Novesperoj

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Novesperoj is a small underwater city.

Background[edit | edit source]

Originally called the New Home Project, Novesperoj was built under considerable secrecy between 1936 and 1940. The project was started by wealthy industrialist Andrew Langford and later picked up his son Alexander after his passing. The Langfords are descendants of early English settlers to America, originally settling in the Connecticut area. They are among the wealthiest families in the nation, with business interests in numerous fields.

From the outset, New Home was designed to be a safe haven from a world plunging headlong into conflict. The Amity Association, a peace promoting group led by Andrew and later by his son, had studied global events carefully for some years and believed a second world war was coming, and sought to avoid it at any cost. To that end, Andrew poured the assets of the family's holding company, the Langford Group, into the project. Numerous advancements in materials and technology made by the Langford Group allowed construction to be possible and to progress quickly. Preparations were fully completed in late 1940 and the city received its first residents in early 1941.

Location[edit | edit source]

The city is located in the Gulf of Saint Lawrance at the confluence of the Anticosti Channel and the Eskimo Channel, due west of Stephensville in Newfoundland and Labrador. It sits at an average depth of 350 feet (58 fathoms or 106.68 meters). Its borders measure approximately 1.5 miles in the north, 4.1 miles in the east and west, and 3 miles in the south. None of its buildings rise taller than 15 floors from the seafloor. It has a current population as of 1/1/1942 of 21,047 people. It is divided between twenty districts, with its five residential districts covering nearly half of the city's land area.

With limited exceptions, the city's existence is not known to the outside world. The city generates its own power, creates its own atmosphere, purifies its own water, grows and raises its own food, and mines for its own minerals. It is completely self-sufficient and remains otherwise isolated.

Government[edit | edit source]

Districts[edit | edit source]

The city has twenty districts. Nearly half of the city is covered by its residential districts. Every district has numerous auxiliary facilities in it - constable stations (law enforcement), interlinc stations (public access communications network), pneumo stations (citywide mail service), and wellness stations (basic healthcare service, found in every district except the Medical Pavilion).

Adonis Resort[edit | edit source]

A vacation, spa, and fitness centre, popular for parties, social events, and holidays.

Aequitas Hall[edit | edit source]

Seat of city government and administration, the president's office and the Populum chambers.

Asgard Station[edit | edit source]

Central HQ of the city militia, home to the EPHEMERIS city defence system.

Arcadia[edit | edit source]

The city forest and gardens, serves as one of the city's primary oxygen production areas.

Carlton Terrace[edit | edit source]

A functionally designed middle class residential neighborhood.

Ceres Green[edit | edit source]

Hub of city agriculture and food production, also an oxygen production area.

Farmer's Market[edit | edit source]

Hub of all grocery shopping in the city, with shops selling fruits and vegetables, meats, bread and cheese, wine, beer, and more. Goods both fresh and packaged are sold.

Florin Court[edit | edit source]

A cozy middle class residential neighborhood.

Fort Frolic[edit | edit source]

The entertainment district, site of numerous shops, venues, gaming halls, and eateries.

Fortuna Commons[edit | edit source]

The central business district, home to the main offices of numerous companies as well as many shops and product showcases.

Industria[edit | edit source]

The city industrial district, site of numerous factories, workshops, and production facilities. It is also home to the main city power plant and the Via Rail maintenance depot.

Malden Square[edit | edit source]

A warmly decorated upper class residential district.

Medical Pavilion[edit | edit source]

Site of all healthcare services in the city.

Minerva's Den[edit | edit source]

High technology hub, home of the CUSTODIAN supercomputer.

Olympia Heights[edit | edit source]

A tastefully decorated upper class residential district.

Persephone[edit | edit source]

Central HQ of the Novesperoj Constabulary and the city detention centre.

Port Oceanus[edit | edit source]

Home of the city submarine fleet, fishing operations, and heavy transit services.

Rand's Fountain[edit | edit source]

The city centre, connected directly to Aequitas Hall and Fortuna Commons.

Shady Acres[edit | edit source]

A comfortable middle class residential district.

Welcome Centre[edit | edit source]

First stop for new arrivals, providing orientation and support getting established, as well as a museum explaining the city, its history, and its technological accomplishments.

People[edit | edit source]

A. N. Langford[edit | edit source]

  • full name - Alexander Nathaniel Langford
  • portrayed by - J.D. Vance

President and CEO of the Langford Group, President of Novesperoj. Born in New York City in 1900, he is an only child and 1921 graduate of Harvard Law School. Prior to the New Home Project, he worked with his father and grandfather at the family business. He assisted his father with the beginnings of the Project in 1936 and took over leadership of it when Andrew died in 1938 after contracting tuberculosis. His mother Georgina lives in her own penthouse flat in the Olympia Heights district, not far from her son's. He is married since 1922 to Lauren Elizabeth Langford, nee Boylston, the heiress of a Boston Brahmin family. Together they have two sons - James (born 1924) and William (born 1926).

J. A. Amesbury[edit | edit source]

  • full name - Joseph Adam Amesbury
  • portrayed by - Adam Colston

H. J. Card[edit | edit source]

  • full name - Henry Jameson Card
  • portrayed by - TBD

D. W. Grossman[edit | edit source]

  • full name - David William Grossman
  • portrayed by - TBD

G. M. Harding[edit | edit source]

  • full name - Grace Marie Harding
  • portrayed by - Caprice Cox

Born in Chattanooga in 1889, she was a seamstress from an early age, learning the finer skills of needlework from her mother and grandmother. Her father worked as a furnace operator for Wheland Foundry in Chattanooga, while her grandfather worked for the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway (NC&StL). At school she was always interested in chemistry and read every book she could find on the subject. She moved to New York City in 1915 and worked as a seamstress at Bonwith Teller until 1929 when a client became upset after learning that her dress had been designed by a black woman. Leaving in anger, she had a chance encounter shortly before Christmas of that year with Andrew Langford, whose wife had purchased several dresses she had made. Learning more of her skill and interest in chemistry, Langford recruited her to work as a materials consultant at Langford Fabrics, giving her an annual salary of $5,000 and simultaneously paying for her to attend Cornell University, where she acquired her master's degree in 1932. She would lead development of the original nylon and rayon in 1934, patents which the Langford Group licensed to DuPont for production while simultaneously producing the materials themselves. Langford ensured Harding received full credit for her discoveries, in spite of opposition from some in the industry. Moving to Novesperoj when it opened in 1941, she now operates the House of Harding fashion salon in Fortuna Commons as well as the Harding Laboratories in Minerva's Den. She lives in Malden Square.

J. T. Holloway[edit | edit source]

  • full name - James Theodore Holloway
  • portrayed by - Kyle Holloway

Economics[edit | edit source]

Consumables[edit | edit source]

  • Arcadia merlot
  • Beef-e potted meat
  • Black Star coffee
  • Calci-O milk
  • Chechnya vodka
  • Dutch Lad creme cakes
  • Hop Up soda
  • Nico-Time cigarettes
  • Old Salt potato chips
  • Pep snack bar
  • Red Ribbon whisky
  • Sunbeam bubble gum
  • Viscount cigarettes

Brands[edit | edit source]

  • Air-Pure
  • Best Friend pet food
  • First Class apples
  • Good News fruits
  • Grace fruits
  • Meal-Time frozen dinners
  • Morning berries
  • Oxy-Fil fuel

Medicines[edit | edit source]

  • Ampheta-Time
  • Plasmi-Quik
  • ReJuvena skin cream

Vending[edit | edit source]

  • Candy
  • Cigarettes
  • Coffee
  • Newspapers
  • Sandwiches
  • Soft drinks

Major businesses[edit | edit source]

  • Auger Industries
  • Health Medical Group
  • IG Computing
  • Jet Postal
  • Langford Group
    • Langford Appliances
    • Langford Fabrics
    • Langford Fisheries
    • Langford Fruits
    • Langford Machinery
    • Langford Metals
    • Langford Packaging
    • Langford Press
    • Langford Sugar
    • Langford Tools
    • Langford Toys
  • McClendon Robotics
  • Ronson Corporation
  • Spencer Solutions

Minor businesses[edit | edit source]

  • A Mart
  • Air-Tite Archives
  • Apex Apothecaries
  • de la Plante Tools
  • Enwell Life & Health Group
  • Excelsior Lift Repair
  • Fail-Safe Industries
  • Fontaine Fisheries
  • Happy Noodle eatery
  • Jemco Foods
  • Moe's Diners
  • Motel 42
  • Nevr-Wet Waterproofing
  • Oceanview Druggists
  • Pham Pneumo
  • Pret-a-Porter
  • Pin Money Clothiers
  • Quality Health, Inc
  • Radio Action
  • Reliable Druggists
  • Roark Key Company
  • SAFE Batteries
  • Tasty Plate Eateries
  • Vitastat
  • Wilson Freeman clothiers

Messages and advertisements[edit | edit source]

  • VIA EXPRESS - MAINTENANCE DEPOT - Workers - Please have ID badge visible at all times.
  • Safety NOW! Make sure to always use safety gear!
  • Nini Lyon's Doll Babies - "Who will be my mama?"
  • Splice against Tuberculosis with the new Anti-TB physic. Only from Langford Futuristics. Ask your druggist today!
  • WARNING! Dangerous chemicals in use! All employees must wash their hands and leave all articles of work clothing in bins. Wear protective clothing before entering.
  • INMATE PROCESSING - Wait to be called. Have personal papers ready. Keep hands visible at all times. Remain behind the yellow line. Disorderly conduct will not be tolerated.
  • QUIET! No talking beyond this point.
  • LIE DOWN if shots are fired.
  • CAUTION! Biohazard area. Makes required beyond this point.
  • SECURITY CHECKPOINT - All inmates must be thoroughly searched. All contraband strictly prohibited.
  • This is a QUIET AREA. Keep noise to a minimum.