CULTURE

Culture: Work

PHILOSOPHY

Golden City holds the vision of scientific freedom over any other. The city encourages its citizens to think out of the box, be innovative, and go beyond what they believe is possible with science. Golden City doesn't care who you are and what you do; it cares for your potential and how it will grow and contribute to the city.

For this reason, the city puts an emphasis on apprenticeship over actual education, as it hopes that the tinkershops may cultivate more scientists and engineers rather than simply producing scholars. Golden City values the output more than the input, and hopes to stimulate and encourage the people to create their dreams in reality.

Culture: Text

CUISINE

Most of the food has to come from outside of the city. As Golden City lacks the fertile grounds to produce any themselves fresh ingredients are hard to come by. That doesn't mean that Golden City has no cuisine of its own, however. While it isn't particularly impressive, or especially tasteful, there are quite a few signature dishes in the city that provides to the needs of the people in its very basic sense.

Golden City is quite known to pickle, or salt-dry everything to preserve the shelf-life of ingredients. However, it has also worked hard to turn its food into a mashed dry form, like known with mashed potatoes. By turning this mashed form into powder it can be stored up for a long while and only needs a little water to turn into a nutritious grub that feeds the stomach, and gives energy. It is for this reason that the kitchen of Golden City is often described as: salty, vinegary, and without texture. All of which aren't very appetising ways to describe food. It is for this reason that Golden City doesn't really have a food culture, and refers to most of the food/grub as 'fuel for the brain', being the society they are.

Culture: Text

RELIGION & CULTS

Within Golden City all of the common religions can be found. As most of the citizens are all from far away places they bring a piece of their own culture in, which includes their beliefs. However, there are some followings within the city that are unique.

There are some who worship the Pioneer as some sort of deity. With the many mysteries surrounding the identity and whereabouts of the figure there are some crazy stories sprouting up. One of them being that the Pioneer was an angel sent from the heavens to set up Golden City. Others believe the Pioneer to be a prophet because of their insight. In any case, a following has formed surrounding the Pioneer, where they come together to worship the person that made Golden City happen like a god.

There are also quite a few advocacy groups. Some advocating for the rights of the other beings, while others are working against the recognition of other beings as equals. These discussions can go far, and can sometimes reach a cult-like status when a few individuals gains power and control over the group. The Inquisition actively tries to extinguish these, but they never truly fade away as long as there is The Underground.

The last cult is related to The Puppeteer and his Doll. They are related to the automaton advocacy groups that wish for automatons to be recognised as sentient, but have so far been ridiculed by most. This group worships the infamous creation of The Puppeteer and believe that the Doll is still alive, but just refusing to budge without its master. So far the Council hasn't taken the group seriously, yet, but they do keep an eye out on their movements.

Culture: Text

VOCABULARY

Golden City has some terminology that is unique to the city, which can be often confusing for newcomers and visitors. Below a list of the most common terms used and what they mean:

Layers - Refers to the levels of the city; The Sky, The Land, and The Underground.

The Sky - Refers to the highest level of Golden City. The rich part of the city.
Embryo - The bubble that protects The Sky above. It filters the air, adds in extra oxygen, and moderates the temperature.
Placenta - The nickname of The Tube connecting The Sky and The Land to each other.
Floaters - The science that keeps The Sky up in the air. However, it can also be used to refer to the inhabitants of The Sky.
Fetus - A crude way to call the inhabitants of The Sky, falling in the same line as how the The Tube and the Bubble are nicknamed.
The Medicine - A chemical that is added into the air of The Sky to prevent motion sickness.

The Land - Refers to the second layer of Golden City, and the main part.
Tinkerers - Self-employed scientists that have set up a shop in the city offering their talents.
Tinkershops - Small shops in which one can look for automatons, trinkets, but also repairs.
Cloaks - The nickname of the members of the Inquisition, referring to the dark capes they wear.

The Underground - Refers to the third layer of Golden City, the lowest part, and considered uninhabitable.
The Sewers - One of the many nicknames of The Underground.
Rats - Referring to the people that live in The Underground despite its harsh conditions.
Other beings - Refers to these that aren't human, but sentient. Generally not accepted by the city and considered to be non-existent.