The Muse

The Muse - Episode One - Lockheed Streetstar

In a far away land past the Devil's Sea...

There is an island unknown to the rest of humanity.

Saikan.

A beautiful land that sprouted a nation.

It is a myth and no invaders ever attempted to come to Saikan for nobody knew outside that they exist.

A thousand year ago,

Sunken ships, wrecked and lost, washed ashore to the mysterious land. The people that survived a thousand year ago began a new civilization. Years after years, not only shipwrecks but planes crashing landed to their history.


But in their legends, it is believed that a giant sea creature saved them, placed them in Saikan for a purpose, and protected the land.

In Saikan, thunderbolts paint the sky day and night. Sometimes it is cloudy, sometimes it would rain. It is the norm and it is their friend. The humans adapted to Saikan's cruel weather and took it to their advantage. As the civilization grew, they developed high end technology and system, a little more advanced than what we have.


The four cities, places to remember are named KM#05, Earheart, Xi, Lockheed. Each has stories to tell that are yet to unveil.


And I will unlock these as you read along.

Now before the real story begins, I shall brief you more about Saikan.


In Saikan, the citizens are classified as:

Maruns - people who work for MARU (government)
Theurgists - people who believe and worship mysterious beings, believers of supernatural and divinity
Teknikiin - people who develop and work on technologies
Ediin - agriculturists, economists, businessmen
Undergrounders (UGs) - rebels, and underground independent orgs
J.O.P - Just Ordinary People

Currency:
Points. All citizens are monitored and microchipped at their pulse. The installed permanent device is called SRAM.

With the help of SRAM, the citizens were monitored by Maru (government). The SRAM holds a person's entire biodata, entire web, entertainment, currency, entire life.

Technology:

They are able to turn a 3D holographic form to a physical object.

Economy:
Between the cities, there is a river connected to a lake, and the lake connected to the sea. Its water was mysterious, and it was the main source of power, oil, and minerals of Saikan. The economy was greatly dependent on it. But underneath the blessing was an equivalent price. The lake is called "The Cursed Lake" and river was called "The Dark River", for the water coming from there brought a plague. Anyone who touches it will be cursed. So the river and the lake were glass-sealed. Only selected personnel and machines were allowed to harvest from it.

The Muse - Episode One - Lockheed Streetstar

Let us begin with a prophecy.

All gathered, the cult in white hooded robes, recited the eminent future through a song. They sang:

"Time... when the moon
turns blazing blue;
Time... when thunders no longer roar
and land thirsts dry;
Time devours the dead,
And the dead devours the living;
Time of destruction and of revolution;
Time... is power... and power is born
in the hands of the Clairvoyant."

These white clothed men are Theurgists. They devote their lives unveiling the mysteries of their land. Their faith is grounded and built on solid foundation, influencing the culture and tradition of Saikan.

The central city, Lockheed, is the place of the core believers. The theurgists here are influential. They are storytellers, magicians, actors, musicians, and media. They are the attraction and trendsetters.

The cult is lead by Kingsbirth.

Kingsbirth is a powerful man in the country. He lives in the biggest cruise-mansion called The Royal Voyager at Lockheed bay. He is greatly pleasured by art, performances, and divine powers. He is one of the richest people in Saikan, and one of the councilors of the governor.

Meanwhile, on a street in Lockheed, there was a young girl who captivated the attention of the crowd by performing. She was playing ERHI -- a musical device that can record, playback, and loop beats and melodies -- projected in holographic form. She was busking for points.