Glastonia

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Though a full-fledged continent, Glastonia’s sheer distance from the South Sea (literally the opposite side of the globe) puts it as far as possible from advanced civilization. While some of its states have had contact with other nations, they largely remain isolated. Their lagging technological prowess keeps them disconnected from global telecommunications, but this is more a matter of preference on their part than any want for competence. Many countries, such as Cape Norden, have adequate technology and resources to open up trade and purchase such technology, but for the most part voluntarily choose to maintain their current way of life.

Glastonia is thought to have vast, untapped natural resources. It has low population density, and many, many miles of lush forest, as well as some varying ecosystems, such as the slightly arid plains to the far south.

Notable Locations

Cape Norden

Cape Norden is very old, currently nearing the celebration of its 750th anniversary. The nation fosters a culture of simplicity, and shuns commercial excess. For this reason, they engage in relatively little trade with other countries, and have dated technology (although they make concessions in medical technology, which they import from other nations). Its climate is remarkably stable and cool (without being an icy wasteland) thanks to favorable winds from the south, but some winters can be bitingly cold. Overall, Cape Norden is a very picturesque place, though it isn't without its problems...

Mersey

The capital of Cape Norden, located on a river in the west. Mersey is a bustling, charming old-world city. The streets are narrow, and downtown tends to stay packed, while outlying areas are filled with farmland. It's a world-class city with many amenities, cultural landmarks, and everything else one would expect. Just don't expect a cellular signal or much internet access. (AM radio is about as far as they've been willing to go so far.) Violent crime is extremely low, though petty crime is somewhat high--watch your wallet!

Fremont

A small barony on the northernmost coast. The town has a low population, consisting of a village and some sprawling farms. Most noteworthy for being home to Castle Fremont, a cliffside manor on the cape. Very scenic; not far from Mersey.

Rodina

Cape Norden's unfriendly neighbors to the south. The conflict with Rodina is apparently very long-running and deep-rooted. The nation is even more reclusive than Cape Norden, so very little is known about it. It is considerably more industrial than its neighbor, but still not up to modern standards of technology.

Kapitali

The capital of Rodina, a grey and solemn city. Very little data is currently available.

Technology

This section is under construction. For now, have a basic list of things that do exist there:

• Steam engines
• Simple combustion engines
• Automobiles (equivalent to real-life 1920s European cars)
• Aircraft (mostly dirigibles)
• Simple firearms (nothing automatic)
• Telephones (wired, of course)

OOC Notes

The names of locales in this were largely BSed on impulse. Any strong similarity to an existing thing (fictional or non) is purely unintentional. (Still, let me know if we've tread upon something relatively popular, or too similar for comfort, so we can change it.) More information will hopefully be added to this article as the mystery storyline progresses.

Chapter 3a Mystery Log

A log of people and locations encountered so far.

The Locals

• Sir Corin
  • Aardwolf, grey. Some kind of old knight with a spear. Means well, but quite possibly insane.
• Ivan
  • Rabbit, black. A sailor; dresses like a pirate. Probably a thief. Stuck in Cape Norden because all the ports have closed due to the national crisis. Has a vested interest in solving the mystery so the ports will open again and he can move on.
• Baron von Fremont
  • Ermine, white. Owner of most of the town of Fremont, as well as Castle Fremont. Also investigating the mysterious disappearances in Cape Norden. Accommodating and helpful, but apparently clueless about what's going on.
• Luc
  • Groundhog, beige. Butler to the Fremont household. A bit meek, but very helpful. Seems happy with his job. It couldn't hurt that he's probably paid very well.
• Deverell
  • Ermine, white. Steward of the Fremont household, in charge of all hired help present. Somewhat gloomy and irritable. Definitely has some kind of stick up his butt, but it's hard to say what just yet.

Places of Interest

Under construction.

Mysteries

• What's causing the disappearances?
  • Leads:
    • Disappearances happen at night, accompanied by bright lights and loud, roaring whooshes. Victims in Fremont include Mr. Baker (the town butcher), Ms. Cauldwell (a maid at the inn), and Dieter Engel (a local football player). None of the three have family ties or close friends.
    • Locals have various explanations. Some blame their hostile neighbor in the south, the nation of Rodina, while others say it's the return of the mythical phoenix. (No reason given for why a mythological phoenix would want to kidnap people, though.)
    • Two figures in gas masks and hoods, and one very tall individual in sparkling robes with a bizarre bird mask, attempted to abduct Jack, Ember, and Key during their investigation of Mr. Baker's workplace. The would-be abductors were accompanied by the same bright lights and loud sounds as in the other examples. The abductors have finally been seen firsthand, but they did not leave much in the way of clues. They did leave behind a robot of some kind to assist them in their escape, though its remains have not yet been examined by the cast.

• Where is Juneau Fefifrin?
  • Leads: Juneau was mentioned repeatedly in the GUN data. He's an archaeologist, and apparently in Cape Norden, but no one the party has spoken to knows of him yet.
• What is the phoenix?
  • Leads:
    • The GUN data implied a connection between a so-called phoenix and Cape Norden.
    • A tall figure in a bird mask and fiery-looking robes was spotted at an attempted abduction (see above).