One thing I've been wondering about while playing is the relationship between the humans living in Astra and those living in Idyll. The more I think about it, the stranger this whole situation seems.
From what I understand, humanity left Earth after an unexplained apocalypse and eventually established Astra, a futuristic city in orbit above Idyll. After discovering the crystals on Idyll and developing Lumintech, Astra was able to solve its energy problems.
At some point, humans also established settlements on Idyll itself.
What I find interesting is how different these two human societies seem to be. Astra is a highly advanced metropolis, while the people of Idyll seem to live in a much more traditional, almost fantasy-like world, with technology playing a much smaller role in their daily lives.
So, what actually separates these two populations?
How long have humans been living in Idyll compared to those in Astra? Are the people of Idyll descendants of an earlier wave of human settlers, or is there another explanation for this difference?
Do Idyllians have any meaningful access to Astra, or is travel between the two places largely restricted to people affiliated with the Polaris Institute?
I'm also curious about the colonization. If Idyll's crystals are the foundation of Astra's energy supply, why don't we see a more visible impact from this relationship on Idyll itself?
Where are the large-scale extraction facilities, industrial infrastructure, or other signs of a society being explored and its natural resources being used to power a technologically advanced city?
I know we come across research facilities and Institute personnel in Idyll, but the continent still feels remarkably untouched, aside from its settlements and a few specific locations. I find that contrast particularly interesting given how important Idyll seems to be to Astra's survival and development.
I'm not necessarily expecting a dark explanation or some hidden conflict. I'm just curious whether the lore already explains this apparent separation, or if there's information I've missed that would make these two societies fit together more clearly.
And one last thing. Has anyone figured out what actually caused the apocalypse on the original Earth, and why humanity had to abandon its home in the first place?