Ecill

Ecill is one of the capital cities of the Vell. Entirely underwater, it is comprised of two main parts: the Dome, where most Vell live, and the Infrastructure.

Dome
The Dome is a gigantic semispherical complex that contains the bulk of the city, including the business, commercial and political centers. Many small, spike-shaped sections jut out from the dome; each of these contains one or a number of Vell residences. The larger spikes contain business complexes, stores, warehouses and upper-class private residences. The Dome is filled with climate-controlled, filtered water; deriving its power from geothermal energy cores far underground, it is able to lock in heat during the winter and stay cool during the summer. Warehouses, residences and business complexes have their own thermostats. The Technocracy operates out of a large Senate building in the center of the Dome, and communication between this hub and the rest of the city enables Vell to vote and stay informed regarding matters of the Consensus.

Infrastructure
Left over from the Vell's communication with the Precursors, the Infrastructure is a gigantic, pressurized, air-filled base situated just a couple of kilometres from the Dome. Air is siphoned through numerous underground pipes from the surface, then pressurized and purified. For Vell, special entrance rooms serve as gateways to the Infrastructure. There is also a large 'elevator' that connects the Infrastructure to the surface, to a location on open water where other species are unlikely to find it.

The infrastructure used to be the center of commerce for trade with the Precursors, but has since become a place of religious worship: many of the halls have been converted into cathedrals or private meditation spaces for this purpose. It has also lately become the scene of Ecill nightlife--it is frequented by Vell seeking drugs, mates and other irrational pursuits. Finally, since land-born Vell, or Vell with occupations related to the land, require an oxygenated place to practice walking, running, and combat, parts of the Infrastructure have been dedicated to training and research for reconnaissance and research teams.

There are deeper parts of the Infrastructure located underground; these parts, however, are restricted to religious leaders and members of the Technocracy.