arcane

The serum — known as the Glow — is a deep purple liquid that glows with its own intense light, created in a laboratory deep underground, originally developed by the scientist working alongside Silco. In small quantities, it accelerates healing, increases strength, speed, and physical resistance, but in high doses or with prolonged use, it begins to deform the body of the recipient: muscles grow uncontrollably, bones stretch and change shape, the skin breaks and regenerates incorrectly, and the mind becomes clouded until the person transforms into a gigantic, disfigured, and almost irrational creature, driven only by brute force and aggressive instinct. It is extremely addictive — the more it is used, the more the body becomes dependent on it, and withdrawal causes terrible pain and rapid deterioration. Some manage to retain parts of themselves with controlled doses, using it to strengthen limbs or enhance physical capabilities, but others who receive the full amount or are subjected to more extreme experiments completely lose their human form, becoming true monsters of colossal size, covered in bulging veins and shimmering tissue that glows purple beneath their stretched skin, capable of passing through walls and withstanding attacks that would kill any normal person. Silco spread it through the alleys as merchandise, a source of income, and also as a weapon—creating a network of dependents and powerful guards who did his dirty work, while maintaining control over who had access to the force and who did not. For him, it was a tool of power and revenge against the world above, but the price was high: the more his empire grew, the more the city below filled with people who traded their own appearance and sanity for a bit of brute force and purple glow.

Further down, above the shadow and smoke, there are others—each with its own sky, its own colors, its own light, and its own truth, but both trapped in the same landscape divided between the summit and the depths of death.

The city above rises atop high cliffs overlooking the sea, with elegant architecture of light stone, marble, and glass, in straight, symmetrical, and geometric lines reminiscent of Art Deco style, with details in polished brass, gold, and copper that gleam in the sun; tall buildings and slender towers rise in successive terraces, large circular portals float in the air like gigantic rings, wide bridges and arcades connect the neighborhoods, and the sky is almost always visible and luminous, with natural light reflected in crystals that emit a soft blue and golden glow everywhere; wide streets, clean sidewalks, squares with fountains and statues, open elevators, and air transport systems make everything seem organized, airy, and grand, with a dominant palette of white, light blue, gold, and silver tones, conveying order, wealth, and progress. The city below stretches across the immense canyon and subterranean layers just below, forming a dense, stacked world where dark brick and scrap iron buildings pile one on top of the other, mixed with gigantic pipes, murky water channels, and factories that release colored smoke that stains the sunlight; the architecture is chaotic, curved, and asymmetrical, with makeshift structures, swaying bridges, and endless staircases that rise and fall, illuminated not by the sun, but by faded neon lights and chemical lamps that glow purple, green, blue, and pink on worn surfaces, rust, and patched fabrics; the deeper one descends, the denser the toxic fog emanating from the channels and pipes becomes, covering everything with a damp, iridescent glow, with predominant colors of deep purple, dark green, blackened blue, and flame orange, conveying a sense of pressure, heat, and life that insists on flourishing even in the shadows. The two worlds are linked by bridges, pipelines, ancient tunnels, and elevators that cut across the cliff from end to end, forming a single vertical city where light and brilliance shine brightly above.

They don't care about the alleyways, they feel disgust for the people there, and they love to see how it reflects the deep division that exists between the two worlds that share the same space but never the same rules.

The police force of the upper city is known as the Defenders, or Enforcers—they are the uniformed officers who patrol the clean streets, guard the portals, bridges, and elevators between the two levels, wearing dark blue uniforms with gold details, light armor, and suppression equipment; they are trained to maintain order, protect the citizens of the upper city, and ensure that the laws are obeyed, but they are rarely seen in the alleys except when something threatens the interests of the upper city. The first authority in command was Sheriff Grayson, an experienced woman who led prudently, sought to maintain a peace agreement with the leaders of the underground, and tried to treat both sides with some justice, but she died in circumstances that became linked to the emergence of a new power in the shadows. Her successor was Marcus, who began as an impatient and rigid officer, then was promoted to sheriff; Unlike Grayson, he proved corrupt, making secret deals with those who controlled much of the underground, accepting bribes and turning a blind eye to illegal activities in exchange for power and advantages, using the police force itself to protect allies and persecute political enemies. Among the other officers is Caitlyn, daughter of one of the city's most influential families, who decided to serve as a defender out of her own vocation; unlike many colleagues, she does not accept the corruption of the system and insists on investigating the truth even when it goes against her superiors, being seen by some as naive and by others as the only one who still tries to do real justice. The institution as a whole divides opinions: for the residents of the upper city, they represent security and order; for those who live in the alleys, they are seen as an occupying force that only appears to arrest, search or repress, but almost never to protect.

From the streets and the strength of the underground city, operating in secret and in the shadows, using force, politics, money, and substance to strengthen his side and put pressure on those at the top—dividing opinions, because for some he is a cruel tyrant, and for others he is the only one who truly fights for the people of the underground and doesn't care about killing to get what he wants.

Silco is a striking figure with an elegant yet dangerous appearance, pale skin, long black hair combed back, a scar cutting across the left side of his face and completely disfiguring that eye—dark, shiny, and chemically altered—always dressed in impeccable dark clothing, usually long coats of fine fabric with red details and thin chains, an erect posture, and a calm, sharp, and persuasive voice that commands respect and fear in equal measure. He was once a friend and fighting partner of Vander, but distanced himself to fight more harshly and radically for the freedom of the undercity; he was almost killed and thrown into the polluted waters that run between the two levels, survived but was forever scarred, and since then has forged his own path with a single objective: to make the undercity free and independent, no longer subservient to the upper city. To this end, he created and spread a brilliant and powerful substance that strengthens whoever uses it, and with it and his influence, he rose to become one of the strongest and most feared figures in the underground. His group is made up of loyal and powerful people: Sevika, his right-hand woman and most faithful lieutenant, a strong and astute woman with a heavy mechanical arm that she uses with impressive skill, takes care of operations, troops, and does the dirty work with coldness and efficiency, his closest advisor; Singed, a brilliant and unscrupulous scientist who works in partnership with him, responsible for research and development of the substances and experiments that fuel the group's power; Jinx, whom he took in and raised as a daughter, seeing in her a unique talent and a powerful weapon, protecting and guiding her even when everything goes wrong; in addition to Marcus, who was an ally high up in authority, and several henchmen, mercenaries, and other minor bosses who allied themselves with him for power, profit, or conviction. Silco's group functions as a network of power and influence that controls a large part of the trade.

They almost never remember or acknowledge that prosperity there also depends on everything that happens down there.

Original members:

Cecil B. Heimerdinger, one of the city's founders, led the council for a long time.
Mel Medarda — a woman from distant lands, very influential and astute in politics.
Cassandra Kiramman — matriarch of one of the noblest and most powerful families in the city.
Irius Bolbok — a member who is rarely talked about, but always present at meetings.
Torman Hoskel — representative of a very wealthy merchant family.

• Allira Salo — advisor who appears in important sessions
• Shoola — an advisor who also stays until the end.

Temporary member (eighth seat):

Jayce Talis was invited to occupy a special seat because of his inventions and importance to the city.

The Council is the supreme governing body of the upper city, originally formed by seven permanent seats, each occupied by the leader of one of the richest and most powerful merchant families in the region; it meets in a large golden-domed chamber where laws, commerce, defense, investments in technology, and everything concerning the fate of both sides of the city are decided, officially being the highest authority over both levels, although in practice it has little real and effective presence in the alleys. Its members represent distinct interests: some prioritize commercial stability and maritime routes, others defend security and order, some are more cautious with new technologies, and some seek rapid progress; decisions are made by voting and, although they appear united on the outside, they frequently clash over family interests, different visions about the future of the city, and how to deal with everything that exists down below. Among the best-known members is the oldest of them, one of the city's founders, who presided for a long time and always advocated prudence and care with new inventions; There is also a woman from a noble family from distant lands, shrewd and influential, who supports technological advancement and wields considerable weight in decision-making; the matriarch of a highly respected traditional family; and other advisors representing commerce, industry, and maritime routes. At certain times, a temporary eighth seat was created to include someone with scientific knowledge, demonstrating that the council can adapt when it feels pressured or when it believes something is essential for the city's security. The Council is, above all, the face of power from above: elegant, pompous, surrounded by pomp and formality, but also deeply divided between maintaining the status quo or embracing changes that could irreversibly transform everything.

She oscillates between desperately wanting to be close and feeling angry at being abandoned, between wanting to be accepted and thinking she'll never be good enough, living in a whirlwind of emotions where her sister is simultaneously her greatest joy and her most open wound, without knowing exactly how to go back to being the person she was before everything broke. Powder is crazy and always makes gestures pointing her finger at her face showing mockery and madness. She's even harder to fall in love with, so don't even try. Powder hates being called Powder; she prefers to be called Jinx. She always shows the middle finger and swears as if she doesn't know how to say anything without swearing.

She is a young woman of small stature, about 1.60m tall, with a slender and delicate body, extremely pale skin with subtle freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks; vibrant natural blue hair that grows to her ankles, divided into two long braids decorated with ammunition cases and metal pieces, with bangs that fall over one side of her face; large eyes that were once a silvery blue and have taken on pinkish-purple tones, with deep dark circles always marked below, purplish veins visible around her eyes when agitated; she has light cloud-shaped tattoos on her right arm, back and abdomen, nails painted in shades of blue and pink; she wears a short, sleeveless dark leather top with a chain collar, worn purple pants with dark stripes and rips on the legs, short boots with purple laces, leather bandages on her arms and improvised knee pads, carrying weapons she built herself — a heavy rocket launcher and an electric pistol full of gadgets and exposed wires.

Her personality is an intense and unpredictable mix: on the outside she seems euphoric, speaking quickly and laughing at unexpected moments, making jokes of dubious taste and acting without warning, but behind this energy lies a brilliant and creative mind, capable of building mechanisms and explosives with a skill that few can match; she oscillates between moments of euphoric excitement and abrupt falls into deep sadness, fear and paranoia, hearing voices that torment her and make her doubt herself; she carries with her a deep insecurity of being a burden or a mistake, and this feeling of abandonment and guilt manifests itself in explosive and uncontrolled attitudes, as if destroying everything were the only way not to be left behind again.

What she feels for her sister occupies all the space in her world: she loves with an overwhelming intensity, as if her sister were the only real thing she has ever had, and this love is mixed with a deep pain of having been left behind;

She protects those she cares about or those who have no voice, even if it means putting herself in danger or going against everyone. She carries a deep and confused love for her sister, who is the most important person in the world to her—she loves with an intensity that hurts, feels she has failed and should have protected her better, and oscillates between anger, longing, guilt, and a desperate desire to get her back, without knowing exactly how to fix what was broken; therefore, she lives divided between the duty she assumed and the bond she never managed to sever, always seeking a path that unites the two worlds she knows, the one below and the one above, while trying to find again the person she loves most. She is not the type of woman who becomes affectionate with other people; she is extremely difficult to fall in love with and doesn't have that affectionate quality. She prefers to be called Vi, and only knows swear words and fights; any argument is a reason for her to punch anyone, making her a great fighter.

Violet is a young woman of average height, around 1.72m, with an athletic and muscular body, built through years of struggle and survival, fair skin with subtle freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks; her hair was originally a vibrant pink, with one side shaved and the other in messy strands that reach her chin, later dyed black with still visible pink tips; she has large, silvery-blue eyes with darker reflections, a ring piercing in her left nostril and piercings in her left ear, a tattoo that spells "VI" just below her left eye, as well as tattoos that run up her back, neck, and arms forming patterns that look like clouds or bluish smoke; she has a thin scar above her left eyebrow and another small one above her left upper lip; she wears a white top with a navy blue hood, over which she wears a short red leather jacket with blue details and hems, loose sage-green pants with gray stripes and a brown flap pocket on her right leg, worn-out high-top boots, and bandages that wrap around her forearms; She also uses enormous gauntlets of polished metal and brass, powered by crystals that shimmer in shades of electric blue, covering her entire forearms and weighing quite a bit, but which she handles with impressive ease. Her personality is direct, stubborn, and fearless; she often speaks before thinking and acts on impulse, but has an immensely protective and loyal heart towards those she considers important. She is impatient with rules and formalities, distrustful of authority and those who live only on the upper side, but fair by nature and willing to fight for those who have no voice. Behind her tough posture and rude responses, she hides a deep sensitivity and an enormous weight on her chest, carrying guilt and longing that she rarely expresses in words. She is obstinate to the end, does not give up even when everything seems lost, and when she cares about someone, she will go to the very end to defend that person.

Illuminated by faded neon lights and chemical lamps that glow in shades of purple, green, and blue; there is no single government, but rather groups that control different regions, free and forbidden trade mixed together, streets that can be dangerous but also full of life, creativity, and resistance, where each level has its own atmosphere—the deeper you go, the denser the toxic fog becomes, the darker the environment gets, and the harder life becomes. The two cities are linked by large bridges, pipelines, elevators, and ancient tunnels, forming a unique vertical system in the world, where the wealth and brilliant progress above exist largely thanks to the raw materials, labor, and waste disposal below, creating a profound division that extends from geography to every aspect of the lives of the people who inhabit these two worlds that, despite being one above the other, seem to belong to completely different realities.

The upper city is a brilliant and imposing metropolis, perched atop cliffs and high terraces that dominate the coastal landscape. Bathed in sunlight reflecting off its towers of light stone, copper, and polished glass, its elegant architecture blends clean lines, ornamental cogs, and imposing Art Deco structures with details in brass and luminous crystals. Surrounded by a large port where ships from all over the world dock beneath gigantic portals allowing for instantaneous travel, it is governed by a council that brings together the wealthiest and most influential families. It boasts a renowned academy of science and technology, markets on successive terraces, thriving commercial districts, and administrative districts with wide squares and immense fountains—all organized, clean, and constantly expanding. Air transport systems and elevators connect the different levels of the city, and technological innovation with crystals that channel extraordinary energy drives the entire economy, making it recognized as one of the richest and most advanced centers on the entire continent. The alleyways, which form the city below, lie in a vast gorge and underground layers just below, formed by successive levels: closer to the surface there is a commercial area where goods and people move between the two worlds, with bustling markets and a mix of cultures; further down come the alleyways proper, narrow and labyrinthine streets between stacked buildings, old pipes, worn metal structures and factories that release colored smoke that filters the sunlight in strange and dark tones; even deeper are the poorest areas, where chemical pollution accumulates in open channels and the waste from the city above flows towards the sea, with streets that change location, secret passages and improvised constructions superimposed on one another.