Yeah, I've noticed that Zetan society is more medievalistic and pharaoh-like in its appearance. Hearkening to the days of ancient Egypt and trying to mirror that vibe, so to speak.
In some respects, the Decayed might be building upon their own HQ, and expanding upon the pre-war structures that they had encountered when trying to set up their internal base of operations.
Well one way to look at it, is that the warehouse comprises just a small part of the entire complex. So, initially the decayed might have just stumbled upon the warehouse/slaughter house factory, but over the years/decades, they probably constructed more buildings and used their knowledge of technology to assemble other parts of the complex to add to their base of operations. The buildings all seem interconnected in a sense.
It's actually quite likely that the Decayed acted this way. It would match what little we know about them, particularly from Ivy/Yuna’s journal entries mentioning that they were originally individuals who went too far into the dangerous and cursed ruins of Old Cairo.
Still, it's unclear whether the Decayed are capable of any real level of sophistication. That question doesn’t have an obvious answer. Even though our first impression of them might suggest the opposite, we can’t completely rule out this possibility.
Anyway, back to what you were saying, this seems like the most straightforward and logical way to proceed in a city left in ruins after a cataclysm whose exact cause is still unknown, even if we suspect it was intentional and man-made, most likely the result of a war.
As for the full layout of the complex, or changes made to the original setup of the buildings found around the site, I can’t say anything for sure. At this point, the train station seems to be the only pre-existing structure. Others might be as well, but it's also likely that many were patched together, modified, or built as new needs arose and the Decayed expanded their base of operations.
I also think this group of buildings that make up the larger complex is at least partly connected. Maybe not all of them, but it would make sense from a practical point of view for some to be connected.
Yeah in due time, I believe we will get more answers to the Decayed plotline. At the moment there are other paths needing to be expanded upon (i.e., with the most recent updates focusing heavily on the mutant storyline). But I would love to know more about Abrax's master plan, and the real purpose behind the glowing artifact that Shani had uncovered in the ruins of the Zone and its actual purpose. More importantly, why Abrax was so obsessed with Shani retrieving that artifact, and what the pre-war scientsts were doing in relation to said artifact
Nonetheless, I digress. It's all quite fascinating and I can't wait to see more of the plot unfold in deciperhing all these hidden clues and piecing together the mutant storyline, and their broader implications for Zetan society.
Yeah, actually, the plotline about the mutants definitely promises a lot of interesting things ahead. I assume there are probably many dramas and twists along the way, not to mention the major social challenges their group faces trying to fit in and be accepted by Zetan society. Obviously, all that can’t happen without tensions and a broader shift in mindsets and society.
Now that I think about it, that’s also what Abrax kind of hints at during his last discussion with Zaton. A new wave of major changes is on the horizon. It is up to those with open minds to adapt and show resilience, and conversely, for those who are unable to do so, to disappear in this context.
That could be the case for Zeta if the city can’t reconsider its very rigid, if not too rigid, views and practices regarding the past, technology, but especially knowledge and certain truths. And when it comes to the mutants, tolerance towards them, even if relative, is a sort of necessity for survival.
I’m also really intrigued and captivated by this plotline involving Lord Abrax. The mysteries it holds are probably key to understanding the whole story. I have my share of guesses and hypotheses about the artifact found as well as about the Scorched Earth Project and the Horus system.
Still, I don’t know why he specifically chose Shani to explore the Zone. Was it because of her youth, open mind, and curiosity ? Or was it a way to more easily convince Zaton, or at least to spark doubt and interest in his ideas ? At this stage, it is hard to figure out the old master’s intentions and goals.
I’m also fascinated by the implications of this storyline and the many potential consequences of certain developments. We still have so much to discover. It’s pretty exciting.
I feel like we’re getting closer to some kind of truth and bigger revelations. Everything seems to be pointing that way, from Lord Abrax’s secrets, the altered and hidden history of Zeta’s founding, to the distant events that Ivy and her species seem to have witnessed more or less.
All of this leads us deeper into mysteries with a sense that a truth is deliberately being hidden for various reasons. I’m really looking forward to learning more about all of this too.
It could be that the decayed custom-built part of their complex in accommodating Abrax's throne room

Or perhaps the throne room had existed in a very rough/rudimentary state before the Decayed came over and refurbished the throne room using bits and bobbles of pre-war technology and other materials to patch it up.
Either way, Abrax's throne room does give off a very ominous and foreboding presence to it. It certainly suits Abrax and personifies his character really well in my opinion
To be honest, I have no clear idea what the Decayed might have done in this case. It's possible that their operational base was planned and connected from the beginning to Lord Abrax’s palace, or perhaps it's not.
Still, is he really the one who initiated all of it ? Maybe, maybe not. It’s also possible that he simply took over something others had already started and ended up being the one to rationalize and expand on his people’s efforts.
I have no clue whether this temple is an old structure that was later rediscovered, renovated, and repurposed to fit their leader’s needs and tastes, or if it's a more recent and sophisticated construction built in a pharaonic or Egyptian revivalist style.
That’s something we also see in the city of Zeta, which probably combines both genuinely ancient buildings and newer ones that imitate those earlier styles. I think that’s even mentioned in the writings of one of the city’s early founders. He talked about ruins that had been excavated and unearthed, around which the rest of the city gradually took shape.
So we can assume either that it’s a preserved or renovated ancient structure, or that it’s a completely new construction. All possibilities are open here, and given Lord Abrax’s experience and his former role as a Stalker, it’s likely he has the knowledge needed for this kind of project.
It’s also possible that this palace-temple is, in a way, an imitation, not literally, but in spirit, of Zeta’s palace in terms of its function. The building stands in stark contrast with the other structures Zaton saw during his visit, and I see that as a kind of tribute or a sign of Abrax’s intention to pursue ambitions similar to Zeta’s, like greatness and legacy.
We can also view it as a kind of continuity, perhaps linking several past and present civilizations, such as Zeta, or pharaonic Egypt, and the lost modern world. These influences are reflected in the two types of structures seen so far among the Decayed.
In short, I don’t think we can really settle the question completely, but the possibilities it raises are definitely interesting.
Yes, I agree with you about the atmosphere conveyed by the throne room visuals. The way shadows dominate the space, the use of light, the raised position of the throne, the scale and depth of the room, all of it seems designed to create a gloomy, oppressive mood.
There’s a sense of authority and control radiating from whoever sits on that throne, with a kind of underlying threat and mystery hidden in those shadows.
PS: Sorry for the wall of text !
