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Located in the middle of the pacific ocean, created in the mid to late 22nd century, Cypher Island stands solitary and isolated from the rest of the world. The very island itself was created to be the main offices of the Cypher Bio-Tech research super company, and eventually that company and it's employees became their own city state and the main supplier of Biological Technologies for the rest of the world. Their boarders, however, are closed to all outsiders, and no one outside of the islands ocean and air space know for sure what is really going on in the Miracle Science City.
You do. You are a resident of Cypher Island, and all is not well. While you have access to technologies unimagined by the outside world, socio-political unrest and an innately corrupt government plague the city and the threat of a revolutionary war looms heavy on the minds of all but the upper class. Worst of all, a genetic mutational drug, feral-emphetamine, or Beast, is widely used by anyone and everyone unfortunate enough to live in the poorer parts of town. Some say, they are even forced to use it to survive...
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So here's the details. Cypher Island is a multi level city, with streets built every fifty stories or so, reaching higher than any city on earth. There are nine levels in total, and the lower you live, the poorer in wealth and social status you are. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, living lover then level six has been infected by Beast by chance or by choice, and has experienced the effects of it.
Beast is a genetic altering drug that includes the DNA of a non human animal, and integrates it in with whatever organism it enters. If 'cut' or mixed correctly, it can pinpoint specific parts of the body to do specific things, such as add a tail or wings or other appendage, cover a being with scales, enhance reflexes or other such things. The one thing that is always affected first however, is the eyes. No matter how little Beast you've used, you're eyes always change to the same type as the animal you've mixed with.
The side effects can include organ failure if the Beast is uncut, and even if cut correctly, using too much over your life time can cause serious brain damage resulting in an animalistic state known as "going feral" by users. Due to the seemingly inescapable nature of the drug in the lower levels (it is easily carried by insects such as biting gnats and mosquitos, and may also be in the food or water system), most people in the lower levels end up using it at least once to build a resistance to the drug, if not for the positive or stylistic side effects. Other side effects are an elated 'high' period during and after, and some addictive properties, with paranoia and anger-based mood swings if used over a long period of time. These effects can be minimized if the drug is cut correctly. A full transformation takes about a week or two, again depending on the way the Beast is cut. It can be mixed with pure sucrose, proteins, and carbohydrates in liquid form to reduce the bodily shock of the drug.
The social aspects of the city are actually rather simple. The upper class believe that anyone who's used Beast is automatically more likely to commit a violent crime, and therefore will accuse all beast users of said crimes, usually convict them, and then make them second class citizens and force them to live lower in the city (usually more changed users are forced to live at or below level five).
Some of the common technologies are bio-engines for vehicles or homes (they use a grown muscle to turn a wheel that generates electricity), advanced medicine that nullify most genetic deceases, although some viral and bacterial deceases use medicine far too expensive for the middle to lower classes, and houseplants that can be grown to imitate any building material or food, from steel to corn beef. Real, non-plant grown food brought from off the island is a luxury that only the rich can afford. All buildings are made from these grown materials, and even the walls in an apartment building usually require mild trimming as the major buildings are still alive and growing (the trimming of the outside is done by a common, very large beetle called cement suckers by locals). The functions that are not filled by bio-technology in the lower levels are usually filled by a more digital, energy manipulation based tech.
This is partially due to the monitory system of the island. They trade, not in gold or paper notes, but in energy. They have a completely cashless system that is backed by energy units, like calories and ohms (unit of electrical energy... I think), which are stored in a battery like bank and transferred to wherever they're needed or spent. In this way, you don't pay for a power bill, you are literally spending money on keep the lights lit. Because of this, light is seen as a kind of wealth that can be displayed. People's clothes light up (a la Tron style, but more urban) to display that they have the money to spare the same way we wear gold jewelry. Poorer people also might have chemical lights in their clothes to imitate this at a cheeper price. Also, keeping your windows closed when you have lights on is considered rude when it's dark out (all the time in the bottom few levels), because it costs the same amount to have your lights on or not, so you should share it. This is also why a lot of people genetically alter themselves to have much better night vision. It's all because of their money system.
Because the city and the island itself was created by and for a company, the government is built the same way. This makes them very efficient and capitalistic, but also makes them very corrupt. Most government officials are even allowed to take bribes to look the other way, so long as it doesn't impede the "production and smooth running of the citie's production of goods and wealth." So while it's technically a democracy, in the end it's really a purely money and monitory power based government, with the richest society members living at the top and having the most voice.
The lowest level of Cypher Island would be twice the hight of all the other levels (and even a bit taller then the highest level) if the island wasn't sinking into the ocean slowly, flooding the bottom half of level one. The still growing buildings also have become jungles on the inside at this level, filled with strange, genetically modified creatures, making them unlivable for all but the bravest residence. This causes most of the populace at this level to build their own houses from whatever materials they can scrounge together (usually wood, the cheapest to grow), making extensive floating towns with canals for roads. These are known as the infamous floating slums, where anything can be bought for a price, even a life.
Finally, the police force of Cypher Island are bio-mechanical humanoids that are insect themed just called the Enforcers. People can make this up as they go, but I may or may not introduce some of my ideas as we go through the story. The main police unit is called an ANT Enforcer. (Browny points to anyone who can think up a good acronym for ANT, 'cus I'm clueless.
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So here are some base rules for your character.
This is a sandbox setting, so you can make any character in any social setting, but there are trends and consequences you should be aware of. The upper level people are all about being purely human, so no animal modifications. They also have a very insect like look to them and their vehicals/gadgets. This makes people in the lower levels extremely mistrustful of anything insect like, so while genetic modification with insects is possible, it is extremely un popular. Also because of the genetic 'distance' between humans and insects, it's far more dangerous. Upper level people have very little prejudice against other upper level people, and only really judge based on income, but they are extremely prejudiced against anyone infected with beast.
As for cultural stereotypes in regards to lower level people, they also have very little prejudice to skin tone, but do have 'racism' against certain animal types that people choose to become. You can make that up as you go, but try and base it on how the animal themselves feel. However, insects again are mistrusted and usually seen as government spies and agents.
Note that the lower you get, the more animalistic you can be, but once your character starts altering their skeletal structure or vital organs (unless you target them specifically), they're usually just about gone. Most people's skin is mostly human looking (again, unless targeted specifically to be changed), and they just have a few animal parts. But eyes are almost always changed.
Remember, it's Sandbox, so you can make up your stories as you go along, and I'm perfectly fine with people making parts of the universe up as they go along as well. Anything I haven't detailed, you can make up, and if you want to change something I've made up, or if you want to make an exception to the rule, PM me and we'll discuss it. I'll try and accommodate whatever you have in mind, and I'm always open to story ideas if someone would like to give this thing more direction.
Character sheets are whatever format you like, and if I feel like you need to clarify something I'll let you know.
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Art is the Science of Inspiration on Demand!
Last edited by Jessie Shadowhold on Thu Oct 09, 2014 7:11 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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