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Yomisato is located in Wind Country, to the east of Kazesato. It encompasses an extremely large area of land, sprawling from the border of where Fire Country south into Wind Country. Its western border meets Izanagi Ocean, while its eastern border spills into the Gulf of Izanami and the island upon where the Gate of Yomi can be found.
Yomisato's location results in generally hot and dry temperatures that vary from season to season. During the hottest months of the summer, it can reach over 55° C (131° F) by morning, while the evenings become uncomfortably humid and sticky. Springs in Yomisato are dry and hot, with sandstorms that turn the sky orange or yellow. At times, rains come in short, torrential bursts leaving behind muddy splotches. Harsh thunderstorms occur more frequently especially along the coastlines and the country border, with terribly damaging winds and lighting that causes flash floods in low-lying areas. Autumns are hot and humid with the coastal region growing especially unpleasant, while winters boast lower temperatures, sometimes growing unbearably cold at night, with frequent rainfall and hailstorms that can last days at a time.
terrain
Much like Kazesato, Yomisato is hemmed in on the northeast, from a mountain range that winds down along Fire Country. A fair bit of the land is covered in sand seas and sand dunes, while other parts are more mountainous, with canyons, towering rock formations, plateaus, and exposed sections of bedrock and rocky, clay-rich soil. Vast as the country is, it has very few landmarks, with the exception of shrines and temples, and what landmarks there are tend to be altered drastically whenever weather that's too harsh rolls around; it's extremely easy to get lost and die of exposure, without an experienced guide to lead you, unless you are traveling along the coast, or the more fertile border of Fire Country.
village
Yomisato is more of a city than it is a village, sprawling from coast to coast across an area of land that is almost the size of a small country. The city is built on the ruins of temples of fallen gods, spiraling outwards towards the coastlines, where the buildings are more dilapidated and squatters are frequently found. Unlike other villages in the world that are rather uniform in design, Yomisato's design is precisely its lack of good planning.
At the heart of the city is a massive statue that once used to be an effigy of Izanami; it is missing its arms and head, and over time the weather has eroded it dramatically. Around this statue is a thriving marketplace with sellers hocking their wares almost any hour of the day. From this central point are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as opium dens. Close to the market is a red light district filled with brothels and sex shops, massage parlors and other shops catering to the desires of both men and women alike. Sex workers walk the streets, many of them enslaved to cruel and dangerous men who are known to rip off their clientele. The district is dangerous, especially due to its proximity to the black markets nearby, that peddle extremely dangerous weapons and drugs, as well as luxury goods that are impossible to find anywhere else in Kannagara.
The southern region of the city, as it encounters sand dunes and more desert, is filled with a district of metal working factories, which is Yomisato's primary industry. Smoke is seen rising from gigantic kilns that burn all hours of the day, and many of the city's resources in nearby mostly uninhabited mountains are mined right from the mountains.
As the city spirals north, it becomes more hilly and mountainous with tall cliff-like formations where some of the nicer residential areas are found. Landlords fight over the prime real estate here, which boasts views on clear days as far as the shorelines; the higher the residence can be found on the cliffs, the more expensive the rent -- the altitude provides some respite from the heat, and protection against the monsters that frequently attack the city at night. Many of the buildings in Yomisato have divine protection against the monsters; all of the rent-controlled housing are usually protected in some way. In contrast, low-lying dilapidated areas at the southern border of the city, just beyond the metal district, which feature homes cut into rock similar to Kazesato's homes, and buildings run over by plantlife and trees, which many squatters take up residence in, tend to not have any protection at all. Deaths here are frequent, if not from flash floods, then from the monsters that frequently roam.
Because Yomisato is made up partially of exiles and their descendants, many residential districts tend to be segregated by those with residual ties to the Celestial villages. As a result, many residential areas are named after the country the village is located in -- Fire, Wind, Grass, Rain, Water, Earth, and Lightning are all represented in this city.
housing
Housing in Yomisato varies depending on class. The nicer housing for those who can afford it is generally built into the walls of the mountains to provide the greatest insulation and temperature regulation. The nicer the building, the fancier the architecture, including towers, spires, and other sorts of more complex structures; more basic homes are considerably boxier, with broad, flat walls with a penchant for multiple windows to let in as much light and air as possible. Most exterior homes have one or more rain collection troughs as well. Homes inside the tunnels, on the other hand, have far simpler constructions, being hewn straight into the rock itself, and far less of an opportunity to get natural light and ventilation; these homes rely completely on artificial light from things like lanterns, torches, candles, and hearths.
The construction of the nicer housing is primarily stone, supplemented with wood and clay; the buildings are carved out of the rock itself, with stout wooden beams used as support. Architecture tends towards the functional here, with beauty and decoration being secondary concerns; Yomisato has some fantastically skilled carvers and painters who provide impressive decorations for both the wood and stone in a home, with impressively large carved scenes--or more commonly, colorful murals--being popular. Other common decorations tend to be paintings on either wood or cloth, or woven tapestries and rugs to spread on the floor or hang on the walls to soften the bare stone. Furniture is also used in Yomisato, including proper beds and chairs, and it also tends to be nicely decorated, and have cushions. Some homes also have alcoves carved into the walls for special ornaments or shrines. Others carve out shelves that are used as beds where futons are spread upon.
A small room is set aside for the bathroom, holding a basin and large tub, plus a toilet; the latter is the only thing in the house with running water and working plumbing, and is fortunately fully functional. Aside from the toilets, any water needed will have to come from the one of several wells on the surface level of the city, or from the watering holes fed by a large underground aqueduct from which the city draws its water. Those who don't wish to bring in the water by hand can bathe in the large communal bathing houses throughout the city.
The bedroom--or rooms, if you're lucky enough to get a large house--in Yomisato is a bit unique, generally having a single, quite deep closet to store a character's personal belongings. Unlike other villages, your character will not have several changes of clothing magically appear in their closets unless they pay tribute to one of the fallen gods. Some of the houses also have real furniture while others boast futons; the bedrooms sometime have normal beds and bedding on it, and often curtains around the bed or in the doorway of the bedroom, to provide some sense of privacy and to help absorb the echoes from the hard stone construction. Small tables and chests are also often found here, both decorative and functional. Many houses have a main room that serve as a sitting area and dining room, (though the nicer houses have separate rooms for eating in) with real tables and chairs, and either a fire pit or hearth built into the stone, or portable braziers made of clay, ceramic, or metal; these are the main way of heating the house, and also provide a fair amount of its light, plus a means for simple cooking. Those whose homes are on the outside of the mountain tend to have holes cut in the stone, or sometimes pipe-chimneys made out of clay, to direct the smoke outside.
The kitchen is dominated in large part by a waist-high stove carved from the rock itself, with holes on top to place grilling surfaces or pots into, and holes along the front to control the fire that is built inside; as the stove is typically built into the wall itself, so too is its ventilation. A large basin and preparation surface take up the remainder of the space, and the walls are lined with shelves to store cooking and eating implements. A separate but connected room generally serves as a pantry and takes care of all food storage, a room generally built high and wide with rows upon rows of shelves and vases, provided with a ladder for most efficient use of space. There is no refrigeration, although food tends to last longer in an environment that is typically so dry, and especially in the tunnel system, where the insulation of so much rock means that it seldom gets too hot.
In sharp contrast, the grottoes of the city, where many of the poor live and where the homeless squat, the construction is primarily stone, supplemented with clay; the buildings are carved out of the rock itself, with stout pillars used as support, or constructed out of clay and rock. Architecture tends towards the functional here, the buildings dilapidated and old. The nicer of the grottoes boast a small room is set aside for the bathroom, holding a basin and large tub, plus a toilet that may not always work. Some other grottoes are comprised of the ruins of temples that have been overgrown with large trees that make many of the structures unsound, but are a good place to squat due to its close proximity to an oasis that is located nearby. These temple ruins don't exactly make the best homes, but can provide shelter from a storm, or a temporary residence in a time of need.
Trigger warning: Slavery, sexual themes with questionable consent, gambling, drugs, violence and dark things
On the surface of Yomisato, things are unchanged. There is no sign of the cave complex that resides beneath the city, well guarded and stemming from the three points in Figure 1. These points are each a bar, all of them old standards of Yomisato. The northernmost bar is the most luxurious and expensive of the three, while the one in the mining area is of the lowest class. The following describes each bar in turn.
The first bar is located in the hills, nestled into the wealthy district of Yomisato. As such, it caters to the higher classes, with polished wood and porcelain making up the bar and its wares, accented with silver and ivory. It smells of money, and the entrance to the caves below reflects this, as well. The entrance is long and winding, with rickshaws to carry the wealthy into the depths.
The second bar is near to the mines, run down and cobbled together with aged wood and cups made from stone or clay. It’s a blue collar place, with most visitors coming fresh from the mine for naught more than a quick drink amongst the sand and soot before heading home. All the furniture is made from the same worn down wood as the bar, and while the place doesn’t smack of honesty, it’s certainly not the sort of place one would go <i>looking</i> for an entrance to the underworld. The entrance itself is nothing more than a trap door in a back room, leading to a long case of uneven stairs and packed dirt paths. If you bring your own lantern, you’ll see where you’re going -- and the faces of the guides that are always present, to save you from being lost.
The final bar is a balance between the first two. Set up near Izangi’s statue in a cluster of bars, it tends towards the more popular side, no different from those surrounding it. This one sports wooden furniture a bit newer than the miner’s bar, with attractive servers and a wide floor. There is, of course, a VIP area on the second floor, filled with private rooms, but the true gem of the bar is hidden beneath, in the wine cellar. In the floor there, another trap door resides, with a staircase to the underground, with more guides waiting to help you to the depths.
Figure 2
The underground is divided into layers, the deeper you go, the more dangerous and unsavory the activities you come across will be. The structure itself is a result of mining, with everything held up by metal beams that go deep into the earth. The closer to the center you come, the more beams will be visible, crossing one another to add strength to the structure.
The color and texture of the area is dictated by the depth of the level, going from a sandy red, to a deep brown and grey, all the way to a tarry black color. Color Reference
The complex is illuminated by kerosene lanterns hanging from the walls or ceiling, or lanterns built into metal barrels lined up. It all gives the place a raw, ragged atmosphere, as if the underground itself is ready to swallow you whole. Much of the seating is carved into the rock itself, jutting out from walls or floor. In the more expensive areas, the rock is polished down and cushioned, where all the rest have a polish taken on purely from use.
Level One: The Brothel
The entire first level is washed in burnt oranges and reds in the firelight, divided into the North, South, East and West regions by quadrant.
In the north and east, the rooms are carved into the walls, with heavy wooden doors and metallic art protecting the privacy of its occupants. Each of these rooms is lavish with beds and floor cushions, thick woolen rugs laid out across the polished floors -- emblazoned with carvings that detail the legends surrounding the gods of the underworld. Here the metal pillars supporting the structure have long curtains of chiffon or cotton drapes to create a more intimate atmosphere. Oil lamps and candles provide muted lighting, and some rooms even have small pools, either in a corner, or right in the middle of the room. At each door, a servant waits outside, catering to the every whim of its occupants, there to provide whatever is required -- without exclusions.
In the western quadrant there is a massive, open hall with drapes, rugs and cushions scattered about. The ceiling above is a dome carved into the rock, again depicting the gods of the underworld, telling their epic tales. This is the place of orgies, where one can participate, or simply spectate, with slaves on hand to fetch whatever they require.
To the south you will find the more... interesting techniques. Anything and everything that can be sexualized, will be in this area. Whips, chains, gags and toys of all size and description are readily available in both public and private venues. There are frequent betting pools, performances, and dances, and no kink is excluded here -- not even the ones you’ve yet to think up.
As for the ‘merchandise’ (which spans both genders and ages range from pre-teen to the elderly), they are always clearly on display. Extravagant clothing that leaves little to the imagination, coupled with jewels made of colored glass marks them as sex workers. Often they will have piercings, and nearly anything you desire, you will find here. All sizes, shapes and colors are available for your pleasure. Those servants whose primary purpose is providing food and drink, cleaning, or just providing a breeze with an oversized fan are all dressed in a simple white tunic, usually quite thin. If all else fails, the most obvious sign of their status are the metal collar and bands about their wrists and ankles.
As for the prostitutes, they typically wear clothing to indicate the sort of experience they offer, from kink to performance, to a simple theme. Don’t be surprised to hear deals called out as if you’re pursuing a market stall above ground -- these people are treated as any other commodity, with every sales trick in the book to increase profits, and every quadrant has an area devoted solely to the exchange of goods and services.
While the level may cater to the carnal desires, greed is never far behind. Debts are taken seriously and no amount of fooling around will convince a guard to look the other way. Yes, there are guards, hidden and quiet until trouble calls. Typically they wear a red cloak with heavy hood and speak very little. If, however, you refuse to pay, or one of the many slaves are being... less than cooperative, the guards step in. They can range from firm to downright violent, though they do tend to be careful not to harm the slaves -- patrons refusing to pay, however, have been known to resurface with a broken bone or two.
The fires here burn orange.
Level 2: The Black Market
On this level is the image of a bustling market. Buildings stand free, up to three stories high, or are built right into the rock walls. The streets are wide enough for three rickshaws to pass, and the place is always buzzing with activities, slave-drawn rickshaws tangling in the street and sparking arguments between slaves and customers alike (though few slaves are fool enough to argue with their customers) and collisions are not uncommon.
The market is a sprawling network of restaurants, bars, opium dens and gambling halls.
Stocks of good opium, drugs, weapons, valuable items are mostly hidden. No one is sure where the owners who sell and barter these goods hide them. Their warehouses might be under their buildings, or it might be built in to walls of the gave behind their buildings. What is known though that they are heavily guarded and sealed by spells. How are these spells practiced, it isn’t exactly common knowledge. Each business man or Don has their own deals with Yomis (it’s like worshipping a fallen god and giving offerings in exchange for something).
This is also the place one would go to if one was seeking to do business or start a business. Keep in mind though that it requires a lot of guts and a lot of willingness to do the most wrong things in the world to even penetrate the market. Because it’s a very tightly closed market and most things work by word of mouth, one mistake can result in a open throat.
Some lanterns use skulls for decor. Those are probably men who tried to fool others.
People killing people dead here out in the open is not an uncommon sight.; it’s just bad business.
No living thing is sold here. Those seeking living things like slaves or people are directed straight to level 5.
Flames in this level burn brick red or “pink.”
Level 3: The Arena - fighters
The arenas are made of stone. Very very black stone where very large metallic lanterns dangle from the cave ceiling in to the wide open arena below. The arena would resemble very closely to that of the olden gladiator arenas in rome in terms of structure. The floor of the fighting area is filled with the golden sands of the surface (as Yomisato is close to the desert). It is not uncommon to find broken glass, bones, pieces of chipped weapon and armor amidst these sands. Performers are usually located under the arena fighting ground itself. There are cells held together by steal bars to prevent their escape.
Level-3 is made up of many arenas. The center one (the one right under Izanagi’s statue) is the biggest and grandest of all and accommodate thousands of people. This is the arena where the big fights and big names duke it out.
Around that center arena though, are many arenas, all lying in a circle like formation. Compared to the other levels, level-3 is the closest to the perfect circle an underground level can achieve. So surrounding the center arena is about ten other arenas, smaller in size and can accommodate a smaller crowd. In these areans, the preliminaries take place. Big fights still, but not as big as teh center. Gaining access to these arenas are generally cheaper than the center one.
In all arenas, matches are ongoing all the time, along with bets and whatnot. Again, there are guards who stand like sentinels watching over the crowd, in case one of the performers does escape or attempt to harm someone they shouldn’t be harming. They also guard the performers under the fighting arena.
THiS level is PURE entertainment, bloodshed turned to a sport for those who want to watch it -- the more gore, the wilder the crowds get. Most of the performers are either slaves who have committed crimes, or those groomed to do this sort of thing. People who handle the performers are mostly the same people who handle other businesses in the black market.
If bets do occur, then they’re usually amongst the crowd themselves or betting circles organized by some business men (they assign a lackey of sorts to handle this sort of money laundering acts).
Flames burn green here.
Level 4: The Arena - beasts
This place is pretty much similar as level 3 although instead of an open air arena, the fighting area is encased with a sturdy patchwork of steal and metal. So the arena looks like there is a cage in the center. Also, Level four only has six very large arenas as opposed to the numbers in level 3.
The reason for the cage is to contain beasts and monsters form escaping. This is where people send their scrap-entertainers or people they can’t sell or have caught doing wrong to die. Here, people watch great and majestic beasts feed and rip apart a man who wil try to fight for his life. The catch is that if the person sentenced to death can fight back and injure the beast, they can go free. This honestly never happens.
Sometimes they’ll send a group of people to be torn to shreds and eaten. Sometimes, the beasts may struggle and bang against the cage, but these cages - if one looked closer - would have talismans stuck on the metal workings. These talismans are spells enforcing the steal cage in containg the beasts. That is not to say all casualties are minimized. Some people who sit too close to the arena for a better view might get the short end of the stick in the sense that, say the beast does blow fire. They can get burned (LOL).
Flames burn blue here.
Level 5: The Slave Market
The slave market. Where people are sold. This is an open space with a dome like roof and a large center stage where merchandises are marketed. The stage is a circle, smack in the middle under Izangai’s statue. Many bidders can go and bid their slave for sale, and they usually come being rolled in to the stage in cages or dragged in by cloaked guards, with hands and feet in shackles.
This is basically just an open market where human beings are sold as meat. There are large holding cells underneath the ground that are heavily guarded. Some people try to commit suicide here and some succeed, and it is a cesspool of waste and infection. Some people are chained and gagged and prevented from moving to minimize suicide rates and loss of money. Some are even knocked unconscious. They are treated worse than cattle.
Flames here burn white.