That brings the casual observer to the greatest offender of all the new cities: Metro-Tokyo, or simply just the ‘Metropolis’ to the most. With a population exceeding three hundred million jammed into just four thousand square kilometres, the incomprehensible mess of languages and cultures that permeates the scientific and engineering marvels keeping the entire city afloat, mostly fed, and partially clean, boggles the imagination, as does the complexity of the street language: metropolitan. Of even greater note, however, is the fantastical space elevator that sits at the centre of the city, connecting the wretched on the earth with the resources sent from their generous cousins mining asteroids and the moons of Jupiter. But this is no altruism, for there is still a fortune to be made exploiting human misery, even in the 22nd millennium. In these megacities, democracy is all but a farce to make the diminishing middle class feel better about their vanishing rights; organized crime bosses, super corporations, and megalomaniacs masquerading as philanthropists make the real rules. And yet, here in the twisting and winding mazes of Metropolis, they cannot utilize their destructive potential to recreate the all-out war of the past. All realize that the real lifeblood flows from space, and to jeopardize the elevator would be to commit suicide. Thus, as always, men and women must bleed and die on the streets of Metropolis for the benefit of ironclad, invisible, and now even almost immortal masters.

Technological advances have revolutionized control, placing almost the entire city under the eye of ‘law enforcement’, which enforce the law of whoever pays them enough. There is no reprieve from this eye online either. The internet is a thing of the past for most: private networks are relied upon due to the speed and invasive power of automated viruses and computer-aided hackers who can steal almost all data left unencrypted or unguarded for even a millisecond on an open network. And it’s not just computers that can be hacked; any internet-connected device without proper safeguards can be used against its owner. Cases of hacked phones, music players, cars, tablets, houses, weapons, and even pacemakers are reported regularly. For those truly wishing to keep their identity free in the new world, then, older technology is making resurgences.

Bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards, even oil-based rocket packs if the fuel can be found, replace other methods of travel, albeit with a modern twist. And even more importantly, the role of the courier has become ever more important in keeping private information private. Typewritten documents, packages, rare animals, anything imaginable is now transported daily by couriers all over the city, often risking life and limb to get their next paycheck. But hey, it’s better than starving… And now, in the greatest juxtaposition of all, ham radio operators have made a comeback, broadcasting their signals out on all frequencies to flood the airwaves with so much traffic that it is nigh impossible to track down one single broadcaster. Most are harmless, would be reporters or music-stars, who receive little attention and deserve even less. Others are bothersome, such as wronged individuals or petty criminals openly plotting crimes. But others… others threaten so many of the rich and powerful, that the one consensus amongst their ranks is that those radio operators must be eliminated.

This is the world of Radio Free Metropolis, and those allied with it, those who dare to speak truth to power, to expose lies for no benefit other than the satisfaction of doing so, to risk their lives for a chance at a better thrill or a better life than they are living now, cynical social justice warriors keen to inflict some damage, and even those few who just want to dance while human civilization on Earth burns itself to a crisp in one last great burst of passion.

Name:

Age:

Gender/Sexuality:

Main Skill: (what is your character’s passion?)

Secondary Skills: (list up to four, don’t need that many, leave room for growth)

Quirk: (personality wise, what makes them unique and interesting?)

Oddity: (personality wise, what makes them off-putting?)

Flaw: (personality wise, what creates problems for this character?)

Secret Weapon: (personality-wise OR socially, what has this character got that nobody knows about?)

Goal in Life (meta): (long-term)

Goal in Life (immediate): (short-term goal)

Reason-They-Will-Ultimately-Win: (what is going to make this character succeed in their long-term quest – bring in both personality, skills, history, anything you think relevant. Paint a story in a paragraph for me.)

Reason-They-Will-Ultimately-Fail: (same as the above, but in reverse)

Theme song(s): (MUSIC YEAH. Any genre, absolutely any.)

Description: (art or words fine, but I prefer lots of both)

Equipment: (Everything is branded. Everything. Nike Quickshot™ Super-blades, for example. I don’t need to know everything your character will have access too, instead I want ONLY up to three well-defined and personalized items that make your character. You can have headphones without listing them here, for example, but if you want super special headphones and they’re essential to your vision of your character you need to mark it down.)

Generic Equipment: (Space for your notes about your gear so that consistency can be maintained, anything you think important that’s not in the above. One or two liners.)

Short Bio: (You can write more, but I prefer one very well-thought out paragraph that leaves lots of room of expansion and tying backstories together with other players).