World Building Contest; Event 3

[cntrstrk14]

.: World Building Contest; Event 3 :.

 
Hello again NA!

If you are asking yourself what this thread is, go and check this thread out right here! For the rest of you, welcome to Event 3! This contest is going to be more like the first, since the first contest got a lot more entries than the second! However, I am going to add a few design constraints that you must work within.

Design Constraints:
- Must have a "synopsis" paragraph at the top. Think like a wiki page, where the first 3 sentences or so at the top of a page tell you the overview of what the page is about.
- I want an architectural, historical and geographical section for your submission. You may have more sections, but at least those three.
- This contest will end on May 13 at 11:59pm EST March 23 at 11:59pm EST.

General Rules:
- Post your submission in this thread.
- Do not post anything except submissions in this thread.
- Members may submit as many submissions as they want.
- All staff members may participate (except myself). 
- Prizes will only be given out if at least three (3) separate members submit.
- Other rules to be added as I see them needed.
- Don't worry about unknown things, information you are unsure of, etc. If there is a conflict with already existing stuff you can still win, but minor edits might be made before adding it to the world.
 

Reward: $80 to a character of your choice.

Goal: What is this place?

Discussion Thread: Right here!

[SamuraiBebop]

Ribaiasan (The Leviathan) 

 

It used to be a giant tower fortress built on a spire of rock, but when it was abandoned the tall structure collapsed. Now it is used as an arena for anyone who thinks they can fight, but it is most frequented by outlaws proving that they are the strongest. Even in the non-death matches though, there is no one to stop a fight, so any fight can turn into a life or death battle for anyone who enters. 

 

History

 

In a time long forgotten, before the ninja villages were formed, even before the nations of the world, Ribaiasan was built as an impenetrable fortress. It was created during a war over the land, by a powerful warlord who wanted to rule all. The man spared no expense in the designing and building. He was a warlord of great power, and when he had completed his conquest for land, he would rule from that keep. He wanted people to look upon the dark tower with fear and respect for him, and for his descendants to rule over his country from it. Except, he never saw it completed. He was killed in a battle far from his tower, and eventually the army who had constructed it was defeated horribly. It is said that secrets and treasure had been left somewhere within the tower. What exactly remains a mystery as the tales have fallen out of common knowledge. Even to this day, those secrets remain undiscovered, waiting for the curious explorer to find them. 

 

From that time the tower sat in the valley, hidden from passerbies by the trees and mist that sat around it. Occasionally, when it was discovered, it would be used as a base for new wars, with other armies, but it never saw a great battle. It never repelled more than a few squads of men. It sat, at a corner of the world, left to disappear. Even the amazingly strong stone that it was built from wouldn't stand the test of time forever without maintenance  and it started to show.. Eventually the  entire top of the building fell into the chasm below and the parts are still down there, amid the jagged rocks and bones of animals and men who met their fate at the bottom of the fall. 

 

Many years passed, before one who saw potential in the place found it. 

She was a missing-nin, fleeing south into the wilderness from the Iwagakure hunter ninja. She stumbled upon the tower and stayed there till she was safe. Eventually she lived there. She would occasionally steal elsewhere, looking for supplies, but she was always drawn back. Soon other weak missing-ninja found their way there. She didn't turn any away as long as they worked together. Eventually their group grew, and as it happens when enough criminals get together, they argued. One Suno missing-nin claimed that he was more fit to lead than she. They fought. 

When the dirt and sand settled, the female ninja stood victorious, but the inside walls of the fortress had been destroyed, leaving a circle surrounded by the outer wall. It was then that she realized what the place could be used for.

 

She started to spread world among the criminals of the world. Tournaments were held, bets would be made, people died. Ribaiasangēmuzu it became known as, The Leviathan Games. Missing ninja came from all around to test their strength against the Iwa ninja, or anyone else who was willing to fight. The woman who had founded the Games lived a long time and became rich and famous due to to the number of challengers who fell before her. She was defeated eventually, but her fate did not end there. Her opponent allowed her to live, as long as he became the master of the games. She accepted and left the old tower, a very rich woman. 

To this day there are still fights among the criminals of the world. They are used for sport, to settle disputes, or to try to fight the current champion: the Master of the Leviathan. Some just gather there to hide from the law or to watch the entertainment. It is a dangerous place to be, but if you can prove yourself in the arena, you will gain a certain respect in the ninja underworld.

Despite all of the visitors of the now-arena, none have discovered the secrets below the arena floor. 

 

Eventually a few rules were created for the games:

- Any who enter the ring can die, though it is found distasteful if it wasn't agreed upon beforehand, and the winner gets no winnings after it, only the glory of victory. 

    - If someone surrenders, however, they cannot be killed, or the murderer will suffer the same fate, and be thrown into the chasm surrounding the stadium.

- Only the number of agreed upon combatants are allowed in the ring, if any enter, they will be thrown out the first time, removed from Ribaiasan the second, and killed upon their third offense. 

- Any can challenge any fighter in the arena, though if the challenge can be denied, except by the Master of the Leviathan, who must always fight. 

- If you cannot back up a bet you made, you have to fight the person you cheated out of their money, or someone who represents them. A side, slightly unknown, rule of this is that the Master can be asked to fight for the cheated party, and unless they have recently fought, will step in. This is not necessarily to the death in any case, but that is usually the result. 

 

There are some smaller rules beyond these as well, but most fights are either fights till knockout, or occasionally, fights till death with no holds barred. 

 

 

Architecture

 

The base of the tower stands upon a tower of rock. Even though the base is the last thing to survive, it still stands almost a hundred feet tall around most of the perimeter. The diameter of the tower is about three hundred feet across. Inside of the circle, there is the arena floor, which is covered by rubble left over from the inner walls of the tower. Around this there are some stands as well as make-shift rooms. 

 

It is carved out of a black stone of unknown origins. The stone is thick and was strengthened by the original master with her earth jutsu. Even explosive jutsu have a hard time even chipping it. There are gargoyles on the outside, some are as old as the building, while others are newer. They are carved when a new Master arises and are there to remember those of the past. Some are built into the stone of the building, while others are on the shelves of rock that it sits on. 

 

Somewhere in the building, there is a staircase. This has yet to be discovered, but it descends down into the tower of rock. Where it leads to is a mystery. Finding it is a matter of luck by this point, as any writings on it were long destroyed. 

 

Geography

 

Ribaiasan is located west of the Rain Country, North of the Wind Country, and south of the Earth Country. It is in a mountainous region that is rarely traveled across due to treacherous mountain paths, and because of the lack of government or law in the area, an abundance of criminals. 

Despite this though, it resides in a forest valley in the mountains. The trees grow high here, so even in the day, the light is extremely dim. The area has much swamp land with many places having quick sand covered by water, making any form of ground travel extremely dangerous. The part of the forest that Ribaiasan is located is surrounded by these swamps, but not located in them. It is a rocky, almost island, spot of land that has a few trails leading to the fortress itself.

Once at the fortress, there is a small bridge of land over a deep chasm that on especially dark days, one cannot see the bottom. On the bottom, there are jagged rocks, and anyone who falls down there (except the most durable of ninja) will surely meet their doom if they cannot stop themselves. Due to the humidity of the place, the edges of the chasm are slick, so even trying to climb up them once you are down, is an almost impossible feat. 

Edited May 14, 2013 by SamuraiBebop

[Rhap Sodos]

Blah, meant to work on this more and give it buttloads of more details, but I've literally run out of time. =/

 

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Located deep within the forests of Hara no Kuni, the Stillshrine of Ibuuj is ancient resting place of the Five-Tailed Demon Kokuo. Having been built with and to contain great sources of chakra, the size of the building is oddly deceptive, with the shrine's rooms and the surrounding forests warped by the massive amounts of energy. Few who venture into the dark confines return unchanged.

 

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History:.

 

While the exact date of construction is unknown, the Stillshrine of Ibuuj traces it's earliest known history back to the time of the Rikudou Sennin and the creation of ninjutsu and chakra manipulation as we know it. When the Sage of Six Paths sacrificed himself in order to seal the great primordial beast known as the Ten-Tails, mankind quickly sought ways to control and use the nine chakra beasts he left in it's wake. While it is currently unknown if the temple existed before or if it was built specifically for the purpose it is most commonly known for, the Stillshrine of Ibuuj has been used for generations as a way of sealing the Five-Tailed Demon, either in it's natural form or within a Jinchuuriki host.

Even when the chakra monster is given a human host, the Stillshrine remains a powerful source of corrupted chakra. Strange beliefs surround the place and the beings that guard it. Most recently, this is location where Kinsen "Raz" Rasen and Cho Hakkai received the "Seal of the Gobi", infusing both of them with a portion of the Kokuo's power.

 

 

See: Hunt For The Stillshrine Of Ibuuj!

 

Architecture:

The Stillshrine of Ibuuj is a beautifully wrought temple suspended upon what appears to be endless pit of darkness. The inside is filled with simple rooms of study and worship, with a spiral staircase that runs up the inner wall to  lead to the upper levels. However, few ever witness the Stillshrine in it's natural form - the rooms have become infested with manevolment chakra bent to the will of the Gobi, which the tail beast uses to manipulate and corrupt anyone who angers it. Because of this, every person's experierence and memory of the place differs, with only a few knowing the true secret of it's designs.

 

Geography:

The Stillshrine of Ibuuj lies in the forest of Lorien, situated in the northeast corner of the Country of Crass. Originally known as the "Land of the Valley of Singing Gold", the landscape has slowly been changed overtime due to the presense of the Gobi and other manevelent chakra beings that been sealed within the Stillshrine. Trees grow close to each other with their branches intertwining, blocking out any natural light and leaving most of the forest in a perpetual darkness. The only exception to this is the area directly surrounding the Stillshrine and the great expanse it is built over. The forest is unnaturally quiet during the day, and the nighttime noises are far from natural. The flora and fauna have become dark and twisted by the corrupted chakra that lingers in the earth and air, and the place has become strictly offlimits by civilians or lower-ranking ninja. Despite the warnings against entry, people still do, though the number of those wh ohave netered and not returned is kept a national secret.

[cntrstrk14]

Opening this back up for those interested. This contest has been extended until March 28th and if people are interested I will start doing these every week or so again. The above two entries are still entered, but if you would like to update or change them please do so in the original post (SamuraiBebop/Rhap Sodos). Whatever is in your post at 11:59pm on March 28th will be what I look at.

[cntrstrk14]

Because I had a whim, I moved the due date for this from the 28th to the 23rd. Please submit your stuff over this weekend! Figured it only takes a few hours at most to throw something together, if not 15 minutes.

[Hardcore Skittlez]

Bishamonten no Butai | 毘沙門天の舞台| [bishamonten's Stage]

 

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Located approximately at the three-way border between Hi no Kuni, Hara no Kuni, and Ame no Kuni, Bishamonten's Stage is a relic of a time before the villages. Originally constructed as a large Colosseum, the "Stage" was meant to be a methods of settling territorial disputes between clans and showing off shinobi prowess to would-be clients. Since the adoption of the Shinobi Villages and the Kage-system, the facility is believed to have fallen into disuse and disrepair.

 

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Architecture

 

The Bishamonten's Stage was built as a large arena located upon a plateau in the midst of an impressive wide and deep ravine. Given its precarious position, the structure extends several stories into its foundation with "root"-like hallways branching out from a spiraling floors that narrow as the structure extends deeper into the plateau. When one initially enters the Stage, they would be faced with a hallway wide enough to fit clan processions and extends in a wide circle around the entirety of the complex. In this circular hall, there are a number of alcoves and stalls meant for various clans and non-shinobi businessmen to sell wares to feudal lords and the shinobi clans themselves; these stalls are located on the outer edge of the circle, while the inner leads into a series of stairs that would take a visitor into the stands that overlook the Arena itself. The Arena itself is an open 'field' approximately a kilometer in diameter and is overlooked by stone-hewn seating that is estimated to have been able to once have seated well over a thousand spectators. At the end of the Arena farthest from the Stage's entrance is a large doorway wrought with an iron portcullis. Behind this portcullis is a hallway that leads downward and into the Stage's deeper layers. On the first floor, there exists several rooms large enough to house the respective champions from each clan during their stays at the Arena, while the rest of their families were ushered away to dwell in off-site inns. Deeper yet, and down the spiraling levels of the Stage dwell a handful of large rooms meant to be training and/or dining halls for the shinobi competitors; these halls reside alongside a number of now-empty rooms that once served as armories and repositories for personal affects. The "Root-Halls" themselves remain mostly empty and devoid of subsidiary branches, save a large room at the end of each hall speculated to facilitate meditation and prayer in large groups. The very lowest level of the Stage's downward spiral ends in a large room, approximately half the size of the arena itself. In this room lies a large statue of the god Bishamonten constructed of various fine metals-- this room was believed to be the primary gathering hall for champions before large fights, wherein they would pray to Bishamonten in hopes that he would see justice in their clan's cause.

 

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History

 

Bishamonten's Stage is a structure once built by the combined effort of a number of Shinobi clans with the backing of several feudal lords. Its original purpose was simple: it was intended to be a way to circumvent large-scale battle between powerful shinobi clans that would threaten non-shinobi civilians and the integrity of the lands upon which they resided. For a time before the unification of the Shinobi Villages, the Stage saw a great deal of use as a means of settling territorial disputes and as a way to demonstrate a clan's power to potential clients. It was as much a battlefield as it was a market; several non-ninja merchants would set up shop during large events and sell their war-wears to the shinobi, while the Feudal Lords would observe prospective clans in action and work to outbid each other in utilizing the skills of each individual clan for whatever purposes. The Stage fell out of favor with the shinobi shortly before the founding of the villages, however, as clan rivalries boiled over and turned the arena itself into an actual battlefield. After dispute over the Stage had "resolved" and the shinobi had moved on, the Stage was rarely visited by anyone except worshipers of Bishamonten looking to find order in their lives and the chaotic world they lived in.

 

While the Stage was not used by any particular shinobi village during the early years of the villages, it was later briefly adopted by Kumogakure no Sato shortly after their blitzkrieg assault in a fashion similar to its original purpose. Freshly unified villages that had grown accustomed to being in a state of near-constant war had difficult times working together under the Empire's supervision-- so Bishamonten's Stage was adopted as an Arena for former-villages to vent their frustrations and still prove themselves better than each other. For Kumogakure, it was a two-part utility, as it both prevented aggression toward Kumogakure's Empire itself, but it also kept the former-villages working against each other to prevent stagnation. The facility was again quickly abandoned, however, as the Resistance movements used it to recruit patriotic shinobi and staged a pseudo-coup upon some of the visiting NCIA generals. While the coup itself failed, the arena and its stands were greatly damaged and Kumogakure did not want to risk pouring any further resources into a then-failed project.

 

After the Empire abandoned the Stage, small resistance cells began to use it as a de-facto hide-out given the fact that it was easily defensible when not used for staging gladiatorial fights and its size allowed guerrilla groups to hide effectively within its bowls. After the resistance had succeeded in liberating itself from NCIA rule, the Stage again fell into disuse to the knowledge of the major Shinobi villages, who were then more focused on rebuilding themselves than the upkeep of an unused relic. Unknown to the major villages, however, the Stage has recent become home to a number of unsavory figures, including a large number of missing-nin. For the same reason that the Resistance Shinobi once used the stage, modern missing-nin now find themselves often seeking sanctuary within the complex's numerous halls. It has, in the current age, become something of a village-away-from-the-villages. It has become a place where the lawless again find themselves under law, and where the lost go to stay. A sort of impromptu government has formed in the Stage based on the acquisition of currency-- the rich rule through a council of seven, while the poor simply reside there under the watch of stronger or more wealthy missing-nin.

 

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Geography

 

 

As previously described, Bishamonten's Stage resides upon a plateau in the midst of a large ravine/canyon. The area around it is heavily forested, as would be expected given its location between Amegakure, Kusagakure, and Konohagakure. The forest itself varies in density, allowing some areas to be brightly illuminated during the day, while others remain shrouded in darkness. Scattered around the ravine that houses Bishamonten's Stage are the remains of archaic taverns, where travelling daimyo and shinobi clans would stay during the events that were held at Bishamonten's Stage. Most of these buildings can be seen almost entirely deteriorating, while some others seem to have been periodically patched up by travelers looking for a cheap stay during their travel between major nations. The canyon that surrounds the Stage is filled with a thick and constant mist that is heavily laden with chakra, making it near-impossible to detect the strengths of any shinobi residing in the Stage itself. Additionally, the large concentration of loose chakra is known to give Sensor-nin migraines the closer they come to the mist itself, a sensation rumored to only alleviate itself once the shinobi in question has entered the thick walls of the Stage. 

[wolfnin]

|Ruins of Fort Hoakah|

 

 

Located on the southeaster edge of Rai No Kuni, the Ruins of Hoakah is a memoir of a village established before the formation of Kumogakure no Sato. Once considered a hub for fish market, trade, and a military fort, all that remains is ruins. A single statue stands at the edge of the cliff as a memoir to those who died and to commemorate the fallen fort of Hoakah. 

 

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Architecture

 

Though unclear, a study of the architecture dates back to a time well before the construction of Kumogakure no Sato. Although only rubble and shattered fragments is left of the fort, upon further investigation one can notice a stone wall which covers about 3 miles along the cost. When one enters the ruins through the singular remaining archway, they can find several broken down stone homes with iron or wooden doors still in tact. A 90 foot hole resides within the center of the ruins and within it a spiral wooden staircase and a pulley system in the middle, which for those who dare to venture, leads to an underground cavern that leads to the sea. At the southern-most edge of the ruins lays a 15 foot tall stone statue, with crypted engravings from top the bottom. At the base lies a double wooden door, what is nside remained sealed. 

 

 

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History

 

Although the exact origins of the former fort is unknown, its beginnings consisted as a religious sanctuary towards the lightning god Raijin. The geography, which placed it overlooking the sea, was thought to be an ideal place to worship the lightning god. Word spread from the pilgrimages and as warfare spread throughout the globe, the place of prayer was sought after by the area's Fuedal Lord. Unwilling to take it by force as to not cause an uproar, the lord allowed for the place to remain as a religious sanctuary while acting as a fortification for their soldiers. The lord's words were lost upon the following generations as the small prayer sanctuary became one of the many defense forts along the southern coast of Rai no Kuni. With the dawn of shinobi and the construction of Kumogakure No Sato, Fort Hoakah was sought after once more. In order to improve relations with Kirigakure no Sato, the fort was demilitarized and turned into a trading post. The discovery of a cavern and chakra, allowed for a spiral staircase and a pulley system to be build to allow for goods and materials to reach the ships. Due to deteriorating relationships between Kumo and Kiri, the trading post of Hoakah was bombarded by Kirigakure as an end to their trading agreement. Unable to respond in time, many of the forts along Rai no Kuni's borders were destroyed, many unable to be recognized. With Fort Hoakah being the few that remained standing, Kumogakure built a statue honoring the dead and within it locked away any objects or materials that survived the bombardment. 

 

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Geography

 

The ruins rest on a large cliff which overlook the sea between Rai no Kuni and Mizu no Kuni. Being near the oceans and at the edge of mountains, the ruins mainly consist of grasses and several types of shrubs. Several small trees can be found growing among the rubble. Various rock formations can be found within the ruins due to fallen buildings or the rocky terrain. The climate consist of mainly a constant cool air followed by a breeze coming from the sea. 

 

 

(I'd write more, but I'm exhausted and kind of fell asleep writing this xD.) 

 

[cntrstrk14]

Samurai Bebop (Ribaiasan [The Leviathan])
I like the concept, but it lacks an edge. There is nothing that really grabs me about this. I am not going to spend much time reviewing this though since you haven't logged on in over a year.
 
Rhap Sodos (Stillshrine of Ibuuj)
I really love that you tied this location into an already existing RP location. Providing a link to post where it occurred was also really helpful to setting up the tone. The overview sets this up as a very exciting location, tying it into a legendary beast and giving a good sense of tone. Your history is a bit weak. The temple itself is not really given any history relevance outside of what it is "now". The temple is the holding place for the beast, but what was it before? I feel like there is a story to tell there and it is not really being told. The beast being held in the temple is only "recent" history of this location. The Architecture was a little lackluster as well. I like that it is above a huge pit, but again it feels like it is not living up to the overview. You set it up as being oddly deceptive in size and warped, but then do not really elaborate on this in the architecture. Lastly, the Geography I feel like you hit out of the park. The forest around it warping to block out light and growing strangely sets it apart from the rest of the country and also explains the tone of the temple itself. I really like the idea and the valley name, good job.

Overview: 8/10

History: 5/10

Architecture: 5/10

Geography: 9/10

thepaintrolley (Bishamonten no Butai - Bishamoneten's Stage)
I like the history in this submission. The picture appears to be an ancient arena, something with a long history. Setting it relatively in the center of the continent and giving it some background like this sets it up well. Overall I love the early history, but tying it to Kumogakure Empire and the NCIA leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Not sure why they would bother with an arena in the middle of Kusagakure when they had NCIA installments in each village. Your architecture was very hit or miss. I like the "root" idea of it being built into it, but your sense of scale really broke my immersion while reading. A kilometer in diameter and able to hold over a thousand people? You could made a single file line of people with a meter in between them to go from one end to the other of the stage floor, of course it sat over a thousand people. It would likely sit nearly a million people if it had multiple layers. Aside that though I did like it, the idea of sub chambers built further into the ground was very interesting. The geography is good as well, explaining its precarious placement. Something about a ravine below doesn't feel right to me however, based on the color and tone of the picture I imagine it being very silent and still. Rushing water doesn't seem to jive with the tone, at least not for me. Overall great job.

Overview: 8/10

History: 7/10

Architecture: 7/10

Geography: 7/10

wolfnin (Ruins of Fort Hoakah)
I'm not sure if it was unclear, but your inclusion of your own picture makes me think that you did not really understand that you were suppose to use the given picture as a launching point. Given that a lot of the rest of your submission is good, but describing something on a coast and not really fitting with the center of a foggy forest style that the picture implies I can only assume that the point was missed. Though I do enjoy your submission, it does not fit with the constraints of this contest and unfortunately put you out of the running. That being said, I do like the detail you put into the architecture of the space. It gives a lot of information for a GM to have fun with characters, but is not constraining so that they can be allowed to use the space how they like. The history and specifically the pulley system sound like interesting landmarks to be used in RP as well. Good job overall, this could definitely be used in the future for something cool.

 

 

~Final Results~

 

Once again we have two winners for the event!

 

Rhap Sodos

thepaintrolley

 

I really enjoys separate portions of the work the two of you did. The short version: I like the Geography and "Current" history from Rhap Sodos' submission and I like the Architecture and "Past" history of thepaintrolley's submission. You both did an excellent job on your submissions so I am going to give you both the full reward for the contest. You both get $80 to the character of your choice! Congratulations!