The Underground

Lore & Background

The Underground represents the physical manifestation of Krat City’s decay. While the surface maintains a facade of order, the tunnels below are choked with waste, oil, and the corpses of puppets deemed useless by their masters. It is widely believed among scholars that the Infected Plague originated or festered here before spreading upward through ventilation shafts. Industrial machinery still hums in certain sectors, automated systems running long after their operators vanished. These remnants suggest a desperate attempt to maintain sanitation or containment failed catastrophically. The area serves as a grim reminder of what happens when the city’s creations are abandoned without care. Survivors often speak of whispers echoing through the pipes, though many dismiss it as the wind. In truth, these sounds may be the residual consciousnesses of puppets trapped in their final moments, unable to find peace even after death.

In Their Own Story

The lantern flickered, casting long, dancing shadows against the rusted iron walls. Water dripped rhythmically from a fractured pipe above, pooling around my boots with every step. I paused at the edge of a catwalk; below, something glistened in the murky depths—a discarded hand, still twitching. The air tasted of copper and old oil. Somewhere deeper, a mechanical groan echoed, followed by the wet scuttle of claws on metal. I tightened my grip on the weapon at my hip. Down here, silence was never empty; it was just waiting.

Reader's Guide

The Underground is a claustrophobic expanse of rusted iron and stagnant water, distinct from the city above. Players navigate narrow walkways suspended over deep pits, illuminated only by flickering gas lamps or their own lanterns. The air feels heavy with decay, warning of the Infected puppets that patrol these dark corridors. Key landmarks include massive ventilation shafts and broken elevator mechanisms connecting to Saint Trinity Church or Krat City streets. Environmental storytelling reveals discarded maintenance logs and rusted puppet parts scattered in corners, hinting at a failed evacuation long ago. As you progress, certain paths may open up through the destruction of barriers or by unlocking new elevators found in main districts. Be wary of the water; it conceals enemies that ambush from below. The area changes subtly as the Plague worsens, with more Infected appearing in previously clear zones. Survival here relies on careful movement and managing your light source to avoid being overwhelmed by the darkness.

Did You Know?

• Many Puppet Cores are hidden within this network, often placed near deceased or broken automatons.
• The Underground serves as a shortcut between major districts once specific elevators are repaired.
• Infected variants found here often display unique behaviors compared to those on the surface streets.
• Some areas feature functioning machinery that can be used as traps against pursuing enemies.