[Ch. 2 Reboot] - Futility and Loathing on the Campaign Trail
Futility is currently accepting its second wave of applications!
Dare you stand against corporate titans in a Great Game?
βYou really think someone like you could do that?"
"You? Now?β She laughed as she paced back and forth before the man lying prone, bent down next to him and tried to stare into his eyes. βYou think any of us can influence the world? Itβs a grim mission with only an entroponetic outcome. But you still go against Futility.β She couldnβt see his eyes, though. They were hidden behind the opaque hulking mass strapped around his cranium. He was deep in cyberspaceβTotally Immersed. He couldnβt move, couldnβt talk, couldnβt feel anything beyond the Labyrinthβs abstract signal sensations. She went on anyways.
βSurvival in America alone is hard enough these days. Weβre all barely making it. After the global temperatures skyrocketed and left most of the nation dead, arid dustlands or swallowed by the sea, everyone flocked to the megalopoli. It was urbanization at its most insane rates. Living outside was a death sentence. Living inside was a life sentence, slave to a corporate conglomerate, or to the political game. Everybody had the choice to leave, though. Volcanic faults, dust storms, and floods or inhumanity, corruption, violenceβ¦.β
The street samurai stepped from the drooling, sniffling husk, doing her best to avoid the litter of boxes of prescription and recreational E-Drug modules alike. All empty. His studio had two windows that ran from the ceiling to the floor, but both had been covered with thick black curtains nailed to the wall. She let out a long exhale, staring deep into their emptiness.
βThereβs not a more picturesque view in all the Reclaim Zone. It certainly isnβt theβ¦ cleanest district in South City, but hey, things are changing here in the Reclaim. Ever since Joshua Gatchβcorporate puppet candidateβsecured his seat at the zoneβs mayor through an artificial inflation of votes, the Reclaim Zone became a much more valuable asset in the greater political sphere. Turns out, once word gets out that you can purchase the votes of people who are long since corpses, a lot more corporations and organizations take notice.β
βAt least everyoneβs employed now that the campaign trail trickled into South City. Every successfully-backed candidate running for a seat on the Twin City Sprawl Council of Regulators is coming to town, and bringing an array of agents and operators with them.β
She gave the sheath in her hands a twirl before beginning to slide from it the slick blackmetal sword, but something gave her pause. Coming up the stairs, there was an array of tremors. Footsteps.
Welcome to Futility: The Great Game! This a reboot of the original speculative cyberpunk roleplay. Every player will inherit the role of one resident of America in the year 2064, all finding themselves following the Twin City Sprawl Council campaign trail. Whether youβre on staff for a major candidate, part of a smaller organization attempting to influence the elections, or a vagabond hypnotized by the slightest glimpse into the Great Game; youβve ended up in the Reclaim Zone.
This roleplay revolves around the decisions the group makes regarding the candidates that they choose to push forward in the Great Game, and the mass of allies and enemies they make along the way. Thus, as you progress and develop the story of your own character and make decisive actions, the direction of history is going to change. Youβll influence political, social, and cultural aspects of the world around you; youβll decide who goes on and who gives into Futility. The world will respond accordingly.
While the heart of this roleplay will revolve around the advancement and goings-on of the campaigns that unify the characters, I encourage each player to work with me and undertake various subplots that explore the world and its many factions and inhabitants. There will be an array of candidates to follow on the campaign trail, so I encourage characters of all backgrounds and alignments. This, of course, comes with the disclaimer that we have to collaborate as a group to keep a consistent narrative. Some candidates will not make it further into the Great Game. Those who wish to continue as the tides of society change will have to follow the ebbs and flows of different factions.
βJust remember that every little decision you make determines the future that emerges immediately around you. Can you rise above petty gangers and criminals in the streets and bring about change, or does everyone truly end up giving into Futility?β
Rules and Disclaimers:
βΊFollow all of the Guildβs rules and donβt metagame or powergame. Allowing your character to get into tough situations can often bring the most rewarding results in terms of developing dynamically.
βΊThis is an Advanced RP, so I hope to keep the group to certain standards. While I know that quality is greater than quantity, try to keep your posts a bit longer (3 or so paragraphs at the very least) as that tends to move us along through action while also being descriptive of your situation. If you are struggling with a post, feel free to ask for help with brainstorming ideas.
βΊBe friendly and respectful to the rest of the group. If any sort of problem comes up, hash things out respectfully. Unnecessary OOC arguments will bring no positive benefit to the players.
βΊDonβt be afraid to bring up issues that may arise so that we can talk through things and solve any problems. Iβd prefer us all to be on a friendly page.
βΊThis story necessitates heavy participation, discussion, and active pursuit of new subplots and roleplay. I urge you all to push for your own roleplay as much outside of the main plot to develop your characters. Additionally, some of the most rewarding moments can come from developing deep and intricate interaction with others, so try to include other players when you can.
βΊWhile I would like everyone to be posting on a semi-regular basis, I understand that issues may arise and we all get busy. I tend to run a game that can get slow at times, though if youβre interested in writing more, we can always develop side lore. My main intention is to keep Futility going regardless of what roadblocks we all hit. If you need to take a temporary leave of absence and canβt post, please let the group know. That being said, if you are unable to post for an extended period of time, I will likely control your character as an NPC until your return so we can continue the story moving along.
βΊThis story will have 18+ themes, as violence and descriptive combat can play a large role in portions of the roleplay. Please keep that in mind. While you donβt have to go into graphic detail, expect rattling violence from ruthless aggressors.
βΊThis roleplay will run a discord server for communication, though I hope you all will actively use the thread to keep Futility relevant and alive.
The World
Setting & South City
Americaβs Fourteen Recognized Megaregions:
New York Seaboard Great DC The Derelict City The Detroit Stacks Metrochicago The Bastion The Miami Platforms Neo Orleans The Texas Sprawl The Vegas Triangle South City βThe City of Angelsβ The Bay Portland Seattle
The story will begin based in and around one main region: the self-proclaimed paradise of the west, South City. This is one of the most populous megaregions in America encompassing what was once Los Angeles as well as the surrounding area where the city expanded into throughout the 21st century. In reality, that much couldnβt be further from the truth. As the 2100 elections grow closer and closer, chaos is ever present in the streets. Political turmoil in the cityβs urban sprawl is at an all time high with riots in the streets, veiled and corrupt political dealings in the shadows, and a populous with views split between all five of the major political parties. Small districts in the city are more contested than ever both in terms of elected offices and street rivalries that tear violently through South Cityβs slum districts. South City is one of the two major megaregions that make up the βTwin City Sprawlβ, a sprawl of urban cityscape that covers Americaβs western coast along California. Its sister region is The Bay Region to the north.
There are a number of smaller βdistrictsβ in the megaregion, but for one reason or another, you find yourself in the Reclaim Zone. The Reclaim Zone is a large district emanating out from one main street. The district gets its name from the origin of its architecture and infrastructure. Most of the buildings in the Reclaim Zone are now defunct factories of corporations that have either gone under or moved to better locations. These shells are now the basis for cheap hotels, smaller scale manufacturers, as well as innumerable clubs and bars. Believe it or not, the Reclaim Zone used to hold the greatest employment rates in South City Sprawl, but times have changed. As more and more people migrated to the district, the Reclaim Zone became a home to slumming populations and street vagabonds. As population increased, so did the tension in the streets as did the demands for better conditions.
When riots began to tear through Reclaim Zone streets in 2035, Enforcers were barely able to hold back the crowds from turning strikes and protests into a full-blown war in the streets across South City. As violence continued for a span of three weeks, large scale companies shut down production activity in the district temporarily, but when the riots ended in the Reclaim Zone, the turmoil they brought didnβt leave. The Reclaim Zone became known for its most dangerous times, attracting a completely new sort of individual and corporation. With the decreased regulation due to broken infrastructure and lack of Enforcers in the area, seedy business practices began to take root in every Reclaim Zone industry. Crime began to flourish and the monolithic factories that once housed reputable corporations were bought out by gangs and criminal organizations. Clandestine business has become the trademark of the Reclaim Zone, whether its corps, gangs, or mercs in power.
Technology
Cyberware
With the rapid advancement of technology in modern times, the ability to meld metal with flesh has become commonplace. Having started out as an early 21st solution to atrophy and the loss of limbs, cybernetic augmentations were looked to as a way to offer the human body back to those who may have lost theirs. It wasnβt until an American conglomerate corporation titled Symbiont started to push this research to its limits, offering promises that their augmentation could surmount human ability. This was done by grafting artificial extensions of the nervous system into the human body, connecting the complex system up to a specific neural interface embedded in the grey matter called an Electronic Brain. As Symbiont rolled this technology out at public tech conferences, the company became known as the first pioneer into the Cybernetic Age.
Human ability can be augmented to allow for incredible speed, bionic strength, and amazingly fast mental calculation. While the quality of these products can vary between manufacturers, cybernetic prosthesis is available to the masses. This isnβt without its drawbacks however. With the extreme edge given to augmented people in all professions, the masses became desperate for their own cyberware. This has led to lower quality and homemade enhancements, which is hypothesized to be the root cause of the Cyber Plague, Split-Periphery Electronic Cognition Syndrome is the slow degradation of perfect sync between the brain and the Electronic Brain. When the speed of firing synapses starts to lose its synchronization, the cognitive processes regulated by the person begin to split into two slightly off consciousnesses in their mind. While the effects of SPECS can be minor at first, the further along a personβs synchronization degrades, the more confusion, dementia, and psychosis will start to grip them as they become no longer able to recognize who they are or which or their cognitive processes is their own. While SPECS almost always results in the eventual death of the victim, it is all too common that some degree of psychotic violence comes first as paranoia gets too strong in the victimβs mind. The speed that SPECS takes hold of oneβs mind varies greatly on many factors. Biological aptitude of the brainβs ability to lose synchronization is a major factor, but more often the cause of advanced stages of SPECS is the over-augmentation of the body or the use of low quality prostheses that donβt do well to match the biological brainβs speed.
While the Cyber Plague is inevitably lying in the fate of every augmented individual to some degree, there exists one way to stave it off when it becomes a problem. Created by Genetek, a chemical compound was synthesized that helps the brain fire in a way that matches the Electronic Brain. This compound was refined into a drug then called Neurosynthase, or more commonly Neurosynth. Due to the resonant realignment of brain waves caused by Neurosynth, the drug has become highly addictive to augmented individuals, producing a unique sense of heightened focus and euphoria. Once Genetek realized the demand for their product, price was marked up astronomically and Genetek clinics began to dominate the streets. With prices so high and street prices even higher, Neurosynth is only further coveted. It is because of this that SPECS is so cataclysmic. Due to these potentially dangerous effects of Cyberware. All major surgeries and enhancements require a person to register as an Augmented Person with the government. Of course, not all augmented individuals are registered if they choose more unconventional means of implanting.
Virtual Reality
As internet technology exponentially developed, the interface technology that humans used to interact with their virtual fountain of knowledge did as well. It started with simple sensory inputs, but humanity has since sought to access their endless stream of information with as little latency as possible. Thus, the Direct Cranial Interface was created. This was the first form of what would come to be called a cyberdeck, allowing for a person to interface with media through their brain, disregarding the sensory information of the body entirely.
Virtual reality allowed for explosive growths in every genre of consumable media, but it wasnβt without its drawbacks. The allure of virtual reality has become extremely powerful, leaving some people preferring to live jacked in above all else. There have been multiple documented cases of people losing themselves in virtual reality, choosing to live in cyberspace as their body withers away to thirst and hunger outside the cyberdeck. Others have become crazed, confusing the two instances of reality and falling into debilitating psychosis. Virtual reality has also offered a medium for a whole new range of βE-Drugsβ that can be addicting a crippling psychological way. Despite all of the very real fears that virtual reality brought, it has paved a path for humanity to access information infinitely faster and became the main medium for interacting with Cyber Matrix and Labyrinth. It exists in various stages, allowing for people without cyberdeck augments limited access to the medium.
The Cyber Matrix & Labyrinth
Leaps in internet technology have left the people with information that is more accessible than ever. Of course, the interface medium of man and keyboard was always limited in its speed compared to the marvels of the brain. One company, Cryptotechnics, sought to fix that. Thus, the first iteration of Cyber Matrix software was created. In an attempt to neurally interface with the massive database that is the internet, Cryptotechnics utilized boundary-pushing virtual reality Total Immersion technology to create a new way to experience information. Cyber Matrix software, requiring the user to literally connect their brains with an interface via brain implants, offers the user a three dimensional virtual reality world that they can access information through. The new interface medium was known for being difficult to master, but once a user became accustomed to traversing the new world, the speed at which one could access information increased exponentially.
As Cyber Matrix software rose in popularity, America as a whole sought to adapt the technology. The increase in Cyber Matrix users only increased the size of the Cyber Matrix, allowing users to traverse the cyberspace with new freedom. Before long, a majority of internet use was on Cyber Matrix software, interconnecting the digital space in a new and explorable world. This wasnβt without its drawbacks, however. With an entirely new medium of digital code, cybersecurity changed entirely as hackers and other malicious entities had millions of new channels to use as avenues for their work. Things came to a head for the first generation of the Cyber Matrix when a nationwide attack struck America in a single night. During that time frame, billions of dollars were stolen from a number of international corporate conglomerates. The attack took place in a number of states across the nation where battles with thousands of security systems rocked the nation. States had their entire power grids fluctuate, grids of the Cyber Matrix were permanently corrupted when fighting against the attacking presence. In the end, the attack was successful, paving its way as the largest heist in history. Those responsible are still at large, but the trail seems to have gone entirely cold.
This global scare paved the way for the second generation of CM software. Massive backlash had Cryptotechnics crashing into the dust, forcing the government to step in and work with the company to keep nationwide information available. After nearly a month of global downtime, the economy could finally resurrect on a mysterious new software: Labyrinth, the Cyber Matrixβs successor. Labyrinth offered encryptions that were thousands of times more elaborate than the Cyber Matrix and also introduced locked private instances that were cut off from the rest of the Labyrinth. The Labyrinth itself is not static like its predecessor. The world is constantly changing and rewriting its structure. Since its introduction, information security has increased immensely. Hacking still exists as an issue, but the knowledge and ability of malicious entities is nowhere near what it once was. Itβs said that no one outside of high level government officials and the mysteriously unknown corporation that developed Labryrinth knows how to access the source, but the same was said about CM technology until the Matrix Incident.
Artificial Intelligence
Explosive advances in the field of robotics have left humanity relying on machines more than ever, and machine learning is only growing more powerful and more complex as a byproduct. It was less than two decades into the 21st century when humanity created its first trivial forms of artificial intelligence. It wasnβt until Cyber Matrix software was developed that the advancement of AI truly skyrocketed in capability. Matrix AI was a marvel to society and technological advancement began to increase at an even more exponential rate as more AI were created. The formation of a truly perfect AI didnβt occur until years later. Behind closed doors in R&D compounds of an unknown company, the Singularity was rumored to be created. Historians pinpoint the exact time it happened by referencing information that charts the explosive surge in technological advancement. Within a week, there were Singular AI popping up across the globe in the hands of any megacorp that could afford to create one.
Two weeks after the genesis of singular artificial intelligence, everything had changed. The original problems that caused the emergency regulation was unknown, but the effects of America to outlaw and exterminate any singular AI were seen soon after. Chaos wracked the streets as robotic minds with any control over the physical world doused the life from human lungs. Entire banking systems were compromised, massive blocks of the Cyber Matrix were sealed and barred entirely from entry by mysterious entities, and entire grids of electrical systems surged in and out of life as inhuman creatures fought for their lives. During the events that transpired after the emergency legislation, people across the globe were warned from accessing the Cyber Matrix as a few who dared delve in were found with pistols pressed against their temples or minds melted from the inside out by their cyber deck.
βThe AI Catastropheβ, as it was dubbed marked a loss of thousands of lives globally. It took only days for hundreds of developed countries around the world to follow in the footsteps of America. The United Nations has also taken to open hostility against any nation that utilizes singular AI openly. Of course, AI in and of itself remains at an all time high for its active use throughout the world, but measures are always taken to prevent another catastrophe. The whole forceful cleanup was a mess after all, and speculative scientists and Labyrinth Runners alike hypothesize that there may have been a handful of hyper-intelligent entities that evaded sweeps of closed systems, and the abandoned Cyber Matrix is another thing entirely.
Political Map & Faction Details
The Enforcers
Crime is as widespread around America as the biting smog that covers the skies. Such an unforgiving underworld can only coexist with a force of unforgiving Enforcers. The government sponsored Enforcers are the regulators of the law. This massive organization acts as its own branch, regulating the lowest beat Enforcers out striking fear into citizens on the streets as well as the highest level judiciaries that officiate the law. As much as the iron-fisted Enforcers help to deter any punishable offense, a large portion of the judicial sect of America is wrought with corruption. Bribes are taken, crimes are overlooked, and the citizens are powerless to stop the dealings of the Enforcers. Of course, not all Enforcers are corrupt. In fact, there are specific sects and task forces designed to combat internal corruption in the Enforcers. All know to quiet down in the presence of the eerily armored Enforcers as they make their way down the streets. Very few would dare stand against them due to the Enforcers being armed with the best equipment their often cut budget allows.
Because of the increasing deregulation of states by the federal government, many have lost faith in the Enforcers. Thusly, the organization doesnβt get much credit or support for its work (though whether or not it deserves any is another question entirely). In modern days, Enforcers are often second to state-determined task forces.
The HyperHuman Party
Standing as the most esoteric and spiritual platform in American politics, the HyperHuman Party heavily supports the advancement of the human form through cooperation with machines. This, however, is not possible in HyperHuman philosophy without the cooperation of humans. Thus, the HyperHuman Party supports widespread augmentation and biotic health support for all of humanity. This cultural ideology is assumed to have been generated from a conglomeration of eastern philosophies that focused around the collective rather than the individual. Additionally, a large portion of the HyperHuman following is very spiritual, regarding interaction with machines with a mind-bending respect. Many have dismissed the party because of this. As it stands, the HyperHuman Party doesnβt have a large following for it is often vilified for its collectivist mentality and esoteric basis.
Neo-Transhumanist Party
With philosophy based around rapid technological advancement and the enhancement of human ability through augmentation, the NTP has garnered widespread support of techies and idealists alike. When this ideological-based movement pushed towards active political participation, things started to change. The NTP became known to favor fervent legislation regarding the deregulation of human enhancement and borderline technology in general. In pursuit of its goals, the NTP has also found billions of dollars in support from large corporate backers who clandestinely lobby their business-oriented goals into the partyβs agenda.
Neo-Luddite Party
One of the most radically recognized political parties, the Neo-Luddite Party, backs a philosophy almost exclusive to its supporters in America. Taking ideas from an old society in early America, the group brands itself as a collective of purists free of technologyβs corruption on the human body. Some go as far to say that further reliance on machines is giving up on our humanity. The Neo-Luddite Party isnβt without its own respected technological marvels, though. A small sect of the NLP look towards the controversial ideas of gene therapy and biological manipulation of the human body in the future despite the taboos that surround the subject. While the partyβs general beliefs are wide and often very different, creating many small ideologies that all brand themselves as Neo-Luddites, all of the NLP seems to rally around a sort of hatred for augmented people for various reasons.
The Central Party
Despite Americaβs multi-party system, one political front holds its name above the rest: The Central Party. The Central Party is most well known for being the party in majority control of the government for a number of terms now. The Central Party is known as the conglomerate of the two major political parties that ran America before the multi-party system. The group support the propagation of of large federal government and high regulation. The Central Party has been known to work heavily with megacorporations, especially those based in America. A certain sense of nationalism runs through the Central Party, bringing an almost imperialist outlook to the countryβs largest party. While the ideals of the Central Party offer visions of βA Greater Americaβ, many common men are left in the dust of this vision. Corruption and disregard of societyβs lower class are commonplace in the Central Party, though thoroughly denied.
The Pirate Party
Stemming from the advent of the digital age, the Pirate Party of America rallies around a free sharing of knowledge and privacy in the cyberscape. With the majority of the partyβs base being the technologically-minded working class. Hackers, digital archivists, and programmers in general brought forth the start of the Pirate Party. As it stands now, the Pirate Party is the smallest of the major recognized political parties in America. Because of this, the Pirate Party has become quite the radical platform, demanding freedom of speech, privacy, anti-corruption, and direct democracy in the country. Due to the stigma that being involved in the Pirate Party makes you a sort of revolutionary, public support is speculated to be lower than it really is.
FuryTech
One of the most well off corporations in the American Region, and by far the most technologically ahead, FuryTech is an extremely versatile corporations, pumping out technologically advanced devices years before other industries in the business. When you want top of the line tech and youβre willing to spare no expense, FuryTechβs got the gadget, implant, weapon, or vehicle youβre looking for. The company is often displayed in the media as the forefront of technology. Whether or not that is true, many believe you can do no better than FuryTech. FuryTech is an extremely large corporation, and thus, there are a number of branch corporations of the larger conglomerate. Fury Vehemetech By far the largest and most broad branch in terms of production, Fury Vehemetech acts to produce all products that donβt fit into either of the other two branches. The public focus of the branch, however, is producing powerful products that combine speed, stopping power, protection, and utility. This branch is where you will find the various weapons, armors, cyberware, and gadgets produced by FuryTech. Fury Biotech Fury Biotech is the smallest and most secretive branch in FuryTech. It is also the most recently created public branch of FuryTech. Publically, the pursuit of Fury Biotech is to look into manipulating organic matter and biomedical technology to seek advancements in the medical field. Fury Heavytech Just when the world thought Fury Vehemetech was the pinnacle of technology, various megacorporations around the world began to bring to light a flaw in FuryTechβs philosophy. All of their equipment was mostly suited for the light assault. As more and more competitors started to capitalize on the market for heavy assault equipment, FuryTech soon jumped on board. Heavytech began pumping out new designs for more armored and powerful models of armor and weapons. Heavytech has since further extended their hands into the field of vehicles both civilian and military.
Engitech
In America, there is only one technological giant that stands as an equal rival of FuryTech. While their competitor has the highest end of advancement on lockdown, Engitech is recognized as the largest producing conglomerate of all things technology. Rather than focusing solely on the top of the line equipment, Engitech produces all manners of devices. Engitech is the name you will see branded across all industrial workersβ exosuits, mass production technology, and everyday industrial machines. Because of their wider focus, Engitech Conglomerate has managed to have a hand in the production process of almost every major mechanical product. Many of the more affordable implants for the common man come from Engitech.
APEX Industries
Youβre Ape or youβre APEX! Youβve seen the ads. We all have. APEX Industries knows its worth and so does the populous. When it comes to cybernetic technology, very few can match the harmonious and resonant implants that connect man and machine made by APEX Industries. Not only will APEX Clinics offer you the most functional and capable prostheses and implants, but also the most stylish. The APEX megacorporation was formed after a number of buyouts of top designer cybernetic companies, and the work of their top scientists shows. Despite all of the flashy advertisements and good press, APEX has had just as much negative attention. Dismissed as conspiracy, a number of malpractice cases, underhanded business deals, and inhumane tests have been brought against APEX. Who knows the truth, though?
Amalgamation
When it comes to politically active corporations, itβs hard to find any more involved than Amalgamation. Implant and augmentation technology wouldnβt even be close to where it is without Amalgamation. Defining itself as the boundary pushing front of the Neo-Transhumanist movement, Amalgamation is as much crowdfunded as it is supported by its massive sales. With more than just one goal with its ever expanding product lines, this megacorporation deals in robotics as much as it does ripping flesh from humanity. Eschewing the sleek and natural look of some of its competitors, Amalgamationβs augs are known for hardy, industrial, and powerful looks. As much as some love the company, others silently live in fear of what Amalgamation has created. A lot of the companyβs legislative lobbying front has to do with deregulation of what can be done with cybernetics. Youβd be hard pressed to stare down someone with Amalgamation tech grafted onto them and dare cross them.
Gaea Naturae
Very little is actually known about Gaea Naturae save that they are one of the great and most heavily influencing megacorporations in America. Under the guise of a medical corporation, Gaea Naturae has been documented hiring the worldβs top biologists and natural scientists before whisking them away from ivy league schools to almost disappear from then on. While all megacorporations are known for keeping their secrets closely guarded, but Gaea Naturae takes things to a whole new level with their own paramilitary sector seen protecting every Gaea Naturae facility armed to the teeth. In the midst of the shadowy rumors surrounding the company, Gaea Naturae has been known for opening healing clinics in very impoverished sectors of the world, particularly in urban areas.
Extropy, Inc.
The biggest rising star in American corporations is a title that could only be granted to Extropy. The company is funded almost entirely by one particularly rich benefactor known for his crazy ideas. Some of Extropyβs recent exploits involve bringing expensive cybernetics to the masses, mecha robotics, and space exploration. With as much help as Extropy is bringing to the people of America, a great deal of negative attention is often brought to the corporation. This often stems from other competitive megacorporations feeling undercut by Extropyβs dealings.
Ripper Docs
For any person living in a more impoverished sector of America, theyβve heard the legends. As almost mythic figures, Ripper Docs are just as feared in the streets as they are respected. βRipper Cyberdoctorβ is a title given to a cyberneticist that is unlicensed and operating without being registered. In that respect, all Ripper Docs are considered outlaws in the eyes of the government, and stories of their malpractice run rampant in politics. In the underground culture of America, though, that opinion starts to change. Often, some Ripper Docs are heralded as heroes, supplying cybernetics and medical practice to impoverished peoples. Other rumors are whispered in the streets of Ripper Docs and mentally obsessed surgeons with little that they wonβt do to their patients and victims alike. While they do work alone and solely for themselves, Ripper Docs are much more than just individual practitioners, though. There has become a culture to the identity, causing the Docs to find some sort of unspoken code amongst themselves. You can recognize the Ripper Docs due to their unique symbol, a strangely shaped mask said to be drawing on influences of ancient mystical apothecaries fighting the plague. Ripper Docs almost always practice under a pseudonym. Itβs a telltale signifier of an unlicensed practitioner. Maybe youβll be alright if you canβt afford a normal clinic. Find a Ripper Doc. Donβt forget about your copayβ¦
The Tech-Witches
There are thousands of organizations branded as terrorists throughout America, but few bring as much fear with the very mention of their name as the Tech-Witches. Assumed to have started out as a street gang, this all female society strikes fear into the hearts of whoever dares slight them. With their ultimate motives unknown, the Tech-Witches are only inferred to be a secret society of worshippers of some strange idol. They make few public actions instead choosing to remain silently plotting until a massive attack is planned. The Tech-Witches are mostly seen raiding large technological research and development buildings of some of the corporate giants of the world. Their missions, while seeming suicidal, are almost always successful. The mission always seems to be to steal speculative technology still in its prototype state, as though they are amassing the most powerful arsenal in the world. The Tech-Witches are not above striking out against smaller targets however. There are documented instances of federal investigators that delve into the affairs of the Tech-Witches suddenly finding themselves under siege. Even entire buildings have been razed in mysterious explosions to prevent further investigation into the mysterious society. One rarely sees the Tech-Witches coming, but when they do, the women strike fast, recognized only by their coveted advanced technology and the strangely primitive masks worn depicting the faces of ancient demons from around the world.
Scrapteam
When a company desires external support of force, Scrapteam can be a risky choice. This ragtag group of mismatched gearheads market themselves on devastation of any enemy. Using whatever powerful weapons they can get their hands on and hacking their bodies to be living weapons, the Scrapteam are a different breed of violent. The organization is on thin ice, however. Branches of Scrapteam have narrowly avoided massive lawsuits for underhanded and criminal assaults on various corporations. The media has likened them more to privateers than to bodyguards. The Scrapteam operates in cells (or companies) around America as well as having cells that work around the world. Each one of these branch companies can be hired as a general mercenary population. Some of them are permanently employed while other companies move from job to job with little security.
Tinmen
Amongst the rampant flux of paramilitary groups propping up around the world to defend corporations at a price, one name stands paramount above the rest synonymous to a wall of impenetrable steel. The Tinmen brand themselves as a band of unstoppable mercenaries covered head-to-toe in heavy steel exo-armor with the most bulky weaponry commercially available. Due to their extreme prowess and training, the Tinmen boast a high price for their notable services. One would often see Tinmen protecting the largest clients of paramilitary groups around America. Due to the massive flow of cash into the organization, it is very hard for the Tinmen to be caught up in scandals involving criminal tactics. Most of the goings-on of the Tinmen is kept closely guarded, with only initiated members learning their secrets.
Character Information
In this RP, you will take on the role of someone on or around the campaign trail for one of the major Twin City Sprawl Council candidates. Some of you may work together, while others may have completely different ultimate goals. Perhaps the rise of your candidate will provide you personal gain. Perhaps your character is merely lost in the world and seeks purpose in their line of business. Perhaps you want to infiltrate Americaβs political sphere and exert your own partisan influence on the country. The choice is yours. Of course, your characters are supporting or following the race in the Reclaim Zone, which is not known for its supersoldiers, corporate CEOs, and extremely powerful influencers. Futility is a roleplay about progression from the ground level up into world-influencing forces. I encourage you all to start small and plan big.
Below Iβve included a list of basic character roles that would fit in on the campaign trail. You are not limited to these options, so feel free to discuss any other possibilities with me.
Campaign Manager Cyber Security // Technology Manager Legal Advisor // Lawyer Campaign Treasurer Fundraising Manager Medical Staff Reporter Bodyguard // Mercenary Lobbyist Driver Friend of Candidate Private Investigator Benefactor (If you want to use this, develop some sort of business, how it works, and what youβll need to do to run it. This role doesnβt just give you free reign to infinite cash.) Business Worker (profiting from increased business around the campaign trail)
While I want each of you to take an active role in the campaign, I also want each of your characters to have personal goals. Players are encouraged to introduce their own relevant subplots. I can guide the way and facilitate the world around you, and youβll still have the main goals of the group driving you as well, but you should also be developing your own character throughout the RP.
I encourage you all to cooperate and make connections between characters. While you donβt have to be best friends with every other character (in fact, I encourage you to form rivalries and other dynamic connections), try to come up with some relations with other characters. These can be cursory meetings or deep emotional bonds. The choice is yours. I donβt yet have a set number of people I want to accept into the final cast, but I will end up limiting accepted characters eventually.
[Picture] [N A M E] [AGE] | [GENDER] | [HEIGHT] | [BLOOD TYPE]
General Information
NAME:
ALIASES // TITLES:
SEX:
AGE:
APPEARANCE:
OCCUPATION: (What did you do before the campaign? Or what do you still do? This can be held prior to the campaign or ongoing.)
CAMPAIGN TEAM POSITION: (Your position under Campbell. What do you do? See first post for various ideas.)
Psychological Profile
Trait | Trait | Trait | Trait | Trait | Trait
PERSONAL GOAL: (Why are you still around? What are you trying to achieve?)
CAMPAIGN GOAL: (Why did you link up with Campbell? What are you trying to do for his platform?)
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY: (Who are you really? What morally defines you? What drives you?)
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY: (What are your views on the world? While a partisan identity would be nice to include, feel free to define yourself outside of the five parties.)
SECRETS: (What are you hiding? What would it cost you if someone found out whatβs behind the veil?)
FEARS: (What keeps you up at night? What makes you freeze up in the moment? What do you avoid at all costs?)
REPUTATION: (How does the world view you? What are you known for? How do your people act around you?)
LIKES: (Feel free to list a few.)
DISLIKES: (Same as above)
QUIRKS: (What makes you unique for better or worse?)
Background Information
βCharacter Quoteβ
Operative Information
AUGMENTATIONS: (What sort of Cyberware are you equipped with?)
EQUIPMENT: (What are you carrying on the job?)
SKILLS: (Feel free to list a few and elaborate a bit.)
FLAWS: (Aim for three or so. Equal or greater to your number of skills.)
NOTES:
Now I know this is a lot of information to take in, but feel free to read through the extraneous lore at your leisure. The world is vast and you have the opportunity to explore whatever select portions of it suit you. My aim for this roleplay is a collaborative worldbuilding experience while we maintain the central goal of confronting society in this cyberpunk world. With that said, Iβll be adding more information as time goes on and we near the start of the RP.
Everything will be expanded upon in the next few days as I prepare an OOC. Feel free to make suggestions or ask questions about character concepts, the story, or the world.
Good to have you all aboard! I'm glad folks are interested. As I progress with recompiling the OOC lore, let me know if you have any questions thus far about the world or the RP in general.
I'll also be forming the discord later today which I can add you all to.
Interested. Thinking of running a business or being a benefactor or both.
However, who will be playing the campaigner?
In the Twin City Sprawl Council election that takes place at the start of the RP, candidates from each of the major political parties will be relevant NPCs posted at the start of the OOC. These will provide a background for each of the current parties' motivations and missions the characters can choose to influence or follow.
For those of you that mentioned you were interested, Futility will be closing character applications in two days for the first wave of players to begin. If you've not started or haven't spoken with me regarding your character sheet, don't miss out!
We are now accepting the second wave of applications.
If you'd like to get in on Futility, but missed the chance at the start, head over to the OOC. New character applications are currently being accepted.
