Nymphaeales - Worldbuilding for Murder in Heliopolis

Nymphaeales: Worldbuilding - Murder in Heliopolis

In Murder in Heliopolis, the story begins when Detective Laith Alazraq is assigned to investigate the homicide of Cassia Grove, a successful businesswoman in Heliopolis who owns a club called Nymphaeales. 

 

What is Nymphaeales?

Nymphaeales is a recreational club located on The Floats, which is a network of natural islands, man-made islands, and floating structures off the coast of Heliopolis. (The coast is another district called The Shores - but that's another worldbuilding post for another week.) Nymphaeales boasts a highly successful membership clientele, beautiful landscaping, sports activities, and a range of luxury services.

Against the sociocultural landscape of Heliopolis, Nymphaeales, along with a few other establishments, stands out for its apparent antithetic nature. Exclusivity, for many Heliopolitans, is a dangerously capitalist leaning, which pushes people away from a collectivist and community-focused culture into a more individualistic and exploitative one. Others disagree; what's the harm in having a place where only a specific slice of the population can go?

Why is it called Nymphaeales?

I chose the name Nymphaeales because I wanted the design of this club on The Floats to be like a water lily. In the end, while the club is shaped in a way that is somewhat reminiscent of a water lily, it is the surrounding solar panels structures which float around the main club, that are more explicitly shaped like giant water lilies. This is how Nymphaeales gets its name. 

In the middle of the somewhat-water-lily-shape of Nymphaeales is the main buiding, which is build with thick photovoltaic glass. With its unique design, it looks like a large jewel in the middle of the "water lily", earning it the title, Jewel of the Floats. Moreover, inside the building is a diamond elevator. Yes - an elevator that is just one giant diamond. Biggest in the whole world. 

When Cassia Grove goes big, she goes really big.

Establishing Nymphaeales

Cassia Grove started the club a handful of years after moving to Heliopolis, when her husband, Aster Lockwood, had finally launched Greenland Farm and catapulted it into the huge success it currently is. She built the club from the ground up after purchasing one of the small islands in The Floats, and over the span of about a year, turned it into a gorgeous hub of relaxation, leisure, and exclusivity. However, this wouldn't have been possible without Aster's financial support. 

Why is Nymphaeales important to Murder in Heliopolis?

First, it is the club that was owned by the murder victim whose homicide investigation sparks the entire story. Cassia Grove was extremely successful, generally kept to herself, and was well-liked. So, who could have had a reason to murder her? 

Naturally, Detective Laith Alazraq has to explore all possibilities, and his investigation takes him to Nymphaeales, where a key piece of evidence is discovered. 

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To learn more about Murder in Heliopolis, its worldbuilding, and its characters, check out its dedicated page here. Also, if you would like to be an alpha reader, please read this post. 

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