Warrens (Lathe)

### Overview

The Warrens of Lathe make up the numerous tiers of the homes, businesses, and markets that snake through the cliffs below the surface city. The majority of the population lives within these caverns as prices at the surface city are prohibitive for all except the richest individuals or prosperous companies.

Tiers are numbered from closest to surface city to the lowest, so the first tier is directly below the city, and tier 31 is at the base of the cliff leading out to the docks.

### Transportation

There are three ways of traversing between tiers.

#### The Lifts

A network of powered compartments designed to move people and cargo between two tiers. These lifts are maintained by the Transit Guild.

#### The Tunnels

These structures are less convenient than the lifts. While you can find an entrance to at least one of the Tunnels on every level, not every tunnel has consistent exits. As a result, taking the wrong tunnel could have you exiting out several tiers away from your target. It's also possible to get lost in the tunnels, as they are hard to navigate and some may in fact simply go deeper into the earth instead of staying within the cliffs below.

Officially, the tunnels were carved by the early builders of Lathe, using the same prior world tools that carved open the caverns. However, the walls of the tunnels have a far different quality than the walls of each tier, and many people believe they preexisted the arrival of humans.

#### The Stairs

Each tier contains an opening to the outside facing the sea. These openings are connected to one another by a series of ancient and narrow steps carved into the face of the cliff in alternating directions. The steps were used during the initial construction of Lathe, and are worn smooth by centuries of boots climbing them. There are no handholds, and no railings, and ocean spray kicked up by the wind or storms often makes them quite slippery.

By far, the stairs represent the most dangerous way to travel in Lathe. Often locals will use the phrase "taking the stairs" to refer to any especially dangerous endeavor.

### Organizations

Groups often assert some level of control over their tier, both to the benefit and detriment of their residents. Tiers nearer to the surface city are often led by a series of upstart industrialists or new merchants with great ambitions but not the money to match. The lowest tiers of the cliffs are controlled by the customs and port authorities of the city. However, in all the levels in-between, you will likely find it controlled by a neighborhood coalition with varying degrees of organization, a criminal gang, or some combination of both.

#### Criminal

Criminal organizations in Lathe are typically classified as one of two types: Players or Gutter Gangs. Players are well organized, wield considerable influence, and move a lot of money and goods (both legal and illicit). Gutters are more loosely identified and tend to work small time jobs for the Players or themselves. An apt comparison would be that as organized crime is to street gangs, Players are to Gutter Gangs.

The following table is a non-exhaustive list of known criminal groups within the Warrens.