Fulfwotz

Overview

Fulfwotz is the capital of the New Sammichian Empire, located in the northern section of the Demmatrodine Region. It is one of the largest cities in the Shire, and serves as an important economic center, as well as a trading hub of the southwest with its neighbor, Sol. It is an SUN World Heritage site, due to the remnants of the ancient tribes that used to reside in Bongva Valley.

History

In approximately 2,200 PRY (Pre-Reckoning Year), a tribe of nomads inhabited Bongva Valley, using tools of stone to hunt their prey, which mainly compromised of the now-extinct Bongvian Mountain Goat. Ancient hieroglyphs found in caves within the mountains depict harsh and short lives for the indigenous Bongvites, partially due to the fact that they ate the goat meat raw, causing health problems later on. Eventually, bacteria in the raw meat caused infertility in the women, and the Bongvites soon died out.

Later, in the year 200 PRY, the growing Lilladonian Empire begins to branch out into the western frontiers of the known Shire with hopes of establishing a colony. The Lilladonians chose the now-empty Bongva Valley because of its natural mountain defenses, and the proximity to the water. After a few years, the small colony of Fauna is established. It was small, weak, and strategically unimportant. All this changed when gold was discovered beneath Fauna. The town thrived, and became one of the most important centers in the Empire. The streak of prosperity continued unbroken for many years, until 130 PRY, when trouble began brewing in the north. A rival empire was growing, and challenged the size and power of the Lilladonians: It was the Old Sammichian Empire. In their capital of Ceriumuse, the Sammichians were growing jealous of the fortune to be had in Fauna. Knowing if the Sammichian Empire wanted to be the most powerful that Fauna would need to be taken, Emperor Fikkle the First sent out a fleet of thirty ships to take Fauna from the Lilladonians. Commanding the fleet was the legendary Sammichian hero, Ser Leif. On December 12th, 122 PRY, Ser Leif sailed to Fauna in the dead of night. Believing that their town was safe, Fauna guards were out drinking at the pubs; but Ser Leif's fleet arrived, and began cruelly slaughtering every man, woman, and child in sight. Over 4,430 Faunites were murdered that night, while a group of 50 managed to escape across Enderfulf Bay, where they evolved into the current Enderian race. It is remembered as one of the most brutal and bloody conflicts in known Shire history.

Fauna was now in Sammichian control, and in gratitude, Emperor Fikkle allowed Ser Leif to rename it. It was renamed Fulfwotz by a drunken Ser Leif, and the Empire rejoiced. However, the festivities stopped when the Sammichians discovered that the Lilladonians had left the mines dry. They soon relied on trade, building up the town into a small city. As trade increased, Fulfwotz's influence grew too. Soon, power began shifting from the capital of Ceriumuse to Fulfwotz, the Emperor even taking up permanent residence in Castle Mugg. Eventually, due to a shrinking population and poorer opportunities, Ceriumuse was totally abandoned with thousands of years of history behind it, and the Empire was completely dissolved in 134. Fulfwotz remained as a large kingdom, ruled by the powerful Ich Dynasty.

King Cephluss the Mad

A turning point in Fulfwotz history was when King Cephluss the Mad was coronated in 1253. He is considered one of, if not the most insane Ich monarchs who had ever lived. He was cruel, unstable, and combative, yet Fulfwotz saw the largest amount of growth under his rule. Many great construction projects were put in motion, such as St. Flafbenz Holy Cathedral, the Cephluss Colosseum, and Trinity Candle. He even annexed nearby Enpeecee villages, forcing them to pay tribute. But probably the most memorable exploit of his was the famous Cephluss Incident, where he nearly bankrupted the kingdom and emptied the Treasury into DePrey Institute, funding research for a time machine using ancient dark magic. It was done successfully, and new technology from nearly 1,000 years in the future was brought back. King Cephluss was originally intent on keeping the technology within the kingdom, but upon his death it was shared with the Shire, advancing the world at an alarming rate. King Cephluss was supposedly buried in the Fulfwotz Royal Crypt, but there are conspiracy theories that King Cephluss never left the time machine, and is stuck years into the future.

Civil War

Fulfwotz was considered the main aggressor in the Civil War of 1927, which lasted until 1929. It declared war during a period of rapid expansion and imperialism, after a small town refused to be annexed and threatened the life on the then-King. Naturally, the kingdom became outraged and waged war on the town, before sides were chosen and the two main forces met in several different battles, the Overtakers, led by Fulfwotz, and the Liberators, led by the opposing town. Fulfwotz was winning in the beginning, but with the lack of troops in the city, it was vulnerable to Liberator occupation, which soon happened. In 1928, the city was occupied by Liberators and was set on fire. A large portion of the city was destroyed, but after Fulfwotz lost the Civil War, it somehow became more powerful than ever and incorporated itself as the New Sammichian Empire.

White Plague

During the White Plague in 1968, DePrey Institute in Fulfwotz was the forefront of discovering a cure for the deadly lymphrosis strain. Fulfwotz itself was quarantined to prevent the spread of the illness, but was soon infected after the quarantine was compromised. Nearly 1/4 of the population was killed due to the large Sammichian population, whose immune systems are very susceptible to the virus. The infection of the city led to serious repercussions in the Shire economy, with the music, film, and television industries based largely in Fulfwotz inactive. Work inside DePrey Institute continued, until a vaccine was developed and distributed amongst the Shire.

Districts

The city of Fulfwotz is divided into numerous distinct districts or neighborhoods. A large amount of them form downtown Fulfwotz, AKA Fulfwotz Proper, with several others existing as incorporated townships annexed into the city limits. There are two districts devoted to corporate interests.

Districts of Fulfwotz Proper

• Oldetown
• Harbor District
• Theater District
• Watchtower Hill
• Ich Square
• Commercial District
• Follywood
• Grand Flafbenz Plaza
• Farside Park
• Edgewater
• Seaside Park
• Castle Mugg

Township Districts

• Feverly Hills
• Pinecone Village
• Fulfton
• Venezia Beach
• Cephluss Heights
• Sandy Springs

Districts Devoted to Corporate Interests

• Shady Grave Retirement Village
• Follywood Studios

Culture

Fulfwotz is a very media-centric society, due to the presence of major industries such as music, television, and film. Its citizens enjoy a large amount of personal liberties and freedoms, and their devotion to the Empire. Fulfwotzians are known for their opinions on sexuality, which is not an issue in most imperial settlements due to the fact that Sammichians are inherently bisexual, and are able to choose their gender at a young age. Those who never undergo the procedure to assign them a gender grow up to be intersex, who still retain all of the rights guaranteed to others.

Despite the freedom in Fulfwotz, it is regarded as one of the most unfriendly cities in the Shire, thanks to the high Sammichian population. It is also renowned for its high crime levels, which you would not expect from the city's outward appearance, but many say it's probably one of the most dangerous cities today. Criminals flock to the city because of the very lax laws which legalize nearly everything except murder, theft, and corruption in the government, which still happens in large amounts anyway.

Controversy

While visiting Fulfwotz would not suggest it, Fulfwotz is commonly regarded as corrupt and despicable. It is largely believed that the Empire has a hand in the Shire Black Market, dealing weaponry and low-level classified research from DePrey Institute for profit. When the Shire United Nations demanded that the Empire (Fulfwotz primarily) withdraw from Black Market trade, the Empire responded with a suicide threat that included the signatures of 198,405,320 imperial citizens. Knowing that these people would most likely commit suicide, and wanting to prevent inciting the largest genocide in written history, the Shire United Nations withdrew the allegations.

Notable Locations

• Abyssinia Hotel - The Abyssinia Hotel was an important location during the Liberator Occupation in 1928, being retrofitted into a command center for the Liberator army. The owner, Georges R. Abyssin, was pro-Overtaker and poisoned over 90 high-ranking Liberators with his wife, Norma. They managed to convince the Liberator force it was tainted drinking water because the water filtration system was no longer in operation since the occupation.
• Castle Mugg - The royal residence of Emperor Sammich the Magnificent, the castle has become a cultural icon and is easily recognized by many Shirefolk. Towering and imposing, just like the Fulfwotz ego, and opulently furnished, it is one of the oldest structures in Fulfwotz, even being inhabited by Lilladonian lords thousands of years ago.
• Church of Sammintology - Not to be confused with the religion in practice, this is the headquarters of the Church in Feverly Hills. Formally the Château de la Fièvre Hotel, it was purchased by the church in 1988. It serves as headquarters, a celebrity center, and hotel for Sammintologists exclusively.
• DePrey Institute - One of the most respected scientific institutions in the Shire, DePrey Institute is a leader in science, technology, sociology, and so on. Located in a massive castle larger than Castle Mugg itself, it has many departments dedicated to different fields of research. It is heavily guarded as most research that goes on inside are government-funded and classified, but tours are open to the public.
• Follywood Sign - Like Castle Mugg, the Follywood sign has become an international culture icon, used to denote Fulfwotz in all forms of media. It was built by the entertainment company of the same name in 1979, and
• Fulfspyre
• Grand Fulfwotz Terminal
• Hoppe Home
• Seaside Gardens
• St. Flafbenz Holy Cathedral
• Trinity Candle