âš™ The Core âš™
Towering SlumlandThe Core is the center of the Ark, and holds an astounding amount of people. It's rumored that in archived texts, The Core is where the ancestor's of present day citizens entered the Ark. Once the regime had been established and control implemented over the complex, The Core was left over crowded for 'The Greater Good' of the other sectors. Since then, The Core has faced an ever present trend of rapid expansion. It's a good thing that GPS technology utilizes a form of echo location to map the city, because it enormous. Towering skylines, buildings packed wall to wall, The core resembles a massive metropolis, except poorer. The only rivers here are ones of filth and waste.
Typically the further away from Gray Wall you travel, the worse the conditions become. The crowds become denser, the trash piles up higher, and the smell gets worse the closer one gets to the slums. However, the farther you move away from the Slums, the more security and military forces you'll see, along with infrastructure maintenance crews. High town is relatively alright, as the wealthy there use teams of personally hired crews to clean the roads and private security to patrol the streets; as The Core doesn't have enough manpower to keep proper order. Although, saying wealthy in The Core is only relevant when comparing the richness of dirt, as being wealthy in The Core is a laughable affair for those who've come into large sums or money in the outer sectors.
The most notable beneficiary attempting to keep order in The Core, everywhere except the Slums, is a mega corporation by the title of Syndustries. They quite literally handle nearly everything, and their influence expands far outside The Core. However, teams of private security, cleaning crews, and other base operating work forces are employed in The Core due to this corporation. They also hold shares in many production facilities to the point that rumor and speculation conclude that Syndustries could incite a Dictatorship if they so wished. It's also speculated that the corporation is the foundation that prevents an economic collapse. Everything shown to the public is of good intent, and tailored towards providing a better life for the common man. However, that's not to say some secrets haven't come to light here and there, just that proving them is incredibly hard. Most people who attempt to expose negative effects of Syndustries actions disappear.
Foot traffic is the primary way to navigate the metal labyrinth, followed by tiny vehicles. Due to the sheer number of people, The Core has the feel of an old Chinese market, with tiny cars, lots of motorcycles, and trucks so small they could fit sideways down an alleyway. Fortunately, pathways exist in all forms from weaving alleyways, to rooftop catwalks, and so forth. Despite all these methods of travel, the main streets remain crowded as ever. The only real life goal a person could have inside of The Core, is getting out of The Core. Since you need money to move out to a different sector, a fee which nobody who works in The Core can afford, a person's dreams are heavily reliant on winning 'The Lottery' provided by, of course, Syndustries. It should also be noted that anybody inside The Core, does not work outside of The Core. The second way out of this slumland is to pass the S.T.A.T, The Science and Technology Aptitude Test, which leads down the road to Sector Four and a life of learning and discovery.
Despite The Core's imperssive size, it does not have any specific focus on any one particular industry. Rather is serves the purpose to buffer production margins, meaning The Core has a vast array of different industries. Also of note is the transfer station directly in the center of The Core, which also holds impound lots fo confiscated vehicles and repair workshops for the trains.
⚙Overview
The Poverty Hubs
⚙Gray Wall
⚙High Town
⚙The Exchange
⚙Low Town
⚙Neon
⚙The Slums
An Are of the Core noted for it's concentration of administration related jobs. Gray Wall also holds the Syndustries Tower, and the President's Administration Offices, a massive walled in complex of two towering buildings, with a serious amount of security and connecting sky bridges.
⚙High Town
This district of The Core is where the highest members in slumland society reside, including and not limited to successful businessmen, ruthless gang leaders, and other kingpins. It's also the least croweded, the cleanest, and remains free of the parasitic building practices other areas of The Core employ.
⚙The Exchange
Despite being a mixture of commercial and residential, this district gets its name from the large market that takes up at least a few entire blocks. It's also rumored to hold one of the entrances to The Underground, and many illicit products surface from this area.
⚙Low Town
Technically the middle-class of slumland, Low town isn't much different from the actual slums except people try to retain some shred of civility and culture here. There's also substantially less homeless here, though the area is usually plagued by racketeering outfits.
⚙Neon
The district where one goes to unwind, and generally just forget about their troubles. A long swathe of main road, and several offshoots, are devoted to the purposes of bars, dance clubs, brothels, and any other cheap pleasures of the flesh. It's also the easiest area to obtain drugs in, especially the dangerous and illegal ones. This area gets its name from the blinding amount of neon signs and show lights.
⚙The Slums
Pretty much self explanatory, this is where the less fortunate and poverty stricken live—That is to say, those who have no money and no stable job. Here the unfortunate craft shelter from anything they can get their hands on, and those too weak to do so simply sleep in the filth. Trash is everywhere, and Sector Five can't keep up with the sheer amoun of trash The Core produces, so the Slums aren't even serviced anymore. Violent crimes run rampant here, and the only time a security force enters is likely to bust a high priority criminal.
âš™ Sector One âš™
The WoodlandThe majority of sector one is covered in artificially cultivated forests, with only a few high mountains and a scattering of sizable lakes. The wealthy typically live in large manors on estates, beautiful mansions, or pricey penthouse suites. Many of the low and middle class workers earn meager livings, and live in housing that varies from cheap and cramped, to moderate suburban homes. The logging industry is the largest in sector one, though it does handle the cultivation of animal game: For sport hunting, or pricey meats and furs. Sector one also has two mining operations, which dig out some common metals, most of which is iron; Sector one also digs up core shards. Additionally, sector one holds the largest system of water recyclers, providing well over half of the usable water throughout Arkheus.
⚙Aetherdale
The City of Clouds
The largest city in Arkheus, Aetherdale is second to none. Sector One is one of the most hospitable zones within the Ark, and citizens flock here given the chance. This population boom throughout the years has grown Aetherdale exponentially, and not all of it is for the good. The edge of the city holds suburbs, for the families that are well off financially, and works its way inwards with cramped living complexes and crowded streets. The center of the city is where its title derives from as a plethora of skyscrapers loom thousands of feet in the air. The city is surrounded by dense forests, and it also noted for its production of leisure items and animal game, specifically the expensive sport of hunting. Its southern districts are within sight of the public railway, and its northern end lets out of the woods and onto the miles large beaches surrounding the lakes.
⚙Amilton
The Rehabilitated Township
Amilton is a sizable town, and quite unique in its purpose. There are only two types of people who reside here; Security Officers, and criminals with such exemplary behavior that they have been given a second chance. Don't let that fool you though, Amilton is still very much a prison, just one with better food and housing. Modeled after pre-world suburbs, most of the houses are a single story and very homely, despite being shared dormitory style. The entire community mostly farms vegetables, and employs those with technical trades to remain self-sufficient as normal, law-abiding citizens are typically restricted to the visitor's center and are not allowed inside any further. Officers patrol the streets, and two story shiny, metal walls with sniper towers, that encircles the community. Just in case.
⚙Belmire
The Home of Rubble and Rock
Belmire is nearly a small city, and is the largest of the two mining operations in sector one. Which is to say, not very big at all. A labyrinth of tunnels runs through the mountain, navigated by foot, ladder, and elevator. Focusing mostly on the deposits of iron, core shards, and other metals within the mountain, the mining operation uses a system of tracks, and small hauling trucks to move ore from within the depths of the mine. The town itself sits against the mountain side, within walking distance to the mine entrance. Kind of shabby and not very homely, Belmire feels like it could have been put together over night and is maintained primarily with scrap and repurposed parts.
⚙Beneque
Loggington
Despite its given name, Beneque is usually just referred to as 'Loggington' or 'Log Town' because of it's focus around the foresting industry. The workers here have two primary jobs, the artificial cultivation of trees, and the process of cutting them down. Thanks to science, and the technological advancements Arkheus has given us, growing trees to full maturity is a process of months, rather than years. Loggginton employs a carefully designed pattern of cutting, to ensure the avoidance of pre-world clear cutting techniques. The town itself is really just a growing mass of mobile trailers and small pre-fabricated homes just stuck together. The roads are hastily cleared tracks of dirt. Log Town is too far from the public rail system, so the town is tasked with maintaining ground roads to Seremere, or Tolstein.
⚙Crest
The Sleepy Hollow
If you happen to live to the ripe old age of retirement, Crest is likely one of the places you'll end up. Primarily a retirement community for those who have fulfilled their duty to the people of Ark, there's not much to say about Crest. The majority of the population is the elderly, and those who take care of them. Most resources come from a train station near the Magrails, and is brought to the community in transport trucks. Full of clean streets, flourishing gardens, and cookie cutter houses with white picket fences out front; The people of Crest live a relatively simple life full of hobby crafts and other personal desires. Security is minimal here, but it does boast an impressive medical staff for obvious reasons.
⚙Hobfell
Tuna Town
Hobfell is less of a town, and more like an enormous processing plant. Once a growing industrial site, Hobfell has been converted into a community through the use of barracks style housing for those who can't manage the travel times from other parts of the sector. Fortunately everyone here gets Saturdays and Sundays off to see their families. Hobfell started as a fishing hub, with access to the public rail system and and being relatively close to the four lakes. Since its growth, it's now picked up some of the processing for ores, lumber, and fabrics. Despite all of this, there is the noticeable smell of fish permeating the air at all hours. Massive spawning pools handle most of the artificial cultivation of sealife, and the only lakes Hobfell has no precidence over are those outside Crest, Aetherdale, and Seremere.
⚙Ivorpoint
The Bueford Estate
What started as one man's dream has quickly grown into a small, prosperous town. Johanan Ivoran Bueford is one of the wealthiest men in Arkheus thanks to an aspiring dream he had in his early years; To bring the fine culture of wine back to the world. Discovering old recipes in buried archives, Johanan began with a grape orchard that quickly turned into a sprawling plantation. Johanan Wine is of the finest quality, and its price is quite high; A drink that is favored by the upper echelon of society. The bad news is that workers toil in the fields performing backbreaking labor for the bare minimum wage as set by the government; The good news is that just about anybody can get a job in the fields. Johanan plans to continue his rapid expansion, and has dreams of utilizing some of the vast space in Sector Two for his grape plantations. Additionally Ivorpoint exports jelly, candy, and raw grapes at more reasonable prices. The roadwork consists of simple dirt tracks, and the homes are cabins typically build by laborers, and are fully connected to the water and power grids, and the people here have quick access to the public magrails.
⚙Lugrath
The Bluegrass Estate
Much like the story of Johanan Bueford, Arad Lugrath Bluegrass began with a small family farm and a license for genetically engineered dairy cows. Holding the only real farming operation in sector one, Arad was able to quickly climb through the economic ranks and now boasts an impressive range of farm stock; Including chickens, cows, pigs, turtles, sheep, and deer. There are also a few orchards, but not enough to be considered industrious, yet Arad has kept the costs for his products fairly low. The farmhands have a ritual of intensive labor, but it pays well. Not enough to rise from middle class, but enough to support a large family, if just barely. Worker housing consists of a range of farmhouses from two, to five bedroom, and include the full functionalities of a modern home. Workers and their families can obtain Bluegrass brand products for a discounted price. While lugrath doesn't have paved road, it does benefit from being next to the public magrails.
⚙Millford
The World's Largest Village
Millford's architecture and community reflect that of their neighboring communites; simple and homely. It comes off as a large district of suburbs, with rarely a house or building exceeding more than two stories. The communities here are family oriented, and consist of a wide variety of family friendly events, especially those that promote youth sports. It's a beautiful town, full of suburban gardens, parks, and playgrounds, only marred by large manufacturing plants and paper mills. Some of their more notable exports are clothing, furniture, in addition to some homemade goods from personal, and community gardens, as each house has a sizable yard. Millford is primarily geared towards the middle class, but does offer a few low cost housing on at the edges of town in the form of cheap, simple trailers with basic amenities.
⚙Seremere
The City of Splendor
Seremere is technically a city, but really caters to the public at the hottest vacation spot, with affordable accommodations that encompass even the lowest social classes, although you get what you pay for. If it's classified as a sport, leisure activity, or a brand of entertainment, Seremere has it. Hunting expeditions, for days to weeks at a time, hiking trips, arcades, boating races—If you could ever dream of doing it someone, somewhere in Seremere can make it happen. One of the hottest trends in Seremere is a "Virtual Reality Vacation", a personalized simulation that can range anything from a medieval adventure, to a sweet summer home by a lake in the mountains. You can also pay extra for a developer's kit to have in the simulated world, and change things as you please. Other activities of note are Seremere's dance clubs, bars, and some more provocative establishments. The industry here doesn't exactly have a strong sense of morals, even prostitution is legal, although heavily regulated. Another item of note is the strong presence of an underground market. The city is full of towering skyscrapers that shine in the light, and don't have much in the way of housing other than worker barracks and outrageously priced apartments.
Hotels exist on virtually every corner, along with core stations, both of which compete with an impressive amount of eateries and restaurants. Also of note is the fact the whereas illegal in other parts of Arkheus, there are some regulated drugs available in Seremere for recreational use. At night the city can be seen shining from miles away, a time in which the partying and fun only intensifies. Seremere also controls the sea life for the lake it sits on, and has precedence over the water recyclers. It's also of note that Seremere handles a lot of the entertainment industry, televisions broadcasts, recording and producing studios, and so forth.
Hotels exist on virtually every corner, along with core stations, both of which compete with an impressive amount of eateries and restaurants. Also of note is the fact the whereas illegal in other parts of Arkheus, there are some regulated drugs available in Seremere for recreational use. At night the city can be seen shining from miles away, a time in which the partying and fun only intensifies. Seremere also controls the sea life for the lake it sits on, and has precedence over the water recyclers. It's also of note that Seremere handles a lot of the entertainment industry, televisions broadcasts, recording and producing studios, and so forth.
⚙Tolstein
The Encampment
At first glance, Tolstein might come off as an ancient concentration camp. A city of tents in all sizes, surrounded by simple chain link fencing with barbed wire, and well crafted wooden outlook towers. Hunters from all over gather here, usually as starting and ending points for their expeditions. A favored, cost-effective method for some is to simply slither beneath their vehicle and bundle up in a sleeping bag. The location has become such a hot spot for them that the governor of sector one installed some modernized utilities, most notably showers and restrooms. There are also a few fire pits, grilling stations, and gazebos around the area. Though despite all the camp-esque activities, the favored method of passing time here is of course—Drinking, Smoking Habac, and telling wild stories of their ventures in the woods.
âš™ Sector Two âš™
The Verdant PlainsSector Two is a wide expanse of grassy plaints and rolling hills. The industry here primarily focuses around farming, especially grains and vegetables, orchards, and roving flocks of animals typically tended to by herdsmen. The industry for mining and forestry here is very small, as most of the focus revolves around seeding the plains and ensuring the herds of animals don't go hungry. Many of the homes here have a country or farmhouse feel, and the low income families are usually crammed into apartments, or choose to board with other families and split the bills of a house. Those who are wealthier and prefer to lead homely lives can usually be found in manors scattered throughout the plains. Citizens here can obtain a homestead permit to build their own home out on a designated plot of land in sector two, and start their operation whether it be farming, growing orchards, or herding animals.
⚙Blank
Deadtown
No longer marked on the holomap, the original name for this town has been lost, somehow, throughout the years. Once a marvel of innovation, Blank is now a ghost town and hot spot for youths and believers of the paranormal. If you believe the stories, strange things happen in Blank and nobody knows why. Blank's history has been retold so often, nobody really knows what the true story behind the dead town is. Rumors cover everything from curses and voodoo, to ghosts, aliens, and government conspiracies. Blank is a dusty little town, with paved roads full of holes and rusted metal buildings, some of which remain unfinished. The area is also quite filthy, the victim of constant littering and illegal dumping.
⚙Dubthain
The Weldon Estate
The Weldon Estate was originally founded by Barbatos Dubthain Weldon, and has since then been inherited by his daughter Aralin Weldon. Though she really has nothing to do with the town's day to day routine, Dubthain is really run by a board of directors, who kind of treat Aralin like a toddler they're forced to tolerate. Dubthain is a farming community, which produces a lot of vegetables and textiles at modest prices. There is onsite housing for the workers who'd rather stay during the work week and avoid the expense of constant traveling. The housing facilities onsite get cheaper the more working people you pack into them, and many of workers choose to split the bill of the two-story, country style homes. Also of note, Dubthain is famous for breeding small, domesticated animals like dogs and cats. Dubthain also manages its own small lake, and has boating and fishing activities available for a meager fee.
⚙Glokhallow
The Baking Capital
Glokhallow is a sprawling city famous for it's baked goods. The economy here is primary centered around the large fields of grain outside the city, including wheat, rice, and barley. Additionally Glokhallow produces a great quantity of orchard fruits, giving them all the capabilities to create delectable baked goods. Glokhallow Pies are among the top of their famous products, but everything from Glokhallow is "to die for", and comes at a very affordable price. The city is very urban, following the scheme of most cities on Arkheus. Suburbs lie scattered around the edges and population density increases the more you work towards the center; streets lined with large apartment complexes and towering skyscrapers. Most notable about the infrastructure its Glokhallow's use of avenues, the medians of which are usually planted with flourishing trees that blossom into bright, beautiful colors year round.
⚙Kinehaben
Herdsman's Rest
About as centered as a city could get in the odd shapes of the sectors, Kinehaben's location is ideal for a launch point for herdsman. Built on a small lake, and encompassing three major rivers, it's a favorite for nomads who move their herds across the plains. The city has a rural feel, full of feed stores and businesses focused around the theme of these herders. Way stations dot the edges of the cities, complete with boarding for rent and pens for animals, for those that bring their herds in instead of camping outside of the city. It's not uncommon to see small flocks of animals moving through the crowded city streets, especially if one is heading towards the central market square. Almost anything can be found in Kinehaben in the huge market square directly in the center of the city. A multilevel affraid, the market is actually an enormous mall like structure, but instead of stores citizens can buy licenses to open a stall for a marked period of time. Kinehaben is the largest producer of animal related products, and is the largest supplier of meat and leather. Most people don't visit Kinehaben without leaving with some of their Jerky, or stopping by an eatery for a meat pie.
⚙Nubbikham
The Command Center
Nubbikham dabbles a bit in everything from farming, to herding, to some production and even a little mining. The mines, albeit small, do provide a steady stream of core shards and a trickle of rarer metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and aluminum. However, Nubbikham, while it doesn't focus on any unique exports or famous goods, is the control center for sector two. It manages the forests, and ships out growers and loggers who work in the fields for weeks, to months at a time. They also manage most of the lakes, except for those at Dubthain and Kinehaben, and ensure that the artificial rivers remain clean and functional. They also use a team of "Seeders" who roam the plains, scattering millions of genetically engineered seeds to ensure the plains remain fertile, and bountiful. Nubbikham is more of a legislation and scientific community, holding not only governing establishments but the only real labs in sector two. Due to the extensive work they do however, the community has grown into a small city to support the number of people it needs for operating efficiency.
âš™ Sector Three âš™
The Lava PitsSector Three is basically the end of the road for citizens of Arkheus. Rather, the entire sector serves as a prison. Sheer peaks and virulent pits of bubbling lava ensure that escape is nigh impossible without a heat absorption suit. Even then, Sector three holds the highest ratio of officers to personnel than anywhere else on the Ark. Now, whereas the other sectors typically have some sort of jailing facilities, Sector three is where repeat offenders, or those who've committed federal crimes wind up—In nearly all cases, Permanently. Here the guilty and condemned spend the rest of their lives toiling away with intensive labor under conditions of high heat. The most likely causes of death are from Accidents, Heatstroke, Dehydration, or that fact that another convict found reason to murder you.
Regulations in the sector are high, only rivaled by the security measures in place. Typically convicts are chained, or otherwise locked to their assigned areas of working, or mining, and pat down thoroughly before and after their shift. Those that need to walk to and from areas are given a length of chain and put under supervised guard. Criminal records usually determine the level of security a person faces, and what kind of job they will be assigned. All of the work facilities, excluding the mines, are open air, and have catwalks for officers to patrol on and keep a bird's eye view over everyone. In addition to the over-watchers, officers are always present on the ground, ready to respond to anything. In the mines guards patrol in groups of four to eight, and the prisoners remained shackled to the mine walls in true chain-gang fashion. The cells, showering facilities, and common areas aren't much better, as their roofing consists of thick, bulletproof, and completely transparent glass with remote accessed vent holes just large enough to drop painful, nonlethal nerve gas canisters into.
Shipments are handled by law abiding citizens, several blast doors away from the prison itself. Guards move the shipments up the tracks leading to the top of tall towers built on the mountains of Sector Three, where transit staff load the shipments and unload arriving cargo onto flatbed and bucket carts that lead back into the facility—After several security checks and scans. Food and water are provided, in bulk of course. Large crates that contain the day's water and food for each registered prisoner are lowered down into the common room, needless to say the strongest and most ruthless eat the best. Guards don't bother maintaining a ground present in the housing facilities, and instead just patrol the catwalks unless they need to quell a situation.
A few key points of Sector Three:
- Magrails lead to towers jutting from the peaks of mountains, with large platforms for loading and unloading the trains, and has parking areas for arriving vehicles or deliveries.
- A pair of blast doors separate the prison colony from the outside world. The hallway behind those doors is lined with the officer quarters, and the large hangar like area beyond that is the training grounds and defensive emplacements.
- Vektor is the only prison the utilizes the mining tunnels either by walking, or cart, to access the other facilities for maintenance and repair jobs; Only prisoners with low threat assessments exist here.
- Prisoners are locked to their workstations, or designated mining areas. Every tool is counted and logged before and after every shift, and prisoners are thoroughly pat down at the begin and end of their shifts.
⚙Overview
Welcome to the Prison Colonies
⚙Cine
⚙Claxt
⚙Coeha
⚙Kanur
⚙Rithe
⚙Sigma
⚙Stohm
⚙Vektor
Rock Crushing and Stone Shaping.
⚙Claxt
Ore Smelting and Processing.
⚙Coeha
Soldering, Brazing, and Welding.
⚙Kanur
Metal Forging and Casting.
⚙Rithe
Glass Production.
⚙Sigma
Machining Factories.
⚙Stohm
Mining and Hauling.
⚙Vektor
Facility Maintenance.
âš™ Sector Four âš™
The Frozen WasteSector Four is fairly straight forward, you see what you get. The eastern section of the sector is a frozen expanse of ice, sheer winds, and freezing temperatures. To the west the temperature remains the same, deadly low if you're exposed to it, but most of the wind is funneled through huge ice shelves and jagged cliff faces. What better area to isolate yourself and devote your life to science, than somewhere nearly inhospitable. There are four outposts residing within the ice shelves, each depending on supplies that come in from the other sectors. Here the only goal is science, technology, and the advancement of human knowledge. Citizens who show a healthy appreciation and some moderate skill, or talent, for the sciences are given the Scientific Aptitude Test; Should they pass then they are eligible to serve an internship of sorts in their respective field. They both study and learn under their peers and elders in the craft, and are passed only through recommendation. The good news is that pupils are given dormitory style quarters, usually sharing their room with another individual, and a common room that all the rooms use. Additionally these prospective scientists are given an allowance, for whatever they may need or desire.
The only other way into these institutions is through the form of menial labor. The brains devote all their time to their research and their studies, so somebody has to make their beds and cook their meals right. Staff is kept on hand to provide house keeping services, and cooks that provide high quality meals in large cafeterias that never close, as science can run to any point in the night. Additionally, each department has a head, a designated leader, and a budget with gets distributed through needs, wants, and wages. Above the heads is the director of the entire outpost. Pupils attend classes and workshops early in the morning, and spend their afternoons and evenings learning under a mentor. Once they graduate they are given a personal room, as all other scientists have.
The facility has specialized security, only those that pass rigorous mental and physical tests, as they only way to move through the facility is by using access cards. Personal rooms, areas of learning, laboratory, storage areas, loading docks, and so forth are all imprinted onto each person's person I.D card. Also of note is that there is basically a security camera in every hallway, and access to personal rooms is logged through the card scanner. Not many things remain unknown within the institutes. Each institute has a specific focus, despite the fact that many areas of science overlap. Knowledge is shared freely between the outposts, and members are known to travel back and forth and stay in other outposts for varying periods of time; to assist with these overlapping areas of science.
- Arkhean science refers to the study and discovery of the systems, architecture, and infrastructure of Arkheus, as the construct remains relatively mysterious and still holds many secrets.
- The outposts exist primarily underground, with similar structure styles to Sector Five, just shinier, sleeker, and generally "sciency".
⚙Overview
The Institutes of Science
⚙Bishop
⚙Rook
⚙Queen
⚙King
Physical Sciences
⚙Rook
Social Sciences and History
⚙Queen
Life Sciences
⚙King
Arkhean Science
âš™ Sector Five âš™
The Barren PeaksSector Five is a rocky, mountainous expanse that makes surface life incredibly difficult. All of the settlements are beneath ground, with towers jutting from the sides of the peaks connected to the magrails. Most settlements offer parking garages and train stations, and often don't count these areas as part of the actual facility levels, despite maintaining them. The sector is widely known as an industrious zone that focuses on mass production, with few exceptions. Additionally, beneath the sheer cliffs and jagged edges of the mountains lie a system of transit tunnels, utilizing the magnetic technology of the magrails, that connect to each settlement and are used to traverse much of the mines. Despite each facility being known for a specialization, the presence of some sort of mining operation exists with each, and as with all cities the people there do stray from the path of assumption and dabble in other business ventures. Despite the "Fallout Shelter" feel, Sector Five is a popular area, likely due to the fact that a job exists for just about anybody here.
- The levels of Sector Five are large areas, littered with hallways and open areas. For a rough comparison, the average floor level is the equivalent to of a small town.
⚙Aencrad
Bouldertown
Most noted for its guild of stonemasons, Aencrad primarly handles the processing and utilization of raw stone. As with many other settlements in Sector Five, Aencard delves deep into the earth for its resources, and ships what it doesn't use to other areas. Despite the wide range of products that come from here, such a stone bricks, polished marble, and other crafts involving precious stones, Aencrad is famous for its exquisitely crafted sculptures. Factory workers and craftermen make decent wages, whereas miners are paid much more due to the dangers of the job. Collapsed tunnels and cave-ins are not uncommon here, and a sum negotiated through contract is paid to the families involved in any miners death. The facility is fourteen floors with the middles left open so that an intricate and vast system of pulleys and winches can move platforms of heavy loads up and down the levels. Foot traffic is typically restricted to stairwells and in some cases, ladders. Hover-boards are a popular method of movement among youths and young adults. The very bottom level holds the entrances to the mines, usually secured with chain-link gates during off hours.
⚙Calatrax
Power Town
Despite the title, Calatrax handles more than just power. It holds the largest concentration of utility producing machines, and has task forces that deploy all over Ark charged with maintenance, installation, and repair. Calatrax upholds the operating standards for Power, Water, Sewage, and Garbage. The facility is three large levels, enclosed and traversed by using elevators and stairwells. Beneath those levels, are three additional levels with respective areas of production. The fourth holds mammoth sized generators, running off a collection of large core chunks that output power for months at a time. Level five has an array of water recycling and filtration systems, second only to those beneath Seremere. Also on this level is the master drain, a pipe large enough for small crafts to traverse the sewers and deliver personal to perform onsite repairs. The master drain runs in a large circle around Arkheus, and branches inwards using smaller pipes and junctions. This does not remove the need to enter through drainage access points in other areas of Arkheus, as some areas are just inaccessible from the master drain. Garbage is collected on the final level, number six. Since the Ark is an enclosed space, landfills and incinerators are less than desirable options.
However, among the many secrets of the Ark is "The Chute". Seeming just a hole in the ground, with slanted sides a few feet in length, nobody is quite sure where this chute leads. Attempts at exploring the chute have proved pointless, as nobody as reached the bottom. Additionally, signals are distorted from within its metal walls, ruling out exploration through remotely operated devices. However, one thing is certain about "The Chute". It's never filled up, so it must take the trash somewhere. Besides dumping trash here, personnel also dump the toxins from recycled water, and other hazardous materials. It seems to be a bottomless void, and scientists have stayed up many nights trying to piece together its secrets. Some have even used methods to go down into it, but there's never been a report of anybody returning.
However, among the many secrets of the Ark is "The Chute". Seeming just a hole in the ground, with slanted sides a few feet in length, nobody is quite sure where this chute leads. Attempts at exploring the chute have proved pointless, as nobody as reached the bottom. Additionally, signals are distorted from within its metal walls, ruling out exploration through remotely operated devices. However, one thing is certain about "The Chute". It's never filled up, so it must take the trash somewhere. Besides dumping trash here, personnel also dump the toxins from recycled water, and other hazardous materials. It seems to be a bottomless void, and scientists have stayed up many nights trying to piece together its secrets. Some have even used methods to go down into it, but there's never been a report of anybody returning.
⚙Eincrah
The Biodomes
Unique in it's purpose, Eincrah the agricultural center for Sector Five. Through the use of underground biodomes, linked with transit tunnels, it's able to produce a vast quantity of food through the use of genetic engineering and growth hormones. The quality of food produce this way is ensured to be within regulation, and is definitely not the cause for any abnormalities in child development or birth. However, it's enough to feed the Ark, and some of the domes specialize in the cultivation of exotic plant life. Still, others hold insect farms for their materials, such as silk from spiders and silkworms, and honey from bees, and so forth. The domes can average anywhere in diameter from three-hundred, to a thousand yards. Staff typically live in homes built into the connecting tunnels, all of which have access to the main tower that runs up above the mountain and to the magrail. A system of rails and small trains, or vehicles adapted to ride the rails move products below and above the surface. Eincrah itself is only five levels, and is primarily used as a sort of underground suburbia.
⚙Hypreis
Home of the Textilleries
Following the theme of quick production in Sector Five, Hypreis is the largest supplier of textiles and fabrics. Importing shipments from Sector Two, and leasing a few of their own biodomes, the facility claims to have perfected the mass production method. Sure, the items may be of questionable quality, and the hyperlooms may take a finger here and there, but who can complain when their children have shirts on their backs at affordable prices, right? Hypreis follows the architecture of Aencrad, except the twenty-two floors are shaped to be concentric rings. Some areas of Hypreis specialize in much higher quality, and much more elegant items, with a price that reflects the effort involved—A hell of a lot. Hypreis has also expanded its industry to encompass wood based furniture, with quick and easy upholstery.
⚙Lume
Home of the Arts
Despite Aencrad having a hold on the sculpting aspects of art, Lume is noted for its products. The facility itself has a more homely town like feel, despite being buried deep beneath the earth and having cookie-cutter architecture, being concentric squares just like Aencrad, the people here have taken up the crafts. Most of the exports that leave Lume are handmade. Losing to Aencrad for statues and the like, Lume is famous for its paintings, some of which can cost thousands of credits. Some of which are simply ridiculously priced for their simplicity, but hell, that's art. Thirty-Two levels isn't much to work with, but Lume has managed to facilitate youth sports, family affairs, and even a movie hall. Lume also holds schools for the arts, including acting, where student films and professional movies trickle out.
⚙Miona
The Brewery
What world with human civilization doesn't have alcohol? Specializing in beer, malt liquors, and other spirits, Miona is quite a popular place, especially when drinking their vast variety of products. The facility itself is only six levels, but each one is expansive. The upper two floors are for workers, their families, and other small business and administrations. The bottom four floors are home to the distilling plants, where alcoholic drinks are mass produced. Miona also produces a variety of juices and other, normalized drinks, which follow the theme of Sector Five of being easy to make, exported in vast quantities, and available at a cheap price. Many of the workers in Miona hail from other settlements, and use the magrails, or the transit system to reach work.
⚙Niem
The Smithery
Niem is by far the largest settlement in Sector Five at One-Hundred and Eight levels. It also holds the finest productions of quality tools and equipment, choosing to achieve quality over quantity since competing with Sector Three is near impossible. Thousands of different tools, pieces, parts, and multitudes of other items are created here. Despite not really being famous for anything, Niem still upholds an impressive line of brand names. Most of the workshops, foundries, and smithies are located on the upper levels for easy ventilation of the heat that they produce. The middle section holds docking areas for the loading winches, and a two lane track designed specifically for small cargo trains runs up the concentric rings in Niem's circular architectural layout. Though, that proved not to be enough, Niem is also host to a series of large cargo elevators. Pedestrians have their own series of elevators, each of which only span about twelve floors to minimize wait times, yet sometimes the best option is to do with the stairs. Niem also has deticated vehicle assemblies, and produces the majority of personal vehicles and crafts.
⚙Zumos
Home of the Woodweavers
Zumos is known for its creations using wood, some so intricate the technique is often referred to as wood weaving. Despite that, Zumos mass produces all range of furnitures and accessories. The facility is also noted for supplying amenities for home decor, appliances, and other living and furnishing needs. The settlement is is sixty floors, with a break at down on floor 51. The upper fifty are concentric, as the scheme of things go. Zumos also has leases on a few biodomes for exotic woods, and imports a lot of its raw materials from Sector One. They utilize the pulley and winch system that hangs suspended in the open areas of the upper floors, of which residential homes and commercial businesses are scattered throughout. The 51st floor is solid, and is host to a large market. The lower nine floors continue the concentric pattern, but at the homes of the wealthy who choose to live there. The lower nine live libes of leisure in large homes with vast gardens, beautiful parks, and bubbling canals and streams throughout.
âš™ Sector Six âš™
The Golden SandsSector Six is a rolling expanse of golden dunes and warm sands. Because of the nature of sand, and its tendancy to shift often, the cities are built up on high plateaus accessible through the magrails. Additionally there are ground level elevators that lead to garages, usually holding personal Sand-skis, vehicles which have flat blades and an air, or coreshard propulsion system to navigate the dunes—Rubber tires wouldn't make it two feet. The most popular two vehicles are the Sand Sharks, a slim lined vehicle that can seat two, and is modeled after the Jet Ski. Second to that is a transport truck with a canvas back held up by metal rings, with treads modeled after scoops and two flat blades underneath the cab of the truck. The weather in Sector Five is relatively warm, and the forecast is typically always "High Winds and Sandstorms". Fortunately, each of the three settlements are protected by a wall that encircles the plateau, and most people have the common sense to head indoors when a storm manages to blow over the city, albeit it isn't often that a storm reaches the sizes and intensity needed to engulf the plateaus.
⚙Keibara
The Cliff's Edge
Keibara lies on the western edge of Sector Six, and is the largest of the three cities here. A wall runs along the cliff's edge, and comes equipped with elevators leading to garages adjacent to the sand, and small ramps for vehicle wishing to traverse the harsh terrain. Keibara holds one of the largest chemical refining operations on Arkheus, using chemical compounds to produce a range of items from plastic, synthetic resins, and rubber, to cleaning supplies, and so forth. The buildings here utilize a lot of the stone coming from Aencrad, and build their houses in the adobe fashion, stacked together and linked with wooden bridges. Sector Six is quite warm, and the stone does a better job of keeping out the heat than the metal walls hidden inside, and using wooden bridges instead of metal ones ensures the rubber bottoms of your shoes don't melt. The community as a whole is more oriented around their own families, but the most popular form of getting together and having fun usually revolves around alcohol and food.
⚙Rune
Candyland
As it's name implies, Rune's famous for it's delectable treats and assorted sugar candies. Utilizing biodome technology from Sector Five, Rune holds the only underground farms in Sector Six. Due to the small size of the plateau its built upon, the city was forced to begin expanding below ground. Though, it does a good job of maintaining a sizable population, following the building techniques of adobe houses with bridges and leaving their roads unpaved. So far Rune exists eleven levels below the surface, some levels stretch from edge to edge inside the rock. Despite being famous for candy, and producing large quantities of raw, and expensive sugar, Rune also sticks its hand into the movement industry. It's the home of the hoverboard, and picks up some of the manufacturing for magnetic shin splints, and custom ordered motorcycles for a hefty price.
⚙Tiala
Motorcity
The second largest city in Sector Six, and also located on a plateau, Tiala is the home of the motor industry. Existing above ground in the typical, adobe house fashion, Tiala really shines below the loose soil and hard rock of the plateau. Seven levels spanning the entirety of the rock walls, and six of which are devoted to the craft and creation of vehicular transport. This includes cheap, cookie cutter vehicles, luxury cars, and fabrication of trains and their wagons. The lowest level, number seven, is a trainyard which leads directly out to the magrail. Since trains take such a long time to produce, they never really stop production until the yard is full of replacements and spares. In addition to their main production, Taila also utilizes it's above ground facilities in the refinement of crude oil, pumped from deep below the sands, and other oil based products; Such as cooking oil, lotions, skin and mineral oils, and so forth. Also of note, Tiala is famous for it's "Honey Habac", a popular item among smokers and available for a moderate price.
