Urbem Ascalon
The City
Ascalon is the largest organized city on Gallimaufry, and it contains the largest percentage of mundane human beings. It boasts a variety of technology levels although it is predominantly 20th and 21st century in nature. More advanced technology can be found - at an exorbitant price. Visitors can find shops, restaurants, public libraries, museums, schools and so on. (See map and Legend)
The rig was one among many as it pulled onto what appeared to be a main highway, several other vehicles also pulling in from obscure country roads to the central nerve that would lead them to the shining jewel of Gallimaufry: Urbem Ascalon.
The first thing Septimus noticed - though he was surely late, for his mind was occupied with Neste's earlier morning pleas for tea - was the rising spire in the distance: the government building in the center of town. Minimalistic, bright, and with almost no visible windows or other defining features, it stood as a pillar to all in the surrounding lands. Urbem Ascalon was safe haven, civilization. Flanked by what appeared to be guard towers that no-doubt attached to bunkers, the building heralded their arrival at the outskirts. The city proper would be no more than ten minutes away.
"We should get straight to the government center first, then the commercial district, and then backtrack to explore the rest," Septimus directed his attention at Thaddeus, nodding at the older cyborg...
...As the rig rolled down the highway, an outline in the foggy distance illuminated into what appeared to be a multi-tiered bridge. The highway split into tendrils, each labeled with a sign in multiple languages indicating which vehicles were appropriate for which lane. Some of the lanes rose up to feed into the mouth of this multi-leveled beast, a steel and concrete centipede that snaked its way through the entire city, splitting and rejoining and intersecting at various paths. Strangely enough, there appeared to be a pedestrian lane as well as a civic-reserved branch, most likely to allow policemen and troops clear access even if the rest of the highway was clogged with traffic.
"I think we're due for the civilian vehicle lane," Septimus squinted as he read off the signs, "Looks like there's a checkpoint out front. Everybody be polite, we only get one shot at a first impression."
The checkpoint appeared to be heavily-armored though it didn't obscure the view of the buildings beyond its borders. Within lay the suburban and depressed outskirts of Urbem Ascalon. Resembling a 21st century slum, the shacks and one-story houses, gas stations, and mom-and-pop shops seemed to stretch out for at least a mile until they hit the fog. Beyond that - whether paradise or hell, technological haven or backwards village, was unclear...
Ascalon is the largest organized city on Gallimaufry, and it contains the largest percentage of mundane human beings. It boasts a variety of technology levels although it is predominantly 20th and 21st century in nature. More advanced technology can be found - at an exorbitant price. Visitors can find shops, restaurants, public libraries, museums, schools and so on. (See map and Legend)
The rig was one among many as it pulled onto what appeared to be a main highway, several other vehicles also pulling in from obscure country roads to the central nerve that would lead them to the shining jewel of Gallimaufry: Urbem Ascalon.
The first thing Septimus noticed - though he was surely late, for his mind was occupied with Neste's earlier morning pleas for tea - was the rising spire in the distance: the government building in the center of town. Minimalistic, bright, and with almost no visible windows or other defining features, it stood as a pillar to all in the surrounding lands. Urbem Ascalon was safe haven, civilization. Flanked by what appeared to be guard towers that no-doubt attached to bunkers, the building heralded their arrival at the outskirts. The city proper would be no more than ten minutes away.
"We should get straight to the government center first, then the commercial district, and then backtrack to explore the rest," Septimus directed his attention at Thaddeus, nodding at the older cyborg...
...As the rig rolled down the highway, an outline in the foggy distance illuminated into what appeared to be a multi-tiered bridge. The highway split into tendrils, each labeled with a sign in multiple languages indicating which vehicles were appropriate for which lane. Some of the lanes rose up to feed into the mouth of this multi-leveled beast, a steel and concrete centipede that snaked its way through the entire city, splitting and rejoining and intersecting at various paths. Strangely enough, there appeared to be a pedestrian lane as well as a civic-reserved branch, most likely to allow policemen and troops clear access even if the rest of the highway was clogged with traffic.
"I think we're due for the civilian vehicle lane," Septimus squinted as he read off the signs, "Looks like there's a checkpoint out front. Everybody be polite, we only get one shot at a first impression."
The checkpoint appeared to be heavily-armored though it didn't obscure the view of the buildings beyond its borders. Within lay the suburban and depressed outskirts of Urbem Ascalon. Resembling a 21st century slum, the shacks and one-story houses, gas stations, and mom-and-pop shops seemed to stretch out for at least a mile until they hit the fog. Beyond that - whether paradise or hell, technological haven or backwards village, was unclear...
Government
Ascalon's government setup is Council-Manager. The seven councilpersons sit on the Urbem Ascalon Concilium (UAC); they oversee the general administration, make policy, set budget etc. This Council appoints a professional city manager to carry out day-to-day administrative operations. The mayor is chosen from among the Council on a rotating basis.
Its citizens are comprised of a variety of creatures. Discrimination is frowned up, but so to is destruction of public property or violence towards residents. Ascalonites have lived through several thousand years of nonsense and, by law, are tasked to keep the peace. They do so quite nicely.
A larger version of the map can be found here.
Ascalon's government setup is Council-Manager. The seven councilpersons sit on the Urbem Ascalon Concilium (UAC); they oversee the general administration, make policy, set budget etc. This Council appoints a professional city manager to carry out day-to-day administrative operations. The mayor is chosen from among the Council on a rotating basis.
Its citizens are comprised of a variety of creatures. Discrimination is frowned up, but so to is destruction of public property or violence towards residents. Ascalonites have lived through several thousand years of nonsense and, by law, are tasked to keep the peace. They do so quite nicely.
A larger version of the map can be found here.
Known Figures
"Judge" Maloney, Local Gang Lord (and Defacto Mayor of the Uppers)
Barruda "Rudy" Kleo, UA Border Patrol Officer (and Illegal Permit Merchant)
"Boris", Homeless Vagrant (and Uppers Information Dealer)
"Kov" Tsiolkovsky, Scrap Mechanic and Uppers Junkyard Owner
"Judge" Maloney, Local Gang Lord (and Defacto Mayor of the Uppers)
Barruda "Rudy" Kleo, UA Border Patrol Officer (and Illegal Permit Merchant)
"Boris", Homeless Vagrant (and Uppers Information Dealer)
"Kov" Tsiolkovsky, Scrap Mechanic and Uppers Junkyard Owner