a cursed world

we live among ruins & monsters

Fioletov is a dark, perilous place, still haunted by the mining disaster that caused most of the population to either die or mutate beyond recognition.

UIW#72291 was an established mining colony with several major cities on what was a geologically unstable but still mostly safe planet. while routinely mining mineral deposits on one of the moons, the equipment ruptured a vein of unknown substance. an explosion sent huge chunks of the “infected” moon spiraling down to the planet’s surface, as well as onto the surface of other nearby moons. 

the substance, nicknamed “curse” (also “curse grit,” “streaks,” and “moonblood”) by the locals, is a bit like sand that sticks to itself. it’s grainy, feels damp even if it isn’t, and is usually a deep violet hue flecked with gold. living things exposed to the curse (or in later documentation, cursium) almost invariably mutate. to what degree and in what way is so far unpredictable and inexplicable, though everything has been recorded from obedient spiders and fireflies that cause emotions to animaloid people and clever, hungry monsters. the luce, visible but intangible phantasms common in Fioletovyy’s environment, may be related, but some sources report luce appearing before the catastrophe.

the entire planet is quarantined, though it still has a mostly thriving (if externally exploited) economy. video footage of the curse’s effects is at a premium in nearly every other human colony; movies, music videos, and documentaries fetch a good price. many of them are 18+. multiple corporations are interested enough in the unknown substance to fund and maintain compounds on the surface of Fioletov for the express purpose of research. occasionally, foolhardy smugglers heist their way in to trade for scavenged goods and exclusive videos.

while emigrating away from Fioletov is not an option, immigrating there is allowed and even encouraged, to keep the resident gene pool at a healthy level, as well as to allow a controlled influx of in-demand skills and cultural diversity. 

 

an overview of corporate exploitation

• kidnappings occur but most scientists pay for study
• they refuse to share with each other and sometimes fight; corporate war has affected the population a few times
• don’t mingle with the populace much
• agents charge a steep premium for distributing video & controlling, ordering, and sending the requested goods back to their clients
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Common Types of Flora & Fauna

• the “obedient spiders” are a strange anomaly that seem compelled to spin silk in a line to cover up certain patterns.
• the willowisps are something like fireflies, but they come in a variety of colors and can have inexplicable effects on other living things–everything from sleepiness to hunger to arousal. these effects are generally subtle unless someone has bothered to gather or attract a great quantity of a specific variety
• (note: willowisps should not be confused with luce. while a willowisp can be captured, the luce are intangible and seem to show up as a result of emotions, thoughts, or possibly even the presence of ghosts. they form pictures or abstract shapes in the air near living things. some people and places manifest them more strongly than others. the luce are not considered living, but were first classified as group hallucination–hence the shortened “luce”–and later deemed a mysterious light phenomenon like an aurora)
• the monsters are more clever than animals but not quite as clever as people