SETTING & CULTURE

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The Geckos

[ NON-PLAYABLE ]
Hidden in the crevices, tucked just out of view, are the Geckos. These are denizens of the Rift that creep into upper districts by scaling the walls of the megastructure. They are so-named for their gecko hands, augmentations that allow them to cling to surfaces for long periods of time. Ever since their first appearance, gecko hands have been made illegal to civilians.

Often seen slumming it in fire escapes or unoccupied apartments, Geckos have a reputation for being ironically slippery. Some say they are thieves. Others say they are spies. Still others swear they are insurrectionists. If witness reports are to be believed, Geckos are responsible for vandalizing old world relics and promoting insurrection. Skywardens and Enforcers are desperately trying to hunt these criminals down, but to no avail.
 
Salvation
「 THE MANUFACTURED PARADISE

In more ways than one, the people of Salvation live in their own little bubble.

The district comprises the uppermost floors of Neoterra, its rooftop sheltered by a dome that alters the outdoor scenery to look uncorrupted by modern civilization. It depicts sprawling forests, mountains, and too-blue skies–so far detached from reality that any sense of urgency over humanity's impending doom is lost on Salvation.

From within, this utopian district features open spaces, fresh air, winding rivers, and an abundance of synthetic greenery–a window dressing for the corruption and greed that takes place behind the scenes. It is hypocritical that Salvation should pride themselves in being the most organic of creatures–the most Gaian of all Neoterra–when they purposefully interpret religious scripture according to their whims. They live in nature but use technology to manufacture its false image. They claim to reject bodily enhancements while concealing cybernetic implants underneath synthetic skin. They parade themselves as model citizens while skirting their own laws.

This is the land of excess. A place where one can live in a manufactured fantasy, if they can afford it.
 
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Palaces in the Sky

Above the synthetic paradise are ships, aboard which the founders of Neoterra reside. They are the one percent of the one percent–people with such unfathomable wealth and influence that none can surpass them. They are believed to be immortal and even divine. Men from the Rift all the way to Salvation sing songs of praises to these unseen gods.

They rarely emerge from their lofty palaces, and only Neoterra's best scientists are permitted to enter their homes. This is the subject of much speculation. It is often said that the gods have access to technology not yet available to the public, enabling them to live for as long as they have.

For aeons, the gods remained untouchable, until an attack on one of these six palaces–an event known as the Fall–upended the false foundation upon which their power was built.
 

The Fall

It was the first time anyone had seen one of those ships move. It broke through the dome, shattering the illusion and lifting the veil for all of Salvation to witness. Gone was the lush ecosystem and sloping mountains they had all grown accustomed to. Instead, there was the perilous ocean, stretching far beyond the eyes could see. The ship pummeled into the water and sank like a drowning beast until not a trace of it remained, having been devoured by an ocean that hadn't been fed in years.

But then, from its tomb, something else emerged. Something glowing and shapeless. One look at it would render the observer hypnotized and drawn to this mysterious force. Its mere presence overcame onlookers with a false sense of peace, pulling them into the water.

Men, women, and children threw themselves over the barrier. Many lives were lost that day, and if the citizens of Salvation hadn't been ordered to stay indoors, many more would have been lost. Now, the dome has been fixed, but the public remains shaken. Nearly half of the population has been lost to the Fall, and all that stands between survivors and certain death is the dome.

Meanwhile, the creature itself has a strong sense of self-preservation, destroying anything that dares to come close to it.
 

The Raptured

Some were restrained before they could take the fatal leap. These few–called the Raptured–are held within high security facilities. There is currently no treatment that can reverse the hypnosis, but researchers are working hard to find a cure.

According to observations, subjects are in a constant state of hysteria and possess self-destructive tendencies. They have lost all regard for their basic necessities and, if given the opportunity, would resort to violence in order to escape confinement. When they speak, they only talk of the glow, which they call Liberty.

Because they pose a danger to themselves and to other people, they are made to wear straitjackets and cannot leave hospital premises. They are also medicated and fed through a nasogastric tube, with androids attending to their day-to-day needs.
 

Androids

AI, especially androids, are a popular commodity in Neoterra, but none are as convincingly human as the ones in Salvation. Their resemblance to humans is so striking, in fact, that the only way to distinguish an anthropomorphic android from its makers are the serial number on the nape of its neck and the electronic wristband embedded into its skin. The wristband provides an interface with which the automaton can be controlled, although voice commands are a popular alternative. Androids, especially the newest models, are highly advanced and are utilized in an extensive breadth of job sectors.
 

MechTechs

Also known as Designer Androids, or Empties, MTs are exclusive only to the wealthiest of Salvationers. It is unknown what makes them so priceless. Collectors insist they are a kind of art; each iteration is not like the other. To people outside of Salvation, however, MechTechs are unappealing. These androids are Frankenstein-like in design–everything about them looks wrong and unsettling. They are all twisted limbs and incongruent parts, weighed down by various ornaments.

Although they are the most expensive kind of androids in Neoterra, they are also the most useless. MechTechs are artificial but not considered intelligent. They are more akin to moving, life-sized dolls–nothing more than emotionless status symbols.

There is a rumor floating around that claims MechTechs have a little bit of human in them, but this is impossible to prove, for Armortek prohibits the unauthorized disassembling of any of its androids.
 

Trouble in Paradise

Some considered this a challenge. Unfortunately, their pursuit for truth only led to their demise. One such instance involved a young researcher born and raised in Salvation. Her body was found slumped over the disassembled parts of a MechTech, her eyeball skewered with a pencil and her neck slit with an unknown weapon.

It has been years since the incident, but the perpetrator remains unknown.
 
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