The lore of FREQ is set in a futuristic world where frequencies dominate. It will take place in a large city called Rephlex with a variety of factions, tribes, and classes that will allow for a wide range of franchise-wide plots and subplots. Music and rhythm will play a big part in the narrative structure of the Manga, as we will try to give each faction its own unique look, accessibility to certain resources, and distinct sound to make this world and story a place where you can identify yourself with certain characters.

The FREQ lore and its inhabitants will be based on a diverse set of references - with the main reference being the origin of electronic music, its technologies, its mass adoption and its respective artists. The FREQ's lore reference system will be significantly impacted by the discovery of synthesis in instrumentation. The reference system will be used loosely, so not all references will be obvious to the reader. For instance, there may be characters or weapons that share characteristics with respectable real-life counterparts, whether it be in terms of appearance, belief system, or mode of operation.

Prior to frequencies gaining dominion as the primary technology in the FREQs world, human civilization had to adjust to various aspects of the environment and climate change. The human species had to develop novel technologies based on the extraction of frequencies in order to survive after the big climate catastrpohe. In our world, it took centuries for humans to learn how to control fire and electricity; similarly, in the world of FREQ, the story will take place during a period when people are still learning how to control this kind of technology even though they possess the technology for a fairly long amount of time.

Human life revolves around frequency, which is the main energy source, much like fossil energies in the real world. It is used in every aspect of the inhabitants' daily lives, including powering their homes, home equipment, sonic warfare or dividing up different factions spatially. The most cutting-edge technology in the lore will be sound frequency-based, whether it is corporate or DIY. To achieve their motivations and objectives, different characters and factions will use this technology in a variety of inventive ways. Scientifically speaking energy from frequencies is extracted by colliding the sound frequencies to each other, the electricity is the byproduct of these particles colliding with each other.

Freqs lore is for adults. Therefore violence and a corresponding aesthetic depiction of violence is key to the lore. Conflicts will be bloody and gory - expect gunfights, limbs flying all over the place.

On the one hand, FREQ will have ballistic weapons similar to our world, which are based on explosions and bullets, but on the other hand, FREQ will have frequency-based weapons. With their complex engineering and tightly controlled distribution, frequency weapons will be the most sophisticated and far superior to ballistic weapons. Certain characters will occasionally combine the two technologies to their advantage (frequency based bullet tracking, for example). In the real world, where sonic warfare is inherent, we will draw inspiration from high frequency machinery used in riots or military grade pressure guns.

In order to survive every species known had to adapt to nature or the conditions presented by it. During the early stages of human evolution, humans had to adapt to hunters and gatherers. In a promethean philosophical sense, the discovery of fire determined this stage of human evolution. Technology has always been the most identifying aspect of human existence because humans had to adapt their way of life to whatever technology was available at the time. The anatomical appearance of humans in the FREQ universe will be identical to that of humans in the real world. However, some tribes will develop new hearing abilities to survive the transition to a frequency-based society. Others, who have the resources, will upgrade certain body parts with technology to transform into cyborg-like beings.

In a city with different inhabitants and districts which might be mixed or segregated by social status (class, religion, race) spatial sonic gatekeeping will be used to prevent or limit access to certain buildings, events or even whole living-areas. Imagine a corporate meeting where high frequencies will blow up the ears of unwanted guests within milliseconds if they don’t have a certain noise canceling technology in their ears. Some factions will know their way to hack and outsmart those spatial measurements making it a very intriguing layer of warfare and combat. We were inspired by technology used in the banking industry, where high frequency emitters were installed in front of benches of specific banks to deter young people from loitering in front of those structures or park benches because older individuals are known to lose their hearing in their high frequency ranges.

We envision city life as a noisy experience in which residents are constantly exposed to various sounds, including advertisements, background noise, and human conversation. Some people might have sound-blockers to stop incoming ads depending on their resources (much like in the Ghost in The Shell series where the poor citizens get constantly bombarded with visual ads). For some people, silence can be a philosophy or unreplaceable good. Loud illegal raves will undoubtedly play a significant role as a significant act for people in lower classes to charge their batteries or devices so they have electricity to survive or to build a resistance. People who have access to the central city are going to raves for leisure - where there are noise canceling walls so no one outside gets disturbed. Dance is a body politic that liberates people and because music is so central to our lore, allowing for exposure for specific electronic music genres and serving as a significant identifier.

Electronic Music Label aesthetics & codes will be used as a reference system and iconography to base FREQs religions on. Different tribes, communities, groups will have different religious systems and will model their lifestyles accordingly. Instead of a cross it could be a very particular iteration of a record label logo which is a religious symbol for example.

The political compass by Wayne Brittenden is used as a visual narrative aid to identify the political positions of our characters throughout the story. Based on two axes, it establishes where they are positioned socially or economically (left to right) (libertarian- authoritarian). Of course, as the plot develops, some character arcs will move alongside the compass (allies which will turn into foes or vice versa). Our main characters will be positioned more from a left-libertarian point of view, where they will oppose authoritarian control mechanisms such as the mainstream media's programming.

We want people associated with our main characters to communicate via their own illegal broadband frequency systems and graffiti/poster codes that were setup illegally, both of which were inspired by electronic music pirate radios of the 1990s, poster/graffiti culture and Aphex Twin. Through implants and translators, some people will be able to hear sonic feedback from the visual codes they are seeing, whether it be a subversive infoline, a hidden message, a call to a rave or a cryptic jingle.The underground system is known as Caustic Widow. The Caustic Widow can direct frequencies in an encrypted manner and have them translated into audio/visual content by the right recipient, for the resistance and people who want to remain under the government's radar. These kinds of networks will eventually be heavily utilized by our protagonists. The mainstream communication system, functioning as an augmented reality social media platform, is called Polygon Window. It serves as a gateway for citizens to access news and engage in social interactions, albeit under constant surveillance. 
Citizens will have access to information that is fed to them top-down by the government and will have some degree of regulated freedom of movement, much like the internet today. It serves as a method of keeping the general public occupied, under control, and gathering data for AI advancements.

The city's location is inspired by cities close to the Lake of Michigan. The city's structure will consist of industrial districts, suburbs (residential areas), a city center (where people spend their leisure time and the corporates live), a port and abandoned parts. 
Architectonically speaking the city of FREQ will be one that allows for different layers of verticality. In terms of class divide, people that accumulated the most money, consume the most energy to live a silent life away from all the noise in the leisure part of the city. As the city runs on frequencies the city will be shaped by harvesting devices that convert frequencies to energy. The suburbs are noisy, hectic, overloaded with ads and privacy invasive technology as a stark contrast to the wealthy part. The city used to be overpopulated but since the climate catastrophe it is in a normal state now.

Most city processes are automated and run by AI. The rich residents no longer need to work anymore, money is also accumulated by giving the AI information about themselves through various activities in the city. The social status and income is measured by money and the PW-Rating. Children go to a school which resembles our education system, but their learnings are used to feed the AI as the child is unhinged and not already structured, which makes their behaviors the most valuable for the AI and therefore generates the most income for the family. This circumstance makes children a valuable asset for families who want to rise to the upper parts of the cities society. Suburb families have similar job structures to our world and are climbing up the rating system to eventually be able to travel the whole city and enjoy the benefits of a high rating. Once a suburb citizen has the rating acquired, they can move to the leisure city, where they are allowed to accumulate robots which are doing the labor for them and are competing against humans of the suburb in the labor market.

Our main character's origin story starts as a child who goes to school and is pressurized by his foster parents that want to rise up the ranks by gaining more money through the extraction of creativity for the AI - but the child is of rebellious nature and isn’t very accustomed to the ways of teaching in school - shortly he doesn't perform as wished by the society. One day the character finds himself in a illegal rave - this moment changes his perception of reality forever. Throughout its journey the character's narrow worldview will expand through different experiences and companions will join the character to form a group to revolt against the system.

The main antagonists of the story will be inspired by the current power structures in the music industry where accumulation of power, control, programming, data-harvesting are key ambitions to keep the citizens in check. The main antagonists will use diversion tactics to cripple uprisings, movements and mimicry if needed. The corporate structures that run the city will be defended by the military and police. The corporates control every aspect of life - education, science, police and media - all of those are streamlined to their accumulative interests. Those power structures will have access to highly advanced frequency weapons to defend their interests by any means. As one of the main goals for the corporations is to feed their AI to be able to defeat/control other cities and corporate interests - it is unclear who actually is on top of the power pyramid - is it the human or the AI?

Despite the fact that the story will be written in a linear fashion, each story block will be handled in a modular manner, allowing us to approach the manga in a non-linear manner and more as a gamified open-world narrative experiment. What do we mean by an open-world inspired narrative? The foundation for the open-word inspired narration is the FREQs structure, which allows for various time axes and location axes where independent/dependent narratives take place.

There are two distinct archetypes that DJs embody in this society. On one hand, there are the Leisure City DJs, often seen as corporate pawns striving to ascend the societal ladder by favoring tracks that boost their credit scores. Conversely, there exists a faction of DJs who serve as the bedrock of the resistance movement, helping to harness the power of sound frequencies to draw energy from their music during underground raves. 
While it remains unverified, some DJs hold a belief that specific combinations of track transitions yield varying degrees of energy. Leisure City DJs primarily source their music from the streaming service on Polygon Window. DJs situated in the Electribe or Suburbs, however, procure their music from Record-Holographers. These individuals function as musical archaeologists, unearthing relics from the past society and transcribing them onto holographic plates, which DJs can then incorporate into their sets.

Fashion styles differ from which parts of the city or class you come from - our first tribe has a very distinctive almost new agy look. The suburbs clothing is inspired by contemporary youth fashion trends like tech-wear and gorpcore. The middle class and higher ups which are frequently in the main city parts dress inspired by high-fashion brands like Mugler, Iris Van Herpen, Heliot & Emil, Balenciaga and some Y2K collections by brands like Raf Simons or D&G.

Akai, after a suburban upbringing alongside Aira and Logue, found himself on the fringes of society following a serious legal transgression. His allegiance lies with the Electribe, wielding a sampler weapon with precision. This unique tool allows Akai to dissect, adopt, and deploy adversaries' weaponry, making him a formidable force in the ongoing struggle.

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Aira, a longtime comrade of Akai and Logue, charted an independent path after Akai's sudden disappearance. She navigated societal ranks while diligently pursuing her education. Fate intervened, reuniting Aira and Akai in the pulsating heart of a leisure city club. This unexpected encounter set the stage for a reunion that would inevitably shape their intertwined destinies.

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Logue, a contemporary of Akai and Aira from their formative years in school, displayed a precocious ambition that belied their age. Armed with a keen sense for observing and interpreting human behavior, Logue ascended through the ranks of law enforcement. They now stand at the helm of the Sonic Enforcement Unit, a specialized force committed to tracking down and apprehending illegal users of the formidable FREQ technology.

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From an early age, Octa has been an integral part of the Electribe, possessing a diverse skill set ranging from hacking prowess to mastery over protective weaponry. Occasionally, she ventures into the suburbs, offering support to the marginalized and underserved communities. Octa's multifaceted abilities make them a linchpin within the Electribe's ecosystem.

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Dr. Hanon Kins, a visionary scientist, stands as the ingenious mind behind the revolutionary FREQ sound extraction technology. Having weathered the catastrophic climate collapse in his youth, Dr. Kins dedicated his life to crafting a more egalitarian and sustainable world. Despite their pivotal contributions, the current whereabouts of this enigmatic figure remain shrouded in mystery after the corporate takeover.

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Kith, chief of police and military tech commander, underwent a radical transformation, becoming predominantly mecha following a consequential encounter with the Electribe. His formidable arsenal includes frequency following weaponry and devastating area-of-effect sonic arms. Kith is a formidable force to be reckoned with, wielding his power with precision and authority.

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Dr. Ray, the visionary founder of the Electribe, once apprenticed under Dr. Hanon Kins until the government and corporate behemoth SFT (SonicFluxTechnologies) wrested control of the FREQ technology. In response, Dr. Ray withdrew from the city, steadfast in their commitment to upholding a shared vision of class equality. His departure marked a pivotal moment in the struggle against corporate dominance.

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Opsix, a member of Logue's Sonic Enforcement Unit, exudes a stoic demeanor that belies their deadly proficiency as a hunter. A fusion of machine and human, 

Opsix commands a pair of mechanized dogs that possess the remarkable capability to identify anomalies in sound frequencies from significant distances. Developed by the weaponry division of General Frequencies and tailored specifically for Opsix, they are equipped with the latest technological advancements available to robotics. These highly mobile hunting machines are designed to pinpoint specific targets within the bustling confines of a densely populated urban environment. Their deployment greatly enhances the unit's efficiency in pursuing individuals who pose a threat to the established hierarchy.

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A cornerstone of Logue's Sonic Enforcement Unit, Sirin's reputation as one of the swiftest and most brilliant frequency hackers is well-earned. Whether navigating the intricacies of the Polygon Window or any other frequency-based network, Sirin's expertise is unmatched. Their proficiency in this realm stands as a formidable asset in the unit's pursuit of justice.

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Dr. Richard Waldorf, the brilliant mind behind the Polygon Window, conceived a communication system that transforms audio-waves into visual cues, enabling augmented reality experiences. An eccentric figure, Dr. Waldorf is aligned with SonicFluxTechnologies, a force that operates in the complex landscape of technological innovation.

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Volca, who is Octa's sibling, has been a member of the Electribe from a young age. Dr. Ray serves almost as a paternal figure to him, having taught him a great deal about cyber transplantation and how to handle weapons. Volca possesses a serious demeanor, and earning his trust as an outsider is a challenging task. He is a skeptical and strategic individual, prioritizing the well-being of the Electribe over any risks.

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Following the incident where his child was critically injured and subsequently saved through an extensive procedure by Dr. Ray, who replaced the damaged human parts with transplants, Juno devoted his entire existence to safeguarding Dr. Ray and their community. Equipped with a sonic katana capable of attacks over distances and four arms, he stands as a formidable guardian within the tribe.

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Nu is a close friend of Volca, taking on the role of creating networks that stretch from the suburbs to the Electribe. He serves as a crucial node in these operations. Despite being a member of the Electribe, Nu opts to spend most of his time in the suburbs. He finds the peripheral lifestyle, close to the eyes of authority, thrilling.

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The Electribe, a nomadic village perched atop trucks, is a bastion of innovation and resistance. Founded by the visionary Dr. Ray, this community of a hundred souls engineers and crafts their own implants and technology, all centered around the formidable FREQ technology. Their rave rituals, pulsating with specific sound frequencies, yield a surplus of electricity, empowering their equipment. In the eyes of the authorities, these practices are deemed illegal, prompting a relentless pursuit by law enforcement and specialized units. Yet, the Electribe remains resolute in their defiance, refusing to bow to the oppressive dictates of power distribution.

The Electribe represents a contemporary version of hunters and gatherers, as they forage through the remnants of corporations and the outskirts of cities. They assist the villagers in exchange for trade goods and distribute their acquired items within the Electribe. Additionally, food is prepared collectively and shared equally among all members of the Electribe. The Electribe is a community founded on principles of equality, where each member contributes according to their abilities to ensure the group's survival, development, and advancement. 

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SonicFluxTechnologies, commonly referred to as SFT, is the largest corporation in FREQ. Led by their rather eccentric CEO, this corporation oversees all the power plants that convert frequencies into consumable and usable power for industries and end consumers. Holding a monopoly on harvesting and distributing FREQ technology, SFT is an unavoidable player for anyone wanting to conduct business in Rephlex. Additionally, through their sub-companies, they are involved in implants and weaponry.

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Next Era Sonic Systems, commonly known as NESS, is the biggest software corporation, lead by its stoic almost robotic ceo, overseeing all the data streams and renowned for its flagship product, the Polygon Window. This all in one software solution integrates various functionalities, including payment processing, currency management, a rating system, and chat software. Its convenience for users is matched by its utility for the company, which leverage user data to enhance their position.

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General Frequencies stands as the third-largest corporation in Rephlex, specializing in the manufacturing of robots and automated vehicles for private and military use, as well as public transport. Like other major corporations, they boast their own divisions for weaponry and implants. Their CEO is one of the most powerful yet cruel figures, having undergone numerous enhancement transplants, making this corporate a perfect combination of determination, intelligence, technology, and strength.
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