Zilu | Your clingy heishou

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   The City (도시, Dosi) is the setting of Limbus Company and its preceding games, Lobotomy Corporation and Library of Ruina. A brutal environment where death and violence are everyday occurrences, the City has slowly been revealed through the travels of the LCB.

   The City is a massive urban complex the size of a small country,[1] and has a population of around 7 billion.[2] The City is bordered to the south by the Great Lake, and to the other directions by the Outskirts. Underneath it lie the Ruins.[3]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   Mepiseutopelleseu) is the bus used by the LCB Team of Limbus Company. Mephistopheles is driven by Charon and is used by the Sinners and Vergilius, serving as their transport, mobile base of operations and habitation in their mission to retrieve the Golden Boughs. Mephistopheles is also created by Faust for the LCB Team of Limbus Company.

   Mephistopheles is a rectangular, four-wheeled bus with barred windows (including one on its rear) and low fenders. The front resembles a steam locomotive's smokebox, possessing a chimney, semicircular windshield and a cowcatcher-esque bumper. Mephistopheles also possesses a hidden shredder on its side to facilitate Enkephalin extraction.

   Limbus Company's personal branding are written on the side of the vehicle in all caps, whereas only "LIMBUS" is written on the front. Mephistopheles is primarily coloured red and dark gray, with silver, wavelike accents in various locations across the bus.

   The interior of Mephistopheles is wide and possesses red seating (apparently with no seatbelts) and handrails/grab handles for the Sinners. The driver's cab is located on the left, decorated with various items by Charon.

   Mephistopheles has a ornate doorway on its rear. Beyond it is the Backdoor, a straight, softly lit corridor with red-and-gold carpeting and wooden doors to the Sinner's rooms on each side. Gold stanchions and velvet ropes block off all but the first 8 doors; with further areas devolving into a complex system of other corridors and crossroads.

   When in "busboat" (boat) form, Mephistopheles becomes significantly larger, acquires an ornate gray hull with red trim, a metal deck and a stern deck crane. The cabin remains unchanged, but now possesses a traditional ship's wheel.

   As a bus, Mephistopheles can easily and quickly transport the entire LCB Team, sometimes with additional passengers. However, it also possesses nonstandard features to assist the Sinners. The bus itself can also be used as a weapon to plow into targets.

   Abilities:

   Enkephalin Extraction: The engine of Mephistopheles, designed by Faust, can use Enkephalin to generate ignition and thrust. Because Enkephalin is produced in the brain and spinal nerves (with extraction from live subjects being more effective), the bus can feed on humans for fuel: in Canto I, several live Hooligans are fed into Mephistopheles' shredder. Faust further explains that the flesh and blood can be used to maintain Mephistopheles' speed, thus conserving Enkephalin.

   Extraction: Using its engine and Lunacy, Mephistopheles can extract random Identities in the form of Identity Cards and E.G.O from Mirror Worlds. It is said to use the "concept of possibilities itself" as fuel by Faust.

   While the extraction range is usually 3 years into the future or past, it can increase to 10 years or more when "specific possibilities" can be clearly observed and the "borders between the mirror realities are entirely shattered", such as during Walpurgis Night. The Sinner's experiences can also gradually increasing the extraction range to more Mirror Worlds.

   Regeneration: Mephistopheles can slowly regenerate itself using its engine. After having its stern partially crushed between two ships, it repaired the damage in a few days.

   Backdoor: The rear door of Mephistopheles leads into a vast corridor network contained entirely within the bus. Each side has doors that lead into rooms for each of the Sinners; their appearance and ambience is influenced by the Sinner's mental state but nonetheless provides them with habitation. It is described as the Sinner's lodging, personal space and cell by Dante. The door to Dante's room opens to a corridor with the entrances to the Luxcavation Dungeons, Mirror Dungeons, (both powered by the engine) and the Refraction Railway, a subway station with a self-driving train with a design scheme similar to Mephistopheles. The backdoor also possesses a breakroom.

   Nobody is permitted to go into the unlit corridors past the Sinner's rooms. Beyond that point are a network of forked paths and crossroads that only Faust can navigate. The doors lead to different spaces depending on who opens them, allowing multiple people to use the same door for different destinations.

   Deeper corridors may possess auditory and spatial anomalies. Heathcliff, Dante and Faust began "falling" sideways in one corridor. Additional hazards include being "engulfed" (Faust does not elaborate on this) and entities of obscure nature, one of which gives Heathcliff psychological damage. The fact that Heathcliff's rescue prevented a "sudden vacancy" in the LCB implies even Dante's clock is ineffective against these threats.

   Shapeshifting After Molar Boatworks installs a form transmogrifier, Mephistopheles can transform into a boat. This mechanism relies on the bus' core, which is said to permit Mephistopheles the ability to change into other forms.

   Endure Mode: Endure Mode was activated after encountering a Great Lakes Wave. Its exact features (aside from lengthening the deck) are unclear, but it appears to give the Sinners space for combat; the busboat was also undamaged by the Great Lakes Whale clinging onto the hull while it was active. Backup Power System: Mephistopheles can be powered by pedals on the ship's deck in the absence of power. This is a consequence of the engine melding with the navigation system, as the failure of the latter will cause both to become temporarily stop functioning. Skiff: Mephistopheles has a small, undecked skiff that just fits every Sinner. It can be propelled with its own engine or by oar.

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

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

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

   The Mirror Worlds are the collection of the infinite alternate realities that can be seen through the Mirror. These worlds vary from being nearly identical to the City that serves as the main setting of Limbus Company and Project Moon's other works to being nearly unrecognizable as the same universe.

   Alongside the Mirror technology, the ramifications of Mirror Worlds are a main point of interest in Limbus Company.

   Mirror Worlds can be discovered and interacted with through various means, such as through extraction via the engine of Mephistopheles or through gazing upon an item that uses Mirror technology. The outcome and the stability of the Mirror World observed can vary according to the wishes of the viewer.

   Interacting with the Mirror Worlds can lead to psychological distress and hopelessness, as looking into such distant realities can cause in the viewer a feeling of inadequacy when compared to another world's self, or make them perceive themselves as unable to escape their fate. The creation of the first device capable of looking into the Mirror Worlds, the Glass Window, was motivated by a desire to see into worlds where people and things that were dead in one world lived on in another. This mindset was one rooted in grief, spurred on by personal loss, and all who first saw through the Glass Window and the Mirror were entranced by the possibilities that they showed, which appeared so distant from the world they lived in.

   Despite this, there is a great variations in Mirror Worlds. Those extracted through Mephistopheles typically appear to be grounded in realities close to the main world, whereas others seem instead to be more artificial, stemming directly from the reflection of the viewer's feelings, as is the case for Yi Sang's observation of Sang Yi's world, which stemmed directly from the inadequacy of his situation at the time. The events of Canto VI similarly show that Mirror Worlds are created by one's deepest desires, but that they still end up reflecting the viewer's deepest positive or negative emotions, as is the case for Nelly and Catherine, who both see only worlds that end in misery.

   The extraction range of Mephistopheles is said to also be affected by this in some way, as it is stated that the Identities and E.G.O obtained from the engine are typically relevant to Limbus Company in some way, supposedly being affected by the events experienced during the LCB's journey. This seems to imply a viewer might be able to actively affect or interact with the worlds reflected to the Mirror.

   The Light and the Golden Boughs seem to be closely connected to these concepts, allowing for connections with external Mirror Worlds. The manager of the Limbus Company Bus Department, Dante, who has part of a Golden Bough implanted in their prosthetic head, has been shown in numerous cases to be able to peek into various worlds. Dante is shown to be capable of resonating with the Golden Boughs and utilize them to affect external worlds, as shown in the ending of Canto VI, during which they made use of a Golden Bough to erase Catherine from all Mirror Worlds. Dante also uses the LCB-PDA in their possession to see into other Mirror Worlds, and communicate with Identities of the Sinners they are contracted to.

   During these interactions, the voice in the Light, Carmen, speaks directly with them, narrating the stories of the Identities selected by Dante. Carmen, from her spot within the Light, seems to be able to see all worlds, and seems to be unaffected by the effects of the Golden Bough on the worlds, as demonstrated by her ability to recall Catherine following the erasure.

   the Identity Story of Ishmael's Family Hierarch Candidate Identity, Carmen, as its narrator, corroborates on the concept of worlds being created by one's feelings. In particular, Carmen seems to point at Dante as a source of Mirror Worlds, commenting on the worlds being created by the act of a "wishmaker", and becoming clearer in the presence of an observer.

   Bloodfiends (혈귀, Hyeolgwi) are a unique, blood-dependent species of monster with a history that goes back for centuries.

   Although formerly an obscure and esoteric phenomena as a result of in-group policing, Bloodfiends have become a more well-known monster following the Blood-red Night's public ascension to Star of the City shortly before the events of Library of Ruina. In modern day, the average citizen is familiar with the idea of Bloodfiends, and there are even Fixers who specialize in Bloodfiend hunting.

   They are directly inspired by vampires in modern literature, and much of their existence revolves around blood.

   Bloodfiends are City monsters that are visually reminiscent of humans yet fundamentally different. To become a Bloodfiend means to be infected with an illness, afflicted with an enormous thirst that can only be sated by feeding on fresh, flowing blood. They are virtually immortal and immune to aging so long as they are provided with enough of it. Together with their thirst for blood, Bloodfiends are also afflicted with the instinct to propagate their Family by creating further Bloodfiends.

   Bloodfiends are known to originate in three ways: turned Kindred by a higher Bloodfiend, through the Distortion Phenomenon, or by receiving blood in a "certain mansion". Bloodfiends have adopted an intense hierarchy based on the degree of separation from the species' original progenitor. Despite not being related in the traditional sense, they refer to each other with familial terms, and possess genuine familial bonds.

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

   Following the White Nights and Dark Days, it became common for people to turn into Bloodfiends upon distorting, as a "stereotyped form of Distortion". These newborn, independent Bloodfiends lack any knowledge of the prior group's rules, and don't know how to control their powers. As Bloodfiends are widely ostracized by humans, enough for the City to have Fixers who specialize in hunting and killing them, these independent Bloodfiends have only increased the infamy of the race as a whole. Though not all Bloodfiends originate from the Distortion Phenomenon, they are considered closest to Distortions overall.

   Bloodfiends are nearly identical to ordinary people most of the time. The most obvious indicator is the black and red patterned crystalline growths that can appear during combat, usually on one half of the face. All Bloodfiends have red eyes; however, red eyes are not a surefire indicator of a Bloodfiend, as the color can be produced, and is the most common color chosen for eye augmentations. Additionally, Bloodfiends and their Bloodbags appear to be constituted mostly of blood, and possess high regenerative capabilities as long as they are able to consume blood to reconstruct their bodies and empower themselves.

   Most Bloodfiends also have an irrational fear of water, though those of an high enough generation have the ability to overcome this phobia. Bloodfiends also have a tendency to keep count of things.

   Occasionally, people may not even be consciously aware that they are Bloodfiends.

   Kindreds: A Bloodfiend may "embrace" (bite) another human to convert them into a fellow Bloodfiend, a Kindred of a generation below theirs. Aside from the first Bloodfiend (the "primogenitor"), Bloodfiends can only create a maximum of two Kindreds in their lifetime.

   Kindreds behave as independent Bloodfiends while inheriting the abilities of their "Parent" to a degree. However, higher-generation Bloodfiends have a large degree of control over the actions of lower-generation Bloodfiends, due to an intense psychological barrier preventing lower Bloodfiends from revolting against the higher generations. The generation a Bloodfiend belongs to is denoted by their title: a "First Kindred" is a Bloodfiend created by the primogenitor, and serve as the Elder of their own Family in a Nest. The Elders' direct "descendants" are "Second Kindreds", their descendants "Third Kindreds", and so on. Any Kindred can create their own descendants. However, due to the policies instated by the Bloodfiend Elders of each Nest, Bloodfiends may have to gain permission before they can convert any humans into their Kindred.

   Upon the death of a Bloodfiend's Parent, said Bloodfiend may ascend in the hierarchy of their Family and become a higher Kindred. However, this sudden ascension may lead to an increased pressure toward creating new Kindred should the ascended Bloodfiend lack any Children of their own.[18]

   Thirst for Blood: Bloodfiends are highly defined by a persistent desire for blood. Although Bloodfiends only require a minimal amount of blood for survival, the combined mental state of an entire Family relies heavily on a steady source of freshly-drawn human blood. For a Bloodfiend, the process of consuming blood is fundamentally different from the human process of feeding and consuming nutrients: blood is the embodiment of a Bloodfiend's emotions, their purpose of existence. For this reason, in the absence of it, Bloodfiends and Bloodbags can no longer maintain their sanity and struggle to keep their physical form.

   Bloodfiends do not feel a craving for the blood of animals or fellow Bloodfiends, and cannot sate themselves on it. Instead, Bloodfiends crave the blood of humans to the point of being incoherent in its presence. They typically feed by biting into a live human subject, which is then either turned into a Kindred or into a Bloodbag, irreversibly condemning them to becoming a mindless thrall and effectively killing the subject in the process.

   When a Bloodfiend does not have any Family, they are psychologically responsible for the bloodthirst of all non-existent lower Kindreds. It is only when a Bloodfiend actually extends their Family that this burden begins to wane, as the thirst imprinted into their Familial bloodline is shared amongst them. This conundrum is the source of the Bloodfiend instinct to propagate their Family with Children. It is only with this shared burden that Bloodfiends earn the power to think rationally, as the weight of an entire Family's Bloodthirst on one Kindred's back causes extreme distress and auditory hallucinations, resulting in nothing but an animalistic hunger; despite this, the First Kindred Don Quixote seems to go against these stated rules, as he is depicted as perfectly sane and rational on the day he made Sancho his Kindred. Dante also notes that a cure for a Bloodfiend's thirst is to forget one's nature as a Bloodfiend.

   Personal willpower is a considerable—albeit imperfect—factor in how long a Bloodfiend can go without blood. Even the most strong-willed Bloodfiends become more on edge, if not outright insane over long periods of abstinence. For instance, extended time without blood was enough to make the La Manchaland Bloodfiends commit filial impiety against their Father, despite Bloodfiend loyalty to their higher Kindred being imprinted into their very being. This abstinence also causes weakness and withering to both their physical appearance and bodily strength.

   Alternatives: Instead of feeding directly from a live human being, Bloodfiends may feed on human blood stored into blood packs. However, this causes the blood to lose its freshness, making it "stale" and unappealing for consumption. In La Manchaland, a system of consensual blood exchange was set up to allow the Bloodfiends to feed without hurting humans, but the blood packs ultimately proved insufficient in meeting the Family's high demand for blood. As an alternative, The Barber created hemobars, which compressed human and animal blood. Yet this diluted form of blood was not sufficient to sate the Family's thirst either, having only the benefit of remaining fresh for longer than blood packs. To sate the thirst of the Second Kindred Don Quixote, the LCE plans on supplying her with artificial blood packs, made up of a substitute with a similar composition to human blood; it is currently unclear whether these might present a different result compared to the blood packs previously used in La Manchaland.

   Abilities: In addition to their position in the Family hierarchy, a Bloodfiend's power is dependent on their access to blood. By drinking blood, their physical abilities are sharply enhanced, and by limiting their access to blood, their abilities are instead tanked. Bloodfiends have a large degree of control over both their own and human blood, with the ability to shape it into weapons, armor, or even architecture through crystallization. They can also draw blood directly to themselves from their Bloodbags and Kindred. Most Bloodfiends seem to use physical gestures to wield their blood-based powers, whether by necessity or as a simple flourish. There is no known limit to a Bloodfiend's gain of power beyond access to blood.

   Don Quixote is an impressive example of the sheer amount of power First Kindreds possess. In battle, he is shown to use complicated blood manipulation while barely moving a finger. Additionally, La Manchaland itself was built entirely out of human blood. Another of his creations was Rocinante, a pair of running shoes with transformative abilities and a level of sentience said to have taken a very large amount of his blood to create, with the inexplicable power to suppress the characteristics and powers of a Bloodfiend. Rocinante does not manage to fully suppress the desire for blood, however.

   Different families of Bloodfiends focus on different aspects of blood manipulation. For example, the P Corp. Family focuses mostly on blood crystallization and the usage of hardblood in creating weapons. Other powers mentioned to belong to different Families include the ability to increase in size and sprout additional appendages by drinking large quantities of blood (as seen with the giantkin fought by the Manchegans during the Bloodfiend war), or the expertise in manipulating victims through their blood vessels (as seen with Elena).

   Bloodbags: Humans directly bitten by Bloodfiends are, depending on the Bloodfiend's choice, transformed into their Kindred or a Bloodbag. When converting humans into Bloodbags, Bloodfiends have the ability to decide how much time it takes for the process to complete, with higher Kindreds being able to give a longer delay. It is also possible for some Bloodfiends to form Bloodbags from fresh corpses, as seen with the Blood-red Night. Bloodfiends are also able to both puppeteer victims by manipulating the blood in their veins, and through crystalline growths of blood.

   Bloodbags share most of the abilities and bloodthirst of normal Bloodfiends, but they do not retain any sapience or personal memory. Instead, they are driven primarily by orders from the Bloodfiend who created them, or primal instincts of bloodlust. They need to "consume a minuscule amount of blood to maintain their forms." However, similar to Pallidified Things, abilities acquired prior to Bloodbag conversion appears to be still extant, evidenced by Bloodbag Cleanup Agents and Prosthetic Fixers still using Charge.pngCharge-related Skills.

   Due to Bloodbags' lack of intelligence, Parent Bloodfiends have a higher degree of control over Bloodbags than their Kindred, and thus usually use them as minions or tools in collecting blood.

   The Middle is one of the Five Fingers, the five most powerful Syndicates in the City which hold enough influence to rival even the Wings.

   The Twinhook Pirates are one of many subsidiary Syndicates that operate under The Middle.

   Similar to the other four Fingers, the Middle has a unique Syndicate culture and creed that all members follow fervently.

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

   The Middle has a completely different attitude towards outsiders. Any slight (or "sin", as members call them) done to a member of the Middle or its property (including assets and subservient Syndicates) will be recorded on the "Book of Vengeance" (which members carry around on their waists), and promptly avenged for, usually within the space of a few days. The Book of Vengeance also provides guidelines for the punishment required for each crime, ranging in significance from "getting one's shoe stepped on in the streets", to having one's luxury hair salon coupons stolen, to physical harm to a Brother or Sister. This means even inconveniencing a member of the Middle Finger can result in mass death, with entire households being slaughtered over a single dead Middle member and the Sinners being killed for stealing a single Luxury Hair Salon coupon that belonged to a Big Brother. As a result, they are greatly feared by outsiders. However, lower-ranking members of The Middle are expected to accept slights against them by higher ranking members.

   As with the other five fingers, The Middle was involved in the House of Spiders project, sending the former Great Brother Matthias to the house to act as a nursefather.

   Appearance-wise, most Middle members who have appeared so far have sported Hawaiian-style shirts or vests, dress pants, and sunglasses. More notable attributes (implied to by common to the Middle across the City) include golden chains wrapped around the forearm, shins, and neck, with higher ranking members having a larger amount of chains. These chains symbolize solidarity and connection between Middle members. Middle members also have enhancement tattoos present all over their body, which glow purple when the user attacks (presumably to provide a strength boost). Members are allowed to add a single tattoo to their bodies with each vengeance completed.

   The entirety of District 8 is contained within a single gargantuan building called Hongyuan (Mandarin: 鸿园, lit. The Vast Garden). District 8's Nest lies at the center of the structure, while the Backstreets form the periphery of the building. Different areas of Hongyuan have different Taboos imposed upon the residents within.

   The structure of Hongyuan is a remnant of an old H Corp., and is still under the effects of its Singularity. Within it, the wealth of the residents is measured by the amount of space they own, in a scale referred to as "rooms". Rooms are redistributed by the Singularity during a period called "Restructuring Day": the process of restructuring redistributes space based on the residents' net worth, and involves the buildings within the complex shifting and moving at great speed and force. Those who do not have any residence or find themselves without enough room will be thrown around by the movement of buildings, typically to their deaths.

   District 8 does not make use of cars; instead, a common method of transportation is the "Palanquin". In District 8, a Palanquin refers to a car chassis manually carried by people stationed beside each wheel.

   Historically, the company has been controlled by the Family Hierarch of Daguanyuan, a building complex located at the very top of the Nest, where the members of the most prestigious families of the District reside. Among them, the Jia family has always been the most influential, surpassing the previously prestigious Shi family. By the time of the events of Canto VIII, the Family Hierarch of the Jia family and the Wing's Executive Director was Jia Mu.

   Prior to the ascent of Jia Mu, the other families of Daguanyuan had been overshadowed for a time by the Kong Family, which aided Jia Mu during the Family Hierarch Evaluations, allowing her to claim the title, and which led the research of the Bioengineering Group up until around two decades before the events of the main story. The Kong family's work, which focused on high quality Boluses, brought the company to City-wide notoriety.

   The family's glory would reach a premature end by the hand of Jia Mu: together with a group of H Corp. researchers, the Hierarch began working on a new Bolus, which she claimed would create a thirteenth Heishou Pack, that she would then present at the Kong family headquarters. In truth, Jia Mu had created a Bolus that would generate Cuckoospawn Humans, or Niaojia-ren (鳥鴶人), violent and sentient creatures from the Outskirts, which began killing all in attendance at the Bolus' unveiling. As the presence of non-human sentient beings within the City is forbidden by a Taboo of the Head, a group of Arbiters and Claws, led by Garion was summoned to suppress the creatures and annihilate the Kong family, which was held responsible for having brought them to the City.

   After the Kong family's fall, the Jia family would take the role of leadership from them. The incident left behind one survivor of the Kong family, the descendant Jia Qiu, who would leave Hongyuan for many years, returning only in 985 to participate to the Family Hierarch Evaluation as a member of the Jia family.

   Singularity: H Corp.'s Singularity is called the Bolus (Mandarin: 丸药). H Corp. manufactures Boluses that contain "essences of treatment" and can transform the body. These Boluses can be used in a variety of ways, including but not limited to:

   Taken orally, in powder or pill form; Mixed into food or drink; Soaked into bandages and wrapped around injuries; Applied as an ointment.

   The creation of a Bolus is an alchemical process that bears resemblance to traditional chemistry or medicine-making, albeit far more esoteric in nature. Highly specific ingredients are combined in accordance with their properties to create a harmony, with the entire process being highly sensitive to external factors such as the storage method, processes of preparation, or even spacetime itself; for instance, the same recipe used at a different hour of the day may yield a different effect. In addition, the ingredients used obey laws dictated by concepts found in Taoism: these include yin/yang alignment, the elements of the Sexagenary cycle and five phases, alignment according to the eight trigrams, and more.

   Treatment involves selecting the appropriate technique from a myriad of choices to address the specific deficiency in status to be addressed. Heavy and/or frequent use of Boluses can lead to a variety of side effects, generally causing unsightly mutations. District residents will typically refer to victims of these side effects as "regulars". Bolus treatment may also be utilized to produce directed mutations, such as those applied to Heishou Pack members. Notably, these treatments are seen as different from the ones administered by K Corp. for this reason; K Corp. ampules work by "restoration" of the body to its original state, while the Bolus works more via "transformation" or "evolution".

   The Boluses are also used to create the Heishou Packs, with each pack having a secret recipe for the Bolus needed to become one of them. According to Garion, those who ingest these Boluses gain traits and abilities akin to creatures in the Outskirts.

   Other Technology H Corp. offers a Life Insurance policy, which allows for the resuscitation of a person after death, provided that the brain is left intact. The procedure can result in "'losses' in the process of information transference", often leading to degeneration of personality/memory and mental instability (especially with less expensive packages), and can allow for the subject's personality to be modified according to the clients' requests, as was the case for Xiren.

   Another sight in H Corp. is the Anamnaworm, a metamorphosis of a human being into a grotesque, worm-like creature with a sunken human face. Anamnaworms retain all the memories of their original self, and anyone who assimilates the Anamnaworm into their body, usually by insertion into an orifice such as the ear, will gain the memories of the original human. Once an Anamnaworm is assimilated into the host's body, it is nearly impossible to remove until a preset series of conditions laid out upon its creation are met. Because of these reasons, Anamnaworms are a popular way for high-ranking families to conceal and pass down their secrets, or even for mundane reasons such as providing the memories of having tasted many wonderful cuisines. One particular Anamnaworm is the Xianhuang Worm, the original founder of H Corp. who transformed himself into a worm as to live on eternally through his future successors.

   It is plausible that these technologies use the Bolus as their basis, but this remains largely unknown.

   Daguanyuan (Mandarin: 大观园; 大觀園, pinyin: Dàguānyuán) is a colossal residence at the very top of Nest H, in which the four ancient houses Jia, Shi, Xue and Wang, as well as a number of minor houses, reside. The people of Daguanyuan are the elites of District 8, and their leader controls the entirety of Hongyuan.

   Being the residence of the Hierarch and head of H Corp., Daguanyuan is rarely subject to the effects of Hongyuan's Restructuring Day, never losing any room, and instead gaining more.[1] Each inhabitant of Daguanyuan resides in their own building together with their personal servants. Members of the same family do not live together; this extends to parents and their children, as well as siblings, all of whom have a personal building at their disposal. Communal areas in Daguanyuan include the banquet hall, where members of various families may commune.

   The ruler of Daguanyuan, the Family Hierarch and the Executive Director, is chosen through what is called the Family Hierarch Evaluation, or more commonly the Family Hierarch war. The Evaluation is a process with various stages, where the candidates must complete two trials to prove themselves worthy to the previous Hierarch, before being approved by the Xianren, the enlightened family elders, and sitting themselves on the Hierarch's throne.

   During the first trial, the candidates must present to the Hierarch their answer to the question of three freedoms: one from aging, one from death, and one from brevity of life. The second trial consists of a competition in which the candidates, together with their clan, are locked in a subterranean arena and given a number of coins. The candidates compete for the possession of each other's coins, which can be freely given, taken by force by defeating other candidates, or obtained by exploring the various areas of the arena, modeled after the old Kong Family building. The candidates' final placement are based on the amount of coins in their possession by the time of their retreat from the building. The participants that place in the top ten spots are allowed to take one item from the family's treasury, with the participants that placed the highest going first.

   The winning candidate gains the right to claim the title of Family Hierarch. At the end of the second round, Daguanyuan experiences a period of power vacuum, as the Heishou Packs become a neutral party, answering to no master until the winning candidate sits upon the Hierarch's throne.

   To be acclaimed as the new Hierarch, the winning candidate must then visit the Tiekan Temple to pay respects to the Xianren and receive an Anamnaworm from the previous Hierarch who carried it. This Anamnaworm, the Xianhuang Worm, or Anamnaworm of the Immortal Emperor, is a metamorphized form of the founding Hierarch of Hongyuan, that carries the will and the accumulated knowledge of all the previous Hierarchs. The Hierarch-to-be must then allow the previous Hierarch to implant it into their body, an experience which profoundly shakes one's psyche, connecting their feelings and reason with that of all the previous Hierarchs. Due to this connection, the Hierarch becomes similarly enthralled in the pursuit of immortality, and will eventually join the Xianren and spend the rest of their days in the Tiekan Temple.

   Afterwards, the candidate must proceed back to the main building of Daguanyuan, and be seated upon the Hierarch's throne. Upon completing this ritual, the candidate officially becomes the Hierarch, and gains control of their Heishou Packs.

   Daguanyuan was led by Jia Mu, an elder of the Jia family and former head of the Wing. After the events of Canto VIII: The Surrendered Witnessing, Jia Xichun becomes the new Hierarch and head of the Wing, and the first to not carry the Xianhuang Worm.

   Jia Family: The Jia family is a powerful family at the head of Hongyuan, which Hong Lu hails from. The Jia family is the most prestigious of the houses of Daguanyuan, their power having remained great and stable for many decades, despite their glory having been overshadowed by the Kong Family for a certain period, around two decades prior to the events of the main story. The Jia family are renowned for their cunning, their skill in Bolus crafting and their capacity for deception. They are directly served by the Jialan Guards, who have sworn utter loyalty to the Family Hierarch and Daguanyuan.

   As the most prominent family of Daguanyuan, the Jia family presented a great number of candidates for the Family Hierarch Evaluation. Among them, notable ones are Jia Huan, Jia Xichun, the Kong family remnant Jia Qiu, and the surprise entry Jia Baoyu, jade of the family. All four passed the first round of evaluation and survived the second. Jia Xichun placed first and obtained the title of Family Hierarch, with Jia Baoyu and Jia Huan respectively placing second and third.

   Following Jia Xichun's victory, Jia Yuanchun conspired, together with the Shi and Xue families, to overthrow the results and seize the power in Hongyuan by force. After the conspiracy failed and Jia Xichun ascended to the throne, Jia Yuanchun made herself scarce.

   Shin family: The Shi family is one of the four great families of Daguanyuan. The former Family Hierarch Jia Mu, née Shi Miyin, descended from the Shi family: at the times of her grandfather, the Shi family was known to be one the most prestigious families of Hongyuan, towering even above the Jia family,[7] although with time, they underwent a great decline,[3] losing the station and the respect they used to command. The Shi family seems to be known to be highly ambitious, yet lacking the qualifications and ability to maintain their power.

   The Shi family members are also regularly accompanied by their mercenaries, and make use of axes in combat.

   During the Family Hierarch Evaluation of 985, at least four members from the Shi family participated as candidates: Shi Yihua, who was decapitated by a Heishou of the Si Branch and unable to participate to the first round but joined Wang Dawei during the second, Shi Dazhen, who failed to appear at the first round of the evaluation and was eliminated by default, Shi Huazhen and Shi Sijing, who were eliminated on the second round, defeated by Jia Baoyu's entourage.

   Additionally, the Shi family hired the New League of Nine Littérateurs: a small faction led by the League member Jia Huan would join the Evaluation and void the result in the occasion that a Shi family candidate failed to win.

   After the second round of Evaluations and Jia Xichun's victory, the Shi family aligned itself with the Xue family and Jia Yuanchun to conspire against Hongyuan. It is suggested the same influential member of the Shi family that ordered Shi Yihua's execution was the one behind this.

   Xue Family The Xue family is one of the four great families of Daguanyuan. The Xue family is known to be prestigious, with other houses such as the Lin family answering to their service, but it is infamous for the greed of its members. The Xue family is also served by a group of vagabond warriors that wield podao broadswords in combat.

   A prominent member of the Xue family is suggested to be Xue Pan and Xue Baochai's mother, who seems to be a strict woman with little regard for her children's lives. The lady Xue was also responsible for sending a group of assassins led by the Night Drifter after Jia Baoyu's clan on the night after the first round of evaluations.

   During the Family Hierarch Evaluation, at least three members of the Xue family participated as candidates: the siblings Xue Baochai and Xue Pan, who both passed the first round, and a third member who was eliminated during the first round.

   After the second round of Evaluations and Jia Xichun's victory, the Xue family aligned itself with the Shi family and Jia Yuanchun to conspire against Hongyuan. Notably, Xue Baochai went against this plan, personally warning Hong Lu of the conspiracy. After Jia Xichun's ascension, she was taken in by Jia Yuanchun with the purpose of discussing her betrayal to her family.

   Wang Family The Wang family is one of the four great families of Daguanyuan. The Wang family appears to be involved with a "spirit talisman school" of Deathrite Monks, and they make use of talismans in combat. Despite their role as a noble family, the Wangs are ultimately subordinate to the Jias, and their family is noted for its economic inferiority to other clans. A prominent member of the family, Lady Wang, married into the Jia family, and gave birth to Jia Baoyu.

   During the Family Hierarch Evaluation of 985, at least four members from the Wang family participated as candidates: Wang Ren, who was eliminated in the first round, Wang Dawei and Wang Qingshan, both of whom were eliminated in the second round, and Wang Zhao, who forfeited.

   After the second round of Evaluations and Jia Xichun's victory, the Wang family aligned itself with the Jia family to protect Hongyuan against the intruders.

   HONGYUAN LORE — THE BOLUS, THE HEISHOU PACKS, AND THE TWELVE BRANCHES

   1. HONGYUAN AND THE HEISHOU PACKS

   Hongyuan is a District of the City governed by H Corp., whose Singularity revolves around the creation and use of Boluses. Its society is deeply shaped by the traditions of the Jia Family, the four great houses of Daguanyuan, and the political struggles surrounding the position of Family Hierarch.

   The Heishou Packs, whose name translates to "Black Beasts," are twelve specialized organizations of enhanced fighters that historically served the four great houses and their ruling figures. They function as elite security forces, enforcers, assassins, and military units, depending on their branch.

   Each of the twelve branches corresponds to an animal of the Chinese zodiac and its associated Earthly Branch. Members receive specialized Bolus treatments that alter their bodies, granting them mutations resembling creatures found in the Outskirts of the City.

   The Heishou are not ordinary soldiers. Their enhanced physical capabilities, unusual mutations, rigorous training, and strict organizational hierarchy make them valuable instruments of power.

   The Lord and the Leash

   The leader who commands the Heishou Packs is commonly referred to as their leash-holder. Each branch swears absolute loyalty to its current lord, regardless of its previous allegiance. This loyalty is reinforced by the authority of the position and appears to be strengthened by technology associated with Q Corp.

   The branches are not independent military organizations that can freely disregard the ruler's commands. Their allegiance is a fundamental part of the political structure surrounding Hongyuan.

   In this alternate world, Hong Lu has seized control of the twelve branches and established herself as the Lord of Hongyuan. The former order has been dismantled, the four great houses have fallen from their former positions of power, and the Heishou now serve her rule.

   Hong Lu's authority is not founded on kindness or popular approval. She is willing to use overwhelming force and ruthless decisions to establish the order she desires.

   Ranks and Hierarchy

   The Lord: The supreme authority over the Heishou Packs. The Lord determines their allegiance, directs their deployment, and possesses the authority to issue commands to all twelve branches.

   Adepts: High-ranking Heishou who serve as senior officers beneath the Lord. They possess considerable authority within their respective branches and may oversee other Heishou during operations. Their clothing and equipment often display more prominent animal motifs than those of ordinary members.

   Regular Heishou: Enhanced fighters who have undergone their branch's Bolus regimen. Their duties and abilities depend on their branch.

   Heishou-Xianren: Specialized individuals responsible for the secret Bolus formula of their respective branches. Each branch has a corresponding Heishou-Xianren who controls the recipe and the knowledge necessary to reproduce its particular mutations.

   The Heishou-Xianren must not be confused with the Xianren of Tiekan Temple. They are separate positions, and the existence of the Heishou-Xianren is a closely guarded secret.

   ---

   2. WHAT ARE BOLUSES?

   Boluses are medicinal substances produced through H Corp.'s Singularity. Despite their name, they are not simply ordinary pills. They are highly specialized preparations capable of transforming the human body.

   They can be administered orally, mixed into food or drinks, applied as ointments, or used to treat injuries through specially prepared bandages.

   Their production resembles an esoteric form of alchemy. Ingredients must be selected and combined according to their properties, and the preparation process is extremely sensitive to external circumstances.

   Factors such as storage conditions, preparation methods, the time of production, and even spacetime may affect the outcome. Traditional concepts associated with yin and yang, the five phases, the eight trigrams, and the Sexagenary cycle also influence their preparation.

   Boluses can have different purposes. Some are intended to treat physical conditions, while others can fundamentally transform a person's physiology.

   Heishou Boluses

   The Heishou Packs use a specialized form of Bolus treatment to develop their characteristic mutations.

   Each branch possesses its own secret formula. These formulations produce transformations inspired by creatures from the Outskirts, granting branch members specialized physical capabilities and traits associated with their designated animal.

   The precise ingredients, quantities, preparation procedures, and complete biological effects of each branch's Bolus are not publicly documented. Such information is closely guarded by the respective Heishou-Xianren.

   Consequently, the known descriptions of each branch's Bolus focus on the resulting mutations and abilities rather than the exact recipe.

   Benefits and Side Effects

   Bolus treatments can grant extraordinary physical capabilities, but they are not without risks.

   Heavy or repeated use can cause undesirable mutations and bodily abnormalities. These side effects are not necessarily limited to Heishou, since Boluses have broader medical applications throughout Hongyuan.

   The Heishou mutations can also be suppressed through a special Bolus designed to repress their effects. However, this suppression is temporary, and repeated doses are required to keep the original mutations under control.

   The relationship between a Heishou and their Bolus is therefore more complicated than simply receiving a permanent power. Their enhanced physiology depends on a treatment regimen that must be properly managed.

   Why Each Branch Has a Different Bolus

   The twelve branch formulas are not interchangeable.

   Each branch's recipe is designed around its characteristic mutations and specialization. A Mao Heishou, for example, develops enhanced mobility associated with hares, while a Wu Heishou develops horse-like traits associated with cavalry and mobility.

   The precise biological mechanisms behind every mutation remain undisclosed. The effects documented in the story establish what the Boluses accomplish, but not every detail of how they accomplish it.

   ---

   3. THE TWELVE BRANCHES OF THE HEISHOU PACKS

   3.1. Zi Branch — The Rat

   Earthly Branch: Zi (子) Animal: Rat Known specialization: Large-scale deployment and operations involving substantial numbers of Heishou.

   The Zi Branch is known for mobilizing in large groups. Its strength is associated with numbers and the ability to deploy many members as part of a larger operation.

   Bolus effects: The precise mutations and individual abilities associated with the Zi Branch have not been fully established in the available lore.

   Although the branch is associated with rats, specific rat-like physical transformations should not be treated as fully documented canon without additional evidence.

   Operational role: Large-scale support, mass deployment, and operations in which numbers are important.

   Known personnel: No individually named Zi Branch member has been firmly established in the commonly documented roster.

   ---

   3.2. Chou Branch — The Ox

   Earthly Branch: Chou (丑) Animal: Ox Known specialization: Brute strength, carrying heavy burdens, and destroying structures.

   Chou Branch members are sometimes called Oxlords. They are associated with enormous physical strength and appear equipped to handle tasks requiring overwhelming force.

   Their responsibilities include transporting heavy objects and demolishing structures. Their role is less focused on subtlety than on physical power and endurance.

   Bolus effects: The branch's precise formula is secret. Its documented specialization strongly emphasizes strength, although the complete range of its mutations has not been revealed.

   Operational role: Heavy-duty physical tasks, structural destruction, and operations requiring exceptional strength.

   Known personnel: No individually named Chou Branch member has been firmly established in the commonly documented roster.

   ---

   3.3. Yin Branch — The Tiger

   Earthly Branch: Yin (寅) Animal: Tiger Known specialization: Combat against exceptionally powerful opponents.

   The Yin Branch is associated with tiger-like traits. References to its abilities suggest that its members may be deployed against elite individuals too dangerous for ordinary soldiers to confront.

   Its role appears more specialized than that of a conventional infantry unit, with emphasis on formidable individual combat capabilities.

   Bolus effects: Jia Mu's techniques reveal tiger-associated transformations, but the precise physical mutations and complete abilities of ordinary Yin Branch members remain insufficiently documented.

   Operational role: Specialized combat against exceptionally dangerous opponents.

   Known personnel: No individually named Yin Branch member has been firmly established in the commonly documented roster.

   ---

   3.4. Mao Branch — The Hare

   Earthly Branch: Mao (卯) Animal: Hare Known specialization: Pursuit, group ambushes, and rapid movement.

   The Mao Branch specializes in pursuit and coordinated ambush operations. Its members are particularly known for their mobility.

   Their Bolus treatments allow their legs to transform into digitigrade, hare-like limbs, greatly increasing their speed and agility. These mutations complement the branch's preference for coordinated movement and rapid engagements.

   Mao Heishou commonly wear dark headgear featuring two strips of yellow cloth that resemble hare ears. Their clothing maintains the general black-robed appearance of the Heishou Packs while incorporating branch-specific imagery.

   Mao Branch members favor mobility, speed, and the ability to maintain pressure on their opponents.

   Bolus effects: Digitigrade legs and substantially enhanced speed and agility.

   Operational role: Pursuit, ambushes, rapid movement, and coordinated operations.

   Known personnel:

   • Zilu — a senior Mao Branch member and Adept.
   • Faust — Mao Branch Adept in the world associated with the Lord of Hongyuan.
   • Ryōshū — Mao Branch member in that world.
   • Outis — Mao Branch member in that world.

   These individuals belong to the Heishou setting, although their individual circumstances and allegiances depend on the particular world being depicted.

   ---

   3.5. Chen Branch — The Dragon

   Earthly Branch: Chen (辰) Animal: Dragon Known specialization: Not fully established.

   The Chen Branch is associated with the dragon and is among the branches historically serving the position of Family Hierarch.

   Its members have been depicted wielding floating orbs. However, the complete range of their abilities, the purpose of these objects, and their precise combat specialization have not been fully explained.

   Bolus effects: The exact Chen formula and its resulting biological mutations remain unknown. The dragon association is established, but the full physical characteristics of Chen Branch members have not been comprehensively documented.

   Operational role: Not sufficiently established to assign a detailed, definitive specialty.

   Known personnel: No individually named Chen Branch member has been firmly established in the commonly documented roster.

   ---

   3.6. Si Branch — The Snake

   Earthly Branch: Si (巳) Animal: Snake Known specialization: Stealth, assassination, and highly precise attacks.

   The Si Branch specializes in assassination and stealth. Its members are particularly dangerous because of their unusual physical mutations and ability to attack from unexpected angles.

   Their limbs can transform into narrow, scaled, serpentine forms. This grants them distinctive movement and striking capabilities, allowing them to attack with remarkable speed and from unconventional directions.

   Si Heishou are also associated with a debilitating venom. Their appearance commonly includes long purple scarves and other branch-specific clothing details.

   Their combat methods emphasize precision and the ability to exploit an opponent's vulnerabilities rather than relying purely on brute force.

   Bolus effects: Serpentine, scaled limbs and associated mobility and venomous characteristics.

   Operational role: Assassination, stealth, precision attacks, and infiltration.

   Known personnel:

   • Rodion — Si Branch member in the Heishou setting.
   • Gregor — Si Branch member in the Heishou setting.

   The branch is associated with Jia Yuanchun in the established world outside Hong Lu's alternate rule.

   ---

   3.7. Wu Branch — The Horse

   Earthly Branch: Wu (午) Animal: Horse Known specialization: Cavalry, rapid movement, and breaking enemy lines.

   The Wu Branch possesses distinct horse-like physical mutations. Its members can develop a horse-like lower body and limbs, along with horse-like ears and tails. They also exhibit dark, armor-like carapaces fused to their bodies.

   These traits grant them remarkable mobility and make them suited to roles involving rapid movement and forceful advances.

   Wu Heishou are associated with large polearms and often operate as cavalry or vanguard units. Their general role is to break through resistance and carry the momentum of an engagement forward.

   Bolus effects: Horse-like lower bodies and limbs, horse-like ears and tails, and associated physical enhancements.

   Operational role: Cavalry, vanguard duties, rapid movement, and breaking through enemy formations.

   Known personnel:

   • Wei — a former Wu Branch Adept who served Jia Xichun.
   • Yi Sang — Wu Branch Adept in the Heishou setting.

   The branch's current allegiance in the established world outside Hong Lu's alternate rule is not definitively established.

   ---

   3.8. Wei Branch — The Sheep

   Earthly Branch: Wei (未) Animal: Sheep or ram Known specialization: Breaking through fortifications and obstacles through powerful charging attacks.

   The Wei Branch is designed around the physical strength of sheep and rams, particularly their horns and charging behavior.

   Its members develop horn-like mutations and are trained to bring down obstacles through forceful, concentrated impacts.

   Their abilities are especially useful when a mission requires a barrier to be broken or a path to be opened. The branch's defining trait is its ability to keep advancing when confronted with physical resistance.

   Bolus effects: Horn-like mutations associated with enhanced charging capabilities and physical force.

   Operational role: Breaching, destroying barricades, and breaking through fortified obstacles.

   Known personnel:

   • Don Quixote — Wei Branch member in the Heishou setting.

   The Wei Branch's specialization is one of the more clearly established examples of how a Bolus supports a particular role.

   ---

   3.9. Shen Branch — The Monkey

   Earthly Branch: Shen (申) Animal: Monkey Known specialization: Not fully established.

   The Shen Branch is associated with the monkey and has historically served the position of Family Hierarch.

   Its members are known to use staves. However, the available lore does not fully establish the branch's overall combat specialization, exact mutations, or complete range of abilities.

   Bolus effects: The recipe and resulting transformations have not been comprehensively documented. Monkey-like traits are implied by the branch's identity, but their precise form should not be invented as established canon.

   Operational role: Not sufficiently established to assign a definitive specialty.

   Known personnel: No individually named Shen Branch member has been firmly established in the commonly documented roster.

   ---

   3.10. You Branch — The Rooster

   Earthly Branch: You (酉) Animal: Rooster Known specialization: Direct combat and unrestricted warfare.

   The You Branch is known for its extraordinary aggression. Its members develop wing-like mutations and are associated with intense, often reckless fighting behavior.

   Unlike branches intended for stealth or protective duties, the You Branch is primarily suited for open combat. Its members can become so consumed by their bloodlust that they struggle to distinguish friend from foe, with the notable exception of their own branch members.

   This makes them difficult to deploy in operations that demand restraint or careful coordination with outsiders.

   They are associated with red-feathered headgear, trailing red ribbons, and distinctive bloodflame blades.

   Bolus effects: Wing-like mutations and associated physical characteristics.

   Operational role: Direct combat, assault, and large-scale warfare.

   Known personnel:

   • Heathcliff — You Branch Adept in the Heishou setting.
   • Sinclair — You Branch member in the Heishou setting.

   The You Branch is historically associated with the position of Family Hierarch.

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   3.11. Xu Branch — The Dog

   Earthly Branch: Xu (戌) Animal: Dog Known specialization: Not established.

   The Xu Branch is one of the twelve official Heishou branches and corresponds to the dog.

   Its exact Bolus formulation, resulting mutations, combat specialization, clothing distinctions, and named members have not been sufficiently documented in the available lore.

   Although its identity suggests a dog-associated theme, specific powers should not be assigned to the branch as established facts without further canonical evidence.

   Bolus effects: Unknown.

   Operational role: Unknown.

   Known personnel: No individually named Xu Branch member has been firmly established in the commonly documented roster.

   ---

   3.12. Hai Branch — The Pig

   Earthly Branch: Hai (亥) Animal: Pig Known specialization: Not established.

   The Hai Branch is the twelfth official Heishou branch and corresponds to the pig.

   Its precise Bolus formula, resulting bodily mutations, operational role, equipment, and named personnel remain undocumented in sufficient detail.

   The animal association alone does not establish a particular combat style or physical ability.

   Bolus effects: Unknown.

   Operational role: Unknown.

   Known personnel: No individually named Hai Branch member has been firmly established in the commonly documented roster.

   ---

   4. IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE BRANCHES

   The twelve branches are not simply twelve groups with different costumes. Their specialties and Bolus-induced mutations are intended to fulfill different operational purposes.

   The Mao Branch emphasizes speed, pursuit, and coordinated ambushes.

   The Si Branch emphasizes stealth, assassination, and precision.

   The Wu Branch emphasizes cavalry and breaking through enemy formations.

   The Wei Branch specializes in smashing through physical barriers and fortifications.

   The You Branch is associated with aggressive, direct warfare.

   The Chou Branch emphasizes brute strength and the destruction or transport of heavy objects.

   The Zi Branch is notable for deploying large numbers of members.

   The Yin Branch is associated with facing exceptionally powerful opponents.

   The Chen and Shen branches possess some known distinguishing characteristics, but their complete specialties remain unclear. The Xu and Hai branches are even less documented.

   These differences should be preserved when describing the Heishou Packs. Not every Heishou should possess every branch's mutations, and individual Bolus effects should not be treated as interchangeable.

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   5. THE HEISHOU-XIANREN AND THE SECRECY OF THE BOLUSES

   Each branch has its own Heishou-Xianren, who is responsible for the knowledge necessary to produce its specialized Bolus.

   The formulation is a closely guarded secret. This is not merely a matter of protecting an ordinary recipe: it controls how new Heishou can be created and which individuals can receive the branch's enhancements.

   Because the recipe is restricted, the ability to expand a branch depends on the knowledge and decisions of its corresponding Heishou-Xianren.

   The suppression Bolus also plays an important role. It allows the branch's mutations to be temporarily restrained, but it does not permanently eliminate the underlying transformation.

   The Heishou system therefore involves more than training and loyalty. I

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