The Sacred Mask Setting
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Today I wanted to rant a little more about my Sacred Mask Book. This time I wanted to talk about the setting. I already mentioned the characters a bit, over the top.
I do not want to reveal too much of the plot. I would much rather you read the book. The main action of all the books takes place in the City State Wallen. Wallen originally started as a little fishing hamlet.
The residents there were former slaves, fishermen, pirates and prostitutes. Over the course of a century, it grew into a city thanks to the money it made from tourism and commerce.
Wallen has a covenant with the mermaids. As long as they preserve the ocean resources, the mermaids trade with them, and they provide military support during times of war.
The mermaids that swim in Wallen are mainly Tritons and Selkies. The selkies live both on Wallen and under the sea. Wallen’s other main economic trade partners are the humans from Martisor.
Martisor manifested in the seas near Wallen, 60 years ago, through a teleportation spell. This spelled was so powerful that it transported an entire city and its inhabitants across time and space.
These humans are all in a fish out of water, type of scenario. They are now coping with the fact of no longer being the dominant lifeform in that world. Most of the residents from Martisor are vampires, with a few other oddities in the mix.
Even the vampires play second fiddle to the might of dragons and elves. During tourism season, the vampires visit Wallen to predate on the tourists who are not familiar with their kind.
As long as they do not kill anyone, these vampiric visitors are tolerated. Wallen is also has the original Sacred Mask Guild. This warrior Guild is managed by a Magus known as the Mad Elf Eric.
He named the Guild after the mask he was gifted by his Master Tori. The guild functions both as the police force of Wallen, as well as its military branch. It is all consolidated under one huge roof, known as the Sacred Mask Guild.
As part of the military training, anyone with a lick of magic gets training. A warrior with even just one spell is considered useful. In a cliff overlooking the ocean, there is a ruined Tower of Zuberus.
The ruins are said to be haunted, and due to its spooky nature; the citizens also use that place as a cemetery. The cliff is also a popular spot for the despondent to end their lives.
Since attempts happen so often, especially during times of war, there is usually eight unfortunate sentries posted there 24/7. The second most important Guild of Wallen goes by the name of The Ace of Hearts.
It manages all the entertainment venues in Wallen, with the “Club” being at the forefront. The Club is the place where all the tourists and sailors visits to unwind.
The second city that I have developed a lot is Jabberwocky. Jabberwocky is the former Capital of the Kingdom of Otan. It became an independent state in the second Sacred Mask book.
At the start of the second book, Jabberwocky lies in ruins, after the end of the Civil War. Overtime, the ruined city gets reconstructed. The only place that is more or less intact is the Pleasure Palace of the Elf King Wodanaz.
The palace was designed by Wodanaz himself, and it is a bit of a mean spirited labyrinth. Those with a servile, meek nature can easily find their way. Those with a spine, are punished by the castle, by making it impossible for them to find their way.
The castle also has plenty of magical traps, but they are currently turned off. The Inner Sanctum, and certain rooms of the palace have yet to be explored. Like its creator Wodanaz, the palace doesn’t want to reveal its secrets.
Jabberwocky also has its own Sacred Mask Guild. While the one in Wallen at times resembles a madhouse, the Sacred Mask in Jabberwocky is orderly and organized.
Instead of letting members pick their mission, Horati dishes out the assignments based on the abilities of its members. The other important setting is the Dragon Queen’s Fashion Emporium and School.
The bottom floor is a dress store, while the second has the school. A good portion of the third book takes place in there. The other core settings are the houses and apartment of the various characters of the book.
Describing their homes is a good way of dishing out background information about the protagonists. The technology in those two cities is a bit all over the place. Wallen has more science stuff, due to their proximity to Martisor.
As for Jabberwocky, they lean more towards magic artifacts. I think this is enough information about the setting of my Sacred Mask book. If you are curious about the book, it is both in print and in the kindle.
This is Teresita Blanco, the Artsy Sister. If you want to read it, I probably already wrote it. I have 30 something works already published. Bye.
