Smekoios

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Smekoios

Smekoios (S-meh-kh-oh-yoss) is an underground empire known for its geology. The rocks that can be found in this world have magical properties and are imported into realms far and wide. It has a very strong economy and the majority of its cities have a low crime rate. It is an excellent place to shop for enchanted objects and the street vendors usually have many.

Settled atop a number of underground wellsprings and streams, Smekoios's underground cities are carved straight into the slate-grey rock itself. Though much of the natural beauty of the caves is overshadowed by the artistry of these 'buildings,' as Traingoers move further out from the station they may discover old mineshafts and unexplored sections of the cave network filled with Smekoios's famed magical rocks and crystals, among other unexpected surprises.

Smekoios enjoys a relatively even distribution of wealth and a diversity of peoples. Being an empire with far-reaching diplomatic ties, Smekoios contains well-traveled citizens from a variety of different races, worlds, and dimensions. If you can imagine them, they probably live there. Most citizens feel a strong kinship with their neighbors regardless of creed, and community is highly valued. Although interspecies relationships and mixed-origin individuals are relatively uncommon, discrimination is rare and publicly denounced. A person who exhibits prejudice or is rude in general is likely to be confronted by passersby and may ultimately face real legal consequences.

Because of strong guild regulation and the communal nature of its population, prices in Smekoios are quite fair, and even tourists are unlikely to be cheated. It is not unusual to be invited to a merchant or artisan's home for dinner after a large purchase; this is considered to be the proper courtesy shown to a good customer. There are also frequent entertainment events in the markets.

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Eidonok

The capital of Smekoios and the Train’s main stop, Eidonok (eye - duh - nock) is a dazzling multi-district city centered around its famous Grand Market. An enormous open-air plaza surrounded by peaceful springs, the Grand Market offers tables to only the most talented artisans in Smekoios, some of whom are even the leaders of their guilds. Prices are comparatively high here, but quality is exponentially higher for the cost, making it an excellent place to purchase new equipment -- though on the weekends, the Market offers nothing but grocery shopping, with both local and imported foods on offer.

The further one travels into Eidonok, the narrower and more winding the streets become. It’s easy to get lost, but fortunately the locals are used to tourists and will inevitably offer to help. You may even wander your way into discounts if you stumble into one of the guild districts!

At the far rear of the cavern is the emperor’s palatial estate and the estates of local nobility. Parties are frequent at these elegant homes, and while many require invitation, just as many open their gates to the public as part of Smekoios’s culture of hospitality. The Markovic estate in particular has extended an open invitation to all World Train passengers for all their parties.

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In the city proper, the only creatures one will find are the pets of the citizens and the bioluminescent fish that inhabit the springs and streams. However, side paths and old mining shafts quickly become dangerous. Besides your standard gamut of rodents, bats, and spiders, enormous cave trolls make their homes in the deepest caverns, and shadowy fae lurk at some of the wellspring sources. Recently, there have been increased reports of goblinoid creatures traveling in thieving bands and setting traps for careless explorers, presumably making their way down from the surface.

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1. Eidonok Animal Rescue

"Hello, hello! Welcome, newcomers! How's everyone doing?" The redheaded attendant gives a wave from the interface, glancing down at the clipboard she held. "I guess this time around, we've got relatively easygoing jobs for you all. Uh," She looks up and stares into the interface, as if to look everyone straight in the eye. "Just to be clear? For those who are unfamiliar with how our jobs tend to be, it....isn't always like this. Anyway!

"A noble seems to have lost his pet raccoon-puppy. Here is a picture." Merostar holds up a sketch of what appears to be a fat, fluffy ball of grey fur. When she brings the sketch closer to the interface, one can make out the dark raccoon-like marks around its eyes, stripes on its fluffy tail, and black paws that look like mittens. The puppy aspect probably comes from its diminutive size. There is small, and then there isthis-creature-small. "Honestly...it's pretty darn cute." Mero looks up at the screen recording her with an intense poker face.

"So you can guess what you have to do: find this raccoon-puppy. Why doesn't the noble just do it himself? The problem is, Eidonok is kiiiind of big, with multiple districts and tons of alleys and backstreets. Even if someone were to guide you through the obscurest of streets, you're trying to find a small animal that has a headstart in hiding and scurrying through the city.

"The good news is that the noble has some hints and leads! He knows his pet is fond of bread, so this puppy may have gone to a bakery at some point- and someone seems to have spotted the little guy near Grand Market! The other likely area, according to the noble, is any place a fat small animal can get stuck into. Apparently our fuzzy friend tends to squirm into narrow places and stay stuck for a while. You could try luring it out with bread at that point.

"It'd probably be best to gather a large group and split up to comb through different areas of the capital, but there aren't any fast modes of communication if you found the pet in the easternmost district and everyone else is in the southernmost district. Perhaps if you decide to team up, it might be best to stick together in close proximity."

Objective: Submit an art or lit piece of your character, alone or in a group, looking for the raccoon-puppy (found or not).

Rewards:

 Solo or Collab: Regular EXP, Discs + RITA'S RUSH HOUR

2. Taming the Mines

*85 DEFENSE Required for each member

"One of Smekios' guilds does what they call 'modern gem sculpting,' using often rather ordinary rocks found in the old mines. With the recent sightings of 'goblins' and the growing threat being posed by the creatures that dwell in the area, the guild's miners-- people who excavate what they think are good rocks to use for sculpting and haul it back to their headquarters-- requested a few bodyguards to protect them and the material they'll be gathering. Not that bad, right?

"Since these miners are quite worried due to the increased 'goblin' reports and information that these 'goblins' work in bands, we're thinking of easing their anxiety a bit by sending off at least two people to play bodyguard, since there are four of them. Hopefully those of you who sign up aren't claustrophobic, or in general easily scared. The mines have some extremely narrow paths and are pitch dark where the bright gems aren't illuminating the walls."

"Oh, and last thing-- these guys would really appreciate it if, should the group run into any trouble, you don't cause too much damage to the surroundings. For one, some of the walls that were previously excavated can be pretty fragile if you give it a bulldozing wham. Secondly, you could be crushing rocks that the miners would consider using. And third, there could very well still be some explosives in the mine, leftover from when they were expanding. Do try not to be more rough than necessary! For this mission, enduring attacks might be more important than delivering them."

Objective: Submit an art or lit piece of your character in a group (at least two people) escorting the four miners, whether protecting, fighting, or simply exploring the mines.

(Your character can also collect some rocks if they'd like! +20 Satisfaction points.)

Rewards:

 Solo: x2 EXP, Regular discs + SECIL'S SMOKE & SHINE SPHERES
 Two collab partners: Regular EXP/Discs bonus + SECIL'S SMOKE & SHINE SPHERES
 More than two collab partners: Regular EXP/Discs bonus + CATO'S CUSTOM DAGGERS

3. Well Spring Madness

“Hmmm….hello? Is this thing on? Bogus speaker phones always throwin’ me off...why can’t I just try and announce this with my totally tubular ‘booming’ voice? Ahahahahaha! Anyways, you guys have an important exercise yah gotta do! Turns out that one of the major water springs has run dry from above the city. How it might’ve done that you ask? Well, someone cracked the bottom of the spring which made the water rush underground into parts unknown. Whether it was done on purpose or some sorta punishment from mother nature, it isn’t all that certain...But! What really matters is that you gotta fetch the water back! 

“Somewhere deep underground there’s a cavern containing a buncha fresh water! It’s a place where almost all the fresh springs link to! And in order to reach that place you’re gonna have to battle through a couple of abandoned crypts and tunnels just to get to it! I hear that it’s been untouched for centuries since the founders of Smekoios managed to irrigate the water to last eons to come! I ain’t sayin’ that the job is easy, but it’ll definitely be sumthin’ to write in the playbooks!

“According to old texts from the locals, there’s an ancient switch somewhere underwater in the cavern that’ll force the water to exit back into the old spring!! I’ve already patched up the crack with a bit of heavy lifting so that way the same incident won’t happen again, so the rest will be all up to you guys! Remember! Stay in shape, but most important stay safe!!!

Now, as the ancient Hawaiians would always say, ‘There’s no time like the present!’"

Objective: Submit an art or a lit piece of your character going solo or in a group activating the switch to bring fresh water back into one of the city’s main springs. You can also draw them combating some local watery terrors that may lurk in the underground spring, or maybe draw Mr. Fits’ equally terrifying chest hair. (I kid about the latter, please don’t do that it won’t count)

Rewards: 
 If a Collab:  Regular Discs/EXP, PESILIA'S PENDANT
 Non-Collab: No discs, x2 EXP, PESILIA'S PENDANT

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