The Wrench
From NexusWiki
The Wrench is a slum, pure and simple. It could be considered on the same level as Edgetown for the sheer percentage of space occupied by low-cost housing; in addition to that, it is second - if not first - out of all neighborhoods for the number of bars and nightclubs.
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[edit] Location
The Wrench is located on the northwest corner of Saint Germaine Island. To its north is Ridleytown, on Ridley Island. Blackport is to the east, and to the southeast is Clifton. South of The Wrench is SoVi, or South of Vine.
[edit] Geography
The Wrench contains the following infrastructure:
- a junkyard (2,31 - 2, 32)
- Nyquist Guns, a Gun Store (3,31)
- a Corner Store (3,33)
- Mako Tool and Hardware, a Hardware Store (4,29)
- a Gas Station (4,30)
- Nyquist Station, a Fire Station (5,32)
- Nyquist Elementary, a School (7,31)
- Vail Energy, a Power Plant (8,31)
- Two Pharmacies:
- a pharmacy (3,29)
- a pharmacy (8,32)
- Two Restaurants:
- Captain Clucky's (4,33)
- Captain Clucky's (9,28)
- There are also several nightclubs, bars, and factories present in The Wrench. You can find the comprehensive list here.
[edit] Recent History
The Friends of the Wrench have control of what is now called the "Friendly Fortress". The Good Dogs have moved out but swear to continue to hunt the missing Yappies Dogfood.
[edit] Historical Background
The dark, dismal "Wrench", much like the tool that its name is derived from, was not always the way that it is. Prior to industrial development, "The Wrench" was an untouched land.
As a paragon of the "blue ocean, green land" ideal, The Wrench of the pre-colonial era was immensely attractive to the South American Taino, who chose The Wrench as one of their many settlements throughout the St. Germaine Archipelago. They enjoyed particular success fishing off the coast of The Wrench; although far too shallow and reef-filled for the deep drafts of Pirate Kings and Spanish ships, "The Wrench"'s coast proved perfect for the light outrigger craft of the Taino. They enjoyed much success plying a fishing lifestyle.
The Taino, however, were utterly decimated with the coming of the Spanish in the 1500s and their attendant diseases, such as smallpox. With the disappearance of the Taino, The Wrench would remain desolate until the mid-1800s. Due to its distance from any harbor whatsoever, "The Wrench" was economically unattractive to the Spanish.
With the coming of industrial development in the 1900's, The Wrench saw a major influx of commercial interest. Virgin land was soon despoiled in the name of progress, with webs of steel girders and soaring buildings taking the place of grassland and forest.
[edit] Ferris Tool and Dye
The opening of the Ferris Tool and Dye factory in 1912 represented a much-needed boost to the St. Germaine economy. Housing sprang up to accommodate the newly-arrived workers, as well as an unexpected quantity of "pleasure houses". However, the factory produced an unfortunate quantity of choking soot and smoke; The Wrench was soon as black as its namesake.
[edit] The Devil's Coin & Grim's Hideout
Opened in 1913, The Devil's Coin and Grim's Hideout immediately began to compete with one another; the ensuing rivalry embroiled The Wrench in years of violence. Patrons of either club would assault one another in broad daylight, rendering the once-safe streets exceedingly dangerous at night fall. This violence was further compounded by the growth of yet more nightclubs and bars along a strip that would come to be called "La Rue Noire", or "The Black Road".
[edit] Field Industries & Innotech Manufacturing
With the advent of the Silicon Valley technology boom, "The Wrench" saw a temporary increase in the standard of living for the average Wrench worker. This jump lasted just long enough to establish a fairly stable community of schools, convenience stores, and restaurants. But when the "dot-com bubble" burst, the standard of living plummeted down to "The Wrench" of modern day.
[edit] Travellers' Tips
The Friendly Fortress is 3x3 grid area maintained by the Friends of the Wrench. For those who are just starting out in the Nexus and do not make tempting meals, it is still one of the safer areas to be out in the open.
Killing in the Friendly Fortress is not allowed, and only factions dedicated to chaos and evil tolerate their members slaughtering the innocents who gather in the fort.
The Yappie Dogfood Co. Official Factory Tour is a great way to spend the afternoon with the family, and is as fun as it is educational! Mention this advertisement for a 10% discount on all your petfood purchases whilst on the tour!
