Soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62jdo2ogkiU
Spoiler! :
The Dust City
The Dust City is a strange place,an almost infinite city of of wonders and of horrors. It is incorporeal, yet corporeal at the same time. And it is where the dreams of all the people in cities around the world coalesce into one place. There are so many places to see in the Dust City created from people's dreams, so the sky's the limit when making up places.
The Upper Metropolis:
In the higher regions of the Dust City, (amongst skyscrapers or other floating buildings.) live the Vapours, who have grown extremely powerful during their existence, able to afford the most extravagant and strange homes, food, and weapons. They are extremely vain, calling their home, 'The Upper Metropolis' and consider anyone who lives in the lower regions of the city, much poorer and socially inferior than them. They enjoy making expeditions out into the Titans Plain, as explained below.
The Vapour-Folk generally take the form of elemental gases, which may or may not resemble a humanoid. They could appear as huge masked heads, strange ethereal monsters, whirlwinds of pure energy, or most other things. Sometimes they might wear extravagant armour, or clothes. When travelling they coalesce into a huge mass of smoke, known as a Cloudmind, which combines all of their thoughts and feelings.
They are made up of seven great 'Houses' which all have their own ideologies, and image.
The Titans Plain
A desolate area outside of the main city , with large stretches of pure grassland and little habitation other than poor Dreamfolk villages. The plain is populated by the Titans. Ancient species of Dreamfolk believed to be remnants of the a long lost history of the Dust City. The titans are usually tremendously big, humanoid beings. They may look like gargantuan robots, beings made of wood and branches, or purely from gases. The ruins of Titan's corpses can be found around the plain, which some Dreamfolk have made homes in.
Vapour-folk Houses who can afford an expedition travel out into the plain within a Cloudmind, and possess the Titans, putting them under their control, so they can roam the plains and see things through the Titan's eyes. A Titan's eyes generally change colour in order to match the colour of the House of whom they are under control. The Vapour-Folk generally compete with each other in order to see who can gain control of the most Titans. .
The Blossom Wood:
A wood which is close to the edge of the Titan's Plain, made up of thousands of cherry blossom trees, and many levels of ground linked by wooden bridges, and covered with roses. It is represents the beauty of nature and natural things in the world, majorly falling in love with another person, each blossom represents a relationship in the real world, but falls should that relationship be broken up. Fallen blossom coalesces into a playful, joyful type of Dreamfolk who are made entirely out of blossom, and when they feel ready enough, they spread themselves onto other trees, and new relationships are made.
Some people believe that strange flickering shadows can be seen roaming the forest, the reflections of couples in love.
The Shadow Chasm:
The Chasm was created from the universal dream that people have of falling endlessly into a deep hole. The Chasm is exactly that, a massive pit which moves around the Dust City. Should someone fall into the Chasm, if they are skilled enough to visualise where they want to go, they will be able to reappear out of another sinkhole in the Dust City, which could be anywhere.
Random objects of all descriptions may be seen in the chasm, in constant state of falling. The Chasm can shift it's appearance once someone is inside as well. Think 'The Rabbit Hole' from Alice in Wonderland.
The Star Clock
In the skies above the Dust City, there is a huge mechanical clock made from silver. It appears to have power over the entire Dust City, and when it reaches six hours it sends out a wave of energy that carries the Dreamfolk back to their homes. Some people believe it is a ancient being, some people believe it is just a clock. It is populated by a group of Dreamfolk, called the Timeguards, small metal spiders who appear to maintain the clock and keep it safe.
The Glass District
An area of the city, named such because it is constructed purely out of of a shining white stone and glass, also named because it has become a place where people have nothing to hide. It is a black market of sorts, where Dreamfolk come from all around the Dust City to sell wares and materials from the real, and the dreamlike worlds. Many wonders can be found there, and can be sold for all manner of prices.
It is populated mainly by a type of Dreamfolk who are made from various materials such as metal, glass, or stone. But there are also a mysterious Dreamfolk held in much higher esteem than the rest of the population, called the Glassguards, who conceal their faces with White Cloaks. Should there be any trouble in the marketplace, the Elders will move in and sort the problem out. Nobody wants that.
The Kaleidoscope Realm:
One of the most beautiful places in the Dust City. Where the dreams of Artists and Musicians converge into one place, for this reason it is a favourite haunt of rich tourists from the real world.
It is set out like a tremendous chequerboard, that stretches out almost as far as the eye can see, with each square set in a different colour. However, the realm is constantly changing, which makes for some interesting situations. Buildings of all manner of architecture spring up from the ground, and then collapse once again, the squares shift into different patterns and artwork, and the realm is populated by Dreamfolk known as the Ethereals. The Ethereals are silent, usually very regal and arrogant, and only communicate in the Music that they play, each Ethereal having it's own sound. They wander the Realm seemingly aimlessly, most can drift through the air, and they constantly make their music. Except they can certainly be reasoned with, and understood if you know how.
The Dreadmill
A tremendous and unknown mechanical pyramid, which constantly moves around the Dust City on a massive treadmill. It is controlled and manipulated by a excessively violent, armoured creature, who is greatly respected and feared by everyone from the Metropolis Houses to the Lucids and the Impalpables for his tendency to burst upon any conflict he comes across, and quite simply cause havoc. There are tales however, of him being a much kinder and friendlier creature than people realize, but few have been brave enough to find out.
NPCs
Can be used by anyone!
Lanternhead
A Dreamfolk of the Glass District; an independent smuggler, and weaponry dealer. He is however, a fairly nervous, paranoid, and thoughtful person. He is named after his appearance, being entirely constructed out of glass, and his tendency to light up when he is excited or nervous. He likes wearing trenchcoats and hunting hats.
Moog
Moog is an unusual being, made from millions of tiny white cubes, which almost look like pixels. He can change into any imaginable shape, the cubes forming the shape, and moves almost like a liquid. He resides in a building much like himself, a shifting, pixel-like place. There, he offers his services as a spy around the Dust City, and is highly regarded, considering he can move into most places, being made out of cubes.
Jasmine Mallinson
A twenty year old, Gifted girl, from North London, studying Art and Design. Jasmine has the ability to adsorb herself into her own shadow, and then travel within it, which enables her to get almost anywhere when she is a shadow. She is pretty and dark haired, but is also fairly snarky and irritable around most people.
Emma Devierre
Emma is twenty six years old Gifted girl, and Dutch, currently based in Switzerland. She is a respected journalist, and writes travel columns for her local newspaper, inspired by her ventures into the Dust City. She is also Gifted and controls fire, suitable considering her red hair. Some people consider her fairly eccentric, and it's true she is fairly socially awkward and comfortable in her own little world.
Malakai Imari
Malakai is a Kenyan sixteen year old, living in Nairobi, where his father works as a lawyer. Malakai is a keen sportsman, and suitably his Gifted power is being able to adsorb kinetic energy to move incredibly fast around the Dust City and to gain powerful strength. He has a mechanical locket which he wears around his neck, which he can spin, and is his main source of energy. He is kind and thoughtful and tries to see the best in everyone, which sometimes comes to his disadvantage. He is also a practising Christian, taking after his mother.
Eddie Gray
Eddie is a Lucid, in his mid thirties, and lives on a farm in Alaska. He started isolating himself from the world, when his wife became an Impalpable, and tried to make him join them. He refused, so he is now constantly under attack from Impalpables who learned that Eddie's wife had told him much of their organisation. He is a skilled trapper and hunter, so he has managed to drive most of them off, and kill many who go after him. The Dust City is his escape from the painful reality which he lives through every day.
The Dust City is a strange place,an almost infinite city of of wonders and of horrors. It is incorporeal, yet corporeal at the same time. And it is where the dreams of all the people in cities around the world coalesce into one place. There are so many places to see in the Dust City created from people's dreams, so the sky's the limit when making up places.
The Upper Metropolis:
In the higher regions of the Dust City, (amongst skyscrapers or other floating buildings.) live the Vapours, who have grown extremely powerful during their existence, able to afford the most extravagant and strange homes, food, and weapons. They are extremely vain, calling their home, 'The Upper Metropolis' and consider anyone who lives in the lower regions of the city, much poorer and socially inferior than them. They enjoy making expeditions out into the Titans Plain, as explained below.
The Vapour-Folk generally take the form of elemental gases, which may or may not resemble a humanoid. They could appear as huge masked heads, strange ethereal monsters, whirlwinds of pure energy, or most other things. Sometimes they might wear extravagant armour, or clothes. When travelling they coalesce into a huge mass of smoke, known as a Cloudmind, which combines all of their thoughts and feelings.
They are made up of seven great 'Houses' which all have their own ideologies, and image.
The Titans Plain
A desolate area outside of the main city , with large stretches of pure grassland and little habitation other than poor Dreamfolk villages. The plain is populated by the Titans. Ancient species of Dreamfolk believed to be remnants of the a long lost history of the Dust City. The titans are usually tremendously big, humanoid beings. They may look like gargantuan robots, beings made of wood and branches, or purely from gases. The ruins of Titan's corpses can be found around the plain, which some Dreamfolk have made homes in.
Vapour-folk Houses who can afford an expedition travel out into the plain within a Cloudmind, and possess the Titans, putting them under their control, so they can roam the plains and see things through the Titan's eyes. A Titan's eyes generally change colour in order to match the colour of the House of whom they are under control. The Vapour-Folk generally compete with each other in order to see who can gain control of the most Titans. .
The Blossom Wood:
A wood which is close to the edge of the Titan's Plain, made up of thousands of cherry blossom trees, and many levels of ground linked by wooden bridges, and covered with roses. It is represents the beauty of nature and natural things in the world, majorly falling in love with another person, each blossom represents a relationship in the real world, but falls should that relationship be broken up. Fallen blossom coalesces into a playful, joyful type of Dreamfolk who are made entirely out of blossom, and when they feel ready enough, they spread themselves onto other trees, and new relationships are made.
Some people believe that strange flickering shadows can be seen roaming the forest, the reflections of couples in love.
The Shadow Chasm:
The Chasm was created from the universal dream that people have of falling endlessly into a deep hole. The Chasm is exactly that, a massive pit which moves around the Dust City. Should someone fall into the Chasm, if they are skilled enough to visualise where they want to go, they will be able to reappear out of another sinkhole in the Dust City, which could be anywhere.
Random objects of all descriptions may be seen in the chasm, in constant state of falling. The Chasm can shift it's appearance once someone is inside as well. Think 'The Rabbit Hole' from Alice in Wonderland.
The Star Clock
In the skies above the Dust City, there is a huge mechanical clock made from silver. It appears to have power over the entire Dust City, and when it reaches six hours it sends out a wave of energy that carries the Dreamfolk back to their homes. Some people believe it is a ancient being, some people believe it is just a clock. It is populated by a group of Dreamfolk, called the Timeguards, small metal spiders who appear to maintain the clock and keep it safe.
The Glass District
An area of the city, named such because it is constructed purely out of of a shining white stone and glass, also named because it has become a place where people have nothing to hide. It is a black market of sorts, where Dreamfolk come from all around the Dust City to sell wares and materials from the real, and the dreamlike worlds. Many wonders can be found there, and can be sold for all manner of prices.
It is populated mainly by a type of Dreamfolk who are made from various materials such as metal, glass, or stone. But there are also a mysterious Dreamfolk held in much higher esteem than the rest of the population, called the Glassguards, who conceal their faces with White Cloaks. Should there be any trouble in the marketplace, the Elders will move in and sort the problem out. Nobody wants that.
The Kaleidoscope Realm:
One of the most beautiful places in the Dust City. Where the dreams of Artists and Musicians converge into one place, for this reason it is a favourite haunt of rich tourists from the real world.
It is set out like a tremendous chequerboard, that stretches out almost as far as the eye can see, with each square set in a different colour. However, the realm is constantly changing, which makes for some interesting situations. Buildings of all manner of architecture spring up from the ground, and then collapse once again, the squares shift into different patterns and artwork, and the realm is populated by Dreamfolk known as the Ethereals. The Ethereals are silent, usually very regal and arrogant, and only communicate in the Music that they play, each Ethereal having it's own sound. They wander the Realm seemingly aimlessly, most can drift through the air, and they constantly make their music. Except they can certainly be reasoned with, and understood if you know how.
The Dreadmill
A tremendous and unknown mechanical pyramid, which constantly moves around the Dust City on a massive treadmill. It is controlled and manipulated by a excessively violent, armoured creature, who is greatly respected and feared by everyone from the Metropolis Houses to the Lucids and the Impalpables for his tendency to burst upon any conflict he comes across, and quite simply cause havoc. There are tales however, of him being a much kinder and friendlier creature than people realize, but few have been brave enough to find out.
NPCs
Can be used by anyone!
Lanternhead
A Dreamfolk of the Glass District; an independent smuggler, and weaponry dealer. He is however, a fairly nervous, paranoid, and thoughtful person. He is named after his appearance, being entirely constructed out of glass, and his tendency to light up when he is excited or nervous. He likes wearing trenchcoats and hunting hats.
Moog
Moog is an unusual being, made from millions of tiny white cubes, which almost look like pixels. He can change into any imaginable shape, the cubes forming the shape, and moves almost like a liquid. He resides in a building much like himself, a shifting, pixel-like place. There, he offers his services as a spy around the Dust City, and is highly regarded, considering he can move into most places, being made out of cubes.
Jasmine Mallinson
A twenty year old, Gifted girl, from North London, studying Art and Design. Jasmine has the ability to adsorb herself into her own shadow, and then travel within it, which enables her to get almost anywhere when she is a shadow. She is pretty and dark haired, but is also fairly snarky and irritable around most people.
Emma Devierre
Emma is twenty six years old Gifted girl, and Dutch, currently based in Switzerland. She is a respected journalist, and writes travel columns for her local newspaper, inspired by her ventures into the Dust City. She is also Gifted and controls fire, suitable considering her red hair. Some people consider her fairly eccentric, and it's true she is fairly socially awkward and comfortable in her own little world.
Malakai Imari
Malakai is a Kenyan sixteen year old, living in Nairobi, where his father works as a lawyer. Malakai is a keen sportsman, and suitably his Gifted power is being able to adsorb kinetic energy to move incredibly fast around the Dust City and to gain powerful strength. He has a mechanical locket which he wears around his neck, which he can spin, and is his main source of energy. He is kind and thoughtful and tries to see the best in everyone, which sometimes comes to his disadvantage. He is also a practising Christian, taking after his mother.
Eddie Gray
Eddie is a Lucid, in his mid thirties, and lives on a farm in Alaska. He started isolating himself from the world, when his wife became an Impalpable, and tried to make him join them. He refused, so he is now constantly under attack from Impalpables who learned that Eddie's wife had told him much of their organisation. He is a skilled trapper and hunter, so he has managed to drive most of them off, and kill many who go after him. The Dust City is his escape from the painful reality which he lives through every day.
Spoiler! :
Lucids:
The Lucids are people in the real world, who found out at a late or early age that they were able to find their way to the Dust City by having a certain Lucid Dream which was important to them. They have no abilities to control the Dust City like The Gifted,
but they often understand the city well and how it works. The most skilled, can enter the Dust City, find someone else's dream, enter it, then reappear at wherever that person may be in the real world, but this is difficult.
The Lucids are people in the real world, who found out at a late or early age that they were able to find their way to the Dust City by having a certain Lucid Dream which was important to them. They have no abilities to control the Dust City like The Gifted,
but they often understand the city well and how it works. The most skilled, can enter the Dust City, find someone else's dream, enter it, then reappear at wherever that person may be in the real world, but this is difficult.
Spoiler! :
The Gifted
The Gifted are like the Lucids, in that they can enter the Dust City at will, but they are able to manipulate this dream world in certain uncanny ways. They are normal human beings, yet they gain certain powers when they enter the City, like Flight,
Teleportation, Telekinesis, Strength,Elemental Powers, (Almost anything.) And they are able to jump into someone else's dream and find a way to the Dust City there.
They are often strange, eccentric, disturbed, or confused people, and are often less in control of themselves than Lucids
[spoiler]Dreamfolk
Abstract beings created by other people's dreams,
who aren't human but can look like anything you imagine. They are created within a certain 'area' in the Dust City and are confined their during the nighttime, when people begin to dream. However they are free to roam throughout the Dust City during the daytime.
They usually are able to manipulate their area in minor ways.
The Gifted are like the Lucids, in that they can enter the Dust City at will, but they are able to manipulate this dream world in certain uncanny ways. They are normal human beings, yet they gain certain powers when they enter the City, like Flight,
Teleportation, Telekinesis, Strength,Elemental Powers, (Almost anything.) And they are able to jump into someone else's dream and find a way to the Dust City there.
They are often strange, eccentric, disturbed, or confused people, and are often less in control of themselves than Lucids
[spoiler]Dreamfolk
Abstract beings created by other people's dreams,
who aren't human but can look like anything you imagine. They are created within a certain 'area' in the Dust City and are confined their during the nighttime, when people begin to dream. However they are free to roam throughout the Dust City during the daytime.
They usually are able to manipulate their area in minor ways.
Spoiler! :
The Impalpables
An evil group of human people, who walk the line between the Dust City and the real world.
They attack and capture Lucids and inject them with a drug known as The Red Liquid which causes them to jump into the Lucid's dream and to trap the Lucid in their dream forever. They then use unknown technology to give non Lucid rich people in the real world a chance to enter the Dust City through these Lucids and see its wonders.
Some Lucids are extremely skilled in hiding and able to defend themselves, so most Impalpables are highly trained in some skill, which may include hacking, martial arts, engineering, or gymnastics. They also have an almost magnetic link to the Red Liquid, and can teleport to wherever there may be a high concentration of the drug, including inside a Lucid's mind.
They are led by an unknown figure named Mr Crow, who some say made The Red Liquid, and is one of the most powerful Gifted who ever lived, able to create and destroy dreams. It is said that there is another with powers similar to his.
An evil group of human people, who walk the line between the Dust City and the real world.
They attack and capture Lucids and inject them with a drug known as The Red Liquid which causes them to jump into the Lucid's dream and to trap the Lucid in their dream forever. They then use unknown technology to give non Lucid rich people in the real world a chance to enter the Dust City through these Lucids and see its wonders.
Some Lucids are extremely skilled in hiding and able to defend themselves, so most Impalpables are highly trained in some skill, which may include hacking, martial arts, engineering, or gymnastics. They also have an almost magnetic link to the Red Liquid, and can teleport to wherever there may be a high concentration of the drug, including inside a Lucid's mind.
They are led by an unknown figure named Mr Crow, who some say made The Red Liquid, and is one of the most powerful Gifted who ever lived, able to create and destroy dreams. It is said that there is another with powers similar to his.
This is obviously a contemporary fantasy Storybook, but you are free to write in whatever fashion you may like. We could have some action, romance, frightening parts, characters exploring their own minds, etc.
Character Template:
Name:
Age:
Character Type (Lucid, Gifted, Dreamfolk, Impalpable, rich person, ordinary person.):
Their city of residence:
How they enter the Dust City:
Powers (If any):
Skills (If any):
Appearance:
Personality:
History:
Other:
Gender:
Points: 128
Reviews: 31