The Anyth, the lower half of the Gates, is a remnant of the Terra-war. Descendants of the survivors from the NOA, the Nations of Anyon, live here. Together with Archeston, the Anyth forms what is collectively known as “the Gates”, a name derived from the cities’ proximity and shared architectural style. This is an Archeston termed name, the Anyth does not respect or refer to themselves as anything by the Anyth.
Unlike the towering heights of Archeston, the Anyth is overcrowded, decaying, and starved of resources. Its people live among unstable buildings, many of which are deteriorating, leaning into one another, or already collapsing. Built three kilometres above the planet’s surface, the Anyth was originally constructed as a refuge from the REDD. Now, however, it has become a place of confinement as much as protection.
The Heavens avoid direct involvement in the Anyth’s affairs. As a result, the district is locked in a constant struggle for survival. Resources are scarce, and none are more precious than vegetation, known simply as the Green. Cherished by every citizen, the Green is essential to daily life and has become a symbol of both survival and dignity.
One cultural practice sets the Anyth apart from Archeston: the burial of the dead. In Archeston, bodies are discarded without ceremony. In the Anyth, however, the dead are carefully transported down to the planet’s surface for formal burial. This process is difficult, costly, and resource-intensive, but it is regarded as a sacred act. To return the dead to the ground is to honour their lives, their suffering, and their connection to the planet itself.
Daily life in the Anyth is defined by pressure, exhaustion, and resentment. Domestic and conversational moments between its people often feel fractured and strained. Characters vent constantly, circling back to the same injustices, shortages, and humiliations that dominate their lives. Survival demands relentless labour, and when they return home, their exhaustion turns into complaint, bitterness, and fatalistic reflection.
These exchanges rarely bring comfort. Instead, they intensify hostility. Shared frustration is redirected toward those closest to them, creating arguments, resentment, and infighting. Even attempts at connection become another arena of struggle. The emotional weight they carry spills into their relationships, reinforcing the instability they are trying to endure.
Yet beneath this tension lies the possibility of beauty and harmony. It begins when the people of the Anyth recognise the pattern for what it is. Their anger is not truly directed at one another. It comes from the system that traps them in cycles of scarcity, stress, and despair.
Once they understand that this chaos is being deliberately produced to divide them, they can begin to reframe their conflict. Their infighting is revealed as a symptom, not the cause. This realisation opens the possibility of unity. By acknowledging the true source of their suffering, the people of the Anyth can begin to cooperate, resist, and confront the forces that keep them living this way.
The primary faith in the Anyth is Optanity, a belief in perpetual human optimism, which holds that brighter days lie ahead despite present hardships. Optanists view adversity as essential for positive progress. One notable ritual involves making a small incision on the right side of the neck and flicking the blood with the thumb, symbolizing respect and honour.
A matriarch authority run by women. Representatives of Optanity, known as Hopens, are deeply religious and spiritual individuals. The Hopens typically wear masks and rarely speak, maintaining an aura of mystery. They are highly efficient in combat and are known for their orderly nature. After the Founders were killed, the Hopens assumed leadership over the Anyth, spreading their ideology. When a baby is born into the Hopen or when an adult transitions, they are to be baptized in fire. The Hopens are predominantly of Dutch descent.
A council of twelve individuals governs the Anyth. Although each Founder holds equal official status, their personalities, backgrounds, and private ambitions differ greatly, creating a fragile balance of power, loyalty, and competing agendas.