The ColisSeaum & Little Inkopolis

Feb. 24th, 2023 10:56 pm
killerwail: (Default)
Little Inkopolis
conveniently located on
barren freeway exit 2
vibe: chill climate: warm
smell: fresh paint fashion: sporty/streetwear
sound: muffled music tour: click here
A replica of Inkopolis Square, wished for by Pearl Houzuki of the two piece pop sensation, Off the Hook. She, along with her bandmate Marina Eda, can often be found here. Feel free to check out the shops or head to the lobby of the ColisSeaum in the center of town!
overview
Welcome to Little Inkopolis
Home to Inklings and Octolings, as well as a wide variety of other species of land-adapted sea life, the original Inkopolis is the beating heart of Inkadia and a central hub for fashion, turf war, and music. Little Inkopolis is a small replica of the town square, constructed in the Dreamscape to serve as a fun and immersive sample of Inkadian culture. There's a ton to do here!

In the main square you will find a ton of shops that you can visit for all the latest designer brands and weapons for Turf War. There is also a stage where a dream version of the Squid Sisters will occasionally perform, as well as Off the Hook themselves (the genuine article, since both members are here!) You'll also find the lobby of the ColisSeaum, Off the Hook's studio, and the CephaloSwap, a useful device that will enable you to play Turf War and experience Inkopolis as the locals do! See the tabs below for further details.

If you’re interested in more on the vibrant pop culture of Inkopolis and the history of Inkadia, there’s more information below to peruse, but otherwise, feel free to dive right in! Stay fresh, don’t get cooked, and catch ya later!
History
Long before sea life adapted to land, when humans still roamed the earth, a city called Tokyo was once the site of modern day Inkopolis. However, humans were wiped out due to climate change and rising tides that left the land inhospitable to them. It would be over the next 12,000 years that all manner of sea creatures would evolve into humanoids (or partial humanoids in some cases) and take over the land, the predominant species being Inklings and Octarians, an umbrella which includes a number of creatures including Octolings themselves.

For the majority of their history, Inklings and Octarians have been bitter rivals, and in not-too-distant history, there was a large territory dispute over Inkadia known as the Great Turf War. Initially, the Inklings were at a strong disadvantage, as their inability to wake up early enough in the morning to match their enemies was severely detrimental to their war efforts. (Yes, this is the real reason.) However, due to the sheer strength of their forces and possibly aided by a superior number of limbs (10 vs. 8), the Inklings were able to overcome their enemies and most Octarians are now in hiding in the less hospitable areas outside the city and underground shelters.

However, as of fairly recently, the humanoid Octarians called Octolings have been able to slowly, tentatively reintegrate with Inkling society thanks to the efforts of one Agent 8, an Octoling operative who worked with the collective of war heroes called the Squidbeak Splatoon to destroy a hostile AI bent on destroying all life on Earth. Reparations and truces have been tentative, but hopeful, and though the rest of the Octarians have yet to come around to the idea of a permanent ceasefire, it is hoped that one day Inklings and Octarians will be able to live in peace. The newfound unity between Inklings and Octolings is proudly evident in the existence of Off the Hook, a pop idol pair comprised of one of each species. Their deep and affectionate friendship (or perhaps more than that) is seen as a sign of hope for growth and peace.
Culture
While the Great Turf War was a harrowing time for many, ink-based battles between Inklings and Octarians are decidedly non-fatal due to both species’ ability to respawn when defeated in in-based combat (colloquially called “being splatted”). As such, Turf War on a smaller scale remains an integral part of Inkadian life and is generally considered a fun sport that almost all Inkadians enjoy. Casual Turf War battles, as well as lucrative ranked battles, are commonplace, as well as the beloved Splat Fest. Splat Fests are weekend-long tournaments in which combatants are divided into teams based on their stance on a harmless opinion-based dispute. To settle the “argument”, participants spend the weekend battling it out for points, and at the end of the weekend, the team with the most points is deemed the winner and therefore “correct” in their opinion. While this is all in good fun, Splat Fests are well known for getting good-naturedly heated. The events are large affairs, usually involving decorating town, live celebrity musical performances, and festive clothing. In Inkopolis proper, as well as many other places across the world, there are many different arenas in which Turf Wars take place, Little Inkopolis has just one such location--- the ColisSeaum.

Another huge aspect of Inkadian pop culture today is fashion. Clothing is not only tantamount to an individual’s self-expression and reputation, but the effects each item is imbued with can make or break one’s game in Turf War. The most popular styles among Inklings and Octolings tend to be bold, comfortable athleisure wear and funky, expressive streetwear, though options for other styles are obviously available. Brand is everything--- but you’re not just paying for a name. Each brand has signature effects that can be used to change up your Turf War game! The fashion tab below can fill you in more!

While Turf War is the heart of Inkopolis culture, and fashion its life blood, the true soul of Inkling and Octoling cultural identity is rooted in music. Music can be heard literally everywhere in Inkopolis, from the bass-heavy jam that’s always bumping in the square, to the unique tunes in each building. Bands of all genres, such as Wet Floor, the Chirpy Chips, Bob Dub, Ink Theory, and the Bottom Feeders have all been given spotlights for their music to be played during Turf Wars, and bigger name headliners such as the Squid Sisters, Off the Hook, and Deep Cut have even been given the honors of broadcasting daily Turf War news and hosting Splat Fests. A source of inspiration and excitement, the legendary tune known as Calamari Inkantation has even been known to bop so hard that its changed lives! Ask Marina--- she’ll stand by it.
CephaloSwap
F
R
E
S
H
Freshen Up | Use the CephaloSwap to change into an Inkling or Octoling
What's This? | Near the entrance to the ColisSeaum lobby, the CephaloSwap is a series of metal tubes with sliding doors, spray nozzles on the sides, and a showerhead at the top. When a non-Inkadian visitor is inside, the showerhead will dump colorful ink on them, turning them into an Inkling or Octoling! Then, return later to have the spray nozzles wash you down with water, returning you to your original form.
Why Make the Switch? | The main reason is Turf War--- unfortunately, non-Inkadians can't really play properly. Inklings and Octolings can shapeshift into small squids and octopi ("Swim Form"), allowing them to swim through their team's ink in Turf War. Swimming allows Inkadians to refill their weapons' ink tanks, move across the field quickly, and hide from rival players. Also, when coated with ink from the enemy team, Inklings and Octolings get "splatted," meaning their physical form evaporates and reappears at the spawn point located in their team's base. Splatting is an important aspect of gameplay in Turf War for a number of reasons, but it also prevents combatants from getting hurt for real! If you're going to participate in Turf War, you'll need to use the CephaloSwap in order to play fair and safe. It's also just kind of fun.
Your New Look | Ready to ink up? You'll need to decide on a look for yourself. Inklings and Octolings look fairly similar, with a couple of key differences [handy diagram], although the dream people here won't really notice if you've mixed and matched features by accident. Your hair color will change with your ink color, which will match your teammates during Turf Wars, but you can pick your base color for when you're out of matches! Here's a few helpful tools to help you style your fresh new makeover: [Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3] (Note: Option 3 only has Inkling options, so if you would prefer to be an Octoling, use one of the other two.)
fashion
shopkeeper: Flow
species: Sea Slug
pronouns: she/her
style: Boho/Hippie
other: The shrimp on her hat brim is called Craymond
Headspace | Little Inkopolis' headgear shop. Here you can buy any number of cool accessories to elevate your look and improve your game at the ColisSeaum! Check out Flow and Craymond's selection. Don't worry, Pearl has hooked you up with a credit card with unlimited cash.

On the shelves at Headspace, you'll find a rotating selection of headgear items. This primarily consists of hats--- snapbacks, baseball caps, visors, beanies, and even the occasional cowboy hat. However, you can also find a bunch of other accessories such as hair clips, goggles, sunglasses, headphones, face masks, and more! Flow's selection changes every day, so if you don't see something you like right now, there's always tomorrow.
Vibe Check | The storefront is dark brick with blocky, intentionally messy lettering on the sign. Inside, all the sales signage is written in heavy chalk on blackboards. A vintage stained-glass lamp sits beside the register. The smell of sandalwood incense hits you the moment you enter the door, and lo-fi music thrums throughout the shop. This place is chill. Like, really chill.
shopkeeper: Jelfonzo
species: Jellyfish
pronouns: he/him
style: Polished
other: He talks in terrible olde English
Man-o'-Wardrobe | The clothing shop. For some reason, your legwear doesn't offer any bonuses in Turf War and is just decorative, so there is a small section off to the side dedicated to pants, skirts, shorts, and leggings that takes a backburner to the rest of the shop.

The star of the show here is tops. Shirts, jackets, and dresses appear on a daily rotating stock here in the finest brands Little Inkopolis has to offer. This is the most drastic way to change your style up, and your combat abilities. There's no way you won't leave this place looking and feeling cooler than when you came in.
Vibe Check | Monochrome and modern, this place is a sleek, high-end boutique. Splashes of color are tactfully placed, but the minimalistic, grayscale décor is meant to draw your eye to the colorful clothing items featured on the shelves. There's classical music playing very softly on the stereo, and something about this place makes you impulsively speak quietly, as if the low volume in the space is obligatory to its aesthetic and violating it would be taboo somehow.
shopkeeper: Bisk
species: Spider Crab
pronouns: he/him
style: casual skater
other: He's crazy tall.
Shella Fresh | The final shop on the block, this is where Little Inkopolis residents come to get their kicks--- literally. It's the shoe store! Vital to style and comfort, the shoes make the squid (or octopus), so if you're looking to assemble the freshest fit in the ColisSeaum, Bisk's got you covered. At least, from the ankles down.

Like the other shops, Shella Fresh has a rotating selection of footwear that changes each day. Most of the shoes here tend to be sneakers. It's the most comfortable option for running around in Turf Wars. However, boots, sandals, and even crocs are not uncommon among the selection. Bisk doesn't carry anything with more than an inch of heel, though, claiming that it's a liability to send someone into a Turf War wearing stilettos. He's not wrong.
Vibe Check | The store features aging hardwood floors, busted plaster and exposed brickwork, giving it a relaxed industrial vibe. Steel I-beams and visible piping run along the rafters and the floor thumps audibly when you walk on it as if there's a fair bit of space under the floorboards. Alternative and indie music play throughout the store, almost too loud but not quite, and there's a red Fender guitar hooked up to a crummy old amp behind the counter. There's a casual, slightly punk-rock energy to the shop.
weapons
shopkeeper: Sheldon
species: Horseshoe Crab
pronouns: he/him
style: military geek
other: Chronic over-explainer and infodumper.
Ammo Knights | Arguably the most important shop in Little Inkopolis, this is the place where the magic happens. Sheldon is the leading developer of ink-based combat tech, and this is where you can purchase the fruits of his genius, and put them to the test toasting your opponents in the ColisSeaum!

Each weapon kit sold by Sheldon comes with a pre-determined primary, secondary, and special weapon. Primary weapons are, of course, the ink-gun or other main battle weapon you use. Secondary weapons are things like ink-bombs, sprinklers, or sprayers that you only use occasionally. And special weapons are your ultimate, a powerful weapon that can only be used every once in a while, charged up by inking turf and splatting enemies! For more details on individual weapons, there's a full list of weapons and all of their specs, there's a useful chart here, but there's a brief rundown of what kinds of weapons you can use a little ways down that will give you the gist.
Vibe Check | Sheldon is a huge military history nerd, specifically for weapons tech, and it shows. Tools and memorabilia line the concrete walls, giving the storefront an eclectic, intentionally-cluttered appearance. The wood shelves for the products look to be built by hand. Aside from Sheldon's collectibles, though, there's no bells or whistles here--- just the stuff you need to win.


weapon types
Shooters
Classic, straight-forward ink shooters. They fire small ink projectiles in quick succession and are the well-rounded, uncomplicated weapons. Most are automatic, though some are semi-automatic. Popular choices for shooters are the Sploosh-o-Matic, the Splattershot line (standard, Jr. and Pro), and the Aerospray. However, more advanced players may prefer the quick fire rate of the vintage N-ZAP, or the powerful punch of the Squeezer, a semi-auto burst-fire weapon.


Chargers
Chargers are, as the name implies, long-ranged sniper weapons that need to be charged to be used to their full effect. While they can fire off instant shots, the range and power are severely limited and are only really useful for quick turf coverage and self-defense when cornered. However, when you allow shots from these weapons to charge for a moment, their range doubles, and they shoot with enough ink and force to splat an opponent with one shot. Charger users are advised to get to high ground and focus on supporting their team by splatting opponents who get too close. The Splattershot and E-Liter lines are most favored, but quirkier options such as the Goo Tuber, Bamboozler, and Snipewriter are also available for consideration.






Rollers
The most common type of melee weapon, rollers are precisely what they sound like--- enormous paint rollers. While heavy and slow, they are excellent for covering lots and lots of turf very thoroughly without missing any spots, flinging huge gobs of paint across the arena, and steamrolling over opponents. While the Splat Roller is classic, there are a few other options for different styles of combat. The Flingza roller, a heavy-hitter with a heavy jump-fling; the Carbon roller, which isn't as powerful but rolls a lot quicker; and the extremely heavy Dynamo Roller, which is very slow but hits harder and has broader ink coverage, just to name a few.






Sloshers
Single-shot hurling weapons resembling buckets, these have great ink coverage and pack a powerful punch, but can often be difficult to aim. Most sloshers are pretty straightforward, though this category has some of the most unique varieties. The Bloblobber, for instance, flings bouncing bubbles of ink that can travel a high distance and ricochet off of obstacles before popping. The Explosher can shoot exploding ink projectiles. And the Sloshing Machine expels a soapy vortex of ink that can leave opponents spinning--- if they aren't splatted first.




Splatling Guns
A heavy rotary-weapon that requires a rather long charge time, but will shoot a volley of high-damage, high-coverage, high-speed projectiles once charged. Splatling aficionados can opt for longer bursts of ink from the formidable Hydra Splatling, or a quicker charge that sacrifices range from the Mini Splatling, but the go-to weapon for this category is the well-balanced Heavy Splatling. There is also the hilarious-looking Ballpoint Splatling, which is exactly what it sounds like.


Dualies
A pair of dual-wielded ink pistols that are somewhat low damage and middle of the road as far as range goes, but allow for the most mobility of any weapon type, offering the unique ability for players to dodge roll while using them. Splat Dualies are the most well-rounded, but Dapple Dualies have great coverage if you don't mind sacrificing range, and Glooga Dualies and Dualie Squelchers are fantastic for damage and range respectively. There's also the super-mobile Tetra Dualies, which allow for up to four consecutive dodge rolls.




Brellas
This fun and unique weapon type offers a shotgun-like blast and a collapsible ink-shield in the shape of an umbrella. The shield is deployable and can be sent off in one direction, spreading ink and pushing enemies away from allies, though this leaves users vulnerable until the projectile brella reaches the end of its course and regenerates on the weapon. Options include the standard Splat Brella, the wide and imposing Tentabrella, and the quick-firing Undercover Brella whose translucent shield offers improved visibility.



Blasters
Powerful burst-fire weapons with impressive splatting abilities, blasters come in automatic and semi-automatic varieties and fire a large projectile with a delayed burst. Common options include the Range Blaster, Clash Blaster, and Rapid Blaster, each of which has one superlative spec while sacrificing on another. There is also the coveted Luna Blaster, which deal exceptional damage and has a bizarre space-age design.



Unique
These include weapon categories that are either very small or one-of-a-kind weapons. This category covers Brushes (quick and nimble melee weapons that are a low-coverage, fast-paced alternative to rollers), Stringers (bow- or crossbow-like weapons that have a charged and uncharged projectile type), Splatanas (sword-like weapons that deploy broad, low-range swaths of ink), and the rare Grizzco line of rare and obscenely overpowered weapons.




the ColisSeaum
The Lobby | As you enter the sliding glass doors at the top of the stairs, the brightness of the city streets is replaced with cool relief as you enter the darkly-colored, sleek lobby of the ColisSeaum. There's a broad skylight that offers just enough natural light, filtered through yellow-painted steel framework that provides a nice splash of color. There's also a bunch of large LED screens displaying brightly-colored advertisements and announcements. In the lobby, you can find a big open space to practice with your weapon before a match starts, a cool café in a loft upstairs where you can grab a drink, and a tube-shaped elevator with a console that lets you sign up for Turf War matches.
Turf War | This is what you really came here for. Turf War, the king of sports, the centerpiece of Inkadian life. The goal is simple: most inked turf wins! Make sure you've hit up the CephaloSwap, grab a weapon kit, and brush up on the rules of the game, then you'll be ready to get out there and get inking!
How to Play | Turf War is fairly simple, but because it's a game designed for Inkadians, it's got a few aspects to it that make it pretty unique. Here's everything you need to know:

✦ Each team consists of 4 players, but only two actual dreamers are required to play. NPCs are available to fill out the rest of the roster. Dreamers can play on opposite teams or the same one.

✦ Teams are given contrasting ink colors (pink vs. green, teal vs. orange, ect.) which will indicate how much turf they've inked. Your hair will also change colors to reflect your team.

✦ At will, you can enter what is called Swim Form, turning you into a small squid or octopus that can swim through your team's ink. Do this to sneak up on enemies, swim quickly across the arena, or fill your weapon's ink tank, which will run out after use.

✦ You are equipped with three ways to attack--- your main weapon (your gun/roller/ect), your secondary weapon (ink bombs), and your ultimate, which is very powerful and must be charged up by inking turf. Available ultimates include: Reef Slider, Crab Tank, Killer Wail, Ultra Stamper, Trizooka, and Tentamissiles.

✦You take damage via contact with enemy ink. This includes standing or swimming in it. If you take too much damage, you are splatted, and must respawn at your team's spawn point on the far side of the arena.

✦Most inked turf wins! (This can be decided OOCly or via dice rolls/coin flips/ect.)
Arenas | Thanks to the magic of the Dreamscape, the ColisSeaum can change shape to resemble one of the arenas in real-world Inkadia. Have it out in technicolor at Wahoo World amusement park, the campus of Inkblot Art Academy, the scaffolding on Hammerhead Bridge, in the aisles of MakoMart convenience store, among the cargo of Sturgeon Shipyard, or even at Brinewater Springs hotsprings resort or in front of live music at Starfish Mainstage! Or imagine up your own! There's a million ways to play.
your locker
The Locker Room | Unfortunately outside of Little Inkopolis, there isn't much use for your weapon or other Turf War gear (unless you want to wear your clothes). Thankfully, the lobby has a locker room to store any Turf War related stuff in! You can even decorate it if you want. Interested in decorations? Check out Hotlandis in town, you can also get souvenirs there! Good thing Pearl hooked you up with unlimited cash.
shopkeeper: Harmony
species: Sea Anemone
pronouns: she/her
style: lazy scenecore
other: The black clownfish in her hair doesn't look like it feels very well...
Hotlandis | The best place to buy little trinkets you don't particularly need, Hotlandis carries the hottest selection of decorative items! Great for lockers and for taking home when you leave Little Inkopolis!

On the shelves are a large and colorful array of fun items, from colorful locker skins, to plushies, stickers, mugs, books, snacks--- everything you need to make your locker the freshest one in the locker room! Try the Shell Out gatchapon machine to get a random prize once a day, too!
Vibe Check | The shop is super cute and colorful, and absolutely cluttered with kitschy, adorable products, most of which are in a cutesy or street art style. There's pop music playing over the speakers and the shop smells like artificial fruit. Harmony looks like she really doesn't want to be here and is lollygagging instead of stocking the shelves. She's definitely judging you a little bit. Seems a bit hypocritical.


splatunes
ooc notes
FYI | Pretty much all of this is flavor text and only the CephaloSwap and the ColisSeaum parts are particularly needful--- the rest is just for immersion. If you actually take the time to read everything, you're my favorite and I love you forever, but it's really just for the sake of being immersive and so that you have a reference if you want details to be accurate. If you want to do threads in Little Inkopolis, feel free! You can hit me up to write NPCs for you or just write them yourself.
  • Add Memory
  • Share This Entry