Two-Suns
Located in the mostly inhospitable desert region of southwest Meriga known as The Arid Zone, Two-Suns is a long-established settlement dating back beyond Ancient times, which is mostly now depopulated due to the difficulty in finding reliable water sources. However, a number of hardy survivors still persist in this dry land, seeking out the prizes of abandoned tech that have been preserved remarkably well due, ironically, to the harsh climate.
Two-Suns gets its name from an old local expression claiming that the temperatures are "hotter than two suns," although a few persist in claiming that the town was created by a pair of brothers -- "two sons" -- who established the first trading post among the ruins after the Big Mistake.
No one power group controls all of Two-Suns, and small outposts of various Cryptic Alliances can be found here. A group calling itself the "City of Two-Suns" is based in the center-east of the ruins, surrounded by a formidable wall, but most inhabitants of the Two-Suns region live outside of this glorified trading post and pay little attention to Buck Stag, the self-proclaimed mayor of Two-Suns.
The only other group that controls a sizable amount of the Two-Suns valley is the Oth'um Rez. The Oth'um Rez nation controls much of the land several days west of Two-Suns, and also has a large fortress called The Diamond south of town, home to a betting parlor and arena.
An Ancient roadway known locally as Iten runs through the Two-Suns valley, connecting to Fenix in the north, and Numesko and Pazo to the east. A smaller Ancient roadway, the Dezzinevy, leads south from Two-Suns toward Mesko.
Two-Suns has two local holidays of note: Jimsho and Also. Jimsho is a two week event that marks the end of the mild winter and involves the worship of various rocks and minerals; the people of Two-Suns commemorate Jimsho with a festival where shiny stones are traded and worshiped, attended by pilgrims from across Meriga. Also is a fall holiday in which the dead are said to return to visit the living, and is marked by the Also Procession where the diverse people of Two-Suns march in colorful and bizarre costumes.
Points of Interest
Deeyem Base: This abandoned military installation in the southern part of Two-Suns is best known for the Boneyard -- a broad field containing the remains of thousands of Ancient flying machines, none of them in working condition, more than anyone could scavenge through in several lifetimes. Bone Pickings is a tent city of junk traders set up on the outskirts of Deeyem Base, full of explorers hawking their latest finds. Trivia: There is a small memorial in Bone Pickings dedicated to the brave inventors who have attempted to recreate Ancient flying machine technologies and who paid the ultimate price for their love of science.
Cat Mountains: Located to the northwest of Two-Suns, this rocky range is home to a number of dangerous beasts, including the mutated felines which give the mountains their name. A winding road leads up from Two-Suns toward the high altitude village of Sunraven. Trivia: Mount Lemon, the largest peak in the Cat Mountains, was named after Meadowlark Lemon, an Ancient globetrotting prince who was the first to hike to the summit.
Eff Mountain: Situated west of Two-Suns, this small peak bears a large Ancient symbol created out of piled stones in the shape of a stylized, tilted letter "F." Various factions within the Two-Suns valley compete to ritually repaint the "F" in their own symbolic colors as a sign of prestige; currently Eff Mountain is painted with the blue, white, and red tricolor of the Ranks of the Fit. Trivia: Eff Mountain is the origin of the local saying "eff you," an expression showing contempt for someone -- much as repainting over an organization's colors on the petroglyph is considered an insult to that group.
Hobby Air Church: A pure white Ancient temple southwest of Two-Suns, the Hobby Air Church has remain unchanged over the centuries. Run by members of the Healers cryptic alliance and located on land controlled by the Oth'um Rez, it is both a place of solemn meditation and the site of a bustling barter market.
Horror Valley: Once an upscale tech Mecca in Ancient times, Horror Valley -- located north of Two-Suns -- is an irradiated suburban wasteland filled with radioactive monstrosities that roam the glowing streets at night. Only a few brave souls dare to explore this dangerous region, and none have ever returned. Trivia: The Radioactivists cryptic alliance tried to colonize Horror Valley once. And only once.
Old Two-Suns: West of Two-Suns proper through the Gate Pass, this small walled cluster of buildings has been claimed by the Restorationist cryptic society, who seek to rebuild Two-Suns to its former glory. Trivia: Dressed in their broad-brimmed hats, riding brutorz and carrying six-shooters, the Old Two-Suns Restorations are not hard to recognize around town.
Wrayth: A large former scientific-industrial complex in the southeastern part of Two-Suns is known as Wrayth, home to a local cryptic society dedicated to the worship of Ancient military missiles. The members of this cult hope to usher in a new world order known as the Wrayth Eon, enforced through missile superiority.
Yuavay: This Ancient city-within-a-city was a center of learning in the distant past, and today is a stronghold for the Brotherhood of Thought cryptic alliance. Old laboratories, libraries, and lecture halls have been converted into living spaces. Red brick buildings dominate the Yuavay area, which is ringed by earthen ramparts and a wooden fence. Trivia: Yuavay was originally founded by felinoids, and to this day the inhabitants still revere wild cats.
Other nearby locations:
Bent Sun (two days southeast): This small village is nearby the infamous Karcher Kave, home of a notorious mutant bandit gang.
Gren Valley (one day south): The grens living south of Two-Suns, along the Dezzinevy, regularly require tribute from those passing through their territory toward Mesko and No Galleys.
Kippy (three days southwest): Located atop a mountain peak in the Oth'um Rez are the ruins of an Ancient astrology temple.
Kasagrand (three days northwest): Kasagrand is approximately halfway between Two-Suns and Fenix.
No Galleys (three days south): This oddly named town was once a border town with Old Mesko.
Orkle (one and a half days north): A village centered around an immense Ancient building containing an entire jungle, known as BIOS Fear 2.
Peak Achoo (two days northwest): Named for a mythological lightning spirit said to inhabit the peak, this mountain rises up from the flat desert and is visible for miles around.
Sellz (three days west): The capital city of the Oth'um Rez nation.
Sunraven (three days northeast): Nestled up high in the Cat Mountains, the village of Sunraven is much cooler than most of the surrounding desert.
Titan (one day south): A small Radioactivist community clustered around a deep hole in the ground.
Toomz (four days southeast): This small village is known for its regular ritual re-enactments of the Okay Crawl, an infamous obstacle course in which participants are shot at by spectators.
Thanks for all the hard work!
I'll add it to the GW Community Atlas asap.