The Island of Shelter-32
Shelter-32 occupies a temperate subtropical island ecosystem — dense with forest, laced with mossy footpaths, and threaded by narrow horse trails. Though the precise size and shape of the island remains classified, the environment maintains a careful balance between authenticity and anomaly, aided by subtle climate modulation maintained by the Species Conservation Project. More extreme habitats are simulated internally as needed.
A dirt road runs inland from the shoreline, leading through gentle woodland rises and the occasional overgrown glade. Along the eastern shore, a string of rustic bungalows is available for visiting personnel, observers, and those on long-term assignment. Each bungalow is self-contained, with minimal amenities and passive monitoring. The road ascends toward the Belling Barn Ranch — a modest dairy facility housing a small population of genetically stabilized livestock under Project oversight. While its purpose is functional, its placement atop the hill offers a panoramic view of the main compound.
Further inland, at the heart of the sanctuary, lies a central gathering area — a broad clearing anchored by a large, multi-purpose barn and stabling structure. The building is often used for orientation, open-air briefings, and creature intake. Its placement is not accidental: the barn serves as the symbolic and operational core of Shelter-32.
⬇️ Subterranean Facility
Beneath the island lies the bulk of Shelter-32’s true structure: an expansive underground facility extending through natural caverns, reinforced corridors, and research wings. Guests may enter the facility's public-facing medical and veterinary clinic, but access beyond this point is limited to approved research participation or containment scenarios.
The central subterranean chamber houses a fully equipped medical and veterinary clinic. Designed for both human and nonhuman patients, the infirmary includes containment-adapted diagnostic bays, regenerative therapy suites, and a suite of obstetric equipment more comprehensive than most surface hospitals. Whether tending to injured field staff or emergent hybrid births, the facility is in near-constant use.
Beyond that central hub, the remainder of the underground space is allocated to classified research, isolation labs, quarantine chambers, and long-term behavioral observation units. Visitors are not permitted into these zones without direct authorization from the Species Conservation Project.
"Above ground, you may find trails, trees, and tame illusions. Below — the real work begins."