Editing Iridos (section)

===Ophalle, sapling colony city===

The only colony city of Iridos was originally established to harvest nacre and pearls from ocean shells. The sea harvesting settlement became a full colony when deposits of opals were discovered in the surrounding Eastern Mountains. The fledgling colony was named Ophalle after the inrush of prospectors and miners to exploit this mineral find. The city is outgrowing its infrastructure faster than new building can be planned, and so instead of the clean division of color as seen in Iridos, in Ophalle there is haphazard juxtaposition of all colors and materials. Mother-of-pearl and opal inlay is obviously the most-favored for decoration, but anything goes – including recent imports of multicolored stained glass from Diaphane.

Ophalle has become a lawless boomtown, and with democratic Iridos unable even agree on imposing any control, the various collective associations of fishermen and miners have a free hand in the city. Although new opal discoveries have been less frequent, another inrush of disaffected or hopeful youth, philosophers, and cultists have begun arriving in the city. The multicolored streets are full of people haranguing or proselytizing in favor of polychromatism, opacity, translucency, or even the clarity of the Clear Prophet. Merchants are moving in to exploit these new arrivals, and both annoy the various collective associations.

Occupations: Diver, Fisherman, Miner, Sailor, Architect, Painter, Merchant
Suggested Skills: Area Knowledge (Ophalle), Boating, Jeweler, Prospecting, Fishing, Swimming
Social Background: Cultural Familiarity (1 pt., Iridos), Glossa (native language), Literacy
Suggested Quirks: Dreamer, Imaginative, Responsive
Sample Contact Groups: Fishing Collective, Mining Collective
Suggested Spells: Change Color, Block Perception, See Clearly
Rumor: “In the absence of control by Iridos, the navarch of Diaphane is determined annex Ophalle into the Diaphane hegemony. The formidable, crystal-prowed warships of Diaphane are a common sight in the Ophalle harbor, and under orders from the canny navarch, they have subtly blocked the worst excesses of the collectives. Many in Ophalle therefore look favorably on the crystal navy’s presence, and it is possible that Diaphane might be invited to intervene to prevent the infighting and exploitation in Ophalle – which is exactly as the navarch has planned.” 

-- by Kakita Kojiro