Waysouth

Waysouth is a spa town and freehold capital of the Waysouth Freehold of Pem. Waysouth has been a health and holiday spa town resort since the discovery of mineral springs, as well as thanks to the (alleged) healing properties of the carrots grown in its soil.

The town is referenced in The Grate Book, where it is described as an ally of Pembleton besieged by mysterious monsters known as 'creepers'. Its name is derived from its geographical location, at what was once considered the farthest southern reaches of the Centrelands.

The city is situated above a large cavern, believed to be the the extinct remains of an ancient volcanic magma chamber. The collapse of the original, significantly larger chamber precipitated the cataclysm which destroyed Waysouth's forebear, the city of Okar. The remains of Okar continue to exist within the cavern, and the chamber has become a site of significant archaeological interest in recent years.

Though economically it has been surpassed in recent years by its western neighbour Port Auburn, Waysouth remains a dominant feature of the freehold, and is home to an eclectic mix of architectural styles. Pretty thatched cottages are also a mainstay of Waysouth, and its older buildings include the Mayoral Hall, Freehold Library and post office. However the centre of town has been extensively redeveloped since the growth of the spa industry, with Waysouth also becoming famous as the spiritual birthplace of the Proportionalist style.

## Economy

The city's economy is dominated by tourism, with around a third of the population being employed in the sector. The manufacture of high-quality timepieces and other high-quality luxury goods is another major employer, driven by the presence of the Company of Gearsmiths in the city, a thriving independent retail sector in the Lanes, and the high number of wealthy residents and visitors drawn to the city.

Agriculture remains significant despite the sector's share of the city's overall economy reducing in recent decades. In addition to Waysouth's famous 'golden curved' carrots - which can fetch hundreds of pounds at auctions due to their prized status - other produce includes honey, potatoes and barley.

## History

Waysouth's origins are uncertain, however its position near (and above) the site of the ancient city of Okar has led many historians to suppose that the original settlement which became Waysouth may trace its origins to survivors of Okar's destruction in 1135 BGE, who found their way to the surface following the collapse of the city into the underground ravine below. However, contrary to the extensive surviving written records from the Okari sources, no written records from the inhabitants of Waysouth survive from the early period of its existence, leading other historians to speculate that the settlers of Waysouth were migrants to the region who were attracted to the extensive ruins and arable farmland.

The earliest post-Okari accounts come from Pemblish chronicles, most notably entries found in The Grate Book, which described Waysouth as a town of small thatched houses with a forge and a modest central square which was notable for its mild climate the quality of the wines and carrots which it produced.

The city joined the Lesser Kingdom of Pem in the era of Gold's Grace (890-873 BGE) following the end of the Creeper War, but never achieved sufficient political influence for any of its mayors to be anointed monarch of the Centrelands.

## Districts

### The Lanes

The oldest part of the city, the Lanes consist of a range of narrow, picturesque streets filled with a range of small, independent shops. Bounded to the west by the ancient churchyard, to the north by the Port and Provincial railway, and to the east by rolling carrot fields, the district is also home to the Mayoral Hall and Passwell Memorial Archive, the Waysouth Post and Semnet Office, and the historic Waysouth Freehold Library, which dates to the lesser kingdom and is recognisable for its distinctive volcanic granite facade.

Much of the district is part of the Pemblish Heritage Lanes Conservation Area, which limits the redevelopment of the site to preserve the area's historic architecture and character.

The nearby 'church' of St Pikeal and St Tuesfea-on-the-Green (actually a cathedral, but not referred to as such by local residents) serves as the diocesal seat for the Waysouth and Southern freeholds. While the building and its accompanying churchyard and almshouses are not typically viewed as part of the Lanes, they constitute part of the city's 'Old Town'. The current church, opened in 48BGE in the Late Proportionalist style, was built to replace a previous ancient church which stood on the site until it was destroyed in a fire in 51 BGE.

### Bath Street

The road serves as the main thoroughfare through the city centre, and features a significant number of notable buildings - most notably the Grand Raqqonaisse Baths after which the road is named; the Waysouth Railway Hotel; Waysouth railway station ; and St Fidus's Hall, currently the residence of the Order of Gearsmiths and formerly the headquarters of the infamous Order of Worthies. The road also boasts a monumental fountain and wells at its mid-section, near the entrance to the railway station.

### Kipperhouse Square

A large, elegant square in the southwest of the city, Kipperhouse Square is the home of Waysouth's burgeoning nouveau riche - wealthy industrialists and guildfolk and members of the professions mingle in this highly fashionable district. Notably, construction tycoon Rich Uncle Gonk lives in the square, in a visibly upgraded house in the central row.

Like its eastern counterpart, Eavesham Square, Kipperhouse formerly featured a formal Carrot Field in the centre - however this was replaced around H.S. 434 with a formal quadrangle garden.

### Eavesham Square

A large, residential square in the southeast of the city, and counterpart to Kipperhouse Square. The square is the home the country residences members of the Pemblish and Rubellite upper classes and other elements of high society, with houses designed in the typical High Proportionalist style common to much of Waysouth. Known residents include steam tycoon Reginald Ham, Sunshine Coast co-founder Maximillion Maido, barrister and legal scholar Lucius Madius Esq, as well as members of the Pemblish Upper House, such as the Dukes of Coltar. The square is also home to the central headquarters of the Finn and Longmann bank.

The square also played a significant role in the history of Coltar as the home of several members of the Order of Worthies, including leader William Bismuth, 9th Duke Sawdus. The group, which operated for several years as a 'modern' alternative to the Rubellite Guild of Heroes, disappeared in 1GE. Investigations by the Imperial Guard found that the Order had been carrying out significant covert excavations beneath their headquarters in the city centre (now the home of the Company of Gearsmiths) in search of the lost City of Okar, and had violated several significant city planning laws during their work, particularly pertaining to subterranean land ownership.

According to evidence uncovered during the investigation, the Order had been attempting to uncover the city's ruined temple of Paramac, in the hopes of returning various artefacts (including two stolen from the Guild of Heroes during the Pembleton International Exposition the previous year) and gaining otherworldly heroic powers. Instead, misuse of the artefacts and the ancient temple's sanctuary caused them to be incinerated by divine energy. The relics of Paramac were never recovered following the incident, however reports of Heroes' Guild members in the area immediately prior to the event have led authorities to suspect that the Heroes' Guild attempted a recovery, and may have even been involved in the incineration of the Order's members. However, investigation into this possibility was abruptly ended, likely due to the potential diplomatic crisis that would ensue had the Guild been accused of involvement in the deaths of multiple Pemblish and Hanseatic noblemen.

Following the incident, Eavesham Square fell from grace as a fashionable residence for several decades, despite high-profile holdouts such as the George, 8th Earl of Kerbal, and Emsley, 17th Duke Coltar retaining ownership of their property in the area. In addition to the empty homes of the Order's former members, many other former residents of the square also moved out to avoid association with the scandal. However, Pemblish Heritage has argued that the unfashionability of the square arguably helped to preserve the original character of the area while areas such as the square's western counterpart were subsequently redeveloped. Thus, the Eavesham Square retains its original Carrot Field - a once common feature of fashionable areas once believed to offer health benefits due to the 'vapours' carrots were believed to produce.

### Wade's Forge

A relatively new district in the city's northwest which saw rapid development following the redevelopment of the city centre, and the relocation of its existing residents. Further waves of development occurred during the reconstruction of the railway interchange between the Grand Trunk Railway and the Port and Provincial line, and again following the establishment of an outpost of Archaeologists' Guild associates tasked with investigating the ruins of the ancient city of Okar in 5GE.

The district is named after a forge which stood on the site of the Worthy's Arms inn at the westernmost edge of the district, near the lake. Contrary to popular belief, the current forge which sits at the northern end of Firefly Street is not the original forge, and was established nearly 80 years after the first recorded mention of the name for the district.

The district borders Derwater Lake, a large freshwater lake of volcanic origin popularly used for boating. The Worthy's Arms, an inn popular with ordinary townsfolk - as opposed to the upper class residents and visitors to the city who typically frequent the Waysouth Railway Hotel or Cafe Firefly - sits on the eastern shore of the lake. The Arms is a quaint former coaching inn which was once popular travellers along the Auburn Road before the coming of the railways.