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Locations: The Falner Estate
THE FALNER ESTATE IN 2066.
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The Falner Estate is the headquarters of Netsach. It is a sprawling, beautiful, 400-hectare colocated space between Britain, Germany, and the Philippines, although the weather within the Estate grounds is almost always temperate and pleasant. The flora and fauna in the area gives both a sense of familiarity as it looks at first glance like things you’ll find on Earth, and borders between giving one a weird sense of otherworldliness and obviously coming from nowhere known to the Fifth World. Given the size of the place, the Estate is less of a compound and more like a town unto itself. The older buildings within the estate are gothic in their construction, and clear throwbacks to 19th Century Europe. The newer facilities, however, sport cutting edge contemporary designs that were clearly inspired by Fourth World architecture and technology. Getting to the Estate is easy; getting in is a matter of gaining clearance with the Arcanum, which often means that one has to be “invited” unto the grounds. Most folks won’t ever be able to enter Falner even if they’re right at the Main Gates of the Estate, and intruders will often find themselves staring down the barrels of several mechs that seemed to pop out of nowhere. If you’re welcome on the grounds, though, the best way to travel between districts is by using one’s own vehicle (or mount, depending on your inclinations), or by hitching a ride on the unmanned hover trams that roam around the entire grounds twenty-four hours a day. A character who is a Netsach Hunter will always, for whatever reason, end up at the Estate, or may find themselves living or training there. Furthermore, as of 2064, all Keepers of the Vigil have established a base of their own within the grounds of Falner. This means that any Hunter character in Welcome to the New Age, regardless of their compact or conspiracy, will start out on Falner. |
FALNER FOREST
THE FIVE DISTRICTS
The Falner Estate grounds have been divided into five districts. The original buildings of the Falner Estate are all in the Central District; the other “districts” used to be forested areas, free ranges or gardens. Things have had to change a lot over the past fifty years, as Netsach expanded and began to take on more members. SOUTH DISTRICT
CENTRAL DISTRICT
WEST DISTRICT
EAST DISTRICT
NORTH DISTRICT
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The Falner Forest used to run for about one hundred hectares to the west and east sides of the Estate, and for about seventy hectares to the north before the grounds “bleed” back into its proper locations in the Fifth World. Netsach has cleared out a sixty-hectare radius in order to expand the grounds of the estate, and make better use of the land.
A location that was rediscovered by a Netsach blade called Wolf’s Choice quite by accident in 2012. Voidsong is a three hundred-seventy-five foot Tower that once played host to the Adamantine Arrows of the Fourth World, along with their families. It’s a fully functioning marvel of Magience technology, and has been integrated into Falner Estate’s defense systems. Researchers from the different conspiracies, most especially Aegis Kai Doru, are still unlocking some of its secrets, and restoring some of the artifacts they have found within it. They’re paid generously for each discovery that they make by Vice Enterprises.
At present, Voidsong is the power base of the Adamantine Arrows of Asia. The chapter’s original power base (located in India) had been destroyed during the Darkest Vigil. It’s located within the west end of the Falner Forest, about an hour’s drive from the nearest hover tram station on the grounds. People need special clearance in order to take the hover tram that goes there directly, unless they’re members of Aegis Kai Doru, affiliated with the Arrows or have been invited there.
Aegis Kai Doru’s base within the Estate’s grounds is actually beneath Voidsong. Entering the Labyrinth requires diving beneath the lake fifteen minutes away from the tower’s location, and navigating through a series of booby-trapped underwater tunnels. Thankfully, Aegis has provided aqua pod transportation services for operatives and visitors alike that bypass all of the base’s defenses.
The architecture within the Labyrinth of Voidsong is Fourth World fare, and the place is fully equipped with magience technology and relics. Part of the Labyrinth has been cordoned off for Aegis to use as their initiation area for their operatives based in Asia. There is, of course, a direct port to Aegis’ barracks within the Shatterdome, but the Labyrinth itself has some sleeping quarters for anyone who feels the need to pull an all-nighter, working on their research. There is also a direct tram from the Labyrinth to Voidsong itself, exclusive to any operative licensed with Aegis.
Located deep within the Falner Forest, somewhere between Voidsong and the Falner Port. The ruins of the Nameless Sanctum were where Aidan Clayce, Riley Falner, and Orin took refuge while the Fourth World collapsed around them.
Anyone can go to the Nameless Sanctum; it’s become a popular resting area for hikers, and a bit of a date spot for the adventurous. There is, of course, a strict rule against hanky panky in the Sanctum, though, given its historical significance to Netsach and to the Fifth World as a whole. The Kaiser and the other Malice Kings enforce it with impunity.
The base of the Midnight Riders on Estate grounds, located right on the main road going to Falner Port. Beyond housing the offices of the Riders’ representative divisions, the Dragon’s Cradle also doubles up as the first (or last) checkpoint for anyone crossing to and from the Port and the Estate.
The Homestead’s constructed in a fashion typical to the Riders: the compound looks like a bunch of sturdy log cabins, and the checkpoint itself is reminiscent of Yggdrasil’s Roots in design and function. The base doesn’t have permanent living quarters since there are barracks on the Estate grounds, but it does have a very large rest house – a temporary stopover for any Riders who arrive at the Cradle, dead on their feet from traversing the Midnight Roads.
Built into and around the cliff face and cove that the north end of the Falner Forest tapers off into. The Falner Port serves as the airport, seaport, supply depot, shipping yard and manufacturing area of the Estate. There is also a Waygate to Terra and a direct submarine service to Nerieus, the so-called summer capital of Terra’s Atlantean race.
Falner Port is actually accessible from Earthbound locations, although any ships and planes that wish to reach it need to have a recognized resident of Netsach or an object from the Estate on board in order to find it. Furthermore, all visitors have to be cleared by the Midnight Rider operatives from the Dragon’s Cradle.
For people coming from the Estate grounds, Falner Port is accessible via hover tram. The roads that traverse through the grounds of the Estate also head cut into the north end of the Forest and head straight towards the Port.
Located deep within the Falner Forest, somewhere between the Falner Port and the Church of Violence. This particular Lodge is the “headquarters” of all of the Lodges of the Vigil of Netsach. Werewolves who have joined Netsach will, at one point in their career, be assigned to this Lodge and are welcome to live within it if they find that they cannot function well at Netsach’s barracks in the Shatterdome.
The Lodge is not accessible via hover tram, and it was deliberately built too far from the main roads of the Estate to make sure that it was isolated from most of humanity. People who wish to visit the Lodge are strongly encouraged to walk there on foot.
Located deep within the Falner Forest, southeast of the Church of Violence. The Dragon’s Pool had come into existence without the Voidseeker’s knowledge, and had once served as the incubator for the eggs of the dragons of the Fifth World. The eggs have been hatching consistently since the Breaking of the Veil: a reflection, perhaps, of the fact that conditions between the World of Light and the World of Darkness may be stabilizing.
Netsach’s Leviathan Division has built its main offices, testing grounds, research laboratories and dormitories beside the Dragon’s Pool, and the organization has taken to sharing these facilities with the research divisions of other compacts and conspiracies. This isolated location provides an ample amount of security and peace for their workers.
Located just within the fringes of the east end of Falner Forest, accessible via hover tram or the estate roads. This Church of Violence is the power base of the Brotherhood of Violence within the Philippines, and it has facilities for each of the compact’s representative divisions. Interestingly enough, the trees around and behind the church are all cherry blossom trees. They’re the only kind that grows around the grounds, ever since Inquisitor Setsuna Shinta of Netsach ascended in 2012.
Since 2066, the Spires has also become a Chapter Office for the Order of the Mani dello Spirito Santo. The Brotherhood has generously expanded the compound beyond the Church for the Order’s use, thus allowing the Order to build facilities for their own divisions.
Located deep within the east end of Falner Forest, and built in terraces against the face of a mountain. Gisi looks like something straight out of the more ancient buildings in Shin Yamatai, especially since it doubles up as a Temple to Brother Death, a Temple to Sister Fox and a Shrine to the Lady. There are also beautiful murals carved all around the base, right into the stone. One mural depicts the original Searing Wind in battle.
Gisi has representative facilities for each of the divisions of Zangyaku, a Ground of Measuring for special occasions (read: the ones that involve oni-tsukai kicking the shit out of each other), a sprawling training course for their operatives (fondly called the Sky Steps because of the way its built), and a castle town of its own on an area of forest that they’ve cleared out for the civilians who work for them and their families. It also has an entertainment district reminiscent of Gion, run by the Whisperers of Zangyaku. The entire place, power base included, looks breathtaking at night because of the will o’ the wisps that come out after sundown, the all-season wisteria flowers hanging from pretty much everywhere, and the Arcadian hozuki that grow on the trees.
On another note, Gisi serves as the gateway to the Lightless Lands of Arcadia. The Temple to Brother Death also has an Avernian Gate beneath it. Both are strictly guarded by some of the best operatives that Zangyaku has to offer.
It’s a three-hour drive to reach Gisi by tram or other means of transport; you know you’re getting close when you start seeing stone lanterns lining the either side of the road. The direct access points between the power base and the Central District of Falner and Zangyaku’s barracks within the Shatterdome can only be used by operatives of Zangyaku. People can move from the town proper to the gates of the power base through hover tram. There is also a hover tram service to another section of the entertainment district: a really, really nice set of mountain hot springs.
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A classy nightclub that looks like a large, monolithic black building with no visible windows from the outside; the name of the club emblazoned in bold, white letters on one side. It’s located in Makati, and while it’s most definitely open to the public now (especially the local supernatural community), expect to wait in line for a very, very long time – unless you’re a Hunter, of course.
It’s important to note that Haven isn’t actually within Falner Estate – it has, in fact, relocated to Jupiter Avenue, which is a good twenty-minute drive to the estate grounds. Prior to the Breaking of the Veil, however, Haven was the only entrance to Falner. The entrance has not closed, but only Netsach Hunters and their affiliates are allowed to use it.
Falner’s Maenad Division holds office on top of Haven, as does Ordo Daywalker. Some of Haven’s staff also live above the night club, on Netsach’s payroll.
The rather picturesque entrance into the Falner Estate grounds. The tall, iron-wrought gates are set between the granite walls that appear to encircle the Estate, are connected to the Central Road, and offer a generous view of the South District. It should be noted that the Main Gates never change in appearance, regardless of who happens to be looking at it, and from where. Hence, it’s a little eerie for tourists who come to the Philippines and end up stopping in front of Falner Estate. Many have said that it feels like they’re looking at a portal into Europe.
They’re right, of course, in more ways than one, and also very wrong in others.
Bastion is actually built within the thick walls that surround the Estate grounds; this fact will only become obvious when you’re on the other side, and you see its entrance a stone’s throw away from the Main Gates and on the other side of South District Station. All of the Methuselah’s divisions have representative offices within Bastion, and there is a direct access point to the Methuselah’s barracks at the Shatterdome, accessible to operatives of the Methuselah only.
Interestingly enough, when you enter Bastion, the walls facing Falner or facing Metro Manila are clear, thus giving the black coats wonderful views of the area on all pertinent sides. The bottom floors of Bastion also have a garage for the exclusive use of their licensed operatives: they are connected to the tertiary road system within Metro Manila, to allot for any quick response on Perses’ end to pertinent threads beyond Falner. People working at the base are assisted by virtual PAs and helpful, competent drones.
The largest hover tram station in Falner Estate, located to the west and right beside the Main Gate. Tram station buildings look much like the hover trams themselves in the sense that all of them look like futuristic takes on 19th Century architecture and transportation.
South District Station is, perhaps, the most important hover tram station within the Estate. It’s the jump-off point for visitors to Falner, as they need to register at the Vanguard Office within the station. Furthermore, most of them will not be allowed to bring their vehicles further into the Estate.
The free ranges on the other side of the Central Road, directly opposite of the South District Station. The Fair Grounds is the Estate’s designated events area. The graduation ceremony of Balamb Academy is held there, as is the Winter Festival. This is also where the Estate’s farms, apocetharies and smithies are located.
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A grand, four-floor Victorian mansion located right at the center of the Estate Grounds, and the home of Riley Falner himself. It used to serve solely as the headquarters of Ordo Daywalker, but it has been repurposed as the headquarters of Netsach itself. Hunters of Netsach are more than welcome to enter the Manor and lounge around in the many rooms that it possesses. Important guests of the conspiracy are also housed within the Manor itself, as are the Estate’s servants and staff. The Malice Kings all have their own rooms within the Manor, and the Kaisers of Netsach hold office on the fourth floor.
One of the most significant rooms within the Falner Manor is the Great Hall. Back when the conspiracy was still new, all Hunters of Netsach – including the Malice Kings themselves – ate together within the Great Hall as a reflection of the bond they now shared by choosing to follow the Dragon at all costs. While the Hall is usually just used by Hunters who have been assigned to Falner Estate or students of Balamb Academy, it still reflects the prevalent spirit of the conspiracy with stunning accuracy.
The fountain at the center of the Manor’s driveway is a statue of the Malice Kings of 2063; it used to depict the Malice Kings of 2012, but the Kings have agreed to change it in order to do homage to old friends who returned to the fray in order to help Netsach during its time of need. The water in the fountain is occasionally replaced by other elements, like fire or electricity – whatever strikes Inquisitor Rilea Heartnet’s fancy at the moment.
The Arcanum and the Observatory used to be located on the fourth floor of the Falner Estate. Both buildings can now be found directly west of the Falner Manor. Residents and Hunters alike go the Arcanum in order to study and read, and all CIC and archival divisions of the different compacts and conspiracies are welcome to share space with the Arcanum’s operatives here.
It should be noted that the Observatory plays a special function for Mages of the Vigil who have live on the Estate grounds. This is where Leviathan has constructed Demenses for all Five Paths, and it is also where the Conclave of the Pleiades’s chapter within Netsach hold office.
This building, located directly east of the Falner Manor, is where guests of Netsach are housed during their stay at the Falner Estate. It also serves as a temporary house for “special cases” of Netsach while arrangements on their behalf are still being made, and it doubles as a hotel during the Winter Festival.
Although it is significantly smaller than the Falner Manor, it has its own fair share of facilities and rooms to relax in.
These buildings are located in the northeast corner of the Central District, a walking distance from the Guest House. The Greenhouse is remarkably large, and clearly old in spite of how well it has been maintained; it is said that Riley was rather fond of gardening. The Aviary, on the other hand, showcases birds of all kinds for whoever wishes to visit.
Interestingly enough, these two buildings also contain direct portals to the Gauntlet, and the Dark Hour. They also serve as Hallows for all Mage Paths, and as a Locus for the Uratha and spirits.
A lovely, manicured, sprawling garden with a lagoon, located at the south end of the Central District and directly behind the Falner Manor. This is one of Aidan Clayce’s favorite sunbathing spots. It also happens to be one of Orin’s, but most people who come to the Estate for the first time don’t realize that Orin is alive.
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The West District is the Falner Estate’s residential area. Once a Hunter has retired or reached the rank of Inquisitor, he or she is given a plot of land within this district for their own purposes. Furthermore, Netsach allows Hunters from the regions that the Falner Estate is located in to move their families into this district if it is clear that they will not be safe in another location. It should also be noted that upon graduation, Hunters aged 21 and above who have been stationed at Falner can get plots of their own within this district, just to make sure that dormitory rooms are always open for new recruits to the conspiracy.
This district is more like a town unto itself within the estate grounds, and it has only grown larger now that other Keepers of the Vigil have taken up residence on the Estate grounds. Many of its residents have set up restaurants, cafés, and shops in the area; the homeowner’s association has even started a Night Market, and a bazaar that takes place every weekend.
The first pub that was ever built within the West District, and it is definitely the most popular pub in town since it serves as a nice counter-balance to Haven. People head to the King’s Rest when they’re looking for a quieter place to unwind in, or want to cool off their heels at a location closer to home. It is owned by Inquisitor Beckett Heartnet-Duskrider. Hunters from all compacts and conspiracies and Falner Estate staff get huge discounts, and occasionally get a round of drinks on the house.
The only hospital within the Falner Estate; the statue at in front of the main building of the hospital is of Inquisitor Liana Panilio-Frostholm herself, a Bladian and a member of the Rockin’ Rollas. One entire building within the hospital grounds is actually the Falner Estate’s Medical Bay for its operatives; it is also where the Clerics Division of Falner holds office.
On another note, the Panilio-Frostholm Memorial Hospital is affiliated with the Harper-Hartzler Hospital in the Visayas Islands. It is said that the statue was donated by Doctor Miriam Harper-Hartzler herself, upon Liana’s death. Suffice to say, now that the Scatterblade is back in black, she’s a little embarrassed about having a statue to herself on Falner…
A classy café by day and a lively bar by night, Liquidated’s customers are usually Rhiannon agents because it doubles as the Group’s gateway from the Falner Estate to the Rhiannon Towers in Taguig. It’s run by the Order of the Grateful Dead, and is one of the “new kids” on the block – it was built in 2064.
Quiz Nights happen at Liquidated every Tuesday night. Hunters from all compacts and conspiracies and Falner Estate staff get huge discounts at Liquidated, and occasionally get a round of drinks on the house when Good Things happen. Furthermore, on the rare occasion that the Dark Hour strikes within Falner, Liquidated is a Safe House for any operatives in the area.
The Regardi Residence is a sprawling, mansion build in the old Southern style, with a large garden in front and its own orchard behind it. It is located on the outskirts of town for a reason: it’s the power base of the Thrones within the Philippines.
Interestingly enough, the Regardi Residence was not always located within the West District; it used to be in the North District, overlooking the lake. The Thrones, however, moved it when they established the Crowley Estate in Milan. Nevertheless, the Regardi Residence serves as the compact’s second home in the Vigil: a lasting testament to their friendship with Netsach, the conspiracy that saved their lives.
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Located in the north corner of the District, on the rolling hills that lead up towards the east end of the Falner Forest; it provides a lovely view of the Central District, and the rest of the East District. The cemetery itself is neatly divided according to religion (or lack thereof). It is a recent addition to the estate grounds, born out of necessity during the Darkest Vigil; that much would be obvious to any visitor who cares to check the dates on the tombstones.
There are memorial monuments within the Falner Cemetery. They commemorate some of the major operations that Netsach has taken part of since 2012, and serve as a means to remember the Hunters who lost their lives in them.
The Block makes for an imposing sight, even for people who do not know what its purpose is. It is, quite literally, a building that looks like a single, black, monolithic block floating over the center of the man-made lake between Falner Cemetery and the Shatterdome. Large, black, jagged obelisks line the lake, and glow faintly with energy at night. Grooves along the surface of the Block itself light up in plain sight in the evening, and pulse like a heartbeat. There does not appear to be any way of entering the Block.
The Block is actually a high-security prison and holding facility of Netsach as a whole; it was where the strongest renegades against the conspiracy were held and interrogated during the Darkest Vigil, and the Second Coming of Grendal. It is also where Netsach used to contain operatives of theirs who lost their minds or their bodies to the insanity of Grendal. The facility is not active at the moment, which is precisely why it is floating above the water; it only submerges itself deep within the lake when there are subjects that need to be detained. The last time this happened was back in 2063, with ex-Valkyrie Commander Nelson Howard being the first of many maximum-security prisoners that needed to be contained.
This is the compound where Falner Estate’s Behemoth Division holds office, and it is perhaps the most contemporary-looking location on the grounds. It’s also the place that is most overtly military in its appearance. This is where the Armory and Hangar Deck of Falner are located, together with the Estate’s training halls, garages, and R&D facilities for its Hunters. During war time, the Malice Kings hold their war councils here. This is also where the barracks for all Keepers of the Vigil who call Falner their home is located.
Technically speaking, the Shatterdome wasn’t even supposed to be called the Shatterdome. A famous director who used to work undercover for Cerberus coined the term, as he felt that the compound deserved a name, and that it was tedious to simply refer to the individual facilities all the time. He later used the name in one of his films.
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This massive, sleek, and glorious-looking mobile fortress is likely the first thing that any visitor to the North District will see in the skies of Falner. During peace time, it hovers at a comfortable altitude far above the northern fringe of Falner Forest. During times of duress, it goes wherever it needs to go. It’s Taskforce Valkyrie’s power base on Estate grounds (or, more correctly, within Estate airspace), and houses offices for its representative divisions within its levels. It also happens to be the second power base that Valkyrie ever established since its reformation in 2063.
On another note, the Hecaton is not just named for the creature of myth because of its design; it was named by the upper echelons of Valkyrie as a means of doing homage to the HECATON unit, the precursors to Taskforce Valkyrie.
An amphitheater built in the classical style of Ancient Greece, located in the west corner of the district. The Agora is where people within Falner host concerts and performances. Outside of any events, though, it’s a popular date spot and park.
( For the mechanics of playing a character attending Balamb Academy, refer to this page. )
Netsach’s first and largest Hunter Academy, established in 2012 by Inquisitor Anna Larkin. It was originally meant to be a training ground for younger Hunters and relatives of Hunters, and a regular school for kids who had been orphaned by the Vigil. It has thus expanded its operations, and almost tripled in size since it was established. It’s also open to the initiates of all compacts and conspiracies – provided that they make the cut, of course, or get special clearance from topside.
The armory and training halls for novices of Netsach are located within Balamb Academy’s grounds; it does not have a cafeteria, but it does have a door that teleports whoever steps through it directly to the Great Hall in the Falner Mansion.
Balamb Academy’s dormitories and residential buildings for staff, instructors at Balamb alike, located a stone’s throw away from the academy grounds. The Residence Halls are co-ed; they’re divided by the types of residents they have, between students of Balamb, novices in training, Hunters in transition after graduation, and staff and instructors at Balamb. The Academy also runs twenty-four hours a day, six days a week – there are, after all, a lot of vampires in need of a good education. There are also a lot of civilians who take classes that are geared towards helping them understand their newly-awakened relatives.
Like Balamb Academy, the Residence Halls do not have their own cafeterias. Instead, each residence hall has a door that teleports whoever steps through it directly to the Great Hall in the Falner Mansion.
Falner Lake is located in the northeast corner of the district. It is the largest natural body of water on the estate grounds, and appears to attract friendly spirits to the area. As such, it has become a popular spot for residents of Falner.