Death of Innocence
| Planar City | |
|---|---|
| Plane: | The Gray Waste |
| Layer: | Niflheim |
| Ruler: | Viliki Cainor |
- A grim resignation of a body's fate, the knowledge that you can never return to the way you were. Life's a burden to be borne by the stoic and the brave; death only offers the easy way out.
Tucked away in a grove of tall pines, a frontierlike town looms out of the woods like an unexpected predator. This image greets a visitor to Death of Innocence. The whole town's made of wood hewn from the gray pines of the Waste, and reinforced 10 feet through. Great gates bar entry to any who aren't authorized or welcome; the outer side of the gates bristle with spikes of wood and mistletoe.
Inside the gates, a broad avenue leads to the center of town, where a fountain carved in great marble stands, depicting a man astride a horse bursting forth from the waves. The statue often has brightly-colored fabrics hanging from both the man and the horse. It's and odd ritual, the cloth is replaced every week when the colors fade out to gray, and it contributes to the hope the town maintains in its heart of hearts.
The straight and regular streets seem much like those on a prime world. The wood of the buildings constantly oozes sap and blood, and it's for this reason that many believe the trees around Death of Innocence are the trapped spirits of petitioners. The trees certainly give off a strange smell and sound when burned.
The town holds over 5,000 people, but it always seems new and empty despite exuding a strange feeling of ancient times. Perhaps the residents are afraid to trust the old/new emotions welling up through the hopeful influence of the town's resigned ruler, Viliki Cainor. She doesn't really belong on the Waste, but she's given up her hopes of attaining perfection in herself and in others. She's a woman of deep emotion, and these emotions keep the people of the town from succumbing to the draining of the Waste.
The strangest thing about the town is that it's full of people trying to redeem themselves. Rather than giving in to how they lived before, they're making an effort to develop new patterns. Despite their ingrained nature, they're striving to change themselves. This results in a place actually halfway decent to live in.
A citizen's militia protects Death of Innocence from harm. It's made of planars and petitioners, all of whom are dedicated to keeping the peace. A recent rumor declares that one of the militia squads may be preparing to betray the city. No one knows which squad it is, and it's making everyone a little tense.