Cultural Influences of Mysidia

Military Influence

Before the Fall

Military Influence was incredibly high, with Magitek using their military strength to police and subdue the people of Mysidia. They acted as peacekeepers, detaining and executing anyone and everyone who posed and thoughts or feelings of dissent. Soldiers were posted around the districts, as well as around important landmarks such as the mines. Their barracks were stationed up in Magitek City, which they would transport to and from using exclusive steam-based Platformers to move between the two elevations - allowing transport between the two in only minutes.
What made the Magitek Military so threatening was their weaponry. They possessed kinetic-based steam rifles, as well as thermal-based deadly magic rifles. These weapons were simple to create and mass produce, allowing the people of Magitek to arm themselves in an instant.

After The Fall

As of the Magindustrial Revolution, Mysidia’s military influence has fallen significantly. After the Wondrous Revolution and Fall of Magitek, there has been no need for immense military strength, though a government-run militia still exists. Many of the inhabitants are former members of the revolutionary army, with some serving, or being on reserve in the militia. The conflict of the Revolution is still prevalent in the minds of people, with there being advocates for a stronger, more armed military in the case of another uprising, or perhaps in the possibility of a Magitek return. Though others argue the contrary, believing the bolstering of the Mysidia military to be a potential catalyst for future conflict.

Religious Influences

Before the Fall

Religion was seen as a product of the Dark Ages and instigator of many wars. After the rise of Magitek, it was outlawed and declared taboo, in an effort to eliminate threats to their growing power. Magic-borns, who were seen as core figures in some religions, were executed. During the first several years of Magitek's reign, the law did much to decrease the overall influence of religion. Other religious figures were jailed or executed, and many of the texts were burned entirely. After the Shadow appeared over Mysidia, Magitek slowly turned away from the land below, allowing some oral practitioners, and others in hiding to keep the more basic aspects of their religion alive.

After the Fall

Through generations of oral traditions, the people of Mysidia have been able to keep some of their oldest traditions alive. While most are lost to time, others have survived, and even changed with the times, whether for better, or worse. With every religion comes to its zealots, and many have made their way into public life in the new era. Some call for a return to the Dark Ages, with a magic-born leader, meant to lead the people of Mysidia. While they are mostly seen as nuisances, others see them as a danger to the newly created society.

Technology Influence

Before the Fall

During the Age of Magitek, technological development remained stagnant for most inhabitants of Mysidia. Technology was a luxury only allowed for those who had the necessary connections or could supply and harness their own magic - the upper class, or residents of Magitek City. While the upper class indulged in technological innovations with increases in quality of living and luxury, the middle and even more so the lower classes were forced to live with primitive technologies and methods. However, it wasn’t long before the upper class grew lackadaisical and carefree. The Shadow, cast over the city by the floating island of Magitek, became a sigh for dumping. Without proper land to handle their disposal, the people above simply chose to throw their things back down.
From the Shadow, birthed the Junkyard - a mishmash of disposed tech, and more importantly, scrap. Junkers, people of the lower class who lived around the Shadow, slowly emerged to harvest as much scrap and technological junk they could. And for the few who could understand its intricacies, soon learned to harness the technologies that the rich had used, perhaps decades prior. Nevertheless, it was the only way for the people below to improve.

After the Fall

Having access to the technology hoarded by Magitek for years, Mysidia has entered a new Industrial Revolution, as they explore and utilize the powerful magic-based technologies. The people learned its secrets and began retrofitting old infrastructure to utilize the technology. It increased the quality of life and began to ease the disparity of hardships experienced by the classes.

Magic Culture

Before the Fall

Magic has been a constant in much of the history of Mysidia. It has been said to exist before Man itself, and even during the Dark Ages. Much of the religion stems from Magic and its mystical qualities. However, for the longest time, it was a limited resource only usable to a select few. Those born with Magic inside them could manipulate the raw, Earth-born counterpart. However, less than 1% of the population was able to interface with it naturally. People raced to find a conventional, mass-producible alternative to harnessing the resource. The first one to crack the code was Magitek. With their techniques of extraction, they were able to draw out at least 98% of all Magic energy. They used this energy to produce futuristic and never-before-seen technologies which they sold and monopolized. They harvested as much Magic as they could, before taking to the skies and keeping their precious resource all to themselves. They rendered all previous iterations of their technologies obsolete, allowing only themselves to keep the more potent products. Magic itself is an incredibly potent form of energy - granting power equivalent to a nuclear power plant simply from one pound of ore. Much of the energy was also used to keep the sky people afloat, through the gravitational generators that sat below the Shadow. These areas were called the Dead Zones - which emitted powerful magical radiation. Slowly this radiation would begin to poison the people below. Many would perish, under the guise of terrible sickness. The ones who lived would have magic imbued within them, unknown to the people above. It would be several decades before this was realized. Magic is a non-renewable resource - and much of it rarely exists in its purest form anymore, rather, most of it has been extracted and stored to be used to produce magic-based technologies. Even in this form, however, Magic-born people are able to manipulate it and harness their properties.

After the Fall

After Magitek City's collapse, the magic banks and mines were claimed by the people of Mysidia. It was eventually found, that after many years of excavating and refining magic, that Magitek had the energy to become self-sustainable for more than several generations. The mines were excavated to the last drop, with almost no raw magic left. The people of Mysidia have pledged to use the energy for the betterment of all people, not just simply themselves, such that they do not repeat the mistakes of Magitek before them.