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World Building- Locations
Rodengrad-
Rex's hometown. Nestled between two places of historic importance that are monsters instinctively feared, Rodengrad was quite peaceful. Sandwiched between the Holy Mountain, the well-protected entrance to Heaven, and the city that housed one of the Four Noble Weapons, the time/space manipulator Levithan. The history behind these places is little understood by the humans who live there, ignorant of their fortune. Their main business and export are scavenging the remains of the city. About 19 years before the series began, a recently disfigured Helen Arany decided to live there with her newborn son as it was both relatively safe and out of the way. She became a local hero and the town expanded under her protection, building trade routes. Unfortunately, they relied on her too much and brought about her demise. Attempts to force Rex to replace her at age 7 and his subsequent failure to do so lead to him being unfairly ostracised. The newly expanded town attracted monsters and it was not until a grown Rex, newly chosen as the hero, tested his might at 19 that they returned to their peaceful ways of before.
Zagoria-
The country with the world's largest military, Zagoria has numerous satellite city-states that align themselves to it for protection. Zagoria takes every orphan in their jurisdiction and raises them as part of their army. Many parents willingly hand their children to the state because they will at least not starve to death. The more central areas are better protected. Rex and Mel briefly join the Zagorian military under false identities to obtain training and equipment. Thanks to Rex's machinations, he receives the loyalty of numerous people high-up in the army, including one of his maternal half-siblings. Very roughly analogous to Russia.
Wishing-
A city-state founded by Cedric Staines, Rex's father. Occasionally referred to as the closest thing to a pre-war society, it was built by repairing some of what was once the capital of the Global State. Cedric is ostensibly the scientist in chief, but he has developed the entire nation around a cult of personality which places him and his family at the centre of the culture. A police state, using advanced brainwashing techniques to control its citizens. Most residents believe most of the propaganda, but none of them believes it all. Even those who do not remain for the comforts and security of a modern city built like a fortress. The lower classes are put to work expanding the occupiable areas of the city.
Happney Land-
Once the world's largest theme park, Happney Land in the modern-day is ruled by a spirit that loved it at its peak. It uses powerful magic to ensnare the minds of those who cross its boundaries, seeking to make them all as joyful as they once were with a population of two million. It is one of the only places where humans and monsters live in harmony, though it is nothing but an illusion. Monsters appear as humans in mascot suits there, while humans all appear as children. Rex, at one point, considers a similar level of control on a global scale to be one solution to end the human and monster conflict. When the illusion is lifted, the humans and monsters can neither bring themselves to live together or fight and prefer to return to the world of delusion. Only two decide to leave- the loving couple Hebe and Jeebie, a monster and human. Mel considers them to be a hopeful sign that the conflict can end. Rex feels it proves only one in a million can set aside their hatred.
Brighten-
A small island kingdom that stands between Rex's home continent of Yllria and the continent of Dreem, Brighten is one of the more secure and stable nations. It does its best to harken back to an earlier, romanticised time of swords and sorcery. Appropriately, it's considered the country with the most advanced magic and famous for its particularly tough knights. People come from around the world to attempt to learn in their magic academies, but they are resolutely elitist. Only the most talented or rich people can attend. Brighten maintains its security by having a zero-tolerance policy for monsters, eradicating any that emerge from the land and protecting their coast vigorously. They're similarly hard on criminal activity, and their elitism extends to how the nobility treats the commoners.
Witchberg-
The people of Witchberg like their magic the way they like their coffee. Black, at midnight and dangerously strong. Originally founded as a haven for magic users who wanted to do weird stuff, the population is now split between such people and serving as a hideout for wanted criminals. Witchberg is a town for crooks, and they know it. It is surrounded by a dark mist of illusion which purportedly tests that entrants have a black heart, forcing travellers to perform increasingly evil acts in illusionary scenarios until they give up (or go mad). In truth, the only way through the mist is to realise it's a scam and scam it right back. This makes it an effective defence against the incredibly noble who either refuse to participate or can't fathom it's a trick or the irredeemably evil who often keep trying forever. Unfortunately, the mist also occasionally results in men and women who stay in the fog so long they can no longer discern what is an illusion, and treat the real world as more tests to prove how evil they are. Inside Witchberg, things aren't quite so grim. It's a lawless town, but residents recognise what a good thing they've got going and don't tolerate those liable to ruin it. Justice is on the basis that if someone is a dick, no one will deal with them and if they're a massive pain in the ass, they'll get kicked out by a mob or murdered. 'He had it coming' is a valid defence in Witchberg. Most of the people who live there permanently are magic sorts that like to do stuff best not talked about in public, who usually fund their projects by offering services to others who make their living as criminals in the outside world.
Resorts-
During the war, a splinter group of the Global State determined that mankind's defeat was inevitable, and humanity was doomed to extinction or slavery. As a result, resources were diverted to the creation of hidden institutions, code-named resorts (which allowed them to be surreptitiously spoken of, such as saying one planned to visit 'the resort') but also as a reference to being the 'last resort.' The resorts were designed to conceal a segment of the human population, but they were not mere bunkers made to protect them. They were populated by the most valuable scientists and mages in their fields, the resorts outfitted to allow them to advance towards the goal of creating a revenge weapon capable of causing monster extinction. When the vision of a monster dominated world never came to pass, the resorts original purpose was rendered redundant. But rather than using their resources to assist in rebuilding the post-war world, they remained hidden and decided to continue surreptitious research into methods of conclusively ending the war. Knowledge of the resorts is sparse in the modern-day, though most interact with the outside world at least a little. Rex's father is from a resort named the Technopalace and is one of the few to permanently leave a resort. All of them have names that sound like tourist attractions, though this detail is lost on the modern inhabitants. Even ones called Giggle Garden or Splashtown are considered names to be proud of.
Mt. Megadeath-
If Witchberg is the place where criminals with a certain level of standards meet, Mt. Megadeath is the spiritual home of the humans who have discarded any sense of morality. Raiders who have had their hearts consumed by the hardship of the world gather at Mt. Megadeath, gangs of bandits competing for control of the territory. The chaotic shanty city is where many bands go after scoring big, to sit back and wait for their latest loot to run out. This is because it is believed by many to be the home of the God of Megadeath, who grants those that please him special powers. In truth, it was just built on top of a resort called Cyberama, which specialises in cybernetically enhancing humans to make them a match for monsters. The residents of Cyberama randomly snatch targets of opportunity, strengthen them in the labs and then release them back into the world to test their new features in real-world conditions. There are countless baseless superstitions from attempts to rationalise why a particular bandit disappeared and returned with rocket launcher hands, interpreting signs that don't exist and attempting to curry favour with a force that isn't listening. The closest thing to a stable presence on Mt. Megadeath is the Slaughter Order, a religious sect which seems to have a decent handle on the hearts and minds of visitors.
Rex's hometown. Nestled between two places of historic importance that are monsters instinctively feared, Rodengrad was quite peaceful. Sandwiched between the Holy Mountain, the well-protected entrance to Heaven, and the city that housed one of the Four Noble Weapons, the time/space manipulator Levithan. The history behind these places is little understood by the humans who live there, ignorant of their fortune. Their main business and export are scavenging the remains of the city. About 19 years before the series began, a recently disfigured Helen Arany decided to live there with her newborn son as it was both relatively safe and out of the way. She became a local hero and the town expanded under her protection, building trade routes. Unfortunately, they relied on her too much and brought about her demise. Attempts to force Rex to replace her at age 7 and his subsequent failure to do so lead to him being unfairly ostracised. The newly expanded town attracted monsters and it was not until a grown Rex, newly chosen as the hero, tested his might at 19 that they returned to their peaceful ways of before.
Zagoria-
The country with the world's largest military, Zagoria has numerous satellite city-states that align themselves to it for protection. Zagoria takes every orphan in their jurisdiction and raises them as part of their army. Many parents willingly hand their children to the state because they will at least not starve to death. The more central areas are better protected. Rex and Mel briefly join the Zagorian military under false identities to obtain training and equipment. Thanks to Rex's machinations, he receives the loyalty of numerous people high-up in the army, including one of his maternal half-siblings. Very roughly analogous to Russia.
Wishing-
A city-state founded by Cedric Staines, Rex's father. Occasionally referred to as the closest thing to a pre-war society, it was built by repairing some of what was once the capital of the Global State. Cedric is ostensibly the scientist in chief, but he has developed the entire nation around a cult of personality which places him and his family at the centre of the culture. A police state, using advanced brainwashing techniques to control its citizens. Most residents believe most of the propaganda, but none of them believes it all. Even those who do not remain for the comforts and security of a modern city built like a fortress. The lower classes are put to work expanding the occupiable areas of the city.
Happney Land-
Once the world's largest theme park, Happney Land in the modern-day is ruled by a spirit that loved it at its peak. It uses powerful magic to ensnare the minds of those who cross its boundaries, seeking to make them all as joyful as they once were with a population of two million. It is one of the only places where humans and monsters live in harmony, though it is nothing but an illusion. Monsters appear as humans in mascot suits there, while humans all appear as children. Rex, at one point, considers a similar level of control on a global scale to be one solution to end the human and monster conflict. When the illusion is lifted, the humans and monsters can neither bring themselves to live together or fight and prefer to return to the world of delusion. Only two decide to leave- the loving couple Hebe and Jeebie, a monster and human. Mel considers them to be a hopeful sign that the conflict can end. Rex feels it proves only one in a million can set aside their hatred.
Brighten-
A small island kingdom that stands between Rex's home continent of Yllria and the continent of Dreem, Brighten is one of the more secure and stable nations. It does its best to harken back to an earlier, romanticised time of swords and sorcery. Appropriately, it's considered the country with the most advanced magic and famous for its particularly tough knights. People come from around the world to attempt to learn in their magic academies, but they are resolutely elitist. Only the most talented or rich people can attend. Brighten maintains its security by having a zero-tolerance policy for monsters, eradicating any that emerge from the land and protecting their coast vigorously. They're similarly hard on criminal activity, and their elitism extends to how the nobility treats the commoners.
Witchberg-
The people of Witchberg like their magic the way they like their coffee. Black, at midnight and dangerously strong. Originally founded as a haven for magic users who wanted to do weird stuff, the population is now split between such people and serving as a hideout for wanted criminals. Witchberg is a town for crooks, and they know it. It is surrounded by a dark mist of illusion which purportedly tests that entrants have a black heart, forcing travellers to perform increasingly evil acts in illusionary scenarios until they give up (or go mad). In truth, the only way through the mist is to realise it's a scam and scam it right back. This makes it an effective defence against the incredibly noble who either refuse to participate or can't fathom it's a trick or the irredeemably evil who often keep trying forever. Unfortunately, the mist also occasionally results in men and women who stay in the fog so long they can no longer discern what is an illusion, and treat the real world as more tests to prove how evil they are. Inside Witchberg, things aren't quite so grim. It's a lawless town, but residents recognise what a good thing they've got going and don't tolerate those liable to ruin it. Justice is on the basis that if someone is a dick, no one will deal with them and if they're a massive pain in the ass, they'll get kicked out by a mob or murdered. 'He had it coming' is a valid defence in Witchberg. Most of the people who live there permanently are magic sorts that like to do stuff best not talked about in public, who usually fund their projects by offering services to others who make their living as criminals in the outside world.
Resorts-
During the war, a splinter group of the Global State determined that mankind's defeat was inevitable, and humanity was doomed to extinction or slavery. As a result, resources were diverted to the creation of hidden institutions, code-named resorts (which allowed them to be surreptitiously spoken of, such as saying one planned to visit 'the resort') but also as a reference to being the 'last resort.' The resorts were designed to conceal a segment of the human population, but they were not mere bunkers made to protect them. They were populated by the most valuable scientists and mages in their fields, the resorts outfitted to allow them to advance towards the goal of creating a revenge weapon capable of causing monster extinction. When the vision of a monster dominated world never came to pass, the resorts original purpose was rendered redundant. But rather than using their resources to assist in rebuilding the post-war world, they remained hidden and decided to continue surreptitious research into methods of conclusively ending the war. Knowledge of the resorts is sparse in the modern-day, though most interact with the outside world at least a little. Rex's father is from a resort named the Technopalace and is one of the few to permanently leave a resort. All of them have names that sound like tourist attractions, though this detail is lost on the modern inhabitants. Even ones called Giggle Garden or Splashtown are considered names to be proud of.
Mt. Megadeath-
If Witchberg is the place where criminals with a certain level of standards meet, Mt. Megadeath is the spiritual home of the humans who have discarded any sense of morality. Raiders who have had their hearts consumed by the hardship of the world gather at Mt. Megadeath, gangs of bandits competing for control of the territory. The chaotic shanty city is where many bands go after scoring big, to sit back and wait for their latest loot to run out. This is because it is believed by many to be the home of the God of Megadeath, who grants those that please him special powers. In truth, it was just built on top of a resort called Cyberama, which specialises in cybernetically enhancing humans to make them a match for monsters. The residents of Cyberama randomly snatch targets of opportunity, strengthen them in the labs and then release them back into the world to test their new features in real-world conditions. There are countless baseless superstitions from attempts to rationalise why a particular bandit disappeared and returned with rocket launcher hands, interpreting signs that don't exist and attempting to curry favour with a force that isn't listening. The closest thing to a stable presence on Mt. Megadeath is the Slaughter Order, a religious sect which seems to have a decent handle on the hearts and minds of visitors.