Gloria - Even Utopia Needs Maintenance

[Steerpike]

It's interesting... to many, Gloria will feel like a utopia.  To others, there's going to be something very deeply insidious about the whole thing - not nearly as overt as the idea-fascism in WonderWorld, but still unsettling.  Like America in the 1950's.  Creepy...

The Hijra are biazarre!  Wonderful - a really unique and original race.

[LD]

Thank you for the comments Steerpike.

Part of the idea for the Hijra came from biology and study of ancient lifeforms; the other part of the idea came from a magazine article I read on an actual Human group.  Here they are on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijra_(South_Asia)

You also gave me some good ideas to think about for added content.

--
I tried to set up a moral-values system above to demonstrate the basic world-view layout distribution of the characters and the factions in the world.

* Most people are in the green area.

* The Blue people are accepted and in some cases still embody the ideal, but they lost power long ago as freedom won out over rules, for better or worse.

* The green people are considered very odd and strange, but accepted.

* The red people are considered borderline evil- their ideas conflict with everyone else's.

In the book THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH. MacPhee, the Character CS Lewis wrote to make fun of his moral atheist former self would fit in the top left; the books nemeses who were trying to genetically re-engineer the human race by killing most of it, would fit in the bottom right.

I found it interesting pondering how many different views of conservativism there can be !

My real life analogues may need some refinement, however, I realize. A discussion of what belongs where the most might be interesting to do in another thread if someone thinks it would be exciting.

--
Stargate and Raven Bloodmoon
Thank you for the comments.
It is my goal to avoid steampunk, but it may have to happen :) We will see how this develops!

Llum

I am looking forward to how the Jazz age and the roaring twenties figure into the equation. I can also see Heidegger's Dasein and destruction themes working into this well, possibly feeding into your 'Suprematism' themes.
Your5 struggles/conflicts are most illuminating, but could you list a few more that are less top-down and more on a personal level? You do a great job here in giving me the organizational/molar-level feeling, but I am left very interested in a more molecular view.

- Thank you for the comment. I hope I am beginning to get at that molecular view as I gradually add more content.
- The roaring twenties will come in time, but I see it as generally linked to the growing hedonism and selfishness of the current age.

[Llum]

- Municipal Darwinism seems a bit too dark for the setting. Here, social darwinism is a generally good thing!

Oh I wasn't trying to suggest you take Municipal Darwinism itself, but something akin. A new/different play on Darwinism.

On the ID part, your referrence reminds me of the pitch for this one science fiction novel (I can't find the name of the novel, I remember its something about a philosopher swordmaster who travels the galaxy to find out who made the universe, because the sky is actually full of giants gears or something. Never read the book but ya)

[LD]

On the ID part, your referrence reminds me of the pitch for this one science fiction novel (I can't find the name of the novel, I remember its something about a philosopher swordmaster who travels the galaxy to find out who made the universe, because the sky is actually full of giants gears or something. Never read the book but ya)

That's amusing. The idea of the Divine Clockmaker originally came from Benjamin Franklin, I believe.

Hm. I do not particularly see any place in the world for anything like municipal darwinism or something akin, but I will try to brainstorm new ideas that would be appropriate. The Hijra's struggle and the demons are about as dark as the world is intended to get. I think I might be able to dream up something inventive though... something inspired by Mondrian. Hmm...

[LD]

[ooc]Note: Under "Tranquility" there is a new race for the Musically inclined; the Slake.[/ooc]

[Steerpike]

You've got some of the most original and strange races I've ever seen... they're making me quite jealous, actually.

[LD]

Oh, thank you. I try to imagine the races from the ground up- I define a role, then brainstorm why and how they could have been created and what sort of place they would carve out for themselves in the world. Some of my ideas came from brainstorming I did a long time ago for races on different planets. I found the majority of Star Trek and Star Wars' aliens too pedestrian and predictable; so I tried to imagine how a real alien race would have evolved.

I must say though, I really admire the Waxborn from your thread. :)

[ooc]Also Updated:Enjoy yourself in Gloria!

...It's odd the flesh-puppet stores I describe below certainly belong in Gloria since there is nothing inherently evil or wrong with their existence; but I fear that I could also see them in the Cadaverous Earth's dystopia as evidence of twisted debauchery. (!)
[spoiler]
- See Shadowpuppet Illusion Shows! in one of the many viewing-homes scattered across all the cities. Hear the pianos play while the preset Shimmer-Magic images play again and again on the walls. Some of the most cutting-edge Illusion shows, mostly those in larger viewing-halls, have even begun experimenting with hiring choirs to sing the illusion-creatures' words.

- Go to Apothecary Stores! and buy protective skin-coating, then go and impress the proletariat in the dock-side by burying yourself in burning coals, then emerge with nothing seared.

- Hunt Down the Flesh-Puppet-Stores and the animators of dead people's legs and arms. Many debauched aristocrats have these dancing legs, arms, crawling hands, blinking eyeballs, and more exotic movable parts on display. Although the possession of the body parts is not illegal per se, the parts users need to prove that the person being buried did not opt-out of the "reusable body" clause in their burial agreement. If the aristocrats cannot track title to their dancing performers, the parts must be confiscated.[/spoiler][/ooc]

[LordVreeg]

AM enjoying every much the alignment post.  I balked at Hamilton, then you mention that he would be controversial. Who owns the press here, and how?  What forms of communication dominate?  what is the state of commercialism and advertising?  Could soul-shimmer be used so crassly?
I loved the Demons being bound to their id.  (and what race acts out their superego?)

[LD]

*Moved.

[LD]

...No steampunk or clockwork, but there needed to be something to fill a specific role in this technologically advanced world.

[ooc]Color-Work Creatures   (Colour-Work Creatures)
-Shimmer-Based in creation; these living paint line creatures (see the Kandinsky painting at the beginning of the Gloria post for an artist's rendition) produce jazzlike music when they travel: "oozing" due to sympathetic vibrations. When they communicate or have orders placed for them, the orders must be punched on a music line-bar chart, then fed into the Color-Work creature.

Color-Based creatures have a good deal of autonomy in fulfilling their tasks. They are similar to an automated Roomba Vacuum cleaner in that aspect; but far more advanced.

Walking in metropolitan areas, one can sometimes see the Color-Work creatures slinking along to and fro in the financial districts, carrying out tasks.

Color-Work creatures may be stepped on or pushed aside- they are very thin and difficult to harm or destroy.  Rain does not damage them due to their protective lacquer. But if exposed to flame or oppressive heat, they quickly melt- their colors running together in a dreadful bleed.

The origin of Jazz music is in the Color-Work creatures' unique sounds, as is a common expression used to demonstrate inspiration; "I'm seeing colors!". To "Think in Music" means to be inventive, but to have your creative expression controlled by another person (This is a mildly positive thing in Gloria. Entrepreneurship is best, but to "Think in Music" is not bad; there need to be some worker-bees.)[/ooc]

---
Hamilton is very difficult to place on the axis. I briefly considered putting him in the center, but then what would I do with Jefferson and the Fascists? They do not exactly belong in the highest freedom squares, and Hamilton and Jefferson's ideas are quite different. I could put him in the Laissez Faire square, but that does not seem right either. I have considered putting him in the "Market Regulators" square and sticking Ayn Rand in the square currently occupied by Hamilton. I am open to suggestions for improving the squares or the iconics who go in each one.

Communications- good point. In a world based around consumption like this one they will be extremely important. I will give some thought to that.

Re: Superego- Hmm... No race is tied to that as of yet; The Faithful probably best fulfill that role. And considering how they are opposed to the demons, I think the analogy works. I may edit in some comments to more overtly tie them to the concept.

Thank you again.

[spoiler]
Updated above:[ooc]- Bet At the YoYo Races! And see if your YoYo Bird is the fastest. At the races, cages are set up and the YoYo Birds emerge from the opened grates, then pounce toward their ever evasive, ever moving prey. The fastest YoYo Bird to catch its prey wins. (The YoYo Birds strike out much quicker than most other beasts because when they strike they can leave half of their mass behind, weighted to a spot while the Birds' fleshy head spools out, wings beating and launched from the base like a jack-in-the-box. When the birds reach the end of their spooling skin, they snap back together. There have been several accidents at the Races, but now all YoYo Birds' necks are measured before they may compete and a standardized size is agreed upon.)[/ooc][/spoiler]

[LD]

[ic="Bada-Bing-Bada-Boom"]

Voice 1 "Part III: The Glory of Gloria; Chapter 12: The Love of Business"

Voice 2 "...Looking out the stained glass window; seeing stained-glass buildings rise on top of concrete-shimmer-hardened structures I cannot help but reflect on the past seven years- years of plenty, plenty of things going on and you never know what's going to turn up when you turn on the semaphore and listen to the newest geegadgets and grimshaw that the shimmer-engineers are churning out at downtown design shops, and they've certainly got my respect for their ten-hour a'day industrous laboring, I only work nine hours myself-the rest is spent in travel between the spires to the underground through the color-districts and the shimmer-factories, I can't count that for work because it's all downtime even though I have a runner to drag me 'round the places and I do my best to listen to the semaphore while we're moving and read the press that matters, and even some that doesn't, but it's hard to concentrate even encased in the runner's rickshaw run-a-ma-jig- there's simply too much to absorb that is going on in the streets, there is too much a'change, and inspiration and ideas that I could use to make something great, to twist and turn into profit- watching the waifs ripping copper from the sewer-grates gave me a great idea the other day, what if you use rubber to mask the sewer grates, and then no one would want to rip out the necessary sewer grating and try to turn it into something reusable and recyclable so that other people can use it and that the engine of growth and progress and prosperity can continue to wind-it's terrible to waste and to keep something locked up like that type of copper when it is worth so much-why shouldn't the city just use something that no one really cares about which is more economically viable and if the city did that then the city could make tons not having to replace the metal that the industrious little waifs steal- by the way, if they'd just reinstitute the hand-cutting laws and resell the little miscreant's greedy little hands as oddities and display-pieces or maybe graft pieces for some of the shimmer-doctors who are trying to stitch the injured rich back together, I doubt that anyone would make money by crime any more, but with the decadance that has gotten into the City these days, the inertia of the management is probably going to supersede and supplant anything else- oh bother and rot and all- I forget myself for I have talked far too long assembling this oral propaganda travelogue for the unfortuantes up North, we will have to continue later with the sessions because a caller will be coming along in a minute or two, and regrettably her money is much better than yours- although I have been known to accept bonuses and to keep people waiting from time to time when the project is an honorable one as yours certainly happens to be."[/ic]

OOC: Yes. One sentence. It is a fast-paced world. Try to read it like a beat generation author infused with jazz, and sing-songy.

Note2: "The Unfortunates Up North" - The Socialist Lands.

Notes: Organ Donation. The Rich and Shark Battles.

---
Notes for self
[spoiler]Aborted Game
Gloria is a game of bureaucracy, business, espionage, and trade. Capitalism is good and Socialism is evil.
 
Gloria is here: http://www.thecbg.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?65170.

The adventure will take place in the City of Gloria.

Each character has Virtues held and lacking. The GM will from time to time notify players of what particular virtue is being tempted, and the characters will react accordingly. Sometimes the players will confront a problem and they can notify the GM that they are using their virtues to overcome the problem. Weaknesses are generally provided for players' characterization purposes. Knowledges are skills that are used in a similar fashion to the Virtues.

--
[ic]Characters
The characters that you choose are all acquaintances or old friends to some degree. They will be thrown together in one of the scenarios below and they all have opinions on their traveling companions.

Dr. Alexander Shostakovich, Esq.
"Licensed" Doctor of Business Incorporation and Law.
Former Poor; Technically Upper-Middle Class
Reason
Virtues Held: Luck, Pluck, Industry
Virtues Lacking: Chastity, Humility, Moderation, Order.
Knowledge: Setting Up Businesses, Anti-Takeover Techniques, Harsh Competition, Legal Work-Arounds.
Weakness: The Truth (inchoate liar)

[ic=Alexander]You are a real inglorious bastard; slick, in a used-car salesman sort of way. You worked your way up from the docksides and threw that past behind you. You forged a degree, took a few self-enrichment classes from the Chamber of Commerce, got a real degree from a medium-ranked law school and set up shop as a Doctor of Business Incorporation and Law in the Exchange District just West of the Financial Center.

Twelve people work under you and you have nearly the maximum of 75 permitted investors in your S-Corporation (more investors would invite higher taxation). You have been doing well and are well capitalized. You're a self-made man.

Despite your successes, you have debts. You borrowed heavily to get your business going and the accounts are coming due. You put out an advertisement on the local "Seeking Work" bulletin and waited to see what would come back. When you saw who else responded to the message, you were surprised, since you knew a few of them. You just hope that some of them don't remember you.

Pavel once investigated you for your bribery of a minor bureaucrat who gave you (and others) permits at cut-rate prices. (It was really the only way that business got done in that district, others must understand). You bribed Pavel. The problem went away and other people were put up against the ConsumerRights Wall for their corruption. You're a bit worried that Pavel might try to hold the situation over you.

Maxine - You bought a few paintings from her to decorate your offices. You noticed her office on one of your trips downtown and went in trying to flirt with her. She was business, but her paintings were brilliant, and she might warm to you eventually.

Bolivar - Bolivar rigged up a few inventions for your business. They worked, not as well as advertised, but good enough for your purposes. He's your go-to guy when you need to bounce ideas off. He's brilliant and he comes up with three ideas in a brainstorming session for your every one, so the conversations are well worth-it.

Liam - He used to patrol in your neighborhood; was a decent sort, he caught a few miscreants who were defacing your office under orders from a rival businessman.

Xue - Heard of the guy; He's supposed to be some whiz at the Stock Exchange- one of the top moneymakers three years ago. He'd be a good connection to have and butter up.

Patricia - Got a couple of kidney transplants from her. She's the best at what she does. She even found the donor one time. The other time, she didn't ask questions when I provided my own.

Llyrian - Sometimes you need muscle; Llyrian's my muscle. He's done a few jobs for me and he's tight-lipped.

Flinn - Flinn approached me about investing in a geophysical exploration company. I turned him down, but he seems to be a bright Floater. They're a weird race.

[/ic]

Pavel Gershwin, 43
Private Investigator and Rescuer of Socialists
Lower-Middle Class
Reason
Virtues Held: Industry, Pluck, Luck
Virtues Lacking: Order, Sincerity, Tolerance
Knowledge: Interrogation, Intimidation, Propaganda
Weakness: Greed.

[ic=Pavel]You are a sting officer, searching out and receiving fat contracts for searching out Socialist dissidents in Gloria's underbelly. Old wealth and new wealth pay you your wages as you specialize in "rescues" of Gloria residents youth from the Socialist cults and reeducating them into the glories of Capitalism.

You don't take crap from anyone and all save the most zealous capitalists garner your disdain. Altruism and charity-giving "coinflippers" are questionable at best and immoral at worst-- by donating to the poor, coinflippers and their ilk are creating a moral hazard that threatens to incentivize others to join the "gimmies" on the welfare rolls.

Corrupt capitalists are problems, but they're nowhere near as bad as Socialists or Coinflippers. They're all about making money at least. And everyone's corrupt--if they say they aren't, then they're lyin'.

In private though, you are lazier than a Slake. You only work when you need the money. Other times, you lounge around and read comics, dirty magazines, and newspaper broadsheets.

If you feel like busting someone, you might run them up to the Bulletin and get them branded on the cheek as a Socialist, and take your usual commission after presenting proof to the Commissioned Watchofficers. Usually re-education pays a lot better than that, though.

You have little tolerance for people who think different from you, but you don't show it- instead you smile sweetly and then do something passive-aggressive that will hurt them some time later... something that can never be traced back to you. Those who do not live up to your rigid code may regret having lived at all after they encounter you.

Your public life is the one that benefits society. You do a good job. And people respect you for it; you even have a few groupies and "thankful relatives" from whom you enjoy pleasure and pensions and loans from time to time. You have probably done more good for Gloria on balance, than bad.

You have never been to the Socialist lands, but you've told stories about them in order to build your reputation. These stories revolve around tracking someone through the bitter north and bringing them back to justice. (Your long absences are more due to drug-fueled hazes in Hijra dens of iniquity in Gloria's undercity).

Bad news though... One of your "thankful relatives" of the rescued kids isn't so thankful any more. She's threatened to get you brought up on charges of rape- and she is no "light weight"--her words are probably even stronger than yours. You could slander her name, but the fact that her twin sons are both back in the Socialist underground and are slandering your name throughout it, saying that you helped get them in touch with the principles and the principals (of Socialism), is going to be a difficult problem to overcome. They weren't branded and technically even though you rescue kids from Socialism, you are supposed to get them branded when you rescue them if they're too far gone... and these two were too far gone- but the Lady convinced you not to have them branded. She wants the kids back safe, or she wants you to pay her a huge settlement.

Figuring that the settlement would be easier than finding the kids, you answered the "Seeking Work" bulletin.

Alexander - He's a corrupt cad. I've got dirt on him. But he's broke, leveraged in debt over his head. A'int got no relatives. Not worth the trouble for extortion--but he doesn't know that. I'll let him live in fear.

Maxine - She works near the building where you live. She's probably a socialist. You saw her giving charity to a kid once. She's also one of the hottest women you've ever seen. Maybe her socialist-leanings can be overlooked.

Bolivar - An inventor. Weird guy. Don't want anything to do with him, but you have to respect that he's made a bunch of cash through entrepreneurship. Since he's clearly not a socialist, there's no reason to exert any effort to undermine the fellow.

Liam - Down and out Watch Captain; worked his way up from the gutter, but he did it by public service--something's got to be wrong about him. Question is, there doesn't seem to be any way to profit from ratting him out. He's already hit rock bottom. Maybe he can be built up and extorted later or something. He had the spark once, maybe he could have it again?

Xue - He's rich, that's about all I know. Maybe he's a sucker?

Patricia - You've brought a few socialists on plea bargains to this lady, who cut them up and made them useful. You pocketed a lot of coin for that trouble. She's good, but harsh.

Llyrian - He's been a valuable Hijra, lurking in the docks, feeding me information. Reliable guy. Tough though, and a bit unpredictable.

Flinn - A Floater Shimmer prospector... f*** that s***, right now I'm laughing so hard.

[/ic]

Maxine Huntress, 28
Consumer-Artist, Sole-Proprietor
Former Noble; Now Bohemian
Reason
Virtues Held: Justice, Resolution, Sincerity
Virtues Lacking: Humility, Order, Moderation
Knowledge: Artwork and designs, Bohemians, High Society, Imagination, Salesmanship.
Bonus Language: Piepulspeak (GM will work with you on this)
Weakness: Flattery

[ic=Maxine]
You're inventive and related to a rich family, but set out on your own after a quarrel over whether it was better to pursue life as a "decent" manger or to make your own ConsumerArt to inspire others. You may be disinherited, but you haven't asked. Inheritance is a crutch anyway and you wouldn't want to depend on others when you're obviously brilliant.

You have refused to employ anyone in your shop since you don't like to exploit people since you feel you can never pay them the money that's due if they do good work; but you also don't think that anyone is as talented as you.

This refusal to hire other workers has hampered your business--you can only earn as much as you put in, so you are known for working 20 hour days. Still, you have been looking into manufacturing processes to mass-produce prints.

Alex - A charming businessman. He's bought a bunch of my works. We seem to be on the same wavelength and I'd like to spend more time with him.

Pavel - Pavel is a lecherous and annoying "customer" who never buys, but who keeps coming around, chatting me up, threatening me and insinuating things about me being a Socialist.

Liam - A disgraced Watch Captain. If the allegations are true, I want nothing to do with him because it would be very bad for business. If the allegations are false, then he certainly deserves pity and I will be more than willing to weather any bad business to help him get back on his feet--that's the right thing to do.

Bolivar - Interesting inventor with whom I recently contracted to design a manufacturing process that could create pressed copies of her three-dimensional pieces of edible ConsumerArt. This creation could do wonders for my business.

Xue - Dressed in black, in the deep of night, he came to purchase an Icingcube! painting commissioned on the sly (the Icingcube! corporation owns the trademark to this piece of art). Together, we dined on the Icingcube! and enjoyed an excellent night, and then he was gone, leaving only his business card and a note that future commissions would be forthcoming.

Patricia - A shadowy doctor. I suspect that some of her patients might not be as willing as it appears.

Llyrian - (Does not know)

Flinn - Amusing, but slightly crazed Shimmer Prospecting Floater. It's fascinating to hear his swashbuckling stories, however.
[/ic]

Bolivar Beck, 38
Inventor
Middle-Class
Faith
Virtues Held: Resolution, Order, Industry
Virtues Lacking: Luck, Sincerity, Tranquility
Knowledge: Clockwork, Shimmer
Weakness: Logic/The Truth
[ic=Bolivar Beck]
Bolivar, the restless inventor and entrepreneur speaks a good talk, but half his inventions don't quite live up to the promise that he makes. He tries hard, but he always wants something to be better than it turns out to be--and he sells based on the wish, rather than the reality.

Bolivar is a dreamer and he is not poor at heart--he just lives in the reality of what he wants rather than what is the truth.

Alex - Intriguing and interesting fellow- very brilliant and always brings ideas to me to brainstorm. He's a catalyst and a great one with whom to have conversations.

Pavel - A person who hunts down Socialists must have some intriguing stories about their inventions. It would be well worth the time to sit down with him and pick his brain about his travels in the Socialist lands.

Maxine- Bolivar recently contracted with the ConsumerArtist Maxine Huntress to design a manufacturing process for her that could create pressed copies of her three-dimensional pieces of edible ConsumerArt.

Liam - A disgraced Watch Captain. Not worth talking to. Persona non grata.

Xue - An extremely rich stock predictor. He can read the shimmer lines. He must be brilliant. I must learn his secrets !!! !!! !!!

Patricia - A doctor well-versed in her craft.

Llyrian - (Does not know)

Flinn - A Floater philosopher-shimmer-seeker. I must discuss history with him! History is the best crucible for invention!
[/ic]

Liam Vernal-Davies
Former Captain in the Neighborhood Watch; Current Lush
Former Poor; Now Middle Class
Faith
Virtues Held: Justice, Sincerity, Toleration
Virtues Lacking: Moderation, Tranquility, Resolution
Knowledge: The Neighborhood Watch, Criminal Elements, Fighting, Chasing
Weakness: Wilting Under Pressure
[ic=Liam]
Humiliated and saddened after losing a democratic election for Captain of his Ward Watch and a subsequent divorce, Liam descended into drink and glim. He lost in part because he killed an innocent man. His words now carry especial "light weight" and creditors hound him. He is looking to redeem himself.

Once, Liam was a great star of the Neighborhood Watch. He had hoped to go to college, but lacking money, the Watch was the best way for advancement outside of entrepreneurship. And Liam was never too inventive about making a buck--but he was very observant about others. This quality of observance led him to break up many attempted thefts--which led to his popularity and his election.

But his observance failed--he made a wrong decision and killed an innocent who had not been stealing. Liam wonders if the Judge's decision might have been wrong and the person he captured may have been truly guilty, but since justice has spoken, Liam is forced to accept its consequences.

Alex - We were on speaking terms. He's a fairly-successful businessman in my Ward.

Pavel - A Socialist-rescuerer and reformer.

Maxine - A successful ConsumerArtist.

Bolivar - An inventor.

Patricia - A respectable organ transplanter. Too good to have time for me.

Xue - Rich and famous. Too good for me.

Llyrian - A Hijra tough who you investigated a few times for strange disappearances. He was not responsible for any of them, but he was associated with many of the top suspects who would benefit from the disappearances. Still, he was helpful in the investigations.

Flinn - I heard about him. He's a weird one.
[/ic]

Xue Leavenstaking
Stock Analyst/Fortune Teller
Upper Class
Faith
Virtues Held: Tranquility, Resolution, Moderation
Virtues Lacking: Humility, Industry, Pluck
Knowledge: News, History, The Weather, Cosmology, Mysticism, Shimmer (basically Magic)
Weakness: Ironic Witticism (Holds Self Too Aloof)

[ic=Xue]Entering a zen-like stake at the Empyrean Stock Exchange, Xue analyzes stocks and comes up with predictions about prices based on prior data. He reads the stars and the Shimmer signs in order to make the best predictions about how commodity prices can affect stock prices. He is surprisingly successful for someone who lounges around and reads great novels and news most of the day. Xue is surprisingly unapproachable; not because he is reclusive, but because he is acerbic--playing word-games of insult and verbal joust with everyone-not allowing them to get close to him or know his true thoughts.

Xue's motives are inscrutable, and surprisingly well-informed.

Alex - Probably a cheat and a cad. Easy to manipulate.

Pavel - A lazy liar. Worth avoiding.

Maxine - Beautiful, brilliant, arrogant.

Bolivar - Imperfect genius. Open to flattery.

Liam - Framed former Watch-Captain. Do I want to put him in my debt?

Patricia - Emotionless killer. She will never anger. No need to fear.

Llyrian - Several of my contacts used him once on a sabotage job. I would never stoop to that level.

Flinn - Intriguing adventurer.

[/ic]

Patricia Lilliana Drake
Organ Seller/Doctor (Resurrection Lady)
Upper Class
Reason
Virtues Held: Pluck, Luck, Sincerity
Virtues Lacking: Toleration, Tranquility, Chastity
Knowledge: Medicine, High Society, Trapmaking, Explosives, Shimmer (basically Magic)
Weakness: Emotionless

[ic=Patricia]Patricia's obstinance and composure under pressure is legendary. Once, when a poor living patient donated his heart to a rich dying patient, she kept going with the transplant despite a raid of her office by the poor patient's girlfriend and several thugs she persuaded to assist her in rescuing her lover. Using one hand to ignite a Shimmer-explosion-trap at her doorstep, while removing the heart with a few snips of her left, she succeeded in the heart transplant, then went on to kill one thug, frighten the other, and subdue the girlfriend until the Neighborhood Watch arrived.

Patricia has no friends, no empathy, no nothing. She sees her work as a sacred duty, however, to ensure that those with the money who deserve treatment receive it; and those without money who donate are properly recompensed for their surrender.

She needs a new temporary job though because her organ transplant practice is currently under injunction due to an investigation of whether her patients were all willing. She took out a large amount of debt to expand just before the injunction and she suspects that a jealous competitor may have set up the situation to harm her.

Alex - Good customer. Although I suspect that one of his donors wasn't fully willing. If that is the case, he probably should be punished at some point. But right now it seems I need to work with him.

Pavel - He brought me several subjects. Useful man.

Maxine - She comes from a rich family that has often made use of my services due to their prodigious consumption of alcohol and drugs and other evidence of high living. She probably will want to in the future.

Liam - Disgraced former Watch captain. He brought me some subjects. Useful fellow, dangerous now for my reputation to have to deal with him unless absolutely necessary.

Bolivar - (No comment)

Xue - Rich. Famous. Potential customer.

Llyrian - Has harvested parts for me before. Efficient but surly fellow.

Flinn - Parts are useless to transplant. Can't help the human race so not that useful.
[/ic]

Llyrian Reljik, 89. (a Hijra)
Former Sweatshop Supervisor.
Faith
Virtues Held: Industry, Resolution
Virtues Lacking: Moderation, Tranquility, Sincerity
Knowledge: Factory Protocol, Hard Work, Kicking Ass
Weakness: His Temper

[ic=Llyrian]You work hard and you do not complain, act meek, scrape or grovel. You are a noble Hijra and are stronger and more determined than any human. Yet, you serve them because you spend your money before it can accumulate. You indulge in many vices. You are not above harming other humans through doing acts outside or beyond the law because the pay for that is so good. Thankfully, the watch has not punished you for any of your actions, although they came close more than once.

Alex - A good employer.

Pavel - (No comment)

Maxine - (No comment)

Bolivar - (No comment)

Xue - (No comment)

Liam - He came close to catching me many times. I am far superior to him and any other human, however, since I escaped.

Patricia - (no comment)

Flinn - (no comment)
[/ic]

F'lissis F'llinn "Flinn"
Floater Wildcatter and Inventor
Reason
Virtues Held: Pluck, Resolution, Flinn
Virtues Lacking: Order, Toleration, Tranquility
Knowledge: Invention, Obscure History, Demonic History, Geophysical and Geological Data, Floater Dance
Weakness: Not Listening To Others Ideas

[ic=Flinn]
After finding a way to anchor himself and to not blow away in the wind through using ballast, Flinn emerged and entered the world of the humans, gaining respect as a dowsing rod for Shimmer. He was exploited for a time, but he eventually broke off on his own and started his own Shimmer-locating geophysical survey company- "Floater Wildcatters".

In his free time, however, he frets that the Shimmer extraction and industrial benefits will not be enough to combat the demons when they emerge. Flinn studies histories of the battle between the species' and the demons and he works on inventions and ideas that can be used to combat the creatures. He does not, however, share his species' interest in Faith, believing that only pure Reason can combat the Demons.

No comment on any of the characters, although he'd probably be interested in Bolivar and Patricia to some degree with respect to their knowledge of Shimmer.
[/ic]


[/ic]

Adventures:
[ic=The Socialist Revolution]A message arrived yesterday in your study, it was addressed in lilting, cursive script. It came in an envelope, kissed closed with waxen lips; droplets of wax fell off as you twisted the paper open.

"A most unfortunate event has come to pass." The letter began. "My protectors have deserted after receiving threats inspired by that dreadful Socialist Minstrel. The Authorities have their hands full dealing with the fallout from Uldred Mac's banking pyramid real estate investment scheme and give no time to my complaint. Fifty trading credits are included in this envelope. More will follow when you accept.

"And you will accept."

Included in the envelope package is some evidence of blackmail. (Individualized via PMs)

Objectives:
1.Protect the Lady's company from whatever her enemies throw at it (slander, assault, economic warfare, bureaucracy, etc.)
2.Find who sold you out and how the blackmail leaked.
[/ic]

[ic=Tax Collection]
The citizens have risen up against taxation, even the minimal amount Gloria collects, for its roads and general maintenance. The city needs people to collect taxes and you are the ones who responded to the call.

Objectives:
1.Collect Taxes
2.Subdue the Rebellion's leaders.
[/ic]

[ic=Shimmer Wildcatting]
You head off into the wilderness around Gloria, looking to make a buck, led by a Floater, Flinn, who claims to be able to dowse the proper location for Shimmer.

Objectives
1.Deal with environmental hazards, and the hazards of a competing group.
2.Extract the shimmer and get it back safely, then market it successfully (make sure it's properly refined and is good quality and that you have the correct markets whereby you can sell it.)
[/ic]

[ic=Dealing With Demons]
Demons are coming back to the world in Gloria's undercity- the Shimmer mines below... or so the stories of half-crazed miners have stated. Are the stories truth, or are they a ruse?

Objectives:
1.Discover the source of the rumors.
2.Restore Mining. (By defeating the Demons?)

Recommendations: Flinn and Bolivar should probably be played.
[/ic]

[ic=Labor Dispute]
There has been a renegotiation of the proper wage at the Empyrean Stock Market in Gloria. It is possible, and there are rumblings that people are organizing in order to create a Union. Some say that a shadowy Socialist is behind the organization, but no one knows for sure. Xue is the chief suspect, and he is eager to clear his name. But do those he hired believe him? And can they save him before he is hauled into court or killed by an overly-zealous Neighborhood Watch?

Objectives:
1.Clear Xue's name and protect him.
2.Stop the Labor Union's organization
[/ic]
--
Conflicts are resolved by RP-ing out the Virtues, Flaws and using Knowledges.

Scuffles are resolved by rolling a D20; people with certain knowledges (like kicking ass), receive bonuses.
[/ic]
--
Notes for all:

-Remember, you're the GOOD guys in Gloria. You're not evil, you don't just kill people... unless you're Llyrian- it's sort of hardass like that. Try to approach the characters from the standpoint that they are very driven capitalists- like the characters in Bioshock. To them; Hard work= good, Money=good, Order=good. Laziness=bad, Excessive Charity=Bad, Altruism=Bad.

-The Knowledges represent what you probably know a lot about and which I can give you information.
-Virtues Lacking are to suggest that when I type, say, this is a MODERATION situation- you should probably do something entertaining and completely immoderate if you LACK moderation.
-Also feel free to act up if you think it is a MODERATION situation and I have not yet declared it as one.
-The Virtues you hold help you in situations when you can explain how they help you succeed. "I am Industrious enough to succeed here by doing x y z."
[/spoiler]

[LD]

*Cities Moved Up to an earlier post.

[Steerpike]

Heh I love the monster names... they strike me as very Lewis Carrol.  Worrybeasts and Ivory-Tusked Brobdignagannelids in particular.

Kierkegaard is a city, eh?  Any hints on what that one's going to look like?

Are there going to be hardline fascists states?

Is there any kind of McCarthyesque Inquisition in Gloria?  Is socialism banned?

[LordVreeg]

[ic="Bada-Bing-Bada-Boom"]

"Looking out the stained glass window; seeing stained-glass buildings rise on top of concrete-shimmer-hardened structures I cannot help but reflect on the past seven years- years of plenty, plenty of things going on and you never know what's going to turn up when you turn on the semaphore and listen to the newest geegadgets and grimshaw that the shimmer-engineers are churning out at downtown design shops, and they've certainly got my respect for their ten-hour a'day industrous laboring, I only work nine hours myself-the rest is spent in travel between the spires to the underground through the color-districts and the shimmer-factories, I can't count that for work because it's all downtime even though I have a runner to drag me 'round the places and I do my best to listen to the semaphore while we're moving and read the press that matters, and even some that doesn't, but it's hard to concentrate even encased in the runner's rickshaw run-a-ma-jig- there's simply too much to absorb that is going on in the streets, there is too much a'change, and inspiration and ideas that I could use to make something great, to twist and turn into profit- watching the waifs ripping copper from the sewer-grates gave me a great idea the other day, what if you use rubber to mask the sewer grates, and then no one would want to rip out the necessary sewer grating and try to turn it into something reusable and recyclable so that other people can use it and that the engine of growth and progress and prosperity can continue to wind-it's terrible to waste and to keep something locked up like that type of copper when it is worth so much-why shouldn't the city just use something that no one really cares about which is more economically viable and if the city did that then the city could make tons not having to replace the metal that the industrious little waifs steal- by the way, if they'd just reinstitute the hand-cutting laws and resell the little miscreant's greedy little hands as oddities and display-pieces or maybe graft pieces for some of the shimmer-doctors who are trying to stitch the injured rich back together, I doubt that anyone would make money by crime any more, but with the decadance that has gotten into the City these days, the inertia of the management is probably going to supersede and supplant anything else- oh well, I've got a caller coming along in a minute or two so thanks for the chance to chat."[/ic]

OOC: Yes. One sentence. It is a fast-paced world. Try to read it like a beat generation author infused with jazz, and sing-songy.

Notes: Organ Donation. The Rich and Shark Battles.

Ok, I'm all about this, but it starts as a bemused diary entry and ends as a communique.  However, I love the personality and details you effortlessly cram into it.

[LD]

Heh I love the monster names... they strike me as very Lewis Carrol. Worrybeasts and Ivory-Tusked Brobdignagannelids in particular.

Kierkegaard is a city, eh? Any hints on what that one's going to look like?

Are there going to be hardline fascists states?

Is there any kind of McCarthyesque Inquisition in Gloria? Is socialism banned?

Existential[/i]...

-Also updated the city of Shimmer with a few more places of interest.
-Also added the libertarian city of Malebroge.