Spoilers may exist.
Setting
The story takes place in an underground city hidden beneath Chicago, IL, known as The Dark City (TDC). It spans countless floors, each vastly different from the last. Many treasures, artifacts, and horrors lie beneath the surface.
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Plot Overview
A group of childhood friends ventures deep into TDC, each driven by their own hidden goals. The reader will discover their motives over time.
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Point of View (POV)
The narrative shifts between first-person (Calen Graves) and third-person omniscient.
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Power System – The Soul
Soul
Every living creature possesses a Soul, an ability born from one's deepest desires. Souls manifest physically upon entering TDC.
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Manifest
A person whose Soul has physically awakened upon entering TDC.
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Cardinal
A non-sentient or non-humanoid version of a Soul. Most monsters in TDC share the same Cardinal within a species.
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Dormant Abilities
Sub-skills inscribed into the Soul, awakened upon entering TDC. Example: Danger Sense: detects danger, though not always in time to react.
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Soul Echo
The Soul remembers what the body forgets. Through focused meditation, a Manifest can perform a Soul Dive to retrieve an Echo Limb, a replacement for lost limbs.
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Soul Dive
A trance-like state where Manifests explore their Soul. Used to retrieve Echo Limbs, confront traumas, or evolve their Manifestation.
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Soulless
Beings who have lost their Souls due to trauma, extraction, or reanimation. They are part of a hive mind. To break free, they must absorb a creature's Cardinal.
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Terminology
Keeper
A being who has reached the bottom of TDC and evolved their Soul. Possesses immense power but suffers mental alteration, often refraining from using their full strength.
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Artifact
A rare item of great power. Some require unique conditions to activate or wield. Often believed to be the Soul Manifestation of those who passed.
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Elevator
Passageways that allow travel between floors. Multiple elevators usually exist per floor.
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Danger Level (DL)
A numerical representation of how dangerous a being is. For context:
Average human: DL 3–4
Newly manifested individual: DL ~7
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Classifications of DL:
Fledgling – 1 to 150: A newly awakened Soul
Tainted – 151 to 500: The Soul begins to adapt
Resonant – 501 to 1500: The Soul hums with power
Eclipsed – 1501 to 15000: The Soul twists beyond recognition
Aberrant – 15001 to 50000: Presence warps the environment
Ruination – 50001 to 200000: A walking disaster
Calamitous – 200001 to 750000: Power distorts reality
Devourer – 750000+: A force beyond comprehension
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Metropolis
The first floor of TDC. It is split into two sections:
Civilized Half – Home to shops, communities, and protection.
Desolate Half – Overrun by powerful entities. Daily disappearances are common.
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Author's Note
This chapter serves as a reference for world mechanics, lore, and terminology. The story is in early development, so reader feedback and suggestions are welcomed. It's as much a story for you as it is for me.
Enjoy the descent!