The Fleshscape Tendril that was smuggled into the Gourd by members of the terrorist organization identified as the “Blue Birth” a fringe group who espouses deeply troubling misanthropic beliefs and anti-corporate and governmental ideas. Although the Ministry had been keeping an eye out on their activities, even receiving support from American Intelligence Agencies, as the “Blue Birth” organization had originated in the continental United States, the group had still managed to import a dormant tendril from the Fleshscape, a biological mega structure found within the Indian Sub-Continant.

The Gourd

The Gourd was a large hollow pocket that had become an overcrowded and packed favela, an intricate network of organically built homes constructed with salvaged materials and within the infrastructure of the Floating City. Known as the Free City within the maintenance level between The Floating City of Atlantropa and the Gulch below. It was always considered a place where the people of the Gulch could live free from the indentured servitude of the Corporations and the criminal extortions of the Syndicates. During the Gulch War with the Mortali Knights countless thousands fled to the Gourd as the war raged on. It is unknown as to exactly how, but a dormant tendril found its way into the Gourd, yet speculation of a terrorist plot as the main culprit of the infection is gaining traction.

Initial reports of an outbreak of a disease were noted by the Humanitarian Aid Organization, a group funded by the Blackslate Corporation, which focuses on providing medical aid and essentials to the impoverished areas of not just the Floating City, but also the Gourd, the Outer Ring, and the Gulch. Although flagged as concerning, not much was able to be done, as the Gourd does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Government of Atlantropa, the Corporations, or the Ministry. This initial outbreak of Stratos Fever was noted a month prior to the catastrophic events that led to the rapid spread of the Fleshscape Tendril across the Gourd. According to reports from the HAO, cases of disappearances, violence, and sudden deaths began to ramp up leading to the mass outbreak of the hostile biological organism. 

The Reap With is Sowed

August 1st 1926

It has been approximately 2 weeks since the rapid outbreak of the Stratoforms across the Gourd, the initial infection however is speculated to have begun approximately a month prior. The Ministry of Internal Affairs with assistance of the Blackslate Corporation and Minerva Health Care Corporation, have launched a joint mission to secure the access points to the City above and the Gulch Below. The initial wave of refugees from the Gourd have been quarantined and kept secure in several camps across the Maintenance Network, run by Blackslate and Minerva. Estimates using the census information of the HAO are bleak, as approximately 93% of the estimated total population of the Gourd, which is thought to be in the hundreds of thousands, has been lost. Most of the fatalities came from the explosive outbreak of the Stratoforms, rather than the initial disease phase. It is estimated furthermore that there is still a small number of survivors within the infected area.

The leader of the Lucky Seven office, a man that has worn many hats throughout his career, from street urchin, a wannabe detective, the personal body guard of the Minerva CEO, a fixer, a package courier,a federal agent, an agent of the ministry, and finally back to being a fixer. Yet throughout all of his time he has always been driven to try and save people, that is what led him to wanting to become a fixer, someone that puts down monsters. This altruism has gained him many friends, but it also led to the bankruptcy of his office. If it wasn't for the help of his wife Genevieve and her encouragement to pursue his passion again, he likely wouldn't have had the means to open the office and gain a license again.

Although he is fully aware of the dangers he is going to face in the Gourd, he willingly steps up to dive into it, as the danger it presents to the city is too large to not act upon, as selfishly, it is also a danger to Genevieve and their daughter Theresa. Equipped with a cutting edge Minerva EVO Suit, he is dispatched with a mission to find the source of the Tendril, locate any survivors, and if possible open the partially open “Janus” Gates, massive openings that can allow the salinated sea water into the Gourd. 

The Warden, charged with leading the Ministry's armed forces in defense of Atlantropa and its interests from the threats within and outside of its borders Blackwater is known for being a cold and cynical man amongst the already detached figures within the Ministry, he attempts to project the power and dignity of that the City was meant to have. Yet over the centuries this splendor has been stained, tarnished, and clouded as the world beyond the Atlantic Ocean began to rapidly industrialize, the Americans rose from their Layered shelters further breaking the balance and the Atlantropean hegemony. He looks at the absent leadership of Elijah, the Prime Minister, the passive ways of Minister Mordecai the spokesman Elijah, it disgusts him. He believes himself to be the only one capable of taking on the burden of leading the City to a future free from the strings of outside actors. 

Born stricken by the terminal disease known as Cognitive Consumption, a condition in which the body is afflicted by an over production of Cognition which slowly burns the extremities of an afflicted individual, Lucretia was not expected to survive past ten years of age due to this condition. Yet she would not die, as she would receive the radical treatment known as the MARs Treatment, which gave her a second chance at life. She would undergo a total Cerebral Spinal Transplant into an American made Civilian Core, a perfect synthetic body, a treatment so expensive that only the elites of the Corporations or the Ministry can bankroll without a life long debt.

Her adoptive father Jonah Blackwell in his humble role as a Ministry worker has done everything to give her a good life, even though she is a slightly rebellious young woman, one that is associated with the activist WISH13 group, she truly sees him as the world's best dad.

Stratoforms

The name given to the creature produced by the Fleshscape, the name was given to them by the Americans once they were able to correlate the Fleshscape with archival reports held by ARKO (The American Record Keeping Office) of similar incidents related to a condition known as the Stratos Fever. Stratoforms are not undead creatures, despite their ghastly appearances and contorted forms, they are wholly living creatures that are birthed from the Fleshscape. With specific strains being created in response to outside stimulus, such as more predatory creatures in response to hostile actions.