Beach Burrito

Terra Inreperta - Historical Alternate Reality/Fantasy NRP

Sounds like they should be renowned for their rum...

Toothless - Vanishing Hearts

Yep. In the end the info will be chopped up like so:

*A summery to get people oriented
*A hefty chunk of 'at your leisure' information best skimmed while waiting for replies
*Information players will only receive if they create characters that should know it

As for the sort of dangers vampires have to look out for keep in mind that you are perfectly capable of being destroyed by a drunk driver or hail of gun fire. (Though luckily the heart will be a no issue for those not playing Dhampir.)

I should probably mention that I don't plan to treat cybernetics like super-powers. They won't be glamorous, sleek or slide into the territory of Deus Ex/Ghost in the Shell. For military applications remember that no one is going to put millions (or even thousands) of dollars worth of tech inside of a soldier. Cost effectiveness and practicality are most important here. Cyborgs wont be turning invisible, shooting lasers or leaping off of skyscrapers. Think of the modern military and police force as being mainly autonomous drones with humans as tactical support. The choices aren't so much going to effect what cybernetics can do as much as where they fit into society.

So far that's one vote for them requiring permits, licenses and insurance.

Terra Inreperta - Historical Alternate Reality/Fantasy NRP

@Willy Vereb Basically instead of the black death rampaging across Europe and killing in excess of 25 million people during the mid 14th century anyone that had it and could make the exodus to Spain did so, chasing rumors of a cure. With the French border being the only land route into Europe the (In this revised history) much stronger nation enforces a quarantine. What little trade trickles in and out of Spain travels through lazarets--ships permanently at anchor--where they are harshly disinfected, lowly Imitadores the only couriers tasked with these routes (since they can survive the decontamination and are less likely to spread the disease) Portugal is the nation most at risk, since despite Spain's best efforts and honest attempts at imprisoning their populace illegals continue to chip away at their neighbor. Those that catch the plague inevitably seek salvation in Spain, so in essence the nearby nation is being converted rather than conquered. France is nowhere near as vulnerable, a fiercely guarded stretch of 'no-man's land' between the two nation. If someone decides to be France I'll let them decide what this chokepoint is, but I'm thinking they either resorted to a huge wall or allowed violent monsters or sub-humans to settle it as a buffer. Maybe they even used magic to create a confusing fog, vigilant golems or deadly swamp.

Spain is on the verge of a crisis, as it can't sustain itself and continues to receive criminals, lepers and other such unwanted refugees (One of their biggest imports, many nations willing to pay to be rid of them in a manner that saves face) That's why so much power rests with the Fraternidad de Médicos, the masses still hold out hope that the plague can be eradicated and that they might be properly cured. Revered as they are this cabal of doctors and mystics has its own agenda and the fate of the Segremony depends on outside influences. Perhaps they can negotiate for more land, becoming a vassal nation (But whom would risk it? And why?) Perhaps they are ignored and tensions allowed to boil over, leading to civil war? Will foreign powers support or depose the isolationist king? If the black death begins to spread anew it would not only weaken some very powerful nations but provide the perfect catalyst for a righteous genocide. The disease has a face now, and that face is Spain.

Terra Inreperta - Historical Alternate Reality/Fantasy NRP

Looks good so far.

Terra Inreperta - Historical Alternate Reality/Fantasy NRP

Here's a tentative WIP from me.

The Segremony of Spain

Location: Spain

General Introduction

The Segremony of Spain stretches from the Balearic Sea in the east to the North Atlantic Ocean in the west, bordered by the Bay of Biscay in the north and separated from its Moroccan and Algerian neighbors by the Mediterranean to the south. With a French stranglehold cutting them off from expansion into Europe more and more of Portugal cedes to Spanish influence, the small nation unable to resist the tide of illegal immigrants pressured out from overpopulation. Impoverished the peasantry ekes out what subsistence can be found amid the densest and most ethnically diverse population in the world.

History

By the time the black death began to ravish Europe Spain was already leading the world in medicine and in their hubris boasted of a treatment they'd yet perfected. Word of this 'miracle cure' spread nearly as fast as the disease itself, leading to a great exodus of the sick and dying. As a result the plague funneled itself towards Spain and smashed the country like an irresistible wave; galley after galley, cart after cart of the infirmed would arrive, in time their wasn't a healthy soul in all the Kingdom.

To their credit Spain truly was and remains the mecca of medical knowledge, even if it was taxed to the breaking point thanks to a seemingly infinite supply of infectees. Without a cure and with most of the arrivals too far gone to save had they had one all that science and magic could achieve was a sort of stasis--a near death that did nothing to ease one's suffering or render them any less contagious. Now a once proud Spain--previously on the cusp of becoming an empire--leads the world in crime, drug abuse and suicides. Newly dubbed a 'Segremony' their national policy is one of extreme isolationism and limited trade as the disgraced royal line seeks to contain any future outbreaks.

Government & Society

The Segremony exists in a state of collapse and while the royal family still technically governs the nation most if not all of the real power rests with the Fraternidad de Médicos, a sort of medical mafia if you will. Comprised of the most learned doctors and mages the country has to offer they exert their influence indirectly through the subtle understanding that without their stewardship the black death would quickly rise to swallow Spain anew. A representative from the Fraternidad sits on any council of import--up to and including the King's court--serving as spies rather than advisors.

Los Manchamarcado+

Roughly read as 'the blotch marked', such is the Segremony's largest demographic. A hodge-podge of any and all races that were susceptible to the black death and desperate for a cure/forcibly exiled to Spain. Each would be but a typical example of their ilk were it not for the patches of blackened skin, hideous buboes and slick gloss of fever sweat. Betided by woe they are the very backbone of the drug-economy and listless workforce.

Imitadores+

Literally 'imposters or imitators', a racial slur bestowed with contempt upon any nonliving that come to reside within Spain. While not expressly a crime to be undead or some manner of construct/mystical creature many harbor fear and hatred for them, feeling they've somehow profited from the black death. In actuality however many of these poor souls are merely victims of sickness themselves. Imitadores live so far below the poverty line they may as well be slaves or livestock.

Economy & Industry
(What are your primary exports and imports? How much you trade? How are your craftsmen organized? How developed is your technology? What kind of unique creations you have? etc...)

Military Overview
(Yeah, of course you also need to tell us some about your military. Try to avoid number games and unhealthy arms races. We play this game for fun and that needs balance and sensible approach. One of the main guidelines is that your nation's military shouldn't be much better than a historical 15-16th century army. Don't worry, I don't ask you historical accuracy. So-called "super units" can be okay if they are rather rare and may have other limitations. The point is to let you do cool things and explore your creativity but at the same time don't do it at the expense of others.)

Terra Inreperta - Historical Alternate Reality/Fantasy NRP

Throwing out dibs on Spain. I plan to have had them hit especially hard by the black death, squeezed against their Portuguese neighbors thanks to a French 'cordon sanitaire'. In this rendition of history Spain never became the worlds first colonial super-power. They 'don't' have holdings in the Americas and they are not the worlds leading maritime power, nor are they exceedingly wealthy or command a massive trade empire.

Toothless - Vanishing Hearts

Alright folks, so time for a bit of feedback. I'm currently wrapping my mind around the state of the modern human, a decision that will effect any Dhampir in the roleplay.

Let's start with how babies are born these days. An ultrasound is downright primitive compared to the medical science that comes into play here. Essentially while doctors aren't making nazi supermen from scratch the facilities and expertise to ensure two people have the best baby they could possibly make together exists. The only real constraints are the donors (mother/father) and how much money you're willing to throw at the highly paid medical professionals responsible for the pre-natal nip/tuck. Most families put away enough of a nest egg to pluck out the most easily detectable (and thus inexpensive) flaws, so things like glasses, ugliness, asthma and other such shortcomings are virtually non-existent. (Except for the exceedingly poor/undeveloped nations) The wealthy on the other hand have the means to design custom-tailored heirs, everything from eye color to sexual orientation decided long before the child is ever born. The end result being that boardrooms and yacht clubs are filled with real-life Mary and Marty Sues, to say nothing of those actually bred to be athletes from the get go. (Or the performance enhancing drugs professionals wind up addicted to)

So in a nutshell humanity is varying degrees of stronger/smarter then their ancestors (Read: Anyone that happens to have been an undying vampire for a while.) So vamps tend to prey on the poorest examples of humanity, in every sense of the word, meaning the seediest, slummiest parts of the sprawl are their stomping grounds. The downtrodden that gather here scrimp, save or downright steal their way to a leg up in life, often resorting to unsafe, unregulated and highly illegal gene mods. Even the skin trade follows this emergent trend, so-called 'whorror houses' cropping up as demand for more exotic pleasures rises.

That's the baseline we're working with so far, it's how cybernetics fall into place with what's already there that I'd like people to weigh in on. Would you prefer that:

*Cybernetics be increasingly outmoded by advances in medical science. The sort of thing people ended up 'stuck with' before the latest, greatest breakthroughs.

*A niche market that caters mostly to professional fields (military, private sector, etc.) with miles of red tape standing between civilians and their chrome.

*Ubiquitous. No one carries around a physical phone/computer anymore. The implants are so cheap that the net isn't something you log in and out of, it's just another part of the human experience.

I'm leaning on either option 3 or 2 myself while remaining open to suggestion/criticisms. Keep in mind that for vampires their physical form is merely an anchor for the curse and will remain as it was the moment they matured into either an Alp or Draug (Vetala don't even have bodies, so moot point in their regard.) So no, full on vampires can't have cybernetics or gene-mods. Even if they went through with the ill advised notion of getting them their bodies don't function correctly (Think of it like they're 'faking it', right down to bleeding out when they get shot) Even if the hardware or mods -could- work they'd just vanish like any other injuries the next time you revived.

Thus cybernetics and gene mods are strictly for Dhampir and real human beings. There will exist a sort of jealous undercurrent because of it, since these fledgling vampires will in time become a breed unto themselves as they mature into something never before imagined: Cybervampires. (Which will not happen during the course of this RP. Also, need a better name for it, too 90's. Transvampirism? Postvampirism? I'll think of something.)

So speak now or forever hold your peace people.

Europa: Dawn of the Middle Age

The way I read it is:

* You can make a woman/man that goes against the cultural/societal grain ((Which is very different depending on where you come from and where the RP takes place READ: Toletum - Capital of the High Kingdom of the Goths.))
** People will and -should- remark on how odd/unacceptable this is to varying degrees depending on who they are, just like they would if you followed a different religion/hail from another country/are a visible minority. You'll certainly stick out to say the least.
*** You -can't- fill a position that class/caste structure of your society rigidly forbids. These systems have teeth and -will- bite. (Impersonating a noble/church official etc.)

Just my notion mind, I can't speak for Capra.

Europa: Dawn of the Middle Age

Really thought there'd be more interest by now...

Toothless - Vanishing Hearts

Some notes on time and fate:

In the waking world time 'flows' forwards much like a stream and all are swept along by its current. For those at its mercy there is no way to stand still or move against the inexorable forward momentum that time exerts. Likewise, if the waking world is a stream the wider world is the ocean from which it springs and to which it empties. Past, present and future converge and become meaningless there*, trifling things that only serve to hinder one's rebirth.

Dream deeply and one might glean fragments of their future, shapes and madness in the shadow of one's mind. To the uninitiated such is Deja vu, the sudden subconscious fathoming that for an instant future and foreknowledge have intersected. Often the pursuit of such prophetic dreams becomes obsession and a fate one sought too avoid is revealed to be a result of the very actions taken to avert it.

Vampires are a special case. Cut off from the cycle of death and rebirth they have no link to the wider world**--nor any past, present or future to be found there. To cheat this those wishing to prognosticate their future must either seek out a mortal to whom they are in some way connected and stalk their eidolon**, read the omens through a mancy*** or petition a spirit directly.

Using this knowledge creates an obstruction as events change and fate flows around it, like dropping a stone into a stream.

* (Eternity is quite literally the horrible mess caused as past, present and future permeate each other)
** (An eidolon, the future-shadow cast by one's own dead self. Time is simultaneous within the wider world, so every living person that was or will be born is already dead there. It is taboo to contact one's deceased soul directly--and extremely dangerous)
*** A mancy is any school of divination (umbilicomancy, trochomancy, splanchnomancy, etc, etc, etc.) used to make an educated guess at the future. Vampires gain these through the use of veers, reaching across the near and broadening their awareness. (Omens, being supernatural in nature are as plain for spirits to read as a book would be to you or me.)