Shoku Valley

[Nova Lycan]

Every rose has it's thorns

       

Within Sheng, a certain part of it anyway, there resides an area that not many known about due to what it has become. A place where the abandoned, forgotten, and exiled have gone when there was no where else to go. This place has been around since the earlier years when times were far more strict and honorable, and death seemed too good for the ones that did not follow the more proper ways. A place where the poor and less fortunate could often be found, where orphans were left to rot and more than likely die. Depressing, yes? Well, due to these facts, the area became less well kept and thus less scouted by law enforcing individuals. And in that time, as the eyes of the government dwindled, it ended up gaining the worst kind of element: 

   

The criminal kind...

      

Welcome to Shoku Valley
   

As the criminals, unruly vagabonds, and the ever opportunistic types came about, soon the Valley would not only see new life but would see the area cleaned up...sort of. Sure, there were new buildings, old ones were refurbished and made into something more profitable, there were even people in fancy clothing walking around with coin. However, all of this was done in the way that benefited the crowd that took over, all because there were no righteous types to stop them. Of course, there were attempts but...those of that caliber soon found out that just about anyone can be swayed with money. Of course as they founded this new way of life for the Valley, a sort of hierarchy came about. One where there was but a single overall rule to determine who was on top: Only The Strong Survive. And the sad truth is, a lot of the people that live here actually don't like it like this. Those that just try to escape their old life only to end up here, even those that have no choice at all like the babies that get abandoned because of familial and political complications...but then there are those that would not have it any other way. Much like the 'ruling class'.

   

Especially the ones that primarily enforce that one simple rule: The Shi Clan.

This clan came into power during a time where the Valley was at it's weakest. There were no magi that could stand up to their might, nor were there any that could muster the strength to even attempt such. Thus they organized this hel to create a paradise ruled by them. Since then, not many have tried to deal with Shoku Valley, any who have tried to clean it up have met a very gruesome end. While this is the case, there are other clans as well, many that are led by example the ruling clan sets, and in turn their despicable lives go undisturbed. Soon, slowly but surely there will be none who can make it right, and eventually the debaucherous plague that is this seedy underbelly will likely consume Sheng...or maybe just a portion of it. Who knows?
   

And with many that tend to travel from Sheng, to end up in other places, perhaps there may be a resident of the Valley amongst them. Maybe the criminal plague will spread in a different way.