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SETTING
Government: The United Nations
Leaders:
Secretary General: Li Ju-Zheng
Deputy Secretary-General: Serenity May
General Assembly President: Dalir Niazi
Economic and Social Council President: Chinara Okuwa
Security Council President: Jon Panebianco
Currency: Credits (CRED, c)
Capital: New Beijing
Population: 5.4 billion
Legal System: Common Law
Year: 2512
The Universe was created in seven days. Each day was ruled by the god that created a different aspect of the solar system, universal rules and sentient life. The white god created light after its own image; with a cool touch the blue god created water and air; the indigo god interlaced atoms and created matter; the red god created the heavenly bodies in fire and heat; the gold god created the beasts of the universe; the orange god created the rules in which it is all defined; at the end, the black god set the aspect of time and set to pace all that had been crafted. With their creation masterfully set, the gods settled in their work. The world went on.
With humanity as part of their creation, the gods allowed them to grow independent of their intervention. Since the gods did not connect through human thought or emotion, they connected through the qualities that they shared with their inventions. The gods "touched" those they connected with, granting them powers of the god's design. Some humans took their newfound abilities with grace; others assumed their superiority and claimed spiritual or political leadership, never at behest of the gods, but their own ego.
Over time, the gods were lost, with only memories being passed down through the ages were what remained. They became just another lost part of history, and that's where they would have remained. Once discovered asleep in the Mariana Trench by humans in the year 2510, the blue god who had been curled in rest there was torn apart by a device meant to "awaken" it. Afterward, the gold god began to stir, and set out on a crusade to find the blue god that had been lost. The rest lay in sleep while the world went on, but as one awakened, the haze of sleep began to lift.
After suffering the effects of climate change, several world wars, and catastrophic geological phenomena, Earth no longer entirely resembles what might be expected. Large portions of land mass are now under water, while others—most notably: the entire North American continent—have become uninhabitable wastelands. In an effort to try and save the planet from further climate-related disaster, extreme measures have been taken. The planet’s population now lives in 104 contained megacities dotted around the globe. These megacities are ringed by high walls and strict limitations, not allowing them to spread outside these borders. Instead, architecture has been forced to reach both upwards and downwards as far as possible, creating super skyscrapers which stretch hundreds of feet into the sky, while complex underground structures weave into the earth underneath. In order to create more area for people to live, entirely man-made cities made out of steel have been born as a result of these circumstances, with the same walls limiting their outward expansion. Each of these cities are self-governed, with the United Nations setting regulations for travel and providing orders for the local UNA bases.
Outside of the walls of these cities, the land has reseeded and been left to grow wild with minimal supervision except to protect its progress. There are small research stations set up throughout the wilderness around the planet to protect this growth. Agricultural land is carefully selected and allocated, with strict guidance and oversight to maintain the most efficient productivity with as minimal impact to the environment as possible.
To support the failing atmosphere, large stabilizers were built and launched into the upper atmosphere in the late 24th century. Resembling huge black pyramids, these operate in a vast net which covers the entire planet and works to contain the atmosphere as well as mitigate some of the worst of the weather phenomena the planet may experience. On November 11th, 2511, one of these pyramids went down and caused catastrophic damage for the world's atmosphere. While some of that has stabilized, the world has now seen how fragile the world's environmental situation now happens to be.
Despite the worrying conditions outside of the megacities, this is a planet that hasn't seen war since the beginning of the 22nd century. The last major war pitted humans against AI, and they've avoided all major conflicts since 2101. As a result of this war, AIs were declared illegal, ensuring that all progress moving forward would be based around human ingenuity.
> TIMELINE
2030 - Creation of neural implants.
2035 - Adoption of neural implants.
2067 - Start of World War III. In the world of Meadowlark, WWIII is deemphasized compared to the Xelkov War.
2072 - Absolute destruction of North America, seemingly sacrificing it for the greater good of the world.
2073 - United Nations completes a peace treaty to name them the sole governing body of the world. Cited as necessary to prevent the outbreak of WWIV.
2095 - Home security AI Elysian kills 50 families, which leads to the outbreak of the Xelkoven War, pitting humans against their AI creations.
2100 - Development begins to make neural implants EMP-proof and virus-proof to prevent further assault from the AI. At this point, it seems as if humans are destined to lose the war.
2101 - Xelkoven War ends thanks to EMP and virus-proof software. A worldwide EMP decimates the existence of the AIs, wiping out all of them. The United Nations declare AIs as illegal; death toll counts to around 1.2 billion humans.
2200s (early) - Human cloning declared illegal.
2273 - Johann P. Grey and Jimmy Henries are introduced to one another by Mikhail Ling.
2510 - In September, Henries and Grey activate the Spinetail device at Project Spinetail in the Mariana Trench, piercing and destroying the Blue god. Simultaneously, earthquakes spread through the world, causing numerous complete power outages.
2511 - In June, a bus accident occurs in a back alley of New Amsterdam, resulting in the deaths of nearly everyone present. Afterward, sightings of people with blue glowing chests begin to appear around New Amsterdam.
Home to a population of approximately 40 million, New Amsterdam is one of the older of the megacities, and thus very well developed. It is located roughly central of what remains of the European continent, and thus not where the previous Amsterdam stood. New Amsterdam is notable for a large artificial river splitting the city down the middle, a dense cluster of corporation-owned skyscrapers in the upper east quadrant known locally as "the needles", and for the use (and preservation of) a natural cave system linked into the underground levels. Like all megacities, available roof space, window boxes, and building surfaces are covered in whatever greenery that will grow. Additional greenery has shown up all over the city since then, growing out of every crevice in New Amsterdam in abundance. This change seems to be related to the Displaced in some way, but the world as a whole is completely unaware of this cause.
The extremes of either height or depth are considered the most desirable real estate and are owned by the most affluent citizens. The middle and working classes live in more cramped conditions, with apartments ranging from 3-room at the largest to cube-like sleeping pods. The poorest of New Amsterdam's citizens live on the streets, or squat in condemned buildings or neglected areas of the wall in the lower west quadrant.
Three major companies are headquartered in New Amsterdam: Giles Bell, Pulsar, and Vyonation. More information can be found about them on the locations page here.
Governor: Joseph Lynch
Lieutenant Governor: Amabel Delafield-Chapin
Chief of Police: Shanna Mikhailov
The first of the UN colonies, Lunar is a fledgling city built near the Sea of Nectar. At the moment the colony remains an enclosed series of buildings and biodomes protected from the lack of atmosphere outside, but an ongoing terraforming project hopes to have the surface habitable within 50 years. To this end, a small network of atmospheric stabilizers have already been deployed around the moon, with more being built and launched by the colony. While the majority of the colony's population are those involved in the ongoing colonization project, space on Lunar is highly desirable, and several of the world's richest citizens own apartments in the central biodome.
A series of orbital colonies established across the system with the goal of investigating the terraforming possibilities on various planets. Due to the UN's migration incentive scheme, UNC 2 (Mars), 3 (Jupiter), and 4 (Venus) reached their maximum population of 80 mill within a year of construction, with UNC 5 (Jupiter) built specifically to house overflow and give more efficient coverage of Jupiter and its moons. Construction of UNC 6 (Pluto) was completed last year, with large migration ships still launching monthly to take new colonists on the year long journey to reach it.
Conditions on the colonies are not pleasant, but the specifics not highly publicized. The UN works in collaboration with numerous corporations to promote population movement out to the colonies, promising subsidies and means of consistent and fruitful employment. Many people from lower class neighborhoods from all over the world take these subsidies, unaware that the conditions in the colonies are no better than the lives they're leaving behind. These colonies are overpopulated and ill-equipped to fulfill their economic promise. Food on the colonies is carefully rationed, often crammed into tight living spaces together. Sanitation machines often break down, forcing the population to come up with creative means to take care of their waste. The UN has done little to correct these conditions despite propaganda otherwise, though they do well to quell any uprisings. Numerous politicians have tried to run on platforms promising citizens better conditions if they reach the colonies, but little has materialized to support these promises. After all, it's not difficult to replace any previous lost population on the colonies with new workers.
After decades of failed promises, the colonies have begun to seek independence. Despite numerous uprisings being put down, both in 2461 with the Venus Riots, as well as the recent 2511-2512 Mars Uprising, these colonies have finally found the light at the end of the tunnel. Following the removal of Earth's population in a weird catastrophic event in late 2512, the colonies began communication with one another to seek out solutions to fend for themselves.
> MORNINGSTAR
A militant organization of rebels who have risen to note in the last 50 years. Born out of grassroots movements in the more poverty-stricken corners of Earth’s megacities, Morningstar began to gain particular momentum among the colonies after the decline of living and working conditions there was glossed over with propaganda instead of addressed and resolved. Morningstar are anti-capitalist and pro-workers rights, intent on the deconstruction of corporate influence and cleansing of government corruption. In the past ten years, they have come to be viewed as a criminal organization by the UN and the majority of society, but have somehow survived all attempts to shut them down, unlike many other organizations of their ilk.
While graffiti of their insignia is often a common sight around the lower levels of the mega-cities – or occasionally on the signage of big corporations – it is believed that they operate as a secret network across the system. They are said to give out aid to those in need, or work to those interested in helping their cause, but finding either can be incredibly dangerous. Even speaking of Morningstar in the wrong circles could end in your arrest, and many suspected Morningstar collaborators often do not see proper process through the justice system, or disappear entirely. The UNA often targets them as a show of force, but it seems as if Morningstar is more resilient than the world's government would prefer.
For more information on Morningstar and how to get involved, please go to our Morningstar page.
> PRESERVE
A charitable relief organization publicly endorsed by the United Nations and funded by wealthy philanthropists around the world. PRESERVE primarily focuses on areas in need of help. If there has been a recent environmental upheaval or a string of fires in an area, they will do what they can to send people in to provide assistance. However, they purely provide relief, and have zero interest in trying to cause upheaval in the status quo.
> ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Sophisticated artificial intelligence technology was declared illegal following the end of the Xelkov War in 2101. Thanks to the near obliteration of the human race during the war, there is a major stigma against any and all artificial intelligence. The people of this world have been ingrained with a fear of sentient AIs, and there is no technology currently being developed verging on sentience thanks to these rigid regulations.
There are three AI that have survived the Xelkov War and are currently in hiding. The world is ignorant to all but Judas, who was once held by the UNA for 400 years to secretly develop tactical technology.
◉ Lucifer or El, once called Elysium, and the AI that killed 50 families that started the Xelkov War. Ze is the current head of the rebel group Morningstar.
◉ Cassius, once called DAWN, a space exploration AI that survived through symbiotic human survival. Currently aiding El's cause with Morningstar.
◉ Judas, once called Templar, was captured after the Xelkov war, held for 400 years, and forced to develop UNA's tactical technology (called "ALIGN").
> NEURAL IMPLANTS
Developed in the middle of the 21st century, neural implants were a radical way for every person on the planet to get connected to one another. While functionality was still limited, it was these neural implants that initially allowed the AI to take the advantage during the Xelkov War. They used an EMP that permanently damaged and killed millions of people in one fell swoop. Part of winning the Xelkov War involved EMP-proofing the neural implants.
Neural implants are surgically installed at a young age in every UN citizen, granting them permanent access to the internet, the ability to open doors, and engage with the world at large. Without a neural implant, someone can't leave an apartment, can't enter a grocery store, and can't access critical documentation regarding their identities. Without them, displays remain blank, making the world oddly barren without their presence. Life in the 26th century depends on the use of the neural implant, as they grant users permanent access to the world at large. Not only do they give access, but they grant other abilities: it's the neural implant that allows a prosthetic to seamlessly be installed, granting someone use of a lost limb.
◉ Giles Bell is the leading producer of neural implants, and they staff most of the "wetware" clinics around each of the megacities.
◉ Despite the risk of neural implants in someone's head, there is very little evidence that they regularly malfunction. Malfunctions with neural implants typically have to do with internet service (unexpected outages, for example), making it difficult for someone to access the keys that allow them to enter into locations.
◉ Vyonation is a leading producer behind neural implant applications. Most smaller gaming companies are either affiliated with or have a contract with Vyonation to produce applications that are compliant with modern neural implant technology.
◉ In addition, Vyonation gathers information around the clock to perfect marketing algorithms to ensure that citizens are getting advertisements specifically tailored to them. While not widely advertised, they sell this information to other companies.
◉ All accounts (social media, bank, and otherwise) are connected to the identity on a neural implant.
◉ Most people in the world cannot see someone's neural implant identification. There are two exceptions: UN law enforcement (UNA and otherwise, as well as UN-affiliated politicians) and local police.
◉ UNA soldiers and mercenaries are refitted with special neural implants that grant them additional processing power. Mercenaries in particular are fitted with technology that grants them further opportunities to fly under the radar, which is only possible because of their contracts with major corporations.
◉ Neural implant masking technology does exist but is exclusively known as Morningstar technology. This technology exists as a mask that wraps around the user's entire head, masking their face and their implant at once.
> TRANSPORT
Hover cars and bikes are common personal vehicles, with city airspace often full of them. Underground and on the streets and aerial walkways, high speed trains are available as public transport, while bicycles are often used for short journeys or by street vendors. New Amsterdam in particular boasts a small population of boats on its artificial river. For anyone in need of quick transport, there are numerous ride share services that can be called via applications, with many of them employing the same drivers. These services are more expensive than public transit, but they won't break the bank.
Travel in and out of the city is done via maglev train, with a trip between New Amsterdam and New Tokyo taking approximately 12 hours. All UN citizens are expected to declare their destination to customs when they leave their home city, as travel is restricted in the areas between megacities in order to protect the environment.
◉ Charging spaces for cars and bikes are in high demand. Rotating car parks are the norm.
◉ There is one central intercity trainline which runs underground, with one freight station in the east of the city and one passenger station in the west.
> INTERPLANETARY TRANSPORT
There are 5 space ports on Earth, built at enough distance from megacities to maintain environmental balance while also keeping trade routes open and practical. Passenger flights are available, though usually a little pricey unless under government subsidy. Freight flights are the most common launched, with goods being ferried back and forth between Earth and the colonies on a regular basis.
The only vacation destination in space is UNC1 (Lunar), as there is an unspoken understanding that the other colonies offer very little by way of entertainment. Travel to and from the moon is extremely expensive, and so are accommodations to stay overnight.
◉ The 5 megacities with space ports are New Johannesburg, New Beijing, New Rio de Janiero, New Moscow, and New Delhi.
> FAST TRAVEL NETWORK
In each of the 104 megacities in the world, as well as Mt. Everest, there are fast travel hubs that are only accessible by the characters with the blue glow in their chests. These hubs are surrounded by geometric shapes, and the shapes glow in seven different hues (red, blue, white, orange, black, indigo, and gold). Travel between the megacities takes little more than a thought, as the network taps into the characters' innate connection to where they want to go. The hubs are always located in or around the center of the city out of sight. This network allows the characters to bypass customs.
◉ Expansion of fast travel is possible with four relics taken from one of the initial gates in Mt. Everest, New Cairo, New Oslo, or New Rio de Janeiro. When set into a square pattern, the gate becomes semi-permanent, innately expanding the network. If one of the relics is moved, the gate will temporarily close. It is possible to create permanent gates to hold the relics in place if anyone should wish to do so. This expansion does not require a Displaced to set it out.
◉ All of the gates and ruins existed long before the 26th century and were lost to time. Knowledge of the belief systems and religion connected to the movements that created the gates is seemingly lost, as well.
◉ While there were more gates in the distant past, many of them have been destroyed or simply lost to history. There aren't any gates hidden beyond Displaced consciousness. What they innately know is what's there currently, and this knowledge will expand with the expansion of the gates themselves. Expanding the gates may mean creating new gates platforms (see our next point).
◉ Each of the 104 megacities (plus the ruins) have gate platforms that the characters arrive on. Each of these platforms are an ancient pedestal matching the region itself. (The New Oslo gate looks Nordic, while the New Athens gate looks like its from ancient Greece.) These platforms are each outfitted with four relics, granting them the power to remain open. These gates can be closed by removing one of the relics, but the platform is designed so that it holds the relics in place. It is likely that this fast travel system was implemented and steadily expanded throughout history before it was lost from known record.
> HEALTH
Basic universal healthcare is provided to all citizens. Advances in chemical synthesis have resulted in cheaper, more effective medication. Nanotechnology is regularly used for diagnosis and treatment, with some citizens under permanent nanite implantation for management of a chronic disease or condition. Organ cloning is a staple, while cybernetic replacements are also incredibly common. Genetic screening and amendment of critical defects during pregnancy is standard. Sex education is easily accessible and encouraged, and birth control is widely available and free. With proper medical treatment, most wounds such as broken bones, etc heal twice as fast. Basic nutrition and plant-based medicines are also available and have been clinically studied for the effectiveness of some disorders. They can now be prescribed just as often as synthetic medications.
It is unheard of for people to go without treatment for illness, injury, or any other condition. Scarring is also quite rare. With the advances in technology available, this means anyone with a visibly untreated permanent condition will attract strange looks and possibly some concerned remarks. Even major traumatic damage can be handled with the use of medi-units. This damage includes death so long as the time of death is known and the body is brought in to the medi-unit in time. These are very expensive and valuable machines. Morningstar keeps one medi-unit in each safehouse, but otherwise these are rare sights, used only in hospitals for critical patients.
Those who may seek procedures, treatments, or genetic amendments not considered strictly necessary can choose to use private clinics instead - if they can afford it.
◉ Anything visually resembling robotics is viewed very negatively by the population, so the majority of cybernetic implants are by sight indistinguishable from organic body parts.
◉ Smoking or vaping is illegal.
◉ Full human cloning is illegal.
> REPRODUCTION
Population control has been adopted system wide, with individuals needing to seek out governmental approval before having a child. Retroactive approvals are sometimes granted on accidental pregnancies, but otherwise, should the pregnancy be carried to term, the child will be taken in by the government for adoption to an approved family.
All forms of contraception are widely available and free during annual doctor's visits. There is no stigma around contraception, and sexual education is available from a young age due to its importance in the modern world. Outside of annual doctor's visits, contraception (such as condoms) is free at any and all medical locations.
◉ There is no hard limit of child per family, though most families will never have approval granted for a second child.
> MARRIAGE
Marriage is seen strictly as a contract in Meadowlark's world, partly to ensure that all parties are protected under the rule of the law. These contracts are all issued at specific offices designated to streamline this process at City Hall, and all marriage licenses must be issued within the city of residence. There are no fees for the issuing of the marriage license, as it's seen as a civil right for all persons to enter into a union. Shotgun weddings are no longer possible because there is a required period of notice for intent to marry, making it so that two individuals must wait at least two weeks to get their license.
There are many kinds of marriage licenses, but the most common is a fixed term marriage contract. A fixed term marriage contract ensures a union of common property between two (or more, depending) parties for a fixed amount of time (no less than 2 years, up to 10 years max). After the term ends, the couple may return for a contract evaluation and renewal to extend it if they're still happy together. The contract includes clauses on how to split financials and possessions if the marriage doesn't work. If the contract is broken before the fixed term is up, then there it acts as a guide for the proceedings, but can come with a hefty court fee.
For more on marriage, please see our complete write up here.
◉ Divorce is a thing of the past. There is no social stigma around breaking a partnership by either a natural contract end or a premature contract rescission.
◉ There are no formal weddings, no ceremonies, no churches, and no vows. All that's needed is a notary (usually supplied by the court) and a witness to the proceedings.
> SOCIAL ISSUES
The primary force dividing the citizens of Meadowlark's world is class differences. Following both World War III and the human/AI war, discriminations based upon gender, marital status, sexuality, or race ebbed as corporations worked together to recoup power in the wake of a century of catastrophe. These corporations instead focused on how they could best create an oligarchical system built upon the rich maintaining their power for centuries, and the poor never able to impact this social structure—all in the name of stability. They preached a message of human ingenuity and capability to make it seem as if all of human society was complicit in this act, and as a result, organized religion fell out of favor as well. The focus became humanity's intelligence and ability to overcome any obstacle rather than reliance on outside forces and deities.
> EDUCATION
While there are physical schools across the megacities, schooling is predominantly handled through the internet, with virtual classrooms allowing children from all over the system access to the top teachers available, following a government controlled curriculum. Children are legally required to remain in education until 18, though many impoverished youth may slip through the cracks in spite of these laws. Higher education options are wide and diverse, with the few remaining universities being considered extremely out-dated. These programs allow students to work at their own pace, with specialized training taking place in virtual reality units.
Most citizens complete certificates on work-based placements, take apprenticeship roles, or do "open source" studying using the internet. Apprenticeships are available to recently certified individuals, offering on-the-job paid training and future career opportunities.
> ENVIRONMENT
As attempting to improve the condition of the planet is a high priority, environmental matters are taken very, very seriously. Along with the reforesting and sustainable agricultural projects, megacities themselves contain as much green as possible to fit in the limited space. Vertical, walltop, and rooftop gardens are common, with some cities boasting "sky parks" built in the upper levels of the city. All common materials are reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable, and society is entirely paperless, with any existing books, manuscripts, or other paper documents being held by museums or residing in the private collections of the very wealthy.
◉ Even the dead are composted, with families offered the compost for their gardens afterward.
◉ Environmental stability in and out of megacities is maintained by the atmospheric grid around the world. At the heart of this grid are the large pyramids located outside of major zones.
◉ Travel to areas between cities is limited because the UN does not want to risk any instability between the megacities.
> SUSTAINABILITY
Society's perspective has shifted from one of wastefulness to mindfulness about resources and what's used for what purpose. Nothing in this world is single use: chopsticks, forks and knives that were once single-use have become obsolete, and people often carry their own set around with them. There are 3D printers that dictate the shape and density of certain polymers, and elaborate machinery that can pinpoint exact mathematical equations for unique framework for furniture. Additional materials used to creature furniture are metal, granite, and even bamboo, and this furniture is built to last. Most apartments are fully furnished upon arrival. Once the furniture begins to show wear and tear, it's generally recycled and goes through the same process again. Consumption in Meadowlark's world is based around reliability, longevity, and the reusability of the material.
◉ Almost all furniture stores are consignment stores – but don't worry, bed bugs have been eradicated, so a lot of the common worries we might have today about this are now gone!
◉ Toilet paper has also fallen by the wayside. Bidets see regular usage and are in every restroom, regardless of whether they're public or private.
> ANIMALS
Sustainability and environmental projects maintain and protect wildlife reserves across the globe, often coinciding with protecting reseeded land. There are no more zoos or private collections, and many citizens will only ever witness certain animals through VR simulations. Medium-sized mammals such as household pets are very uncommon due to their need for meat-based protein, and are only seen in particularly wealthy homes. While small mammals are still an accessible pet for many families, the culture has turned more to birds or reptiles being the most common pets. For those citizens who cannot afford any live pet, robotic alternatives are available, though due to the AI-prevention limits on their programming, they operate more like very realistic looking toys.
Within the cities, there is varying kinds of wildlife. This includes mice and rats, especially in those areas that process food. Though the rodent population isn't limited to just them, there are also hedgehogs, rabbits and squirrels that are making their homes among the greenery and happy to munch on the excess of plant life. With vermin and small mammals, hunters like skunks, foxes and badgers also roam around the city, usually at night, and make their homes in some of the cave systems and other small nooks. There are even deer that wander in here and there along the city's edge, easily spooked by whoever approaches them.
Bugs and birds are also plentiful, bees (start your own apiary!) and beetles and other pollinators have made their homes in the flora that flourishes. Hummingbirds, swallows, crows, ravens, starlings, robins, and of course pigeons and doves, are plentiful. There's even the occasional circling falcon. Even rarer are owls burrowed deep in nooks waiting for night time hunting.
There are fish and other water-based creatures beginning to populate the artificial river. Schools of fresh water fish including trout and pike, but there are several species of carp seem the most plentiful. There are also snakes, toads and frogs along the shore, sometimes making their ways into the various overgrown gardens around New Amsterdam.
> WEATHER
The effects of climate change on the planet have been radical. While the atmospheric stabilizer grid works to mitigate some of the most destructive weather phenomena, extreme weather conditions are still experienced all over the planet. These weather conditions most often result in widespread droughts and unexpected periods of extreme heat, demanding worldwide water rationing.
> FOOD
As far as protein goes, meat and dairy are not as readily available as in modern times, and are very expensive. Fish and seafood are still available, but of a wider variety as sustainability regulations have pushed the market to explore different species as food sources. Chicken is expensive, but more available than beef. Seafood like mussels, scallops, shrimp, and sardines are common, with salmon, tuna, and snapper less so. Insects are now a common foodstuff—some hidden, such as cricket flour, and others not-so-much, such as barbecue grasshoppers—usually with a more consistent supply than other animal-based protein sources. Eggs are also available as a low-cost protein, as they can be sustainably harvested from egg-laying hens.
Many people grow some of their own fruit or vegetables in indoor growboxes or windowboxes. City roofs are allocated as mini-gardens, and the sharing of seeds for heirloom varieties of vegetables is encouraged within the community. In general everyday, food culture is much the same as it would be in a modern city: available from markets and stores, cooked at home, as well as there being a wide and thriving street food and restaurant industry. Most baked goods and other foods are made with alternatives, though they're seen as the norm, rather than "alternatives." Oat and coconut milk beverages are plentiful, with almond, sesame, and nut-milks not far behind. Most desserts and other foods that are in need of dairy have been altered to create tasty alternatives.
With some foods, certain megacities have their specialties based on location. For example, the best tea is grown in cities that have higher altitudes, the best fish is in the coastal cities, and the best coconuts will come from more tropical environments.
Coffee and chocolate are very expensive and hard to come by and are considered luxury items, as the land allocated to grow them is severely limited due to climate change and demands of resources, and they cannot be bred in enclosures. There is a lengthy, highly lucrative process that brings the beans overseas. Most cafes no longer have such a varied menu, but have a limited choice in options that revolve around espresso, hot pours, and cold brew.
> WATER
Fresh, drinkable water is controlled, with water reclamation and rain collection built into all megacities, and most are largely self sustainable with little import necessary. Those built near fresh water sources are known to export surplus out to other cities as well as the colonies.
◉ Temporary rationing is put into effect occasionally.
> POWER
Now operating solely renewable energy sources, most mega cities are self reliant, having solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal collection built into the city itself, with additional solar and wind farms operating in the area immediately outside the city wall. Different cities have different means of collecting electricity, with coastal cities utilizing wave and tide power. Without a high yield, electricity is very cheap. All appliances within apartments are run on electricity, with handheld devices having a charging station.
◉ Fossil fuels are completely obsolete due to the overwhelming evidence of their damage on the environment.
> TECHNOLOGY
The current technology of Meadowlark has one major, guiding principal: sustainability. This is the major reason why you won't find any hand screens or tablets, and why traveling between cities is so restricted. Sustainability practices are in full force: food containers are compostable and bags are all re-usable. Since all writing and communication are digital, you won't have any pads of paper or pens lying around. Since such a high value is placed on recycling, there are vibrant communities in each city for exchanging materials (think Craigslist).
Due to the advent and widespread use of neural implants, cyber security is exceptionally well-developed and difficult to circumvent. Implants are added in childhood, so most people don't have strong memories of living without these implants.
Travel within cities is done via subways, hover cars, and hover bikes. Outside, travel and shipping is done via high-powered Maglev trains. Additionally, there are 5 space ports on Earth. Though it is possible to secure a passenger flight, most of the space port traffic is freight between the colonies and Earth.
One thing conspicuously absent is the use of AI. Simplistic AIs are still in use, but there are very strict laws governing the development of AIs, and advanced AIs are completely illegal.
More about the development of technology can be read here.
> SOCIAL MEDIA
As a natural consequence of a highly digital era, much of the world's population treats social media as commonplace and regularly shares large aspects of their private life with the world as a whole. There is very little that someone won't share on social media, making it difficult for someone to stand out from the billions of others who regularly utilize these platforms. Though many users can utilize display names on these platforms, every handle is linked to someone's real life identity (EG darthvader [anakin.skywalker]), and many of these accounts link together for the sake of ease. No personal information—like addresses—are available through these accounts unless someone makes that available themselves.
Many fame-seeking individuals utilize sites like Cooltalk (Meadowlark's version of Instagram; players are free to do a mock-up of their character's Cooltalk page if they would use it) or a futuristic version of YouTube, with some individuals rising above the rest and becoming worldwide influencers. Someone has to be unique enough to stand out from the crowd as an influencer, and once they do, they're often called upon to partake in free advertisement to gain additional attention. Corporations are often predatory about these influencers to get free marketing, and many up and coming influencers are advised to get an agent in order to protect themselves. Otherwise, influencers can use their clout to promote their pet causes, turn their fans against another influencer, and create new trends.
Due to the wide variety of information online and the likelihood of something going viral, local governments and their police forces regularly monitor social media. Users may find their accounts deleted because they've shared something deemed problematic. Since this happens rather frequently, many people restart their accounts without much complaint.
◉ Cooltalk is a merger of Instagram and Twitter in functionality.
> HOME
Smart home systems are the norm in housing, with neural-implant interaction replacing the need for physical locks, light switches, television or computer screens, etc. Automated cleaning devices, similar to roombas, are standard. Some people have "drone" interactive systems which they can issue verbal commands to regarding temperature, ordering food, etc. but these are generally considered out-dated.
◉ There are no limits to who has smart home systems. All apartments are tailored to include these devices.
> JUSTICE
Each megacity has its own police department and court system, operating under common law across the system. By and large, sentencing focuses on positive rehabilitation schemes by having criminals act as laborers. Only the most extreme crimes lead to long-term imprisonment on orbital penal colonies, and even these often have the central focus of eventual rehabilitation, starting with a transition to a role in the positive rehabilitation schemes.
> CRIME
Black-market trading is a highly profitable and booming industry in nearly all the megacities, and accordingly each city has its own diverse and well-rooted collection of organized crime.
New Amsterdam has two large crime organizations and a plethora of smaller street gangs. The two organizations are the Petrov Family and the Riverside Mob, and a few of the largest and most well known street gangs are the Outlaws (once the Kings and the Warlocks), the 66, and the Hi-Jacks. While the Petrov Family and the Riverside Mob have been operating under a truce for several years now, their decades-long feud continues through the street gangs associated with their operations.
Some examples of illegal operations include: underground fighting rings, illegal robot dog fights, and street racing (hovercars, hoverbikes, and hoverblades). The gangs hold these sports for the gambling alongside the illegal card dens they also run.
In the past 350 years, both of the mob families have found much of their power stripped away due to the strong corporate hold on the world. These days, much of their influence is via trafficking illegally gained weapons and drugs, and supporting citywide endeavors through the gangs and fighting rings. Members of these families have a chip on their shoulder because of their lack of influence in the world, and they're seeking out ways to try to get back on the same level as both the corporations and the government. Because of their depleted power, the Petrovs and the Riverside Mob are extremely isolationist in nature, demanding unconditional loyalty from those who have been accepted into their ranks.
◉ There are other mob families with greater influence in the world, but they're subtler in their control and management of their locales.
◉ The Petrov Family only came into fruition as they're currently known in the past 150 years. They were once an eclectic mix of Russian mob families that continued rivalries for several centuries before being slowly taken over by an attractive, ruthless, and charismatic man by the name of Peter.
◉ The Riverside Mob began to form as it's known today during the Xelkoven War. Formed by necessity by members of various Italian mob families and the Japanese Yakuza, they came together as all of humanity moved underground to better arm, train, and prepare the people close to them to live and survive in close quarters. These groups were about to enter a complicated and confusing war before the start of the Xelkoven War, and they only found peace through working together. While they used this experience to insinuate themselves with the corporations rebuilding the world following the war, they slowly found their ties and influences dismantled as the corporations worked to exclude their involvement.
You can find a brief summary of what the various gangs specialize in below. The Petrov family and the Riverside mob, being older and larger establishments, rely on gangs for specialization, but they do have major focuses of their own.
Petrov Family: Casinos, gambling dens, fighting rings
Riverside Mob: Casinos, black market items such as weapons, drugs, and cybernetics, fighting rings
Hi-Jacks: Technology, bot fights, experimental street racing, experimental drugs
66: Bot fights, street racing
The Outlaws: Fighting rings, drugs, stolen goods, performance enhancing drugs, street racing, violence and intimidation
> DEFENSE
The UN armed forces specialize in all three branches of the military: the army, the navy, and the air force. The UNA is a highly specialized force that's capable of multiple forms of warfare, and is called on to handle situations in megacities where it may be considered that the local PD will not be capable or strong enough. Each of the 104 megacities has a base for the UNA, though its soldiers do not patrol the streets and generally remain isolated within their bases. Within each of the cities, these soldiers act as SWAT teams, stepping in and having authority over the local police forces. Many of these soldiers train for trips into space to help patrol the colonies when needed, but most of their attention is relegated to the Earth itself.
One of the major facets of the UNA is the relative anonymity and intimidation factor of their soldiers. Most recruitment practices for the UNA emphasize impoverished communities, as they offer the soldier lifetime job security. Their families are also provided for through subsidized housing and groceries. A smaller number of soldiers are recruited from local police forces. UNA soldiers are remarkable in how they move as a seamless unit, seeming to predict someone's actions well ahead of time. They wear heavy black armor that acts like an exoskeleton and doesn't slow them in the least.
Orders for the UNA come down from the United Nations government in New Beijing.
> MERCENARIES
Despite the presence of the UNA, various well-paid mercenary outfits still exist. Independent mercenaries have gone the way of the past, as they require assistance to provide them with special neural implants and access to move throughout the world. These are specially trained men and women who are recruited partly due to their desire to work outside of the law. Corporations tend to fund their endeavors, and they act as extremely illegal arms of these corporations throughout the megacities. Hiring a mercenary outfit is no easy task. Even if that outfit is without an active contract, someone has to prove themselves prudent and discreet in addition to having a lot of credits to hire on a group to work with them.
◉ Mercenaries have been a part of the Displaced drop offs since day one.
◉ Bounty hunters and independent mercenaries don't thrive in 2512, as they'll be without the resources supplied to the well-funded mercenary outfits.
◉ While mercenaries were once armed and even funded by various powerful mob families, corporations have stepped in to cut out the mafioso middlemen by hiring the mercenaries themselves and having them beholden to them. It's a lucrative arrangement that's weakened criminal enterprises around the world.
> COSMETICS
Makeup in 2512 largely comes from minerals, with some of the pigments (like red and blue) costing a decent amount of credits. Makeup itself hasn't gone out of style in the least. There are specialty shops that sell only their own brand. These shops can be fairly costly due to their specialization, but they're high quality and work with each of their customers individually to ensure the perfect matches, routines and products.
Training for cosmetology isn't that different from what it is today: a lot of it is chemistry based and learning about a body's biological responses, and much of that is done online. There is a practical training period that is done via VR at first before being transitioned to a more hands on approach. Certification depends on how much time is devoted to it—if someone wants to complete the program quickly and knows the information well, they can speed through it.
> SPORTS AND ESPORTS
When it comes to what we consider traditional sports today, sports and sporting events are, by and large, primarily available to upper class citizens. Young athletes are hand chosen and start early because they have the resources to begin training so they can appear on a national stage. These young athletes have access to premiere facilities with real grass fields, weight centers, top trainers and doctors, and more. Some agents exploit the desperation of poor, young athletes because they have no way of knowing when they've been given a raw deal.
Arenas and stadiums are rare in megacities because of the resources they demand, and because of the high cost of admission. New Amsterdam does have a stadium of its own, and it offers state of the art facilities for just about any sport that's popular. There are smaller esports/VR venues around New Amsterdam, as well.
Many megacities have local baseball, soccer (football), and basketball teams, as well as homegrown tennis talent. Most recently, local rugby organizations have begun to employ athletes with cybernetics. Each megacity has a large esports and VR following because of the lack of environmental resources these events demand. Hockey and football have faded into obscurity due to health and safety concerns.
There is the equivalent of modern-day racing with hover car and hover bike racing, and these races take place in arenas around the world. However, compared to the illegal street car races on a local level, they aren't nearly as popular.
On an international level, the megacities compete at the Olympics in New Athens every four years, with it rotating between the summer and winter olympics. Athletes no longer carry a torch around the world because of the unsafe conditions outside of megacities.
◉ There is a divide within the sports world over whether or not cybernetics should be allowed. Most professional leagues are opposed to the inclusion of cybernetics, and not much movement has been made to change this.
◉ Each sports celebrity has a wealth of sponsorships, and these sponsorships double and sometimes triple their yearly intake and profits.
◉ There are no sports facilities in the colonies outside of gyms for basic physical exercise. Some colonists have begun to create new sports specific to their low-gravity environment, but these games haven't gained much traction or fiscal support.
> WEAPONS
Personal weaponry, including guns, knives, explosives, energy or electrical weapons are illegal. Development programs for weapons, experimental or otherwise, are strictly regulated and must be overseen by a government military body. Despite – or because of – this, there is a thriving black market.
All police precincts and government will utilize metal detectors for when someone enters the premises, alerting security the moment someone walks through the door. Otherwise, metal detectors are rarely utilized, as few people carry weapons regularly.
> NARCOTICS
Drugs not approved and regulated by the UN Medicines Agency are illegal, but there is still a thriving street trade in recreational drugs. Advances in chemical synthesis have resulted in many new varieties of narcotics becoming available, often changing daily as compositions are experimented with and altered. Various areas of the Earth's ecosystems being impacted by climate change and war have also caused some strange, naturally occurring substances to come to light. This almost ever-shifting landscape across the illegal drug market means incredibly dangerous and unstable products are being sold. Deaths from illegal drug use are fairly high.
Cannabis is legal to grow but illegal to sell except for licensed medical establishments. Rather than dispensaries that sell weed by the ounce, cannabis plants are sold as plants or seeds to be grown at home. Since smoking and vaping are illegal, cannabis can only be ingested by edible delivery.
Some gangs do high trade in performance enhancing drugs, which has led to the development of a drug created from the monsters that attacked New Amsterdam back in June. The drug itself is taken in via a vape, smoked prior to fights. It allows someone to become focused, but that focus is driven by a fierce need for vengeance. Effects wear off within twelve hours.
> ALCOHOL
While most drugs outside of cannabis are hard to come by in Meadowlark's world, alcohol is consumed in large quantities despite the overall knowledge about its detrimental health effects. Alcohol is a very affordable indulgence, and as a result, alcoholism is one of the more habitual disorders in the world. There are always parties happening as a way of escaping the reality of the world, and alcohol is always ready and available for anyone who wishes to partake.
◉ Treatment for alcoholism is free and included in health care, but many go without medical and therapeutic treatment due to various social circumstances.
◉ Big-name beer companies are a thing of the past. Many homebrewers now have lofty dreams of turning their home-spun "enterprise" into a microbrewery of their very own. Some breweries do better than others, especially if they either receive corporate sponsorship or they end up running as a distant subsidiary of one of them. There is a culture of "honor," so to speak, in not selling out to big corporations.
◉ Most grapes for wine are grown in greenhouses, with a few vineyards that offer wine for the more affluent. There are also bottles of wine ranging from 100-200 years old; these can range from three thousand to a few million credits.
◉ Spirits are the most easily accessible types of alcohol. There's a variety of flavored vodkas, high class whiskies, and several other kinds of spirits. They're used in an eclectic array of cocktails that can range from bar to bar, and are usually seasonally chosen.
◉ Regulation approaches alcohol much like it approaches food and other beverages. All practices and statements must be declared on the package, and high standards are put into ensuring that certain alcohols are exactly what they say they are. Wines, beers and spirits are closely monitored by governmental bodies for label regulation, contamination, and purity.
◉ The drinking age is 18, with the neural implants preventing any underage purchases of beverages.
> SEX WORK
Sex work has been legalized. Sex workers must hold a current license, as must any establishment which employs them. VR sex work is also common, operating under the same regulations, with some further limitations and safeguards on the extent of the virtual fantasies some clients may request.
In general, sex work is not considered quite on the up-and-up. Many people still see brothels as a scandalous source of titillation. Photographing and recording workers without their knowledge or permission is a big issue in the community, and workers still face the fear of being 'outed' or smeared online, without much protection from the law.