• Octo Valley

• OCTO VALLEY

Found within a voluminous gorge, Octo Valley exists not far from the bustling city of Inkopolis. The Octarians find their home deep within its cavernous reaches, far from the light of day, and seldom leave its confines. It's within Octo Valley that they found their unanticipated home and sanctuary - following the Great Turf War that determined their loss of territory, the civilization fled underground and has remained there ever since. 
As a result of their sheltered upbringing, Octarians tend to know little of the world above ground - save what they're told, of course. Their society differs in many ways from that of Inkopolis'; lacking some of the frivolity of the Inklings' culture, the Octarians are known more so for their combative prowess and technological advances.

However, Octo Valley is not absent of its own flair. While fashion and media aren't as high on the priority list, music is widely appreciated and considered core to their culture. Even so, its genres tend to differ heavily from the varieties found in Inkopolis. Albeit underground, Octo Valley's many caves are emblazoned by neon lights, encapsulating a lively city vibe despite its unusual location. Aside from this, Octarians covet intellectual recreation as well.

From a young age, many Octarians are involved in extensive training, expected to eventually assimilate into the society's militia. Leading lives heavily influenced by the guidance and demands of their government, they strive to hone their combative skill and thereby strengthen Octarian forces. Those uninvolved in the military still strive to serve their cause: domination of Inkopolis. 

Not unlike Inklings, Octarians possess a lasting hatred for their land-dwelling rivals. They believe the land the Inklings now inhabit is rightfully theirs and will stop at nothing to reclaim it. Their deep-seated rivalry burns fiercely to this day, and few Octarians escape the bias imposed on them as youths.

That said, Octarians have a Turf War variety of their own - although much less so for the purpose of recreation. Deadlier by far than the sport Inklings enjoy, Octarian Turf War is used for the purpose of training. It's not uncommon for serious injuries to occur during a match, and in an effort to better simulate the battlefield, participants are expected to battle fiercely and without mercy. Physical violence is used freely in these matches, and though injured Octarians are tended to following the conclusion of a round, teams will stop at nothing to ensure their victory. 

Octarian Turf War is used not only to prepare future soldiers for battle, but also to equip civilians with the means to defend themselves. Fiercer Turf War is reserved for maturer Octarians, while younger civilians are educated in self defense and slowly eased into the matches themselves. Despite the harsh nature of their Turf War, Octarians very seldom bear their opponents ill will, recognizing that the core purpose of their training is to protect one another. 
Indisputably the greatest of the Octarians' strengths, technology has played a vast role in sculpting their lifestyle. Although this expertise best expresses itself in military machinery, Octo Valley's technological advances are demonstrated widely throughout the underground. Within the caverns, countless panels are placed along the stone walls, illuminated with hyper-realistic images of the sky. These panels change as the day passes above ground; from starlit nighttime scenes to sunny days, these images serve to illuminate the dark underground and provide an illusion of freedom from the valley's confines. 

As for their military machinery, it has also excelled beyond what many Inklings believe to be possible. Their weaponry is based on an innovative system of biomechanics (the sole hindrance being that, despite sheer amounts of destructive force, few energy sources exist that are capable of powering such weapons). It's for this reason that the Octarians so fiercely struggled to claim the many zapfish found in Inkopolis - as well as the main power source of the booming city, The Great Zapfish. Without the inexhaustible power of the zapfish, the Octarians have no sustainable energy sources to rely on, rendering their innovative weapons useless.

Meanwhile, Octo Valley's many catacombs are connected by a series of transport devices known as kettles. These devices are covered by grates and can only be passed through in octopus form, making for quick and efficient transportation. 
Octo Valley's militia is heavily organized - and experienced. Instructed in the art of combat as youths, many Octarians are raised knowing their way around a weapon and the battlefield. Although involvement in the military is heavily imposed upon young Octarians, the requirements are anything but slim. Octarians must pass an examination in order to enroll, and even fewer soldiers are entrusted with leadership roles. 

While some soldiers are expected to remain in Octo Valley for the sake of defense, others perform routine patrols along its outskirts. The few Octarians brave (and skilled) enough to venture outside of their home are often seen as icons. Even fewer are given the roll of infiltration, sent to gather information and gain the trust of those who find their home in Inkopolis. The highest ranking soldiers are distinguished by the seaweed adorning their heads. Tentacle color is also used to set apart the varying ranks of Octo Valley's militia. While average soldiers sport crimson tentacles, higher ranking soldiers have been seen to have black tentacles, and lower ranking soldiers purple tentacles. 

As mentioned before, Turf War matches are fundamental to Octarian society. A series of tournaments between enrolled teams is used to determine which trainees are ready to become soldiers, though reaching this point of skill can be a long and arduous journey. Matches become steadily more difficult as well as dangerous as trainees climb the ranks, so only the most formidable Octarians make it to the top.