Priding itself on its functional, futuristic, and nostalgic architecture, Karteria at first glance is pristine, untouchable, and beautiful. It samples heavily from Art Deco and Art Nouveau with just a touch of vintage Hollywood glam and a simplistic modern edge. Its buildings are tall, often teals, blues, golds, blacks, and brassy in color, with lights and splashes of other bright colors thrown in.

When you're in the city, you start to notice its splendor... fading. Karteria's less affluent districts are rough around the edges, any maintenance few and far between. Sidewalks may be cracked and full of ditches; the faces of buildings may be faded, stained, windows cracked or boarded. Some districts are outright crowded with makeshift shelters and abandoned vehicles, rendered unusable by governmental policy and resource scarcity. But not all districts are run down, just as not all districts are polished and well-kept.

Karteria is a mix of towering skyscrapers and stout, multi-floor complexes. At the outskirts of the city might exist some few neighborhoods with purely residential buildings, but you can expect that most buildings have multiple floors, with business and residential dwellings mixed together within the same street, or even within the same building.

One of the largest districts in Karteria, and one that yet remains vibrant. While plenty of housing exists within the area, much of its zoning is committed to trades, and there's few streets here that are purely residential. And when it comes to business, if it's not too loud or too dirty, it's likely to find a place in Belle Ville.

In addition to craftsmen, alchemists, grocers, adventurers' guilds and the like, there are outright entertainment mini-districts, particularly towards the South, by the water. Complete with old theatres that have seen better days, there are bars known more for their live performances than for their drinks (though most stop by for both). There is little that is outright risqué on display, however, as social mores within the city lean towards the restrained. Belle Ville is prim and proper; its residents won't tolerate salacious storefronts and performance in plain sight.

To the west side of Belle Ville, and comprising the center of the city itself, lays the administrative heart of Karteria. Buildings increase in height, the density of offices increases, and artisans give way to politicians and bureaucrats.

Karteria is governed by an elected Council, with every district earning a certain number of representatives. Laws passed apply to the whole of the city, though each district maintains a limited amount of autonomy when it comes to distribution of resources. (The Augmented, at this time, have no voting rights.)

Reactions towards the Augmented are largely positive, or at least polite, though the size of the district ensures some amount of variability. But most who live and work within Belle Ville lean towards some flavor of middle class, a group that has largely warmed to the Augmented's presence amongst them. With sufficient means and connections, the Augmented are even permitted to operate their own business in the area! (Though it would be significantly easier to do so within East Sophia or Gloria.)

Karterians living towards the North of the district, skirting up against the more affluent Basileios, might have some of their aloofness rub off. But even if they're a touch less welcoming, they're not anywhere close to hostile. They're not brutes, and they hope that you won't be either.

Local politicians found in the area are likely to be distant, and avoid conversation. The lower down in the bureaucracy they are, the more friendly they become, having likely been on the receiving end of some amount of Augmented assistance. But the Government as an entity has become somewhat displeased with the Augmented. For the time being, favorable public opinion has kept that displeasure in check, and Augmented-run developments in farming is also serving to keep some voices on the Council on their side.

Why, when you stroll down tree-dappled streets, it's easy to believe there's no crisis going on in the world at all. And that's exactly how these residents like it.

There aren't too many shops around, but the ones that exist are more accurately described as boutiques. Jewelry, fine clothes, restaurants, artisanal bakeries—both the goods and the stores themselves are classy, elegant, and expensive. While the truly affluent have personal tailors and cooks, most still enjoy a bit of public browsing as an excuse for an outing.

While the use of robotic assistants is commonplace throughout Karteria, the ServiTons picking up the slack when it comes to the necessary drudgework involved in modern life, their incidence runs even higher in this district. The streets are kept clean, peaceful and neat; boutiques are staffed almost exclusively by machines. And rather than avail themselves of the local (and very fine) private school, the prestigious Basileios Gymnasium, some parents elect to have their children taught exclusively by ServiTon tutors.

For the residents here who still choose to 'work', their careers lay almost exclusively in administration, finance, or some other self-employed venture. Some of the higher-ups in Patho-Gen also hail from this district. And for all that gas-powered vehicles remain banned, if there's any who can afford to maintain a now-illegal car, they live here.

Opinions on the Augmented tend towards the dismissive, though not outright hostile. The only fur people here want to see is a fur coat, and a furry person is no more welcome than a stray dog: they're more likely to view this as a mark against whoever owns you (This is probably Patho-Gen? While more amongst the upper class have met an Augmented by now (or at least viewed one at a distance), they remain largely skeptical of the whole endeavor). Golem-types in particular will be condescended to and dehumanized, and assumed to be some manner of new ServiTon. Personhood is diminished, when not utterly disregarded. While this is true across all Karterian demographics, the upper class of Basileios are the most dismissive of Golems.

The people here are arrogant and easily amused by trifles. They dress in furs and golds, and often flaunt their wealth in these spheres to earn the trust of fellow rich folk. In their spare time, they enjoy lavish parties and talking finance with their peers, often looking for schemes to invest their money in.

Earnestly middle-class, this region is clinging desperately to its hard-fought self-perception of being decent, proper, and educated. Many of the people here have jobs in administration, but can't afford to live there (and refuse to live amongst the bustle of the East side of Belle Ville).

In recent history, the district had been dedicated to heavy industry, and the richest families here made their money that way. They all attempt to downplay this. Though the pollutants have been largely cleaned up (and ironically replaced with the now ever-present arcane radiation), coastal property is still not seen as glamorous, high-status, or particularly desirable. Associations with sewage, bad smells, and the danger of the open ocean remains... but in reality it is quite nice. Factories converted into residences attempt to be both chic and old-world, and only add to an unintentionally eclectic style in the district. Water's Edge is trying to escape its past through any means available, but has yet to show any signs of succeeding.

Businesses within Water's Edge are infrequent, and exist as modest corner-stores, groceries, and the occasional small library. Quiet shops are all that's permitted, and nothing indecent either; if there was ever a district concerned about propriety and morality, it would be here. This is a position that has only sharpened over the past decade, as the problems with arcane radiation show no sign of letting up, nor the outside world becoming any safer. Some fear the return of heavy, dirty industry to the district, ruining their already fragile self-perception further (But with Katalyth unappetizing as an energy source these days, what else can the city do but return to oil and coal?).

Opinions on the Augmented are therefore on the more unforgiving side—as once you start showing fur, scales, or feathers, you become a tangible sign of change, and everything they're afraid of. With the effort the Augmented have put into helping the middle class the people here have warmed up a trifle. As in, they'll let you in their shops, and will avoid looking too uncomfortable about it.

One thing they do appreciate, if not entirely understand, is that the Augmented seem to have fewer negative associations with the ocean, and don't see anything repulsive about hanging around it. Their district isn't filthy (anymore), or dangerous—so why can't other Karterians see it?

Defiantly middle-class, Sophia has been trying for years to market itself as something exclusive, vibrant, and youthful. What it has attracted are the sorts of people who can afford to see themselves that way. Prices here are inflated considering what you get, as the standards remain solidly modest—but that's the cost of living somewhere 'hip'.

The shops here tend towards the boutique, the unusual, and ever since the economic downturn, they're largely not doing too well. Fewer and fewer people have the money to spend on novelty, and those that do can afford something nicer than what you'd find here. Which isn't to say that there's no gold to be found amidst the gilt—but you'll have to sift for it.

Or maybe you're there for the gilt. You wouldn't be the first.

Views towards the Augmented are amongst the most positive here, especially if your soul type lends itself towards bright colors or a fantastic pattern.

The old heart of the city. Gloria has seen Karteria rise, and right now it is seeing Karteria falter. But with much the same grim resolution as the city was founded upon, it is determined to endure. And to that end, most of the locals here hold a more pragmatic view of life, taking each day as it comes. Sharing a border with nearly every other district, this has led to more blending than many of the others have faced, and a more stoic acceptance of change.

The arrival of the Augmented has been viewed more cynically here than in most areas. They, by-and-large, do not believe Patho-Gen's claims that these newcomers will be the salvation of their world. Sounds like propaganda—and nothing but a distraction from the fact that no one has found a cure for the ills wrought by arcane radiation.

But as the Augmented have gone out of their way to look after the poorer members of society—which are largely contained within Gloria and East Sophia—many amongst this district have come to view these foreigners kindly. While no Karterian is truly friendly (not in any sort of outgoing way, at least), the people of Gloria are inclined to give new Augmented the benefit of the doubt. While there have been troublemakers, these Karterians have seen far more compassion towards their situation, and attempt to return it to the Augmented with the same grace.

Less prestigious and more dirty types of businesses have taken up residence in Gloria, as prices have fallen relative to other places in the city. This has made it less and less appealing to actually live here, but the district remains overcrowded. The population itself is a mix of families who've been there for generations, yet with little influence or power—and relative newcomers, who largely work in heavy industry (fled here from Water's Edge, unable to afford the district's increasing gentrification). Both have adapted to a similar cynicism, where the worst is accepted as an inevitability.

Bordering both parks, residents and workers here have a choice on where to abscond to for a small measure of semi-convenient greenery. The park to the Northwest is considered as part of Gloria itself, and is the preferred one for residents. Though less maintained than the other, there is even a hedgemaze, with a lovely statue of Peacock at its center.

Consisting mainly of buildings unfinished, or hastily completed to poor standard, this part of Karteria stands (or more accurately, slumps) as a monument to failed ambition. Hardest hit by arcane radiation and the faltering of the city's economy, no one remains here unless they have to. As it is also the youngest part of the city, there's little loyalty to the land, no heritage to be found in remaining in a shell that has always been derelict. Tattered billboards remain, largely graffitied over or otherwise weathered, but pieces of their slogans remain, advertising the promise of a better life....

The businesses here are small, very local, and with a greater reputation for dealing in illicit goods and services. Unlicensed doctors are the only kind of healthcare around, as the people who live here can't afford the real thing. The quality is variable, from outright fraudsters, to altruists operating on charity, to the unscrupulous looking for test subjects.

Crime is less rampant than what the upper-classes might imagine, but there's no escaping that petty thievery is at its most common here, particularly against anyone who seems new. Outright violence remains unusual—but it's also hard to get reliable statistics, as much of what goes on here is assumed to go unreported. If someone gets out of hand, the locals tend to handle it within the community.

If you don't cause trouble, and can take care of yourself, the people here are likely to leave you alone, and are more inclined to view the Augmented more pragmatically than most. And while they're not a group given easily to trust, the Augmented have made considerable inroads when it comes to earning their affection. The lower classes and impoverished who live here had little to lose and still expected the worst—and time and again, the Augmented have helped out, providing resources to people who weren't their own (and with it, the concept of class agitation, perhaps).

Times remain rough, and with no solution to arcane radiation in sight, they're expected to remain rough indefinitely. But the Augmented who walk these streets are accepted more readily here than anywhere else in Karteria.

What about the rest of Orexis, the lands that lay outside of Karteria's protective shell? There is more to the island than a lone city, though when it comes to centers of population, arcane radiation has rendered them effectively a thing of the past.

Directly outside of Karteria itself, there remain the abandoned shells of homes and businesses, largely emptied of anything useful (by their former owners, or later opportunists, it's hard to say). It wasn't so long ago that the city had been a sprawling and thriving metropolis, taming and converting nearby forests and wetlands into human-friendly habitations. But when the barrier went up, not all of Karteria could fit within it, and the difficult decision was made to abandon all at the edges, so that the densely-populated core could be protected.

This choice was not without its detractors. No one wanted to leave their home, or abandon what they'd built at the then-outskirts of the city. In efforts to rehouse the displaced, whole sections of Inner Karteria (primarily within Belle Ville, Gloria, and East Sophia) were converted from single-family dwellings and duplexes, into apartments intended to fit as many as possible. While some monetary compensation was provided to all those affected, the reconfiguration left almost all in a worse place than before. The poorer districts became poorer, as more stress was put on dated infrastructure, and prices only continue to increase.

No one was happy with this. No one is happy with this. Yet while none were forced to leave their home in Greater Karteria, rising illness (and being cut off from water and electricity) finally forced the hand of those who initially elected to remain.

So that dense core of Inner Karteria is even more dense now, and the citizens who lost their homes in the compression (or who were made to share theirs with the displaced) will be none too pleased with the addition of more bodies.

Not all of the buildings on the outside of Karteria's barrier are uninhabited. There remain small pockets of people determined to survive in an increasingly hostile (to humanity) landscape. The primary collection of these attempted settlers live Southwest of the city.

Their reasons for being there are varied. Some are conspiracy theorists wary of Patho-Gen and the Council. Some don't think the radiation is as bad as people say, and that clean living and measured exposure will enable them to endure it. Others can't consistently find a place to stay within Karteria, and shelter here, hoping to survive until their fortunes improve. And there's some few that just... didn't want to leave the lands they grew up in.

Officially outside of Karteria's jurisdiction, they are also outside of its laws, protections, and punishments. While these "defectors" receive no consistent help from inside the city, there have been some attempts made from both Patho-Gen and the Augmented to improve their living conditions. But it remains an uncomfortable, difficult time out there, a tangible look at what it's like to try and survive as a human outside the Karterian barrier.

To view a map of Orexis is to notice that Karteria is not the only named settlement on the island. But while the average Karterian might express curiosity or concern over the fate of Kelesis or Enochlesis, no one seems to care much about either of these more 'local' townships.

However, Augmented exploration to the North has managed to reconnect with the ailing population of Phantasia. More information can be found here on the town and its environs, but to summarize: Phantasia consists of around 500 people huddled around small farms and decaying buildings. Karteria helped to fund and build their barrier, which is a much simpler, less effective version of the one that shields Karteria. The population is extremely wary, watchful, and stoic. They feel certain that these are the end times. While not hostile to visitors, they want nothing to do with either Karteria or the Augmented.

Some overtures of material help have been made, if with limited success, given how withdrawn the population is. But teleporters have been set up closer to Phantasia, connecting Karteria to the Northern part of Orexis. While the Phantasians are completely opposed to leaving their home, they have suggested a reason for it to the Augmented who visited them: their ancestry ties them to Lupê, a culture who valued living with the land rather than taming it. Cooperation, rather than control. Karterian 'Calling' magic is anathema to them, as is the big city life. It's a wildly different interpretation of the fallen Lupê than what's said in Karteria. (As it turns out, their ancestors were not of Lupê, but this idea of their cultural mores persists, embedded deeply in Phantasian life.)

The areas around Phantasia are absolutely inundated with Katalyth outcroppings, and both flora and fauna have adapted through rapid mutation.

While attempts to reach Doxa were similarly successful, the harbor town was discovered to be completely empty of its former human population. The original description can be found here, but to summarize: Nature has already begun to reclaim the abandoned Doxa. While there are some fragmented human skeletons around the town, there's no sign that any great number of people died here. There is sign that there was an orderly emigration from the area; the people who abandoned this town knew they weren't coming back.

There is presently no easy way to reach Doxa, as no teleportation platforms have been installed in that direction. Were seafaring ever revived, Doxa would be a reasonable staging point for an approach towards Ekklisis, the island to the West.

What may be surprising to some, is that in the advent of arcane radiation, most forms of flora and fauna are... thriving? It's true that their lifespans tend to be shorter now than they once were. And mutations in their populations are becoming increasingly common (some benign, some less so). But to venture out into the marshlands, forests, and fields, you would not find a landscape bereft of life.

To Karteria's West lies increasingly dense forests—creatively nicknamed "the woods". They're the only woods around, and the old habit of referring to them as such simply... stuck. While fragments of trails (and even parts of an attempted road network) remain, they have ravenously been reclaimed by nature. There's even the occasional campsite, or lonely cabin—but with no human visitors in decades, the conditions of either is questionable. Wild deer, boar, even bears can be found rooting about in the forests' undergrowth, protected from the sun by a thick canopy. Small predators also exist, such as foxes, stoats, and similar.

The terrain is rocky, even hilly, and natural outcroppings of Katalyth can be found as clusters upon boulders, or hidden in crevices. Their growth is not restricted to rock, however, and infestations of it have been found to wrap around the trunks of trees, bark melded into crystal. This direct contact does warp and kill the plant in question, and the sight of any dead or dying plant life is a sign to be cautious. Is this a normal blight, or is Katalyth about?

Some old adventurers swear that they've seen trees move, that the borders of the forest are changing on their own. Considering that hallucinations are one feature of arcane poisoning, their accounts aren't taken terribly seriously. One thing that is largely agreed on is that the composition of these forests is changing, and not necessarily in a positive direction. Though there's plenty of life, the mutations are a worrying trend, and who knows where they'll stop?

To the South of Karteria lays an expanse of wetlands. Barely above sea level, these lands are water-logged and difficult to traverse at the best of times, and outright deadly at the worst. A shallow pool can suddenly give way to a chasm, leading many an unwary walker to drown. The mud is sticky and easy to be trapped in, and with the land flat and fog common, it's just as easy to become lost.

These lands have never been particularly well-trod or well-developed. Some attempts have been made to drain the water, or even construct platforms to live above it, but neither approach showed much success. Even before arcane radiation became the problem that it is today, most of these attempts had been abandoned. No one wanted to live above a festering bog.

To go out there now, it's possible to still come across the skeletal remains of some abandoned building project. Harder to find are the skeletal remains of whoever built it, scattered and sunk deeper into the muck.

Presently, due to the effort of Augmented exploration (and some Patho-Gen guidance and materials), there are now multiple waystations breaking up the mess of marsh, providing places to rest and take shelter from the buggy climes. There are additionally teleportation platforms installed alongside some of these waystations, allowing one to skip directly from the origin point (Patho-Gen HQ, within Karteria), across the swamp—all the way to the bridge connecting Orexis to Eparsis. And even across it, with the furthest point being just outside the borders of Kelesis itself! Asphodel Fields is now a holiday destination for those who love bugs and muck, rather than a treacherous impasse for anyone trying to explore Southwards.

As in the forests, life of a sort thrives here. Insects and avians abound, as do a variety of reptilians. Arcane radiation has made its own mark on the land, as all mud and water here is deadly to ingest, at least for a human... and not recommended for the Augmented either. Simply coming in contact with the tainted materials invites rashes and fever, and to be bitten by the insects that live here is similarly dangerous. Physical masses of the arcane mineral are suspected to lay underneath the marshbeds, but who's going to go looking for them?

(Reptilian, Arthropod, Cephalopod, and Golem-types have an easier time in this landscape than others. Terra-types have it particularly rough, unless the particular plant(s) they're based on are comfortable in marshes and swamps. Aves-types can potentially fly above it... but will have to land eventually.)

Even in its current condition, the bridge connecting Orexis to Eparsis is a dramatic, imposing thing. Standing as a monument to the cooperative spirit between Karteria and Kelesis, it endures despite being empty and rotting. That is the good news—and it doesn't even appear to be in immediate risk of collapse. A quarter of a century without maintenance has turned its edges green, creeping vegetation from at least the Orexian side beginning to stake its claim on the structure, but it stands. The bridge was built wide and strong and sturdy, constructed as a means to travel on foot between the islands, and becoming a destination all on its own.

Even in the old days, when paths were better maintained, getting through Asphodel Fields could be exhausting. Inns grew up to provide travelers a better place to spend the night than a sleeping bag or their carriage. Simple food stalls were joined by whole storefronts, as merchants from both cities saw an opportunity to hawk their wares to a somewhat captive audience. Competition (and eventual cooperation) between them led to a sort of fusion culture, delivering goods found in neither city state. Meeting the needs of travelers, a sort of settlement once flourished at the edges between Orexis and Eparsis.

The permanent inhabitants named their home Aparallaxia, and it became a small town in its own right, populated by both Karterians and Kelesians (though not officially recognized as independent by either city-state). Of course, when arcane radiation began to become a threat, the bridge was temporarily evacuated... an evacuation which became permanent. Most of the former residents never had a chance to collect their things.

APARALLAXIA TODAY

What good is a rotting, abandoned bridge town? The Karterian government asks this question, but it hasn't stopped the Augmented from banding together to begin to reclaim the place for themselves, which has more information available here.

This collective effort to turn Aparallaxia into somewhere the Augmented can live, is located upon the Karterian side of the bridge, its original state described below. (The middle and Kelesian portions of the bridge have their own complications when it comes to trying to move in there properly.)

THE KARTERIAN EXPANSE

cw: mention of terminal illness

Amidst the abandoned, mildewing and rotting storefronts, are the remains of those who elected to stay—who perhaps, had no where to return to, in either city. Not that they're alive anymore.

You wouldn't be the first to disturb their bones, as the bridge is not without its signs of life. There's plenty of nesting and territorial seabirds, along with similarly nesting and territorial rodents. Small predators (fox-sized at the most, but weasels are more common) also exist, filling a niche just capable of supporting them.

If you don't mind looting these open graves, you might find small treasures (or at least, practical items) that haven't been blown out to sea, or rusted to nothing. Glassware, appliances with their cords gnawed by rodents, old keepsakes... If you're not in for practicality, some of it could be brought back to Karteria and peddled for a hundred numis or so.

The whole place has a lonely feel, being a not-quite-literal ghost town. There's plenty of little signs of what had been daily life, of books left out, weathered into illegibility, with tables set for dinner with most of the cutlery lost or useless. There's children's toys, discolored glass bottles, plenty of broken ones, and fabrics dulled by the elements, or otherwise torn apart and used to line the nests of the bridge's new inhabitants.

What remains are left of citizens are pieces of their bones, incomplete skeletons. Little signs remain of what happened to them, but many died in their homes or in beds. It's not hard to wager a guess.

A BRIDGE BRAIDED IN TENTACLES

The middle section of the bridge is a more barren place compared to the portions on either side of it. It hasn't been wiped clean of buildings, but the ones here are in utter shambles, with splintered, wet wood and loose piles of stone all that mark what had once been homes and shops. It's possible that the weather has caused the ocean to strike this area hardest—that being so exposed to the open ocean has its price.

More worryingly, the presence of local wildlife has vanished, with even the circling of gulls avoiding this stretch of bridge. Apart from the sound of the waves, or wind hissing through the holes in dilapidated, moldering houses, it's silent.

Once characters have reached this area, the likely culprit of it all will make its presence felt—as a massive squid-like entity will poke its tentacles over the edge of the bridge to say hello.

What is this beast? A massive, indigo-toned squid, a behemoth monstrosity in the waters, there's little else to be made out other than the fact that it is a cephalopod of some sort. What may be most worrying of all to recognize, are the clumps of Katalyth stuck to the creature's tentacles, rendering them heavy, unwieldy, and more dangerous. Somehow, this beast has survived contact with the mineral, to the point of it even growing upon its body. Any glimpses of its beak and its maw show Katalyth-encrusted teeth, a bluish, sickly mineralization of its body.

But there's good news, for all the squid-fans out there: most Augmented interactions with the squid have been benevolent, even seeking to better understand, or communicate with the wayward cephalopod. In truth, the creature was just... lonely, having not had anything to socialize with in years. This led to some poor behavior, aggression mixed with curiosity as it tried to understand these new entities passing through its territory. It is much better behaved now, viewing the Augmented as potential friends, as similar to itself.

Which doesn't mean that the squid-like creature isn't still dangerous. Even being around it is miserable, due to all the Katalyth stuck to its body. In its excitement to commune with newcomers, its mental 'voice' can inflict migraines from the force of it. It might be a little too reckless with its tentacles and knock an unlucky person overbridge. But it means well.

But while you're in the area, why not give the squid a visit? It appreciates the company, and is doing its best to modulate its thoughts, to not overwhelm its new friends. While it is likely to show some caution to those it hasn't previously seen (and it has an excellent memory), it will warm up quickly to anyone even the slightest bit friendly.

THE KELESIAN EXPANSE

Just like the Karterian side, this eastern portion of the bridge has been retaken by the natural world, to some modest degree. If anything, its spread is even more pronounced, buildings supported by thick, water-hardy vines creeping up to reclaim wood and steel and bone. The closer one gets to shore, the more peaceful it becomes, and the weather improves with it. It's almost paradisiacal, provided one has a preference towards the lush and green. The Western side of Eparsis does have a reputation for being verdant, and it seems to be welcoming you in already.

The animals too are almost... friendly? Unlike the animals by the cenote (mutated and unafraid of humans), these ones appear healthy and normal as can be, but rather than indifferent to people, appear to genuinely love them. The deer (there are deer—miniature, delicate things) will let you pet them. The hares will let you pet them. The mice will cutely sit nearby wherever you're camping, and hope you'll drop them a few crumbs. Everything here is strangely easy to tame, and will readily follow after you, but they will ultimately refuse to leave the bridge (or venture into the squid-claimed area). You're a welcomed guest, apparently, but this is their home!

Anyone who kills, or tries to hurt any of the local wildlife will find this very easy to do, the first time. After that, they will avoid all contact with the hunter, and will be as slippery as smoke if pursued. Their trust has been broken, and they're quick to spread the word.

Should someone who has wronged them take a rest on the bridge, they will find themselves continuously forced awake, their body gnawed on by hundreds of sharp teeth. To swat at them is like striking shadows; there's nothing there. This will happen until dawn breaks—and despite seeming phantasmal, the result will be scores of shallow bites littering their body. This will happen every night until the character departs this portion of the bridge. It will resume, on any reentry.

From the middle of the bridge, if you're lucky enough to catch a moment when the skies are clear, it's possible to gaze Southward and find an island.

Comprised entirely of a mountain jutting out of the unforgiving ocean, it stands alone amidst the distant crash of waves. In the evening, the skies around Pneuma turn shades of purple and red, and the mountain faces themselves become dotted by thousands of tiny lights, flickering like candles. A local phenomena, perhaps.

Besides its moderately eerie appearance, is there anything notable about the location? Unfortunately... yes. In October, a multitude of Augmented were taken in by Patho-Gen and ruthlessly experimented upon. Those left behind could find no trace of them within Patho-Gen HQ in Karteria, and some of those kidnapped were able to steal a glimpse of the outside, revealing sheer cliffs and small lights. Collective input has determined that they were most likely taken to Mt. Pneuma.

While not visible from the outside of the island, the interior houses some manner of scientific complex, capable of storing scores of people at a time, along with enough space to perform a multitude of tests upon them. There is also an alarming amount of Katalyth kept here; is this where all the outcroppings collected from the wild end up?

The depths of the facility also houses a heavily corrupted Peacock-esque Augmented, who some characters encountered and heard sing. If this is the same person as Karteria's beloved savior and patron—what is she doing here? Karteria believes her to be dead. What does this mean for the rest of the original Augmented, long assumed to be lost in the war with Lupê?

Reaching Pneuma won't be an easy task, however. While Patho-Gen surely has some manner of teleportation available somewhere within their headquarters, its location in the building is unknown. And with staff readily able to force characters unconscious, getting into the right restricted area is bound to be a challenge.

And to approach it the long way—even Cephalopoda-types and Aves-types will discover that the island is too far to reach from the bridge. Aves-types, even the most capable of flight, will find the air currents steer them away from it; their wings will give, and they will fall into the treacherous waters below. Cephalopoda-types will find themselves weary, increasingly tired as they approach... until they're out like a light, let to drift at the mercy of the ocean.

But while the ocean is known to be dangerous, this localized ferocity is unusual, unnatural. Pneuma is being protected by different misdirection magics. Which isn't to say that it's impossible to reach its shores, one way or another—but it's not something to be attempted lightly. The part of Patho-Gen who occupies Pneuma—they're not exactly the Augmented's staunchest ally.

Patho-Gen has been encouraging Augmented Ones to chart a path toward their easterly sister city, Kelesis. Years back the city of Karteria lost contact with Kelesian officials; obviously, with arcane radiation rampant as it is, nobody has been able to visit Kelesis in over 25 years. Patho-Gen has been interested in reinstating contact with Kelesis; this is their sister city, after all. Isn't it reasonable to be concerned about their people?

Augmented Ones have been hard at work over these past two months erecting plenty of teleporters between Karteria, across the bridge of Aparallaxia, and toward none other than Kelesis itself. All characters have access to these teleporters, making it easy to join in on the action! But in June 2025, Augmented Ones found phantasmal nothingness where a city should stand proud.

In early July 2025, Kelesis 'decided' to open its figurative doors to outsiders. Characters are able to approach it without resistance, and there's even a sweet, coaxing invitation that tickles your senses, a psychic connection to enter Kelesis. To cross the threshold from forest path to city street is to find a Kelesis pristine.

Welcome to Kelesis. There is no city guard to stop anyone from entering. The city is brimming with people in colorful, breezy garb; Karterians chat over a leisurely lunch, take brisk strolls through the streets, or excitedly leaf through brightly-colored books. Their expressions are bright and authentic; there's no tension, no madness, no disparate castes, no decaying districts or struggling people. Most of all, there is no famine nor disease.

Take a tour of the city! There are all kinds of things to do: shopping, shows, amusement, relaxation, restaurants, bars, and even Karteria's least favorite, adult entertainment. Entry into the city means characters can always chat with Kelesians; they're friendly and welcoming toward Augmented Ones, their Shifts and Corruptions not at all disturbing to them. They're chatty, engaging peoples, curious with a general sense of optimism.

"Patho-Gen brought you here? We know of Patho-Gen," they say. "They brought you to combat arcane radiation? What a terrible ailment... I remember those days." "Good thing they gave us the technology to make that barrier in time."

"And we improved it."

THE MARVELOUS KELESIAN BARRIER

A marvel of Kelesian innovation! ...is not something any good Karterian would ever think to say, except as an insult. But here it is, true innovation all around you! To gaze upwards is to see no hints of the barrier, the unguarded heavens brilliant and vivid. There's no eerie translucence distorting the sun and stars, leaving the city beneath stagnant. There is no visible sign of a barrier—but its population is healthy as can be.

With elaborate pillars that are coiled and decorated with bright colors and brilliant glasswork, they look far different from the nondescript ones that spread along Karteria's perimeter. Downright artwork. And nothing feels any different... but the clear skies and healthy people are a testament to some kind of increased effectiveness.

The citizens, however, admit to a few quirks caused by their fine barrier. They've lost contact with the outside world; their fair city itself seems to have appeared... missing to the naked eye. They think that is chief amongst its unfortunate side-effects, but none of these trifles bother them. After all, it's keeping everyone safe, right? Why did Kelesis suddenly decide to show itself now? They have no idea, and don't seem to mind; there is no particular answer anyone has to give.

With a barrier that causes quirks in play, how does it interact with Augmented Ones? It's likely all characters will know quickly what the barrier does, and it depends on your soul type.

KELESIAN LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

cw: potential nsfw

Kelesis may not truly be a city that never sleeps, but it does its absolute best to give that impression! While most shops close for at least a few hours daily/nightly, plenty of activity remains throughout the night, both inside bars and entertainment venues and out on the street. The city is always lively with something to do. The lights never go out in the city center, flooding even the darkest of nights with light filtered through stained glass. Of course, at this time of year it doesn't get very dark anyway... but the impression is always one of light and life.

The city of Kelesis is simpler in design, compared to Karteria. Though it contains multiple districts, the center/heart of the city is where all business, shopping, and entertainment take place. This extends toward the water as well: the waterfront is a popular destination for locals to relax at! What do you mean, there's something wrong with the water?!

The outskirts of the city is purely residential, and while characters won't be prevented from walking private streets, if any Kelesians catch them, they'll be approached and asked if they're lost. Though it's all very friendly, they will try to encourage the Augmented to return to the city center. That's where all the fun is! Nothing to see out here, in these sleepy streets!

...AND OTHER ODDITIES

cw: unreality, body horror

It's not hard to tell that life within Kelesis runs differently compared to Karteria—but it extends beyond social mores. The whole city is peculiar, treating both their separation from the rest of the world and the concept of arcane radiation as nothing of interest or import.

But it can get pretty... weird.