Post by Jay on Jan 13, 2018 16:20:41 GMT -8
ALTO TOWN
[Old Information]
Introduction & History The 'Hearth of the Forest', Alto is a city submerged in forest and mountain and blessed with natural hot springs. These are a prominent tourist attraction, and the heat a source of natural energy. Alongside this, Alto has a number of endeavors toward various forms of clean energy, and is often riding a line between conserving nature and using it to humanity's benefit. The areas around the city remain home to some of Veria's oldest native populations. A little more than a century ago, however, miners came into the area in search of mineral ore and oil. Instead, they found natural hot springs and have since cultivated the area into a city surrounding this, bumping elbows with the native population in the process. Tensions seem to escalate and de-escalate frequently. Though conflicts between a native population and old and new immigrants are a large source of strife, the city gladly welcomes those who want to come |
Population & Culture Tourism related to the hot springs helps bring business into an otherwise secluded town, and a certain degree of logging and use of the minerals found in the springs bring in a fair amount of revenue. Many of the shops and stores are geared towards basic needs or play into the very 'natural' aesthetic the town portrays, such as shops that sell healing crystals. Herbalism and old age medicine comprise a significant portion of the economy, as well as numerous biologists and researchers that occasionally come in to learn more of these practices. Much of their health care is a mix of standard new age practices and old remedies, often making it the place to go when you’re out of luck elsewhere. There are quite a number of small entertainment amenities that cater towards the relaxed, quaint nature of the town. As a low-cost, high-enjoyment form of entertainment, Pokemon contests are a little more common to see on the local hobbyist scale in Alto than most cities. There is also a fairly high population of artists and musicians, taking inspiration from the forest and in some cases blending styles with different cultural influences. The oldest inhabitants of Veria comprise what is considered the native population of Alto. There are three major tribes, each with different customs and histories. One thing they all have in common though is that they are spiritual people who feel very tied to their lands, cultures, and traditions. In that, they often think of themselves as one united people against some of the businesses that at times threaten their lands or practices. There is a considerable amount of racial tension among groups. The native people have felt encroached upon by the newer population for years now, and tensions often run high when the groups try and delegate. Tensions are especially high where water is concerned. Due to these tensions and rapid changes in population as tourism fluctuates, a lot of the government in the area is rather unstable. Laws will get passed only to be pulled up again at a moment’s notice. That said, the population is not strictly divided, and some of the native population has begun to integrate to varying degrees into the city. Racial tensions seem more prominent among older folks, with younger ones sometimes more willing to compromise or at least be amicable, though of course there are exceptions on either end. |
City Structure Alto is nested in the foothills on the southwestern end of the Paradise line, and as a result has a pretty even climate- warm summers and cool winters with perhaps 2-3 heavy snows a year. It is built to resemble and reflect the forests around it, which has led the town to be built inconsistently. Certain streets lead to inexplicable dead ends while some twist and turn all the way around to places you were not expecting to find, making it easy to get lost. Thankfully there seem to be quite a number of wooden structures and carvings that you can use for identification of places. The people who call it home have little trouble, but for tourists, getting around often entails knowledgeable Ride Pokemon or cab drivers. The hot spring water is piped into a majority of the buildings, and their earthen brick or wood base make it easy to feel cozy. There are numerous hotels and bath houses that cater specifically to tourists. In some parts of the city, where the forest is thicker and the trees their tallest, you can find large circular platforms built around the trees and/or treehouses nested into the branches, including some small locally owned shops built this way. The platforms are connected by sturdy wooden bridges, and create an upper level in those parts of the city, although they are a minority of its total area. |
Points of Interest The Great Woods surrounds the bulk of Alto and then extends into the Rugged Heart Forest. The latter is much harder to traverse than the prior, but the prior is where the bulk of the Alto natives make their homes. There are, of course, numerous hot springs in town as well as those in the surrounding areas further up the mountain. You could say they're a pretty hot spot. ;D |
[Old Information]