- Posting Speed
- 1-3 posts per week
- One post per week
- Online Availability
- 16:00-20:00 US Central
- Writing Levels
- Adept
- Advanced
- Prestige
- Preferred Character Gender
- No Preferences
- Genres
- Cyberpunk, Sci-fi, Fantasy, and other low-tech/fantasy.
2050
---
"Earth, long lost to faded memory, forgotten by even the oldest. It was said that at the end of the Holocaust there were no survivors; whoever had been alive beforehand was so radically changed that who they were destined to be was gone forever. I hope this is not true. If it is, then no one survived the voyage to Mars, nor are any alive today. What do we have as a species ?"
- Unaccredited
Humanity's birthright, the lone planet in the known cosmos capable of supporting complex, intelligent life, was dying. Resources were incapable of supporting an ever-growing population. Global tension teetered on the brink of all-out war. From the collapsing ark rose a new hope, brought by a blissful moment of unity unseen by humankind in all its history. In a last-ditch effort, ships were sent to do what they could with the nearest floating rocks out there: Venus and Mars.
These new colonies were no place for the timid or the weak. Of the three billion that made their way to the new salvation only a third remained between them. Crime festered. Law slowly faded. Humanity had lost not only its home, but any resemblance it had to the once proud, dominant species of Earth. There were the lone few who believed they could save their burning ship, and perhaps they are still alive, though none are willing - or able - to return. Be it the second or the fourth rock out, a new home has been made among the cold stars.
2166
---
Along with livestock, crops, water stores, and humans themselves, the Migrants - those who left Earth - too brought several terraforming devices that would later serve to rehabilitate Mars to a fraction of its supposed former grandeur. Currently still awaiting the 'final turn', Mars has become considerably more stable than in the early days of the 22nd century. For the time being, humanity has saved itself from eminent extinction.
The surface of Mars is ill-fitted to growing any sort of livestock or food. Most livestock can function without too much interference in the Wastes, but these are mostly stockier horses and other animals used to harsh conditions. The two commodities of Mars are water and food, both of which are in high regulation. Water is recycled as much as possible, with the majority of its fresh supply coming from the ice found in the void. Food, on the other hand, is grown in massive constructs known as terradomes, or simply 'the greens.' They are owned by the most ruthless of business types who are not afraid of putting debtors, jackals, and any other sort of low life into an existence of misery to continue their production. Those who can't afford true food are forced to eat the bland, nondescript 'Kibble' that is best to be unquestioned.
Two cities sit on either end of Mars, which officially have no name. Each city contains roughly an eighth of the population and serves as a major center of trade between the Cities and the Wastes. These two cities do not usually interact, and often only own their side of the planet. They have been likened to motherlands and colonies, but that does not exactly translate well, for out in the Wastes, law serves little meaning. The Cities could care less what they do out there so long as taxes are paid and labor is done.
Officially, the SC is a digital-only currency, bound to each citizen's ID card. This term is used to describe both the official, to-regulation digital credit and the illegal 'hard' money used outside of the Cities in an attempt to keep black markets, tax evasion, and other underground activities afloat. Generally, if an employer of one of the Cities works out in the Wastes, that employer will generally use the paper money for easy of access alone; while it technically is law to use the digital, no one really cares enough to enforce it for everything. Mints and transfer centers do exist in the Wastes, though these are equivalent to highway robberies due to broker fees and the like. In terms of buying power, 15.00 SC is equal to about 5.00 USD in the modern day.
As required by the LPA (limited population act), all births must be first applied for before being run through City officials. At this point, luck and social standing dictates who is able to have a child legally. Notice is sent back to the family and, three months after the birth, notice must be sent to the City for an identity card to be shipped regarding the individual's credentials. In the first thirteen years of life, this only states name, date of birth, current age, sex, and depicts a blank slate for the profile picture. At age thirteen, or upon entering the work force, an application must be sent for a new card that allows for occupation and income to be recorded, making the ID card identification and debit card all in one.
From this point onward, the card must be updated every ten years to account for changes in appearance, with a change required for every criminal offense and registered firearm added there on; the former added to keep a general tab on the population, the latter to avoid mass uprisings. Of course, this only marginally helps the threat of overpopulation and underground activity, for the Cities do not have the reach to monitor every single birth, crime, and firearm purchased. Still, for every individual who abuses the card system, ten will usually follow it to a limited degree.
As an unfortunate side effect of starting over, social classes have been informally reestablished and adhered by with little to no room for social mobility.
---
"Earth, long lost to faded memory, forgotten by even the oldest. It was said that at the end of the Holocaust there were no survivors; whoever had been alive beforehand was so radically changed that who they were destined to be was gone forever. I hope this is not true. If it is, then no one survived the voyage to Mars, nor are any alive today. What do we have as a species ?"
- Unaccredited
Humanity's birthright, the lone planet in the known cosmos capable of supporting complex, intelligent life, was dying. Resources were incapable of supporting an ever-growing population. Global tension teetered on the brink of all-out war. From the collapsing ark rose a new hope, brought by a blissful moment of unity unseen by humankind in all its history. In a last-ditch effort, ships were sent to do what they could with the nearest floating rocks out there: Venus and Mars.
These new colonies were no place for the timid or the weak. Of the three billion that made their way to the new salvation only a third remained between them. Crime festered. Law slowly faded. Humanity had lost not only its home, but any resemblance it had to the once proud, dominant species of Earth. There were the lone few who believed they could save their burning ship, and perhaps they are still alive, though none are willing - or able - to return. Be it the second or the fourth rock out, a new home has been made among the cold stars.
2166
---
Along with livestock, crops, water stores, and humans themselves, the Migrants - those who left Earth - too brought several terraforming devices that would later serve to rehabilitate Mars to a fraction of its supposed former grandeur. Currently still awaiting the 'final turn', Mars has become considerably more stable than in the early days of the 22nd century. For the time being, humanity has saved itself from eminent extinction.
The surface of Mars is ill-fitted to growing any sort of livestock or food. Most livestock can function without too much interference in the Wastes, but these are mostly stockier horses and other animals used to harsh conditions. The two commodities of Mars are water and food, both of which are in high regulation. Water is recycled as much as possible, with the majority of its fresh supply coming from the ice found in the void. Food, on the other hand, is grown in massive constructs known as terradomes, or simply 'the greens.' They are owned by the most ruthless of business types who are not afraid of putting debtors, jackals, and any other sort of low life into an existence of misery to continue their production. Those who can't afford true food are forced to eat the bland, nondescript 'Kibble' that is best to be unquestioned.
Two cities sit on either end of Mars, which officially have no name. Each city contains roughly an eighth of the population and serves as a major center of trade between the Cities and the Wastes. These two cities do not usually interact, and often only own their side of the planet. They have been likened to motherlands and colonies, but that does not exactly translate well, for out in the Wastes, law serves little meaning. The Cities could care less what they do out there so long as taxes are paid and labor is done.
Officially, the SC is a digital-only currency, bound to each citizen's ID card. This term is used to describe both the official, to-regulation digital credit and the illegal 'hard' money used outside of the Cities in an attempt to keep black markets, tax evasion, and other underground activities afloat. Generally, if an employer of one of the Cities works out in the Wastes, that employer will generally use the paper money for easy of access alone; while it technically is law to use the digital, no one really cares enough to enforce it for everything. Mints and transfer centers do exist in the Wastes, though these are equivalent to highway robberies due to broker fees and the like. In terms of buying power, 15.00 SC is equal to about 5.00 USD in the modern day.
As required by the LPA (limited population act), all births must be first applied for before being run through City officials. At this point, luck and social standing dictates who is able to have a child legally. Notice is sent back to the family and, three months after the birth, notice must be sent to the City for an identity card to be shipped regarding the individual's credentials. In the first thirteen years of life, this only states name, date of birth, current age, sex, and depicts a blank slate for the profile picture. At age thirteen, or upon entering the work force, an application must be sent for a new card that allows for occupation and income to be recorded, making the ID card identification and debit card all in one.
From this point onward, the card must be updated every ten years to account for changes in appearance, with a change required for every criminal offense and registered firearm added there on; the former added to keep a general tab on the population, the latter to avoid mass uprisings. Of course, this only marginally helps the threat of overpopulation and underground activity, for the Cities do not have the reach to monitor every single birth, crime, and firearm purchased. Still, for every individual who abuses the card system, ten will usually follow it to a limited degree.
As an unfortunate side effect of starting over, social classes have been informally reestablished and adhered by with little to no room for social mobility.
Mudboys/Mudgirls: Derogatory term for working class. If you aren't one of wealth, influence, and power in any regards you'll fall into this category of citizen. Manual laborers, nobodies, and beggars all fall into this category.
Grifter: Grifters are conmen and thieves, hopping from job to job for the right price, or their own accord depending on the individual. Often times grifters are misplaced, for the most skilled and proper grifters are never caught. However, the term, in addition to conman, typically can be used to refer to loan sharks, those who cheat at cards, and the like. Unsavory types, all of them.
Orderlies (Venus, Aphrodite, and Hekate): Orderlies of the Three Houses are, in the basest term, prostitutes. However, their work goes far beyond what would be seen as such a simple calling. If a brothel is owned by one of the households - which are fiercely competitive - it is often the highest symbol of class, and it is not uncommon that these institutions also serve as social grounds for the high and mighty. They are also the greatest cesspools for organized and professional crime, and each have their own special rituals and customs.
Faithfuls: Faithfuls are those holy men and women in an era devoid of faith. Most find them strict and outspoken in their prayers, and several dislike their own, private society. Only the males of the Faithfuls are seen out and about in society, and they have been known to marry off women as young as thirteen, often times to an already married man in order to gain more followers by weight of birth. Whatever their flaws as a religion, however, Faithfuls are capable of sustaining themselves, and often only trade what excess they create. This adds to the air of mystery and distrust, as outsiders have never been allowed inside their self-dubbed monasteries.
Jackals: Those few who left Earth, escaping from something, often were not well received on their new home, either. These individuals formed a rag-tag society known collectively as "Jackals" to the modern world. The term itself is derogatory in nature, for most are highly isolated and hostile as the years go on. Their tribal societies, originally born out of loyalty to one another, have caused them to become outsiders among their own kind. Most are prosecuted and sent to work in the Terradomes or are simply hunted, with a bounty of 10SC - enough for one meal - per scalp brought into law enforcement. Despite this, they are excellent at breeding the various livestock that manages to grow out in the wastes.
Lawmen: If you're an ordinary man of the law, you're a lawman. Simplicity itself. Not quite grifter, not quite mudder, these individuals are often the most varied. Corrupt sheriffs. Privateers. Bounty hunters. They all uphold some element of the law in their own special way. Officially, some of the more subjective types are not officially sponsored by public authorities, but that doesn't stop them from being a high-up, unspoken king of the streets in their own regards. 'Course, all that don't matter if you're at the wrong end of a mudder's six shooter.
Whites: White-collar individuals, 'Whites', are the barons of the society. They own the terradomes, the law officers, the trade centers, all of it. They aren't the ones to go around the Wastes of the homesteads; they stay nice and comfortable in the established cities on either end of Mars. Society for them is much more what it was on Earth before the fall, and they prefer to keep it that way at the expense of other's labor. Most notorious are the higher-up lawmen, the House owners, and the dome barons.
Civil Technologies:
Medical Technologies:
While medical technology has improved over time, most of it remains out of the average consumer's hands. In terms of price. Generally, the expensive high-class goods are broadly referred to as 'MedTech' and can vary from regeneration chambers to coded vaccines and medicines. A few of the most common are as follows -
Firearms:Grifter: Grifters are conmen and thieves, hopping from job to job for the right price, or their own accord depending on the individual. Often times grifters are misplaced, for the most skilled and proper grifters are never caught. However, the term, in addition to conman, typically can be used to refer to loan sharks, those who cheat at cards, and the like. Unsavory types, all of them.
Orderlies (Venus, Aphrodite, and Hekate): Orderlies of the Three Houses are, in the basest term, prostitutes. However, their work goes far beyond what would be seen as such a simple calling. If a brothel is owned by one of the households - which are fiercely competitive - it is often the highest symbol of class, and it is not uncommon that these institutions also serve as social grounds for the high and mighty. They are also the greatest cesspools for organized and professional crime, and each have their own special rituals and customs.
-
House Venus has come to represent the values of what was once the Roman empire on Earth: excess and debauchery. But beyond simple moral standings and values, the house of Venus is certainly the most 'devout' of the trio; they view their line of work as a sacred calling and use their own rituals, deities, and ceremonies devoid of outside interference. In this regard they are no better than the Faithfuls, as often whenever a bath house - 'Temple' - is constructed, often times a town will sprout around it, following the way of house Venus.
These communities are almost entirely self-sustaining. They pay taxes, have regular law enforcement, and abide by a set of rules far more strict than any other town out in the Wastes. Often times the temple itself is improved while the town around it is left to its own devices, but once a temple of Venus is constructed, it is terribly difficult to remove. After all, they are the order and ruling caste of wherever they settle down. This was mitigated in the earlier part of the century when membership dues were extracted from those in frequent attendance before it became a practice for all their customers, making it an easy front to gain revenue and keep their lands content to live under them. -
Aphrodite and Venus are complete rivals and have been ever since their founding. Not much light if shed on this bitter hatred, but the two have gone as far as to isolate themselves on either side of the planet in the Cities. It's been speculated that, since the two stand for different purposes, that the rivalry would be unavoidable. Certainly this is true, for while Venus sees its work as a sacred calling or art, Aphrodite is the knife in the dark. Most of the decision makers of the Aphrodite house also hold the growing MagLev transportation, terradomes, and astral drill platforms. To them, the house is just another supplement to their already substantial income.
Because of this mindset, house Aphrodite also remains the most profitable. Of course, this is at a grand level of 'profitable.' Most households barely generate any revenue, but by position and expenses put forth, they remain highly efficient. House Venus' selective nature comes from their personal views, whereas Aphrodite simply will not put a house where there is no benefit economically. As such, these gentlemen's clubs continue to dot Mars wherever they're needed most, be it in the highest foot-traffic strips of the Cities or at the biggest centers of trade out in the Wastes. -
Hekate is often the one house that goes unnoticed, though it is the most numerous in sheer numbers. Officially, there is no one owner of this branch of Orderlies; it remains a catch-all term for any house not affiliated with the previous two. All of them are independently owned and operated, with several of the more successful ones tending to join Aphrodite for the financial security.
There are no unifying traits of these independent establishments, and they vary as much as the towns they are built in. Some have even been known to form, much in the likeness of house Venus, their own colonies and secluded corners of society, but most lack the initiative to make it outside of society. Though there are those precious few that still are completely functional, namely Whitefall towards the northern pole of Mars that has managed to remain a getaway for all with the right price. Several attempts by house Venus have been made to shut down this far more elaborate establishment or elsewise convert it, but they have managed to stand their ground.
Faithfuls: Faithfuls are those holy men and women in an era devoid of faith. Most find them strict and outspoken in their prayers, and several dislike their own, private society. Only the males of the Faithfuls are seen out and about in society, and they have been known to marry off women as young as thirteen, often times to an already married man in order to gain more followers by weight of birth. Whatever their flaws as a religion, however, Faithfuls are capable of sustaining themselves, and often only trade what excess they create. This adds to the air of mystery and distrust, as outsiders have never been allowed inside their self-dubbed monasteries.
Jackals: Those few who left Earth, escaping from something, often were not well received on their new home, either. These individuals formed a rag-tag society known collectively as "Jackals" to the modern world. The term itself is derogatory in nature, for most are highly isolated and hostile as the years go on. Their tribal societies, originally born out of loyalty to one another, have caused them to become outsiders among their own kind. Most are prosecuted and sent to work in the Terradomes or are simply hunted, with a bounty of 10SC - enough for one meal - per scalp brought into law enforcement. Despite this, they are excellent at breeding the various livestock that manages to grow out in the wastes.
Lawmen: If you're an ordinary man of the law, you're a lawman. Simplicity itself. Not quite grifter, not quite mudder, these individuals are often the most varied. Corrupt sheriffs. Privateers. Bounty hunters. They all uphold some element of the law in their own special way. Officially, some of the more subjective types are not officially sponsored by public authorities, but that doesn't stop them from being a high-up, unspoken king of the streets in their own regards. 'Course, all that don't matter if you're at the wrong end of a mudder's six shooter.
Whites: White-collar individuals, 'Whites', are the barons of the society. They own the terradomes, the law officers, the trade centers, all of it. They aren't the ones to go around the Wastes of the homesteads; they stay nice and comfortable in the established cities on either end of Mars. Society for them is much more what it was on Earth before the fall, and they prefer to keep it that way at the expense of other's labor. Most notorious are the higher-up lawmen, the House owners, and the dome barons.
Ace - n.
1) An expert in the field.
2) Friend, buddy, pal.
Ace of Spades - ph. Solo term for death in combat. To "draw the ace" is to die in battle. "Drawing the ace" is a short-hand expression with the same meaning.
Aesthetics - n. Simple cosmetic surgery.
Alien - n. Derogatory grounder term for someone who lives in space (a highrider).
AniMan, AniMen - n. Derogatory term for a body sculpted individual who resembles an animal form.
Apter - n. Pronunciation of the acronym APTR (Augmented Program Trained Reflex). (Syn. skillsoft or reflex chip.) This type of chip provides new reflex-based skills for the user.
Bakebrain - n. General purpose derogatory term indicating someone with limited or damage mental faculties (frequently due to excessive use of neural cyberware.) (Syn. asshole, idiot, jerk, moron.)
Bit Jockey - ph. Programmer.
Black, Big Black - ph. Space. The final frontier. Where no man... well, you get the idea.
Black Clinic - n. A medical facility which specializes in the implant of illegal or unregistered cyberware.
Blade - n.
1) A professional soldier or fighter, specializing in edged weapons.
2) A surgeon or doctor.
Blood Money - ph. Income from the illegal sale of organs to a body bank.
Breetva - n. (Rus.) Razor literally, mechanic.
Buck Rogers - ph. Derogatory phrase for an individual obsessed with high-tech weaponry.
Cement poisoning - ph. What a person dies of after being pushed off of a multi-story building and hitting the sidewalk. Also known as deceleration trauma.
Chinese Take-out - ph. Anything extremely jumbled or messy. (e.g."That riotgun made his chest look like Chinese take-out.").
Chop - n. A credcard or credchip.
Chrome - n.
1) Flash, glitter, bells and whistles, tinsel. Material used to spice up the appearance of something.
2) Sexy features on a program, not needed for functionality but radiating style (e.g. a guillotine instead of a Chrome (cont)-trash can icon).
Chunking - v. Eating on the run, eating as a secondary activity.
Crease - v. To kill. - Creased: Killed.
C-YA - ph. Pronounced as "see ya", acronym for "Cover Your Ass".
Dead Presidents - n. Old (pre-collapse) United States paper currency.
DeeVee - v. Devalue. To make something worthless.
Derm - n. An adhesive skin patch used to apply medication.
Die of the measles - ph. In military parlance, an assassination which makes the death appear to be of natural causes.
Dirtside - n. (HR) A reference to a planetary surface (as opposed to space).
Dirtsider - n. (HR) Derogatory term for someone who rarely or never is in space.
Dock - v. (HR) To have sex.
Double Tap - v. To kill cleanly with a single gunshot (ref. entry and exit wounds). (E.g."Someone double tapped him right between the eyes.")
Doughboy/girl - n. Derogatory term for someone wearing too much body armor.
Exotic - n. An obviously biosculpted individual, usually with non-human features (fangs, fur, tail, etc.).
Flash -
1) v. Anything spectacular (e.g. "That deck has a lot of flash!"
2) n. Hard currency (e.g. "Loan me some flash.")
Fold -
1) n. A slang term for flexible (paper or plastic) currency.
2) v. To shut down something or someone (e.g. "This operation is about to fold.")
Footprint - n. A characteristic `hacking' style; consisting of such elements as speed, number and length of pauses, commonly-appearing commands, words, phrases, and mistakes.
Frag - v.
1) Common curse word. adj: Fragging.
2) To kill someone with a fragmentation grenade.
Fred - n.
1) Any straight, unimaginative citizen, usually a shirt (q.v.).
2) An elder person or someone who clings to outmoded ideas or practices (from Fred Flintstone).
Gaijin - n. (Jap.) A derogatory term for a foreigner or outsider.
Gewalt - n. (Ger.) Violence.
Giri - n. (Jap.) A debt of honor; duty or obligation.
Gomi - n. (Jap.) Junk, garbage.
Gou'pi -n. Substitute for bovine fecal matter.
Gumby - n. From Monty Python, an act of minor but conspicuous stupidity (e.g. "Pulling a gumby.")
Heater -n. "So I pulled out my gat and I was like 'pow-pow ratta-tat-tat' and it was super tight."
Hose - v.
1) Make a mistake; screw up.
2) adj. To spray someone with automatic weapons fire.
Input - n. Girlfriend, female companion.
Jam -
1) v. To fight or run away.
2) To have sex.
Jock, Jockey - n. A person with technical skills of a high order (e.g. deckjockey, deltajock, panzerjock).
JoyBoy/JoyGirl - n. Prostitute.
Keiretsu - n. (Jap.) A corporate, cartel, or conglomerate.
Khorosho - adj. (Rus.) Good. OK. Fine.
Klepto, Kleptoid - n. Thief, prowler.
Krovvy - adj. (Rus.) Bloody.
Leech - n. Street-doc or med-tech.
Like kicking dead whales down the beach - ph. Any slow and disgusting job or process
Maglev - n. Shorthand term for a magnetic levitation train.
Make a deposit in the body bank - ph. to die.
Meat Puppet - ph. A prostitute whose memory and/or senses are disabled temporarily.
Mentat - n. Brainy individual, specifically one who will stare at a problem without moving for a while and come up with an answer without doing any apparent intermediate steps (like writing things down).
Mileetsya - n. (Rus.) Corruption of the Russian pronunciation of `Militia', typically used in reference to corporate security or the military.
Monkey - n. The business term for an expendable person.
Mushi - n. (Jap.) Computer glitch.
Neh - exp. (Jap.) Interrogative; "Right?"
Oo'zhas - v. (Rus.) Awful. Terrible.
Output - n. Boyfriend, male companion.
Panzer - n. Any ground-effect combat vehicle.
Panzerjock - n. An expert panzer operator.
Paranoid - adj. Someone who has all the facts.
Polymer One-shot - n. A cheap line of polymer plastic, non-reloadable handguns. Very inexpensive, and very unreliable, they come in a variety of colors.
Recycling - v. Environmentally friendly act of killing someone and taking the corpse to a body bank.
Ripperdoc - n. A surgeon who specializes in implanting illegal or unregistered cyberware.
Sardine - n. A soldier wearing Powered Armor.
Screamer - n.
1) Slang for mouth (e.g. "Hey asshole, shut down (q.v.) your screamer!"
2) Something fast, sleek, and sexy, used as an expression of admiration (e.g. "She/He/It's a real screamer!)
3)Somebody who screams a lot while being reduced (q.v.)
4) Somebody who screams a lot while being tightly interfaced (q.v.).
5) Credstick (orcard) or other ID that triggers computer alarms if used.
SIN - n. Single (or System) Identification Number. An ID number unique to each citizen. Many streetpeople (nomads, derelicts) are said to be "SINless", i.e. without a SIN. This makes them unknown (non-existent) to the system. It allows them to move about in society more freely than a `recorded' citizen, but also allows the enforcers of society (police and corp. security) to punish/abuse them without due process since, technically, they `do not exist'.
Slot - v.
1) Mild curse word (i.e. "Slot THIS, chummer!").
2) To have sex.
Slot and run - ph. Hurry up, get to the point, move it.
So ka - ph. (Jap.) I understand, I get it.
Soykaf - n. Coffee substitute made from soybeans.
Sphincter Factor - ph. A level of disgust, nervousness, or fear (usually on a scale of 1 to 10.)
Svoluch - n. (Rus.)
1) Derogatory term for someone with honor.
2) A bastard.
Twinkie - n. A naive, defenseless, vulnerable, or otherwise useless person.
Tyur'ma -n. Jail
Valuta - n. (Rus.) Literally "foreign currency". Refers to any hard currency, either electronic (cards, sticks) or scrip.
Yono - n. (Kor.) A person who is scum or a low life. (From the Korean"Yonomoseki").
1) An expert in the field.
2) Friend, buddy, pal.
Ace of Spades - ph. Solo term for death in combat. To "draw the ace" is to die in battle. "Drawing the ace" is a short-hand expression with the same meaning.
Aesthetics - n. Simple cosmetic surgery.
Alien - n. Derogatory grounder term for someone who lives in space (a highrider).
AniMan, AniMen - n. Derogatory term for a body sculpted individual who resembles an animal form.
Apter - n. Pronunciation of the acronym APTR (Augmented Program Trained Reflex). (Syn. skillsoft or reflex chip.) This type of chip provides new reflex-based skills for the user.
Bakebrain - n. General purpose derogatory term indicating someone with limited or damage mental faculties (frequently due to excessive use of neural cyberware.) (Syn. asshole, idiot, jerk, moron.)
Bit Jockey - ph. Programmer.
Black, Big Black - ph. Space. The final frontier. Where no man... well, you get the idea.
Black Clinic - n. A medical facility which specializes in the implant of illegal or unregistered cyberware.
Blade - n.
1) A professional soldier or fighter, specializing in edged weapons.
2) A surgeon or doctor.
Blood Money - ph. Income from the illegal sale of organs to a body bank.
Breetva - n. (Rus.) Razor literally, mechanic.
Buck Rogers - ph. Derogatory phrase for an individual obsessed with high-tech weaponry.
Cement poisoning - ph. What a person dies of after being pushed off of a multi-story building and hitting the sidewalk. Also known as deceleration trauma.
Chinese Take-out - ph. Anything extremely jumbled or messy. (e.g."That riotgun made his chest look like Chinese take-out.").
Chop - n. A credcard or credchip.
Chrome - n.
1) Flash, glitter, bells and whistles, tinsel. Material used to spice up the appearance of something.
2) Sexy features on a program, not needed for functionality but radiating style (e.g. a guillotine instead of a Chrome (cont)-trash can icon).
Chunking - v. Eating on the run, eating as a secondary activity.
Crease - v. To kill. - Creased: Killed.
C-YA - ph. Pronounced as "see ya", acronym for "Cover Your Ass".
Dead Presidents - n. Old (pre-collapse) United States paper currency.
DeeVee - v. Devalue. To make something worthless.
Derm - n. An adhesive skin patch used to apply medication.
Die of the measles - ph. In military parlance, an assassination which makes the death appear to be of natural causes.
Dirtside - n. (HR) A reference to a planetary surface (as opposed to space).
Dirtsider - n. (HR) Derogatory term for someone who rarely or never is in space.
Dock - v. (HR) To have sex.
Double Tap - v. To kill cleanly with a single gunshot (ref. entry and exit wounds). (E.g."Someone double tapped him right between the eyes.")
Doughboy/girl - n. Derogatory term for someone wearing too much body armor.
Exotic - n. An obviously biosculpted individual, usually with non-human features (fangs, fur, tail, etc.).
Flash -
1) v. Anything spectacular (e.g. "That deck has a lot of flash!"
2) n. Hard currency (e.g. "Loan me some flash.")
Fold -
1) n. A slang term for flexible (paper or plastic) currency.
2) v. To shut down something or someone (e.g. "This operation is about to fold.")
Footprint - n. A characteristic `hacking' style; consisting of such elements as speed, number and length of pauses, commonly-appearing commands, words, phrases, and mistakes.
Frag - v.
1) Common curse word. adj: Fragging.
2) To kill someone with a fragmentation grenade.
Fred - n.
1) Any straight, unimaginative citizen, usually a shirt (q.v.).
2) An elder person or someone who clings to outmoded ideas or practices (from Fred Flintstone).
Gaijin - n. (Jap.) A derogatory term for a foreigner or outsider.
Gewalt - n. (Ger.) Violence.
Giri - n. (Jap.) A debt of honor; duty or obligation.
Gomi - n. (Jap.) Junk, garbage.
Gou'pi -n. Substitute for bovine fecal matter.
Gumby - n. From Monty Python, an act of minor but conspicuous stupidity (e.g. "Pulling a gumby.")
Heater -n. "So I pulled out my gat and I was like 'pow-pow ratta-tat-tat' and it was super tight."
Hose - v.
1) Make a mistake; screw up.
2) adj. To spray someone with automatic weapons fire.
Input - n. Girlfriend, female companion.
Jam -
1) v. To fight or run away.
2) To have sex.
Jock, Jockey - n. A person with technical skills of a high order (e.g. deckjockey, deltajock, panzerjock).
JoyBoy/JoyGirl - n. Prostitute.
Keiretsu - n. (Jap.) A corporate, cartel, or conglomerate.
Khorosho - adj. (Rus.) Good. OK. Fine.
Klepto, Kleptoid - n. Thief, prowler.
Krovvy - adj. (Rus.) Bloody.
Leech - n. Street-doc or med-tech.
Like kicking dead whales down the beach - ph. Any slow and disgusting job or process
Maglev - n. Shorthand term for a magnetic levitation train.
Make a deposit in the body bank - ph. to die.
Meat Puppet - ph. A prostitute whose memory and/or senses are disabled temporarily.
Mentat - n. Brainy individual, specifically one who will stare at a problem without moving for a while and come up with an answer without doing any apparent intermediate steps (like writing things down).
Mileetsya - n. (Rus.) Corruption of the Russian pronunciation of `Militia', typically used in reference to corporate security or the military.
Monkey - n. The business term for an expendable person.
Mushi - n. (Jap.) Computer glitch.
Neh - exp. (Jap.) Interrogative; "Right?"
Oo'zhas - v. (Rus.) Awful. Terrible.
Output - n. Boyfriend, male companion.
Panzer - n. Any ground-effect combat vehicle.
Panzerjock - n. An expert panzer operator.
Paranoid - adj. Someone who has all the facts.
Polymer One-shot - n. A cheap line of polymer plastic, non-reloadable handguns. Very inexpensive, and very unreliable, they come in a variety of colors.
Recycling - v. Environmentally friendly act of killing someone and taking the corpse to a body bank.
Ripperdoc - n. A surgeon who specializes in implanting illegal or unregistered cyberware.
Sardine - n. A soldier wearing Powered Armor.
Screamer - n.
1) Slang for mouth (e.g. "Hey asshole, shut down (q.v.) your screamer!"
2) Something fast, sleek, and sexy, used as an expression of admiration (e.g. "She/He/It's a real screamer!)
3)Somebody who screams a lot while being reduced (q.v.)
4) Somebody who screams a lot while being tightly interfaced (q.v.).
5) Credstick (orcard) or other ID that triggers computer alarms if used.
SIN - n. Single (or System) Identification Number. An ID number unique to each citizen. Many streetpeople (nomads, derelicts) are said to be "SINless", i.e. without a SIN. This makes them unknown (non-existent) to the system. It allows them to move about in society more freely than a `recorded' citizen, but also allows the enforcers of society (police and corp. security) to punish/abuse them without due process since, technically, they `do not exist'.
Slot - v.
1) Mild curse word (i.e. "Slot THIS, chummer!").
2) To have sex.
Slot and run - ph. Hurry up, get to the point, move it.
So ka - ph. (Jap.) I understand, I get it.
Soykaf - n. Coffee substitute made from soybeans.
Sphincter Factor - ph. A level of disgust, nervousness, or fear (usually on a scale of 1 to 10.)
Svoluch - n. (Rus.)
1) Derogatory term for someone with honor.
2) A bastard.
Twinkie - n. A naive, defenseless, vulnerable, or otherwise useless person.
Tyur'ma -n. Jail
Valuta - n. (Rus.) Literally "foreign currency". Refers to any hard currency, either electronic (cards, sticks) or scrip.
Yono - n. (Kor.) A person who is scum or a low life. (From the Korean"Yonomoseki").
Civil Technologies:
-
The first magnetic levitation platforms (MagLevs) were used as a means of transportation on Earth. Most modern cities used them as general means of public transportation and a few used them for cross-continental trade, as they were efficient and could reach incredible speeds under the weight of goods. In Earth's final days they were becoming the 'surefire way to save the planet', but of course it was too late.
Fast forward to the mid 2100's and the MagLev is still in heavy use, though little has changed in its design. In a sense, the lower populations gave the original workers a high place as they toiled to connect the widespread population centers together. Labor was scarce, and the trade tycoons couldn't afford to let go of their workers. As such, MagLev routes were built with little to no trouble and, while it is still hard labor and bound to the dangers of the Wastes, remains a solid occupation to this day. -
Terradomes are, essentially, tight clusters of terraformed land that are specialized to farming. This procedure was too expensive to apply to the entire planet and required too much attention to tend to afterwards. The original domes were just a matter of necessity, so in the early days of Mars they were simply the manner of producing food no different then they were on Earth. That was before the LPA (limited population act) came into play and the growing population threatened to make Mars only a way to forestall the inevitable. Once resources began to dwindle under increasing demand, the first 'kibble' was introduced to the public as a means to take pressure off of dome owners. This only had the real effect of making 'real' food a luxury.
When the mindset of 'necessity' to 'luxury' came into play, the terradome industry changed for what most consider the worse. Profits were up more then they ever had been, but instances of company store began to become more and more frequent and soon the symbols of technological prowess and hope turned into monsters. Debtors, criminals, and all sorts of folk are tossed into working the domes for a meager living that only suffices to worsen their problems. Of course, at least there's food and shelter to be had in a domicile. -
Originally intended as a means of taming animals quickly towards the latter half of the 21st century, the process of 'gentling' became extremely common on the new frontier of Mars as a form of indentured servitude in order to ensure their support in working the new colony. However, this process could not be reverted, and this generation of poor individuals attempting to save themselves ended up permanently transfigured into a servant caste. After the horrifying news of the process had become widespread, it was quickly outlawed on Mars' moon, though through bureaucracy it never made it to the planet itself. Now they are servants to the high and mighty, though often used be criminals as guards, lapdogs, or hands-on dirty job workers.
They will not raise a hand to defend themselves and are generally unresponsive to their environment except things they perceive as direct commands. Often they must be force-fed, with nutrient compounds administered daily being the best format to keep them running. While machine muscles are quickly becoming common again, Gentled are both a sign of status and far cheaper...Not to mention, they can be used to remove potential enemies, for it can be a punishment worse than death.
Medical Technologies:
While medical technology has improved over time, most of it remains out of the average consumer's hands. In terms of price. Generally, the expensive high-class goods are broadly referred to as 'MedTech' and can vary from regeneration chambers to coded vaccines and medicines. A few of the most common are as follows -
- Introduced as a replacement to earlier 'medical glue' (gratified super glue) and staples for sealing wounds, bio foam acts as a quick sealing agent that absorbs blood and hardens into a flexible clot to prevent death from bleeding out. It is not a permanent solution to grievous injury, but it is far preferable to simple bandages and even contains a layer of built to resist exterior infections from find their way in. An inefficiency in the release valve has been corrected, making it even more of a practicality for even the lowliest ripper-doc.
- Nearly a reality by the early 21st century, the undisputed big leap forward for internal medical technology was a to-order medicine that worked with its host. When the Human Genome Project reached its completion in 2024, the prototypes for these medications were not too short to follow. After years of trial and error, they are now in common use for the wealthy with their 'one size fit all' counterparts being more readily available after a long lapse in production.
- While prosthetic limbs have existed since the early 2000's, most were unresponsive or very limited in use. Legs were about the only practical means of replacing lost or damage limbs, as they could be build to resist and hold weight, but arms - let alone hands - were out of the playing field for a host of reasons. The fine dexterity the natural human body possesses was already difficult enough to incorporate into a device so small, and that still remains true to an extent; arms and hands are rudimentary, but do at least work for most every-day tasks. The next big challenge left to overcome in order to have true integration was the rejection of replacement parts. Following after coded medication, receivers were implanted into limb patients in order for their systems to accept replacements and treat them more or less like natural additions. Essentially biological-friendly wires and sockets, these receivers act just as a joint or other bone might and hooks into the nervous system like any other part of the body. While no pain may be felt in these limbs, control has been achieved and battery life is improving all the time.
-
Black Powder: Though most question the strict accuracy of naming them 'black powder' weapons, this term refers to anything that still uses gunpowder as its main form of projection. Most are antique designs from Earth's day still in production, namely the AK-74, Mosin-Nagant, and nearly anything offered by Smith and Wesson. These models remain in production in several foundries across the planet. Few new models have been released, with the majority being, of course, far superior when compared to their primitive counterparts. Still, few bonafied gun manufactures waste time on black powders and stubbers.
-FLAWS:
Depending on the seller, these weapons are highly prone to shoddy craftsmanship.
Several weapons out there are only refurbished and polished models that haven't seen a decent maintenance check in years.
By comparison, they are underpowered and outgunned by other weapons out there.
-
Magnetic Projectile Weapons (MPW): Original testing for magnetic weapons began on Earth in the very beginning of the 21st century. In an era where the tank was already on its wane and hyper mobility was king, this weapon to hammer the last nail in the coffin of armored combat was not effectively utilized until around 2050. Since then, its production skyrocketed with the prospect of a third world war before stopping abruptly when humanity attempted to save its dying planet. Few are capable of producing MPWs today, and most are family heirlooms from before the fall.
-FLAWS:
Projectile shapes are clunky and dart-shaped, so they must be loaded in small and intricate magazines or in a shogun-style breach.
Power. Ammunition is useless if the weapon burns itself out.
Deadly misfires.
-
Particle Weapons (Las): Lasers-based weapons have always been a techno-wonder of science fiction. By the earlier portion of the 22nd century, the fiction of lasers became a reality to the common foot soldier. Once armor developed once more to counter MPWs, a new weapon was needed should war break out over the scraps. In the infamous Three Days' War, the same outcome of the earlier Six Days' War ensued. A small armed contingent armed with las weapons halted an armored formation entering Europe. Essentially a miniature round hyper charged and launched with the assistance of a temperamental plasma system, a las weapon on Mars is a showy way of telling who's in charge.
-FLAWS:
Expensive. No one out in the dirt will ever hold one of these weapons, no questions asked.
Kept in strict regulation; these weapons are for entertainment purposes only, but that doesn't stop their illegal use.
Slow rate of fire: shots must be manually loaded and given time to charge, making them impractical in long-term engagements.
And now for something completely different:
Rules and Expectations
1. All Iwaku rules apply.
2. Characters will currently have no limit as to number, but if you take major roles (not NPCs), make sure that they do not get in the way of being able to keep pace.
3. No godmoding. Pretty simple here: your characters aren't invincible in any terms, including those out of combat! Just because you aren't being shot at doesn't mean there won't be consequences for character's actions.
4. I ask that you be able to post once a week with anywhere from 2-3+ paragraphs; deadlines for posts will be kept in regulation to avoid anyone lagging behind.
5. All character sheets are subject to my discretion. I will always address any potential issues with you before simply denying a character.
6. For dialogue-heavy posts/action posts, I would ask you collaborate with whoever you wish to discuss/share in action with to form one post rather than having a separate back-and-forth. If the entire party gets into combat/dialogue/etc., we'll work something out.
7. I will accept a total of five additional players; this will be updated as the characters are added in. If you do not post three days after showing initial interest or reserving a spot, I will assume you have lost interest and your spot will be handed off.
This RP is, for the most part, going to be filled out as we go. No plot discussions will take place until after characters are laid out ; better to have the characters influence the plot then the other way around. However, no characters are permitted to have living space in the Cities. If you have any questions regarding anything or need something explained I'll be glad to help out!
Certification of Citizenship
NAME:
DATE OF BIRTH (AGE):
ANNUAL INCOME:
-OCCUPATION:
SEX: M/F
PROFILE: This must be written; visuals are optional, link/offer credit to the original if it is not your own work or under your possession. Please try to keep it to a profile picture only. Keep images aligned to the right.
CRIMINAL OFFENSES:
REGISTERED FIREARMS: Unregistered firearms, while harder to trace, will cause issues if they are discovered. Just remember this when considering your character.
These character sheets are kept purposefully devoid of any insightful detail: your characters should be told out across the story, not from the get-go.
Approved Characters:
- Estelle Moore @J_"Kraken"
- Martin O'Leary @J_"Kraken"
- Devon Abney @Rainjay
Certification of Citizenship
NAME:
DATE OF BIRTH (AGE):
ANNUAL INCOME:
-OCCUPATION:
SEX: M/F
PROFILE: This must be written; visuals are optional, link/offer credit to the original if it is not your own work or under your possession. Please try to keep it to a profile picture only. Keep images aligned to the right.
CRIMINAL OFFENSES:
REGISTERED FIREARMS: Unregistered firearms, while harder to trace, will cause issues if they are discovered. Just remember this when considering your character.
These character sheets are kept purposefully devoid of any insightful detail: your characters should be told out across the story, not from the get-go.
Approved Characters:
- Estelle Moore @J_"Kraken"
- Martin O'Leary @J_"Kraken"
- Devon Abney @Rainjay
Certification of Citizenship
NAME: Estelle Moore
DATE OF BIRTH (AGE): 18 July, 2139 (27)
ANNUAL INCOME: 90,000 SC/yr. (average)
-OCCUPATION: Registered and licensed Orderly
SEX: F
PROFILE: While for the photograph of her identity card Estelle's face is tanned with dim blue eyes, pale brown hair, and supple cheekbones, and black tattoos in the shape of triangles down her chin, she hardly appears as so. In traditional fashion of a Japanese geisha, her face is powdered and her hair bound into a tight bun resting atop her head while the tattoos are covered in a further layer of toned dust.
CRIMINAL OFFENSES: N/A
REGISTERED FIREARMS: N/A
-UNREGISTERED: A small, muzzle-loaded derringer with a faux-ivory handle and plated in a flimsy layer of some non-discrete gold material.
Certification of Citizenship
NAME: Martin O'Leary
DATE OF BIRTH (AGE): 21 December, 2120 (46)
ANNUAL INCOME: 15,000 SC/yr.
-OCCUPATION: Hired gun; currently employed by Moore's establishment
SEX: M
PROFILE: O'Leary has managed to maintain a rugged, roguish charm into his later years. Grey lines have begun to find their way through his blonde-brown hair that perches itself in a combed wave atop his head, with either side being kept cut close to his scalp. Wrinkles crease his forehead while his brow juts outward above a set of constantly amused brown eyes, a feature only strengthened by laugh lines sitting beside a face caught in a grin despite the LPA commission demanding all photos be devoid of emotion.
CRIMINAL OFFENSES: Public unrest (x3), tax evasion, and petty theft (x2)
REGISTERED FIREARMS: A 'Leslie' Budget Arms rifle; a cheap bullet-spewer prone to jams, poor sights, and overheating.
A Geind EL-552; a modern revolver with a four round chamber, built-in recoil dampener, and extendable barrel.
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