The year is 2140. Mega-corporations have bloated and grown larger than the countries they were once entities of, and had long ago planted the seeds from which the spectacular new world order soon sprouted. The centrepiece of this arrangement takes the form of Paradiso; the heart and hive mind of this brave new world.
The diamond heights are vast and decorated with neons and monorail lines, and the streets are painted with the ever-moving lights of hovering vehicles. In an era of evolution, screens are slowly being replaced with holograms, and live data is streamed through the gargantuan Databahn. The connoisseurs and corporate drones perch atop the penthouse suites, purposefully ignorant of the ramshackle destitute and bio-plague which lurk in alleys below.
The Databahn dictates that there are no secrets to be kept in this shining city.
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► GEIGER WILHELM, GEIGER CORPS. Geiger is absolute power. The face of Geiger paints the city, yet the people know nothing of him. Is Geiger man, machine, or myth? A slogan decorates the billboards: Geiger is always watching you.
► THE DATABAHN Fashioned by the Geiger Corporation, the Databahn has replaced all ISPs and has installed itself as the only known way of data transfer. The Databahn processes and sends information at hyperspeed, and regulates so much data that it is visible to the human eye in a visual not unlike the northern lights.
► THE LAW The powers have blessed patrolmen with the position of judge, jury, and executioner. Resistance is fatal. Whilst foot patrolmen are imperfectly human, building security staff are often composed of androids. The most severe crime is treason. This is included but not limited to anti-Geiger propaganda and tampering with the Databahn.
► THE BIO-PLAGUE The result of an experimental, virus-based cancer treatment which was terminated but accidentally released in 2132. Those afflicted develop dark, tumorous growths on the skin, and succumb to severe hallucinogenic symptoms. With hospitals no longer holding hope for a cure, the powers instead sought prevention. The afflicted are executed on sight, but it is well known that the alleys of the Deep Urban have long become a hive for the bio-plague. This district is left alone out of fear of exposure.
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The highest rooms of Paradiso are reserved for the highest bidders. The inhabitants of the Heights don't often descend from on-high, and their faces are only seen painted upon the many screens and billboards throughout the city. Contrary to the old world, a celebrity showing themselves amongst the common crowd is almost unheard of, and Diamond Heights has almost become a whole other city in itself. Hover vehicles are used to transport from building to building, and sister towers are often connected by a bridge.
Accessed from Sky Hotel, the Sky Bar is the only place within the Heights that is open to the general public.
The Lower District, otherwise known as the Trader Zone, is a series of streets laced with an array of neon-decorated shops. Standard shops are found here, with clothing and food stalls being particularly prominent. A handful of convenient - yet expensive - pharmacies are dotted throughout.
A dubious crowd often gathers in the rear streets, offering stolen cybernetics, narcotics, and illegal computer parts.
The Complex is a stack of cloned apartments and bedsits appropriate for the common crowd. As with most things in Paradiso, the quality of residence generally increases with the floor number, and those unfortunate enough to settle within the ground floor are often subjected to violent burglaries. The Complex is the largest residential zone by a large margin, with around 70% of Paradiso's population residing there.
Since its birth, a huge portion of Paradiso's populace work or have worked somewhere within The Foundry. The Foundry is an industrial district home to the largest steelworks in the world, as well as an array of canneries, furniture warehouses, and power plants. Paradiso's primary source of energy is thermodynamic.
Out of pre-planned convenience, The Foundry was erected adjacent to The Complex.
Over time, cybernetics have become a pseudo-natural part of society. Despite being introduced as a solution for the physically disabled, body modifications have now become immensely popular as both enhancements and fashion accessories. Those who can afford it often have cybernetic eyes, limbs, and chip implants. Chip implants are directly connected to the Databahn, and offer a simple way of accessing various parts of the city without having to carry physical passes and money.
The Geiger Institute is also the sole producer of androids. Whilst their AI system is outstanding, they have held back on the external appearance of the androids, leaving them distinctly robot-like as to not inflict paranoia amongst the populace. Androids are widely popular amongst businesses, and are used as guards, cashiers, and receptionists.
The cheapest mode of travel in Paradiso is through use of the monorail. The monorail weaves through most of the city, with a station situated in each zone. The Main Gate is settled beneath the Pyre at the heart of Paradiso, and provides access to every other line in the system. When passing through The Foundry, the monorail enters a subway system as to preserve its engines from the smoke and waste fuel.
The Pyre is the tallest structure within Paradiso and hosts the central nervous system of the Databahn. Access into the tower is severely restricted, and trespassers are killed on sight. The majority of the Pyre's security personnel are androids, but the control systems are manned by several Geiger Corp. technicians at once.
Being the only publicly known source of data transfer, disruption of the Databahn is considered a national disaster. As such, attempting to or plotting to sabotage the Databahn is considered high treason and is punishable by death without jury.
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Sandbox dystopia. That's it. Paradiso is a monstrous city with obvious links to George Orwell and Albous Huxley I need not mention. Outside of the core locations, Paradiso is free for you to create and explore. Give your character's favourite bar a name; let them make friends, enemies, go to work, cook drugs, perform assassinations. Feel like starting a civil war? Go for it. Fancy shutting of the Databahn for banter? Best get scheming.
Everything goes unless I say otherwise. I generally won't say no unless it's something that will break the flow of the RP, but be sure to run things by me if you think its going to be a bit wild. For the sake of preserving the setting, there will be no assassinating Geiger, if he even exists. Not yet.
The descriptions are bare since I didn't want to pour too much time into something which might not rack up much interest, but I'll be sure to make 'em nice and thicc if things pick up.
Character sheet is right here, along with any drips 'n tips.
[slap a nice picture here. no anime, please. real people preferred.]
Name
Age
Gender
Nationality The residents of Paradiso have all kinds of heritages. Pick 'n choose.
Occupation Factory worker to criminal mastermind. Though of course, secrets are nigh impossible to keep, so you might consider a normal job to pull wool over those lurking eyes.
Place of Residence The Complex? Diamond Heights? In a flat above a backstreet masseur?
Cybernetics (?)
Bio Your skills, your hopes and dreams. Where'd you come from? Where are you headed? What's your budgie's name?
@Grimhildr Clearly you didn't learn the first time I told you to please never mention me again. Perhaps you will listen this time, as I have no desire to see trolls of any kind in my notifications ever.
@Grimhildr Clearly you didn't learn the first time I told you to please never mention me again. Perhaps you will listen this time, as I have no desire to see trolls of any kind in my notifications ever.
Interest recinded.
if i'm being honest i didn't remember you saying that when i made that post. i'm willing to at least coexist with you no matter what irrational grudges you hold towards me, but apparently you lack the same common courtesy. regardless, consider this my last @mention towards you, despite the fact this is actually a quote.
@Spanner You're welcome to believe what you wish. I consider my reasons for wanting no interaction with a person to be rather well founded, but feel free to judge me however you want.
Please don't spam someone else's interest check. Any issues can be taken to the PMs.
If there is a problem between members they do one of two things. Make an effort to avoid each other, or talk it out like an adult in private to see if there is a mutual ground they can find. We don't have the luxury of large amounts of people and those who make it hard may find roleplaying very lonely.
@Yuria Where exactly on the map is Paradiso located? Is it an independent city-state governed by a corporation? Does it owe allegiance to any government, even in name? Why would people want to move there? Wouldn’t the outside world be aware of Geiger’s brainwashing and police state?
