Post by RIOT on Apr 14, 2015 14:35:39 GMT -5
Wherld was originally a planet that had started to have economic success. They were on the verge of being able to colonize other planets in their solar system when they went to war with the Ocians. Much of the planets wealth was diverted to its military in an attempt to defend itself. After four years of war, Wherld surrendered and was added to the Ocians' Galatic empire. While there were some outposts of the Ocians, they did very little to affect the planet's politics, religion or people. Their only interest was that the planet pay the "tax" that they expected of it. It was not unpleasant that a powerful force like the Ocians were now invested in the planets well-being, but the economic collapse that followed the war was severe.
After one hundred years, the planet and its inhabitants were still hobbling along, trying to rebuild their economy and lifestyles. There were some cities where this had been a success. The capital city, Trinna, had rebuild some of its former glory and was considered, by far, to be the most wealthy city on the planet. Ocians occupied it as well, a presence that was always noticed because of the advanced technology and wealth that they possessed. Mostly, though, the Ocians stay to themselves. The city of Eau Noir is our setting. It was far enough away from the capital that it took two weeks to travel between them because of the damaged, unrepaired roads and occasional security checkpoints. It was a city of approximately 100,000 people.
As part of reducing the crime inherent with dire economic situations, people were arrested on even minor offenses. With internal issues being what they were, stealing food or money was considered a more serious crime than murder. People, in general, did not have much of any technology available to them. 39% of the world's population is considered "free" because most people ended up incarcerated, but space in the jails and the cost of keeping people imprisoned was high so the government instituted the prison-work social program. Using what resources it had, devices were fitted to the prison workers and they are given undesirable jobs. They are paid approximately $0.05 a day they work.