ORIGINAL IMAGE : PIXIV ID 305841
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ORIGINAL IMAGE : PIXIV ID 305841
HALCYON
This post contains information relevant to Halcyon.
Q: WHERE IS HALCYON LOCATED?
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Ha, nice try!
Q: WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT IS HALCYON LOCATED IN?
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Halcyon's environment is completely artificial! The weather is generated by synergists in the Fujimoto-ward (and a seven-day forecast can be found on the HNC). On average, Halcyon's weather can be described as pleasant and enjoyable.
Halcyon's terrain was designed by its founders. Everything from the mountain ranges bordering the Nejem-ward to the rivers and streams cutting through Song-ward were designed and crafted by Halcyon's founders.
Q: HOW DOES HALCYON REMAIN HIDDEN?
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Halcyon is protected by powerful illusions.
The illusions are generated, in part, by Aethra synergists. Aethra synergists feed their illusions into a machine that greatly increases the illusion's strength and potency. These illusions also disable heat-sensors and all other forms of detection from the outside world.
Q: CAN PEOPLE VISIT HALCYON?
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Halcyon does not cater to tourism.
Q: CAN PEOPLE LEAVE HALCYON?
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Synergists and their families are allowed to leave Halcyon.
However, the process of moving is more complicated than simply packing away the furniture and then having it shipped to X destination. In order to leave, applicants must file an "Intent for Relocation" and then wait for it to be processed. After it has been processed, three agents escort the applicants away from Halcyon.
NOTE: The agents are always masked and their voices are purposefully distorted. It is not sure which department within Sidereus is responsible for relocation, but it is most likely a department connected to the Discovery Division.
Q: WHO IS PERMITTED TO LIVE IN HALCYON?
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Short answer: Synergists.
Typically, all synergists are welcomed to take up residence within Halcyon. Synergists re-entering (or just learning of) Halcyon are encouraged to bring their immediate family with them—even if no one else in the family exhibits any synergist energy.
"Discovered" synergists are often asked if they would like to have their caretakers or parents or siblings relocated to Halcyon. Housing is provided by the government (usually a modest apartment in the Falana-ward) and, until the "discovered" synergist graduates from Sidereus, the government pays for the family's livelihood (the stipend is nothing to brag about, but it is enough to survive from day-to-day).
NOTE: Synergists branded as criminals are imprisoned within Halcyon in a special facility located in a distant, uninhabited section of Halcyon. It's specific location is known only to Halcyon superiors and selected agents.
Q: IF PEOPLE CAN'T FREELY LEAVE/ENTER HALCYON, WHAT IS THE PROCESS LIKE?
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Potato sacks over the head.
I'm only half-joking. The process of leaving (or entering) Halcyon is a very complicated, very procedural event. After authorization has been granted (be it for relocation or a temporary trip to Paris), three agents from the Discovery Division (always masked—both face and voice) will accompany the noted people out of Halcyon.
All noted persons will be brought to the DiD HQ in Sidereus and then systematically blindfolded and suited up in a special outfit that prevents the senses from interacting with the environment. After that... it's a secret. When the suit is removed and the blindfolds are undone, the people in question are already on the soil of their destination (airport, if there is one).
For people entering Halcyon, the same process is repeated except instead of heading to the DiD HQ, the individuals meet with the agents at a pre-determined location (usually an airport) and are suited up, blindfolded, and brought back into Halcyon.
NOTE: Discovered synergists are usually greeted by a scout (another agent of the DiD, but he or she is not privy to the location of Halcyon) and three DiD agents (masked). The scout explains what is happening and all the necessary aspects.
Q: WHY DOES HALCYON "DISCRIMINATE" AGAINST NON-SYNERGISTS?
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Halcyon was designed for the safety of synergists and their loved ones.
In order to live in Halcyon, synergist energy is required (certain facilities are activated by synergist energy). Non-synergists living within Halcyon (usually the family members of discovered synergists) are given a special bracelet that allows them to access things such as the gravity rails.
Moreover, there are limited job opportunities for non-synergists within Halcyon. Typically, when a family is brought into Halcyon, they must give up their jobs and much of their lives in the outside world.
HALCYON (WARDS)
This post contains information relevant to the wards of Halcyon.
Q: WHAT ARE "WARDS?"
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"Wards" can be thought of as cities, if it makes for less confusions.
Q: WHAT ARE THE SEVEN WARDS?
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De Luca Ward: This is the "capital" of Halcyon and is where Sidereus is located. Much of De Luca is occupied by Sidereus and government buildings, leaving little room for other things. While there are residential sections (mostly for the government officials and elites) and localized shopping districts (groceries, fashion, etc), De Luca is best known as government territory.
Nejem Ward: Found on the north-eastern section of Halcyon, Nejem is a quiet suburb of white-picket fence homes, trimmed lawns, and perfect families. Those who live in Nejem are traditionally considered "legacies"—their roots can be traced back to the first few generations of synergists.
Adler Ward: This is the entertainment central of Halcyon. Clubs, restaurants, malls, and concert venues are all located here. It is close to De Luca (fifteen-minute by gravity-rail) and is a popular destination for Sidereus students during the weekends. As with all wards, Adler also has spaces designated as "residential," but instead of spacious homes and lawns, all residents of Adler live in apartments or, oddly enough, hotels.
Song Ward: Modeled after the fabled resorts of the Japanese (it is said that, in the past, Japanese hot springs were phenomenally relaxing and the air was crisper than fresh), Song is filled with quiet gurgling streams, public baths (hot springs some times included), and delicious food from South-East Asia. The homes in Song are a mix of low-rising apartments and homes.
Falana Ward: As wards go, Falana is nothing too extravagant or busy. There is a balance of activities and of residents. Most "discovered" synergists tend to live here (as the government frequently sets up housing in the Falana Ward).
Fujimoto Ward: Of the seven wards, Fujimoto is the only ward without residents or entertainment outlets. Occupied by research facilities, Fujimoto is reserved for labs and official business. Some labs are looking into medicinal advancements, but many more are geared to the maintenance of Halcyon (e.g. weather-controls, environment-controls, etc).
Guiles Ward: Much like Falana, Guiles is a harmonious balance of residents and events. There are family-run restaurants. There are small theaters. There is a beach (the only beach in all of Halcyon. It is, however, artificial). And there are local festivals—as there are in all wards, minus Fujimoto.
SIDEREUS
This post contains information relevant to Sidereus.
Q: WHERE IS SIDEREUS LOCATED?
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Sidereus is located in the heart of the De Luca-ward.
Q: IS SIDEREUS AN ACADEMIA INSTITUTION OR A MILITARY FACILITY?
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Both.
In the beginning, Sidereus existed as an arm of the defense initiative. It was designed with only one purpose: To protect Halcyon. But over the years, Sidereus expanded and the obsession over defense whittled away. Today, Sidereus's academic pursuits are both impressive and extensive.
Q: IS SIDEREUS THE ONLY SCHOOL IN HALCYON?
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Yes.
Sidereus is the only educational institution within Halcyon. Sidereus covers primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. Students who choose (and then qualify) to pursue further education are given the opportunity to do so. Conversely, not all students elect to take post-secondary courses (students in set vocational tracks are removed from the general student population during secondary education).
Q: HOW IS SIDEREUS DIVIDED/ORGANIZED?
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Reference (To be uploaded).
Sidereus, like Halcyon, is divided by districts. There are seven total districts and each district serves a different purpose.
NOTE: The De Luca District is reserved for students who elect to (and qualify for) joining the Sidereus Angency. The dorms in De Luca District house all potential agents (and students room four to a room instead of the traditional two). Students continue to live in the dorms until they "graduate." Post-graduation (and after the one-year evaluation period), students have the option to live off-campus, but most agents (new and old) apply for on-campus housing (established agents live in a different section of the De Luca District) because it is definitively more convenient to live on campus than to live off of it.
To find out more information concerning the other districts, please click here. (To be uploaded)
Q: WHAT DOES THE SIDEREUS AGENCY DO?
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Click here for further information.
In short, the Sidereus Agency is responsible for the safety of Halcyon. Everything the agents are assigned to do are done in the name of solidifying Halcyon's position in the world (thus making it a legitimate state) and to further the vision of the Great Seven (preserving peace and harmony throughout the known world).
Q: IS THE SIDEREUS AGENCY (SA) THE ONLY "AGENCY" WITHIN SIDEREUS?
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No.
The Sidereus Agency (SA) is only one of several agencies located on campus. For example, the Discovery Division (DiD) is responsible for locating new synergists and protecting the location of Halcyon.
SIDEREUS AGENCY
This post contains information relevant to the Sidereus Agency.
Q: SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SIDEREUS AGENCY?
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The Sidereus Agency handles all the (military) tactical issues of Halcyon. It is responsible for maintaining Halcyon's defenses and aiding Halcyon in all of its global ventures.
In other words, the SA exist to be the bite behind Halcyon's bark.
Q: WHERE IS THE SIDEREUS AGENCY LOCATED?
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In the De Luca District of Sidereus.
Q: HOW BIG IS THE AGENCY?
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In terms of its physical size, the agency occupies a fair amount of space within the De Luca District (arguably more than half of the district is agency-related buildings). In respects to its reputation and force-size, the SA is a deeply respected organization within Halcyon. However, the agency is only a few hundred strong (roughly 500 agents) as the entrance exams and qualifiers are far from lenient.
Q: DO AGENTS STILL LIVE ON CAMPUS?
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Agents have the option to live on campus (it's cheaper and it's, usually, more convenient).
If an agent chooses to live on-campus (a popular decision from most new agents and lower-ranking agents), they are relocated from their student dorms and moved into agent residency. Agent residency is still located within the De Luca District.
Higher-ranking agents (Rank A and Rank S) have private, individual rooms. Each floor has roughly ten rooms and one communal showering space. Agents can request a room with a private showering space (no bath), but there is a long waiting list for those rooms. Averagely-ranked agents (Rank B) live in a different dorm building. They live two to a room and do not have access to private showering space. Each floor has ten rooms and one communal shower and lounge. Some times, if lucky, an agent may have a room all to him or herself. Rank B-3 agents can petition to have their own room. Rank-C agents live in a building that is the same as their dorm-life (four to a room, communal showers, etc).
Newly graduated agents (still undergoing the one-year evaluation) are put up in the dorms for the Rank-C agents.
Agents who live on-campus have complimentary meals (as they can access the dining commons), however the DC is not always open (it is open 0600-0900, 1100-1300, 1700-2000, and 2200-2300). Additionally, agents do not live by the same rules as students. They can leave campus during the weekdays. Furthermore, entrance into any of the dorm requires a keycard (the agent's ID). Dorms are restricted to only people with the appropriate access.
If an agent lives off-campus, he or she can live in any of the wards he or she chooses, provided he or she can afford the housing. Each of the ward has a different price-range (if you would like to know the price ranges, please ask in the OOC).
Q: WHAT PREREQUISITES ARE THERE TO BECOMING AN AGENT?
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Students interested in becoming an agent should apply for the SA-track, ideally, before level 10. While the agency will accept students past level 10, it is unadvised to delay the decision.
In order to qualify as an applicant for the SA-track, students must have maintained a mark average of eighty-percent and a score of proficient (or higher) in combat training. If a student fulfills the quality requirements, they are then screened for any possible behavioral negativities (e.g. psychopathy). Students turned down due to their personality tests are flagged in the system.
If the student clears the initial hurdles, he or she will spend the next four years of his or her life preparing to be a field agent. Instead of taking general science courses or advanced mathematics, agent-to-bes spend their time refining their combat senses, their degree control, and their tactical assessment. Language courses are advised, but not required. If, after four years, the student has completed his or her course-track, he or she can file for graduation.
Filing for graduation is different for the SA-track then all other tracks offered within Sidereus. Instead of tending to more paperwork, students part of the SA-track will meet with an officer and spend the next week undergoing a "graduation test." The test varies from person to person, but will always test for: strategic comprehension, combat techniques, and resourcefulness. If a student passes, he or she will be marked for graduation. If a student fails, he or she will have the choice to try again next year (and take more classes to make up for their shortcomings) or switch to a different profession (either within the Sidereus Agency or outside of it).
Note: For reasons (not entirely unrelated to the system), the agency is a primarily male-dominated institution. It is roughly 4:1 ration of men to women.
Q: IF A STUDENT CANNOT PASS THE GRADUATION TEST, WHAT CAN HE OR SHE DO?
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Students who fail the graduation test can either try again next year (the age cut-off is thirty) or work in any number of office-positions within the agency (e.g. desk work).
Q: IS THE DISCOVERY DIVISION PART OF THE SIDEREUS AGENCY?
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No.
Q: DO SIDEREUS AGENTS KNOW THE LOCATION OF HALCYON?
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No. The only people who know such sensitive information is the Chancellor of Sidereus and the agents of the Discovery Division.
Q: HOW DO AGENTS IMPROVE RANKS?
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Agents can advance their ranks by improving on their skills and taking on more assignments. Not all assignments come from the top (only A-Rank and S-Rank assignments are personally assigned) and many of the assignments are listed on a free-for-all board (the SAF), which all agents can access.
Some assignments may be rank-restricted (only individuals of a certain rank can clear those assignments), but, generally speaking, if a C-Rank agent wants to advance into the next bracket (B), he or she should complete as many C-3 Ranked/B-1 Ranked assignments as possible.
However, please note that failing an assignment can result in de-ranking. Additionally, ranks can decay over time if an agent is inactive for an extended period of time for reasons other than medical.
Lastly, the only way to advance to the A or S bracket is through approval from the top. Agents listed with an A or S-Rank are selected for reasons beyond mission-crunching.
Q: WHAT IS THE (RANK) DEMOGRAPHIC OF SA?
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Roughly 70% of all SA agents are somewhere within the B-Bracket. 20% of all SA agents are somewhere within the C-Bracket. And, lastly, only 10% of all SA agents are A-Ranked and higher.
For reference, the agency only has about 500 active field agents, which means (given the numbers above), 350 agents are B-ranked, 100 agents are C-ranked, and only 50 agents are A-ranked or higher.
Q: FOR SH*TS AND GIGGLES, WHAT IS THE PAY LIKE?
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An agent's salary varies, but are determined by several factors: rank, number of missions completed, and difficulty of missions.
The salary of an agent in Bracket C earns 90,000Di - 120,000Di (~$45,000 - $60,000) a year.
The salary of an agent in Bracket B earns 140,000Di - 200,000Di (~$70,000 - $100,000) a year.
The salary of an agent in Bracket A earns 500,000Di - 1,000,000Di (~$250,000 - $500,000) a year.
The salary of an agent in Bracket S earns 2,000,000Di and more (~$1,000,000+) a year.
In addition to a regular pay check, all agents are fully insured for their health and, after thirty-years of service, the agents may retire with a very generous pension—regardless of rank. Agents who suffer an irreversible occupational hazard are also allowed to retire with a full pension—no matter the age. If an agent is married and killed in the line of duty, the agency gifts the deceased agent's pension to his or her spouse.*
*Some conditions do exist, but, for our purposes, this isn't really all that important.
SYNERGISTS
This post contains information relevant to synergists.
Q: SINCE THE END OF THE WAR, HOW IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SYNERGISTS AND NON-SYNERGISTS?
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As with all prejudices in the world, law doesn't suddenly or magically wipe them from existence. Despite the United Nation's declaration, people continued to be people.
Immediately following the war, synergists around the world were the target of their neighbors' resentment, hatred, and blame. They were attacked in their homes, assaulted on the streets, and law enforcement rarely, if ever, lifted a finger to help.
But that was a different time and a different world.
Today, synergists no longer need to fear passing strangers. In fact, many synergists, after graduating from Sidereus, choose to live out the rest of their lives as "normal" citizens. They take up nine-to-five jobs, water their potted plants, and go drinking with their neighbors at the local pub.
In the fifty-seventh century, the world has finally opened its door to synergists.
NOTE: As with all things in life, not everyone is equally kind to or welcoming of synergists. There are many communities across the world that still regard synergists with disdain.
Q: ARE SYNERGISTS REQUIRED TO LIVE IN HALCYON?
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Synergists are not required to live in Halcyon, but most, out of convenience or love, stay in Halcyon after graduation.
Q: ARE THERE ANY PHYSICAL DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN SYNERGISTS AND NON-SYNERGISTS?
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Synergists, commonly, have brightly colored eyes. Nearly two-thirds of synergists residing within Halcyon have eyes that are either too pigmented or "glows." This, however, is not a guarantee.
DISCOVERY DIVISION
This post contains information relevant to the Discovery Division.
Q: WHERE IS THE DISCOVERY DIVISION?
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The Discovery Division is located within the De Luca District of Sidereus, but access to the buildings are restricted. Only authorized personnel (or those accompanied by authorized personnel) are allowed access.
Q: WHAT DOES THE DISCOVERY DIVISION DO?
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The Discovery Division (DiD) is responsible for maintaining the secrecy of Halcyon and locating new synergists around the world.
Q: ARE DiD AGENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCOMPANYING PEOPLE WHO ENTER/LEAVE HALCYON?
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Yes.
DiD agents help families relocate from Halcyon or assist families in taking vacations outside of Halcyon. They also work in three-man cells and their identities are kept completely secret (DiD agents wear Aethra-infused masks and utilize voice-distortion machines).
Q: HOW DOES THE DiD "DISCOVER" NEW SYNERGISTS?
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The process is a trade-secret known only to the agents working directly with this aspect of the DiD.
Q: HOW DO YOU BECOME A DiD AGENT?
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There is no application available. All DiD agents are hand-selected—even scouts.
Q: WHY ARE DiD AGENTS' IDENTITIES KEPT SECRET?
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In order to protect the location of Halcyon, field-DiD agents are unknown (to prevent kidnapping of DiD agents and the likes). DiD agents are not listed as DiD agents, but given mundane, everyday jobs or careers. The Identity List is one of Halcyon's best-kept secrets.
However, not all DiD agents are masked or unknown. Scouts, who also work for the DiD, keep normal hours and normal secrecy-levels. They do not know the identities of the field-DiD agents and do not work in the same department as them (aside from meeting discovered synergists).