In the not too distant future, a mysterious disaster "The Great Collapse" has brought collapse to the world as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of revenants. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive, gifted with supernatural powers in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood.
After the Great Collapse, “Cerberus”,a revenants operation unit was founded by the Provisional government. They are tasked with overseeing the lives of all revenants and collect a regular levy of blood beads, which they are also in charge of distributing. They effectively began the restoration of order, and ended the hunting of humans for blood and wars between revenants.
Not all Revenants are willing to partake of human blood, considering it a loss of their humanity. Human blood is, however, a more potent and alluring food source for Revenant senses, leading many to preferentially consume it when possible. There is no evidence of addictive properties to this preference. Fortunately for the human population, the provisional government protects the majority of them from abuse. The dwindling of Blood Beads, however, is an increasing threat.
Alongside operation Cerberus a nameless group of vigilantes is fighting for salvation of both Revenants and humans alike. They are seeking to find a way to destroy the Lost once and for all, while navigating the threats posed by the world around them. Our characters will be part of this group, joining together for a common cause.
The rp is based on the game Code Vein. Some elements of the game we kept the same, some we changed and we added new things too. No prior knowledge of the game is needed to participate. It is possible to play cannon characters, but considering the changes we made it will require some planning with the GM's.
The story takes place in a post apocalyptic world. It is unrecognizable, natural disasters ravaged continents, some seas dried up completely, previously tropical climates were overcome with frost. Large settlements attract the danger of the Lost, so small hideouts are spread across ruined cities and sewers. A handful of cities are struggling to stay standing.
Time is measured according to the event of the Great Collapse. A cataclysmic event responsible for the annihilation of roughly half the human population on Earth. There is little information available as to the nature of the collapse. It has been roughly fifty years since it happened. This makes the current society very young. There aren’t many alive who are able to call back to a world different to this one.
Revenants
Revenants were created by implanting an engineered BOR parasite into the heart of a human corpse. BOR Parasites (Biological Organ Regenerative Parasite) attach itself to the heart of a creature that has lost vital functions and sends its own blood into the host, allowing it to regulate and control all organs, including the brain.
Revenants can only be killed by destroying the heart, where the BOR Parasite is located. Any other fatal wound merely causes the Revenant to disperse into particulate matter which stitches itself back together later. Destruction of the heart causes the Revenant to die in truth, their body decaying into packed ash. The initial awakening, and any dispersal of the Revenant, will cause some level of memory loss. This is usually unnoticed by the Revenant until someone causes them to notice the loss, or if the memory loss is large or particularly vital. Memories lost in this manner, at least ones vital to a Revenant's personality, may form into a vestige, a blood-red crystal.
Each Revenant has a blood-type like factor in their blood personal to them alone. It gives them unique strengths and weaknesses along with supernatural powers.
The Revenant condition has multiple dangerous side effects, however. The first is an unending and intensifying desire to consume human blood caused by their BOR Parasite stimulating their nervous system. Termed blood thirst, neglecting this hunger will eventually cause the state of Frenzy and reduce the Revenant to a Lost.
Sidhe
These humanoid beings emerged shortly after The Great Collapse. Their origin is unclear. They are rare, even fewer in numbers than humans. Some say they are nature personified, an attempt of the Earth to heal itself from the mass destruction that took place. This theory is supported by the fact that they breathe life. Their breath carries fast growing spores capable of creating flora of any kind.
This incredible feature is also their weakness. While they are immune to the Miasma created by the Lost, breathing in polluted air weakens them immensely. They thrive in areas where the air is purified. This often leads them to live in close proximity to or alongside humans. The Sídhe provide food and medicine and in return humans provide them with a place to live.
When they are mortally wounded and die it is possible to resurrect a Sídhe. Similar to Revenants their heart needs to remain intact. They are buried in a bed of fertile soil to regenerate, but unlike Revenants they retain their memories.
The Lost
The Lost are Revenant whose BOR parasites have continued their infestation, spreading entirely through the body. As the BOR Parasite is no longer centralized to the Revenant's heart, the Lost are completely immune to death and will reform no matter what. The Parasite completely destroys the host personality, rendering them violent, mindless and cannibalistic. Lost are the primary threat.
Humans
At one time the dominant race on the planet. They are greatly outnumbered by the Revenants. A few small settlements of humans remain. Humans are known for their tenacity and will to thrive, which are made even stronger because of the dire circumstances they are living in. Some choose to live in government facilities, providing regular blood donations in exchange for a semi comfortable life. Others live in close knit communities, armed to the teeth. If they are lucky a Sidhe will join their side, immensely boosting their chances of survival.
Revenants
The supernatural powers the revenants command originate from their blood type. They can be roughly divided into four different types.
🩸 Type AB Boosts their physical capabilities to much greater heights, surpassing other Revenants in terms of strength, speed and stamina. Their senses are heightened and can pick up the sound of a pebble falling off a car.
🩸 Type B Gives the Revenant the ability to teleport over short distances, disappearing into shadowy tendrils and appearing somewhere else.
🩸 Type A Produces bolts of energy the Revenant can fire off from their hands.
🩸 Type O Allows for the construction of telekinetic barriers. The barriers require focus to maintain. Experienced users can keep up a barrier without their physical presence, but this reduces its effectiveness and it will fade over time.
Sidhe
🌱 Growths Some Sídhe are augmented by nature with a fifth limb. They come in different forms including tendrils, tails and even wings. The tails are the strongest appendage and tendrils the most versatile. Wings allow for limited flight but they can’t carry the Sídhe over great distances.
🌱 Camouflage The breath of a select few Sidhe allow them to produce a pollen which refracts the light around them, making them invisible. It also works while they move, but it's less effective creating a shimmering effect with more dynamic moves.
BOR parasites
BOR Parasites were discovered before the Great Collapse when creatures miraculously came back to life and eventually turned cannibal in a process called “Zombification”. Research into the phenomenon found that an unidentified life form had attached to the creature’s hearts and taken control of every cell in their host’s bodies. A procedure was developed, whereby the growth and contamination of the parasite is kept below a certain level. Patients will sleep for a varying length of time that cannot be predicted, but will awaken with their mind and volition intact: A Revenant.
Miasma
The Lost continually produce Miasma from their bodies which accumulates in the atmosphere. Miasma inhalation induces the Bloodthirst reaction in sane Revenants, rapidly reducing the time it would take for them to Frenzy.
Masks
Both Revenants and Sidhe wear masks for different reasons. The Revenants wear purifier masks formerly referred to as the “anti-miasma apparatus,” to protect themselves from the effects of the Lost’s miasma. The inner workings of the equipment are quite simple, as the local air merely passes through filters that use a fluid mixture containing the owner’s blood, which then neutralizes the miasma.
The Sídhe modified the technology used by the Revenants to create a type of mask allowing them to reabsorb the air they breathe out. Ideally this would result in a continuous cycle, but the technology is flawed. Eventually they do need fresh air. They carry with them a small supply of “oxygen” in a tank or bottle on their person. This allows them to refresh their supply. The lengths they can travel are limited and venturing out too far into uncharted areas is dangerous.
Vestiges
A blood red crystal. They are memories of a dispersed Revenant, sometimes going as far back as the Great Collapse. It glows when in the presence of the Revenant it belongs to. They are rare and a sought after item for trade.
Mistle
A mysterious plant-like organism discovered around 30 years after the great collapse. It is capable of cleansing Miasma from the surrounding environment. It transforms the Miasma into a substance incredibly similar to blood. It forms into tear shaped “fruits” and can be treated as such. Stored and processed into various other products. A fully matured mistle loses its ability to cleanse Miasma. Instead it creates a continuous supply of blood beads. Their lifespan is not known. There have been reports of many of them dying, causing a dangerous shortage of blood beads.
Blood beads
The tear shaped fruits of the mistle. Large specimens are stated to keep an adult revenant healthy for two months.