OVERVIEW
Excerpt from the Voltaic Blood SourceBook:
Wake up, n00b. I am the voice from the deep. If you think you can just prance into the world of Voltaic Blood without my help, you will be zeroed or drained in a third of a blink of an eye. Even an elite agent like me, once the Prince of Nyírbátor, was turned to ash. I am the voice from beyond the grid. Don’t waste my clock-cycles.
SETTING
Rumor is, the MegaCorps closed the sky. You want proof? Forget it kid, it’s Neo-Babylon.
Thick dark clouds rule the skies both night and day. The rumble of thunder and flashing of lightning never cease. A red holographic moon patrols the landscape. Is this place real or is it a dark digital dream?
This retro-futuristic mecca of a rebuilt mega corporate empire is where the delicate balance of world powers are shifted by vampires and cyberpunks alike, with shadowy allegiances and goals. And then there’s the Neo-Babylon Net, where the digital interacts with the analog world, and is just as vibrant and deadly.
CORPORATOCRACY
Mega Corporations make up the governmental and economic landscape, systems and networks. When it comes to identity, things such as country of origin, race, gender, all are overshadowed by Corporate allegiance, or the lack thereof (the cyberpunk). The Corporation you choose (or are born into, or forced to serve) will be your god. It demands all of you, and you will have to make sacrifices, in exchange for your protection and provision. Each Corporation comes with its unique set of values and culture, strengths and weaknesses, secrets and demons, style and aesthetics, that often reflect the founders or CEO and their origins.
UNDERGROUND
Cyberpunks are those who prefer fighting for the crumbs in the shadows and maintain a certain level of autonomy and freedom rather than give in and be slaves to the Corporate systems. Because of this they must find exploits (hack the system) and develop skills valuable in the underground. Many become mercenaries, net-runners, black market merchants, information brokers, and fixers. Some band together into gangs or crime mafias. If they die, it will be on their own terms! Not all in the underground are cyberpunks, some are fugitives and some corporate puppets or spies. Trust no one.
LINK THIS
VAMPIRES
Also navigating between two worlds are the vampires. Some prefer the stability and longevity of the corporate route. Indeed many are CEOs or founders of Corporations, and many are secretive and powerful Corporate agents or spies. However, some prefer the unpredictability, excitement, and freedom of the underground. Often their age and experience will give them an advantage in knowledge and wisdom, understanding the board, manipulating its players like pieces, and will be playing the long game. But not all of them are smart or old and, overpowered by primal impulses, pride, and mood swings, may thwart their own plans or hurt their ‘temporary’ teammates. Also, the downside to the spiritual and regenerative properties of their bodies, prevents implantation. For a full debrief of their capabilities, go to ‘Vampire for Dummies’ Section.
IDEOLOGIES
Corporations, Cyberpunks, and Vampires, are all sub-divided into certain ideologies, often defined by the way they approach God, man, society, and technology.
Trans-humanists believe that man and technology can transcend into a new, evolved species, and often take risks in further integrating man and machine. At the other end, anti-tech proponents or ‘purists’ believe all technology is either dangerous, or devolves and corrupts the human body and/or spirit. Indeed, many do not want a repeat of the Crash of 38’. And somewhere in the middle there are those who see technology as a useful tool that should be handled with caution and responsibility.
Some are Christian, some are Buddhist. Many pagans and heretics. Some worship vampires and some in a crusade to destroy them. Some individualists and some collectivists, often a dance between serving Corporate or tribe values and their own. These inner and outer struggles are those that define the human experience throughout history and where we meet and identify with the varied characters in this retro-future.
