Lore
Dwellers
The lower-class inhabitants of The Divided City — those who live on the ground, in the Dwelling, under the toxic air.
Dweller is the colloquial name given to the lower-class inhabitants of The Divided City of Kastkardia — specifically those who live in the Dwelling.
The Dwelling is the outside, ground-level environment of the city: the streets beneath the towers, exposed to the Realm's toxic air. Dwellers live under constant threat of the pollution bringing in deadly sickness, scraping to get by on what the High Risers above them cast off. Where the Rises are comfortable, sealed, and closely attended to by the government, the Dwelling is largely neglected — its districts placed under appointed authorities but rarely governed in any meaningful way from above.
The Dwelling is split into numerous districts, generally centred around the elevators that connect the ground to the Rises. Each answers to an appointed authority, but in practice the government's neglect leaves much of the day-to-day to whoever can hold it: criminal organisations compete for territory in the gaps. Though there are no formal travel restrictions between districts, Dwellers rarely leave their own unless they have reason to — the high rates of criminal activity make outsiders unwelcome in many parts of the city.
"If the Dwelling is the pit of Kastkardia, then the Dwellers must be the scum at the bottom. I can't believe that filth like that is still taking all our hard-earned resources." — Lady Grace Drellman III
