The Feel
Seregon is sophisticated. The citizens ride their bicycles to their jobs, attend the symphony on occasion, drink coffee at street side cafes, watch parades for festivals nearly every night of the year, and cheer for their champion in petty political squabbles. The worse things get, the more outrageous the politics, in a surreal cycle of fear.
Seregonians are interested in the latest fashions invented in the city, the newest The Walraven Consortium baubles, and the news from afar. They whisper because about the news becauase it's usually bad (and often wrong). There is constant fear of invasion from afar, fueled by the government. For the government, fear is always present, and must be managed, cultivated, and directed appropriately to solvable problems of little consequence.
The poor suffer greatly, fall into servitude, and work tirelessly to avoid becoming victims to Amber Fever. It's only by not being poor that their future is ensured, and even then, the streets are unsafe. The deadly Festival of Canals, which often takes their lives, is always months away, anxiously counted down. To most Seregonians this is an acceptable element of life. Don't be poor.
Adventurers, wizards, druids, and the like are gauche. They are a reminder the world is devolving. They are only appreciated when properly attired, soft spoken, and entertaining. A young, attractive sorcerer will be invited to all the parties, while a studious mage is an unwelcome reminder.
Adventurers are often directed outside the city to explore, bolster defenses, build new outposts, and fight monsters. They are well paid and appreciated, provided they don't make a scene. Adventurers are easy scapegoats for anything that can't be easily explained.
Seregon is under siege. Zombies attack in unpredictable waves, sometimes decimating outposts or small villages nearby. Straphangers, dinosaur mounted militia, clean up the mess and defend the frontier. They are named after the many bags and pouches on their mounts. The people are blissfully ignorant of their situation.
The Nosgar Tribe Tribe outside of Seregon acts as an early warning system. They dodge zombie incursions, avoid waking monstrosities, and forbid their people from meddling with ruins and the affairs of Seregon. Their are mostly nomadic, migrating to various fortified camps throughout the jungle. Some camps are hidden in the trees, underground, or on cliffsides farther inland.
Winding Down. There is a feeling Moog (your island) is getting worse. Fewer people in the outside world can afford The Drug, resulting in less revenue and fewer distractions. There is no sense that "something must be done," as that energy was exhausted generations ago. Not everyone feels that way, and that's where you come in.