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
- The Skyline Level – Unreachable high-altitude domains and elite platforms
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