Post by Valhalla Erikson on Jan 20, 2022 10:14:42 GMT
CULTURE:
❖ Primary Values
➢ Pristine Appearances
■ The people of Ikanori insist on presenting a perfect version of themselves to others. Whatever problems persist in private cannot be acknowledged, discussed, or discovered in public. Conversations consist of shallow topics that dare not shed light on painful realities and everyone acts as though everything is fine, even in war, famine, or natural disasters. The advertisements that play on repeat throughout every corner of the city only enforce this mindset – and remind anyone of the penalties they’d
incur for moving against it.
➢ Suppression of Evil
■ In order to preserve their purity, the people believe they must rid themselves of any sign of indecency or inadequacy. Preachers and politicians alike amplify the importance of improving oneself to reach the impossible standards they set. Self-help books fly off the shelves and motivational speakers stay booked year-round as the citizens try in vain to ignore and overcome the evil inside them. What’s more, inhabitants are “encouraged” to report any evil actions their neighbors take in an effort to “purify” their city.
➢ Internal and External Control
■ If the people must display a sense of perfection and suppress their shortcomings, then they must always be in control of themselves. Every action, every word, every thought must be kept under lock and key. But this heightened sense of control extends beyond oneself. If perfection is
to be preserved, then you must be able to exert your will over others who still lack your self-discipline. This is what the government utilizes to
express the importance of their control over their weaker-willed citizens.
❖ Downfalls
➢ Popularization of Facades
■ Superhero or not, every resident of Ikanori wears a mask – even if only a metaphorical one. Their public facades are people of their own creation, caricatures of who they wish they were rather than who they truly are. This keeps people from knowing or trusting one another, always putting
them at odds with others and even with themselves, while ensuring they never unite against the government.
➢ Bottled-Up Problems
■ Despite the government’s push for people to suppress their innate evil, the methods they provide to do so hold no methods of personal healing. Thus, people ignore reality instead of confronting it head-on. They refuse to acknowledge the true issues within themselves because they wouldn’t have an answer for their pain or problems anyway. Why not live in blissful ignorance instead?
➢ Widespread Mental Illness
■ The people of Ikanori may be pretenders, but they’re not idiots – they’re well aware that they are not these picturesque idols that they’re required
to be. The constant reminder that they’re not good, not enough, not worthy chokes the life and the joy out of each person. This has caused a widespread epidemic of depression and anxiety, primarily, that everyone refuses to have treated because doing so would be admitting weakness.
➢ Stirring Rebellion
■ The government has disappointed its citizens for centuries without showing signs of improvement. While any rebellions have thus far been quelled, the people grow more and more impatient, more willing to risk everything, day by day. No one has stopped sabotaging their overlords – they just do so slowly, secretly, and seditiously.
❖ Racial Demographics
➢ Fae
■ The primary residents of Sector I, comprised of Fairies, Pixies, Dryads, and Changelings.
■ The Fae primarily function as businesspeople, ambassadors, and informational experts. Their natural inclinations towards making deals and
discovering the truth about people lends itself to business negotiations, public speaking, and governmental lobbying.
➢ Orcs
■ The primary residents of Sector II, comprised of Orcs, Half-Orcs, Goblins, and Kobolds.
■ Orcs act as the grunts of most industries, with prejudice heavily hampering their abilities to be regarded for higher-paying positions. The
people of this district take up jobs in the shipping departments, in warehouses, in delivery services, and more menial labor opportunities.
➢ Elves
■ The primary residents of Sector III, comprised of Elves, Drow, and Half-Elves.
■ Sector III is responsible for the majority of modern artwork, with the people creating holodramas, electromurals, and . Elves are responsible for the revival of kabuki theatre, with as few as two people playing every part by progamming holographic masks that morph and evolve throughout a play to show their change of characters. Their power with prose also lends themselves to becoming copywriters and speech writers for megacorporation CEOs, with many Elves making a living by writing ads.
➢ Genasi
■ The primary residents of Sector IV, comprised of Air, Water, Fire, and
Earth Genasi.
■ The Genasi primarily occupy themselves by studying the very elements they come from. They put this understanding to work in various ways, with most entering the sciences to some capacity. Chemistry, ecology, geography, geology, and environmental studies are all the most common fields of study. The city’s weather forecasters come from this Sector more than from any other, making them respected members of mundane society and some even earning local celebrity status with the middle class.
■ However, there are rumors of something more sinister brewing (quite literally) within this district. Gossip suggests that the Genasi are researching biological weapons and incorporating elemental power into their equipment...
➢ Tieflings
■ The primary residents of Sector V, comprised of Tieflings, Devilspawn, and Demonkin.
■ Sector V has a notorious reputation for supposed gang and other criminal activity. Its residents swear that this is just a stereotype, but reports show that the crime rate there is significantly higher than elsewhere. Drug addiction is at an all-time high, thievery is inevitable, and territory wars overtake neighborhoods on the daily.
■ However, there is a sliver of light left to be found here. The strongest resistance forces are found herein too – and they even have some of the law enforcement on their side. There are those who want to override the system and rewrite people’s preconceived notions about their inherent wickedness, which they believe can only be done through coups and covert countermeasures.
➢ Humans
■ The primary residents of Sector VI, comprised of all races of mankind.
■ Humans serve primarily as the leaders, visionaries, motivational speakers, spokespeople, and even religious figures throughout society.
They are believed to be the flesh and blood incarnations of Igakuri and Igamori, whereas the others are offshoots. This makes them intrinsically wired to desire peace, unity, and purity – and to help others achieve the same.
➢ Dwarves
■ The primary residents of Sector VII, comprised of Dwarves, Gnomes, and Halflings.
■ The inhabitants of Sector VII pride themselves on their ability to build anything they set their minds to. The best architects in Ikanori reside here, building skyscrapers that would make Igakuri Himself weep with delight. The Dwarves possess an innate understanding of metal, a sense supposedly inherited from Kurimori, allowing them to excel as smiths. The government frequently calls on these citizens to design and forge machines, vehicles, and even weapons. However, a recent influx of Dwarves have taken steps towards becoming peaceful engineers instead.
➢ Animalkin
■ The primary residents of Sector VIII, comprised of Dragonborn, Aarakocra, Satyrs, Minotaurs, etc.
DOCTRINE:
❖ Form of Religion: Igakami (Pantheism)
➢ Although the people of Ikanori only worship one god, Igakuri, they acknowledge the existence of two others: Igamori and Yamakami. One god is revered, one is reviled, and the other is regarded with nothing but apathetic tolerance.
➢ In-universe, the term represents the fusion of the three gods’ names. In our world, however, it is a fusion of “iga” meaning “clothes, garments” and “kami” meaning “gods”. This essentially means those who follow the religion are dressing themselves up as gods, robing themselves in either vice or virtue.
❖ Gods of Religion: Igakuri, Igamori, and Yamakami
➢ Igakuri is the god of goodness and progression. He is the husband of Igamori, father of Yamakami, and the first creature that walked the earth.
➢ Igamori is the goddess of wickedness and regression. She is the wife of Igakuri, mother of Yamakami, and the second creature that walked the earth.
➢ Yamakami is a genderless spirit whose alignment lingers somewhere between Igakuri’s virtue and Igamori’s vice. They are the child of Igakuri and Igamori that represents neutrality and transformation.
❖ Religious Leaders and Followers
➢ The priests of Igakami are referred to as the “Shin-Kuri”, meaning “heart of
Igakuri”. They are believed to be true representations of Igakuri’s dominion on
this planet.
➢ The followers of Igakami are referred to as the “Shura-Kami”, meaning “those who intensely fight the natures of the gods”. This refers to the people’s inability to
truly embody one god or another and their struggle to choose Igakuri’s lifestyle instead.
❖ Religious Symbolism
➢ The primary symbol consists of two dragons encircling one another, locked in an eternal cycle, with a sun-shaped circle in-between them. This shape resembles
the inyo, a Japanese equivalent to the yin yang. The two dragons represent Igakuri and Igamori, while the sun in the center represents Yamakami. The appearance of the sun symbolizes every human’s ability to rise or fall depending on which dragon they choose to embody each day.
❖ Religious Beliefs and Behaviors
➢ The world began with Kurimori: a deity who wrought the world out of his own body. When he had finished with his creation, his form had grown weak and his heart longed to inhabit this planet. So he split himself into two separate beings: Igakuri and Igamori.
➢ Igakuri and Igamori were two halves of the same whole, living in harmony with one another...until they bore their first child: Yamakami. Neither could agree on
how to raise the child, nor which path they should take in life. Their disagreement created an incurable rift between them.
➢ Igamori, behind her husband’s back, bore a hole in the world and attempted to bury their child therein. She believed destroying the source of their disagreement would return them to a state of unity. However, Igakuri caught her just in time and instead pushed her into the abyss, sealing it tight overtop of her. Igakuri decided
to raise Yamakami with a strictness to never give into their base desires and to shun all traces of their mother’s influence.
➢ However, Igamori would not be so easily vanquished. While her physical form lingers somewhere deep down at the earth’s core, her essence caused nature to push through her husband’s metalwork. Thus, the Shura-Kami believe nature to be a sign of Igamori’s untamed depravity and wild behavior.
MILITARY:
❖ Name of Military: Yamata Armada
➢ The Yamata Armada is not a nationally-controlled entity, but a collection of private military contractors who provide permanent aid to the Hachi-no-Orochi.
These contractors make up some of the megacorporations within Ikanori, with some even securing a spot on the governing council itself.
❖ Military Applications
➢ Because the military is not one overarcing, governmentally-controlled entity,enlisting in the army is more like heading into any other job interview. Each
corporation has their own list of requirements, but each of them requires multiplerounds of interviews before officially accepting any applicant. Each company
takes into account factors like criminal records, educational opportunities, andpast employment in order to reach their decisions. Unlike in modern militaries, where everyone begins at the same level and works their way up the ladder, people can be slotted into whatever position their superiors see fit, similar to how someone applying to a modern job could become an intern or a manager immediately upon being hired.
➢ However, not everything is as simple as it seems. Enlisting in a military operation is a one-way road and no one can back out once they have applied. The government requires someone to create a new “facade” when they become part of the Armada, a means of forgoing their former, impure selves and allowing themselves to be reborn herein (or, on a more seditious note, replicating the process superheroes follow while forsaking their “real life” halves).
❖ Military Training
➢ The Yamata Armada utilizes virtual or augmented reality experiences to train their recruits. Basic simulations will force trainees to complete entire missions in a world of the Armada’s making. Even the most simple of drills will be repeated over and over again until the squads can complete it flawlessly. Just because the
Armada commits gruesome acts does not mean that their standards of perfection suddenly disappear.
➢ However, the more one advances through the army, the more personalized these experiences. Recruits are often blindsided when the formerly-generic virtual hostages are replaced with digital recreations of their lovers, friends, and family members. Any information collected about the person is done without their permission, with data about each recruit’s entire life signed away whenever they enlist. The commanders must know their squad members inside and out, presenting them with challenges that will pry apart any notion they had of personal attachment. Commanders will even leave their trainees trapped inside of these simulations with particularly difficult or painful challenges – be it having to face the AI of someone they’ve loved and lost or with digital manifestations of their worst fears – for long periods of time without communication so as to push them to their limits.
❖ Military Branches
➢ Sector I
■ The Fae handle the airborne operations in the Yamata Armada. Fae are placed in squadrons of considerable sizes, functioning more like a hive than a conventional team. Their smallest members can pilot minute ships equipped with lasers that, while a nuisance at most on their own, can quickly chip through any defenses when countless tiny ships are shooting them at once. The Fae’s strategy is quantity over quality. Changeling’s inherent capabilities can be channeled through these vessels, allowing the vehicles to camouflage seamlessly with their environments.
➢ Sector II
■ Orcs make up the infantry units of the Yamata Armada. While true Orcs have occasionally risen through the ranks and become captains, the rest are reduced to nothing more than bait thrown on the frontlines to snag a handful of kills before getting skewered themselves.
■ True Orcs who have risen through the ranks have proven themselves to be capable warlords. These metaphorical tanks can withstand blows with reinforced armor and barrier shields they’ve developed, all the while forcing enemies back and crushing their skulls with gravity-bending hammers.
➢ Sector III
■ Elves take backseat roles when it comes to combat, preferring to inhabit administrative positions as communications officers, data analysts, foreign ambassadors, etc. They would rather influence the mind and heart than impact the body.
■ However, that is not to say that all adhere to this. Elven combatants prefer to fight from a distance, wielding guns and grenades instead of swords and gauntlets. They’re not all aiming to kill. Instead, the Elves discovered a means of infusing their weaponry with nanomachines that can temporarily infiltrate enemies and manipulate their decision making. One hit and that former enemy could turn against his own allies – for a limited time at least. They prefer to manipulate the present combatants rather
than engage in an all-out brawl.
➢ Sector IV
■ The Genasi created a unit unique to their world known as “Elemental Operations”, or “ElemOp”. These soldiers shape the various, physical aspects of the world to their advantage in battle – or use technology to forcefully change them. Wielding flamethrowers, dropping cryogenic bombs, poisoning the ground of battle itself: these are just a few examples of how the Genasi morph the field to their own liking.
➢ Sector V
■ The Tieflings act as the spies, assassins, and saboteurs of the Yamata Armada. Some remain at the army’s homebase, learning how to hack into their enemies’ radio frequencies, email networks, and information databases. Others prefer to infiltrate places directly, whether through open deception or from the shadows. Tieflings enjoy utilizing technology to concern, confuse, and disorient their foes. They frequently employ holograms to distract enemies before coming in for the kill, while the more sadistic saboteurs will create AI replicas of those their enemies have lost and use them to disarm their opponents before the real threat strikes.
➢ Sector VI
■ Of all the other races, humans serve the most versatile – and volatile – roles. Relying heavily on all-out offensive measures, human soldiers are trained with explosives more often than not. Out of their neighbors, they fare the best in the water, and thus have formed the army’s naval core.
➢ Sector VII
■ Due to their diminutive height and increased intellect, the Dwarves prefer to stay off the frontlines and utilize specialized weaponry or armaments in order to contribute to battle. Many Dwarves are recruited into engineering advanced weaponry or into improving their turrets, guard towers, planes, etc.
■ However, that does not mean that the Dwarves refuse to enter battle whatsoever. Instead, they lay aside handheld weapons and step behind the wheel of armed vehicles. Most Dwarves drive tanks through the battlefield, withstanding significant damage while blasting enemies away. However, their familiarity with the underground has helped them to develop one more major enhancement: vehicles that can survive underground and interact with their surroundings. If the Dwarf feels they need a quick escape or to enter the battlefield from elsewhere, these machines can dig into the world below and transport safely through. Some vehicles are designed specifically for this, doing nothing but laying fields of mines and swiftly escaping their radius before detonation occurs.
➢ Sector VIII
■ The Animalkin embrace their wild sides when in battle. They don armor that brings out the most intimidating features of their animalistic natures and equip themselves with enhancements that work in tandem with their natural abilities. For example, someone from a wolven lineage could wear a helmet with a retractable maw. Anyone caught in its teeth would face an unexpected, unpleasant surprise – the bottom of those fangs unscrew and inject enemies with toxin. Or perhaps their claws are gauntlets with spiked lasers at the edge of each fingertip. Aarakocra place their wings inside of metallic containers with jets on the end that allow them to speed towards opponents faster than the eye can track. This makes them a versatile, but disjointed group.
GOVERNANCE:
❖ Form of Government: Plutocracy (“Rule by the Rich”)
➢ In Ikanori, success is a fruit borne of one’s virtue. Therefore, those who have accrued the most success must be the purest beings in the city. The unsuccessful must have vices, be they publicized or private, that prevent them from making a name for themselves.
❖ Name of Government: Hachi-no-Orochi
➢ The aristocracy of Ikanori comprise what is known as the “Hachi-no-Orochi”, meaning “the eight snakes”, a council of the eight wealthiest business owners in the city with the power to pass legislation as they see fit.
❖ Governmental Symbolism
➢ In an effort to replicate the Igakami traditions and further emphasize the supposed deification of the city’s governance, the Hachi-no-Orochi used similar symbolism to represent their government. This symbol? A red sun surrounded by eight extending dragon heads, one to represent each of the districts and races therein.
❖ Governmental Election
➢ Every three years, the entire council is temporarily disbanded and the financial statements of every major company in Ikanori is reviewed. The presidents of the companies with the highest net profits will be elected into the Hachi-no-Orochi.
➢ Of these people, one needed to be elected as the leader of the group, lest tiebreakers render their efforts null and void. This process is simple: whichever company has accrued the most money from within their circle of eight contenders gets to act as the de facto “head” of the council for the next three years. Even if the head’s financial status dips below the others at some point throughout the next three years, their leadership cannot be contested until the next election. Thus, it’s no secret that the eight begin to sabotage each other right before elections so as to cause the others’ sales to take a dive. A single smear campaign or rumor of disgusting proportions can cause a leading competitor to nosedive into obscurity.
➢ Unlike in modern-day elections, business owners do not need to impress potential supporters because the people do not directly affect the election through their votes. Instead, the people indirectly affect the outcome of the election by investing in companies whose CEOs they wish to elect. Ad campaigns reach an all-time throughout this time, but instead of promoting what that president would do for their people, it’s about how important their business is to the city as a whole. There are rumors and threats that those businesses that lose would even stop serving people should they lose, even if only to intimidate people into spending more money on their businesses before the election concludes.
HISTORY:
❖ Ikanori was not always the pinnacle of purity it strives to be now. In fact, that only exists now as a way of countering what once existed beforehand. The city of Ikanori existed as a cesspool of sin, debauchery, and uncontainable crime. The people there lived in squalor and in terror of whatever lurked in the darkness. They cried out for salvation and found it in the most unexpected of places.
❖ Eight heroes arose from amongst the muck and mire: Yukishi the Changeling, Daizuke the Orc, Misami the Drow, Kigumo the Earth Genasi, Nobonaru the Tiefling, Ayanata the Human, Jurozo the Dwarf, and Kyuro the Kitsunekin. While lauded in modern day, these eight people had once belonged to the worst of the worst. Now, they wished to rewrite themselves and forever alter history. They banded together, donning draconic masks and scaled armor to hide their identities, and began to undo the damage their own hands had wrought.
❖ As they began amassing victory after victory, people rallied behind them. Even common people felt as though they could make a difference. The heroes invited them to don new identities and bury their old lives behind them. Soon enough, the tables turned until goodness outweighed corruption and these eight heroes had led a revolution that reclaimed what remained of Ikanori.
❖ With organized crime forced underground, both literally and metaphorically, the people cried out for these eight heroes to establish a means of preserving the peace they
worked so hard to obtain. These eight became known as the Hachi-no-Orochi and declared that each of their people would have their own place in this reborn city. They claimed that all would have a new life, but that conserving this sanctity would require consistent moderation. The people, eager for a chance at happiness, surrendered their freedom to their newfound leaders.
❖ However, the eight of them became increasingly paranoid that their own identities would be discovered and that the people would lose trust in them. They did everything they could to hide their old names, experiences, and even memories. However, not all of their methods were conventional, nor as innocent as they wanted to be. If silencing meant cutting out the tongue of someone who once knew them, then so be it. They couldn’t take the risk.
GEOGRAPHY:
❖ Architecture
➢ The most prominent feature of Ikanori’s architecture is the comparative height of its different buildings. Structures are not primarily wide, but tall. The higher the building, the more successful one is believed to be because they have inched closer to the heavens than anyone else. Having a taller house than your neighbor is seen as a sign of elevated status, though it comes with the price tag to match. Most structures are built in extremely tight proximity to one another, like urban row homes, but resemble the shape of classical Japanese pagodas. The wooden walls and thatched roofs have been replaced by metal, with higher-quality metals being
➢ Even at night, the city is brimming over with light. The people believe darkness is symbolic of impurity and, on the literal end, allows people to more easily disguise or obscure their insecurities and insufficiencies. Thus, lights are added in every possible area in order to expose everyone at all times. This isn’t just limited to streetlights or lamps. The “onibi” – circular drones programmed to patrol the city – hover about, emitting multicolored light wherever they roam. It is illegal to tamper with any of them. As most people don’t have yards or other places to externally decorate their residences, they fill their layer of the house with lighting implements. For example, the rim of each layer of a pagoda’s roof can be outfitted with lights of various colors. Signs can be hung on the walls that display messages about the owner or even depict the inhabitant themselves.
➢ There is little in the way of plant life in Ikanori. What plant life exists is grown in specialized, hydroponic gardens solely for agricultural needs to be met. Overwriting nature with metallic structures is seen as a sign of dominance over the wild, untamed earth. This creates an “exclusivity” to natural materials that makes organic products expensive luxuries and gardens a status symbol. High-ranking corporations will often offer access to in-house gardens as a means of swaying potential employees – and it works.
➢ Keys have long since been done away with. Instead, people have their DNA read. Any matches allow the system to permit or deny access to certain buildings
or areas therein. The government has a sample of everyone’s DNA from birth and can thereafter distribute it as needed. The DNA sample itself is not distributed to companies, landlords, etc., but is instead broken down into a unique genetic code that is far too long for anyone to remember. This genetic code is embedded into any finger or face readers, allowing people access to their rooms, offices, etc. This has, admittedly, improved personalized security immensely – if your neighborhood is affluent enough to afford them.
➢ The rich provide visitors with a virtual AI that guides people around their establishment. It cannot physically interact with guests, but it can operate the house’s controls. For example, it can’t apprehend an intruder, but it can close and lock all doors or sound the alarm via the security system.
❖ Geographical Features
➢ The city of Ikanori is a relatively hilly area. The further away from the city center one is, the lower they dip into the valleys beyond city limits. The heart of the city
houses the city’s most prominent building, an octagonal building with eighty floors known as the “Orochi Core”, which is situated atop its highest hill. This allows those inside to look down upon their residents, while forcing everyone to literally and metaphorically look up to them.
➢ Groundwater is heavily filtered within city limits. However, this is an expensive and time-consuming process, making it impossible to do for every area of the city. Instead, filtration facilities in lower-income areas will instead infuse the water with chemicals that make it appear crystal clear but that actually does nothing to change the chemical contents of the water itself.
ECONOMY:
❖ Form of Economy: Market
➢ Establish capitalism and ramp it up to its most drastic, dangerous form – now you know life in Ikanori. Everyone in the city lives under the illusion that they can do
as they please in order to live out their own picture-perfect lives. However, beneath the surface, the rich make daily life a consistent struggle for anyone attempting to survive, let alone escalate their position in society. Competitors can become cutthroat, even if they are friends or family, if it means securing the only chance at advancement they may ever achieve.
➢ The city frequently holds competitions, tournaments, and festivals that encourage people to try their hand at winning massive amounts of money or landing a
prominent position. People flock to these opportunities in the hopes of becoming the one in a million to succeed. What they don’t realize is that these are all rigged, with the company hosting the competition planting one of their own inside to win the whole thing. It just aids in the illusion of freedom.
➢ Corporation owners have imparted laws that restrict the common people from becoming viable competitors. No matter the quality of your invention or product, every aspiring vendor must purchase a merchant’s license – a hefty fee in and of itself for first-timers – and then renew it every year thereafter. This allows
megacorporations to stay in power because they can keep raising the price of the licenses, shutting down more and more small businesses who cannot afford to keep renewing their permits.
❖ Important Exports
➢ Alternative Energy
■ Thanks to the ERC (or “Elemental Research Corps.”), the Genasi can successfully create, contain, and market alternative forms of energy. While other places had naturally learned how to harness solar or wind power, the Genasi harnessed the essence of the earth itself. This geothermal energy harvests their planet’s essence so that humanity can reap the rewards. They also can channel portions of themselves – the elemental matter that formed them – into energy containers, though the quality of this is significantly lesser than that of geothermal power.
❖ Unique Career Opportunities
➢ Paragons
■ These people are considered the justicars of the city, taking matters of purification into their own hands. If the people of the city are not willing to suppress the evil inside of themselves, they will do it for them. Paragons come in two different forms: those hired by the government and those independently contracted, with the latter far exceeding the former in quantity. Celebrities will often hire personalized Paragons who can act as bodyguards for them, simultaneously increasing the Paragon’s fame and
providing the celebrity with guaranteed, consistent protection.
➢ Transmutationists
■ On the less legal side, transmutationists pride themselves on “reinventing” people. When citizens find themselves with a poor public opinion, the transmutationists help them forge a new identity. Whether they steal the identity of another or simply create a new one depends on the specialist in question (and how much money you’re willing to pay), but their work is rarely shoddy. They know how to recreate legitimate documentation that can make the person in question seem to be better, or at least different,
from what they appear. Of course, it’s up to the transmutated person to live with and continue the lie – and people in Ikanori have had plenty of practice lying. However, transmutationists only function on the informational spectrum. They cannot physically recreate or alter someone’s body. If someone wishes to do that, there’s one other person they should seek out...
➢ Modders
■ “Modding” has extended beyond altering virtual reality and entered the land of the living. People will happily swap out or amplify pieces of their physical being if it means having a shot at a better position in life. Cybernetics allow people to replace any limb, organ, or even their very bones with enhanced versions that either work better and fast, are more durable, or have additional features. For example, a cybernetic arm may function at the same speed as a regular arm but have integrated temperature controls that keep it from ever overheating or risking hypothermia.
● Mods are not legally allowed to include weapons or anything that could easily be weaponized (the parameters of which are constantly shifting), unless the mods are given directly by the military.
■ However, there is a level of shame attached to having an obvious mod done to one’s body. The poorly-built mods can make someone look worse, even if they function better, neutralizing the potentially positive impact the modded had hoped for. In addition, needing a mod means something was insufficient in your body in the first place. However, the government in recent years has attempted to dissuade this perspective, claiming that this is another means of suppressing your deficiencies. They have begun lauding those, especially in the military, with professional mods who sacrificed a portion of themselves for the betterment of society.
❖ Primary Values
➢ Pristine Appearances
■ The people of Ikanori insist on presenting a perfect version of themselves to others. Whatever problems persist in private cannot be acknowledged, discussed, or discovered in public. Conversations consist of shallow topics that dare not shed light on painful realities and everyone acts as though everything is fine, even in war, famine, or natural disasters. The advertisements that play on repeat throughout every corner of the city only enforce this mindset – and remind anyone of the penalties they’d
incur for moving against it.
➢ Suppression of Evil
■ In order to preserve their purity, the people believe they must rid themselves of any sign of indecency or inadequacy. Preachers and politicians alike amplify the importance of improving oneself to reach the impossible standards they set. Self-help books fly off the shelves and motivational speakers stay booked year-round as the citizens try in vain to ignore and overcome the evil inside them. What’s more, inhabitants are “encouraged” to report any evil actions their neighbors take in an effort to “purify” their city.
➢ Internal and External Control
■ If the people must display a sense of perfection and suppress their shortcomings, then they must always be in control of themselves. Every action, every word, every thought must be kept under lock and key. But this heightened sense of control extends beyond oneself. If perfection is
to be preserved, then you must be able to exert your will over others who still lack your self-discipline. This is what the government utilizes to
express the importance of their control over their weaker-willed citizens.
❖ Downfalls
➢ Popularization of Facades
■ Superhero or not, every resident of Ikanori wears a mask – even if only a metaphorical one. Their public facades are people of their own creation, caricatures of who they wish they were rather than who they truly are. This keeps people from knowing or trusting one another, always putting
them at odds with others and even with themselves, while ensuring they never unite against the government.
➢ Bottled-Up Problems
■ Despite the government’s push for people to suppress their innate evil, the methods they provide to do so hold no methods of personal healing. Thus, people ignore reality instead of confronting it head-on. They refuse to acknowledge the true issues within themselves because they wouldn’t have an answer for their pain or problems anyway. Why not live in blissful ignorance instead?
➢ Widespread Mental Illness
■ The people of Ikanori may be pretenders, but they’re not idiots – they’re well aware that they are not these picturesque idols that they’re required
to be. The constant reminder that they’re not good, not enough, not worthy chokes the life and the joy out of each person. This has caused a widespread epidemic of depression and anxiety, primarily, that everyone refuses to have treated because doing so would be admitting weakness.
➢ Stirring Rebellion
■ The government has disappointed its citizens for centuries without showing signs of improvement. While any rebellions have thus far been quelled, the people grow more and more impatient, more willing to risk everything, day by day. No one has stopped sabotaging their overlords – they just do so slowly, secretly, and seditiously.
❖ Racial Demographics
➢ Fae
■ The primary residents of Sector I, comprised of Fairies, Pixies, Dryads, and Changelings.
■ The Fae primarily function as businesspeople, ambassadors, and informational experts. Their natural inclinations towards making deals and
discovering the truth about people lends itself to business negotiations, public speaking, and governmental lobbying.
➢ Orcs
■ The primary residents of Sector II, comprised of Orcs, Half-Orcs, Goblins, and Kobolds.
■ Orcs act as the grunts of most industries, with prejudice heavily hampering their abilities to be regarded for higher-paying positions. The
people of this district take up jobs in the shipping departments, in warehouses, in delivery services, and more menial labor opportunities.
➢ Elves
■ The primary residents of Sector III, comprised of Elves, Drow, and Half-Elves.
■ Sector III is responsible for the majority of modern artwork, with the people creating holodramas, electromurals, and . Elves are responsible for the revival of kabuki theatre, with as few as two people playing every part by progamming holographic masks that morph and evolve throughout a play to show their change of characters. Their power with prose also lends themselves to becoming copywriters and speech writers for megacorporation CEOs, with many Elves making a living by writing ads.
➢ Genasi
■ The primary residents of Sector IV, comprised of Air, Water, Fire, and
Earth Genasi.
■ The Genasi primarily occupy themselves by studying the very elements they come from. They put this understanding to work in various ways, with most entering the sciences to some capacity. Chemistry, ecology, geography, geology, and environmental studies are all the most common fields of study. The city’s weather forecasters come from this Sector more than from any other, making them respected members of mundane society and some even earning local celebrity status with the middle class.
■ However, there are rumors of something more sinister brewing (quite literally) within this district. Gossip suggests that the Genasi are researching biological weapons and incorporating elemental power into their equipment...
➢ Tieflings
■ The primary residents of Sector V, comprised of Tieflings, Devilspawn, and Demonkin.
■ Sector V has a notorious reputation for supposed gang and other criminal activity. Its residents swear that this is just a stereotype, but reports show that the crime rate there is significantly higher than elsewhere. Drug addiction is at an all-time high, thievery is inevitable, and territory wars overtake neighborhoods on the daily.
■ However, there is a sliver of light left to be found here. The strongest resistance forces are found herein too – and they even have some of the law enforcement on their side. There are those who want to override the system and rewrite people’s preconceived notions about their inherent wickedness, which they believe can only be done through coups and covert countermeasures.
➢ Humans
■ The primary residents of Sector VI, comprised of all races of mankind.
■ Humans serve primarily as the leaders, visionaries, motivational speakers, spokespeople, and even religious figures throughout society.
They are believed to be the flesh and blood incarnations of Igakuri and Igamori, whereas the others are offshoots. This makes them intrinsically wired to desire peace, unity, and purity – and to help others achieve the same.
➢ Dwarves
■ The primary residents of Sector VII, comprised of Dwarves, Gnomes, and Halflings.
■ The inhabitants of Sector VII pride themselves on their ability to build anything they set their minds to. The best architects in Ikanori reside here, building skyscrapers that would make Igakuri Himself weep with delight. The Dwarves possess an innate understanding of metal, a sense supposedly inherited from Kurimori, allowing them to excel as smiths. The government frequently calls on these citizens to design and forge machines, vehicles, and even weapons. However, a recent influx of Dwarves have taken steps towards becoming peaceful engineers instead.
➢ Animalkin
■ The primary residents of Sector VIII, comprised of Dragonborn, Aarakocra, Satyrs, Minotaurs, etc.
DOCTRINE:
❖ Form of Religion: Igakami (Pantheism)
➢ Although the people of Ikanori only worship one god, Igakuri, they acknowledge the existence of two others: Igamori and Yamakami. One god is revered, one is reviled, and the other is regarded with nothing but apathetic tolerance.
➢ In-universe, the term represents the fusion of the three gods’ names. In our world, however, it is a fusion of “iga” meaning “clothes, garments” and “kami” meaning “gods”. This essentially means those who follow the religion are dressing themselves up as gods, robing themselves in either vice or virtue.
❖ Gods of Religion: Igakuri, Igamori, and Yamakami
➢ Igakuri is the god of goodness and progression. He is the husband of Igamori, father of Yamakami, and the first creature that walked the earth.
➢ Igamori is the goddess of wickedness and regression. She is the wife of Igakuri, mother of Yamakami, and the second creature that walked the earth.
➢ Yamakami is a genderless spirit whose alignment lingers somewhere between Igakuri’s virtue and Igamori’s vice. They are the child of Igakuri and Igamori that represents neutrality and transformation.
❖ Religious Leaders and Followers
➢ The priests of Igakami are referred to as the “Shin-Kuri”, meaning “heart of
Igakuri”. They are believed to be true representations of Igakuri’s dominion on
this planet.
➢ The followers of Igakami are referred to as the “Shura-Kami”, meaning “those who intensely fight the natures of the gods”. This refers to the people’s inability to
truly embody one god or another and their struggle to choose Igakuri’s lifestyle instead.
❖ Religious Symbolism
➢ The primary symbol consists of two dragons encircling one another, locked in an eternal cycle, with a sun-shaped circle in-between them. This shape resembles
the inyo, a Japanese equivalent to the yin yang. The two dragons represent Igakuri and Igamori, while the sun in the center represents Yamakami. The appearance of the sun symbolizes every human’s ability to rise or fall depending on which dragon they choose to embody each day.
❖ Religious Beliefs and Behaviors
➢ The world began with Kurimori: a deity who wrought the world out of his own body. When he had finished with his creation, his form had grown weak and his heart longed to inhabit this planet. So he split himself into two separate beings: Igakuri and Igamori.
➢ Igakuri and Igamori were two halves of the same whole, living in harmony with one another...until they bore their first child: Yamakami. Neither could agree on
how to raise the child, nor which path they should take in life. Their disagreement created an incurable rift between them.
➢ Igamori, behind her husband’s back, bore a hole in the world and attempted to bury their child therein. She believed destroying the source of their disagreement would return them to a state of unity. However, Igakuri caught her just in time and instead pushed her into the abyss, sealing it tight overtop of her. Igakuri decided
to raise Yamakami with a strictness to never give into their base desires and to shun all traces of their mother’s influence.
➢ However, Igamori would not be so easily vanquished. While her physical form lingers somewhere deep down at the earth’s core, her essence caused nature to push through her husband’s metalwork. Thus, the Shura-Kami believe nature to be a sign of Igamori’s untamed depravity and wild behavior.
MILITARY:
❖ Name of Military: Yamata Armada
➢ The Yamata Armada is not a nationally-controlled entity, but a collection of private military contractors who provide permanent aid to the Hachi-no-Orochi.
These contractors make up some of the megacorporations within Ikanori, with some even securing a spot on the governing council itself.
❖ Military Applications
➢ Because the military is not one overarcing, governmentally-controlled entity,enlisting in the army is more like heading into any other job interview. Each
corporation has their own list of requirements, but each of them requires multiplerounds of interviews before officially accepting any applicant. Each company
takes into account factors like criminal records, educational opportunities, andpast employment in order to reach their decisions. Unlike in modern militaries, where everyone begins at the same level and works their way up the ladder, people can be slotted into whatever position their superiors see fit, similar to how someone applying to a modern job could become an intern or a manager immediately upon being hired.
➢ However, not everything is as simple as it seems. Enlisting in a military operation is a one-way road and no one can back out once they have applied. The government requires someone to create a new “facade” when they become part of the Armada, a means of forgoing their former, impure selves and allowing themselves to be reborn herein (or, on a more seditious note, replicating the process superheroes follow while forsaking their “real life” halves).
❖ Military Training
➢ The Yamata Armada utilizes virtual or augmented reality experiences to train their recruits. Basic simulations will force trainees to complete entire missions in a world of the Armada’s making. Even the most simple of drills will be repeated over and over again until the squads can complete it flawlessly. Just because the
Armada commits gruesome acts does not mean that their standards of perfection suddenly disappear.
➢ However, the more one advances through the army, the more personalized these experiences. Recruits are often blindsided when the formerly-generic virtual hostages are replaced with digital recreations of their lovers, friends, and family members. Any information collected about the person is done without their permission, with data about each recruit’s entire life signed away whenever they enlist. The commanders must know their squad members inside and out, presenting them with challenges that will pry apart any notion they had of personal attachment. Commanders will even leave their trainees trapped inside of these simulations with particularly difficult or painful challenges – be it having to face the AI of someone they’ve loved and lost or with digital manifestations of their worst fears – for long periods of time without communication so as to push them to their limits.
❖ Military Branches
➢ Sector I
■ The Fae handle the airborne operations in the Yamata Armada. Fae are placed in squadrons of considerable sizes, functioning more like a hive than a conventional team. Their smallest members can pilot minute ships equipped with lasers that, while a nuisance at most on their own, can quickly chip through any defenses when countless tiny ships are shooting them at once. The Fae’s strategy is quantity over quality. Changeling’s inherent capabilities can be channeled through these vessels, allowing the vehicles to camouflage seamlessly with their environments.
➢ Sector II
■ Orcs make up the infantry units of the Yamata Armada. While true Orcs have occasionally risen through the ranks and become captains, the rest are reduced to nothing more than bait thrown on the frontlines to snag a handful of kills before getting skewered themselves.
■ True Orcs who have risen through the ranks have proven themselves to be capable warlords. These metaphorical tanks can withstand blows with reinforced armor and barrier shields they’ve developed, all the while forcing enemies back and crushing their skulls with gravity-bending hammers.
➢ Sector III
■ Elves take backseat roles when it comes to combat, preferring to inhabit administrative positions as communications officers, data analysts, foreign ambassadors, etc. They would rather influence the mind and heart than impact the body.
■ However, that is not to say that all adhere to this. Elven combatants prefer to fight from a distance, wielding guns and grenades instead of swords and gauntlets. They’re not all aiming to kill. Instead, the Elves discovered a means of infusing their weaponry with nanomachines that can temporarily infiltrate enemies and manipulate their decision making. One hit and that former enemy could turn against his own allies – for a limited time at least. They prefer to manipulate the present combatants rather
than engage in an all-out brawl.
➢ Sector IV
■ The Genasi created a unit unique to their world known as “Elemental Operations”, or “ElemOp”. These soldiers shape the various, physical aspects of the world to their advantage in battle – or use technology to forcefully change them. Wielding flamethrowers, dropping cryogenic bombs, poisoning the ground of battle itself: these are just a few examples of how the Genasi morph the field to their own liking.
➢ Sector V
■ The Tieflings act as the spies, assassins, and saboteurs of the Yamata Armada. Some remain at the army’s homebase, learning how to hack into their enemies’ radio frequencies, email networks, and information databases. Others prefer to infiltrate places directly, whether through open deception or from the shadows. Tieflings enjoy utilizing technology to concern, confuse, and disorient their foes. They frequently employ holograms to distract enemies before coming in for the kill, while the more sadistic saboteurs will create AI replicas of those their enemies have lost and use them to disarm their opponents before the real threat strikes.
➢ Sector VI
■ Of all the other races, humans serve the most versatile – and volatile – roles. Relying heavily on all-out offensive measures, human soldiers are trained with explosives more often than not. Out of their neighbors, they fare the best in the water, and thus have formed the army’s naval core.
➢ Sector VII
■ Due to their diminutive height and increased intellect, the Dwarves prefer to stay off the frontlines and utilize specialized weaponry or armaments in order to contribute to battle. Many Dwarves are recruited into engineering advanced weaponry or into improving their turrets, guard towers, planes, etc.
■ However, that does not mean that the Dwarves refuse to enter battle whatsoever. Instead, they lay aside handheld weapons and step behind the wheel of armed vehicles. Most Dwarves drive tanks through the battlefield, withstanding significant damage while blasting enemies away. However, their familiarity with the underground has helped them to develop one more major enhancement: vehicles that can survive underground and interact with their surroundings. If the Dwarf feels they need a quick escape or to enter the battlefield from elsewhere, these machines can dig into the world below and transport safely through. Some vehicles are designed specifically for this, doing nothing but laying fields of mines and swiftly escaping their radius before detonation occurs.
➢ Sector VIII
■ The Animalkin embrace their wild sides when in battle. They don armor that brings out the most intimidating features of their animalistic natures and equip themselves with enhancements that work in tandem with their natural abilities. For example, someone from a wolven lineage could wear a helmet with a retractable maw. Anyone caught in its teeth would face an unexpected, unpleasant surprise – the bottom of those fangs unscrew and inject enemies with toxin. Or perhaps their claws are gauntlets with spiked lasers at the edge of each fingertip. Aarakocra place their wings inside of metallic containers with jets on the end that allow them to speed towards opponents faster than the eye can track. This makes them a versatile, but disjointed group.
GOVERNANCE:
❖ Form of Government: Plutocracy (“Rule by the Rich”)
➢ In Ikanori, success is a fruit borne of one’s virtue. Therefore, those who have accrued the most success must be the purest beings in the city. The unsuccessful must have vices, be they publicized or private, that prevent them from making a name for themselves.
❖ Name of Government: Hachi-no-Orochi
➢ The aristocracy of Ikanori comprise what is known as the “Hachi-no-Orochi”, meaning “the eight snakes”, a council of the eight wealthiest business owners in the city with the power to pass legislation as they see fit.
❖ Governmental Symbolism
➢ In an effort to replicate the Igakami traditions and further emphasize the supposed deification of the city’s governance, the Hachi-no-Orochi used similar symbolism to represent their government. This symbol? A red sun surrounded by eight extending dragon heads, one to represent each of the districts and races therein.
❖ Governmental Election
➢ Every three years, the entire council is temporarily disbanded and the financial statements of every major company in Ikanori is reviewed. The presidents of the companies with the highest net profits will be elected into the Hachi-no-Orochi.
➢ Of these people, one needed to be elected as the leader of the group, lest tiebreakers render their efforts null and void. This process is simple: whichever company has accrued the most money from within their circle of eight contenders gets to act as the de facto “head” of the council for the next three years. Even if the head’s financial status dips below the others at some point throughout the next three years, their leadership cannot be contested until the next election. Thus, it’s no secret that the eight begin to sabotage each other right before elections so as to cause the others’ sales to take a dive. A single smear campaign or rumor of disgusting proportions can cause a leading competitor to nosedive into obscurity.
➢ Unlike in modern-day elections, business owners do not need to impress potential supporters because the people do not directly affect the election through their votes. Instead, the people indirectly affect the outcome of the election by investing in companies whose CEOs they wish to elect. Ad campaigns reach an all-time throughout this time, but instead of promoting what that president would do for their people, it’s about how important their business is to the city as a whole. There are rumors and threats that those businesses that lose would even stop serving people should they lose, even if only to intimidate people into spending more money on their businesses before the election concludes.
HISTORY:
❖ Ikanori was not always the pinnacle of purity it strives to be now. In fact, that only exists now as a way of countering what once existed beforehand. The city of Ikanori existed as a cesspool of sin, debauchery, and uncontainable crime. The people there lived in squalor and in terror of whatever lurked in the darkness. They cried out for salvation and found it in the most unexpected of places.
❖ Eight heroes arose from amongst the muck and mire: Yukishi the Changeling, Daizuke the Orc, Misami the Drow, Kigumo the Earth Genasi, Nobonaru the Tiefling, Ayanata the Human, Jurozo the Dwarf, and Kyuro the Kitsunekin. While lauded in modern day, these eight people had once belonged to the worst of the worst. Now, they wished to rewrite themselves and forever alter history. They banded together, donning draconic masks and scaled armor to hide their identities, and began to undo the damage their own hands had wrought.
❖ As they began amassing victory after victory, people rallied behind them. Even common people felt as though they could make a difference. The heroes invited them to don new identities and bury their old lives behind them. Soon enough, the tables turned until goodness outweighed corruption and these eight heroes had led a revolution that reclaimed what remained of Ikanori.
❖ With organized crime forced underground, both literally and metaphorically, the people cried out for these eight heroes to establish a means of preserving the peace they
worked so hard to obtain. These eight became known as the Hachi-no-Orochi and declared that each of their people would have their own place in this reborn city. They claimed that all would have a new life, but that conserving this sanctity would require consistent moderation. The people, eager for a chance at happiness, surrendered their freedom to their newfound leaders.
❖ However, the eight of them became increasingly paranoid that their own identities would be discovered and that the people would lose trust in them. They did everything they could to hide their old names, experiences, and even memories. However, not all of their methods were conventional, nor as innocent as they wanted to be. If silencing meant cutting out the tongue of someone who once knew them, then so be it. They couldn’t take the risk.
GEOGRAPHY:
❖ Architecture
➢ The most prominent feature of Ikanori’s architecture is the comparative height of its different buildings. Structures are not primarily wide, but tall. The higher the building, the more successful one is believed to be because they have inched closer to the heavens than anyone else. Having a taller house than your neighbor is seen as a sign of elevated status, though it comes with the price tag to match. Most structures are built in extremely tight proximity to one another, like urban row homes, but resemble the shape of classical Japanese pagodas. The wooden walls and thatched roofs have been replaced by metal, with higher-quality metals being
➢ Even at night, the city is brimming over with light. The people believe darkness is symbolic of impurity and, on the literal end, allows people to more easily disguise or obscure their insecurities and insufficiencies. Thus, lights are added in every possible area in order to expose everyone at all times. This isn’t just limited to streetlights or lamps. The “onibi” – circular drones programmed to patrol the city – hover about, emitting multicolored light wherever they roam. It is illegal to tamper with any of them. As most people don’t have yards or other places to externally decorate their residences, they fill their layer of the house with lighting implements. For example, the rim of each layer of a pagoda’s roof can be outfitted with lights of various colors. Signs can be hung on the walls that display messages about the owner or even depict the inhabitant themselves.
➢ There is little in the way of plant life in Ikanori. What plant life exists is grown in specialized, hydroponic gardens solely for agricultural needs to be met. Overwriting nature with metallic structures is seen as a sign of dominance over the wild, untamed earth. This creates an “exclusivity” to natural materials that makes organic products expensive luxuries and gardens a status symbol. High-ranking corporations will often offer access to in-house gardens as a means of swaying potential employees – and it works.
➢ Keys have long since been done away with. Instead, people have their DNA read. Any matches allow the system to permit or deny access to certain buildings
or areas therein. The government has a sample of everyone’s DNA from birth and can thereafter distribute it as needed. The DNA sample itself is not distributed to companies, landlords, etc., but is instead broken down into a unique genetic code that is far too long for anyone to remember. This genetic code is embedded into any finger or face readers, allowing people access to their rooms, offices, etc. This has, admittedly, improved personalized security immensely – if your neighborhood is affluent enough to afford them.
➢ The rich provide visitors with a virtual AI that guides people around their establishment. It cannot physically interact with guests, but it can operate the house’s controls. For example, it can’t apprehend an intruder, but it can close and lock all doors or sound the alarm via the security system.
❖ Geographical Features
➢ The city of Ikanori is a relatively hilly area. The further away from the city center one is, the lower they dip into the valleys beyond city limits. The heart of the city
houses the city’s most prominent building, an octagonal building with eighty floors known as the “Orochi Core”, which is situated atop its highest hill. This allows those inside to look down upon their residents, while forcing everyone to literally and metaphorically look up to them.
➢ Groundwater is heavily filtered within city limits. However, this is an expensive and time-consuming process, making it impossible to do for every area of the city. Instead, filtration facilities in lower-income areas will instead infuse the water with chemicals that make it appear crystal clear but that actually does nothing to change the chemical contents of the water itself.
ECONOMY:
❖ Form of Economy: Market
➢ Establish capitalism and ramp it up to its most drastic, dangerous form – now you know life in Ikanori. Everyone in the city lives under the illusion that they can do
as they please in order to live out their own picture-perfect lives. However, beneath the surface, the rich make daily life a consistent struggle for anyone attempting to survive, let alone escalate their position in society. Competitors can become cutthroat, even if they are friends or family, if it means securing the only chance at advancement they may ever achieve.
➢ The city frequently holds competitions, tournaments, and festivals that encourage people to try their hand at winning massive amounts of money or landing a
prominent position. People flock to these opportunities in the hopes of becoming the one in a million to succeed. What they don’t realize is that these are all rigged, with the company hosting the competition planting one of their own inside to win the whole thing. It just aids in the illusion of freedom.
➢ Corporation owners have imparted laws that restrict the common people from becoming viable competitors. No matter the quality of your invention or product, every aspiring vendor must purchase a merchant’s license – a hefty fee in and of itself for first-timers – and then renew it every year thereafter. This allows
megacorporations to stay in power because they can keep raising the price of the licenses, shutting down more and more small businesses who cannot afford to keep renewing their permits.
❖ Important Exports
➢ Alternative Energy
■ Thanks to the ERC (or “Elemental Research Corps.”), the Genasi can successfully create, contain, and market alternative forms of energy. While other places had naturally learned how to harness solar or wind power, the Genasi harnessed the essence of the earth itself. This geothermal energy harvests their planet’s essence so that humanity can reap the rewards. They also can channel portions of themselves – the elemental matter that formed them – into energy containers, though the quality of this is significantly lesser than that of geothermal power.
❖ Unique Career Opportunities
➢ Paragons
■ These people are considered the justicars of the city, taking matters of purification into their own hands. If the people of the city are not willing to suppress the evil inside of themselves, they will do it for them. Paragons come in two different forms: those hired by the government and those independently contracted, with the latter far exceeding the former in quantity. Celebrities will often hire personalized Paragons who can act as bodyguards for them, simultaneously increasing the Paragon’s fame and
providing the celebrity with guaranteed, consistent protection.
➢ Transmutationists
■ On the less legal side, transmutationists pride themselves on “reinventing” people. When citizens find themselves with a poor public opinion, the transmutationists help them forge a new identity. Whether they steal the identity of another or simply create a new one depends on the specialist in question (and how much money you’re willing to pay), but their work is rarely shoddy. They know how to recreate legitimate documentation that can make the person in question seem to be better, or at least different,
from what they appear. Of course, it’s up to the transmutated person to live with and continue the lie – and people in Ikanori have had plenty of practice lying. However, transmutationists only function on the informational spectrum. They cannot physically recreate or alter someone’s body. If someone wishes to do that, there’s one other person they should seek out...
➢ Modders
■ “Modding” has extended beyond altering virtual reality and entered the land of the living. People will happily swap out or amplify pieces of their physical being if it means having a shot at a better position in life. Cybernetics allow people to replace any limb, organ, or even their very bones with enhanced versions that either work better and fast, are more durable, or have additional features. For example, a cybernetic arm may function at the same speed as a regular arm but have integrated temperature controls that keep it from ever overheating or risking hypothermia.
● Mods are not legally allowed to include weapons or anything that could easily be weaponized (the parameters of which are constantly shifting), unless the mods are given directly by the military.
■ However, there is a level of shame attached to having an obvious mod done to one’s body. The poorly-built mods can make someone look worse, even if they function better, neutralizing the potentially positive impact the modded had hoped for. In addition, needing a mod means something was insufficient in your body in the first place. However, the government in recent years has attempted to dissuade this perspective, claiming that this is another means of suppressing your deficiencies. They have begun lauding those, especially in the military, with professional mods who sacrificed a portion of themselves for the betterment of society.
