starrystorytellers | [starsand city]

STARSAND CITY

OVERVIEW
Starsand City is a modern city that fantasy reclaimed. Skyscrapers still rise in the city center and comfortable houses spiral outward into the suburbs. There are roadways for the few remaining cars and a trolley system that runs through a large portion of the city, making travel easy by foot. At first glance, it is an almost normal city. But take a closer look and you'll begin to see the signs of magic.

The most obvious being the spirits, which float through the cityscape like colourful fireflies. These spirits power the entire city, turning powerlines into what look like fairylights strung around the city and eliminating the need for fossil fuels. There are little shrines for them on most street corners, where people are encouraged to stop and give thanks for all that the spirits do. Spirits are a huge part of the culture in this city and you will see their influence just about everywhere. They have turned the once sleek and monotone buildings into pastel and jeweled works of art, and their magic allows for plant-life to grow all over the city.

The next thing of major importance is how Starsand City does not simply spread out horizontally. It is a towering city, built on top of itself. Each "level" has its own artificial sky and doesn't feel the slightest bit claustrophobic. If you reach the city's edge, you will see waterfalls pouring down many, many miles. The air is perfectly breathable, yet you are somehow miles in the sky. Whenever the city gets too small for its population, the Kami of Love simply adds another layer.

So far, it is stacked up to five levels and each level has a slightly different environment. Most activities take place on the top level, but it is possible for a curious soul to venture downward. There are a few glass elevators that will take people down, for example, on a journey that takes about 30 minutes from the top to the bottom. The alternative is to take stairs, slides, or board specific platforms that go from one level to another. Spirits are always around to make sure that no one falls to their death, so you can confidently enjoy the views... or not, if you hate heights. Because this stacked city is tall.

TOP LEVEL
The top level is where all new arrivals appear. It's called the 'top level,' because it is always the highest level of the city. New levels always appear underneath it. There hasn't been a new level added in about a year now.

This level of the city is also where most of the population lives. In the center of the level is a shopping district, with buildings up to 15 stories tall and various shops. There is a lot of spirit magic here, which manifests as pastel colouring on the buildings and jeweled decorations. Powerlines look more like fairylight strings and there is a lot of greenery, even growing out of the buildings themselves in ways that shouldn't be possible. Other than the pastel magic aesthetic, the area is fairly modern and may be familiar to many Fallen Stars from the 21st Century. A trolley car system will take citizens in and order of the shopping district for free.

As one leaves the city center, they will find that the top level gradually becomes more suburban. Shops have fewer floors and are gradually replaced with apartments and houses. There is also more greenery as you venture outward. There are no houses on the very outer edge of the level; Instead, there is untamed forest where spirits and wildlife live. This perimeter of greenery prevents civilians from wandering too close to the level's edge.

The top level is also known as being the most common place for Kami to set up their shrines. The most notable of which is the Shrine of Love. This shrine is to the East of the city center, where the land begins to slope upward into a hill. There is a humble village at the foot of the hill, filled with two-story shops and homes that reflect a Japanese architecture style. The hill takes about 15 minutes to climb unassisted and leads to an extravagant shrine. The Shrine of Love has a huge outer courtyard and wall surroundings its perimeter. Inside is a huge balcony that overlooks the entirety of the upper level and the wilderness beyond. Citizens are encouraged to visit for a cup of tea and some snacks, which have magical properties to encourage calm and healing.

In general, the overall vibe of the top level is modern fantasy. It's peaceful, easy to find housing and employment, and overall the best place to start your new Starsand City life.

LEVEL FOUR
Directly beneath the modern fantasy of The Top Level is a more fantastical level. Level Four is known as the place where spirits and magic reign without limits. The level is made-up of several platforms, which hang like floating islands and are connected by ladders, bridges, slides, and trainlines. It's like a platformer video game brought to life. Magic colours the air with a purplish tint and can be felt in the air like a perfume.

This surreal environment is constantly shifting and changing with the whims of the spirits living here. It does not follow conventional rules either: Buildings may be upside-down, a solitary doorframe may open into an entire house, a closet can open into a castle's interior... The only rule of these spaces are that they are attached to a spirit. If the spirit has a human companion to believe in them, then they can create any sort of building or space. Logic need not apply.

On the flip side, this level can be quite chaotic. It is where dreams are made, but it is also easy for fears and anxieties to be given magic form here. Monsters and phantoms can be accidentally spawned by negative thoughts, just as fairies and unicorns can manifest if someone looks for them. Fallen Stars can also find flora and fauna from their native worlds here, provided that they are looking for it. It is technically a magical imitation, but it will reflect the Fallen Star's understanding of what they're seeking.

Spirits have a much easier time manifesting here and make up the majority of the population. Their forms may not be corporal, but they are more than the glowing orbs of the other levels. This is because faith magic is so thick in the air that it is easy for their to obtain and use. It is difficult for the natives to find peace here and they rarely move in permanently. But that isn't to say that Fallen Stars cannot live here.

LEVEL THREE
The third level is a more settled version of the forth level. Whereas the forth level is a chaotic game of snakes and ladders, the third level is a flat surface. There is one small village here and it is surrounded by a magical forest. The forest seems to be where most of the wildlife has retreated to and goes on for miles. There are lakes, a beach, and designated camping locations.

There are two major onsen here, which are especially busy during the winter months. Characters are able to rent cottages year-round for a few days or weeks at a time. In essence, this is a level where characters can come to relax temporarily. However, the villagers are gentle but firm in their reminder that stays here should only be temporary. This level belong to the wildlife and the villagers see themselves as protectors of this land. They're quite adamant about keeping Level Three from becoming as modernized as the Top Level or as chaotic as Level Four.

In order to live here permanently, a person would need a three month old Spirit Contract. The commute to the Top Level takes about 20 minutes by glass elevator. Level Three refuses to connect directly to Level One.

LEVEL TWO
A level that is dedicated to farmland. This entire level is used for farming crops. Where there isn't visible soil, there are greenhouses. This is the Stardew Valley Level.

The only way to live here is to work on one of the farms. Visiting is allowed, but most parts of the level are off limits for safety reasons.

LEVEL ONE
The final level of the city is also where it all began.

Also called "the bottom level," this is the foundation of everything. The city here is modern, 2020s era, with a small city center that spirals out into residential neighborhoods. In fact, it looks almost exactly like the city from the Top Level... Just without magic. It is untouched by the magical colours and glamorization of the upper levels, where spirit magic makes building upkeep easy. Parts of this city are worn down and there are more visible cracks.

And that's just how the people like it! The people living here do not like spirits. They do not like kami. And they refuse to acknowledge either any more than necessary. There is a separate city government here, a separate currency system, and very few spirits. Though the people here have been warming up to spirit magic over the years, they still do not allow any shrines to be put here.

Except for one: There is now a small offering plate in the local park. This grassy field is in the center of the city and used to home a giant cherry blossom tree. All that is left now is a tree stump with a small sapling growing out of it. The offering plate is on the stump and the civilians do leave gifts for the little spirit inside of the sapling. They will sadly admit that there was once a kind spirit in the old tree, but that they were so caught up in their hatred for spirits that they ignored it. Nowadays, the civilians are trying to be more open minded... But it's very much a work in progress.

TRAIN STATION

OUTSIDE THE CITY

code bases by tricklet