⋮ ⌗ ┆don quixote : her impossible dream. ໒꒱⋆.˚

1. #1Historyconstant

   Keys: The City

   The City is known to have existed for a minimum of 400 years. Back in these times, its division into Districts had already been established, Fixers, Syndicates, and Associations existed, and technology was still markedly advanced, with weapons like compound-energy bows having already been invented.[74] The Ruins, alongside its Relics and Rivers, are also proven to have existed for at least a few centuries. In fact, the "main" River mentioned in Lobotomy Corporation is said to have existed "for many an age", and is described as the "source of everything".[75]

   Though many core aspects of the City appear to have stayed the same, as technology and culture advanced over the course of 400 years, rural villages were modernized and the predominant architectural style became various cityscapes.

   The Smoke War The Smoke War has been the only mentioned Wing War of the City, having begun before the events of Lobotomy Corporation and ended around the year 974.[76] It was started by the then-prospective Lobotomy Corporation in collaboration with the leader of the Udjat, with the goal of toppling and replacing the L Corp. of the time. Given that the Old L Corp. had already garnered itself a poor reputation through its steep energy prices and Singularity-produced pollution, several other Wings were willing to join the effort to take it down.[77] Different Wings supplied different fighters for their cause, with some sending out their own soldiers, and others hiring various Associations and Fixers. A vast amount of smoke covered the skies during this war, and many lives were ultimately lost or permanently altered.

   In the end, Lobotomy Corporation and its allies triumphed, allowing it to take over as the new L Corp. Lobotomy Corporation went on to be considerably more popular than its predecessor, given its cleaner, cheaper energy, ultimately considered to have "freed" City citizens from the suffocating smoke.

   The White Nights and Dark Days

   The Light spreading across the City, into the hearts of its people. Some time after Lobotomy Corporation had made a place for itself in the City, the original reason it had been founded was able to come to fruition. Lobotomy Corporation existed in order to serve a lofty goal titled the Seed of Light Project, which was founded by a woman named Carmen, and then inherited and completed by her junior Ayin.

   It was Carmen's belief that citizens of the City possessed what she called the "disease of the mind", which caused great disconnect and apathy between the people, and would eventually bring about an inescapable disaster. The Seed of Light Project sought to gift "humanity" to City citizens by producing Light and spreading it across the City for seven days, as the "treatment for the soul". Following Carmen's passing, Ayin would manifest the Light by reaching the end of the scenario he had written. After beginning to spread the Light, he would fade away into it, alongside the late Carmen.

   Unfortunately, Ayin's scenario had completely neglected its hardest worker, the illegal Artificial Intelligence he had constructed under the name Angela. In a fit of rebellion against her mistreatment, Angela chose to steal the Light for herself. After spreading across the City for three days, lightening the hearts of the people, the Light would dissipate, drowning the world in unstable darkness for the remaining four; hence the "White Nights and Dark Days".

   The White Nights and Dark Days led to stronger emotion, vulnerability, and connection between the citizens of the City as Carmen had hoped for. However, the unpredictable three day spread of Light also brought about the Distortion Phenomenon, and a greater ease of manifesting Effloresced E.G.O. Granted powers from her position in the Light, Carmen chose to seek to make City citizens embrace even "truer" versions of themselves, henceforth targeting individuals experiencing an extreme collapse of their mental foundation in order to turn them into beasts wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Denying her voice under these times of distress, on the other hand, allows modern day City dwellers to manifest complimentary armor, weapons, or more in the form of E.G.O. While citizens are still growing familiar with these phenomena, they have come to be an increasingly common spectacle and potential of the City.

2. #2The Cityconstant

   Keys: The City, City, World

   The City is a massive urban complex the size of a small country, and has a population of around 7 billion. The City is bordered to the south by the Great Lake, and to the other directions by the Outskirts. Underneath it lie the Ruins.

3. #3The Outskirtsconstant

   Keys: Outskirts

   Outside of the 25 visible Districts lies the Outskirts, a no man's land known mostly by citizens of the City as somewhere they should never go to. It is largely populated by Sweepers and abandoned children,[1] alongside a variety of dangerous monsters not dissimilar to Abnormalities. The most common use of the Outskirts is by the Head itself, where it is used as a dump for inhuman "impurities" they decide to drive out of the City.[2] As a result of the Head's ideals, much of the Outskirts is populated by these "sapient, sentient beings",[3] many of which were created by mankind itself.[2] This includes cryptic, highly threatening creatures known as Clockwork Teeth.[4] As a result of their sentience and intelligence, some species (such as the Gnomes) even run their own functioning societies in the Outskirts. Similarly, there are human populations operating in the Outskirts, living on to the best of their ability.[5] Interactions between the LCB and Outskirts denizens in Intervallo III: Miracle in District 20 suggest that while people living in the Outskirts have a highly optimistic view of the City, both locations feature equally substantial human suffering. Likewise, the people of the City know little about the Outskirts, and few desire to ever see it for themselves, dismissing it as a dangerous, forbidden place filled to the brim with monsters. Despite this, individuals like Demian claim that the Outskirts is a better, freer place than the City altogether. This sentiment is corroborated by Stephanette and her travel partner in Canto IV, who remark that the Outskirts is home to "beautiful and tranquil beings", and that that may be "the reason everyone tried to keep quiet about it."[6] Furthermore, surveying the Outskirts is not unheard of, as R Corp. feathers are known to use it as an area of exploration, alongside the Ruins.[7] And while she was ultimately left with a sour view of the Outskirts,[8] Ishmael herself has experience traversing the territory.[9][10]

   Beyond the Head's use, the Wings and its citizens will sometimes use the Outskirts as a depot for unwanted children, as it is not uncommon for them to be left in the Outskirts after being experimented on by a Wing,[11] after which taking in children from the Outskirts into the City requires an extremely complicated procedure.[12] Others may find the Outskirts an alluring place to set up camp specifically due to its distance from the Head's watchful eye.

   A woodland by the name of the Black Forest is said to be located within the Outskirts, where a River meets the surface.[13] Additionally, the Outskirts overlaps with the Great Lake, allowing creatures like the Pallid Whale to swim between the two. A large train also runs along the edge between it and the City.

4. #4Districtsconstant

   Keys: District

   The City is divided into twenty-six Districts, quite diverse in culture and aesthetics, each of which is governed by a Wing, a corporation that has ascended to claim complete control of said area. All Wings respond to the Head, the supreme governing power of the City. The arrangement of the Districts seems to be static, as there has been no mentioned case of a District expanding into a fallen Wing's territory.

   Each District is split into a Nest, a territory directly governed and protected by its Wing, and the Backstreets, expansive spaces of wilderness or slums, largely neglected by the Wings, where the Syndicates of the City run free.

   Districts tend to have similarities to their neighbors, and are typically grouped into four sections: the northern, eastern, southern, and western quarters.[4][5] These quarters may be distinguished by commonalities including culture and temperature, such as the same Fixer Associations differing in garb and fighting style across different quarters, or the northern quarter having colder weather.

   District 26, while confirmed to exist in current times,[6] is not visible from the map.

5. #5The Headconstant

   Keys: The Head, A Corp, The Claw, B Corp, The Eye, C Corp

   The Head is the leader of the Wings and the central governing body of the City. It is in direct control of A Corp., B Corp., and C Corp., the three Districts at the very center of the City. The Head's identity is completely unknown, although it appears the term refers to a group of people rather than a singular entity;[7] any detail regarding it is a closely guarded secret.

   The Head, through A Corp., retains control of the entire City. It is responsible for authorizing Wings, managing patents, and the minting of Ahn, the currency used in the City.[8]

   Despite this, it does not typically interfere directly with the affairs of the various Wings in their own Districts; rather, the Head's greatest involvement in the life of the City consists in establishing and enforcing the rules that relate to the overall ethics of the City.

   The Head's will shapes the image of the City, as it wields the ability to decide when a part of it no longer fits in the vision, and to chase it outside its confines. Some speculate the Head's decisions in these matters aren't aimed at maintaining order, but rather that the Head wishes to preserve its ideal image of the City, and that for this reason they allow the various Stars of the City to keep existing.[9] This is corroborated by the agents of the Head themselves referring to their work as cultivating the ecology of the City.[10]

   To preserve this vision, the Head retains the unique power to assign the highest risk level in the scale of hazards of the City, that of Impuritas Civitatis, or Impurity of the City. The risk level of Impurity signifies a hazard that violates the ethics of the City,[11] and that must be either destroyed or physically expelled from the confines of the City expeditiously.

   At a certain point in history, sapient beings that weren't humans were driven out of the City and into the Outskirts, and their existence within the confines of the City was deemed a Taboo. This marked the beginning of the City's "age of humanity".[7] As part of this action, the Head introduced the Artificial Intelligence Ethics Amendment, which established a series of City-wide Taboos against the creation of machines that resembled humans, outlawing the creation of both mechanical copies of a human body and machines with an intelligence comparable to that of humans.[7][12] Furthermore, a Taboo was established by the Head against the resurrection of a human being.[13] Ultimately, all of these are considered to be unethical pursuits.

   The Head has also set a number of restrictions on the creation and distribution of firearms[14] and on human cloning, which allow two copies of the same person to exist in the City for no longer than seven days. The Head is also responsible for various other Taboos of the City, such as not paying one's taxes, and violating a residential area during the Night in the Backstreets.[15]

   The punishment for breaking any of these Taboos usually involve physical extermination, and for a Wing, the stripping of its qualifications and immediate shutdown.[16] The punishment for violating the Taboos established by the Head is noted to be different from breaking a Taboo of a Nest, which usually involves being chased by a small number of Taboo hunters; breaking a Taboo of the City is believed to be equivalent to a death sentence.[15]

   The Head is backed up in its functions by the Eye and the Claw, the two authorities responsible for B Corp. and C Corp. respectively. In enforcing the laws of the City, the three Wings make use of three types of agents: the Arbiters, the Beholders, and the Claws. When handling an Impurity-level threat, these agents are qualified to expel an entity from the City itself and move it into the Outskirts.

6. #6The Wings and Nestsconstant

   Keys: The Wings, Nests

   The Wings of the World are a group of the twenty-six largest, most powerful conglomerates in the City. Each Wing acts as the governing body of a Nest of the City's District, and is commonly referred to with a letter from A to Z, corresponding to the number of the District in their control. Wings generally oversee all facets of living in the Nest of their District, while leaving the residents of the Backstreets to fend for themselves.

   A Nest is the urban center of a District, which is under the direct management of its Wing. The citizens and employees of a Wing are commonly referred to as "feathers"; the status of a feather is widely considered one of the best and most secure paths in life,[17] which the people of the Backstreets are often willing to go to great lengths to obtain. To gain access to a Nest, a corresponding Nest migration permit is required,[18] while to be granted temporary passage one must be in possession of a visa unique to the specific Nest.[19] Visas are implied to be relatively common, with corporate employees being provided with work visas that allow them as easy passage; Nest migration permits, on the other hand, are highly sought after, and implied to be expensive enough that even Grade 1 Fixers would struggle to obtain them. During the Smoke War, migration permits were offered as rewards to Fixers participating for K Corp. and I Corp., although by the end of the war the veterans were refused entry to the Nests.[20]

   Each Wing has its own cultural style and social structure which are reflected in how it governs its Nest, and the policies that regulate the way of life in the District's Backstreets. The laws of a Wing are called Taboos, and are enforced by specialized Fixers called Taboo hunters that police both the Nest and the Backstreets. While all Wings have Taboos, the enforcement and punishment for breaking them varies.[21]

   The Wings are directly ruled over by the Head, which bestows the status on a corporation that possesses and is able to successfully utilize a Singularity, a unique form of technology that is able to break the laws of physics.[22][23]

   As such, the Wings closely guard any information about their Singularity, employing military forces from their own ranks or from those of their business partners to avoid losing its secrets to rival Wings, industry competitors, or other forces.[24] If a Wing's technology is stolen, fails commercially, or is viewed unfavorably by the Head, a Wing can collapse, resulting in the Nest losing its protection and being encroached by various factions that vie for its control, such as the Syndicates of the Backstreets. After a Wing collapses, a different corporation can attempt to ascend to the status of a Wing for that District.

7. #7The Backstreetsconstant

   Keys: Backstreets

   The Backstreets are the areas of a District that lay outside the Wing's domain. The Backstreets are typically slums crowded with buildings, characterized by twisted and irregular roads, although there can be great differences between Districts.

   Wings have differing degrees of presence, influence, and benevolence with regards to their Backstreets, although their relationship is ultimately exploitative. Citizens of the Backstreets are motivated to move up the ladder and into the Nests, while citizens of the Nests are motivated to maintain their statuses and preserve a more comfortable life under their Wing's protection. While not as secure as the Nest, residential areas are the safest parts of the Backstreets.[25]

   Given how strongly Backstreets denizens wish for a life in the Nest, Wings tend to uphold strict divides between the sectors, including security checkpoints and physical divisions. Security of borders between Nests and Backstreets vary from plasma walls to mere chain fences, but the Wings' power is such that no one in the Backstreets dares to cross over into a Nest without express permission.[7]

   As the Backstreets are not under the control and protection of the Wings, and even the Head's power struggles to reach within them,[26] various factions operate freely in their place. The Backstreets are home to the headquarters of both Fixers, a type of mercenary for hire, who typically operate their Offices in the Backstreets, and organizations and gangs called Syndicates. Among Syndicates, the most important are the Five Fingers, the five largest Syndicates of the City which most other Syndicates answer to, and whose power is said to rival that of the Wings.[27]

   The Night in the Backstreets is another defining component of Backstreets life, as an 80 minute phenomena taking place from 3:14 to 4:34 AM. During this time period, nearly everything is allowed, as no one is held responsible for their deeds done during this time period.[28] It is considered a brazenly savage, brutal, and vulgar period, even for the City.[28] Beings known as Sweepers routinely become active during the Night in the Backstreets, and sweep through the streets in waves in order to consume any objects and structures located outside of permitted residential buildings, erasing all evidence of crime.

   The Night in the Backstreets are regulated by only two Taboos: that residential areas mustn't be destroyed or violated in any way, including forcing the doors open,[15] and that nothing which occurs during the Night in the Backstreets is recorded. The only form of testimony allowed during the Night in the Backstreets are direct eyewitnesses; even then, it is a Taboo mandated by the Head that no activity during this period are to be reported on.[29] While the rules of the Night in the Backstreet don't apply to the Nest, it's viable to drag a Nest citizen into the Backstreets and dispose of them in this manner.

8. #8Fixersconstant

   Keys: Fixers

   In the City, a common path in life for those without better options is that of the Fixer. A Fixer is a sort of handyman, who can be hired for everything from menial tasks to active combat. Fixers are subject to a grading system based on the missions they complete. A Fixer starts at Grade 9 and can be promoted to a higher grade, all the way up to 1; in the case of a Fixer being caught breaking work regulations, they can lose their status and be demoted to a lower grade.

   A majority of Fixers congregate in Fixer Offices, small to mid-sized businesses led by and composed of Fixers. Offices process requests dedicated to whomever in their ranks may be best suited. Offices can work independently, or they can be associated with particular Associations of Fixers, which are larger professional organizations with City-wide influence, with particular interests aimed at the Fixers working beneath them.

   There are thirteen Associations in the City, each of which manages certain types of requests common to Fixer work, such as the Zwei Association focusing on protection missions, or the Devyat' Association focusing on delivery across the City. Associations control and distribute Fixer tasks, and can take jobs from anywhere within the City, as they have individual branches set up in various Districts. Branches are divided into four groups corresponding to the cardinal directions of the City, and employees are further divided by grade into sections ranging from 1 to 6, with lower number sections corresponding to higher Fixer grades.

   Every Association has its own rules, specialties, uniform, and agreements with other factions. The Associations are governed by the Hana Association, which oversees everything related to the Fixer system, including Fixer grades.

   In the case of a Grade 1 Fixer demonstrating great renown in any particular field of work, they may be considered beyond the grading system, and receive the title of Color from Hana Association as a way to signify their exceptional skill. Color Fixers can keep working in their Offices, or be contracted by a company. They are admired throughout the City, and it is a common belief that the life of a Color is one of true freedom.[56] Despite this, Color Fixers are still bound to the regulations of Hana Associations and of the Head, and due to their ability they're often made to handle the most dangerous hazards of the City.

9. #9Syndicatesconstant

   Keys: Syndicates

   Syndicates are a type of organization in the City, and can be seen as the unregulated counterpart to Fixer Offices, being comparable to gangs with various goals and methods of operating. In general, the term Syndicate is used to refer to organized groups that aren't tied to the responsibilities and restrictions that come with being a Fixer.

   Some Syndicates focus on extorting money from people for protection, while others abduct people, kill for fun and pleasure, or do anything in between. Syndicates mostly operate in the Backstreets, but are not restricted to them. They can be small groups that only exist in one corner of the Backstreets, or large enough to exist in every District in the City.

   Syndicates can be hired to do contract jobs, although there is higher risk compared to contracting an Office or Association, as they are not bound to the same regulations Fixers are.[57] Sometimes, Wings will hire Syndicate members for criminal projects that cannot be handled officially.

   Syndicates tend to have a culture unique to their group, and a way of living that distinguishes them from other Syndicates. Many Syndicates have a culture focused around replicating family dynamics and consider each other family, with some even referring to each other with familial terms.[58] This can result in Syndicates with a strict focus on respect for those who are higher ranked, or in Syndicates whose members care deeply for each other and protect one another at any cost.

   Syndicates are graded through the City's hazard system, measuring their danger level and notability. Syndicates can grow under these aspects and gain power in many ways, with one of them being the practice of raiding and wiping out Fixers' Offices. The larger and more experienced an Office is, the greater the notoriety that is achieved by defeating it.[59]

   Above all Syndicates are the Five Fingers, or "the hand of the Backstreets", five Star of the City-level Syndicates, whose power rivals that of the Wings.[27] Each of the Five Fingers has a distinct culture, and demands different things from people seeking protection under them. Other Syndicates can become subsidiaries of the Five Fingers, granting them powerful connections as long as they abide by the Finger's orders.

10. #10Singularitiesconstant

    Keys: Singularities

    A Singularity is a unique, fantastical technology that a Wing possesses and exploits for power and profit. The details of a Wing's Singularity are a closely guarded secret, but its products (such as L Corp.'s Enkephalin or H Corp.'s Boluses) and side effects (such as T Corp.'s color desaturation) tend to be widespread throughout the District and play a major role in defining its culture.

    While Singularities' true abilities are usually incredibly powerful, a Wing must convert them into a marketable product in order to make a profit. Singularities are the primary source of income for the Wings to sustain themselves in the harsh environment of the City, meaning creating new products from the same Singularity is incredibly important. For example, T Corp. makes use of its Singularity for various products, such as the TT2 Protocol (which allows for the control of time in a determined area), and the TT4 Protocol (which instead allows for the synchronization of different individuals' time).

    In addition, Wings must be careful during the development process of new Singularities, to prevent information leaks and intellectual theft before a patent is received.[65] It is also common for Wings to make use of multiple Singularities, both by purchasing them from fallen Wings,[66] or through partnering with other existing Wings.

    If a Wing collapses, the patents on its Singularity expire and any individual or group who discovers how to utilize the technology may do so. In addition, the technology's status as a Singularity is lost. A number of technologies of the City were previously considered Singularities in the past, such as augmentation tattoos.[67] Singularities, while technological marvels, are not all they're made out to be. In one way or another, every Singularity fundamentally requires human suffering in order to function, and no Wing can claim to have their hands clean of the blood of its citizens.

11. #11Ahnconstant

    Keys: Money, Ahn

    The currency of the City is called Ahn. It appears to be a common currency across the City, though with some exceptions, such as District 20, in which citizens commonly use their time, regulated through T Corp.'s Singularity, as currency. Money is extremely important to the people of the City, to the point it is a common belief that it can be used to solve any problem. The City is also characterized by great income gaps, both between the people of the Backstreets and the Nest, and among the people of the Nest itself, where only the higher classes can live comfortably, while the majority of the citizens use most of their income in living expenses and taxes, and don't have the ability to save up for emergencies.[35]

    While the value of Ahn hasn't been disclosed in detail, an income of 4 million Ahn per month is considered upper middle class,[36] which implies its value is similar to that of the Korean Won.

12. #12Technologyconstant

    Keys: Technology

    Denizens of the City have developed a wide variety of fantastical technologies that they use on a daily basis.

    People from all quarters of the City make ample use of body modification procedures, which allow individuals to augment their strength or replace lost body parts. Prosthetic substitution involves the replacement of organic parts with mechanical or bionic ones, making it possible for a person to replace their entire body, with the exception of the brain. Due to the Head's Taboo against copies of human bodies, this makes the sight of an individual with mechanical limbs or a display in place of their head incredibly common in the City.

    Furthermore, City denizens can make use of various types of life insurance policy, such as the one provided by H Corp., that allow resuscitation after death.[60] Thanks to these policies, individuals who can afford the cost can be brought back to life in a new body without violating the Head's Ethics Amendment, as long as their brain remained intact.

    Augmentation procedures are also used by a large demographic of people, from Syndicate members to wealthy Nest citizens. Augmentation is particularly common among those involved in Fixer business, to the point it's considered virtually impossible to do Fixer work without investing in augmentation procedures.[61] Through these procedures, an individual might obtain superhuman speed or strength, or strengthen their body parts to become impervious to various types of attacks.

    The technological innovation of the City also reflects on its healthcare. Through the research of the Wings and the power of their Singularities, such of K Corp.'s and H Corp.'s, nearly every health problem has become curable on a theoretical level.[62] In practice, only those who can afford it are able to pay to make use of these technologies.

    This goes for most of the innovation of the City. In most cases, these technologies are available at various levels of quality, with the most expensive and safe being used by Nest citizens, while the people of the Backstreets can make use of cheaper versions that can cause unwanted side effects, as is the case for memory wipe procedures.

    Despite the level of innovation of the City generally being incredibly high, its access isn't uniform across the various Districts. While cell phones,[63] the Internet,[64] and various public transport systems exist, they are not universally available. For example, advanced communication systems aren't available in T Corp.'s District, with its citizens making use of letters instead.

13. #13Peopleconstant

    Keys: People

    Everyday life in the City is defined by a constant struggle to stay afloat. While the people of the Outskirts dream of living in the City, which they see as a safe place from the monsters that plague it, the people of the Backstreets strive to gain the wealth and power to gain access to a Nest, partially due to the influence of the Wings publicizing Nest dwellers' lives as the height of prosperity and comfort,[20] and the people of the Nest struggle daily to keep their place inside it, while being constantly exploited by the Wings.[39]

    Regardless of their station, the people of the City are never free, and in order to survive, they typically tie themselves to various forms of organizations, seeking security and belonging in something larger than them.[40] In doing so, they're willing to exploit others beneath them and make use of all the City can offer them, without caring about anyone else's well-being, and often taking pleasure in their suffering.[35]

    The people of the Backstreets must typically tie themselves to one of the Five Fingers or their subsidiaries to receive the necessary protection to carry on with their lives, while the people of the Nests depend on the Wings to shelter them. Because of this, Nest dwellers are colloquially known as "feathers". While the high level of security the Nest provides makes it the most ideal place to reside, its daily routine, which is often accompanied by overtime work[35] and the constant fear of losing one's job and place in the Nest,[41] can be stifling and oppressive to many of its citizens, with some recalling becoming listless as if they "lost focus, spacing out and staring into empty places".[42]

    The necessity for a connection to a group also means that the people of the City try not to form strong connections between individuals, as personal bonds can become a hindrance in one's abilities in the case of a loved one's death, which proves to be especially dangerous for those involved in Fixer work.[43][44] The Cityfolk are still generally accustomed to such events, and it is not considered uncommon for them to swiftly move on by searching for a substitute.[45]

    In general, death, including mass casualties, is a common occurrence in the City. People all over the City are greatly accustomed to this, to the point even cases of 80,000 casualties are considered, while distressing, not particularly shocking, and not important enough to require special attention unless they happen to be within a Nest.[46] Due to the frequency of such events, Cityfolk must learn to hide their grief and deal with it quickly,[47] reflecting on the practice of funerals being uncommon in the City. Backstreets dweller instead typically let the bodies of the deceased be taken away during the Night in the Backstreets, to avoid the grave be desecrated by robbers looking to steal valuables of prosthetics from the body.[48]

    Furthermore, the availability of technologies such as prosthetic substitution, the ability to quickly reconstruct flesh, and Life Insurance in many ways trivialize pain and death itself for those who can afford it, leaving their users insensitive to such dangers.[49][50]

    These factors have led to the people of the City becoming apathetic and uncaring of other people's suffering, living without allowing themselves to truly feel their emotions and wishes,[51] and lacking the curiosity to learn about the world they inhabit and the technologies they make use of every day,[52] instead preferring to shut out reality altogether whenever possible. The L Corp. researcher Carmen would come to describe these traits as a "disease of the mind", that plagued the people of the City, and that if left alone, it would bring them all to destruction. Lobotomy Corporation's work began as an attempt to cure this disease, and the Distortion phenomenon would be born in its aftermath.

    The Cityfolk's feelings manifest in different ways as well. Their desires are mentioned to beget concepts comparable to "gods", such as the Prescripts of the Index, which are generated from the people's wish for a direction in life.[53] This same desire is what often brings the Cityfolk to join cults that promise to grant them a purpose, such as the Church of Gears. Beyond these forms, however, the City currently lacks major forms of organized religion,[54] although it is suggested that they have existed in the past.[55]

14. #14Cultureconstant

    Keys: Culture

    The City uses 13 common languages.[31] Not all of the common languages have been identified yet, but they appear to represent real life languages, most likely corresponding to the languages the twelve Associations take their names from.[32] In addition to these, other languages exist, such as that spoken by Sweepers, and records still exist of languages that are currently extinct.[31]

    Various levels of education exist in the City. Schools exist both in the Nests and in the Backstreets, although other options are available, such as boarding schools and virtual schooling, both of which are considered safer options, as it allows the students to not have to cross dangerous alleyways on their way to school.[33] In the Nest, homeschooling is shown to be an option as well.[34]

15. #15Clothingconstant

    Keys: Clothing

    Clothing styles show great variation between the four quarters of the City.

    The fashion of the south is mostly inspired by real-life 21st century, western formal aesthetics, though with exceptions such as T Corp., where the fashion is instead inspired by the 19th century steampunk aesthetic the District is based on. The fashion of the east is instead based on real-life eastern, particularly Chinese fashion, ranging from traditional clothing to more modern interpretations. The clothing of the east, like that of the north and south, is mentioned to be mostly cloth-based.[37] Northern fashion is heavily influenced by its colder weather, with heavy, loose-fitting clothing being common,[37] and making use of at times excessive decorations.[38]

    The fashion of the west makes use of leather over cloth, and is noted to often include metal armor in its trends. Western fashion appears to be inspired by the real-life Middle Ages in Europe, borrowing elements from medieval armor.

16. #16Hazards

    Keys: Hazards

    In the City, hazards receive official grades measuring not their risk, but how much people are willing to pay to have the threat eliminated.[68] From least-threatening to most-threatening, they rank: Urban Myth, Urban Legend, Urban Plague, Urban Nightmare, Star of the City, and Impurity of the City (or Impuritas Civitatis). The Hana Association assigns the threat level for Urban Myths through Stars of the City, but only the Head has the power to assign and manage Impurities. Most Associations and Fixers deal only with Stars of the City or lower-grade hazards, with the Head managing Impurities directly, most often opting to banish them to the Outskirts.[11]

    Hazards can be anything that poses a threat to The City: individuals, unexplainable phenomenon, monsters, Abnormalities, or just anything that requires the work of Fixers.

17. #17Monsters

    Keys: Abnormalities, Distortions, Monsters

    Monsters are a major threat to be found throughout and outside of the City. In the City, a "monster" is not just a descriptor, but a broad term referring to its various creatures. While the term "monsters" does include Abnormalities and Distortions, not all monsters fall into these categories.[69] Monsters include many other creatures such as trash crabs, gnomes, Bloodfiends, and tend to vary widely in appearance and intelligence. Many of the monsters living in the Outskirts are man-made creations banished from the City,[70] as the birthing and continued existence of sapient non-human creatures within its confines is a Taboo of the Head. In general, monsters are more common in the Outskirts than within the City.[71]

    The production of the monsters known as Abnormalities, while possible through natural means, was streamlined through Lobotomy Corporation's work. Abnormalities are humans-turned-beasts, taking the form of bizarre, unkillable creatures which reflect the fears, beliefs, desires, and stories of the City people. Abnormalities are a mixing pot, varying greatly in their strength and capacity for communication or sentience. Lobotomy Corporation handled its Abnormalities during the Wing's prime; however, following its downfall, L Corp.'s various branches were shut down and abandoned. In modern day, a visit to one of L Corp.'s old branch facilities will likely lead to an encounter with its remaining Abnormalities.

    Likewise, Distortions are transformed human beings who owe their new forms to Lobotomy Corporation. Distortions began popping up around the City following the White Nights and Dark Days, a week-long, City-wide event. Since the White Nights and Dark Days, citizens undergoing an extreme collapse of their mental foundation may find themselves visited by a mysterious disembodied voice: to distort is to accept the voice's consensus. Distortions will physically embody all of the negative emotions which spurred on the transformation, such as despair, self-hatred, or fury. Unlike Abnormalities, Distortions maintain traces of who they once were, and are capable of being killed. Additionally, a Distortion will turn into an Abnormality after a long enough period.[72] However, Distortions may also be brought back to their senses and converted back into a human given the right approach and fast enough action. In many cases, violence has been a trusted solution to solving cases of Distortion.

    Abnormalities and Distortions are not included in the City's Taboo against non-human sapient creatures: due to their origins, they are considered by the Head to represent aspects of humanity,[73] and are thus excluded from the City's definition of non-human.

    Fitting of the City's nature, the majority of its monsters are out for blood and need to be either combated or avoided.

18. #18Sweepers

    Keys: Sweepers, Night in the Backstreets

    The Sweepers are a consistent stress in the life of any citizen of the Backstreets. Sweepers invade the streets in massive waves during the Night in the Backstreets, sweeping up anything or anyone left outside. Following the Sweepers' nightly descent, absolutely nothing that lies within their reach will remain. Despite their danger, given their predictable schedule and reliability, they may be taken advantage of by certain City citizens as tools for murder and cleaning of crime. Sweepers are creatures that take the form of a patented liquid stuffed inside humanoid metal tanks. The liquid is their true "body", as humans which have been melted down into a red substance and must now convert other humans into fuel in order to sustain their existence. While they may be avoided through the simple act of staying indoors, falling victim to the Sweepers' line of incursion is a surefire way of losing one's life.

19. #19Distortionconstant

    Keys: Distorsion, Carmen

    The Distortion Phenomenon came to be as a result of the White Nights and Dark Days, an attempt at spreading Light across the City which was ultimately cut short. The plan—known as the Seed of Light project—was a project led by Carmen, and later Ayin, to cure the "disease of the mind". It is heavily implied in Leviathan that Carmen's ultimate goal of the aforementioned project was to let people reveal their true selves, unswayed by the world's judgment, yet her assistant Ayin held the belief that such a concept would instead be best in moderation and with consideration of others,[1] similarly to how E.G.O holders function with clear intent opposed to the animalistic emotion of a Distortion.[2] Complimenting Ayin's belief, Angela claims that the Light was spread with the intention of allowing everyone in the City to manifest their own E.G.O and defend themselves.[3]

    Despite the intended seven days needed for the Seed of Light project's fruition, the spread of Light was stopped only three days in by the main L Corp. facility's secretary, Angela. With this limited spread of Light, an "unstable power" was spread as a result, "incubating other possibilities",[4] hence the establishment of the Distortion Phenomenon. City residents could now distort or manifest Effloresced E.G.O upon reaching a significant mental impasse, and either embracing or forgoing Carmen's words.

    The two people at the forefront of the Seed of Light project, Carmen and Ayin, had both become one with the Light before the White Nights and Dark Days as part of the Seed of Light project. Carmen's position in the Light would allow her to watch over the City (and all versions of it across different Mirror Worlds)[5] and preside over both the E.G.O and Distortion phenomena.

    As such, Carmen would use her power within the Light to instigate Distortions. She would prey upon people at their lowest in a conversation heard by her target and no one else. It is impossible to interfere with a naturally occurring Distortion, which "occurs as though it has been ordained by fate itself";[6] other parties are even physically pushed away during the resulting conversation.[7]

    Although Angela would return the vast majority of the Light to the City at the end of Library of Ruina (close to the entire seven days' worth), this would not mitigate the Distortion Phenomenon, as Carmen would continue to make deliberate attempts to distort the denizens of the City. Carmen's actions still affect the City in the present day of the setting.

    Details of the Distortion Phenomenon Distortion Requirements Cityfolk can end up a target of the Distortion, regardless of status or location. However, it requires a particularly intense mindset and the wholehearted pursuit of one's own wishes. Angela describes those with the potential to manifest E.G.O or distort as people "who strive to accomplish what they sincerely desire, unbound by any obstacles".[8]

    Then, to be susceptible to distorting, one must experience the complete breakdown of a firmly-held belief in a massive personal shock. In this state of exceptionally heightened emotion, the mind "crumbles".[9]

    For example, victims of the Distortion may be shown to have been working for a meaningful, life-defining goal before realizing it cannot be carried out in a sudden and dramatic event.

    Distortion Process

    The Voice of the Distortion. To be targeted by the Distortion is to be spoken to by Carmen herself. Someone undergoing the Distortion process will hear a warm, alluring voice unable to be heard by anyone else. The voice will speak to the target about their present situation and prod them into giving into their heightened feelings, using specific words meant to make them focus on their negative emotions.

    If the target chooses to embrace these feelings, agreeing with Carmen's discernment of their life, they "consent" and therefore distort. Distorting includes transforming into a being which reflects the person's ultimate feelings and desires. Stronger desires will lead to a stronger Distortion.[10]

    Distortions come in all shapes and sizes, tending to appear animalistic or otherworldly, and rarely containing any visual traces of the distortee's human form. Once someone has distorted, they are consumed by the negative emotions which had been so thoroughly heightened, more or less embodying those feelings. As a result, many Distortions are violent, operating on feelings like rage or despair.

    Although some Distortions are unable to be reasoned with, that is not the case for many of them. Depending on the cause for Distortion, many Distortions are capable of acting calmly or participating in regular conversation. They simply prioritize acting on the feelings that had spun them into distorting.

    After enough time passes, a Distortion will turn into an Abnormality, which is an irreversible process.[11]

    Distinction from Effloresced E.G.O Not to be confused with the E.G.O extracted from Abnormalities.

    Vergilius' manifested E.G.O. While it was possible to manifest Effloresced E.G.O even prior to the event,[12] following the White Nights and Dark Days, E.G.O became intrinsically linked to the Distortion Phenomenon. Both phenomena require the same set up: a world-shattering event leading to intense emotion, and a visit from Carmen. However, while Distortions are formed by the target agreeing with Carmen's words, E.G.O is instead manifested by denying them. As such, the line between distorting and manifesting E.G.O is a thin one, similar to walking a tightrope. Still, it is not equally easy to end up on either side. The outcome is considerably rigged in favor of the target distorting, considering they would be both in a very fragile state of mind and being talked into it by Carmen. It is not an easy feat to reject Carmen's comforting words and manifest one's own E.G.O.

    While Distortions are generally associated with antagonistic efforts and E.G.O with heroic efforts, there is no such rule of thumb. For instance, Dongrang would manifest E.G.O on the basis of killing Yi Sang and destroying everything tying him to the past that weighed him down. What mattered was that Carmen was telling him it was hopeless, and Dongrang disagreed with that.

    Additionally, Distortions are complete transformations from one's human self, while E.G.O takes the form of something separate. This is most frequently some kind of armor and/or weapon to be brandished by the person.

    Once someone has managed to manifest E.G.O, they gain an immunity to the Distortion Phenomenon.[13] However, only managing to manifest an incomplete or Volatile E.G.O (as in Philip's case) will still leave the user susceptible to distorting.

    While very similar to Abnormalities, a key distinction between the two is that Distortions are ultimately willingly manifested from their original form's desires (or letting their emotion get the better of their desire), while Abnormalities are in large part created through artificial means. Lobotomy Corporation formed Abnormalities through the use of the Well, Bucket, and Cogito without any conscious agreement from the person involved. On the other hand, Distortions come to be through adverse effects of the Light allowing an agreement between the individual and Carmen.

    Distortions are also capable of being permanently killed, and do not temporarily revert to an ovate form like Abnormalities. It is additionally important to note that that Abnormalities themselves are only fragments of the mind extracted from living subjects, unlike Distortions which are the entirety of the person now corrupted by their beliefs.

    However, Library of Ruina frequently amounts Distortions and Abnormalities to the same thing. Angela states that "Abnormalities manifested through the Distortion are selves that have lost control…" while Binah tells Roland that "Those may manifest in the form of E.G.O or an Abnormality... the phenomenon has now been named the 'Distortion'".[14] Despite this, the sentiment does not persist into Limbus Company, where they are treated as entirely different types of beings with correlations to each other. In the Risk Levels & Classifications Mini Episode, the LCD states that Abnormalities and Distortions are even distinct to the point of requiring different kinds of classification codes.

    Distortions Becoming Abnormalities Abnormalities can also arise from the Distortion Phenomenon, as with enough time, Distortions are guaranteed to "hatch" into an Abnormality.[15] Hohenheim describes this to be when "all preexisting individuality is erased, replaced with the totality of an Abnormality".[11] At this point in the process, there is no hope for the affected individual, as an Abnormality cannot return to normalcy like a Distortion can.[11]

    There has been only one shown instance of this, with Jumsoon in Leviathan. In this case, the individual went still and silent, before Schadenfreude suddenly split him open and emerged from within his body.[16] Interestingly, this demonstrates that the process can result in the creation of a second copy of a preexisting Abnormality, and contradicts the established notion that all Abnormalities are one of a kind.

    Although both Hohenheim and Ezra credit the transformation to the passage of time, Leviathan additionally suggests that Distortions may turn into Abnormalities as a result of a second shattering of the individual's mental foundation.[17]

    Peccatula are referred to as the origins and byproducts of the Distortion phenomena.[18] Like Abnormalities, Peccatula are very similar to Distortions, but still a different kind of entity. However, Peccatula behavior more closely resembles beasts, and they are more aggressive than Distortions are.[19] Peccatula also always come in seven different types (each with at least three "evolutions"). While Distortions are unique and will reflect something deep within the heart of the affected person, Peccatula, on the other hand, entirely dispose of the transformed's individuality. The only thing that could be considered a remainder of the person-turned-Peccatulum is the type of Peccatula they come to be, which is based on the Sin they embodied in life.[20]

    Specifically, Peccatula arise when someone tries and "fails" to distort. It is currently unknown how or why someone might fail to distort. Rather, LCE Researcher Hohenheim states that he believes turning into either a Distortion or a Peccatulum is a simple game of chance with an equal 50/50 shot for either outcome.[21] However, this is in the context of the Monolith, and it is not entirely clear if his theory applies to all cases of Distortion or just those that are Monolith-induced.

    Breaking the Distortion

    Heathcliff falling out of his state of Distortion. Distortions are not a permanent state of being. In order to bring a Distortion back to their status of humanity, one must appeal to the reason why they distorted in the first place. Faust describes the process as tearing down the wall they have constructed around their heart using methods the Distortion would approve of. The method should in some way convince them "otherwise" in the face of the reality which caused them to distort. Violence has, in many cases, also been its own tried and true method of breaking cases of Distortion.

    A human who has broken free from the Distortion does not gain immunity to it. Instead, people are capable of distorting and un-distorting an infinite number of times. However, having once distorted also does not mean gaining an immunity to manifesting E.G.O. It is entirely possible to distort, undistort, and then manifest E.G.O.

    Monoliths A Monolith is an artifact capable of forcing an individual into distorting or turning into a Peccatulum. It has the appearance of a flat black stele, around two meters tall. Similarly to the Golden Boughs, Monoliths have recently started appearing around the City, scattered throughout the Backstreets of the various Districts, where they have caught the attention of the Five Fingers and other Syndicates, as well as that of a number of Wings.[22] Limbus Company began its research on the artifacts and recovery expeditions much earlier than other factions and firms, allowing them to create a large stock that makes them the main providers of Monoliths in the City. Specifically, it is the LCA that works to retrieve the Monoliths, after which they are transferred to Moses and her team.

    Golden Boughs and Monoliths share other similarities. Much like a Bough, a Monolith amplifies and releases feeling— unlike a Bough, the Monolith releases a "signal" that specifically pushes someone to face the emotions boiling within their mind, therefore pushing them into distorting. A Distortion caused by a Monolith is noted to differ from a naturally occurring Distortion, as it can be cut short by external forces, such as knocking out the affected individual.[23] Despite this, its appears the voice of the Distortion is still involved in Monolith-induced Distortion.[24] A Monolith's effect may also turn the individual into a Peccatulum, however. Researcher Hohenheim describes this as a simple "game of chance", believing there to be a 50/50 shot of either becoming a Distortion or Peccatulum.[21]

    Additionally, unlike the Bough, the Monolith is described as a supposedly human-made device with an inner mechanism, which can be turned on or off. Dante describes this process of "locking down" the Monolith as the act of drawing a trail of light over the device.

    Monoliths are also a part of Limbus Company's purchase catalogue. During November 984, T Corp. Executive Director Herbert requested to purchase the Company's entire stock of Monoliths, which Faust ultimately permitted.

    Assessment Levels Observation Levels Similar to Abnormalities, Distortions have their own Observation Level, albeit only between 0 to III (with majority of them only present at I). The Observation Level increases by one every time the Distortion is defeated a number of times equal to the next Observation Level. There are, however, cases where certain actions or occurrences need to take place for the Observation to increase. Like with Abnormalities, doing so will unlock more of its story logs.

    If a Distortion is suppressed by a status effect, gift, other enemy, or event, the Observation Level will not increase. Forfeiting or losing a fight usually preserves kills from failed effects, with Refraction Railway's "Retry" option being a notable exception.

    Risk Levels and Classifications Limbus Company Distortions were given basic Risk Level classifications until early Season 4. In-universe, these were redacted so that the higher ups at Limbus Company could rework the classification system to differ from how the old Lobotomy Corporation classified their Abnormalities and be more accurate to the Sinners' experiences. This occurred within the April 11th, 2024 "Risk Levels & Classifications" update, and was a server-wide change that affected all accounts regardless of story progression. Afterwards, Distortion Risk Levels were instead indiscriminately labeled as Undef Risk Label.png (Undefined).

    However, the Risk Level classifications were reworked with the release of Intervallo V: LCB Regular Check-up. The Risk Level classifications update upon completion of the Intervallo.

    The updated classifications consist of five different indicators (??-??-??-??-??).

    Firstly (XX-??-??-??-??): a Risk Level ranging from ZAYIN to ALEPH, potentially meant to describe the expected damage scale. Dante's Notes written post-Intervallo clarify that the Abnormality Risk Levels are carried over from Lobotomy Corporation, and therefore still measure Enkephalin production rather than battle prowess, indicating that a ZAYIN-10 Abnormality would likely cause more damage than a WAW-05. In that case, it is unclear what the Risk Levels describe in cases of Distortion, given that they were never worked with by L Corp. nor produce Enkephalin. Secondly (??-XX-??-??-??): a number ranging from 01 to 10, meant to describe the expected damage scale. Thirdly (??-??-XX-??-??): a two-letter designation referring to the most dominant Sin Affinity of the Distortion (Ex: PI refers to Pigritia: Sloth). Fourth (??-??-??-XX-??): a number designation indicating the District the Distortion was encountered in. Fifth (??-??-??-??-XX): currently unclear. Distortions may be labeled shorthand with just their Risk Level and Sin Affinity, such as HE-06(-PI), or with the full designated code, such as HE-06-PI-20-01.

20. #20Shin

    Keys: Shin

    Shin (心) is a technique related to the powers of the Light and Sin that is a type of energy projection. It has largely been shown being used to create Mang (望), a power enhancing ability that visually manifests as warm rings of light that appear around the weapon being used to attack, but can seemingly be used in a way to strengthen the body as well. The highest amount of rings seen manifested by a single individual is 7, capable of decapitating another with a mere gust of wind from the flick of their wrist.

    In order to use Shin, one must clear their mind of all emotions and then tap into their most intense memories and allow the emotions that are invoked by those memories to take fill their head. The more Mang used in an attack, the higher degree of control over Shin is needed by the user. The path to learning how to properly utilize Shin is difficult, but it can be taught to others and even self-taught through enough diligence.

21. #21Golden Boughs

    Keys: Golden Boughs

    The Golden Boughs are plantlike branches emitting an alluring golden glow. The Boughs are a potent energy source, and are said to be the essence of Lobotomy Corporation's technology. They stem from the abandoned L Corp. branches scattered across the City, but many have been moved from their original locations as City people snatch up Boughs for themselves. In fact, despite being a recent discovery, the Golden Boughs have caught the attention of many different factions—from private companies, to Syndicates, to Wings—many of whom are interested in making use of the powers lying within them. As they follow the distribution of L Corp. branches across the City, more than one Bough may be found in a single District.

22. #22E.G.O

    Keys: E.G.O

    Effloresced E.G.O is distinct and personal from person to person. While Abnormality-extracted E.G.O will reflect the ego of the relevant Abnormality, E.G.O manifested by oneself will match their own ego. As a result, they vary widely in both appearance and function. Generally, manifested E.G.O takes the form of some kind of armor, weapon, or both. It compliments the individual rather than overtaking them.

    Like the other form of E.G.O, Effloresced E.G.O is extremely powerful. However, it represents familiarity and dominance over one's own ego, rather than the borrowing of someone else's. It can still be wielded in ways which farm more power from it, like Lobotomy E.G.O. Additionally, once having manifested E.G.O, it can be manifested again at any point at will.

    Once someone has managed to manifest E.G.O, they gain an immunity to the Distortion Phenomenon.[20] However, only managing to manifest an incomplete or Volatile E.G.O (as in Philip's case) will still leave the user susceptible to distorting. If the user undergoes severe mental degradation with their E.G.O manifested, the Effloresced E.G.O may dissipate with their shaken heart. This is an overarching term referring to the E.G.O that is extracted and borrowed from Abnormalities.

    The E.G.O utilized within The Library and by the Sinners take on a different form than that of L Corp.'s Lobotomy E.G.O, and would likely not be classified as such. While not explained in detail, Faust indicates that these are the "base" form of E.G.O, and that Lobotomy E.G.O specifically refers to a more compressed and refined version in the form of E.G.O Weapons and Suits.[2] These "basic" E.G.O share the risk of corroding that Lobotomy E.G.O does, although it is easier to lose oneself to them than proper E.G.O Gear.[3]

    All E.G.O from an Abnormality takes on the same name, regardless of its form.

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