[attr="class","likedoinfo"]
27 Halat 762. Midmorning.
An earthquake strikes Noria.
This is a rare happenstance in all of Giralda and it is the first known natural disaster in recorded history to occur in the capital city. Though the tremors lasted just under two minutes, the damage was not insignificant.
With the military stretched thin almost immediately, Norian Generals have sent for aid from the other realms and any nearby regiments or training camps to assist in quelling the chaos. However, reinforcements could take several days or even weeks to come through, making looting an increasing problem until there’s help enough to stop it.
The death toll remains unknown.
[attr="class","likedosub"]PANIC, ALARM, AND DISTRESS
High District: The strategically situated High District island saw the least physical damage overall, but has become cut off to the rest of the city with partial collapses of both bridges. While King Isto is safe, the High King has lately been severely ill and is now cut off from his physician who was in the Merchant District when the quake hit.
Temple Quarter: Within three hours, much of the Temple district was engulfed in flames. The part of the district bordering the river was doused in the subsequent flooding that occurred all along the bank, but numerous places of worship were lost entirely in addition to rare and ancient writings, relics, and historical records, among other things of cultural and religious significance.
Noble District: The earthquake caused the ground to rise and fall - bending the trees until their branches intertwined and opening deep cracks in the ground. A few grand houses collapsed, but largely the damages to the Noble District were minimal. Even the smoke from the neighboring Temple District was carried away on the easternward winds. The broken streets are something of an unacceptable eyesore and a great inconvenience for carriages. Until the roads and topiary can be repaired, many families have opted to flee the city for their countryside estates. Due to this small evacuation and the city guard being strained, the abandoned manors have been subject to significant thefts and even squatting.
Outer Quarter: Apart from the collapse of a few older, uninhabited buildings, the Outer Quarter and the farms beyond the city walls came out of the earthquake largely unscathed. Many families kindly have taken in displaced people from other districts while the city undergoes reparations.
Garrison: Damages in the Garrison were few and not at all that noteworthy, but has been almost entirely emptied of the soldiers residing there in order to rein in the chaos all over the grand city. One regiment remains there to see to the bridge collapse and generally keep an eye on the district.
University District: The University district remains relatively intact. Although there was some minor flooding in the streets nearest the riverbank, most of the reparations are in putting all of the bookshelves right again and looting prevention.
Merchant Quarter: The Merchant District, though spared from flooding and fires, has undergone an exponential rise in crime. Without much in the way of protection across the large district, the marketplace has struggled to regain its footing. The most troubling effect has been the hesitation of farmers and food merchants to return to the markets, making it difficult for many citizens east of the river (those most affected) to consistently keep food on the table.
Docks: Huge waves on the Aire River overwhelmed many boats and washed others onto the shore, drowning and crushing several people, as well as colliding ships into buildings. High banks caved and collapsed into the river, taking the main street (and most popular taverns) with it. The Docks and Harbor were the first part of the city to be officially locked down. Marines were deployed downstream of the city to stop incoming boats.
Bowery: Unsurprisingly, the Bowery saw the most devastation with so many ramshackle buildings and make-shift homes. It wouldn’t have taken much to bring them down but the magnitude of the earthquake all but leveled the district, leaving thousands of impoverished Norians in even more dire straits than before.
[attr="class","likedosub"]NOTES
The earthquake should be considered a hot topic among the public across the entire continent. Short of having been living in total isolation far away, every character ought to be aware of it having happened. How much it interests or affects your character(s) is up to you. Feel free to make up rumors and falsehoods surrounding the disaster as well.
Keep an eye on this thread for updates as the city attempts to recover.
Please contact
Skye if you need to adjust a thread date to accommodate for the occurrence of this world event.