Earth

Jewel of the North Galaxy

Vitae City

• Formerly Hero City, it is a technological super city, Vitae has become a beacon of light and a symbol hope for all of humanity after the attacks that crippled the planet several centuries prior. A capsule city with a population of four hundred million and rising, Vitae City is quickly becoming what the Earth Council would consider a capital for their planet. Vast, pristine, free of major crime, and protected by the galaxy's first "Energy Dome" Vitae City is the safest and cleanest metropolis on the planet. The dome itself was created by a combined effort between the Earth military and the Icerian Empire. It's the beginning of a technology that may suppress the destructive powers of ascended beings. Vitae City is protected by a meta-human police force in addition to the suppressive energy dome.

Bear Forest

• South of Sector 8, beyond its impressive grav-link highways lies the woodland known as the Bear Forest that wrap and encircle the borders of the metropolis. The forest used to extend all the way to the shore, but much of it was cut down and laid to waste when the city was created. Bear Forest stretches for about 50 miles east and 100 miles north. It is famous for its massive Steel-clawed bears that have been rumored to be able to uproot trees with their impressive strength, and have claws that can cut through solid stone. This was also the setting for the climatic battle between the "Wraiths" and the first incarnation of Kalmega, also known as Red Shot, several centuries prior to current events. A massive crater is all that remains of their decisive battle. Another prominent landmark of the Bear Forest is a large martial arts temple built in the proceeding decades where the students of the totem schools practice their martial prowess. The temple's location is a secret, but those that follow the path of the warrior have been known to be invited.

Gin Mountains

• The border between the Bear Forest and the Grand Sands is the small mountain chain known as the Gin Mountains. Fairly nondescript save the existence of a now-abandoned Zentonium mine, the mountains are ancient and worn down. The Bear Forest side of the mountains is forested all the way to the peaks, though the bears do not frequently venture very far up the mountains. They are studded with small caves, some artificial but most natural. The Gin Mountains are also widely known for a legendary "Sage" of the mountains. While mostly rumor, the Earth Defense Council has made reports of a monstrously high powerlevel that flickers to life now and again from this zone of the Earth-Sphere, but nothing has been confirmed by actual data.

Pepper City

• What once used to be a minor town on the outskirts of the major bustling cities of the Earth-Sphere has slowly become a metropolis in its own right. After the destruction of Hero City, refugees began to pour into this district and make camp. Aided by the Earth Defense Force, massive efforts had gone underway to transform Pepper City, making it suitable and hospitable to its new arrivals. Pepper City was most famous for a special festival where children dressed in the garb of mythical beasts and heroes, but that traditional has slowly transformed in these past years with the rest of the city and now it is not uncommon for the children of Pepper City to imitate powerful meta-human and ascended fighters of the age. Pepper City offers annual tournaments to celebrate the martial arts and their practitioners. While not on par with the legendary World Tournaments, these arena bouts are still worthwhile to attend for those seeking prestige among the fighters of the Earth-Sphere.

The Grand Sands

• On the eastern border of Bear Forest lie the Grand Sands, a massive desert that stretches from the center of the main continent all the way to the southeastern border. There are two main things within this desert; New Majourn and the Tempest Gate. The Tempest Gate isn't a physical barrier, but a natural phenomenon that has yet to be explained. It is a thick sandstorm with hurricane winds and violent flashes of lightning and roaring booms of thunder much like a raging tempest. It got the nickname Gate by the people of New Majourn, because it seals their city off from the rest of the world for most of the year cycle. The “Wall” of the gate is only a mile long, but attempting to simply pass through is suicide. Every three months, the storm subsides for nine and a half days, and the people living behind this natural wall use this time to resupply the city.

New Majourn

• Dark skinned and blond haired, the people of New Majourn live within the Grand Sands in a small village surrounded by the Tempest Gate. The city is a safe distance from the winds, but being surrounded by a storm on all sides, rarely getting any sunlight to shine through thick clouds, puts a gloomy feeling in the air. Somehow, these people are content on living in such a dismal place. They escaped by burrowing underground and hosting their main city in the vast rock caverns beneath the Grand Sands. New Majourn has recently become known for its many underground fighting tournaments.
  
  A Guide to New Majourn:
  New Majourn is divided into several central cave networks. The 'Room of the Ka' where the chandelier hung above the city had been developed into a sprawling resort filled with high-rising capsule buildings with glittering crystal windows, casinos, bars, elaborate restaurants, galleries, and high fashion botiques. It was loud, and teeming with fantastic nightlife activities that one could spend months pursuing without ever visiting the same shop, or dive twice. East of the central chamber was the 'Room of Sakan' a residential chamber where the vast majority of the actual citizens and workforce of New Majourn dwelled. This chamber was massive, and the homes of those who lived within it were cut from the rock of the cavern, and rest upon sloping 'steppes' that winded in a great coil of branching roads that from afar had appearance of a lair of great, earthen serpents with scales of light. The 'Chamber of Sabah' to the west, in retrospect was in opposition of this crowded district. This was where the arboriums, gardens, and heated waterways were spread within. It was an area that was constantly under construction, and ever-growing in order to meet the significant needs of New Majourn's population. Here there were underground 'forests' and 'fields.' What could be grown underground, under such circumstances, but humans are resouceful creatures, and the greenhouses had found a way to overflow with possibilities. North of the central chamber rest the 'Waterways of Mayyah' where the tunnels in the rock gave way to loping underground rivers that spread off into a lattice of such complicated, and deep networks that none had ever fully explored them, and perhaps never would. It was here that the sustinence of New Majourn was caught. It was from these channels beneath the stone that humans had originally fed themselves and formed the tribes that would go on to master the Grand Sands, for the waterways of Mayyah were filled with fish, clams, shrimp, eels, and even desert octopus. The waters were warm enough, and the rock filled with so much natural salt that it was oceanic. And finally there were the 'Houses of Kharj' to the south. Sometimes called the dark grotto, or 'Old Majourn'. It's passages were ancient and filled with herioglyphs. Mysticism was still alive here, and some sections of the caves opened into yawning portals to the inner abyss, or the unknown underworld of Earth that few had ever explored. There were chambers within the Houses of Kharj filled with crystals, and others where giant monitor lizards the size of a train car dwelled in fifty year hibernations (and if woken would rip a man limb from limb). The Houses of Kharj were full of hidden paths, and secret tunnels. It was a haven for the criminals of New Majourn... and also its hermits, isolationists, and those who simply wished to practice the Old Magic.

The Ruins of Abbingdon

• Once one of the oldest cities on Earth, Abbingdon is now nothing more than a graveyard. After destroying the moon, the Super Android Kalmega (also more commonly known as Red Shot) fought a fierce battle against the Earth military that had been bunkered here and flattened the city with a devastating energy blast. No reconstruction effort of Abbingdon has been attempted, but there is a large war memorial dedicated to all those who were killed or caught in the crossfire. This graveyard has become the home to a number of marauders and bandits whom use the ruins as their outpost.

Fudoken Canyon

• A vast series of rocky outcroppings with steep walls and several caves and tunnels, this network of natural mazes is the perfect home for hermits and brave outdoors folk. Spanning roughly thirty miles, until the base of the Zubree Mountains, this canyon is vast and easy to get lost in. Because of the danger of getting lost, falling off a high cliff, or being crushed under a rock slide, the canyon has gone all this time mostly uncharted. The Fudoken Canyon is also the Earth's prime source for Zentonium, a rare metal used in crafting spaceship technologies and ki-resistant armors. Recent endeavors by the Capsule Corporation have brought this until recently untapped supply into greater circulation

Blizzard Forest

• Made largely of conifers, and situated between Fudoken Canyon and the Zubree Mountains, this forest is set in the far north of Earth and endures under a constant snow. Wild winds blow through, ensuring the snow never has time to build more than two feet. The ground here is mostly flat, allowing the winds to dominate the area. The lumber from here is prized, as it has a much higher stress capacity than normal trees.

Zubree Mountains

• The distant, arctic north. This frozen mountain chain cuts through the north ocean and is littered with massive, thawing glaciers. These mountains are recorded to be the tallest natural structure on the planet, but due to severe weather conditions, no human being has been able to tame the mountain peaks. There is a myth among fisherman that the fish in the waters surrounding this mountain have blue scales that turn silver in the waning crescent moonlight and if you catch a glimpse of them during this state, your fishing boat will know countless fortunes for the rest of your days.
  
  
  Mount Shiva
  The tallest peak in the Zubree mountain range; Mount Shiva is eternally surrounded in frigid ice-storms, and howling, winter gales which many travelers find insurmountable. Even with state of the art equipment, few civilian hikers, or mountaineers have ever scaled this mighty, frozen crag, but the ascended, and meta-humans of Earth often visit this remote location to undergo severe environment training.

Sector 8

• Sector 8 is perhaps the most notable destination point for many space-faring denizens whom decide to travel to Earth. Many centuries ago it was the touch-down site of a Saiyan invasion of the planet. Many lost their lives in that battle, and many more wounded Saiyans claimed the city as their new home once the conflict had ended. The populations of Sector 8 is widely made up of Saiyans, Humans, and their Halfbreed offspring. While the city has undergone many transformations throughout the centuries, it remains a destitute location, despite the generous outpourings of welfare that have been used to oversee its many reconstructions. This is due to the high populations of meta-human, or otherwise known as ascended beings, that make Sector 8 their home. These powerful warriors have often attracted the attention of similar, less noble fighters, and thus Sector 8 is seemingly caught in a never ending circle of arriving saviors and destroyers. Sector 8 is also widely known as the beginnings of the meta-human movement. The first ascended fighters in the universe, and some of the most renowned warriors of the past ages, whose deeds have become lasting legacy in the galaxy had humble beginnings here. A local bar called Slammer's is often sited as being a controversial, and infamous home base for many ascended beings whom travel their to test their strength and prowess where the meta-human movement began.

Turtle Islands

• These tropical, volcanic mounds of sand have much life on them from the lush tropical forests to the massive coral reefs surrounding the islands. They are named the Turtle Islands because of the massive sea turtles that swim to their shores to lay their eggs. There are roughly twenty islands in this chain and most of them go uninhabited by modern society, though a few tribal clans have been spotted deep within the rainforests.

Volcano Village

• Hidden in the middle of the Turtle Island chain rests Volcano Village. The Humans native to this land are very tribal; most of them not even able to speak today's modern language being taught across the universe. They are red skinned and dark haired, usually outfitted with loincloths and body paints. They bravely live at the base of an active volcano, which they all worship like a god. Outsiders rarely visit this village because most of them are killed before they even get a chance to see the small collection of huts.

The Cloud Forest

• Pockets of geothermal activity add steam clouds to this tropical rain forest. This forest runs over mountain and valley and is broken apart by sets of ancient ruins. The forest is lit mostly by phosphorescent fungi, except for the areas where prominent, ancient structures rise. This forest is part of a massive, tropical green belt that forms around the Earth's equator, between Cinnamon Town and the western coasts.

Makono City

• Makono City is located in the warm, tropical green belt of the Earth's equator and is known for one thing around the world... its legendary coffee. This city is a thriving economic center, and has the most dense population of professional business men and women in the world. Sometimes called the tropical silicon valley, Makono City is where a majority of the world's entertainment industries make their home. Perhaps it is the fast paced lifestyle that the denizens of the city live that created the necessity for its famous coffee blends, or perhaps it was simply the warm environment and relatively lush surrounding landscapes.

The Great Korin Tower

• Korin's Tower has long remained a mystery to the people of Earth, and similar towers found on other planets only increase the rumors and speculations that have cropped up over the course of history. No one knows for certain when it was built, or who could have erected such an unbelievable monument, but it has stood for as long as recorded history remembers. The top of the tower is enshrouded in a never ending storm that even the most advanced technologies in the universe have seem incapable of piercing. Monks from all across the world have long made pilgrimage to the tower, either to simply meditate in its shadow or attempt to climb it, but none have succeeded in ever reaching its pinnacle. What mysteries await at the top of Korin's tower are uncertain, but many legends rumor that this is in fact the fabled home of the Earth's Guardian.

The Sacred Land of Korin

(Submitted by Greg)

• The Sacred Land of Korin is an unofficial designation for the untamed wilderness surrounding the ruins of the Great Korin Tower for a few hundred miles in each direction. It is referred to as the Sacred Land by the ‘civilized’, tribal groups that call the area home. Unfortunately, the area is also home to a number of hostile groups of thieves and bandits, as well as wild creatures like overgrown mountain cats, and ‘Dinos’, the sapient though dim-witted ancestors of ancient dinosaurs, all of whom are always in search of their next meal. The area is also pockmarked with other long forgotten ruins, and due to its size is host to a variety of biomes including bogs and swamps, small rocky hills, great forests, plains that were once host to ancient battles, and prehistoric cave systems. It is a place that is both defined, and untouched, by time. Due to the mystery, legend, and reverence surrounding the Great Korin Tower, it (and by extension, the Sacred Land) was not often disturbed by the modernized cultures of the world. With the destruction of the Great Korin Tower approximately 200 years ago, a new interest has returned to the area. Archaeologists and pilgrims have begun making expeditions into the area, surmising that it must be full of ancient magic and technology ready to be studied and added to recorded history. Unfortunately, those with far less-noble intentions have deduced the same, and the way of life held by the Tribals may be at risk as evil descends on the Sacred Land.

Jinijini Village

(Submitted by Greg)

• One of the settlements nestled closest to the ruins (though still about 40-50 miles from it) is Jinjini Village. The Elders and Shamans of Jinijini claim that the other Tribals are descendants of the original founders of the village, though this is very unlikely to ever be provable. The current leader is an ancient woman named Elder Hu, and the Shaman is a blind young man called No-Eyes. Elders oversee the day-to-day affairs of villages and settle disputes, whereas Shamans are spiritual leaders and healers. They are equally respected, though in different contexts, and most decisions that will affect the entire populace of the village (about 300 people) require the guidance of both. The citizens of the village reject all modern technology, considering it to be a cause of unnecessary stress and evil (similar to the Amish of our world). They sustain themselves through agriculture and hunting, and spend their leisure time reading, writing, creating handmade tools and trinkets, and engaging in communal events like storytelling or religious services. Due to their tribal lifestyle, each person is expected to be able to perform their duties, and those who can’t, or refuse to, are excommunicated.

The Golden Forest

• In the northern reaches of the world, at the base of the snow capped mountains that create the impenetrable terrain known as the Zubree Mountains lies the mysterious Golden Forest. This forest survives due to the high geothermic activity that occurs below its surface. It is a location known for its natural hot springs, and is the home of several small villages and towns whose economies are based heavily in the tourism that such springs bring.

Pineapple Cove

• Settled on three large islands between the main and western continents, Pineapple Cove is THE major resort on Earth. It is the epitome of surf, sand, and fun for those who have the millions of zeni to visit its two main islands. The third island has been off-limits for quite some time due to construction. Perhaps in due time we will know just why this island has been cut off from the other, and why trillions of zeni are going into its construction.

Legende

A space station the size of a large country, Legende orbits Earth. It hosts the main command center of the EDF, and the best Earth has to offer in the way of technology, hosting Earth's main spaceport offworld.

• Agricultural Sector, aka the Hanging Gardens of Legende -- Here are the hydroponic farms and forests of Legende, where a good portion of Legende's food is produced, making the station almost self-sufficient. Here can be found the closest things resembling nature on this artificial world.

• EDF Orbital Command -- Home to most of the Earth Defense Forces brass and numerous training grounds for EDF infantrymen, EDF Orbital Command watches over the blue planet with constant vigilance, having full control of Legende's "self-defense" cannons. EDF Orbital Command is situated in the dead center of the station.

• Commercial Sector, aka Omnipolis -- Encircling the belt of the station, Omniopolis is a vast complex of shining, hundred-story towers, lightrails and other advanced pieces of technology that only the largest Earth cities sport. Fueled in its development heavily in part by Capsule Corp, much of the architecture is similar: domed buildings with great glass routundas and lots of windows.

• Observatory Deck -- Facing out into deep space, the Observatory Deck has the most advanced telescopes that the combined brains of Insignia V and Earth could come up with. The telescopes here, including radio, visual, X-Ray and infrared, scan uncharted space looking for new life forms around the clock.

• Space Port Sector, aka the Boneyard -- Both the best and worst part of Legende simultaneously, depending on where you go. Like a dockside area on Earth, one can find the underworld teeming around the less-guarded docks and shining examples of Earth culture and technology in the more heavily-guarded areas. The EDF themselves run security here, insuring against corruption. The sounds of ships being taken apart and built gave this place the nickname, "the Boneyard".

• Embassy 06 -- A small office building in Omniopolis, looking unusually technologically advanced for its fellows. Here is the Insignian embassy to Earth, where mettings of the minds often take place.

• Tunippa -- Surrounded by saiyans looking to live among the humans, one may think the Saiyan's embassy is in the middle of a rough part of town by the number of giths that take place, until you realize that to many Saiyans, a challenge to an honorable fight often creates unbreakable friendships. Situated between the EDF Orbital Command and Omniopilis, Tunippa has no room for an arena of its own, hence the amount of street fighting.

• Suzpenda Research Facility -- A joint venture by Capsule Corp and several other companies, Suzpenda is a small scientific city near Embassy 06. Here, the most brilliant scientific minds in the galaxy convene to tinker and invent for whatever ends come out of their innovations.

• Industrial Sector, aka the Devil's Belly -- A less temperature-controlled environment is here, human workers working alongside immigrant Gigas to build the technology that keeps Earth in business on the interstellar marketplace. From space, one can see the waste scrubbers recycling clean air back into the station while incinerating anything else, the fumes of said burnings being blown away by solar winds.

Maps

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  Earth

EARTH (North Galaxy)

Population: 11 billion Government: Republic Threat Level: Average Resource Level: High