Talczelava
Veskovia's capital was originally named Talczelava. It was the home of the royal Sedlasky family. King Godemir Sedlasky had ruled Veskovia for 32 years before the Unbirthing.
A map of Talczelava approximately a decade after The Unbirthing.
After the Unbirthing, Talczelava's name was slowly phased out and replaced with "the Forsaken City", an apt name due to its cruel nature. People still managed to survive within, but the Bureau of Classified Arcana refused to allow survivors to leave the city for fear of contaminating the rest of the world. Desperate or ballsy treasure hunters were no strangers to sneaking within the Forsaken City's walls, for many of Veskovia's treasures still remained within its ruins. The denizens of Veskovia were a hardened bunch though, raised to live in a harsh, bloodthirsty world filled with horrific monsters and cruel scoundrels.
Solren's Wall #
The Arcane Hand knew that this terrible place had to be quarantined, and invested a hefty portion of resources to construct an enchanted wall around the city's exterior, and also sent forth ships to patrol the waters. While keeping the monstrosities that lurk within from escaping was a major focus by the Arcane Hand, the real issue was preventing ambitious somatomancers from entering and acquiring infectious biomass. The fall of Veskovia's capital was a model nightmare for what could happen in other cities. This wall was called Solren's Wall, after Mosso Solren, the director of the Bureau of Classified Arcana and leader of the project.
Solren's Wall was built about 6 months after the Unbirthing, in record time thanks to Solren and his team of expert terramancers. Its purpose was to keep the monsters and potentially infected citizens of the Forsaken City inside while preventing members of the Priests of the Shifting Fleshfrom foreign lands from entering with the intent to continue spreading the art of somatomancy.
BCA agents patrolled the Bay of Veskovia, where the wall discontinued, aboard ironclad sea vessels.
The Cerise Gloom #
After transforming into the sculptoris-filled Forsaken City, Talczelava began to manifest a bizarre, crimson fog that would periodically fill its streets. Certain other sections of the city were perpetually bathed in the gloom.
While most commonly found in Lung Town, the Cerise Gloom was a dense, red fog that could be found in patches all across the city. It was a gaseous byproduct of sculptoris growths exclusive to the Forsaken City.
What was known about the Cerise Gloom was its dangerous properties. Inhaling it over an extended period could lead to an individual's lungs becoming a Carnite and tearing itself out of the host's body. Prolonged exposure to skin would cause degloving.
Other carnites and manikins in the city would grow incensed and empowered through exposure to the gloom.
Landmarks #
Castle Lazovich #
The grand, sparkling palace of Talczelava was the home of the Sedlasky family. Its high walls made it as impenetrable as it was majestic.
The Womb #
After The Unbirthing, Castle Lazovich came to be known as The Womb, named after the enormous mass of flesh that grew over the main gate that led to the castle's interior.
Kupetse Square #
Talczelava's Kupetse Square was a prominent merchant zone where the richest traders from Phovezila often visited to sell foreign wares. It was a hub for high-class shopping and trade.
The Hungering Plaza #
Following The Unbirthing, an enormous cyclostomatic mouth sprouted from the ground, eagerly devouring whatever wandered into the area. Survivors spoke of rumours that Veskovia's greatest treasures were inside the Plaza's gut.
Vuko's Tower #
Named after the heroic Veskovian knight Sir Vuko Ironbow, this tower overlooked the city and the bay. Originally it was just a watchtower, although a clock gifted to Veskovia from Destral transformed it into a clocktower as well.
The Watching Tower #
As Solren's Wall neared completion, a Carnite that took the form of an enormous mountain of disgusting, pulsating flesh wrapped itself around Vuko's Tower. Its prominent feature was its massive, unblinking eye, which watched over the southern half of the city. Upon spotting potential prey, the Watching Tower would disgorge droves of offspring to hunt down what it saw.
Chorne Misto #
The metalworking district of Talczelava was the home of a state-of-the-art blast furnace, which was integral to the construction of Veskovia's ironclad destroyer ship, the Lance of Godemir.
Lung Town #
Three fleshy smokestacks spewed the dangerous Cerise Gloom, transforming Chorne Misto's industrial haven into a winding network of nightmarish alleyways. Lung Town's area was rife with the gloom, making it one of the most deadly parts in the city.
Sedlasky Gardens #
The gorgeous public gardens of Talczelava were built in honour of its equally beautiful queen. The botanists in charge of the garden's development were tasked with "creating something that would allow everyone to enjoy the beauty of the queen at any time."
The Scarlet Garth #
During the early days of Talczelava's crumbling, the Sedlasky gardens were converted to a mass grave for the fallen. Unfortunately many of the bodies were not burned, so the field of ripe flesh mutated and mingled with the vegetation to create a nightmarish garden.
Kwadrat Square #
At the center of Talczelava was Kwadrat Square, a massive open market where hundreds of vendors gathered to sell their goods. Noisy, packed to the brim with people, and smelling of fresh street food, Kwadrat Square was the go-to destination for foreigners and native Veskovians alike.
Hemorrhage Square #
During The Unbirthing, a terrible massacre occurred in Kwadrat Square as the dense crowds of people trapped themselves while trying to escape the chaos spreading through the city. Hundreds of people died as they were crushed against each other and eventually slashed open by the claws of violent manikins. Survivors of the ordeal whispered that the square was filled with a foot of blood, earning it its new name.
Veskovian Catacombs #
The burial site of the kings of Veskovia, as well as loyal nobility who served the kingdom throughout the years. The entrance to which was found on the northern side of Kwadrat Square.
Vermillion Cathedral #
A year after The Unbirthing, pilgrim Priests of the Shifting Flesh would gather within the catacomb for fellowship. A new chapter of the Priests would be founded there.
Port Pietr #
Talczelava's port was not spectacular by any means, but it was able to harbour the Lance of Godemir, which was one of the largest sea vessels ever in Legerian history.
Port Polyp #
Named after a large tumorous sculptoris growth that dangled its entrails into the water, Port Polyp was the remains of Talczelava's marine district. Ravaged during the early stages of The Unbirthing, Port Polyp was filled with the skeletons of unfinished boats and expired humans alike.
The Lance of Godemir
Once the most powerful ship in Veskovia's royal navy (and perhaps all of Legere), the Lance of Godemir was hijacked by desperate sailors during the Unbirthing in an attempt to flee the city. Unfortunately, manikins managed to infiltrate the vessel during the hijacking, sealing the doom of those on board. During the chaos its anchors were dropped, and the destroyer would sit in the middle of the Bay of Veskovia as an eerie reminder of the uselessness of Veskovia's military power when it was needed most. ^77be98
Landmarks of the Forsaken City #
The following are landmarks that were known exclusively after The Unbirthing, each of them typically related to some sort of anatomical horror that sprouted within the city.
Talczelava's Grasp #
A massive arm growing from the ground which snatches and crushes those who approach it. The Gardeners of Paradise often used Talczelava's Grasp as a means for execution.
Bloodshot Hollow #
Red, veiny growths that grew across a portion of Talczelava led to a forest-like appearance that the residents of Kroville began to call Bloodshot Hollow.
Thorax Street #
A major street that once led from the north of Veskovia straight into Kwadrat Square, which became characterized by a large ribcage-like structure that hung over it.
The Breach #
A simple name for a simple landmark. The Breach was created when Talczlava's walls were overrun, and a guard captain decided to go out with a bang. He detonated the gunpowder kegs stored in the wall and blew himself up, along with all the manikins in the area.
No-Life Field #
This grimly named area of abandoned farmland to Talczelava's northwest wasn't heavily infected, but remained home to a few Carnite monsters that quickly ran down anyone who was foolish enough to step into clear view.
Hell Town #
In the Forsaken City's southern quarter lay the its most heavily sculptoris-overgrown region. Only the most daring of treasure hunters dared to try and enter this cursed place.
Hell Town's edges were frequented by BCA agents looking to collect samples for research.
Canker's Way #
Canker's Way was an important road leading from Hemorrhage Square to the gate of Solren's Wall. This was important for expedition parties of the BCA that had to travel into the heart of the Forsaken City.