[WB-CITY] Lochan

"Lochan will melt your heart like the warm feeling of hot chocolate."

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History

One of the last villages on the Summit of Storms' roads, Lochan is located right in front of Lake Smidgen. 

The last stop before Elysium, the village was built by travelers who wanted to cut the distance of the last leg of the journey and make it more doable for Tatsukoi to rest before reaching the final layer of the Cascades. It was originally built by a family of settlers, and then developed by others who would come to enjoy the cold climate and the convenience of its location.

Lochan has never grown exponentially; it is still considered a fairly small town with moderate tatsukoi torusim for most of the year, but with its stores, festivals, and attractions to be enjoyed. Normally, it is frequented by Elysium visitors looking to spend time in cabins for the winter, or by tatsukoi looking to partake in snow sports on the slopes. 

Much like other towns on the Summit, Lochan has its own brand of chocolates, with a few family-run stores selling specialty treats all year round. 

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Geography & Climate

- Lochan is fairly distributed on top of a snowy valley, with slopes still surrounding the town from the northwest.

- Lake Smidgen is located south of the town and is normally too cold for swimming, but it is abundant in fish and other freshwater creatures. 

- The region is surrounded by evergreen forests, perfectly adapted to the cold climate.

- It is said to be one of the least cold towns in the Summit, but it still often receives snow and rainstorms throughout the whole year. 

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INFRASTRUCTURE

- Buildings on Lochan are all made of wood with some stone, to keep proper insulation on the inside. Their steep roofs keep snow from piling up too frequently, and Locharian architecture tends to be rather colorful and warming to contrast with the snowy plains. All buildings are required to have a fireplace, and warm water is fairly distributed from several hot springs located on the higher slopes.

- The town is fairly well kept, there is no trash on the streets, and curfew times are generally respected past 10 pm. 

- The snow cleaners free up the roads every day beginning at 6 am sharp. 

- Most residents are able to resolve their complaints at the town hall without much incident. 

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ECONOMY

- Lochan has a fair number of small businesses run by families and independent owners. Some of the main attractions of these shops are the local artisanal goods such as cheeses, chocolates, cold cuts, winter clothing, wooden crafts, and the ever-so-famous Lochan salted dry fish.

- Hotels provide lodging to visitors, but many property owners set up cabins near the forests for tourists who wish to spend some time in the wintry land's outdoors. 

- For those who wish for a more relaxing experience, the Yoake onsen offers unique experiences and warm baths in its hot springs

- A little way up on the mountains, the Frostiges Resort offers accommodations and attractions for sports enthusiasts and casual tatsukoi alike who would like to go down the slopes safely. A special lift was installed to provide access to the resort.

- Due to its climate and location, Lochan does not have a lot of agricultural development, but a few local farms focus on the growth of berries and nuts, as well as forageables found within the forests.

- Hunting is permitted on Lochan, but you must obtain a local license and follow their seasonal rules. Poaching is strictly prohibited and punishable by law. 

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CULTURE

- Locahn's residents are fairly polite and peaceful. The town is small enough that people often know one another by name, and tourists and newcomers can be easily spotted.

- Local legends talk about many incredible creatures that live in the region. One of them is a large aquatic creature living in the underwater caves of Lake Smidgen. popularly known as "Nannie". Another one talks about wild tatsukoi-like creatures that live in the mountains, by the name of Yetsus.

- It has a few festivals every year, including:

1. The spring flowers celebration, with characteristic dances, local sports competitions, food, and a local fai.
2.  The Nannie Festival - a fairly touristy festival celebrated in summer. It is fairly known for its Nannie merchandise, as well as for its chocolate sculp, ice sculp, cooking, and woodcrafts competitions - all themed after Nannie, of course.
3. The Smidge Fest - a small fishing competition that happens in fall, with many prizes and different categories, as well as a fantastic banquet at the end.

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