Red Maple District
Demographics
The Red Maple District is home to primarily, worshippers of Hikaru, the fox god, as the district functions in place of a main temple to her. Her followers are of all races and creed, however due to her district's location, the vast majority of the local population are Japanese.
Government
The Red Maple District operates separately from the Japanese government, under Hikaru's own rule and law in place of her temple. The area is a safe haven from law enforcement, as Hikaru is a protector of tricksters, scammers, and delinquents, but at the same time, does not allow trickery against those down on their luck, such as the poor, destitute, and marginalized. Rules and laws are made by Hikaru herself, and enforced by her priests, that frequently monitor the district's borders and public areas for signs of trouble and attacks by other cults.
Hikaru's priests also function to keep businesses and properties in check from corruption, requiring those that break the rules of her district pay homage to her with significant offerings and work maintaining the area.
Industry & Trade
The district is not just the hub of the fox god's worship, also being a trade hub for the city of Tokyo itself, mainly focusing on traditional craft work. Dozens of shops and stores are packed into the tiny district, mainly at the lower levels, with apartment buildings above them. With a focus on traditional arts and craftsmanship, many businesses in the district have been passed through the generations for thousands of years, using the same techniques they have since they opened. Most sell and trade items related to the god of foxes such as traditional offerings of carved ruby gemstones, Japanese teas and sweets, incense, and traditional clothing. There are also a number of cosmetic shops within the district and services such as tailors, salons, and spas.
The vast majority of goods and services provided by the district are created using local items crafted, grown, or produced in or around Tokyo or surrounding provinces, however, the Red Maple District itself has specialized trade deals with the trading hubs, temples, and cities of other gods, such as Sasakia, God of Butterflies, Yung Pagoni, God of Peacocks, City of Shanai, and Nottingham, New York.
Within the district, there is an odd quirk of its local economy, in that most businesses will often haggle their prices in exchange for offerings to Hikaru and will raise prices to outsiders if they don't haggle in return. This social norm is often called the Trickster's Tax.
Infrastructure
Buildings within the district are quite old, having been maintained for centuries. Some buildings to the districts center can be as old as 2,000 years and are regularly maintained as not to fall apart. Due to the district's limited area, space for new buildings is highly desired, and businesses and homes are rarely given up or sold, instead being passed through the generations, and as a result, most are of much older styles than those found in the rest of Tokyo due to rarely, if ever, being torn down and rebuilt.
Due to Hikaru Vulapin's personal preferences, the vast majority of buildings within the Red Maple District are constructed in a blend of two different styles originating from the Human Era- Meiji Era and Late Human Era designs are quite popular, and even newer constructions are often built in a blend of these two styles. The outer edges of the district see the most variation in their styles from homes and businesses that have been incorporated into the area, and not yet been changed to suit the district's typical aesthetic.
Points of interest
At the center of the district is a large gray-brick plaza, centered by a large ornamental fountain filled with cattails, water lilies, ornamental Sun Koi, and statues of Hikaru's divine form. The plaza is the main hub for offerings to be given, and is home to the Bleeding Oak Inn, Hikaru's personal residence and main collection point for offerings to be given. The hotel is not open to outsiders, instead, those under Hikaru's protection, her priests, and visiting gods and their allies only. The plaza is often dotted with pop up shops and street food vendors, and home to an annual lantern festival in the fall.
Tourism
The area typically doesn't see much tourism outside of fall, primarily serving Hikaru's cult and her followers for most of the year. As summer comes to an end, tourism explodes with hundreds of visitors each day to celebrate the god of foxes and make offerings to her numerous shrines.
Founders
Alternative Name(s)
RMD, Maples
Type
District
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Related Tradition (Primary)
Characters in Location
Comments