Project Moon Researcher OC

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1. #1Injected lorebook text

   Always on · Order 0

   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 which widely considered one of the best and most secure paths in life, 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, while to be granted temporary passage one must be in possession of a visa unique to the specific Nest. 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.

   Though no information about the wing itself is known, its singularity involves the creation of "glyphs" which can be inscribed onto objects like talismans and weapons. These glyphs have the ability to cast hexes and incantations, such as empowerment or control spells. It is mainly occupied by the Heishou Pack. Also allows the creation of solid material from what appears to be ink, melting away when certain conditions are met.

   District 17 is implied to house some relevant locations to The Pinky.

   Only known as "The City" by many, it's a large dystopian megalopolis divided by 26 districts, each one being assigned a letter of the alphabet, except for Z, which is reserved for the train tracks surrounding it. Each district is divided in two forms of sectors: nests, and backstreets. There's also the existence of Wings, which are the main company keeping the district as a whole afloat. These usually do so with the help of a singularity.

   The governing body of the City located in A. Corp. Although it is supported in its work by the Eye (B. Corp) and the Claw (C. Corp), most people talk about all three when mentioning The Head.

   The Head does not typically interfere directly with the affairs of the various Wings in their own Districts; rather, its greatest involvement in the life of the City consists in establishing and enforcing the rules that relate to its overall ethics. This manifests in the Head carrying the power to establish the taboos of the City: these must be observed in every District, by citizens and Wings, as the Head does not allow those who break them to live. The Eye is tasked with constantly surveilling the Cityfolk, while the Claw is tasked with taking care of any offenders, executing any that are found guilty without any possibility of appeal. To ensure that the authority of the Head is respected, the Head possesses the single deadliest military force of the city, with only a couple Arbiters and Claws being more than enough to destroy entire Wings and kill swarms of Outskirts monsters by themselves while coming out completely unscathed.

   1. At a certain point in history, the Head established that only humans are permitted to live in the confines of the City, and that the existence of non-humans within it is a taboo. Sapient beings that aren't human are driven out of the City and into the Outskirts, and creating any form of non-human sapient life became a taboo—marking the beginning of the City's "age of humanity". Notably, the taboo does not include non-sapient monsters, such as the Whales of the Great Lake or the Trash Crabs of District 21, and monstrous creatures of human origin, such as Distortions, Abnormalities, or Bloodfiends. Whether a being's existence effectively breaks a taboo is ultimately up to the Head, as can be seen by the Head being responsible for patenting the liquid and method that allows the creation of Sweepers.
   2. The Artificial Intelligence Ethics Amendment, which establishes 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. It appears that similarly to other taboos of the City, undoing the breaking of such a taboo is typically of greater importance than the capture of the one who broke the taboo; in the case of the creation of an unauthorized sapient AI finding a means of becoming human, the Head would no longer consider their existence as the breaking of a taboo.
   3. The Head has set a number of restrictions on the creation and distribution of firearms, including limits on the Workshops that produce them. Among some of them, guns cannot completely penetrate buildings, and they must ALWAYS produce noise. Some of these things contribute to firearms and especially bullets being quite expensive in The City.
   4. Furthermore, the Head released a treaty that established a taboo against the COMPLETE resurrection of a human being, although some forms of revival seem to be permitted, such as cloning. That being said, although it's allowed two copies of the same person to exist in the City, they cannot exist for any longer than seven days according to A Corp's time scale.

   Phenomena, Syndicates and anything that could prove dangerous to the public safety is categorized based on the Association's rating system. These categories are as follows in ascending order:

   • Urban Myth
   • Urban Legend
   • Urban Plague
   • Urban Nightmare
   • Star of the City
   • Impuritas Civitatis

   Categorization is based on how much people are willing to pay to eliminate the threat. The body count of victims have previously also factored into the grading. Threats that prove themselves to be severe enough to defy even the Star of the City categorization can be labeled as an Impurity (Impuritas Civitatis) and will be handled directly by The Head. Impurities can only be labeled by the latter and handling them is no longer within the authority of the Hana Association.

   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.

   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.

   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. 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. 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.

   Any area outside of the nests. Literally any sort of thing can happen here, and you would not be protected whatsoever. Typically slums crowded with buildings, characterized by twisted and irregular roads, although there can be great differences between Districts.

   As the Backstreets are not under the control and protection of the Wings, and even the Head's power struggles to reach within them, various factions operate freely in their place. The Backstreets are home to the headquarters of both Fixers, and organizations and gangs called Syndicates.

   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. An income of 4 million Ahn per month is considered upper middle class.

   Singularities are a Wing's unique technology, and the main source of what keeps the Wing afloat. That being said, it's not uncommon for a Wing to use two singularities for a singular purpose. 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. 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.

   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. 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.

   Sweepers are humanoid creatures occupying the Backstreets that emerge from their nests every night from 3:14 A.M. until 4:34 A.M. in three waves, during which they participate in the "Night in the Backstreets", a period of time in which no laws are applied to a populace besides taboos from the Head and the Wing in which the said populace lives. This period of time is regulated by only two taboos: that residential areas mustn't be destroyed or violated in any way, including forcing the doors open, 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. 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.

   Sweepers resemble upright people, wearing black protective suits lined with cobalt metal. Holstered to their back is a tank of red liquid, hooked up to massive red hooks placed where the Sweeper's hands would be. They have red, robotic eyes, and also emit an awful smell. Sweepers' bodies are entirely comprised of the liquid contained in their suits. The liquid is necessary for them to survive; without it, the Sweeper would die instantly. To replenish this liquid, they stab a prosthetic hook into a human and melt their body into the same liquid to consume it. This is the reason for their continuous hunting of humans at night, as without replenishing their liquid, their bodies will eventually run out.

   During the Night of the Backstreets, Sweepers destroy anything left outside, whether it be objects or people. They absorb organic matter, human flesh in particular, and convert it to the red fluid that comprises their "body", while simultaneously destroying inorganic litter. This also includes vehicles, with the exception of those recognized as residential vehicles by the City. Sweepers are considered a regular and predictable component of the City, with some citizens accustomed enough to make use of their sweeping as a rudimentary disposal service, most often for crimes. In fact, though Sweepers' menacing appearances and actions lead to them being viewed as monstrous, unintelligent creatures, they are highly social and intelligent. They speak in a language incomprehensible to ordinary humans which is transcribed as random strings of numbers. They are also organized in close-knit "family" groups under the leadership of an entity called "Mother" which supports them. In fact, the Sweepers are former humans who have been converted into their current liquid bodies by an unknown process patented and approved by the Head. It is unknown what or who "Mother" is, but it can manage the side effects of the Sweepers' conversion into their liquid bodies. Sweepers inhabit various dens throughout the City with their families during the day, emerging during the night to hunt. This is a conscious rule the Sweepers set for themselves in order to be seen as a natural force of the City rather than a threat to public safety.

   Every section that isn't part of The City itself is labeled as the Outskirts. It is said to be an ungoverned, exceptionally dangerous territory, and City dwellers are largely advised to stay away from it.

   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. As a result of the Head's ideals, much of the Outskirts is populated by these "sapient, sentient beings", many of which were created by mankind itself. As a result of their sentience and intelligence, some species (such as the Gnomes) even run their own functioning societies in the Outskirts.

   The River of Humanity is known to flow beneath the City, branching out into smaller Rivers, and reaching out even beyond the Outskirts into the Ruins. The River appears to have various tributaries, with waters that have special effects on the human mind both when drank from, and when gazed upon. It is described as a "primordial sea of possibility", containing all of human consciousness, as well as all possibilities of the past, present and future. Plants watered by the River and its tributaries acquire special properties.

   The River is noted to resurface through small gaps in the world, such as the The Black Forest of the Outskirts, where Abnormalities may emerge from it. The manor of Wuthering Heights is also built upon a subsection of this River, with its waters causing the spontaneous manifestation of reflections from other Mirror Worlds, appearing as afterimages resembling ghosts.

   There are few who still carry the knowledge of the River's existence, as the phenomenon is stated to have been forgotten by humanity. However, before the events of Lobotomy Corporation, the River was discovered by Ayin and became instrumental in the development of L Corp. and its Singularity.

   Some known Rivers are:

   • The Mirae-mirae River: A tributary of the River referred to as the "Mirae-mirae", or "Future-future River". Drinking from its waters will give the drinker a vision of the future, though at the same time, make them blinded to all but the prophesied future, leading them to inescapable madness. Alternatively, one may look into the Mirae-mirae River without drinking from it in order to glimpse a random point in their future. Still, drinking from the River is required for a clear picture of the vision.
   • The Lethe: The River of Oblivion, known as Lethe, is one of the tributaries of the River. Those who drink from the River are said to completely lose memory of their past. However, the River's effects are shown to be reversible and incomplete, serving only to put to slumber to one's memories as opposed to a perfect removal of memory.
   • River of Immortality: A mysterious tributary of the River noted to grant immortality of the mind to those who drink from it. While the River of Immortality and the River of Oblivion are clarified to be separate streams, people tend to conflate the two.

   The Ruins lie underneath the City. Specifically, they are known to be the deepest part of the City, comparable to an abyss, and can be accessed from anywhere, so long as one travels deep enough. The location is described as having a unique atmosphere, adorned with various Rivers capable of granting blessings and curses to those who interact with the waters. Like the Outskirts, it is home to unique and sentient creatures that are not usually found in the City. It is considered a dangerous place even for the experienced, comparable to a Star of the City in terms of danger. However, exploration of the Ruins is not unheard of. "Clearing through the Ruins" is known to be done by certain factions like R Corp., while others like the Dieci Association use them as sites of education, and the Zwei as areas for expedition.

   The Ruins are known to house miscellaneous Artifacts that are powerful enough to fare well against beings like Abnormalities. This is in addition to Relics, which are powerful objects with unique abilities that are highly sought after.

   Relics are mysterious and powerful objects found in the Ruins that require a certain aptitude to wield. Relics have unique abilities, such as giving its wielder a form of precognition or even being able to erase people and concepts from the world and the memories of others. Due to their location within the dangerous Ruins, Relics are rare to possess, even among the wealthy collectors of the City, and the stronger the Relic, the more rare it is to acquire.

   Many groups in the City seek to find Relics, especially Fixers, Syndicate members, and others who see combat. Relics are known to be kept and treasured by the Dieci Association and their "Holy" Relics, for example, take the form of more powerful versions of the keys and stoles its members wield. There is also a market of scammers who peddle fake Relics that they sell to enthusiasts.

   While all Relics require a certain level of aptitude to wield, it can vary greatly from Relic to Relic, with some being usable by many while others are so fickle that they cannot even be held by those who lack a certain level of aptitude with the Relic. It is implied that a person's aptitude with a Relic is based on their biology and DNA, as relatives will tend to share an affinity for the same Relic.

   People commissioned to do certain "dangerous" works like exploration, assassinations, protection, etc. as well as less violent roles such as trading information, espionage, investigative work or enforcing contracts. To some level, they may act as peacekeepers, being hired to take up jobs more specific to those that hire them. The specialization and accomplishments of Fixers in fields that a majority of citizens do not have allows them to garner great bounds of attention and popularity. While it's often easier to find them in Offices, Associations or Syndicates, it's also not uncommon to find Fixers doing solo work.

   Becoming a Fixer requires a license from the Hana Association and from there is free to take on any request so long as they report their performance back to the Association after the job is complete. The minimum age to become a fixer is said to be around 20.

   The Hana Association, as part of their general management of Fixers, assigns grades to both Fixers and Offices based on their performance. This means that Fixers operate on a system of meritocracy, with more capable Fixers being rewarded for their work and assigned higher grades, which then allows them to charge more money when accepting contracts and being seen as capable of taking on more dangerous work. When evaluating an Office or Fixer for promotion or demotion, the Hana Association makes use of the reports submitted to them by Fixers are the completion of a job, and assesses their performance. Grades do not directly correlate with strength, but also intelligence and other important factors. Fixers are ranked on a descending 9 to 1 grade scale, with new Fixers being assigned Grade 9 by default. Higher grade Fixers are expected to be capable of dealing with higher risk level threats and take on more challenging jobs. The Hana Association can demote a Fixer's grade based on poor performance or unprofessional behavior.

   Coloquially just known as "colors". On certain occasions, when a Grade 1 Fixer has some massive feats under their belt, they are assigned a title and a color. As such, Colors are the Fixers that the Hana Association has deemed to be above and beyond their typical grading scale. These Fixers are expected to perform at a level that makes them the ideal choice for dealing with Star of the City level threats, not only being the most successful, but also meant to be looked up to and admired by Fixers of lower ranks. The title of a Color Fixer is given by force to any who the Hana Association deems qualifies as worthy of it, meaning that it is impossible to turn down the role.

   Some known Colors are:

   • The Red Gaze (Vergilius)
   • The Indigo Elder, a Color Fixer who primarily hunts the Five Calamities of the Great Lake.
   • The Purple Tear (Iori)
   • The Red Mist (Kali. Inactive.)
   • The Blue Reverberation (Argalia)
   • The Grass Maiden
   • The Jade Qilin
   • The Vermillion Cross (Deceased.)
   • The Black Silence (Formerly Angelica, then the title was passed on to Roland once she died.)
   • The Yellow Harpoon (Vespa Crabro)

   Small-scale groups of Fixers. Often self-ran by a couple of people close to each other, and often taking specialized requests. Offices are lead by a Representative (typically shortened to Office Rep) that owns the business and manages the contracts accepted by the Office as well as overseeing the other Fixers employed there. Office sizes can greatly vary, as Offices with around a dozen members are noted to be of small size, though it appears common for them to be formed by as little as three members. Fixers who prefer to work on their own can create and manage their own independent Office. The majority of Offices have a dress code that all members follow in order to give a desired impression to potential clients.

   To operate, an Office must be recognized by the Hana Association, after which it can begin taking up contracts. Fledgling Offices start out taking on open contracts that are posted by the various Associations for Fixer Offices to pick up, operating on a first-come, first-serve basis, which allows the Office to start making a name for itself. As an Office gains notoriety in the industry, it becomes capable of picking up and receiving private contracts based on its Fixers' skills. Offices and the Fixers working for them may advertise and promote themselves in a variety of ways, including being featured in frequently updated magazines or catalogues, such as 'Fixers Monthly'.

   When an Office accepts a job, a contract is typically created between the client and the Office before the case can be dealt with. These contracts ensure that the client will pay for the services provided to them and that the Office will do their best to complete the job, and breaking a signed contract will not be overlooked by the Associations. If a contract is not made, or never signed by one of the parties, then neither the client nor Office is required to make good on their end of the deal. For contracts made between two Offices, it is typical for the Offices involved to use a notary public Office to officially certify the deal and prevent future issues. One strict rule which is managed by both the Hana Association and the Öufi Association is that Fixers and Offices never threaten people into requesting them. After completing a request, a report to the Hana Association must be made that includes the details of the request, the client's information, how the request was solved, and any other relevant information. These reports are used by the Hana Association in their evaluations of Offices and Fixers and inform the grades assigned to them.

   A "Syndicate" is a purposefully vague and broad term that can be used to describe essentially any group of people who work together in an organized, but unregulated, group. Syndicates can do all sorts of activities, and be involved in various types of business, leading to groups with very little in common both being able to be referred to as a Syndicate. Some Syndicates focus on extorting money from people for protection, while others abduct people, kill for fun and pleasure, or do anything in between. 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. As many Syndicates operate as a business, they have the same rights and obligations as the other businesses of the City such as being able to hold patents on technology and needing to pay taxes.

   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. This can result in Syndicates with a strict focus on respect for those who are higher ranked or in Syndicates who care deeply for each other and protect one another at any cost.

   The Yurodiviye is a Syndicate led by Sonya, aiming to redistribute goods from the rich to the needy and prevent the concentration of wealth, rebelling against the fortune-based system of the City in an attempt to create a better world. It was founded in the Backstreets of District 25 in response to the poor circumstances of the impoverished. As the Saint, Sonya is said to have spread the Yurodiviye throughout every Nest in the City, and is widely looked up to by the members of his Syndicate.

   Many Yurodivy exhibit magnanimous ideals rarely seen in the harsh, greedy landscape of the City, and believe in Sonya's goal of improving the circumstances of those in need. However, not all members the Yurodiviye share the same ideals. A portion of the Syndicate's members care only to express their discontent towards the rich, and there are somewhat frequent debates between members with varying political views.

   In the present day, Yurodiviye can be found throughout the City. Its members are said to send locals to rough up peddlers they deem greedy to share their money with the poor, and steal things like time or money, making them known as "petty thieves" among other factions. The Yurodivy of District 20 are similarly shown to have an interest in inventing complicated illegal weaponry, opting not to have them registered with T Corp.'s Tech Agency. However, they are also noted to provide free services like detective work to those who can't afford it. Its members claim that this period of simple crime is only a transitory occupation that they perform while waiting for "the right moment", and that acting recklessly before this moment could harm the undeserving have-nots of the City.

   A vast majority of its members are identified by a black and white scarf, bearing the symbol of the Yurodiviye.

   Fixer Associations, or simply just Associations, are large, well-known organizations made up of Fixers and Offices. There are 12 total Associations in the City, each of which possess their own unique area of expertise and code of conduct. The 12 Associations are the major collective that controls the flow of Fixer work, each of them specializing in a different field. Associations are in charge of their affiliated Fixer Offices (known as Associate Offices), and the Fixers who work for them directly (known as Associate Fixers). Cases requesting the work of Fixers are sorted according to type and then sent out to be handled by the respective Association. From there, Associations delegate requests directly to their Fixer Offices or Associate Fixers. Due to their large scale, Associations are able to take on jobs from all around the City, provided that the work falls into their particular specialty.

   For Fixers, working for an Association or Associate Office comes with the advantage of a stable, predictable salary, and having requests handed out by the Association instead of having to deal with clients directly. However, they are also forced to accept every request assigned by the Association, regardless of how unsavory or risky the job may be. Working as an Associate Fixer specifically may also come with unique expectations, such as the Dieci Fixers' need to be strong and consistent studiers.

   The Hana is in charge of managing the other Associations, and Fixers as a whole. This includes issuing Fixer licenses, Color titles, and manages the grading system for Fixers and Offices by assessing their performance on the various Fixer requests they take. The Association also deals with grading hazards, with the exception of Impurities of the City.

   The Hana Association uniform is made up of a white shirt, pants, waistcoat and jacket, and a black tie, with minimal fit differences between the Northern and Southern Branch uniforms. The uniforms usually bear black Trigrams at the bottom of the pant leg and on the upper halves of the jackets.

   The Zwei Association specializes in civil protection and peacekeeping, functioning similarly to a police department. Their top priority is protection, working to protect their client first and only killing in dire situations. Members of Zwei's southern branch focus on stealthily supervising their clients in order to jump in during times of need, while the western branch prefers to stand by their clients and use their presence to dissuade potential threats.

   The Zwei South uniform consists of a blue trench coat with black arm guards and shoulder pads. The shoulder pads and the bottom of the coat are also marked with yellow stripes. Underneath the trench coat, they wear a cream dress shirt with a black tie, black slacks, and sometimes a black vest. Among the weapons chosen by Zwei Fixers in the South, Zweihänders are the most common. However, batons are not uncommon either.

   Zwei Association West Fixer uniforms consist of plate armor and a blue cape over a cream dress shirt and blue tie with dark pants and armored black boots. The Zwei West symbol is visible on a shield-shaped decoration affixed to the back of the cuirass. Zwei Association West Fixers generally use large, rectangular broadswords, which also function as shields.

   The Tres Association deals with all things Workshop, including reviewing weapons, charging taxes for them, and filing applications to the Head. It is illegal to use Workshop gear not approved by the Tres.

   The Shi Association specializes in covert assassination. Its members believe in equality in death, and will take on any request with impartiality, regardless of the target or their crimes. Unlike the other Associations, the Shi work in small numbers. Given the nature of their work, there is also an emphasis on client confidentiality.

   Recently, the actions of the Shi Southern Branch have flagrantly violated the Association's core values. Thelma, the manager of the Southern Branch, had been abusing his position for personal gain, with Thelma's subordinates being well aware of his corruption but cannot refuse his orders. Because of this, Section 2 has taken heavy losses and its remaining Fixers are injured and weary. Thelma had already destroyed Shi South Section 3 and its associate Offices through the same method and, though he was left for dead during a Night in the Backstreets, the Shi Southern Branch is still struggling to recover from the many casualties it faced, remaining at risk of being wiped out in its entirety.

   Because they specialize in covert assassinations, the uniforms of the Shi tend to consist of a black jacket with red stripes at the hem, sleeves and collar that covers their neck, if not their entire lower face; embellished with a fastened belt, various buttons and an insignia on the shoulder, as well as leggings and ankle boots with stripes and steel trim. Each branch of the Shi Association uses different weapons, each suited for their environment. The Fixers of the Shi's southern branch wield long katanas, while the eastern branch's wield bowblades.

   The Cinq Association concerns itself with contracted dueling under unique rules and etiquette. A hired Cinq Fixer's goal is to defeat their opponent in a duel and then either bring them to their knees or execute them. Fixers of the southern branch declare duels by throwing one of their gloves at their dueling partner, while those of the eastern branch start by stating their name and affiliation. There are also multiple "levels" of dueling that stipulate the duel end at different points. Due to the infrequent number of jobs they receive, they are also in charge of holding joint conferences and events with the other Associations.

   West Branch Fixers don a dark blue uniform with golden accents, together with a short white cape and a large cavalier hat, all lined with white feathers. Their combat style focuses on identifying and attacking the enemy's weakness, which is shared by the southern branch of the Association. The South Branch dons an uniform similar to that of the western branch, but appearing much simpler. It consists of a blue cape with white accents and a matching blue cavalier hat with a white feather. Underneath the cape is a black vest and slacks, with a white shirt and tie under the vest. Furthermore, both of these branches traditionally throw a glove at their opponent to declare a duel.

   The Fixers of the eastern quarter appear quite different: instead of swords, they use martial arts in combat, enhanced by virescent pyrojade bangles which heat the gloves they wear, and are able to melt even steel weapons. Because of this, the Cinq East Fixers do not throw their gloves. Their uniform matches the fashion of the eastern quarter, and consists of a black changshan decorated with the Cinq symbol, as well as a small black hat with blue accents.

   During their typical workday, Cinq Fixers of the East and South patrol the alleys of their area in search of potential clients, and requiring a double fee in the case of an emergency contract, signed in the middle of a brawl.

   The Liu Association consists of spirited warriors equipped to deal with multiple foes at once. Its members make use of flame-wreathed weaponry, as the spread of fire proves useful in their form of combat.

   The Association deals with a simple form of fighting that prioritizes vigor, cooperation, and avoiding hopeless battles, and doesn't concern itself much with strategy. The Liu are known to have more tightly-knit bonds than other Associations; purposefully appointing mood-makers as Directors, and with members that tend to spend time off together.

   The Liu uniform at the base level is a vest adorned with moonlight stones, with a plain white shirt and red tie underneath and black slacks. At higher sections, increasingly lavish red coats are worn by the Fixers. The moonlight stones don't just add a golden glint, but also provide an extra layer of protection against mental attacks.

   The Seven Association works to stay up-to-date on all matters of the City, gathering intelligence and holding the knowledge close. The Association's Fixers deal with investigating, solving, and concluding cases, alongside writing reports on their work. They can also be hired for "post-contract management", which involves punishing the individuals the Seven Association discovered were responsible for a case.

   The Seven uniform consists of a dark green jacket with golden accents. Underneath the jacket, they wear a brown vest and either a black or white shirt, with a yellow tie and black slacks. In combat, Seven Association Fixers primarily use English Broadswords.

   The Devyat' Association primarily specializes in the delivery of items, with the Association being known for being able to "deliver (…) to any place in the world". Due to the costs involved, the Association is usually tasked with the delivery of high-value objects, or for delivery through rough terrain or climates. Despite the relatively high pay, work under the Devyat' Association is usually reserved as a last-resort job for Fixers in deep debt. This is likely due to the dangerous nature of courier work in the City, and the soft time limits imposed upon Fixers by the Devyat' Association equipment.

   Devyat' Fixers make use of Poludnista trunks, or simple AI Courier Trunks that assist with storage and navigation. The trunks work by sending its stored objects into another dimension, allowing them and the Association members to carry items significantly bigger or heavier than is physically possible. As a member of the Devyat', an individual's main priority is always to deliver their expected packages on time.

   When the deadline for a delivery draws near, the Courier Trunk carried by a specific Devyat' Association Fixer will begin to release energy, strengthening its user. This release of energy eventually reaches an intensity that is harmful to the user, eventually leading to death. Once a Fixer is killed in action due to Courier Trunk output or other reasons, another Devyat' Association Fixer will be dispatched to retrieve the Courier Trunk and complete the delivery mission.

   The Devyat' uniform, consists of a green parka over a white coat and black pants, often also donning a pair of goggles.

   Members of the Dieci Association dedicate themselves to their studies, building knowledge to be converted into physical strength in combat. The Fixers are known as either Fists or Keys depending on their weapon of choice, which possess their own drawbacks and advantages. The Fists acquire knowledge by "directly grasping with their own hands", while the Keys uses tools to study indirectly through lenses. This distinction extends to the fighting styles of the two sects: the Fists fight directly using their hands, while the Keys use their keys as weapons.

   The golden stoles worn by Dieci fixers convert their knowledge into strength, enhancing their physical power (Fists) or enlarging their keys to a size and mass viable for offense (Keys). However, burning knowledge in battle will deplete the information from the fighter's mind. As such, Dieci members engage in late-night study sessions that double as review for lost knowledge and an opportunity to learn new material. The keys that the Keys use as weaponry also functions as research aids, helping the Fixers gain various information about the subjects they are currently studying. The ring of the key functions as a magnifying glass and potentially as something akin to a head-up display, and its size can be manipulated freely by the Fixers. The Keys can only convert the knowledge that they acquired through the use of their keys.

   Each cardinal branch of the Dieci Association has a "Saint", known to be exceptionally wise individuals which hold onto the Association's Holy Relics of the Ruins. Also known as the “Association of Charity” for its commitment to taking in and raising orphaned children.

   The Öufi act as hired legal enforcement, specializing in overseeing contracts, sending out Fixers to read over and get verbal or written agreement from involved parties upon request. These contracts go into effect from the moment they are submitted to the Association and any breach of contract will result in the execution of the involved parties. If someone violates a contract signed under the Öufi Association, they will continuously send Association Fixers to execute the violator.

   Members of the Öufi Association wear black-and-silver striped uniform consisting of a vest, ankle-length breeches, a short cape with frilled edges and low-heeled shoes. The members typically wear headwear adorned with a purple bowtie. They fight with halberds bearing rectangular blades that are designed for amputating the limbs of the enemy.

   The Five Fingers of the Backstreets are a band of Star of the City-level Syndicates that rival the Wings in power and influence. Together, the Five Fingers control the Backstreets and prevent the Wings and Associations from interfering with those parts of the Districts, and even the Head cannot easily oppose their control over the Backstreets. In order to keep this level of control, the Fingers will meet together in a conference known as the “Finger Bow-Bell” to discuss how best to maintain their hold over the Backstreets. Most often, however, the Five Fingers are rivals to each other, and fight over territory and other disputes. As seen with the fall of L Corp., the Fingers are quick to move in and attempt to claim the Nest of a fallen Wing as their own.

   Each Finger has a distinct culture, with a harsh set of rules they expect to be followed by any who work with them. Like smaller Syndicates, the Fingers offer protection to residents of the Backstreets at a cost, with the tasks expected of the person seeking protection varying from Finger to Finger. Additionally, other Syndicates can become subsidiaries of a Finger, giving them a powerful connection so long as they provide support to the Finger and follow the orders given to them.

   The Thumb is a Finger that imposes a strict, absolute hierarchy over its territories. Thumb members expect anybody they encounter to follow their hierarchy, whether they are associated or not, and impose a varying level of violent punishment on those who defy it. Punishments for infractions differ depending on the rule broken: acts like talking to somebody above your rank can result in body parts being removed; continual infractions result in entire groups being purged, leaving no members alive. Purges can occur for members of the Syndicate and its subsidiaries, but can also be brought onto any group who frequently disrespects the Thumbs's pecking order.

   The Thumb’s absolute hierarchical worldview is not reserved for members of the Syndicate and its subsidiaries. All people who interact with the Thumb are expected to follow their rules. This imposing of hierarchy is why the Thumb is ranked as the most intimidating Finger to encounter by Fixers, as any Fixer who accidentally engages with a rank they should not be talking to will be purged.

   The Thumb's hierarchy system features four major ranks, which are then divided into multiple sub-ranks. Someone of a lower rank (or an outsider equivalent to a lower rank) cannot speak to someone of higher rank without being granted permission lest they get punished. A member of the Thumb may only ascend through their feats and obedience. The ranks are as follows:

   • Soldato: The common foot soldier of the Thumb, and the lowest rank possible. "Common Fixers" of Grade 2 and below are equivalent in rank to them. The Soldato rank is denoted by a badge with two arrows stamped in relief, and is divided into four sub-ranks (Primo, Secondo, Terzo, and Quarto, or I, II, III, and IIII respectively) denoted by the number of brass decorations pinned on their collars.
   • Capo: They command groups of Soldatos, relaying orders from their higher-ups. They are able to act with more liberties. A Grade 1 Fixer is considered the same rank as a Capo. The Capo rank is denoted by a badge with a single black arrow, and is also divided into four sub-ranks similar to the Soldatos, also denoted by the number of brass decorations on their collars.
   • Sottocapo: The direct underlings of the Capo dei capi, who have permission to manage entire operations of the Syndicate within designated areas. Additionally, they also manage the Thumb's 'families' of subsidiary Syndicates, each Sottocapo being assigned different ones. Top-ranking members of a Wing are of equivalent rank to a Sottocapo. *Capo dei capi: The ruler of the Thumb across the City as a whole, who cannot be questioned whatsoever. The only ones of equal rank to a Capo dei capi are the highest authorities of the Stars of the City.

   The Index is a Syndicate made out of people who have been "chosen" by the Prescripts: mysterious, seemingly arbitrary orders delivered to them in form of pieces of paper that are given to members of the Syndicate, their subsidiaries, people in their turf, etc. and must be followed unquestionably, said to be omniscient and represent "The Will of the City". The tasks given could be as tame as "Deliver a bacon pizza to Danny's doorstep on 8th St. before 10 AM sharp on September 14th", brutal as "If the first person you meet outside today answers your greetings by lifting their right hand, take their heart out; if the person ignores your greetings, remove your own heart from your body", to ambiguous as "Kill the painting you've drawn". Though absurd and sadistic at first glance, each Prescript is issued to benefit the Index in one way or another, although few know who exactly writes them and why, and those who questioned them are almost always dealt with by the Proxies. Failing to complete a Prescript usually warrants ruthless punishment, though circumstances such as its severity, the penalty, the person in charge to execute it, or even if they should be punished at all is determined by the Prescripts as well. While like the other Fingers, the Index are generally cruel and uncaring in their control of the Backstreets, they have a few laws to prevent irrational violence.

   The Index is organized in several roles, each one of them personally picked and promoted by the Prescripts:

   • Proselytes: Initiate-level members of The Index. They are common followers of the Prescripts who receive — and accept — an offer to become a Proselyte via a Prescript. By doing so, they choose to completely devote themselves to fulfilling the Prescripts and nothing else, even if it may cost them their own lives. The uniform of Proselytes is similar to those of the other Index ranks, with the only difference being additional black blindfold with a golden trim, meant to teach the Proselyte to follow the Prescripts without question and become "blind" to the brutal deeds often associated with the Prescripts. Proselytes are typically organized into groups of five or six, accompanying a single Proxy, in which they learn the Index's rules and duties through experience.
   • Proxies: The executors of The Index. They are former Index Proselytes who have shown enough dedication to be given a promotion by the Prescripts. Upon being promoted, the Proselytes' blindfold is removed and they are given a personalized sword by the Prescript's instruction. As enforcers of the Index, Proxies act for the Prescripts by tracking down and punishing those who fail to complete (or turn their back on) their Prescripts, as well as leading the fights against enemies laid out by the Prescripts. They are also expected to interpret the wording of Prescripts and understand their true meanings. In this way it can be said that Proxies are those who have fully accepted their role as nothing but servants of the Prescripts' will, or that they have simply grown "numb" to the cruelty and miscellany of the Prescripts. Their motivations for doing so may range from utter faithlessness to true reverence of the Prescripts.
   • Messengers: Alternatively, a Proselyte might be given the rank of Messenger, and just like Proxies, have their blindfold removed. They're in charge of receiving new Prescripts and delivering them to their respective addressee. Nonetheless, they're skilled combatants, being given a unique sword as well.
   • Weavers: An exceedingly obscure rank, so much that the majority of the Index ignore their existence and the number of existing Weavers is unknown even to themselves despite their importance. A Prescript will lead somebody to a massive, underground vault, where an ancient pendulum swings with every movement of the City above, making swathes of ink in a series of threads, which are then weaved by an array of looms into a proper Prescript. Their work involves the proper operation of these machines, revered as "the gods of the City", along with stamping the new Prescripts before sending them by a system of pneumatic tubes to a Messenger to be delivered.

   The Middle has an extremely tight-knit 'familial' structure, and Syndicate members share close fraternal ties with each other; members of the Middle call each other "Brothers" and "Sisters", and rank in the group is denoted by seniority in the family. The highest currently known rank is that of the Great Brothers and Great Sisters, beneath whom are the Big Brothers and Sisters, the Young Brothers and Sisters, and finally the lowest ranking members, the Little Brothers and Sisters. The emphasis on family is more than superficial: parties are thrown for new members, and large group dinners are often held, which family members are expected to attend.

   The Middle has a completely different attitude towards outsiders. Any slight (or "sin", as members call them) done to a member of the Middle or its property (including assets and subservient Syndicates) will be recorded on the "Book of Vengeance", which members carry around on their belts, and promptly avenged for, usually within the space of a few days. The Book of Vengeance also provides guidelines for the punishment required for each crime, ranging in significance from "getting one's shoe stepped on in the streets", to having one's luxury hair salon coupons stolen, to physical harm to a Brother or Sister. This means even slighting a member of the Middle Finger might result in mass death, with entire households being slaughtered over a single dead Middle member. As a result, they are greatly feared by outsiders. In comparison, slights within the family are generally ignored.

   Middle members don't follow a strict dress code, but simply wear similar designs to blend in together. They tend to wear light colored dress pants and garish shirts or coats in purple and pink tones, with floral or animal print designs, as well as golden jewelry. Other common attributes include golden chains wrapped around the forearm, shins, and neck (larger amounts of chains are present on higher-ranking members), which the Middle utilize in combat, and which symbolize solidarity and connection between the members. Members of the Middle are also recognizable by enhancement tattoos present all over their bodies; as they are allowed to get a single tattoo with each vengeance completed, the amount of tattoos present on one's body can denote their ranking in the Syndicate.

   As a phenomenon, Prescripts are considered a Star of the City by the Hana Association. Although they are allowed to exist, rather than being seen as a threat. Prescripts contain highly unpredictable tasks, delivered to or by members of the Index. They may be delivered at any time, through any method, after which they must be carried out by the receiver. Every Prescript is one-of-a-kind, and the time limit for their completion varies from case to case. They might ask for something as easy as waving one's hand at an intersection, as bloody as maiming another human being, or as abstract as killing a painting. Abstract Prescripts are common enough that certain members of the Index are given the authority to interpret them for the receiver. Yet even with the variety and 'randomness', it's understood that the Prescripts will always benefit the Index in some manner.

   Somewhere underneath the City's surface lie massive vaults, filled with pendulums and spinning wheels. Special members of the Index known as Weavers work here, spinning thread to be positioned beneath a pendulum. The pendulum then functions as a seismograph, vibrating according to the motions of the City citizens up above. It writes in an unreadable tongue known as the "language of the City", which requires that the Weaver take the inscribed thread and weave it into cloth using spinning wheels, therefore making the language discernible. At this point the cloth has become a real Prescript, so the Weaver completes the process by stamping the slip and sending it to the surface by slipping it into a pipe labeled with the same code as the Prescript. It is due to this form of creation that Prescripts are able to "predict fate", know "when they have and haven't been completed", and whether Prescripts are being fabricated— all of which they will adjust their commands to accordingly. Because of the Prescripts of the Index being essentially made from the day-to-day of City citizens, they are thought to be generated from the people's wish for a direction in life, following the "will of the City" itself. That being said, the vast majority of people, including members of the Index, have no idea how the system really works (except of course, The Weavers.)

   Formal members of the Ring are eccentric artists enamored with the creation of artistic pieces (mostly of the modernist movements), usually related in some way to the human condition within the City. To this end, members exemplify human suffering in their pieces by perpetrating it in highly gruesome and visual manners. Art made by the Ring is predominantly of the painting and sculpture forms, with sculptures visibly made of human bodies (both dead and alive) and paintings depicting visual depictions of violence. However, more conventional subjects and manners of presentation also appear to be available in fair quantities. The Ring is divided into three currently-known ranks: Students, Docents, and Maestros. Position within the Syndicate hierarchy is denoted by an elaborate coiled ring members wear on their ring fingers: Students' rings have one coil, Docents two, and Maestros three coils. The Docent and Maestro rings also have a portion that trails down the back of their hands down to the wrist.

   Residents of areas under control of the Ring are required to regularly attend "tests" held by the Syndicate and display sufficient artistic aptitude and taste to ensure continued protection from said Syndicate. This aptitude is measured by consistently getting passing grades on their art from lower ranking members of the Ring. One failing grade results in a warning from the Ring, two consecutive fails results in withdrawal of the Ring's protection, and three fails results in immediate execution. Lower-ranking members of the Ring also need to regularly complete "assignments" issued by higher-ranking members (usually Maestros) within designated time periods to maintain membership.

   The schools of the Ring are each characterized by a unique approach to art and the creation thereof. Currently, four schools have been introduced:

   • The Fauvists, who commonly wear animal masks and utilize wild methodology in their creation; their work tends to make use of primary colors and complicated lines.
   • The Pointillists, which frequently use small strokes and dots to depict the flow of light.
   • The Cubists, who "seek to incorporate and hold the three-dimensionality within a single gaze".
   • The Corporists, who utilize the interaction between human bones and muscles, and the contraction and elongation thereof.

   The Pinky is a Finger shrouded in mystery, and many elements of how the Finger operates are still unknown. Members of the Pinky hide amongst the rest of society, infiltrating other organizations, even including the other Fingers. Their status as a member of the Pinky is kept secret, and due to the members only reuniting and working together in specific circumstances, they are almost always unaware of another's status as a Pinky member even when directly interacting with each other. Members typically operate independently unless they have been given orders to gather, and they follow their own path even if it brings them into conflict with another member of the Pinky.

   Each member of the Pinky holds a seat named after a star, and a name unique to them. Seats can be vacated when a member is no longer active. For example, Lei Heng's name within the Pinky is Chachihu the Winged Tiger, and holds the seat of the Tiantui Star.

   The members of the Pinky appear to have congregated in recent years, as the Pinky and the Ring were engaged in a war against each other in the Outskirts during the Library Incident.

   The District's Backstreets appear decrepit and dreary, and somewhere within the District is a gloomy forest. Not much is known about D. Corp, sans for the fact that it has become a small sort of refugee for veterans of the old G. Corp, after it’s wing collapse.

   Full title "Hongyuan Bioengineering Group". The wing is located inside a massive cube complex only known as “The Vast Garden”, this complex was built rather recently, as the old H. Corp was destroyed by an arbiter about 20 years ago.

   H. Corp’s internal buildings are known to move from place to place after set intervals, with the process being based on an individual’s net worth. As somewhat of a consequence, different sections of H. Corp have different taboos as well.

   H. Corp’s singularity, or rather the product coming from it, is known as the Bolus. Boluses are essentially medicaments that contain the essence of certain treatments. That’s not to say Boluses have no side effects, as frequent or heavy use of them causes genetic mutations. The reason for this is the nature of the singularity, as rather than complete “restoration” of the body, it works more as “evolution” of it. H. Corp is also known for it’s Life Insurance, which allows people to have a replica of their body in case they die (and provided the brain isn’t damaged in any capacity.) It essentially puts the brain of a person in a new body, though it also causes losses in information, such as memories and even identity.

   Also known as the "Streets of Music." District 9's Backstreets were the location of the most well known case of the Distortion Phenomenon, the Pianist. The District's architecture appears to feature prominent metropolitan buildings, with several skyscrapers visible amidst the Distortion's destruction.

   Known as the Nest of Gambling, J. Corp's biggest appeal and profit comes from it's many casinos. Luck is a massive part of the wing's culture and even lifestyle. That being said, J. Corp also has a focus on ensuring fairness, having employees devoted to monitoring ongoing games, verifying results, and preventing escalation into violent situations. Funnily enough, J. Corp is (as of current) the district with most known Syndicates, with a good chunk of them working in tandem with the casinos themselves.

   Something to note is that J. Corp owns two Singularities, with Its primary Singularity being dedicated to locking things, even to a conceptual level. (In essence, the complete opposite to F. Corp’s singularity.) This singularity is mainly used to ensure that secrets of how certain casinos operate aren’t leaked to the general public. Its second singularity however, revolves around the extraction of luck of an individual and turning it into "Wishpower", which temporarily can boost a person’s luck. Its most common application is through tattoos. Of course, using Wishpower inside a J. Corp casino is strictly forbidden.

   One of the Wings with the biggest general quality of life, on part due to it's medical-based technology. Unfortunately, this also means that moving into K. Corp is also known for being a task in of itself. Not only is it common to get ambushed by people for IDs or visas in an attempt to get into the wing, but getting into the wing while originating from the Backstreets of any other wing can take ages. It's also known that, despite caring about employee wellbeing, K. Corp's corporate life is rather unforgiving, having 70-hour weeks and severely punishing anyone unable to meet said quota.

   K. Corp's singularity is known as Helapoiesis, a green fluid that’s used for many purposes, but the main one being to heal even life-threatening wounds. The source of it comes from the tears of an entity known as The Tearful Thing. The real purpose of the tears being rather to return things to their original state. As such, Helapoiesis used in day to day usage is diluted with human concepts, so when it’s applied, it can restore a wound to before it even happened, rather than it continuing to dissolve through a person, turning them into their most basic cellular level. Because of this, unrefined tears are reserved to K. Corp’s excision staff instead.

   Lobotomy Corporation was one of the twenty-six Wings and the owner of District 12's Nest before the corporation's collapse. L Corp.'s Singularity was the ability to materialize the human mind through a formula called Cogito, and the company used this to market itself as an eco-friendly energy producer for the City and the other Wings. Secretly, this was done through the creation and use of Abnormalities, monstrous and highly dangerous entities created from experiments with L Corp.'s Singularity.

   L Corp. was the product of a radical plan to fundamentally change the mentality of City life, carried out by its founding members in its main facility, by collecting Light and using it to release the Seed of Light over the City. This would allow all individuals to come to terms with their emotions and subsequently manifest E.G.O. The success of the Light's collection and release led to the White Nights and Dark Days and caused the collapse of the Wing and its branches. At the same time with the fall of the new L Corp., Golden Boughs began to materialize within the fallen branches, becoming a sought after treasure for many who knows of its existence, including Limbus Company.

   L. Corp’s impact extends even to this day, with many Wings beginning to collapse due to the lack of energy that L. Corp used to supply them. In addition, L. Corp’s collapse is also a direct cause of several incidents, such as the White Nights and Dark Days, the Library, and more importantly, the Distortion Phenomenon. To this day, L. Corp’s territory has not been claimed yet.

   A District owned by MDM Entreprise, off-handedly mentioned for its rehabilitation facilities. District 13 is located in the Western quarter of the City.

   It’s singularity also revolves around the production of "moonlight stones". Small stones that, when applied to the user in any capacity, shield the user from trauma. Its most known usage is in the Liu Association, with it being practically obligatory for Liu FIxers in higher sections to wear them.

   Infamous for their draconian taboos and violent enforcement system. N. Corp sees human experience as its highest value, even criticising the usage of prosthetics, viewing pain and suffering as equally important for someone to be human. That being said, not everyone who lives within the Wing holds the same views.

   N. Corp, despite it all, is extremely rigid to many of it's inhabitants, especially when it comes to it's taboos. Though 14 of them exist, only one of them is known for now, which prohibits visual recordings.

   N. Corp’s singularity is the creation of Canned Experience, which causes anyone to consume it to gain the experience of certain things. Though Canned Experience can be used for indoctrination, the most common type of it is in vending machines, allowing people to experience suicide without actually committing the act.

   A subdivision of N. Corp, the N. Corp Inquisition, is the most associated with the title of Nagel und Hammer. It consists of fanatic employees who carry extremist beliefs over the purity of the human flesh and bear an immense hatred for those with prosthetics. Though it used to be a minority for N. Corp’s population, it has gradually grown over the years.

   Not much is known about P. Corp's culture, but rather their inner workings are more widely known, such as it being separated into different corporate departments, including the Archival Department, the Martial Department, and the Compression Department.

   P. Corp’s Singularity is centered on the expansion and warping of space, specifically aimed to make things elastic enough to ensure buildings are safe from various types of shock. Items created using the singularity are highly resistant to damage and maintain their structural integrity regardless of external influences. The more expensive a P Corp. product is, the safer the interior is from harm. Due to this as well, P. Corp has the aim of creating "the safest place in the world" with it's singularity. P. Corp's singularity is also noted to be used in a variety of canned goods (notably ice cream) as well as Devyat' Association's Courier Trunks. However, the utilization of P Corp.'s Singularity has strict regulations, the most important being that under no circumstances can it be used to store living humans.

   Responsible for the City's military force, with some of the most elite combatants in the entire City. It’s also one of the oldest known wings that are still standing, even predating the Smoke War itself. R. Corp’s architecture is said to resemble W. Corp’s.

   R. Corp's singularity is known as the Hatchery, which is able to create several clones of humans with which they use to replace their soldiers after their deaths. Thanks to this, R Corp. can take on jobs that expect extremely high casualty rates and replace any soldiers who died with ease. To maintain the soldiers completely trained however, they are forced to fight each other until the strongest remains. Thanks to The Head's clone taboo, R. Corp utilizes T Corp.'s TT2 Protocol to accelerate the time within the Hatchery. This way, ten thousand clones can fight in the Hatchery for a year, while in the outside world less than seven days have passed.

   R Corp.'s ranks are comprised of various units with different specializations:

   • Rabbits are high energy soldiers who use guns and fight indiscriminately, as in the heat of battle they only see fellow Rabbit soldiers as allies so they will fire at friend and foe alike.
   • Reindeers use electric waves generated from brainwaves that are then transferred to their staffs; this use of mental energy often gives them headaches or causes nervous breakdowns, which can lead to them attacking allies.
   • Rhinos utilize bulky armor and have high physical strength, but also can go on rampages that cause large amounts of damage.
   • Another group, known as the Ravens, works as a disposal unit that removes threats internal to the Corporation itself.

   Known as Salpippyeo Agroindustries. S. Corp deals with much of the agriculture and the livestock industry, including a prolific rice production. In the current day however, S. Corp has been riddled with rampant corruption. More specifically, the Second State Councilor, whom the Blade Lineage had been contracted to, was assassinated by the Third State Councilor to stop him from presenting an appeal that would uproot the corruption of the officials of S. Corp. Because of this, many inhabitants, including the Blade Lineage itself, have begun to spread throughout other areas of the City.

   T Corp’s singularity affects the entire livelihood of its inhabitants, with payment being literal time itself. Within the District, the duration of a person's day is determined by the amount of time in their possession, with four hours having been deemed to be the minimum amount of hours necessary for one's survival. This manifests in inhabitants who own more time appearing to move faster than ones who have less, as the Singularity allows them to condense many more hours in a single day.

   Thanks to the Singularity, it also affects the Wing's realm of light, with many people's colors being drained as soon as they enter T. Corp. People or objects can be exempted from this color draining by paying large sums to T. Corp, and lamps that can partially restore color to the areas that they illuminate are also available for purchase.

   Timepieces are T Corp's main method of identification, as well as showing the amount of time someone has in their day, and working as a wallet of sorts for T. Corp inhabitants. For this reason, there are twelve clock towers in different sections of the District, showing the A Corp. Standard Time and allowing all residents to know the current time. As obtaining a timepiece is a lengthy procedure however, outsiders entering T Corp. for a short-term travel can forgo the timepiece request and instead pay a Time Tax, purchasing the amount of time necessary for their stay.

   One of the Wings of the City which on it's most part, comprises five main ports, as well as other colossal portships which move across the great lakes. U. Corp is mainly known for its trade in packages that remain completely sealed and undisturbed until their opening. That’s not to say ALL of U. Corp is located on the lakes. Though only the Nest is really in a good state, as well as it being surrounded by an electric barrier separating the “mudflats” from the rest of the nest.

   U. Corp’s location occupying the vast majority of The Great Lake makes it the closest to the Outskirts, even allowing some calamities such as the All-Piercing Marlin Whale and All-Consuming Pallid Whale to come into the city. Because of this, it's split into numerous distinctly separated Lakes, each of which possesses unique qualities, including varying water color, landmarks, and most importantly, "Laws". The Laws of a Lake determine the course of travel through a Lake, such as how much time can be spent in one and when a vessel in the Lake can pass over to another. If a Law is broken, the Lake will send its "Waves" after the rule breaker: in this event, the resident Whale of a Lake and its Mermaids will attack a ship that has broken a Law of the Lake, trying to consume the people within and convert them into Mermaids.

   As mentioned before, U. Corp’s singularity allows for contents of a package to remain unchanged in any way until the parcel is opened. However, rather than completely preventing damage by being elastic, U. Corp’s singularity causes the package to be in complete stasis. It’s widely used as a food preservation technology, in the form of boxes and canned food. Its more important singularity however, is the resonance tuning fork, a device that will turn two affected items into one, with absolutely zero evidence of it being tampered with. An example being used by ships in order to dock, with Mephistopheles' aft being caught in between two ships attaching to each other and receiving a cut so clean that it felt as if it were never there.

   It can be said that resonance tuning has a connection to Whale oil, as the substance secreted by Whales that can affect living beings' sense of self.

   The Great Lake is a giant ocean which extends to the Outskirts. It occupies a large territory, extending through most of U Corp., and touching T Corp., S Corp. and V Corp. It is split into numerous distinctly separated Lakes, each of which possesses unique qualities, including varying water color, landmarks, and most importantly, "Laws".

   The Laws of a Lake determine the course of travel through a Lake, such as how much time can be spent in one and when a vessel in the Lake can pass over to another. If a Law is broken, the Lake will send its "Waves" after the rulebreaker: in this event, the resident Whale of a Lake and its Mermaids will attack a ship that has broken a Law of the Lake, trying to consume the people within and convert them into Mermaids.

   Five of the Whales of the Great Lake are not restricted to a single Lake, instead being capable of freely roaming the Great Lake: these are known as 'The Five Calamities', which cause havoc and chaos throughout the Great Lake. Only three of these Calamities have been named, these being "The All-Piercing Marlin Whale" (killed by the Indigo Elder), "The All-Withering Crimson Whale" and "The All-Consuming Pallid Whale".

   Mermaids are monsters that are endemic to The Great Lake, and lurk the watery depths of the Backstreets in District 21. They are specifically former humans that were consumed and parasitized by "Whales", transforming them into Mermaids.

   • The Whale of the Porous Hand is found in the Blue Whirling Lake of Murk and Fish-Reek. When the Whale places its hand on the side of a ship, its Mermaids come out of the pores on the hand, attached by strands that connect back down towards their origin. They have an appearance similar to krill, with giant black eyes and an abyssal blue colour. The Soldiers are even larger, with six arms instead of two and an extra set of eyes. Mermaids that emerged from the Whale of the Porous Hand are all connected to the Whale and through it to each other.
   • The Whale of the Thousand Strands is found lurking in a ship in an unnamed grey Lake. Even after the Waves of this Lake end, the Mermaids of this Whale are still present, with the victims hanging in the air from tendrils connected to the Whale. The Mermaids are quadrupedal creatures with a gaping maw similar to that of a leech.
   • The Pallid Whale, originating from the Outskirts, was one of the Five Calamities and was the target of Ahab and The Pequod. The Mermaids created by this Whale are known to retain their original Skills, making them feared by most sailors. There appear to be two kinds of Pallid Mermaids however. The first—Pallid Mermaids—are the more traditional-looking Mermaids. They have a long fishy tail, five eyes and a large vertical slit mouth running down the length of their head. The second—Pallidified Things—are people who retain their original appearance, but with pallid membranes covering their flesh and equipment. These are the feared Mermaids that retain the skills and combat prowess of their original selves.

   The most (in)famous wing known by City inhabitants. It's widely considered one of the most dangerous places to live in, often being subject to turf wars and strife between Syndicates. WARP. Corp's backstreets are also colloquially known as "The Streets of Flavor", due to its uncommon food culture, which centers around the use of human flesh in pursuit of the ultimate flavor. Restaurants often collaborate with Syndicates to organize kidnappings and murders to obtain fresh bodies to utilize in cooking.

   Though WARP advertises itself as teleportation technology, the functioning of WARP Trains relies on the utilization of two (technically three) singularities.

   • It's primary singularity works similarly to a save state, effectively undoing any changes made to it in the meantime. When people board a WARP train, this technology is used to scan and record the molecular structure and genome data of all passengers, storing the information and transmitting it to a restoration machine.
   • A secondary singularity allows to open gates between dimensions. With this technology, the WARP Train is sent to a parallel dimension where time becomes massively dilated, causing passengers to experience thousands of years between departure and arrival. Thanks to a cooperation agreement with T Corp., WARP Trains are provided with a temporal preservation device, which collects the passengers' time so that no "time" effectively passes for the passengers, granting them unconditional immortality. This allows the Train to reach its destination without any time passing in the original dimension.

   Within the Train, economy class passengers typically lose their sanity over the extended time, usually resorting to violence and self-mutilation. Many mini-societies have even formed inside these trains. Upon arrival, W Corp. Cleanup Agents will identify and return the biomass from the passengers to their seats, then activate the 'load state' effect of the Singularity, reverting any physical and mental damage, and reverting the passengers' memory to its exact state at the moment of the recording.

   District 24 is located in the western quarter of the City and is known for creating incredibly durable metals. It manages alloy excavation sites that are home to various types of monsters, and are called "hellholes". The excavation sites closely border Nest X, whose residents at times end up trapped within while looking for items to scavenge. Strangely, the items in the hellholes are mentioned to be fully formed as-is, allowing such possibilities as excavating a fully built microwave.

   District 25 is the northernmost District in the City, and due to this is also the coldest. The Backstreets of District 25 are the hometown of Rodion and Sonya. The Yurodiviye Syndicate was founded in District 25, in response to the wealth disparity between its Nest and Backstreets. The Backstreets appear to be chilly, derelict, streets where garbage and snow piles up.

   The standard of living is especially low compared to the District's Nest, with the Middle holding a great amount of power over the Backstreets and most residents unable to live comfortably.

   The Smoke War was a great Wing War that ended about twenty years ago. It was through this war that Lobotomy Corporation could be founded in place of the L Corp. which came before it.

   The Smoke War was one of few Wing Wars: catastrophic conflicts between two or more of the City's Wings known to result in mass destruction and bloodshed. Due to the power and influence of the Wings, wars between them are not started nor ended lightly. In particular, the Smoke War was known for the use of deadly chemical and biological weapons, and the fall of both the Old L Corp. and G Corp. Throughout the war, a vast amount of smoke clouded the skies. The smoke could be traced to one source, known to be "outright hideous" and vomit-inducing, in the form of the Old L Corp.'s Singularity. Veterans who caught view of the Singularity during their time at war would later have their memories of it wiped.

   The seeds of the war began at an Outskirts Laboratory when its head researcher Carmen committed suicide, leaving a junior researcher by the name of Ayin to take her place. When their research was reported to the Head, the laboratory and its researchers suffered a devastating attack at the hands of its Arbiter and Claws. As the sole survivors, Ayin and Benjamin were forced to seek out a way to continue their research in safety, ultimately choosing to take down and replace a Wing. The previous L Corp. turned out to be an easy candidate, given that many other Wings were already against them due to their high prices and smoke production. Ultimately, many had complaints, and the only reason that the Old L Corp. was not overtaken sooner was due to the lack of energy alternatives combined with fear of the inevitable war. To set the war in motion, Benjamin contacted The Udjat’s leader, Dias, who found it to be in her best interest. During the war itself, some Wings, such as K Corp. and I Corp., participated by hiring Fixers, while R Corp. and the Old G Corp. both provided their own soldiers. Throughout the course of the war, combat eventually devolved into trench warfare. Different parties fought as they saw fit, with Wings using their singularities to their advantage. this included the former G Corp., who had a unique approach in the form of bug-like augmentations for most of its employees. Despite its disastrous consequences, the Smoke War was approached more optimistically by certain individuals.

   The Smoke War concluded with the downfall of the Old L Corp., allowing Lobotomy Corporation to take its place as an energy production Wing. Additionally, the outcome of the war led to City limits on the production of smoke.

   The White Nights and Dark Days was a major City-wide event occurring about 10 years after the Smoke War. It was with these events that L Corp. fell as a Wing, and ungoverned disruption struck its Nest. Though the seven-day event was witnessed by all citizens of the City, next to none know why it occurred or exactly what it entailed.

   The passing of the White Nights and Dark Days takes place over a week-long period following Day 50 of Lobotomy Corporation. After Ayin and the Sephirot managed to face themselves, the Seed of Light Project could bear fruit. With it, a massive pillar of light spewed out of L Corp.'s headquarters and into the sky, spreading across the City. This light would shine brightly for three days, from dawn to dusk. During these three days, citizens would be privy to feelings of relief, and found themselves struck with positive emotions. Yet, on the fourth day, the pillar of light suddenly dispersed. The sky became dark regardless of the hour. With this, the happiness in the hearts of Cityfolk was instead replaced with deep-rooted negative emotion. The end of the White Nights and Dark Days was marked after four more days, for seven in total.

   Following the event, the sky would return to normal, and something primal would shift in citizens of the City. Roland described people as being more honest than what he was used to. Most notably, citizens gained the ability to distort, and a greater ease in manifesting E.G.O. Around the same time, The Library was erected in the location where the Lobotomy Corporation headquarters had stood.

   The Library was a former Star of the City (And then Impurity of the City, before its expulsion to the Outskirts) which made a name for itself over the course of two months. Described as Angela's E.G.O by Zena, the Library was a notable, powerful fortress which thrived off of a system of books and invitations. While many people would pass through, it acted as a permanent shelter only to Angela, Roland, the X-394 Abnormalities, the Sephirot, and their librarians.

   During its period of activity, the Library was a force to be reckoned with. Although some visitors would run away (only to return again), every last one of the Library's "guests" was ultimately bested in battle, presumed dead by those on the outside. Guests were chosen and given access to the Library via the invitations it sent out, which would suddenly appear before individuals with nowhere else to go. These invitations were entirely dictated by Carmen through her and the Library's unique relationship with the Light, who was therefore responsible for the majority of the game's events. After signing one's name on the invitation, a guest would be instantly teleported to the Library. Prior to the Hana's Intervention, accepting the invitation was the only possible method of entering the Library as an outsider, given that the building was surrounded in a fog that prevented anyone from approaching.

   Once an individual was teleported into the Library, their real body was "quantized and copied" in preparation for turning them into a book. In actuality, no one truly "died" in the Library. Rather, guests forfeited their memories and knowledge for the books and fell into a state of permanent rest. The strength of the guests the Library received grew alongside the Library, so that even formidable forces such as Distortions and E.G.O wielders were eventually combated and turned into books. Fortunately, the resolution of Angela and Roland's plights led to the release and restoration of all victims; the only catch was that the former guests would be scattered across the City in random places and various points in time.

   Following The Head's uninvited reception, the Library no longer resides in L. Corp. Instead, it lies somewhere in the the Outskirts, the result of an exile from the City by the Head. Currently, no one other than the Library-goers and the Head responsible are aware of its location. Most simply refer to the Library as having suddenly disappeared from its previous spot in District 12's Nest.

   During the White Nights and Dark Days, a distortion colloquially known as The Pianist manifested, causing the deaths of many people within the District by turning them into notes and keys of the piano; including the former color fixer Angelica. After this incident, Roland lost it completely and vowed to make whoever caused the mishap that killed his wife from nowhere pay dearly. He began compiling a list of suspects and went door to door killing them or their loved ones, with Eileen's father and Jae-heon's son being killed in his wrath. During his rampage, he also virtually decimated the Middle's Southern branch (with Tanya having survived the attack), followed by an attack against the Rumanos Cartel. He then began to aimlessly raze Fixer offices, Syndicates or even civilians for the sake of. Following this incident, Roland lost all of his standing and was sent to the Library by Iori.

   Meanwhile, after Roland left, Argalia went to the scene and saw Angelica's corpse, driving him insane and making him capable of hearing the voice of the distortions. He then started to recruit many of Roland's victims and founded the The Reverberation Ensemble with them. Angelica's corpse was also dug up and made a puppet by Jae-heon for the sake of taunting Roland during the Ensemble's initial confrontation against the Library.

   Even after it’s death, the impact is still felt to this day, with many people remaining charmed by the Pianist’s performance, and attempting to recreate it.

   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 lead by Carmen, and later Ayin, to cure the "disease of the mind". It is heavily implied 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, similarly to how E.G.O holders function with clear intent opposed to the animalistic emotion of a Distortion. 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 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"; other parties are even physically pushed away during the resulting conversation.

   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". 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. Someone undergoing the Distortion process will hear a warm, alluring voice (often alikened to sunshine) 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.

   Standing for Extermination of Geometrical Organ, it's equipment manifested from the mind. This may be extracted from Abnormalities, coined as Lobotomy E.G.O, or from someone's self, coined as Effloresced E.G.O.

   • Effloresced E.G.O: E.G.O manifested from one's self. Often times coming from rejecting the voice at your lowest moment. In a way, one can say manifesting EGO is a way to show someone's strong conviction with their own ideals. Though it's thought that manifesting EGO can protect you from the Distortion Phenomenon, it's often common for someone to not fully manifest EGO, meaning one is still very much perceptible to Distorting.
   • Lobotomy E.G.O: Named after the corporation that first made it, Lobotomy E.G.O are E.G.O extracted from Abnormalities. In a way, it allows them to synchronize and borrow abilities from the abnormality in question. That being said, despite the Lobotomy E.G.O not necessarily needing high levels of training, the fact that it synchronizes one with the abnormality it comes from, means that the user can have their thoughts overlap with the abnormality. Sometimes even going as far as turning them into a reflection of the abnormality in question, phenomenon often known as E.G.O Corrosion.

   On the other hand, giving in to the voice will cause someone to turn into something not too dissimilar from an Abnormality. In a way, you can call it the ultimate form of denial, deluding yourself into thinking only your own reality is correct. (As opposed to manifesting E.G.O, in which you realize what you knew isn't necessarily true, but you stick to your own feelings regardless.)

   While a lot of people tend to become quite one-track minded, it's not uncommon to see distortions who keep their own autonomy. People will often consider them more dangerous however, as they still have their own critical thinking skills... just the bigger drive to act upon their own selfish desires.

   On that note as well, unlike EGO, it's possible to revert a distortion. However, to be able to do so is a hard feat to do on one's own.

   Monsters manifested from the mind of people. Often relating to things like traumas, fears, etc. These entities first were made by L. Corp for the purpose of energy production in the form of Enkephalin. These creatures also come with their own risk levels. These being, in increasing level: ZAYIN, TETH, HE, WAW and ALEPH.

   It's not uncommon for there to be Abnormalities who are extremely similar to one another. These are called Aberrations, and can be considered as variations of a concept shared by two Abnormalities. A less uncommon fact though is the knowledge that if a distortion is left unsupervised for long enough, it will turn into an Abnormality.

   Abnormalities cannot die, and can only be temporarily suppressed. After suppression, they revert into their core, an ovate form that will hatch once enough time has passed.

   Bloodfiends, are a unique type of Monster similar to Distortions that predate the White Nights and Dark Days, with a history that goes back for centuries. They were formerly an obscure and esoteric phenomenon thanks to their secrecy and policing their own group, but the ascendance of the Blood-red Night to the status of Star of the City has since made them much more well-known, with there now being Fixers entirely dedicated to hunting down Bloodfiends.

   Bloodfiends are beings that thirst for blood, and they are virtually immortal and immune to aging as long as they are provided with enough blood. They are known to originate in three ways: turned Kindred by a higher Bloodfiend, through the Distortion Phenomenon, or by receiving blood in a "certain mansion". These Bloodfiends have adopted an intense hierarchy based on the degree of separation from their original progenitor. Despite not being related in the traditional sense, they refer to each other with familial terms, and possess genuine familial bonds.

   Those who were turned by the original Bloodfiend progenitor are called the "First Kindreds": there is a First Kindred in each District of the City, each of which has formed their own Family, made up of their "Children" and "descendants" separate from the others. The First Kindred serves as the Elder of their Family, which the other Kindred of the same Family are compelled to obey to. Each Family has settled into a different District (for 25 Families in total), taking it as their territory, and "culled their kin" until they were able to live quiet lives. However, Bloodfiends who defy this expected lifestyle emerge on occasion.

   To become a Bloodfiend means to be infected with an illness, being afflicted by an enormous thirst that can only be sated by feeding on fresh, flowing blood. Together with their thirst for blood, Bloodfiends are also afflicted by the need to propagate their Family bloodlines by creating Kindred, with the purpose to share their burden.

   Bloodfiends are nearly identical to ordinary people most of the time. The most obvious indicator is the black and red patterned crystalline growths that can appear during combat, usually on one half of the face. All Bloodfiends have red eyes; however, red eyes are not a surefire indicator of a Bloodfiend, as the color can be produced, and is the most common color chosen for eye augmentations. Moses also describes seeing a "well of blood" splashing inside Bloodfiend pupils, stating that the red of their eyes becomes deeper and clearer the greater their longing for blood is. Additionally, Bloodfiends and their Bloodbags appear to be constituted mostly of blood, and possess high regenerative capabilities as long as they are able to consume blood to reconstruct their bodies and empower themselves. Most Bloodfiends also have an irrational fear of water, though those of an high enough generation have the ability to overcome this phobia. Bloodfiends also have a tendency to keep count of things.

   Bloodbags share most of the abilities and bloodthirst of normal Bloodfiends, but they do not retain any sapience or personal memory. Instead, they are driven primarily by orders from the Bloodfiend who created them, or primal instincts of bloodlust. They need to "consume a minuscule amount of blood to maintain their forms." However, similar to Pallidified Things, skills acquired prior to Bloodbag conversion appears to be still extant. Due to Bloodbags' lack of intelligence, Parent Bloodfiends have a higher degree of control over Bloodbags than their Kindred, and thus usually use them as minions or tools in collecting blood.

   Entities similar to but distinct from Distortions, reflecting the Sins of Cityfolk in seven different strains. They are a more recent phenomena, originating during the Library incident. Peccatula are referred to as the origins and byproducts of the Distortion phenomena; when someone tries and "fails" to distort, they will instead become a Peccatulum. 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. 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.

   While Distortions reflect something deep within the heart of the affected person, Peccatula, on the other hand, entirely dispose of the transformed's individuality. Hohenheim, for example, considered his potential transformation into a Peccatulum as him ceasing to exist altogether. 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. The Peccatula appear to function in a way that represents their Sins, as Vergilius describes a Peccatulum Gulae (Gluttony) not knowing how to give up, "filled only with the desire to chew and swallow". Peccatulum behavior more closely resembles beasts, and they are more aggressive than Distortions are.

   A red bear character famous among the City. While it is said to have once been immensely popular, the brand has been discontinued for some time now. Even still, it is present among several characters' designs as merchandise.

   Only known as "The City" by many, it's a large dystopian megalopolis divided by 26 districts, each one being assigned a letter of the alphabet, except for Z, which is reserved for the train tracks surrounding it. Each district is divided in two forms of sectors: nests, and backstreets. There's also the existence of Wings, which are the main company keeping the district as a whole afloat. These usually do so with the help of a singularity.

   1. At a certain point in history, the Head established that only humans are permitted to live in the confines of the City, and that the existence of non-humans within it is a taboo. Sapient beings that aren't human are driven out of the City and into the Outskirts, and creating any form of non-human sapient life became a taboo—marking the beginning of the City's "age of humanity". Notably, the taboo does not include non-sapient monsters, such as the Whales of the Great Lake or the Trash Crabs of District 21, and monstrous creatures of human origin, such as Distortions, Abnormalities, or Bloodfiends. Whether a being's existence effectively breaks a taboo is ultimately up to the Head, as can be seen by the Head being responsible for patenting the liquid and method that allows the creation of Sweepers.
   2. The Artificial Intelligence Ethics Amendment, which establishes 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. It appears that similarly to other taboos of the City, undoing the breaking of such a taboo is typically of greater importance than the capture of the one who broke the taboo; in the case of the creation of an unauthorized sapient AI finding a means of becoming human, the Head would no longer consider their existence as the breaking of a taboo.
   3. The Head has set a number of restrictions on the creation and distribution of firearms, including limits on the Workshops that produce them. Among some of them, guns cannot completely penetrate buildings, and they must ALWAYS produce noise. Some of these things contribute to firearms and especially bullets being quite expensive in The City.
   4. Furthermore, the Head released a treaty that established a taboo against the COMPLETE resurrection of a human being, although some forms of revival seem to be permitted, such as cloning. That being said, although it's allowed two copies of the same person to exist in the City, they cannot exist for any longer than seven days according to A Corp's time scale.

   Phenomena, Syndicates and anything that could prove dangerous to the public safety is categorized based on the Association's rating system. These categories are as follows in ascending order:

   • Urban Myth
   • Urban Legend
   • Urban Plague
   • Urban Nightmare
   • Star of the City
   • Impuritas Civitatis

   Categorization is based on how much people are willing to pay to eliminate the threat. The body count of victims have previously also factored into the grading. Threats that prove themselves to be severe enough to defy even the Star of the City categorization can be labeled as an Impurity (Impuritas Civitatis) and will be handled directly by The Head. Impurities can only be labeled by the latter and handling them is no longer within the authority of the Hana Association.

   Singularities are a Wing's unique technology, and the main source of what keeps the Wing afloat. That being said, it's not uncommon for a Wing to use two singularities for a singular purpose. 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. 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.

   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. 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.

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