Neo-Europa

Neo-Europa is a vast, vertically stratified mega-metropolis built atop the ruins of old Brussels. It serves as the cultural, political, and technological heart of post-fracture Europe in the year 2084. Dominated by seven ancient corporate dynasties, governed by the enigmatic Council of Nobles, and immersed in a layered digital reality called Cypherspace, Neo-Europa blends medieval legacy with cybernetic modernity.

Overview

Status: Sovereign megacity-state
Population Estimate: ~96 million
Core Language Base: Polyglot (Dutch, French, English, and data-pidgins)
Motto: Old Thrones, New Circuits
Governance: Council of Nobles (composed of the Seven Families)
Currency: Bio-encoded Credit (bCred)
Network Infrastructure: Maintained by Sleus Dynatek
Cyberspace Architecture: Cypherspace (Veil, Depths, and Kanturas layers)

Geography & Structure

Neo-Europa is organized in concentric and vertical zones that reflect class, function, and corporate influence:

The Gilded Core

Fortified home of the nobility and megacorp HQs.

Middle Ring

Vast arcology belt housing the Ladder Class and corporate middle class.

Smart Slums

Chaotic lower districts filled with neon markets, Butcher Shops, and resistance cells.

Substructures

Forgotten depths (e.g. Substructure-1) inhabited by Nulls, gangs, and rogue AIs.

History

Neo-Europa rose after the Climate Exodus and the Great Fragmentation War. As traditional European nation-states dissolved, fortified enclaves emerged—of which Neo-Europa was the most successful. The medieval Seven Families of Brussels evolved into ruling megacorporations, fusing aristocracy with algorithmic power.

Government

The city is ruled by the Council of Nobles, composed of one representative from each of the Seven Families:

Serhugh Group – Infrastructure and vertical architecture
Codenberg Corp – Cyber-medical technologies
Sleus Dynatek – Digital networks and surveillance
Swert Systems – Cybersecurity and digital defense
Stenweg Cyber – Entertainment and emotional manipulation
Serolov Conglomerate – Construction and enforcement
Rodenbex Industries – Hospitality and information gathering

Culture & Society

Neo-Europa is defined by a strict socio-digital hierarchy:

The Ladder Points system governs status and privilege
CivSpheres function as branded, semi-autonomous neighborhoods
Citizens are ranked by behavior, compliance, and corporate loyalty
Guilds allow limited mobility for the Ladder Class
Nulls—those without access to Cypherspace—exist on the fringes

Technology

Most citizens interface via the Spinal Gate implant
High-tier users employ Neural Mirrors for elite cyberspace access
Cypherspace spans the social Veil, raw Depths, and hobbyist layer Kanturas
Rogue technologies and AI entities manifest through Chapel Nodes and forbidden Depth rituals

Resistance Movements

Underground factions challenge the rule of the Council:

Royalists – Call for a symbolic monarchy rooted in bloodline and memory
Republicans – Demand horizontal democracy and the end of corporate governance
Numerous gangs, Depth Witches, and rogue hackers operate in contested zones

Known Sectors & Landmarks

SerHugh Spire – Tallest tower in Neo-Europa, home to the Serhugh family
The Bleeding Rose – A mind-reading Butcher Shop that accepts flesh as currency
BloodReign Arena – A Veil-based gladiatorial realm of stylized digital combat
Driftroot – Nomadic tribe surviving the wastelands using Solshades
Substructure-1 – A decayed district home to Null enclaves and ancient data ruins