bangdongu~A City Reborn from Chaos~
In the shadowed aftermath of the great cataclysm which scorched the surface world a millennium ago, the remnants of humanity clung to life in vast underground refuges, their existence a fragile thread woven through darkness and ingenuity. As the centuries blurred into a thousand years, a group of resilient survivors detected faint signals of renewal above—whispers of breathable air and fertile soil carried through ancient tunnels. Drawn by these harbingers, they re-emerged along the banks of a river whose name was long since forgotten, rediscovering a reclaimed wilderness where overgrown ruins intertwined with the river's untamed flow. This emergence marked the humble genesis of Bangdongu, a city forged from the depths' endurance, where the first tentative steps aboveground birthed a new era from buried hopes.
The Bangdongans, as they came to call themselves, inherited an unyielding affinity for hard work from their subterranean forebears, who had mastered survival through relentless labor in confined spaces. Yet, in the open chaos of the surface—wild storms reshaping landscapes, rivers flooding with forgotten debris—they discovered a profound beauty in disorder, transforming upheaval into artful adaptation. They cleared tangled vines from ancient structures, repurposed rusted relics into homes, and cultivated gardens that thrived on irregularity, viewing every setback as a canvas for creativity. This ethos of embracing turmoil as a muse infused Bangdongu's spirit, turning a post-apocalyptic outpost into a beacon of harmonious anarchy.
As Bangdongu flourished along the river's winding path, its architecture became inspired by the landscape nearby: flowing streets mimicking the river which sustained it, adorned with buildings constructed almost haphazardly of timber from the steadfast forests which had reclaimed the city which once was there. The city's residents, ever innovative, developed rituals that blended diligence with whimsy, drawing wanderers from distant resurfaced enclaves who marveled at how Bangdongu turned the scars of oblivion into vibrant life.
To commemorate their ascent, Bangdongu upholds distinctive holidays and customs that honor resilience amid unpredictability:
- Emergence Eclipse Festival: An annual event on the resurfacing anniversary, where citizens simulate "burial" in mock underground challenges, emerging to build chaotic sculptures from surface debris, ending in a luminous parade under the moon.
- Depth's Delight Day: A quarterly holiday encouraging random "disruptions" like rerouted river walks or communal invention swaps, fostering joy in adaptation.
- Tenacity Tapestry Awards: Honoring innovators who weave beauty from broken remnants, with prizes like tools inscribed with flowing designs symbolizing underground veins and the river by which they now reside.
Peculiar laws further define the city's flair, including the "Chaos Covenant," requiring all constructions to incorporate an element of asymmetry to evoke the beauty of natural disorder. Penalties for overly symmetrical designs—such as uniform building facades—promote creative imperfection, while mandates for "relic reverence" ensure every home displays a piece of pre-cataclysm artifact. Today, Bangdongu thrives as a riverside testament to rebirth, where hard work illuminates the elegance hidden in entropy, inviting all who seek solace in the splendidly shattered.
Soon, the map will not show country borders or roads.
"Be as persistent as the river, as unyielding as the stone, and as steadfast as the great trees."
- Xeth Senju, Founder of Bangdongu, 3026