TheNexusProject/Goliath
The Goliath District
by PsyBorgDan
The Goliath district is a unique and compelling district in the city of Nexus, comprised of a first age wonder, the district is named after what appears to be a gigantic suit of impervious armor kneeling across two smaller islands, arms splayed out to the sides of the armored body. Head bowed in defeat or supplication, the untarnished metal of the giant gleams in the sun, when the sun shines in Nexus, and the left arm of the giant bridges the Goliath district to the Cinnabar TheNexusProject/Cinnabar district, braced as it is against the hills bordering the Cinnabar district across one of the may rivers that comprise Nexus. The Goliath armor, having sat in the rivers of Nexus for countless years - remembered to be there well before the great contagion and the Fair Folk raising of the city - is now well moored to the hills of the Cinnabar district with cables and steel beams to make a usable bridge along the armor and into the Goliath district. The arm itself provides structural support, the more recent additions added to make transportation across the arm easier to cross on foot, or even in wagons in a clever assembly of pulleys and platforms. The Goliath district is the epitome of class divisions in Nexus, with an obvious separation of the poor and the rich according to the elevation the where the residents of the district call home. Actual residences in this district occur at seven different levels that have been built inside and outside of the suit of armor. The Goliath provides excellent foundation for homes and structures mounted to the outside of the first age wonder, the metal seeming impervious to anything the industrious Nexus-ites have been able to throw at the metal. Because the Goliath has never been known to move during even the most violent of floods, the higher one can find residence on the armor, the safer and therefore more affluent the home owner must be.
Even more impressive are the inhabitants that have been able to find residence inside the Goliath armor. Only two entrances are known to exist in the Goliath, both two-yeddim-cart sized 'hatches' in each armpit. Since the left arm is raised almost horizontally, the internal armor access is easiest there, with the entrance on the right side mostly relegated to foot traffic due to the limited space between the lowered right arm and the right side of the armor.
Only the most affluent and well off in the district are able to afford permanent residences inside the Goliath itself. Even the lowest level inside the Goliath is flood-proof as the armor itself is water-tight and the armpit entrances easily fifty feet from the normal river level. Different 'levels' inside the Goliath armor correspond roughly to levels outside of the armor, with internal structures and supports of the armor inside being used for anchoring points for created homes.
Inside the armor itself is a menagerie of first age wonders. Metal platforms, unbreakable transparent crystal walkways, giant unmoving cogs and flywheels, and ancient unknown writing adorn the inside of the armor, with plenty of opportune places to build a residence, or anchor a walkway. Light is a problem in all levels of the Goliath save for the very top level - the head of the armor, where clear crystals for eyes allow in the daylight - as the creation is sound-proof, water-proof, and apparently light-proof. Despite this lack of illumination, fire and candlelight are strictly forbidden inside the Goliath, where the smoke and chemicals from such flames drift to the top and are not easily released out of the armor. The expensive nature of living at the higher levels has helped dictate the policy, with the policy makers claiming that open flame is a fire hazard. Despite this, there is some illumination at the lower levels that comes from some of the different colored crystals mounted in the walls of the Goliath. The light tends to be low, perhaps as bright as full moonlight, but the dilatants living in the impenetrable armor have happily traded the inconvenience for the prestige and protection of living in the armor. The expensive houses in the Goliath usually have a large number of windows to make up for the lack of fireplaces and candlelight.
The kneeling form of the Goliath spans two smaller islands and many of the desperate and the poor make their homes on basically what amounts to a low floodplain. Unsurprisingly, the garbage, sewage, and industrial waste of the district end up on the lowest level outside the Goliath, only to be washed away when the rivers flood in the spring and once again in the fall. The particularly unprepared and hopeless members of the population are similarly washed away with the floods.
Individuals of Note:
Drex Humble - Self-declared 'overseer' of Goliath, Drex was installed by the Council to study and protect the Goliath from outside influence and tampering. Drex is a grossly fat and sadistic man who is constantly adorned with gold, gems, and expensive baubles. He takes pleasure in his position and regularly uses his Council appointed status to demean and humilate those inspire his ire or jealousy, typically a task as easily accomplished as appearing too successful (without the proper difference to the overseer) or speaking out against Drax himself. Drax and his staff are the only residents of the interior seventh level, residing in the somewhat spacious 'head' of the Goliath armor.
Despite his obvious flaws and ego, Drax is wickedly intelligent and cunning. The Council is well aware of his shortcomings, but continues to keep Drax installed in position of overseer due to his efficiency in running the small community. Taxes from the Goliath District never come in lower Drax's yearly estimate (a number independently verified by a number of council appointed auditors yearly) and always days early. Industry in Goliath is impressively advanced and sought after in Nexus for high valued added goods and Goliath is well known as the district to buy the best armor made outside of The Blessed Isle. Drax continues to be intelligent enough to be more of an asset than a hindrance to the Council. For now.
Tokar - A powerful wood-aspect dragon blooded mercernary, Tokar is rumored to be the first-born of Cynis Wisel of the royal House Cynis. Thought to have been sent to Nexus decades ago to secure slave trade between the Guild and House Cynis, Tokar is thought to have preferred the anything-goes attitude of Nexus over the back-door politics of the Isle and stayed on. Tokar now serves as Drex's mostly bored looking bodyguard and Master of Arms. Despite his constant napping amid high society functions alongside Drex, Tokar is known to be a brutal and efficient fighter, known for his impressive Jade Bow 'Inertia' appearing suddenly and firing into assassin between Drex and a 'companion' without opening his eyes.
Findel Catha - A Council appointed trader, Findel has, in recent months, been making moves to obviously take over operations as overseer of Goliath. Findel is well liked among the common people for his plain language and straightforward policies regarding the population of Goliath. Findel operates a simple and fair trading post and the only open market of Goliath on the fourth outside floor, between Goliath's right elbow and abdomen. Drex Humble has on more than one occasion publically derided and dismissed Findel as a 'woman-witted-river-rat.' Findel has recently renamed his trading post 'The River Rat' in response.
Blane 'Smiles' - Blane is the hard bitten mercenary captain of the only mercenary group residing in Goliath. Blane currently captains forty-two well seasoned mercenaries of the Goliath Guard. Despite the Goliath Guard's name, the mercenary group does not exist to police the Goliath District but instead serves as a somewhat elite defensive force specializing in withstanding cavalry charges and well known for their oversized shields and their expertise with both the pike and sword. 'Smiles' has his nickname not from his happy demeanor, but from a battle wound that scars his upper left lip through his jaw and up to what remains of his left ear. The scar pulls his face into a permanent sneer, his yellowed teeth constantly exposed. In truth, 'Smiles' is a clever but simple man, and his mercenary crew is reasonably honorable, but will follow money over conscience. The mercenary group has existed long enough that Blane knows to not commit his 'boys' to the losing side of any battle.
Kel Yun - Rumored to be an agent of Fade, an assassins guild thought to be headquartered in Goliath, Kel is a constantly smiling and optimistic spice merchant located on the exterior level three. Kel is always denying his involvement with Fade, happily handing out sweets to children and adults alike when they whisper to him about who might be looking for a subtitle pensioner or a silent blade. Perhaps the best place to hide is in plain sight.
