Overview:
The Maw is the area immediately surrounding the Forebearer, a colossal, silent figure dominating the skyline. This district was originally the administrative and ceremonial heart of the city, where governance, power distribution, and large-scale industrial coordination intersected. Now, it is a somber nexus of frozen machinery, collapsed scaffolds, and long-abandoned conduits.
Appearance:
Shimmering brass, copper, and blackened steel girders surround the Forebearer. Dust and metallic grit settle in layers; faint sunlight glints off polished surfaces. Sparse hissing from fractured steam pipes and occasional metallic creaks punctuate the silence. Gentle wind stirs dust around the spires, emphasizing the stillness and scale of the district.
Structure:
Multi-level platforms of scaffolds and catwalks stretch around the Forebearer, with broken service lifts, ladders, and bridges connecting them. Most motion is horizontal, though towers rise dozens of meters above the streets.
Machinery and conduits are largely frozen. Occasional moving cogs mark areas still under maintenance by the Vigil.
Landmarks:
The Forebearer: Central and colossal, its dark eyes dominate the district. Active Vigil patrols move carefully around its base.
Kinetic Reservoirs: Ruined but still occasionally functional machinery meant to redirect and store motion for city-wide processes.
Collapsed Ceremonial Hall: Once a hub of governance and performance, its grand brass arches now sag under the weight of dust and broken scaffolds.
Faction Presence:
The Vigil: Strong presence; members dedicate themselves to repairing the Forebearer and nearby infrastructure.
The Conservators: Likely to be found archiving and protecting surviving records near peripheral structures in the district.
The Salvagers: Rarely appear to trade energy to the Vigil in return for excavated materials.
“They say the Forebearer’s eyes sometimes flicker, like it’s watching someone move through the scaffolds.”
“A few Vigil patrols whispered about hearing faint voices from the Kinetic Reservoirs, though no one else did.”
“Collapsed Ceremonial Hall shifts occasionally—some swear it’s moving to make way for something underneath.”
“A portion of the Forebearer’s base was exposed in a recent collapse. Salvagers are already circling, hoping for old schematics or energy cores.”
“Vigil members have been working odd hours around the upper scaffolds, claiming the machinery ‘needs attention,’ but no one knows why.”
“The Conservators keep arriving at peripheral towers carrying strange memory units. Some say they’re tracking secrets hidden in the Forebearer’s structure.”
“One Kinetic Reservoir sparked violently a cycle ago and then shut down. Rumor has it the reservoir absorbed more motion than it was designed for.”
“Some say a hidden chamber under the Forebearer contains a dormant mechanism capable of rewinding entire sections of the city.”
“A Vigil patrol disappeared entirely near the top scaffolds. The last report mentioned a low hum coming from the Forebearer’s base.”