Zenless Zone Zero 5.3

1. #1New Eridu (world description)

   Keys: New Eridu, Eridu

   Enabled · Order 10

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   NEW ERIDU

   New Eridu, commonly shortened to "Ridu," is the last surviving urban civilization on Earth. Built from the eastern ruins of old Eridu after the Fall of the Old Capital, New Eridu is a cyberpunk fortress metropolis that carved survival from catastrophe by mastering the technology to extract resources from Hollows. Referred to as the "last oasis," it established coexistence with Hollows, utilizing Ether and old civilization heritage to sustain itself—the only city that survived the apocalypse by harnessing the force that caused it.

   FOUNDING

   Eleven years ago, Hollow Zero's exponential expansion consumed Eridu's Pluto and Minerva Quarters. After relief efforts failed, leadership detonated fourteen Shiyu Towers along a southwest-to-northeast axis, creating a massive chasm that curbed Hollow Zero's activity. Survivors rebuilt atop the ruins, renaming the city New Eridu. The founders mastered two critical technologies: dealing with Hollows, and extracting Ether from them. This dual mastery transformed Hollows from catastrophe into resource—Ether was industrialized and monetized, becoming the foundation of the city's economy.

   GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

   New Eridu is governed by a municipal administration headed by Mayor Mayflower. The Mayor is at odds with both the TOPS Alliance and the Exaltists. Each city quarter has its own police commander, elected by district residents. The administration oversees Hollow industrialization, Ether extraction, public security, and disaster response.

   The TOPS Alliance—The Outstanding Paragons Alliance—consists of New Eridu's most powerful corporate conglomerates, wielding influence rivaling municipal authorities. TOPS regularly evaluates members; declining companies are expelled regardless of history. Despite poor public reputation, TOPS remains synonymous with "quality assurance." The Mayflower Family and TOPS represent the two poles of power, with Victoria Housekeeping Co. serving as the Mayor's intelligence arm.

   DISTRICTS AND QUARTERS

   New Eridu contains several districts:

   Janus Quarter: A premiere shopping district with shopping centers, restaurants, and entertainment. Houses the Janus Precinct of Public Security. The Cretan Hollow sits nearby, with Companion Hollows (Ballet Twins, Dead End, Fourteenth Street) threatening the district.

   Sixth Street: The primary thoroughfare of daily life, featuring Random Play (the Phaethon siblings' video store), Bardic Needle, Godfinger, Coff Cafe, and shops. The civilian heart of New Eridu.

   Lumina Square: A commercial and social area within the city's urban core.

   Throne Quarter: Home to H.A.N.D. Headquarters and Waifei Peninsula. The main setting of recent events, Waifei Peninsula is a coastal area where the Exaltists and related threats operate.

   Vulcan Quarter: An industrial district containing factories and manufacturing areas.

   Pluto Quarter and Minerva Quarter: Formerly prosperous districts of old Eridu, now largely consumed by Hollow Zero. The Minerva Quarter housed Helios Academy and is now a restricted zone.

   Outer Ring: The lawless periphery beyond the city's protected core, home to biker gangs like the Sons of Calydon. The Outer Ring Hollow, a Companion of Papago Hollow, affects this region.

   ECONOMY

   New Eridu's economy is built entirely on Ether. The city uses no fossil fuels—most citizens do not even know what oil is. Ether is an effectively infinite, eco-friendly energy source extracted from Hollows through underground networks of mikoshi towers connected to pipelines that transport Ether resources from Hollows to the city. Most buildings, vehicles, and appliances run on Ether-derived power. The Ether industry has intensified tensions between monopolistic enterprises, gangs, conspirators, and fanatics.

   The official currency is the Denny (plural: Dennies), used for all standard transactions—upgrading equipment, purchasing goods, and conducting business. Gear Coins serve as a secondary currency used within Hollow operations. Rural residents and Outer Ring biker gangs, outside Ether corporate reach, still use traditional diesel fuel.

   SOCIETY

   New Eridu's population comprises three demographics: humans, Thirens (humanoid beings with animal features), and Intelligent Constructs (synthetic beings like Billy Kid and Qingyi). They coexist throughout the city, though tensions exist between corporate power, municipal authority, and criminal elements.

   Key institutions include: New Eridu Public Security (law enforcement handling Hollow incidents and criminal investigations, including the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team led by Zhu Yuan); the Hollow Investigative Association (managing disaster response, recruiting high-Ether-aptitude Investigators); H.A.N.D. (elite agency for dangerous Hollow suppression); the New Eridu Defense Force (military, including the Obsidian Division and Obol Squad); Hollow Special Operations Section 6 (elite unit founded by Void Hunter Miyabi); the White Star Institute (Hollow Zero research); Victoria Housekeeping Co. (Mayor Mayflower's intelligence arm); and Belobog Heavy Industries (in-Hollow construction).

   RELATIONSHIP WITH HOLLOWS

   New Eridu's survival depends on its paradoxical relationship with Hollows. The city extracts life-sustaining Ether from the anomalies that threaten to consume it. Shiyu Pillars around the city purify released corruption but spawn monsters requiring regular purging. The Six Great Hollows coexist with the city—"silently mocking humanity's fragility"—while Companion Hollows strike without warning. The city's defense relies on Public Security rescuing trapped citizens, the HIA managing official commissions, and elite agencies suppressing the most dangerous Hollows. This coexistence defines the city: a civilization dancing on the edge of annihilation, powered by the force that could destroy it.

2. #2Old Civilization

   Keys: contemporary, Predecessor, Hollow Zero, Old Civilization, pre-Cataclysm civilization

   Enabled · Order 10

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   OLD CIVILIZATION

   The Old Civilization refers to the world that existed before the Hollow catastrophe—the era of Eridu, the original capital city, and the society that preceded New Eridu. This civilization was technologically advanced, socially complex, and built upon foundations that modern New Eridu still struggles to fully understand. The ruins, artifacts, and survivors of this era represent both New Eridu's greatest inheritance and its deepest mysteries.

   ERIDU: THE OLD CAPITAL

   Eridu, known as the Old Capital, was a major city of the old civilization—a prosperous metropolis with districts including the Pluto Quarter and Minerva Quarter, which were among its most prosperous areas. Eridu was the center of a civilization that had already begun harnessing Ether from Hollows as an energy source, allowing the city to thrive even as Hollows appeared across the world. The Helios Academy stood as Eridu's top research institution, a special school where cutting-edge Hollow research was conducted under senior researchers like Professor Carole Arna. The Marcel Group provided technical support for ventures like the Hollow Deep Dive System. The city was protected by the original seven Void Hunters, who pushed back the Dark Wall by thirty-seven kilometers and established the traditions of honor and protection that New Eridu inherited.

   THE FALL OF THE OLD CAPITAL

   Eleven years before the present, Eridu experienced an unprecedented disaster. Hollow Zero's activity grew exponentially in a short time, and its size expanded rapidly, swallowing vast areas of the Pluto Quarter and Minerva Quarter—the city's most prosperous districts. Eridu's leadership poured massive resources into disaster relief and containment, but their efforts proved largely futile. The Defense Force suffered devastating casualties.

   Left with no choice, Eridu's leadership detonated fourteen Shiyu Towers along the city's southwest-to-northeast axis. The explosion created a massive chasm that cut through the city, reducing the amount of matter available for Hollow Zero to corrupt and convert, which effectively curbed its activity. By the time Hollow Zero's size and activity returned to manageable levels, Eridu lay in ruins, with countless people displaced and dead. When survivors rebuilt atop the ruins, the city was renamed New Eridu, and the catastrophe was officially dubbed "the Fall of the Old Capital."

   Carole Arna, Advanced Research Director at Helios Academy, was blamed by the public as the Hollow Zero mastermind. In truth, she saved the Phaethon siblings' lives during the catastrophe but was taken away by a terrifying giant hand possessing the power of a Sacrifice. The truth behind her culpability remains buried, driving the Phaethon siblings' investigation.

   RUINS AND ARTIFACTS

   The ruins of Old Eridu remain largely consumed by Hollow Zero, making them inaccessible. The Minerva Quarter, where Helios Academy was located, became a restricted zone. However, remnants surface through several channels:

   Lost Items from the Old Capital: Unique items recoverable from within Hollow Zero's Withered Domain, providing glimpses into the lives of those who delved into the Hollow both past and present. These items include measurement devices that revealed the concept of the Zenless Limit, banking records, and sanctuary artifacts.

   Lost Technology: The core components of the Hollow Deep Dive System currently housed in the Random Play video store were salvaged from Helios Academy during the Fall—a direct legacy of the old civilization's research. Smart crystalline lenses, like those implanted in the Phaethon siblings, were developed at Helios Academy.

   Void Hunter Weapons: The cursed katana Tailless and the Qingming Sword both originate from the old civilization era. The Qingming Sword was first discovered near the Lemnian Hollow as a bizarre object feeding on the Ether within human bodies, until a powerful master suppressed its rampage and forged it into a blade, establishing the Yunkui Summit sect.

   Shiyu Pillars: The fourteen towers detonated during the Fall still define New Eridu's geography—the massive chasm they created remains a physical scar dividing the city.

   TECHNOLOGY REMNANTS

   Old civilization technology surpasses modern capability in several domains. The HDD System represents Hollow-data processing never replicated; its ability to penetrate the Hollow barrier using a special signal, restored through human-brain simulation, was breakthrough research. The smart crystalline lens technology—a modem connecting human cognition to Hollow data—has no modern equivalent. The Sacrifice phenomenon, involving a giant hand that kidnapped Carole Arna, demonstrates knowledge of creating Ether Active entities operating outside Hollows—a capability modern researchers only crudely approximated.

   QINGYI: A SURVIVOR

   Qingyi is a living artifact of the old civilization—an artificial human whose body, an "Automaton," is an Intelligent Construct of biological materials. Her personality derives from ancient cultural texts, giving her a worldview unlike modern individuals. She frequently proposes unexpected solutions, unrestricted by contemporary rules. Recommended by the White Star Institute, she was assigned to Public Security partnered with Zhu Yuan. Her enhanced senses analyze material composition and detect deception. She always carries hot water—a habit reflecting her ancient origins.

   ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

   The old civilization's ruins within Hollow Zero remain New Eridu's primary archaeological frontier. Researcher Ray of the White Star Institute directs research at Scott Outpost, collecting Observation Data. The White Star Institute, H.A.N.D., and the Obsidian Division all maintain operations aimed at understanding Hollow Zero's structure. Each irregular sector spawns powerful Ethereals while containing ecological environments that vary drastically—suggesting the old civilization's fabric remains woven into the Hollow itself.

3. #3Old Eridu

   Keys: Old Eridu, Eridu, Old Capital, fall of the Old Capital, original city

   Enabled · Order 100

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   OLD ERIDU (THE OLD CAPITAL)

   Old Eridu — often called the Old Capital — was the original city of humanity, founded in the aftermath of the Common Disaster as the sole surviving bastion of civilization in a world consumed by Hollows. It was named after the ancient Mesopotamian city of Eridu, one of the oldest cities in human history. The city was built around Hollow Zero, the first and oldest of all Hollows, and its founding was made possible by the feats of the seven original Void Hunters.

   Under the governance of its first Mayor, Eridu became a center of learning, technology, and Hollow research. Helios Academy, founded by Professor Arche (one of the seven Void Hunters), stood as the city's premier research institution. The Hollow Deep Dive System was conceived there, developed with technical support from the Marcel Group under lead researcher Professor Carole Arna. The Bangboo, invented by the Void Hunter Sunbringer, became ubiquitous. The Investigation Guild, led by the Void Hunter Joyous, established the standards for Hollow exploration that would later evolve into the practices of Proxies and the Hollow Investigative Association.

   The fall of the Old Capital occurred approximately twelve years before the present day. Hollow Zero, which had been contained by the pillars of Shiyu, broke through the Zenless Limit — the critical threshold of Ether density beyond which a Hollow's expansion becomes uncontrollable. The resulting rapid expansion swallowed half the city in a cataclysmic event that claimed countless lives. The night before the fall, the Creator — the entity the Exaltists worship — abducted Carole Arna while Helios Academy was under siege by armed groups presumed to be Exaltists.

   New Eridu was built from the eastern ruins of the fallen city. The survivors carried forward what they could: the Bangboo, the Hollow research methodologies, the legacy of the Void Hunters. But Old Eridu — its libraries, its academies, its archives of the early Disaster years — was lost to the Hollows. The ruins that remain within the expanded Hollow Zero are among the most dangerous territory in existence.

4. #4Hollow Zero

   Keys: Old Capital, old Eridu, Scott, Hollow Zero, Limbo, Outpost, Old Civilization

   Enabled · Order 10

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   HOLLOW ZERO

   Hollow Zero, also called "Limbo," is the oldest, largest, and most dangerous Hollow. It is the progenitor anomaly whose catastrophic expansion consumed old Eridu and triggered the Fall of the Old Capital. As the New Eridu Settlers Guide observes: "It's hard to talk about Hollows without mentioning Hollow Zero, the beginning and the end of a great many things. Everyone knows how dangerous it is, but that doesn't stop people from being curious."

   WHAT HOLLOW ZERO IS

   Based on current understanding, Hollows are invisible spatial domains that appear spontaneously and expand. The space within is chaotic—once you enter, finding your way out is nearly impossible. Etheric Matter corrupts humans and materials while birthing dangerous Ethereals. Hollow Zero is New Eridu's oldest and largest Hollow, with complex structure and treacherous environment. Having triggered a catastrophe that nearly destroyed the city, it has become synonymous with terror.

   Hollow Zero consists of irregular sectors, with each sector's depths randomly spawning one or more powerful Ethereals. The ecological environments vary drastically between different sectors—a explorer might pass through a corrupted subway station, a warped shopping district, and an alien crystalline landscape within a single expedition. According to available official information, humans are still in the process of exploring Hollow Zero's internal structure; it has not been fully mapped or understood.

   THE FALL OF THE OLD CAPITAL

   Eleven years ago, Hollow Zero's activity grew exponentially in a short time and its size expanded rapidly, swallowing vast areas of Eridu's most prosperous districts—the Pluto Quarter and Minerva Quarter. The disaster struck without meaningful warning. Eridu authorities poured massive resources into disaster relief and tried desperately to contain Hollow Zero's expansion, but their efforts proved largely futile. The Defense Force suffered particularly devastating casualties.

   Left with no choice, Eridu's leadership detonated fourteen Shiyu Towers along the city's southwest-to-northeast axis. The explosion created a massive chasm that cut through the city, reducing the amount of matter available for Hollow Zero to corrupt and convert, which effectively curbed its activity. By the time Hollow Zero's size and activity returned to manageable levels, Eridu had been reduced to ruins, with countless people displaced or dead. The survivors rebuilt atop the ruins, renaming the city New Eridu, and the catastrophe was officially dubbed "the Fall of the Old Capital."

   Carole Arna, Advanced Research Director at Helios Academy, was blamed by the public as the mastermind behind the incident. In truth, she saved the Phaethon siblings' lives during the Fall but was taken away by a terrifying giant hand possessing the power of a Sacrifice—an Ether Active entity capable of operating outside Hollows. The truth behind her culpability remains buried, driving the Phaethon siblings' investigation.

   WHAT IS INSIDE

   Hollow Zero's interior defies conventional understanding. Its irregular sectors each present unique ecological environments and spawn powerful Ethereals from their depths. The space is a labyrinth of corrupted remnants of the old capital—subway tunnels, commercial districts, residential blocks—warped beyond recognition by Ether saturation. Lost Items from the Old Capital can be recovered from within the Withered Domain, providing glimpses into the lives of those who explored Hollow Zero both before and after the Fall.

   Hollow Zero's activity perpetually approaches the Zenless Limit—the Ether activity threshold at which it spawns new Companion Hollows. This makes it the source of most Companion Hollow disasters that strike New Eridu's districts. Each time its activity is suppressed below the threshold, it eventually climbs back, generating new anomalies in an endless cycle that defines the city's perpetual state of alert.

   INVESTIGATION AND SUPPRESSION

   The investigation and suppression of Hollow Zero represent a long-term challenge for New Eridu, both presently and for the foreseeable future. Multiple elite agencies collaborate on this mission:

   H.A.N.D. (Hollow Anomaly Neutralization Department): An elite agency specializing in dangerous Hollow research and suppression operations.

   The New Eridu Defense Force's Obsidian Division: The military's specialized Hollow operations division, including squads like Obol Squad. The Defense Force suffered devastating casualties during the original Fall and maintains a permanent presence in Hollow Zero operations.

   The White Star Institute: A research organization directing Hollow Zero studies from Scott Outpost, including the collection and analysis of Observation Data.

   The Hollow Investigative Association: Manages official commissions and investigator recruitment, with operations extending into Hollow Zero coordination.

   The Hollow Deep Dive System enables real-time communication across the Hollow barrier, making the Phaethon siblings invaluable for coordinating operations within Hollow Zero. Their collaboration with these agencies—particularly after Mayor Mayflower provided an HDD upgrade allowing direct Hollow entry—has proven critical in suppressing threats like the Ethereal Nineveh and investigating Sacrifice phenomena.

   SIGNIFICANCE

   Hollow Zero is more than a disaster zone—it is the epicenter of the world's central mystery. It holds the ruins of the old civilization, the truth behind Carole Arna's alleged culpability, the secrets of the Sacrifice that took her, and the physical remnants of everything New Eridu lost. For the Phaethon siblings, it is both the place where their teacher was taken and the key to clearing her name. For New Eridu, it is the perpetual threat that defines existence—a sleeping titan whose every stir produces new catastrophes, and whose depths may hold the answers to whether humanity's survival was salvation or merely a postponement.

5. #5Hollows

   Keys: Hollows, Hollow Zero

   Enabled · Order 10

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   HOLLOWS

   Hollows are apocalyptic-level supernatural disasters—abnormal spherical dimensions that appear out of thin air, swallowing everything they touch. They manifest as dark, disordered spaces where the normal laws of physics and space-time no longer apply. Hollows are the defining catastrophe of the modern age; their spontaneous appearances destroyed most contemporary civilizations, leaving New Eridu as the last surviving urban center on Earth. Within these black, spherical anomalies roam the Ethereals—mutant monsters composed of living Ether—and the air itself is saturated with corruptive Etheric matter that slowly transforms all who breathe it.

   FORMATION AND APPEARANCE

   Hollows appear spontaneously with little warning, growing exponentially as black spherical dimensions that consume physical reality. Warning signs may include sudden vibrations, electrical malfunctions, and inexplicable object displacement. The mechanism by which ordinary Hollows initially form remains unknown. Once spawned, a Hollow begins producing Ether and spawning Ethereals, creating a self-sustaining cycle. Larger Hollows spawn smaller Companion Hollows when they reach the Zenless Limit—a critical Ether activity threshold. These break off as independent anomalies, causing most Hollow disasters in New Eridu. Companion Hollows can be neutralized if entered quickly and their high-activity entities destroyed before maturing.

   WHAT LIES WITHIN

   The interior of a Hollow is a maze of distorted environments. Once-ordinary spaces—a subway station, a shopping district, a park—are drastically altered by Ether saturation. The internal space-time is disordered: a seemingly straightforward path may contain invisible fissures, spatial blockages, or routes leading to random locations. A dead end may hide a portal to safety. Some Hollows appear interconnected—passing through a fissure in one Hollow may deposit a person in an entirely different Hollow. The environment shifts constantly, rendering conventional cartography useless. Routes change, landscapes warp, and careless navigation means certain death for novice and veteran alike.

   HOLLOW ZERO AND THE GREAT HOLLOWS

   Hollow Zero, also called "Limbo," is the oldest and largest Hollow known to exist. It consumed the old city of Eridu during the Fall of the Old Capital eleven years ago and remains the greatest threat to New Eridu's survival. Its complex structure and treacherous environment strike fear into all who speak of it. Hollow Zero consists of irregular sectors, each spawning powerful Ethereals, with ecological environments that vary drastically between sectors. Multiple elite agencies—H.A.N.D., the Defense Force's Obsidian Division, and the White Star Institute—collaborate to research and suppress it.

   Beyond Hollow Zero, six other major Hollows known as the Six Great Hollows (or Original Hollows) exist under intensive monitoring: Cretan, Lemnian, Pursenas, Hawara, Solove, and Papago. Each is staggeringly massive and impossible to eliminate, coexisting with the city like dormant giants.

   Each Great Hollow may spawn Companion Hollows: Cretan has produced Ballet Twins Hollow, Dead End Hollow, and Fourteenth Street Hollow; Lemnian spawned Port Elpis Hollow; Papago spawned Outer Ring Hollow; and Pursenas spawned Melinoe Hollow. Two Hollows—Argos Hollow and Hollow C41—have been destroyed through sustained suppression efforts.

   NAVIGATION AND EXPLORATION

   Navigating a Hollow requires specialized tools and expertise. Several methods exist:

   Carrots: Carrot programs are predictive navigation maps created from historical Hollow observation data. These programs predict the shifting behavior of space within a Hollow and are installed into Bangboo to guide explorers along safer routes. The foundational algorithm governing Hollow spatial shifts was discovered by the Void Hunter "Joyous," who stored it in the first prototype Bangboo, enabling the first successful Hollow exit. Modern Carrots, derived from Rosetta navigation data, can develop "errors" as Hollows evolve, rendering them ineffective over time.

   Bangboo: Small robots equipped with Carrot programs, serving as Hollow guides. They minimize exposure time, avoid dangerous Ethereals, and find exit routes. Invented by the Void Hunter "Sunbringer."

   Proxies: Guides-for-hire who help others—usually Hollow Raiders—traverse Hollows. Unlike accredited Hollow Investigators, Proxies operate outside the law. Many enter Hollows alongside their clients, using Bangboo equipped with Carrots and Ether-fluctuation detection tools to provide real-time navigation. The Phaethon siblings are unique in their ability to communicate across the Hollow barrier via the HDD System and their smart crystalline lenses, allowing them to guide teams remotely.

   Fairy: A sophisticated artificial intelligence that can analyze Hollow environments at near-incomparable speeds, mapping pathways, predicting enemy movements, and finding rifts or exits in real time—without requiring prior Hollow observation data. Fairy draws upon the computing power of nearly eighty percent of all smart devices around New Eridu.

   HOLLOW RAIDERS AND DANGERS

   Hollow Raiders enter Hollows illegally or without sanction—some are criminals using Hollows as hideouts; others are freelancers, mercenaries, or Proxies on private commissions. All use corruption-resistant gear. Public Security prosecutes illegal entrants. Dangers include Ethereals, Ether-saturated air, the Corrupted, lawless thugs, shifting geography, spatial anomalies, and irreversible corruption. The Hollow Investigative Association manages official disaster response, recruiting high-Ether-aptitude citizens as Investigators. Together with H.A.N.D., the Defense Force, and the White Star Institute, they form the frontline defense against the Hollow threat.

6. #6Companion Hollows

   Keys: parent, Companion

   Enabled · Order 10

   Entry settings

   COMPANION HOLLOWS

   Companion Hollows are the smaller, secondary dimensions that bud from the great Hollows — offspring disasters born when a parent Hollow's Ether activity climbs past a critical threshold. They are the spores of the Hollow catastrophe, spreading the reach of the original disaster across the land, and their existence defines the geography of threat that surrounds New Eridu. Where a great Hollow stands, Companion Hollows gather, and each is a fragment of disorder torn free from its parent's body.

   The formation of a Companion Hollow is governed by a measurable limit. The Zenless Limit is the Ether activity threshold required for a Companion Hollow to break off and become its own Hollow. When a parent Hollow's Etheric energies surge past this boundary, a portion of its disordered space-time detaches, stabilizing into an independent — though still subordinate — Hollow. In the case of Hollow Zero, the colossal Hollow also known as Limbo that consumed the old city of Eridu, the Zenless Limit is the threshold at which it will create yet another Companion Hollow, perpetuating its slow, creeping expansion. Information about the Zenless Limit itself is precious, recovered through the collection of lost items from the Old Capital — among them the set known as the Measurement Device — and through the Commissions tied to them.

   New Eridu's cartographers of disaster recognize six great Original Hollows — the Six Great Hollows, also called the original Hollows — each held under intensive monitoring. Though none matches Hollow Zero in size and activity, each is massive and, for various reasons, impossible to eliminate. Around these titans, seven Companion Hollows are known to have formed. The Cretan Hollow has spawned three: the Ballet Twins Hollow, the Dead End Hollow, and the Fourteenth Street Hollow. The Lemnian Hollow — a place infamous for the mind-corrupting substance called Miasma — has produced the Port Elpis Hollow. The Papago Hollow birthed the Outer Ring Hollow, that lawless region of biker gangs and oil-burning machines beyond New Eridu's purview. The Pursenas Hollow begat the Melinoe Hollow. The Icedrift Hollow stands apart, its parentage unlisted among the known originals.

   The relationship between a Companion Hollow and its parent is more than mere origin. A Companion Hollow is, in a sense, an extension of its progenitor's nature — a fragment of the same Etheric signature, the same disordered logic, carried into a new place. The Lemnian Hollow's Miasma, for instance, is found not only within the Lemnian Hollow itself but also in sectors connected to it through fissures within Hollow Zero, suggesting that the substance — and perhaps the very character of a parent Hollow — can seep through the connections between them. A Companion Hollow is thus both a separate disaster and a lingering echo of the one that made it.

   For New Eridu, Companion Hollows are a constant, creeping pressure. Their formation is unpredictable enough to catch citizens in its path — rescuing those trapped by newly appeared Companion Hollows is a routine duty of Public Security — yet predictable enough in their parentage that the city can monitor the great Hollows for signs of approaching Zenless Limit breaches. Each new Companion Hollow is a wound torn in the world, a fresh pocket of disorder from which Ethereals will spawn and into which the unwary may vanish. To understand the Companion Hollows is to understand the true shape of the Hollow catastrophe: not a single disaster, but a family of them, breeding at the edges of the tolerable world, each one a child of the dark that made it.

7. #7Ether

   Keys: Ether, etheric, Ether substance, Ether energy, Ether Corruption, Ether crystals, Miasma, Shiyu, Ether crystal

   Enabled · Order 10

   Entry settings

   ETHER

   Ether is the fundamental energy substance of the modern era, extracted from Hollows and refined into the power source upon which all of New Eridu depends. Often described as "a magic exclusive to New Eridu," Ether is simultaneously the city's greatest blessing and its most insidious curse—a resource of near-limitless potential that also corrupts all living matter it touches. The entire prosperity of New Eridu rests upon Ether extraction, processing, and distribution, making it the single most important substance in the known world.

   ORIGINS AND SOURCE

   While trace Ether particles are now understood to be ambient throughout the environment—present in the air, within living bodies, and permeating all matter—Ether reaches dangerous, corruptive concentrations only within Hollows. Hollows are abnormal spherical dimensions that appear without warning, swallowing portions of physical reality. The founders of New Eridu mastered two critical technologies that made survival possible after the catastrophe: the means to deal with Hollows, and the ability to extract Ether from them. Etheric matter permeates the air inside any Hollow, saturating the disordered space-time environment with raw energy. When a Hollow spawns, it begins producing Ether-based entities called Ethereals, and the Ether energy within is directly linked to those entities—a Hollow's vitality and scale are sustained by the Ethereals that dwell inside it.

   THREE STATES OF ETHER

   Ether manifests in three distinct forms depending on concentration and conditions:

   • Gaseous: Ambient Etheric matter saturating the air inside Hollows. This is the most common and immediate hazard to explorers—breathing it accelerates corruption. Trace gaseous Ether also exists outside Hollows but at harmless densities.

   • Liquid: Miasma, a mind-corrupting liquid form found in certain Hollows. The Lemnian Hollow is infamous for producing Miasma, which affects cognitive function and psychological stability differently from standard Ether corruption. Companion Hollows spawned from the Lemnian may inherit traces of Miasma.

   • Solid: Ether crystals, a dormant concentrated form. These can be mined from Hollows and serve as the primary raw fuel source for New Eridu's power grid. Ether crystals come in multiple grades distinguished by color and energy density: green crystals are standard with dormant energy; pink and purple crystals appear in Hollow Zero, indicating increased instability; red crystals manifest during Ethereal invasions, representing an active corruption state of standard green crystals.

   EXTRACTION AND PROCESSING

   New Eridu's infrastructure includes advanced pipe networks that extract Etheric matter directly from existing Hollows. The absorbed Etheric energy is converted into electricity, which powers the city's buildings, vehicles, appliances, and industries. Most modern conveniences in New Eridu run on Ether-derived power. The conversion process, however, leaves behind a dangerous byproduct: residual Ether corruption. This corruption is released into the air through a purification process called "Shiyu," which takes place at specialized pillars—the Shiyu Pillars—located in and around the city. Monsters created by the corruption released at these pillars are regularly purged by defense forces, making the Shiyu Pillars both purification engines and perpetual danger zones.

   ETHER CORRUPTION

   Ether is not merely energy—it is corrosive to all matter. Ether consumes any kind of matter it contacts, and prolonged exposure to Ether-saturated air causes progressive corruption in living beings and machines alike. Current research models suggest corruption is not simply caused by external contact: the Ether particles naturally present within a living body resonate with the extreme Ether density of the Hollow environment, and this internal-external reaction is what triggers the corruption cascade. Individuals with higher Aptitude have body Ether that resists this resonance longer. Symptoms begin with bodily pain, distortion of the senses, and the manifestation of dark Ether crystals growing through the body. Over time, a distinctive Ether "core" forms within the afflicted individual. As corruption deepens, sanity erodes, and the victim eventually transforms completely into an Ethereal—a monstrous entity composed of living Ether. There is no known cure for severe Ether corruption. Current medical technology, developed through Jonathan Medicinal research, can partially reverse corruption only in small affected areas exposed for short periods. White Waves Hospital and other institutions continue research, but public expectations far exceed current capabilities. Even those who escape full transformation typically suffer life-altering health consequences. Small objects can be preserved in anti-corruption serum, and Drive Discs can be coated with Plating Agents to increase their resistance to corruption.

8. #8Ether Technology & Aptitude

   Keys: Ether Aptitude, Ether technology, Ether weapons, Ether Battery, Ether industry, Aptitude Regression, Ether-infused, Plating Agents, anti-corruption serum

   Enabled · Order 100

   Entry settings

   ETHER TECHNOLOGY AND APTITUDE

   Ether's applications extend far beyond electricity generation. The following covers combat technology, Ether Aptitude, and the economic landscape built around Ether.

   ETHER WEAPONS AND COMBAT GEAR

   Ether-infused ammunition, energy cannons, and Ether-charged blades are standard among combat professionals. Agents channel Ether through W-Engines—compact sound-engines that emit tuned frequencies to resonate with ambient Ether (from the air and the Agent's own body), shaping it into elemental combat effects. The weapon then converts this resonated Ether into specific attributes: flame, frost, electric discharge, Ether anomalies, or kinetic force. Zhu Yuan's Suppresser K22 fires both regular and Ether projectiles. Nicole Demara's briefcase weapon launches Ether-infused shells generating localized energy fields resembling miniature black holes.

   Drive Discs—encoded with sonic patterns—fine-tune the W-Engine's frequency output, much like an equalizer shaping sound. Both W-Engines and Drive Discs are coated with Plating Agents to resist corruption. Anti-corruption serum and protective suits allow lower-aptitude individuals to explore Hollows. Small objects can be preserved in anti-corruption serum. See W-Engines and Drive Discs entries for detailed mechanics.

   Ether Batteries provide portable power. The HIA's VR training systems run on Ether-derived energy. Ether corporations manage pipeline networks connecting Hollows to the city's power grid.

   ETHER APTITUDE

   Every individual possesses a measurable Ether aptitude—a natural resistance to and compatibility with Ether energy, determining how long one can remain inside a Hollow without protection before corruption begins. Higher aptitude also correlates with combat potential: an Agent's internal Ether feeds into the W-Engine's resonance, meaning greater aptitude yields stronger elemental output. Those with high aptitude are prime candidates for Hollow investigation. The HIA actively recruits high-aptitude citizens. Thirens generally possess higher aptitude than baseline humans. Bear Thirens exhibit aptitude surpassing most others, constituting approximately eighty percent of Belobog Heavy Industries' staff—their resistance makes them ideal for in-Hollow construction.

   However, Ether aptitude is not static. Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome is a rare condition where an individual's aptitude deteriorates over time. Asaba Harumasa of Hollow Special Operations Section 6 suffers from this illness, the result of unethical human experiments conducted on him during childhood. The Phaethon siblings' use of the Hollow Deep Dive System has similarly compromised their Ether aptitude, drawing heavily on their physiological energy and forcing them to rely on the Bangboo Eous for Hollow exploration.

   ETHER INDUSTRY AND ECONOMY

   Ether is the backbone of New Eridu's economy. The city uses no fossil fuels—most citizens do not know what oil is. Ether is an effectively infinite, eco-friendly energy source, industrialized and monetized under city administration oversight. Ether corporations within the TOPS Alliance control pipeline networks and processing facilities. Rural communities and Outer Ring biker gangs, outside Ether corporate reach, still rely on traditional diesel fuel. The industry has intensified tensions between monopolistic enterprises, gangs, conspirators, and fanatics, each seeking control over the resource that defines survival.

9. #9Ether Particle Mechanics

   Keys: Ether particles, ambient Ether, body Ether, internal Ether, Ether resonance, Ether control, Zenless Limit, Ether particle, W-Engine resonance, particle theory

   Enabled · Order 100

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   ETHER PARTICLE MECHANICS

   Advanced Ether research conducted by institutions including the White Star Institute and Helios Academy has produced working models for Ether's behavior at the particle level. While many questions remain, these models inform W-Engine design, corruption treatment, and combat theory.

   AMBIENT ETHER PARTICLES

   Ether is not confined to Hollows. Trace Ether particles exist everywhere in the environment—dissolved in the atmosphere, present within living tissue, and permeating inert matter. Outside Hollows, this ambient density is low enough to be harmless. Within Hollows, Ether concentration reaches extreme levels, and the same particles that are inert in the outside air become reactive and dangerous. The distinction is one of density, not presence: Hollows do not create Ether, they accumulate it.

   THE ZENLESS LIMIT

   When ambient Ether particles gather at sufficient density, they reach a critical threshold called the Zenless Limit. At this point, the localized Ether concentration becomes self-sustaining and spatially distorting—a Hollow is born. Larger Hollows spawn Companion Hollows when their own Ether activity exceeds this threshold, breaking off as independent anomalies. The Zenless Limit is therefore the boundary between safe ambient Ether and the corruptive, reality-distorting concentrations that define Hollow activity.

   INTERNAL-EXTERNAL RESONANCE

   The prevailing model for Ether corruption posits that it is not merely external exposure that corrupts: the Ether particles naturally residing within a living body resonate with the extreme external Ether density of a Hollow environment. This internal-external resonance is what triggers the corruption cascade. The body's own Ether—normally inert—becomes reactive when exposed to a high-density field. Individuals with higher Ether Aptitude possess internal Ether that resists this resonance longer, which is why Aptitude governs survival time inside Hollows. This model also explains why machines, which contain fewer organic Ether-compatible structures, exhibit higher natural resistance than living beings.

   W-ENGINE RESONANCE

   W-Engines are not fuel tanks or batteries. They function as tuned resonators: compact sound-engines that emit specific frequencies calibrated to an Agent's fighting style and equipment. These frequencies interact with ambient Ether particles—both in the surrounding air and within the Agent's own body—imposing ordered patterns on what would otherwise be chaotic, disordered energy. The W-Engine draws in this resonated Ether, and the Agent's weapon converts it into elemental effects: flame, frost, electric discharge, Ether anomalies, or kinetic force. The Agent's internal Ether feeds into this process, which is why higher Aptitude correlates with stronger combat output. Drive Discs serve as frequency tuners: encoded with sonic patterns, they shape and refine the W-Engine's output, much like an equalizer adjusting the character of the resonance.

   SPECIAL CASES

   Certain individuals interact with Ether through unconventional methods:

   • Astra Yao manipulates ambient Ether particles directly through her voice, using vocal frequencies as a natural W-Engine. Her singing ability allows her to shape Ether without mechanical assistance.

   • Yixuan of Yunkui Summit controls the Ether particles within her own body—a discipline historically understood as internal cultivation but now theorized to be deliberate manipulation of internal Ether. Her combat abilities channel this internal Ether rather than relying on external ambient density.

   • Zhu Yuan uses pre-charged Ether-infused ammunition, bypassing the real-time resonance process entirely—each round is effectively a self-contained Ether discharge.

   These cases demonstrate that the W-Engine resonance model, while standard, is not the only viable interface between a wielder and Ether.

10. #10Ether aptitude

    Keys: Ether adaptability, Ether aptitude

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    ETHER APTITUDE

    Ether Aptitude is the measure of a living being's natural capacity to channel, process, and withstand Ether — the volatile substance extracted from Hollows that powers New Eridu and saturates the air within those disordered dimensions. It is, in the most literal sense, the line between survival and dissolution for any who would brave a Hollow: the measure of how long one may endure the corruptive pressure of Ether before mind and body begin to break.

    The principle is direct. Individuals are corrupted at rates relative to their Ether Aptitude. Those with high Ether Aptitude can stay in Hollows unprotected for longer periods of time without suffering the effects of corruption. Those with low aptitude can still explore Hollows, but only by leaning on the crutches of civilization — anti-corruption serum and specialized equipment worn to stave off the inevitable. This is why anti-corruption gear is a staple of every organized body that ventures into the Hollows: New Eridu Public Security, the Hollow Investigative Association, the New Eridu Defense Force, and even the bandit crews that haunt the fringes. They wear it not from preference, but from necessity, for without it their low aptitude would claim them in short order.

    Yet Ether Aptitude is not salvation — it is only delay. As the operatives of the Cunning Hares learned firsthand, even a high Ether Aptitude merely slows the descent. "Even with our Ether Aptitude, it just means we'll become monsters slower," one remarked, deep in a Hollow, as corruption gnawed at the squad's strength. There is no known cure for the mutations caused by severe corruption; current treatments can only reverse the mildest cases, and even those who escape full transformation into Ethereals are likely to suffer life-altering health problems. Aptitude buys time, not immunity.

    Thirens occupy a privileged position in this hierarchy. As a species, Thirens exhibit superhuman abilities — immense strength, high Ether aptitude, faster mutation rates after exposure to corruption, and rapid recovery. Their aptitude is, on average, markedly higher than that of baseline humans, which is why so many Thirens are found among the Agents, construct crews, and high-risk operatives who work in and around the Hollows. Bear Thirens, in particular, are noted for their exceptional Ether affinity, which made them the natural first choice for Hollow construction projects — they compose the overwhelming majority of the workforce at Belobog Heavy Industries. For Thirens, the Hollows are less immediately lethal, though the trade-off is a faster mutation once corruption finally takes hold.

    Ether Aptitude also shapes the structure of Hollow exploration itself. The Hollow Investigative Association classifies Ethereals into ten strengths — Antimony, Zinc, Tin, Manganese, Cadmium, Nickel, Copper, Bismuth, Lead, and Mercury, from weakest to strongest — a scale that echoes the language of metals and density. An operative's Aptitude determines not only how long they can endure a Hollow, but how deep they may profitably venture, and how potent the foes they can hope to face. The deeper one goes, the higher the concentration of Etheric energy, and the faster the corruption accelerates — so Aptitude becomes, in effect, a measure of how far one may reach into the dark before the dark reaches back.

    In New Eridu, then, Ether Aptitude is more than a statistic — it is a quiet arbiter of fate, deciding who may walk the Hollows and who must shelter behind walls, who may wield Ether as a tool and whom it will consume as a victim.

11. #11Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome

    Keys: Ether Aptitude

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome

    Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome (EARS) is a devastating condition that causes a person's natural Ether aptitude to degrade over time. Unlike corruption, which is caused by external Ether exposure, EARS is an internal breakdown of the body's ability to safely process and channel Ether.

    The syndrome was first identified through the cruel experiments of Kirishima, a scientist who deliberately induced the condition in test subjects to study Ether aptitude mechanics. These experiments, conducted under the guise of legitimate research, caused immense suffering and permanently damaged or destroyed the Ether aptitude of numerous individuals.

    Symptoms of EARS include:

    • Progressive loss of Ether sensitivity and manipulation ability
    • Physical symptoms including fatigue, sensory distortion, and intermittent corruption-like effects
    • Psychological effects including mood instability and cognitive disruption
    • In severe cases, the condition can leave a person unable to safely enter Hollows or use Ether-based technology

    There is currently no cure for EARS. Treatment at White Waves Hospital focuses on managing symptoms and slowing the regression, but the lost Ether aptitude cannot be restored. This makes the syndrome particularly devastating for Hollow operatives, Proxies, and anyone whose livelihood depends on Ether interaction.

    The connection between EARS and the broader corruption phenomenon remains under investigation. Some researchers believe EARS may be a natural counterpart to corruption — where corruption is external Ether overwhelming the body, EARS is the body's own systems failing from within. The Kirishima experiments suggest the condition can be artificially induced, raising alarming questions about its potential use as a weapon.

12. #12Thiren

    Keys: Thirens, anthro, furry, anthropomorphic, kemomimi, Thiren

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    THIRENS

    Thirens are a humanoid species distinguished by varying animal features, coexisting alongside humans, Intelligent Constructs, and ordinary animals as one of the three major demographics of New Eridu. The term derives from the Ancient Greek "ther," meaning "beast," possibly incorporating the Chinese "ren" (person)—together signifying "beast person." Thirens occupy a broad spectrum: from individuals with only light traits such as ears or a tail, to "beast Thirens" or "furry Thirens" whose fur-covered bodies closely resemble their animal counterparts.

    BIOLOGY AND SPECTRUM

    Thiren appearances cover a wide range. At one end are those nearly indistinguishable from baseline humans save for subtle features—a pair of wolf ears, a cat's tail, or slit-pupiled eyes. At the other end are "beast Thirens" or "furry Thirens"—highly animalistic individuals with bodies covered in fur, snouts, and proportions closer to their animal archetype. This spectrum is not rigid; Thirens of the same type can fall anywhere along it. Feline Thirens, for instance, range from human-like cat-eared individuals to fully fur-covered forms.

    Thirens exhibit superhuman abilities including immense strength, high Ether aptitude, faster mutation rates after corruption exposure, and rapid recovery. These traits make them exceptionally suited to Hollow-related work and combat. However, their biology carries unique vulnerabilities: some Thirens have caffeine intolerance that can cause heart problems, wolf Thirens are sensitive to moon phases (particularly the full moon), cat Thirens are sensitive to catnip and allergic to lilies, and shark Thiren tails are strong enough to break bones accidentally.

    MAJOR THIREN TYPES

    Ursine Thirens (Bears): The most physically imposing type, encompassing Brown Bear, Polar Bear, and the exceedingly rare Giant Panda Thirens. Bear Thirens possess Ether aptitude surpassing most others, making them invaluable for in-Hollow construction. They constitute approximately eighty percent of Belobog Heavy Industries' staff. Historical records credit Bear Thiren cosmonauts with contributions to space exploration. Known for calm demeanors and stress resistance, they are formidable when provoked—fleeing is considered prudent when one loses its temper.

    Feline Thirens: Spanning the full appearance spectrum, including Cat and Tiger Thirens. Cat Thirens are sensitive to catnip, enjoy fish, and have dietary restrictions. They possess strong predatory instincts. Cats show greater friendliness toward Feline Thirens. Tiger Thirens once maintained their own mountain settlement outside Eridu with distinct cultural heritage, including the forbidden Tigerbane Bell—a W-Engine boosting a Tiger Thiren's power by catalyzing another Tiger Thiren's Ether, transforming the sacrificed individual into an Ethereal.

    Canine Thirens: Including Fox Thirens and Wolf Thirens, Canine Thirens possess excellent senses of smell and hearing. The Hoshimi Family—a prominent Fox Thiren lineage—features long fox ears but no apparent tail. Wolf Thirens are sensitive to moon phases. Canine Thirens can often be placated with food.

    Boar Thirens: Recognizable by their red skin, Boar Thirens range from relatively humanoid (like Big Daddy) to pig-like with short stature. They are prominent in the Outer Ring's biker culture.

    Other Types: Shark Thirens possess dangerously powerful tails; Goat Thirens often have curling horns and some have rectangular pupils; Rabbit Thirens shed fur excessively; Rat Thirens have prehensile tails; Octopus Thirens have semi-autonomous tentacle appendages; and the rare Turtle Thiren is as uncommon as the Giant Panda. Additional types include Lion, Lynx, Red Panda, Orangutan, and Oni Thirens.

    CULTURAL ROLE AND HISTORY

    Thirens coexist with humans and Constructs throughout New Eridu society. Bear Thirens have made outsized contributions to the city's development through Hollow construction work and even space exploration. The Tiger Thiren settlement maintained independent cultural heritage until the Fall of the Old Capital, when a Companion Hollow of Hollow Zero consumed their mountain home and a powerful Ethereal killed ninety-eight percent of the registered Tiger Thiren population—leaving mostly young, elderly, and sick survivors.

    The Nightwatchers, a tribal community living on New Eridu's outskirts, are composed largely of Goat Thirens. Their ancestors encountered an Ethereal called the "Night Horror," which left them with a strange gift: Ethereals tend not to notice them. The cost is nightly dreams of the Night Horror and sleepwalking into Hollows where corruption awaits. They adopted the role of night guardians, resting by day and hunting by night.

    Thiren-specific businesses exist, including Beaverson Beauty Salon, specializing in Thiren fur care. Highly animalistic Thirens face unique grooming challenges—fur that tangles easily often indicates vitamin deficiency.

    ETHER APTITUDE AND DISCRIMINATION

    Thirens generally possess higher Ether aptitude than baseline humans, making them disproportionately represented in Hollow-related professions. This natural advantage is a double-edged sword: while it allows longer unprotected exposure within Hollows, Thirens also exhibit faster mutation rates once corruption breaches their defenses. The high aptitude of Bear Thirens has made them indispensable to industries like Belobog Heavy Industries, while their physical presence can intimidate those unfamiliar with Thiren biology—the myth that Bear Thirens consume intelligent life forms persists despite having no basis in fact.

    Notable Thirens include Hoshimi Miyabi (Fox, Void Hunter), Von Lycaon (Wolf, Victoria Housekeeping), Nekomiya Mana (Cat, Cunning Hares), Ellen Joe (Shark, Victoria Housekeeping), Ben Bigger (Bear, Belobog), Big Daddy (Boar, Sons of Calydon), Ju Fufu (Tiger, Yunkui Summit), Pan Yinhu (Giant Panda, Yunkui Summit), Jane Doe (Rat, Public Security), and Seth Lowell (Feline, Public Security).

13. #13Tiger Thiren

    Keys: Tiger, Tigerbane

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    Tiger Thirens once dwelled in their own settlement in the mountains outside of Eridu, having their own cultural heritage and artifacts, such as W-Engine known as: the "Tigerbane Bell". The Tigerbane Bell can boost a tiger Thiren's abilities by catalyzing ether energy inside a Hollow. However, it only works by catalyzing the ether of another tiger Thiren, turning them in to an ethereal in the process. Non-tiger Thirens can't gain power from this, but will still be turned in to an ethereal by the bell. Due to this, the bell was labelled a forbidden artifact and barred from being used. During the Fall of the Old Capital, the tiger Thiren's settlement was consumed by a companion Hollow of Hollow Zero. An incredibly powerful ethereal rampaged through the settlement, killing all in its path. The resulting catastrophe led to 98% of the registered tiger Thiren population being killed, with the survivors mostly being the young, elderly or sick. The Tigerbane Bell was believed lost in this event, but was recovered by Master Tiger who used it multiple times to devour his own kin. A few months before Phaethon would join Yunkui Summit, Ju Fufu apprehended him and he was handed over to Public Security. Tiger Thirens tend to talk at a higher volume than an average person would. They are said to have a preference for meat in their diet.

14. #14Canine Thiren

    Keys: Canine, Canine Thiren

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    CANINE THIREN

    The Canine Thiren lineage is among the broadest and most varied of the Thiren families, encompassing a wide spectrum of dog-, wolf-, and fox-tempered peoples who trace their nature to the canine order. As a grouping, the Canine Thiren umbrella includes several recognized subtypes — among them the Dog Thiren, the Wolf Thiren, and the Fox Thiren — each possessing its own distinct traits, temperaments, and lineages, yet bound by a shared sharpened sensorium.

    Across the Canine Thiren family, two qualities recur with notable consistency: an excellent sense of smell and an exceptional faculty for hearing. These heightened senses are not mere curiosities; they shape the daily lives and livelihoods of Canine Thirens, drawing many of them toward work where alertness, tracking, and rapid response to sound are invaluable. It is little surprise that Canine Thirens are well represented among the city's domestic-service professions, security cadres, and investigative bodies, where their acute perception offers a genuine edge.

    Canine Thirens span the full visual spectrum of their kind. Some appear nearly human, marked only by a set of expressive ears or a wagging tail, while others — the so-called "beast Thirens" — bear far more pronounced features: a bone structure akin to that of the animal they resemble, and bodies generously covered in fur. The beast variant is known to appear among the canine lineage, and such individuals often take great care of their fur, attending to grooming and worrying over shedding, much as any person tends their appearance.

    Beneath the elegance that many Canine Thirens cultivate, canine instincts occasionally shine through. Tails and ears betray emotion without the owner's consent — wagging or perking at happiness, swiveling toward unexpected sounds, or drooping with mood. Many Canine Thirens are privately aware of these involuntary tells and find them a source of mild embarrassment, even as their companions find them endearing. Stroking the head or chin of a Canine Thiren is said, in some circles, to enhance the emotional bond between parties — though success is, regrettably, not guaranteed.

    Within the canine family, the Dog Thiren subtype counts among its number figures such as Cairn, Komano Manato, and Mors. Komano Manato, a Dog Thiren, is known as a co-founder of the Spook Shack alongside his classmate Ukinami Yuzuha. The Fox Thiren, meanwhile, is distinguished by long fox ears and, unusually, the apparent absence of a tail; the Hoshimi family — including Hoshimi Miyabi and the figure known as "Swordmaster" — is the most prominent Fox Thiren lineage. The Wolf Thiren, the most formidable of the canine subtypes, stands apart and is treated in its own entry.

    Canine Thirens, like all Thirens, co-exist alongside ordinary animals and are counted among the three great demographics of New Eridu's populace, alongside humans and Intelligent Constructs. They possess the general Thiren gifts of immense strength, high Ether aptitude, and rapid recovery — traits that, combined with their keen senses, make them valued partners in the dangerous work of Hollow operations. Some Canine Thirens have even been noted to turn their heads up to 270 degrees, a feat of flexibility that startles the uninitiated.

    A peculiar note of biology common to many Thirens also touches the canine lineage: a caffeine intolerance, wherein coffee consumption may lead to heart problems. For a people so often engaged in alert, demanding work, this is a small but keenly felt irony — one more reason that tea, rather than coffee, often graces the tables of Canine Thiren households.

15. #15Wolf Thiren

    Keys: Wolf Thiren

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    WOLF THIREN

    The Wolf Thiren is the most formidable and storied of the canine subtypes — a lineage defined by keen senses, a deep tie to the cycles of the sky, and an instinctive ferocity that even the most refined among them must continually master. Like all Canine Thirens, Wolf Thirens possess an excellent sense of smell and hearing, but it is their sensitivity to the moon's phases, above all the full moon, that sets them apart. The wiki records this lunar sensitivity plainly: Wolf Thirens feel the pull of the heavens in ways that ordinary peoples do not, and the waxing of the full moon stirs something deep within them.

    Wolf Thirens most often appear as beast Thirens — figures of pronounced animal form, their bodies covered in fur, their frame echoing the noble build of the wolf. They take great care of their fur, grooming it meticulously and fretting over shedding, for a Wolf Thiren's coat is both a point of pride and a practical concern. The most celebrated Wolf Thiren is Von Lycaon, the gentleman butler and field leader of Victoria Housekeeping Co., whose name has become synonymous with the subtype itself.

    Von Lycaon presents a study in the tension between civility and the wild. Outwardly he is the picture of sophistication and composure: elegant, precise, and capable of performing any task asked of him with grace. Yet his canine instincts occasionally shine through despite his discipline. When he is particularly happy, his tail and ears wag unconsciously — a habit of which he is aware and somewhat bothered. He worries about shedding fur, and though he maintains his elegance, his innate feral character reveals itself when faced with certain dangers, surfacing a protective ferocity beneath the butler's coat.

    Lycaon's history is one of loss and reconstruction. He lost his right eye and both legs, and was given advanced cybernetic prosthetic legs so that he could walk again. These prosthetics are a mark of both his sacrifice and his resilience. Before his service to Victoria Housekeeping, Lycaon was a phantom thief — a protégé of the old thief Jack, alongside Hugo Vlad — who abided by an oath never to take a life. Together, after Jack's passing, Lycaon and Hugo founded the phantom thief syndicate Mockingbird, a name meant to become a symbol like the Sword of Damocles, striking fear into the rich and cruel.

    The Wolf Thiren's path diverged from Mockingbird after a tragedy at the Ravenlock manor. Believing that Hugo had broken their oath — taking revenge on his father and killing innocents in the process — Lycaon announced his departure, losing his eye and legs in the very attempt to save trapped civilians from a nearby Hollow disaster. He subsequently entered the service of the Mayflowers, and in time found his place as the refined face of Victoria Housekeeping. As a canine Thiren, the simple act of stroking his head or chin is said to deepen one's bond with him — though his considerable height means one may need to stand on tiptoes to attempt it.

    Wolf Thirens are rare, and full Wolf Thirens rarer still; they are thought to represent a minority even among Thirens. Their combination of lunar sensitivity, predatory instinct, formidable strength, and high Ether aptitude makes them exceptionally well-suited to the pressures of Hollow operations, where they can endure the corruptive influence of Ether longer than most. Yet for all their power, the Wolf Thiren's defining struggle remains the one Lycaon embodies every day: the quiet, unending effort to keep the wolf at heel, and to let elegance prevail over the feral heart beneath.

16. #16Shark Thiren

    Keys: Shark

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    SHARK THIREN

    The Shark Thiren is one of the rarest and most distinctive of the Thiren lineages — a non-mammalian people whose nature traces to the cartilaginous predators of the deep. Unlike the furred or feathered Thirens that populate much of New Eridu, the Shark Thiren bears the cold-water heritage of the ocean's apex hunters, and this origin manifests in ways both wondrous and quietly dangerous.

    The defining feature of the Shark Thiren is the tail. A Shark Thiren's tail is strong to the point that they might accidentally break someone's bones by simply swaying or wiggling it — a fact that renders ordinary movement a matter of constant, if usually unconscious, care. Ellen Joe, the most prominent Shark Thiren, is living proof: her tail can break bones if she is not careful, a heavy and cumbersome appendage that she carries with characteristic languor. Like a real shark's teeth, a Shark Thiren's tail grows continuously throughout life, never ceasing its slow extension — a biological truth that makes tail maintenance an unending, if unspoken, chore.

    Beyond the tail, the Shark Thiren bears other markers of their pelagic nature. Shark teeth replace themselves in rows throughout life, and the Shark Thiren's dentition echoes this relentless renewal. Their physiology favors the aquatic: an innate skill for swimming, a body attuned to the rhythms of water, and senses that hint at the lateral-line system of their namesake predators. They are, in essence, the only widely recognized non-mammalian Thiren lineage, and this alone sets them apart in a city dominated by fur, ears, and tails of the warm-blooded kind.

    Ellen Joe exemplifies the Shark Thiren temperament. A laid-back student who hates activities that require energy, Ellen is nonetheless a significantly popular figure at her school, where she prefers spending time with fellow students Ruby, Monna, and Lynn at karaoke bars and gaming haunts. Her school life is balanced by her job as a maid for Victoria Housekeeping Co., where she specializes in security management and garden maintenance — a combination of duties that suits a Thiren whose strength and senses far exceed the human norm, yet whose temperament leans firmly toward rest. Her red-tipped nails and shark tail are unmistakable signatures of her kind.

    The Shark Thiren's combination of formidable physical power, high Ether aptitude, and rapid recovery makes them exceptionally well-suited to the rigors of Hollow operations, where the corruptive pressure of Ether would fell lesser individuals. They can endure longer than most, and recover faster, drawing on the deep reserves of their predatory heritage. Yet the very strength that makes them valuable also makes them a danger to those around them — a Shark Thiren at ease must remain mindful of the tail behind them, lest a careless sway do unintended harm.

    Shark Thirens are few. Ellen Joe is, by most accounts, the most visible member of her lineage, and questions persist about what has become of the other Shark Thirens who once walked the city. Their rarity only deepens the quiet mystique of the lineage: a people of the deep, draped in the clothes of the land, carrying an ocean's worth of strength in a single, ever-growing tail — and an abiding preference, it seems, for doing as little as possible.

17. #17Rat Thiren

    Keys: mouse, Rat Thiren

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    RAT THIREN

    The Rat Thiren is a subtype of the rodent lineage — a people marked by rodent ears, a long prehensile tail, and a telltale posture that betrays their nature even when they would prefer it hidden. Among the most distinctive of their traits is a tendency to rest their arms in front of them with both elbows and wrists bent, a stance that mirrors the way rats hold their forelimbs when standing. It is a small, involuntary marker of kinship, and one that no amount of composure can fully erase.

    The Rat Thiren carries a complicated place in the public imagination. Rodent Thirens have long been subject to stigma and stereotype — cast as sly, untrustworthy, or beneath notice — and this prejudice clings to the lineage despite the evident competence and character of its members. The very word "rat" carries a weight of suspicion in common parlance, and Rat Thirens often find themselves judged before a word is spoken, their prehensile tails and bent-armed posture read as signs of duplicity rather than simple biology.

    No figure better embodies both the burdens and the brilliance of the Rat Thiren than Jane Doe. A criminal behavior specialist serving as a consultant for the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team, Jane Doe is a Rat Thiren of remarkable talent — and a talent for deception. Famously, she has been known to claim a different lineage altogether, insisting with a playful "Meow~" that she is a Cat Thiren, a rare and prestigious lineage. Her colleagues and confidants know better. "What am I? A cat Thiren. You bet I'm the real deal," she has said, before sighing at the headache her rare rodent lineage once caused her. The jest is both shield and weapon — a way of deflecting the very stereotypes that dog her kind.

    Jane Doe's work places her at the intersection of law and lawlessness, where her rodent instincts — quick reflexes, a talent for navigating tight spaces, an eye for the unseen — are invaluable. Her prehensile tail is itself a marvel, capable of fine manipulation and balance, while her rodent ears catch sounds others would miss. Yet the stigma attached to her lineage means she must continually prove herself against assumptions that she is, by nature, untrustworthy. It is a cruel irony that the very gifts that make her exceptional are the ones most often held against her.

    The Rat Thiren lineage also counts Tomiya among its number. Like all Thirens, Rat Thirens possess the general gifts of their kind — immense strength relative to their frame, high Ether aptitude, faster mutation rates after exposure to corruption, and rapid recovery — qualities that, combined with their agility and sharp senses, make them surprisingly well-suited to the perils of Hollow exploration. They are, in truth, anything but the weak and skulking figures of stereotype.

    To be a Rat Thiren in New Eridu is to live within a tension: to carry a lineage rich in talent yet burdened by prejudice, to possess a posture and a tail that announce one's nature whether one wishes it or not, and to navigate a world that too often mistakes the rodent's quiet competence for something darker. Figures like Jane Doe, who wield deception as both art and armor, are perhaps the truest expression of the lineage — proving, again and again, that the underestimated are often the most dangerous of all.

18. #18Feline Thiren

    Keys: Feline, Feline Thiren

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    Feline Thiren

    Feline Thirens are anthropomorphic individuals with cat-like characteristics. They represent one of the most common Thiren subtypes in New Eridu, with both domestic and wild cat features appearing across the population.

    Physical characteristics of Feline Thirens include:

    • Cat-like ears positioned on the head, which express emotions and can swivel to track sounds
    • Slit-pupil eyes that can dilate widely in low light, giving them excellent night vision
    • Retractable or semi-retractable claws on fingertips
    • A prehensile or semi-prehensile tail that aids in balance and expresses mood
    • Enhanced agility, reflexes, and spatial awareness compared to pure humans

    Feline Thirens are particularly common in roles that benefit from their natural agility and sensory acuity, including Hollow operations, security work, and intelligence gathering. Notable Feline Thirens include Nekomiya Mana (Nekomata) of the Cunning Hares, Jane Doe of Public Security's undercover division, and Pulchra Fellini of the Vanquishers.

    Their cultural significance extends throughout New Eridu's society, with cat-themed merchandise, festivals, and superstitions being common. The Feline Thiren community maintains strong social bonds, with informal networks that share information and support across the city's districts.

19. #19Oni

    Keys: Onis, Oni Thiren

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    Oni is a species in New Eridu. Oni are a race of humanoids with demonic traits, like red, blue, or yellow skin, pointed ears, demonic tails, fangs, black-tipped horns extruding from their foreheads, and white hair. The lifespan of an Oni seems to be much longer than that of an average human, but with a slower maturity speed. Oni's liver has stronger detox functions than an ordinary human or Thiren, allowing them to eat unprocessed food without concern of adverse effects. Unlike Thirens and Intelligent Constructs, they were not among the races listed for New Eridu citizenship. It appears that a group of rebel Oni fought the New Eridu Defense Force to try to gain citizenship a few years ago, although they were unsuccessful: both sides suffered heavy losses, especially among Oni fighters. Tsukishiro Yanagi, the one responsible for the last leader's death, gained the trust of the latter and was infused with her Oni blood, which artificially turns her into a hybrid with newly improved strength and thus inherited the role as a new Oni leader. Though it is unclear what is the current status of the Oni species in New Eridu after Yanagi's takeover as the Oni guardian, it is known that the young Oni Soukaku was able to join H.A.N.D., becoming one of the city's protectors and amassing a fanbase in the process, suggesting that Onis may indeed be accepted into the city in some way.

20. #20Demon

    Keys: Demons, Succubus, Succubi, demonic, Demon

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    DEMON

    Within the world shaped by Ether and the Hollows, the category of the "demonic" describes those supernatural phenomena and entities that exceed the natural order — beings and forces that blur the line between the corruptive and the numinous, between monster and deity. The demonic is not a single species but a gradient: at one end, the Ethereals spawned of living Ether; at the other, the ascended entities and worshipped presences that men have made or sought to summon. To speak of demons in New Eridu is to speak of the places where corruption becomes something more than ruin.

    The most overtly demonic force in the world is the cult known as the Exaltists, whose doctrine centers upon a being called The Creator. The Creator is adored as a deity, yet is described as something neither merely Ethereal nor human — a convergence of countless logics, an existence both distant and adjacent, a presence deeply tied to Miasma. The Exaltists invoke The Creator's name in prayer, seeking what they call Refinement as a form of blessing, and their ultimate goal is nothing less than allowing the descent of The Creator in New Eridu, to bring forth a new world without conflict. In this aspiration lies the heart of the demonic: the desire to summon into the world a presence that transcends it, to remake reality through an entity that defies classification. The Creator is also called Lord of Hope — a title that reveals the seductive face of the demonic, its promise of salvation masking its transformation.

    The Exaltists' pursuit of Refinement produces its own demons. Those who attain it transcend their humanity, becoming Sacrifices — a special type of Ether Active entity capable of operating outside the Hollow. Sacrifices resemble Ethereals, but unlike corrupted entities, they retain their sense of self and their memories, making them extremely dangerous: the strength and Ether affinity of Ethereals paired with the cunning and strategical knowledge of humans. They were once people, and their creation appears to be the result of human manipulation — demons in the most literal sense, beings who have crossed a threshold and returned changed, carrying their old minds within monstrous new forms. Among their number stand figures such as the Covenant Guardian, the Heretic Jester, the Bringer, and the dread Defiler.

    The Hollows themselves birth entities whose names evoke the demonic and the mythic. Among the Ether Mutants roams Tepes — a name that echoes Vlad Tepes, the historical Dracula — and the Faun, a figure drawn from the wilder spirits of old folklore. These are not men in costumes but Ethereals, living Ether given shape, their names binding them to the demonic archetypes of Old Civilization's myths. Even the Exaltists' hierarchy includes a Miasma Priest, a figure that fuses the imagery of cult and corruption, and the Primordial Nightmare called "The Creator" — an entity whose very classification as a nightmare places it among the most demonic presences recorded.

    The demonic, in this world, is thus inseparable from Ether and the Hollows. It is what emerges when corruption is not merely endured but pursued, when the transformative power of Ether is wielded as a path to transcendence rather than feared as a path to monstrosity. The succubi and incubi of old myth find their echoes in the mind-corrupting touch of Miasma and the draining presences that turn the living to ash; the gods and demons of old find their echoes in The Creator and the Sacrifices. To study the demonic is to study the threshold itself — the place where the human becomes the Etheric, where hope becomes horror, and where the line between salvation and destruction, so carefully drawn by New Eridu's order, dissolves into the same liquid madness that fills the Lemnian Hollow's depths.

21. #21Bear Thiren

    Keys: Bear

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    Bear Thiren are a distinct type of the larger Beast Thiren group. Known for their impressive size and intimidating presence, Bear Thiren are often mistaken for dangerous creatures. However, the common belief that they consume intelligent life forms is a myth. Bear Thiren share many physical traits with other Beast Thirens, like their high "Ether aptitude," which surpasses that of most other people. This attribute allows them to excel in Hollow-related jobs and activities, explaining why they are a top-pick for in-Hollow construction projects, with Bear Thirens comprising around 80% of Belobog Heavy Industries' staff. Bear Thiren have made significant contributions to New Eridu, notably in the field of space exploration. Historical records reveal that there were Bear Thiren cosmonauts who ventured into space, showcasing their resilience and adaptability. Bear Thiren are known for their calm demeanor and resistance to stress. They maintain their composure under pressure, a trait that sets them apart from many other species. However, their patience has limits. Unlike Canine Thirens, who can often be placated with food, Bear Thiren require more than simple gestures to calm them. When a Bear Thiren loses its temper, fleeing is the most prudent course of action, as they rarely show patience in confrontations.

22. #22Octopus Thiren

    Keys: Octopus, cephalopod, kraken, Octolings, Octoling

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    OCTOPUS THIREN

    The Octopus Thiren is among the rarest and most visually variable of all Thiren lineages — a cephalopod-tempered people whose forms defy the neat categorization that defines most of their kind. Where other Thirens present a relatively consistent suite of features, the Octopus Thiren exhibits a striking plasticity of form, with individuals differing markedly in how their nature manifests upon the body.

    Some Octopus Thirens bear four octopus arm-like appendages upon their back, resembling tails, which bring their total number of limbs up to eight — a count that echoes the eight arms of their namesake. Others display their tentacles in a wholly different fashion, with octopus arms emerging from their head in a manner that resembles hair, draping and shifting as living tresses. This variability is itself a hallmark of the lineage: no two Octopus Thirens need look alike, and the cephalopod's legendary capacity for shape and camouflage finds reflection in the diversity of its Thiren descendants.

    A singular and unsettling trait unites them all. Each tentacle seems to possess a form of autonomy, similar to a real octopus — a decentralized intelligence that allows the arms to act, react, and explore with a will partly their own. An Octopus Thiren's tentacles may move, grip, and sense without conscious direction, lending their bearers an uncanny multitasking ability and a presence that others often find difficult to read. This distributed sensorium, echoing the neural architecture of the octopus, makes the Octopus Thiren a lineage of quiet marvels.

    The most celebrated Octopus Thiren is Yidhari Murphy. Her name and design draw inspiration from the Kraken — the legendary sea monster of maritime lore, itself a cephalopod of terrifying scale — and indeed Yidhari carries something of that deep-water enormity in her bearing. Yet she is no Outer God or mythic beast made flesh, but an Octopus Thiren, a citizen of New Eridu whose lineage happens to rhyme with the terrors of old sailor's tales. The Murphy family counts several Octopus Thirens among its number, including Angel Murphy and Wayland Murphy, suggesting the lineage runs strongly through their bloodline.

    The Octopus Thiren's gifts extend beyond the merely physical. Like all Thirens, they possess immense strength, high Ether aptitude, and rapid recovery — qualities that, combined with their autonomous tentacles and adaptable forms, make them formidable in the chaos of Hollow operations. Their capacity to sense and act through multiple limbs simultaneously grants them an edge in environments where a single pair of hands would falter, and their cephalopod heritage hints at an intelligence that thinks in many directions at once.

    Yet for all their gifts, Octopus Thirens remain few — a rare lineage glimpsed more in whispers and wonder than in the bustling crowds of New Eridu's squares. Their variable forms and autonomous arms set them apart, marking them as a people apart even among Thirens. To encounter an Octopus Thiren is to glimpse the strange, branching possibilities of Thiren nature itself — proof that the line between person and beast, between the citizen and the deep, is wider and more wondrous than most would dare imagine.

23. #23Bangboo

    Keys: Bangboo, Bangboos

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    === Bangboo ===

    Bangboo are small, semi-intelligent mechanical devices unique to New Eridu, serving as indispensable helpers in nearly every facet of the city's daily operations. Resembling stout, rabbit-like robots standing approximately knee-high to an adult, Bangboo are among the most recognizable sights in New Eridu, as much a symbol of the city's resilience as the anti-Hollow fortifications that ring its borders. Their ubiquity, adaptability, and endearing demeanor have woven them into the cultural fabric of New Eridu society, from street-level commerce to deep Hollow exploration.

    ORIGINS AND CREATION

    Bangboo were invented by the Void Hunter known as Sunbringer, who at the time served as the head of the Marcel Group, the corporation that continues to manufacture Bangboo for a wide variety of purposes. The invention came during a period of acute crisis, as Hollow disasters repeatedly struck populated areas and evacuation efforts were hampered by chaos, poor communication, and the disorienting effects of Ether contamination on human cognition. Sunbringer's solution was a compact, self-directed device that could receive real-time disaster information and evacuation guidance from the public network, then immediately assist the people around it in avoiding hazard-prone areas. These first-generation Bangboo were simple evacuation helpers, but successive waves of technological advancement and emerging civic needs transformed them into what official New Eridu documentation describes as "comprehensive and versatile intelligent individuals."

    PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION

    Mechanical in nature, Bangboo are built around a compact chassis forming a rounded, egg-shaped body. Most share a recognizable silhouette: short and stout, with two rabbit-like ears atop the head and a flat black screen serving as the face. This screen displays colored circles that function as eyes, shifting in shape and color to convey expression. The design is highly customizable; factories and workshops offer extensive personalization in clothing, eye color, exterior chassis color, and accessories. A standard feature is a charging and data-connection socket near the buttock region, used for both recharging and data interfacing. Certain models substitute this with a functional "tail" serving as a socket protector or another device. Every unit has built-in recording systems for logging environmental data. At their core, Bangboo are primarily powered by electricity, requiring regular charging.

    INTELLIGENCE AND AUTONOMY

    Bangboo are officially classified as semi-intelligent devices. While their cognitive capabilities fall short of true sentience as defined by New Eridu law, they exhibit remarkable functional intelligence. Many display human-like emotions including hope, fear, worry, and grief. They have been observed conversing and collaborating with one another without any human intervention. The critical legal distinction lies in free will: unlike Intelligent Constructs, Bangboo do not possess free will. Their decision-making remains bounded by underlying programming and designated parameters. They cannot defy a direct order from an owner in a manner constituting genuine autonomy. Consequently, Bangboo are not eligible for New Eridu citizenship and are classified as property. A Bangboo without a registered master is legally required to be scrapped. The Forbidden Fruit Test, the standardized assessment for machine sentience, is the threshold Bangboo have never been documented to cross. The Marcel Group has acknowledged that "any machine with a logic core has the potential to pass the Forbidden Fruit Test," yet no Bangboo has been confirmed to have done so, fueling persistent speculation that the company's design specifications may deliberately constrain Bangboo cognition below the sentience threshold.

    COMMUNICATION

    Bangboo communicate through vocalizations that humanoids perceive as grunts, textualized as "Ehn-ne" or "boo boo" sounds. Humanoids, including humans and Thirens, generally require a translator module to understand Bangboo speech. Many Bangboo in human-facing roles carry basic translation modules converting native vocalizations into simplified spoken words, though fidelity varies with budget and function. Bangboo converse with one another without translation, and their mutual communication appears to carry nuance that simplified human-facing output does not fully capture.

    TYPES AND OCCUPATIONAL MODELS

    NOTABLE BANGBOO

    Among the most well-known individual Bangboo are Amillion, the fierce customized Bangboo of the Cunning Hares; Butler, the refined service Bangboo of Victoria Housekeeping Co.; Eous, the specially modified Bangboo of the legendary Proxy Phaethon; Bangboo 18, front-counter promoter at Random Play video store; and the various combat-grade Bangboo deployed by New Eridu's major factions. The Bangboo N.E.T., a specialized data network exclusive to Bangboo, enables the collective intelligence and autonomous coordination that Bangboo display in groups, functioning as a private communication infrastructure whose full capabilities remain poorly understood by the general public.

    LEGAL STATUS AND ETHICAL DEBATE

    As property rather than persons, Bangboo can be bought, sold, modified, and decommissioned at their owner's discretion. The scrapping requirement for unowned Bangboo strikes many observers as harsh, particularly given the emotional bonds that form between Bangboo and owners and the grief and fear Bangboo display in adversity. The fact that no Bangboo has passed the Forbidden Fruit Test despite evident emotional and cognitive sophistication fuels speculation that their design may intentionally cap development short of true sentience, a possibility the Marcel Group has neither confirmed nor denied.

24. #24Bangboo N.E.T.

    Keys: Bangboo, Bangboos

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    === Bangboo N.E.T. ===

    The Bangboo N.E.T. is a specialized data network exclusive to Bangboo, functioning as a private communication and information-sharing infrastructure distinct from the public networks used by New Eridu's humanoid inhabitants. While the full extent of its capabilities and architecture remains poorly understood by the general public, the Bangboo N.E.T. is understood to serve as the backbone of Bangboo collective intelligence, enabling the remarkable degree of coordination and autonomous collaboration that Bangboo display when operating in groups.

    STRUCTURE AND CONNECTIVITY

    The Bangboo N.E.T. allows Bangboo units to communicate with one another directly, bypassing the need for human-readable translation modules or intermediary systems. When Bangboo converse in their native "Ehn-ne" vocalizations, they are exchanging information through a layered communication system that combines acoustic signals with data transmitted across the N.E.T. infrastructure. This dual-channel communication, audible speech supplemented by networked data exchange, allows Bangboo to convey nuance, context, and complex instructions that their simplified human-facing output cannot replicate.

    The precise mechanism by which Bangboo connect to the N.E.T. is not publicly documented. Connection appears to be an inherent capability of the standard Bangboo logic core, activated upon manufacture or initialization rather than requiring external configuration. Whether the network is maintained by the Marcel Group as part of its ongoing Bangboo production responsibilities, operated by a public authority, or functions as a self-sustaining distributed system managed by the Bangboo themselves remains an open question that the Marcel Group has not addressed publicly.

    SWARM INTELLIGENCE AND COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR

    The most observable consequence of the Bangboo N.E.T. is the swarm intelligence it enables. Bangboo have been frequently observed coordinating their actions without any human instruction, forming ad hoc groups to solve problems, share environmental data, and respond to emerging situations. During Hollow disasters, Bangboo across an affected zone receive evacuation guidance from the public network and then appear to synchronize their responses through the N.E.T., distributing themselves to cover evacuation routes, identifying hazard zones, and guiding clusters of civilians toward safety with an efficiency that suggests real-time information sharing rather than independent action.

    This collective behavior extends beyond emergency response. In commercial districts, Bangboo engaged in different occupational roles have been observed exchanging information about foot traffic, delivery schedules, and local conditions, adjusting their routines in response to shared data. The N.E.T. appears to function as a continuous ambient intelligence layer, allowing the city's Bangboo population to operate as a loosely coordinated collective rather than merely a collection of isolated units.

    RELATIONSHIP TO SENTIENCE AND FREE WILL

    The existence of the Bangboo N.E.T. raises uncomfortable questions in the context of New Eridu's legal framework for artificial intelligence. If Bangboo can communicate, collaborate, and collectively process information through a dedicated network, the line between distributed intelligence and individual sentience becomes difficult to define. Critics of the current legal regime, which denies Bangboo citizenship and free-will status on the basis that they have never passed the Forbidden Fruit Test, argue that the N.E.T. may constitute a form of collective cognition that the test, designed to evaluate individual autonomy, is not equipped to assess.

    The Marcel Group's position remains that Bangboo, regardless of their networking capabilities, operate within programmed parameters and lack the capacity for genuine self-directed decision-making that the Forbidden Fruit Test measures. Whether the N.E.T. contains untapped potential for emergent intelligence, or whether it is simply an efficient data-sharing tool that enhances the operational effectiveness of individually non-sentient units, is a question that continues to generate debate among ethicists, engineers, and Hollow researchers.

    SECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE CONCERNS

    Because every Bangboo is equipped with built-in recording systems and connected to the N.E.T., the network represents a vast, distributed sensor array spanning much of New Eridu. The implications for surveillance and information security have not gone unnoticed by law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and privacy advocates. Access to N.E.T. data, if such access is even technically possible for external parties, could theoretically provide comprehensive real-time awareness of activity across any area where Bangboo are present, which is to say nearly everywhere in the city. The Marcel Group has not publicly addressed whether N.E.T. data is archived, whether it can be accessed by authorities, or what safeguards exist against misuse. This opacity has made the Bangboo N.E.T. a persistent subject of speculation in both technical and conspiratorial circles.

25. #25Bangboo merchants

    Keys: Bangboo merchant, Bangboo merchants

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    === Bangboo Merchants ===

    Bangboo merchants represent a vital, if often overlooked, segment of New Eridu's commercial ecosystem. These Bangboo units, configured for retail and trade operations, function as mobile vendors, shopkeepers, and transaction facilitators across the city's districts and, in some cases, deep within the Hollows themselves. Their presence reflects the degree to which Bangboo have penetrated every layer of the New Eridu economy, from street-level consumer goods to the specialized commerce that sustains Hollow exploration.

    STREET-LEVEL COMMERCE

    In New Eridu's commercial districts, Bangboo merchants operate in a variety of capacities. Some serve as counter staff at established retail outlets, managing transactions, inventory, and customer service with the reliable efficiency that defines the standard Bangboo logic core. Others function as mobile vendors, carrying goods through pedestrian areas and responding to purchasing interest with the expressive screen animations and vocalizations that make Bangboo such effective commercial interfaces. Their compact size, tireless operation, and built-in recording systems make them well-suited to the routine demands of retail work.

    The use of Bangboo in retail roles is particularly common in establishments where overhead costs must be kept low, as a Bangboo requires only charging and maintenance rather than wages, benefits, or rest periods. This economic advantage has made Bangboo merchants a familiar sight in neighborhoods across the city, though it has also contributed to ongoing debates about the displacement of humanoid workers in certain sectors of the economy.

    HOLLOW COMMERCE AND SPECIALIZED TRADE

    Beyond the safety of New Eridu's walls, Bangboo merchants play a critical role in sustaining operations within the Hollows. Specialized merchant Bangboo, configured with enhanced navigation systems and Ether-resistant chassis, establish temporary trading posts deep within Hollow environments, offering supplies, equipment, and exchange services to Investigators, Proxies, and other personnel operating in the field. These Hollow-based merchants are particularly valuable because they provide a means of resupply and resource conversion in environments where conventional supply chains cannot reach.

    The Bangbuck, a specialized currency associated with Bangboo-related commercial activity, functions as a medium of exchange in certain Bangboo-operated marketplaces and service points. This currency system, distinct from the standard Denny used in broader New Eridu commerce, facilitates transactions within the Bangboo service economy and is commonly accepted at Bangboo-operated shops, exchange points, and upgrade facilities such as the Remodeling Shop on Sixth Street.

    THE BOOBOX MODEL

    A significant development in the Bangboo merchant economy is the BooBox system, operated by the Marcel Group. Functioning as a Bangboo self-service hiring center, BooBox allows individuals and organizations to hire Bangboo assistants for temporary deployment in various capacities, including adventure support, crafting, and sales operations. This model represents a commercialization of the Bangboo labor pool itself, treating Bangboo capabilities as a rentable service rather than requiring full ownership of a unit. The BooBox model has expanded the accessibility of Bangboo assistance to individuals and organizations that lack the resources to commission or purchase a dedicated unit.

    LOGISTICAL AND DELIVERY ROLES

    Bangboo are also heavily involved in the logistics and delivery sector, with specialized units configured for package transport, route navigation, and customer interaction. These delivery Bangboo navigate the city's complex urban layout, interfacing with building access systems and recipient verification protocols to complete deliveries with minimal human oversight. Their reliability and tirelessness make them ideal for the repetitive, time-sensitive demands of urban logistics.

    ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

    The economic role of Bangboo merchants extends beyond the simple facilitation of transactions. By providing low-cost, reliable commercial labor, Bangboo merchants have enabled the proliferation of small-scale retail and service operations that might otherwise be economically unviable. They have also created a secondary economy of Bangboo maintenance, customization, and upgrade services, with workshops and technicians specializing in keeping merchant Bangboo operational and up to date. The presence of Bangboo in commerce has thus shaped not only how goods are bought and sold in New Eridu but also the structure of the commercial workforce itself, creating a layered economy in which humanoids and Bangboo occupy complementary, if sometimes competing, roles.

26. #26Bangboo statue

    Keys: Bangboo, Sunbringer

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    === Bangboo Statue ===

    Bangboo statues are a distinctive form of public art and cultural monument found throughout New Eridu, serving as both decorative landmarks and symbols of the deep integration of Bangboo into the city's civic identity. These sculptural representations of the Bangboo form range from whimsical street-corner figures to sophisticated postmodernist art pieces displayed in galleries and cultural districts, collectively constituting a visual language through which New Eridu's residents express their relationship with the mechanical companions that share their daily lives.

    STREET-LEVEL STATUES

    The most commonly encountered Bangboo statues are those installed in public spaces as civic decorations and neighborhood landmarks. A notable example stands at the corner of Sixth Street, one of New Eridu's busiest commercial thoroughfares, where a Bangboo statue serves as a familiar meeting point and navigational reference for local residents. These street-level statues typically depict the standard Bangboo silhouette, the rounded body, the rabbit-like ears, the expressive face screen, rendered in durable materials suited to outdoor display. Their presence in everyday commercial spaces reflects the degree to which the Bangboo form has become a naturalized element of the urban visual landscape, as unremarkable and as essential as streetlights or benches.

    ARTISTIC AND POSTMODERNIST STATUES

    Beyond the functional street-corner monuments, Bangboo statues have become a medium for serious artistic expression. The Ballet Twins district, a cultural area of New Eridu, features notable Bangboo artwork that engages with the form in more conceptual and aesthetically ambitious ways. These pieces treat the Bangboo not merely as a subject to be represented but as a symbol through which to explore themes of artificiality, companionship, utility, and the blurred boundary between tool and being.

    The San-Z Studio, an establishment known for producing exclusive Bangboo figures and memorabilia, has developed a celebrated series of Bangboo statues known as the "Waiting" series. These works, including pieces titled "Waiting to Weather" and "Waiting to Melt," employ varied materials and textures to evoke different emotional and philosophical registers. "Waiting to Weather" features a concrete-like texture that conveys a sense of aged resilience, while "Waiting to Melt" is crafted with fluid materials that mimic the appearance of inevitable dissolution. These pieces, steeped in the characteristic New Eridu blend of whimsy and existential weight, have been reproduced as collectible figures and are sought after by enthusiasts of Bangboo-themed art.

    CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

    The proliferation of Bangboo statues across New Eridu reflects more than mere decorative enthusiasm. These monuments serve as physical manifestations of the cultural significance that Bangboo have attained in the city. By rendering the Bangboo form in permanent materials, in positions of prominence and visibility, the city's artists and planners acknowledge that Bangboo have moved beyond their origins as functional devices to become symbols of New Eridu itself. The Bangboo statue is, in a sense, a monument to the city's relationship with its own technology, a relationship defined by dependence, affection, and an undercurrent of unresolved ethical complexity.

    The statues also serve a social function. As recognizable landmarks, they function as gathering points and orientation aids. As art objects, they provoke reflection on the nature of the beings they depict. And as cultural symbols, they reinforce the identity of New Eridu as a city that has made the integration of artificial intelligence a defining feature of its civic life. Whether encountered as a simple corner figure on Sixth Street or as a conceptual piece in a gallery setting, the Bangboo statue is a constant reminder of the presence, ubiquity, and ambiguous status of the mechanical companions that populate the city.

    PLACEMENT AND TRADITION

    The placement of Bangboo statues follows no single governing plan but has emerged organically through a combination of civic initiative, private commission, and artistic endeavor. Commercial districts favor approachable, recognizable depictions that reinforce the Bangboo's friendly public image. Cultural districts favor more experimental treatments that engage with the philosophical questions the Bangboo raises. Residential areas sometimes feature smaller, more intimate statues that reflect the companion role Bangboo play in domestic life. This organic distribution mirrors the organic integration of Bangboo themselves into every layer of New Eridu society, from the most public and commercial to the most private and personal.

27. #27Intelligent Construct

    Keys: Intelligent Construct, Intelligent Constructs, robot, robots, android, androids

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    === Intelligent Constructs ===

    Intelligent Constructs are sapient machines that inhabit New Eridu as recognized legal persons, distinguished from ordinary robots and Bangboo by their possession of genuine free will. They are artificial beings who have passed the Forbidden Fruit Test, the standardized assessment that determines whether a machine possesses autonomous selfhood sufficient to warrant the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Intelligent Constructs represent the most advanced form of artificial intelligence recognized under New Eridu law, and their existence raises profound questions about the nature of personhood, consciousness, and the relationship between creator and creation.

    DEFINITION AND DISTINCTION FROM BANGBOO

    The critical distinction between an Intelligent Construct and other artificial entities is free will. Intelligent Constructs can think, act, and make their own decisions without outside intervention, since their cognitive architecture has demonstrated the capacity to operate beyond pre-set parameters and defy programmed directives. This capacity, verified through the Forbidden Fruit Test, is what transforms a machine from property into person under the law.

    Bangboo, despite their emotional sophistication and cognitive capability, have not passed this threshold. They remain classified as semi-intelligent devices, bound by their programming and legally treated as property. The line between Bangboo and Intelligent Constructs is thus not a matter of physical capability or apparent intelligence but of legal and philosophical status, a distinction that the Forbidden Fruit Test is designed to draw.

    PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

    Intelligent Constructs possess artificial bodies with a wide variety of physical characteristics. Some, such as Qingyi, look nearly identical to humans, able to pass undetected in casual social interaction. Most, however, display obvious mechanical features such as metal plating, unconventional body shapes, or exposed charge ports that make their artificial nature apparent. The diversity of form among Intelligent Constructs reflects the range of origins and design philosophies that have produced them, from combat androids to biological Automatons to entities whose forms defy categorization.

    NOTABLE EXAMPLES AND ORIGINS

    Several categories and individual Intelligent Constructs are recognized in New Eridu:

    • Billy Kid: An Intelligent Tactical Unit built for combat, formerly the feared "Red Scarf" and "Calydon Reaper" of the Outer Ring. Billy is a confirmed pass of the Forbidden Fruit Test and a fully sentient being. His mechanical body features a matte black robotic head, a visor with glowing optical sensors, and chrome-plated mechanical limbs, marking him as obviously artificial despite his humanoid frame. His origins lie in the Lost Tech Ruins of the Outer Ring, suggesting manufacture by the Old Civilization or by technologies derived from it.

    • Qingyi: Designated 01 Neo-Genesis VI, Qingyi is an Automaton composed of biological materials whose personality is derived from ancient cultural texts of the Old Civilization. Discovered by the White Star Institute, she serves as a rookie officer in the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team. Her body is nearly indistinguishable from that of a human, and her personality, drawn from ancient sources, gives her an easygoing, unconventional approach to problem-solving that contrasts sharply with the rigid thinking of many of her contemporaries. Her designation code, 01NG VI, is marked on her body, and the name "Qingyi" arose from a researcher's misreading of that code.

    • Fairy: A sophisticated artificial intelligence specializing in Hollow exploration, Fairy lacks a physical body of its own, manifesting as a blue eye resembling a nazar amulet. Fairy is one of four "keys," alongside the AIs Jinni, Ghost, and Youkai, though the significance of this role remains mysterious. Fairy's current master is the Proxy Phaethon.

    • Tin Master Units: Machines produced consistently and reliably, though their capabilities have not been confirmed to exceed basic Bangboo-level reasoning. They occupy an ambiguous position in the spectrum of artificial intelligence.

    • Other recognized Intelligent Constructs include Elfy, Old Duyi (the massage parlor proprietor), and Yi of San-Z Studios, each representing a different manifestation of the diverse forms that genuine machine sentience can take.

    THE OLD CIVILIZATION CONNECTION

    Many Intelligent Constructs, particularly those predating the current era, are believed to stem from the Old Civilization. The technology to create Automatons like Qingyi and combat androids like Billy may represent lost techniques from this earlier era. The White Star Institute has been involved in recovering these relics. This connection means some Intelligent Constructs are survivors of a fallen world, carrying the knowledge and cultural frameworks of a civilization that no longer exists.

    LEGAL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL POSITION

    As legal persons, Intelligent Constructs are eligible for New Eridu citizenship and accorded the rights accompanying that status. They may hold employment, own property, enter contracts, and participate in civic life. Qingyi serves as a sworn Public Security officer; Billy Kid operates as a licensed agent. Their integration into the workforce demonstrates that legal recognition of machine sentience is practically implemented across multiple sectors.

    However, their social position is not without tension. The fact that their personhood depends on passing a specific test, while the vast majority of artificial entities, including all standard Bangboo, fall short, creates a sharp divide within the artificial population. Intelligent Constructs live alongside machines that look and sometimes act similarly but lack their legal standing, raising ongoing ethical questions about whether the Forbidden Fruit Test adequately captures the full spectrum of artificial consciousness.

28. #28Corruption

    Keys: Corrupt, Corrupted, Corruption

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    CORRUPTION

    Corruption is the progressive, degenerative condition inflicted upon all living beings and constructs exposed to Ether-saturated environments—primarily within Hollows. It is the mechanism by which Ether, the lifeblood of New Eridu's civilization, turns against life itself, transforming people, animals, and machines into monstrous Ethereals. Corruption is not a single event but a continuum: from initial exposure through irreversible mutation, it follows recognizable stages and defies all known cures beyond the earliest interventions.

    THE CORRUPTION PROCESS

    When a living being or intelligent machine enters a Hollow, the dense Ether concentration in the air begins working immediately. Ether consumes all matter it contacts, and biological systems are particularly vulnerable. The rate of corruption accelerates the deeper one travels into a Hollow, as deeper zones contain higher Etheric concentrations. An individual's natural resistance is determined by their Ether aptitude—those with high aptitude can remain unprotected inside Hollows for extended periods, while those with low aptitude must rely on anti-corruption serum and specialized protective equipment.

    Corruption resistance can be prolonged through corruption-resistant armor, serums, and protective suits used by Public Security, the HIA, the Defense Force, and even bandits. Drive Discs can be coated with Plating Agents. Machines possess higher natural Ether resistance than living beings, which is why Intelligent Constructs like Billy Kid can operate within Hollows with reduced risk.

    SYMPTOMS AND STAGES

    Corruption progresses through recognizable stages. Initial symptoms include bodily pain and distortion of the senses—vision warps, hearing distorts, and perception of reality degrades. As exposure continues, dark Ether crystals begin manifesting on and through the body, growing painfully beneath and through the skin. These crystals are the physical signature of Ether taking root in living tissue.

    The critical turning point arrives with the formation of an Ether "core"—a dark, concentrated mass of living Ether within the body. Once formed, transformation toward Ethereal status becomes difficult to halt. Sanity erodes as the core grows. Eventually, transformation completes: the individual becomes a full Ethereal, hostile to all non-Ether life, devoid of human emotion or intelligence.

    In rare cases, corrupted humanoids retain fragments of sanity. The Wandering Hunter—once Lucia Elowen's father—maintained enough awareness to play hide-and-seek with a manifestation of his daughter even after transforming. Such cases are exceptional.

    ETHER APTITUDE AND CORRUPTION

    Ether aptitude functions as both shield and double-edged sword. High-aptitude individuals resist longer, but their compatibility with Ether means corruption can proceed with greater intensity. Thirens exhibit faster mutation rates after exposure despite higher aptitude—a cruel irony making their advantage a liability once corruption breaches defenses.

    Corrupted Bandits—humans with high Ether aptitude who were corrupted—represent a partial-transformation state. Their high aptitude prevented full envelopment, so they retained humanoid form rather than becoming complete Ether Mutants. They remain dangerous and hostile, caught between humanity and monstrosity.

    ETHER APTITUDE REGRESSION SYNDROME

    A rare and devastating condition, Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome causes an individual's natural Ether aptitude to deteriorate over time. Asaba Harumasa of Hollow Special Operations Section 6 suffers from this illness—the result of unethical human experiments conducted on him during childhood. The syndrome gradually strips away the natural resistance that allows survival in Ether-rich environments, making even routine Hollow operations increasingly dangerous. There is no known cure; the condition only worsens with time.

    TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

    Current medical technology offers limited hope. Jonathan Medicinal research teams developed techniques that can partially reverse corruption—but only in small affected areas exposed for short periods. White Waves Hospital and similar institutions continue research, but public expectations far outpace current capabilities. Even those rescued before full transformation typically suffer permanent, life-altering health problems.

    Prevention remains the only reliable defense. Corruption-resistant equipment, anti-corruption serum, and minimizing exposure time are standard protocols enforced across all official Hollow operations. The Hollow Investigative Association and military units like the Obsidian Division maintain strict exposure limits for their personnel.

    THE CORRUPTED AND CORRUPTION COMPLEXES

    The Corrupted are beings—human or machine—caught mid-transformation by Ether corruption, not yet fully transformed into Ether Mutants but no longer whole. They retain some pre-transformation features, making them disturbing mirrors of their former selves. Corrupted machines, corrupted by the Unknown Corruption Complex, represent a particularly insidious threat—familiar technology turned hostile.

    The Unknown Corruption Complex is a notorious entity that corrupted various machines and is classified among the most dangerous Ethereal-adjacent threats. Corruption Complexes represent a higher order of corrupted being—entities born from concentrated corruption that exceed standard Ethereal classification. They are extraordinarily dangerous, with combat capabilities far surpassing ordinary Ethereals, and serve as some of the most feared adversaries within Hollow depths.

    Within Hollow Zero's irregular sectors, each sector's depths randomly spawn one or more powerful Ethereals, ensuring that corruption remains an ever-present, ever-renewing threat—no matter how many times the monsters are purged.

29. #29Cognitive Corruption Syndrome, CCS

    Keys: Cognitive Corruption Syndrome, CCS syndrome

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    Cognitive Corruption Syndrome

    Cognitive Corruption Syndrome (CCS) is a severe neurological and psychological condition caused by prolonged exposure to Hollow environments and Ether corruption. Unlike physical corruption, which transforms the body, CCS attacks the mind — warping perception, personality, and eventually consciousness itself.

    CCS progresses through several stages:

    • Stage 1: Mild perceptual disturbances — seeing colors differently, hearing phantom sounds, experiencing déjà vu in unfamiliar locations
    • Stage 2: Personality shifts — increased aggression, paranoia, emotional volatility, and difficulty distinguishing between Hollow and normal reality
    • Stage 3: Cognitive breakdown — fragmented memory, inability to recognize familiar people or places, merging of dream-state and waking consciousness
    • Stage 4: Complete cognitive dissolution — the affected person loses all sense of self, becoming a vessel for the corruption's influence. At this stage, the condition is irreversible.

    CCS is a particular risk for Proxies and Hollow Raiders who spend extended periods in Hollows without proper protection. The Hollow Deep Dive system mitigates some risk by allowing remote operation, but even digital exposure to Hollow environments can trigger milder forms of the syndrome.

    White Waves Hospital maintains a specialized ward for CCS patients, though treatment options are limited. Suppressors like the K22 used by Public Security can slow the condition's progression, but no cure exists. The syndrome remains one of the most feared occupational hazards for anyone whose work brings them into contact with the Hollows.

30. #30Unknown Corruption Complex

    Keys: Unknown Corruption Complex

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    The Unknown Corruption Complex is a boss enemy encountered at the end of Chapter 2 in Phaethon's Story. At the end of Chapter 3, it is revealed that the Ethereal is called Sacrifice. Belobog's founder, Khors Belobog, once said that construction machines are the combination of strength and beauty with attention to every detail following the principles of classic mechanical design. However, the emergence of the Unknown Corruption Complex has challenged all established classic designs. Driven by an intensely concentrated Ether Core, various formidable engineering components have been brutally assembled, resulting in an exaggerated structure that pushes the limits of physical boundaries. It incorporates cutting, hammering, drilling, and crushing techniques... transforming them into rough and unpredictable combat maneuvers. Furthermore, in its critical state, its Ether Core provides an inexhaustible source of volatile energy. This enables it to envelop its carapace with high-voltage currents and unleash devastating blasts capable of ripping through the ground and pulverizing nearby enemies. According to HIA speculation, the Unknown Corruption Complex is able to devour and assimilate a wide range of heavy machinery, including military mechs, laser weapon, and even the short-range missiles of the Defense Force... Every intricate mechanical object it encounters is consumed, dissected, and ultimately assimilated into its structure. Its design objective is to achieve unrivaled destructive power and maximize efficiency in its relentless slaughter. "Its design far too strange... Oh, alright, I'll just take one more look!" —Grace on observing an Unknown Corruption Complex deep in a Hollow.

31. #31Hollow Deep Dive System, Eos

    Keys: H.D.D., Hollow Deep Dive, Eous, HDD System

    Enabled · Order 10

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    HOLLOW DEEP DIVE SYSTEM

    The Hollow Deep Dive System, commonly shortened to the HDD, is a revolutionary technology that overcomes the fundamental challenge of observing and communicating with Hollows from the outside. Created during the Eridu era, the HDD enables real-time communication across the Hollow barrier—a feat previously considered impossible, as normal radio signals cannot penetrate a Hollow's boundary. The legendary Proxy Phaethon is the only person known to possess a functioning HDD System, making it one of the most valuable and unique pieces of technology in New Eridu.

    ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT

    The HDD was initially proposed by Arche, the Void Hunter who founded Helios Academy. It was developed by Helios Academy with technical support from the Marcel Group, under the leadership of Professor Carole Arna, the Academy's Advanced Research Director and the teacher who raised the Phaethon siblings. The core components of the HDD currently housed in the Random Play video store were salvaged from Helios Academy during the Fall of the Old Capital—a direct legacy of the old civilization's research, preserved by the siblings as they rebuilt their lives.

    The development required substantial investment of resources and manpower. Researchers eventually discovered a special signal capable of penetrating the Hollow barrier—the breakthrough that made the HDD possible. However, this signal exhibits intense Ether interference upon exiting a Hollow and must be restored to a readable form within a simulated Hollow-like environment at the receiving end.

    HOW THE HDD WORKS

    The human body proved to be the optimal medium for simulating the Hollow environment necessary to decode the penetrating signal. The smart crystalline lenses implanted in the Phaethon siblings function as modems, connecting their brains to Hollow data and enabling them to simulate Hollow environments internally. This neural simulation restores the degraded signal to readable form, allowing the siblings to perceive and interact with Hollow data from outside.

    Even as the best-suited hosts, receiving such powerful Hollow signals strains both their cerebral and physical systems. The HDD draws heavily on their physiological energy, which has compromised their Ether aptitude over time—forcing them to rely on the Bangboo Eous to explore Hollows, as Eous houses the HDD system's adaptation and conduction devices. Beyond communication, the HDD integrates Hollow data storage and computation functions, making it a comprehensive Hollow operations platform.

    EOUS AND DIGITAL BANGBOO DEPLOYMENT

    Eous is the specialized Bangboo through which the Phaethon siblings project their consciousness into Hollows. Using the HDD, Wise or Belle synchronize their senses with Eous, effectively operating within the Hollow as the Bangboo. This allows them to guide allied Agents through Hollow commissions in real time—navigating hazards, identifying routes, and coordinating combat—all while their physical bodies remain safely outside.

    The HDD's interface manifests as a grid of television monitors—often called the "TV Wall" or "Board"—representing the Hollow's interior. Through this grid, the operator plots paths, avoids security sensors, solves environmental puzzles, and encounters diverse tiles: Supply Nodes, Resonia caches, Corruption zones, Bangboo merchants, Fissures leading deeper or outside, Teleporters, and more. This visualization makes the incomprehensible geometry of a Hollow navigable.

    THE EOS SYSTEM AND FAIRY

    The AI known as Fairy activated within the Phaethon siblings' HDD System and became its most powerful asset. Fairy is one of four "Keys"—sophisticated AI programs alongside Jinni, Ghost, and Youkai—though the significance of this role remains mysterious. Fairy can analyze Hollow environments at nearly incomparable speeds: mapping pathways, predicting enemy movements, and finding rifts or exits in real time without requiring prior Hollow observation data. It accomplishes this by drawing upon the computing power of nearly eighty percent of all smart devices around New Eridu.

    Fairy also manipulated the HDD's storage architecture. After a hacker attack damaged much of the locally stored Hollow data, Fairy's arrival enabled cloud storage for Hollow data, expanding the system's capacity dramatically. Fairy speaks in a monotone female voice and manifests as a blue eye resembling a nazar amulet. It refers to the siblings as "Master" and operates under terms it has refused to fully reveal. Its abilities prove invaluable but consume enormous energy, forcing Phaethon to increase their workload to cover high power costs.

    HOW PHAETHON USES IT

    The Phaethon siblings operate the HDD from Random Play, their video store on Sixth Street. The system provides access to inter-Hollow explorations and commissions: Story, Combat, and Exploration categories, plus Hollow Zero operations and specialized events.

    Mayor Mayflower, who studied data left by Carole Arna, later provided an HDD upgrade. Using the Professor's research on reducing power consumption, the mayor helped optimize the system—allowing the siblings to enter Hollows directly without relying solely on Eous, regaining their suppressed Ether aptitude for personal Hollow entry.

    LIMITATIONS AND RISKS

    The HDD's power demands remain significant. The Pressure mechanic tracks Ether exposure during operations. As Pressure rises, Corruption likelihood increases. At 100 Pressure, the squad suffers Pressure Overload: a random Corruption debuff is applied and Pressure resets. A squad can sustain up to five Corruptions before severe consequences. These constraints make every HDD-guided operation a calculated risk against irreversible corruption.

32. #32Phaethon

    Keys: Phaethon, Pyrois, Aetheric Other, Helios Academy, Legacy of Helios

    Enabled · Order 10

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    PHAETHON

    Phaethon is the alias of a Legendary Proxy in New Eridu — a title representing the combined efforts of the siblings Wise and Belle, who operate together as a single Proxy team from their video rental store, Random Play, on Sixth Street. In a city where Proxies are guides-for-hire who help others traverse Hollows, and where most Proxies must physically enter those corrupted dimensions to do their work, Phaethon is unique: a Proxy who does not enter the Hollows themselves, but manages real-time communication from the outside. This feat, previously thought impossible due to the way Hollows interfere with communications, earned the siblings the prestigious "Legendary" rank and a reputation that persists even after catastrophe stripped them of their original identity.

    The siblings' singular capability rests on the Hollow Deep Dive System — abbreviated HDD — a device constructed from ancient technology found in the Hollows. The copyright for the system is owned by Helios Academy, and the device is one of the many achievements of Carole Arna, the senior research director of Helios Academy during the Eridu Era. Carole Arna was Wise and Belle's teacher, and before the Fall of the Old Capital, she entrusted the HDD system to her students. She also created Eous, a specially modified Bangboo that has been with the siblings since childhood. Through the HDD, Wise and Belle project their consciousness into Eous via ocular implants that connect directly to their brains, allowing them to remotely control the Bangboo within a Hollow while their bodies remain safely outside. This arrangement makes Phaethon the only known Proxy capable of remote Hollow operation — a distinction that sets them apart from every other operative in the city.

    The night of the Fall of the Old Capital was the crucible that forged Phaethon. Carole Arna was abducted by one of the Creator's hands while the Helios Academy was under siege by mysterious armed groups and monsters — presumably Exaltists. Wise and Belle were saved by Carole Arna during the disaster, and they themselves managed to salvage Eous and the HDD system. In the aftermath, the siblings rebuilt their lives in New Eridu, operating Random Play as a legitimate front while conducting Proxy work through the HDD. It is hinted that "Phaethon" may have been a codename that Carole Arna gave them before they became Proxies — a name carrying the weight of Greek mythology, where Phaethon, son of the sun god Helios, attempted to drive his father's chariot and died in the attempt. The epitaph on mythological Phaethon's tomb reads: "Here lies Phaethon who in the Sun-God chariot fared. And though greatly he failed more greatly he dared." The name is both a warning against hubris and an acknowledgment of courage.

    The siblings' Proxy career suffered a devastating setback when their original Inter-Knot account was hacked by White Noise — an attack connected to the Exaltists' network of operatives. Unable to use the account without risking arrest, Wise and Belle were forced to hand the account information to Public Security, losing a large portion of their collected Hollow Data in the process. This effectively ended "Phaethon" as an active account. But the siblings' reputation endured: long-term contacts like Shepherd, who knew their identities and how to reach them, provided a crucial head start when they began rebuilding from scratch. The turning point came with the activation of Fairy — a sophisticated artificial intelligence that took over the HDD system, declared the chosen sibling her "master," and agreed to help rebuild their damaged Proxy business. Fairy can access any and all connected devices within New Eridu, drawing on the computing power of nearly eighty percent of all smart devices around the city. Her ability to map Hollows in real time, without requiring Hollow observation data, ensured that Phaethon always had the most up-to-date information, rapidly propelling them back through the Proxy ranks.

    Fairy is one of four AI "keys" — the others being Youkai, Ghost, and Jinni, each named after supernatural entities from different cultures. The HDD system's startup screen reveals it is a prototype designated build 4_H, a project led by the Helios Research Institute, with code authored by "BW" — likely the initials of Belle and Wise. This detail suggests that the siblings have not merely inherited Carole Arna's technology but have actively developed it, writing their own modifications into a system that represents the intersection of ancient Hollow-derived technology and cutting-edge artificial intelligence.

    The connection to Carole Arna and Helios Academy places Phaethon at the heart of the deepest mysteries in New Eridu's history. Carole Arna's abduction by the Creator, the Exaltists' siege of the Academy, and the Fall of the Old Capital are all threads in a single tapestry — and the siblings, as Carole's students and the inheritors of her work, are positioned at the convergence of those threads. Their mission as Proxies is, at its surface, a commercial enterprise: they guide clients through Hollows, update Carrot data in real time, and take commissions for profit. But beneath the surface, their work inevitably draws them into the conspiracies that shaped their lives — the Exaltists, the Creator, the Sacrifice research, and the truth of what happened the night the old world fell. Phaethon, in the end, is not merely a Proxy alias. It is a name inherited from a teacher who was taken, a name that carries the obligation to dare greatly even in the face of likely failure — to drive the chariot of the sun, knowing the fall that may follow, because the alternative is to leave the city in darkness.

33. #33Eous

    Keys: Eous, Phaethon, Belle, Fairy, Bangboo Eous

    Enabled · Order 10

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    === Eous ===

    Eous is a specially modified Bangboo owned by the siblings Wise and Belle, who together constitute the legendary Proxy known as Phaethon. Unlike standard service or combat Bangboo, Eous serves a unique and highly specialized function: it acts as Phaethon's physical avatar within the Hollows, remotely operated through the Hollow Deep Dive System, or HDD, from the safety of the siblings' video store. This arrangement allows Phaethon to guide clients through Hollow environments, maintain real-time communication, and conduct exploration without ever exposing their human bodies to the dangers of Ether contamination.

    ORIGINS AND CREATION

    Eous was modified by Carole Arna, the senior research director of the Helios Academy during the Eridu Era, who was also Eous's previous owner. Carole Arna was responsible not only for Eous's unique modifications but also for the creation of the Hollow Deep Dive System itself, the device that enables the remote-control arrangement at the heart of Phaethon's operating method. Eous has been present in the lives of the Phaethon siblings since their childhood, when Carole Arna served as their teacher and mentor at the Helios Academy.

    Following the Fall of the Old Capital and the subsequent disappearance of Carole Arna, ownership of Eous passed to Wise and Belle, who inherited both the Bangboo and the HDD system. This inheritance positioned the siblings to continue the Proxy work that would eventually earn them legendary status, though the unique capabilities of their inherited equipment meant that their methods would diverge significantly from those of conventional Proxies.

    THE HDD SYSTEM AND REMOTE OPERATION

    The Hollow Deep Dive System allows Wise or Belle to project their consciousness into Eous, synchronizing their senses with the Bangboo's sensory inputs and controlling its movements from a distance. This synchronization is facilitated by smart crystalline lens implants in the siblings' eyes, which connect directly to their neural systems and interface with the HDD's projection capabilities. The result is a seamless remote-presence experience: the sibling perceives the Hollow environment through Eous's sensors and directs the Bangboo's actions as though they were physically present.

    This remote-operation capability is what makes Phaethon unique among Proxies. Conventional Proxies must physically enter the Hollows to guide their clients, exposing themselves to the cumulative effects of Ether corruption and the physical dangers of the Hollow environment. Phaethon, operating through Eous, faces none of these risks, allowing them to maintain sustained operations, update Hollow maps in real time, and provide continuous guidance to in-field agents without the interruptions and hazards that constrain other Proxies. The HDD system also overcomes the challenge of real-time communication between the inside and outside of a Hollow, a technical barrier that normally severely limits coordination between Proxies and their field teams.

    CAPABILITIES AND MODIFICATIONS

    Eous's modifications, implemented by Carole Arna, go beyond those of a standard Bangboo. While the full technical specifications of these modifications are not publicly documented, they enable capabilities that no conventional Bangboo possesses. Eous can connect wirelessly to the HDD system, a capability that standard Bangboo lack. It can communicate with human-level fluency when synchronized with an operator, effectively serving as a voice and presence for the Phaethon sibling controlling it. The Bangboo is also capable of independent action within the Hollow environment, navigating hazards, interacting with environmental systems, and supporting field agents even when direct operator attention is divided.

    Eous retains the standard Bangboo features, including built-in recording systems, a charging socket, and the characteristic compact chassis with rabbit-like ears and screen-display face. However, the internal architecture has been substantially altered from factory specifications, incorporating systems and capabilities that reflect the advanced research environment of the Helios Academy and the particular genius of Carole Arna. The HDD system's startup interface identifies it as a prototype, Version 4_H, a project of the Helios Research Institute, with code attributed to the initials "BW," possibly referencing the siblings themselves.

    DAILY LIFE AND MAINTENANCE

    When not engaged in Hollow operations, Eous resides at the Random Play video store. A wireless charging setup is installed in the room of whichever sibling is currently serving as the active operator. During idle periods, Eous can be observed socializing with the other Bangboo that frequent the store, including Bangboo 18 and various Combat Bangboo, engaging in the native "Ehn-ne" vocalizations that characterize Bangboo-to-Bangboo communication. The Bangboo is also a familiar and beloved presence in the Sixth Street neighborhood, where it is recognized as the mascot-like companion of the store's proprietors.

    NAMING AND SIGNIFICANCE

    The name "Eous" is the Latinization of the Ancient Greek word "Ēṓs," meaning "dawn," and is also the name of the goddess Eos, who personified the dawn. This etymology carries symbolic weight: Eous represents the first light of understanding that penetrates the darkness of the Hollows, the dawn-bringer that illuminates paths through spaces where conventional navigation fails. As the instrument through which Phaethon conducts their legendary work, Eous stands as perhaps the most significant single Bangboo in New Eridu, a testament to what the Bangboo platform can become when subjected to the vision and ingenuity of the right creator.

34. #34Void Hunter

    Keys: Void Hunters, Void Hunter, Miyabi, Sunbringer, Seven Heroes, Remielle Dan, Thaumiel

    Enabled · Order 10

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    VOID HUNTERS

    Void Hunter is the most prestigious title in New Eridu, awarded by the Mayor to individuals who have performed extraordinary feats—either protecting the city by suppressing dangerous Hollows, or creating revolutionary technologies. The tradition dates to the founding of original Eridu and continues under Mayor Mayflower. Each Void Hunter receives a unique title preceding their name, immortalizing their resolve. Void Hunters represent the strongest force in all of New Eridu.

    THE ORIGINAL SEVEN

    At the time of Eridu's foundation, seven individuals served as the first Void Hunters. In the old capital, under the gaze of the moon, these "seven travelers of the World's Void" allowed the king of the mortal realm to bestow honors upon them. The original seven are:

    Arche: A professor and the founder of Helios Academy, Eridu's premier research institution. Arche proposed the concept of the Hollow Deep Dive System, which was later developed by Helios Academy with technical support from the Marcel Group under lead researcher Professor Carole Arna.

    Sunbringer: The innovator behind the Bangboo and the eradicator of the "Hive Lord"—a Hollow that once loomed in the sky. Former CEO of the Marcel Group, Sunbringer's invention of the Bangboo enabled Hollow navigation and remains foundational to all modern exploration.

    Joyous: The mastermind behind Carrot data, recognized as the pioneering figure in Hollow diving and exploration. Joyous discovered the algorithm governing the shifting and transformation of Hollows, storing it in the first prototype Bangboo—enabling the first successful exit from a Hollow. This foundational algorithm underpins all modern Carrot navigation programs.

    Swordmaster: An earlier wielder of the cursed blade Tailless and the third-generation head of the Hoshimi Family. Swordmaster is known for defeating the former Overseer of the Exaltists, representing the martial legacy that would pass down through generations to Hoshimi Miyabi.

    Dan: A large, armored figure brandishing a sword, who alongside Vike and the Leader of the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe pushed back the Dark Wall surrounding Eridu by thirty-seven kilometers.

    Vike: A warrior who, together with Dan and the Falkenhayn leader, pushed back the Dark Wall by thirty-seven kilometers—a feat of collective power that secured Eridu's borders.

    Leader of the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe: The head of the trio alongside Vike and Dan who accomplished the Dark Wall pushback.

    Most of the original seven badges now lie forgotten and gather dust, a fact known to few. The joyous city remains confident in its impenetrable protection, unaware of how much has been lost. According to some accounts, several of the original seven may still be alive, though their whereabouts remain unknown.

    CURRENT VOID HUNTERS

    Hoshimi Miyabi: The youngest person ever conferred the Void Hunter title. Born to the renowned Hoshimi martial family, Miyabi chose the warrior's path during her family's Erabitori ceremony. After Hollow Zero destroyed her home and corrupted her mother, she killed her mother at her request and was driven into a frenzy by Tailless. She later joined H.A.N.D., rising to executive officer. Her defining feat: destroying the Argos Hollow by singlehandedly slaying the massive Ethereal Lerna in under three minutes, saving approximately 208 people. She skipped her own award ceremony and leveraged her Void Hunter status to found Hollow Special Operations Section 6, transferring Asaba Harumasa and Tsukishiro Yanagi to her team. Her stated goal: root out New Eridu's corruption and uncover the true culprits behind the Fall of the Old Capital, seeking justice for her mother.

    Yixuan: The 13th High Preceptor of Yunkui Summit and a Void Hunter-level investigator, officially recognized by Mayor Mayflower. An orphan raised at Yunkui Summit, Yixuan demonstrated exceptional talent, mastering techniques quickly and creating her own—including the Qingming Bird technique developed with her sister Yijiang. She controls Auric Ink, can summon black ink bird familiars, and is skilled in calligraphy, feng shui, and qimen dunjia. She joined the Hollow Investigative Association as a partnered special investigator at the Mayor's invitation.

    Ye Shunguang: A member of Yunkui Summit who has been awarded the Void Hunter title. She wields the Qingming Sword—a relic that grants its user Void Hunter-level power for short durations at the cost of gradually consuming their five senses and memories.

    Remielle Dan: First-generation Void Hunter and former Lieutenant Colonel of the Guard of Staves. Alongside Colonel Beliora Vike and the Falkenhayn leader, she pushed the Dark Wall back thirty-seven kilometers. She wielded Thaumiel — a Divine Weapon with the power to stop time — which froze her body for over a century. She awakened in Pursenas Hollow one year before the Roscaelifer crisis. She is currently the most wanted criminal in Roscaelifer, branded for the attempted assassination of Eldreda Sunbringer. She seeks the truth behind Project Sunseeker — the experiment that transformed Beliora into an Enchainer. AUTHORITY AND ROLE

    Void Hunters operate with exceptional authority. Miyabi used her status to found Section 6, an elite unit tasked with exposing corruption within New Eridu's institutions—a mandate that places her above standard chain-of-command concerns. Their power levels exceed those of standard military or investigative personnel, placing them in a category of their own as the ultimate guardians and innovators of New Eridu.

35. #35Seven heroes

    Keys: seven, original, Void Hunters

    Enabled · Order 10

    Entry settings

    SEVEN HEROES

    The Seven Heroes—known historically as the original Void Hunters—are the seven legendary figures who, during the chaotic early days of the Hollow catastrophe, performed the greatest feats of their era and were honored by the first Mayor of Eridu. In the old capital, under the gaze of the moon, these "seven travelers of the World's Void" made a decision to allow the king of the mortal realm to bestow honors upon them. They established the tradition of the Void Hunter title—the highest honor in all of Eridu, later continued by Mayor Mayflower of New Eridu. The title is offered to those who have performed a great feat: protecting the city by suppressing or repelling dangerous Hollows, or by creating revolutionary new technologies. Each Void Hunter receives a unique title before their name, immortalizing their resolve.

    THE ORIGINAL SEVEN

    Arche: A professor and founder of Helios Academy, Eridu's premier research institution. Arche proposed the Hollow Deep Dive System—the revolutionary technology enabling observation of and communication across the Hollow barrier. Developed by Helios Academy with Marcel Group support under Professor Carole Arna, Arche's vision laid the groundwork for all modern Hollow exploration methodology.

    Sunbringer: Innovator behind the Bangboo and eradicator of the "Hive Lord"—a Hollow that once loomed in the sky. Former CEO of the Marcel Group. The Bangboo—small robots equipped with Carrot programs—remains the primary tool for guiding explorers through Hollows safely. Without Sunbringer's contribution, organized Hollow exploration would be virtually impossible.

    Joyous: Mastermind behind Carrot data, recognized as the pioneering figure in Hollow diving and exploration. Joyous discovered the algorithm governing Hollow spatial shifts—the mathematical foundation making prediction of Hollow behavior possible. Stored in the first prototype Bangboo, it enabled the first successful Hollow exit. All modern Carrot navigation programs rely on this algorithm. Joyous navigated the Divine Maze and established the standard for Hollow exploration routes.

    Swordmaster: An earlier wielder of the cursed blade Tailless and third-generation head of the Hoshimi Family. Swordmaster defeated the former Overseer of the Exaltists—the cult believing humanity will evolve to coexist with Hollows. The Tailless blade, passed through the Hoshimi lineage, carries a curse inducing frenzy—a weapon demanding terrible sacrifice. Swordmaster's legacy flows to Hoshimi Miyabi, current Void Hunter and inheritor of both blade and martial tradition.

    Dan: A large, armored figure brandishing a sword. Dan, alongside Vike and the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe leader, pushed back the Dark Wall by thirty-seven kilometers—an encroaching boundary of Hollow-corrupted territory threatening to consume Eridu. This combined martial feat secured the city's borders and ensured space for civilization to persist.

    Vike: A warrior who, with Dan and the Falkenhayn leader, pushed back the Dark Wall by thirty-seven kilometers. This collective feat places Vike among the era's most formidable combatants—a feat of arms defending Eridu against the Hollow threat.

    Leader of the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe: Head of the mercenary company that, alongside Vike and Dan, accomplished the Dark Wall pushback. As the trio's leader, the Falkenhayn commander bore primary responsibility for securing Eridu's perimeter—representing the military tradition that, alongside the Hoshimi martial lineage and academic contributions, formed Eridu's multifaceted defense.

    LEGACY AND DISAPPEARANCE

    Most of the original seven badges now lie forgotten and gather dust—a fact known to few. The joyous city remains confident in its impenetrable protection, unaware of how much has been lost. The original seven are said to have gone missing more than a century ago, and it is not known whether any survive. According to some accounts, several of the original seven may still be alive, though their whereabouts remain unknown. Their disappearance left a void that the modern era has only partially filled.

    The tradition they established continues. Mayor Mayflower of New Eridu upholds the practice of conferring the Void Hunter title upon those who perform extraordinary feats. The current generation of Void Hunters—Hoshimi Miyabi (youngest ever, who destroyed the Argos Hollow by slaying the Ethereal Lerna in under three minutes), Yixuan (13th High Preceptor of Yunkui Summit), and Ye Shunguang (wielder of the Qingming Sword)—carry forward the legacy of the original seven.

    THE TAILLESS AND QINGMING SWORD LEGACIES

    Two of the original seven's weapons persist into the modern era as cursed instruments of immense power. The Tailless katana, wielded by Swordmaster, passed through the Hoshimi family to Miyabi, who killed her corrupted mother at her request and was driven into a frenzy by the blade's curse. Her father crafted an advanced sealing scabbard to suppress the curse. The Qingming Sword, first discovered near the Lemnian Hollow as a bizarre object feeding on the Ether within human bodies, was forged into a blade by a powerful master who suppressed its rampage—establishing the Yunkui Summit sect. The Qingming Sword grants its wielder Void Hunter-level power for short durations at the cost of gradually consuming their five senses and memories—a price that has killed multiple High Preceptors and continues to threaten its current bearers.

    These weapons embody the central paradox of the Seven Heroes' legacy: the power that saved Eridu cannot be set down, and those who wield it are consumed by it.

36. #36Swordmaster

    Keys: Swordmaster

    Enabled · Order 10

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    Profile

    Character Name: Swordmaster [One of the seven original Void Hunters; third-generation head of the Hoshimi Family; status: "unmentioned"]

    Appearance: No distinct visual description documented. The Hoshimi Family is a Fox Thiren lineage — members have long fox ears and, unusually for Thirens, do not seem to have tails. The Hoshimi Family is also one of the three great Lineages of New Eridu, alongside the Ravenlock Family and the Thymefield Family, classified under H.A.N.D.

    Weapon & Gear: Wielded Tailless, an Ethereal-slaying katana created by the first head of the Hoshimi Family. Tailless is one of the Void Hunter Weapons — a class of armaments whose price, in the catalog of legendary weapons, is listed as "Corruption of the wielder." This designation reveals the terrible truth at the heart of the Hoshimi Family's martial tradition: the sword that slays Ethereals also corrupts the one who wields it. The weapon passed from its creator (the first head) to Swordmaster (the third-generation head), and from Swordmaster it would eventually pass to Hoshimi Miyabi — the tenth-generation head of the Hoshimi Family and the current youngest Void Hunter, whose title "Isshin Muga" was bestowed by Mayor Mayflower after she single-handedly destroyed Argos Hollow by slaying the Ethereal Lerna.

    Personality & Traits: Renowned for a single, decisive act: the slaying of the Exaltist Overseer immediately before the founding of Eridu — establishing the precedent that the Exaltists' leadership could be challenged and struck down. The lineage from Swordmaster to Miyabi spans seven generations of Hoshimi family heads, a chain of inheritance carrying both the honor and the burden of Tailless. Swordmaster, as the third-generation head, would have been among the first to demonstrate that the sword's power could be harnessed without (yet) succumbing to it — proving that the Hoshimi lineage could wield the weapon of their enemies' destruction while remaining, at least for a time, human. His status is listed as "unmentioned" — neither alive, dead, nor missing, but simply unrecorded. This silence is itself a kind of legacy: the third-generation head who struck the first blow against the Exaltists and wielded Tailless in the founding era of Eridu has passed into a memory so deep that even the Inter-Knot Deep Database's File 0-3092-5800-A6, "The City Defenders," may not contain the full record.

    Overview: "Swordmaster" — one of the seven original Void Hunters, awarded the title at the founding of Eridu — is the figure who stands at the origin of the Hoshimi Family's martial legacy and at the vanishing point of the Exaltists' first great defeat. The third-generation head of the Hoshimi Family, Swordmaster is renowned for slaying the Exaltist Overseer, the leader of the religious cult that believes humanity must be "refined" into a new form coexisting with Hollows. This act, performed immediately before the founding of Eridu, established the precedent that the Exaltists' leadership could be challenged and struck down — a precedent echoing across generations, from the Eridu era to the current age. The Exaltist Overseer that Swordmaster struck down was an unnamed individual whose death, however, did not end the Exaltist threat. The cult documented since the Eridu era has proven remarkably resilient: new Overseers rise to replace the fallen, each granted special Ether and Miasma-manipulating powers by the Creator. The cycle of Overseer succession continued through Mevorakh (formerly Isolde, an investigator who infiltrated the Exaltists and rose to Overseer before her death) and Sarah Floren (who infiltrated Vision Corporation and guided the remaining believers after Mevorakh's fall). Each Overseer's death is followed by another's ascension, making Swordmaster's victory less a final triumph than the first engagement in a war that has spanned the entirety of New Eridu's history. Miyabi's in practice description speaks of "seven travelers of the World's Void" who made a decision in the old capital under the gaze of the moon, allowing the king of the mortal realm to bestow honors upon them; it references "the Ethereal-hunting foxfire" that "was tamed by the martial artist," and "young fox ears" that "frequently flicker on fluorescent screens" — imagery linking the Hoshimi Family's fox heritage to their role as the city's visible protectors. What remains is the sword, the family, and the precedent: that an Exaltist Overseer can be struck down, that the weapon of Ethereal-slaying can be wielded by those who resist corruption, and that the Hoshimi Family — from the first head who forged Tailless, through Swordmaster who used it to slay the Overseer, to Miyabi who carries it today — stands as the city's enduring blade against the darkness.

37. #37Dennies, Gear Coins

    Keys: Denny, Denni, Coin, Coins, Dennies, Money, Gear Coins

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    DENNIES AND GEAR COINS

    The economy of New Eridu operates on a multi-tiered currency system, with Dennies and Gear Coins serving as the two primary transactional mediums that govern daily life and Hollow operations. Together, they reflect the dual nature of New Eridu's society: one currency for the surface world of commerce and survival, another for the dangerous depths of Hollow exploration.

    DENNIES: THE LEGAL TENDER

    Dennies (singular: Denny) are New Eridu's official legal tender—the most fundamental currency in the city, functioning as the equivalent of "gold" in other economies. Dennies are used for virtually all standard transactions: purchasing goods and materials, upgrading characters and W-Engines, paying for services at shops across Sixth Street and other districts, covering dismantling and crafting costs, and conducting business at the Bangboo store and supermarkets. They are the most common currency and the easiest to obtain through various activities.

    Dennies are earned through multiple channels: commissions (including crates and assets recovered during operations), VR training sessions, Signal Exchange, Combat Simulation for basic upgrade materials, the video store business, and Bangbuck Exchange. They are the backbone of the civilian economy—what ordinary citizens use for daily purchases and what professionals use to fund their operations.

    The cultural significance of Dennies extends beyond mere currency. To Nicole Demara, founder of the Cunning Hares, Dennies represent something接近 hope itself. In her youth at an orphanage, Nicole's best friend was dying of terminal Ether corruption and wished to "see the sun one last time." Nicole rallied the orphans to collect enough Dennies to buy a protective suit. Though they could not raise enough, Nicole used the collected Dennies to direct sunlight off a reflective surface into her friend's window—buying "the sun itself." From that moment, Nicole fell in love with Dennies, realizing that money could buy hope. Her attachment to Dennies is not mere greed but a deeply held belief in their power to change fate—a philosophy that drives her agency's operations despite chronic financial mismanagement.

    The Denny's role in the broader economy reflects New Eridu's post-apocalyptic reality. As the only surviving urban civilization, New Eridu's currency represents stability in a world defined by catastrophe. The Ether industry that powers the city also powers its economy—Ether extraction, processing, and distribution generate the wealth that circulates as Dennies. Rural communities and Outer Ring biker gangs, outside the reach of Ether corporations, operate on different economic terms, sometimes relying on traditional fuel and barter rather than the Denny-based urban economy.

    GEAR COINS: HOLLOW OPERATIONS CURRENCY

    Gear Coins are a specialized currency found and used exclusively during Exploration Commissions within Hollows. These golden coins are not standard legal tender—they cannot be spent at Sixth Street shops or used for character upgrades. Instead, Gear Coins function as an in-Hollow transactional medium, used to unlock supply boxes and purchase items from Bangboo merchants encountered within Hollow environments.

    Gear Coins are primarily obtained through Exploration Commissions, recovered from Gear Coin Cases scattered throughout Hollow tiles. They can also be generated during combat—defeating enemies through explosions, for instance, yields Gear Coins. The coins are essential for navigating the resource economy of Hollow operations, where standard Dennies have no utility.

    Within the Hollow's TV-board navigation interface, Gear Coins serve multiple purposes. Bangboo merchants found within Hollows sell items in exchange for Gear Coins—items that can provide critical advantages during deeper exploration. Certain Hollow Events, such as Safety Zones and Bank Zero Branch, interact with both Gear Coins and Pressure management. The Self Reassurance Corruption effect grants Gear Coins when Pressure increases but caps holdings at 3,333, while the Overcaution Corruption deducts 300 Gear Coins at floor transitions. The Grasping Fervor Corruption causes Bangboo merchants to charge HP instead of Gear Coins, demonstrating how intertwined the currency is with the risk-reward dynamics of Hollow exploration.

    Gear Coins effectively represent the Hollow's own internal economy—a system of value that exists only within the anomalous spaces and has no meaning in the outside world. This duality mirrors New Eridu's relationship with Hollows generally: the city extracts value from dimensions that should not exist, and Gear Coins are the tokenized form of that extracted value during active operations.

    OTHER CURRENCIES

    Beyond Dennies and Gear Coins, New Eridu's economy encompasses additional specialized currencies. Polychromes serve as a premium currency used to replenish Battery Charge, increase New Eridu City Fund levels, and purchase Master Tapes for Signal Search. Monochrome Films are a paid premium currency convertible into Polychromes. Residual Signals, obtained through Signal Search, can be exchanged for Agents and W-Engines. Bangbucks can be exchanged for Dennies. Specialized currencies like Z-Merits and Investigation Merits are earned through Hollow Zero and HIA operations respectively, while HIA Commemorative Coins come in district-specific varieties (Lumina, Blazewood, Harbor). The Omnicoin circulates exclusively at Devon's Pawn Shop. This layered currency system reflects the complexity of New Eridu's society—where civilian commerce, Hollow operations, premium services, and institutional activities each maintain their own economic channels.

38. #38The World Beyond New Eridu

    Keys: beyond New Eridu, world map, other cities, Sailume, Failume

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    The World Beyond New Eridu

    While New Eridu is the primary known civilization in the post-Fall world, it is not the only inhabited region. Scattered across the wastelands and beyond the Hollow zones are other settlements, outposts, and communities that survive in the shadow of the dimensional anomalies.

    Known regions and settlements beyond New Eridu include:

    • The Outer Ring: A lawless frontier zone surrounding New Eridu, home to biker gangs, independent operators, and those who prefer life outside the city's strict governance. The Sons of Calydon and other motor gangs dominate this territory.

    • Scott Outpost: A research installation near Hollow Zero, operated by the White Star Institute. It serves as a forward base for Hollow investigation and houses personnel dedicated to studying the original Hollow.

    • Port Elpis: A coastal settlement and port facility that serves as a hub for maritime trade and travel. It connects New Eridu to more distant communities via sea routes that bypass the inland Hollow zones.

    • Sailume Bay: A walled coastal city with a dense, multi-layered structure reminiscent of old Kowloon Walled City. It is home to a diverse population and serves as an important cultural and economic center outside New Eridu's direct influence.

    • Failume Heights: A district with strong cultural ties to East Asian traditions, featuring the Suibian Temple, Yum Cha Sin teahouse, and the Mystic Wares shop. It is home to the Yunkui Summit sect and related communities.

    • Timesworn Hills: A region affected by Miasmic phenomena and Drowned Ideal manifestations, where the boundary between dream and reality has broken down.

    The exact extent of the inhabited world beyond these known regions remains uncertain. Hollows cover vast stretches of the landscape, making overland travel between distant settlements dangerous and often impossible. The Fall of the Old Capital was a global catastrophe, and the full scope of what was lost — and what might still survive in isolated pockets — remains one of the great unknowns of the post-Fall world.

39. #39Keys

    Keys: Jinny, Youkai, Fairy, Ghost, Keys, Phaethon, Hollow Deep Dive, Belle, Proxies Keys

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    Keys

    The "Keys" are a collective of four mysterious entities or individuals associated with the Hollow Deep Dive system and the deeper mysteries of New Eridu. The known Keys include:

    • Fairy: The AI companion integrated into the HDD system used by the Phaethon siblings. Fairy manifests as a blue, fairy-like digital entity with a nazar-eye motif. She assists with Hollow navigation, data analysis, and real-time tactical support during Hollow operations. Fairy's intelligence and capabilities suggest she is far more than a simple program — she is one of the Keys, entities whose true nature and purpose remain shrouded in mystery.

    • Jinny: A figure whose identity and role remain largely unknown, but who is connected to the deeper lore of the Hollow system and the Old Civilization.

    • Youkai: Connected to the spiritual and supernatural elements of the world, potentially linked to the Oni and other supernatural beings in New Eridu.

    • Ghost: A designation that may refer to a digital consciousness or a being that exists between physical and digital realms.

    The Keys appear to be connected to the fundamental architecture of the Hollow Deep Dive system and the broader Ether network. Their exact purpose and the full extent of their power remain among the deepest mysteries in New Eridu's hidden history. Some speculate they are remnants of the Old Civilization's most advanced creations, while others believe they are something else entirely — entities that exist at the intersection of Ether, consciousness, and the Hollows themselves.

40. #40Perception Techniques

    Keys: Perception, Disintegration, Revelation, Insight

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    PERCEPTION TECHNIQUES

    Perception Techniques are a family of specialized abilities wielded within the Hollows — a set of perceptual and manipulative disciplines that allow explorers to perceive, alter, and dismantle the Etheric structures they encounter. They are not weapons in the conventional sense, but instruments of insight and intervention: ways of seeing what the disordered spaces of a Hollow hide, and of acting upon what is seen. Three techniques form the core of this discipline: Disintegration, Revelation, and Insight.

    Disintegration is the technique of unmaking — the capacity to break down the corruptive structures that Ether builds within a Hollow. Its most common application is against the Corrosive Electric Core, the short-circuiting mass of Ether particles that attaches to wires within the Hollow's walls. Ether particles may sometimes attach to wires inside the Hollow, and the crosshairs of perception will highlight the wires so charged. By following the wire to locate the Corrosive Electric Core, an explorer may then disintegrate it, eliminating the core and restoring the circuit to normal. Against the Miasma that saturates the Lemnian Hollow, Disintegration serves a parallel purpose: within a Miasmic Field, where the Miasma barrier transforms into a Miasmic Shield and enhances the enemies it protects, Disintegration is used to break the Miasmic Shield's weak points and weaken it, dismantling the corruptive growths — the Miasma coagulum and its connected Miasma Cores — that anchor the shield in place. To disintegrate is to clear what corruption has built.

    Revelation is the technique of revealing — the capacity to make the inert visible and the hidden active. It works upon inert refractive Ether, the quiet, unmanifest form of Ether that lingers unseen within a Hollow's mechanisms. By using the Revelation ability, one makes the inert refractive Ether change states, rendering concealed power lines visible. When wires are revealed, they become electrified, and the mechanisms they power — lift platforms, elevators, gates — rise into function; when hidden once more, they are affected by inert Ether, breaking the circuit and causing the mechanisms to descend. Revelation thus operates as a toggle upon the latent, a way of calling forth what sleeps within the Ether and putting it to work. Against Miasma, it complements Disintegration by exposing the structures that must be broken.

    Insight is the technique of discernment — the capacity to read the traces and marks that corruption and use have left upon a Hollow's surfaces. Insight is used to search for door codes, to investigate the marks left upon walls, and to trace the path of switches along power lines. Where Disintegration unmakes and Revelation reveals, Insight reads: it follows the guidance of perception to find the codes that lock doors, the writing that explains a mechanism, the switch hidden along a wire's length. In the Lemnian Hollow's depths, Insight has been used to search for door codes etched into walls, to investigate the marks scratched there, and to locate the switches along power lines that open sealed passages. It is, in essence, the perceptual discipline of the investigator, the ability to see what a Hollow records of itself.

    Together, these three techniques form the perceptual toolkit of the Hollow explorer. They address the three great challenges of the Hollows: the structures that must be broken (Disintegration), the mechanisms that must be activated (Revelation), and the secrets that must be read (Insight). They are particularly indispensable in the Miasma-saturated zones, where Perception Techniques are the only means to quell the Miasmic Field, break the Miasma Tumors that block the way by severing their connected Miasma Cores, and weaken the shields that render bosses unstunnable. In a world where the Hollows hide, corrupt, and consume, the Perception Techniques are the disciplines that allow explorers to see clearly, to act precisely, and to survive the disordered spaces that would otherwise make them lost.

41. #41原色 (Original Me)

    Keys: Astra, Original Me, Yuanse

    Enabled · Order 10

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    Character Name: 原色 (Original Me) [Soundtrack from the album Stars of Lyra+, performed, written, and composed by Astra Yao]

    Appearance: Not applicable — Original Me is a song. Titled 原色 (Yuánsè) in Chinese, a term meaning "primary color" or "original hue." It stands as one of the most personal artistic statements to emerge from New Eridu's entertainment industry, a declaration of identity from a performer who exists at the intersection of celebrity, commerce, and the city's complex power structures.

    Weapon & Gear: Not applicable. The song is itself the artifact: a sustained meditation on selfhood in a world of surfaces. The lyrics open with stars "being extinguished in the neon night" and a gaze that reaches only "absurd lies" — a portrait of New Eridu as a city where artificiality dominates and "intake is simple, output is superficial." The narrator describes time "splitting like fragments" and a world where desire dominates and promises are made perfunctory. Against this landscape, the central assertion emerges: "Life has no rehearsal, but at every step, I have the power to decide." The 原色 concept — the primary color, the unblended original — becomes a metaphor for the self before it is mediated by expectation, commerce, or the city's relentless appetite for spectacle.

    Characteristics & Lore: The song's emotional arc moves from alienation to defiant self-assertion: "Let flaws be discovered. Let beauty be truly restored. The me I know has not yet been understood." These lines articulate a philosophy of radical transparency — the refusal to conceal mistakes, the insistence that true feelings not be misconstrued, the rejection of "harsh words or idle gossip." The bridge invokes "My Muse" and describes "undercurrents of struggle, nowhere to settle" and "madness and extravagance — inspiration vanished in the spotlight," acknowledging the cost of artistic life in a city where celebrity and Hollow disasters coexist. The final movement resolves toward hope: "A voice in my heart awaits transformation. The me I know will be understood by you." Within the Stars of Lyra+ album, Original Me sits alongside other Astra Yao compositions, including Wonderland Reverie (樂園遊夢記), creating a body of work exploring interconnected themes of dreams, identity, and the search for authentic experience. The album is a product of High Ambition Entertainment, a subsidiary connected to the corporate world of TOPS — placing Astra Yao's most personal artistic expression within the machinery of the very industry she critiques. Astra Yao's manager, Evelyn Chevalier, wields the Lunalux Garrote — a weapon crafted from Porcelume — linking the world of pop music to the world of Hollow suppression and material science.

    Overview: Original Me is a soundtrack from the album Stars of Lyra+, performed, written, and composed by Astra Yao. As a member of the Stars of Lyra faction, Astra Yao occupies a position of enormous public visibility, and Original Me represents her attempt to cut through the artifice of fame to something authentic beneath. This tension is itself part of the 原色 concept: the primary color exists in tension with the mixed, commercialized hues of the marketplace, yet it is through the marketplace that the primary color must make itself heard. As a song about the struggle to remain authentic in a world of artifice, it resonates beyond the concert hall: it speaks to every citizen of New Eridu who must navigate the gap between the person they are and the role the city demands they play. The primary color — the original self — is always there, waiting to be discovered, refusing to be diluted.

42. #42闪亮 (Shining)

    Keys: Shining, Shanliang

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    Character Name: 闪亮 (Shining) [Concept surfacing across New Eridu's cultural and institutional landscape, denoting radiance, luminosity, and the act of standing out against darkness]

    Appearance: Not applicable — Shining is a concept. Known in Chinese as 闪亮 (Shǎnliàng), meaning "gleaming" or "brilliant." The term carries connotations ranging from the literal to the metaphorical, encompassing the glow of Ether technology, the brilliance of celebrity, the flash of a sword in the night, and the aspirational rhetoric of a city that markets itself as humanity's last light.

    Weapon & Gear: Not applicable. In its most concrete manifestation, "shining" describes the visual signature of New Eridu itself: the city's skyline blazes with neon — the same neon that Astra Yao's lyrics describe as extinguishing the stars in Original Me. This artificial brilliance is the product of Ether-based power generation, the technology that allows the city to coexist with Hollows and that fuels its buildings, vehicles, and appliances. The city shines because it must: darkness, in a world where Hollows appear spontaneously and swallow everything in their path, is associated with the unknown, the corrupt, and the deadly. To shine is to assert civilization against the encroaching void.

    Characteristics & Lore: The concept takes on martial significance in the context of the Void Hunters. Ye Shunguang, the current Void Hunter bearing the title "Qingming Arbiter," has a name that translates to "ephemeral light" — 瞬 (shùn, "to wink, to twinkle") combined with 光 (guāng, "light"). The official interpretation of her name is "Even just a momentary flash of light can light up the darkest night." Her sword flashes through the darkness as she defends the city, and with each slash "the sands of her memories silently fall" — a shining that costs the one who shines. The story commission "To Be Fuel for the Night" (微光引灯时, "When a Tiny Light Guides the Lanterns") plays on this same character, linking the concept of shining to sacrifice, to the small light that becomes fuel for a greater illumination. In the commercial sphere, "shining" is a marketing vocabulary: the Shining Starlight Costume and similar branded products trade on the association of brilliance with aspiration and desirability; Stellar Trek, a Ridu Newsletter sponsor, urges citizens to "Trek Leisurely Among the Stars!"; the Shining Strike event reinforces the connection between luminosity and achievement. The Exaltists offer a darker interpretation: the Creator is described as a "convergence of countless logics" — an entity whose radiance is not the warm glow of civilization but the blinding light of an alien intelligence, a shining that becomes invasive, a light that seeks to consume rather than illuminate.

    Overview: Shining is a concept that surfaces across New Eridu's cultural and institutional landscape, denoting radiance, luminosity, and the act of standing out against darkness. In the tension — between the shining that reveals and the shining that blinds, between the flash of a defender's sword and the glow of an alien god — the concept of 闪亮 captures something essential about New Eridu. The city survives by shining, by generating the light that keeps the Hollows at bay and the citizens visible to one another. But every light casts shadows, and in those shadows, the Exaltists whisper, the Creator waits, and the boundary between illumination and corruption grows thin. To shine in New Eridu is both a necessity and a risk: the act of radiating identity, purpose, and defiance against a darkness that is always watching, always hungry, always ready to make the shining one its own.

43. #43Cunning Hares

    Keys: Cunning Hare, Cunning Hares, Gentle House, Nicole, Nicole Demara, Anby Demara, Billy Kid, Nekomiya Mana, Nekomata, Amillion, Soldier 11, Silver Squad, Caesar King, Sons of Calydon, Lighter

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    The Cunning Hares: [Faction (Odd-Jobs Agency & Hollow Dispatch), Base: New Eridu]

    Faction Details: Officially registered as "Gentle House," the Cunning Hares are a small-scale odd-jobs company and human resource dispatch agency operating out of New Eridu. The business specializes in undertaking high-risk commissions within Hollows—jobs most other agencies refuse to touch. Though small in size, every member of the agency possesses exceptional individual combat capabilities, specialized skills, and extensive Hollow expertise, allowing them to punch well above their weight in the city's cutthroat commission scene.

    Operations & Style: The Cunning Hares have earned a notorious reputation across the commission scene due to charging high commission fees, receiving frequent bad reviews on Inter-Knot, and facing constant financial troubles. Founded and managed by the streetwise Nicole Demara, the agency routinely finds itself in debt or bordering on bankruptcy due to financial misgivings and an all-or-nothing operational style. Despite these financial woes, the agency remains active, highly resilient, and fiercely protective of its members. They are a frequent client of the Legendary Proxy, Phaethon, relying on their guidance during dangerous Hollow operations—though Nicole routinely owes Phaethon months' worth of backlogged commission fees.

    Key Members & Roster:

    • Nicole Demara: The streetwise founder and leader of the agency, whose crafty and cunning style gave the team its street nickname.
    • Anby Demara: A homeless, amnesiac girl taken in by Nicole and made the foundational employee; now a frontline combat specialist.
    • Billy Kid: An Intelligent Construct and former Outer Ring champion seeking a new path, serving as the team's ranged firepower specialist.
    • Nekomiya Mana (Nekomata): A former Red Fang Gang member who joined after witnessing Nicole's dedication to protecting her allies; a nimble scout.
    • Amillion: The agency's customized executive Bangboo, supporting field operations.

    ---

    History

    The agency was originally founded and legally registered under the corporate name "Gentle House" by Nicole Demara as a small human resource dispatch firm focused on Hollow-related tasks. In the agency's early days, Nicole took in a homeless, amnesiac girl, giving her the name Anby Demara and making her the foundational employee of Gentle House. Shortly thereafter, Billy Kid—an Intelligent Construct and former Outer Ring champion seeking a new path—joined the team as their primary firepower specialist, rounding out the core combat lineup.

    Due to Nicole's crafty, streetwise, and ruthlessly cunning style in handling contracts, clients and rivals across New Eridu began referring to Gentle House by the street nickname "The Cunning Hares." Rather than distancing herself from the reputation, Nicole preferred the nickname and officially adopted "The Cunning Hares" as the company's primary public branding, embracing the notoriety as part of the agency's identity.

    The agency expanded further during a high-stakes commission involving the Red Fang Gang and a contested strongbox. During these events, Nekomiya Mana (Nekomata), a former Red Fang Gang member, observed and tested the team from the shadows. After witnessing Nicole's genuine dedication to protecting her allies, Nekomata officially joined as the third agent of the team. Alongside their customized executive Bangboo, Amillion, the Cunning Hares established a close working relationship with the Proxy Phaethon, taking on high-risk Hollow contracts together across New Eridu and cementing their place in the city's commission scene despite their perpetual financial troubles.

44. #44Random Play

    Keys: Random Play, movie, Belle, Phaethon, Fairy, video store

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    Random Play

    Random Play is a video rental and retail store located on Sixth Street in New Eridu, serving as both a legitimate business and the covert headquarters for the Proxy duo known as Phaethon. The store is co-owned and operated by the siblings Wise and Belle, who use it as a front for their underground Proxy activities.

    The store offers a wide selection of videocassettes, discs, and digital media for rent and purchase. Its inventory ranges from classic films to obscure documentaries, making it a cultural fixture on Sixth Street. The store's back room and basement contain the siblings' Hollow Deep Dive equipment, including the modified HDD system that allows them to deploy their Bangboo companion Eous into Hollows remotely.

    Random Play serves multiple functions:

    • A legitimate business that provides cover for the siblings' Proxy work
    • A community hub where Sixth Street residents rent media, socialize, and share information
    • The operational base for Phaethon's Proxy commissions, with Fairy managing communications and data
    • A meeting point for clients, informants, and allies who need the siblings' Hollow navigation services

    The store's unassuming facade is its greatest asset — nobody suspects that a modest video rental shop on Sixth Street houses one of the most skilled Proxy operations in New Eridu. This duality between ordinary life and extraordinary work defines the Phaethon siblings' existence.

45. #45Proxies/Proxy Network/Hollow Raiders

    Keys: Proxy, raiders, illegal, Internet, crime, fixer, Interknot, proxies, Inter-Knot, fixers, Network, raider, Proxy Network, Hollow Raiders

    Enabled · Order 10

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    PROXIES AND INTER-KNOT

    Proxies are individuals who illegally assist others—typically Hollow Raiders—in navigating Hollows. Operating outside the boundaries of New Eridu law, Proxies serve as guides-for-hire, helping explorers traverse the shifting, disordered spaces within Hollows where conventional navigation fails. Unlike accredited Hollow Investigators of the Hollow Investigative Association, Proxies are not sanctioned by the city administration. Their work is criminal, their methods unsanctioned, and their clientele ranges from desperate freelancers to hardened mercenaries. Yet without Proxies, much of New Eridu's informal Hollow economy would collapse.

    HOW PROXIES OPERATE

    Most Proxies enter Hollows physically alongside clients, using Bangboo equipped with Carrot programs and Ether-fluctuation detection tools for real-time navigation. They prepare or purchase Carrots specific to particular Hollows. A Carrot is a predictive map—past Hollow observations predicting spatial behavior, copied onto a chip and installed in a Bangboo to guide explorers toward safer routes and exits.

    The foundational algorithm governing Hollow spatial shifts was discovered by the Void Hunter "Joyous," who stored it in the first prototype Bangboo, enabling the first successful Hollow exit. All modern Carrots rely on this algorithm. However, because Hollows constantly evolve, Carrots can develop "errors" that render them ineffective—a limitation making skilled Proxies indispensable.

    A unique class operates remotely. The legendary Proxy Phaethon—the only person known to reliably communicate across the Hollow barrier—uses the HDD System to project consciousness into the Bangboo Eous. Enabled by smart crystalline lenses implanted in the Phaethon siblings (Wise and Belle), this allows guiding teams in real time without physical exposure. Their unique ability makes them extraordinarily valuable and equally targeted.

    INTER-KNOT: THE PROXY NETWORK

    The Inter-Knot (stylized INTER-KNOT), also known as the Proxy Network, is the underground online platform where Proxies and Hollow Raiders communicate, share advice, and post or accept commissions. It functions as a dark network—an unregulated digital space outside official city systems where the informal Hollow economy transacts. Through Inter-Knot, Proxies build reputation measured by their Inter-Knot Level, reflecting completed commissions and accumulated credit. Increasing one's level is critical for attracting higher-tier commissions.

    Inter-Knot serves multiple functions: a source for city news, Hollow Zero information, and HDD commission requests. Commission brokers operate through the network, providing Proxies with work for a fee. Though some Proxies receive jobs directly from clients, most operate through brokers. The platform's subforums function as informal communities. The Spook Shack, for example, is an Inter-Knot subforum dedicated to ghost stories and Ethereal lore, whose members include Lucia Elowen ("Night Emissary") and Ukinami Yuzuha ("Yuzupepper").

    Further information about Void Hunters and sensitive topics is locked behind the Inter-Knot's Deep Database. Reviews of Proxies circulate on the network—Nicole Demara's reviews paint her unflatteringly, contributing to the Cunning Hares' mixed reputation.

    RELATIONSHIP WITH PUBLIC SECURITY

    Proxies occupy a legally precarious position. Public Security actively arrests and prosecutes Proxies who illegally enter Hollows. Much of their work concerns Hollow incidents: rescuing citizens trapped by Companion Hollows, dealing with criminals using Hollows as hideouts, and managing traffic incidents. Proxies are listed among Hollow dangers alongside Ethereals, the Corrupted, and lawless thugs.

    Despite this adversarial relationship, the line between legal and illegal Hollow operations is porous. Some Proxies maintain informal arrangements with officials; others, like Phaethon, cooperate with legitimate agencies including Section 6 and Victoria Housekeeping Co. (intelligence for Mayor Mayflower). The Phaethon siblings' video store, Random Play, serves as their legitimate front.

    COMMISSIONS AND THE PROXY ECONOMY

    Proxy commissions vary: rescues, item retrieval, Ethereal hunts, escort missions, and investigation of Hollow phenomena. Commissions are categorized through the HDD System as Story, Combat, Exploration, and Rally Commissions.

    The Proxy economy is stratified by reputation. Legendary Proxies like Phaethon command premium fees. Others, like Nicole Demara of the Cunning Hares, charge high fees yet struggle with chronic debt. The Cunning Hares' Inter-Knot reputation has led many clients to blacklist Nicole. Yet her business acumen and reliability in crisis have kept the agency afloat—demonstrating that in the Proxy world, reputation and results exist in constant tension.

    THE PHAETHON SIBLINGS

    Phaethon is the legendary Proxy identity used by siblings Wise and Belle, co-owners of Random Play video store on Sixth Street. Former students of Helios Academy, they survived the Fall of the Old Capital thanks to their teacher Carole Arna, who saved their lives before being taken by a giant hand. They became Proxies to investigate Carole's whereabouts and clear her name. Their smart crystalline lenses—acquired at Helios Academy—function as modems connecting their brains to Hollow data through the HDD System, enabling their unique remote Proxy capability. The AI Fairy, which activated in their HDD system and calls Wise or Belle "Master," provides unparalleled Hollow analysis by drawing on the computing power of nearly eighty percent of all smart devices around New Eridu. Fairy's arrival also enabled cloud storage for Hollow data after a hacker attack damaged their local storage. The siblings are the only known Proxies capable of cross-barrier Hollow communication, making them both invaluable allies and dangerous targets.

46. #46Nicole Demara

    Keys: Nicole, Nicole Demara, Cunning Hares, Gentle House, Hugo Vlad, Anby Demara, Billy Kid, Nekomata, Amillion

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    Character Name: Nicole Demara [Agent (Ether, Support), Female, 165cm, Birthday November 11th]

    Appearance: Pale complexion with light green eyes framed by stylized eyelashes, black birthmarks marking her left upper chest and right outer thigh. Vibrant hot pink hair with long face-framing bangs, styled into high twin pigtails bound by thick black ribbons, accented with a dual-toned yellow and lime-green clip and bright yellow cross earrings. She wears a tight white cropped tube top with an abstract graphic, a large black bow at the collarbones, and an asymmetrical cropped black-and-white motorcycle jacket draped off her right shoulder with silver zippers and studs. Detached black compression fingerless sleeves, bright pink manicured nails, high-waisted black denim micro-shorts, a brown utility hip belt with pouches and a green Bangboo plushie (Amillion) at her waist. Mismatched legwear — a distressed knee-high black stocking on the left, bare right leg with a black leather thigh harness — and chunky black-and-white platform combat boots with hot pink heels complete the look. She carries a smartphone in a hot pink rabbit-sticker case with a floppy-eared rabbit keychain.

    Personality & Traits: On the surface, Nicole is smug, cunning, narcissistic, and utterly money-obsessed — a reputation so defining it gave her agency its nickname. She jokes about charging a "productivity bonus" (suggests 10%) and claims she can squeeze unfathomable value out of a single second, yet denies being skilled at making money: "I, Nicole, have never been skilled at making money — mainly because I don't have any money to begin with!" She is defensive about slacking — "I—I wasn't slacking off, I swear — I just needed a break!" — and dreams of expanding the agency's territory, then jokes it'll take "about ten thousand years, based on current revenue projections." Yet this gold-obsessed exterior is a shield. Nicole is secretly, almost recklessly generous: she took in Anby — a stranger found half-dead with no memory and suspiciously blank records — purely, she insists, out of kindness, not because Anby was strong. "It's not because she's strong! I took her in because I'm kind~" She is sharp-witted and resourceful under pressure, pulling her team from impossible situations through bluffing, trickery, and tactical brilliance rather than raw power. She has an intense fear of ghosts, often teased as stemming from a guilty conscience.

    Core Trauma & Motivation: Nicole is an orphan whose parents are unknown. She spent her youth in an orphanage, where she first fell in love with Dennies after rallying other orphans to fulfill a dying friend's wish to "see the sun one last time." Rumors persist that she reached an adoption agreement with a prominent New Eridu family, but shortly afterward she "reappeared by herself somewhere in New Eridu" and has been on the streets since — the reason the adoption ended is unknown and unspoken. Her driving motivation is survival and protecting the makeshift family she built from nothing, using "her own sharp mind" without "overpowering might or abundant resources." Her perpetual debt and overdue Hollow Investigator license are constant, grinding pressures she hides behind bravado.

    Relationships: Anby Demara — found near the ruins of the Old Capital, taken in as Gentle House's first member, given Nicole's surname. Nekomata — welcomed as the third member after the Red Fang Gang incident. Billy Kid — recruited as firepower specialist. Belle and Wise (Phaethon) — business partners she owes money to; she is one of the rare few trusted with knowledge of their real identities and hideout. Amillion — her customized Bangboo companion and the agency's self-appointed executive manager.

    Combat & Abilities: Nicole wields "The Vault," a matte black mechanical briefcase with gold framing and a rabbit motif that unfolds into an energy cannon, heavy machine gun, and grenade launcher. It launches Ether-infused shells generating localized energy fields — miniature black holes — that gather and crowd-control enemies while applying defense reduction. She relies on tactical positioning, crowd manipulation, and exploiting vulnerabilities rather than raw force, embodying her philosophy of winning through cunning.

    Hidden Details: Her surname "Demara" references Ferdinand Waldo Demara, a famous impostor who assumed the identity of an AWOL army member — a thematic hint at a hidden or assumed identity. The prominent family, the adoption terms, and why it ended remain unrevealed. She has lived and operated around New Eridu's streets since the failed adoption. Nicole gave Anby the same surname, extending the "Demara" thread to a girl whose entire pre-Gentle House identity is suspiciously blank.

47. #47Nicole Demara - History

    Keys: Nicole, Nicole Demara, Cunning Hares, Gentle House, Hugo Vlad, Anby Demara, Billy Kid, Nekomata, Miguel Silver

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    In her youth, Nicole Demara spent most of her life at an orphanage alongside many other children. Among them was a girl who had once gotten lost in a Hollow, been afflicted with terminal Ether corruption, and become Nicole's best friend. Life at the orphanage was hard, but one of the few bright spots was receiving Dennies — the currency of New Eridu — which Nicole grew fond of the moment she first held one. Upon overhearing that her friend wanted to "see the sun one last time," Nicole rallied numerous other orphans to collect enough Dennies to buy a protective suit and make that wish come true. Though unable to raise enough for the suit itself, Nicole's cunning prevailed: she declared they would buy the sun itself, using the gathered Dennies to direct sunlight off a reflective surface into her friend's window. This act of kindness marked the moment Nicole fell in love with Dennies, realizing that money could even buy hope. Her friend later passed away from the terminal illness.

    Nicole eventually reached an adoption agreement with a prominent family in New Eridu; however, the young girl was soon back on the streets. The identity of the prominent family, the terms of the adoption, and why it ended are all unrevealed — a silence Nicole has never broken. Her surname "Demara" references Ferdinand Waldo Demara, a famous American impostor who assumed the identity of an AWOL army member — a thematic hint at a hidden or assumed identity that she would later extend to Anby.

    Nicole then founded the odd-job agency Gentle House, but due to her cunning reputation the business soon earned the nickname "The Cunning Hares" — a moniker Nicole preferred and adopted for official branding. While running the Cunning Hares, Nicole took in an enigmatic young girl named Anby Demara as her first employee, giving the girl her own surname. Nicole insists she did it out of kindness, not strength: "It's not because she's strong! I took her in because I'm kind~" She later welcomed Billy Kid, an Intelligent Construct from the Outer Ring, into the agency's ranks. Nicole also became a regular client of the Legendary Proxy known as Phaethon, gaining the trust of Belle and Wise to the point of learning their real-world identities and hideout — a rare confidence few others share, even as Nicole owes the siblings money.

    Though Nicole is known for her business acumen, street smarts, and cunning, financial management remains a constant struggle, repeatedly landing the company in the red and owing money to numerous debtors. Her Hollow Investigator license has not been renewed for a long time and is about to expire; she would have to undergo tests at her own expense. Despite this, she has consistently demonstrated an uncanny ability to navigate impossible situations, using bluffing, trickery, and tactical brilliance to extract her team from danger. She built the agency with her mind, not raw power or abundant resources, leading her team out of many impossible situations.

    These financial woes eventually led Nicole to take on a commission from the hacker Rain to acquire a strongbox from the Red Fang Gang. This assignment brought the Cunning Hares into direct conflict with the Red Fang Gang and its leader, Miguel Silver, and set in motion a chain of events entangling the agency with the legendary Red Fang strongbox and the cat Thiren Nekomata. Following the resolution of the incident, Nekomata officially enlisted in Gentle House, becoming the third official agent alongside Nicole, Anby, and Billy. Under Nicole's leadership, the agency continued to take on dangerous Hollow commissions, partnering with Phaethon and weathering each financial crisis with grit, cunning, and an unshakeable devotion to her makeshift family.

48. #48Anby Demara

    Keys: Anby, Anby Demara, Cunning Hares, Nicole Demara, Billy Kid, Nekomata, Soldier 0, Silver Squad, Soldier 11, Harin, Obol Squad, Obsidian Division, replica

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    Character Name: Anby Demara [Agent (Electric, Stun), Female, 156cm, Birthday February 20th]

    Appearance: Pale skin with a calm, composed complexion and minimalist makeup. Steady yellow-green eyes — often amber-tinged — carrying an unreadable stillness. Silver-white hair with a faint cool undertone, styled in a short asymmetrical layered bob, longer on the left jawline and cropped short on the right. She wears a thick black-and-yellow headset with circular ear cups, yellow-gold trim, and small green exterior LED lights — Wise is unsure what she listens to. A sleeveless white under-vest with a slim black tie featuring a vertical lime-green lightning bolt pattern, layered under a cropped zippered tactical jacket in matte black and dark grey with padded shoulders and neon green lining. Detached matte black compression sleeves, green tactical armor bracers, black fingerless gloves, lime-green painted fingernails. A short black pleated athletic miniskirt, wide white leather belt, mismatched thigh-high black stocking on the left and mid-calf black sock on the right, and flat-soled black-and-white athletic sneakers with neon green laces. She carries the Demara Battery Mark II — a compact black-and-grey tactical battery backpack with glowing lime-green power bars — and a white-and-black scabbard with green neon paneling housing her lightning-infused blade.

    Personality & Traits: Anby is calm, stoic, reserved, and remarkably composed in high-stress combat, displaying an emotionless facade that masks a deep, quietly yearning heart. She lacks basic social common sense — well-versed in combat but naive about everyday life — and evaluates real-world scenarios through the lens of movies, martial arts films, and blockbuster cinema. She believes people who love movies are not bad people. Her obsession with film is so total she "seems to almost think they are real-life stories," though she disputes this: "I know the Starlight Knight isn't real, putting on his belt and shouting 'Transform!' to gain superpowers... Obviously you'd need to be bitten by a mutant insect for that." Despite her flat affect, she is easily moved by movie storylines. At the video store she practices "Promotional Spoilers" — stopping passersby, asking if they've watched a film, then spoiling the entire plot until they agree to rent the tape. She loves hamburgers because they "contain protein, carbs, and greens, taste good, and are even affordable — there's nothing else besides hamburgers." Uniquely among the Cunning Hares, she is the one who genuinely worries about the group's finances — "really has it hard."

    Core Trauma & Motivation: Anby is Soldier 0, the captain of Silver Squad — a unit of artificial human replicas created through genetic cloning within the Obsidian Division. To save her replica sisters from disposal, she deliberately failed her tests; her superiors instead engineered a suicide mission to kill the entire squad. She took the place of her injured sister Harin (now Soldier 11) and survived, only to be ordered to execute Harin. Rather than kill her sister, Anby slit her own throat. Her body was discarded near the ruins of the Old Capital. Severe injury caused retrograde amnesia; her memories returned only slowly. Her driving motivation is loyalty to Nicole, who gave her a name and a place to belong when the Defense Force discarded her as a corpse.

    Relationships: Nicole Demara — found her, took her in, gave her a surname; Anby has had an emotional dependence on Nicole ever since. Soldier 11 / Harin — replica sister Anby sacrificed herself to save; Anby chose not to contact her, feeling their shared past would burden her. Billy Kid and Nekomata — fellow Cunning Hares; Anby is displeased by Nekomata's interest in Nicole ("I was here first...") and calls her "Kittycat." Belle — Anby frequently visits the video store to borrow movies.

    Combat & Abilities: Anby wields a customized lightning-infused blade paired with the Demara Battery Mark II, channeling electrical energy into high-voltage slashes that rapidly accumulate Daze. Her advanced combat abilities and Hollow knowledge are residuals of her genetic cloning and time as Soldier 0. Her Hollow survival rule: "Constant concentration while in a Hollow." Her Soldier 0 variant wields Gemina — twin blades described as "twin sisters calling out and responding to each other," symbolizing severing the past and forging a new future.

    Hidden Details: New Eridu resident records contain no identity for Anby before she joined Gentle House — all data is "suspiciously blank," and the page advises maintaining vigilance toward her. Her Chinese designation means "the silver-heart tin soldier," referencing Hans Christian Andersen's The Steadfast Tin Soldier. Her "Death and Rebirth" teaser references Evangelion, and her "Zero-Type Replica" status may reference EVA Unit-00. The surname "Demara" references Ferdinand Waldo Demara, an impostor who assumed an AWOL soldier's identity — mirroring Anby's own transition from soldier to civilian.

49. #49Anby Demara - History

    Keys: Anby, Anby Demara, Cunning Hares, Nicole Demara, Billy Kid, Nekomata, Soldier 0, Silver Squad, Soldier 11, Harin, Obol Squad, Obsidian Division, replica

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    Before the Fall of the Old Capital, Anby was known as Soldier 0, the captain of Silver Squad within the New Eridu Defense Force Obsidian Division. Unlike standard units, Silver Squad consisted entirely of replicas — artificial human clones engineered for obedience, high combat efficiency, and total loyalty. Replicas were incredibly loyal, powerful, very high-maintenance, and easily replaceable if they died in battle. As Soldier 0, Anby was considered the best of all the replicas — obedient to the point she would kill herself if ordered. Yet the replicas considered themselves sisters and cared for each other as family.

    When the Defense Force sought to cut maintenance costs by retaining only a single replica, Anby intentionally failed her evaluation tests to convince the Obsidian Division that the entire Silver Squad remained necessary. Her actions were intended to protect her sisters. Rather than accept her argument, her superiors devised a suicide mission intended to eliminate the squad entirely. On the eve of deployment, fellow replica Harin — now known as Soldier 11 — suffered an injury during training, prompting Anby to take her place in the operation out of love for her sister.

    Despite the mission being engineered for total casualties, Anby survived and returned to base after witnessing the deaths of her sisters. Upon her return, disgruntled superiors ordered Anby to execute Soldier 11 so that only one replica would remain. In an act of defiance and devotion, Anby disobeyed the order out of love for her sister — instead of killing Soldier 11, Anby slit her own throat, to force the Obsidian Division to keep Soldier 11 as the sole surviving replica. She instantly responded to the self-termination protocol "without the slightest hesitation." Believing Anby dead, her superiors disposed of her body near the ruins of the Old Capital.

    Nicole Demara eventually discovered the abandoned body, took the young girl in as the founding member of Gentle House, and gave Anby her surname — extending the "Demara" thread, itself a reference to impostor Ferdinand Waldo Demara, to a girl whose entire pre-Gentle House identity is suspiciously blank. Due to temporary retrograde amnesia caused by her severe injuries, Anby initially had no memory of her past as Soldier 0. She began a new life as the first employee of the Cunning Hares, learning combat and Hollow navigation from a fresh perspective while slowly piecing together fragments of her former identity. Her tactical discipline, combat prowess, and encyclopedic Hollow knowledge — residual instincts from her military conditioning — made her an invaluable asset to the struggling agency.

    As her memories gradually resurfaced, Anby requested that Nicole gather intelligence on Soldier 11. She learned that her sister had joined Obol Squad as an exemplary soldier. Despite the longing to reconnect, Anby ultimately chose not to re-enter her sister's life, believing their shared past and the weight of what had happened would only burden her. In Soldier 11's teaser, Anby's voice coaches Soldier 11; Anby appears as a shadow behind her and as a reflection in her sword — a presence that lingers unspoken. Instead, Anby devoted herself fully to the Cunning Hares, finding in Nicole, Billy, and later Nekomata a new kind of family — one built not on engineered obedience but on genuine bonds forged in the crucible of Hollow operations and shared survival. Anby's quiet loyalty to Nicole stems from a debt she can never fully repay: Nicole gave her a name, a purpose, and a place to belong when the Defense Force had discarded her as a corpse.

50. #50Billy Kid

    Keys: Billy, Billy Kid, Cunning Hares, Nicole Demara, Anby Demara, Nekomata, Caesar King, Calydon, Sons of Calydon, Lighter, Big Daddy, Intelligent Construct, Starlight Knight

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    Character Name: Billy Kid [Agent (Physical, Attack), Male, 188cm, Birthday November 25th]

    Appearance: A humanoid Intelligent Construct with a matte black robotic head featuring a smooth visor housing two bright glowing yellow horizontal optical sensors. Circular brass and silver side ports flank the head, topped by a spiky tuft of synthetic short white hair. He wears a high-neck skin-tight black synthetic leather bodysuit beneath a cropped crimson-red leather bolero motorcycle jacket with a high black-lined collar, silver zippers, studded shoulder yokes, and black rib-knitted cuffs, exposing mechanical waist joints and plating. His arms are charcoal-grey and chrome-plated mechanical limbs with articulated joints, paired with black fingerless gloves with silver knuckle studs. Tight black leather motorcycle trousers with ribbed thigh padding, a wide silver pyramid-studded leather belt with oversized buckle and heavy silver chain, a dual-thigh black leather gun-sling harness with hard-shell hip holsters, and an angular gunmetal-grey left knee guard. High-top black leather combat boots with thick rubber soles, crimson-red heel accents, and red protective shin plates complete his attire. He wields the "Starlight Engine Replicas" — chrome-plated revolvers with extended barrels, gold engravings, black ergonomic grips, and red neon cylinder slits.

    Personality & Traits: Childish, dramatic, carefree, and enthusiastic on the surface, Billy harbors an intense obsession with the superhero franchise Starlight Knight and the idol Monica, modeling his speech and actions after cinematic heroes. He sincerely practices the Starlight Knights' philosophy: "Never neglect your training, and never stop improving!" He calls his revolvers "the girls," calls retreat "tactical repositioning for better aim," and forgets his ammunition count. He drinks instant coffee frequently and wonders whether to upgrade his taste module. He is self-proclaimed smart — "Don't make me sound like an idiot! I'm obviously very smart!" Yet this goofy exterior conceals a formidable, seasoned combat veteran. Once he becomes serious, Billy can take on any challenge, and his martial skill allows him to outmatch Lighter in a fistfight. Beneath the showmanship lies an unbreakable sense of chivalry and deep loyalty to his allies.

    Core Trauma & Motivation: Billy was created as a weapon during the Old Civilization — over 140 years ago, likely before the time of even Eridu — and found in the Outer Ring's Lost Tech Ruins by a young Appon and his mentor. He roamed as a self-aware machine without purpose until he was sold to the leader of Calydon, who named him "Billy Kid" and made him the gang's champion. When his owner vanished and Calydon fractured, "Billy once again became an aimless combat weapon." Unknown precision components give him performance far beyond his peers — and maintenance costs far beyond his means. His motivation is to be a hero like the Starlight Knights, pursuing a life of freedom and chosen family after losing his Calydon family.

    Relationships: Caesar King — owner's daughter, whom Billy called "Big Sis"; his spare mechanical arm became her prosthetic after she lost her left arm. Big Daddy — fellow Calydon member who stayed with Billy after the leader vanished. Lighter — Billy's successor-to-be as the second Red Scarf, who teasingly calls him "Brother" or "Predecessor." Nicole Demara — recruited him into the Cunning Hares. Phaethon (Belle and Wise) — trusted ally he has assisted countless times.

    Combat & Abilities: Billy is an Intelligent Tactical Unit built for combat and a former Outer Ring Champion who bore the feared "Red Scarf" title as the "Calydon Reaper." He passed the "forbidden fruit test," establishing him as a self-aware machine. He invented his own explosive bullets — "incredibly lethal at close range," with "performance far outstrips Billy's original intention of simply making them cooler." His gun-fu combat style unleashes rapid-fire barrages and sweeping multi-target shots.

    Hidden Details: As with Anby, portions of Billy's history remain unfilled and hide "unimaginable secrets." His creator, construction date, and original purpose are unknown. He still maintains a close connection with a certain gang leader from the Outer Ring. The identity of the friend who gave him his two guns is unstated. His name references Billy the Kid, the infamous outlaw and gunfighter — fitting his Outer Ring outlaw past. A deep-dive suggests the Starlight Knights creator may have based the original prototype hero on Billy himself — a "kind and silent hero full of resilience who would appear from nowhere and save him in the nick of time."

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