SETTING & CULTURE

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Ardent

Ardent

your blood on my teeth
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Genres
Horror, Dark Fantasy, Modern
Welcome to
Neoterra
A cylindrical city-state composed of inner and outer megastructures–also known as zones–that are separated only by a narrow strip of road.

The city-state is vertically divided into three districts: Salvation, the Strip, and the Rift. These three districts are connected by the MetroRail, a spiraling transport tube that clings to Neoterra's outer walls.
 
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The Rift
「 THE FORGOTTEN UNDERCITY 」

[A/N: Hover over unfamiliar words to view their definition/translation.]

A place of eternal night, The Rift lies closest to the ground where sunlight cannot reach it. It is where the impoverished are left to rot, where criminals and prisoners of war flee to escape punishment, where the city's overlords indulge in sinful diversions. Everything here is an assault to the senses, from the stench of garbage to the disorganized hellscape of narrow steel walkways drenched in neon; it is the perfect backdrop for the worst of crimes.
 
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The Haze

Sirens are sounded in the Rift to warn denizens of Hazedrones. Every week, these drones sweep over the narrow street and alleyways like clockwork, releasing a storm of chemtrails that evaporate when they touch the ground. This vapor is known as the Haze. It is advised to seek cover during and after emission, as chemtrails can burn the skin and the vapor can render sight and breathing difficult.

The Haze inflicts long-term effects, like permanent loss of vision and cancer, even to those who take great care to avoid it.
 

The Stiffs
Denizens of the Rift are strong believers of the Gaian Faith, but there are some practitioners who take it to the next level. These blinded by religious propaganda–also known as the Stiffs–make their home on the streets, where they preach their beliefs to anyone who would listen. Liberate your body, liberate your soul. To them, technology is the embodiment of all that is corrupted and evil.

It is not uncommon to mistake them for corpses. Their complete rejection of science and modern life has made them hosts to many illnesses, and their exposure to chemtrails has destroyed their bodies beyond recognition.
 
Bliss

The continued survival of the Stiffs can be blamed on a popular drug known as Bliss. When orally consumed, Bliss numbs the senses and staves off pain without affecting one's consciousness or executive function. In some cases, it may even keep death at bay. Cheap and easy to procure, Bliss is abused all throughout Neoterra but is especially widespread in the poorer regions, where the starving use the drug to forget their own hunger.

Originally created during the colony wars, Bliss was a useful asset to the military as it enabled soldiers to be unencumbered by mortal injury. To this day, it remains a staple among enforcers and other defenders of peace, although their consumption is strictly regulated as required by law.

Strict regulations are in place because Bliss is not without side effects. Too much of the drug can cause users to grow acclimated to numbness. When an addict allows it to wear off without medical supervision, the sudden onslaught of sensation may come as a shock. Oftentimes, this can be deadly. The sun becomes unbearably hot, the buzz of neon lights induces nausea and grates the ears. As a result, addicts who are low on Bliss seek dark, quiet places like the Underground–an unfinished doomsday bunker that is a relic of the colony wars.

 
Low Tech

To say that tech in Neoterra is unevenly distributed would be an understatement. The Rift, especially, is held prisoner of the past, for technology in these parts is straggling far behind that of wealthier districts. People here are too impoverished, and the few who do manage to scrape together a few thousand yen would find it difficult to purchase tech legally. After all, merchants from the Strip are known to discriminate against the poor and rarely ever visit the Rift to begin with.

It is a cruel irony, then, that the downtrodden are the most in need of augmentations to survive, despite their inability to acquire them. Many emerge from childhood needing a new organ or limb due to the treacherous nature of their surroundings, but they are forced to live with their handicaps, further making continued survival untenable.

There are other ways to obtain tech, however, if one knows who to ask and doesn't mind skirting a few laws. Illegal clinics are hidden in plain sight, whether it be behind a ramen stall, or sequestered in the basement of a brothel. They provide an impressive array of devices, weapons, and augmentations; and they may even fix you up with a fresh organ for a price, so long as you don't question its origins. The only caveat is that clinics are run by gangs, which keep to their own.
 
One Man's Trash

People as young as seven could be found digging for scraps in landfills (also known as Treasure Mountains), hoping to find something they could sell or use as parts for their augmentations. They may even disassemble maintenance bots in an act of desperation, or steal from individuals bearing premium augs. After all, resources are scarce in the Rift, so every scrap of tech is seen as valuable.

Locals also tend to hold onto their belongings long after they have served their purpose. Every personal item is sacred when one does not have a great deal of them.
 

The Land of Lowlives

This district is rife with criminal activity–it could be a clandestine exchange of goods in an alleyway, or a crime of passion behind the doors of the Seventh Heaven brothel, or the screams of a child being dragged into a van defaced with gang signs. This is a lawless land. To survive means to know when to run and when to hide, and where to stick the knife when all else fails.

But there is safety in numbers. Should one possess a valuable trade, or enough grit to wield a gun, they might carve out a place for themselves among the many gangs of the Rift.

THE RENEGADES_
One of the most notorious gangs is the Renegades, formerly known as the Tanigawa-kai. They are a large and powerful syndicate, owning about 40% of businesses in the Rift. The most seasoned of members are said to own cars and even premium augmentations–rare luxuries in the impoverished district.

Those who have lived in the Rift long enough know that the Renegades weren't always this powerful. Their true reign began with the murder of the former oyabun, the last surviving son of the Tanigawa clan. The man dreamt of insurrection, going so far as to speak publicly against the government and the corporations that pull their strings. His ambition and candidness was his downfall, and before long, a bullet silenced him forever.

His successor, Cyclone, assumed the mantle and made the Renegades what they are today. It is widely believed that Cyclone killed the oyabun himself, although it has never been confirmed.

WAR FOR THE METRORAIL_
One frequent point of contention among mobs is the undercity Metro. Although faulty and marred with graffiti, it remains to be the fastest way to travel around the district. Damaged shuttle pods have been tossed aside in favor of motorcycles and other small vehicles, turning the MetroRail into a makeshift highway for the lower class.

The Vandals, second only to the Renegades in power, have laid claim over the MetroRail and demand toll fees, which can come in the form of yen or tech scraps.
 
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The Pits

The Pits is an indoor establishment that is popular among locals seeking cheap entertainment. The makeshift fighting ring is an artificial cavity in the ground, in which fighters engage in brutal one-on-one battles while onlookers watch from above. Fighters could be anything from humans seeking to show off their augs to handmade automatons, or even wild animals. Bets are wagered, precious inventions are lost, and sometimes victors gain monetary prizes and recognition.

Promising individuals are recruited by scouts from the Strip. Recruits could either become professional fighters or a member of the Skywarden, the celebrity superheroes of Neoterra.
 

The Strays

The Rift is teeming with stray animals, and it is their existence that inspires a popular legend unique to this district. It is said that some of the strays possess supernatural speed and strength, rivaling humans and deadly automatons in prowess. Although they blend in well among their ordinary counterparts, these creatures possess one defining trait that sets them apart: their eyes, which glow when they are provoked into using their power.

As for their temperament, there are conflicting reports. Some say that these animals are as vicious and aggressive as those with rabies. Others say they are harmless beings that possess remarkable intelligence, such as the ability to comprehend abstract ideas and even human language.

Hunters can reap large rewards from syndicate groups should they succeed in capturing these elusive strays. And yet, to this day, not one has succeeded.
 

The Seventh Heaven

It is always suspect when someone from the overcity visits the Rift. It is often the case that they are taking part in illicit activities, whether it be gambling, piracy, or recreational murder. This lawless land is the perfect place to indulge in such activities without being subjected to public scrutiny.

Brothels are the most common attraction. In particular, the Seventh Heaven has a lot to offer to those with more niche or extreme tastes. Prostitutes are auctioned off to the wealthy, who do unspeakable things to them behind closed doors. While prostitutes are paid for their services–sometimes generously, sometimes not–most do not come out of this arrangement without some form of physical or emotional trauma, causing them to blow a large sum of their income on facial reconstruction surgery and augmentations. There have also been deaths. Sudden disappearances happen all the time, and very few think to question it.

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The Search for Paradise

Life in the Rift is hell, so it is no wonder that people seek solace in fantasies and dream of paradise beyond the walls. They say that the war did not wipe out all the other colonies, that some survived and built their cities anew. For most, this is only wishful thinking, but there are those who grow obsessed with Paradise and are convinced that it exists. Some have even managed to escape Neoterra despite the impossible odds. However, nobody knows what became of them. Perhaps they did find their Paradise–not in the other colonies, but in the afterlife instead.
 
The Colonials

The Colony Wars may have ended two decades ago, but their effects could still be felt, in large part due to wartime propaganda. Colonials receive the brunt of this. They are prisoners of war–or at least, they were, before they escaped to the Rift and buried old identities in favor of new ones. Should their true identity be discovered, they would be executed for their crimes. That is, if the citizens don't get to them first.

However, not all Colonials managed to escape. Those who remained within the government's grasp have disappeared from society altogether. Executed, as widely believed. But something doesn't add up: there is no reason that the government should take them captive, if all they planned to do was execute them.
 

The Immune

Unlike the upper districts, the Rift was unaffected by the Fall. Not a single resident was hypnotized by the glowing creature in the ocean. It is a mystery as to why this is the case.
 
The Strip
「 THE PLACE FOR BIZ 」

Nested between the Rift and Salvation is the Strip. When viewed ordinarily, it is indistinguishable from the underbellies of Neoterra, with the only noteworthy difference being the absence of vagrants. With Augmented Reality, however, the Strip comes to life, and the real magic begins to unfold.

Cruise along the suspended glass bridge and admire the synergy of flashing lights and looming holos. Here, biz is a constant, thriving machine. Everything is out to grab your attention, from intrusive advertisements showcasing the new Series X Bionics–only 99.99 nanobits!–to the manufactured sound of jingling coins in pachinko parlors, to the plethora of vending machines selling anything and everything under the sun.

Sink or swim in this land of opportunity. Start your own business or become another employee number in a faceless corporation. Either way, you are just another cog in the machine. Welcome to capitalism.
 

AUGMENTED REALITY

In the Strip, everyone and their mother is equipped with Augmented Reality; in this day and age, it is necessary for day-to-day life. There are two types of AR: permanent (i.e. bionic eyes) or removable (i.e. goggles, eyeglasses). AR enables citizens of the Strip to alter their surroundings in any way they see fit, or so it is advertised. In reality, there are very few things that a person can change, and most of them are locked behind a paywall.

Content viewed with AR can be restricted depending on an individual's location or age. Advertisements specific to one's taste and browsing habits are pushed constantly, sometimes irrespective of time or location. To make matters worse, these ads cannot be removed without a monthly subscription or, alternatively, illegal modifications. The changes that a person can make with AR are mostly cosmetic and must be purchased. These include: physical alterations such as wardrobe and hairstyle changes, familiars (AI virtual assistants), UI design, and so on.

AR is also used to track an individual's thoughts and habits, which then affects their social credit. Enforcers may also use this to avert crime. In order to circumvent surveillance, people use mods to hide their activity. This is called going 'off-the-grid' and is considered to be a form of insurrection in the eyes of the government, punishable by death.
 

HUSTLE CULTURE

Residents of the Strip are touted as hardworking individuals that keep their head down and dedicate their entire lives to the grind. This is no place for the idle. Those who work long hours are placed on a pedestal–praised with words, not a pay raise. Unpaid overtime is commonplace as the desperate scramble to win employee of the month, going so far as to entertain their bosses in izakayas after working hours. This culture has led to deaths, most of which are suicides. Those driven to the base of the barrel end up on the Rift road as beggars or splattered remains. Suicides happen so frequently that both the Rift and the Strip have become desensitized to them.
 

Relics of the Old World
When Neoterra was in its early stages of construction, the Japanese founders brought over anything they could salvage from the old world. These relics are steeped with cultural significance and history: torii gates, Buddhist temples, kabuki theaters, and bamboo groves reminiscent of Arashiyama, to name a few.

As the population grew in number and interest in the old world dwindled, these sites were repurposed one by one. Many of them retain their original exteriors but are hollowed out to make room for new establishments. For instance, it is not uncommon to find a sushi restaurant or a convenience store nestled inside what was once a sacred shinden.

The few structures that remain untouched by progress hardly ever see visitors apart from the occasional wayward citizen. Here, they leave secret messages in the form of objects or graffiti, which promote insurrection when decoded. These items and vandalisms don't last for more than a day, as Enforcers and maintenance bots are quick to confiscate or scrub them clean.

There is a dedicated group that is always keeping an eye out for their messages and maintaining records. They say that a rebellion is in motion, and that anyone who wishes to fight against the system need only decode the messages to meet with their fearless leader.

Currently, this person's identity remains a mystery.
 

The Kitchen of Neoterra

Like the rest of Neoterra, the Strip is a smorgasbord of different cultures, and this is best evidenced by the food. Here, one will find an abundance of restaurants decked with animatronics, as well as stalls selling a variety of street food along glass walkways. The Strip takes its reputation seriously and serves only the best of the best, and this combined with its high standard of living makes for steep living costs.

The city's indoor farms are also located within this district, specifically along the inner zones. The Strip feeds all of Neoterra, from the dwellers of the ground all the way to the gods of the sky. With each year, however, it is becoming more and more difficult to meet the demands of the ever-increasing population.
 

Skywardens and Enforcers

Zipping across the skies are the Skywardens, the vigilante superheroes of Neoterra. Or at least, this is how they are marketed. In truth, they are more akin to reality stars than superheroes. Originally created to entertain the populace and quench the growing hunger for rebellion, Skywardens are advertised as ordinary people with extraordinary lives. Most of them are recruited from the Rift, with only a minority sourced from the Strip, making them relatable figures to the average citizen as well as the downtrodden.

Skywardens are followed by camera drones that livestream their crime-fighting to hundreds and thousands of fans. Many of their stunts are staged–they are first and foremost entertainers, after all–but occasionally they may engage with real criminals from the Rift, who as a consequence see them as traitors.

This is not something they have any control over. Skywardens do not get to choose what they do, what they wear, or what kind of weapons and augmentations they should have. They are owned by Armortek, which has them bridled with slave contracts–a fact that is concealed from the public. Not only does this corporation reap in all revenue gathered from ad-sponsored livestreams and merchandise, they also take advantage of the idolized Skywardens, using them as guinea pigs to test and promote state-of-the-art augmentations and devices. Meanwhile, the public is fooled, being led to believe that these superheroes operate on their own terms. The Skywardens make the most of their situation, however. These former residents of the Rift know all too well that a life of comfort within a cage is leagues better than the alternative. Freedom means nothing when you're out of choices.

There is a lot that goes on to make the superhero fantasy a reality. Skywardens are commodities, and like any other commodity, there are entire teams working in the background to make them as marketable to the public as possible. Assembled in groups of five or seven, their roles within this group are carefully selected, their images perfectly primed, and their costumes designed to be iconic. Their personalities and relationships with each other are also manufactured, serving only to tell a story than to show a genuine connection. In reality, the Skywardens are constantly competing with each other for popularity, as irrelevance is penalized with banishment to the Rift.

Law enforcement in Neoterra–also known as Enforcers–work in tandem with Skywardens. They are tasked to protect these corporate assets and ensure that missions go as smoothly as possible. Enforcers are not too happy with this arrangement–understandably so, as they do most of the work for less of the recognition. To add insult to the injury, Skywardens have made a favorable impression upon the public whereas Enforcers suffer from a negative image.
 
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