Centuries prior to World War IV, Luna (then known only as the moon) was colonized by a small group of researchers from many different Earthen countries in order to further space research and exploration. There was little fighting over territory due to the “Moon Treaty” drafted by the United Nations in 1979 S.E. After sixty years of existing as a jumbled colony of numerous Earthen countries and cultures, the colony was recognized as its own country—a republic.

The first true Lunar was a man named Cyprus Blackburn. As a child, his DNA was damaged by the prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation from cosmic rays. This DNA damage developed into what is known as the Lunar gene. This mutation enabled him to output and control bioelectricity to implant thoughts into other people’s heads. He was able to use this power to convince people to elect him as leader and eventually turn the Republic of Luna into a monarchy.

This is about the time that distrust began to spring up between Earth and Luna because Earthens were confused and suspicious of the ease with which Blackburn was able to change the country’s political structure.

For a few generations, the royal bloodline was the only bloodline that included the Lunar gene, but due to Luna’s miniscule population and the royal family’s notorious promiscuity and abundance of illegitimate children, the gene became more common with each generation and eventually became dominant within the society.

Despite the growing mind-control powers of the lower classes, there persisted a common belief that Lunars would lose their gift if a person of true royal bloodline wasn’t on the throne. This superstition was encouraged by the royal family and royal scientists even proved its validity in multiple government-funded studies. Any scientist who suggested otherwise was promptly imprisoned or executed.

Due to a process called hormesis, another genetic mutation began to develop within society as well: a mutation that resulted in one’s inability to output or receive electromagnetic stimulation from others. Lunars born with this mutation were called “shells,” a derogative term referring to how they were “empty” of the gift. As shells cannot be brainwashed or controlled with the Lunar glamours, they were generally distrusted and a target of abuse and hatred.

In the 108th year of the third era, a shell managed to infiltrate the royal palace and murder the king and queen—leaving their two daughters, Channary and Levana, the only recognized descendants of the royal bloodline. Following her official coronation, Queen Channary enacted the shell infanticide laws stating that any Lunars born as shells were to be promptly disposed of in order to protect the sanctity of their society.

Life on Luna

All Lunar cities are housed beneath a series of interconnected paraterraformed domes. The domes are made out of regolith, a substance found in abundance on the moon, that has been fused into a thick glass-like substance. Other natural building materials include basalt rock, titanium, and silicon. Lunars are also experts at recycling and reusing the materials that were brought from Earth during colonization.

Beyond the domes, the sky is always black and stars are always visible. Earth can also be seen from those domes on the Earth-facing side of Luna, and it is sixty times brighter and four times larger than the Moon appears from Earth.

One Lunar day and night lasts about twenty-eight Earthen days—what we see as one moon cycle, from full moon to full moon. Lunars designed the domes to go opaque during the long days or produce artificial sunlight during the long nights in order to simulate Earth’s day-and-night patterns.

Energy is derived from solar power collection stations around the “peak of eternal light,” or the rim of the Peary crater. They are linked on a grid and transferred to the city. Water is available as perpetually frozen ice in nearby continuously-shaded craters.

Luna’s capital city, Artemisia, is located near the North Pole at the edge of Mare Frigoris, or the Cold Sea. It is the hub of government activity and the home of the Lunar royal family and other aristocrats. Other outlying domes serve distinct purposes and were designed with different industries in mind, including regolith mining and processing, goods manufacturing, and agriculture.

Travel between domes takes place entirely beneath the moon’s surface in a complex subway system, largely built using existing lava tubes. Atmosphere-controlled lava tubes also serve as ports for incoming and outgoing spaceships.

Videos and messages from the royal family and high courts are broadcast from the walls of the domes and screens along the underground subway systems. These are on a closed circuit and controlled entirely by the government—lower-class Lunars do not have access to news or information from Earth.