SYSTEM FALL
"An ex-courier teams up with a disgraced private investigation agency as they navigate their ever-changing world at the hands of an untamed magical source."
Hi hello! This is just a site where I can dump some lore for my OC's story. For the sake of spoilers (and the fact that Carrd has a 100-element limit) I've left a few things out, but I think the information here should be sufficient enough for a general understanding to get a basic grasp on the story :)
(information is subject to change, i have a habit of rewriting things all the time)
CHARACTERS
I'll probably add more character bios as I finish writing them, but for now all that's really needed are the main characters lol
JENNA | SHE/HER
Jenna was forced to work for the Syndicate following the death of her mother, and has since acted as a low-level courier and canal runner to pay back the vast debt she had inherited. She had grown up in an environment that believed in Sal’s (at the time) vague ideals on magic’s potential, being surrounded by addicts and radical enthusiasts. If one were to ask her for her reasoning beyond surface level she would draw a blank – much of what she believes in is molded by those around her, subconsciously wanting to stay in people’s good graces by going along with what the majority is advocating for. She is desperate to prove her worth to those she deems above or better than her, believing that doing what others expect of her is the best thing she can do in life. She has no real interests outside of work and is considered ‘boring’ company; she doesn’t like to think about herself. She has a penchant for sweet things.
MARKUS CODDER | HE/HIM
Markus was taken in alongside his half-sister Caleb by Den Codder, a former scarecrow-turned-private investigator. Growing up Markus wanted to be just like his father, however the way he went about it was surface-level at best.
Witnessing the shady and sometimes violent encounters Den had while on the job, Markus adopted a pacifistic and non-confrontational attitude. Preferring to stick to what’s at hand and not probe further in fear of getting into the rather personal issues and circumstances that people had. Markus tries his best to be sweet and patient, always making sure that his clients feel listened to and respected, regardless of how they treat him and the agency at times. However there seems to be a lack of sincerity behind his words and intentions with the job. He tends to shift the conversation whenever his clients start to vent about magic, instead directing them to the nearest place to get help while avoiding the root of the problem. He likes indulging in photography in his spare time.
CALEB CODDER | SHE/THEY
Caleb was taken in alongside their half-brother Markus by Den Codder, a former scarecrow-turned-private investigator. Though she once had a passion for investigative work, it started to dwindle as she got older due to the pressure Den put on her shoulders.
Though never explicitly said, Den seemed to believe that Caleb would one day become a better detective than himself. This greatly affected Caleb growing up, turning them into their own biggest critic in everything she did in her day-to-day life. She would go on to suffer bouts of burnout from all the magic-based cases that Den would assign her, and Caleb soon fell out of love with the work. They came back around as the money was greater than cor hunting, but with a shift in focus. Caleb is rather reserved, although she is trying to get back into the habit of talking to people to better serve her work. If magic isn’t involved, one could say they’re actively enjoying the work, however with how prevalent it is in the city those cases are rare to come by. She has a tendency to hum music when performing tasks, and likes to graffiti any out-of-reach blank wall she can find.
MAGIC
"History"
In the distant past, there was the existence of a magic flower far out in the countryside. As pet birds started to bring them back to their nomadic owners as part of their gift collections, it was discovered that they were an immense source of power, which the people would use on their crops for a faster and bigger payout. When people discovered they could cultivate the flowers on their own, they began to spread out across the countryside, leaving behind their birds. Not needing to give the flowers to their owners anymore, the birds started consuming the plants, and over time would begin to evolve into horrendous beasts that fed on the magic. Humans would soon begin to abuse the magic directly, consuming it themselves and being granted magical abilities for their own gain and destruction. The flower production wasn’t able to keep up with the rampant overuse and overconsumption, and it soon went extinct, any trace of its magic vanishing alongside it.
Sal Fukumoto, a high-ranking member of the notorious Buckecreet Syndicate, used her connections within the ministry to get her hands on the disposed matter. Following further experimentation, a viable version of the magic was produced; while it was originally exclusive to a handful of Sal’s colleagues, over time it had made its way into the hands of black market sellers. The return of the magic had also brought about beasts that feed upon it. While there is debate around its growing presence throughout the city, many have begun to trust in its power, believing that bringing it back to its former glory will launch a new age of prosperity for the city’s economy and larger society. Many of the city’s politicians have condemned its trade and gross misuse, but are intrigued by the potential that this new version of the magic may have. Somerset, the ministry advisor and one of Sal’s associates, has further spread this agenda to the Miserand Height’s higher ups. In recent years, the ministry has become open to integrating magic into the city’s tech/machinery as a way to make things more efficient and cut down on labour costs. Many protest this proposal, as they believe it would greatly affect the job market, as well as contribute to the growing population of monsters and civil unrest in the city.According to records and those who have used it, when magic is absorbed into the bloodstream it alters the body for a brief period of time based on the desires of the user (e.g increased strength, x-ray vision). While it was utilised in underground fighting rings, general usage was initially scarce due to its extreme side effects, which would inflict extreme harm to the body including vomiting, excessive bleeding, and temporary transformations into cor. Overuse of the magic will eventually turn the user into a cor permanently.
Cell
Glass batteries, more commonly known as ‘cells’. They are used for storing magic in a safe and convenient way in order to be used to power tools and machinery. The standard form is a palm-sized rectangular slab, however newer models have a wider variety of shapes for specific usage.
Corvit/Cōrveo
Note: these monsters can be referred to by different names depending on the individual. There was/is no general consensus as to what the proper name should be as many simply called them ‘beasts’, or crows due to their presumed origins. However for simplicity’s sake, ‘cor’ is a suitable term to use.
Beasts who feed off of primarily magic, however will consume any matter that involves an energy source - humans included. Though their (re)introduction into society was slow at first, the boom in magic production and distribution has led to their increasing population over the decades. While there is no exact number given to its overall population in the city, officials estimate that the annual 50,000 sightings per year is expected to increase in the future with further use of magic. Some claim that these numbers have been heavily affected according to rumours that scarecrows purposefully summon more cors in order to kill them and make a profit.
Cors lack any cognitive thought and possess regenerative abilities due to the magic in their bodies. The appearance of cors largely depends on the amount of magic consumed; average cors span from rat to horse-sized, however they are able to fuse together to become bigger if left alone for long enough. Their body parts and appendages can also vary in looks - this is theorised to be due to the type of ‘enhancement’ a particular beast wishes for. The defining feature all cors have is a bird-like head, thought to be evolved from crows according to the myths/records.
Although being seen as little more than pests by the general public, they appear to be violent and aggressive when encountered. These reports of aggression have become more commonplace as time has gone on, perhaps due to the growing population causing the beasts to become more hostile over resources. Government interception may be needed in the near future. Cors can be killed by greatly damaging the place in which they store their magic; this placement largely depends on each individual beast - a good way to tell is by taking into account the cor’s anatomy, such as enlarged limbs, and any particular strengths they might have. The heart is also a safe bet. Heat is another notable weakness of cors; setting them on fire is a common practice, and many of the tools/weapons used by professional scarecrows contain some sort of heated element (e.g. flamethrowers, flares, boiling liquids, electricity via conductors).
Overuse of magic has the effect of transforming humans into cors, considered ‘unnatural’. They seem to possess more intelligence compared to their counterparts, holding some level of recognition with items/places/people of significance, though not much. This change is permanent; there is no cure once a human becomes a cor and killing them immediately after turning is the recommended course of action.
Scarecrow
As magic has become more widespread and cors make more frequent appearances, some have taken up the mantle of hunting them down - these people have become known as scarecrows. It is popular as a side gig, and a few companies have even emerged to give people official jobs. There is no concrete number as to how many scarecrows operate throughout the city, as it is a common profession and many join/leave the field on a whim, but some put the count around 3,000. With the creation of the Guild, bounties being attached to bigger sightings have become commonplace. Cor corpses are typically sent to ministry-run cremation centres (where they can be exchanged for small monetary rewards) or bought off by private clients. They are also occasionally sold on the black market.
Popular culture
Despite the danger that they pose, cors have become somewhat of an unofficial mascot for the city. It is not uncommon for people to dress up as cors, include them in the entertainment industry (whether through fictional depictions or physical exploitation), or make themed events/foods after them. Bird masks have become a fashion staple in the city, and are the easiest way for people to symbolise cors. As with many things surrounding magic, their acceptance into general society and the unserious tone in which many regard them is a heated topic of debate. Some say that it’s disrespectful and tacky, while others see it as a harmless addition to the city’s culture.
WORLD
Albernott • (al-ber-no) | Miserand Heights
Albernott is a fictional country fairly isolated from the rest of the world. The country consists of two islands, the North and South, which are connected by bridge. The main mode of transportation is by cable car, train, or human-powered vehicles (such as scooters, bikes, hoverboards etc).
Miserand Heights is the main setting of System Fall, located in the North. As the capital city, it is the country’s commercial and political heart. Unofficially split into five distinctive areas based off of major buildings/locations in their respective locations.
- Monscuo • mon-sue-oh (centre) – commercial area, primary ministry hub
- Buckecreet (west) – industrial area, canals
- Iron Coast (south) – harbour, cliffs, beaches
- Silversung (north) – most populous residential area, fades into countryside
- Wintervon (east) – upscale, expensive area
Diphylleia (dy-fell-aye-ah)
Diphylleia is a private investigation agency in Miserand Heights that once operated under Den Codder’s leadership. It originally started off as a side gig for Den, helping his community while off the clock from his scarecrow job. After many years, he decided to turn it into a proper agency with employees to help as many people as he could. They dealt with cases typical of private investigators (e.g. fraud, infidelity, surveillance, background checks) and would also occasionally deal with more criminal cases if the client for any reason did not want police interference. Most notably, Diphylleia dealt with cases related to or involving magic in any capacity (e.g. disappearances, scams, abuse), putting an emphasis on productive healing and rehabilitation. As the police cracked down hard on magic use/possession and went to extreme lengths (utilising physical/legal persecution), Diphylleia’s services offered the people an alternative to talking to police and a way to seek help without risk of being put in the system. Diphylleia had made many connections with facilities and programs around the city, and would only resort to reporting magic if others had been harmed. If able, they would confiscate cells and any other sort of magic and set it ablaze. Occasionally, they would also respond to cor sightings as it was technically within their line of work. They do not have any obligation to uphold the law, and members consistently break the law in order to meet client demands.
The Rabbit Hole
A small mixed-use building/shophouse located in Monscuo. Initially used by Den Codder to act as Diphylleia’s headquarters and working as a bartender on the side. After Diphylleia's gradual fall from grace, the bar began to lose traffic, and in the current day it has been largely forgotten by the public. Despite this, the apartment space is still occupiable and the building continues to act as Diphylleia’s office.
Buckecreet Syndicate
The Buckecreet Syndicate (more commonly referred to as just the Syndicate) is an organisation located in the Buckecreet area, however their connections span across the entire city. After Sal Fukumoto acquired the ministry's magic experiementation, a brief scuffle over leadership took place before she became its head. Though the Syndicate’s initial goal was to eliminate competition from rival businesses, it soon turned into a full-fledged cartel with organisations teaming up with them to get their foot in the door. Over the years, the Syndicate began to dip their toes into the world of organised crime, using the legitimate businesses in its sector as well as those in higher society to hide their more illicit dealings, including the manufacturing and distribution of magic amongst the public.
Sal’s goal as head of the Syndicate is to bring magic to the forefront and have society revel in its power. She views herself as an agent for Vio, and she claims that he wants humanity to bask in his glory through the magic that he has provided for the people. Aside from that, she also seeks to gain power within the city, swaying people to her side by convincing the public that so long as magic is able to flourish, she will provide protection from the onslaught of monsters granted the city provides her with official funding.Canal runners – acting more as couriers and muscles more than anything else; any dirty work that Sal wants to be done is usually handed off to the runners. They have little to no protection as they are seen as expendable, however this may vary depending on the job (particularly for couriers with physical deliveries, in which case they may be granted tools or transport)
Mythology
The city’s mythological folktales primarily surround the existence of magic. It is theorised that in bygone eras, these myths played a much wider role in society and may have even had its own offering rituals alongside the stories, however this is debated by historians.Hiwa - The deity of wishes, overseeing the dreams and desires of mankind. In the original version of the myth, every 7th wish that was made to her would be granted. Other versions have wishes only granted if Hiwa believed the wish-maker to be a hard worker. This iteration of Hiwa believes that one should only achieve their greatest desire if they truly deserve it, either due to their actions or their character. No matter what version of the myth is being referenced, many show disdain towards Hiwa for her wish-granting, thinking that she should be doing more for humanity in order for society to progress. She takes the form of the brightest star that is visible in the sky.
Vio - The deity of the moon. Being closer to the earth, he had a desire to experience human culture, and embarked on an impromptu visit in the myths. Everywhere he travelled, the people were in awe of his magic abilities and welcomed him with open arms, treating him like one of their own. As a special thanks for their kind treatment, Vio planted magic flowers across the countryside before departing for the skies. He takes the form of the figure in the moon, which many deem to be the shape of a crow.