[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/vHwrqd1.png[/img][/center]

[indent][indent][indent][i][center]At an untold time of prosperity and peace, the first of the gates opened. Unleashing otherworldly creatures into the world, humanity was caught off guard as all manner of beasts and monsters poured into cities. What would have been tragedy turned into triumph as man quickly fought back. Those monsters had been pushed back into the gates they came from. Not settled with just that, man struck at the very heart the monsters came from. By venturing into the gates, man found an otherworldly energy trapped within this other world. A time of great advancement with materials from this other world.

But that era has since passed.

Now fueled by a symbiotic relationship with these gates, life has changed. The gates still remain a threat, mankind has taken to walled cities and artificial islands leaving their old cities abandoned and fallen to disrepair. No longer does the military sortie into the other world. Instead, those willing to brave the danger for wealth dive in headfirst using special equipment: Cross Gears. Empowered weapons capable of doing the impossible created from science and otherworldly materials.

Only one question remains: how much can you earn?[/center][/i][/indent][/indent][/indent]
[hr][h3]Info Dump[/h3][hider=Divers]Those who choose to enter the other world for the riches held within, Divers are a peculiar group. They come from all walks of life and, save for a small few that sought employment, are freelancers. Becoming a diver isn't a simple feat. While generations ago, one could enter a gate with a rudimentary Cross Gear, that time has passed. In order to gain the strength to enter and fight on the other side, each Diver has a surgery to implant an AEGIS within them. Besides the details of a controller at the neck and a battery in the gut, the specific details of the system are lost on most divers.

The cost of each AEGIS is very high. As a result, most fledgling divers have their rewards garnished until fully paid off. The process can take months or even years, depending on one's ability. It is a one time procedure, however. An AEGIS evolves alongside the user. By absorbing more and more of the other world's energy, a battery strengthens itself. The AEGIS is responsible for strengthening the body, powering the tools that divers use, and regenerating mortal wounds in emergencies. 

While augmentations such as robotic arms exist, they are relatively unused by divers as most prosthetics are unable to scale with an AEGIS like one's flesh and blood. Those that do use them have to spend the money on replacements. Those who do use prosthetics do so out of necessity rather than choice.

The vast majority of divers work as self-employed independent contractors for Diver Services. However, they do have a code all divers must follow. The exact specifics are in a legal document, but the general gist is "don't harm people", "don't steal", and "don't be a dick".[/hider]
[hider=Diver Services]Diver Services could be considered as the bureaucratic vanguard that allows for the current system. They post the location and level of gates for all Divers, handle rewards, implant AEGIS, handle government contracts, operate UNITs, maintain gear, and do all of the heavy lifting so divers can do their job without any hassle.[/hider]
[hider=Cross Gears]Originally named after the manufacturer of the first specialized anti-outsider weapon, a Cross Gear is a general term that refers to any weapon specifically designed to hunt outsiders. Most Cross Gears are fully modular, allowing for easy upgrades and on the fly repairs. The form of a cross gear has no limits; so long as it can deal damage, it can be used. Cross Gears do require energy to fuel themselves, otherwise they are nothing more than paper weights.

Notable Cross Gears used by famous divers include: 
An anti-materiel rifle that fires implosive rounds.
A great hammer that doubles as a jet engine.
Gloves that create a razor sharp wire out of thin air.

Most newbie divers carry a generic, easy to manufacture Cross Gear that has no specialty.[/hider]
[hider=Holders]The energy brought from the other world didn't just advance science; it fundamentally changed the biology of a small group. While rare, holders don't require an AEGIS. They are instead born with an extra organ acting as a natural battery. This organ stores the otherworldly energy rather than any mechanical part. Not only that, holders can assimilate the neon blood that outsiders possess, gaining what's known as a code. By using a Interpretation Device (ID), a holder can use their collected energy and a code to alter reality. Similar to a mage in a fantasy world, they can cast spells.

This comes at a price, unfortunately. Holders are more fragile and possess less strength than their artificial brethren.[/hider]
[hider=Equipment]Despite the variance of Cross Gears, abilities and talents, each diver carries a set of equipment ubiquitous to the job.

The EC-K is standard issue. Short for energy collection knife, the knife acts as four things: a razor sharp and nigh indestructible tool to dismantle monsters, a siphon to catch and absorb any stray energy, a debit card for trading in the energy, and identification in the event of total annihilation. The shape of an EC-K varies to the user's preference, but remain a tool unsuitable for combat. 

A holograph projecting drone, UNIT, does most of the pencil pushing of a diver. Acting as a black box, the UNITs record and analyze one's actions in the other world. They also act as a map, can display one's internal condition (and any issues within), communicate with other hunters, disassemble and store dismantled outsiders, and more. UNITs are an entirely closed system, refusing to interface with any system without consent (save for the event of death). Units are the size of one's palm and relay information to their diver via an earpiece and hologram.

For cash, divers deal in two currencies. The first being the cash of the city they stay in. This lets them buy luxury meals, stay at civilian accommodations, and use regular services. All divers registered with Diver Services receive a monthly stipend. Enough for some meals, accommodations, but not much else. The second, and more important, currency are credits. Credits are an abstraction of the amount of energy and resources brought into Diver Services. They allow divers to buy gear, upgrades, and any other diver related item.[/hider]
[hider=Outsiders]Beings of the other world, outsiders are aberrant monsters that occasionally raid the real world. Their appearances vary by considerable amounts. Some outsiders are entirely machine-like, resembling alien robotics. Others are much more bestial, like hulking monsters that spew brimstone. They constantly evolve to gain new traits, to the point of changing mid-fight. No two outsiders are exactly alike, save for the weak mooks. Unlike humanity, they are not strengthened or weakened by changing worlds.[/hider]
[hider=Gates]Gates are the lifeblood of the new world. They are portals to the other world and the strange energy contained within. Taking the form of a floating ball of otherworldly glowing black goo, closed gates are constantly monitored by Diver Services. Open gates, whether temporarily to allow entry or newly created, appear as warping window to another world. The inside of a gate is wholly unique and evolving, though they do retain aspects as they change. While inside of a gate, the AEGIS and Cross Gears are capable of unleashing their full power. 

Gates are rated by three aspects: environment, enemy type, and general risk.[/hider]
[hider=Cities]The cities of the new world are large. Stacked with skyscrapers and neon, they're shining concrete jungles contained via massive walls and energy barriers. Every single city has some form of Diver Services office and infrastructure to support any reasonable amount of divers. While there is some amount of hegemony between the cities (mostly due to the limited space they build themselves within), most are diverse as an insular culture forms.

Travel from city to city is usually done via passenger plane, though some choose to stay and use either underground rail or convoys to travel.[/hider]
[hider=The Outside World]The old world was abandoned by most. Though some enclaves of the destitute and those who wish to remain outside of the cities exist, they are few and far between. Much of the world has become ruins. Skyscrapers have collapsed, roads that don't lead to other cities are often split and filled with holes, nature reclaimed much of the old cities, and the occasional outsider can be found. 

Despite this, the old world is not traditionally apocalyptic. Vivid greenery can be found, wild animals met, and outposts meant for travel and divers can be sought via the intact roads. Vending machines containing food and supplies for divers can be found in the more tread areas away from outposts; the less travelled areas contain supply drops designed for a single diver, accessible only via EC-K.[/hider]
[hr][h3]Character Sheet[/h3]
Style this how you want.
[pre][b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Appearance:[/b] (anime picture preferred, text description accepted)
[b]Personality:[/b] (To ensure we don't too many cooks it)
[b]Background:[/b] (Just enough to give me a background. Feel free to make up the world, I left it pretty barren intentionally)
[b]Type:[/b] (If AEGIS, you can specify if your AEGIS specializes in anything IE, speed, power, vit. If Holder, say Holder)
[b]Codes:[/b] (Delete this if not a Holder. Consider this a spell list; you can get more as you beat stuff up and drink the neon fluid that comes out)
[b]Cross Gear:[/b] (There's no limit, save for really bizarre things like frying pans and refrigerators. Any weapon you want with it having any ability you want)
[b]Equipment:[/b] (Stuff not covered by what's implied your hunter has. Keepsakes, extra tools/gadgets, etc)
[b]Skills:[/b] (What your character is good at)
[b]Other:[/b] (in case i missed anything)[/pre]