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*The following document is property of the Slam City Administrative Council
Welcome to Slam City
An illustration of Slam City from the top of a building. ”Looking Up” (2010) by Ancha M’Changama.
The city of dreams and innovation, Slam City welcomes you, dear reader, to its borders. While more of a formality, it is recommended that any newcomers or people planning to visit read this document for a rundown on the city and its culture. New or old, we at Slam City hope you have a wonderful time here.
Overview
Slam City is a bustling cosmopolitan metropolis located in Dimensional Locus O-001. The region of the locus that houses it is a large, spherical area2 enclosed by a ground of rock, dirt, and a myriad of other matter common to Earth's crust. The locus is often described as a hollow Earth. Gravity is strong near the ground3 and people are capable of travelling across every surface of the locus with ease. While there have been attempts to dig through the walls of O-00, no other open areas have been discovered, not to mention that excavations also have the potential to open interloci portals.
Slam City lacks a diurnal cycle. Its main source of light is a relatively small4 and bright object, known as the Eye, located at the center of O-00’s open area. It is encased in a metal cage slightly larger than itself, which itself is suspended in the air by 4 large equidistant legs that extend into the ground of the city down to an unknown depth. The legs in question are the city’s main source of water, consistently dispensing a small stream through a tunnel with an opening near the ground, although the source and mechanisms by which this is generated are unknown. Both the cage and the legs create fairly large shadows across the city’s landscape, and while the artificial lights below more than make up for it, these areas are still often considered culturally significant. It is to be noted that all electrical equipment very near to the Eye inevitably fails in contrast to the dense machinery of the city below, and that the unstable locus boundaries in this area in particular are very unstable, making for a less than ideal research environment.
An illustration of a cross section of Slam City, showing 2 of its legs; the other 2 legs are angled toward and away from the viewer. Art by Dr. Roke Atdauna.
For as long as the locus has been known to exist5, sprawling urban buildings and other common city structures cover every square kilometre of surface area, their architecture treading a line between brutalist and futuristic in style, and ripe with machinery. It is not a secret that Slam City’s design and contents are inherently anachronistic, with many of its features having existed since the early to mid-20th century, despite the parallels on Earth not existing for years later; this phenomenon has slowly continued over time. Many of these buildings have been customized or otherwise deviated from their original state as they become inhabited or used by the city’s populace, reflecting its melting pot culture. Numerous high-rise buildings have been used and reused over the years by various people, organizations, and Slam City’s government. The tunnels alone house their own lively communities, and may also lead to Slam City’s rapid transit system, which provides quick travel to most of the city’s major areas6.
While new places and new people may seem intimidating, please do not hesitate to ask the locals or personnel of Slam City’s Administrative Council for directions, information, and more. Slam City is a very large and complex place, after all.
While O-00 has no known native extant or extinct inhabitants, many have taken it as their home, resulting in a unique and varied cultural standing for the city, sporting aspects from many different communities across the Backrooms. The population of the locus is quite variable, with beings and people often travelling both in and out at a rapid rate, though generally stays in the thousands or higher. Slam City is home to not only humans, but other such sapient entities such as architects, the steel, and even facelings, who have grown to accommodate each other over time. Unlike most other cosmopolitan dimensional loci, Slam City as a whole houses its own government, politics, and other such country-level features under the Slam City Administrative Council7. The SCAC has expanded much since its inception8 as a small community of Backrooms survivors and researchers, and features multiple government branches in charge of various fields. Somewhat recently, an agreement was also made between the SCAC and the transdimensional group known as the Backrooms Bureau of Administration and Research during a period of economic and political recession to strengthen Slam City’s internal concord. Slam City is now proud to say that all is well.
It is well known that the Dimensional Locus that houses Slam City presents a significant anomaly. The spatiotemporal boundaries of the locus are notably weak and unstable compared to that of other loci, often overlapping with them across various entryways in a multitude of areas, with small parts these loci even supplanting parts of O-00. The appearance of these passageways are not consistent and may be inconspicuous, often simply being a transition between loci in a certain area of O-00, or taking advantage of artificial entry points such as doors. These portals9 may be permanent, though a significant amount are temporary and known to shift, with new ones popping up occasionally, and old ones disappearing. It is interesting to note that many of them are one-way from O-00, and that new portals are not difficult to (unintentionally) create. Where, when, or why they occur is currently under research, and any new openings should be reported to the SCAC or the Slam City Research and Exploratory Division10. Most significant interloci passageways are monitored under Slam City’s watchdogs and militia to ensure the safety of the city’s residents and visitors, especially in case of hostile entity intrusion.
Best be careful when travelling through areas without a lot of activity. Other than the usual societal concerns, many of these places may house undocumented portals, some of which may look similar to the surrounding architecture. If you’re not sure about a certain passageway, Slam City’s database, SCREDnet, houses a list of all known portals. Other than that, both the locals and SCRED employees are always willing to help; don’t worry, we have things under control.
There are currently11 two most used two-way interloci passageways to and from Slam City12. One finds itself in a large building in Slam Central near Slam City’s central governmental area, leading to and from Dimensional Locus A-01. The other is located near one of the Eye’s legs in Overgrowth Sprawl and provides access to Z-03. Other than that, miscellaneous portals are used to transport materials and resources in and out of Slam City to specific loci, although they are not recommended for general public use.
Sections
OX-01 “Slam Central”
With towering buildings and crowded city streets, Slam Central is where the magic happens. The region prides itself in its flourishing, cosmopolitan activity, sporting many of the city’s major interest points. Whether you’re local or foreign, there’s something for everyone here.
Slam Central, as the name would suggest, is the largest and most populated region of Slam City. It often acts as a hub for many of the city’s main organizations and political activity, housing most of Slam City’s main government buildings, such as the SCAC Office. Slam Central is also home to many of the outposts of affiliated groups of interests, which are elaborated on later in this document.
For most of the city’s other residents, Slam Central is often known to have more of a “high life” style and culture, owing to its reputation as a centre for economic activity. While there is some truth to this, owing to its more prestigious impressions, Slam Central also shares much of the rest of the city’s rich and humble culture, especially within its bustling tunnel system, a society deeply integrated in a way unique to the region.
Slam Central also houses a number of prominent interloci passageways. For example, portal A-01, the most used gateway in and out of the city, as well as one of the city’s main entrances into the Foundry. Loci connecting to OX-01 are denoted with an “A”.
OX-02 “Dusk Point”
A humble yet exciting place, Dusk Point is a dream for people looking to settle down from stress, but still looking for fun. Even for the standards of Slam City, Dusk Point is quite the conglomerate of niche hobbies and careers, but its residents have certainly made it work.
While Dusk Point often lacks the large-scale, corporate, and touristic activity characteristic of the other regions, it has a positive reputation amongst the residents of Slam City as a modest and creative region, and an occasional place of visitation amongst the city’s locals. Dusk Point is home to many freelancers and small businesses, making for vibrant and diverse areas and markets. Although the region generally houses more economically lower class residents, its people are more than welcoming enough to make up for it.
Owing to its name, a large portion of Dusk Point’s streets, alleys, and other usually open areas are covered in mostly-artificial ceiling, and lit by various artificial lights hanging from cables or embedded into walls. From simple tarp and fabric coverings hanged between buildings to large metal domes, Dusk Point doesn’t get much Eyelight from the ground. The reasons for this are mostly cultural, stemming from a disdain of the constant daytime-like environment of Dimensional Locus O-00. The residents of Dusk Point often take advantage of the reliance of artificial lighting, putting up colorful additions to their areas, or otherwise taking comfort in the dimness.
Loci connecting to OX-2 are denoted with an “F”.
OX-03 “Mechanized”
The hum of machinery is a sound that many residents of Slam City are accustomed to, and even moreso for those that live in Mechanized. While not generally considered a hub for corporate activity, indie innovations find their way in every nook and cranny in this place, perfect for those who are right at home with the buzzing electricity. Beware of sharp edges.
A photograph showcasing an example of machinery that can be found in OX-03.
It is no surprise that Mechanized is known as Slam City’s most technologically savvy region. While sharing its level of advancement with Slam Central and Dusk Point, Mechanized is unique for the level of integration this technology has in both its physical space and the amount of figurative space it takes up in the everyday lives of its residents. Unlike the other regions, many of Mechanized’s engineers and tinkerers have never received formal education in the field, leading to many unconventional and often very personal creations that unite the community over their details, though also leading to devices of questionable safety. Many of the region’s communities can be found in its larger buildings, and a particularly famous landmark is a skyscraper, one of the largest in the entire locus, nicknamed “The Spire of Innovation” by its residents.
It has, however, been a concern that the growing body of machinery in region OX-03 may aid in disguising parts of the Foundry that have taken hold in Mechanized. While Mechanized is not a stranger to Foundry passageways, the locus is generally considered quite dangerous, and its supplanting of existing parts of Slam City is problematic. Slam City’s watchdog and vanguard activity has been increasing for this reason, and residents are asked to keep a close eye out for Foundry machinery. Anyone who reports an undocumented area of Foundry spread is allowed to dismantle and reuse the machinery in question.
Also of significance is the growing presence of the group “Backrooms Robotics” – often considered the Backrooms’ leading technology corporation – in the region. This may be of interest to any current or potential residents.
Loci connecting to OX-03 are denoted with a “K”.
OX-04 “Overgrowth Sprawl”
A stronghold of nature in the urban sprawl of Slam City; what’s not to love? For those that miss the greenery but aren’t keen on interdimensional travel, Overgrowth Sprawl is the perfect place. Of course, that’s not to say that the region is old fashioned and completely devoid of tech, embracing the essence of nature while seamlessly integrating modern amenities.
A green wall of a building in OX-04.
The region known as Overgrowth Sprawl is often regarded as Slam City’s most unique area, a sharp contrast to the surrounding city. Over the course of the region’s history, its residents have made many significant modifications to its base architecture, integrating large amounts of plant life and developing areas for agricultural use. Today, a good chunk of the sublocus can be described as a “green city”, and an extreme example of such, with many buildings covered top to bottom in leaves and roots. A large amount of both vertical and horizontal space is also dedicated to the upkeep of sustainable and renewable local food supply.
This reputation has made Overgrowth Sprawl the leading region in both the agricultural and tourism sectors. Tourists from both Slam City and other loci are common sights in the region, though business ventures are rarer here, as most of the agricultural output is distributed amongst the residents of Slam City rather than being exported for exolocus trade.
It should be mentioned, however, that as much as Overgrowth Sprawl is known as a relaxing tourist spot, people should be careful of accidentally entering interloci portals, which may be hidden amongst the dense foliage of the region. Loci connecting to OX-01 are denoted with a “Z”.
O-01 “The Foundry”
*For more details on the locus itself, please refer to SCREDnet document O-01 “The Foundry”
The Foundry.
While the Foundry is not technically part of Dimensional Locus O-0013, its properties still warrant a section here. Slam City shares significant spatiotemporal overlap with the Foundry, far more so than any other locus.
The Foundry and its locus are easily accessible from many parts of the city, its style often disguising these entryways as a part of the city itself. Many of these portals seem to be permanent14 and compared to other loci the Foundry has increasingly supplanted a significant portion of O-00. Much of the machinery on its own is nonsensical in design, of course, but many have taken to salvaging the Foundry’s growing mechanical body for resources and spare parts.
The Foundry is the source of many of Slam City’s miscellaneous appliances, obtained from the dispensation bays at the building’s largest entrance. While the specifics of these items are unpredictable, the Foundry tends to provide a large sum of them, and they are generally useful. These items are often used by Slam City itself, or bartered to transdimensional groups of interest.
Affiliations
Slam City has a myriad of mutually beneficial relations with various transdimensional groups across the Backrooms. Many have set up outposts and/or embassies for reasons such as alliances, trade, and more, and all organizations are required to be under a peace treaty while in Slam City’s borders. These groups are listed below in alphabetical order15.
Amor Incrementum
Affiliation: Trade and Outpost Residency
Amor Incrementum welcomes Slam City’s residents, affiliated or not, to its communal circles. We are thankful to be given this wonderful opportunity to exchange resources and information with you. We also hope that we can provide older members with the same level of sacred wisdom as we do in other levels, and that we may gain new interest from the populace from this affiliation. We are currently located in Slam City’s “Overgrowth Sprawl”. Thank you for your time.
Ariane Circle
Affiliation: Trade and Research
We, the Ariane Circle, want what’s best for humanity, and what better way to do that than to build a relationship with the safe haven of Slam City. We’re looking forward to working with you to further both our goals of trade and research. Team Hermes’ outpost is located near SCRED’s main building, while Team Artemis’ can be found near other group outposts.
Backrooms Bureau of Administration and Research
Affiliation: Alliance
The B.B.A.R. is happy to say that we have crafted an alliance with the prestigious state known as Slam City. We intend to aid the city’s Administrative Council in its management of the culturally diverse society that has been created here so that it may flourish. Our embassy can be found in OX-01 near many of the government buildings.
Backrooms Nonaligned Trade Group
Affiliation: Trade
The the-b-n-t-g has set up a trade outpost in Slam City to improve trade routes and relations for our group. We thank Slam City for allowing our presence and supporting this endeavor. Our main outpost can be found in Slam Central.
Backrooms Robotics
Affiliation: Trade
Backrooms Robotics has finally collaborated with the wonderful nation of Slam City! In exchange for the city’s vast resources and material from the Foundry, Backrooms Robotics provides Slam City’s residents with our group’s newest and most advanced technology so that you can live a more comfortable and more exciting life. Our two main outposts are located in Slam Central and, of course, Mechanized, so don’t be afraid to reach out to us.
Bluesky Telecom
Affiliation: Trade
We at Bluesky Telecom are thankful to the Slam City Administrative Council for providing us with the opportunity to set up an outpost within its borders. Bluesky Telecom will be swift to provide Slam City with its most up-to-date telecommunications technology so that its residents may communicate both intra and interdimensionally with ease. May the signal of communication run through us all.
Major Explorers Group
Affiliation: Trade
The Major Explorers Group thanks both the council and residents of Slam City for allowing us to set up a trade outpost in its central region. We hope that this mutually beneficial relationship can flourish, and we wish Slam City all the best.
Unbound Explorers Coalition
Affiliation: Trade
We give our utmost appreciation towards Slam City for its willingness to trade with the Unbound Explorers Coalition and to provide safe haven for our personnel that enter its borders. We are eager to work with you. Find us in OX-01.
this document compiled and maintained by:
The Slam City Administrative Council