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