Tales tell of a city in the far northeastern reaches of Oblitus, a haven of misfits with no other place in this forsaken land. Some call it Heaven, some call it Hell; but the reality of it all is that this metropolis is none other than The City of the Damned, Abaddon. 634 years ago on this exact date it came to fruition, and every year after an annual festival has been held to celebrate this very fact. The biggest citywide event of the year, it has come to be known as The Festival of Ethos, or Ethos for short. The two current leaders of the city – hailed as king and queen to some, but mere founders to others – oversee the Ethos every year, their immortal lives never failing to see them through every decade of death and rebirth to pass.
This city is where your journey begins; and possibly, where it will end. The day starts off at 7 in the morning, 5 hours before the Clock Tower will toll its mighty bell. All around the city, the chill of the winter air can be felt as Abaddon's citizens start their daily routines in preparation for the occasion. People of all races can be seen running around the slate-lined streets, flitting about to and fro as decorations are set up in all corners of the houses and buildings aligning the town square. Streamers of midnight blue and golden hue hang from the top of stone archways, casting their delicate shadows over the ground below. The Clock Tower has been done up with its own similar decorations, continuing to be worked on as some of the winged residents of the city take to wrapping it in various colored ornamentations. An extensive banner hangs below the clock itself, presenting the name of the festival in carefully-crafted calligraphy.
Those with color changing magic have set the fountain in the town square's water to periodically cycle through different shades of reds, pinks, yellows, blues, purples, etc, a fine sight to any travelers passing through today. From the view of the Clock Tower, one can see the Temple of Reverence looming tall and important not far from the central vicinity. Throughout the square the merchant's are setting up their goods on wooden stalls, counting their stores and setting their prices for the day to come. What seems to be most popular today are carnival foods to enjoy during the festival – candied apples, popsicles, shaved ice, chocolates, scones, roasted and peppered meats, and more. There are also a a few merchants selling little trinkets, such as small, feathered dreamcatchers and intricate figurines, like dolls for children to play with. Your usual games that involve popping balloons and testing your strength lie around here as well. There's a wheel of fortune to spin and earn money with luck, and even a supposed fortune teller's booth. There are also stalls catering to different races; things like fresh glasses of blood for vampires (who knows from where), and slabs of raw meat for lycanthropes.
Further into the city, one will pass by the residential neighborhood that surrounds the square, and the other buildings within. The Two Talismans Tavern lies to one side, a medium-sized building of weathered redwood advertising its inn, hot springs, and fresh drinks. The Residential Hall sits not far from it, where a short play will be hosted today in the theater, a silly show detailing what the people know of the historical events that went into the founding of the city. Few will be in the library today, but its doors are still open to all wanting to relax and retreat from the bustle of the day's festivities to sit and read a book. The hospital, or The Sanctuary, makes its own little appearance across the street, and will likely be getting an adequate amount of business today from all the rowdiness that will surely take place. Couples of all kinds sit on benches out here, laughing together and playing with their kids in the early morning.
And if you decide to go yet further into the city, you will be on the outskirts; The Fringe. Out here there are even less people, but the guards at the front gates today have doubled, and are letting travelers in with much caution. The massive Bellum Amphitheater serves as the main attraction in this lonely part of town, and will no doubt be hosting a bloody gladiatorial tournament later on in the day, to any who would find such a show enlightening. Yes, this is The City of the Damned in all of its glory, and tomorrow will bring a quieter day. But for now, the Ethos will be starting soon, and the preparations are coming along nicely under the careful guidance of The Envoys and their advisers. So, citizen, you may ask yourself this – what exactly are you doing?