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Lost Technologies

In the shadow of "The Great Collapse," the remnants of pre-collapse technology are referred to as "Lost Technologies". These artifacts are relics of a bygone era, crafted in a world of abundance and innovation but now forbidden in the tightly controlled society that rose from the ashes of collapse. Lost technologies can be as simple as a book or DVD player or as complex as a forgotten medical device.

Lost Technologies in Bucha​

Anything created before the collapse —whether mundane or advanced— is classified as contraband, illegal for private possession. The government decrees that all such items, regardless of condition, must be surrendered immediately to authorities upon discovery.

When surrendered, the fate of these artifacts depends on their nature. Technologies deemed harmless, such as entertainment devices, are destroyed to prevent their cultural influence from taking root. The government views these objects as distractions from the focused, productive life it seeks to cultivate.

More advanced or enigmatic items, however, are sent to a suitable research institute, tasked with studying and reverse-engineering pre-collapse innovations. Here, scientists analyze the lost technologies for any insights that could benefit the current regime, while carefully removing any components or knowledge that might disrupt the tightly controlled order of the city.

Lost Technologies in Rest​

To the people of Rest, lost technologies are fascinating. Because the technical infrastructure in Rest is still damaged, most electronical Lost technologies can not be used. In Rest, lost technologies are freely available in trading shops and black markets. To some, these artifacts represent a fragile connection to the world that was lost, a time of creativity and freedom. To others, they are dangerous relics of excess and chaos, symbols of the hubris that led to the Great Collapse.

In this society, lost technologies embody the tension between the past and the future, between discovery and control. Each artifact carries with it the weight of what was, and the fear of what might yet come.