by M. J Kreyzer
As the years went by, Styne's demonically oriented roots became an afterthought as it would eventually become a populous and diverse society. Its importance as the epicenter of military development would not be completely realized until the Durant Revolution where it, along with Kyrsec, would be used as launching points for attacks on Durant bases in Marsecta, most notably Olsgrad, thus crippling the Darks resistance and effectively ending the Durant Revolution.
Antegra
As of 265 M.I, Antegra is a city with a small population. One fourth of the city is inhabitable while the remaining three fourths of the city remains under construction. Built upon one of the largest Furian Plasma shelves in the world, Antegra lies at the bottom of the Carpathic ocean approximately nine hundred miles off of the coast of Brún. According to plan, upon the completion of New Atlantis, the Transnational Highway 75 will extend out from Valhalla and pass through Antegra, thus annexing the freeway to Brún and making TH-75 extend three fourths of the way around Havok, stretching from Kyrsec and ending in Diamide.
Brún
Established in 492 by a fledging group of humans, Brún grew into a large, coastal city that eventually became one of the most hotly contested settlements along Arctanica's eastern seaboard. Primarily a human civilization, they began seeing a light influx of Vampires and Werewolves at the end of the 8th Century seeking a home more plentiful and less hostile than northern Elvytica where they had come from. With them, of course, came the war that had been sparked by the racial conflicts provoked by Syn Vyna. (Vyna herself would not relocate to Brún until 1st Century M.I.)
Another one of the primary reasons for the vampire and Vampire immigration to Brún was the stranglehold on society held by the Arctanican Empire. Any city, town or humble civilization that resided within the boundaries of the Arctanican Conquest would suffer greatly at the tyrannical hands of the Arctanicans. As such, any non-Arctanican with the means and the chance to flee the massive country did so. With Brún being established prior to their migration, it seemed like a logical destination.
Following the departure of Benedict Solago in 1304 M.E, the human population began to dwindle as they began their migration to the newly discovered continent of Solara. At this point, the culture of Brún became polarized between the dark, passive aggressive sensibilities of the Vampires and the harder, harsher preferences of the Werewolves.
With the War of the Covenant largely shaping Brún's social and political structures, Brún would be a city with a split personality, torn between the cultures of both the Werewolves and the Vampires. Under the rule of the Vyna Coven and the Granlow Organization, Brún became corrupt in its socioeconomic structuring, the consequent warped views giving birth to a thriving casino industry that surpassed even that of Leramato. Following the deaths of Syn Vyna and Carnway Granlow, the violent turbulence that had plagued Brún for nearly a thousand years reached its end as a result of the truce agreed upon by Vyvyr Syvyr and Pontious Granlow.
After the foundation of the Union, Brún became its political capitol and the designated capitol of Havok.
Andor
The existence of Andor, referred to in the Rune as the Holy City of Andor, remains in fierce dispute between historians and archaeologists alike. Said to be the capital of the Autocthonid empire, no evidence of its existence other than two separate Rune passages has ever been found. More recently, before the fall the Republican Union of Relias, archaeologists unearthed stone tablets in the northern Pretoratan written in old Deche. In them, a 'warm, crystalline' city is described. And though briefly, the tablets reference this unnamed city as being the gateway to Heaven, an assertion congruent with those made in the Rune. Due to its lack of evidence, Andor is considered most likely a fictional city invented by first and second century Durant philosophers as a verbal pictorial of man's passage to the beyond.
Chydea
Built in the treetops of the Popus Trees growing from the three-hundred foot depths of the Tarmis Straight, Chydea has a natural aesthetic appealing to environmentalists and naturalists alike. Being a large town, Chydea has very few man-made structures. Rather, the majority of its structures are carved into the massive trees themselves. After a new structure is carved, the tree is put through the process of Metallic Fossilization, at which point it is furnished and put into immediate use. Because of this relatively quick and easy process, homes and buildings can be elaborately carved and decorated, with many of the buildings in Chydea standing as habitable works of art.
Its infrastructure is complex and exists on three primary levels. (Building codes specify that entrances to buildings be built at certain levels as to be compatible with this universal roadway.) The road then winds through the trees which also serve as its suspension.
The culture of Chydea is based solely around environmentalism. It is the epitome of self-sufficiency as all the food required by its citizenry can be taken from the forest that surrounds them or the animal life that swims beneath them. It maintains a blissful separation from the society while rejecting absolutely anything that goes against nature.
Pravlok
Located in a dark, secluded valley deep within the Sestik Mountains, Pravlok is a town largely ignored by the Commune. As they see it, the price of keeping such a town under their control would prove more expensive than its ultimately worth. As such, Pravlok is one of the few towns on Havok that remains free of the Commune's influence.
Established towards 18th Century M.E, Pravlok was established as an attempt to open up a new trade route and, subsequently, a new market. However, the incredible danger inherent with the navigation of the Sestik Valleys proved to be the endeavor's ultimate demise. The four families who attempted to establish the new market, instead of returning to Praemon where they had originated, remained in the Sestiks and started a new town. Over the course of three hundred years, Pravlok expanded into a moderately sized though tightly knit community. Living off the earth, the citizens of Pravlok became well suited to their surroundings. As a result, the culture became one based around modernized hunting and gathering, the hunters becoming lethal with carnivorous Quos and Sestik Razorbacks being their prey while gatherers were forced to be adept in their agility and stealth.
The citizens of Pravlok have pagan beliefs and are suspicious of any other contradictory beliefs. But while they disapprove of other belief systems, they are willing to forgive those facts should the holders of those beliefs possess anti-Communal sentiments.
The general consensus among the citizens of Pravlok is that any attempt at domineering another intelligent being is an abomination, and being free of the effects that the Commune-sponsored media has on the world, Pravlok is able to see the Commune for what it actually is. However, as opposed to the aggressive, rebellious mindsets of the Darks and the Enforcers, Pravlians feel resistance is futile and that opposition will result in the loss of much and the gain of little. So, with that belief kept firmly in mind, Pravlok remains separate from the commune, relying on its self-sufficiency and settling on the fact that their mundane, gritty, tasking existence is an acceptable fact of life.
From one end to the other, Pravlok is a half-mile in length. Surrounded by tall walls constructed of trees and mortar, Pravlok is shielded from ground attacks while a network of four anti-air cannons protect against airborne Razorback attacks. Its architecture is less refined than that of the 'civilized' world as they are forced to use what materials they can for construction. With survival being such a dominating task, Pravlians have little attention to give to aesthetics.
The Argintic Front
Located in northern Solara, The Argintic Front is comprised of three Primary settlements: Desden, Breckinridge, and Brackis. Between the three, the Argintic Front is entirely self-sufficient. Desden is a mining community, Breckinridge a farming community supplying fresh produce and Brackis raising livestock. It would stand as one of the last regions of Havok to be annexed into the Republican Union of Relias following the death of Daniel Ratigan at the hands of Nathan He
ndrick and the eventual defeat of the Dakuya forces who locked him away to die as a result of his killing their leader. The Union armies, led by Luke Semprys, would claim the Argintic Front and secure the Union in 235 M.I.
Desden
Being built along another, smaller trade route along the Argintic Mountains in early 1812 M.E, Desden was the first of several towns to be built along it. Built along the slopes of the Argintics, Desden was a mining community, the materials it produced being valuable in trade, this trade traveling south along this trade route where it intersected at the Praemon Crossroads.
With the discovery of Eternium (as impure as it was that close to the surface) a large amount of people looking to get rich quick relocated themselves to Desden, causing it to boom over the next fifty years. Between 77 M.I. and 116 M.I, Eternium was the most valuable commodity on the planet. However, as the technology did not exist to reshape and repurpose the metal, its value plummeted and Desden's economy slowly withered.
With the 451's emerging as an influential force not only socially but politically, Desden began to flounder. As a result of the 451's, Desden and its neighboring town Breckinridge would become virtually lawless societies operating at the mercy of the 451's.
At the beginning of the year 229 M.I, the Relias Wars crossed onto Desden's doorstep. As opposition to the Allied armies of Peter Scarsborough faltered, an aggressive land grab took place and the Argintic Front, due to its mining operations and sprawling farms, was considered crucial for their continued operation. However, after the release of Nathan Hendrick from a Desden insane asylum and the subsequent assembly of the Helldogs, the assault was repelled and Desden was saved from the controlling influences of the anti-Relias, pro-anarchist forces. Desden, though, proved to be a major casualty of the war and was reduced to ruins. Nathan Hendrick, though, was viewed to be a savior in the eyes of the people inhabiting the towns and farms along the Argintic Front. (These views were held in spite of Hendrick's history as the infamous 'Hendrick the Helldog'.) No more than a couple months later did Hendrick and his newly assembled Helldogs go to war with and forcibly dismantle the 451's.
Mining operations within the caverns located just above Desden resumed. The ruins, though, remained, as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who died to protect Desden. Subconsciously, though, it symbolized the animosity held by the inhabitants along the Argintic front aimed squarely at the Union. The destruction of Desden was seen as the incarnate hypocrisy on part of the Union as it was apparent that Desden and all towns along the Argintic Front were viewed as being unimportant in the eyes of the Allied forces. As such, the remaining cities turned to Nathan Hendrick for leadership, electing their own leaders within a year while Hendrick would consort himself to Brackis where he would be elected mayor.
Breckinridge
Established just one year later than Desden in 1813 M.E, Breckinridge was chosen due to its vast abundance in fertile land and became a vast farming community. It produced the bulk of fresh produce available along the Argintic Front.
Brackis
Located on the far eastern end of the Argintic Front and resting in the Argintic Foothills, Brackis was responsible for raising the livestock for distribution between Desden and Breckinridge. Established the same year as Breckinridge in 1813 M.E, Brackis would remain untouched by undesirable influences that plagued Desden and Breckinridge. That would be until the end of 232 M.I when the Dakuya would enter Brackis, oust its Mayor, Nathan Hendrick, and assume control.
During this time, the Dakuya resumed its trade with areas beyond the Argintic Front, imposing astronomical taxes on the citizens of Brackis as well as Desden and Breckinridge and using it fund their international crime syndicate. This move being part of a broader strategy on part of the Dakuya, was led by Boss Daniel Ratigan, a direct subsidiary of Vladmir Frenz.
After several years of guerrilla warfare between the Dakuya and the Helldogs, Boss Daniel Ratigan would eventually die at the hands of Nathan Hendrick. The victory being anything but absolute, the residual Dakuya forces would lock Hendrick away in a secluded cellar, leaving him to die. Their rule beyond the death of Boss Ratigan was short lived, as word of Hendrick and the Helldogs had reached Luke Semprys, who led the Union armies into the Argintic region, ousted the Dakuya, and returned control to the people of the Argintic Front. Brackis would return to its roots as a farming community and would remain unaffected by the rise of the Commune.
Pardene
A coastal city located along the Gulf of Aliya, Pardene was built as a port for vessels that fished the Gulf of Aliya. It would gain historical renown as being the home of Philip Carver, author of Transcendence and the Enigma of the Aliyan Isles.
Korwood
Though it was founded by humans in 1175 M.E, Korwood would gain a prominent and religious Durant population. It would be destroyed in 16th Century M.I by a Purist army under the leadership of Vladmir Frenz.
Transnational Highway 75
The super freeway that spans northern Solara from coast to coast, the transnational highway circumvents the Byfayne mountains to the south, eventually intersecting the freeway built upon the remnants of the North Santarian Trade route between Praemon and Leramato at which point the old route becomes a part of TH-75. TH-75 begins in Valhalla and ends in Kyrsec.
Kyrsec
A large port city on the east coast of Solara through which the vast majority of trade with Marsecta and Arctanica travels. Being primarily industrial, Kyrsec is home primarily to dock and factory workers plus all the workers necessary to sustain a medium sized city as Kyrsec.
Kyrsec, by modern standards, is an old city that has placed little emphasis on modernizing itself, being content with its humble, small town aesthetic while being populated by hard-working people leading humble lifestyles.
Languages
Worldsake
Worldsake was the world's first language, finding its origins with the Autocthonids. It would serve as the basis for the vast majority of Havok's modern languages.
Deche (pronounced Day-Chay)
The first known records known to be written in Deche, commonly known as the language of the Durants, date back circa 4700 Ae.E. While archaeological records of this age were nearly impossible to find, the first complete work written entirely in Deche is The Rune. Around 1200 M.E, Deche became less common as the language that would become labeled as modern day Pyrian was gradually becoming a universal language. In modern Havok, Deche exists almost entirely on paper, with the numbers of those who remain fluent in it dwindling below 200. Among those who still speak it are Durant Healers, priests, scholars, and monks. Luke Semprys, having been the leader of the Durants and the faith throughout the Durant Revolution and the D.R.A, is the only individual fluent in Deche who does not fall into one of those categories.
Pyrian
Pyrian's roots are found in the latter years of the 10th Century M.E along the eastern coasts of Arctanica, originating in a series of human colonies. Usage of the language would be fairly isolated and confined to the Human race until around 1350 when trans-Carpathic trade with eastern Solara became famous for its vast potential for financial gain. With the Human race dominating this new market, communication became essential. Traders of all races found it necessary to become fluent in Pyrian. From this point, Pyrian would expand into Havok's universal language and was spoken by over 40% of the world's population as of 200 M.I. (Note: Prior to the establishment of Pyre in 1476 M.E, Pyrian was known as Arctanican.)
Wildlife
Styklers
Styklers stand five feet tall and measure approximately twelve feet long. Adult males have a dark brown skin while females are similarly colored with a light green hue. Razor sharp spines run from the tops of the backs of their heads and run down their backs, getting shorter as they approach the tip of their tail. These spines also protrude from beneath their forearms and their calves. Short, stubby spikes line the tops of their heads to the tips of their noses. They have proportionately shorter forearms
with four fingered hands, each possessing opposable thumbs. Powerful hind legs give them an unrivalled mobility, making it possible for them to run up to eighty miles per hour and jump up to ten feet in the air.
Styklers reside very near the top of the animal food chain. While cunning and lethal as individuals, Styklers reside in moderate to large packs comprised of several smaller, family units led by both a matriarch and a patriarch. At the head of each group is an Alpha male, usually being the smartest as opposed to the largest Stykler in the pack. Being the smartest non-human animals, Styklers possess uncanny senses of devotion, empathy, and selflessness. At the same time, they can be short tempered, volatile and unpredictable animals to be approached with extreme caution.
Indigenous to the mountainous highlands of northern and western Solara, Styklers were introduced into the Arctanican wild in 1310 M.E by Harland Kincaid where they became popular with the region's upper-class, proving themselves ripe for domestication. They would be used as steeds, able to travel long distances at speeds unrivalled during 14th century Havoc.