Destral
A young but thriving city that sprouted on the west bank of Crossroads Lake, Destral was built over a junkyard-like Ancient grave. It became a highly progressive city home to numerous technological advancements catalyzed by the reverse engineering of Ancient corpses. Destral's location near the center of Legere allowed it to become a major trade center, further expediting its growth. Over time, this sprawling metropolis became the cultural heart of Legere. People of all nationalities, even from distant places, came to Destral to work, live, and thrive. Naturally, surrounding kingdoms were wary or interested in what military applications might come out of Destral. However, the Destrian government was always against the use of their research strictly in military application. While they were not naive about the inevitability of combat technology evolving, the Destrian officials and scientists within attempted vehemently to promote their technologies primarily as ways to improve the quality of life for all Legerians.
History #
In 208 DHT, a group of scavengers traveled through the junkyard of deceased Ancients and recovered some of the old, broken tech. The scavengers decided to stay for a while to conduct research on some of the more peculiar looking devices they managed to fish out of the piles of scrap.
Over time, the group grew into a small sized town. They dubbed themselves Destral, and continued to grow at an incredibly fast rate due to the technological breakthroughs they managed using the Ancient technology.
Society #
Demographics #
Destral was one of the most diverse places in Legere. People of all ethnicities found a place in the sprawling city. Like Legere itself, the majority of the population was human, but strong populations of Naga and duns also lived in Destral. Minorities such as Mylembo and (PLACEHOLDER)Carved People could also be found in Destral, depending on their prevalence on Hohm in the given time period.
Societal Echelons #
Destrian society had a blend of upper, middle, and lower classes. Upper-class Destrians were likely to live near the center of the city, where they caroused in high society living. Members of this group included wealthy merchants and descendants of the famous founders of Destral. Destral's middle class included many merchants, industry workers, and researchers. Most of the time, the middle class lived in the older brick and mortar residential portion of the city, though some lived in the industrial sectors. The lower class of Destral often comprised factory workers or those involved in the criminal activity that hid in the shadows of Destral's towers. They were most likely to live in the industrial sector.
Government #
Destral was essentially a geniocratic oligarchy—a government run by a select few of the smartest members of society. At the early stage of Destral's life, however, it was not truly geniocratic: while the founders were geniuses, they were also there first. The founders ran their respective laboratories, and over time as founders passed away, they were superseded by their most elite protégés.
The Founding Laboratories #
Destral was established by six founding laboratories, one for each founding member. These laboratories acted like universities, and each oversaw an aspect of innovation in the city. The founders, together, acted as a council that oversaw Destral's day-to-day operations. The founding laboratories were as follows:
The Institute for Technological Elementalism #
This laboratory sought to replicate elemental magic with Ancient technology. They created ways of generating electrical and thermal energies with their inventions, helping the people of Destral by providing heat, water, and power generation. The Gun Guards' formation began in this group.
This laboratory was founded by Li Huo, an Isutan woman with a fiery personality.
The Laboratory of Spatial Research #
This laboratory looked out from the towers of Destral to the cosmos beyond, seeking the great secrets of the universe. With their understanding of the workings of the cosmos, this laboratory excelled in creating inventions related to travel, communication, pocket dimensions, and even demiplanes. Though enigmatic, this laboratory constantly expanded Legere's understanding of the broader cosmos.
This laboratory was founded by Phaendar Hironimus Draft, a Phovezilan man known for his philosophical interests and mysterious tower abode.
The Destrian Centre for Medical Advancement #
The most compassionate of all of the Destrian laboratories, this working group organized hospitals and medical clinics and prioritized the well-being of the people. The innovations this group made in healthcare improved the quality of life for not only Destrians but for people all across Legere.
This laboratory was founded by Azalea Abernathy, a dun woman known for her genuine kindness and compassion.
The Laboratory for Hard Light Research and Engineering #
This laboratory focused on Destral's foundations: the Ancients and the strange technology they used. They sought to better understand the fundamentals of the Ancient tech that the rest of Destral eagerly used for their own whims and to recreate it in its purest form. While this was a difficult endeavor, this laboratory provided Destral with innovations such as walls, bridges, and windows of hard light, shields, and force fields.
This laboratory was founded by Caroline Constella, a Corgathian woman enraptured by history.
The Centre for Destrian Cultural Engineering #
This laboratory had a major role in overseeing the infrastructure and growth of Destral. It designed new infrastructure, approved buildings, and facilitated law enforcement throughout Destral. They also had a role in agriculture and the import and export of natural resources. While some might have seen it as a heavy hand on Destral's creative liberties, others viewed this laboratory as necessary for keeping order within a chaotic metropolis.
This laboratory was founded by Cyrus Isaac Vandervitch III, a half-Endalan man known for his stern personality. It was most analogous to civil engineering.
The Institute for Alchemical Engineering #
The bubbling vats and steaming smokestacks of this institute were vital to the growth of Destral behind the scenes. The products created by this laboratory were used every day by regular Destrians as household cleaning products, as well as by other industrial buildings to supply their research and production. Whether it was mass-producing healing potions for The Lancer Guild, creating a new dish detergent to improve the lives of working-class Destrians, or synthesizing fuels used by the , this laboratory's innovations were crucial.
This laboratory was founded by Radium Josiah Radcliff, a Corgathian man rumored to be losing his mind.
Non-founding Laboratories #
As Destral grew and new endeavors wanted to be pursued, new laboratories were founded. Though they likely did not have the social power or ivy-league status of the older labs, they were important for new ventures. One such laboratory was the Destrian Zoological Institute, which sought to preserve the wildlife of Legere.
Infrastructure #
The infrastructure of Destral was a testament to its innovation. The city was circular, extending outwards from the center, where the ancient grave was located. As you moved outward from the city center, building infrastructure became newer. Buildings in the center, dubbed the Residential District, were typically older and more historic. Meanwhile the newer Industrial District was full of factories, warehouses, and labs made in primarily with metal. The residential and industrial districts were separated by a ring of greenspace; an urban park installed by the civil laboratory for the citizen's wellbeing.
The city was divided into six sectors by major roads that extended like the spokes of a wheel. Each sector belonged to one of the six founding laboratories, and most of the work done in an area was related its sector's lab. Each sector also had defining characteristics: such as the chemical sector's intricate pipeworks and vats of chemicals, or the hard light sector's stained glass windows and glowing signs.
Law Enforcement #
![[Destrian Walking Police#^dwp]]
Points of Interest #
The Alibi #
![[The Alibi#^067a7d]]
The Copper Tambaboo Inn #
The Copper Tambaboo was an Isutan-style bed and breakfast in the industrial district of the hard light sector of the city. It was founded by the Masudas, and was a favourite destination of Firen of the Heroes of Nokkville.