Baifa Monü Zhuan
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create a landmark within one of the artificial lakes on Atrisia
- Image Credit: The Handmaiden (2016) Tumblr Gif Post
- Canon: N/A
- Links: N/A
- Landmark Name: Xiaoran Island
- Classification: Forest covered island converted into a garden island
- Location: Atrisia
- Affiliation: Murasaki Clan/Atrisian Commonwealth
- Size: Medium sized island
- Population: Sparse
- Demographics: Seven inhabitants of the island from the Murasaki clan
- Accessibility: The island is situated in the middle of the central lake adjacent to the Ancient Imperial Palace grounds. Access is straightforward for watercraft; any boat or starship can reach the island with ease. The primary challenge is securing a safe landing. The terrain is notably uneven and wild, meaning there are no large, prepared landing pads only the main dock and a few small, natural coves suitable for quick mooring. Visitors arriving by larger vessels must use the main dock and then navigate the winding interior trails.
- Description: Xiaoran Island is a veritable jewel, heavily blanketed in lush plant life both native Atrisian species and a breathtaking array of exotic imports from diverse worlds across the galaxy. The island's atmosphere is frequently dominated by a sweeping mist that often shrouds the higher peaks and valleys, giving it a perpetually mysterious and cool ambiance. The island features a small, sturdy caretaker's house near the main dock, which serves as the residence and base of operations for the botanist's family. A vital feature is the narrow, curving stream that acts as a natural water highway, allowing smaller boats to navigate deeper into the island's interior, moving past forests and between small, rolling hills.
Greenhouses: These are the core of the island's scientific mission. The newly constructed greenhouses are strategically scattered to maximize light and space. Each structure is meticulously engineered to simulate diverse galactic environments, from the oppressive heat and humidity of jungle worlds to the arid stillness of desert biomes. Several of the older, smaller structures are now slightly overgrown, with resilient flora having expanded through windows and doors into the immediate surrounding area.
Maidens Peak: This prominent, windswept bluff is one of the island's few historically confirmed sites. The peak offers a dramatic view overlooking the rocky coastline and the cold lake waters below. It is the purported site of the tragic event described in the local legend: where the distraught Atrisian noblewoman is said to have cast herself into the lake.
The Sunken Garden Grotto: Hidden beneath a cascading waterfall on the island's eastern side is the Sunken Garden Grotto. This natural limestone cave system opens into a serene, almost ethereal space where the botanist has established a unique hydroponic garden. Luminescent fungi cling to the damp walls, casting a soft, otherworldly glow over exotic aquatic plants and rare mosses cultivated in pristine, nutrient-rich pools. It's a remarkably peaceful and secluded spot, often used for delicate or experimental flora that thrives away from direct sunlight.
The Whisperwind Spire: Rising prominently on the island's northern edge, the Whisperwind Spire is not a natural formation but a striking, elegant observatory tower constructed by the botanist. Built with a blend of native stone and salvaged starship alloys, its design is both functional and aesthetic. From its highest platform, equipped with advanced atmospheric and botanical sensors, one can gain a panoramic view of the entire lake, the Ancient Imperial Palace, and the distant Atrisian landscape. On clear nights, it becomes a stargazing platform, and during the frequent mists, the spire's tip often peeks through the clouds, giving it its evocative name
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Little is definitively known about Xiaoran's earliest history, but existing records detail its use as a refuge. Before the Imperial family annexed the lake and surrounding area, the island was home to a widow from a once-wealthy family, whose husband and children had been lost in one of the earlier wars. In her profound solitude, she established the island's first and only dwelling.
The most cited account of this period details the arrival of two Imperial investigators and a handmaiden sent to monitor her. This is where documented history becomes shadowed by local folklore. The official report states the widow leapt from a cliff (Maidens' Peak) into the lake. However, enduring legends claim the investigators were actually sent to commit her to an institution, and the widow faked her death, escaping with the compassionate handmaiden to a new life.
The island was later formally gifted by the Emperor to a renowned Atrisian botanist. This was a reward for his crucial role in the extensive planetary revitalization efforts following a period of industrial decline. He transformed the island into a living laboratory, utilizing the constructed greenhouses to test and cultivate flora suited for restoration.
For years, the botanist and his caretaker clan have worked diligently, establishing conditions for everything from dry deserts to humid jungles, and even maintaining a fishery for cultivating vital blue algae. Their ongoing work serves the Emperor and the Imperial heirs by providing a continuous source of rare or adaptable species. The clan acts as dedicated caretakers, and the aging botanist often uses the island as a serene, private meeting place for official visitors and fellow researchers.
The years have improved much of the island itself. with Io the daughter on the island as a handmaiden in Junko's court. She has created a private retreat on herr families island. Using it for vacations and holidays. Junko going with her from time to time as they are able to cultivate many of the gardens and greenhouses with a few of her other family members welcoming newer animals and plants from around the galaxy.
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