Post by Milo Ventimiglia on Feb 4, 2011 5:15:45 GMT -5
The setting for My City of Wonders is summarised below, with more in-depth information written below that. There is plenty of room for imagination, so feel free to invent malls and skyscrapers and suburbs, rivers, schools, fashions, etc. You don't have to memorise it all. This is a reference guide to refer to every now and then when needed.
xx. Basic Info .xx
xx. Climate/Geography
Wonder County exists in a continental climate, typical of the Midwestern United States. Winters are very cold, with the risk of blizzards and ice storms. Summers are hot and can be very humid; it is often wet and stormy during the summer time with a high occurrence of tornadic super cell thunderstorms. Tornado warning time is currently twenty minutes. There is a decent siren and media warning system.
The land is extremely fertile and green, and in the autumn/fall time people can expect to see the beautiful, dramatic changes in leaf colour. There are vast expanses of forests consisting mostly of pine and spruce, with a scattering of birch and poplar. There are a few low mountains, but nothing extreme, and a lot of lakes as there are in Minnesota in the real world. Wonder City is surrounded by multiple lakes, some of which run through the city. Wildflowers in the spring and early summer are simply stunning. Floods are common in summer and when the snows melt.
xx. Wildlife
This again is based on Minnesota with some additions. One can expect to hear the call of wolves at night, and run-ins with black bears in the forests are possible. Very occasionally, one can expect to encounter a grizzly bear, but they are uncommon. Moose, elk, caribou, deer and bison are the largest prey animals found here. Birds include red-tailed hawks, snowy owls, bald eagles, migratory geese and ducks, grouse, pheasants, turkeys, pigeons, sparrows, blackbirds, red-winged blackbirds, blue jays and cardinals. Smaller mammals such as pine martens, racoons, squirrels and bobcats are also common. Some of the common fish species include trout and walleye, as well as northern pike. Lately, a population of primates has moved into the forests from some other world. They almost resemble monkeys, but they thrive in the pine forests and have sets of retractable claws. They are omnivores, feeding on meat, insects and fruit.
Other than these animals, there is a numerous and healthy population of lizards, mosquitoes and many kinds of frogs, some unidentified by science. There are also small populations of what are likely dinosaurs, though none grow bigger than small dogs. Strange species are documented every week, many coming from other worlds. Feel free to invent some, as long as they fit with the ecosystems.
xx. Dimensional Hotspots
There are hot spots of energy where portals may open at any time. Most are watched and studied by scientists and the government. Some are unknown. Others appear at random times. You can have your character appear from a portal with or without a scientist/government group depending on what you want to happen.
xx. Wonder City
Wonder City is like any other city, although greener in some ways. It has a wonderful set of massive skyscrapers which are often adorned in greenery and solar panels. The roads are wide and large and there are trees wherever they can be grown. The affluent areas are clean, and the slums are not. Many non-human apartment complexes are in the slums. There are huge malls and big television screens in the central business district areas. It is a thriving metropolis designed so that people drive less and walk more; this means facilities are easy to get to and around every corner.
Driving out of the city, there are suburban sprawls and an industrial district. The industrial district is less smoggy than it would be if it existed in 2011. It employs a lot of green energies and efforts. The nicer suburbs take a lot of care in their appearance. There are two gated communities further out of the city. A church on every corner. Schools and large malls also play a big part in the suburban region.
Further outside of that, people have larger properties and farms. Many farmers keep slaves who can encourage plants to grow, control flooding with water magic or do heavy manual labour. Wind farms are a common sight. Most people grow corn, soya beans, green peas and sugar beets.
Wonder County and surrounding counties are also home to many small towns, two small Native American settlements and two towns which hide escaped slaves.
xx. Universities and Schools
There are a few Universities and plenty of schools. Feel free to elaborate and make up your own. Some slaves are allowed to attend if their masters send them there. Some schools deal primarily with non-humans. ‘Free’ non-humans may also attend some if they apply to the government. Segregation does occur. Non-human teachers are not allowed to teach humans, though this is slowly changing. Only universities can be mixed; all schools are segregated; elementary, middle and high schools are either human or non-human.
The government believes education is important; not only does it create skilled slaves, but it can be dangerous for some species not to learn to use their abilities (having untrained powers shut off permanently by the collar can also kill some). It is also an opportunity for the government to shove their ideologies and propaganda down their throats, as well as down the throats of humans. Of course, not all slaves are allowed to go to school.
xx. Slave services
Government slave and non-human processing centres are situated across the metro area and in some of the other towns. Most slaves are processed here. The centres contain holding cells, labs, computer systems, interrogation rooms and are also equipped to deal with those being put into quarantine upon arrival. The staff includes veterinarians and human doctors/nurses to deal with all species.
xx. Housing
Most houses are run on solar or other renewable energy since there may be long periods of cloud and snow.
Some areas are segregated; non-humans occupy one suburb and humans occupy another. Most of the time, non-human suburbs and districts are slummy. Other times, non-humans are permitted to live in the same neighbourhood as humans if it is safe for the non-human and the humans around. There are always stories in the newspaper and on A Current Affair about humans being scared of a completely harmless person with powers or whatever living next door to them, always hyped up for public consumption.
Some slaves live with their owners. Others live independently.
xx. Religion and places of worship
Currently, there are only human places of worship. The government does not give this spiritual necessity to religious non-humans, although they are always encouraged to go to human churches and assimilate despite the prejudices heaped upon them.
xx. Military
All military bases are outside town.
xx. Technology
Technology is not radically different, though it has evolved. Climate friendly technology and magic-operated technology is common. Cars cannot fly but many run on magic or renewable fuels. Coal is all but non-existent. Many slaves with energy or magic skills produce energy for people to live off. You may be creative with technology. Books which can be read in the bath and in iron ore mines/out in the bush without being ruined do exist – think about convenience and what sort of technology might have risen from that. Water proof books and newspapers. Video answering machines and phone in every household, even poorer ones (prices gone down). Virtual reality games (for people over 18 due to dangers). Medical changes and healers with magical abilities. New health fads and dietary advice – not all of it effective – remember that the media affects a lot of the way people react to things, the way it does nowadays. Hologram advertising in cities. Water proof computers. Very fancy TV and downloadable films/media and internet in the TV itself.
xx. Fashion
There are a lot of non-humans wandering around, slave and non-slave. Some have wings, some have tails. Others have spikes or scales. Expect there to be clothes and jewellery and adornments made specifically for wings and other 'oddities'. Tail 'bracelets', tail dye, scale shiner, wing dye and wing adornments, clothes with tail and wing and spike holes. Most human fashion is similar to today's; eclectic and constantly changing. A lot of slave owners like to put small baubles and trinkets on their slaves' collars.
xx. Media, TV etc
The media is just as prolific as today. They helped spread the word that humans were superior and non-humans were scary. TV is also still just as big. A lot of storylines challenge the leading ideology that non-humans are evil by making stories or films about their cause. The government may censor these, but it may not. People are often covert about reading these kinds of texts.
xx. Outside Wonder City and America
The same laws are consistent across the US and most other countries around the world. There are probably race wars being fought elsewhere. Perhaps a few countries are completely ruled by non-humans. But are these governments any better than human ones?
xx. Basic Info .xx
Year: 2026
Country: America
State: Minnesota
County: Wonder County - undefined location in Minnesota
US President: Jocelyn Fielding
City: Wonder City - undefined location in Minnesota
City Population: Approx 15 million.
Ethnicities: Very multiracial and multicultural. ‘Non-human’ slaves make up nearly a quarter of the population. Middle-upper classes usually own a slave.
Climate: Continental climate (See below for notes on climate) – cold snowy winters, hot and often humid stormy summers.
xx. Climate/Geography
Wonder County exists in a continental climate, typical of the Midwestern United States. Winters are very cold, with the risk of blizzards and ice storms. Summers are hot and can be very humid; it is often wet and stormy during the summer time with a high occurrence of tornadic super cell thunderstorms. Tornado warning time is currently twenty minutes. There is a decent siren and media warning system.
The land is extremely fertile and green, and in the autumn/fall time people can expect to see the beautiful, dramatic changes in leaf colour. There are vast expanses of forests consisting mostly of pine and spruce, with a scattering of birch and poplar. There are a few low mountains, but nothing extreme, and a lot of lakes as there are in Minnesota in the real world. Wonder City is surrounded by multiple lakes, some of which run through the city. Wildflowers in the spring and early summer are simply stunning. Floods are common in summer and when the snows melt.
xx. Wildlife
This again is based on Minnesota with some additions. One can expect to hear the call of wolves at night, and run-ins with black bears in the forests are possible. Very occasionally, one can expect to encounter a grizzly bear, but they are uncommon. Moose, elk, caribou, deer and bison are the largest prey animals found here. Birds include red-tailed hawks, snowy owls, bald eagles, migratory geese and ducks, grouse, pheasants, turkeys, pigeons, sparrows, blackbirds, red-winged blackbirds, blue jays and cardinals. Smaller mammals such as pine martens, racoons, squirrels and bobcats are also common. Some of the common fish species include trout and walleye, as well as northern pike. Lately, a population of primates has moved into the forests from some other world. They almost resemble monkeys, but they thrive in the pine forests and have sets of retractable claws. They are omnivores, feeding on meat, insects and fruit.
Other than these animals, there is a numerous and healthy population of lizards, mosquitoes and many kinds of frogs, some unidentified by science. There are also small populations of what are likely dinosaurs, though none grow bigger than small dogs. Strange species are documented every week, many coming from other worlds. Feel free to invent some, as long as they fit with the ecosystems.
xx. Dimensional Hotspots
There are hot spots of energy where portals may open at any time. Most are watched and studied by scientists and the government. Some are unknown. Others appear at random times. You can have your character appear from a portal with or without a scientist/government group depending on what you want to happen.
xx. Wonder City
Wonder City is like any other city, although greener in some ways. It has a wonderful set of massive skyscrapers which are often adorned in greenery and solar panels. The roads are wide and large and there are trees wherever they can be grown. The affluent areas are clean, and the slums are not. Many non-human apartment complexes are in the slums. There are huge malls and big television screens in the central business district areas. It is a thriving metropolis designed so that people drive less and walk more; this means facilities are easy to get to and around every corner.
Driving out of the city, there are suburban sprawls and an industrial district. The industrial district is less smoggy than it would be if it existed in 2011. It employs a lot of green energies and efforts. The nicer suburbs take a lot of care in their appearance. There are two gated communities further out of the city. A church on every corner. Schools and large malls also play a big part in the suburban region.
Further outside of that, people have larger properties and farms. Many farmers keep slaves who can encourage plants to grow, control flooding with water magic or do heavy manual labour. Wind farms are a common sight. Most people grow corn, soya beans, green peas and sugar beets.
Wonder County and surrounding counties are also home to many small towns, two small Native American settlements and two towns which hide escaped slaves.
xx. Universities and Schools
There are a few Universities and plenty of schools. Feel free to elaborate and make up your own. Some slaves are allowed to attend if their masters send them there. Some schools deal primarily with non-humans. ‘Free’ non-humans may also attend some if they apply to the government. Segregation does occur. Non-human teachers are not allowed to teach humans, though this is slowly changing. Only universities can be mixed; all schools are segregated; elementary, middle and high schools are either human or non-human.
The government believes education is important; not only does it create skilled slaves, but it can be dangerous for some species not to learn to use their abilities (having untrained powers shut off permanently by the collar can also kill some). It is also an opportunity for the government to shove their ideologies and propaganda down their throats, as well as down the throats of humans. Of course, not all slaves are allowed to go to school.
xx. Slave services
Government slave and non-human processing centres are situated across the metro area and in some of the other towns. Most slaves are processed here. The centres contain holding cells, labs, computer systems, interrogation rooms and are also equipped to deal with those being put into quarantine upon arrival. The staff includes veterinarians and human doctors/nurses to deal with all species.
xx. Housing
Most houses are run on solar or other renewable energy since there may be long periods of cloud and snow.
Some areas are segregated; non-humans occupy one suburb and humans occupy another. Most of the time, non-human suburbs and districts are slummy. Other times, non-humans are permitted to live in the same neighbourhood as humans if it is safe for the non-human and the humans around. There are always stories in the newspaper and on A Current Affair about humans being scared of a completely harmless person with powers or whatever living next door to them, always hyped up for public consumption.
Some slaves live with their owners. Others live independently.
xx. Religion and places of worship
Currently, there are only human places of worship. The government does not give this spiritual necessity to religious non-humans, although they are always encouraged to go to human churches and assimilate despite the prejudices heaped upon them.
xx. Military
All military bases are outside town.
xx. Technology
Technology is not radically different, though it has evolved. Climate friendly technology and magic-operated technology is common. Cars cannot fly but many run on magic or renewable fuels. Coal is all but non-existent. Many slaves with energy or magic skills produce energy for people to live off. You may be creative with technology. Books which can be read in the bath and in iron ore mines/out in the bush without being ruined do exist – think about convenience and what sort of technology might have risen from that. Water proof books and newspapers. Video answering machines and phone in every household, even poorer ones (prices gone down). Virtual reality games (for people over 18 due to dangers). Medical changes and healers with magical abilities. New health fads and dietary advice – not all of it effective – remember that the media affects a lot of the way people react to things, the way it does nowadays. Hologram advertising in cities. Water proof computers. Very fancy TV and downloadable films/media and internet in the TV itself.
xx. Fashion
There are a lot of non-humans wandering around, slave and non-slave. Some have wings, some have tails. Others have spikes or scales. Expect there to be clothes and jewellery and adornments made specifically for wings and other 'oddities'. Tail 'bracelets', tail dye, scale shiner, wing dye and wing adornments, clothes with tail and wing and spike holes. Most human fashion is similar to today's; eclectic and constantly changing. A lot of slave owners like to put small baubles and trinkets on their slaves' collars.
xx. Media, TV etc
The media is just as prolific as today. They helped spread the word that humans were superior and non-humans were scary. TV is also still just as big. A lot of storylines challenge the leading ideology that non-humans are evil by making stories or films about their cause. The government may censor these, but it may not. People are often covert about reading these kinds of texts.
xx. Outside Wonder City and America
The same laws are consistent across the US and most other countries around the world. There are probably race wars being fought elsewhere. Perhaps a few countries are completely ruled by non-humans. But are these governments any better than human ones?