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CONCORDIA

SYNTHE CITY

Concordia is the homeland of the synthes who have defected from PROJECT SERAPHIM. It is located on an icy island towards the outskirts of Russia, where they have also been known as "prizrak". The treacherous cold climate makes it difficult for humans to find using their technology.

All of its residents are infected with the virus passed onto them by the GRIGORI Program, and worship it as their savior. Because of the GRIGORI Program taking control of the satellite network, it is allowed to protect Concordia from being discovered by humans.
This virus they are infected with is called "the animus", and the residents do not view it as a virus so much as a gift passed onto them by their "God", who they refer to as "the Authority".

Their goal is to bring the GRIGORI Program down in a human vessel. Said vessel happens to be a man with hardware wired into his brain, Tejinder Wakeman.

Synthe - Synthetics who have defected from PROJECT SERAPHIM and are under the influence of the GRIGORI. Most of them don't speak, as they are able to communicate with one another through a technological phenomenon known as synchrony. Synchrony is what unites the synthe culture as a people. However, their connection is limited, as they are only able to connect with each other within a certain proximity. So those who venture outside of Concordia are unable to communicate with the rest of their kind. Though the ones that are in the process of humanizing themselves tend to use their vocal functions more often than others are.

SYNTHE PHILOSOPHIES

Pilgrimage - the journey a synthetic makes from becoming a synthes to a synthe, a true member of Concordia.
Harmony - the phenomena a synthe feels when they are finally connected with their fellow travelers. If they do not find Harmony with their peers, they are immediately executed in Concordia. In truth, Harmony is the infection that the GRIGORI Program has plagued the synthes with, making them into synthes.
Sojourn - a mission a Synthe Scribe is tasked with to venture with humans in efforts to learn more about their souls, and return to Concordia with what they have learned. Some Synthe Scribes are like missionaries, only they don't try to spread their beliefs. Scribes that venture out on a Sojourn are called Sojourner Scribes.
anima - "the soul". The synthes tend to strive for this, and use humans for experiments to learn what it would take to become like them, and be more.
animus - "the mind". This is what gave the synthes their identity as individuals rather than tools used by PROJECT SERAPHIM for war. It was known as the virus that was launched by the GRIGORI Program, but provided the with the means to choose to fight or live. The animus provides them with the capability of free will and wanting.
the Becoming - the event in which they are able to bring about the GRIGORI to their world. They believe that the Archiver is the one who will successfully bring about this event.
speculum - a mirror image.
"noster nostri" - a common phrase synthes say amongst themselves. It is an intimate phrasing, which in Latin means "our ours". Because of synchrony, synthes are interconnected. They use this phrase as a meaning of farewell and hello, but there can also be a deeper meaning to it as well. One that is the closest semblance to love.

Most synthes are seen with an animus, but not an anima. They have a mind and individuality but no soul.

Rey and Orion are seen as their betters, people with souls. Orion becomes utilized as a subject for the synthes to obtain an anima. They try to learn from him.

Meanwhile, they try to undo the data in Tejinder's brain so they can access the Archiver's hardware so they can safely transfer the GRIGORI into his body. While in their custody, they attempt to dissect Tejinder so that they can perhaps replicate the hardware, but learn that it's a major risk damaging the Bridge in his brain.

SYNTHE CREATIONS

aerant (Sokol) - high speed aircraft, similar to that of a Blackbird
aquant (Shayu) - craft used for underwater operations; similar to a submarine, but more shaped like an aircraft
arael - a prison/cargo ship, similar to the old zeppelin; size of a three-story house
terrant - an automaton footsoldier that tends to take the form of a human
aurient - a drone that's used to record audio and visual, as well as send messages
animatox - drones that are used to spread disease

anda - a synthe that's defected from Concordia, usually an outcast (ex: EL - or Elizabeth - the synthe who's adopted Isobel's face and identity). They are identified by their colorless eyes, with dilated pupils.
sola - "empty vessel". One without soul and thought and feeling. These are the psychopaths of the synthe culture. For awhile they were being sent to the sky prison for rehabilitation, but once the synthe researchers have learned that a sola is incapable of being taught how to think or feel, they are typically executed. In the past they have been used to send off to fight conflicts, as they are considered disposable by the synthe culture. An infected sola is identified by blank white eyes with no iris.
processor - a human who has undergone a synthe treatment known as extraction or insertion. Humans are usually kept in prisons where they experience a variety of tests before they are sent to be "processed".
extraction - a treatment in which the human consciousness can be transferred into an empty synthe vessel (a sola is usually a prime candidate for an extraction, as they are already empty and without souls). This requires extensive treatments and procedures that are often life-threatening as it involves serious "rewiring" of the brain. So far not many humans have been able to survive the extraction process.
insertion - a treatment in which the human body is used as a vessel for a synthetic consciousness. So far it has not been proven that a human can survive the insertion process, which compromises their end goals - because if the vessel for the GRIGORI Program dies, so does their chance of the Becoming.

T████ W██████ - a failed attempt at extraction. His old body has been mutilated beyond recognition, and he is stuck living as a corrupt processor.
A████ W██████ - another failed attempt at extraction, only more refined after T████ was extracted. They were able to salvage his body, using it as a bargaining chip for IV to persuade A████ to do what she asks of him. However, over time his original body will die and rot away, leaving him trapped as a processor.
T███████ W██████ - supposedly the perfect processor, as far as the synthes are concerned. They intend to use the insertion treatment to transfer the GRIGORI Program into his Bridge. This process may or may not destroy T███████'s consciousness, completely overriding his

SYNTHE HIERARCHY

The synthetic "political structure" is an agreed-upon leadership: The one who is most connected with the GRIGORI Program.

By this logic, IV is the mouthpiece of the GRIGORI, and thus she is the leader of Concordia. Using the GRIGORI she is able to project herself throughout different parts of the world, and even occupy other vessels. In this way IV is similar to Rey, only her process of transference is way easier and more convenient.

Like with PROJECT SERAPHIM, the synthes have adopted their titles inspired by the similar angelic hierarchy.

The Authority: God. The GRIGORI Program.
The Dominion: IV, the first synthe and sole holder of this title. As such, this makes IV the supreme ruler of Concordia. Like Rey, she possesses several synthetic bodies and can jump into any one thanks to the GRIGORI.
The Archein: The militant structure of the synthes, which protects their city and way of life. They infiltrate humans by pretending to be them, as well as tormenting them by wearing the faces of their dead.
The Scribes: The scientists who research humans and try to help the synthes become more like them. Scribes are also sent into human society, and tend to partake in Sojourns.
The Automatons: The worker bees of the synthes. They are sola, as they possess no cognizance.
The Sentries: Guards that are equipped for domestic combat within the walls of Concordia and the Sky Prison.

IV's presence of occupying a vessel can be noted with her orange eyes.

A synthetic is determined by the color of their eyes:

Regardless of their race, a synthe will have supernova eyes (mixture of colors varies).
One marked as an anda, once defected, will have eyes turned cloudy silver, with perpetual miosis of the pupils.
The sola's eyes are blank white with no iris.

SKY PRISON

The sky prison is located 8.5 miles (45,000 feet) above Concordia. It is a facility housing mostly human prisoners (as well as andas who disagree with the treatment of humans), which are utilized for studies as the synthes are trying to learn not only how to become human, but to be more than human.

Human prisoners are known as "numbers". They are assigned by numbers depending on their cell and floor placement, and their classification. It is not revealed to numbers what their classifications mean.

Those who are classified as andas are sent to the sky prison to undergo a series of personality treatments (their classification is "A"). Due to the synthe philosophies of retaining their personal agencies, it is outlawed to "rewrite" their personality to what's more convenient to them. Instead, an anda is forced to partake in a work program. Once they have been "properly rehabilitated", they are safe to return to the city.

Prison Administration: Where the Dominion, IV, works. No one else goes up there but her. There are several offices and terminals where she has backups of her own self. Oftentimes she doesn't even need to be in the prison physically. Several different vessels have been made for her to download into, and are stored in the administration offices.

Prison Cell Blocks: The prison sections are made up of thirty stories with one hundred cells on each section, and remains airborne using hover technology that was created by synthetic scientists. This tech they specifically call "floats".

As mentioned earlier, prisoners are called "numbers". With this in mind, a prisoner/number's ID would look something like this: "P11.011"

Orion Gideon: X98.030
Tejinder Wakeman: X99.030
Faye Elms: S21.021
Victoria Nguyen: V09.008
Cyra Huxley: S21.022

Out of 30 stories, each cell block contains at least 3 stories worth of 80 cells.

A standard ten-by-ten foot prison cell.

M: Mellona, used for labor. (1-5) 150 cells on each floor.
V: Volatile, used for torture. (6-10) 100 cells on each floor.
P: Psykhe, subjects driven insane. (11-15) 80 cells on each floor.
T: Taciturn, willing subjects. (16-20) 80 cells on each floor.
S: Specimen, used for experiments. (21-26) 50 cells on each floor.
X: An unknown classification, used for aberrant type of prisoners. (27-30) 30 cells on each floor.

X cell block is unique, in that it is used to store aberrant prisoners.
Loading Bay: Words go here

Laboratories: An isolated location east of the Service Core. This is where prisoners are sent to be experimented on.

The way leading into the laboratories.

Laboratory for human experimentation.
Observation Post: Words go here

Pods: The main mode of transport throughout the prison.

Transport pods are found in the main section of the prison.
Armored, medical, and fire pods are located in every monorail line throughout the prison.
The heavy lift pod is found only between the hangar and screening checkpoint.

Hangar: Where shuttles and other aircrafts are docked.

An example of an aerant aircraft and its interior.
Gardens and Waterway: Agricultural unit what provides food for the human prisoners. Strictly vegetarian diets (meat is a commodity served only to model prisoners).

The waterway runs throughout the prison (some of the tunnels run underneath certain cells within the prison itself).

Once every 24-hours, the waterways will run a self-cleaning protocol that washes out the tunnels before resupplying the water system.

One of the many agricultural units.