Amidst the Panic in Edinburgh, residents started using the old underground areas of the city to hide the vulnerable. As Junkies began to outweigh survivors, the need for safety instead of fighting grew. The existing depths were used for ‘Clusters’ of survivors escaping the ruin above.
The Clusters were little more than camps, with more people crammed into the small caves than there was room for. Conditions were dire and survival became just as difficult down there for the weak.
From Clusters, came Segments. These areas were purposefully built with the space and height needed to live fully. They attempted to establish a new way of living underground. There are three segments in Subland: Underburgh, The Observatory, and Neath. Each has their own leadership, values and system of survival.
Subland is in its early days and is still adapting and changing. Leaders are not set in stone and danger is still around every corner.
You can read my blog post on worldbuilding for more about the foundations of Edinburgh that inspired Subland.
Underburgh
Leader: The Mayor (Gaso-Leech)
Areas: Warrens (base level), Coops (mid-tier), Lofties (top tier), Burrows (Hacker Quarters)
Roles: Subrunner, Scrapsmith, Hacker, Weaponised
Notes: Once a beacon of civilisation in Subland, the Mayor’s tyranny has corrupted the segment, suppressing its people into a system of fear and oppression.
[Image: http://www.cuded.com/2013/03/concept-art-by-snow-skadi/%5D
The Observatory
Leader: The Lens
Areas: The Lens’ Tower, Eyeless Temple, Zenith Monastery, Seer District, Trading Post
Roles: Labour is carried out by Seers. Zeniths carry out specialised work. Eyeless are blind in service of their faith and act as escorts to The Lens.
Notes: Home to the Neo-Oculists, a deeply religious sect who believe rejecting technology is humanity’s last redemption. Shunning Subhumans as their faith holds them responsible for the Panic, they now look to their leader and prophet, The Lens, to follow the will of their Goddess.
Image: [https://www.artstation.com/artwork/1nR3o2]
Neath
Organisers: Carys and Maisie
Areas: All communal, no segregated areas other than that between living area and recreational/workshop spaces
Roles: Responsible for the upkeep of all of Subland’s electricity and each Segment’s generators.
Notes: Their role gives them access to parts of Subland that many cannot reach. Run by a council of women who believe Subland should be a haven for humanity. Unlike other Segments however, they are prepared to fight for this goal and get to the bottom of the machines that terrorise Edinburgh.
N.S.Land 