Welcome all to the first Greater Díenstad regional expo, hosted in Fedala, which is the capital city of the Golden Throne. The theme of this year's fair is overland, maritime, and aerospace trade and the promotion thereof, which is a proper theme for a region of many large and great nations, which boast of large, wealthy economies.
The expo grounds themselves are held at the 2,500-acre Gardens of Jendora, named after the architect—the Díenstadi* Dedalo Jendora. They are built not fifteen kilometers from the great ruins of Dyalador, an ancient city that sat by the then-banks of the River Tagus. Now the Tagus, with transparent waters colored crystal blue, flows along the shorelines that wall the grounds from its west and south. A visitor will instantly notice the stark uniqueness of the gardens' architectural style against the Fedalan style with its pointed ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and its use of light and shadow for dramatic intensity. The Gardens of Jendora are style after the Díenstadi city of Macabea, known in the empire as the Old City and long standing as one of the region's busiest, wealthiest commercial port towns from antiquity into modern times. Buildings are more simple in trim and design, although they often showcase thick stone walls and plasters of different colors. Intricate woodwork is also a staple of Macabéan architecture, with wood used to add detail and life to a façade.
For a real life example, Macabéan architecture is very much like German colonial architecture.
I am a member of Greater Dienstad. What can I do in this thread?
Creativity is welcomed and encouraged.
The centerpiece of your activity will most likely be your booth, which can be as simple as a section inside one of the several large conference halls that sit throughout the expo grounds or a dedicated building just for you. I have not made a map of the grounds for the purpose of giving more freedom to you in choosing the sort of booth you'd like to run. Which size is right? It depends on how much you plan to contribute in terms of planning, running, and promoting your booth. The larger your section of the exposition, the more work must go into planning and developing its elements. To make it easier, here is a rubric to go by when choosing the size of your booth:
- One or two elements: A section within the conference halls;
- Three to five elements: A small building;
- Six or more elements: A mid-sized building.
Beyond setting up and running your booth, you can also participate in many other ways. You can visit other countries' booths, explore what they have to share, and get to know their cultures and contributions. You are also more than welcome to visit the other attractions available at the expo grounds, including museums, theater, and lectures. Strike up a conversation with a random expo-goer, deliver a lecture of your own, and build relationships with others.
You do not need to contribute a book-length post. Some of us may write long-form posts, others may write no more than a sentence. Both and all approaches are okay. The goal of this thread is to have a common venue where we can all contribute, in whatever fashion you prefer, so that we can get to know and learn more about each other. Your post can be as simple as a line of dialogue to no one in particular, leaving it open for whoever to pick up on the other end and continue the roleplay. Consider this thread a sandbox and a low-barrier way of introducing yourself to the region and to its players.
If you need ideas, I recommend that you to read the thread and see what others have been doing. This can be a great source of inspiration.
I am not a member of Greater Dienstad. What can I do in this thread?
Although only members of the region can run booths, any player is welcome to join us. The expo is open to all those who wish to participate, including all citizens of the Golden Throne and tourists in our country. You are free to participate in very much the same way a region member might, including visiting booths, initiating random conversations, and even partaking in international diplomacy.
What is there to visit outside the Gardens of Jendora (the venue)?
Visitors must also come see the Garden of Ger'gemelo, which marks the northern edge of His Imperial Majesty's imperial palace in Fedala. Covering some 15 acres of land, these gardens — typically open only three times each year — will be left open to the public for the duration of this exposition. See great fountains, thick, lush woodlands, and expansive flower beds and neatly trimmed shrubs. Ger'gemelo (1952–2011) was a famous Frommian architect who, apart from his work in Fedala, is known for the prominent influence of his taste and philosophy in the reconstructed post-Kríerstatón Epok Beda Fromm.
Parts of the Imperial Palace itself are open to the public as well. Visitors can see the quarters of the late Jonak I, founder of the second empire and grandfather to His Imperial Majesty Fedor I. Also accessible is the palace museum which displays the armaments, dress, and over 1,200 years of the Golden Throne's military history.
Fedala is a city of great museums. Just outside the city one can visit Barbakán 'Eloise', named after the mythical princess that launched the Jiridan Wars of the 13th century B.C.E. There, over a century of Macabéan tank history is on display, including surviving models of almost every vehicle used during the Kríerstatón Epok and after the refounding. Included in the display is the famous, or infamous, Nakíl 1, the very first model of the ubiqutous tank that remains one of the most popular main battle tanks in service around the world.
Other museums include the Heinor Museum of Natural History, the Lorén Museum of Art — named after the famous 17th century Frommian painter, Henoor Lorén, and focused on art of the 15th through 18th centuries —, the Jurg-Klens Museum of Art — specializing in art from the Kríerstatón Epok —, and the Museum of the Willed — a museum patroned by Fedor I and dedicated to showcasing the most highly praised art of the modern period. There are, of course, countless others spread throughout the vast city, including exhibits on aerospace, torture, automobiles, trains, and whatever else the mind can think of.
The number of attractions are countless and impossible to list in their entirety. You may be interested in visitin the Imperial Opera House of Vivolindo, or the Imperial Theater of Geralto, or perhaps the Baths of Old King Menar. There are also shopping malls, prestigious boutiques, and an observation center that sits high above in the mountains to the northeast. Explore Fedala and learn of its wonders.
Random encounters.
Don't have a story in mind? Visit one of the tourist sites, a booth, or walk the halls and have a chance of stumling upon a random encounter. In these situations, I — The Macabees — will roleplay a character or a group of characters that interacts with yours, with the purpose of helping you through a narrative. Think of it as a quest or a sidequest, like in an open world roleplaying game.
Can I initiate random encounters myself?
Absolutely. If you have a booth, initiate a random encounter that will guide them through your booth. It's worth it to plan your booth as some sort of adventure, that is give the other characters things to do.
How long do my posts need to be?
There are no length requirements. This thread is much like a sandbox thread. Roleplay is preferred over no roleplay, so write whatever way you'd like!
Have a question?
If you have a question or out of character commentary, please post in the OOC thread.
This opening post will grow as I add to it throughout the exposition.
___
* Díestandi, in this case, refers to someone from the province of Díenstad, which is the northernmost province of the Golden Throne. It should not be confused with Greater Díenstadi, sometimes shortened to Díenstadi, which refers to a citizen of the region.