Cathedral of Shadows |
The Cathedral of Shadows, also called the Heretic Manor, is an oddity in Amala. No matter who enters, how many enter, or from where, the interiors of each Cathedral and the masters in charge of the ceremonies within are all disturbingly identical, to the point that some suggest that there is only one true Cathedral with entrances scattered across Amala. No one else seems to ever be there other than the group with whom one enters either, and the masters are silent about the matter.
This tolerance might be, however, because of the necessity of their peculiar art of demon fusion. By momentarily stripping the body away from the spiritual matter common to all demons, the master uses an arcane ritual to join the souls together and craft a new body from the old ones fitting to the result. In this way, demons can grow stronger and gain knowledge quickly by sharing it with each other, and their summoners gain ever stronger allies. It is they alone who can do this among all the summoners and demonologists in Amala, and as such their services are in high demand. They are also the creators of the Demonic Compendium, a reference program that keeps track of the myriad demons that summoners might encounter as they ply the routes of Amala. The interior of the Cathedrals are all the same. No windows exist, nor any features other than the three central towers used for fusion and a slightly raised platform for the master. A cool mist covers the floor, lending to the mystery of the place. Lighting is dim and sparse except for the platform and towers, which are illuminated with the only bright lights in the entire Cathedral. When fusing, the “parent” demons – sometimes including a third demon as a sacrifice - enter the towers and ascend to the top, where they disassemble and recombine into a new demon with knowledge and memories from all “parents,” with the strongest personality among the “parents” emerging to the forefront. The origin of the Cathedral of Shadows is, in some ways, even more nebulous than that of Mu. While certainly much easier to find, no one's found out when the Cathedral first appeared, or who the first master was, or why he or she began to practice demon fusion. There are those who propose that the first master was connected to Steven, the enigmatic creator of the Demon Summoning Program, if not Steven himself, but such rumors have never been conclusively proved or disproved. The masters also refuse to talk about anything except fusion, and as such there is precious little information for those seeking an answer. |
Supply Stores |
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Without provisions and medicine, life would be more or less impossible, even for demons. Because of this, supply stores are common sights among the many worlds, ranging from wandering traders to world-spanning franchises. All supply stores stock several necessities for humans and demons alike, with many possessing distinctive products or services that set them apart from the pack.
Common Wares:
Common Medicines
Specialty Wares
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Healing Fountains |
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Often created by a potent blessing from a powerful demon, healing fountains represent the pinnacle of any given world's ability to heal. Despite the term "fountain," they aren't necessarily based around water, though most are. For a fee, visitors are cured of all that ails them, be they suffering from diseases, injuries, or even powerful curses. Understandably, these fountains are unable to take care of everyone, and so prioritize the more serious cases, leaving the rest for normal hospitals and clinics.
The Sea of Binah |
Armories |
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Violence is a fact of life in Amala, no arguments about it. When the aid of demons is unavailable or insufficient, human and demon smiths alike are quite proficient in the creation of weapons and armor. Whatever a buyer's preference, it will most likely be hanging on a smith's display rack if you know where to look. As can be expected, smiths have their own specialties.
Edmund's Rare Goods Wares
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COMP Terminal Facilities |
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For those without wearable COMPs, the lack of information on the go can be an issue. In these cases, COMP Terminal facilities are, depending on one's location, a real convenience or a necessity.
Relax |
Other |
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Madam's Bar Even the neutral ground of Binah can be seen as a battlefield for the Churches. Proselytizers fight for people's attention, opinions, and allegiance almost daily, and Ishtar grudgingly allows it as the price of peace. However, there is only so much conflict anyone can take, and so there is a spot where even the Churches put aside their agendas. That spot is Madam's Bar, the titular hostess of which is a particularly old Nyx. There, even opposing members of the Churches can sit and enjoy fine liquor and discussion, which leads to the other reason the bar is tolerated; information brokerage. Madam's ears are sharp, and for the right price, she barters information much as she would an aged brandy. She's quick to remind any who listen that her information is still partially culled from unreliable sources, but none begrudge her what they see as an honest effort to serve her customers. Quarter Time Arcade Vizionz Cinema Dual Worlds Arena The Crimson World |