#Lore24 Weekly Post (18/52) - The Bear Coast
NOTE: I've decided to make a soft reboot of a worldbuilding projet I've previously worked on (mainly for my solo rpgs), the solarpunk setting one. I'm still keeping the project name as "Gold Coast", and won't wipe all the previously established setting lore, but will be taking a new look and revise some of the setting info that has been previously posted.
The Bear Coast community began as a temporary logistical depot, originally established to provide aid to the surrounding area and more populated southern metropolises. Over time, climate disasters and waves of migration throughout the Gold Coast region drove a steady flow of refugees and migrants to the Bear Coast. This influx sustained the area’s population, and the dedication to day-to-day logistics and emergency support convinced many of these newcomers to settle permanently.
Today, the Bear Coast remains focused on supporting populations affected by climate disaster but has also evolved into a resilient logistical hub in the northern Gold Coast. It plays a key role in resource management and provides vital support services across the region.
Although life on the Bear Coast centers around two main settlements—Glass City and Santo Alto—distinct lifestyles characterize each:
Glass City is a bustling, if modestly sized, port town. Its industries focus on transportation and food production, with most residents employed by the railway, docks, shipping companies, or local businesses. Glass City’s productivity fuels the community’s appetite for a vibrant nightlife and a touch of luxury.
Santo Alto, by contrast, is known for agriculture, crafts, and research, with the local college’s administration headquartered here. Residents are seasoned experts in fields like wilderness survival, botany, carpentry, and foraging. This town sustains both a hands-on economy and a commitment to environmental stewardship.
Environmental conservation is a top priority for Bear Coast residents. Local labor and volunteer corps lead conservation projects, while researchers at the college focus on ecological restoration efforts both locally and abroad. The community’s connection to nature is celebrated through festivals and supported by local witches who help nurture the spirit of the natural world.
One unique landmark, Offshore Platform 103 (OP-103), serves as an operational base for the Sun Corps. It houses several hundred corps members working across fields like research, engineering, emergency services, security, and logistics.
Food culture is central to Bear Coast life, evolving into two primary avenues: large-scale production and preservation, as seen in the Gold Coast Provisions’ extensive range of food and drink, and homestyle cooking, which enriches the local dining scene and attracts tourists. These two traditions embody Bear Coast’s culinary values—preparation and sharing warm meals with company.
The Bear Coast and broader Gold Coast communities are grappling with the aftermath of climate collapse, adapting to a reorganized society on a changed Earth. Earthquakes, storms, fires, and floods have relentlessly struck the region, with the Bear Coast bearing its share of the past decade’s turbulent upheaval. In a scattered world, the Gold Coast has emerged as one of the last functioning polities, with six municipal counties forming the Alta California Autonomous Region, including Bear Coast Municipal County.
The Gold Coast Confederation binds recognized autonomous regions, each responsible for self-sustainability and mutual support. In this structure, any organization with over 100 members operates as a cooperative corporation—democratic organizations managed by representatives from the public, workforce, consumers, and environmental advocates. Senior executives are elected by these representatives and are subject to recall, reflecting the region’s commitment to economic democracy.
The Bear Coast’s college plans to expand with a new campus that will train scientists, engineers, wizards, witches, and disaster response workers. The residents eagerly anticipate the college’s promised improvements to transportation and other infrastructure. The college’s diverse programs support the community’s goals, offering research initiatives in sunglass technology, printer resource engineering, and arcane mechanics. Credential programs provide skill training and technical courses, alongside a humanities department and a community-wide literacy initiative. Furthering its commitment to sustainability, the college actively contributes to local projects in food production, water treatment, communication networks, and logistical management.