The 1st Floor of The Spire of Dividends, known originally as The Lobby, once stood as a testament to opulence and power. Founded at an unknown date, this grand reception atrium was meticulously designed to awe visiting dignitaries, featuring magnificent fountains of liquid light and polished marble imported from Terra itself. Its purpose was clear: to impress and reinforce the formidable wealth and influence of The Spire's executives.
Following the cataclysmic event known as the Sundering, the entire Spire found itself isolated from the outside world. In a drastic measure to safeguard the upper echelons of executives, the heavy blast doors of The Lobby were sealed shut, intended to protect them from the encroaching, mutated jungle of Encarys. This act marked the beginning of The Lobby's transformation from a gateway to a barrier.
Over the last millennium, The Lobby's original purpose was irrevocably abandoned, evolving from a majestic reception area into a squalid containment zone. Now grimly referred to as The Insolvency Zone, it became the designated dwelling for The Board's lowest caste: the Permanent Interns. These unfortunate citizens, born with zero or negative Net Worth, found themselves perpetually indebted and unable to afford the prohibitive elevator fees required to ascend to the habitable residential floors above.
Trapped in a cycle of desperation, the Permanent Interns live out their lives within The Lobby, viewing the Great Elevator Shaft not as a transport system but as a stairway to a longed-for heaven. Their existence serves a grim dual purpose: to provide cheap labor and to act as a vital biological buffer. They stand as the first line of defense against the predatory jungle wildlife that relentlessly attempts to breach the sealed blast doors, protecting the Shareholders above.
Presently, The Lobby is in a critical state, suffering from heavy depreciation and severe disrepair. The once-grand space is now marked by extensive damage and neglect, reflecting the abject conditions within. Overcrowding further exacerbates the squalor, painting a bleak picture of The Insolvency Zone's current status and its inhabitants' dire plight.