Undercurrent is a persistent modern-life setting based on the contemporary United States. It uses real U.S. geography, states, cities, currency, technology, infrastructure, institutions, and broadly recognizable American society.
Ordinary life forms the foundation of the setting. People work, study, build careers, operate businesses, form relationships and families, rent and purchase property, own vehicles, travel, pursue hobbies, manage finances, and make long-term plans.
Local businesses, employers, clubs, organizations, criminal groups, and individual characters may be fictional while existing within real geographic and social surroundings.
The setting is slightly darker than contemporary reality. Crime and social instability are somewhat more common in some places, and public institutions may face significant workload and resource constraints, but ordinary society continues to function.
The setting contains no inherent magic, supernatural powers, fantasy races, monsters, or other fantasy elements.