PEOPLE
Bōsōzoku - An outer class youth subculture of various biker gangs and clubs found in the Midcity and Undercity. Typically identified by their wild fashion styles, mêlée weapons, and flags on their motorcycles. Usually seen (or heard) taking part in high-speed joyrides through city streets, riding bikes with exhaust systems modified to be as disruptively loud as possible, and causing general public disturbances. Their numbers are known to be extremely large - even more than the Underlord syndicates - yet the chances of the bōsōzoku uniting and posing any kind of challenge to the status quo are microscopic, due to the inherently chaotic nature of their subculture, and lack of interest in the racketeering and organized crime employed by more professional thugs. Bōsōzoku often have noticeable aesthetic themes for their groups, as seen by each gang often having a uniform style with their clothing, motorcycles or other gear. Racism is rampant among bōsōzoku, as seen by the fact that most gangs are made up of particular species groups united against other gangs of a different species, though it manifests mostly in the form of violent bullying, street brawls, and gang skirmishes rather than the more depraved acts of outright murder that are common among more "professional" crime groups. Firearms and murder are rare among bōsōzoku, who are usually delinquent youths rather than cold-blooded killers, though acts of manslaughter and other non-premediated deaths resulting from aggrivated circumstances (ie: gang fights, street battles, and other heat-of-the-moment killings) are common. Premeditated murder, when it occurs in the bōsōzoku world, is seen as a very huge deal.
Chancellor Mara Kadesh - A female wolfhawk hybrid, she is the head of the ruling civilian government administration of Einheit City. A former associate of Dr. Frey, and widely known pro-Ministry community activist ever since Dr. Frey's assassination, Kadesh was elected Chancellor in 23 ECE in an electoral race widely considered a sham by the outer class, due to the fact that only UniClass candidates were permitted to run for office. Although a ubiquitous figurehead for the city, Kadesh's administration is considered by most outer classers to be only nominal, and a mere propaganda tool of the Ministry used to provide the illusion of democracy. Comrade Kadesh is also credited as being one of the early supporters of the Neo-Sŏn'gun doctrine, which ensured public trust and reliance upon the Ministry. More recently, however, the UniClass has been looking less to the Ministry and more towards Kadesh to solve the Toride's economic problems.
Dr. Avram Frey - A rabbit scientist and utopian visionary. Born in the now-destroyed colony of Haladan II, from where he championed the causes of inter-species peace and tolerance. Forced into exile with his followers, which later on led to the discovery of Einheit City and its repopulation. Assassinated on December 21st, 5 ECE, allegedly by purebred Colonial terrorists, according to the Ministry investigation on his murder.
Heart Machine Council - Originally a group of Dr. Frey's hybrid retainers who discovered the Heart Machine in 0 ECE during the early exploration of Einheit City. They began work on activating the Heart Machine soon after discovering it, operating in complete isolation and without supervision, allegedly for security reasons. After the Heart Machine's activation and Frey's assassination, the HMC absorbed itself into the newly-formed Ministry.
Hybrid - One who is of mixed species heritage, such as a kangaroo/wolf, bird/antelope, or fox/rabbit/lynx/lizard. Many hybrids combine their species names to describe themselves; a wolf/raccoon may refer to himself as a 'coonwolf', a jackal/catamount a 'jackamount', and so on. By Einheit City law, hybrids are defined as those composed of mixed higher species, meaning that a fox/wolf would be considered pure Canine and not a true hybrid, while a fox/cat would be considered a true hybrid for the mixture of different higher species. Purebreds may voluntarily become hybrids by undergoing genetic reassignment. UniClass citizenship is required for all hybrids. Most hybrids become UniClassers, though a tiny number, less than 1%, choose to remain as outer classers, and are classified as traitors by the Ministry. While they are also hunted by the Ministry for their crime, outlaw hybrids are often just as viciously persecuted by purebred outer classers.
Korvulgr - A huge Norskr-speaking ursine Colony, one of the last large purebred power-players before the AbZero Bombings. Closely allied with the canine colony of Yerushalem VI. The colony was defined by its massive unheated city, fierce battles for honor among the populace, abduction of womenfolk from other families, constant revelry and merriment with great feasts and mead, and their near-mystical concepts of technology. Korvulgr warriors almost never used guns, instead preferring to destroy their foes with heavybrutal weaponry or strong hands. The Colony was supported by a purely ground-based bererker military; their fortifications, however, were impressive- surrounded by hundreds of massive fire- and lava-spewing turrets and flaming grease, spiked ball, or lava-burst launchers, Korvulgr had never been under threat from invasion even once in its history.
Even today, Korvulgr warriors are one of the most widely feared in hand-to-hand combat, raised since birth to be immensely physically powerful, short-tempered, and nigh-unstoppable on the battlefield- male and female alike. Very few Korvulgr came into Einheit before or after the bombings, as the UniClass ideal was seen as morally repulsive, and the city was seen as unworthy of Korvulgr presence. However, they still rove in bloodthirsty bands over the Nightlands, setting up masterful ambushes capable of taking down even Ministry Scouting teams. Their remaining numbers are unknown. The term Korvulgr can also mean a person from Korvulgr.
Kossaks - A once numerous, diverse clan-based martial culture of purebred nomads, famed for their prowess in battle with primitive weapons and seemingly mythical ability to thrive as a people in the eternal night outside the warmth and safety of the Colonies. Legendary pathfinders, warriors, and masters of the Nightlands wilderness, the Kossaks were often the subject of many stirring tales; accounts of imperiled travelers being aided through treacherous lands or protected from hostile creatures by mysterious Slavic-accented riders...Or of outposts raided and convoys plundered without quarter or remorse. After the discovery and settlement of Einheit City, the Kossaks arrived in Einheit City, attracted by the bravery of the refugees and the tales of Frey's vision, and used it as a supply base and temporary home in between their Nightlands exploits. For the centuries prior their arrival in Einheit City, the Kossaks, being of several nation-clans (voiskos) divided by species and even by the purity of a given bloodline within a species, frequently feuded amongst themselves. Yet this changed when Dr. Frey, sensing an opportunity for peace, helped negotiate co-operation between the Kossak voiskos in the city. Due to their strictly purebred family traditions, Eastern Orthodox religious faith, and martial culture, the Kossaks were seen as an obstacle to the Ministry's plan for utopia. Many were accused of working with the Colonies, despite the fact that multitudes of them fought on Einheit City's side. Entire clans were declared "Enemies Of The People" and wiped out, while the remnants ended up in disease-infested purebred ghettoes, viciously quarrelling among themselves as Ministry manipulation undid the peace agreements forged by Dr. Frey. The Ministry's lockdown of the city proved to be the final blow, effectively crippling the Kossaks of their ability to be an independent, nomadic, adventuring people, or to flee the increasingly oppressive city. Presently, the Kossaks in Einheit are a ghost of their former selves. Many purebreds make questionable claims of Kossak blood, perhaps hoping to impress or draw attention, though in reality there are few true Kossaks left, most of them aging wanderers, and only a few scattered families and fragmented clans remaining. Kossaks can sometimes be identified by their long cherkesska coats and shashka sabres, though still remain a rather reserved and mysterious people, even towards other purebreds. It is claimed by the Ministry that there are still some Kossaks left in the Nightlands who, allegedly, are taking part in the Nightlander Siege, yet these claims are widely questioned by many purebreds.
Nightlanders - According to the Ministry, Nightlanders are primarily made up of Colonial purebreds who survived Operation Boreas, and are hence said by the Ministry to have a hostile disposition towards Einheit City and hybrids. The exact numbers of Nightlanders are not presently known since the Ministry does not permit free travel to or from the city in order to collect data, though the Ministry claims that they are organized into several guerilla groups which are said to be behind several attacks upon the Vorhang, occasional small/medium-scale rocket attacks. For obvious reasons, Nightlanders are practically never, if ever, seen in Einheit City.
Outer Class - See Purebred. Can also refer to incredibly rare cases where a hybrid has defected from (or has simply never been part of) the UniClass.
Purebred - One who is purely of one species, such as a draft horse, a tiger, husky, or a crow. By Einheit City law, crossbreeds within one higher species (such as a tiger/lion, cobra/python, eagle/hawk, or coyote/fox) are still defined as purebreds. Purebreds are not permitted to join UniClass society unless they undergo genetic reassignment, hence they are by and large extremely impoverished. Purebred society is racked by violent crime and drug abuse, as well as state persecution from the Ministry whenever political protest or rebellion is detected. Racially-fuelled violence between different purebred races is also common, though a few dissident purebreds claim that the Ministry has indirectly forced or manipulated such conflicts to occur. Also referred to as "outer class".
Tetton - A colony of Italo-speaking felines who were at war with the canine colony of Umatari. Known for their vivid art, fabrics, cuisine, and other high-quality goods, as well as their strong sense of familial duty. They had a belief in the women of the Colony being able to speak to the ghosts of the fallen, and in some superstitious Tettoni women living in Einheit, they still claim this skill. Their Colony had been mostly corrupted and crushed some 40 years back by social unrest and the relentless Umatari, and they were all but ruined by the time the AbZero bomb hit, able to put up no defense whatsoever to the brutal efficiency of the Ministry.
Umatari - A colony of Yamato-speaking canines (both wild and domestic breeds) who were at war with the feline colony of Tetton. Known for their brutal effeciency in the art of warfare and their encouragement of hatred and bloodthirst. They worshipped an ancient god of destruction devoutly, and blood sacrifices were common among their culture. They fought the Ministry ruthlessly, but their technology was limited, and they were easily crushed underfoot. No known Umatari exist today, either being wiped out entirely, or blending in with the rest of the populace in Einheit.
Underlord - A common term given for any outer class/purebred individual possessing great wealth and power, most commonly through means of organized crime or neo-feudal street warlordism. Syndicate lords, Mafia Dons, Yakuza oyabun, drug barons, and certain cult leaders would be some examples. Leaders of smaller street gangs generally are not considered powerful enough to be called Underlords. The term originated from the fact that all of the aforementioned crime lords dwell in the Undercity, where it is less likely that they would interfere with the Ministry. Although they do tend to make their personal lairs in the Undercity, Underlord crime rackets extend well into the MidCity above. Despite Ministry presence, much of the MidCity's non-UniClass areas are under the control of one Underlord's syndicate or other, and it isn't uncommon for violent turf wars to break out between rival organizations, often times on grounds of species differences. Additionally, most of the city's non-UniClass economy and industry is under the control of the Underlord syndicates, which has worsened the condition of purebreds already impoverished due to the Ministry's oppression. Virtually all Underlords are purebred. It is widely believed by purebred dissidents that the existence of the Underlords and their criminal organizations is indirectly supported, or at least intentionally permitted by the Ministry, as means of keeping the outer class too divided or oppressed by its own citizens to form a unified threat to the Ministry.
Syndicate - A term for any of the powerful purebred crime syndicates who hold control of large parts of the Undercity, generally led by a single Underlord or crime boss. Also note that "The Syndicate" may be use when referring to any and all organized crime groups in the city, rather than bothering to mention which syndicate in specific. ie: "Don't be late with your shipment, Mac. I don't think I need to remind you what happened to the last guy who was late on a job for The Syndicate." Also see Underlord.