A Guided Tour

Our once-fair city is divided into a set of districts known as Quarters, which I will take a moment to describe in greater depth below. As it stands, Hollyside is split into six separate Quarters.

(Dave Note: As locations are introduced and expanded upon during the course of the adventures, the Notable Locales section of each Quarter will be expanded upon and added to.)

THE INDUSTRIAL QUARTER

One cannot think of Hollyside without immediately being flooded with images of the Industrial Quarter, which once promised to secure the prosperity of the city for decades to come with a myriad array of factories and wonders of automation-That was, of course, until the grand blaze of 1882 suddenly devoured the quarter (and singed so much of the city) entirely, leaving behind burned out ruins and smoldering rubble. Indeed, the very air of Hollyside maintains, to this day, a whiff of heavy sulfur and ash, a grim memory of this catastrophic disaster. Many believe that some kind of gasline malfunction or grand electrical surge was the cause of the blaze, while others believe that arson was the culprit.

As a result of the damage, the Quarter is almost completely abandoned. As a result, the lowliest of people take residence here, or those who are very much trying to keep out of public attention. Due to its generally unflattering appearance and desolation, many have spread wild rumors that the entire Quarter is thickly haunted with the restless souls of those who died in the terrible explosions and fires that engulfed more than half of Hollyside.

Notable Locales

The Liddenwald Arms Hotel: Our base of operations and home away from home, the Liddenwald was once a sprawling, grand hotel that still wears the black scars from the grand blaze, and now the old place acts as our forward operating bas against the forces of evil.

THE COMMONS QUARTER

Comprised mainly of apartments and row houses, the Commons Quarter retained only partial damage during the great blaze, and still stands relatively intact as a result. Once a haven of the middle class, the Commons is a shell of its former self, with most of the proper tenants fleeing Hollyside altogether in search of greener pastures, leaving behind empty apartments too expensive for most residents to afford. This is as close to a “posh” section of town as one will get in Hollyside, though there are still a few hard working folks who didn’t abandon the city and continue to call the Commons home.

THE BUSINESS QUARTER

Another ghost of Hollyside is the Business Quarter, where once bustling, prosperous storefronts could be seen far and wide and imported goods fetched hefty prices daily. Now, the place has devolved into a haven for crime and backhandedness after a mass economic exodus of shops have sent Hollyside’s economy crumbling. What businesses are left often fall prey to thuggish gangs selling protection or downright vandalism from the unruly elements of the city. Indeed, the sort of business being conducted nightly here is of a far bloodier variety than it was but a decade ago!

THE EXECUTIVE QUARTER

Located in the central heart of Hollyside, the Executive Quarter was largely untouched by the Great Blaze, and is home to all forms of administration and government. Here you’ll find the courthouse, Police Precinct, Prison, Cathedral and any sort of clerical function that keeps a city running day to day. By far, the Executive Quarter is the finest part of our beleaguered city, and many argue that it retains its shining allure due to the cancerous graft and corruption that its residents practice.

Notable Locales

Hollyside Police Department Headquarters: Police Chief Walton Rickenby and his army of Bobbies wage their endless war on competence and honesty from their vaunted station in the Executive quarter. While the Rippers and the Police have broadly similar goals of keeping mass chaos in check, our purposes are nearly always crossed-A pity, that.

THE PARK QUARTER

Towards Hollyside’s border lies a fog-shrouded strip of land that, much like the rest of the city, has been left to its own devices since the grand blaze. While only partially affected by the flames, the Park District is home to small outland farms and more rural folk.

Notable Locales

Tremerly Park: The Quarter takes its name from the famous Tremerly Park, which was once a gorgeous and well-kept garden trail that has gone neglected and unkempt for many seasons now. Where Tremerly was once a place for children to play and lovers to stroll, one wouldn’t dare walk its winding trails unarmed.

The Darkin Farmstead: Nathaniel Darkin owns the largest of the farms that dot the outlining border of Hollyside, and the farm contains some of the most fertile and impressive soil in the area. Old Man Darkin and his daughter, Violet, tend to the land with a small cadre of farmhands.

THE PORT QUARTER

Ah, my most favorite of all the Quarters! While every Port in the world has its share of shady dealings (and believe me, for I have been to most!), this one in particular is a true tarnished gem of the seas. With so many Ports in England, the only ships who risk sailing into Hollyside are the ones who aren’t looking to be detected, which makes the Harbor Quarter a dangerous place to be, even for a seasoned sailor used to more…rugged sorts. Seedy taverns, ladies of the evening and violence are all aplenty in this most lively part of town.

Notable Locales

The Port of Hollyside: Harbormaster Hollister Lidmont does what he can to keep the worst elements of the seas away from Hollyside, but his skeleton crew of staff means that the lion’s share of contraband makes its way inland without much hassle from authorities.

The Bleak Tide Tavern: A sordid and desperate place, the Bleak Tide offers all the unsavory amenities that any sailor or lowborn sort could possibly crave. A place where life is cheap and information costly, the Bleak Tide is a font of rumor and gossip.

Vaxmont's Lighthouse: The abandoned, defunct lighthouse at the edge of the Port Quarter stands looming and lonely on the city's coast. For some reason, this eerie landmark tends to avoid attention from the local populace, and those brave enough to trek close to the site may just be surprised at what memories they find here...