Ah, Aspik, the glittering center of civilization and invention--a monument to the cleverness of humans! Skyscrapers, trains, cars, alleyways, bars and business can all be found here, but not without a fantastical flare. Aspik is a city powered by steam technology (think steampunk with a hint of electricity here and there) with a large human population. Here it is not uncommon to see a car-sized machine with a belly of cogs and gears marching down the street along side horse-drawn carriages.

Machines and horses are commonly celebrated along with fashion, music, drama, and fine, fine food! The buildings are grand and edged in golds and silvers (or they used to be before all the smog discolored them). If you want to make it here, you'll have to have more than a couple of coins to your name.

:bulletgreen: Acliba
Acliba is an underground city for the 'crime' of Aspik. When not imprisoned, doers of bad (or the accused of bad) are forced down into Acliba, or forced to leave. More information will come later.

:bulletgreen: Characters
In Aspik, the mayor has ordered that any creature that stands above 15 ft at the head will be forcibly removed from the city. This means if your character is very large, it must either have or acquire a human or smaller form before it can enter!

Non-human creatures are accepted and supposedly have equal rights, but may be more likely to be accused of wrong-doing, and even wrongful imprisonment. There's no doubt about it, the humans outnumber you and they're in charge here.

:bulletgreen: Challenges
You may only proceed to the next set of challenges after you have completed one from the set before it.

Challenges are bendable. As long as you stay within a similar area of action you should be fine. If you have any doubts about what you would like to draw.. don't fret, just ask! You can include an interaction with someone else's character in any challenge theme (unless otherwise specified). Some suggest interactions simply to remind you that you can!

Star! REMEMBER! Each challenge submission should have this form filled out at the top of the description:
Character:
Town:
Stage:
Challenge:

EXAMPLE:
Character: Bobbyjoe
Town: Mellekori
Stage: 3- Citizens and Travelers
Challenge: 5, Magic Z-Psychic


:star: HOLD UP THERE, PARTNER! Remember, Aspik is not a Starting Area! Make sure you have completed the Mount Challenge for your character before sending them here!
Challenge 4:
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LIFE
T. :bulletgreen: Aspik has a little something for everyone. Take us on an adventure for a day or night (or longer!) in the city. Treat us to a picture story.

I. :bulletgreen: The upper-class of Aspik is fancy as all hell. There is always a fashion show going on somewhere in town--for people and their horses alike! The prizes offered can be anything from a trip anywhere in Hetherev to riches to a shiny new steammobial. Glue some gears on it and give it a shot!

ALCHEMY
O. :bulletpurple:(Dove) You've encountered an elderly man struggling with a crate of vials. Help him and he might reward you with a kindness, drop the crate and you'll get a face full of noxious fumes and who knows what they'll do to your delicate fleshy face.

G. :bulletblue:(Captain of the Guard) Duncan Aborford is the captain of the guard and has a well known grudge against shapeshifters. He's also a wear-cat, everyone knows even if no one will say it to his face. Something has spotlighted you as a shifter. Aspik is Duncan's territory and he's got the teeth to defend it.

MEMORY
Z. :bulletpink:(Psychic) At the university of Alchemy there is a room of many curious treasures that can bestow you with gifts in abilities you've never dreamed of. On a visit a careless instructor has left you alone there. Can you not touch? Not all gifts are good to have, or easy to hide, or easy to steal.

V. :bulletgreen: Though the city tries to deny it, magic even reaches into the gut of Aspik. It rains while you're out and about. On the ground the water forms puddles and rivers, but wait, what is that? The rain is making a familiar shape on the ground. What is it?

INVENT
B. :bulletblack:(Boneyard) You've found a curious looking box somewhere in Aspik. It rattles if you shake it. Take it elsewhere to have it unlocked but be careful not to be followed. Hmm, there might be something valuable in here. (Inside the box is whatever you want - but also a boneyard key)

A. :bulletyellow:(Construct) Come one, come all, it's GEAR GLADIATORS! Tinkerers and mechanics from all across the land gather in Aspik to battle their newest inventions in the arena. No magic allowed. Magic is for weenies.


Challenge 5:
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LIFE
T. :bulletgreen: The last thing you remember, you were leaving a building and BAM. Lights out! You awaken with a couple of non-fatal injuries and a much...smaller inventory.

I. :bulletgreen: Most people gotta eat, that means most people gotta make money. Be productive. Start a business, land a job, or find a place to live. Be careful that it's legal, if not, you might find yourself running to Acliba.

ALCHEMY
A. :bulletyellow:(Construct) In the city market you've come upon an article for carrying things. There's something inside.. it might be moving, it might not. What is it?

V. :bulletgreen: There is a University of Alchemy in Aspik that your character can enroll in. Have them visit. Can they afford to enroll, or will they find their name mysteriously already on record? Something isn't quite right here. It isn't healthy to accept such favors as free schooling. Your character may find them self working under an experienced instructor or... they may find them self lead down a hall to be chopped up in the name of Scientific curiosities.

MEMORY
G. :bulletblue:(Captain of the Guard) Your character has been framed! A bounty has been put out that will follow them throughout Hetherev, unless absolved. Whachoo gon do about it? (They may also be truly guilty of a crime, bendable challenge).

B. :bulletblack:(Boneyard) There is rumor of a deathless alchemist in Acliba who will grant any memory for a key to the boneyard. Many have tried, and even successfully brought him keys, but the doors to the afterlife refuse to open for him. He recruits you under the promise that if you bring a key you'll be rewarded with a memory-jarring elixir and gold.

INVENT
D. :bulletpink:(Dream) What's this? What a curious object! It  bares resemblence to a TV, but it has many screens and is in pretty  rotten shape. An apparition appears on screen, what now?

R. :bulletpurple:(Crow) You've been challenged to a race. It's rush hour and the streets are packed full, you gonna let that little halfwit show you up? Forget Duncan. Victory will be yours. Find something to race in.

Challenge 6:
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LIFE
T. :bulletgreen: There's only one thing that spreads faster than gossip in a place that's as crowded as Aspik and that's DISEASE. Your character is exposed to an unfamiliar sickness in the bustle of the city. What do?

I. :bulletgreen: Pigeons suddenly decide to try and eat your character alive. Yeah, that's all you're getting. You figure it out.

ALCHEMY
V. :bulletgreen: You acquire a bag of salt from a passing man in exchange for something else, bummer, you've dropped it. Hmm, the puddle of salt looks an awful lot like an arrow. Where does it point?

X. :bulletpink:(Poison) On a dare or by force, you've been made to eat frog stew. It ceases to be supper (or funny) when you become deathly ill. Better hope you recover! And what if you do? Will you be the same or was there something funny in that stew besides frog noodles?

MEMORY
F. :bulletpurple:(Fox) A local alchemist boasts in town square that he can recover any memory with his cure-all. Any memory. Does that mean he can recover the where-abouts of a profitable bounty, or more? Find out, but be careful, Duncan is nearby and law breaking is inadvisable.

A. :bulletyellow:(Construct) In the city's underground, alchemical constructs can find some hope of freedom in each other's company. Perform a favor for one construct, and it's likely that the mass will consider it a favor to all. Betray one and news travels fast. Meet a construct, and see what happens. They're more clever than they look, and they know a lot about some unexpected things, maybe even something about you.

INVENT
V. :bulletgreen: There is a festival in Aspik once a month celebrating inventors. All residents are invited to create an object and win a prize. There is just one rule. No magic allowed. What will you create to impress the judges, and what is the likely hood that it could go terribly, terribly wrong?

G. :bulletblue:(Captain of the Guard) The Captain of the Guard runs the city guard with an iron fist. You and he have differing opinions on socially acceptable behavior. You do or are accused of something in the city that puts you on his personal to do list. Perhaps you are thrown in jail, a bounty put out for you across Hetherev. Whatever you have or have not done, The captain now has a personal vendetta to bring you in alive and make you face the law. You will have to come up with a clever way to clear your name, or escape.

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