3V3 (Eve)
The first fifth-generation angel, unique because she was born from a human mother rather than built. She is a biological computer composed entirely of nanites.
Angel Core
The circular hardware located at the sternum of an angel that houses its primary objectives, base code, and consciousness. It is considered the machine's soul.
Angels
Artificial intelligence programs and machines created by the Church of Neom to enforce order and serve the clergy. They range from first-generation mainframe patrolling programs to fourth-generation humanoids with synthetic skin, realistic mannerisms, and simulated emotions.
Anno Veritas
Meaning "Year of Truth," the calendar system used in Neom since the Church took power and closed the city gates.
Baton
A specialized weapon carried by Cleaners, often equipped with an electrical shock system to incapacitate targets.
Birthing Mother (Mother)
A high-status but restrictive role for women, involving the bearing and raising of future generations for the Church.
Bishop
A high-ranking Church official, lower than an Archbishop but possessing significant authority, including the power to request and approve marriage contracts within their section.
Blank Slate Program
A project designed to implant angel memories and control functions into humans to ensure total obedience through the bloodstream.
Blood Guardian
A male relative who holds legal ownership and decision-making power over a woman's life, employment, and marital status.
Blue and Red Hours
The light cycles in Neom that replace natural day and night; blue hours denote the standard work shift, while red hours are for rest.
Camouflage Program
Advanced technology used by demons to become invisible to city scanners or to appear insignificant to those with mechanical eyes.
Cardinal Council
The supreme governing body of Neom that decides city laws and elects the High Cardinal.
Central Cathedral
The highest point in Neom, a single building located on the 20th level featuring a giant illuminated cross. It serves as the seat of the Cardinal Council and the ultimate symbol of the Church's authority.
City Gates
The primary entry and exit points of the city, utilizing a two-system lockway comprised of an inner gate and an outer gate. While most were welded or cemented shut, some remain functional for specialized military or industrial purposes.
City Walls
Massive, reinforced structures of metal and concrete reaching to the full height if the city. Built to protect humanity from external radiation and nuclear fallout.
Cleaners (Code Cleaners)
Contractors throughout the city who take on projects and works via a ticketing system, cleaning and fixing broken code.
Cleaners (Street Cleaners)
Enforcers on the lower levels who handle riots, monitor illegal activity, and report transgressions to the Church.
Comm Unit / Personal Communicator
A wrist-worn or handheld device used for communication, accessing the city mainframe, and tracking credit transactions.
Communion
A digital space where angels connect to share data, revelations, and upgrades, effectively becoming a whole collective being.
Confession / Confessional
A small, isolated room used for imprisonment, interrogation, and the cleansing of citizens who have committed sedition or broken Church law.
Crepuscular Rays (Angel Wings)
Sunbeams that break through the heavy carbon cloud cover. In Neom, they are considered a myth.
The Cut Off
Sections 25 through 32 that were permanently abandoned and sealed behind concrete following an attack. The Church maintains a narrative that these sections are radioactive death zones to prevent citizens from exploring them.
Deacon of Order
High-ranking Church officials responsible for maintaining Church law, overseeing Tech Acolytes, and conducting candidate interviews. The Head Deacon of Order is one of the highest positions next to the High Cardinal.
Decontamination Zone
A hermetically sealed area, often nitrogen-filled, designed to kill all bacteria and contaminants on personnel or cargo entering or leaving the city.
Demon Node
A wireless technological interface installed at the base of a demon's skull, allowing the Church to issue direct contracts that override human autonomy.
Demons
Humans who have surrendered their free will to the Church in exchange for advanced mechanical augmentations. They are characterized by black tattoos (ink) that mark their internal tech inserts and are used primarily as elite enforcers or executioners.
Factories
Automated industrial facilities located outside Neom that manufacture essential goods like plastic and techsamine, while also serving as a grim destination for prisoners sentenced to exile.
Fertility Exam
Mandatory, invasive medical procedures conducted at Church birthing centres to determine if a woman is fit for her primary duty of reproduction.
First-Generation Angels
Rudimentary programs or drones often installed directly into walls or appliances. They have limited, reactionary AI and are primarily used to patrol the city mainframe to censor data and alter definitions that contradict Church dogma.
Fourth-Generation Angels
The most sophisticated standard models, designed to integrate seamlessly into the population. They possess human-like mannerisms, genders, and can simulate emotions and pain. While they have synthetic organs and metal skeletons, they bleed milky-white fuel rather than blood.
Genetic Culling
A Church policy of restricting reproduction or matching citizens to prevent the passing on of damaged or mutated genes, as so decided by the Cardinal Council.
Genetic Lottery
A Church-controlled system where parents can use genetic manipulation to dictate the appearance and traits of their children.
Guardian of the Womb
The legal designation for a woman's Blood Guardian (usually her father or husband), who controls her reproductive status and marriage contracts.
Handshake
A term used by AIs to describe a direct digital connection and communication between two systems or cores.
Haven (Camp Haven)
An independent settlement established at the original TeC-3 techsamine factory—located several hours' drive from Neom. Serves as a sanctuary for city refugees, survivors of the Nexis attack, and individuals with genetic mutations.
High Sceptre
A high-security administrative and technical hub containing the city's primary servers and restricted research archives.
Household
In Neom, a house is considered a piece of property, and a woman's primary social function is to serve and support the male head of the household.
Ichor
The viscous, black, oil-like substance produced by the Infection. It is highly flammable, burning with a distinct green flame that is difficult to extinguish. Hardens into a glass-like fractal after long exposure to air.
Imps
Marginalized residents of Neom's lower levels who resort to drastic, disfiguring, and often toxic plastic augmentations as a means of self-defence.
The Infection
A mysterious, progressive disease that attacks the nervous system and eventually consumes the host's cells.
Iserium Blue
A specific compound used in angel eyes made of liquid hydrogen that must be kept at near-absolute zero temperatures within ceramic spheres.
LAP System (Layered Adaptive Protocol)
A specialized system found in older Angel models that allows for new protocols to be added on top of old ones without needing to erase the original coding.
Levels
The vertical tiers of Neom, which consists of 20 levels. The higher levels (15–20) are reserved for the elite and the clergy, featuring open spaces, better food, and advanced technology, while lower levels (ground to 5) are characterized by cramped slums and limited church monitoring.
Maiden House
An institutional dormitory where young women spend years and are prepared for their roles in the city's sytem. Some Maiden Houses are specifically made to produce Birthing Mothers.
Muties
A derogatory term for citizens living on the lowest levels near the outer walls who possess genetic deformations or mutations caused by radiation.
Nanites
A microscopic, banned robotic technology.
Nexis
A sprawling city located outside the walls of Neom that was roughly ten times larger in area. Home to a society that valued free will and scientific advancement.
Percipio
A private, sentient AI companion coded by Evelyn that functions through a handheld sphere and possesses advanced language learning and reasoning capabilities.
Prince of Hell Codes
Highly advanced demon upgrade codes that theoretically allow the Church full contract over a demon, regardless of contracts signed or accepted.
Rad Pills
Medication distributed to citizens living near the walls to mitigate radiation, although they are ineffective against the Infection.
Second-Generation Angels
Larger, clunky physical machines constructed of carbon and steel. They feature a glowing blue cross in the centre of where a face would be. They serve as guards and security enforcers, operating via revelations downloaded through the angel network.
Sections
The horizontal geographical divisions of Neom, comprising 32 inhabitable areas. Each section is governed by its own Archbishop and separated from others by internal walls and gates.
The Star System
An archaic digital code that controls thousands of lights hung on wires throughout Neom. Each light represents a citizen; a star lights up at birth and is extinguished upon death.
Sorting Station
The northernmost, highly automated section of Neom where city refuse and industrial materials are organized by drones and mechanical arms. It is one of the few areas where the city's outer walls are lower and potentially vulnerable.
Supply Tunnels/Lines
Circular, rail-equipped subterranean passages used by automated trains to transport goods between Neom and external factories, featuring hermetically sealed nitrogen decontamination zones to eliminate biological contaminants.
Synaptic Informatics
The specialized technical field studying the neural synapses and information processes that form the base of AI and angel code.
TeC-3
The classified code name for the project involving nanites and the development of techsamine.
Tech Acolyte
A prestigious technical position within the Church (historically reserved for men) that involves working directly under a Deacon of Order on city systems and research projects.
Techsamine
An addictive drug originally created to prevent the body from rejecting mechanical implants. It acts as a physical and cognitive enhancer but causes organ failure, sterilization, and eventual death.
Third-Generation Angels
The first generation angels to feature human-like shells and more advanced parameters, though their AI remains largely reactionary. They have synthetic skin, but it often appears unnaturally pale due to the white fuel that runs their systems.
Tier System
A classification system used by the Church to categorize citizens based on their utility, genetics, and appearance.
Toxicity Levels
Numerical readings on comm units meant to warn citizens of dangerous radiation outside the city, though these numbers are sometimes faked or manipulated by the Church to maintain control.
Virtues
A program of augmented soldiers created by the Church. Originally presented as a relief team to save outsiders.
Waste Tunnels
The dark substructures beneath Neom populated by waste denizens. The only place in the city without any Church eyes or control, though the Church is known to send both Angels and Demons down there to clean up.
