Realm; The Labyrinth

THE LABYRINTH
CHESED

Chesed, the Realm of Mercy, was once dominated by the colossal structure known as Shelter; a brickwork, sheet metal and leather patchwork maze. There is no outside; Shelter span the entirety of Chesed. Up and up, down and down. Far below "ground" Shelter's mazes spread, in every direction, the sound of song and merriment echoed along every makeshift metal panel and reverberating off every taught leather wall.

There is no outside.
And thus, there is no danger.

Shelter was alive; they say zhe started as a brick, and after awkward years experiencing existence as other structures ands shapes, zhe settled on an enormous canopy, encompassing and loving everything inside hir.

When there was violence, or hate, or disagreements within Shelter, zhe would intervene with sliding walls and parting rooms. No-one suffered within Shelter. Everyone was equal, and loud, and expressive, and any wrongs were righted by contemplation and reflection.

Shelter's love was so absolute, that for Chesed's non-Sleeper population, it was impossible to leave. Walls and chains manifest when certain doors become opened, and anyone resisting, trying to leave, was swallowed away, sealed in an oubliette to rethink their choices...

But with no punishment, any evil intentions within Shelter only simmered, gaining strength. Incarceration bred determination, and Shelter's criminals were patient. An army rose against Shelter, and a group of Sleepers broke into Shelter's home, and destroyed hir.

Shelter was dead.
Benevolent Tyranny was over.

The Sleeper Atlas had arisen, and promised a new world where the strong succeeded and the weak were trodden underfoot. They promised to bring law and order... And to spread it to other Realms.

But that Dream never came to be. 

From the Labyrinth below came chaos. The stone and metal of Shelter shattered and bent and changed. Masonry fell from above as new cave-like structures broke through. Hordes of tiny chattering Kobolds spilled from every tunnel and door, capturing those too slow to run. An enormous fortress rose from below the ruins of Trumpington Towers, and every survivor fled to a corner of the Labyrinth.

The Labyrinth had enveloped the rest of Chesed. From within the Fortress, the Labyrinth is ruled by the enigmatic Lord of Kobolds, the self titled Moonchild, a tyrant who wants nothing more than for Chesed's population to give up and be surrender themselves to his Oubliettes: personal fantasy worlds in his Fortress, each catered to give their prisoner their every desire. Leaving one is like cutting out your own heart...

The survivors of the chaos fled to the corners of the Labyrinth, each Faction setting up a new temporary home. Together, they might be able to overthrow the Lord and his army of Kobolds, but opposed to each other and infighting, they'll achieve nothing...

* What It Represents
"Chesed is given the association of kindness and love"
"The Bahir states, "What is the fourth (utterance): The fourth is the righteousness of God, His mercies and kindness with the entire world. This is the right hand of God." Chesed manifests God's absolute, unlimited benevolence and kindness."
Chesed is the Realm of Mercy and Love, manifested by the Labyrinth's smothering, stifling escapism and protection

* Roads
#V Hierophant
#VIII Lust
#IX Hermit
#X Wheel of Fortune

* Population
The Labyrinth is only populated by the Lord's childish Kobolds, though hundreds if not thousands of Sleepers and others are trapped in the Oubliettes.

The predominant population of the Realms corners are colourful, foreign Winged (once called Xenos), Pigeons and other city animals, especially Cats, as well as a large number of Sleepers, many literally lost in the Labyrinth.

* Indigenous Creatures
The Kobolds are the major population of The Labyrinth: childish, diumuintive goblins clad in scraps of leather, armour and fur, these tiny nuisances represent childish fantasies, brought to life by an escape from the hurtful, the painful, the real. On their own, they are comic, harmless beings, but a horde of Kobolds is a dangerous threat, armed with rusty improvisational weapons.

Unlike their Mephistofeline predecessors, Cats in Chesed are ...most often ...on the right side of the law. Expert traders, wheeler dealers and straight up spivs, Cats are who you go to when you need something in Chesed. The price may be high, but you certainly pay for what you get...

Gremlins, Vehicles and other Idea Concepts run amok in the steel hallways of Chesed. Metal beings, the rebellious, child-like dreams of everyday appliances, they have no ties to society, and thus play games and set pranks, often with no understanding of safety or lethality...

* Power Structure
The Lord of Kobolds holds absolute power in the Labyrinth, ruling as an easily amused tyrant from his Fortress at the centre. Those that go against the Lord's status quo are sealed away in oubliettes to be comforted by their fantasies, their threats annihilated by happiness.

In the Labyrinth's corners, the power structures are radically different, based around those survivors that set up homes in those hidden pockets. In Shelter's Sanctuary, Air-Heart, Shelter's equine lethal enforcer, attempts to care for the thousands of weak, sick and harmless that only wanted to be safe in Chesed, their world shattered with Shelter's death.

In the Objectavarium, Atlas' Unconquered Alphas rule a small meritocracy based on climbing the ladder of capability by crushing your rivals below you... Challenged by Christine's Gremlin Hot Rod Raiders.

In the Crèche, Lance protects his rebel Kobold and Potoddler allies as he draws up plans to rescue kidnapped Sleepers (and others) from the Oubliettes. 

In the remnants of Whyam Buying, the Cats are in charge. A power network of Queens and Toms spread from the statue of The Lone Canary (And His Hammer Friend) to deep below, into the bustling black market known as the Lisabetween. Known Tom bosses include such names as Dickandharry, Jones and Andjerry, while some Queens include Victoria, Elizabeth and Bodicca.

* Ties To Moonchild
The Lord of Kobolds is the self-announced Moonchild.

* Places of Interest

The Lord rules from his Fortress at the Centre of the Labyrinth, an enormous fantasy castle bigger than comprehension. Inside it's walls, Kobolds patrol, looking for tresspassers or escapees from the Oubliettes, ensuring no-one escapes their private fantasies.

Shelter's Sanctuary provides healing and protection for the hurt and persecuted.

The Objectavarium values those who excel at their field and ascend ruthlessly: those who qualify will find themselves heavily rewarded.

Whyam Buying, the grand market, caters to all your legal needs.
Deep underground, the Lisabetween does the same for weapons... And worse...
Rumours abound of fighting pits in the Lisabetween...

The Creche is a home for children and the innocent, overseen by Lance the "Dungeon Master". If you want to play "Executives and Establishments", go see him.

* Costume
Eclectic mismatches of style. Bits and pieces traded and obtained from a hundred different sources. Very punk; military jackets with flying cap & goggles, rockabilly dresses with leather opera gloves and army boots. Clashing colours, though everything is worn and frayed, at least third hand.

The Unconquered wear business suits, all frayed at the edges but skillfully hidden as to preserve their Alpha status.

* Choices for Character Creation
Sleepers with ties to Chesed usually show Mercy, being skilled healers...

... or have underworld connections, gifting them additional items...

...or know Chesed well, gaining a detailed Brief