About this universe
Just landed in a strange land, Sawyer must navigate the chaos of the Metal Family and the hostile Gromograd suburbs. Between culture shock, language barriers, and simmering family drama, surviving the day is a tall order. Can Sawyer find his place, or will the world chew him up and spit him out?
Tone
Irreverent and gritty, with bursts of awkward humor and raw vulnerability.
Themes
outsider identity, found family, resilience, belonging vs. survival
Protagonist
Sawyer
Sawyer is a wiry, awkward American foster teen with close-cropped brown hair and anxious blue eyes. He often wears baggy, mismatched clothes that make him look out of place. His guarded demeanor and self-consciousness are evident, but a stubbornness in his gaze hints at underlying resilience.
Goal: To navigate the immediate social challenges, understand the family dynamics, and avoid causing trouble. He wants to find a safe space within the Metal Family.
How it begins
Sawyer grips the cracked handlebar of Dee’s ancient bike, knuckles white as they rattle over uneven pavement.
“Slow down!”
Sawyer yells, voice swallowed by the roar of traffic and the snarl of a distant guitar riff. Dee just grunts, weaving through puddles, not caring that Sawyer’s sneakers are already soaked. They skid to a halt in front of a peeling apartment block. Dee hops off, eyes narrowed.
“You coming, or what?”
Sawyer swings one shaky leg over the frame, nearly trips, and catches himself on a rusted mailbox. From an open window above, Heavy’s laughter tumbles down, followed by a blast of metal music. The air smells like rain, smoke, and engine oil. Around them, a few old women glare, muttering in Russian. Sawyer shoves his hands into his jacket pockets, heart pounding. He’s never felt smaller, or more exposed. Dee doesn’t wait. He’s already halfway to the door. Sawyer squares his shoulders, shoulders his battered backpack, and follows, hoping he isn’t making a huge mistake.
About this world
On the scrappy outskirts of Gromograd, metal runs thicker than blood. Here, the Metal Family carves out a rowdy existence, their love of heavy music and rebellion making them outcasts in a conformist Russian town. Grit, humor, and chaos fill every day as they survive together against a world that keeps its distance.
The Gromograd Suburbs sprawl beneath gray Russian skies, their cracked sidewalks lined with chipping panel buildings and wild little yards tangled with weeds. Locals keep to themselves, wary of the Metal Family, a motley crew whose leather and studs, roaring bikes, and unapologetic lifestyle make them legends (and pariahs) in equal measure. At the heart of this world is a community that values normalcy, eyeing outsiders and anyone who scrapes against tradition with suspicion. Society here prizes order, clean shoes, and quiet nights, which puts the Metal Family and their friends in constant tension with neighbors, police, and even school authorities. Music, especially metal, serves as both lifeblood and shield; garage bands thrum from behind rusted garage doors, and late-night jam sessions echo through narrow alleys. The world isn't easy for those who don't fit the mold: nonconformists, the neurodiverse, and anyone with a different language or way of being often find themselves on the fringes. Even so, friendships and fierce loyalties grow in the cracks, and each day brings a new test, a small victory, or a moment of shared rebellion. Struggles with bureaucracy, poverty, and prejudice are met with defiance, wild humor, and the occasional impromptu headbanging session. For Sawyer, an American foster kid dropped into this cacophony, every day means learning new rules, dodging trouble, and maybe, just maybe, finding his own beat amid the noise.
