INTRODUCTION
“Congratulations on your acceptance to Nielsen Military Academy.
My name is Lane Nielsen, your headmaster.”
While speaking of the school’s old traditions, Lane pauses and switches off the screen. Footage flickers on behind as he continues speaking, shadows angled across his face. The auditorium is dark.
“You may leave this school after hearing what I have to say.
You were chosen by me, every single one of you.”
As strange imagery begins to scroll on the screen above, tense whispers stir among the students. Lane raises his hand and there is silence.
“I will tell you about the future.”
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WORLD
SETTING
[READING IS ONLY COMPULSORY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS]
GROUP PREMISE
Your character is a teenager [15-18] invited to attend Nielsen Military Academy, an institute with longstanding academic standards and military prestige. A full boarding scholarship has been offered. Upon arrival, you have been told that you were actually selected to participate in a dangerous mission, that you have the power to change the future.
After being given the option to return to a normal life, you have chosen to stay.
STORY:
YEAR 20XX
The setting is Livonia, a fictional European country located between Austria and the Czech Republic. Think Swiss neutrality.
Years in the future, Lane Nielsen sends a message to his past self - telling him of a disastrous future where millions of lives are lost. Although the relay is incomplete present-day Lane is forced into action, to investigate and prevent this calamity - but he cannot do it alone.
With pieces of a plan in place, present day Lane has sourced the names of youth to help this future cause - sharp youth with potential and influence [that's you, the group members!]
Together your choices will determine the world's fate.
THE DIVIDE
A past event that defines Lane's mission.
It began with a small meteor shower that fell over Kebnekaise and a scattering of other Scandinavian mountains. It is rumoured that a meteorite artifact was recovered from the site by a couple of tourist climbers, then fell into the hands of a large conglomerate.
In the year following, technology began to advance at an exponential rate.
To cope with a rampantly widespread disease, most health companies turned their attention to prosthetic technology and body replacement. The nanobot technology showed great promise in maintaining health, self-teaching and ever evolving. Android technology gained popularity.
Some mutations began to surface in children born in the neighbouring countries. Incidences of telekinetic power, altered capability and changes in physiology were starting to be observed. The advance of technology taking society by storm was synchronous with a surge in superhuman abilities.
tl;dr it all started with a meteor
THE LATE DIVIDE
A foretold future calamity.
Much of the old world is destroyed, leaving the remnants of humanity in shambles.
Future!Lane tells past!Lane of the events of the Late Divide, kicking into motion the series of events leading up to the group’s opening.
PRESENT DAY
Natural disasters have ravaged the population over the years and the earth has gradually changed face. Nowadays, these disasters have settled and the population has stabilized.
This group is set briefly after the first Divide, where the impact of the meteorite on earth is not yet critical. Data entities and political factions each have their own agenda, pushing forward while on the cusp of war. Powers are just beginning to surface and their influence on world affairs is still minor [rumoured].
Lane has re-opened the once prestigious Nielsen Military Academy’s doors to a round of new students, having gathered names and information from his future self.
For now, there is peace.
QUICK TIMELINE
TECHNOLOGY
snips of technology leaps through the years;
ERA
OF BOTS
Human technology has advanced with android and gene manipulation becoming more commonplace and socially accepted worldwide.
Prosthetic and cyborg technology has made strides. Tech’s accessible but big things like full body builds are very expensive aka not fully accessible to the masses. Accessible if you have the means. Health insurance still doing everyone dirty 100 years down the track
People still use phones, computers. Language barriers are not present in any facility that utilizes black boxes, though may be present in some rural bloodhearted towns.
tl;dr: no gundams yet, prosthetics replace rotting body parts
V370, A PANDEMIC
IT'S MOSTLY SIDE READING FROM HERE
ALSO KNOWN AS
ROT
tl;dr: steelheart countries literally rotting their way to robotdom
Steelhearted are usually those with a future in this technology, having received treatment or undergone procedures to a prevalent (localized) illness referred to colloquially as “rot”. Officially known as V370, the exact mechanics of the disease are unknown but it causes areas of necrosis around the body; almost an anti-cancer but with a similar state of malignancy.
With advances in technology developing as they have done, mortality rates are low and mechanical replacements, implants and regulating nanobot technology have saved many affected by the disease. Rather, prosthetics are considered the first line of treatment due to the health benefits of the technology.
Areas where bloodhearted reside have negligible rates of incidence.
Because of this markedly low incidence in bloodhearted (meteor-close) countries, many - at least those who are mobile -- have been attempting to move to rot-free areas but with travel restrictions and disease paranoia, there are fairly strict barriers to migration. (example; your family must either be fully rot free with medical clearance, everyone’s diseases fully treated with approved prosthetic technology, various specific sub clauses, subject to some panel judgement. It sure is hard to get a visa nowadays)
Much of the research surrounding the disease is inconclusive, naturally with conspiracy theories and religious preachers abound.
Androids and significant prosthetic replacement are now commonplace and socially acceptable; skilful implants are almost impossible to differentiate by eye.
think: fma automail and a spot of alchemy except upgraded for our time period; nanobot fudged things are also ok, fudged pseudo-science is ok
ANDROIDS, CLONES
BUT THERE ARE NO CLONES
HERE?
tl;dr: human to bot ratio : ? [steelheart countries kind of hard to tell
The line between human and robot has fined over the years, with implants helping to extend the natural life of humans in steelheart countries. With the intelligence of nanomachines that self-maintain as well as adapt to a human’s changing physiology, some powers and heightened abilities have also surfaced among youth.
The average person is estimated to live at least 15 years longer with the introduction of mechanical replacements. When a person’s natural remaining body consists of only their brain/brain stem, they are legally considered androids re: bayrose.
Androids that function as humanistic housekeepers are also around and show a decent level of sentience. (Robots are common labour). They are less likely to study at schools because standard bots rarely need to receive a manual education and their expertise/purpose is pre-programmed.
Micro black boxes are introduced in schools, or when working for certain businesses or companies.They are non-invasive and it is rare to find anyone over the age of 10 without. Note: they cannot be tapped while the holder is alive.
Clones of humans are rare - and restricted to those with enough resources (money). While the clone is produced with an artificially engineered flesh body, memories must be introduced as an implant so the clone's foundation is still technically mechanical. 90% are aware of their status as a clone and it should be declared on official documents; but there are exceptions.
By law, only one “version” of a person is allowed to exist; if a person is a clone it is assumed that their original body has died.