Survival Themes: Characters struggling to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world.

The Surface

Following the Terra-war, the planet's surface, now known as the REDD ZONE, was left barren, with all vegetation wiped out. CO2 levels have accumulated and remain in the atmosphere indefinitely, causing vegetation and livestock on the surface to age rapidly. Wildlife is nearly non-existent, but over the centuries, small animals and plants have begun to reemerge as the REDD ZONE slowly dissipates. The effects of the REDD weapon persist only in the air, not in the water, leaving the possibility of marine life once an ocean is discovered.

However, the REDD ZONE is not the only reason why the Gates City was built high above the surface. There is a far more ominous and hidden reason known only to a select few.

Planetary Setup

• Orbit: The planet orbits a massive celestial body called Gethardian, with an orbital period of 4000 years.
• Tidal Locking: The planet is tidally locked to Gethardian, meaning one side of the planet experiences 2000 years of constant exposure to Gethardian, while the other side remains dry and barren for the next 2000 years.
• Singular Ocean: The planet possesses a single, vast ocean that moves gradually over millennia due to Gethardian's tidal forces. As this ocean approaches Gates City, its inhabitants will become aware of it, as well as of Gethardian itself, which has long remained hidden. The ocean's encroachment sets off a series of events, including the arrival of the Blood Runners, a savage group that believes the ocean will engulf the planet, making the Gates their last hope for survival. This belief sparks a war between the Gates and the Blood Runners. The ocean, pushed by Gethardian's gravitational pull, peaks at a height of 4 kilometers above the surface. As it approaches the Gates, it presents new challenges for the Anyth and Archeston citizens as they are forced to move upward. However, the rising ocean will also allow for the return of marine life, providing a much-needed source of food.

Environmental Characteristics

• Ocean Movement: The ocean moves approximately 27 meters per day (or 10 kilometers per year). After 2000 years of absence, it is now approaching the dry side of the planet, including the Gates. At the start of the story, the ocean is about 12 years away from reaching the northern border of the Gates, currently located 80 kilometers from the North Wing.
• Red Aura, Radiation, Volcanic Activity, and Earthquakes: The REDD weapon's lingering effects are believed to have caused significant geological disturbances, including volcanic activity and frequent earthquakes, due to Gethardian's gravitational pull. The planet’s atmosphere is also bathed in a persistent red aura, attributed to radiation from Gethardian.

Surface Sociology

Mysterious Threats:

There are large, terrifying creatures or entities that threaten the world, although they remain shrouded in mystery.

Scatyker (Blood Runners)

The Blood Runners, also known as the Scatyker, are a ferocious group of cannibals that have survived for 1500 years in the absence of plant or animal life. With humanity's population drastically reduced, the Blood Runners adapted by thriving on human flesh as their primary source of nutrition. Although wildlife and vegetation are slowly returning to the surface, the Blood Runners show no intention of changing their way of life.

The Blood Runners tend to avoid the Gates due to frequent, high-category storms in the area, but as the climate shifts and the atmosphere regenerates, they are believed to be slowly closing in on the city's perimeter. They are unable to ascend the Gates due to the thin air at higher altitudes, which limits their movements.