The inhabitants of Qal-Id have a belief in a god who bestows ideas and inspiration for new technologies and development through an earthly prophet. They feel that they must develop those technologies feverishly in anticipation of the next prophet or to achieve paradise on earth. Should they not finish adequately advance their technologies, they fear that an apocalypse might come.

Schelluminaut (those who schelluminate) are the earthly prophets. Upon the death of the current schelluminaut, high priests set out in search of the new schelluminaut. The Schelluminaut resides and issues forth his or her prophecies from Arc Towers located within the kingdom.

Also present within Qal-Id is an anti-technology, eco-terrorist cult, the Schmarks, urging for moderation in the belief that the destruction of the earth as a result of progress is an indication of its roots in evil.

A class of mutants, The Wronged (pejoratively referred to as The Slime) the victims of breeding experiments conducted in the name of progress, also believe that the voices of progress are voices of evil. Instead of believing in god of progress, they are waiting for The Dawning, when the Arc Towers will be destroyed and their Savior will arrive.