Kiragan_Natsuki — Roleplayer Guild

"Even amidst the neon glow, the flashing billboards and dancing lights, this city had a dirty secret to hide..."

youtube.com/watch?v=WbnHutA1u_0

Greetings all you netrunners, street samurais, rockerboys, and corrupt corpos.  Welcome to Nova City, a sprawling megalopolis brought to you by the Nova Corporation.  It's a great, big city brimming with opportunities and filled with the latest technology.  However, don't let all the neon lights and holographic billboards fool you, because beneath this city, crime, corruption, and poverty are rampant.  The rich live in luxury while the poor waste away in drug-infested slums dominated by fixers and crime lords.  Murder rates are soaring, the police are no more than a totalitarian death squad, and there's a mysterious and deadly virus known as Neurostigma spreading throughout the city.  Despite all this, if you're looking to make a name for yourself, this is the place to be.  So jack in, and I'll meet you in cyberspace.

More or less, just the basic RP rules:

-All players must first apply by posting a CS in the character tab before posting IC

-One-liners will NOT be accepted.  However, a paragraph or two is acceptable.

-No fighting in the OOC

-No overpowered or immortal characters.

-No killing other players' characters without the player's consent to do so.  Also, be sure to notify the GM of such events.

-Romance is allowed, even encouraged, but keep it tasteful and PG-13 for the thread.  Anything past that, you take it to the PMs.

-To keep from leaving people behind, wait for two posts after yours before posting again. (RULE REDACTED)

-Feel free to drop out anytime if you need to or just lose interest.  It happens.  Just make sure you let me or the CO-GM know via thread or PM.

Okay, now that the pesky rules are out of the way, let's get down to the action!

-Image- (What does your character look like?)

Personal Quote: (Something you'd like to say?)

Name: (What's your name?  Do you even have one?)

Gender: (Male or Female?)

Race: (Caucasian, Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Mixed.  DOES NOT APPLY TO ROBOTS OR ANDROIDS)

Nationality: (American, French, Irish, German, Mexican, Japanese, Etc.  DOES NOT APPLY TO ROBOTS OR ANDROIDS)

Age: (Age ranges from 18+, no lower than that.  DOES NOT APPLY TO ROBOTS OR OHYOUKNOWWHATIFUCKINGMEAN!)

Occupation: (What are you doing with your life?)

Family (optional): (Who was your family?  What did they do?  Are they still alive or dead?)

Vehicle: (What is your preferred method of getting around Nova City)

Equipment: (Guns, swords, tools, cyberdecks, whatever you may need or carry on you)

Cybernetics: (What is your character augmented with?  These could be anything within reason.  Are there any weaknesses or drawbacks to their cybernetic implants?)

Skills: (What are some things you're good at?)

Personality: (How are you often around others?  Describe yourself in four distinct traits.)

Likes/Dislikes: (What are some things you like and things you don't like?)

Backstory (optional): (What was your life like growing up?  How did you become what you are now?)

And because I'm a dolt who didn't put this sooner... Here's a little more info.

A comprehensive database on all you need to know about this sprawling futuristic metropolis

Founded in 2024 by Nova Corporation's former CEO Travis Balkan Sr., Nova City is home to a diverse and multicultural population.  However, with the rise in violent crime, poverty, terrorism, and corporate control, the city has been voted as the worst place to live in America.  In 2047, the city was officially recognized as a city-state governed by the Nova Corporation.

Located in what used to be Los Angeles, California, Nova City is a wide urban metropolis dominated by towering skyscrapers, densely packed streets, and vibrant nightlife.  This metropolis is considered a thrilling and exciting location to visit, as well as an interesting and extravagant place to live for those of means.  However, to the poor and disenfranchised, it's a hellscape infested with drugs, gangs, and increasingly authoritarian police.  Its infamous slogan 'The City Where All Your Dreams Come True' has been refuted many times but never changed.

Nova City is comprised of six separate districts, each with its distinct flavor and identity.  No two districts are alike, but wherever you may go, danger lurks around every corner.  So make sure you are well protected before venturing out.

The dirtiest and poorest district in the city, Harwood began as an affordable housing project funded by the Nova Corporation in 2065, but due to the increase in violent crime along with embezzlement within the corporation, the project was abandoned.  Now Harwood is home to street gangs, squatters, drug addicts, and all sorts of lowlifes.  Abandoned apartment complexes have become fortresses for fixers and crime lords, the streets are dirty and littered with trash and vermin, and the police rarely patrol the district, allowing lawlessness to take hold

The Belton District, located downtown, is the heart of Nova City where all the major corporations reside and city streets and transit hubs connect.  It's where the wealthy work hard and play harder.  Police presence is often heavy in this area due to the rise in violent crime and terrorism.  So don't be surprised to see an armed battalion of NCPD SWAT patrolling the streets or an M-172 "Behemoth" Tank heading your way.

The Sendero District is the largest district of Nova City.  Mostly a residential area, it is characterized by apartment complexes, shopping malls, retail outlets, and other businesses and stores.  The demographic is largely middle to lower-class income.  Despite not being as lawless as the impoverished Harwood District, crime is still a major concern.  Mainly, the Sendero District is a hotbed for more organized crime such as the Mafia, Chinese Triads, the Russian Mob, or the Yakuza.

The Hiroshi District is home to Nova City's Asian demographic, more predominantly Japanese.  With an abundance of ramen shops, arcades, and Japanese architecture and businesses, it more or less resembles downtown Tokyo.  The Yakuza have a firm hold on this district, and while the NCPD do patrol this area from time to time, it's the Yakuza's word, or rather Boss Shiryu Matsumoto's word, that's law.

The Venus District plays to your most perverse desires with a numerous selection of brothels, strip clubs, peep shows, pleasure domes, and other sordid establishments.  If you got the cash, the ladies (or men or cyberdolls) here will make all your naughtiest dreams come true.  While crime here is particularly low, there is still an air of danger around the place.  The pimps and madams are in control here, the most notorious being Victor Lashawn, better known as Big V

The Weber District is home to the city's elite: celebrities, CEOs, politicians, and aristocrats.  Compared to the rest of Nova City, this place is a paradise with its sprawling picturesque views, five-star resorts, restaurants and casinos, perfectly maintained golf courses and country clubs, and rows of lavish mansions, one of which is the home to Nova Corp's CEO Travis Balkan Jr..  The entire district is surrounded by impenetrable walls, preserving it from the dirty dregs of the urban sprawl, and protected by private security contractors under the Nova Corporation.

Founded in 2000 after the Global Economic Collapse, the Nova Corporation was started by a visionary industrialist named Travis Balkan Sr.  Balkan had one goal in mind, and that was to create the perfect urban city for everyone to live in.  The corporation started small, operating as a construction firm in Los Angeles, but later expanded into real estate and housing & development projects.  By 2015, the corporation saw mass growth and expansion and began exploring other opportunities.  It was during this time Balkan met his wife Cecilia and fathered a son, Travis Balkan Jr.  Balkan would later name Cecilia and his son heirs to his company.

By 2024, the Nova Corporation was the largest in the NAE with offices and facilities all over the country, including Canada and Mexico.  They had their hand in everything from banking to consumer electronics, private security, multimedia, energy, pharmaceuticals, aerospace travel, and communication and infrastructure.  They were also the founder of numerous charities to benefit the less fortunate.  However, in 2041, the corporation would take a major turn.

On the night of January 11, Travis Balkan Sr. and his wife Cecilia were found brutally murdered in their lavish estate.  No suspects would be found, leaving the murder to be a mystery.  Coincidentally after his parents' deaths, Travis Balkan Jr. would take control of his father's corporation.  Unlike his father, Balkan Jr. was a ruthless, cunning, and power-hungry businessman.  Using unscrupulous methods such as blackmail, sabotage, and assassination, Balkan Jr. took the Nova Corporation to dizzying heights above all other megacorporations.  He single-handedly eliminated all competition and took absolute control of Nova City, where he controls the media, politics, and the police.

In 2047, Travis Balkan Jr. officially declared Nova City a city-state, free of the Neo-American Empire.

Milicor Defense International, or MDI for short, was founded in 2003 from the ashes of several weapons manufacturers and private military companies.  They are one of the world's largest manufacturers of weapons and military vehicles, with factories and headquarters all over the globe, as well as the largest private military contractor.

Milicor provides equipment and military training for hundreds of nations, as well as both private and government organizations including the Nova City Police Department and the NAE Armed Forces.  The corporation also provides highly trained mercenaries equipped with the latest weapons and technology.

Milicor forces were integral to the NAE's victory over Russia during the Russo-American conflict of 2011 and in the Second American Civil War against the American Socialist Separatist Republic in 2018.

During the annexation of Mexico and Central America in 2025 however, Milicor came under scrutiny when its mercenaries were accused of committing war crimes and human rights violations.  The corporation faced major backlash as well when several of its executives were brought under charges for ties to alt-right neofascist organizations and domestic terrorist groups.

Milicor has since denied these claims, but their public reputation was sullied nonetheless.

The corporation maintains its dominance in the defense industry to this day, but they have little to no power whatsoever in Nova City, aside from selling weapons and vehicles to their police forces.

One of the oldest operating megacorporations in the world, Yamagata Zaibatsu was founded in 1961 in Tokyo, Japan.  Disillusioned with Japan's surrender after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, former Imperial Japanese Army Lieutenant Souichiro Yamagata returned to his hometown of Osaka to pick up the pieces of a life shattered by the Second World War.  

Although Japan's economy was crumbling and its industry was in ruins, Yamagata enrolled in Tokyo University and vigorously studied all matters of economics, business, and politics.  This was to ensure he had the tools necessary to achieve his lifelong goal: the rebirth of the Japanese Empire.

At first, his corporation started small.  Their main headquarters was a two story building in the Asakusa District of Tokyo, where they manufactured and sold consumer electronics such as TVs, radios, and camcorders, but by the late 1980s during the video-game boom, their company flourished with the invention of the Tami-Com system which sold worldwide.  By 1998, the Yamagata Zaibatsu was among the highest ranked in the Global 500.

Souichiro Yamagata continued to operate as the corp's CEO until he suffered a heart attack and died in 1999, leaving ownership to his son Toshio Yamagata.  Toshio's education as well as his shrewd business sense became valuable to the megacorporation in 2000, as he was able to foresee and protect the Yamagata Zaibatsu from the coming economic collapse.  After the crash wiped out most businesses in Japan, Yamagata was the only one left standing.  Their reach soon spread beyond Japan with the corp establishing facilities in China, Unified Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, The Philippines, France, and the U.K.  Yamagata became even more powerful over the years and diversified their branches to take on banking, consumer vehicle manufacturing, private security, cybersecurity, and the developing of cutting edge, technological weapons such as the RK-117 Folding Katana.

Unfortunately by the 2040s, the corp would face major setbacks as it began its conquest on American soil.  The Japanese owned Zaibatsu faced overwhelming hostility from American corporations, including Nova Corp, undermining their assets, targeting Yamagata employees and executives for assassination, and sabotaging many of its American factories and facilities.  The corp continued to gain a foothold in the NAE, but it had limited reach compared to the Nova Corporation.

China would soon ally with Russia and invade Taiwan and Korea, forcing the zaibatsu to withdraw its facilities from those countries respectively, thus weakening its overall grasp over much of Asia.

Today, the corporation remains one of the largest on the Global 500 despite not having the influence it had years ago.  Yamagata still maintains and operates its headquarters in Japan, Europe, and the NAE and is still the largest provider of consumer electronics, exotic vehicles, and cybersecurity measures.  They harbor a great deal of resentment towards the Nova Corporation and will do anything to see them fall.

Yamagata however has a shady reputation of its own, concerning the use of underhanded business tactics similar to Nova Corp.  The corp has also been accused of abusing its employees, some claiming toxic work environments, sexual harassment, long hours with little to no pay, and the denying of benefits.  Yamagata Zaibatsu gave no comment to these allegations.  There are also rumors stirring about that the corp is involved with the Japanese Yakuza.

Russian Oil & Petrochemical Industries, or RusOil for short, is one of the largest producers of oil and natural gas in the world.  As the richest and most powerful oil company in Russia, they have ultimate control and influence over the Russian government.  Founded in 1990 by businessman turned politician Mikhail Borshevsky, RusOil owned and operated several wells and refineries in Russia and its neighboring countries such as Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

In 1994, the collapse of the United Soviet Socialist Republic led to the birth of the Newly Federated Russian Republic, ushering in an entirely new economic system.  Kazakhstan and Ukraine joined the Federation willingly while Romania, Finland, and Latvia were later annexed.  Then in 1996, Russian Federation President Sergei Markova re-structured the centrally-controlled oil industry. Federated republics were arguing over how much control to hand over to the Central Committee, and no progress was being made towards an agreement.

It was during these political squabbles Borshevsky made his move.  His first measure to ensure success was to bribe President Markova into establishing him as director of the Central Oil Committee.  Then, Borshevsky appointed as deputy director Josef Belikovt, a Siberian native who owned one of the largest oil leases in the country.  With two of the the richest oil industrialists heading the committee, the committee was successfully able to push for a consolidated federal oil industry.  Now all the oil and gas production was under the power of one company-RusOil.

By 2001, RusOil managed to survive the great collapse and remained one of the most powerful corporations on the globe.  With their money and influence, they began to manipulate the political scale in Russia, bribing politicians and boosting the popularity of candidates they found favorable. Eventually, they were able to persuade the Russian Federation into an alliance with Iran, thus leading to a full scale invasion of the Middle East.  RusOil then had control over oil wells in Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

Their next goal was to form an alliance with China, thus taking over oil production in Mongolia and forcing out their business competitor in Asia, Yamagata Zaibatsu, where RusOil seized all control of their assets they abandoned in those countries.

By the early 2010s, RusOil had practically taken over the Russian Federation and nearly all of Asia.  Borshevsky decided to step down as CEO of the company in order to run for president in the upcoming election.  Sadly, he was killed when a miniature nuclear device detonated in his car, killing over twenty thousand people and destroying RusOil's headquarters in Moscow.

Though the real perpetrator of the attack remains a mystery, RusOil and the Russian Federation were quick to blame it on American corporate oil interests and deem it an act of war.  On October 31, 2011, Russian Federation Armed Forces were given the order to invade the Neo-American Empire.  An attack was launched on Alaska and Texas, resulting in Russia capturing both states and pushing towards Washington D.C.

However American forces, backed by Milicor mercenaries and armor, were able to push the invasion back and force Russia out of Alaska.  A final bloody battle was fought in Dallas, which ended when the city was decimated by Milicor's orbital satellite defense system, codenamed THOR.  A second attack was later launched on the Middle East, destroying valuable oil reserves in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Russia retreated and RusOil faced major backlash from the NAE government.  Heavy sanctions were placed against the corporation and many of its oil reserves were bought out by American corporations, one of them being Nova Corp.  Likewise, RusOil was banned from establishing any of their facilities on American soil for thirty years.

Since the ban has lifted, RusOil continues to be the largest supplier of oil and natural gas in the world, and in 2075, they established their first American headquarters in Nova City.  The corporation is now headed by Natalya Zalchenkov, a former advisor to RusOil's private security and a veteran of the Russo-American Conflict.  She brings ruthlessness and military efficiency to the table and she won't stop until RusOil rules the world again.

Zenith Technologies got its start in 2005 when college dropouts Charles Schaffer and Rick Delphino joined together to create a small technology business in Silicon Valley, California.  Originally, the company developed hardware and software for personal computers, but during the cybernetics boom of 2009, Zenith saw a massive increase in their revenue.  By 2011, they were among the top providers of cyberware, wetware, microchips, and neural processors.  Their products also included the new ZG-31X Dragon Cyberdeck, which became a favorite among burgeoning netrunners.

After the 2011 Russo-American Conflict, Zenith expanded due to gaining lucrative government contracts to design computer targeting systems and artificial intelligence for military drones and aircraft, narrowly beating out Milicor Defense.  This in turn angered Milicor executives, and on February 8, 2012, Milicor mercenaries attacked Zenith's main office in Silicon Valley, killing hundreds of their employees.  A proxy war soon began between the two corporations.  On March 11, Zenith launched the Grim Reaper virus to infect Milicor's entire global database.  The virus allowed Zenith to take control of Milicor brand drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, unleashing them on Milicor's facilities and causing chaos.  Milicor responded by firing a nuclear missile  towards Zenith's manufacturing facility in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Thankfully, Zenith was able to stop the missile by hacking into its onboard computer targeting system and detonating it over the Pacific Ocean.

Unfortunately, the EMP from the nuke caused a blackout on the entire west coast that lasted for months.  Eventually, after years of corporate warfare, both Zenith and Milicor signed a non-aggression treaty ending the war, but they still remain bitter enemies to this day.

By 2044, the corp continued to be the top distributor of cyberware and computer technology, but they diversified their product range to later include aerodynamics, aerospace technology, and oddly enough weapons manufacturing.  The Zenith Firearms branch of the corporation was launched with little success, their only known product being a double barrel shotgun purchased by the Nova City Police Department.  Zenith continued providing the shotgun to police but shut down their weapon manufacturing branch in late 2050.

By 2066, The Zenith Aerodynamics branch gained renowned success for their own line of drones and VTOL gunships, including the ZA-108 Archangel currently used by NAE Armed Forces.  Their security, combat, and utility drones are also their most recognizable products, used widely by all megacorporations.  This meant once again Zenith was encroaching on a market occupied by Milicor, but due to the non-aggression treaty, Milicor could not retaliate.

Zenith is now one of the largest corporations in Nova City, but like all others, they face major competition and hostility from Nova Corp.

Bematech began as a small, relatively unknown corporation based out of Santorini, Greece, founded in 2008 by environmental scientists and biologists who had one goal in mind: to restore the environment to its natural glory.  They only had one main office at the time and little to no resources.  However in 2009, when mass climate change devastated farms and ranches worldwide, leading to a record food shortage, Bematech came to the rescue, developing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to aid in plant and animal growth.  The end result was a resurgence of agriculture and increased food production.  Bematech was recognized for their effort and awarded the Nobel Prize.  This in turn rose their capital by a huge margin and gave them the status of Megacorporation overnight.  However, on the Global 500, they were still ranked lowest.

In 2010, Bematech established its first major branch in the Neo-American Empire.  Then in 2011, after Russia's war with the NAE resulted in a global energy crisis, driving the price of oil to insane levels, Bematech once again made their way onto the world's stage with the invention of a cleaner burning and much more renewable fuel source derived from genetically modified plants.  This new fuel source named BioPetro would go on to replace fossil fuels in vehicles and power plants all over the world, resulting in a drastic reduction of worldwide pollution.  Unfortunately, Bematech's discovery made them an enemy of corporate oil interests in both the NAE and Russia.

Despite their success, Bematech still remained a small corporation, and with the looming threat of corporate warfare on the horizon, they had to find a way to protect their facilities and assets.  Bematech started making deals with Milicor in 2014 and settled on a mutual agreement with the defense contractor.  In exchange for biological weapons, Milicor would provide equipment and personnel to safeguard Bematech's facilities.  This deal would come back to bite them later in 2025, during the infamous annexation of Mexico and Central America.

Both Milicor and Bematech were brought under charges for the distribution and use of illegal biological weapons when a deadly disease spread throughout Nicaragua and El Salvador killing thousands.  According to the investigation by the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, the virus responsible was discovered to be a genetically engineered strain of influenza.  Bematech was fined millions, several of its executives and scientists were sent to prison, and several of its facilities were seized by the NAE government.

More controversy arose later in 2039, when the corporation was accused of the illegal practice of cloning and genetically modifying human beings.  According to the report, a whistleblower by the name of Dan Silverton leaked evidence of a research and development facility outside Seattle, Washington.  Silverton was later discovered hanging from a bridge over the Puget Sound.  His death was ruled as a suicide by police as no evidence of foul play was discovered.

Bematech denied the accusations, and with no further evidence against them, the case was dropped.  Unfortunately, rumors still persist that the corporation was cloning humans.

In the 2070s and 2080s, Bematech resumed working towards their lifelong goal of rebuilding the environment.  Their tireless research led to the restoration of forests and grasslands and bioengineering previously extinct animal and insect species across the world.  They received another Nobel Prize in 2077 for their participation in researching various vaccines and future medicinal products, despite protests against their previous manufacturing of bioweapons.

While their main facility is located downtown, Bematech owns and operates many farms outside of Nova City, producing food and other goods for the population.  They offer their employees many benefits such as paid vacation, affordable health and dental insurance, 401K, competitive pay, and sick days and maternity leave.

The corporations and police aren't the only ones with power in Nova City.  From street gangs to drug cartels to organized crime families, Nova City is an epicenter for gang violence and criminal activity.  These nefarious factions deal in everything such as guns, drugs, illegal cyberware, and even human lives.  Much like the corpos, they vie for dominance of the city.  It's just their territorial wars are a little more forthright...and bloody.

All credit due to the creator(s) of this logo(s).

Started by an NAE Marine Corps vet named Jeff Harlow, the Nova City Regulators formed in response to the overwhelming increase in violent crime and the police's unwillingness to do anything about it.  Originally, the gang consisted mostly of military veterans, but as time went on, the Regulators' ranks swelled with the inclusion of discharged corporate security officers who were unable to find other employment, as well as ex police officers and normal civilians who were given military training upon joining.  Many of their members wear military style clothing and combat gear and are heavily armed.  Some are also augmented with cybernetics to improve their combat effectiveness.

	Founded in the year 2028, the Regulators began as an ad hoc police force created to keep thugs and hoodlums at bay, and the charismatic leaders gave people a way protect themselves and seek retribution for the damage caused by other gangs.  These days however, the Regulators are no better than the gangs they battle in the streets of Nova City.  They have forgone their noble cause of serving the public in favor of abusing their power over the neighborhoods and communities they control, regularly forcing local small businesses to pay protection money and engaging in other criminal activity such as armed robbery, gun running, drug manufacturing, and vehicle theft.

Their main base of operations is located in the Sendero District, but smaller outfits also exist in other parts of the city.  According to the NCPD database, many of the Regulators' members have ties to Milicor, and it is possible Milicor is supplying them with weapons and gear.

While not necessarily a gang but a cabal of hackers, computer nerds, and tech geniuses, the Black Sun is still considered a dangerous criminal organization by the NCPD, responsible for nearly all cybercrime in the city.  All of their members are believed to be in the range of ages 16 to 35 and go by usernames rather than their birth names.  Founded in 2027 by a black hat codenamed Abs01ut3Zer0, Black Sun has claimed responsibility for several cyber attacks on major corporations, world governments, and city infrastructures. 
 Their infamous slogan: THE ECLIPSE IS COMING has greeted many who fell victim to their brand of cybercrime, whether it was sabotaging servers by uploading viruses or ransomware or stealing millions of dollars from corporate and personal bank accounts. 

	The group continues to operate to this day, but Nova City Police has been cracking down on them harder than ever, shutting down many of their cybercriminal activities and revealing the identity of numerous key members.  Several raids on Black Sun headquarters throughout the city have also revealed stashes of weapons and illegal narcotics, possibly indicating the group runs other businesses besides cybercrime.  However, those who have been arrested by NCPD refute these claims, alleging that the guns and drugs were planted by corrupt police officers on the corporations' dime.  Investigations by the Nova City Bureau of Internal Affairs have brought up no such evidence to support these accusations.

Originally a small time street gang, the Viceroys didn't come into power until they were taken over by local pimp Victor LaShawn (Big V) in 2056 and turned into his personal army.  As part of their evolution, they seized control of the Venus District from the Mafia and took over all of their operations, including various brothels and black market dealerships.  Later, they conquered the Harwood District, eliminating any other gangs that stood in their way and claiming all of their weapons and drug stashes.

Many of the Viceroys serve as V's personal protection as well as security for the brothels he owns in the Venus District.

While most of their revenue comes from prostitution, they have expanded into more lucrative operations over the years, including embezzlement, extortion, bribery, kidnapping, drug manufacturing, and even cybercrime. Furthermore, under Victor, they have entered into arrangements with various corporations over the years, which has drawn the Viceroys even closer to the world of international crime and increased their power far beyond that of an average street gang.

Akai-Nami, or in English, Red Wave, is a Bōsōzoku gang originating from the Hiroshi District but over the years have expanded to other districts within Nova City by brute force.  While mostly a bunch of teenagers and young adults between the ages of 17 and 39, with a love for Japanese swords and custom motorcycles, Akai-Nami are notorious for being one of the most fiercely territorial and violent gangs in Nova City, racking up a body count that far surpasses any other criminal outfit.  Their preferred methods of killing are either drive-by shootings with high velocity machine pistols or beheadings with their katanas.  Abduction, torture, and sexual assault are just a few other examples of their depravity.

	While primarily a motorcycle gang notable for illegal street racing and disturbing acts of violence and property destruction, Akai-Nami sometimes acts as enforcers for the Yakuza in Nova City, as well as the Yamagata Zaibatsu.  It is not uncommon for the corporation to hire members as assassins, and there are some who believe the megacorp also backs the gang financially.

Despite their penchant for wanton violence and causing widespread chaos, Akai-Nami members all adhere to a strict code of honor and loyalty, answering to a leader known as Oyabun or Boss.  Their current Oyabun is 27 year old Reiki Takeyama.  Members who break the code are often subjected to horrible punishments.

Founded and led by ex-Spetsnaz GRU operative Boris Petrovitch in 2070, the Bratstvo Medvedya or Brotherhood of the Bear are an aggressive gang of Russian, Eastern European, and Slavic descent.  Placing emphasis on physical power above all else, they avoid traditional cyberware and instead inject themselves with various performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids, ultra-testosterone, and muscular growth hormones.  Nearly all of the Brotherhood's members, including women, sport a beastly, heavily tattooed physique and have a notably violent and aggressive temper.

	While engaging in various criminal activities like human trafficking, cybercrime and arms dealing, the Brotherhood are mostly known for their ultraviolent raids on residential districts and other gangs' home turf.

	They organize illegal underground fights and manufacture and sell drugs, mostly homebrewed anabolic steroids. A few members specialize in raiding drug stores, pharmaceutical companies, and drug dealers.  Some hire themselves out as either bouncers to nightclubs, including those owned by the Russian Mob, or hired muscle to loan sharks and racketeers.  It is also not uncommon to find Brotherhood members working as bodyguards for RusOil executives.

Transient street samurai, somewhat inspired by the Nomads in Cyberpunk 2077. They disdain both corporations and the rule of law, both of which they view as irredeemably corrupt. This obviously is not an uncommon attitude even amongst ordinary citizens. The Ronin set themselves apart with exactly how far they're willing to take their refusal to participate. 

It is exceptionally rare for a Ronin to own land or property. More commonly they will squat in old buildings, or take up residence in out of the way places. They do not make use of banks for any reason whatsoever, to do so would be grounds for ostracization by any and all Ronin who still keep to their code. They sometimes carry cash out of necessity, but are known for being strangely careless with it; either they will lose it, or even just give it away when their need has ended. 

They will only purchase anything from what they dub "Individuals," an ill defined term with nearly as many interpretations as there are Ronin. As a result, any corporate owned establishment(and many privately owned ones) will bar them from entry, under the assumption that they intend to steal. This is not an unfounded expectation. 

Their survival depends on two abilities that corporations have discouraged in the general populace. The first is the knowledge of how to grow(and very occasionally hunt for) food. Ronin maintain secret gardens all over the world, and guard them jealously. Very few people outside of this group are even aware of the practice. And to this day not a single person has entered a Ronin garden and lived to tell about it. 

The second ability is the repair and creation of their own equipment. Ronin can be spotted easily by their garb and gear. Everything they own is out of date, off-brand, or just plain homemade. They can be distinguished from your garden variety pauper by the cleanliness and good repair that they keep everything in. Gear is expertly repaired, their vehicles(though absurdly old in most cases) run like new, or even better sometimes. Their clothes are patched or darned artfully, often improving the look rather than detracting from it. 
They also remove all brand logos or iconography from anything they own. It is not enough to cover or hide it, it must be cut away. 

The Ronin have one of the few ongoing blade making traditions. Inspired of course by Japanese sword making, it is updated and improved with modern metallurgy. A Ronin sword looks much like a traditional katana(or wakazashi, tanto etc), though occasionally with some odd quirks in the color of the metal, or the construction of the hilt, owing to their penchant for using scavenged and recycled materials. Though their swords are unmarked(per the Ronin Code) most Ronin can spot one of their own swords by style, and may even recognize the smith who made it. 

As far as more modern weapons are concerned, there are some gunsmiths among them, but it is more common for Ronin to carry antique fire arms(with logos and serial numbers filed off). 

No single group, no matter how well organized(and the truth is that the Ronin are barely organized at all) can produce everything that they need. As mentioned,  they will use money when necessary, but greatly prefer to barter in goods and services. 

Any given Ronin only knows so much, and won't be able to offer everything, but if one is polite(and not already known to be an enemy) they will usually try to find someone who can offer what you need. 

Rice wine, typically made from rice they cultivate in their hidden gardens. It is generally considered to be quite good. 

Good, real vegetables. It is actually quite rare that they will offer this, as they rely heavily on it for survival(they generally refuse to eat food produced by corporations), but if a crop produces a particularly good surplus, or if the need is great enough, it does happen sometimes. 

Repair of just about anything. 

Medical services(either home remedies or stolen medications). 

If you are a true friend to the Ronin, they might offer a sword, but this is a great honor and quite rare. Generally speaking they try very hard to keep their swords out of outsider hands.

There are many clans within the larger Ronin community, and some(including the FBI) liken them to an alliance of gangs. The truth is that a clan is much more akin to an extended family, and while most Ronin are at least technically a criminal of some sort, few of them do more than petty civil disobedience, or just being a general nuisance. 

Ronin will accept those who shun the corporate lifestyle, and as a result there are some Ronin from all walks of life. However, most are born into their clan. A born Ronin and a convert can often be easily distinguished as those born to their clan will only receive cybernetics from a Ronin ripperdoc. 

Ronin cybernetics are simple and sturdy. They don't interface with any other computers as they use a wholly unique operating system not seen outside of the clans. 

[notes made in brackets are observations and interpretations by Ronin elder Jin Corso] 

First, we must never engage in the buying and selling of money. Neither borrowing nor lending. 
Second, we exchange currency for nothing, except from Individuals.[there are some who ignore the second clause and never utilize money, but this isn't feasible for most, and the exception exists for a reason]
Third, we must not wear or hold the marks of those who created the things we use. Nor should we mark those things that we make with our own hands. [no one should hold ownership over a thing except the one who keeps and maintains it]
Fourth, we must not take from the Individual. [an "Individual" is one who acts only for themselves(excepting to help family, friends, or community), and so the property of a corporation is free to take and use as one pleases, provided they follow The Third when doing so]
Fifth, we must endeavor to cause as little harm to Individuals as we can.

Slang terms for the Ronin include "sword bum" and "rino." The latter being a portmanteau of rice and wino, a reference to the rice wine they commonly sell. 

There are some Ronin who are militant even to the point of terrorist action, but the vast majority are more akin to strange, orthodox monks.
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