NorrSpira Arkologi A/S

Novark Industries is a gigantic and influential corporation, known for its ambitious projects of mega-structures and vertical cities in the world of science fiction. Founded on a promise of architectural and technological innovation, Novark is both admired for its technical prowess and criticized for its controversial practices.

Identity of Novark Industries

• Slogan: “Building the future, one summit at a time.”
• Logo: A stylized arch evoking a futuristic structure rising towards the stars, surrounded by a luminous circle representing infinite progress.
• Headquarters: A tower of symbolic scale called Nova Spire , located in the heart of a global megacity. This iconic, fully autonomous building reflects the company's vision.

Novark positions itself as a world leader in the construction of arcologies (self-sufficient vertical cities) and revolutionary urban infrastructures.

Origins and History

• Foundation: Novark Industries was founded about a century ago by Valen Korran , a visionary engineer who dreamed of solutions to environmental and overpopulation crises.
• Origins: Originally a small firm specializing in urban transportation infrastructure, Novark quickly diversified to become a major force in the construction of megastructures. The construction of the first arcology, Helios One , marked a turning point, propelling Novark into the sphere of the most influential companies on the planet.
• Initial philosophy: To provide sustainable and autonomous habitats to meet the challenges of climate change, urban density, and limited resources.

Area of Expertise

Novark excels in the design, construction, and management of large and innovative projects, including:

• Arcologies : Self-sufficient vertical cities combining habitats, agriculture, leisure and industry.
• Energy megastructures: Solar towers, integrated wind farms, and spatial energy capture systems.
• Transport infrastructure: Overhead and underground networks to connect megacities together.
• Materials Technology: Development of advanced materials such as graphene alloys, adaptive metamaterials and self-healing polymers.

The Arcanis Project

Arcanis is one of Novark Industries' most ambitious projects, a 1.2 km high tower intended to become a symbol of the company's technological and architectural dominance.

• Initial objective: To build a self-contained structure capable of housing and supporting a population of 500,000 people in a vertical environment, with agricultural, residential, industrial and recreational areas.
• Challenges: Cost Explosion: Originally estimated at $400 billion, the project has grown to more than $650 billion, putting pressure on Novark. Public Opposition: Growing criticism of the company's environmental impact and questionable practices. Delays: Design flaws and extreme weather conditions have delayed construction by years.

Corporate Culture

Official Philosophy:

Novark describes itself as an innovation pioneer, promising to solve humanity's greatest challenges through technological solutions.

Real Culture:

• Boundless Ambition: The company values boldness and ingenuity, but this relentless pursuit of greatness often leads to risky compromises.
• Intense Pressure: Employees, from engineers to factory workers, work under constant pressure to meet unrealistic deadlines and maintain Novark's reputation.
• Questionable Ethics: Despite presenting itself as ethical, Novark is known for its exploitative practices, aggressive cost-cutting, and intensive political lobbying.

Controversial Practices

Although Novark is a respected giant in its field, its practices raise concerns:

• Cost-cutting at the expense of safety: Use of damaged or substandard materials in critical structures. Compression of safety measures on construction sites, leading to regular accidents.
• Worker exploitation: Workers and technicians are often forced to work extreme hours without adequate compensation. Teams at height, like Astrid's, are monitored by drones to avoid any "waste of time."
• Aggressive Marketing: Elements of projects like Arcanis, originally designed to be public goods, are being privatized to generate additional profits. The company is selling space in unfinished sections of the tower, putting future occupants at risk.
• Environmental impact: Although Novark advocates sustainability, its massive construction sites often generate significant ecological damage.

Public Image and Perception

• Symbol of Innovation: In the eyes of the general public, Novark represents the pinnacle of modern technology and architecture. Its projects such as Helios One and Arcanis are seen as revolutionary feats.
• Growing criticism: Environmental and labor movements denounce Novark's questionable practices, highlighting construction site accidents, delays, and environmental impacts.
• Political influence: Novark exerts considerable pressure on governments to obtain subsidies and evade strict regulations.

Power Structure

Leadership:

• CEO: Elaine Valthor , a charismatic but ruthless businesswoman. A visionary, she is obsessed with leaving a monumental legacy, even if it means sacrificing her company's ethics. She is known for her flamboyant speeches and her insistence on the "necessity of progress at all costs".
• Strategic Council: A group of influential technocrats, focused on global expansion and profit maximization.

Internal hierarchy:

• Novark is divided into several specialized branches, ranging from materials research to construction management. Decisions are often imposed top-down, leaving little room for maneuver for teams on the ground.

Novark and Astrid

Astrid, as the Summit Master overseeing the critical phase of Arcanis, is in constant conflict with Novark's management. While she defends the safety of her team and the quality of the project, she clashes with the cost-cutting directives imposed by Elaine Valthor and her council.

Novark Industries is therefore a complex entity: a symbol of the human capacity for unimaginable feats, but also a reflection of the excesses and dangers of unbridled ambition.

Director of the Arcanis Project

Draven Korran

• Title: General Manager of the Arcanis Project
• Description: An ambitious and calculating man, descended from Novark Industries founder Valen Korran. Draven is obsessed with the success of the project, which he sees as a crucial step in cementing his family legacy. He is known for his cold pragmatism and disregard for ethical objections.

Head of Engineering

Lena Vyrdal

• Title: Chief Technical Officer
• Description: A brilliant but ruthless engineer, Lena is the mastermind behind the technical solutions that keep the tower standing despite extreme challenges. She often clashes with Astrid over her approach to cost-cutting and optimization at all costs.

Finance Manager

Cyrus Vennix

• Title: Project Financial Director
• Description: A financial strategist whose primary goal is to limit Arcanis' colossal financial losses. Cyrus is willing to take considerable risks to ensure the project's profitability, including compromising on safety or quality.

Logistics Manager

Freya Ostvald

• Title: Director of Logistics Coordination
• Description: In charge of getting materials and prefabricated parts to the site, Freya juggles unexpected delays and resource shortages. She is pragmatic and often frustrated by the constant pressure coming from management.

Director of Public Relations

Silas Rendel

• Title: Director of Communications and Brand Image
• Description: Silas is tasked with maintaining Arcanis' public image and minimizing the fallout from controversies. He is a charismatic manipulator, able to deflect harsh criticism with eloquent speeches and well-orchestrated marketing campaigns.

Head of Security

Ragnar Stenvik

• Title: Security and Compliance Officer
• Description: A former military man, Ragnar is responsible for the safety of workers and the structure. While he takes his role seriously, he is often caught between cost-cutting orders from management and the concerns of the teams on the ground.

Human Resources Manager

Elara Vynstra

• Title: Project Human Relations Director
• Description: Elara is supposed to ensure the well-being of the employees, but she is more often seen as an intermediary between the workers and the ruthless orders of management. She is torn between her natural compassion and Novark's demands.

External Consultant (Linked to Novark)

Kael Drystan

• Title: Innovation and Strategy Advisor
• Description: A renowned consultant hired to "accelerate" technical and financial solutions. Kael is often seen as an arrogant intruder by the teams, but he has the ear of Draven Korran and influences many critical decisions.

Key Relationships with Astrid

• Draven Korran and Lena Vyrdal are at constant odds with Astrid, pushing for quick solutions that compromise safety.
• Ragnar Stenvik often shares Astrid's concerns, but he is limited by his duty to follow orders.
• Freya Ostvald respects Astrid's work and is one of the few allies in the hierarchy.