Fale

An underground city stretching beneath the woods and planes boarding Snow Haven. Fale is the home base of the reformed Cult of Bane.

Legends have been passed down generation after generation in the cities of Alaska. One of the most common legends known to citizens, especially those old enough to remember it’s roots, is about an underground city whose name remains an enigma.

According to legends, this underground city was built a hundred years after the oldest city in the state. Some say that it was dug and constructed by monsters two thousand years ago, others claim it is of Elven craft to combat those with the Black Blood, and some believe that it was built as an underground military base. Regardless of which origin story you believe, some details – such as the date of its creation, and the presence of a solitary individual in charge – remain the same.

Expeditions led to locate the underground city have ended in failure for over three hundred years, usually with party members returning home disappointed. Others however, were never seen again. Fale’s existence has never been confirmed.

The most common languages spoken in Fale are English and German, with some Russian and old Alaskan tongues mixed in.

In the breeding compound, there is no official currency. Instead, the local economy thrives on trade and acts of service, the most valuable items of which are seeds, food items and art.

Currency is only accepted in Corpus Mangis, the cannibal cafe, from outsiders looking to purchase meals or live "products" for whatever reason. All of the money earned is used to finance projects above ground, such as the gathering of materials if needed, and providing paychecks or services to their people on the surface. Money itself has no real value in Fale.

Fale is an absolute monarchy, headed by an individual that goes by the name Rellik S. Laire - regarded as a saint by majority if not all of the populace. Aiding in her rule is a group of 4 Ambassadors, each from a different segment of the city, that act as Rellik’s advisors and emissaries. Beneath them are the Fale Guard, who act as the police of the city. The Guard answers to both the monarch and to the Ambassadors, but of course, Rellik’s word is absolute.

All kinds of sports are encouraged and played in Fale, within the breeding compound. Tournaments are held for the larger sports, with winners being provided large amounts of goods and participants granted a small collection of valuable items - encouraging participation.

People on the surface who know of the legend believe that Fale is an ancient city that has been vacated for hundreds of years. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Not only is Fale inhabited, it is thriving, and is home to thousands of humans and hundreds of supernaturals.

Fale itself is 130 acres within a controlled magical environment, whose territory consists of a walled enclave that spans from the ground to the top of the cave. The irrigation system spans from natural water in various spots within the cave. Used water is filtered, clean water returns to the reservoirs within the cave and waste is either used for crops or is cleansed by water. Fale does not make plastic; it’s citizens use glass and bio-degradable containers for everything.

Citizens are completely ignorant to the happenings of the world above. Those that want to work are given the opportunity to do whatever they desire, to the point of the monarchy allowing them into the outside world to earn revenue for Fale. All citizens wear a magical band around their left wrist that prevents them from talking about the underground city, and it can only be removed by the monarchy. Citizens that don’t want to work are provided for by the monarchy, and are required to take part in the city’s breeding program. But anyone can be chosen to venture to the palace where Rellik resides. People taken to the palace are said to serve Rellik directly, a position that residents of Fale consider an honor – and for some, a goal.

With Fale's compounds are small, artificial biomes whose temperatures and climates are controlled by both technology and magic. The most populated biome is the tropical one, where the bulk of the breeding compound lies, as well as the largest greenhouses in Fale - most of which are owned by the monarchy. Smaller greenhouses are owned by local farmers.

Other biomes that are maintained are the aquatic, grassland, forest, desert and tundra biomes. Each biome exists to produce, raise and harvest specific types of flora and fauna. It should be noted that there is only a freshwater aquatic biome in Fale, but the monarchy does own an oceanic base somewhere in international waters.

Thus, Fale is able to produce all kinds of crops year-round, with the surplus being sold on the surface.

The city of Fale is located underground, primarily in an enclave, that extends into several large cave systems underneath the woods and planes boarding Snow Haven. At the center of the enclave is an old, giant tree teeming with old magic that seeps into the city's primary water system (the tree is surrounded by a lake).

There are five entrances in total to Fale, each of which are hidden by an ancient illusion magic that is undetectable to supernats. The only way to know where the entrances are, or to even access them, is to wear an armband produced in the city itself that allows entry - like a magical keycard.

Each of the biomes are maintained at their peak temperatures. The climate and temperatures within these biomes does not change outside of artificially created weather.

THE PALACE

The Palace is the largest building in Fale, located to the eastern side of the city. Only the first four floors can be seen by citizens – the other floors are built further underground. The Monarch resides in the top floor, with her chosen few on the second floor and the Ambassadors taking up the 3rd floor. A large stone staircase leads to an entrance on the 4th floor. The 3rd and 4th floors can be freely accessed by elevator by anyone, but only the monarch, the chosen and the Ambassadors have access to the 2nd and 1st floors. Corpus Mangis is located on the lowest floor.

VENTURING OUTSIDE OF FALE

Only a select few are allowed to venture freely outside of Fale: Workers, the upper members of the Palace and the purchased.
Those from the Palace work directly for the monarch and wear a golden brace on their right hand rather than their left, marking them as staff members – either for Corpus Mangis or an Ambassador. Gold braces allow their wearer to talk about the underground city to a degree.

Workers are simply a citizen of Fale that has chosen to work, and has been allowed outside of the city to do so. They are responsible for bringing money into Fale, to feed other citizens including the workers’ own family, and assist the monarch. The jobs that they are allowed to have a wide range, including but not limited to: Performers (vocalists, bands, dancers, exotic dancers and so on), escorts of all kinds, architects, engineers, technicians of all kinds, and so much more as long as the position is high grossing. Workers are accommodated by the monarchy and set up for success. As long as they’re earning money for Fale, the individual has the freedom to do as they wish.

”The Purchased” are livestock that have been bought from the monarch through Corpus Mangis by a customer. Purchase of livestock can be arranged for a multitude of reasons, including slavery, any time of servitude, or as a spouse. Livestock have no say in the matter. For as long as that individual lives, Fale provides what their owner cannot – including healthcare, dental and vision. The Monarchy can also arrange jobs if needed.

BRINGING IN PRISONERS

Gnolls, officers and some Commanders went out every year to capture hundreds and thousands of people. They went out in caravans at first under cover of night. All of the caravans would meet up in a location that changed every time for rollcall. Each prisoner would be blindfolded and made to wear identical metallic braces on both of their wrists called Schloss, prohibiting them from using their powers (if any).

Afterwards, the caravans/search/hunting party('s) would navigate to one of the five entrances into the city and disappear into the veil.

Upon entering the city, prisoners are taken to rehabilitation where they are taught the laws and other basics about the city in order to convert them into permanent citizens - with the saying, "it's all for a better life". Officers look into each of the prisoners' records, both public and non-public, to learn more about them and how they can fit in/benefit the city. Most individuals are placed within the breeding program.

THE BREEDING PROGRAM

The "breeders" are provided for and treated incredibly well. They get everything they need and can usually get whatever they want, including medical care (including therapy), entertainment, etc. The schooling they have is great - mostly because it's done by people who have a genuine love for what they do (teach), and those teachers are of course also treated extremely well. It's like this for a reason. The ones that have talents are allowed, encouraged, and raised to flourish with those talents. If they're promising/good enough, they get put up on the surface with a small team to help them succeed. Their success means more finances, networking and other things for Fale, and additional luxury for the individual.

Of course, talents aren't just limited to entertainment. For example, those with a knack for leadership could also be raised to attain certain positions of power and other such "seats" on the surface. If they weren't chosen for the cafe as a victim, other living accommodations are prepared for them, or they've been purchased by someone like a mail-order bride.

For the program, two individuals are paired up - sometimes randomly - for the sake of producing children. There are two sides of the breeding operation: One side for food meant for the phages and ghouls and the other that aims to produce promising, talented (for the city's monetary gain on the surface) or pretty individuals (that can be sold).

THE DARK TRUTH

The Monarch is a Phage who has based the entire existence and procedures of Fale and it’s citizens upon the supply and demand of Corpus Mangis. Corpus Mangis is located in the lower levels of the palace, accessible to customers outside of Fale’s walls, the Corpus staff and livestock. The Livestock are members of the Monarch’s “chosen”; once selected, they are uprooted from their homes in the city and move into the palace, and are placed on the Corpus Mangis’s menu every day until purchased by a customer.
The citizens of Fale are bred by decree of the Monarch as part of that supply and demand.

The staff of Corpus Mangis are commonly phages with some ghouls and vampires mixed in. Ambassadors are made into wendigos, and so are most members of the Guard. Corpus Mangis is a cannibal café. Humans, customer or citizen alike, are encouraged to consume the raw flesh of another human – as the Monarch, Rellik, has many spiritual friends…