Pacifica

> In the silent depths, the slumbering city awakens eternal serenity.
>
> ―CK Data Base

**Pacifica**, also known as the **Underground City**, is a large undercity district lying in the deep canyons and valleys threading Haikara Bay. What light reaches below is filtered through fumes leaking from the tangles of corroded pipework and reflected from the stained glass of its industrial architecture. Pacifica and Honkai were once united, but are now separate, yet symbiotic societies. Though it exists in perpetual smogged twilight, Pacifica thrives, its people vibrant and its culture rich. Honkai's wealth has allowed Pacifica to develop in tandem; a dark mirror of the city above. Many of the goods coming to Honkai find their way into Pacifica's black markets. Unfettered development of volatile technologies and reckless industry has rendered whole swathes of Pacifica polluted and dangerous. Streams of toxic runoff stagnate in the city's lower reaches, but even here people find a way to exist and prosper.

## Overview

Pacifica is a polluted undercity located beneath Honkai - once united, they are now separate, symbiotic cultures. Stifled inventors often find their unorthodox research welcomed in Pacifica, but reckless industry has rendered whole swathes of the city highly toxic. It is a place both supported and ruined by unchecked industry, mercantilism, and magic run amok. The pollution from the countless factories and laboratories is constantly spewed into the environment. The urban heart of the city is often choked with smog that blocks the morning sun and drains the sky of its pastels. Visitors have called the sky the 'Pacifica Night', and describe staring up at it akin to seeing the beginnings of a cosmic disturbance. As polluted as Pacifica is above-ground, its subterranean levels are far worse. All of Pacifica's runoff waste pools together in its sewers, mixing together into toxic and mysterious concoctions. Even so, thanks to a thriving black market, chemtech, and mechanical augmentation, the people of Pacifica still find ways to prosper.

## History

More than two hundred years ago a port was founded on the isthmus, in the current location of Pacifica. It would later become part of Haikara Bay. Nicknamed "Pacifica" to convey a sense of tranquil ocean shores, it became anything but a refuge for the outcasts, fugitives and common criminals. When the nomads lost the Great Separation War, they were left to reside in a few locations like Badlands and the Pacifica port in Haikara Bay. Finally the Pacifica port was finished being built. To regulate the ocean passage on which they were built, the Gates of Heaven were built, forcing Pacifica to regulate all transportation across the waters. This brought immense wealth to the city and likely led to the construction of districts and their elevation from Pacifica. Later the port would become part of the nomad society, which during the war of separation would be protected from conflict by **CyberCore** and later would be called Pacifica as it was a peaceful region free of conflict for the nomads.

To paint the full picture, we have to start at the time of the War of Separation. Pacifica is being flooded with refugees from all sides. They seek refuge on the outskirts of the metropolis, but it quickly becomes clear that they are not welcome there. The constant influx of people creates tension, leading to a conflict with Pacifica security forces that quickly turns into a full-blown riot. The streets are littered with bodies after violent clashes that often last for days. Wealthy locals and investors fear that the situation is getting out of control and decide to leave the district for good, thus accelerating its downfall. Pacifica finds herself in a downward spiral and falls into ruin.

**N.E.X.U.S** ended its plans to destroy a part of the isthmus that connected to Honkai. The plan involved using thousands of chemical technology bombs to open up an area of land, but of course the results were catastrophic, as in what seemed like a simple attack, the bombs triggered a series of earthquakes that completely destroyed the isthmus and sank large districts of Pacifica and thousands of its citizens, while leaking poisonous gas into the surviving parts of the city. An exhaustive investigation provides no answers and results in a doubling of local security personnel in the now-destroyed ghost city. More importantly, the council members decide to build a wall separating Pacifica from the rest of the city. Work resumes and for a time it seems that the new measures are sufficient to complete the investment.

However, the Pacificans survived and discovered that the ancient human society had built an extensive network of laboratories and bunkers hidden beneath Pacifica's infrastructure, which served to rebuild the suburban district with the few resources they had. It was during this period of time that Colonel Valoran asserted control of a portion of Pacifica. Valoran ignored her orders to leave the area after the war, showing her disdain for the N.E.X.U.S Peace Agreement, and carved out his own private paradise for her, eventually becoming something of a military tyrant.

A walled and lawless district, neighboring an enemy city, seemed a perfect place for a military assault. N.E.X.U.S also seems to share this opinion and, in years after the war, the corporation sends its troops to Pacifica. A full-scale attack on Honkai seems imminent, but never happens, largely thanks to CyberCore's agility in blocking any entry. N.E.X.U.S orders to withdraw, but a large number of troops decide to ignore the directive and remain in the area.

With the N.E.X.U.S peace deal, the abandoned district becomes a no man's land and this is the perfect opportunity for Valoran and her former unit to take over what is now known as Black Market in Pacifica. She soon, along with her veteran comrades, grows her newly founded army by recruiting first mercenaries and, later, all renegades and willing gang members. The district once again becomes a sanctuary for refugees, fugitives and travelers.

Currently, Pacifica survives with limited energy supplies from its partially destroyed facilities and relies on transportation across its levels through the underground metros that have been reconstructed using remnants of an ancient civilization. Its government operates as an industrial oligarchy, an informal criminal alliance of factory owners, gang leaders, and business magnates, with deep pockets and hired muscle that keep the inhabitants of Pacifica in check and prevent the underground city from descending into chaos. While this pact has given researchers and inventors the leeway to push the boundaries of their experiments at an accelerated pace, it has also led some to say that the city is managed more like a corrupt corporate enterprise down there than a just society governed by laws.

As the rise of industry led to increased pollution in Pacifica, driven by a necessity due to their overexposure to toxic contamination, many people turned to chemical technology as a means to cope with the irreversibly inflicted damages. Several levels of Pacifica, particularly the deep level, are too hazardous for a human to traverse, thus requiring specialized technochem devices or suits.

With Pacifica's economy already in recession, the effect on the city was disastrous and much of the district was left incomplete and lawless. Construction work was permanently suspended, leaving most buildings as masses of unfinished concrete and steel. Not long after, the gangs and homeless people arrived. The ancient ruins, controlled by the people of Valoran, became a combat zone and at some point were cut off from the rest of Honkai. Years later, Valoran attempted to lead an uprising against Honkai due to the horrible living conditions Pacifica's citizens were forced to endure on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the rebellion ended in failure and dozens of Pacificans were massacred by the enforcers in the ensuing battle.

After Pacifica's failed uprising, Valoran maintained an uneasy peace with Honkai. After establishing Pacifica's Black Market, gun trade and other unsavory dealings turned the former area of Pacifica into a very profitable business. As such, the powers-that-be decided to leave it alone, allowing Valoran to continue as its ruler. With no corporations or outside laws, Pacifica's upper echelon thrived in it, while the rest of the district's citizens teetered on the brink of poverty. For years, many people arrived there in hopes of escaping their past and find a better life within its walls. What they didn't realize is that they were simply changing one overlord for another.

## Locations

The upper reaches of Pacifica exist alongside the lower districts of Honkai, though the differing architecture means the two could never be confused. Pacifica consists of open spaces of various sizes and shapes that often intersect with each other or with different generated structures, creating vast cave systems. They feature a large amount of minerals, as well as hostile creatures that appear in the dark. Pacifica Caves are underground structures consisting of randomly generated cavities of air, water, or lava, hollowing out an area and exposing other things with the terrain (such as stones and mineral elements) inside. Its structure usually consists of a series of irregular tunnels that branch and wind in other directions, which can connect to the surface, creating natural entrances to the cave.

> The city looks to be built into an enormous cavern, and the rain pours down from cracks in the stone above. There must be a lot of water up there somewhere.
>
> ―CK Data Base

* **Boundary Markets:** The levels where division between Pacifica and Honkai blurs are home to thriving markets and Commercia Halls. Boundary Markets areas are the most cosmopolitan of the city, where people from all walks of life and levels of society can be found for the purchase and sale of goods.
* **Pump Station:** Facilities located in Haikara Bay, housing pumps and equipment for moving clean air from Honkai into Pacifica via ducts and vents.
* **Deep Metro:** The Deep Metro is a transportation network operated by CyberCore in the underground city of Pacifica that extends deep into Honkai. It has a worn concrete design from past accidents and street art. The subway stations show aspects of this brutalist, unpainted design and a predominantly monochromatic color palette, connected to former private research facilities that are falling apart and their restricted areas that have been strictly quarantined. At an estimated 4,250 meters deep, if not deeper, these areas consist of several underground domes that were filled with ancient human structures and are now infested. Despite the power shortage, the Deep Metro runs on more than ninety active lines, each of which contains access stations to laboratories and industrial areas on rocky slopes and rough trenches.
* **Pacifica Deep Domes:** The Pacifica domes have several collapsed buildings. The panels are hexagonal in shape and carefully placed, unlike the other domes. Many of the presumably uninhabitable domes of the complex are filled with water at the bottom, submerged in a silent but surprisingly murky environment, accompanied by squeals and moans that sound similar to screams. A strange phenomenon at these underground levels blocks distress transmissions from communication networks and other advanced systems. The place appears to be under the influence of a powerful magnetic force, making it almost impossible to collect data and locate those trapped in its wells. As reports describe: "It's like they're in a different dimension".
* **Black Market:** Market with all types of stolen and latest generation technology.

Pacifica has ancient mines full of crystals connected to the sea, as well as even deeper caverns that lead to unknown and little explored places. The streets of Pacifica are a constant hive of activity. Merchants with a variety of eccentric items can be found in every corner of the city, with dark and seedy alleys filled with ambitious individuals willing to give everything for a profit. Corporate rivalry is also said to be the very spirit of competition that defines Pacifica as a city-state. However, both espionage and sabotage are considered common practices when doing business with the Pacificans.

* **Forgotten Crossroads:** Located just below the surface, the Forgotten Crossroads consists of many caverns and paths. Fossilized animal remains cover the caverns' surfaces, with pale ferns growing through cracks in the floor.
* **Crystal Caves:** Crystal Caves contains extensive tunnels throughout the mountain that were used to mine its crystals. Crystals are present throughout the area, and some tunnels have crystals lining the top and bottom of the cavern. In many rooms you can find conveyor belts transporting the glass shards. The crystal ore contains energy, not as powerful as Nuclilium but less lethal and powers small parts of the underground city.
* **The GreenGarden:** A lush garden filled with bioluminescent plants that emit a soft light in the dark. It is a quiet and magical place where residents come to relax and connect with nature. It is full of fireflies and other underground animals.
* **Sanctuary of Souls:** a mysterious shrine in the middle of the underground city, full of lights and ancient statues.
* **The Forgotten Tunnels**: A labyrinthine network of ancient tunnels that extend throughout the underground city. These tunnels hide secrets and dangers, with deadly traps and ferocious creatures lurking in the darkness.
* **The Garden of Lost Souls:** An enigmatic and melancholic garden full of withered flowers and skeletal trees. It is a place where the souls of the fallen rest in peace, but can also unleash challenges and trials for those who venture within.
* **The Chamber of Ancestral Knowledge:** A vast library housing ancient tomes and scrolls containing knowledge and wisdom from past civilizations. Visitors can learn special skills or unlock hidden secrets by studying these texts.

## Culture

Daily life takes place in the different levels and districts of the underground city. The city is home to a wide variety of guilds and professions, from artisans and merchants to researchers and scientists. The underground markets are filled with stalls selling essential goods, magical curiosities and unique artifacts.

The transport infrastructure is made up of a network of tunnels and underground subways that connect the different levels of the city. Citizens travel in special carriages and trains, sliding along the rails in the dark. Society in the underground city can be complex. A government led by an industrial oligarchy, made up of factory owners and business magnates, exerts some control over the city. However, there is also a presence of gangs and criminal groups that operate in the shadows, challenging authority and seeking their own power.

Despite challenges and tensions, the underground community is held together by the need to survive and thrive in this inhospitable environment. Community ties are strong, and citizens support each other in times of need.

Most of Pacifica's structures are crafted from lattice ironwork and rock, either forged in the many seething foundries or wrought from scavenged material discarded from above. Though there is brutal functionality to the bolts-and-rivets of Pacifica's structures, its inhabitants still manage to craft breathtaking wonders that pierce the smog and reach for the sky. Though swathes of Pacifica are little better than polluted slums, and others are all but overtaken with steel and stone, living things still find a way to grow such as the example with cultivairs. Although much of Pacifica lies in the shadow of towering cliffs, it is not a city of gloom. Chem-lights burn in bolted sconces and through creative use of colored glass, polished steel lightweels bring light to the depths.

Most Pacificans feed on cave fish or fruits, as well as other special plants they grow inside their greenhouses.

## Investigation

### Pacifica Technology

Denied the funds and means to create nuclilium, Pacifica researchers use powerful chemicals to fuel their creations. The combination of machinery and equipment with a compound that has been produced artificially, which harnesses the power of both. It is used to create utilitarian/practical artifacts that anyone can use. It harnesses chemical energy to power machinery and produce light and heat. Chemtech works like nuclilium, but is much more dangerous, toxic and explosive.

In addition to this, the Pacificans have managed to develop geothermal energy systems. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy3 that is obtained by taking advantage of the heat from the Earth's interior that is transmitted through bodies of rock or hot stones or conduction and convection, where interaction processes of underground water and rocks arise. giving rise to the Pacifica geothermal systems.

The Pacificans have managed to harness the energy of their elemental cores to create useful weapons and amulets, amulets are magnificent, mystical and unique accessories with a spark of power woven into their core. Some of the elemental amulets by the Pacificans are the following, made in factories:

  Physical Shell
  Shaman Stone
  Hydro Heart
  Fragile Strength
  Electro Heart
  Blizzard
  Cryo Heart

### Music

This music track play while a traveler enters the kingdoms of Pacifica.