Friday, February 7, 2014

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE-Vampire Clans and Werewolf Packs

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE
© Jerry Harris 2013
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[This was one of the “blind alleys” I mentioned in working on this game.  I don’t think these creatures are suitable as playable classes, but boy, would these guys be fun as villains.  Look at the Vampire clans and Werewolf packs as Corporate versions of the X-Men’s Hellfire Club.  Both view humans as their feeding stock, which is why they will fight each other and amongst themselves.  We’ll call this the “Underworld of Darkness” supplement for Cyber-Pulp Fantasy Core.]

Even in the future, there are still Vampires and Werewolves.  In the modern case though, they are created by a supernatural genetic therapy.  The treatment is actually quite an upgrade over the Old Ways demonic magic ceremony.  It’s less risky, easier to administer, and creates more even more powerful specimens.

Recipients of the V-Strain, Vampire treatment, aren’t rendered helpless in sunlight.  However, they do now sparkle.  (Ha ha, just kidding.)  The L-Strain treatment doesn’t require a full moon for a Werewolf to change form. The effect is essentially the same as the ceremony: demonic possession in return for immortality and power.  They can generally only by harmed by items not typically found at in the Wal-Mart Sporting Goods department (phosphor tracer rounds and silver bullets, etc).  Even without these limitations, both still prefer to work and feed in the dark, more for secrecy than by mandate. 

Vampires and Werewolves are only able to draw sustenance from human blood or flesh, taken from a living victim.  (Sorry, True Blood fans.)  Vampires must have a feeding of blood each day, or they will fall dormant.  Werewolves must hunt and kill at least once a month, or they will degenerate into their mere mortal form and require another gene therapy treatment.  The demon in their blood compels them into these acts. 

Most Vampires and Werewolves are cliques of wealthy elitists seeking literal immortality, who already saw the rest of their kind as cattle anyway.  Both groups have the power and influence to cover up their supernaturally induced feedings.  Certainly in modern society (and especially “20 minutes into the future”), it would be very hard to get away with serial murder without serious connections to oversee the media and the authorities. 

The demon-infused gene therapy has even gotten loose amongst thrill seekers, eco-terrorists, and celebrities. Horrifically, it has also been used on unwilling, unsuspecting victims.  Often used as “patsies” to cover up the crimes of the powerful.  Some clans and packs may even “Shanghai” or “press gang” promising-looking individuals to bolster their numbers.  A couple of demented scientists have even infected people as an experiment to perfect the gene therapy for their clients.  The procedure certainly isn’t easily, cheaply, or legally available or totally safe to use, but anywhere you’ve got the ritual and the formula (which can be found on the Net) and an amoral genetic scientist, you’ve got the potential for production.  

The more powerful Vampires and Werewolves will work together to keep the formula suppressed (to limit competition and to keep their cover).  Any of their kind found without a powerful benefactor or not belonging to a clan or pack will be murdered out of hand.  Thankfully, in a world of billions, these creatures only number in the hundreds. 

The modern Vampire and Werewolf, by and large, lives in Corp-America, where there is just enough lawlessness and elite privilege for them to get away with their lifestyle.  In other parts of the world, the Ancient Ones (created by the old ritual ceremony) rule from the shadows and have casually (and with disgust) destroyed any potential foreign invasion or homegrown competition.  Existing for a few centuries does allow one to build up a vast, subservient legacy network to enforce the Ancient One’s rule.  Perhaps they are not quite as physically powerful as the new breed, but they make up for it in brains and magical abilities.  The modern creature of the night is unlikely to have any magical skills, though they might own a magic item as a curiosity.

Given groups of powerful individuals with superhuman abilities and inhuman appetites, there are going to be conflicts.  Vampires have formed clans, and Werewolves, packs, for mutual protection against the other and their own kind.  These creatures are apex predators, though in generally different environments (Vampires-urban, Werewolves-rural).  This is only because they jealously guard their territories against each other’s incursions.  This is the root of their conflict.  They want to remove the other as competition for the livestock and hunt where they wish.  Different groups mark their territories, but annexations and turf wars happen.  Within the clans and packs there are codes of conduct, so as not to overly expose their groups.  Violating these codes is a death sentence. 

To this point, only humans can be turned (or sired) by the V-Strain or the L-Strain gene therapy.  It is lethal to other races.  Not to say that Elves, Dwarves, and Humanoids haven’t tried to develop their own similar strains.  Problems involving these supernatural creatures, however, are all considered to be a human-only problem, though the death of a prominent Elf or the massacre of a group of Humanoids would certainly have community fallout.  The highest level of Vampire and Werewolf leadership actually see themselves as the “protectors” of Humans against the other races and will actively move to thwart any anti-Human plot they know of.  (Of course this is mostly for feeding reasons, but there is some genuine racism mixed in.)

While both Vampires and Werewolves are demonically possessed creatures who feed on humans, there are important differences in attitude.  While smart and cunning, Werewolves are ultimately driven to kill to maintain their abilities.  Any negotiation with these creatures must be completely in their interests, but will more than likely be futile.  A Werewolf fears little to nothing in terms of a show of force.  A Vampire does not have to kill to maintain their immortal existence.  While powerful, they are more addicts than masters, due to their daily need for blood.  Most will, quite cravenly, take an easy, willing feeding in exchange for services or to avoid a fight.

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