Ayama
Enthusiast
Below the Surface
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- File001The WorldEarth, 2735 A.D.
The surface of our once thriving planet had been reduced to crumbling architecture, half-buried bones, and dust. Plants had been dead for hundreds of years, not a single animal scurried across the barren landscapes, and sandstorms with the strength of gale-force winds blasted whatever was left. And yet, the planet still harbored life. Deep beneath the surface, mankind now lived in massive underground cities. The ceilings were lined with artificial lighting that mimicked the sun, producing much-needed warmth, nutrients needed for life and growth, and the cycles of night and day. What the lighting could not do, supplied supplements provided.
Some vegetation and certain animals were selected to be saved from the surface before its destruction, but things like pets and decorative plants had become a symbol of extreme wealth. Rats, on the other hand, had not only survived but thrived in this new world, and they quickly became a problem. Massive hordes of them swallowed the ground, they were often riddled with disease, and the poorer areas had to contend with infestations on a regular basis.
When man moved below the surface, a singular government rose: the International Union, with its capital in High City- the largest city in wealth, size, and population. This council of nine individuals headed by a tenth- the Head Councilman- was responsable for everything under the sun (or ground, as it were). The current ruler, Argent Willowson, was seen as an honest man by most. He handled conflict among the Divisions well, and usually made fair decisions in his court cases.
UNDER EARTH
Divisions were population hubs made up of businesses, restaurants, entertainment, and small residential areas- they were cities always bustling with life. Personal Beetles zipped through the air, people strolled the streets, vendors called for attention to their wares. Monumental columns of earth stretching from the ceiling to the ground had been left during the digging as supports. The tallest of buildings- towering skyscrapers- barely reached the halfway mark on the columns.
These massive cities branched off into a few Sectors each, where most of the population lived. Some Sectors had been dedicated entirely to agriculture or manufacturing purposes. Those that held factories had long pipes that led all the way to the ceiling of these man-made caves, pumping harmful fumes out into the dead atmosphere. The agricultural areas sometimes exceeded the Divisions' square mileage, just to support livestock or enormous crops.
Every Division was connected to another through a vast network of tunnels called Interstates. They were immense, dwarfing any human that looked upon them. Sleek, blue-black ships seemed to materialize in and out of the tunnels as they transported goods and people across the underground. The visibly smaller tunnels were the Highways that led off into a specific Sector. Travel by Beetle Ship was the best method of transportation as, on the ground, the terrain was rough and sometimes nearly impassable. Criminals often made their hideouts in the tunnels, but they never went too far in for, within their most dimly-lit areas, the rats made their home.
TECHNOLOGY
Technology had come a very long way since the move underground, and implants had changed the game for humanity when they were first introduced to the public. With them, people could upgrade their body and mind- quicker reflexes, increased strength, playing an instrument flawlessly, enhanced vision, becoming a math genius overnight, ... almost anything could be done for a price, if done the correct way. Of course, plenty of black market clinics soon dotted the poorer Divisions, offering cheap and sometimes defective upgrades that would often harm more than help.
After birth, every person received a required Neurolink. This implant connected with the brain, and allowed the person to use it much like someone from centuries prior would use a cellphone. Communication, recording, entertainment, internet connection- you name it. It tracked a person's vitals, and had a special serial number assigned to it that was specific to each individual. The implants could be upgraded for quicker response times and some unique features- for a special price.
Due to an insane surge of nostalgia for the past and the world that had been left behind, holograms had been perfected to an incredible degree, in a way that humanity from the late 21st century could scarcely have imagined. From people to places, to personal items and even food- whatever one wanted to see would appear in such incredible detail that you could almost think it was real. Predictably, many lost souls would lose themselves in a haze of drugs, alcohol, and holographic memories, though it had some practical applications as well, such as holding virtual holographic meetings for those who could afford the related Neurolink upgrade.
Guns were powered with rechargeable plasma batteries, and powerful laser blasts were about as common as you could imagine- easily obtainable by most anyone either going through the official, legal process, or simply buying them off the street. Upgrades were abundant for these weapons, but sometimes expensive. Higher-end weaponry could have up to three slots for programmable modifiers, and these mods could do things such as increase the power of the shot, decrease recoil, enter stealth mode, turn the weapon into an automatic, only fire for its owner, and so much more. Some of the best mods could take up to two modifier slots- or even all three, if they held multiple benefits. Modifiers were generally not permanent, but one could bind them to the weapon to make them so.
~~~~~
This world isn't perfect, of course. Aging infrastructure, outdated technology, and uneven distribution of resources all contribute to tension across the underground. The rich live like kings, without a care in the world, while the poor toil in increasingly unlivable conditions. Still, it could've been a lot worse- without the move underground, humanity would've gone extinct in the early 2200s. It is in this world that our story begins.File002The PlotA couple months ago, the International Union released a statement, saying that many agricultural Sectors had been exposed to disease from the rats, and supplies would be scarce for a while. Crops and livestock started to become infected and die out, and in some areas even the water became contaminated.
Within a week, imports had been cut down to a quarter of what they were previously and, with fewer and fewer transports arriving in the poorer Divisions, supplies of vitally important supplements began to run low. With scarcity driving the prices up, inflation hit these areas hard, and people started to find themselves without power on top of their already limited access to food and clean water.
As things got steadily worse, news of riots and impending famine began to spread like wildfire and, by the end of the month, people were getting desperate. Union militia forces started appearing at tunnel entrances in full riot gear, helmets on and weapons in hand. Rumors started floating around that the I.U. was locking down the Districts one by one, trying to stem the flow of contagion and prevent the spread of disease, but the rats could still move freely about the tunnels and their efforts were unsuccessful. The shortages continued.
Panic and increasingly unlivable conditions led to wild speculation, and pretty soon the rumors and conspiracy theories were out of control. In Lockewood, the poorest Division on Earth, a man started preaching in the streets- there was no disease, he said; it was all just a lie, fabricated by the I.U. so that they could 'kill off the non-essentials', as he kept putting it. With a following of over a hundred people, he led a march that resulted in himself and over half of his believers perishing at the hands of the Union militia and that, of course, made things much worse.
The Division went under a mandatory lockdown immediately. The Interstates were closed and Union militia posted at all the tunnel maws, stopping anyone who tried to leave. Anyone who had come to Lockewood- whether they were there on business, on a visit, or just passing through- was trapped. No one’s bank account was large enough to buy their way out of the Division, nor were there civilian weapons strong enough to match the militia’s high-powered weaponry.
It was of high importance to get out of Lockewood and to High City, to find out what was actually happening. So many people were going hungry and, with the Division locked down, they would not be seeing anything imported in for a while either. Everyone knew time was ticking, as thousands of tiny rumbling stomachs inched closer to civilization from the tunnels, beady black eyes staring hungrily into the cities ripe with meat.
Our story begins on the day of the lockdown, and will follow our cast of characters as they proceed to escape Lockewood Division and uncover the dark and terrible secrets of this underground world.
The journey ahead lies under a shroud of deception and betrayal- are you ready to make the descent... Below the Surface? - File003The RulesHello, and welcome to Below the Surface- a futuristic and dystopian RP inspired by such classic vibes as Soylent Green and Logan's Run, as well as more modern fare like Cloud Atlas and The City of Ember. If you've gotten this far, we assume you've at least got an interest in participating and want to know the deal with all the rules and requirements, so let's get right to it!
1. Posting length: We don't expect a novel for every post- it matters more to have something fun and interesting to read, that advances and contributes to the scene. We will be setting the minimum length at two paragraphs with proper spelling, grammar and punctuation, however, just to have a solid baseline.
2. Posting frequency: Ideally, once a week is the goal. Realistically, life isn't like that and things can and do happen, so the fantasy world can be adjusted or paused as needed. Communication every now and then is appreciated- mostly because, believe it or not, we care about the people we RP with. So hearing from you is a sign that you're still kicking, and tells us if you're still on board or not. As long as you're willing and able to communicate with us, we'll find ways to work with you.
3. Ghosting: After one full month of ZERO contact, we will either remove/replace the character or, if needed for story continuity, have it taken over by another player or turned into an NPC (at least temporarily). This is also an option if you need to go on hiatus or simply take a break.
4. Maturity: Expect cussing, drinking, drugs, blood, and other mature themes (though no extreme gore, as per RPN rules).
5. Romance: This is acceptable, but not the main topic of the RP. Same as with maturity- just stay within the site rules.
6. LGBTQIA+: We want this RP's environment to be respectful and positive, as well as welcoming and inclusive to players and characters, both IC and OOC.
7. Out of Character: We encourage plotting and chatting in OOC, as that's what makes a player and character cast gel. We ask that you refrain from bringing in toxic and negatives vibes and, if any issues arise, we encourage you to discuss them with your fellow players in a respectful manner, or bring them to us directly and we (your friendly neighborhood co-GMs
Impius
and
Ayama
) will step in.
And that's it! If you're interested in joining us, read on to check out our character roster and lore, and please drop a line down below with some character concept ideas!File004The RosterName: Darwin Lex Pike
Nickname(s)/Alias(es)/Title(s): Markus Conway
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Occupation: Mercenary/Assassin
Played by: Impius
Name: Yuriye Ivanov
Nickname(s)/Alias(es)/Title(s): Boss, Yuri, The Iron Vice
Age: 26
Gender: Cis female
Occupation: Mob boss
Played by: Ayama
Name: Asahina Hayashi
Nickname(s)/Alias(es)/Title(s): Hayashi, Hina, The Bloodhound
Age: 26
Gender: Cis male
Occupation: Detective
Played by: Ayama
Name: Yukiye Hayashi
Nickname(s)/Alias(es)/Title(s): Yuki, The Straight Shooter
Age: 22
Gender: Cis female
Occupation: Military police officer
Played by: Ayama
Name: Endor Ann Davidson
Nickname(s)/Alias(es)/Title(s): Ellen Mars
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Occupation: Scientist
Played by: Mace13
Name: Callei Faerie Jones
Nickname(s)/Alias(es)/Title(s): Cals, Fae, Idea, Ms. Mittens
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Occupation: NeuroStreamer/Athlete
Played by: BuggaBoo
Name: Phil Yang
Nickname(s)/Alias(es)/Title(s): The Golden Jackal
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Occupation: Black Marketeer
Played by: Megilagor
Name: Nyx Solari
Nickname(s)/Alias(es)/Title(s): The Black Widow
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Occupation: Assassin
Played by: CaffeinatedJoy
Name: Lock Solari
Nickname(s)/Alias(es)/Title(s): The Reaper
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Occupation: Assassin
Played by: CaffeinatedJoy
- File005LexiconInternational Union (I.U): The singular government which rules under Earth. It is made up of a group of ten- including the Head Councilman, who makes all final decisions for the council. It possesses a very strong military force known as the Union militia.
Neurolink: This standard brain implant is assigned to every person on Earth as soon as their skull can undergo surgery. The Neurolink acts as your own personal portfolio- it monitors your vitals, enables you to communicate and access the internet, can record audio, video, and pictures, etc. It is the equivalent to Old Earth cell phones within the mind (though many people also still use physical communicators). Neurolinks can be upgraded for a very expensive fee.
Implants: Implants serve to better a person's skills- sometimes beyond normal physical limits. Implants are widely available to everyone, but you get what you pay for- a cheap reflex advantage could quickly turn into a disadvantage if poorly performed. These implants can sometimes be physically seen, while others remain undetectable.
Credits: The money currency- entirely virtual.
Divisions: Basically the underground equivalent of a large city. A Division is almost like a state capital- a lot of important things are there, and they hold a large population as well as the seat of local government.
Interstates: These are a few, long-distance and massive tunnels that stretch across continents, linking the major Divisions together. The smaller Divisions are still connected to the main network, but the tunnels leading there are not nearly as large as the main ones. It is highly recommended to use Beetles as transportation through the tunnels, as not only do the rat swarms and thugs often make a home there, but they are treacherous and hard to navigate regardless. Getting lost in any of the tunnels is usually seen as a death sentence.
Sectors: These are smaller cities and areas that branch off of a Division- sort of like suburbs to a major metropolis. Sectors are mostly utilized as residential areas, and often referred to as S-##. Some Sectors are dedicated entirely to agriculture, as the ceilings have been laid with high-powered lights that can cycle through day and night while providing the requisite nutrients for animals and crops.
Highways: These tunnels connect the central Division to each of its Sectors.
Note: People in government often refer to a Division and its associated Sectors as a District, though it's unclear if this has ever been an official term.
Beetle Ships: These are advanced aircraft that tend to hover high above the ground more than fly. Beetles are passenger ships that taxi people between each Division and their Sectors (larger Beetle ships also act as cargo carriers). The name comes from the sleek blue-black exterior of the ships.File006LocationsHigh City: The capital of the International Union, this is "the place to be". The name "High City" comes from it being the largest Division on Earth, and it has acquired the most wealth, population, and physical size.
It is possibly the cleanest place on Earth as well, and has a thriving economy and lively people. The High City Villas are home to the wealthiest- doctors, politicians, scientists, entertainers, etc.-; basically anyone who has the money to actually afford living in the most expensive place on Earth.
New Lima: Built under the surface location of Lima, Perú, New Lima is the second-largest Division under Earth. Far less rich than High City, it is nevertheless a bustling center of trade and culture, with a high population density.
Division Twelve: Located somewhere under the Atlantic Ocean, this Division is entirely military, with everything from schools and training facilities to endless residential barracks for military personnel.
Shaketown: A colloquial appellation for Sector #34 of High City, it is located under the Western Edge of the Ring of Fire, near the Mariana Trench, and so named for its almost constant earthquakes.
Lockewood: This Division is one of the poorer cities under Earth and, compared to High City, looks run-down and dirty. Lockewood has a very high crime rate and openly corrupt politics, and small rat swarms are a common occurrence in most of its Sectors.
Crystal's Deep: Neighboring Lockewood, Crystal's Deep has a much more prosperous economy and society. The Division is highly diverse, and attracts many tourists from around the globe. Massive stalactites and stalagmites litter the city- some even reaching through the ceiling. Artists have taken to sculpting many of the larger pieces into extinct animals and foliage, and dotted throughout some rich mansions can be seen, with carved amethyst mythical creatures as gate guardians.
code by Nano
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(who is much more along the lines of sniper)
