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Description
How long has it been? How many years have gone by?

Far too many, that much I know. Decades rolling by as we continue to live in this dark, damp world. Never seeing the true light that is told in so many tales. I never knew of the surface, and neither did my father. I don't even know if his father did, only that he would tell stories of the old world above. Perhaps it was passed down from his own father, which have now been told to me. Those stories, the only things we have left of that old life. And I fear that even those are beginning to fade.

There may have been a time when those tales brought hope, or invoked awe. When little ones would believe in great lands of old. To hear the stories of great towering cities, and streets bustling with happy human life. To hear of a time when light was a given, and even taken granted. To believe in a time when the only thing above our heads was empty sky and a sea of stars. But now the tales have lost their luster. The stories only bring disbelief and even anger. How could such a life be? How could our kind have lived like that? And even so, why does it matter? Why tell tales of a land we shall never see? Of a world that was purged years ago, scorched off the surface like a horde of ticks. It is these stories that breed foolishness, of useless dreams of reaching the surface and reclaiming our home. "Surface Seekers" they are called, a term that is pretty much synonymous with "suicide." How people resent them, despise them. See them as fools who are chasing a false dream into waiting jaws. No one has ever made it to the surface, we aren't even sure how far up they have climbed. How many miles of tunnels and chutes did they conquer before they fell? Before they found the signs of the Starborn, and learned why the surface shall never be reached. How many of them cursed their stupid ideas, as they were torn apart by the Bdellis? How many wished they had just stayed far below, and continued this dark, but adequate, existence?

Perhaps it is the years of survival that gives them this hope. Living down here, miles below the surface in the labyrinth of sewers and tunnels. Our floating villages and stilt legged towns that eke out a simple existence, and find a way to live in this hostile environment. Filtering the dark rivers for nutrients and growing fungus in shaded waste. Using the many pipes and tubes to communicate between the other villages, sending supplies and messages as if we were only feet apart. Perhaps it is our defenses against the Bdellis that makes this idea work. Learning to keep the attacks to a minimum and keeping the death tolls down has given them the belief that they can fight the Bdellis. That these creatures can be beaten, as they fight their way to the surface. If our towns can do it, why not them? But they forget their purpose, they forget how they came to these tunnels under a single order. When the Starborn enslaved our sun and turned its Eye to our world, we fled down below. Running into the miles of sewers to flee the waves of fire that licked the surface clean. The Starborn tried to pursue us, but they could not follow us into the tight tunnels. Their size too big, and the toxins that soaked these tunnels turned them away. The same toxins that force our faces to be covered. And the same ones that leave the bottom dwellers sterile. Both a blessing and a curse to our kind. The Starborn could not follow, so they dripped the Bdellis down after us. Creatures that adapted and grew within moments, and carved through the screaming crowds as they fled into the deep. They were made to consume us, designed to keep us down here. And yet some believe one man can be an army, and fight their way back up. But once you step into the wilds of the tunnels, they are the kings. And trespassers are punished by death. A most horrible death.

I would never be one to try and climb to the surface. Such a task is too foolish, too suicidal. Our life down here is working, though it is far from perfect. Why would I give up an alright life for a horrible demise? One could not bribe me enough to do it. But I must admit that I am fond of the idea. Like a perfect dream that can never be achieved, it is still beautiful regardless. To imagine someone climbing up, making their way through the Starborn's plague, and reaching our old home. To finally set foot on the land we once roamed on, and see the sky that is said to be the most beautiful blue. It is a dream, but maybe it is not impossible.

Perhaps someday, someone will do it. Maybe someday they will bathe in the mythical rays of the sun...

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Well finally getting around to posting this little universe. This whole thing comes from the question: "If I made a videogame, what would I make?" So it got me thinking and I quickly came up with this little thing. It would be a Metriodvania (I think?) kind of 2D game, where it is essentially an open world map that requires navigation to reach certain items or points to unlock new areas or reach specific places. You can't go to this area until you open the lever to the floodgates, which requires you to find A, do B and defeat C kind of thing. The setting, as I tried to explain above, would be a post apocalyptic world (so original) where humanity has been forced to flee into the miles of sewers down below the surface. A race called the Starborn came years ago and used the sun to fry the surface world. Humanity has fled many layers into the depths, and have since built a new civilization down below. People live on floating villages or silt-legged towns. A vacuum tube system is used to communicate between towns (or to travel as shortcuts when opened). These small settlements eke out an existence, but don't take up much of the vast sewer system. Instead, the non-populated areas are called the wilds, where creatures known as the Bdellis roam. The Bdellis are a race of super adaptive creatures that were made by the Starborn. These creatures make up the enemy roster, and take many different forms. These are the creatures the character would be fighting as enemies and bosses.

And speaking of our character, who would that be? Well its the geared up lady shown above. I haven't come up with a name for her yet, but essentially she is someone who has lived down in the lowest layers all her life. She lives with her family in the starting town, but has become obsessed with the idea of reaching the surface, as many have. So your goal with the character is to successfully navigate and fight your way to the world above, which is no easy tasks. This will involve a lot of boss fights, area unlocking, tunnel clearing and route changes to find a way to climb up. Tunnel collapses, floods, enemy infestation and other things block the character from simply climbing up in a straight line, so you have to weave through tubes, holes, chutes etc. to find a path to the surface world.

Your main weapon is a flamethrower, which sprays a cone of flame when fired, and can be held down for continuous flames. The backpack she wears filters out gases from the air to refuel the gun, but you have to give it time. Using the flamethrower uses fuel, as does other abilities you have. These will be used in combo to combat enemies and bosses, forcing the player to choose between dealing damage or using a dash to dodge an incoming attack. The system is not fully figured out, but that is the general idea.

The one last thing I can think of is someone saying "Oh a game that is entirely a sewer level, boooooring." Well I would try to overcome that by creating different environments within the many tunnels and caverns. Have one area where glowing fungus has overgrown to create almost a jungle like environment coating the tunnels. An area flooded by bust pipes to create a more watery area. Ancient cooling systems busting down to freeze sections into ice places. Areas where trash and oils have ignited to create a permanently burning Hell like place. Put enough thought into it, and you can make different ecosystems and places where the player has to go. And the world wouldn't be empty. You would have villages to visit, NPCs to find and talk to. You would even run into characters in the wilds, either travelers, mercenaries, or other Surface Seekers like yourself. Though post apocalyptic, I feel that the NPCs and towns would be more upbeat places, where humans (or mutants) have found a simple life in the tunnels and have come to accept it.

I have a bunch more stuff drawn up for this "game," so I will post that over time.

Description
How long has it been? How many years have gone by?

Far too many, that much I know. Decades rolling by as we continue to live in this dark, damp world. Never seeing the true light that is told in so many tales. I never knew of the surface, and neither did my father. I don't even know if his father did, only that he would tell stories of the old world above. Perhaps it was passed down from his own father, which have now been told to me. Those stories, the only things we have left of that old life. And I fear that even those are beginning to fade.

There may have been a time when those tales brought hope, or invoked awe. When little ones would believe in great lands of old. To hear the stories of great towering cities, and streets bustling with happy human life. To hear of a time when light was a given, and even taken granted. To believe in a time when the only thing above our heads was empty sky and a sea of stars. But now the tales have lost their luster. The stories only bring disbelief and even anger. How could such a life be? How could our kind have lived like that? And even so, why does it matter? Why tell tales of a land we shall never see? Of a world that was purged years ago, scorched off the surface like a horde of ticks. It is these stories that breed foolishness, of useless dreams of reaching the surface and reclaiming our home. "Surface Seekers" they are called, a term that is pretty much synonymous with "suicide." How people resent them, despise them. See them as fools who are chasing a false dream into waiting jaws. No one has ever made it to the surface, we aren't even sure how far up they have climbed. How many miles of tunnels and chutes did they conquer before they fell? Before they found the signs of the Starborn, and learned why the surface shall never be reached. How many of them cursed their stupid ideas, as they were torn apart by the Bdellis? How many wished they had just stayed far below, and continued this dark, but adequate, existence?

Perhaps it is the years of survival that gives them this hope. Living down here, miles below the surface in the labyrinth of sewers and tunnels. Our floating villages and stilt legged towns that eke out a simple existence, and find a way to live in this hostile environment. Filtering the dark rivers for nutrients and growing fungus in shaded waste. Using the many pipes and tubes to communicate between the other villages, sending supplies and messages as if we were only feet apart. Perhaps it is our defenses against the Bdellis that makes this idea work. Learning to keep the attacks to a minimum and keeping the death tolls down has given them the belief that they can fight the Bdellis. That these creatures can be beaten, as they fight their way to the surface. If our towns can do it, why not them? But they forget their purpose, they forget how they came to these tunnels under a single order. When the Starborn enslaved our sun and turned its Eye to our world, we fled down below. Running into the miles of sewers to flee the waves of fire that licked the surface clean. The Starborn tried to pursue us, but they could not follow us into the tight tunnels. Their size too big, and the toxins that soaked these tunnels turned them away. The same toxins that force our faces to be covered. And the same ones that leave the bottom dwellers sterile. Both a blessing and a curse to our kind. The Starborn could not follow, so they dripped the Bdellis down after us. Creatures that adapted and grew within moments, and carved through the screaming crowds as they fled into the deep. They were made to consume us, designed to keep us down here. And yet some believe one man can be an army, and fight their way back up. But once you step into the wilds of the tunnels, they are the kings. And trespassers are punished by death. A most horrible death.

I would never be one to try and climb to the surface. Such a task is too foolish, too suicidal. Our life down here is working, though it is far from perfect. Why would I give up an alright life for a horrible demise? One could not bribe me enough to do it. But I must admit that I am fond of the idea. Like a perfect dream that can never be achieved, it is still beautiful regardless. To imagine someone climbing up, making their way through the Starborn's plague, and reaching our old home. To finally set foot on the land we once roamed on, and see the sky that is said to be the most beautiful blue. It is a dream, but maybe it is not impossible.

Perhaps someday, someone will do it. Maybe someday they will bathe in the mythical rays of the sun...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well finally getting around to posting this little universe. This whole thing comes from the question: "If I made a videogame, what would I make?" So it got me thinking and I quickly came up with this little thing. It would be a Metriodvania (I think?) kind of 2D game, where it is essentially an open world map that requires navigation to reach certain items or points to unlock new areas or reach specific places. You can't go to this area until you open the lever to the floodgates, which requires you to find A, do B and defeat C kind of thing. The setting, as I tried to explain above, would be a post apocalyptic world (so original) where humanity has been forced to flee into the miles of sewers down below the surface. A race called the Starborn came years ago and used the sun to fry the surface world. Humanity has fled many layers into the depths, and have since built a new civilization down below. People live on floating villages or silt-legged towns. A vacuum tube system is used to communicate between towns (or to travel as shortcuts when opened). These small settlements eke out an existence, but don't take up much of the vast sewer system. Instead, the non-populated areas are called the wilds, where creatures known as the Bdellis roam. The Bdellis are a race of super adaptive creatures that were made by the Starborn. These creatures make up the enemy roster, and take many different forms. These are the creatures the character would be fighting as enemies and bosses.

And speaking of our character, who would that be? Well its the geared up lady shown above. I haven't come up with a name for her yet, but essentially she is someone who has lived down in the lowest layers all her life. She lives with her family in the starting town, but has become obsessed with the idea of reaching the surface, as many have. So your goal with the character is to successfully navigate and fight your way to the world above, which is no easy tasks. This will involve a lot of boss fights, area unlocking, tunnel clearing and route changes to find a way to climb up. Tunnel collapses, floods, enemy infestation and other things block the character from simply climbing up in a straight line, so you have to weave through tubes, holes, chutes etc. to find a path to the surface world.

Your main weapon is a flamethrower, which sprays a cone of flame when fired, and can be held down for continuous flames. The backpack she wears filters out gases from the air to refuel the gun, but you have to give it time. Using the flamethrower uses fuel, as does other abilities you have. These will be used in combo to combat enemies and bosses, forcing the player to choose between dealing damage or using a dash to dodge an incoming attack. The system is not fully figured out, but that is the general idea.

The one last thing I can think of is someone saying "Oh a game that is entirely a sewer level, boooooring." Well I would try to overcome that by creating different environments within the many tunnels and caverns. Have one area where glowing fungus has overgrown to create almost a jungle like environment coating the tunnels. An area flooded by bust pipes to create a more watery area. Ancient cooling systems busting down to freeze sections into ice places. Areas where trash and oils have ignited to create a permanently burning Hell like place. Put enough thought into it, and you can make different ecosystems and places where the player has to go. And the world wouldn't be empty. You would have villages to visit, NPCs to find and talk to. You would even run into characters in the wilds, either travelers, mercenaries, or other Surface Seekers like yourself. Though post apocalyptic, I feel that the NPCs and towns would be more upbeat places, where humans (or mutants) have found a simple life in the tunnels and have come to accept it.

I have a bunch more stuff drawn up for this "game," so I will post that over time.