Setting

Not much is yet known about this strange land you were yanked into. But all that means is that there is a world of things to discover -- how much you want to know is in your hands.

The Tempo
A strange little device - by first glance, you think it’s just a pocket watch. It’s circular and no bigger than the edges of your palm, but once you press the button at the top, you see that it holds an amount of impressive technology. The cover swings open, providing you with two screens that respond to your touch, and a multitude of functions like a map, points of interest, currency control, a camera, and access to chatrooms. Should you choose to, you can also have the device project one of the two screens, giving you a better view of whatever you might be looking at. Curiously, even the projection responds to your touch.

And perhaps you might think it’s a little out of place here in a city that’s full of temples and stonework, but then you realize that it’s a gift from the deity Arshan himself. It’s given to you as a sign that the gods mean you no harm; you’re welcome here, and this device will assist in getting adjusted to your new life. It will become familiar with you and learn - your habits, your schedules, where you like to go and what you like to do - and become your very own unique Tempo.

The Tempo is not an ornate device, and the only real decoration it has is the abstract outline of an animal’s face engraved in the cover - Boryana’s vocatum has the image of a bear, Fenix’s features a wolf, Arshan’s has the likeness of an owl, and Auri’s icon is that of a fox. The outlines glow with the soft light of each vocatum’s respective color as a reminder that you are not alone in this strange new world.

The City of Epoche
When you first arrive the city is likely overwhelming - a massive self-contained civilization comprised of an odd mix of stone, steel, and science, divided into three equally towering tiers, is quite intimidating. But as locals will tell you, the city “runs like clockwork” (a phrase you’ll get tired of hearing by your first week) and really, it isn’t too difficult to navigate. Each district and tier has its own transport station: multi-level structures capable of handling a lot of bodies eager to get to their next destination. They are home to both the tram system, circling each level, as well as the numerous cable cars that are frequently seen ferrying people around the city’s skies. None of it is very fast, but when life is this peaceful, you have all the time in the world to get where you need to go.

The majority of the city is contained in the first level, where you’ll find various markets, shops, and leisure locations. Anything from vendor stalls and restaurants to libraries and museums can be found here. For the most part, your jobs will also be down in this level, so it’s probably good idea to explore and familiarize yourself with the area. Wouldn’t want to get lost in the morning commute, would you?

The second level is where you’ll find your housing - it’s the standard accomodation for most of those living within the city walls. It is also by no means crowded; some of the city’s gardens and quieter areas are found in and around the housing districts. There’s a time and place for everything, after all.

The third level is where you’ll find your respective deity’s temple. There are noticeably fewer people here, but the temples themselves are all constructed differently to reflect the deity it’s built for. Don’t be afraid to visit them, as the gods are always listening - and watching, too.

The final - and perhaps the most curious - thing about the city is one you may not even pay very much attention to. All throughout Epoche, you can see floating lights. They are small, no bigger than a closed fist, and never quite in your reach, staying high above the sky. Their glow is comforting, another layer of warmth blanketed over a city without conflict. They always present and are another hallmark of this great city, alongside the flickering images of clockwork you may see in the sky, and the fact that the sky is always set in a rich sunset (homes are all provided with heavy curtains for this reason). All are a normal occurrence in the city and while they might be alarming at first, they are unique to Epoche.

You can learn more about the individual vocata and what they contain HERE.

The Clock Tower
The most that is known about the clock tower is how little is known about it. The hands on the face have stopped, and it is heavily guarded. It’s located in the very center of the final tier of the city, with a large relief of each of the four deities carved into the sides. It’s quite pristine, and it’s the pride of many people of the city. ...However, please take care to stay away from it, as the surrounding ruins may be dangerous and unstable. The area is guarded for your safety, and you will be turned away on approach. We understand that the combinations of foliage overgrowth and broken stone is a tempting view to explore, but there are to be no exceptions to this.

The Steppe
The Steppe is a vast, sprawling area of wilderness surrounding the city. It isn’t very well-documented what exists out there, not when most everything you could need or want can be found within the safe borders of the city. That shouldn’t stop you from exploring it, however, should the urge strike you! You may just find something nice to add to the list. Immediately outside the city walls you’ll find very open lands, where many farms are located, but are otherwise undeveloped. To the north there is a forest that occupies almost a quarter of the land, with many natural wonders like waterfall caves and giant, hollowed out trees to be explored. The southwest holds a sizeable beach and ocean, and while the shores itself are calm and sunny thanks to the constant sunset, there is always a storm visible on the horizon over the water. In the southeast, there appear to be ruins of some kind, but exactly what they’re from and what they contain is unknown. The only thing particularly noticeable about it is that it’s heavily overgrown. Several miles west of the city is a mountain range, where you may find some of the more dangerous creatures that inhabit the land - but unlike those you may find in Fenix’s Walk or the Millenium Park, these are wild animals, and you should exercise extreme caution, especially because of the constant snow. These mountains also feed into a larger range that seems to spread in all directions around the Steppe, and no matter where you explore, it is advised to stay away from them due to the inherent danger they present.