Fortress Level Inner

The inner, higher level districts of the Fortress Level are far loftier, cleaner and calmer than their surroundings, unless you count Dogma itself as one such surrounding. The population here is predominantly human, unlike that of the city below, and the districts themselves are built atop a hill. Unlike the integration of metal, smoke and grease (East), with moss growths, trees and clean waters (in the South and Western districts mostly) and the mash of cultures, accents, fashion and even appearances (Wall, North), there is something more in sync with the design of these districts.

Large glass panels, clearly separated green areas, and even when technology is at it's barest, it is still relatively well disguised, quiet, and subdued, not to mention well-blended in and disguises. Flow has no room in this district, most of it's inhabitants that are not warriors, have no business touching it, and even the warriors leave that aside when entering the Higher Districts, and solar energy powers almost everything.

Not just that, but there is a lesser degree of automation as well, in daily life as well. Automatons that manage to get here, find it rather odd, or at least disorienting in their first months, due to how different the whole place is from their usual living spaces. Not just that, but most Automatons and Exalts often go through appearance modifications, preferring a look that blends in more with the environment.

That aside, onto the districts themselves!

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Commercial district

History

The commercial district's existence begun when economical processes all across Fortress required the creation of a bank. It was decided that the best location  for such a bank, would be on some portion of Dogma Hill, and around it, numerous other structures were erected, to guard the large sums of money, gold and gemstones stored there. As the city grew and evolved, the Central Bank became greater and second level banks were built as well, not to mention numerous firms, companies and the like stationed themselves in the surroundings. It eventually got to the point where a whole district-sized block of these structures came to be. It was thus saw fit that the separation between the higher districts, which originally served to denote a location where objects and functions of value to the whole city were located was, and the lower districts, come to be.

With this separation, it was easier to move the security buildings and functions to another area, but that is best saved for the story of a different district. Since then, most of the inhabitants of the high district have in fact, been employed here, and it has been more often than not, the center of Fortress' decision making and the metaphorical steering wheel of the city, through which it has finally come to be, in it's current shape, for better or for worse.

Population

If you have a place in the district, then it does not matter if you are even a Glassman or a Watcher, a full-blown Dragon or a monstrous Exalt, you perform, you try your best in whatever job you have, you try to get a better living and perhaps if you are ambitious, you elevate yourself close to the city's leadership. There IS prejudice in this District, but it is by no means race or origin based, it is simply based on one's function within the city. However, even then there is something to be said about the vicious nature of this District's workings, that is not flattering  or helpful to pretty much anyone who is, even if for a moment stuck in a rut, or somehow disadvantaged.

Out of the higher districts, it is the most populated, and it is the one with the most civilian living areas. It has it's own hospitals, schools, libraries and public services of any sort you can think of, as well as a small, but very wealthy entertainment portion. It is almost as big as the Western district, that is... not TOO huge, but definitely respectable.

Beliefs, politics and so on.

Factions change names and members faster than you can keep count,beliefs have little to no room in this place, and things are far from mystical. It is a down to earth place, positively beautiful in the outside, but a touch rotten when you go past the surface. It is largely secure, and any trifles and conflicts are arranged to be solved OUTSIDE the Higher Districts, through the concerned parties influence in the Lower Fortress Level, and for most part, the concerned parties DO in fact have a lot to lose from taking a hit down there. Illegal operations as well, are conducted outside the district proper which has lead to an increased presence of government investigators deciding to turn their sights onto this District.

While somewhat influenced by Dogma and the Administration, the influential members of this place style themselves as largely independent figures of wealth and with an iron grasp around the reins of Fortress. The ones that fail to back up these beliefs, often end up suffering for their hubris, more often than not, betrayed by their closest associates.

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Security Central

History

Split off from the, then Bank District, it became something of it's own very early on in the history of the Upper Fortress Level. It is where the order of the Umbrella Knights, the strong arm of the law and of the administration of the city is located in, trained in and launched unto the lower districts from. Not just that, but the headquarters of the security management of the whole city are located here, for most part. During the years, this District has been a hot place, where word of conflict and civil unrest spread fasted than lightning, and it those were oft the only topics spoken about. With how volatile things can get in certain districts, and with the many factions vying for their own political supremacy, it has not helped to relieve the stress from Security Central.

Many families of warriors, trained to join the ranks of the Umbrella Knights, or it's leaderships have stationed themselves here. These warrior clans have tempered their heirs with iron discipline, and thus have produced some of the most fearsome Knights in the history of Fortress. When it comes down to it, even if often looked at with disdain or underestimation by many groups and individuals, the Umbrella Knights ARE the mightiest armed force in all of Fortress, and their strength is not something one should take for granted.

Population.

Umbrella Knights, and their leaders. Security Central has barely any civilian areas, and serves as a detainment area for some part, for recently captured criminals, as well as for ones being interrogated, thus, it is very dangerous for civilians to ever come close to it. Add to that, the presence of headquarters for almost any branch of city security, including some offices of the city's little talked about secret service, it makes it simultaneously the most secure to be in place, and the most dangerous to allow strangers in. That aside, most of the Umbrella Knights' families tend to live here for the most part, although keeping in mind that almost all of their heirs will almost always be inheriting their family business, as to say.

Politics, factions, beliefs.

Beliefs do in fact exist within the ranks of the Exalt and Dragon members of the Umbrella Knights, mostly targeted at the respective cultures' patrons of security, order, justice, strength, chivalry and so on. Some of the Prime Automata do mention aspects of the Primordial Machine that preside over security as well, and adhere to them. That aside, there isn't much in the way of factions, barring large divisions of the Knights, which have their own long established codes, fighting styles and so on, but these are best elaborated on separately. Aside from that, the place is ruled by a security council. These people's decisions are final in any case, and thus their election is quite rigorous.

There are five members in this council, each with their personal aides. The divisions of the Umbrella Knights, the number of which does tend to shift over time, depending on how many schisms between divisions, or new comers on the ranks of the Knights are there, over a given period, but usually, division leaders are also paid attention to, and given a lot of respect. Each division leader CAN structure their division as they wish, but it is preferred for a certain format to be kept, when doing so, in order not to cause disarray when multiple divisions need to be mobilized.

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Administration.

History

The second most powerful part of Fortress, Administration is where the appointed officials of the city live in. Built on both sides of the stairway to Dogma, it has existed since very early on. The leaders of the city gathered on the hill, leading up to the higher level, and then the first court case was held in the same location, followed by numerous other events that cemented the area as a whole, as the place where decisions were made. Eventually, with the separation of the Higher and Lower districts, the place gained new life, and became a district of it's own. Courts, offices, and even the municipality of Fortress, where it's city council and of course, the mayor resides in, was finally built, right below the gates in the stairway to the highest level of the city. This level is, practically the brain of Fortress, taking decisions for the whole of the city, and while the Commercial District (Financial, as some call it) definitely has a claim to it, there's a clear winner here.

Aside from that, it is the only part of the town, hopefully that ever has to expect visitors from Dogma, known to be insensitive to the plights of normal men and women. It is for this reason that it's inhabitants and it's overall atmosphere is the most luxurious...or decadent, if your political inclination is a touch...rebellious or revolutionary. The ones living here tend to be the wealthiest and the most elite of the city as well, and nepotism is also at it's peak, with a few families being ever in charge.

Population

Humans, mostly, they have the reins of the city, when the immortals of Dogma don't choose to descend. That aside, there are also quite a few Automata, of the sleek and pretty variety, who unfortunately get used to a lifestyle of objectification as the Dogma dwellers tend to have a... low opinion of their value as full blown individuals. Dragons and Exalts do not really have it a lot better, not being objectified, but instead being put on display, and as a result a lot of services are offered to them in a different manner than the human citizens. However, there is a clear distinction between the wishes and opinion of the immortals, and of that of the citizens themselves.

Thus, the above mentioned Automata, Dragons and Exalts are not treated with disdain by the actual population of the District. However, it is clear that an adherence to the rules set by Dogma is absolutely necessary, if their scourge is to be kept from being released INTO the city itself.