Svulst

 
Welcome to Solaris, traveller! This is a slower-than-light science fantasy set in our own solar system.
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Svulst is one of the largest cities of Saturn, and stretches from the pits of the planet to far above the clouds. Rather than a city of skyscrapers, Svulst is a city built on top of a city, built on top of another. Each growth spurt has been funded and led by Merchant Princes hoping to guide the city towards their own ends by their own means.   Public elevators and gondolas take people between layers. The airspace is always full of hoverbikes and personal crafts zipping up and down between the buildings at breakneck speeds. Parks and plazas perch upon platforms, and observation decks and balconies alike are used as landing pads.

Firmament

The sun never reaches the Firmament, the ground-level districts of Svulst. Here, the city is half ancient ruins, half new construction. Sculptures of forgotten gods are lit by neon laser shows, and cult classic clubs sit next to cultist shrines.   The most exclusive events are held in the subterranean depths of the ruins, invitation only. Even many locals shun the subterranean layers, and rumour is that the worst of the worst hide out there in the dark. Tourists who dare step foot down below ground are, at best, hazed and let go with a warning.   The Firmament is split between many minor Merchant Princes, and leadership is always changing hands, to the extent that no-one takes note of who, what and where anymore. It's a place where aspiring Princes can cut their teeth, and have their early follies go under the radar, provided they survive the ordeal.

Capstone Pillars

As Svulst continued to grow, the Firmament quaked below it. After the collapse of a megablock, several Princes pooled money together to buil pillars. These pillars protected the Firmament and prevented new construction from crumbling.   Many "floors" were built between these pillars which eventually grew into the industrial layer it is today. Workshops and factories nestle into a jungle of manufacturing with big wholesale markets by the access points. The grey market flourishes under the counters, or tucked away in alleyways and backrooms.

Upper Reaches

The top of the city in the early 219900's was Belvedere. Though it has been built over, it remains a marvel of glasswork and gardening. Steam-powered elevators serve as public access between the botanical gardens, orangeries, and sun rooms. As natural light grew scarcer due to upper layers, artificial light has become increasingly widespread. The Belvedere was built by Merchant Prince Sisto Quo, and has remained under the control of the family ever since.   Since then, Svulst has been capped by the brutalist Pinnacles and again by the Cloudwalks, infamous for its numerous (now dry) water features, false waterfalls and all the issues that trickled downstream. As the buildings stretch far past the clouds, oxygen bars become plentiful, and canned air is sold in each cornershop. Nasal cannulas and other breathing sets are a fashion statement and class marker on Saturn, often seen even in the lower levels of Svulst.   Currently the peaks are the domain of Merchant Prince Divus-Piceni, an archipelago of luxury penthouses under pressurized glass. Each peak is an isolated island with all the amenities one could want, without any of the inconvenience of living staff. Tourists, too, can enjoy the amenities provided by the all-robotic staff at the Panorama hotel and spa.

Related Articles

Saturn
Locations Svulst · Rhea ( Heller Cave Paintings )
Characters Antonee Benoit · Gatt Divus-Piceni · Lexi Lazarus
Political Rulers ( Merchant Princes )
Society Humanoids ( Human ) · Traditions ( Universal New Years Eve ) · Languages ( Indo )
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Comments

Author's Notes

This is one of those articles where once I started writing, I couldn't stop. The name Svulst is norwegian, it's a word for tumour and means "to swell". It's also what we use to mean 'bombastic' or 'pompous'. Belvedere is an italian word meaning 'Beautiful View' and I saw it during research and decided to steal it. Firmament, Pinnacles and Cloudwalk were names that just felt right in the moment, and I think they mostly explain themselves.   I think you can see some of the influence of Kill Six Billion Demons in the Firmament, and Les Cités Obscures for Belvedere, the latter of which's art has seared itself into my conciousness, though I have not yet have the pleasure of reading it.


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Jul 29, 2024 12:31 by Mochi

I love this so much, and I love how rich this article is with vivid descriptions. I can picture everything, and it looks beautiful <3

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Jul 29, 2024 13:24 by Annie Stein

Thank you, ahh, that makes me so happy to hear!

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Jul 29, 2024 21:42 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

This article made me feel weirdly claustrophobic. I would hate every minute in this city. I would love a documentary on it, though, so I could hang out and see all the different layers without having to go there. :D Great descriptions and ideas.

Jul 30, 2024 08:24 by Annie Stein

I think I'd get dizzy real quick too, I'd be doing the most to avoid looking down. Thank youu!

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Jul 31, 2024 16:20 by Aster Blackwell

A cyperpunk fan's dream. The kind of city you could spend a lifetime exploring and never see it all. I love it.

Jul 31, 2024 17:15 by Annie Stein

Gosh, yeah! Thank you!

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Aug 4, 2024 14:36 by Amélie I. S. Debruyne

Same as Mochi, I love your descriptions so much - it's always the perfect little vignettes to visualise a place and make it so vivid! Lot's of fascinating little details too to make everything more alive.   I would totally visit Saturn, although not sure i should rejoice at the robotic staff meaning there is nobody around or on the contrary meaning that everything is even more under surveillance! D:

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Aug 6, 2024 09:20 by Annie Stein

Thank you! I had a lot of fun with this article.   I also find the idea of an all robotic smart hotel disturbing, I think I would much prefer to stay in the Belvedere. That way it'd be easier to visit the other parts as well!

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Aug 6, 2024 12:03 by Han

oh this sounds like such a beautiful place! I love layered cities so much. ♥


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Aug 6, 2024 12:12 by Annie Stein

Thank you, I do too!

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Aug 9, 2024 18:16 by Nimin N

Such fantastic, vivid descriptions of the city that really lets me picture it in my mind. Your writing gives it so much life with all the special little details. I don't think I'd like to visit this city personally for several reasons, but it sounds like such a fascinating place.   ... And a whole lot nicer than the image my tired brain first decided to leap upon just seeing the name + it being a settlement last night haha. 'Svulst' (s.) has the same meaning in Swedish, though it and the metaphorical 'svulstig' (adj.) aren't commonly used anymore.

Aug 12, 2024 15:34 by Annie Stein

Hehe, yeah, this article is mild mind poison for scandinavians, but I hope the rest will be able to forgive me. Thank you!

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