Altivara

Regional Overview Article—Altivara

Overview

Altivara is the gateway to Hell, a region startlingly close in appearance to an idealized Earth metropolis. Sleek high-rises with mirrored glass facades stretch into a soft, permanent twilight. Streets are lined with manicured trees that seem to trim themselves, illuminated by warm streetlights designed to flatter everyone who passes beneath them. Broad pedestrian avenues feel more like fashion runways than roads, and every public square is meticulously groomed for photo-ready perfection.
Though modern and grounded in design, Altivara hums with subtle magic: a breeze that always enhances your silhouette, clouds that shift to accommodate lighting, and digital screens that display your reflection in slightly improved form. The landscape is functional and familiar, yet elevated—Earth as it imagines itself on its best day.

 

Importance

Altivara serves as Hell’s cultural, social, and psychological hub because it is the region where every newly-arrived Sinner appears by default. The belief that “pride is the root of all evil” means all souls begin their afterlife here, regardless of what sins they committed in life. The region acts as both a processing center and a cultural crucible. As Sinners struggle to adapt, their lingering ego, insecurity, ambition, or self-importance intensifies under Altivara’s influence.
Economically, Altivara thrives as the center of fashion, media, branding, and personal reputation industries. Trends born here spread throughout Hell, shaping everything from aesthetics to politics. Its influence is subtle but pervasive, built on control through image rather than force. What Altivara deems stylish becomes law in the other realms.

 

People and Culture

The population is a swirling mix of Hellborn natives and newly-arrived Sinners, all shaped by the same sin-driven metamorphosis. The Superbia are the native species to this region; Superbiae are prideful, perfection-seeking, competitive, and chronically concerned with their presentation. The culture feels like a hyper-saturated version of Earth’s influencer world. Superbia often manage their personal brand with the same diligence others reserve for health or safety.
New Sinners feel the pressure immediately. They arrive looking “too human,” too raw, too unpolished. Over time, their pride takes shape in subtle physical refinements, heightened self-awareness, or a growing hunger for validation. The Superbia treat assimilation as both art and obligation.

 

Distinctive Features

Altivara’s signature landmark, the Crescent Vista, is an elevated arc spanning the central districts, offering unmatched skyline views. It’s the most-photographed location in Hell, lit with embedded strips that adjust to its nightly crowds.
Another central fixture is The Gates, an arrival plaza where new Sinners appear. Designed to look dignified and welcoming, it is actually Altivara’s most judgmental space, where residents quietly assess incoming souls, noting who will adapt quickly and who will struggle under the region’s relentless aesthetic pressure.