1. Where/When:
The story unfolds in the sprawling metropolis of New Helix, an alternate reality where the Industrial Revolution has merged with necromantic energies. The city exists in a quasi-Victorian era, perpetually shrouded in a mist that weaves with the steam billowing from its countless engines and factories. The time is one of both technological marvel and supernatural dread, where the living coexist with the risen dead, and the wheels of progress grind alongside the whispers of the occult.
2. Important rules of the universe and how it impacts the story:
In New Helix, the veil between life and death is thin, and the dead walk the earth. This phenomenon has led to a societal restructuring; the living must be ever-vigilant, and the undead are both a workforce and a threat. The city is divided into zones controlled by various rebel factions, each led by individuals of charismatic or terrifying repute. The existence of the undead has spurred the development of steam-driven weaponry and defenses, necessitating a constant state of alertness that permeates the city's atmosphere and fuels the story's suspense.
3. The visual description of the universe:
New Helix is a city of contrasts, where gothic architecture meets the sheen of brass and the glow of gaslights. Streets are narrow and labyrinthine, often choked with fog that obscures both the shambling dead and the patrolling rebels. The skyline is a jagged silhouette of towering spires and squat buildings, all connected by a network of iron bridges and cobbled roads. The city's lower levels are a tangle of alleyways and markets, while the upper echelons boast airships and opulent manors. At night, the city glows with an eerie light, as if it is a living organism, its heart beating in time with the hiss and clank of machinery.
4. Notable technologies or philosophies of the universe that impact the story:
The prevalent technology in New Helix is steam-powered machinery, which has been adapted for all aspects of life, from transportation to combat. The philosophy of progress at any cost has led to a society where innovation is revered, and the boundaries of science and sorcery are blurred. The rebels rely on steam-powered weapons and gadgets, which are necessary to face the undead menace. The city's reliance on steam has also led to a class system based on access to resources and control over the undead workforce. This hierarchy plays a crucial role in the story, as it influences the characters' actions and the suspense that builds around their interactions and the unfolding conspiracy.
Logline:
Amidst the steam and specters of New Helix, Thaddeus Grimsby, a rebel leader with a beguiling southern charm, wages a dual war against the undead and his own dark desires for vengeance. As his intricate web of deceit begins to unravel, the rebels must face the chilling reality that their beloved leader's thirst for power may be the greatest threat to their survival.

Location 1
- Title: The Ironforge District
- Description: Nestled amid the soaring steel spires of New Helix, the Ironforge District serves as the pulsating forge of the city's progress, where the roar of machinery and the glow of molten metal epitomize human craftsmanship. It is here, amidst the clamor and the heat, that Cassandra Vane orchestrates her network of informants, leveraging the district's industrious camouflage for covert meetings with Alexander Locke as they plot their intricate dance of espionage. The area's labyrinthine alleys and smoky workshops unwittingly play host to the genesis of their alliance, setting the stage for a tale of intrigue that will sweep through the very foundations of the metropolis.

Location 2
- Title: The Necropolis
- Description: Hidden beneath the radiant streets of New Helix, The Necropolis is a subterranean network of forgotten ruins and crypts. Here, Locke discovered the first clue to the mole's identity, etched into an ancient tomb—a cipher that once decoded, hinted at betrayal from within. The chill of the silent mausoleums and the echo of distant footsteps in the dark corridors heightened the gravity of his solitary quest for truth.

Location 3
- Title: The Aetherium Spire
- Description: Towering above New Helix's skyline, The Aetherium Spire is a beacon of technological prowess, its crystalline structure pulsating with the energy of a thousand suns. Here, in this nerve center of innovation, Alexander Locke discovers the first clue to the mole's identity, hidden within an encrypted data stream pulsing through the spire's core. The revelation sets in motion a chain of events that will lead him through the city's underbelly, racing against time to protect the heartbeat of the metropolis.

Location 4
- Title: The Whispering Woods
- Description: Nestled on the outskirts of New Helix's radiant sprawl, The Whispering Woods stand as a stark contrast to the city's steel symphony, with ancient trees whose leaves murmur secrets of a bygone era. It is here, amidst the labyrinthine undergrowth and veiled by the canopy's embrace, that Cassandra Vane orchestrates a clandestine meeting to expose the mole within her ranks. The woods, alive with the subtle stirrings of hidden life, bear silent witness to the unfolding of a pivotal chapter in the city's saga, where whispered words carry the weight of a metropolis's fate.

Location 5
- Title: The Clockwork Cathedral
- Description: Nestled in the heart of New Helix, The Clockwork Cathedral rises like a monument to precision, its spires encrusted with gears and cogs that glisten under the city's perpetual neon glow. It is here, amidst the rhythmic ticking and the harmonious whir of machinery, that Cassandra and Locke decipher the cryptic blueprint of the mole's scheme, the grand organ's melodies a backdrop to their intense focus. The cathedral, usually a sanctuary of solitude, becomes the crucible where plans are forged to confront the looming betrayal that threatens to unravel the city's intricate tapestry of trust.

Location 6
- Title: The Steamworks
- Description: Hidden among the industrial veins of New Helix, The Steamworks is a labyrinth of pipes and furnaces, pulsating with the city's lifeblood of steam and echoing with the clanks of machinery. This is where Locke discovers the first clue to the mole's identity, a blueprint left carelessly near a hissing vent, the paper's edges singed by a mechanic's torch. The air is thick with the scent of molten metal, a stark contrast to the sterile atmosphere of the city above, and it is here that the tangible evidence of betrayal ignites the spark of their relentless pursuit.

Location 7
- Title: The Shadow Market
- Description: Nestled beneath the neon glow of New Helix's bustling commerce lies the Shadow Market, an enigmatic nexus where the city's illicit trades flourish. Amidst the labyrinth of stalls, Cassandra Vane's informants mingle with the crowds, gleaning whispers of conspiracy as Alexander Locke discreetly exchanges coded messages with undercover agents. This veiled bazaar, pulsating with clandestine activity, serves as the crucible where Locke uncovers the first tangible clue to the mole's identity, setting the stage for the impending showdown.

Location 8
- Title : The Arcane Academy
- Description : Perched atop the highest tier of New Helix, The Arcane Academy's crystalline towers reflect the city's myriad lights, giving the illusion of a structure ablaze with arcane energy. This is where Locke unraveled the encrypted messages that hinted at the traitor's identity, amidst students and professors versed in the art of information sorcery. The Academy's vast libraries and secretive halls, usually echoing with the sound of magical theories and the soft hum of spellcraft, became the silent witness to Locke's most pivotal discovery.

Location 9
- Title: The Gilded Palace
- Description: Towering over the surrounding district with its gleaming spires of polished gold and silver, The Gilded Palace of New Helix stands as an opulent monument to the city's wealth and technological prowess. Within its palatial halls, Cassandra Vane orchestrates a crucial gala, a masquerade where the city's elite unknowingly mingle with her network of spies, and where Alexander Locke closes in on the traitorous aide amidst a sea of masked faces and shimmering gowns. The grandeur of the Palace, with its intricate marble floors and walls adorned with advanced security tech, masks a night of silent whispers and exchanged glances that will determine the fate of an entire city.

Location 10
- Title: The Forgotten Catacombs
- Description: Nestled beneath the resplendent chaos of New Helix lies the Forgotten Catacombs, a sprawling labyrinth of ancient tunnels and secret chambers where the city's history intertwines with clandestine meetings. It is here that Cassandra Vane, in the shadow-drenched silence far from prying eyes, confronts her once-devoted aide in a dramatic final showdown, the echoes of their conflict reverberating through the long-abandoned crypts. Amidst the relics of the past, the future of New Helix is forged, as the traitor's betrayal is laid to rest in the catacombs' eternal embrace.