Welcome to my penultimate Beneath Blackthorn post – a series of posts aimed at avid fans of Blackthorn who want a little extra insight.

RULES OF CONDUCT

When I created borders within the locales, it wasn’t only about giving humans a sense of security, but about intensifying the sense of segregation between the species. I didn’t want a purely ‘them and us’ feeling though, I wanted there to be a sense of imbalance not just between but also within the human and third species communities too.

One of the most conflict-inducing elements I introduced into the series was an individual’s morality and subsequent worth being defined by background, education or class – as if a certain status, ability, and not least origin, defined you as a ‘better’ individual. Of course, with markers like those, this new ‘temporary’ world inevitably eventually reinforced prejudice, intolerance and fear.

When creating the locales and, more importantly, the characters who reside there, I needed to get into specific mindsets. Here’s a snapshot of what I started with, as well as a sample of some rules of conduct that helped reinforce the infrastructure both physically and psychologically:

Residents of Summerton

Environment: Primarily suburban and rural but with a thriving, well-managed and maintained district centre. Range of amenities. Low-level pollution. Crime rate apparently non-existent.

Residents’ Background: A human-only district. Residents justify their places through significant and consistent educational, sporting, scientific, social or political contributions.

Opportunities: Educational and work opportunities are advanced and varied, though some residents specialise in work in Midtown. Superior medical and healthcare provisions.

Some rules of conduct:

• Residential placement will be subject to annual review, wherein contributions will be reviewed and evaluated. Immediate family units will be treated as a whole unless requested (and accepted) otherwise. 
• Residents are free to move between districts and locales, but venture beyond borders at their own risk.
• Personal contact with the third species in the Lowtown or Blackthorn districts could jeopardize Summerton residency.
• Support of political policies of the Global Council is a requirement. 

Residents of Midtown

Environment: Some suburban housing but consists primarily of a well-managed and maintained district centre. Lots of amenities, including some green spaces. Location for research institutions and consultation venues for the Global Council and third species.

Residents’ Background: Primarily human, but also houses the vampiric Higher Order and other third species ambassadors. Human residents justify their places through, in particular, important educational, social or scientific contributions. Many officers and agents with the TSCD reside in Midtown.

Opportunities: Good. Work opportunities are varied but mainly orientated towards health research because of the facilities located there. Education and general healthcare facilities are also good.

Some rules of conduct:

• Those of third species origin cannot enter Summerton or move between locales, but are free to move between all other districts.
• Human residents of Midtown can enter Summerton on approved family or work related ventures.
• Only Global Council policies are to be advocated.
• Third species residents are respectfully allowed their own practices, but all feeding is to be private and with licensed donors only.

Residents of Lowtown

Environment: Compacted. In need of development. High-level home security reinforces unease in the community. Housing is often allocated, not chosen. Crime rates, particularly during night hours, is reportedly high. Houses the locale’s penitentiary as well as the Third Species Control Division headquarters.

Residents’ Background: Primarily human but with a significant number of third species residents who have ‘earned’ residency.

Opportunities: Limited. Education, housing and medical provision is poor. Some elect to become non-licensed feeders for money, opportunities or protection.

Some rules of conduct:

• Residents of Lowtown are not permitted to enter Midtown.
• Residents of Lowtown enter Blackthorn at their own risk.
• Using vampire blood for personal purposes is strictly prohibited and a prosecutable offence. Humans involved are at risk of having privileges revoked and jeopardizing any progression outside of Lowtown. 

Residents of Blackthorn

Environment: Primarily built-up but with outlying factories and warehouses. Impoverished and oppressive conditions. Night-life orientated except for cons who make the most of the daylight. Crimes are rarely reported. The district is ruled by key players both in the third species and con community.

Residents’ Background: Primarily third species. Vampires are in the majority, though a lycan pack resides in the north of the district. It is also an overflow facility from the penitentiary – the south is dominated by cons.

Opportunities: Legal? Limited.

Some rules of conduct:

• Unless tagged*, residents are permitted to enter Lowtown during darkness hours but are to return by dawn. Curfew Enforcement Officers can incarcerate and prosecute offenders.
• Travel beyond Lowtown is prohibited and attempts can incur severe penalties.
• Public feeds are prohibited. Meds are issued to the lycan community as suppressants for their lycanthrophy.   
• Co-operation with the law enforcement work of the TSCD is obligatory.

*All convicts are tagged to confine them to Blackthorn. 

So, are you ready to move in?

Only one more Beneath Blackthorn post to go, everyone. Where did the time go? I’ll be posting my last one on Sunday, where I’ll be sharing my personal take on creating the series.