Joined: 13 Oct 2007
Posts: 166
Location: Tiptree, Essex
|
I've been told that a pc was recently in Liverpool Below, and since Clayton's from there and it features heavily in his background, I thought I'd share some details I'd drafted. It's a work in progress, mind:
Liverpool Below
One of the larger undersides in Britain (London and Birmingham being the biggest), Liverpool Below has a troubled history. The upworlders struggle with the memory of the Poll Tax Riots of the 1980s and the twin tragedies of James Bulger and Hilsborogh, but the Underside is still reeling from the evils of the slave trade and the very recent betrayal of one of the most trusted noble houses.
In a state of perpetual war with Manchester Below, Liverpool Below is a city of termoil and strife, a city where heroes are made in the heat of battle and villains are created through the most scurrilous and underhanded means. The War of the Mersey, as it is known to some has been raging for centuries and, if people are honest, no one knows why. Neither side, however, is eager to back down and, due to the actions of one Clayton Square, the war seems to be showing no signs of stopping.
The Noble Houses of Liverpool Below
The Docks The Dock House is lead by the rightous and determined General Albert Dock. General Dock leads with an iron hand. He is firm, but fair, and has more people sworn to his banner than any other of the Noble Houses. His chief Lieutenant is Lady Huskinsson Dock, his wife. General and Lady Dock are often found in the War Room, a huge cavern found under Hope Street.
The Dock Family Quirk is akin the the Preston Quirk of Command.
The Parks The Parks are the second Family of Liverpool Below, gaining their position after the Betrayal of House Square. Not particularly large, the Park Household is led by Lady Sefton Park. The duties of the house are primarily to heal the wounded in the war. Lady Sefton and her son Newsham are often seen at the front line of the battlefields, tending to the wounded.
The Park Family Quirk is akin the the Healer quirk, albeit more powerful.
The Dales If you want it, the Dales will get it for you. Lead by the charismatic and friendly Kirk Dale, the Dale family are open, generous and kind to everyone, if they can afford the price. Merhcants and brokers are the most common of the Dales vassals, and fully a quarter of each market can often be found to be in alligence with the Dale family.
The Dale Family Quirk is akin to Confide, though the more adept members of the household are not bound to keep the information they learn secret.
The Federation of Allied Traders Less a Household, more a Faction, the Federation has members from all Houses of Liverpool Below. Due to her clever machinations, the head of a dwindling Noble family named Old Mother Redcap has climbed to the top of the Federation. Her iron grip on the trade in Liverpool Below means that the Market Truce is adhered to by the Letter. Mother Redcap is a Broker of some esteem in the city, and is never without the company of her bravo bodyguard Old Lankin.
Mother Redcap and her family have access to a Family Quirk akin to Pockets.
The Squares Until fairly recently, the Squares were the second Household of Liverpool Below. Their then leader, Abercrombie Square and his wife Queenie, often lead charges into the enemy ranks. But for all their patriotism, the Squares were a cunning and devious family. A plot to steal the eggs of the Liver Birds, discovered after the middle son of the family revealled all to the world for selfish reasons, opened the rotten core of House Square to the City Below. Most of the family were executed as traitors to the City, but a few were revealed to be honest. Now the family is lead by the war-hero Williamson Square and numbers less than 10, with perhaps double that still loyal to them.
The Square Family Quirk is akin the Charmer, except that it allows the user to calm down two warring parties.
The Halls The family with the least political clout in Liverpool Below are the Halls. Their leader, Lord George Hall, is more interested in lining his pockets than saving the city. Whilst more outwardly malicious than the Squares, the Halls at least are honest bastards.
The Hall Family Quirk is akin to the Mine quirk.
The Champion of Liverpool Below
As London has Richard Richardmayhewdick and Brighton has Law, Liverpool Below too has its champion. A Bravo known only as Strand stands as the Champion of Liverpool Below. A tall man who wields a wicked mace, Strand attends every Market and is often seen as the impliment of Mother Redcap's will.
Other People of Note
Pierre Head Pierre Head is sworn to House Dock. He is a naval genius and is incharge of the ferry system that gets the Undersiders across the River Mersey. A Frenchman, Pierre is nothing but polite. He has a roving eye, however, and does like the ladies.
King and Queen Sway Overlords of the tunnels that run under the River Mersey, King and Queen Sway control both the road and rail that passes under the river. A toll is required to use both, and their Majesties are known to increase the price on a whim. Somewhat rivals of Pierre Head, the royal pair plot to bring down the canny Frenchman.
Saughall Massie Massie looks after the Dale affairs on the Wirral. She is a fair broker and often acts as mediator between the other houses at the Markets. She is known to have a sweet tooth, however, and sometimes her opinions can be swayed with the gentle application of chocolate from the World Above.
The Lord and the Duke Two incredibly old men, the Lord and the Duke act as advisors to General Dock. One is sworn to Mother Redcap and the other to the Docks. Generally, Lord Albert seeks their advice, but it can be difficult. When the pair are together, one always lies and one always tells the truth, but it's not always the same each time they meet.
The War Council
The War Council is made up of General Dock, Mother Redcap, Saughall Massie, Kirk Dale, The Lord and Duke, Pierre Head and King and Queen Sway. They act as the guiding force for the battles against Manchester Below, and they are the ones who punish those who comitt war crimes against the City.
Locations of Note
The Docks Perhaps unsuprisingly, the Dock Family hold most of the waterfront as their territory. General Dock keeps a close eye on his lands, looking for traitors.
New Brighton and Birkenhead Mother Redcap holds sway over most of the Wirral, but New Brighton and Birkenhead are her main areas of interest. Pierre Head's Wirral ferry terminals both fall in Mother Redcap's territory, and she levies a high price to allow him to keep them.
The Knotty Ash A huge, twisted Ash tree, the Knotty Ash sits alone in a blasted field. To even touch the tree is to invite death, as the bark slowly turns those who touch it into wood.
The Beasts of Liverpool Below
The Liverbirds Huge, flesh-eating Cormorant-like birds, the Liverbirds are both feared and adored by the citizens of Liverpool Below. Common law states that if the Liver Birds ever leave the city, then it will fall to its enemies. It is unheard of for anyone to touch the Liver Birds and live. Only one person has managed that in the past hundred years, and now he lives in exile.
The Diddy Men Despite their name, the Diddy Men are a race of tiny man-like creatures that dwell within the Knotty Ash. They devour anything and anything and are known to be intelligent and resourceful. One undersider once quipped, "They may be small buggers, but I tell you, they'll eat your hand quicker that you can say 'Oh fuck! Get off me!'"
_________________
Despised, Disliked and Delighted... |
|
