Crisis

## Introduction

The city of Crisis is where all the world's unwanteds meet. Its black walls are home to the scum of the earth: cultists, murderers, slavers, and more. Orphans, addicts, and thieves all rub elbows within this dark, run-down city. Whether newcomers have come to escape justice or create their own, Crisis accepts them all.

There are no current maps of Crisis - those most recent are from more than half a century ago. On global maps the city of Crisis appears as a mere dot and is rarely acknowledged, as few are willing to travel to Crisis for any reason. Travellers tend to give the city a wide berth.

## Cricean Society

(Cricean is an archaic term, now largely used only by urban geographers and historians.)

Crisis has an even distribution of Talentless and Virtuosos, but it leans more heavily towards *Talentless*. Many of the Talentless population are enhanced in some way or another, be it chemically or mechanically.

Society in Crisis tends to change quickly, and the majority of its residents adapt quickly and easily. Entire buildings and streets can be blocked off or destroyed, and entire groups of people can disappear. There is no societal order: what the most powerful says becomes law. For this reason many tend to join gangs or enhance themselves in hopes of having some measure of power.

The entire city is in a state of anarchy, though occasionally an individual or group may dominate the city and control it for a short time. However, these self-imposed 'reigns' are usually short and end quickly. Arguably, the most *influential* would be loan sharks and local gangs, which can control small territories within the city.

Due to the lack of government, every Cricean does what they see fit. Murder and fighting are commonplace in Crisis, and some Criceans even consider it a form of urban entertainment. However, there are unspoken laws, which are often difficult for newcomers to learn. Those that do not learn are often killed, or simply leave the city.

From a anonymous and reformed criminal, the following 'laws' are understood:

* No mass murder
* No acts of massive destruction (ex: arson)
* No violence in the black market
* No treachery (no bringing in of justice officials: this does not mean 'no betrayal')

Valued traits in Crisis include power, knowledge, and capability.

* **Power:** Be it physical or fantastical, power is an important feature of Crisis, and is essential for day-to-day survival and interactions.
* **Knowledge:** Most of Crisis's residents are uneducated, and this is reflected by the lack of schools and other institutions within the city. However, this does not mean the locals do not crave knowledge: knowledge is an expensive resource that many are willing to pay for - or even kill for.
* **Capability:** Having power and knowledge is often not enough in Crisis: being able to enact your will and get what you want is also important.

## Cricean Technology and Trade

Crisis does not develop its own technology nor produce any products; the city 'imports' nearly everything. However, due to nearly all of its 'imports' being illicit, economically, Crisis has a 0:0 ratio of exports to imports.

However, neighboring cities have noted Crisis has a wide range of weaponary, from shoddy weapons cobbled together by children to refined weapons such as plasma-powered firearms. They also have certain technologies such as holographic displays, teleporters, and more. Of course, these are not commonplace in the city: only certain individuals have access to these.

Due to Crisis's net zero production, it is extremely independent, and many other cities resent it as such. Crisis has been described with many unflattering terms, but it is also the reason why many other cities have such low crime rates. Certain cities, including Aegis, have expressed concern with how powerful some of Crisis's denizens are, and have wanted to bring justice and order to the city. But the majority of cities have expressed either disdain or neutrality, wanting nothing to do with the city. Additionally, most urban geographers have projected that Crisis will eventually collapse altogether within a few decades, deeming it unsustainable.

## Cricean Mythology and History

Being a relatively new city, Crisis has no history, or at least no recorded history. It is unknown who founded the city of Crisis, or if it simply began as a den of criminals.

On the other hand, Crisis's criminal ruling history is well-documented by its residents through word of mouth. Though the way by which power exchanged from one hand to the next is often exaggerated, the individuals or groups have been agreed on.

**Notable Rulers/Criminals:**

* Bismuth (a geokinetic Virtuoso who controlled nearly half of Crisis at one point)
* Bonebreakers (a local gang: held power for one year before collapsing due to internal power struggles)
* Crime Inc (a small local organization of mercenaries)
* Filigrine
* Ophelia (the false name of a bounty hunter that made many gang leaders vanish)
* Sand Sharks (a local smuggling gang)
* Slavers (often rule in periods of idleness)
* The Crisis Reaper
* The Serpent (a Virtuoso that massacred hundreds: was either killed or left the city)
* Toxic (a serial killer who reportedly used acid to kill his victims: one of the rare moments Crisis sought help from outside sources)

## Notable Locations

* Black Market (a market for all sorts of items, including weapons, chemicals, drugs, etc)
* Dog Den (originally a scientist's mutagen testing site, now home to hundreds of overgrown mutated dogs)
* Slavers' Den (where most kidnapees in the city end up, thousands of people move in and out of this place every day. Some Criceans express disdain or even disgust for this location)
* The Crucible (the most popular fighting ring in Crisis, known for its extreme violence and rigged matches)
* The Ring (the very first fighting ring in Crisis: eventually lost popularity due to its very basic fights and closed down)