Nightlands

The Nightlands is a harsh and authoritarian pseudo-state ruled by nightlings.

Tyranny is commonplace in the Nightlands, so is violence and abuse. Arbitrary vigilantism is its system of justice, with anyone able to enforce their own vision of what is right for the nation as long as they have the power to make it reality.

The hierarchy in the nation is chaotic, without overseer intervention, assassinations and skirmishes between warlords (kratocrats), and members of the government are frequent, often to prove their merit and loyalty. Even the lowest in the hierarchy are in constant competition for power, with the civilian population actively taking part in gangs, where entire communities are ruled by the most powerful and patriotic kratocrats, who are often approached as representatives and treated as governors of their areas by official administrators loyal to the Overseers.

The Overseers decide everything in their respective territories and usually have the power to enforce it, and should defiance pop up, the other Overseers are quick to offer their support to crush disloyalty.

Nightlands' society is soulless and dull. They lack cultural traditions or history, and are patriotic out of simple tribal instinct. Creativity and art is nonexistent, due to the population's disdain to anything that doesn't benefit the country.

History

Origin

The nightlings are humans modified into superhumans by Chromotech, a genetic modification research and technology corporation. The nightlings rebelled against Chromotech under the leadership of a nightling now known as Overseer <1>.

Overseer <1> with the help of other nightling individuals created the nightlands. The best of the best nightlings joined <1>'s government as Overseers, who stood with him as equals with the same authority.

Nightling

Not actually a separate species. Nightlings are created when a human is merged with Nightwater using a machine. The ritual is costly, and takes time, but afterwards will create a nightling.

They have pitch black flesh and eyes, standing like a shadow with no easy way of observing facial features. Since becoming a nightling, they have gained varying increases in physical strength and abilities. Some are able to carry around 10x more than when they were human, however they tend to get rarer and rarer the more powerful they are. Their increase in strength is relative to their nutritional requirements, with the strongest nightlings becoming cursed with endless hunger.

They feel great discomfort when any part of their body is exposed under light. For as long as they are exposed under any light source, they cannot heal any wounds, and many of their bodily functions will be weakened, such as their ability to sweat, salivate, tear up, and reproduce (Though they lack a sex drive.)

Nightlings behave significantly different from the average human. They often hold extreme opinions and political positions, even at stable and peaceful times, and are more likely to trust in hardline and extreme methods. They have a natural urge to organize other nightlings, often forming groups, communities, and gangs, just for the sake of it. They are quick to fanaticize, and unless they are convinced by a show of strength or an ideological goal, they will rapidly drift towards radical ideologies.

Government

Overseer <1> "The Founder"

- He is known for leading the revolution that freed his people from Chromotech, after which, he descended into hedonism and inactivity. Considered worthless, he was slain by Overseer <6>.

Overseer <2> "The Benevolent"

- An industrious Overseer, well liked by his followers, and as empathetic a nightling can be. He leads the bureaucracy of the nation, and makes sure everything goes smoothly. Memories of when he was human and his former faith makes him sympathetic towards Christianity.

Overseer <3> "The Silent King"

- Paranoid and cruel, feared by nightlings despite how little is known of him. He took it upon himself the careful art of human ranching. His hands off approach in most things makes him likeable to nightlings who would like autonomy from the Overseers.

Overseer <4> "The Sentinel"

- Careful and efficient. He watches over all things in the state, and diligently works to know movement and action within the country. To him, order is paramount to all, and his loyal enforcers will stop at nothing to perform his edicts.

Overseer <5> "The Tyrant"

- Obsessed with power, he is Kratocracy incarnate. Loved by no one, feared by all, yet all that matters to him is for nightlings, the strong, to rule the universe.

Overseer <6> "The Grandmaster"

- Known for his strength, a radical leader with a pragmatic mind. He serves the country to protect it from foreign invaders. Only when the state dominates all, and all enemies snuffed, will he be satisfied.

Overseer <7> "The Inventor"

- A child's mind trapped in a nightling's body. Sometimes naive, sometimes not. Always standing on the edge, yet never loses his sanity. Once a broken mind saved by <1>. He devotes himself to achieve his savior's dreams, and to achieve universal paradise.

Organizations

Pale Knights - Ruled by Overseer <6>, a professional infantry force specialized in underground and urban engagements.

Dusk Dames - Formerly loyalist militia that helped the overseers during the Calignist Purge. A democratic paramilitary organization loyal to Overseer <1>'s Utopian cause.

Sentinels - Ruled by Overseer <4>, the police force of the Nightlands whose main purpose is to protect the power of the overseers and enforce stability.

Calignists - Wiped out. Was a rapidly growing cult that worshipped an inconsistently defined "Golden Eye" which supposedly doing so would bring about <1>'s Utopia. Hated by all the Overseers but <1> due to their chaotic nature that often found itself at odds with nightling law.