SETTING

Blackchapel
Riverside
The Bowels
The Docks
The Southshore
King's Quarters
Shadewell

THE ENVIRONMENT

Blackstone is almost constantly covered in a thick fog, where even on the lightest of days the sunlight struggles to pierce the gray skies. The city itself is an island, one that is a maze of cobblestone streets and dark brick buildings with a bustling community. During the day and well into the night, the sound of carriages and beating hooves is the persistent ambient sound of the city.

There isn't much farmland so the majority of the food that is provided to the citizens of Blackstone comes from small gardens built in parks and on rooftops, as well as fish from the Nodnal river that cuts through the center of the city. Fish is the main staple of the average Blackstonian diet, although foods such as beef or chicken can be purchased from shops in wealthier neighborhoods. The population of Blackstone is somewhat small considering how large the city is, and that's just as well; starvation would be a serious concern if there were more mouths to feed.

THE BOROUGHS

In total, Blackstone has seven boroughs: Blackchapel, Riverside, The Bowels, The Docks, The Southshore, King's Quarters and Shadewell.

Blackchapel

Blackchapel is roughly the size of a small town and holds a significant two thirds of Blackstone's population. It houses the lowest classes and the destitute. The name for this borough comes from the black chapel that resides at the south end of it's main road (suitably named Blackchapel Road) that is rumored to be the remains of a now abandoned faith. The chapel is currently used as a soup kitchen for those in need. The further south you go in Blackchapel, the lower the average income is.

Riverside

Riverside can be split into three separate sub-districts: Riverside Square, The Factory District, and the Northern District. Although Riverside is roughly the size of a village it's always remarkably congested, as this is where the majority of shops and eateries are. The crowds in Riverside are thick and the merchants are always rotating, selling their goods until they're left with an empty cart so they come back the next day, next month, or never again. It's said that you can find anything you're looking for in Riverside, and this statement has yet to be proven false as long as you know where to look.

Mind your wallet in Riverside Square, as it's notorious for pickpockets. The crowds are so thick that the patrolling officers are bound to lose the thief if pursuing on foot.

The Bowels

Despite the less-than-appealing name, The Bowels is simply one of the largest and most central boroughs of Blackstone. It holds more wealth than the poorer parts of Blackchapel, and the further upriver you go the more luxurious the homes become. The streets in The Bowels are in surprisingly good condition despite having little to no work done in the past several years, and the reason seems to be that they're rarely used. Elaborate wooden walkways stretch from rooftop to rooftop, originally put there for foot patrol and now openly used by officers and citizens alike. There is no trash in the streets and it's near impossible to find a homeless person or a beggar wandering the area.

Those who live in The Bowels keep to themselves and it is, by far, the quietest borough in Blackstone. In fact, the silence is almost eerie as night falls, and nobody can be seen unless they're peeking out of their window from around a drawn curtain. Nobody knows exactly why this borough acts so strangely, but it's home of the only law that nobody has dared to break: it is illegal to enter a manhole in The Bowels.

The Docks

The name of the borough is self explanatory. The Docks are a winding mix of warfs, shipyards and warehouses. The fog here is always thicker than it is in any of the other boroughs due to it's proximity to the water, and only the most skilled and bravest of captains dare to try and navigate their vessel to and from The Docks with the Maiden Rock, a spike of stone jutting out of the ocean notorious for gutting ships, just a few miles out. Many sailors swear that the rock moves, but it's generally accepted as an old tale. Rocks don't move around unless they're attached to something that does.

The Southshore

Although The Southshore District is filled with wealthy businesses, those who reside there are among the poorest who can still manage to afford a home. The businesses do well due to their proximity with The Docks - the majority of their customers being foreigners from other lands that stop at Blackstone for supplies or souvenirs - but the shops rarely (if ever) give back to the district that they're located in.

King's Quarters

Although Blackstone has a council instead of a designated king, the name of this district is fitting. It houses the aristocrats of the city who rarely speak to the lower classes unless being served by them or 'slumming'. The buildings are in pristine condition and all of the shops located in King's Quarters are high end. This district holds everything necessary to experience the finer things in life, from art galleries to exotic restaurants, and law enforcement here is always quick to act.

King's Quarters houses Blackstone's Parliament, and the entire district is surrounded by a 10' high wall with a single entrance to keep the more unfavorable types out.

Shadewell

Home of the rare and elusive upper middle class. No building in this district is less than three stories high. The homes here are mostly custom made and take up enough space for two, perhaps three homes in the far less fortunate Blackchapel. Most advances made in Blackstone are made in Shadewell, and it's rightfully earned it's title as the home of innovation. Ladies can be seen riding bicycles, and it houses both the museum and university which are considered gems in the crown of Blackstone. People are generally friendly here, although they're known to be a bit standoffish if you're not wearing proper attire.

THE NATIVES

Blackstone has rigid class lines; there are the wealthy, the lower middle class, and the destitute. A very small amount of citizens could be considered 'upper middle class', although they are rare and all live in the same areas of southern Shadewell. The gentlemen and ladies of Blackstone live in elegant estates that were most likely passed down within the family, surrounded by meticulously landscaped grounds. The lower middle class make up the majority of Blackstone and include all service workers and shop owners, who usually manage to make enough money to support their families but never enough to climb up the social ladder. Many a native Blackstonian work for the wealthy, from tending to their well kept grounds to serving their dinners and keeping their homes proper.

However, there may be more interaction between the wealthy and the lower middle class than you'd expect. This era birthed the concept of 'slumming', a term used to describe wealthy aristocrats dressing up as the less fortunate and exploring lower class neighborhoods to experience their lives. This practice, although distasteful, birthed a boom in charity work and social awareness.

The destitute have resorted to other means for survival, having either lost all of their money or having been born within their social class. Many of these Blackstone natives turn to thievery and begging to survive, while others find, what the wealthy would call, 'less savory' ways of making ends meet. They can be found in Riverside, although the majority of this class spend their time in southern Blackchapel.

Most men in Blackstone wear high buttoned boots, wool pants and cotton shirts with capes to keep them dry from the ever present fog. Lower class men will also wear cloth caps while gentlemen will wear large top hats to finish their ensemble.

The women of Blackstone wear long dresses with high buttoned boots, as it's considered indecent for a woman to show her ankles. They will also wear capes while outdoors, and women of the lower class will don bonnets while ladies wear large, elegant hats.

THE GOVERNMENT

Every five years, the Gentlemen and Ladies of Blackstone (including those not originally born there) elect a nine member council. Those allowed to cast a ballot are upper middle class or higher. The lower class and destitute cannot vote, although they can send requests or complaints to the council members in hopes that their voices will be heard. A large portion of the taxes are put into law enforcement to hire and train new constables, and officers patrol in groups of three. It's common knowledge that it's more difficult to find an officer in the less wealthy parts of Blackstone than it is in the upper class areas.

There's been something of a silent revolution happening within the past three years in Blackstone, bubbling just beneath the surface. The wealthy and upper middle class have seen the trials of the lower class and destitute, and are falling silent in order to give volume to the voices of the less fortunate. Pressure is being put on the council to allow voting from all citizens, and it's becoming evident that several sitting members will be voted out if they fail to deliver. Charities are becoming more prevalent, as are protests for class equality.