still just a 'stone's throw away' if they ever truly need help. 

[Tale] "A Tale of two brothers"
.... It appears that there is still more to be heard about this part of Valewarren and the real story of Emryn and Emeriss the brothers that started ut all. 

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I HAVE SO MUCH MORE BUT TIME IS UP AND I DIDNT GET IT ALL CLEANED UP TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT EVERYTHING. ILL EDIT LATER WITH MORE EVEN IF IT IS AFTER THE WORLD BUILDING EVENT CLOSES!!