Bin Agal

Bin Agal

Bin Agal consists of two Districts, one facing the past and one facing the future. The prior government of Grand Convergence was another attempt at an interdimensional authoritarian empire which failed like the rest, based out of the district of Anos.

The District of Anos was originally built around a Spire that has long since gone dormant, with access now strictly regulated to that of the Spireguard and occasional maintenance groups. Although the subject of countless rumors, the city keeps to its public-facing explanation of 'Public Health Concerns' when regarding the lockdown.

The general architecture of Anos is weathered but carefully well-preserved, some of it dating back further than living memory. The district can be labyrinthine on its best days, with countless secrets abounding in the Old Town pathways and forgotten buildings.

After the old Spire shut down, much of the commerce and residential traffic gradually migrated to the next active one, forming what would eventually become Bin Agal, or the Upper District. Although built on ruins themselves, the Upper District has a far less preservationist attitude and features sweeping, impressive swathes of residential buildings and offices. The 'new ideals' of Bin Agal as well as a great deal of money followed after the Spire, with the Upper District remaining one of GC's more upscale residential areas if one can look past the air of tension. After all, what happened once can often form the basis for future fears.

Culture

Although tending to be quite metropolitan, the assimilated ruins of Bin Agal lend it a decidedly avant-garde tilt. Libraries and museums are common here, sometimes built into the ruins themselves. Whether public or private, many of the buildings evoke an atmosphere of 'standing on the shoulders of giants' while a dizzying array of murals, artwork and performance styles rapidly circle around each other in sweeping arcs.

Despite the chaos of their art scene, natives of Bin Agal are encouraged to remain neutral in regards to the affairs of other Districts. Discrimination is subtle and slights are easy to miss, but the people can make their displeasure felt with those who intervene too strongly or allow outside interests to sway them. Travelers looking to settle in Bin Agal can ingratiate themselves with the locals by donating their knowledge as well as showcasing good-faith efforts that they have cut ties with their homeland.

The Arbitrators

Forbidden from possessing outside interests, these professional arbitrators are given the power to handle binding agreements by the city's legal system. They can be hired to observe and record agreements intended to be backed by the full force of the law. These agreements are stored at the Grand Courthouse using special devices that are heavily resistant to tampering or fabrication.

Joining the Arbitrators is a rather lengthy and difficult affair, requiring an encyclopedic knowledge of GC law, resistance to natural and supernatural influence and the ability to determine the truth and adjudicate logically and fairly, on top of the normal expectations of residence and good standing in Bin Agal.

There are many less official arbitration services available elsewhere, but many consider them suspect at best, especially since these shady services have only the backing that the local areas can enforce, unlike the Arbitrators themselves.

Points of Interest

The Council Building: The largest government building in GC, the Council Building is a stunning combination of towering glass and steel housing most of the city's governmental employees. Police presence is high, and weapons are strictly prohibited, with special dispensation made for those unable to easily disarm. It has been repaired and refurbished several times due to multiple iconic battles in GC's history, but it remains one of the most prominent and iconic buildings of Bin Agal.

Grand Courthouse: While every borough maintains it's own local courthouse, any violation of the Grand Laws are tried at the Grand Courthouse. These judges are appointed directly by the council, serving as the highest legal authority of the land. As there are relatively few cases before the courthouse at any one time, judges are few but highly respected in their field. The ivy wreathed building is surprisingly large considering it's caseload, housing not only the courtroom but also the city's legal offices and primary law library. The building perches in it's own secluded courtyard of the Anos district, and it's architecture embodies the older, intimidating gothic architecture that characterizes it's surroundings.

Temple Circle: Located at the base of the defunct spire of Anos, the Circle is a raised section that houses many of the city's major temples. The circle itself serves as a thread that binds the disparate faiths with a tasteful blend of muted colors and measured architectural dignity. It fades into the background to allow the individual traditions and styles of the temples to shine.

While greatly respected and revered, the gods and their priests hold no official power within the city. Smaller temples branch out into any given borough, but the faithful often make frequent pilgrimages here for larger services or occasions.

The Oubliette: When the central government migrated to Bin Agal, it left behind a shockingly staid building that was both sprawling and incredibly well-fortified, much like the Council building is now. It lay empty for some time before the decision to turn it into a prison for GC's most notorious and dangerous criminals. It houses few prisoners, each one considered too dangerous to be allowed to work off their debts. Each cell is specially designed to counter the skills and abilities of the specific prisoner it was made to hold, and the guards are some of the most loyal, well trained and committed people in the city.

Central Precinct: While each district maintains their own police force, coordination is sometimes not only necessary but vital. Hence, the Central Precinct was formed. Located in Bin Agal, it remains a hive of activity, designed as the central database for all known criminals in Grand Convergence, a headquarters for those few investigators approved to work across multiple boroughs and a place to safely train special forces units used across the city.

The Grand Stage: Built from a set of particularly ornate ruins left in Anos, the Grand Stage is the centerpiece of cultural life in GC. Plays and productions are frequent, as is the showcasing of individual talents or designs. Due to long-standing tradition, there are no restrictions on who can put on a production as long as it will harm anyone. (These terms are quite liberally defined, as include any effect that might 'change' others, even temporarily) There is a timer that also restricts the duration, though one can leave before said time runs out. It is somewhat of an art in and of itself to cut through the constant lines, with those jockeying for place often turning queue spots into favors or funding.

Gallows Row: Originally a site for public executions with the old government, this site has been converted to a solemn site of remembrance for the people killed in Grand Convergence's darker history. The central feature of the park is the Pillar of Freedom: A large cylinder of polished granite, inscribed with the name of everyone who given their life protecting Grand Convergence and its people.