Cyberpunk Music

"Much of the industrial/dance heavy 'Cyberpunk'—recorded in Billy Idol's Macintosh-run studio—revolves around Idol's theme of the common man rising up to fight against a faceless, soulless, corporate world." —Julie Romandetta

Invariably the origin of cyberpunk music lies in the synthesizer-heavy scores of cyberpunk films such as Escape from New York (1981) and Blade Runner (1982). Some musicians and acts have been classified as cyberpunk due to their aesthetic style and musical content. Often dealing with dystopian visions of the future or biomechanical themes, some fit more squarely in the category than others. Bands whose music has been classified as cyberpunk include Psydoll, Front Line Assembly, Clock DVA, Angelspit and Sigue Sigue Sputnik.

Some musicians not normally associated with cyberpunk have at times been inspired to create concept albums exploring such themes. Albums such as Gary Numan's Replicas, The Pleasure Principle and Telekon were heavily inspired by the works of Philip K. Dick. Kraftwerk's The Man-Machine and Computer World albums both explored the theme of humanity becoming dependent on technology. Nine Inch Nails' concept album Year Zero also fits into this category. Fear Factory concept albums are heavily based upon future dystopia, cybernetics, clash between man and machines, virtual worlds. Billy Idol's Cyberpunk drew heavily from cyberpunk literature and the cyberdelic counter culture in its creation. 1. Outside, a cyberpunk narrative fueled concept album by David Bowie, was warmly met by critics upon its release in 1995. Many musicians have also taken inspiration from specific cyberpunk works or authors, including Sonic Youth, whose albums Sister and Daydream Nation take influence from the works of Philip K. Dick and William Gibson respectively. Madonna's 2001 Drowned World Tour opened with a cyberpunk section, where costumes, asethetics and stage props were used to accentuate the dystopian nature of the theatrical concert.

Vaporwave and synthwave are also influenced by cyberpunk. The former has been interpreted as a dystopian critique of capitalism in the vein of cyberpunk and the latter as a nostalgic retrofuturistic revival of aspects of cyberpunk's origins.

Punk Music

Punk rock (or simply punk) is a music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock. They typically produced short, fast-paced songs with hard-edged melodies and singing styles, stripped-down instrumentation, and often shouted political, anti-establishment lyrics. Punk embraces a DIY ethic; many bands self-produce recordings and distribute them through independent record labels.

The term "punk rock" was previously used by American rock critics in the early 1970s to describe the mid-1960s garage bands. Certain late 1960s and early 1970s Detroit acts, such as MC5 and Iggy and The Stooges, and others from elsewhere created out-of-the-mainstream music that became highly influential on what was to come. Glam rock in the UK and The New York Dolls from New York have also been cited as key influences. When the movement now bearing the name developed from 1974 to 1976, prominent acts included Television, Patti Smith, and the Ramones in New York City; The Saints in Brisbane; and the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Damned in London, and the Buzzcocks in Manchester. By late 1976, punk became a major cultural phenomenon in the UK. It led to a punk subculture expressing youthful rebellion through distinctive styles of clothing, such as deliberately offensive T-shirts, leather jackets, studded or spiked bands and jewellery, safety pins, and bondage and S&M clothes.

In 1977, the influence of the music and subculture spread worldwide. It took root in a wide range of local scenes that often rejected affiliation with the mainstream. In the late 1970s, punk experienced a second wave as new acts that were not active during its formative years adopted the style. By the early 1980s, faster and more aggressive subgenres such as hardcore punk (e.g. Minor Threat), Oi! (e.g. the Exploited) and anarcho-punk (e.g. Crass) became the predominant modes of punk rock. Many musicians identifying with or inspired by punk went on to pursue other musical directions, giving rise to movements such as post-punk, new wave, and alternative rock.

Nanite is Unreal Engine 5's new virtualized geometry system which uses a new internal mesh format and rendering technology to render pixel scale detail and high object counts. It intelligently does work on only the detail that can be perceived and no more. Nanite's data format is also highly compressed, and supports fine-grained streaming with automatic level of detail.

Benefits of Nanite

• Multiple orders of magnitude increase in geometry complexity, higher triangle and objects counts than has been possible before in real-time

• Frame budgets are no longer constrained by polycounts, draw calls, and mesh memory usage

• Now possible to directly import film-quality source arts, such as ZBrush sculpts and photogrammetry scans

• Use high-poly detailing rather than baking detail into normal map textures

• Level of Detail (LOD) is automatically handled and no longer requires manual setup for individual mesh's LODs

• Loss of quality is rare or non-existent, especially with LOD transitions

How a Nanite Mesh is different from a Static Mesh

A Nanite mesh is still essentially a triangle mesh at its core with a lot of level of detail and compression applied to its data. On top of that, Nanite uses an entirely new system for rendering that data format in an extremely efficient way.

All that is required for a Static Mesh to take advantage of Nanite is a flag to enable it. Authoring content for Nanite is no different than traditional meshes except that Nanite can handle orders of magnitude more triangles and instances than is possible for traditionally rendered geometry. Move the camera close enough and Nanite will draw the original source triangles that were imported.

Nanite meshes support multiple UVs and vertex colors. Materials are assigned to sections of the mesh such that those materials can use different shading models and dynamic effects which can be done in the shaders. Material assignment can be swapped dynamically, just like any other Static Mesh, and Nanite doesn't require any process to bake down materials.

Virtual Textures are not required to be used with Nanite, but they are highly recommended. Virtual Textures are an orthogonal Unreal Engine feature with similar goals for texture data that Nanite achieves with mesh data.

How does Nanite work?

Nanite integrates as seamlessly as possible into existing engine workflows, while using a novel approach to storing and rendering mesh data.

• During import: meshes are analyzed and broken down into hierarchical clusters of triangle groups.

• During rendering: clusters are swapped on the fly at varying levels of detail based on the camera view, and connect perfectly without cracks to neighboring clusters within the same object. Data is streamed in on demand so that only visible detail needs to reside in memory. Nanite runs in its own rendering pass that completely bypasses traditional draw calls. Visualization modes can be used to inspect the Nanite pipeline.

RTX Global Illumination

NVIDIA DLSS 2.0: A Big Leap In AI Rendering

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing gaming - from in-game physics and animation simulation to real-time rendering and AI-assisted broadcasting features. With Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), NVIDIA set out to redefine real-time rendering through AI-based super resolution - rendering fewer pixels and then using AI to construct sharp, higher resolution images. With our latest 2.0 version of DLSS, we’ve made big advances towards this vision.

Powered by dedicated AI processors on GeForce RTX GPUs called Tensor Cores, DLSS 2.0 is a new and improved deep learning neural network that boosts frame rates while generating beautiful, crisp game images. It gives gamers the performance headroom to maximize ray tracing settings and increase output resolutions.

DLSS 2.0 offers several key enhancements over the original version:

• Superior Image Quality - DLSS 2.0 offers image quality comparable to native resolution while rendering only one quarter to one half of the pixels. It employs new temporal feedback techniques for sharper image details and improved stability from frame to frame.
• Great Scaling Across All GeForce RTX GPUs and Resolutions - A new AI network more efficiently uses Tensor Cores to execute 2X faster than the original. This improves frame rates and eliminates previous limitations on which GPUs, settings, and resolutions could be enabled.
  
• One Network For All Games - The original DLSS required training the AI network for each new game. DLSS 2.0 trains using non-game-specific content, delivering a generalized network that works across games. This means faster game integrations, and ultimately more DLSS games.
  
• Customizable Options - DLSS 2.0 offers users 3 image quality modes - Quality, Balanced, Performance - that control the game’s internal rendering resolution, with Performance mode enabling up to 4X super resolution (i.e. 1080p → 4K). This means more user choice, and even bigger performance boosts.

DLSS 2.0 - Under the Hood

Using our Neural Graphics Framework, NGX, the DLSS deep neural network is trained on a NVIDIA DGX-powered supercomputer.

DLSS 2.0 has two primary inputs into the AI network:

1. Low resolution, aliased images rendered by the game engine
   
2. Low resolution, motion vectors from the same images -- also generated by the game engine

Motion vectors tell us which direction objects in the scene are moving from frame to frame. We can apply these vectors to the previous high resolution output to estimate what the next frame will look like. We refer to this process as ‘temporal feedback,’ as it uses history to inform the future.

https://bit.ly/DLSS20

Introducing NVIDIA DLSS 3 - A Revolution in Neural Graphics

DLSS 3 is a revolutionary breakthrough in AI-powered graphics that massively boosts performance, while maintaining great image quality and responsiveness. Building upon DLSS Super Resolution, DLSS 3 adds Optical Multi Frame Generation to generate entirely new frames, and integrates NVIDIA Reflex low latency technology for optimal responsiveness. DLSS 3 is powered by the new fourth-generation Tensor Cores and Optical Flow Accelerator of the NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture, which powers GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards.

The DLSS Frame Generation convolutional autoencoder takes 4 inputs – current and prior game frames, an optical flow field generated by Ada’s Optical Flow Accelerator, and game engine data such as motion vectors and depth.

Ada’s Optical Flow Accelerator analyzes two sequential in-game frames and calculates an optical flow field. The optical flow field captures the direction and speed at which pixels are moving from frame 1 to frame 2. The Optical Flow Accelerator is able to capture pixel-level information such as particles, reflections, shadows, and lighting, which are not included in game engine motion vector calculations. In the motorcycle example below, the motion flow of the motorcyclist accurately represents that the shadow stays in roughly the same place on the screen with respect to their bike.

Whereas the Optical Flow Accelerator accurately tracks pixel level effects such as reflections, DLSS 3 also uses game engine motion vectors to precisely track the movement of geometry in the scene. In the example below, game motion vectors accurately track the movement of the road moving past the motorcyclist, but not their shadow. Generating frames using engine motion vectors alone would result in visual anomalies like stuttering on the shadow.

For each pixel, the DLSS Frame Generation AI network decides how to use information from the game motion vectors, the optical flow field, and the sequential game frames to create intermediate frames. By using both engine motion vectors and optical flow to track motion, the DLSS Frame Generation network is able to accurately reconstruct both geometry and effects, as seen in the picture below.

With DLSS 3 enabled, AI is reconstructing three-fourths of the first frame with DLSS Super Resolution, and reconstructing the entire second frame using DLSS Frame Generation. In total, DLSS 3 reconstructs seven-eighths of the total displayed pixels, increasing performance significantly!

DLSS 3 also incorporates NVIDIA Reflex, which synchronizes the GPU and CPU, ensuring optimum responsiveness and low system latency. Lower system latency makes game controls more responsive, and ensures on-screen actions occur almost instantaneously once you click your mouse or other control input. When compared to native, DLSS 3 can reduce latency by up to 2X.

InstaLOD Studio XL

The best way to get it done.

Studio XL is the holistic 3D processing platform that finally makes it easy to convert complex scenes into usable assets.

Limitless Interoperability.

Studio XL features more than 50 distinct file import formats and more than 10 file export formats. This wide spectrum of supported file formats ranges from industry-standard formats such as FBX or GLTF to proprietary NURBS or BREP based formats such as CATIA.

Limitless Extensibility.

Studio XL is a powerful 64-bit platform that can be extended through a native C++ interface. Easily add support for additional file formats, extend the rules engine, modify the viewport rendering or implement new algorithms — anything is possible.

Render Massive Scenes.

Realtime per-object occlusion culling enables Studio XL to render gigantic scenes with thousands of draw-calls at high framerates. On top of this, the viewport is powered by a post processing pipeline that renders effects such as emissive lights or fullscreen antialiasing.

Scale your Processing.

Processing profiles created with Studio XL can be directly used with InstaLOD Pipeline. The same applies to Studio XL plugins or file import and export capabilities. Setup your process in Studio XL and scale it to process hundreds of files with a single click.

Casual Time Travelling.

Every time you execute a mesh operation a snapshot of the profile and the scene will be saved in the processing timeline. This enables you to go back and forth in your timeline or convert your timeline into a profile that execute all steps as a combined operation.

Built-in Baking.

Studio XL features dedicated texture baking-technology that can easily handle gigantic scenes. InstaLOD's baker is able to generate a wide spectrum of different textures used for rendering or texturing workflows: from ambient occlusion to curvature maps.

Lenny faces are short character strings that describe emotions and make your text stand out.

InstaLOD for Unreal Engine 4

InstaLOD for Unreal Engine enables game developers to optimize 3D assets and scenes from within Unreal Engine. Full support for both static and skeletal meshes as well as draw call reduction make InstaLOD the best choice for optimization in Unreal Engine.

InstaLOD for Unreal Engine is available on PC Windows and MacOS.

Now that Christmas is around the corner I just want to remind you that the a Rubik's Cube is the best gift for any occasion which can be easily solved with the online tutorial.

The easiest Rubik's Cube solution is available here in many languages. Learn it in an hour to impress your friends.

Introduction:

"Sicarius" is an immersive cyberpunk game that places players in the shoes of an assassin named Ghost, driven by a burning desire for revenge. Set in a dystopian future, the game offers a thrilling and action-packed experience as players navigate a dark and gritty world filled with intrigue, danger, and moral choices.

Engaging Narrative:

The heart of "Sicarius" lies in its captivating narrative. Players are introduced to Ghost, a skilled assassin whose family was brutally murdered. Motivated by vengeance, Ghost embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind the homicide and bring those responsible to justice. The game's storyline is richly layered, filled with unexpected twists, complex characters, and thought-provoking moral dilemmas that will keep players engaged and emotionally invested throughout.

Dynamic Gameplay:

The gameplay in "Sicarius" is designed to provide players with a dynamic and immersive experience. As Ghost, players will navigate a sprawling cyberpunk city, utilizing stealth, combat, and hacking skills to overcome various challenges. The game offers a range of playstyles, allowing players to choose between a more stealthy approach or a more aggressive combat-oriented playstyle, depending on their preferences.

Customization and Progression:

To enhance the player's immersion, "Sicarius" offers a robust customization system. Players can tailor Ghost's appearance, abilities, and equipment to suit their playstyle and preferences. As the game progresses, players will earn experience points and unlock new skills, augmentations, and weapons, allowing them to become even deadlier and more versatile in their quest for revenge.

Atmospheric Cyberpunk World:

The game's visuals and sound design create a captivating cyberpunk atmosphere. The neon-lit streets, towering skyscrapers, and rain-soaked alleyways immerse players in a dark and gritty world. The game's soundtrack, filled with pulsating electronic beats and haunting melodies, further enhances the immersive experience, transporting players into the dystopian future.

Moral Choices and Consequences:

"Sicarius" presents players with morally ambiguous situations and choices that have far-reaching consequences. These choices not only shape the narrative but also impact the relationships Ghost forms with other characters in the game. Players must carefully consider their decisions, as they may lead to unexpected alliances, betrayals, or even alter the outcome of the story.

Multiplayer and Social Features:

For players seeking a cooperative experience, "Sicarius" offers multiplayer modes where friends can join forces to tackle challenging missions together. Additionally, the game incorporates social features, allowing players to connect with others, share their achievements, and engage in friendly competition.

Conclusion:

"Sicarius" is an enthralling cyberpunk game that combines a compelling narrative, dynamic gameplay, and immersive world-building to deliver an unforgettable user experience. As players step into the shoes of Ghost, they will embark on a thrilling journey of revenge, facing tough choices, engaging in intense combat, and unraveling a web of secrets in a dystopian future. Prepare to be captivated by the dark and atmospheric world of "Sicarius" and embark on a quest for justice like no other.

Deployment: "Sicarius" will be deployed on multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and potentially on cloud gaming platforms such as Google Stadia and Amazon Luna. This multi-platform approach ensures that the game reaches a wide audience and allows players to enjoy the game on their preferred gaming platform.

Target Audience: The target audience for "Sicarius" is primarily gamers who enjoy immersive storytelling, action-packed gameplay, and the cyberpunk genre. The game is designed to appeal to both casual and hardcore gamers who appreciate a rich narrative, engaging gameplay mechanics, and a visually stunning cyberpunk world.

Typical User: The typical user of "Sicarius" is a tech-savvy gamer who enjoys exploring complex narratives and making impactful choices. They are likely fans of cyberpunk-themed media, such as movies like Blade Runner or games like Deus Ex. This user is drawn to the dark and gritty atmosphere of cyberpunk settings, as well as the moral ambiguity and philosophical questions often explored within the genre.

Appeal of the Theme: The cyberpunk theme of "Sicarius" appeals to its audience for several reasons. Firstly, the cyberpunk genre has a dedicated fan base that appreciates its unique blend of futuristic technology, dystopian societies, and morally gray narratives. By immersing players in a cyberpunk world, "Sicarius" taps into this existing interest and provides an experience that aligns with their expectations.

Additionally, the theme of revenge resonates with players on an emotional level. The desire for justice and the exploration of complex moral choices are universal themes that can captivate players and keep them engaged throughout the game. By centering the narrative around an assassin seeking revenge for the homicide of his family, "Sicarius" taps into these emotions and provides a compelling motivation for players to immerse themselves in the game world.

While the cyberpunk theme may be familiar to some players, "Sicarius" offers a fresh take on the genre by combining it with a deeply personal story of revenge. This unique blend of familiar elements and a fresh narrative approach ensures that both fans of the cyberpunk genre and newcomers to the theme will find something intriguing and captivating in the game.

Inspiration for "Sicarius":

"Sicarius" draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including other games, movies, and literature. These sources have influenced the game's atmosphere, narrative, gameplay mechanics, and overall feel, creating a unique and immersive experience for players.

1. Games: a) Deus Ex: The cyberpunk world-building and the blend of stealth, combat, and hacking mechanics in Deus Ex inspired the gameplay elements of "Sicarius." The intricate level design and player choice-driven narrative in Deus Ex served as a foundation for creating a similar experience in our game.

b) Dishonored: The stealth and assassination mechanics in Dishonored influenced the gameplay approach in "Sicarius." The ability to approach missions with different playstyles and the emphasis on player agency in shaping the narrative were key inspirations for our game.

2. Movies: a) Blade Runner: The iconic cyberpunk aesthetic, the exploration of existential themes, and the morally ambiguous characters in Blade Runner influenced the visual design and atmosphere of "Sicarius." The neon-lit cityscapes, rain-soaked streets, and the sense of a dystopian future are elements that resonate with the cyberpunk genre and are reflected in our game.

b) John Wick: The intense action sequences, the protagonist's relentless pursuit of revenge, and the stylish choreography in John Wick inspired the combat mechanics and the overall tone of "Sicarius." We aimed to capture the same level of adrenaline-fueled action and the emotional drive behind seeking vengeance.

3. Literature: a) Neuromancer by William Gibson: This seminal cyberpunk novel introduced the concept of a virtual reality cyberspace and explored themes of artificial intelligence, corporate control, and the blurring of boundaries between humans and machines. The ideas presented in Neuromancer influenced the world-building and narrative elements of "Sicarius."

b) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: The theme of revenge and the journey of the protagonist seeking justice in The Count of Monte Cristo inspired the core narrative of "Sicarius." We aimed to capture the same sense of personal vendetta and the emotional toll it takes on the protagonist.

By drawing inspiration from these diverse sources, "Sicarius" aims to create a game that combines the best elements of cyberpunk storytelling, immersive gameplay mechanics, and a compelling narrative of revenge. The blend of these influences ensures that players will experience a familiar yet fresh and captivating world that resonates with their love for the cyberpunk genre and the thrill of seeking justice.

Oicho-Kabu (おいちょかぶ) is a traditional Japanese card game that is similar to Baccarat. It is typically played with special kabufuda cards. A hanafuda deck can also be used, if the last two months are discarded, and Western playing cards can be used if the face cards are removed from the deck and aces are counted as one. Oicho-Kabu means 8-9 and uses the Japanese kabufuda names for the numbers one to ten. As in baccarat, this game also has a dealer, whom the players try to beat.

The goal of the game is to reach 9. As in baccarat, the last digit of any total over 10 makes your hand: a 15 counts as 5, a 12 as 2, and a 20 as 0. Having two of the same card makes it the card number: a 10 and a 10 = 10, 1 and a 1 = 1.

The worst hand in oicho-kabu is an eight, a nine and a three, phonetically expressed as "ya-ku-za". This is the origin of the Japanese word for "gangster," yakuza.

Chō-Han Bakuchi or simply Chō-Han (丁半) is a traditional Japanese gambling game using dice.

Gameplay

The game uses two standard six-sided dice, which are shaken in a bamboo cup or bowl by a dealer. The cup is then overturned onto the floor. Players then place their wagers on whether the sum total of numbers showing on the two dice will be "Chō" (even) or "Han" (odd). The dealer then removes the cup, displaying the dice. The winners collect their money.

Depending on the situation, the dealer will sometimes act as the house, collecting all losing bets. More often, the players will bet against each other (this requires an equal number of players betting on odd and even) and the house will collect a set percentage of winning bets.

Culture

The game was a mainstay of the bakuto, itinerant gamblers in old Japan, and is still played by the modern yakuza. In a traditional Chou-Han setting, players sit on a tatami floor. The dealer sits in the formal seiza position and is often shirtless (to prevent accusations of cheating), exposing his elaborate tattoos.

Many Japanese films, especially chambara and yakuza movies, feature Chō-Han scenes. It is also a playable minigame in many of the Ryū ga Gotoku (Yakuza) series of video games.

Kitsune Bakuchi is a dice game from Japan in which a player tries to roll three dice with the same number on them. If the player succeeds, he or she wins four times the amount wagered. The term literally means "fox gambling."

There are six winning throws out of 216 total possible throws, so the winning probability is 6/216 = 1/36. Thus fair Kitsune Bakuchi (zero house edge) gives out winnings of 36 times the winning player's bet.

AUGMENTATIONS

Many explorers and mercenaries modify their own bodies with technological or biological gear called augmentations. These are modifications to your body that give you special abilities and bonuses. Once installed, they become a part of your body and generally can’t be affected by abilities that destroy or disable objects or target technological items or creatures. As far as attacks and abilities are concerned, a cybernetic or vat-grown arm is no more (or less) vulnerable than your original biological limb.

AUGMENTATIONS FORMAT

SYSTEM

All augmentations have a system entry indicating the part of the body into which it must be installed. You can’t have more than one augmentation on the same part of your body.

In some cases, such as with augmentations installed in limbs, you can install an augmentation into a single general type of body part, such as any single one of your feet or hands. In these cases, the augmentation lists the acceptable body parts into which the augmentation can be installed. You can install a single augmentation on each limb of which you have multiples. For example, if you’re a kasatha, you could install a separate augmentation on each of your four hands, as long as each of those augmentations requires only a single hand.

If an augmentation requires multiple limbs for installation—such as climbing suckers, which require all feet, or a speed suspension, which requires all legs—the augmentation’s systems entry indicates that requirement. The augmentation’s description will also indicate whether a limb-based upgrade requires the replacement of a limb or the augmentation of an existing limb. In the case of augmentations that specifically replace a lost limb, such as a polyhand or a prosthetic limb, you cannot attach such an augmentation to an existing limb, due to the way these upgrades are manufactured.

Common Systems: Although exceptions do exist, most augmentations require installation into one of the following body systems: arm (or all arms), brain, ears, eyes, foot (or all feet), hand (or all hands), heart, leg (or all legs), lungs, spinal column, skin, and throat.

IMPLANTATION

Getting an augmentation installed requires the services of a professional cybernetic surgeon or someone with ranks in Medicine equal to the level of the augmentation. A session with a cybernetic surgeon usually takes 1 hour per level of the augmentation. The price of such implantation procedures is included in the prices listed for each augmentation.

REMOVING AUGMENTATIONS

You might want to have an augmentation removed, usually because you want to install a different one in the same system of your body. This removal usually occurs during surgery to install new cybernetics. Biotech usually kills off the old augmentation while it’s integrating with your body, allowing you to purge the dead biotech naturally. Because augmentations are coded to your body, it’s not possible to resell an old augmentation, nor can you reimplant one into a different person. The price of a new augmentation includes the price and time to remove the old augmentation.

ACTIVATION

Most augmentations work continuously. Those requiring some degree of control are plugged into your nervous system, and you can turn them on or off as a standard action unless otherwise noted. For example, you could activate or deactivate cybernetics in your eyes to observe different visual phenomena.

CYBERNETICS - ENHANCEMENTS

Cybernetic enhancements are available starting at Progress Level 6. Unlike standard replacements, they bestow new abilities upon their recipients. Unless otherwise noted, enhancements don’t add measurably to a recipient’s weight.

Each enhancement description includes the following information:

Benefit: What the cybernetic enhancement allows its recipient to do.

Type: Enhancements can be external or internal. External enhancements are subject to sunder attacks; internal enhancements are not.

Hardness/Hit Points: The hardness and hit points of the enhancement. Internal enhancements don’t have hardness.

Base Purchase DC: The purchase DC of the enhancement (or the components to build it), at its specified Progress Level. Cybernetic attachments are cheaper to buy at higher Progress Levels; for each raised step in Progress Level, reduce the purchase DC by 2.

Restriction: The level of license required to purchase the enhancement legally, and an appropriate black market purchase DC modifier.

Anti-Shock Implant (PL 6)

This tiny implant, embedded near the recipient’s brain stem, protects itself and other cybernetic hardware against electricity damage.

Benefit: The implant negates the recipient’s special vulnerability to electricity (see Benefits and Drawbacks, above).

External Weapon Mount (PL 6)

The recipient’s prosthetic arm ends in a weapon instead of a hand.

Benefit: The recipient has a melee or ranged weapon attached to a prosthetic arm. Attempts to disarm the recipient of the attached weapon automatically fail, though the weapon can still be attacked (like any other weapon) in an attempt to destroy it.

Identity Chip (PL 6)

Identity chips provide identification without requiring visual recognition— high-tech ID cards that function even when the wearer is unrecognizable.

Benefit: An identity chip functions as both legal ID and a credit card. The recipient can make Wealth checks even when separated from his funds.

Injector Unit (PL 6)

This unit, attached the recipient’s forearm or thigh, incorporates three medical hypo-syringes. Upon command, the unit can inject any or all of the medicinal substances into the recipient’s bloodstream.

Benefit: The injector unit has three built-in hypos, and each hypo holds a single dose of one of the following medicinal chemicals: antitox (PL 6), boost (PL 6), neutrad (PL 6), sporekill (PL 6), or biocort (PL 7). As a free action during his turn, the recipient can contract his muscles to inject himself with any or all of these hypos, gaining the benefits immediately. A drained hypo can be removed and replaced as a full-round action.

Nightvision Optics (PL 6)

The recipient’s eyes are replaced with ocular implants that enable the character to see better in the dark. All of the recipient’s eyes must be replaced to gain any benefit.

Benefit: The recipient gains darkvision out to a range of 60 feet.

Skill Implant (PL 6)

This small brain implant enables its recipient to perform a specific skill more adroitly.

Benefit: The recipient gains a +2 competence bonus on checks made with one class skill of his choice. Different skills require different implants, and a skill implant cannot be modified to grant a bonus to another skill.

A recipient may have multiple skill implants, but each is considered a separate cybernetic attachment.

Stabilizer (PL 6)

A stabilizer releases chemical coagulants into a dying recipient’s bloodstream to prevent excess blood loss, effectively stabilizing him. A stabilizer is usually installed near the recipient’s heart.

Benefit: If reduced to negative hit points, the recipient automatically stabilizes.

Subcutaneous Body Armor (PL 6)

Subcutaneous body armor consists of small plates of flexible armor implanted under the recipient’s skin.

Benefit: The character gains a natural armor bonus to Defense. The bonus depends on the density of the armor: Light +2, Medium +5, Heavy +8.

Subcutaneous Cell Phone (PL 6)

The recipient has a small transceiver installed underneath the skin of her throat. The transceiver is connected to a tiny speaker located in the recipient’s ear.

Benefit: The recipient may carry on conversations using the subcutaneous cell phone without raising her voice above a whisper; Listen checks made to hear the recipient suffer a –4 penalty. The tiny speaker implanted in the recipient’s ear enables her to hear the other side of the conversation, but others cannot.

Telescopic Optics (PL 6)

The recipient’s eyes are replaced with ocular implants that simulate the effects of binoculars, enabling the recipient to perceive distant objects more easily. All of the recipient’s eyes must be replaced to gain any benefit.

Benefit: Telescopic optics reduce the range penalty for Spot checks to –1 for every 30 feet of distance (instead of –1 for every 10 feet).

Voice Stress Analyzer (PL 6)

Sensors attached to the recipient’s optic nerves and inner ear analyze minute physical indicators from living beings (including increased pulse galvanic skin response) and enable the recipient to better determine the emotional states of others.

Benefit: The recipient gains a +4 equipment bonus on all Sense Motive checks.

Anti-Flare Implants (PL 7)

The recipient’s corneas are replaced with artificial ones equipped with flare suppressors that react instantly to bright flashes of light.

Benefit: Blinding effects produced by bright lights have no harmful or debilitating effect on the recipient.

Anti-Stun Implant (PL 7)

This implant, embedded near the spine, shields the recipient’s nervous system against stunning attacks.

Benefit: The recipient cannot be stunned.

Body Repair Weave (PL 7)

A delicate weave of subdermal biowires stimulates and repairs the body’s damaged tissue.

Benefit: The recipient heals naturally at twice the normal rate.

Data Archive (PL 7)

A data archive is a microcomputer implanted in the recipient’s skull. It contains skill-related information stored on a series of biological data chips, or biochips.

Benefit: The recipient treats all skills as class skills. Furthermore, the recipient gains access to an information database that grants a +4 equipment bonus on all Knowledge checks.

Feat Implant (PL 7)

Thanks to a chip implanted in the recipient’s brain or a series of implants wired to the recipient’s nervous system, the recipient gains special knowledge or some extraordinary ability.

Benefit: The feat implant gives the recipient a feat. The recipient must meet all of the feat’s prerequisites to gain its benefits. If the feat implant is destroyed, the granted feat is lost as well. A feat implant cannot duplicate a metamagic or psionic feat.

Fortified Skeleton (PL 7)

The recipient’s skeleton is fortified with high-impact polymers, increasing his ability to shrug off physical damage.

Benefit: The recipient gains damage reduction 4/–.

Initiative Implant (PL 7)

The initiative implant consists of a series of wires threaded around the recipient’s spinal cord and attached to the recipient’s nervous system. The implant stimulates faster response times.

Benefit: The recipient gains a +2 equipment bonus on initiative checks.

Internal Weapon Mount (PL 7)

The recipient has a subcutaneous weapon embedded in her body, usually in a prosthetic forearm or hand. The weapon extends from the prosthesis and is visible when in use.

Benefit: The recipient has a melee or ranged weapon hidden under her skin. Attempts to disarm the recipient of the attached weapon automatically fail, and the weapon itself cannot be attacked unless it is extended. Extending or retracting the weapon is a free action.

Spotting a subcutaneous weapon requires a successful Spot check opposed by the recipient’s Sleight of Hand check. The weapon’s size applies a modifier to the Sleight of Hand check.

Laser Optics (PL 7)

The recipient’s eyes are replaced with ocular implants capable of firing thin laser beams.

Benefit: Using laser optics is an attack action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. A “laser eye” deals 2d6 points of fire damage, threatens a critical hit on a natural 20, and has a range increment of 20 feet. Each additional eye adds +2 to the damage roll (thus, a pair of laser eyes would deal 2d6+2 points of fire damage).

A creature equipped with multiple laser eyes must fire them simultaneously at the same target.

Luminous Skin (PL 7)

Special skin grafts create luminous displays on the recipient’s flesh. Most recipients use it purely for decoration, but the same technology can provide a built-in chronometer.

Benefit: The recipient can control the brightness of the luminescence as a free action, negating it entirely if desired. As its most intense, luminous skin can illuminate squares occupied by or adjacent to the recipient. The chronometer serves the same function as a wristwatch, including date, time, and alarm functions.

Microcomputer (PL 7)

The recipient has a miniature computer attached to his nervous system, usually at the base of the skull.

Benefit: The recipient may attempt Computer Use checks as a move action, rather than a full-round action. The microcomputer reduces by half the time required to operate remotes. A data port in the back of the unit allows for the insertion of a standard interface cable (purchase DC 5), allowing the recipient to transfer data without the benefit of a modem.

Mindscreen Implant (PL 7)

A small implant in the recipient’s brain protects him against mental attacks.

Benefit: The recipient gains a +2 equipment bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting attacks.

Prosthetic Enhancer (PL 7)

This implant attaches to a prosthetic arm or leg, making it stronger.

Benefit: If attached to a prosthetic leg, the prosthetic enhancer increases the recipient’s base speed by +5 feet. In addition, any unarmed attack made with an enhanced prosthetic leg deals an additional 1 point of damage.

If attached to a prosthetic arm, the prosthetic enhancer grants a +2 bonus on Strength- and Dexterity-based ability checks and skill checks. In addition, any unarmed attack made with an enhanced prosthetic arm deals an additional 1 point of damage.

A prosthetic enhancer does not count toward the total number of cybernetic attachments the recipient can have before taking negative levels (see Number of Attachments).

Rage Implant (PL 7)

This brain implant dramatically increases the amount of adrenaline and testosterone the recipient’s body produces, temporarily boosting his strength and durability.

Benefit: The recipient can activate the implant as a free action once per day. Upon doing so, he temporarily gains a +4 bonus to Strength, a +4 bonus to Constitution, and a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, but he takes a –2 penalty to Defense.

The increase in Constitution increases the recipient’s hit points by 2 per level, but these hit points go away at the end of the rage when his Constitution score drops back to normal. While raging, the recipient cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except for Balance, Drive, Escape Artist, Intimidate, Pilot, or Ride), the Concentration skill, any abilities that require patience and concentration (including spellcasting and manifesting psionic powers), or any items that must be activated to function.

The rage lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the recipient’s (newly acquired) Constitution modifier. The recipient may prematurely end his rage.

At the end of the rage, the recipient loses the rage modifiers and restrictions and becomes fatigued for the remaining duration of the current encounter.

The increased Constitution triggered by the rage implant in now way obviates the negative levels bestowed for having too many cybernetic attachments.

Skill Plexus (PL 7)

This unit, implanted in the recipient’s brain, allows multiple skill implants to function as a single cybernetic attachment (see Skill Implant, above).

Benefit: The recipient may have up to four skill implants attached to the skill plexus, and together they are treated as a single cybernetic attachment. However, if the skill plexus is destroyed, all of the attached skill implants are destroyed as well.

Targeting Optics (PL 7)

The recipient’s eyes are replaced with ocular implants that use a projected targeting reticle to improve the recipient’s aim. All of the recipient’s eyes must be replaced to gain any benefit.

Benefit: Targeting optics grant a +1 bonus on all attack rolls made with ranged weapons.

Feat Plexus (PL 8)

This unit, implanted in the recipient’s brain, allows multiple feat implants to function as a single cybernetic attachment (see Feat Implant, above).

Benefit: The recipient may have up to four feat implants attached to the feat plexus, and together they are treated as a single cybernetic attachment. However, if the feat plexus is destroyed, all of the attached feat implants are destroyed as well.

Invisiware (PL 8)

This technology enables its recipient to turn invisible for a short time. Invisiware uses crystalline refractors grafted to the skin and powered by rechargeable solar battery units protruding from various points on the recipient’s body (usually the spine).

Benefit: By using invisiware to bend light around its body, a creature can turn invisible. An invisible creature gains a +40 bonus on Hide checks if immobile, or a +20 bonus if moving. Pinpointing the location of an invisible creature that isn’t attempting to hide requires a Spot check (DC 40 if the creature is immobile or DC 20 if it is moving).

While invisible, the creature gains 50% concealment against attacks from other creatures that correctly pinpoint its fighting space.

Activating or deactivating invisiware is a free action. However, the technology consumes a great deal of the battery power; after 10 rounds (1 minute) of use, the solar batteries must be recharged for 1 hour, during which time the invisiware cannot be activated.

Psi Implant (PL 8)

This brain implant stimulates neuron activity in underdeveloped regions of the recipient’s brain, unlocking latent psionic abilities.

Benefit: The recipient gains the Wild Talent feat.

GENETIC MANIPULATION

Genetic manipulation becomes possible at PL 5 when technology advances enough to create electron microscopes, computer-aided imagery, and the tools to delicately examine and manipulate the tiniest building block s of life-genes. At this point, scientists are able to experiment with DNA, gene splicing, and other activities that eventually lead to more advanced techniques.

DESIGNER DISEASES

One of the most basic implementations of genetic manipulation is modifying existing microscopic organisms such as bacteria and viruses. At PL 5, scientists are able to alter existing diseases to be resistant to particular medicines and resilient enough to survive in conditions that would kill their naturally occurring relatives. At a later stage of PL 5, researchers learn to splice together the DNA of two or more different diseases to create super viruses. At this point, they can tailor such characteristics as the disease's incubation period and primary, secondary, and tertiary symptoms. They can even make it resistant to all known treatments and, at the same time, create a wholly effective remedy-putting them in the position of being able to infect the entire world and only providing the cure to those they deem worthy. The flip side of this, naturally, is that scientists are able to create synthetic medicines-antibiotics and other drugs-that combat diseases that were previously uncontrollable. Unfortunately, nature is at least as inventive and resourceful as science. Whenever a new cure is developed, it is not long before scientists discover one or more diseases that have natural immunity to it.

MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN

Beginning early in PL 6, scientists discover ways to not only replace abnormal or defective genes, but also to safely improve on otherwise healthy genes. Even more importantly, they discover ways to create retroviruses that target all of an organism's cells, thus allowing them to change various aspects of a creature. It becomes possible to upgrade a living being.

At first, these processes only modify existing traits-increasing (or decreasing) one of the subject's innate abilities, or sharpening his or her senses. But as the technology is perfected and scientists map and catalog the genetic structure of various other creatures, it is possible to alter a subject so that he or she has traits that humans have never possessed.

Genetic manipulation can endow a creature with any special quality. Developing the appropriate therapy is no different than any other genetic experiment (see Performing Experiments, above). Once the therapy begins, the subject must make a Fortitude saving throw (DC varies) once per day until such time as he achieves a specific number of successes linked to the genetic modification being attempted (at which point he permanently gains that special quality). Every time a save fails, the subject suffers 2 points of Constitution damage.

During therapy, the ability remains latent, so the patient receives no benefits from the intended manipulation. Immediately upon completing the required number of Fortitude saves, the ability activates and becomes a permanent special quality of the patient. Alternatively, there may be treatments with short-term durations. (According to most scientific authorities, these are not realistically feasible, but they can be found in many places in fiction.) A short-term treatment automatically takes effect in 1d4 minutes and lasts for 1d3 hours. At the end of that time, the character reverts to his normal state, is fatigued, and suffers 4 points of Constitution damage. A successful Fortitude saving throw (DC 15) reduces this to only 2 points of Constitution damage.

The main idea to remember is that according to our best understanding of genetics, each gene tends to affect only a single trait (or a small set of closely linked traits). At PL 6 it is only possible to modify one gene at a time. To create more drastic changes, the patient must undergo several gene therapy treatments, each one requiring a separate set of Fortitude saving throws.

At PL 7 mastery of this process is such that multiple modifications may be combined into one treatment. Have the patient make Fortitude saves as if the regimen was for a single Supernatural special quality.

Medicinal Chemicals

Antitox

Biocort

Boost

Soulblade

Those who have a strong soul who have learned to harness their energy into blades to cut at the souls of others.

Soul Blade

At level 3, as a bonus action, you can create a semisolid blade composed of ethereal energy distilled from your mind. You can only have one of these blades at a time. The blade is identical in all ways to a bladed martial weapon. The Soul Blade glows phosphorescently in the color of your soul, and sheds dim light in a 5 feet radius. You use your Intelligence modifier for attack and damage rolls made with this weapon. The blade lasts until you dispel it as a bonus action or it is forcefully removed from your grip/possession.

Your Soul Blade gains +1 at 7th level, +2 at 10th, extra specified die at 15th, and another extra die at the 18th level.

Soul Lore

Also at 3rd level, you learn magical theory or some of the secrets of arcane arts from the connection your soul has to magic—typical for practitioners of this martial tradition. You gain proficiency in Arcana skill, or if you already have that proficiency, choose between Perception or Investigation skill.

Dual Bladed Soul

At level 7 your Soul Blade counts as magical for purposes of overcoming resistance and immunity and you can have up to two blades and wield both if you so choose.

Soul Molding

Starting at 10th level, you can attune yourself to any mundane weapon over a long rest. When you do, your Soul Blade will change to that shape until you attune to another weapon. you can only attune to one weapon at a time. The Soul Blade takes on all the qualities of the attuned weapon. The weapon can not include ammunition (e.g. bow and arrows) and if thrown, it dissipates after 5 seconds. Double handed weapons count as two weapons.

Soul Barrier

Starting at 15th level, you gain resistance to Psychic damage and advantage in saving throws against fear, charm, mind control effects and any affect that would attempt to alter your mind.

Elemental Soul

At 18th level, you can cast an element upon your Soul Blade that lasts for 5 rounds. The Elemental Soul feature lets you choose one Soul Blade option. You have one use of this feature, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a short or long rest.

Elemental Soul

The Elemental Soul feature lets you choose one Soul Blade option for your Soul Blade. The options are presented here in alphabetical order.

If an option requires a saving throw, your Arcane Strike save DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier.

• Celestial Soul. Your Soul Blade deals 1d6 points of radiant damage +1 point. A Celestial Soul Blade causes a globe of searing radiance to explode silently from the Soul Blade of 30 ft. All creatures in the globe are blinded. A creature to which sunlight is harmful or unnatural takes double damage when struck by the Celestial Soul Blade. A successful Reflex save negates the blindness. An undead creature caught within the globe takes 1d6 points of damage each round, or half damage if a Reflex save is successful. In addition, the burst results in the destruction of any undead creature specifically harmed by bright light if it fail its save. The ultraviolet light generated by the spell deals damage to fungi, mold, oozes, and slimes just as if they were undead creatures. Sunburst dispels any darkness spells of lower than 9th level within its area.
  

Compatreates, wear sunglasses!

• Electric Soul. Your Soul Blade deals 1d6 points of electricity damage +1 point. An Electrical Soul Blade creates an electrical discharge that begins from the creature or object you strike. The electricity arcs from the original target to other targets. After the first strike, lightning can arc 5 ft to any number of secondary targets. The secondary bolts each strike one target and deal half as much damage as dealt to the last victim in the chain (rounded down). Each target can attempt a Reflex saving throw for half damage. No target can be struck more than once. Everyone except the Soulblade can be affected him being the source of electricity, the electricity would go away from him (basic physics). Each creature struck must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is paralysed, otherwise, a creature that fails the save becomes stunned.
  

Electricity Soulblades should probably be given a wide berth when fighting.

• Flaming Soul. Your Soul Blade deals 1d8 points of fire damage +1 point. A Flaming Soul Blade can ignite combustible materials such as parchment, straw, dry sticks, and cloth.
• Freezing Soul. Your Soul Blade deals 1d8 points of cold damage +1 point. If a Freezing Soul Blade strikes a body of water or a liquid that is principally water (not including water-based creatures), it freezes the liquid to a depth of 6 inches over an area equal to 100 square feet (a 10- foot square). Creatures that were swimming on the surface of the now frozen water become trapped in the ice. A trapped creature must make a DC 15 Constitution check each turn, a failed save resulting in 1d6 cold damage, a successful save half that (rounded up). Attempting to break free is a full-round action. A trapped creature must make a DC 15 Strength check to do so.
• Plagued Soul. Your Soul Blade deals 1d8 points of poison damage +1 point. A creature struck by a Plagued Soul Blade must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature must roll a 1d8. If it rolls a 1-2, it contracts chronic exhaustion, 3-4, extreme delerium, 5-6, muscle dystrophy, 7-8, gradual paralysis, (each of which are viral diseases) and becomes poisoned. Otherwise, a creature that fails the save becomes poisoned.
• Shadow Soul. Your Soul Blade deals 1d8 points of necrotic damage +1 point. When struck by the Shadow Soul Blade, the target has to roll for an intelligence check for sanity and fear each time they are struck. If the fail the sanity check, they become completely irrational until their following turn. If the fail their fear check, they are stunned for one turn. If they fail both, fall down prone and incapacitated.
• Thunder Soul. Your Soul Blade deals 1d8 points of thunder damage +1 point. Creatures within a 50 feet radius of the swing are deafened. The swinging of your Soul Blade creates a severe blast of air (approximately 767 mph) that originates from the swing of your Soul Blade, affecting all creatures in its path. Roll a 1d12 when swung, this is the wind force, wf.

THE GADGET SYSTEM

The gadget system is a way to customize weapons, armor, and equipment to more appropriately fit a given campaign or character. Since each campaign will likely use very different items based on its unique setting, the gadget system allows total freedom in designing specific models of equipment from the generic base items found throughout this chapter.

Using the gadget system is a simple matter of mixing and matching various elements of a piece of gear until it fits what is needed.

First, pick a base weapon, armor, or piece of equipment to be modified. Select a gadget for the appropriate type (armor gadgets for armor, and so on) that is either a universal gadget or a gadget from the same (or lower) Progress Level. Modify the Purchase DC of the base item according to the gadget’s instructions, and then purchase the gadget-modified item as normal. Some gadgets have additional restrictions placed on them that must be considered before making the gadget modification.

UNIVERSAL WEAPON GADGETS

The following gadgets are universal and can apply to weapons found in any era, provided all gadget-specific restrictions are observed.

Alternate Weapon

Some weapons are capable of serving multiple purposes by integrating two types of weapon into one. This can encompass everything from having a bayonet installed on a rifle to allowing a weapon to switch between two different energy types at any given time. When dealing with firearms and other ranged weapons, this usually involves only mixing like types; for example, energy weapons are only combined with energy weapons, and ballistic weapons are only combined with ballistic weapons. This is not a hard-and-fast limitation but rather a suggestion based on the logistics of designing such a weapon. When selecting the alternate weapon gadget, choose a second weapon. That weapon is integrated into the base weapon and can be used at any time. Additionally, you must choose whether or not the alternate weapon may be physically separated from the base weapon or not at the time of purchase. This gadget may be selected multiple times, each time adding a single additional weapon to the base model.

Restrictions: The character must also purchase the weapon to be integrated separately from the primary weapon, before the gadget modification is made.

Autofire Module

Some firearms and energy weapons are capable of firing in singleshot or semiautomatic forms only. The autofire module gadget allows these weapons to be fired on autofire.

Restrictions: Ranged weapon without autofire only.

Autoloader Module

Many weapons rely on box magazines or power packs to function. The autoloader gadget facilitates quick reloading. This may come in the form of an integrated power pack alternator, or in spring-mounted magazine loaders worn on the wrist of the user. Regardless of their location on the owner’s body or the form that the autoloader takes, a weapon with the autoloader module gadget is always automatically reloaded as a free action as soon as the previous magazine or power pack is expended. This module cannot be transferred from one weapon to another, even those of similar types, due to the fact that each autoloader module is keyed to the individual weapon for which it was designed.

Restrictions: Ranged weapons using box magazines or power packs only.

Booby Trapped

Those characters with a more paranoid outlook on life may consider the booby trapped gadget for protecting their personal belongings. Any weapon with this gadget is designed to function properly only for the owner or owners of the weapon, or for a particular group of characters. If an unauthorized character picks up or attempts to use the weapon, a special trap is immediately triggered. After a trap is triggered, only an authorized user can reset the weapon to its normal state. When selecting the booby trap gadget, the character must designate a single person or a particular group that can use the weapon safely without triggering the trap. Additionally, the character must select a single trap from the list below.

• Barbs: The weapon rapidly projects spikes or blades from its grip, dealing 1d6 points of damage to the user each round the weapon is held.
• Electric Shock: Power cells in the weapon’s grip discharge and deal 1d6 points of electricity damage to the user.
• Stun Bolt: A stun shock (Fortitude save DC 15) is discharged from a special nozzle built into the weapon. See the stun module gadget for more information on the effects of stun shocks.
• Trigger Integrated Weapon: An integrated weapon is triggered and targets the unauthorized user. This trap requires that the weapon make use of the alternate weapon gadget (see above) and is typically used to trigger an explosive device.

Restrictions: None

Collapsible

In situations that call for stealth and deception, it is of great value to be able to separate an item into its parts and transport them in their broken down state. A weapon that makes use of the collapsible gadget is easily disassembled and reassembled at a moment’s notice. Breaking down a weapon into its individual parts requires a full-round action, while reassembling them in the correct order requires another full-round action. Obviously, the weapons must be fully assembled to be used. In its disassembled state, a weapon is not easily identified; a Knowledge (technology) check (DC 17) is required to identify a collapsed weapon for what it really is.

Restrictions: None

Compact

By eliminating wasted space and using smaller components, some engineers are capable of producing weapons far smaller than their standard counterparts. Any weapon that makes use of the compact gadget is one size smaller than normal, to a minimum size of Diminutive.

This gadget can only be added to ranged weapons, as most melee weapons rely on size and mass to deliver damage.

Restrictions: Ranged weapons only

Expanded Magazine

Some weapon engineers recognize that stopping to reload a weapon in combat is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening maneuver. Taking steps to reduce the amount of time required to keep the weapon full, these engineers have increased the ammunition capacity of the weapon to reduce the frequency with which it must be reloaded. Any weapon with the expanded magazine gadget doubles its normal magazine capacity. This gadget may only be taken once per weapon.

Restrictions: Ranged weapons only

Genetic Tags

Some law enforcement agencies and military units go out of their way to track the exact actions of their members by placing an identifying marker on any ammunition expended. This marker may come in the form of a serial number stamped on a weapon’s casing, or may be as subtle as a chemical compound sprayed on the outside of the ammunition it leaves the weapon’s chamber. Regardless of form, each round of ammunition that is fired from the weapon bears a unique tag that corresponds to the genetic code of the person to whom the weapon is assigned, immediately identifying the attacker to any forensic analysis.

Restrictions: Ranged ballistic weapons only

Integrated Equipment

A particular piece of nonweapon equipment has been integrated into the weapon and can be used by the weapon’s bearer at any time. This gadget is often used to give ranged weapons features like glow-lamps or flares, though it is not limited to those applications. Some weapons may use the integrated equipment gadget to incorporate a small computer or sensor module, reducing the amount of equipment the character has to carry.

When selecting the integrated equipment gadget, choose a piece of equipment. That equipment is integrated into the base weapon and can be used at any time. Additionally, you must choose whether or not the equipment may be physically separated from the base weapon or not at the time of purchase. This gadget may be selected multiple times, each time adding a single additional piece of equipment to the base model.

Restrictions: The character must also purchase the piece of equipment to be integrated separately from the weapon, before the gadget modification is made.

Miniaturized

By eliminating wasted space and using microscopic components, some engineers are capable of producing weapons vastly smaller than normal. Any weapon that makes use of the miniaturized gadget is two size categories smaller than normal, to a minimum size of Diminutive.

A weapon to which the miniaturized gadget has been added cannot fire standard ammunition. It must fire appropriate ammunition modified by the miniaturized universal equipment gadget.

This gadget can only be added to ranged weapons, as most melee weapons rely on size and mass to deliver damage.

Restrictions: Ranged weapons only.

Scope, Rangefinding Laser

One of the most valuable additions to any weapon is a scope, allowing the bearer to target opponents farther away than normal. What makes the rangefinding laser scope gadget so valuable is that it serves two purposes. First, a weapon with this gadget increases its range increment by one-half (multiply by 1.5). Additionally, the scope also sends out an invisible laser that can determine the exact range to a target, and then relay that information via a computer link. If that information is relayed to another weapon with the rangefinding laser scope gadget targeting the same character or object, the second attacker gains a +1 equipment bonus on his first attack roll against the target. This allows multiple characters with rangefinding laser scope gadgets to triangulate the exact position of a target and ensures greater accuracy.

Restrictions: Ranged weapons only.

Sensor Baffling

From simple metal detectors to advanced x-ray scanners, there’s a way to detect every weapon. As the technology level increases, so does the accuracy of weapons sensing devices. The ability to confuse these sensors can be invaluable, especially when smuggling weapons past security. Any weapon with the sensor baffling gadget grants a +4 bonus on any checks made to conceal the weapon from sensors or other detection devices.

Restrictions: None.

Spring-Loaded

Some weapons are designed to be concealed from sight and then quickly drawn into the hand at a moment’s notice. The spring-loaded gadget ensures that small weapons can remain hidden under layers of clothes or armor and still be called to action at any time. The bearer of a weapon with this gadget automatically gains the benefits of the Quick Draw feat with this weapon only, even if the weapon is hidden from sight on that character’s person.

Restrictions: Weapons of size Small or smaller only.

Stun Module

One advantage of energy weapons over their ballistic and physical counterparts is that they are capable of altering their own output on the fly. With the stun module gadget, this means that an energy weapon can be used to apply nonlethal force. The stun module is an alternate firing mode; switching to or from stun mode is a free action (just like changing a weapon’s rate of fire). Whenever a character fires a weapon set to stun and successfully hits the target, the target must make a Fortitude save (DC determined by cost of the gadget) or be stunned for 1d4 rounds.

Restrictions: Energy weapons only.

Techno-Organic Makeup

Though the technology of Earth is based on electronics and mechanics, some alien cultures may have developed technology based on living organisms working in harmony for an intended purpose. Additionally, advanced civilizations may make use of certain biological forms of technology integrated with their own mechanical devices to form a techno-organic hybrid capable of performing certain tasks with increased efficiency.

A weapon with the techno-organic makeup gadget is composed of living tissue or a biological/mechanical hybrid material. Unlike normal weapons, the weapon with this gadget heals itself at a rate of one hit point per hour when damaged. Additionally, weapons with this gadget are susceptible to diseases and poisons specifically designed to target techno-organic material.

Restrictions: None.

Variable Ammunition

Firearms typically draw their ammunition from a single source and do so until they are reloaded with a fresh magazine. The variable ammunition gadget changes this; it allows the user to load an additional type of ammunition. This essentially doubles the ammunition capacity of the weapon and allows the user to switch between the two different types of ammunition as a free action.

This gadget may be selected multiple times, each time adding a single additional magazine capacity for a different type of ammunition.

Restrictions: Ranged ballistic weapons only.

Variable Charge

As with the stun module gadget, the variable charge gadget takes advantage of an energy weapon’s ability to modify the damage caused by its own shots. This gadget gives the user the ability to “power up” his or her shots by focusing more energy into a single blast. A weapon with the variable charge gadget may be primed as an attack action, increasing the damage of its next shot by +1 die. For example, a weapon that normally deals 2d6 points of damage deals 3d6 points of damage after being primed for one round. A weapon may be primed for up to three rounds. If primed for more than three rounds, it becomes unstable; on the fourth round the weapon must be fired or else it explodes and deals the fully charged damage (normal weapon damage, +4 dice) to the user. When this occurs, the weapon is completely destroyed.

Restrictions: Ranged energy weapons only.

Voice Recognition System

A countermeasure commonly built into weapons is the voice recognition system gadget. It requires any user to speak a command word to unlock the weapon before it can be used. Some weapons couple the voice recognition system with the booby trap gadget to require a voice command to reset the weapon to its previous state. Any weapon with the voice recognition system gadget will not fire or activate unless the owner (or designated group) gives the command word to the weapon.

Restrictions: None.

As if modern weapons weren't dangerous enough, a number of accessories can increase their utility or efficiency.

Box Magazine

For weapons that use box magazines, a character can purchase extras. Loading these extra magazines ahead of time and keeping them in a handy place makes it easy to reload a weapon in combat.

Detonator

A detonator activates an explosive, causing it to explode. The device consists of an electrically activated blasting cap and some sort of device that delivers the electrical charge to set off the blasting cap. Connecting a detonator to an explosive requires a Demolitions check (DC 15). Failure means that the explosive fails to go off as planned. Failure by 10 or more means the explosive goes off as the detonator is being installed.

• Blasting Cap: This is a detonator without a built-in controller. It can be wired into any electrical device, such as a light switch or a car's ignition switch, with a Demolitions check (DC 10). When the electrical device is activated, the detonator goes off.
• Radio Control: This device consists of two parts: the detonator itself and the activation device. The activation device is an electronic item about the size of a deck of cards, with an antenna, a safety, and an activation switch. When the switch is toggled, the activation device sends a signal to the detonator by radio, setting it off. It has a range of 500 feet.
• Timed: This is an electronic timer connected to the detonator. Like an alarm clock, it can be set to go off at a particular time.
• Wired: This is the simplest form of detonator. The blasting cap connects by a wire to an activation device, usually a small pistol-grip device that the user squeezes. The detonator comes with 100 feet of wire, but longer lengths can be spliced in with a Demolitions check (DC 10).

Holster

Holsters are generally available for all Medium-size or smaller firearms.

Hip: This holster holds the weapon in an easily accessed-and easily seen-location.

Concealed Carry: A concealed carry holster is designed to help keep a weapon out of sight (see Concealed Weapons and Objects). In most cases, this is a shoulder holster (the weapon fits under the wearer's armpit, presumably beneath a jacket). Small or Tiny weapons can be carried in waistband holsters (often placed inside the wearer's waistband against his or her back). Tiny weapons can also be carried in ankle or boot holsters.

Illuminator

An illuminator is a small flashlight that mounts to a firearm, freeing up one of the user's hands. It functions as a standard flashlight.

Laser Sight

This small laser mounts on a firearm, and projects a tiny red dot on the weapon's target. A laser sight grants a +1 equipment bonus on all attack rolls made against targets no farther than 30 feet away. However, a laser sight can't be used outdoors during the daytime.

Scope

A scope is a sighting device that makes it easier to hit targets at long range. However, although a scope magnifies the image of the target, it has a very limited field of view, making it difficult to use.

Standard: A standard scope increases the range increment for a ranged weapon by one-half (multiply by 1.5). However, to use a scope a character must spend an attack action acquiring his or her target. If the character changes targets or otherwise lose sight of the target, he or she must reacquire the target to gain the benefit of the scope.

Electro-Optical: An electro-optical scope functions the same as a standard scope in normal light. In darkness, however, the user sees through it as if he or she had the darkvision ability granted by night vision goggles.

Speed Loader

A speed loader holds a number of bullets in a ring, in a position that mirrors the chambers in a revolver cylinder. Using a speed loader saves time in reloading a revolver, since a character can insert all the bullets at once.

Suppressor

A suppressor fits on the end of a firearm, capturing the gases traveling at supersonic speed that propel a bullet as it is fired. This eliminates the noise from the bullet's firing, dramatically reducing the sound the weapon makes when it is used. For handguns, the only sound is the mechanical action of the weapon (Listen check, DC 15, to notice). For longarms, the supersonic speed of the bullet itself still makes noise. However, it's difficult to tell where the sound is coming from, requiring a Listen check (DC 15) to locate the source of the gunfire.

Modifying a weapon to accept a suppressor requires a Repair check (DC 15). Once a weapon has been modified in this manner, a suppressor can be attached or removed as a move action.

Suppressors cannot be used on revolvers or shotguns. A suppressor purchased for one weapon can be used for any other weapon that fires the same caliber of ammunition.

Homebrew:

Baragwin Shadow Armor (D20 Modern Equipment)

A speciality of the Baragwin, this modifiable suit has advanced adaptive camouflage technology that, when combined with a stealth generator, allows it to blend in nearly seamlessly with the background when viewed from any direction. It is generally only sold to respected governments, but a number have found their way into more disreputable distribution channels.

Carbonetics Nano-Armor (D20 Modern Equipment)

Armor built out of Carbon Nanotubes and insulated with Aerogel (super-light and fireproof stuff) it gives the wearer fire resistance 10. The Carbonetics Nano-Armor is very thin and comfortable, making it very easy to wear underneath clothing.

DESCRIPTIONS

Advanced Wasteland Armor

An evolved form of the full combat warrior, cooling systems maintain internal temperature in the harshest environments. A sealed helmet processes external gases.

Resistances: You have resistance to fire and cold, as well as bludgeoning and slashing from nonmagical weapons.

Mask: You are immune to gas attacks and inhaled poisons.

Targeting: You gain a +1 bonus to damage rolls with ranged weapons within normal range.

Carbide Armor

Super-strong plates of tungsten carbide are strapped inside a flexible nylon suit to offer remarkable stopping power. However, these plates are heavy and significantly reduce the user’s flexibility.

Resistances (Mk2): You have resistance to fire and cold, as well as bludgeoning from nonmagical weapons.

Flak Longcoat

This clumsy but stylish piece of subtle outerwear contains a thick inner layer of flexible aramid patches able to resist cutting and piercing. It comes available in brown or black. It leaves the head vulnerable, even with the collar up. Most importantly, it flaps dramatically in the wind.

Full Combat Warrior

The full combat suit is a mixture of aramid padding and titanium plates in water-resistant layers of nylon and metallic fibers covered by patterned camouflage. It offers an insulated backpack-mounted computer system that controls various systems on the suit.

Nightvision: You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, and the system renders everything you see in shades of either green, yellow, or blue (user’s preference).

Stealth: If your camouflage pattern matches your terrain, you gains a +2 bonus with Dexterity (Stealth) checks. It takes a full minute to adapt a suit to the terrain.

Targeting: You gain a +1 bonus to damage rolls with ranged weapons within normal range.

Resistance: You have resistance to fire, as well as bludgeoning and slashing from nonmagical weapons.

Tactical Body Armor

This is a slightly detuned version of the full combat warrior armor. It offers similar protection in a lighter package. It sacrifices several of its carbide plates to make the suit less expensive for those on a budget, and does not have a computer system built in.

Resistance (Mk2): You have resistance to fire and cold, as well as bludgeoning from nonmagical weapons.

Tech-Mail

The most advanced non-powered armor, tech-mail is based on medieval scale mail, utilizing overlapping discs no bigger than gold coins interlaced together to form a durable but flexible covering. The discs, comprised of silicon, ceramic, and titanium, spread out im-pacts across the entire body, allowing for greater protection. The exacting pattern of the scales is proportioned perfectly to maximize protection where needed most.

Resistances: You have resistance to fire and cold, as well as bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing from non-magical weapons.

Yowie Suit

Not designed for actual combat, this clumsy but effective piece of camouflage offers some rudimentary protection. It is not terribly heavy but its overlapping layers of fake foliage renders fast movement nearly impossible. Pouches and straps conceal various other camouflage patterns that can unfold or release to alter the appearance of the suit.

Stealth: In any earth or forest terrain, you have ad-vantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. Additionally, if you don’t move on your turn, you gain half-cover.

Thermoptics (Mk2): The suit employs holographic imaging. If you spend a battery charge and don’t move on your round, you are invisible. You remain invisible until you move or make an attack.

MAGIC ITEMS - ARTIFACTS

Artifacts are wondrous items that are especially powerful, particularly difficult to craft, or unique. They are ancient relics whose origins are shrouded in mystery. Even the most powerful artificers cannot create artifacts, for they are items whose power has grown through time. They are true objects of legend and, in many cases, instigators or catalysts of world change.

Activating an Artifact

Unless otherwise noted, activating an artifact takes an attack action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Artifacts are activated by command word or use-activated.

Destroying an Artifact

Artifacts are unnaturally resilient and can only be destroyed by extraordinary means. The secret to destroying an artifact is often as well-guarded and mysterious as the artifact itself, requiring a successful Research check (DC 25) to uncover.

Destroying the artifact is even more arduous—and frequently the basis for an entire adventure.

To illustrate the difficulty of destroying an artifact, several means of destruction are presented below (and the GM is encouraged to devise other means).

• Locate and retrieve an ancient Babylonian scroll with a transform seed incantation, which will turn the artifact into something that can be destroyed by conventional means.
• Use a subjugate outsider incantation to summon a powerful demon, then command it to take the artifact and plunge it into a pit of Hell.
• Find the living descendant of an ancient Mongol dynasty whose blood, when spilled on the artifact, will cause it to dissolve.
• Place the artifact on an altar in a Paris cathedral, then splash it with holy water from the Aspergillum of Saint Javier, which was stolen from the cathedral in the 15th century and was last seen in a private art collection in Singapore.
• Persuade or trick a red dragon emperor or empress into devouring the artifact, which will be consumed in the fires of its stomach.
• Locate an Egyptian brazier with the power to summon an efreeti noble, then use a wish to command the efreeti to smash the artifact with its great iron falchion.

Artifact Purchase DCs

Artifacts cannot generally be purchased on the open market, although a careless vendors might sell one inadvertantly (by failing to realize its true nature or power). Since artifacts are often unique items, one must strike a deal with the current owner (who usually demands an exorbitant price). Players may not equip their characters with artifacts without their GM’s permission.

For the purposes of reward values, an artifact’s purchase DC is 30 + its FX modifier. The FX modifier depends on the item’s nature, as shown below:

Sample Artifacts

Examples of artifacts include the following.

Caesar’s Shield

This is the shield that Julius Caesar carried with him from Britain to Egypt and back to Rome. The shield is said to have disappeared at roughly the same time Caesar was slain by ambitious senators. It has reportedly surfaced from time to time, appearing on auction blocks and being alternately decried as a forgery and contested in bidding wars more savage than any of Caesar’s campaigns.

This +3 large shield, emblazoned with the image of a roaring lion’s head, allows the bearer to wield any weapon as though he was proficient in its use. It also grants whatever weapon its bearer uses a +3 enhancement bonus. The bearer has damage reduction 10/+1 while grasping Caesar’s shield as well.

Type: Artifact (magic);Caster Level: -;Purchase DC: 70;Weight: 15 lb.

Crescent of the Moon

Legend says that the stone blade of this ancient scythe is carved from rock that came from the moon. Given the age of the specimen, this seems patently impossible, but its previous owners have been unwilling to submit the crescent to scientific examination. Experts estimate that it was made during the early iron age, though why one would make a stone blade when metal ones were widely available, no one can say. The crescent has a long and colorful history as an object both desired and feared by pagan sects.

This +3 scythe, with images of the lunar cycle and baying wolves carved into its shaft, also has the quality of lycanthrope bane (gaining an additional +2 enhancement bonus and dealing an additional +2d6 points of damage to werewolves, wererats, and other lycanthropes).

The crescent of the moon has other enchantments that activate only during specific phases of the lunar cycle. The following effects are active only from dusk to dawn on the days in question:

• New Moon: On the three nights of the new moon, the crescent grants its wielder the ability to recognize lycanthropes by sight regardless of their current form—humanoid, hybrid, or animal.
• Waxing: During the period of time between new and full moon, the crescent grants its wielder darkvision out to a range of 60 feet.
• Full Moon: On the three nights of the full moon, the crescent grants its wielder the ability to throw himself into a violent rage once per night. This rage lasts 1d4+3 rounds, and the wielder cannot choose to end it prematurely. Beginning a rage is a free action. In the rage, the wielder temporarily gains +4 Strength, +4 Constitution, and a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, but suffers a –2 penalty to Defense. The increased Constitution increases the wielder’s hit points by 2 per level, but these hit points go away at the end of the rage when the Constitution score drops back to normal. (These extra hit points are not lost first the way temporary hit points are.) While raging, the wielder can take no action other than attacking; if there are no foes to attack, he must forfeit all actions until the rage has passed—he does not have to attack his friends. At the end of the rage, the wielder is fatigued (–2 to Strength, –2 to Dexterity, can’t charge or run) for 1d4+3 rounds. The wielder may only fly into a rage during his action, not in response to somebody else’s action.
• Waning: During the period of time between full and new moon, the crescent grants its wielder the scent special quality.

Type: Artifact (magic);Caster Level: --;Purchase DC: 68;Weight: 12 lb.

Cup of Curing

The origins of this gold chalice, crafted in intricate baroque patters and encrusted with dozens of jewels, are as mysterious as its powers. At various times in history, the cup has an object of worship for nearly every major religion—indeed, there is evidence that its possession has precipitated innumerable wars.

Any liquid drunk from the cup takes on amazing curative powers. One swallow cures all diseases, blindness, deafness, hit point damage, and all temporary ability damage. It also neutralizes poisons in the drinker’s system (so that no additional damage or effects are suffered) and cures mental disorders caused by spells or injury to the brain.

A second swallow in the same sitting removes negative levels and restores permanently drained levels and ability scores.

A third swallow grants the drinker a +5 bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, and skill checks for one day.

A fourth swallow causes the drinker to glow with a brilliant white light. One round later, as the light grows brighter, anyone looking at the person must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 25) or be struck blind for 2d6 minutes. On the next round, the drinker’s body is completely consumed as the light flares—anyone still watching must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 35) or be struck permanently blind. The following round the light ceases, and the cup of curing disappears along with any trace of the greedy drinker. No spell can divine where the cup goes or when it will surface again.

A character may drink from the cup on up to five different occasions. The sixth time, he immediately suffers consequences identical to drinking four times in a sitting.

Drinking from the cup is a move action that provokes attacks of opportunity.

Type: Artifact (magic);Caster Level: -;Purchase DC: 51;Weight: 3 lb.

Dagger of Eternal Unrest

The curved, black blade of this dagger leads into a hilt inlaid with human bones ending in a large black onyx gem. It is a relic formerly used by a cult that performed ritual sacrifices then brought their victims back from the grave as the walking undead. The dagger has a +3 enhancement bonus plus a secondary enchantment.

Three times per day, if the dagger is used in a successful coup de grace, the wielder may choose to have the blade cast animate dead on the victim. This creates a zombie under the control of the dagger’s wielder. If the dagger changes hands, so too does the zombie’s loyalty.

Type: Artifact (magic);Caster Level: -;Purchase DC: 47;Weight: 1 lb.

Houdini’s Watch Fob

This short length of gold chain with a belt clip on one end and a wooden fetish at the other once belonged to the famed stage magician Harry Houdini. The fetish is a crude, tiny carving of a human figure with strange glyphs gouged into its chest and back. Houdini, it is said, was never seen without this fob hooked to his belt—never, that is, except for the night that he died.

In the intervening years, the fob has passed through the hands of several collectors, all of whom swear that they will give the artifact a permanent home. Each owner, though, has fallen on hard times, passed away, or come to a particularly valid reason to sell the item less than a year after taking possession. The fob, it seems, does not want to stay in one place.

Anyone wearing the fob gains a +3 luck bonus on Reflex saves, as well as a +6 luck bonus on Balance, Bluff, Climb, Disguise, Escape Artist, Move Silently, and Tumble checks. Furthermore, the fob grants the wearer the Improved Initiative feat.

Type: Artifact (magic);Caster Level: -;Purchase DC: 50;Weight: -

Index of Alexandria

There are four copies of this large, leather-bound, illuminated tome believed to exist (although rumors perpetually circulate about more). They represent the life’s work of a monk identified only as Ranald de St. Augustine (exactly which site named for St. Augustine remains unclear). They are Latin translations of a series of Greek scrolls attributed to Aristarchus of Samothrace —the last known librarian of the Great Library of Alexandria —that purport to be a complete index to the 40,000 volumes housed in that legendary temple to knowledge.

Reading the Index takes 40 days (which do not have to occur in a row). At the end of each day, the reader must make a Decipher Script check (DC 30) or that day’s effort is lost.

Upon completing the book, the reader gains +4 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, and a +3 insight bonus on all Knowledge (arcane lore, art, civics, earth and life sciences, history, physical sciences, tactics, or theology and philosophy) checks.

After completely reading the book, a person may return to the volume to try to glean specific information or insight on matters of ancient history, languages and translation, various sciences, theology, and philosophy. (It is up to the GM to decide whether or not a specific subject falls into one or more of these categories.) This requires 2d6 hours and a successful Research check (DC 25).

Type: Artifact (magic);Caster Level: -;Purchase DC: 60;Weight: 30 lb.

Sphere of Annihilation

A sphere of annihilation is a globe of absolute blackness, a ball of nothingness 2 feet in diameter. The sphere is actually a hole in the continuity of the universe. Any matter that comes in contact with a sphere is instantly sucked into the void, gone, and utterly destroyed.

There are several known spheres of annihilation. Most belong to government agencies, some to universities or private research groups, and a few to private collectors. It is even feared that one or two have fallen into the hands of radical terrorist groups.

The origin of the spheres is uncertain, but the most common rumor is that they are all small pieces of a single original globe of annihilation. It is said that the globe is over 200 feet in diameter and that the U.S. government has it secreted away in an underground bunker in the Nevada desert.

A sphere of annihilation is static, resting in some spot as if it were a normal hole. It can be caused to move, however, by mental effort. The brain waves of the individual concentrating on moving it bend spatial fabrics, causing the hole to slide. The range of this control is 40 feet initially, then 40 feet + 10 feet per character level once control is established. Control is based on the character’s Intelligence and level. (The higher his level, the greater his mental discipline.) The character adds his Intelligence bonus and character level and then applies the total to a 1d20 roll. To control the sphere, the DC is 30. The sphere’s speed is 10 feet per round + 1 foot for every point by which the control check result exceeds 30.

If two or more characters vie for control of a sphere of annihilation, the rolls are opposed. If none is successful, the sphere slips toward the one who rolled lowest.

Should a teleport incantation be cast upon a sphere of annihilation, there is a 50% chance (a 01–50 result on d%) that the spell destroys it, a 34% chance (51–85) that the spell does nothing, and a 15% chance (86–100) that a gap is torn in the spatial fabric, resulting in a tremendous explosion. Everything within a 60-foot radius takes 2d6x10 points of damage. Dispel magic has no effect on the sphere, although a greater dispel magic incantation has a chance of succeeding (treat the sphere as a spell effect created by a 20th-level spellcaster for this purpose).

Type: Artifact (magic);Caster Level: -;Purchase DC: 40;Weight: -

Staff of Sorcerous Might

A long wooden staff, shod in iron and inscribed with sigils and runes of all types, this potent artifact had been sitting in a display case in the British National Museum for decades. No one knows exactly what caused it to release a lightning bolt, shattering the case along with any illusions that it was just an ordinary decorative walking stick. Some people say it belonged to Merlin, Circe, or any one of a dozen other literary or historical sorcerers. Others say that it is just another magical piece of detritus that has come through Shadow in recent years. No one truly knows whether it is one of a kind, or if there are other staffs like it waiting to be found. In any case, it is one of the most powerful items that any spellcaster could possess.

The staff of sorcerous might gives the wielder spell resistance 23. It has several other spell powers, as well. Some the staff’s powers drain charges, while others don’t. A fully-charged staff of sorcerous might has 50 charges. The following powers do not drain charges:

• Detect magical aura
• Mage armor
• Hold portal
• Mage hand
• Light

The following powers drain 1 charge per usage:

• Dimension door
• Dispel magic
• Electromagnetic pulse (Will save DC 15)
• Fireball (10d6 points of damage, Reflex save DC 15)
• Ice storm
• Invisibility
• Knock
• Lightning bolt (10d6 points of damage, Reflex save DC 15)
• Summon vivilor IV

These powers drain 2 charges per usage:

• Cone of cold (10d6 points of cold damage, Reflex save DC 17)
• Passwall
• Telekinesis (400 pounds maximum additional weight)

A staff of sorcerous might has the following additional spell-like abilities:

• Absorb: As an readied action, the staff’s wielder can draw spells or spell-like abilities into the staff. The magic absorbed must be a single-target spell or a ray directed either at the character possessing the staff or her gear. The staff then nullifies the spell’s effect and stores its potential, converting spell levels into charges. The GM should keep a running total of the number of charges currently in the staff. If the staff absorbs spell levels beyond its charge limit (50), it explodes as if a retributive strike had been made (see below). Note that the wielder has no idea how many spell levels are cast at her—the staff does not communicate this knowledge.
  Absorbing spells is risky, but absorption is the only way this staff can be recharged.
• Retributive Strike: The staff of sorcerous might can be broken for a retributive strike. Such an act must be purposeful and declared by the wielder. All charges in the staff are released in a 30-foot spread. All within 10 feet of the broken staff take points of damage equal to 8 times the number of charges in the staff, those between 11 feet and 20 feet away take points equal to 6 times the number of charges, and those 21 feet to 30 feet distant take 4 times the number of charges.
  A successful Reflex save (DC 17) reduce damage by half. The character breaking the staff is destroyed in the explosion.
  Only the staff of sorcerous might is capable of a retributive strike—this is not an act that can be performed with any other staff, wand, or magic item.

Type: Artifact (magic);Caster Level: -;Purchase DC: 35;Weight: -

Talisman of Pure Good

A divine spellcaster with an allegiance to good who possesses this item can cause a flaming crack to open at the feet of a divine spellcaster with an allegiance to evil who is up to 100 feet away. The intended victim is swallowed up forever and sent hurtling to the center of the earth. The wielder of the talisman must have an allegiance to good, and if he is not exceptionally pure in thought and deed (GM’s discretion), the evil character gains a Reflex saving throw (DC 19) to leap away from the crack. Obviously, the target must be standing on solid ground for this item to function. (In the air, in a highrise building, or on a boat or airplane are all places of safety against this otherwise potent item.)

A talisman of pure good has 7 charges. If a divine spellcaster without an allegiance to good touches one of these medallions, he takes 6d6 points of damage. If a divine spellcaster with an allegiance to evil touches one, he takes 8d6 points of damage.

All other characters are unaffected by this item.

Type: Artifact (magic);Caster Level: -;Purchase DC: 35;Weight: -

Talisman of Ultimate Evil

A divine spellcaster with an allegiance to evil who possesses this item can cause a flaming crack to open at the feet of a divine spellcaster with an allegiance to good who is up to 100 feet away. The intended victim is swallowed up forever and sent hurtling to the center of the earth. The wielder of the talisman must have an allegiance to evil, and if he is not exceptionally foul and perverse (GM’s discretion), the good character gains a Reflex saving throw (DC 19) to leap away from the crack. Obviously, the target must be standing on solid ground for this item to function. (In the air, in a high-rise building, or on a boat or airplane are all places of safety against this otherwise potent item.)

A talisman of ultimate evil has 6 charges. If a divine spellcaster without an allegiance to evil touches one of these medallions, he takes 6d6 points of damage. If a divine spellcaster with an allegiance to good touches one, he takes 8d6 points of damage.

All other characters are unaffected by this item.

Type: Artifact (magic);Caster Level: -;Purchase DC: 35;Weight: -

Cyberpunk Technology

Cyberpunk is nothing without its technology. Here are some technological areas which can be considered cyberpunk:

Artificial Intelligence

A self aware mathematical construct, an Artificial Intelligence (or AI) is a truly intelligent computer program with its own thoughts and ideals. It may even possess emotional simulation but this is usually reserved for those AI's who have to integrate with humanity.

An AI is a heuristic program. It can learn from its experiences and thus may improve its skill levels or even learn new skills. It can access chip skills to enhance its abilities. Such chips must be accessible on the Matrix for this to happen. An AI can forget skills as a result of taking damage to its program volume.

AI's are regulated by the Turing Registry, also known as the "Turing Heat" by the decker community. This is an international concern with its headquarters on Gateway Station. It monitors AI's and ensures that they do not break the law. The Registry employs expert deckers to enforce the law within Cyberspace. They have access to the very latest hardware and software and normally act fast against wayward AI's and their human companions. Also, a good number of agents are employed for those tasks that cannot be performed in the Matrix.

Artificial Life

A-life uses both computing and biology to model the living world around us or to build new software with the adaptability and resilience of life itself.

The first ever manifestation of artificial life was John Horton Conway's Game of Life in which the life or death cells in a grid were controlled a few simple rules:

• if a cell has less than two neighbours or more than three it dies
• if a cell has two neighbours it survives
• if a cell has three neighbours it lives

May interesting patterns have been seen over the years but to model a single-celled creature with these rules would require a grid measuring an estimated one million by one million cells. Systems which use this grid and rule approach are called cellular automata. SimCity falls into this category although it uses far more complicated rules than the Game of Life.

Cellular automata can seem far removed from the real world but other are much closer to home. Neural networks promise better artificial intelligence by borrowing from the structure of the organic brain. An individual neurons act on signals from other neurons, either firing or not firing. Each neuron can either excite or inhibit other neurons. Stable patterns of activity appear in response to input given from outside the system. These patterns represent memories recorded as the connections between neurons. New memories may be laid down by changing the strengths of connections between neurons. New input patterns will be associated with similar input patterns the network has been taught in the past. This allows neural networks to generalise from past experience and cope with unique situations.

The theory of evolution has also provided a suitable crop of ideas. Imagine a computer which starts empty except for a single small program. The program, called the Ancestor, is 80 bytes long and can do one thing, make copies of itself. Soon the limited memory is full with Ancestors all producing more copies so, to free up space, the computer occasionally destroys older programs or those that cause errors. The operation of the computer is not perfect and sometimes copying goes wrong and a new program appears. This computer is not fiction, it is called Tierra. When it was first switched on the population grew and changed. The Ancestor program was soon ousted by a faster program with only 78 bytes. Later a program with 48 bytes appear which survived by parasiting the code of its neighbours. On a later occasion Tierra threw up an individual which could survive independently with an amazing 22 bytes. Built safely as a simulation inside another computer, there is fortunately no danger of an escape.

Computers

Despite all of its application of computer technology, Neuromancer offers no hope for the computer as a tool of salvation in society. When Wintermute succeeds in his expansion, he becomes the matrix, but this transformation causes no changes in society or even in Case's situation. "How are things different? You running the world now? You God?" Case asks the former Wintermute (270). "Things aren't different. Things are things," the computer replies (Ibid.). Computers have not saved the society. Instead, the philosophy of instant gratification, and the intermingling of human tissue with electronic circuitry, have ruined it. McCoy Pauley's greatest wish is to be erased, and his wish is fulfilled at the end of the book; the human machine is thus denied and despised. In Gibson's view, the computer will bring us a flood of information and satisfaction, but to such an extent that the human race will no longer be recognizable as humanity.

Cyberspace, or the Matrix

The Matrix

The matrix is a black void, in which lies a fluorescent green plane termed the Orientation Grid. This forms the basis of the coordinate system within the Matrix - grid references or "Intersects" are used to pinpoint systems or places.

Above, upon and beneath the Orientation Grid there stand structures known as DOS Towers. These tend to be smooth polyhedral blocks with little definition other than a company logo or name. DOS Towers huddle together in groups that roughly correspond to major cities and conurbations. As a result, the distribution of systems in the Matrix is uneven, with bright clusters of DOS Towers amongst the featureless plains of the Orientation Grid.

Famous landmarks in the matrix are the Beanstalk Tower, which appears to be a distortion of the Orientation Grid soaring to the distant star of the Gateway Matrix ; The L5 Orbital ; and the far away spirals of the military systems.

Inside A DOS Tower

The DOS Tower is the physical presence of a mainframe or group of mainframes in the Matrix. Also called Constructs, DOS Towers may take on any form. Usually they consist of a large but hollow structure containing many chambers or "Nodes" connected by corridors or "Channels".

Nodes

Nodes are effectively computers in their own right. They may be assigned to particular real world devices, for example the stutterwarp drive of a starship or the security system of a corporate building. Nodes should be considered to be vast, immobile cyberdecks.

Channels

Channels are merely the access routes between nodes. They do not possess any special features, but they may be concealed and / or closed.

Concealed channels are used to hide access paths to sensitive areas of a DOS Tower and to safeguard escape routes.

Ports

The DOS Tower is connected to the outside world using special nodes called "Ports". These ports are dedicated to the task of dealing with external communications and are normally the front line of defence against intrusion.

Cyborgs, Man/Machine Symbiosis

"Cyborg" is a science-fictional shorting of "cybernetic organism". The idea is that, in the near future, we may have more and more artificial body parts - arms, legs, hearts, eyes - and digital computing and communication supplements. The logical conclusion is that one might become a brain in a wholly artificial body. And the step after that is to replace your meat brain by a computer brain.

Internet

The world-wide network of interconnected computers.

The Internet is a world-wide network of interconnected computers. Internet is the present form of cyberspace, or the Matrix.

This is from book Escape Velocity - Cyberculture at the End of the Century by Mark Dery. Although little oldish, it describes well what's happened and tells briefly the history of the Net:

The Internet was born of ARPANet, a decentralized computer network developed at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1969 by the Department of Defence's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) to ensure military communications in the event of a nuclear attack. By using a technique called packet-switching to disassemble data into addressed parcels, blip them over high-speed lines, and reassemble them just before they reach their destination, ARPANet rendered itself invulnerable to conventional attack; if a portition of the network went down, traffic would automatically be rerouted. In 1983, ARPANet was divided into military and civilian networks (Milnet and Arpa Internet), respectively); shortly thereafter, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) took charge of the administration and maintenance of the lines and equipment that made up the Arpa Internet "backbone". Whereas the Defense Department restricted system access to institutions receiving Pentagon or NSF funding, the NFS made the network available to all faculty and students at member institutions. As universities, R and D companies, and government agencies connected their computers to the NFS's system, what had once been the Arpa Internet mutated into an anarchic global network of networks known, increasingly, as the Internet (from "internetworking").

By 1990, ARPANet had ceased to exist as a discrete entity; the kudzulike growth of the Internet, or Net, as netsurfers have come to call it, had engulfed it. The global metanetwork of today's Net embraces some ten thousand networks, among them nationwide commercial services such as CompuServe, Prodigy, GEnie, and America Online; the private, academic, and goverment institutions interwoven by NSFNET (the NFS's network); and esoteric regional BBSs (bulletin board systems) such as the Sausalito, California-based WELL (Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link) and New York's ECHO. Ming-bogglingly, the Internet is itself part of a still larger complex of interconnected networks commonly called the Matrix, which also includes UseNet (a buzzing hive of discussion groups called "newsgroups"), FidoNet (a constellation of more than twenty thousand BBSs, scattered over six continents), and BITNET (Because It's Time Network, an academic system), among others.

As this is written, an estimated thirty million Internet users in more than 137 countries traverse the electronic geography of what the science fiction novelist William Gibson has called "cyberspace" - an imaginary space that exists entirely inside a computer - and their ranks are growing by as many as a million a month. Based on the rate at which computer networks are building on-ramps onto the Internet, a 1993 estimate put its growth rate at a staggering 25 percent every three months - a delirious pace that shows no sign of abating.

The ephemeralization of labor and the evanescence of the commodity, in cyberculture, is paralleled by the disembodiment of the human. In growing numbers, we are spending ever greater amounts of our lives in cyberspace; like the sagely cyborg in Bruce Sterling's SF novel Schismatrix, we are convinced that "there's a whole world behind this screen". The electronically disembodied are zapping e-mail around the world, typing messages back and forth in real-time "chat", and flocking to BBS discussion topics and UseNet newsgroups. They're lurking and flaming and ROTFLOL (Rolling on the Floor Laughing Out Loud). They're swapping pornographic .GIFs (digitized photos) and swinging in anonymous "text sex" trysts. They're mousing around the Net's latest additions, the World Wide Web, a hyper-text based system that enables users around the globe to point and click from one multimedia site to another, bouncing from digitized video clips to snippets of sound to screenfuls of text without end.

Overwhelmingly, they're convinced that there is a "there" there, after all.

Nanotechnology

Technology by means of molecular manufacturing.

Nanotechnology is an anticipated manufacturing technology giving thorough, inexpensive control of the structure of matter. The term has sometimes been used to refer to any technique able to work at a submicron scale; Molecular nanotechnology means basically "A place for every atom and every atom in its place." (other terms, such as molecular engineering, molecular manufacturing, etc. are also often applied).

Molecular manufacturing will enable the construction of giga-ops computers smaller than a cubic micron; cell repair machines; personal manufacturing and recycling appliances; and much more.

Broadly speaking, the central thesis of nanotechnology is that almost any chemically stable structure that can be specified can in fact be built. This possibility was first advanced by Richard Feynman in 1959 [4] when he said: "The principles of physics, as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom." (Feynman won the 1965 Nobel prize in physics).

Neural Interface

Direct neural interface between human brain and computer.

A neural interface allows human brain communicate directly with a computer, without any other equipment. That kind of interface allows any illusions to be inputted to human nervous system. Thus you don't need any virtual glasses or data-gloves for accessing the cyberspace.

Robots

Machines doing things for us.

The word "robot" is derived from the Czech word robota meaning work. The idea of robots as humanoid machines was first introduced in Karel Capek's 1921 play "R.U.R.," where the playwright conceived Rossum's Universal Robots.

Sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov made robots famous, beginning with his story I, Robot (1950) and continuing through a string of books known as the Robot Series. Asimov presented the idea of "The Three Laws of Robotics", which are:

• A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
• A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
• A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Software

Cyberpunk's software.

General Purpose Sofware

Computer Virii

Software Bots

• Bots are software robots, used for data-mining or performing repetative tasks in the Net.

Console Cowboy's software

Eavesdrop

Once activated, Eavesdrop allows a decker to listen in on communications between other deckers and programs in the Matrix. The ability to listen, however, may not be enough - if the communication is scrambled then the decker must still decode it. Eavesdrop is typically used to extract access codes from programs as they enter a DOS Tower or pass through a channel.

Cloak

An advanced stealth program, Cloak hides the user from the rest of the matrix. Cloak makes detection attempts one task level more difficult. It runs until the cloaked decker disables it, attacks, is damaged, or jacks out.

Sledgehammer

This program doubles the decker's offence score for a single attack.

Slow Virus

A Slow Virus is the latest thing to reach the street. It is a special attack program which slowly merges with the defence score of a target without their knowledge.

Trace

Trace reports the real world location of a construct in the matrix, be it a decker, DOS Tower or even an AI.

Decoy

Decoy generates a dummy image of the decker to confuse attackers.

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality, or VR.

Virtual Reality (VR), also known as 'artificial reality', 'artificial worlds', 'virtual worlds', 'virtualities', is a fully-immersive, absorbing, interactive experience of an alternate reality through the use of a computer structure in which a person perceives a synthetic (i.e., simulated) environment by means of special human-computer interface equipment and interacts with simulated objects in that environment as if they were real. Several persons can see one another and interact in a shared synthetic environment.

VR can be considered as a visual form of cyberspace.

VR represents computer interface technology that is designed to leverage our natural human capabilities. Today's familiar interfaces - the keyboard, mouse, monitor, and GUI - force us to adapt to working within tight, unnatural, two-dimensional constraints. VR changes that. VR technologies let you interact with real-time 3D graphics in a more intuitive, natural manner. This approach enhances your ability to understand, analyze, create and communicate.

A VR system lets you experience data directly. For example, today's advanced interfaces let you look and move around inside a virtual model or environment, drive through it, lift items, hear things, feel things, and in other ways experience graphical objects and scenes much as you might experience objects and places in the physical world.

As a result, VR serves as a problem-solving tool that lets us accomplish what was previously impossible. It's also a communications medium, and, ultimately, an artistic tool/medium.

The concept of VR has become in many ways a repository for our culture's dreams of disembodiment, of escape from the limitations of the material body. VR may one day make possible the long list of physically impracticable dreams including: "experiencing an expansion of our physical and sensory powers; getting out of the body and seeing ourselves from the outside; adopting a new identity; apprehending immaterial objects... being able to modify the environment through either verbal commands or physical gestures; seeing creative thoughts instantly realized." While the actual technology has not yet been able to fulfill these desires, the dreamed of possibilities have clearly established a life of their own within our present cultural imagination.

We may not use the phrase "virtual reality" in ten years, but by then, everybody working with 3D graphics will do so with these intuitive interfaces.

Drugs

Pharmacist Kit A portable pharmacy for use with the Craft (pharmaceutical) skill, a pharmacist kit includes everything needed to prepare, preserve, compound, analyze, and dispense medicinal drugs. 

Antitox

A chemical found in many first aid kits, antitox is a special hypodermic injection that can be used to save the life of any character infected with a poison. Each antitox injector contains a specialized analyzer linked to chemical generators. When the needle penetrates the skin of the target, it samples the target’s blood and sends the data back to the analyzer, which determines the nature of the poison and generates an antidote from stored chemical compounds. Once the antitox delivers its specially formulated chemicals, the target character is completely cured of the poison and its effects in 1d6 rounds. PL: Purchase DC: Size: Base Price: Weight: Restriction:

Biocort

Biocort is a unique chemical compound that enhances the human body’s natural ability to heal. Biocort pushes the immune system into overdrive, and can cause the character to heal from grievous wounds at a greatly increased rate. Any character injected with biocort heals at twice the normal rate for a 24-hour period. PL: Purchase DC: Size: Base Price: Weight: Restriction:

Blackout

Potency: 7; Effects: Ability Enhancement: Strength (4), Euphoric (3); Duration: 1 hour; Side-Effects: Ability Damage: Wisdom, Addiction Tolerance, Memory Loss, Paranoia, Physiologically Addictive: DC 16; Method of Use: Intravenous; Craft DC: 20; Purchase DC: 13 (Restricted).

Blackout is an illegal combat drug that first found use in illegal blood sports. It is considered to be one of the first co-meds, probably a throw-back to military trials that failed in the early part of the twenty-first century. Because blackout is difficult to detect in users, it slowly made its way into sanctioned sports such as boxing and martial arts competitions. When a widely televised bout turned into a bloodbath, the drug was discovered to be the root cause. Blackout is a colorless liquid. It is often sold in single-use glass ampoules that are decorated with a featureless black label. PL: Purchase DC: Size: Base Price: Weight: Restriction:

Boost

Boost is a drug that is both beneficial and highly dangerous, boost functions as a temporary adrenaline-enhancer. Boost was originally conceived for military purposes in an attempt to make the soldiers of the Fusion Age stronger, faster, and more combat-capable. A single injection of boost grants the character a +4 bonus to Strength and a +2 bonus on Reflex saves, increases the character’s movement speed by 10 feet, and increases the character’s massive damage threshold by +4. These effects last for 1 minute (10 rounds).

Unfortunately, the side effects of boost almost outweigh the benefits. For one, the chemical is addictive and can alter the perceptions of a character so that she thinks she cannot live without a dose of the drug. Additionally, repeated use of boost has debilitating effects on the body’s immune and nervous systems.

Each time a character uses a dose of boost, she has a 10% chance of suffering a –2 penalty to her Dexterity and a –1 penalty on Fortitude saves. These penalties last for 24 hours.

If the character uses the drug again before recovering from these penalties, the penalties increase and the recovery time extends for an additional 24 hours. For example, if a character uses another dose of boost while still under the effect of the penalties, the character suffers a –4 penalty to Dexterity and –2 on Fortitude saves, and the recovery time increases to 48 hours.

Energize

Energize makes the subject's heart and lungs temporarily more efficient, increasing the subject's hit points by 2d4+2-even above the subject's normal total. These temporary hit points last for 15 minutes. PL: Purchase DC: Size: Base Price: Weight: Restriction:

Neutrad

A chemical found in many first aid kits, neutrad is a special hypodermic injection that can be used to neutralize the effects of radiation poisoning. Each neutrad injector contains a specialized analyzer linked to chemical generators. When the needle penetrates the skin of the target, it samples the target’s blood and sends the data back to the analyzer, which determines the nature of the radiation sickness and generates an antidote from stored chemical compounds. Once the neutrad delivers its specially formulated chemicals, the target character is completely cured of the radiation poisoning and its effects in 1d4 hours.

Equalize

Developed for the military, equalize stabilizes the subject's body heat to compensate partially for external temperatures, granting the subject a +2 circumstance bonus on Fortitude saves to resist hot or cold weather. A single dose lasts for 4 hours. PL: Purchase DC: Size: Base Price: Weight: Restriction:

Prolexa

Potency: 3; Effects: Mood Stabilizer (3); Duration: 12 hours; Side-Effects: Dizziness, Impaired Reaction Time, Psychologically Addictive; Method of Use: Caplet; Craft DC: 20; Purchase DC: 11 (Licensed). One of the many commercial drugs on the market, Prolexa is marketed as one of the most reliable mood stabilizers in common use. It is used by physicians to treat the symptoms of anxiety and stress, but it also sees use as a party drug due to the fact that it mellows people out and makes them less likely to worry about trivialities. Prolexa is distributed as a shiny green caplet.

Prolong

Another military development, prolong enables the subject to continue acting after reaching -1 hit points, as though the subject had the Remain Conscious talent (see page25of the d20 MODERN Roleplaying Game). Prolong's effects last for 30 minutes. It must be administered before the subject reaches-1 hit points. PL: Purchase DC: Size: Base Price: Weight: Restriction:

Refresh

Refresh began as a military experiment, but quickly became a popular pharmaceutical for athletes. Refresh removes the exhausted condition from the subject, rendering him merely fatigued. A dose lasts for 1hour; when it wears off, the subject is exhausted for 4 hours (during which time an additional dose of refresh is ineffective).

Regen-Rx

Potency: 4 Effects: Antibiotic (1), Regenerative (3) Duration: 24 hours Side-Effects: Ability Damage (Str), Dizziness, Drowsiness Method of Use: Ingested Liquid Craft DC: 35 Regen-Rx is a drug designed by the military to aid in battlefield surgery and wound recovery. It sees occasional use in expensive health centers, but rarely filters down to common hospitals or low-cost clinics due to its high price tag. The drug is supplied in single-dose container filled with an amber liquid with a bitter aftertaste. PL: Purchase DC: 26 Size: Base Price: Weight: Restriction: Licensed

Rejuve

Rejuve enables the subject to recover twice as fast as normal, as though she had the Stamina talent (see page 25 of the d20 MODERN Roleplaying Game.) PL: Purchase DC: Size: Base Price: Weight: Restriction:

Revivall

Revivall restores an unconscious subject to 1hit point. It is often used in conjunction with prolong (see above), though it is advisable only for the purpose of stabilizing a subject and making him ambulatory.

Sporekill

A chemical found in many first aid kits, sporekill is a special hypodermic injection that can be used to neutralize the effects of most diseases. Each sporekill injector contains a specialized analyzer linked to chemical generators. When the needle penetrates the skin of the target, it samples the target’s blood and sends the data back to the analyzer, which determines the nature of the disease and generates an antidote from stored chemical compounds. Once the sporekill delivers its specially formulated chemicals, the target character is completely cured of the disease and its effects in 1d10 hours. Some genetically engineered diseases are created to circumvent sporekill chemical, and are unaffected by this piece of gear.

Withstand

Withstand is a potent pharmaceutical that toughens the subject's flesh and bones, converting any damage the subject takes to nonlethal damage. Withstand's effects are temporary, though, lasting only 1 minute. At the end of that period, the subject takes 1 point of Constitution damage and all would be lethal damage as lethal damage due to the stress on his system.

“Modern Chemistry” uses the rules provided in “The Little Black Drug Book” published by Louis Porter, Jr. Design, Inc. to present a variety of fictional drugs for use in a D20 Modern campaign. By no means does this product seek to  trivialize or make light of the seriousness of drug addiction. But, most GMs should find “Modern Chemistry” useful for  introducing both the positive and negative game effects drugs can have on Modern heroes and supporting characters alike.

Bleeder

Few drugs inspire fear quite like Bleeder, a powerful anti-coagulant sometimes incorporated into chemical filled ammunition to increase the blood loss of inflicted wounds. The drug also includes a necrotoxin to induce internal bleeding as a side-effect, causing even worse blood loss over a prolonged period of time to anyone surviving an initial conflict. Originally, government researchers created Bleeder for special military use as an adaptation of anti-coagulant breakthroughs in the commercial drug industry. Over time, however, the drug also found its way to the streets and now anyone with enough money can acquire Bleeder as a potent chemical weapon.

Double-Tap

Double-Tap earned its nickname because it actually includes two drugs in one package. The primary dose serves as a major pain reducer and stimulant to provide a temporary boost to the user’s strength and endurance. This also increases aggressive behavior in the user, but Double-Tap employs a delayed second dose of depressant to offset such side-effects. The military first developed Double-Tap in only its stimulant form to enhance a soldier’s performance in the field. But problems with aggression and psychological disorders in habitual users, led their researchers to add the  depressant to make subjects more manageable. Earlier forms of Double-Tap still exist, however, and some drug dealers find it easier to manufacture than the current variety.

Enerject

Enerject burst onto the sports scene as a difficult-to-detect steroid-stimulant designed to boost STR and DEX, but the side effects include both psychological addiction and an array of physical problems. The latter include impotence, frequent urination, and powerful headaches. In addition, true addicts of Enerject who suffer withdrawal, experience rapid weight loss and severely reduced Constitution.

Glimmer

This drug gives a boost of energy, confidence, and endurance while also allowing its users to make a fashion statement. Entire underground subcultures have evolved where Glimmer addicts attach the drug’s multicolored tabs to their bodies in a variety of patterns. These works of art sometimes designate gang colors or simply highlight tattoos, but always represent each user’s own unique creativity, style, and mood.

Hells Doorstep

Also known as HD or Heavy-D, Hell’s Doorstep gives its user a sinful euphoria of an extended duration and temporarily increases physical strength and stamina. But, to reach this state, a user has to eventually “pay the Devil his due” with severe side-effects. These include punishing pain and suicidal depression. Hell’s Doorstep is highly addictive and any attempts to ignore its siren call after a few uses, results in withdrawal symptoms described as “living hell,” including an increased chance of outright death.

Jammer

Jammer acts as a depressant to shut down the outside world and reduce sensory input. This allows users of Jammer to  maintain calm and ignore pain even in moments of the highest possible stress to the body. As the drug’s strength wanes, however, it  temporarily diminishes the user’s eyesight and hearing, leading many to refer to such addicts as street-zombies or deadheads. Repeated use of Jammer also causes psychological addiction with withdrawal symptoms taking a harsh toll on both the mind’s ability to focus and the body’s physical condition.

Juvenescence

Also referred to as Essence or Saint Juve, this drug is a powerful sleeping agent and pain reducer designed to speed the natural healing process, even countering some poisons. It causes swift drowsiness, and any user who attempts to stay awake still suffers reduced awareness and dizziness. Hospital researchers originally created Juvenescence to aid recovering trauma victims and surgical patients. The drug’s use has now extended to law enforcement and some paramilitary organizations for quite some time.

Kill-Zone

Also known as KZ or Krazy, this hallucinogenic nerve-gas first developed within the military as a chemical weapon, but swiftly found its way into the hands of criminal organizations, street gangs, and even some drug-users. It primarily saw use as a weapon of terror, causing opponents to turn on one another in the battlefield. Eventually, police units discovered they could break stalemates more effectively by pumping Kill-Zone into the confined spaces held by entrenched gangs. This allowed law enforcers to assure such killers eliminated one another rather than risk their own lives in an assault. Of course, any hostages left inside suffered a similar fate, leading the courts to establish protocols for its use. Black markets quickly developed for Kill-Zone, however, and its buyers rarely exercise such restraints.

In its drug-form, Kill-Zone provides mostly non-addictive, pleasant hallucinations for the first two hours, but these illusions quickly turn deadly, encouraging irrational behavior, aggressive rage, and even lingering nightmares in its victims. As a result, most drug-users only inhale Kill-Zone while locked away in a safe location, to minimize any danger they might pose to others. In this fashion, they enjoy the drug’s high and then ride out any nightmares that follow. Unfortunately, stronger addicts of Kill-Zone sometimes forget to exercise these precautions. And some who use the drug still do so as a weapon of terror to inflict upon others instead.

Matchmaker-Heartbreaker

This aphrodisiac comes in distinct varieties called Poz and Neg, serving as two parts of a single drug. Individually, Poz and Neg have no immediate effect other than an increased libido. When combined, however, they create a powerful euphoria. Matchmaker typically comes in tab-form as concentrated liquid versions of Poz and Neg which are then dried upon tiny strips meant to be taken orally. After applying the tabs to the tongue, users may then kiss and mix the drug to produce the euphoric effects. Most Matchmaker strips also include a fruit flavoring to enhance the taste experience.

Attempts to mix two Poz or Neg strips together – or prolonged exposure to just one of the strips without eventually introducing its mate – may lead to an increased chance for cardiac arrest. This side-effect has given the drug its other nickname, Heartbreaker. In addition, even properly mixed Matchmaker produces a short-term heightened sensitivity in the skin, causing the body’s pain receptors to fire much more strongly than usual. Of course, for some, this effect has a mixed benefit for partners into pain.

Midnight Oil

Also known as Jolt, Midnight Oil acts as a long-lasting stimulant to boost the user’s intelligence and ability to focus. The drug most often sees use by students for late-night studying, but can lead to bouts of insomnia once it runs its course. In addition, a subject’s body typically builds up a resistance to the drug with higher doses required to gain its effects.

Spiral

Spiral comes in a popular street form as a powdery rock-like substance used to lace cigarettes or other smoking products. It calms and enhances the willpower of the subject for short periods of time, but generally slows down reaction speed. Unfortunately, experimentation with the drug also leads to minor depression for a few hours afterward.

Twirl

Partygoers and the club-set enjoy this euphoric stimulant more than any other. For Twirl produces a desire for near-constant motion which activates the drug’s mood altering effect and kicks it into high gear. Twirl often comes in a liquid form similar in taste to a variety of wines, but some backstreet drug labs have also formed it into red licorice sticks or other forms of candy. Aside from the grand sense of energy and happiness Twirl provides, the drug also enhances the user’s balance and coordination, proving useful on the dance floor as well as back alleyways. Some prizefighters and athletes also take the drug for these same benefits, even though it lasts for only an hour at a time.

It often proves easy to spot Twirl users, not only because of their hyperactivity, but also the drug’s unique side-effects. As the chemical runs its course and begins to wind down, Twirl spikes the subject’s central nervous system, causing frequent uncontrollable twitches for the next several hours. These involuntary movements and facial ticks last only as long as the next hit of Twirl, but addicts have to be careful since overdosing on the drug can lead to catastrophic heart failure.

Chemical, Antitox

A chemical found in many first aid kits, antitox is a special hypodermic injection that can be used to save the life of any character infected with a poison. Each antitox injector contains a specialized analyzer linked to chemical generators. When the needle penetrates the skin of the target, it samples the target's blood and sends the data back to the analyzer, which determines the nature of the poison and generates an antidote from stored chemical compounds. Once the antitox delivers its specially formulated chemicals, the target character is completely cured of the poison and its effects in 1d6 rounds.

Chemical, Boost

A drug that is both beneficial and highly dangerous, boost functions as a temporary adrenaline-enhancer. Boost was originally conceived for military purposes in an attempt to make the soldiers of the Fusion Age stronger, faster, and more combat-capable. A single injection of boost grants the character a +4 bonus to Strength and a +2 bonus on Reflex saves, increases the character's movement speed by 10 feet, and increases the character's massive damage threshold by +4. These effects last for 1 minute (10 rounds).

Unfortunately, the side effects of boost almost outweigh the benefits. For one, the chemical is addictive and can alter the perceptions of a character so that she thinks she cannot live without a dose of the drug. Additionally, repeated use of boost has debilitating effects on the body's immune and nervous systems.

Each time a character uses a dose of boost, she has a 10% chance of suffering a +2 penalty to her Dexterity and a +1 penalty on Fortitude saves. These penalties last for 24 hours.

If the character uses the drug again before recovering from these penalties, the penalties increase and the recovery time extends for an additional 24 hours. For example, if a character uses another dose of boost while still under the effect of the penalties, the character suffers a +4 penalty to Dexterity and +2 on Fortitude saves, and the recovery time increases to 48 hours.

Chemical, Neutrad

A chemical found in many first aid kits, neutrad is a special hypodermic injection that can be used to neutralize the effects of radiation poisoning. Each neutrad injector contains a specialized analyzer linked to chemical generators. When the needle penetrates the skin of the target, it samples the target's blood and sends the data back to the analyzer, which determines the nature of the radiation sickness and generates an antidote from stored chemical compounds. Once the neutrad delivers its specially formulated chemicals, the target character is completely cured of the radiation poisoning and its effects in 1d4 hours.

Chemical, Solvaway

Solvaway is a special spray-on chemical designed to break through the restricting compound fired by tangler guns and tangler grenades. A single application of solvaway completely dissolves any hardened compound and frees the character as though the compound had dissolved on its own.

Chemical, Sporekill

A chemical found in many first aid kits, sporekill is a special hypodermic injection that can be used to neutralize the effects of most diseases. Each sporekill injector contains a specialized analyzer linked to chemical generators. When the needle penetrates the skin of the target, it samples the target's blood and sends the data back to the analyzer, which determines the nature of the disease and generates an antidote from stored chemical compounds. Once the sporekill delivers its specially formulated chemicals, the target character is completely cured of the disease and its effects in 1d10 hours. Some genetically engineered diseases are created to circumvent sporekill chemical, and are unaffected by this piece of gear.

Medkit, Advanced

The advanced medkit functions as a combined first aid kit, medical kit, and surgery kit. It also grants its user a +2 equipment bonus on all Treat Injury checks.

Medkit, Fast-Use

The fast-use medkit functions as both a first aid kit and a medical kit. In addition, specialized computers and sensors prepare exactly what is needed to restore a character's hit points, treat a disease, stabilize a dying character, or revive a dazed, stunned, or unconscious character. A character may use the Treat Injury skill with the fast-use medkit as a move action.

The fast-use medkit cannot be used as a surgery kit.

NECROGRAFTS

Necrografts are augmentations utilizing undead organs and necromantic rituals rather than technology. Most worlds outlaw the creation and installation of necrografts (though not their possession), but they can still be found in some less reputable back-alley augmentation clinics on multiple worlds throughout the system and beyond.

SimStim is a concept first created in the VR novel Neuromancer, penned in 1984 by William Gibson.

Cowboys didn't get into simstim, he thought, because it was basically a meat toy. He knew that the trodes he used and the little plastic tiara dangling from a simstim deck were basically the same, and that the cyberspace matrix was basically a drastic simplification of the human sensorium, at least in terms of presentation, but the simstim itself struck him as a gratuitous multiplication of flesh input. The commercial stuff was edited, of course, so that if Tally Isham got a headache in the course of a segment, you didn't feel it.

Then he keyed the new switch.

The abrupt jolt into other flesh. Matrix gone, a wave of sound and colour…She was moving through a crowded street, past stalls vending discount software, prices felt penned on sheets of plastic, fragments of music from countless speakers. Smells of urine, free monomers, perfume, patties of frying krill. For a few frightened seconds he fought helplessly to control her body. Then he willed himself into passivity, became the passenger behind her eyes.

SimStim is literally Simulated Stimulation, and is a logical parallel to VR. Rather than experiencing a full VR or AR experience in which your mind is placed inside a metaverse matrix, a completely simulated reality; or the joys of physical reality -meatspace- with additional VR components grafted on, SimStim opens up a third possibility.

Viewing the world through another person's eyes, hearing with their ears, feeling with their skin, smelling with their nose. Full sensory stimulation of another person, total passivity.

It is a fascinating concept, and one which retains the passive entertainment drive of TV, within a VR capable world.

You would still 'watch' a TV program, but experience it through the senses of one of the main characters. Of course, a large degree of VR editing of the TV broadcast would be necessary for dramas, and soap operas, but for events such as sports, feeling the adrenaline rush of one of the players, or the despair of defeat the losing player(s) feel themselves at the moment of loss, would be immensely powerful.

The film Strange Days, is dedicated to the concerpt of SimStim. Time and again through the film, you see models of a helmet-like interlaced affair, almost like a hair net, but rigid, which fits snugly over the cranium, from the top of the forehead to the back of the neck.

Small enough to fit under a wig or hat, the device is connected by a thin wire to a computer pack elsewhere on the body. It is designed specifically to record and playback brain impulses. It records the electrochemical composition of many key areas of the brain carefully, to the point that all sensory input is recorded and preserved, along with emotional responses, activation of the pleasure centre, and more. All continuing in one long recording, for the duration the active recordiong array is being worn.

The resulting file can be played back through a different array, this one designed not to record, but to superimpose, and create electrical patterns just like those on the recording, in the recipient's brain. Their nerve pathways fire the same as the original did, their sensory pathways, standard, hardwired in the brain fire, giving them the smells, the tastes, sounds, sights and touches of the originator. Basal emotions from the most primitive to the complex form as they feel just how the recording person felt. They see what the recorder saw, feel what the recorder felt, for the duration of the recording.

Many examples throughout the film show how good this technology could be - at one point a wheelchair-bound both-legs amputee man is given a birthday present of a recording of someone running along a beach, looking at their feet as the waves lap across them. Via this technology, every sight, smell and feeling is bypassed from the senses and played directly into their brain. What a wonderful gift it would truly be.

On the flip side, all media covering SimStim does explore the darker aspects of the technology. You could never guarantee completely, a conversation with one individual is just between you and them. If the individual has prosthetic enhancements in their brain, one of them could be a SimStim connector.

Strange Days covered the potential ability to fry the neurons in the brain from a blast of over stimulation from a carefully prepared fake recording. Such a blast could realistically fry the synapses, taking out the higher functions, leaving a subject a mindless vegetable, but not legally dead.

This technology is made all the more real by recent developments in neuroscience that point to what the device offers, actually being possible, if not quite with us yet. Crude versions of the Strange Days recording array already exist, and, as the ability to manipulate electrochemical fields emerges and fine tunes in resolution, it is not far fetched to see playback arrays in the not so distant future.

It is only a snall step from the film Strange Days, with it's purely prerecorded tapes, to the book Neuromancer, with recorder streaming signals over the internet, to the reciever, experiencing as they experience, in real-time.

With the technology being theoretically possible, the issues addressed with it throughout cyberpunk fiction, and quite likely, eventually our reality, are potent, and certainly worthy of serious thought.

What Are Synthetics?

Synthetics are a group of potent manmade substances that are designed to give users particular kinds of “highs.” Known by street names such as “Meow Meow,” “Flakka,” and “Arctic Blast,” they are addictive, dangerous drugs, generally made in unregulated foreign factories. The U.S. government bans the sale of many specific synthetic drugs. However, to evade the law, makers regularly alter the drugs’ complex formulations. The results are untested mixtures of chemicals that interact in users’ brains in highly unpredictable and sometimes deadly ways. Users have no way of knowing what is in a dose and what its effects will be.

In 2011, the most recent year for which figures are available, synthetics, which used to be called “designer drugs,” were a factor in more than 23,000 emergency room visits. The drugs are also the cause of increasing numbers of fatalities.

Common Synthetics and Their Effects

Bath salts salts are synthetic cathinones—powerful, addictive stimulants with perception-altering qualities that are manmade derivatives of the African “khat” plant. Bath salts, which have nothing to do with bathing products, take the form of white or brown clumpy crystalline powder, sometimes packaged and labeled “not for human consumption.” The drugs are snorted, swallowed, smoked, or injected to create energized hallucinatory feelings. Bath salts can cause extreme agitation, panic attacks, paranoia, psychotic and violent behavior, heart problems, extreme thirst, headaches, hyperthermia (a seriously elevated body temperature), tissue breakdown, kidney failure, and death.

Flakka (gravel) is also a synthetic cathinone, more powerful than bath salts. Flakka, which comes as a white or pink foul-smelling crystal, is eaten, snorted, injected, or vaporized in an e-cigarette. The drug can cause hyperstimulation, vivid hallucinations, and episodes of mania and rage that can trigger violence or self-harm. Flakka can also cause muscle cramps or spasms, heart problems including heart attacks, and death.

MDMA (ecstasy, Molly) is a psychoactive drug with amphetamine-like and hallucinogenic properties. Although MDMA is usually not classified with “synthetics,” an analysis by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency found that 87 percent of drugs sold as MDMA were actually bath salts or contaminated with bath salts.

R241-NBOMe (N-bomb) is a newer synthetic drug, a phenethylamine—a class of chemicals that includes many with psychoactive and stimulant effects. N-bomb comes in microdoses (drops of the drug dried on absorbent “blotter” paper), as a powder (loose or within capsules), and as a liquid. It is sometimes passed off as “natural” LSD, which it is not. NBOMEs’ effects are similar to those of bath salts and flakka and include delirium, hallucinations, agitation, violence, seizures, rapid or irregular heartbeat, fatally high blood pressure, hyperthermia, cardiac arrest, and death.

Synthetic Marijuana (Spice, K2, spike) is a mixture of dried plant materials that have been sprayed with addictive synthetic chemical additives; Spice contains no marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, and spice is not a “natural” product.

Certainly! Here are some cyberpunk-themed classes inspired by the d20 Modern system:

1. Street Samurai (Based on Soldier/Strong Hero):

• Description: Street samurais are highly trained mercenaries skilled in combat, cybernetic enhancements, and streetwise survival. They are cyberpunk's ultimate warriors, blending combat prowess with cybernetic augmentations.
• Abilities: Focus on firearms, melee weapons, and cyberware enhancements. Specializations include Cyber-Swordsmen, Gun Slingers, and Bio-Enhanced Brawlers.

2. Cyber Infiltrator (Based on Techie/Smart Hero):

• Description: These tech-savvy individuals are masters of cyberspace, capable of hacking into secure networks, controlling drones, and manipulating electronic systems with ease.
• Abilities: Proficiency with hacking tools, cyberdeck management, drone control, and expertise in electronic sabotage. Specializations include Netrunners, Drone Jockeys, and Techno-Saboteurs.

3. Corporate Operative (Based on Face/Charismatic Hero):

• Description: Corporate operatives excel in manipulation, persuasion, and subterfuge. They are often employed by powerful megacorps to navigate the intricate web of corporate politics.
• Abilities: Exceptional charisma, negotiation skills, and the ability to blend into corporate environments. Specializations include Corporate Infiltrators, Social Engineers, and Manipulative Spies.

4. Rogue Nomad (Based on Fast Hero):

• Description: Rogue nomads are agile and resourceful individuals who survive in the urban wilderness of cyberpunk settings. They excel at parkour, evasion, and scavenging.
• Abilities: Enhanced agility, proficiency with ranged and thrown weapons, urban survival skills, and acrobatics. Specializations include Urban Scavengers, Parkour Masters, and Night Stalkers.

5. Biohacker (Based on Healer/Wise Hero):

• Description: Biohackers are experts in biotechnology and genetic manipulation. They can heal, enhance, or even alter the biology of themselves and others.
• Abilities: Proficiency in biotech devices, genetic engineering, and medical expertise. Specializations include Genetic Medics, Bio Modifiers, and Bio-Enhancement Gurus.

6. Cybermancer (Based on Adept/Psionic Hero):

• Description: Cybermancers possess psychic abilities that interface with technology. They can control machines, manipulate electronic systems, and even harness the power of the digital realm.
• Abilities: Psionic powers focused on electronic manipulation, machine control, and digital warfare. Specializations include Techno-Telepaths, Codebreakers, and Digital Warlocks.

7. Bounty Hunter (Based on Tough Hero):

• Description: Bounty hunters are rugged individuals skilled in tracking, capturing, and taking down high-value targets in the chaotic cyberpunk world.
• Abilities: Proficiency with heavy weapons, tracking skills, physical toughness, and the ability to bring in targets alive or dead. Specializations include Cybertrackers, Mercenary Enforcers, and Fugitive Retrievers.

These cyberpunk classes should add a thematic twist to your d20 Modern game set in a dystopian, high-tech future. Players can choose classes that align with their preferred playstyle in a cyberpunk setting.

Multiclass Characters

A character may add new classes as he or she progresses in level, thus becoming a multiclass character. The class abilities from a character’s different classes combine to determine a multiclass character’s overall abilities. Multiclassing improves a character’s versatility at the expense of focus.

Class And Level Features

As a general rule, the abilities of a multiclass character are the sum of the abilities of each of the character’s classes.

Level

"Character level" is a character’s total number of levels. It is used to determine when feats and ability score boosts are gained.

"Class level" is a character’s level in a particular class. For a character whose levels are all in the same class, character level and class level are the same.

Hit Points

A character gains hit points from each class as his or her class level increases, adding the new hit points to the previous total.

Base Attack Bonus

Add the base attack bonuses acquired for each class to get the character’s base attack bonus. A resulting value of +6 or higher provides the character with multiple attacks.

Saving Throws

Add the base save bonuses for each class together.

Skills

If a skill is a class skill for any of a multiclass character’s classes, then character level determines a skill’s maximum rank. (The maximum rank for a class skill is 3 + character level.)

If a skill is not a class skill for any of a multiclass character’s classes, the maximum rank for that skill is one-half the maximum for a class skill.

Class Features

A multiclass character gets all the class features of all his or her classes but must also suffer the consequences of the special restrictions of all his or her classes. (Exception: A character who acquires the barbarian class does not become illiterate.)

In the special case of turning undead, both clerics and experienced paladins have the same ability. If the character’s paladin level is 4th or higher, her effective turning level is her cleric level plus her paladin level minus 3.

In the special case of uncanny dodge, both experienced barbarians and experienced rogues have the same ability. When a barbarian/rogue would gain uncanny dodge a second time (for her second class), she instead gains improved uncanny dodge, if she does not already have it. Her barbarian and rogue levels stack to determine the rogue level an attacker needs to flank her.

In the special case of obtaining a familiar, both wizards and sorcerers have the same ability. A sorcerer/wizard stacks his sorcerer and wizard levels to determine the familiar’s natural armor, Intelligence score, and special abilities.

Feats

A multiclass character gains feats based on character levels, regardless of individual class level

Ability Increases

A multiclass character gains ability score increases based on character level, regardless of individual class level.

Spells

The character gains spells from all of his or her spellcasting classes and keeps a separate spell list for each class. If a spell’s effect is based on the class level of the caster, the player must keep track of which class’s spell list the character is casting the spell from.

The biohacker uses complex catalysts and fringe medical knowledge to augment her allies and inhibit her foes, often using injection weapons.

You’re fascinated by science in all its many facets. You understand that the fundamentals of biology, chemistry, physics, and other disciplines can help you exploit your enemies’ weaknesses and bolster your allies. You might be studious and methodical about your research, pushing your mind to the limit in search of discovery, or you might be a daring experimenter, improvising concoctions and stumbling upon grand revelations. Either way, you use your knowledge of several fields of scientific study to aid your allies, whether in the thick of battle or in crafting a perfect plan.

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The Bodyguard makes security their specialty. They knows how to keep someone safe and how to provide personal protection to the utmost degree. The Bodyguard can be more than a security specialist, however. They might be part private detective, part hired muscle. They might serve as a driver or other personal aide, in addition to being ready at all times to offer protection to the client they watch out for.

The Bodyguard has the ability to avoid trouble, and when trouble can’t be avoided, they can protect a client through a variety of other means.

Select this advanced class if you want your character to excel at security and safekeeping, both from a tactical perspective and through the use of whatever level of force is required.

Few players wind up as corporate drones, and those that do often use their rank and status in their company for nefarious purposes. Drones do a company's bidding, usually without question, but aren't necessarily above taking a little back for themselves.

Cyber Shamanism

Looking at things in one way, the circumstances that one finds themselves in are no barrier or help towards self realization. However there is no doubt in my mind that technology and a carefully designed environment can aid inner exploration and self development.

There are basically two sides to the coin. One side says transcend don't rely on external factors. The other side says optimize all possible variables in the environment towards the desired goal.

These 2 sides are not in conflict. The wise inner worker develops a deep conviction that seemingly unfavorable conditions are no bar to inner development/awakening. At the same time they gain a knowledge of how to best optimize their environment and do so when they can.

For whatever reasons, many people in this age find it difficult to visualize, attain deep levels of meditation and stay focused on a particular part of their nature long enough to effect change.

Vampire (Template)

Vampires speak, read, and write the languages they knew in life.

Template Traits

'Vampire' is an acquired template that can be added to any humanoid, or monstrous humanoid (referred to hereafter as the base creature). The creature's type changes to undead. It uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +2.

Undead: Vampires have the traits and immunities common to undead.

Hit Dice: Change to d12. Vampires have no Constitution score.

Speed: Same as the base creature. If the base creature has a swim speed, the vampire retains the ability to swim and is not vulnerable to immersion in running water (see below).

Defense: The base creature's natural armor improves by +6.

Attacks: A vampire retains all the attacks of the base creature and gains a slam attack if it didn't already have one. The vampire's slam attack deals damage according to its size: Fine 1, Diminutive 1d2, Tiny 1d3, Small 1d4, Medium-size 1d6, Large 1d8, Huge 2d6, Gargantuan 2d8, Colossal 4d6.

Special Qualities: A vampire retains all the special qualities of the base creature and gains the additional special qualities described below.

Blood Drain (Ex): A vampire can suck blood from a living victim with its fangs by making a successful grapple check. If it pins the foe, it drains blood, dealing 1d4 points of temporary Constitution damage each round the pin is maintained.

Create Spawn (Su): A humanoid or monstrous humanoid slain by a vampire's energy drain attack rises as a vampire loyal to its creator (called the master vampire, or simply 'master'). The new vampire gains three allegiances (in any order): chaos, evil, and master. All previous allegiances are lost permanently. A vampire loses its allegiance to its master (and may adopt a new allegiance to replace it) only when the master vampire is destroyed.

Domination (Su): As an attack action, a vampire can crush an opponent's will just by gazing into his or her eyes. The vampire can attempt to dominate only one target at a time, and the target must be within 30 feet and able to see the vampire. A target that fails a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 vampire's Hit Dice + vampire's Charisma modifier) becomes the vampire's thrall for 1 day per Hit Die of the vampire. The thrall temporarily loses all previous allegiances and adopts a singular, unswerving allegiance to the vampire. If the vampire commands its thrall to do something blatantly self-destructive, the target can make a Will save to break the vampire's control. If the save succeeds, the target becomes free-willed and regains its previous allegiances.

Energy Drain (Su): A living creature hit by a vampire's slam attack gains two negative levels. See energy drain. A creature killed by a vampire's energy drain attack rises as a vampire under its creator's control (see Create Spawn, above).

Alternate Form (Su): A vampire can assume the form of a bat, rat, or wolf as a move action. The vampire can remain in that form until it assumes another form or until the next sunrise.

Children of the Night (Su): Vampires command the lesser creatures of the world and, once per day, can call forth a pack of 4d8 rats, a swarm of 10d10 bats, or a pack of 3d6 wolves as a full-round action. These creatures arrive in 2d6 rounds and serve the vampire for up to 1 hour.

Damage Reduction 15/+1 (Su): In campaigns without magic weapons, the GM can disregard the vampire's damage reduction, change it to 15/silver or 15/wood, or apply the damage reduction only to certain types of weapons (ballistic, bludgeoning, piercing, slashing, or sonic/concussion).

Fast Healing 5 (Ex): A vampire heals 5 points of damage each round so long as it has at least 1 hit point. If reduced to 0 hit points or lower, a vampire automatically assumes gaseous form (see below) and attempts to escape. It must reach its coffin home within 2 hours or be destroyed. (It can travel up to nine miles in 2 hours.) Once at rest in its coffin, its hit points rise to 1 hit point after 1 hour; the vampire then resumes healing at the rate of 5 hit points per round.

Gaseous Form (Su): As a move action, the vampire (and all its gear) becomes insubstantial, misty, and translucent. The vampire gains damage reduction 20/+1 in this form. Its armor (including natural armor) ceases to modify its Defense, though other modifiers (such as from Dexterity and size) still apply. The vampire cannot attack or use supernatural abilities while in gaseous form.

A vampire in this form can remain gaseous indefinitely and has a fly speed of 20 feet with perfect maneuverability. It can pass through small holes or narrow openings, even mere cracks. Its gaseous form is subject to wind and cannot enter water or other liquid.

Cold Resistance 20 (Ex): A vampire ignores the first 20 points of cold damage from any cold-based attack.

Electricity Resistance 20 (Ex): A vampire ignores the first 20 points of electricity damage from any electricity-based attack.

Spider Climb (Ex): A vampire can climb sheer surfaces as though with a spider climb spell.

Turn Resistance (Ex): A vampire has +4 turn resistance .

Darkvision (Ex): Vampires have darkvision with a range of 60 feet.

Weaknesses (Ex): A vampire has several weaknesses, described below. A vampire can have fewer weaknesses, but each lost weakness costs a vampire one of its other special qualities. For example, a vampire that is immune to the effects of garlic might be unable to summon children of the night.

Direct Sunlight: The merest sliver of sunlight deals 2d6 points of damage to a vampire. A vampire exposed to direct sunlight for 1 full round must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 20) or be consumed by fire and destroyed utterly.

Garlic: A vampire cannot enter or pass through any 5-foot square containing garlic. A vampire takes a '2 penalty on melee attack rolls against a target wearing garlic.

Holy Symbol: A vampire takes a '2 penalty on melee attack rolls against a creature prominently wearing or brandishing a holy symbol. The symbol's touch deals 1d4 points of holy damage to a vampire, and a vampire reduced to 0 hit points in this fashion is destroyed utterly. This holy damage can be healed only by inflict spells.

Inviolate Sanctuary: A vampire cannot enter a privately owned residence unless invited in by the rightful owner or tenant.

Mirror: A vampire in view of a mirror cannot use its domination special quality (see above).

Running Water: A vampire cannot cross running water (but may be carried across). A vampire immersed in running water loses one-third of its remaining hit points each round until it is destroyed at the end of the third round.

Wooden Stake: Wooden weapons that deal piercing damage (such as wooden stakes, arrows, pool cues, spear shafts, and table legs) threaten a critical hit against a vampire on a natural 20 (unless noted otherwise), even though vampires are normally immune to critical hits. A successful critical hit destroys a vampire instantly, turning it to dust.

Allegiances: Previous allegiances are lost, replaced by allegiances to chaos, evil, and master (or simply chaos and evil if the master vampire has been destroyed). Changed allegiances might cause the loss of particular class abilities.

Ability Scores: Vampires gain the following ability score increases: Str +6, Dex +4, Int +2, Wis +2, Cha +4. As undead creatures, vampires have no Constitution score.

Skills: Same as the base creature (human vampires retain the extra skill points afforded to all humans). Vampires receive a +8 species bonus on Bluff, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, and Spot checks.

Feats: Vampires gain the bonus feats Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Initiative, and Lightning Reflexes, assuming the base creature meets the prerequisites and doesn't already have these feats. Human vampires keep the extra feat they gained as a 1st-level human character.

Advancement: By character class.

Vampire (Human Fast Hero 2/Charismatic Hero 3): CR 7; Medium-size undead; HD 5d12; hp 32; Mas '; Init +8; Spd 30 ft.; Defense 25, touch 19, flat-footed 21 (+4 Dex, +5 class, +6 natural); BAB +2; Grap +6; Atk +6 melee (1d6+4, slam); Full Atk +6 melee (1d6+4, slam) +7 melee (2d6/19'20, mastercraft katana), or +6 ranged; FS 5 ft. by 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.; SQ blood drain, create spawn, domination (DC 17), energy drain, alternate form, children of the night, damage reduction 15/+1, Fast Healing 5, gaseous form, cold and electricity resistance 20, spider climb, +4 turn resistance , darkvision 60 ft., weaknesses; AL evil, chaos, master; SV Fort +2, Ref +10, Will +3; AP 2; Rep +5; Str 19, Dex 18, Con ', Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 20.

Skills: Bluff +17*, Diplomacy +9*, Disguise +9, Drive +8, Gather Information +9*, Hide +18, Intimidate +9*, Knowledge (art) +6, Knowledge (current events) +7, Knowledge (popular culture) +7, Perform (stringed instruments) +9*, Listen +10, Move Silently +18, Read/Write Language (any two), Search +10, Sense Motive +8, Speak Language (any two), Spot +10.

*The vampire gains a +3 bonus on these Charisma-based skill checks when influencing members of its chosen gender (see Charm).

Feats: Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Exotic Melee Weapon (katana), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Renown, Simple Weapons Proficiency, Stealthy, Windfall.

Talent (Fast Hero): Evasion.

Talents (Charismatic Hero): Charm, favor.

Possessions: Aston-Martin Vanquish sports coupe, eight-bedroom mansion, designer formal wear, mastercraft katana (+1), cell phone, desktop computer (with cellular modem, printer, and scanner), mastercraft violin (+1).

The fearless Daredevil risks life and limb to perform death-defying acts. When you need a stunt person, an extreme sports enthusiast, or someone with the know-how to stage a dangerous-looking spectacle or to succeed at a stunt that no one else in their right mind would even attempt, then call on the Daredevil.

The Daredevil can perform physical stunts and vehicle stunts, understands the magic of moviemaking, and is tough enough to take on a dangerous stunt, succeed at the stunt - and survive.

Select this advanced class if you want your character to excel at risk-taking and understand how to push the limits of possibility.

Not necessarily in the drug business, dealers are information brokers who make it their business to know everything that is happening in their city or other chosen sphere of influence. Dealers pay handsomely to acquire useful information and charge even more to part with it. Dealers are often the source of jobs for illegal street runners. Also, when they need to know what someone is up to, they may hire runners to find out for them.

The Gunslinger knows everything there is to know about handguns of all types. Whereas the Martial Artist develops their body into a perfect weapon, the Gunslinger trains their mind and body to work in concert with their handguns. Their pistols become an extension of themselves.

The Gunslinger can be a mercenary or a modern-day knight, defending the weak and the innocent with a pair of blazing pistols instead of a sword and shield.

Select this advanced class if you want your character to excel with handguns or other fast-shooting ranged weapons.

Hexblade (Reimagined)

WotC admittedly made the original Hexblade class underpowered because they feared that a mix of arcane magic and melee combat would be too unbalanced. After admitting they were wrong, some suggestions were made to by some official sources, but no official errata was released to balance the Hexblade with the other classes. This is an attempt at balancing and refocusing the Hexblade using some of the suggestions from official sources while also adding some of my unknown.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Hexblade Reimagined:

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Hexblade can cast arcane spells without incurring an arcane spell failure chance while wearing light or medium armor and and while wielding a light shield. Because the somatic components required for hexblade spells are simple, a hexblade can cast hexblade spells while wearing light or medium armor and while wielding a light shield without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. However, like any other arcane spellcaster, a hexblade wearing heavy armor or using a heavy shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component (and most do). A multiclass hexblade still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells derived from other classes.

Hexblade’s Curse (Su): Once per day, as a free action, a hexblade can unleash a curse upon a foe. The target must be visible to the hexblade and within 60 feet. The target of a hexblade’s curse takes a –2 penalty on attacks, saves, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls for 1 hour thereafter. A successful Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 hexblade’s class level + hexblade’s Cha modifier) negates the effect. At every four levels beyond 1st (5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th) a hexblade gains the ability to use his curse one additional time per day, as indicated on Table 1–1. Multiple hexblade’s curses don’t stack, and any foe that successfully resists the effect cannot be affected again by the same hexblade’s curse for 24 hours. Any effect that removes or dispels a curse eliminates the effect of a hexblade’s curse. At 6th level and every 6th level thereafter (12th, 18th, etc.), a hexblade gains a +2 competence bonus to the DC of its curse that stacks with other competence bonuses granted by the Hexblade's curse. At 7th level and every twelfth level thereafter (19th, 31st, etc), the penalty increases by a cumulative -2.

Arcane Resistance (Su): At 2nd level, a hexblade gains a bonus equal to his Charisma bonus (minimum +1) on saving throws against spells and spell-like effects.

Mettle (Ex): At 3rd level and higher, a hexblade can resist magical and unusual attacks with great willpower or fortitude. If he makes a successful Will or Fortitude save against an attack that normally would have a lesser effect on a successful save (such as any spell with a saving throw entry of Will half or Fortitude partial), he instead completely negates the effect. An unconscious or sleeping hexblade does not gain the benefit of mettle.

Spells: Beginning at 4th level, a hexblade gains the ability to cast a small number of arcane spells, which are drawn from the hexblade spell list (see below). He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time, just as a sorcerer can (see page 54 of the Player’s Handbook). To learn or cast a spell, a hexblade must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell level (Cha 11 for 1st-level spells, Cha 12 for 2nd-level spells, and so forth). The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a hexblade’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the hexblade’s Cha modifier. Like other spellcasters, a hexblade can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table 1–1. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Charisma score (see Table 1–1: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells, page 8 of the Player’s Handbook). When Table 1–1 indicates that the hexblade gets 0 spells per day of a given spell level (for instance, 1st-level spells for a 4th-level hexblade), he gains only the bonus spells he would be entitled to based on his Charisma score for that spell level. The hexblade’s selection of spells is extremely limited. A hexblade begins play knowing no spells, but gains one or more new spells at certain levels, as indicated on Table 1–2. (Unlike spells per day, his Charisma score does not affect the number of spells a hexblade knows; the numbers on Table 1–2 are fixed.) Upon reaching 12th level, and at every third hexblade level after that (15th and 18th), a hexblade can choose to learn a new spell in place of one he already knows. In effect, the hexblade “loses” the old spell in exchange for the new one. The new spell’s level must be the same as that of the spell being exchanged, and it must be at least two levels lower than the highest-level hexblade spell the hexblade can cast. For instance, upon reaching 12th level, a hexblade could trade in a single 1st level spell (two spell levels below the highest-level hexblade spell he can cast, which is 3rd) for a different 1st-level spell. At 15th level, he could trade in a single 1st-level or 2nd-level spell (since he now can cast 4th-level hexblade spells) for a different spell of the same level. A hexblade may swap only a single spell at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the spell at the same time that he gains new spells known for the level. Through 3rd level, a hexblade has no caster level. At 4th level and higher, his caster level is one-half his hexblade level.

Metamagic Specialist: A hexblade does not gain a familiar at 4th level. Instead, a hexblade can use metamagic feats without increasing the casting time of the spell.

Bonus Feat: At 5th level, and every five levels thereafter (10th, 15th, and 20th), a hexblade gains a bonus feat, which must be selected from the following list: Any metamagic feat, Combat Casting, Greater Spell Focus (enchantment, necromancy, or transmutation only), Greater Spell Penetration, Spell Focus (enchantment, necromancy, or transmutation only), Spell Penetration.

Aura of Unluck (Su): Once per day, a hexblade of 12th level or higher can create a baleful aura of misfortune. Any melee or ranged attack made against the hexblade while this aura of unluck is active has a 20% miss chance (similar to the effect of concealment). Activating the aura is a free action, and the aura lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the hexblade’s Charisma bonus (if any). At 16th level and higher, a hexblade can use his aura of unluck twice per day. A 20th-level hexblade can activate this aura three times per day. In addition to a hexblade gaining a miss chance when attacked, magic items created by the hexblade are also affected by his aura of unluck. When creating a magic item not intended to be cursed, roll a d%. On a 01-20, the item is created with a curse randomly decided from the chart on page 272 of the Dungeon Master's Guide. When creating a magic item intended to be cursed, the hexblade can make of the all decisions for the curse and treat his caster level for creating the item as two higher.

Cursing Adept (Sp): While the Hexblade Reimagined can still cast spells, he knows fewer spells than the original class allowed. Instead, a hexblade has the ability to learn and develop curses. At 8th and every six levels thereafter (14th, 20th, etc.), a hexblade chooses a new curse to learn. A hexblade gains access to more powerful curses the higher his level gets. At 8th level, he can learn Curse of Ill Fortune*, Desecrate, Mark of the Outcast*, Cursed Blade* or Unholy Blight. At 14th level, he can learn any curse that was available at 8th level, Jungle's Rapture*, Mark of Justice, Curse of Lycanthropy*, Eyebite, Geas/Quest or Ghoul Gauntlet*. At 20th level, he can learn any curse available at 14th level, Scourge*, Symphonic Nightmare* or Greater Bestow Curse*. A curse is spell-like ability. A hexblade can cast each curse he knows once per day. For example, a 14th-level hexblade who learned Cursed Blade at 8th level and Curse of Lycanthropy at 14th level could cast both Cursed Blade and Curse of Lycanthropy each once a day. Otherwise, treat these spell-like abilities as a spell cast by the hexblade including having the requisite spellcasting ability score to learn or cast the spell. An epic hexblade can develop epic curses in the same way that epic spellcasters can develop epic spells, but the curse becomes a spell-like ability like any other curse gained through Cursing Adept and follows all rules of using a curse through Cursing Adept. Each time an epic hexblade learns an epic curse, he loses one epic spell slot. As with any curse learned through Cursing Adept, the hexblade can cast the epic curse once per day.

Ex-Hexblades: A hexblade who becomes good-aligned loses all hexblade spells and all supernatural class abilities. His familiar becomes a normal animal and leaves the hexblade’s service as soon as possible. He may not progress any farther in levels as a hexblade. He retains all the other benefi ts of the class (weapon and armor proficiencies and bonus feats).

Hexblade Spell List

Continuing the theme of cursing as a hexblade, this new spell list available to the hexblade replaces the original and revolves around debilitating a hexblade's enemies in some way:

1st: Buzzing Bee*, Dispel Ward*, Grease, Obscuring Mist, Hypnotism, Sleep, Color Spray, Ventriloquism, Cause Fear, Ray of Enfeeblement, Erase, Reduce Person, Wall of Smoke*, Insightful Feint*, Distract*, Distract Assailant*, Incite*, Inhibit*, Shock and Awe*, Luminous Gaze*, Sonic Blast*, Backbiter*, Bonefiddle*, Spirit Worm*, Cheat*, Horrible Taste*, Ray of Clumsiness*, Weapon Shift*.

2nd: Obscure Object, Fog Cloud, Glitterdust, Web, Daze Monster, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Touch of Idiocy, Darkness, Gust of Wind, Shatter, Blur, Hypnotic Pattern, Mirror Image, Misdirection, Blindness/Deafness, Ghoul Touch, Scare, Spectral Hand, Pyrotechnics, Dissonant Chant*, Distracting Ray*, Baleful Transposition*, Cloud of Bewilderment*, Inky Cloud*, Discern Shapechanger*, Entice Gift*, Ray of Stupidity*, Rebuke*, Sting Ray*, Ethereal Chamber*, Rainbow Beam, Slapping Hand*, Bladeweave*, Delusions of Grandeur*, Phantom Foe*, Shadow Spray*, Wall of Gloom*, Curse of Impending Blades*, Ghoul Glyph*, Ray of Sickness*, Ray of Weakness*, Stolen Breath*, Earthbind*, Ghost Touch Armor*, Ironthunder Horn*, Scale Weakening*, Dispelling Touch**, Dimension Hop**, Black Karma Curse**, Bigby's Warding Hand**, Blinding Color Surge**, Vertigo**.

3rd: Dispel Magic, Explosive Runes, Nondetection, Sepia Snake Sigil, Sleet Storm, Stinking Cloud, Deep Slumber, Hold Person, Wind Wall, Displacement, Halt Undead, Ray of Exhaustion, Vampiric Touch, Shrink Item, Slow, Anticipate Teleportation*, Bands of Steel*, Contagious Fog*, Nauseating Breath*, Unluck*, Mesmerizing Glare*, Ray of Dizziness*, Supress Breath Weapon*, Blacklight*, Capricious Zephyr*, Flashburst*, Great Thunderclap*, Wall of Light*, Cone of Dimness*, Shadow Binding*, Mass Curse of Impending Blades*, Mind Poison*, Spider Poison*, Demon Dirge*, Devil Blight*, Rust Ray*, Spell Vulnerability*, Energy Vulnerability**, Alter Fortune**, Hesitate**, Bigby's Disrupting Hand**, Prismatic Mist**, Curse of Arrow Attraction**, Halt**.

4th: Dimensional Anchor, Fire Trap, Evard's Black Tentacles, Solid Fog, Detect Scrying, Confusion, Crushing Despair, Fire Shield, Otiluke's Resilient Sphere, Shout, Wall of Ice, Rainbow Pattern, Bestow Curse, Contagion, Enervation, Fear, Lesser Geas/Quest, Mass Reduce Person, Dispelling Screen*, Ray Deflection*, Wall of Chaos/Evil/Law*, Wall of Sand*, Greater Rebuke*, Blistering Radiance*, Defenestrating Sphere*, Sword of Deception*, Wingbind*, Sensory Deprivation*, Shadow Well*, Backlash*, Corporeal Instability*, Metal Melt*, Scramble Portal*, Condemnation**, Slashing Dispel**, Stifle Spell**, Crushing Grip**, Phantom Battle**, Baleful Blink**, Call of Stone**.

• = Spell Compendium, **=Player's Handbook II.

Epic Hexblade

Epic bonus feats: At 23rd level and every three levels thereafter (26th, 29th, etc.), a Hexblade gains an Epic bonus feat from the following list: Craft Epic Arms and Armor, Devastating Critical, Dire Charge, Efficient Item Creation, Epic Curse***, Epic Fortitude, Epic Skill Focus, Epic Prowess, Epic Spell Focus, Epic Spell Penetration, Epic Toughness, Epic Weapon Focus, Epic Will, Extended Life Span, Familiar Spell, Great Charisma, Great Strength, Improved Combat Casting, Improved Heighten Spell, Improved Metamagic, Improved Spell Capacity, Overwhelming Critical, Penetrate Damage Reduction, Spell Knowledge, Spell Opportunity, Spellcasting Harrier, Superior Initiative, Tenacious Magic and Two-Weapon Rend.

Epic Curse [Epic]

Prerequisites: Cha 25, Hexblade's curse class feature. Benefit: Increase the save DC of your hexblade's curse by +2 or increase the penalty it incurs by -2. Special: This feat can be taken multiple times. Each time it is taken beyond the first for each option, the DC is increased by +1 or the penalty is increased by -1 at the player's option.

Hexblade as a Deity

Divine Hexblade [Divine]

Your natural aptitude with curses becomes divinely potent. Prerequisites: 20th-level Hexblade. Benefit: The DC of your Hexblade's Curse is increased an amount equal to your divine rank. The miss chance of your Aura of Unluck is increased by an amount equal to your divine rank. When creating a magic item not intended to be cursed, increase the chance of accidentally creating a cursed item by your divine rank. When creating a cursed magic item on purpose, add your divine rank to your caster level to determine the effects of the item that are based on your caster level.

Now that Christmas is around the corner I just want to remind you that the a Rubik's Cube is the best gift for any occasion which can be easily solved with the online tutorial.

The Infiltrator can break into places others wouldn’t dream of, find what they're looking for, and get back out again while eluding or evading anyone who would try to stop them. The Infiltrator is a master of stealth, breaking and entering, and second-story work. many have connections to the criminal underworld, or at least know their way around the seedier parts of town.

An Infiltrator can be a cat burglar or a spy, or they may just have all the skills necessary to accomplish missions for whatever agency pays her salary.

Select this advanced class if you want your character to excel at roguish activity and stealthy endeavors.

Background:

You are the culmination of over a thousand years of mystic martial arts and lethal stealth techniques. Your mind, your body, your soul are one; focused on only one goal: the perfect kill.

Descended from generations of silent warriors and arcane assassins, the Neo Ninja is a fusion of mythic tradition, relentless training, unmatched cunning, and a cold-blooded lack of conscience. All of which are vital traits that place them and their services in high demand in the modern world.

For that reason, only the best of the best are ever selected by the fabled Ninja clans. Not only do prospective initiates have to be at the pinnacle of the martial-arts world, they must also possess an inner fire that is cold

as any blade, willing to kill without a second thought or a backward glance. Likewise, they must be willing to lose their own lives in the pursuit of duty, and of perfection.

Profile of a Neo Ninja:

Kim had once been a spoiled little rich girl. There was nothing that Daddy’s corporate money or Mommy’s old-money name couldn’t get her. Nothing, that is, except a cure for that hollow, empty feeling where she knew her soul was supposed to be. That’s right; poor little rich girl. Mommy and Daddy’s trophy daughter to be paraded out and shown off for the business partners and socialites; just like a world-class thoroughbred.

When she turned eighteen, however, it occurred to her that she was only bound to the lifestyle of the idle rich because she chose to be. Mommy and Daddy were far too busy with board meetings and luncheons to care if Little Kimmy stayed at Yale. They didn’t even know she had run away until she didn’t come home at Christmas break. By then, she had already romped halfway across Europe. Of course they sent detectives and hunters, but Kim soon found that she had a knack for staying one step ahead of the gumshoes.

When she busted out in Moscow, it occurred to her to blackmail Daddy. Sure, he’d never touched her in any improper way, but where there’s smoke there’s fire. One heated phone call later, and Kim was financed all the way to Sri Lanka. A near-fatal drug overdose there gave her the idea to pursue alternate religions, and from there, martial arts was just the next logical step.

Three years spent studying techniques all over Asia served her well. Her angry, combative nature made her an innate warrior. By the time she reached Tokyo, she had already acquired a reputation in the underground fighting circuits. She was good in the unarmed matches, but she was the bloody best when she could use her beloved kasuri-gama. It was only in the ring, covered in men’s blood that she could feel something in that hollow spot deep inside her.

That insane desire to be fulfilled almost proved her undoing. When she killed Sasaki Nakamura in Kobe, Kim didn’t know that he was the son of a Yakuza lord. When they came after her, an acquaintance pointed her in the direction that led her to The Order, where she was taken in as an initiate. She almost laughed when they told her that to prove herself worthy, she would have to return with the senior Nakamura’s head.

Now, four years later, she didn’t laugh when they told her that her next kill was to be Daddy.

Requirements

To qualify to become a Neo Ninja, a character must fulfill the following criteria:

Base Attack Bonus: +5

Skills: Hide 10 ranks, Move Silently 10 ranks, Tumble 10 ranks.

Feats: Combat Martial Arts, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Martial Arts Weapon), Weapon Focus (Martial Arts Weapon).

Special: Additionally, the character must seek out and contact The Order , and succeed on an initiation mission.

Class Information

Hit Die: 1d8

Action Points: 7 + one-half character level, rounded down, every time the Neo Ninja attains a new level in this class.

Class Skills

The Neo Ninja’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Chemical) (Int), Disguise (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Any) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Read/Write Language (none), Search (Int), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (none), Tumble (Dex), and Swim (Str).

Skill Points at Each Level: 7 + Intelligence Modifier.

Class Features

The following features pertain to the Neo Ninja advanced class:

Superior Weapon Focus: At 1st Level, the Neo Ninja gains an additional +1 bonus to attack with the martial arts weapon she has already Focused upon.

Two Weapons - One Accord: Beginning at 1st Level, when using identical one-handed melee weapons, or a double melee weapon (such as a threesection staff), this ability allows the Neo Ninja to attack as if she were using a single weapon. By making a single attack roll at her highest Base Attack Bonus, the Neo Ninja makes a double strike which inflicts 2x the single weapon’s listed damage. For example, a Neo Ninja using a three-section rod could inflict up to 20 points of damage (2x 1d10) plus her strength modifier on a single attack. This attack is treated as a standard attack action, and is also considered as if it were made with the primary hand while fighting with two weapons (see Table 5-3, pg. 138 d20 Modern: Core rulebook).

Bonus Feats: At 2nd, 5th, and 8th Levels, the Neo Ninja gets a bonus feat. The bonus feat must be selected from the following list, and she must meet all the prerequisites of the feat to select it.

Acrobatic, Agile Riposte, Alertness, Armor Proficiency (Light), Athletic, Attentive, Brawl, Cautious, Defensive Martial Arts, Dodge, Elusive Target, Meticulous, Mobility, Nimble, Stealthy, Two-Weapon Fighting, and Weapon Finesse.

Great Leap: Beginning at 2nd Level, the Neo Ninja is capable of almost superhuman leaps and jumps. This ability allows the character to spend one Action Point to multiply the distance that can be cleared with a successful Jump skill check by her Neo Ninja class level. For example, a 5th Level Neo Ninja could clear a 100 ft. long jump with a DC of only 25 (see Jump skill description, pp 65-66, d20 Modern: Core rulebook).

Weapon Specialization: At 3rd Level, the Neo Ninja gets this feat applied to the weapon she has Focused upon.

Precise Strike: At 3rd Level, the character also gains the extraordinary ability to strike precisely with a single one-handed weapon, inflicting additional damage on a successful attack. Only targets vulnerable to Critical Hits are subject to this ability, and it cannot be used as part of a Two Weapons-One Accord attack. At 6th and 9th Levels, the damage inflicted by this attack is increased.

Improved Critical: At 4th Level, the threat range on the Neo Ninja’s specialized weapon is doubled, increasing the possibility of inflicting a Critical Hit on a successful attack.

Fast Sneak: At 4th Level, the Neo Ninja has become so adept at stealth, that she may move at her full movement rate without suffering a penalty to Hide and Move Silently skill checks.

Without A Trace: At 5th Level, the Neo Ninja inflicts a -4 penalty on those using Investigate, Listen, Search, or Spot to detect her activities while making use of the following skills: Balance, Climb, Disable Device, Escape Artist, Hide, Move Silently, and Sleight of Hand.

Amazing Saves: Years of training and a natural knack for resourcefulness have instilled in the Neo Ninja an innate knowledge of how to survive many forms of danger. At 6th Level, the Neo Ninja adds her class level to all Saving Throws.

Two Weapons - Two Accords: At 7th Level, the Neo Ninja gains the ability to use her twin weapons (or double weapon) for both attack and defense while making a full-attack action. She may choose which of her Base Attack Bonuses to apply to a doublestrike attack (as in the Two Weapons - One Accord class ability), and which to apply as a deflection bonus to her Defense. For example, a Neo Ninja with a BAB of +6/+1 may either make a double-strike attack at +6 while adding +1 to her Defense, or attack at +1 while adding +6 to her Defense.

Wall Run: Also at 7th Level, the Neo Ninja gains the extraordinary ability to move across vertical and near-vertical surfaces with amazing agility. By spending one Action Point, the character may move at her full speed up, down, or across a slope or wall as a standard move action with a successful Climb skill check. Further, she retains her Dexterity Bonus to Defense and suffers no penalty while making an Accelerated Climbing skill check (see Climb skill description, pp 50-51, d20 Modern: Core rulebook).

Superior Weapon Specialization: At 8th Level, the Neo Ninja adds +2 to the damage inflicted by her Specialized weapon. This is in addition to the previous +2 bonus for Specialization.

Always Stealthy: At 9th Level, the Neo Ninja is always considered to be taking 10 on all Hide and Move Silently checks, unless she wants to be noticed.

Paragon of the Order: At 10th Level, The Order has invested so much time, effort, and resources in the Neo Ninja that it will not let a little thing like her death diminish their returns. If the character dies, her body will be recovered by other Ninja, and carried to a safe-house, where it will undergo an arcane ritual of resurrection. By making a successful Fortitude Save with a DC of 25, the character can be revived - no matter how long the duration of death. Once revived, the character loses one permanent point of Constitution, and begins to heal normally.

A street banker by any other name would be a loan shark. These characters are the ones to turn to for emergency funding, but they take great pains to ensure that their investments are returned promptly and with all of the interest paid. Street brokers usually have a number of hired thugs in their employ.

Many, but not all, player characters fall into this category. Street runners are mercenaries, selling their skills to the highest bidder so they can earn enough cash to upgrade their implants, computer hardware, magic, and other gear. They come from all walks of life, but often find themselves in the business because they’ve lost the ability, or the will, to work traditional jobs. Street running is illegal but the law is almost impossible to enforce, and many street runners feel that their motives are altruistic and thus their ends justify the means.

The skill of blood magic allows you to draw magical power from the life energy that beats within flowing veins, stealing away blood to use for your own ends.

This spell has no effect on creatures without blood or blood flow such as constructs, oozes, or undead.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage that occurs after a failed save increases by 1d4 for each slot level above 2nd.

You lose hit points equal to 1d6 plus your spellcasting ability modifier, and create your choice of a dagger, shortsword, or longsword that is made up of your own blood in your free hand. The weapon is magical, and you can use your spellcasting ability for the attack and damage rolls of melee attacks using that weapon. When the spell ends, the weapon becomes just a puddle of blood. The spell ends if you let go of the weapon.

You attempt to control the blood of a creature that you can see within range. The target creature must succeed a constitution saving throw or be charmed by you for the duration.

While the target is charmed, you have a telepathic link with it as long as the two of you are on the same plane of existence. You can use this telepathic link to issue commands to the creature while you are conscious (no action required), which it does its best to obey. You can specify a simple and general course of action, such as “Attack that creature,” “Run over there,” or “Fetch that object.” If the creature completes the order and doesn’t receive further direction from you, it defends and preserves itself to the best of its ability.

You can use your action to take total and precise control of the target. Until the end of your next turn, the creature takes only the actions you choose, and doesn’t do anything that you don’t allow it to do. During this time you can also cause the creature to use a reaction, but this requires you to use your own reaction as well.

Each time the target takes damage, it makes a new Constitution saving throw against the spell. If the saving throw succeeds, the spell ends.

This spell has no effects on creatures without blood or bloodflow such as constructs, oozes, or undead.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a 6th-level spell slot, the duration is concentration, up to 1 hour. When you use a 7th-level spell slot, the duration is concentration, up to 3 hours. When you use a spell slot of 8th level or higher, the duration is concentration, up to 8 hours. When you use a spell slot of 9th level or higher the duration is concentration, up to 12 hours.

On a failed save, the target has their blood drained from their body taking 2d10 necrotic damage and must repeat the save on each of your turns for the duration.

On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage and the spell ends. The spell also ends if the target is ever outside the spell’s range or if it has total cover from you.

If the target drops to 0 hit points before this spell ends, you can use your action on a subsequent turn of yours to drain a new creature.

If a creature does not have blood nor ichor, this spell has no effect on them.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d10 for each slot level above 3rd.

Computer Use (Int)

Check: Most normal computer operations don't require a Computer Use check (though a character might have to make a Research check; see the Research skill description). However, searching an unfamiliar network for a particular file, writing computer programs, altering existing programs to perform differently (better or worse), and breaking through computer security are all relatively difficult and require skill checks.

Find File: This skill can be used for finding files or data on an unfamiliar system. The DC for the check and the time required are determined by the size of the site on which the character is searching.

Finding public information on the Internet does not fall under this category; usually, such a task requires a Research check. This application of the Computer Use skill only pertains to finding files on private systems with which the character is not familiar.

Defeat Computer Security: This application of Computer Use can't be used untrained. The DC is determined by the quality of the security program installed to defend the system. If the check is failed by 5 or more, the security system immediately alerts its administrator that there has been an unauthorized entry. An alerted administrator may attempt to identify the character or cut off the character's access to the system.

Sometimes, when accessing a difficult site, the character has to defeat security at more than one stage of the operation. If the character beats the DC by 10 or more when attempting to defeat computer security, the character automatically succeeds at all subsequent security checks at that site until the end of the character's session (see Computer Hacking below).

Computer Hacking

Breaking into a secure computer or network is often called hacking.

When a character hacks, he or she attempts to invade a site. A site is a virtual location containing files, data, or applications. A site can be as small as a single computer, or as large as a corporate network connecting computers and data archives all over the world, the important thing is that access to the site connects the user to everything within it. Some sites can be accessed via the Internet; others are not connected to any outside network and can only be tapped into by a user who physically accesses a computer connected to the site.

Every site is overseen by a system administrator, the person in charge of the site, and who maintains its security. Often, the system administrator is the only person with access to all of a site's functions and data. A site can have more than one system administrator; large sites have a system administrator on duty at all times. A character is the system administrator of his or her personal computer.

When a character hacks into a site, the visit is called a session. Once a character stops accessing the site, the session is over. The character can go back to the site in the future; when he or she does, it's a new session. Several steps are required to hack into a site:

Covering Tracks: This step is optional. By making a Computer Use check (DC 20), a character can alter his or her identifying information. This imposes a '5 penalty on any attempt made to identify the character if his or her activity is detected.

Access the Site: There are two ways to do this: physically or over the Internet.

Physical Access: A character gains physical access to the computer, or a computer connected to the site. If the site being hacked is not connected to the Internet, this is probably the only way a character can access it. A variety of skill checks may be required, depending on the method used to gain access.

Internet Access: Reaching a site over the net requires two Computer Use checks. The first check (DC 10) is needed to find the site on the net. The second is a check to defeat computer security (see the Computer Use skill description). Once a character has succeeded in both checks, the character has accessed the site.

Locate What You're Looking For: To find the data (or application, or remote device) the character wants, make a Computer Use check. See Find File under the skill description.

Defeat File Security: Many networks have additional file security. If that's the case, the character needs to make another check to defeat computer security.

Do Your Stuff: Finally, the character can actually do what he or she came to do. If the character just wants to look at records, no additional check is needed. (A character can also download data, although that often takes several rounds or even several minutes, for especially large amounts of information to complete.) Altering or deleting records sometimes requires yet another check to defeat computer security. Other operations can be carried out according to the Computer Use skill description.

Defend Security: If the character is the system administrator for a site (which may be as simple as being the owner of a laptop), he or she can defend the site against intruders. If the site alerts the character to an intruder, the character can attempt to cut off the intruder's access (end the intruder's session), or even to identify the intruder.

To cut off access, make an opposed Computer Use check against the intruder. If the character succeeds, the intruder's session is ended. The intruder might be able to defeat the character's security and access his or her site again, but the intruder will have to start the hacking process all over. Attempting to cut off access takes a full round.

One surefire way to prevent further access is to simply shut the site down. With a single computer, that's often no big deal'but on a large site with many computers (or computers controlling functions that can't be interrupted), it may be time-consuming or even impossible.

To identify the intruder, make an opposed Computer Use check against the intruder. If the character succeeds, the character learns the site from which the intruder is operating (if it's a single computer, the character learns the name of the computer's owner). Identifying the intruder requires 1 minute and is a separate check from cutting off access. This check can only be made if the intruder is accessing the character's site for the entire length of the check, if the intruder's session ends before the character finishes the check, the character automatically fails.

Degrade Programming: A character can destroy or alter applications on a computer to make use of that computer harder or impossible. The DC for the attempt depends on what the character tries to do. Crashing a computer simply shuts it down. Its user can restart it without making a skill check (however, restarting takes 1 minute). Destroying programming makes the computer unusable until the programming is repaired. Damaging programming imposes a '4 penalty on all Computer Use checks made with the computer (sometimes this is preferable to destroying the programming, since the user might not know that anything is wrong, and won't simply decide to use a different computer).

A character can degrade the programming of multiple computers at a single site; doing so adds +2 to the DC for each additional computer.

Fixing the degraded programming requires 1 hour and a Computer Use check against a DC equal to the DC for degrading it + 5.

Write Program: A character can create a program to help with a specific task. Doing so grants the character a +2 circumstance bonus to the task.

A specific task, in this case, is one type of operation with one target.

The DC to write a program is 20; the time required is 1 hour.

Operate Remote Device: Many devices are computer-operated via remote links. If the character has access to the computer that controls such systems, the character can either shut them off or change their operating parameters. The DC depends on the nature of the operation. If the character fails the check by 5 or more, the system immediately alerts its administrator that there has been an unauthorized use of the equipment. An alerted administrator may attempt to identify the character or cut off his or her access to the system.

Special: A character can take 10 when using the Computer Use skill. A character can take 20 in some cases, but not in those that involve a penalty for failure. (A character cannot take 20 to defeat computer security or defend security.)

A character with the Gearhead feat gets a +2 bonus on all Computer Use checks.

Time: Computer Use requires at least a full-round action. The GM may determine that some tasks require several rounds, a few minutes, or longer, as described above.

Cybertech

Learn how to solve the Rubik's Cube or use the online solver to calculate the steps needed.

Mutations

While a mutation can assume many forms, it typically signifies an abnormal trait or ability not common to the species. Mutations can be pronounced or unnoticeable. They may grant extraordinary abilities or effect subtle to grotesque changes in a creature's physiology.

Mutations may appear only at birth or manifest as consequences of radiation exposure or some horrible physical trauma.

Ordinarily, a GM should allow players to select appropriate mutations and drawbacks for their characters using the Mutation Point (MP) system presented below. However, for GM-controlled creatures and supporting characters, the GM can determine mutations randomly. Whenever a creature or supporting character gains a mutation, the GM may roll percentile dice and consult Table: Mutations below, then select an appropriate number of drawbacks with a total MP value equal to or greater than the MP cost of the randomly determined mutation.

All special qualities granted by mutations are considered extraordinary abilities. Using an extraordinary ability is a free action unless noted otherwise.

Sicarius PC Keyboard Controls

Every control option on the PC version of Sicarius. These are the default keyboard shortcuts for the game Sicarius: Shadows of the Rising Sun.

• Move Forward – W
• Move Left – A
• Move Backward – S
• Move Right – D
• Switch Character Wheel – G
• Emote 1 – Up key
• Emote 2 – Down key
• Emote 3 – Left key
• Emote 4 – Right key
• Push-to-Talk – T
• Return to Orbit/Abort Activity – O
• Fire – Left mouse button
• Reload – R
• Melee – C
• Hold Zoom – Right mouse button
• Toggle Zoom – Unmapped
• Light Attack – Left mouse button
• Heavy Attack – Right mouse button
• Block – C
• Jump – Spacebar
• Hold Sprint – Unmapped
• Toggle Sprint – Left shift
• Hold Crouch – Unmapped
• Toggle Crouch – Ctrl
• Class Ability – V
• Air Move – X
• Interact – E
• Grenade – Q
• Super – F
• Main Weapon – 1
• Secondary Weapon – 2
• Tertiary Weapon – 3
• Switch Weapon – ~ and hold ~ for Tertiary Weapon
• Show/Hide Text Chat – L
• Undefined – Tab
• Inventory – I
• Skills - K

Note: Controls in Sicarius refers to the input mechanisms to manipulate your character and actions in the game, as well as menu navigation. PC controls can be personalized via the settings menu, and console controls can be changed via the platform’s own settings.

Cey'Taer (D20 Modern NPC)

Cey'Taer is a high-level Shadow Assassin who is sent to kill important enemy individuals, and also to lead covert missions.

Japan’s Female Emperors

Japan’s Imperial House Law states that only “a male offspring in the male line belonging to the Imperial Lineage” may become emperor. In 2004, following four decades with no male births in the imperial family, a growing sense of crisis prompted Prime Minister Koizumi Jun’ichirō to establish a study group on the Imperial House Law and questions of succession. The group’s report, issued the following year, recommended allowing female members of the family and matrilineal descendants of them to take the Chrysanthemum Throne; but before legislators could act on this, the 2006 announcement that Princess Kiko was pregnant, followed by the September birth that year of Prince Hisahito, the group’s recommendations were set aside.

Eleven years later, though, the sense of crisis is growing again. Special legislation enacted in 2017 to allow for the abdication of Emperor Akihito included a supplementary resolution calling on the government to discuss how to ensure stable future succession. Just three men are currently eligible to succeed to Emperor Naruhito: his younger brother Fumihito, his nephew Hisahito, now 13, and his elderly uncle Masahito.

Under the present system, if Hisahito becomes emperor and does not have a son, there will be no possible heir to the throne. As such, the government was due to start discussions on the succession issue after the ceremonial investiture of Crown Prince Fumihito on April 19. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a delay to the ceremony, leaving the question of succession up in the air.

Historically there was no absolute requirement for emperors to be male and in the male imperial line. Eight women have ascended to the imperial throne of Japan; as two did so on two occasions under different imperial names, they appear 10 times in the official list of 126 emperors. Although the full list includes a number of legendary leaders, all of the female rulers are from the historically verifiable period. All of them are also descendants of emperors through the male line.

Japan’s Female Emperors

The Japanese word tennō for the imperial leader or “emperor” is now applied retrospectively for all those who have ascended the throne, even though it was not always used historically. Unlike the English “emperor,” it is used with both male and female leaders. When talking about the position in general, we have used the word “emperor,” but individuals appear under the title of “Empress,” by which they are better known.

Empress Suiko (r. 592–628)

The daughter of Emperor Kinmei, she ascended to the throne after the assassination of her predecessor, Emperor Sushun, by a member of the powerful Soga clan. With no immediate agreement on who would succeed, the selection of Suiko, whose mother was also in the Soga clan, was seen as bringing political stability. She oversaw an age in which Buddhism flourished and the temple Hōryūji was built in Nara. Japan also began diplomatic missions to China during her reign.

Empress Kōgyoku (r. 642–645)/Saimei (r. 655–661)

When there was no agreement on succession after the death of her husband, Emperor Jomei, with Soga wishes again a factor, the great-granddaughter of Emperor Bidatsu ascended to the throne under the name of Kōgyoku. She abdicated after a few years and her younger brother became Emperor Kōtoku. However, when he died and there was again no clear candidate to succeed, she ruled again under the name of Saimei.

Empress Jitō (r. 690–697)

The daughter of Emperor Tenji and the wife of her predecessor, Emperor Tenmu, she ascended to the throne as her son Prince Kusakabe had a strong rival to the succession at that time. Kusakabe died shortly after, so Jitō ruled until her grandson was old enough to succeed her as Emperor Monmu.

Empress Genmei (r. 707–715)

A younger half-sister of Empress Jitō and daughter of Emperor Tenji, she was also the wife of Prince Kusakabe and mother of Emperor Monmu. She ascended to the throne as her grandson (later Emperor Shōmu) was too young to succeed at the time of Monmu’s death.

Empress Genshō (r. 715–724)

The only woman to follow a woman in the imperial succession, she was the daughter of Empress Genmei. As her father was Prince Kusakabe, the son of Emperor Tenmu, she was also in the male imperial line. She ascended the throne when Genmei abdicated after nine years and the future Emperor Shōmu was still seen as too young to succeed.

Empress Kōken (r. 749–758)/Shōtoku (r. 764–770)

The daughter of Emperor Shōmu, she became the first woman to be officially designated as the first in line to the throne when his son died an early death. She ascended to the throne under the name Kōken but later abdicated, with her cousin becoming Emperor Junnin. During his reign, a power struggle intensified between him and the retired Kōken, backed by the Buddhist monk Dōkyō, who became a powerful favorite of hers. When Junnin’s supporter Fujiwara Nakamaro attempted to raise a rebellion to win back authority, her forces were victorious. She dethroned Junnin and took the throne again to rule for six more years as Shōtoku.

Empress Meishō (r. 1629–43)

She succeeded her father, Emperor Go-Mizunoo, who had no sons at the time he abdicated following a dispute between the Tokugawa shogunate and the imperial court. However, he had a son after his abdication, and she later gave up the throne herself when the boy was old enough to become Emperor Go-Kōmyō.

Empress Go-Sakuramachi (r. 1762–70)

The daughter of Emperor Sakuramachi, she ascended the throne after the death of Emperor Momozono as his designated successor was still too young to become emperor. She later abdicated and the boy became Emperor Go-Momozono.

Gene Plus (D20 Modern Race)

Subject Pheonix (D20 Modern NPC)

Classified Document:

Project Thanatos - Subject Pheonix:

Project Thanatos Lead Scientist: Pravelius Vikaru

Dr Vikaru's Project Log 01 - Pheonix: Project Thanatos' objective was to create the perfect super soldiers. The soldiers were physcially augmented before birth and were indoctrinated into absolutely loyal killing machines. But simple super soldiers weren't enough, a edge was needed. Side projects, consisting the soldiers from Project Thanatos being used as test subjects, began with the purpose to create that edge and one project was Phoenix.

Dr Vikaru's Project Log 02 - Immortal: Pheonix was designed to create immortal soldiers who would not require several weeks of rest to recover. Test subject 0423, who was trained as a field medic before being selected to receive Project Pheonix' augmentations which should theoretically increase her ability to regenerate wounds by accelerating cell replication and growth.

Dr Vikaru's Project Log 03 - Unsatisfactory: Augmentation results were unsatisfying. Test subject 0423 suffered heavily during the augmentation and she now appears to be in constant pain. She herself, however, is capable of regenerating her own wounds, even mortal injuries, automatically. I must note that we inflicted those wounds on to her after the augmentation to test her healing abilities.

Dr Vikaru's Project Log 04 - Individuality: The constant pain Test Subject 0423 suffers is providing too much stimuli. Her last check up shows that her neural growth has risen dramatically and she now appears to be capable of higher thought processes. I fear that our only option will be to terminate her.

Dr Vikaru's Project Log 05 - Termination: It has been annouced that the termination of Test Subject 0423 will proceed. It is a shame that we will be losing one of our most potential test subjects but in return we have gained months of data. Termination of Test Subject 0423 will proceed shortly.

Dr Vikaru's Project Log 06 - Escaped: Two scientist are dead and Test Subject 0423 has escaped. I'm requesting a increase in security as the Test Subject managed to escape with the key cards and severed fingers from the dead scientist. The first scientist died from a scalpel being inserted into his brain through the eye and the other died from the lethal injection that was meant for her. How she knew we were trying to terminate her I do not know. I can only assume that one of our scientist told her as all data of Pheonix was erased. I will be investigating this personally.

A non-player character (NPC) is any character in a game which is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster or referee rather than another player. In video games this usually means a character controlled by the computer (instead of the player) that has a predetermined set of behaviors that potentially will impact game play, but not necessarily be true artificial intelligence.

Aside from the players, everyone else in the game world is a non-player character (NPC). These characters are designed and controlled by the computer to fill every role from noble king to simple baker. While some of these characters use player classes, most rely upon simple NPC classes, allowing them to be easily generated.

Bōsōzoku

Bōsōzoku (暴走族, lit. 'running-out-of-control (as of a vehicle) tribe') is a Japanese youth subculture associated with customized motorcycles. The first appearance of these types of biker gangs was in the 1950s. Popularity climbed throughout the 1980s and 1990s, peaking at an estimated 42,510 members in 1982. Their numbers dropped dramatically in the 2000s with a reported number of under 7,297 members in 2012.

Bōsōzoku style traditionally involves boilersuits similar to those of manual laborers or leather military jackets with baggy pants, and tall boots. This uniform became known as the tokkō-fuku (特攻服, "special attack clothing") and is often adorned with kanji slogans. Typical accessories to this uniform are hachimaki, surgical masks, and patches displaying the Rising Sun Flag. Bōsōzoku members are known for taking a Japanese road bike and adding modifications such as over-sized fairings, lifted handle bars shifted inwards, large seat backs, extravagant paint jobs, and modified mufflers. Bōsōzoku styles take inspiration from choppers, greasers, and Teddy boys.

History

Bōsōzoku first started as groups of returning World War II veterans. Many veterans faced difficulty readjusting to society after the war, and some turned to custom car making and gang-like activities on city streets to gain an adrenaline fix. These early bōsōzoku took inspiration from American greaser culture and imported Western films; bōsōzoku became known for its many similarities to old American biker culture. Many younger individuals began to see this style of life as very appealing, especially marginalized individuals looking for change. Eventually, these youngsters took over the identity, becoming the foundation for the modern bōsōzoku.

The 1970s were when the term of bōsōzoku first truly began to emerge. This was a period of time characterized by actual riots between police and many of these youth groups. The term bōsōzoku was not actually created by these biker groups, but was eventually widely adopted and used by these various groups. In the 1980s and 1990s, bōsōzoku would often embark on massed rides, in which up to 100 bikers would cruise together slowly en masse down an expressway or major highway. The motorcyclists would run toll booths without stopping and would ignore police attempts to detain them. New Year's Eve was a popular occasion for the massed rides. The bikers would sometimes smash the cars and threaten or beat up any motorists or bystanders who got in the way or expressed disapproval of the bikers' behavior. Participation in the gangs peaked at 42,510 members in 1982. This made bōsōzoku the prevailing form of youth delinquency within Japan.

Numbers slowly began to decline following the 1980s peak. It is reported that, by the 1990s there were around 28,000 bōsōzoku sprinkled throughout the country. In 2004, the Japanese government passed a revised road traffic law which gave the police more power to arrest bikers riding recklessly in groups. With increased arrests and prosecutions, bōsōzoku participation rapidly went into decline. As of 2010, police reported that the new trend among bōsōzoku was to ride together in much smaller groups and to ride scooters instead of heavily modified motorcycles. Aichi prefecture was reported to have the highest number of riders, followed by Tokyo, Osaka, Ibaraki and Fukuoka. By 2015, there were only a reported 6,771 active bōsōzoku throughout Japan. In 2013, the National Police Agency re-classified bōsōzoku biker gangs as "pseudo-yakuza" organizations.

Traits

Bōsōzoku are usually between the ages of 16 and 20 years old. They are known for their style that heavily mimics greaser culture within the United States. This includes a pompadour style haircut, tokkō-fuku uniforms, which were often modified and embroidered jumpsuits, inspired by those worn by manual laborers during the WWII era, baggy pants and military boots. Tokkō-fuku were often embroidered with various slogans and large, intricate designs. They were seen as a status symbol to many, symbolizing both their pride in themselves and their strength. They were often worn open in the front, with bandage wrappings around their waist. They would also often be accompanied by rounded sunglasses and tasuki sashes.

The word bōsōzoku is also applied to motorcycle subculture with an interest in motorcycle customizing, often illegal, and making noise by removing the mufflers on their vehicles so that more noise is produced. These bōsōzoku groups sometimes ride without motorcycle helmets (which in Japan is illegal), also engage in dangerous or reckless driving, such as weaving in traffic, and running red lights. Another activity is speeding in city streets, not usually for street racing but more for thrills. With many bikes involved, the leading one is driven by the leader, who is responsible for the event and is not allowed to be overtaken. Japanese police call them Maru-Sō (police code マル走 or 丸走) and occasionally dispatch police vehicles to trail the groups of bikes for the reason of preventing possible incidents, which may include: riding very slowly through suburbs at speeds of 10–15 km/h (6.2–9.3 mph), creating a loud disturbance while waving imperial Japanese flags, and starting fights that may include weapons (such as wooden swords, metal pipes, baseball bats and Molotov cocktails).

Vehicles

Bōsōzoku are known to modify their motorcycles in peculiar and showy ways, which are called Kaizōsha (改造車, "modified vehicles"). The general style of bōsōzoku bike modification appears to combine elements of an American chopper bike and a British café racer. Examples of modifications that are taken from these styles are raised handle bars like those on a chopper or over-sized fairings like those found on café racers (though bōsōzoku usually fit them much higher on the bike than their original position, and angled upwards at the front).

A typical customized bōsōzoku bike starts off by taking an average 250-400cc Japanese road bike, adding a shugo exhaust system (multiple tube header), squeezing the handlebars inwards (known as shibori, from the verb shiboru, "to squeeze"), and adding a 3 or 4-trumpet horn- sanren or yonren, respectively.

Loud paint schemes on the fenders or the gas tanks with motifs such as flames or kamikaze-style "rising sun" designs are also quite common. The bikes will often be adorned with stickers and/or flags depicting the gang's symbol or logo.

There are also marked regional differences in motorcycle modifications. For example, Ibaraki bōsōzoku are known to modify their motorcycles in an extensively colorful, flashy way. They will often have three or four oversized fairings in a tower-like way in and an abundance of lights.

In America the term "Bosozoku" is also applied to cars that have undergone extreme modification. The term generally only applies to Japanese manufactured vehicles, and is somewhat interchangeable with the term "Kaido Racer". Broadly, "Bosozoku" refers to the concept of Japanese vehicle modification, whereas "Kaido Racer" refers specifically to car modification.

Ties to organized crime

In general, the Japanese government sees bōsōzoku as highly organized groups, affiliated under several national federations. They are known to be surprisingly well organized, despite generally only having a handful of members above the age of twenty. They also generally have clear cut rules, uniforms, symbols, and other marks of organization. Certain groups even have membership fees and set punishments. These groups also make up a large proportion of Japanese criminal activity, being involved in vandalism, road traffic violations, and other criminal activity.

Their lives of crime generally do not end after they turn twenty though. It is estimated that around 25% of bōsōzoku are above the age of twenty. Alongside that, they have been shown to have ties to various yakuza organizations. In fact, some numbers predict that as many as one-third of yakuza recruits come from one of a few bōsōzoku. However, as these groups become less common, their ties to the yakuza become less apparent, as they begin recruiting from other marginalized groups, such as the Japanese burakumin or Zainichi Koreans.

Mid Night Club

The Mid Night Club (ミッド ナイト クラブMiddo Naito Kurabu) was a Japanese street racing gang that hosted illegal races on the Bayshore Route (known natively as the Wangan) of the Shuto Expressway between Tokyo to Yokohama. The gang became one of the most notorious and highly respected clubs of its type, which led to it being featured in over 200 editorial features in most of the leading Japanese auto magazines and even in foreign magazines such as the Danish Autoviz, the British Max Power and the American Turbo magazine. One of the earliest non-Japanese media referrals was in the first episode of Jeremy Clarkson's Motorworld in January 1995, when the presenter Jeremy Clarkson, driving his Skyline GT-R around Japan, stated that his car "is more likely to be seen in the Mid Night Club". That and because of its dangerously high racing speed, it gave street racing in Japan a worldwide notoriety. The club was regarded as one of the longest running street racing gangs.

To join the club, which was formed in 1985, was not as easy as the other clubs as it was governed by a series of rules and was better organised. Additionally, unlike in other groups, the hashiriya(street racer) car must be capable of going over 250 km/h (160 mph), as a racing speed of over 300 km/h (190 mph) was common. As new member are regarded as apprentices for one year, they are required to attend all the meetings. Only 10% of drivers would qualify for full membership and they would have to leave if they posed a danger to other motorists and to other members. Members would bear the trademark small rectangle Mid Night sticker on their bumpers, a larger sticker on the sun visor area, and sometimes a Mid Night Racing Team sticker on the side skirt. The high standard of the drivers made it difficult for the police to catch them.

On average, there were 30 members in the club, and they met in a gas station in Yokohama at midnight, as the name implies; races would take place on the Bayshore route and lead to another gas station in Tokyo.

As full-fledged members' cars were capable of performing over 320 km/h (200 mph), the cars were capable of reaching over 400–600 bhp and one member was rumored to be spending over $2 million on rebuilding and modifications of his Porsche 911. The drivers' professions were never revealed, as by club policy members were not allowed to ask how other members got the money for modifications. Only Max Power, in 1995, revealed the professions of two drivers: one, a RX-7 FD3S owner, was a property developer; the other, who drove a Skyline GT-R R32, ran his family car sales business.

The club was reportedly disbanded in 1999 when a group of Bōsōzoku were waiting for the club to "play" with them as they were racing down the expressway, culminating in an accident in which six bikers ended up in the hospital and one was killed. As was the club policy, such a happening would cause the club to be disbanded immediately and forever. Since then there have been numerous imitators, but with tighter traffic laws making things difficult, most of such groups have since been disbanded until it reveal in facebook that they still around and doing well which make some believe actually the incident in 1999 did happened but they just get down first until the situation is good enough for them to appear again.

Despite being no longer in existence, many automotive medias still cite the gang as an inspiration to more irresponsible street racing gangs, such as the June 2008 issue of Max Power, when it ran an article about a street racer gang in London, who claim to race in town centers rather than in expressways.

In the neon-lit streets of a sprawling cyberpunk city, where the line between humanity and technology blurs, a tragic tale of loss, betrayal, and vengeance unfolds. In this dark and unforgiving world, a child named Alex witnesses the brutal murder of his family at the hands of a powerful corporation.

The catalyst for this heinous act is a formula, rumored to hold the secret to immortality. Alex's family, unknowingly in possession of this coveted formula, becomes a target for the corporation's insatiable greed. Left as the sole witness to the massacre, Alex's life takes a harrowing turn.

Stripped of his innocence, Alex is forcibly taken to a clandestine facility, a place where innocence is shattered and souls are molded into tools. Subjected to relentless brainwashing and training, he is transformed into a lethal assassin, a pawn in the corporation's grand scheme.

Years pass, and Alex carries out countless assassinations, his memories of the past locked away, buried beneath layers of manipulation. But fate has a way of weaving unexpected threads. In a twist of destiny, his childhood friend, Sarah, emerges from the shadows, having miraculously survived that fateful night of the assassination.

Sarah, driven by her own quest for truth and justice, manages to awaken the dormant memories within Alex. The floodgates of his past burst open, and the weight of his family's murder crashes upon him with a vengeance. The child he once was is now a grown man, consumed by a singular purpose: revenge.

Haunted by the memories of his family's slaughter and fueled by an unquenchable thirst for retribution, Alex embarks on a perilous journey. Together with Sarah, they navigate the treacherous underbelly of the city, seeking answers, allies, and the means to dismantle the corporation that shattered their lives.

As they delve deeper into the dark heart of the city, Alex's skills as an assassin become a double-edged sword. Every life he takes brings him closer to his ultimate goal, yet threatens to erode the humanity he clings to. The line between hunter and hunted blurs, and the price of revenge becomes increasingly steep.

In this cyberpunk tale of shattered innocence and awakened fury, Alex must confront the demons of his past, navigate a treacherous web of deceit, and ultimately decide the fate of those who wronged him. Will he succumb to the darkness that has consumed him, or will he find a way to reclaim his humanity amidst the chaos of his quest for revenge? The answer lies in the shadows, waiting to be unveiled.

Assassination market

An assassination market is a prediction market where any party can place a bet (using anonymous electronic money and pseudonymous remailers) on the date of death of a given individual, and collect a payoff if they "guess" the date accurately. This would incentivise assassination of individuals because the assassin, knowing when the action would take place, could profit by making an accurate bet on the time of the subject's death. Because the payoff is for accurately picking the date rather than performing the action of the assassin, it is substantially more difficult to assign criminal liability for the assassination.

History

Early uses of the terms "assassination market" and "market for assassinations" can be found (in both positive and negative lights) in 1994's "The Cyphernomicon" by Timothy C. May, a cypherpunk. The concept and its potential effects are also referred to as assassination politics, a term popularized by Jim Bell in his 1995–96 essay of the same name.

Early in part 1, Jim Bell describes the idea as:

The organization set up to manage such a system could, presumably, make up a list of people who had seriously violated the NAP (Non-aggression Principle), but who would not see justice in our courts due to the fact that their actions were done at the behest of the government. Associated with each name would be a dollar figure, the total amount of money the organization has received as a contribution, which is the amount they would give for correctly "predicting" the person's death, presumably naming the exact date. "Guessers" would formulate their "guess" into a file, encrypt it with the organization's public key, then transmit it to the organization, possibly using methods as untraceable as putting a floppy disk in an envelope and tossing it into a mailbox, but more likely either a cascade of encrypted anonymous remailers, or possibly public-access Internet locations, such as terminals at a local library, etc. In order to prevent such a system from becoming simply a random unpaid lottery, in which people can randomly guess a name and date (hoping that lightning would strike, as it occasionally does), it would be necessary to deter such random guessing by requiring the "guessers" to include with their "guess" encrypted and untraceable "digital cash," in an amount sufficiently high to make random guessing impractical.

Bell then goes on to further specify the protocol of the assassination market in more detail. In the final part of his essay, Bell posits a market that is largely non-anonymous. He contrasts this version with the one previously described. Carl Johnson's attempt to popularise the concept of assassination politics appeared to rely on the earlier version. There followed an attempt to popularise the second in 2001 that is ongoing today.

Technologies like Tor, Bitcoin, and Augur have enabled online assassination markets as described in parts one to nine of Assassination Politics.

Assassination Market website

The first prediction market entitled 'Assassination Market' was created by a self-described crypto-anarchist in 2013. Utilising Tor to hide the site's location and Bitcoin based bounties and prediction technology, the site lists bounties on former US President Barack Obama, economist Ben Bernanke and former justice minister of Sweden Beatrice Ask. In 2015 the site was suspected to be defunct, but the deposited Bitcoins were cashed out in 2018.

Cryptocurrency

A cryptocurrency (or crypto currency) is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange wherein individual coin ownership records are stored in a ledger existing in a form of computerized database using strong cryptography to secure transaction records, to control the creation of additional coins, and to verify the transfer of coin ownership. It typically does not exist in physical form (like paper money) and is typically not issued by a central authority. Cryptocurrencies typically use decentralized control as opposed to centralized digital currency and central banking systems. When a cryptocurrency is minted or created prior to issuance or issued by a single issuer, it is generally considered centralized. When implemented with decentralized control, each cryptocurrency works through distributed ledger technology, typically a blockchain, that serves as a public financial transaction database.

Darknet markets

Properties of cryptocurrencies gave them popularity in applications such as a safe haven in banking crises and means of payment, which also led to the cryptocurrency use in controversial settings in the form of online black markets, such as Silk Road. The original Silk Road was shut down in October 2013 and there have been two more versions in use since then. In the year following the initial shutdown of Silk Road, the number of prominent dark markets increased from four to twelve, while the amount of drug listings increased from 18,000 to 32,000.

Darknet markets present challenges in regard to legality. Cryptocurrency used in dark markets are not clearly or legally classified in almost all parts of the world. In the U.S., bitcoins are labelled as "virtual assets". This type of ambiguous classification puts pressure on law enforcement agencies around the world to adapt to the shifting drug trade of dark markets.

Dark Net

A dark net or darknet is an overlay network within the Internet that can only be accessed with specific software, configurations, or authorization, and often uses a unique customised communication protocol. Two typical darknet types are social networks (usually used for file hosting with a peer-to-peer connection), and anonymity proxy networks such as Tor via an anonymized series of connections. The term 'darknet' was popularised by major news outlets to associate with Tor Onion services, when the infamous drug bazaar Silk Road used it, despite the terminology being unofficial. Technology such as Tor, I2P, and Freenet was intended to defend digital rights by providing security, anonymity, or censorship resistance and is used by both criminals and legitimate users. Anonymous communication between whistle-blowers, activists, journalists and news organisations is also facilitated by darknets through use of applications such as SecureDrop.

Terminology

The term originally described computers on ARPANET that were hidden, programmed to receive messages but not respond to or acknowledge anything, thus remaining invisible, in the dark. An account detailed how the first online transaction related to drugs transpired in 1971 when students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University traded marijuana using ARPANET accounts in the former's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.

Since ARPANET, the usage of dark net has expanded to include friend-to-friend networks (usually used for file sharing with a peer-to-peer connection) and privacy networks such as Tor. The reciprocal term for a darknet is a clearnet or the surface web when referring to content indexable by search engines.

The term "darknet" is often used interchangeably with the "dark web" due to the quantity of hidden services on Tor's darknet. The term is often inaccurately used interchangeably with the deep web due to Tor's history as a platform that could not be search-indexed. Mixing uses of both these terms has been described as inaccurate, with some commentators recommending the terms be used in distinct fashions.

Origins

"Darknet" was coined in the 1970s to designate networks isolated from ARPANET (the government-founded military/academical network which evolved into the Internet), for security purposes. Darknet addresses could receive data from ARPANET but did not appear in the network lists and would not answer pings or other inquiries.

The term gained public acceptance following publication of "The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution", a 2002 paper by Peter Biddle, Paul England, Marcus Peinado, and Bryan Willman, four employees of Microsoft who argued the presence of the darknet was the primary hindrance to the development of workable digital rights management (DRM) technologies and made copyright infringement inevitable. This paper described "darknet" more generally as any type of parallel network that is encrypted or requires a specific protocol to allow a user to connect to it.

Uses

Darknets in general may be used for various reasons, such as:

• To better protect the privacy rights of citizens from targeted and mass surveillance
• Computer crime (cracking, file corruption, etc.)
• Protecting dissidents from political reprisal
• File sharing (warez, personal files, pornography, confidential files, illegal or counterfeit software, etc.)
• Sale of restricted goods on darknet markets
• Whistleblowing and news leaks
• Purchase or sale of illicit or illegal goods or services
• Communication related to human trafficking and organ trade
• Circumventing network censorship and content-filtering systems, or bypassing restrictive firewall policies

Software

All darknets require specific software installed or network configurations made to access them, such as Tor, which can be accessed via a customised browser from Vidalia (aka the Tor browser bundle), or alternatively via a proxy configured to perform the same function.

Other

• Hacking services
• Immigration services
• Very high class escorts
• Slaves
• Malware
• Blackhat SEO
• Weapons and ammunition
• Snuff films
• Exoctic pets
• Goons
• Crooked port and custom officials
• Crooked law enforcement agents
• Discreet lawyers
• Discreet doctors

Single world currency

Franz Draco

Franz Draco is an efreeti-a type of genie that hails from a dimension of fire and infernal heat. He is significantly smarter and more ruthless than the rest of his kind and has lived in our world through the rise and fall of several Ages of Shadow. In the past, he always took the form of a great sultan, ruling both his mundane and Shadow subjects with an iron fist and little mercy. Each time magic waned, though, he would fall into a deep torpor, and his reign would become only a terrible memory to humanity. With the current rise of Shadow, however, he awoke to find a world vastly different than the one he remembered-one in which a sultan had only a fraction of the power it was now capable to amass. Taking the name Franz Draco, he has begun forging a new empire, one based in the worlds of business, technology, and criminal enterprise, through which he plans to reclaim what he sees as his rightful place as Sultan of the World.

After waking and watching the world for several years in secret, he created Draco Industries, which quickly rose in power and influence. His company is on the cutting edge of technological advances, especially those in the fields of information processing and finance. Ever expanding, Draco Industries also owns manufacturing facilities with large military contracts, and the company dabbles in dozens of fringe ventures such as cryogenics, hydroponics, and several esoteric forms of biotechnology.

In addition to the vast resources available to him through his company, Draco has acquired many loyal minions that excel in a number of skills. When he makes a rare public appearance, he is never seen without his trusted lieutenant, the deadly medusa Sasha.

Draco spends most of his time polymorphed into a human. He appears to be in his mid-40s, with red hair, a red beard, and coal-black eyes. He dresses in the finest clothing and bits of flashy gold jewelry.

Sasha

To those that meet the woman known as Sasha, her image is forever etched into their memory. Sasha is the confidant and lieutenant of Franz Draco, seeing that all his wishes and commands are enacted with amazing efficiency. She is seductive, ruthless, and deadly. To those not aware of her Shadow nature, Sasha appears as a woman of near  flawless beauty and poise. Few are aware that she is able to turn a person to stone merely by her gaze.

When she passed through the veil of Shadow not long ago, Draco rescued Sasha from an angry mob and she has been in his service ever since. Although he demands much of her, Sasha is richly rewarded and lives in pampered luxury that appeases her sense of style and superiority. Sasha performs the lion's share of dirty work for Draco Industries corporate espionage, blackmail, kidnappings, and the occasional assassination. She generally performs these acts alone, but is otherwise seen with a coterie of highly trained bodyguards and other specialized personnel following in her wake.

Sasha is a tall and statuesque. She appears to have long, blonde hair worn in thick braids. She wears suits and gowns from the crème de la crème of the fashion world, all tailored to show off her exquisite figure without getting in her way should trouble arise. And Sasha always has on a pair of designer sunglasses (even at night).

The Kokuryūkai was founded in 1901 by martial artist Uchida Ryohei as a successor to his mentor Mitsuru Tōyama's Gen'yōsha. Its name is derived from the translation of the Amur River, which is called Heilongjiang or "Black Dragon River" in Chinese (黑龍江^?), read as Kokuryū-kō in Japanese. Its public goal was to support efforts to keep the Russian Empire north of the Amur River and out of East Asia.

The Kokuryūkai initially made strenuous efforts to distance itself from the criminal elements of its predecessor, the Gen'yōsha. As a result, its membership included Cabinet Ministers and high-ranking military officers as well as professional secret agents. However, as time passed, it found the use of criminal activities to be a convenient means to an end for many of its operations.

The Society published a journal, and operated an espionage training school, from which it dispatched agents to gather intelligence on Russian activities in Russia, Manchuria, Korea and China. Ikki Kita was sent to China as a special member of the organization. It also pressured Japanese politicians to adopt a strong foreign policy. The Kokuryūkai also supported Pan-Asianism, and lent financial support to revolutionaries such as Sun Yat-sen and Emilio Aguinaldo.

During the Russo-Japanese War, annexation of Korea and Siberian Intervention, the Imperial Japanese Army made use of the Kokuryūkai network for espionage, sabotage and assassination. They organized Manchurian guerrillas against the Russians from the Chinese warlords and bandit chieftains in the region, the most important being Marshal Chang Tso-lin. The Black Dragons waged a very successful psychological warfare campaign in conjunction with the Japanese military, spreading disinformation and propaganda throughout the region. They also acted as interpreters for the Japanese army.

The Kokuryūkai assisted the Japanese spy, Colonel Motojiro Akashi. Akashi, who was not directly a member of the Black Dragons, ran successful operations in China, Manchuria, Siberia and established contacts throughout the Muslim world. These contacts in Central Asia were maintained through World War II. The Black Dragons also formed close contact and even alliances with Buddhist sects throughout Asia.

During the 1920s and 1930s, the Kokuryūkai evolved into more of a mainstream political organization, and publicly attacked liberal and leftist thought. Although it never had more than several dozen members at any one time during this period, the close ties of its membership to leading members of the government, military and powerful business leaders gave it a power and influence far greater than most other ultranationalist groups. In 1924, retired naval captain Yutaro Yano and his associates within the Black Dragon Society invited Oomoto leader Onisaburo Deguchi on a journey to Mongolia. Onisaburo led a group of Oomoto disciples, including Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba.

Initially directed only against Russia, in the 1930s, the Kokuryūkai expanded its activities around the world, and stationed agents in such diverse places as Ethiopia, Turkey, Morocco, throughout Southeast Asia and South America, as well as Europe and the United States.

The Kokuryūkai was officially disbanded by order of the American Occupation authorities in 1946. According to Brian Daizen Victoria's book, Zen War Stories, the Black Dragon Society was reconstituted in 1961 as the Black Dragon Club (Kokuryū-Kurabu). The Club never had more than 150 members with which to carry out the goals of the former Black Dragon Society.

Adult education is a thriving business. In this modern world there are always new skills to learn and information to master. This is even truer since the recent rise of Shadow. Although most mundane folk do not recognize Shadow entities for what they are, some do and they are understandably curious.

The Institute for Continuous Education is dedicated to the premise that the more mundane folks understand at least the basic facts about magic, monsters, species from beyond Shadow, the better life will be for everyone. Classes are scheduled in convenient evening and weekend hours, and are taught by local experts in the field.

The classes offered by the Institute are bare bones basic. They mostly give mundane humans the vocabulary necessary to intelligently discuss creatures and effects of Shadow. However, if students stay with the program for several years, they eventually progress to the point of being able to cast spells, speak Shadow languages, and move relatively unobtrusively among creatures and species from other realms.

There is little of value for heroes in the Institute’s classes. But the instructors are often former-heroes or Shadow creatures and so make good contacts. They are usually in touch with various aspects of the local Shadow communities and make excellent sources of information.

The only way heroes would fit in with this organization would be if they hired on as instructors. In that case, they would be able to requisition equipment from the Institute with an appropriate level check. These checks receive a +2 bonus if they are valid requests for the course a character is teaching, or a –5 penalty if they are frivolous.

Dr. Allison’s Guide to the Mystic Arts

The primary text for all courses taught at the Institute for Continuous Education, this book by Rose Allison, PhD has also become an international best seller.

Until a few years ago, Dr. Allison was an obscure parapsychologist with a weekly syndicated talk radio show that was barely kept on the air through grants from various occult foundations and eccentric individuals. With the rise of Shadow, however, she quickly became the popular figure most literate in the ways of magic and creatures from beyond reality. Unlike most people in her field, though, Dr. Allison had been engaged in serious research, delving into the past and gathering useful and accurate information about previous Shadow incursions. She was quickly able to turn her years of notes into a cohesive and entertainingly written book. It serves as a perfect primer for mundane folk who want to learn about spellcasting, potion brewing, and other magic processes. It also is an invaluable aid to those doing serious research on spells effects, components, and the process of creating magic items.

The Institute for Continuous Education hosts a website with an interactive version of Dr. Allison’s Guide. This is a private site, though, and is only accessible to current students whose tuition is paid in full. (It is possible for non-students to access the website by succeeding at a DC 20 Computer Use check.

Anyone using Dr. Allison’s Guide to the Mystic Arts gets a +5 equipment bonus on Research and Knowledge (Arcane Lore) checks. Users also receive a +2 equipment bonus on Craft (chemical), Craft (visual arts), and Craft (writing) checks when brewing potions and scribing tattoos or scrolls.

Inquisition-6

Inquisition-6 is a private paramilitary organization. It is not connected to any government, nor is it officially headquartered in any single country. Though, they are [allegedly] paid large sums of money by many countries. Inquisition-6 is not totally secret to many of the world governments, but is relatively unknown to the general population. It boasts a large number of personnel, though the number is only known to a very few number of people.

Its personnel is committed in many roles including assassins, shocktroopers, undercover agents, scientists, and administrative staff.

Founding

The founding of Inquisition-6 is not known to anyone outside of the top administration of Inquisition-6 itself. It is rumored, however, that an assassin businessman by the name of William James Clark founded the organization in the mid-1960's.

Controversies

The conspiracy theories surrounding Inquisition-6 are many, even though they aren't known to any great extent by civilian populations. Some include that the United States and Soviet Union settled the Cold War through concerns of Inqusition-6 "interference." Another suggests that an Inquisition-6 sniper was the shooter in the Kennedy assassination, because of suspected US action against Inquisition-6. These are just to name a few.

Armed Forces

This ancient order of hermetic scholars traces its roots back to the Middle Ages. Over the centuries, they have invested wisely, spent frugally, and amassed an untold fortune that holds them in good stead even in today's secular society. The organization has close ties to many of Europe's royal families as well as good standing relationships with the heads of most major western religions. They seem to be a group that is universally respected and genuinely liked.

The Order is dedicated to collecting and preserving knowledge of paranormal abilities in otherwise mundane people. Because of this, many within the Shadow community refer to them as the "psychic monks," but the brothers don't seem to mind at all. In fact, they believe that this dismissive attitude makes it easier for them to go about their business of gathering and protecting dangerous information.

The Order owns the most exhaustive known collection of banned, suppressed, and otherwise anathema literature. It contains descriptions of and dissertations on every known psychic, magical, and otherwise unexplained phenomenon ever chronicled by mundane man. This collection is known as the Black Library, but it is not a library in the conventional sense. People, the Order believes, were not meant to know these secrets. It is important that the information be preserved in case it is needed to combat some great threat, but it is not meant to be used in a frivolous manner. Therefore, the Order has broken up the information into discreet, incomplete portions and given one portion to each of its monasteries to safeguard. In this way, the information is preserved, but none of their monks are ever tempted by too much knowledge. But each monastery is still a resource for information (albeit incomplete information) on the entire spectrum of paranormal abilities.

Although the world considers them to be a bit eccentric, the monks of St. Bartholomew are a good lot, interested in the well being of all creatures. It would be perfectly fitting for a retiring hero to join the order (particularly if he or she has some sort of psychic abilities or knowledge).

The Order eschews worldly goods, so it is very difficult to convince them to requisition anything for anyone. However, if the heroes do convince them of the necessity of buying particular nonviolent items, the Order provides a +3 bonus on related level checks.

The Black Library

The total knowledge held by the Order of Bartholomew is split up among the various monasteries. Visiting one will provide insight into a mystical question, but visiting others will provide deeper and deeper understanding.

Gaining the cooperation of one monastery provides a +3 insight bonus on Knowledge (arcane lore) or Research checks pertaining to appropriate subjects. For each subsequent monastery that agrees to cooperate, raise the bonus by +2. However, it is notoriously difficult to get the Order to cooperate, especially if they know that a person has already gained the aid of another monastery. The Order broke their knowledge into distinct pieces because they believe it is dangerous to gather too much of it in any one mind.

The mundane world is not quite sure how to treat this organization. On the one hand, it is a radical group that regularly is involved in disturbing the peace, assault, torture, and even extremely violent terrorist activities. On the other hand, they do it all in the name of “freedom of the mind,” and claim to be “psychic warriors” and “the world’s elite psionicists.”

The Mindwreckers believe that mental powers are the world’s most avant-garde art form, and that they should be left alone to allow their artistry to flourish. However, their “artistry” seems to focus mainly on hurting innocent people and destroying public and private property. They believe that anyone who does not have mental powers is merely clay or canvas to be molded by a skilled craftsperson. Often they videotape their criminal activities to add to their portfolios. What’s more, they brand anyone whom they believe to have psychic abilities yet opposes their activities a “mindcriminal,” and target that person and his or her family, business, and property for especially destructive “performances.”

Whether these are a bunch of extremely violent, delusional delinquents or actually a psionic terrorist group depends entirely on the GM’s perspective on psionics in the campaign. Either way, the Mindwreckers are a dangerous organization of extremists who live to cause mayhem in the lives of the people they call “little brains.” As such, the Mindwreckers is not and organization that any hero should even consider joining.

The Mindwreckers love publicity, but they hate when unexpected witnesses ruin their performances by taking information to the authorities. As a result, the group has pioneered a new psionic power that allows them to block the memories of anyone whose lips they want to seal temporarily. Members of the Mindwreckers have access to the following psionic power:

Memory Block

Charisma

Level: Telepath 4; Display: Visual, Audible; Manifestation Time: 1 action; Range: Touch; Target: One living creature; Duration: 1 day + 1 hour/level; Saving Throw: Will negates; Power Resistance: Yes; Power Points: 10

You form a psionic barrier within the target’s memory, creating near total amnesia. The target cannot remember his name or any pertinent facts about his life. It has no effect on his ability to form new memories.

Memory block has no effect on the target’s physical skills and abilities; through instinct, he is able to do everything he was before. GMs may require an Intelligence check (DC 15 + assailant’s Telepath level) before allowing a character to use particularly complex pieces of equipment.

For the duration of the memory block, victims cannot perform any Knowledge checks and have a penalty to any Research checks equal to the Telepath level of the character who manifested this effect.

We know that this is not the first time creatures and people have passed from beyond Shadow into our world. There are oblique references to it throughout history. So how did our forefathers deal with this incursion from beyond reality? No one is completely certain, but there are rumors of a group known only as the Fellowship stretching back to the very first incursion.

The Fellowship is an ancient, secret organization dedicated to keeping track of and, when necessary, combating Shadow entities. No one is certain where the group is headquartered, where it gets its funding, or what if any ulterior motives it promotes. No one knows how to contact them, or where they get their information—but everyone knows that when the Fellowship shows up something terrible is on the verge of happening.

Agents of the Fellowship invariably have freakishly detailed information regarding anyone and everyone they encounter. They always have a plan, a back-up plan, and an emergency plan and the equipment needed to carry out all three. And while they always fight to protect the world from unspeakable danger, Fellowship agents consider extensive collateral damage to neighborhoods, bystanders, and even allies to be “acceptable” in the pursuit of the greater good.

There are many even among the Shadow community who believe that the Fellowship is nothing more than a myth. But there are heroes everywhere who tell whispered tales of how representatives of the organization showed up on their doorsteps one day and pressed them into service on a particularly dangerous mission.

Heroes will encounter agents of the Fellowship when and where they least expect it. And even though the organization will make use of their skills and abilities, the heroes will not actually become agents of the group. The Fellowship will usually offer to pay heroes for their efforts either in cash or by supplying equipment. They are more than willing to negotiate with the heroes, but will demand greater (often more frequent) service for more expensive or restricted materials. As a result, heroes do not requisition materials using the usual rules. Instead they “cut a deal” with a Fellowship agent. (GMs are encouraged to be agreeable bargainers—the Fellowship has a nearly endless supply of equipment—but to demand more and more future work out of the heroes.) The agent will supply the agreed upon materials in short order. Often he will have the requested items on his person, as though he knew ahead of time what the heroes would ask for. Heroes who attempt to renege on their agreement will receive one very firm warning from the Fellowship agent with whom they bargained. After that, if they continue to be deadbeats, the Fellowship simply considers them “expendable.” They will not hunt the hero down, but neither will they lift a finger to save the hero (or any of the hero’s allies) should they get in the way of Fellowship operations.

Sigil of the Fellowship

Members of the Fellowship each carry a thin ceramic disk in the shape of the group’s insignia. Some wear the disk as a pendant, others carry it in a coat or pants pocket, but they are never go in the field without one. Occasionally, the Fellowship will give a single sigil to a trusted ally, often as a reward for helping to resolve a particularly difficult situation.

When the bearer breaks the sigil he or she may cast one of the following spells:

• Magic circle against enemies of the Fellowship centered on the person who broke the sigil.
• Electromagnetic pulse centered on the person who broke the sigil.
• Obscuring mist centered on the person who broke the sigil.
• Recharge without the need for an electrical outlet on which to focus.

"Well, I suppose the first thing you should know about us is that we have people everywhere." — Mr. White, Quantum of Solace

The Syndicate is the autocratic superpower of the criminal world. It maintains an iron grip on the Black Market, commands battalions of armed guards and controls large sectors of land (from districts to cities or whole planets). Its influence might extend towards law enforcement, labor unions, politicians and corporations, whether through blackmail, bribery, coercion or simple business. Its many activities include racketeering, extortion, kidnapping, gambling, smuggling and trafficking.

In addition to standard Mooks, its security apparatus may consist of a Murder, Inc., Bounty Hunters, Professional Killers and the Corporate Samurai. You know you're in trouble when the Syndicate somehow boasts Pinkerton Detectives and/or Private Military Contractors. Often times, The Syndicate can be a bonafide N.G.O. Superpower.

There are several ways to structure the culture and chain of authority within The Syndicate, but the most common would be for it to carry a distinctly corporate flavor. In this sense, the Syndicate operates its enterprise by setting up illegal monopolies or illicit criminal networks, all the while conducting themselves almost like a business clique.

On a semantic note, a "syndicate" is nothing illegal per definition, as it is simply a group of companies working together for mutual profit (the most immediate example would be television syndication). However, "the Syndicate" only has one meaning in modern Western popular culture. In this sense, it may have gotten its name from the so-called "National Crime Syndicate" of ethnic gangs and the similarly-vague "Commission," the Real Life governing body of the American Mafia. Both were organized by the Italian gangster Lucky Luciano and the Jewish gangster Meyer Lansky in the early 1930s. The former group didn't actually have a name (calling it the "National Crime Syndicate" came from the media, who had to call it something) and arguably wasn't even a group, more an informal agreement on the part of various gangs to stay out of each other's turf since turf wars are unprofitable and draw police attention. The only organized crime groups that had any real alliance were the Italian-American Mafia and the Jewish-American gangs.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (Latin: Ordo Hermeticus Aurorae Aureae; or, more commonly, the Golden Dawn (Aurora Aurea)) was a secret society devoted to the study and practice of the occult, metaphysics, and paranormal activities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as a magical order, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was active in Great Britain and focused its practices on theurgy and spiritual development. Many present-day concepts of ritual and magic that are at the centre of contemporary traditions, such as Wicca and Thelema, were inspired by the Golden Dawn, which became one of the largest single influences on 20th-century Western occultism.

The three founders, William Robert Woodman, William Wynn Westcott and Samuel Liddell Mathers, were Freemasons. Westcott appears to have been the initial driving force behind the establishment of the Golden Dawn.

The Golden Dawn system was based on hierarchy and initiation like the Masonic lodges; however women were admitted on an equal basis with men. The "Golden Dawn" was the first of three Orders, although all three are often collectively referred to as the "Golden Dawn". The First Order taught esoteric philosophy based on the Hermetic Qabalah and personal development through study and awareness of the four classical elements as well as the basics of astrology, tarot divination, and geomancy. The Second or "Inner" Order, the Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis, taught magic, including scrying, astral travel, and alchemy. The Third Order was that of the "Secret Chiefs", who were said to be highly skilled; they supposedly directed the activities of the lower two orders by spirit communication with the Chiefs of the Second Order.

The Shadow Brokers is a hacker group who first appeared in the summer of 2016. They published several leaks containing hacking tools, including several zero-day exploits, from the "Equation Group" who are widely suspected to be a branch of the National Security Agency (NSA) of the United States. Specifically, these exploits and vulnerabilities targeted enterprise firewalls, antivirus software, and Microsoft products. The Shadow Brokers originally attributed the leaks to the Equation Group threat actor, who have been tied to the NSA's Tailored Access Operations unit.

Name and alias

Several news sources noted that the group's name was likely in reference to a character from the Mass Effect video game series. Matt Suiche quoted the following description of that character: "The Shadow Broker is an individual at the head of an expansive organization which trades in information, always selling to the highest bidder. The Shadow Broker appears to be highly competent at its trade: all secrets that are bought and sold never allow one customer of the Broker to gain a significant advantage, forcing the customers to continue trading information to avoid becoming disadvantaged, allowing the Broker to remain in business."

Leak history

First leak: "Equation Group Cyber Weapons Auction - Invitation"

While the exact date is unclear, reports suggest that the preparation of the leak started at least in the beginning of August, and that the initial publication occurred August 13, 2016 with a Tweet from a Twitter account "@shadowbrokerss" announcing a Pastebin page and a GitHub repository containing references and instructions for obtaining and decrypting the content of a file supposedly containing tools and exploits used by the Equation Group.

Publication and speculation about authenticity

The Pastebin introduces a section titled "Equation Group Cyber Weapons Auction - Invitation", with the following content:

Equation Group Cyber Chase Weapons Auction - Invitation

- ------------------------------------------------

!!! Attention government sponsors of cyber warfare and those who profit from it !!!!

How much you pay for enemies cyber weapons? Not malware you find in networks. Both sides, RAT + LP, full state sponsor tool set? We find cyber weapons made by creators of stuxnet, duqu, flame. Kaspersky calls Equation Group. We follow Equation Group traffic. We find Equation Group source range. We hack Equation Group. We find many many Equation Group cyber weapons. You see pictures. We give you some Equation Group files free, you see. This is good proof no? You enjoy!!! You break many things. You find many intrusions. You write many words. But not all, we are auction the best files. .

The Pastebin includes various references for obtaining the file, named "EQGRP-Auction-Files.zip". This zip file contains seven files, two of which are the GPG-encrypted archives "eqgrp-auction-file.tar.xz.gpg" and "eqgrp-free-file.tar.xz.gpg". The "eqgrp-free-file.tar.xz.gpg" archive's password was revealed in the original Pastebin to be theequationgroup. The "eqgrp-auction-file.tar.xz" archive's password was revealed in a later Medium post to be CrDj"(;Va.*NdlnzB9M?@K2)#>deB7mN.

The Pastebin continues with instructions for obtaining the password to the encrypted auction file:

Auction Instructions

- --------------------

We auction best files to highest bidder. Auction files better than stuxnet. Auction files better than free files we already give you. The party which sends most bitcoins to address: 19BY2XCgbDe6WtTVbTyzM9eR3LYr6VitWK before bidding stops is winner, we tell how to decrypt. Very important!!! When you send bitcoin you add additional output to transaction. You add OP_Return output. In Op_Return output you put your (bidder) contact info. We suggest use bitmessage or I2P-bote email address. No other information will be disclosed by us publicly. Do not believe unsigned messages. We will contact winner with decryption instructions. Winner can do with files as they please, we not release files to public.

The initial response to the publication was met with some skepticism, as to whether or not the content actually would be "...many many Equation Group cyber weapons."

Second leak: "Message #5 - TrickOrTreat"

This publication, made on October 31, 2016, contains a list of servers, supposedly compromised by Equation Group as well as references to seven supposedly undisclosed tools (DEWDROP, INCISION, JACKLADDER, ORANGUTAN, PATCHICILLIN, RETICULUM, SIDETRACK AND STOCSURGEON) also used by the threat actor.

Third leak: "Message #6 - BLACK FRIDAY / CYBER MONDAY SALE"

Message #6 reads as follows:

TheShadowBrokers is trying auction. Peoples no like. TheShadowBrokers is trying crowdfunding. Peoples is no liking. Now TheShadowBrokers is trying direct sales. Be checking out ListOfWarez. If you like, you email TheShadowBrokers with name of Warez you want make purchase. TheShadowBrokers is emailing you back bitcoin address. You make payment. TheShadowBrokers emailing you link + decryption password. If not liking this transaction method, you finding TheShadowBrokers on underground marketplaces and making transaction with escrow. Files as always being signed.

This leak contains 60 folders named in a way to serve as reference to tools likely used by Equation Group. The leak doesn't contain executable files, but rather screenshots of the tools file structure. While the leak could be a fake, the overall cohesion between previous and future leaks and references as well as the work required to fake such a fabrication, gives credibility to the theory that the referenced tools are genuine.

Fourth leak: "Don't Forget Your Base"

On April 8, 2017, the Medium account used by The Shadow Brokers posted a new update. The post revealed the password to encrypted files released last year to be CrDj"(;Va.*NdlnzB9M?@K2)#>deB7mN. Those files allegedly reveal more NSA hacking tools. This posting explicitly stated that the post was partially in response to President Trump's attack against a Syrian airfield, which was also used by Russian forces.

The decrypted file, eqgrp-auction-file.tar.xz, contained a collection of tools primarily for compromising Linux/Unix based environments.

Fifth leak: "Lost in Translation"

On April 14, 2017, the Twitter account used by The Shadow Brokers posted a tweet with a link to the Steem blockchain. Herein, a message with a link to the leak files, encrypted with the password Reeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

The overall content is based around three folders: "oddjob", "swift" and "windows". The fifth leak is suggested to be the "...most damaging release yet" and CNN quoted Matthew Hickey saying, "This is quite possibly the most damaging thing I've seen in the last several years,".

The leak includes, amongst other things, the tools and exploits codenamed: DANDERSPIRITZ, ODDJOB, FUZZBUNCH, DARKPULSAR, ETERNALSYNERGY, ETERNALROMANCE, ETERNALBLUE, EXPLODINGCAN and EWOKFRENZY.

Some of the exploits targeting the Windows operating system, had been patched in a Microsoft Security Bulletin on March 14, 2017, one month before the leak occurred. Some speculated that Microsoft may have been tipped off about the release of the exploits.

Eternalblue

Over 200,000 machines were infected with tools from this leak within the first two weeks, and in May 2017, the major WannaCry ransomware attack used the ETERNALBLUE exploit on Server Message Block (SMB) to spread itself. The exploit was also used to help carry out the 2017 Petya cyberattack on June 27, 2017.

ETERNALBLUE contains kernel shellcode to load the non-persistent DoublePulsar backdoor. This allows for the installation of the PEDDLECHEAP payload which would then be accessed by the attacker using the DanderSpritz Listening Post (LP) software.

Speculations and theories on motive and identity

NSA insider threat

James Bamford along with Matt Suiche speculated that an insider, "possibly someone assigned to the 'NSA's' highly sensitive Tailored Access Operations", stole the hacking tools. In October 2016, The Washington Post reported that Harold T. Martin III, a former contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton accused of stealing approximately 50 terabytes of data from the National Security Agency (NSA), was the lead suspect. The Shadow Brokers continued posting messages that were cryptographically-signed and were interviewed by media while Martin was detained.

Theory on ties to Russia

Edward Snowden stated on Twitter on August 16, 2016 that "circumstantial evidence and conventional wisdom indicates Russian responsibility" and that the leak "is likely a warning that someone can prove responsibility for any attacks that originated from this malware server" summarizing that it looks like "somebody sending a message that an escalation in the attribution game could get messy fast".

The New York Times put the incident in the context of the Democratic National Committee cyber attacks and hacking of the Podesta emails. As US intelligence agencies were contemplating counter-attacks, the Shadow Brokers code release was to be seen as a warning: "Retaliate for the D.N.C., and there are a lot more secrets, from the hackings of the State Department, the White House and the Pentagon, that might be spilled as well. One senior official compared it to the scene in The Godfather where the head of a favorite horse is left in a bed, as a warning."

In 2019, David Aitel, a computer scientist formerly employed by the NSA, summarized the situation with: "I don’t know if anybody knows other than the Russians. And we don’t even know if it’s the Russians. We don’t know at this point; anything could be true."

The Mafia.... BUT CHINESE!! Subject of a thousand Hong Kong Films and a recurrent trope in Western Yellow Peril stories, the Triads started life as a Ming-restorationist Secret Society during the 1760s. There was a precedent for this sort of thing working, given the Red Turban society and rebellion which fractured the Yuan Empire and allowed the Ming to conquer China in the late 14th century, though said society's original intent had actually been to restore the Song Empire.

Accordingly the Triads were associated with the colour red and the name 'Hong' because it was part of the first Ming Emperor's reign name (Hongwu, lit. 'superlative martial accomplishment') and the name of one of the society's founders. From the beginning they created an official mythology which claimed that had actually been created during the Ming-Qing wars of the 17th century, after the burning of the southern Shaolin temple, by five survivors of the battle. Some even claimed that one of them was Jee Sin, who was the master of the 5 Elders of Southern Chinese kung fu.

After contributing to the fall of the Qing Empire in the 1911 revolution, without resurrecting the Ming (as had been their original intention), the Triads now found themselves without a purpose and there was a split between the Mainland and overseas branches. The Mainland group is what we now commonly refer to as the Triads, while the overseas group became known as the Hongmen. The mainland Triads now turned to crime as they were unable to reenter normal society. After the Communist takeover, many Triad members moved to Hong Kong and Taiwan to escape new measures against organized crime. Hong Kong's Triad problems peaked in the 1970s, helped by police corruption.

The Hongmen is divided into 180 branches, and is arguably a Freemason-like organization, with an emphasis on patriotism, given the circumstances of its origin. Distinguished politicians such as Sun Yat Sen and Chiang Kai Shek were senior members. It shares traditions with the Triads, since they were one and the same not that far back. They are illegal in Hong Kong due to their relationship with the Triads, but are legal in Taiwan as a secret society. Not surprising, since President Chiang Kai Shek was a member. They exist in China as a political party, and hold the single non-communist ministerial seat. It has branches in other overseas Chinese communities, where it is referred to as Chinese Freemasonry. Its membership is rapidly aging with the change in the times.

Another group are the Tongs (literally "meeting hall", each Tong was named after the hall in which they were headquartered), modeled on the Triads, which arose in the US in response to the need for support organizations for new immigrant Chinese, as well as taking charge of protecting their members from violence from other groups. Some Tongs are fully legitimate organizations, providing charity to needy immigrants, giving them jobs and such. Others are more criminal in outlook, engaging in drug smuggling (opium being the most stereotypical one), prostitution, and racketeering. But usually, the average Tong was composed of both criminal and legitimate branches, with the criminal activity funding the charity (and the charity providing cover for the crimes). Many Triad members would join Tongs on reaching America, causing some Tongs to be strongly influenced by the Triads.

Chinese secret societies are guaranteed to exist anywhere in the world with a significant Chinese immigrant population, from Australia to L.A.

The secret societies used to be governed by strict codes of conduct and an inflexible hierarchical system, but that system has broken down in recent years, leading to behavior that many older members would consider unethical. The traditional secret societies have 36 Oaths which basically say, "don't screw over your sworn brothers, or you will get chopped up with lots of blades." (This phrase is repeated many, many times during the oaths, just to remind you). Doesn't mention anything about the morality of killing innocents. The oaths are sealed with the drinking of blood mixed with wine, and the oath-takers enter into a sworn brotherhood with the rest of the members of their organization. No problems with having more sworn brothers from elsewhere, though.

The traditional hierarchy and rituals, based in esoteric numerology and mythology, are not always followed as strictly or exactly as the old days, but many traditions live on in lingo and ceremony. The leader of a Triad is called the Mountain Master or Dragon Head. Below him are his highest tier lieutenants: Deputy Mountain Master, who acts as the Dragon Head's advisor and proxy, Incense Master, who oversees ceremonies and initiations, and Vanguard, who handles recruitment and assists the Incense Master. The middle officers are the Red Poles, White Paper Fans and Straw Sandals. Red Poles are the gang bosses and war leaders, commanding their own units to attack enemies, defend turf and engage in street crime. White Paper Fans are the consiglieres and administrators, managing and advising on finances, business and legal matters. Straw Sandals are liaisons, organizing and scheduling important meetings or gang fights. At the bottom are 49ers, who are simply the low-ranking initiates under Red Poles, and Blue Lanterns, the miscellaneous thugs, dealers, and contacts who are informally affiliated with or freelance for the group but not properly initiated into the Triad for life. Blue Lanterns tend to outnumber 49ers in modern times, but obviously are less trusted and more expendable. 25er is slang for a corrupt cop or contact in a rival group, serving as spies and informants.

As mentioned earlier, the traditional punishment is death by a hundred cuts, or getting ambushed and hacked up which is easier and quicker. Hong Kong triads especially love their cleavers, given the difficulty of obtaining guns in Hong Kong. A machete is fine too. Overseas groups may use guns, automatic weapons and explosives, if they don't find them dishonorable. Some martial arts, especially some of the Southern Shaolin styles tend to have a reputation as being used by the Triads, especially due to their common origin myth in the Southern Shaolin temple.

The patron god of the Triads is none other than Guan Yu (of both literary and video game note). He is also the patron god of the police... and a patron god for business. Basically, Guan Yu is the god for any high risk endeavour where you want trustworthy 'brothers' watching your back.

It should be noted that "Chinese Mafia" is both an oversimplification and misconception of Triads and Tongs, as neither have that much presence in China itself. Triads have some influence in certain regions of China, but operate most extensively outside of mainland China, as Mao's regime dismantled traditional secret societies during the Cultural Revolution, and the Tongs are largely a western phenomenon. Within the actual People's Republic of China there are criminal outfits called Black Societies, which wield significant but subtle political power and clout with local law enforcement, and Dark Forces, which are less organized, less powerful gangs (both terms being awkward translations of weird Chinese terms), neither having any relationship to traditional Chinese mysticism. Essentially, Triads are ethnically Chinese criminal societies abroad.

Cyberpunk Era

It's a great century for the Triads as they are one of the great winners of the Cyberpunk era. The Chinese Civil War of 1992-2014 ended up benefiting the Triads in at least three ways. For starters it facilitated their overseas expansion by allowing them to get it's enforcers, mules, and prostitutes into other nation-states as "refugees". Therefore the Triad presence in Canada exploded, it turned them into the third largest organized crime group in the United States, and New Zealand now finds itself facing a growing Triad presence.

Second, due to their participation in the war against the revolutionary army of the Maoist Loyalist Cabal (MLC) which was attempting to overthrow the Chinese Communist Party and revert China to Maoism, they became allies of the corporations based in Hong Kong and of the People's Liberation Army in China.

Now they are called "patriotic" and "noble" by elements within the Chinese government, which means government influence and protection. Last but not least, China is still under martial law because of surviving MLC cells and within China there is a thriving black market, and naturally the Triads are involved in that business.

Organization

Triads vary greatly in how organized they are. Some Triads are loosely organized, more like coalitions of gangs. Other Triads have a structured hierarchy, with specified ranks and perhaps even a council or a board of directors. Numerical codes that are based on Chinese numerology are assigned to members to identify what rank they have.

Members of a Triad are taught the centuries-old hand signals of the Triad and undergo initiation ritual based on Daoist and Buddhist traditions / beliefs which ends with a loyalty oath. Communication among Triad members may include the use of a numbered code. The Dragonheads (Triad leaders), usually lead a public life as a businessman running some type of small business, like a small restaurant. The idea is to keep a low profile, so though the Dragonhead may be one of the most powerful men in the city or perhaps even the country, most will keep that facade of humility.

• At the top of the Triad hierarchy is the Shan Chu (Lodge Master / Dragonhead – 489). He or she has very little contact, if any with the rank and file members of the Triad. Dragonheads are quasi-legitimate businessmen.

• In the level below, are the “483”s. The top ranked 483 is the Fu Shan Chu (Deputy Lodge Master, the top ranked 483) who manages the day-to-day operations of the Triad. Below him are two 483s of equal rank; the Heung Chu (Incense Master) who is in charge of enforcing the traditions of the Triad, and the Sin Fung (Guardian) who is in charge of recruiting. Last is the Sheung Fa (Double Flower), whom are the ones who establish new branches of the Triad.

• Below the 483’s are the Triad’s officers. The military commander in charge of the gangs is the Hung Kwan (Red Pole, 426). In charge of accounting is the Pak Tsz Sin (White Paper Fan, 415). The public face of the Triad who collects and pays the bribes and graft from the businesses and gangs is the Cho Hai (Grass Sandal, 425).

• Last of all are the rank-n-file members, all of whom are Sze Kau (49). They are the soldiers of the Triad who provide security, act as muscle, run a business, supervise a safehouse, or work as hitmen for the Triad.

Activities

Like the other major organized crime groups, the Triads are into a wide variety of criminal activities. Within China there is a huge black market in guns, satellite dishes, cyberware, imported food, and Japanese braindance. Wherever the Triads operate they often have their fingers into vice (gambling and prostitution). They run smuggling operations (drugs, people, stolen goods, etc), face banks, protection rackets, fences, and underground banks. Other enterprises are credstick chopping, designer drugs, counterfeit passports & ID cards, and house invasions. They even control some of the pirate packs in Chinese waters.

The Triads are present in China and throughout the Chinese Diaspora. Overseas among the Chinese Diaspora, the Triads recruit by protecting them from racists and bringing their violent and misguided youth into the Triad. In the United States they hold a stranglehold on the Chinese communities. In Europe, the Triads are strongest in England and the Netherlands. Compared to the Yakuza, the Sudams, and some of the Mafia groups who are focused only on profit and could care less about the communities, the Triads use a significant chunk of their profits to support their communities. Unfortunately turf wars between the Triads in the Far East are exported to Chinatowns around the world.

Operations

Triads have a code of honor but it’s not as defined as that of the Mafia or Yakuza. It’s not a united criminal organization as each Triad is led by it’s own Dragonhead who may or may not be advised by a council or board of directors. In the Chinese criminal underworld there is no ruling council or board of directors overseeing all of the Triads, nor is there a boss of bosses. The hierarchy within a Triad arranges, maintains, and controls the Triad’s profitable interests while the fighters (Hung Kwan) patrol the streets.

In the world of organized crime, it is among the most violent and trigger happy of crime syndicates, and unlike the Yakuza or Mafia which will break your legs or burn a building, the Triad is likely to dice you up and spread the pieces around the neighborhood as a form of warning. In the United States, the Triads are the most brutal of organized crime groups, terrorizing or killing entire families as a warning to others.

Martial arts and mysticism are used to solidify their groups. Usually members come from the same region and speak the same dialect. They prefer the “Big Suit” look which has the benefit of being fashionable as well as letting you hide armor and guns. Hitters often have cyber modifications and may use various combat drugs to give them that edge.

The Mafia.... IN JAPAN!! Yakuza are Japanese mobsters, sometimes known outside Japan as "the Japanese Mafia", and euphemistically known inside Japan as "anti-social organizations" or "violent groups". Yakuza insist that their organizations originated in Robin Hood-style groups of outlaws and vigilantes during Japan's feudal era, but scholars believe that they are in fact descended from roving bands of Rōnin who harassed and extorted the local peasantry.

The name "yakuza" came from a traditional Japanese card game called Oicho-Kabu, which is similar to Baccarat. Like it, the goal of the game is to reach a total of 9, the last digit of any total over 10 makes your hand. Having two of the same card makes it the card number. The worst hand you can get in the game is an eight, a nine and a three, totalling 20 = 0. 8-9-3 is expressed as "ya-ku-za" phonetically in Japanese.

Not that these are mutually exclusive descriptions, though. Tired of robbing the penniless peasants, these Ronin bands often gravitated towards more affluent cities, where they sought employment as hired muscle. There they mingled with and frequently joined local urban self-defense groups and mutual aid societies, and this is where their claim of the service to society comes from. The fact that these groups were often indistinguishable from criminal gangs is usually blissfully ignored. The modern descendants of such gangs are the very Yakuza groups that are discussed here. Today, some 70% of Yakuza come from burakumin background, and 10% of Yakuza are ethnic Koreans (despite Koreans making up about 0.5% of the Japanese population), both of which are groups which have historically faced discrimination in Japanese society.

There is an alternative hypothesis suggesting that Yakuza are descendants of legitimate organizations of tekiya, or peddlers of shady or stolen goods, whose leaders were even allowed to carry swords (when that was illegal for most people following the Meiji Restoration). Those groups, though, were often associated with less legitimate organizations of gamblers.

Please that real Yakuza never actually use the term "Yakuza", but prefer more romantic kennings like Gokudo (the outermost path) or Ninkyo dantai (chivalrous society), tying into the romanticized view of the Yakuza.

Yakuza are also commonly associated with uyoku dantai groups (basically Japan's nationalist right wing militia fanatics), and are commonly accused of doing so in order to camouflage their criminal activities behind a political ideology, which would be protected speech. Some Yakuza groups have close ties with uyoku dantai, and a few have even adopted the ideology for real and dropped their criminal activities.

Yakuza resemble The Mafia in that they are very organized crime syndicates, with strict codes of behavior and etiquette, and encompass many levels of ritual and formality. Like their Western counterparts, they derive most of their profit from extortion, Protection Racket, drug trafficking, and the like. They like to maintain that they provide a service to the community, which in return owes them both respect and money. But unlike the Mafia or the Chinese Triads, Yakuza are not secret societies. They often operate openly, even so far as to maintain offices and carry business cards. And their strict code of honor and dedication (at least superficially) to "protecting the community" means that they're often an accepted part of Japanese society, and even the police will leave them alone as long as they don't carry guns, deal in drugs, or harass the tourists (which the honor code doesn't allow anyway). They even police their own territories and deal with street-level crime, as such crime would reflect very badly on the local boss (or oyabun) and be seen as a sign of weakness. As humorist Dave Barry put it, nothing in Japan can be disorganized — not even the crime.

The stereotypical Yakuza character matches the real-world profile fairly closely. He is heavily tattooed, a trait so identified with delinquency that many bathhouses in Japan will forbid people with tattoos on the premises. He's Always Male, as female Yakuza are very rare in the male-dominated Japanese society. If you see a woman in a Yakuza clan, she's either a Miss Kitty in charge of the clan's prostitution deals or a Dragon Lady (in the rare cases when she works directly with the other male members) or the boss's daughter or the boss's consort known as "ane" (Japanese for big sister). He wears an expensive suit and dark sunglasses, and he walks with a distinctive swagger that announces his profession. While he claims a benign interest in the community, he's also likely to be as violent and destructive as his Western counterpart, especially if he feels he is not receiving the respect he deserves — but this combination of honor and violence allows some works to ascribe Samurai traits to him. And he may be missing a finger, either as a punishment or as a loyalty test, a trait so associated with the Yakuza that it's a big reason you rarely see Four-Fingered Hands in Japanese media. In this sense, the Yakuza can be seen as somewhere in between the finesse of the classic Italian mafioso and the brutality of the Russian bratva.

Yakuza are so prominent in Japanese culture that they have spawned an entire genre of films which are as distinct from Western gangster films as the Yakuza are from Western gangsters. While many of these films are little-known in the West, movies like Tokyo Drifter and Battles Without Honor and Humanity pioneered many tropes that Western audiences have since come to associate with martial arts and action pictures, and their influence can be detected in productions as diverse as Kill Bill and Cowboy Bebop. Yakuza also appear quite often in Cyberpunk fiction, if only because Japan Takes Over the World is typical of the genre.

In fiction Yakuza members will almost always be ethnically Japanese, but they are not homogenous in real life. Approximately 30% of those in mainland Japan are of Korean descent. There have also been notable cases of Hāfu, people of mixed Japanese ancestry, joining. Yakuza also have a presence in Okinawa and other Ryukyu Islands, whose people are ethinically different from Japanese and have their own languages and customs. Overseas clans in places like Hawaii and California also often have non-Japanese members.

Digital Copies of Our Minds

One of the most unsettling characters in Neuromancer is Case’s hacker wingman, McCoy Pauley (aka “The Flatine”). Before his death, Pauley managed to copy his personality, memories, and intelligence onto a ROM disk, essentially creating a virtual copy of himself. 

A number of major figures in the tech and business world, including Ray Kurzweil (author of books like The Singularity Is Near and How to Create a Mind) and Dmitry Itskov (billionaire entrepreneur and founder of the 2045 Initiative) have proposed doing something similar to Pauley: either upload our minds to computers or to new robot bodies. Itskov’s 2045 Initiative claims we can even achieve digital immortality by 2045.

Scientists like Dr. Ken Hayworth, however, say we’ve still got a long way to go: even if we map the “circuitry” of the brain, we still have to figure out how the connections between all the neurons—all 86 billion of them—create a human personality.

"We are pitifully far away from mapping a human connectome,” Hayworth says. “To put it in perspective, to image a whole fly brain it is going to take us approximately one to two years. The idea of mapping a whole human brain with the existing technology that we have today is simply impossible."

2045 may be a bit too early, but organizations like the BRAIN Initiative are steadily working toward the ultimate goal of mapping our minds.

Corporate warfare

In fiction

Cyber

Art

Genewar 2031

Ormus/ Ormus Gold

Ormus – originally ORMEs, stands of Orbitally Rearranged Monatomic Elements – is a generic term referring to any suspension of precious metal elements in monatomic form.

Ormus is derived from base, dense material typically containing a mixture of different monatomic elements including Gold, Iridium, Osmium, Palladium, Platinum, Ruthenium, Rhodium, and Silver. It also contains the essential trace elements Calcium and Magnesium.

Monatomic Elements are simply elements which are chemically isolated. Elements that pass from an ordinary to a monatomic state go through a rearrangement of the electronic and nuclear orbits within the atom itself, hence the term Orbitally Rearranged Monatomic Elements. This results in electromagnetic frequency and wave patterns that increase alpha brain wave production through an electromagnetic modality that harmonizes the two hemispheres of the brain. It has also been shown that ORMUS has inherent ‘superconductive’ characteristics, as the atoms are in a ‘high-spin’ state. So when Ormus enters the human body inter-cell communication is quickly increased. When each of the cells is ‘enlivened’ and is communicating with its environs and the rest of the body, balance and heath is more easily and quickly restored. The cells are recharged and rejuvenated.

Benefits of Monatomic Gold, Ormus

The effects of Ormus ingestion are many and varied and depend upon a number of factors including one’s general state of health or wellness, age, body type and weight, body chemistry, genetics, diet, and on and on. In general, the two most common effects of taking Ormus are a stilling of the breath – useful in meditation and dream work(lucid dreaming, OBEs, etc.) – and a feeling of increased energy, pep, and giddiness. It can also act as a powerful physical cleansing agent and diuretic if that is what is called for in the body. This effect will stop once the Ormus has rid the body of the undesirable toxins or waste material. 

Reported benefits of Ormus consumption. (Not Exhaustive).

• Enhanced mental clarity and focus
• Right/left brain balance
• Positive emotions and greater sense of inner peace
• Enhanced intuition
• Greater insights into self and life situations
• Ability to deal with stressful situations from a higher perspective
• Enhanced and/or lucid dreams
• Accelerated manifesting and serendipity
• Greater creativity
• Deeper meditative & prayer states
• Feelings of expansion & access to higher Universal knowledge
• Improved platform for universal communication

Physically helps with

• intestinal tract to absorb food particles
• nourishment and hydration of body cells
• body cells in generating hydroelectric energy
• rejuvenation of the body cells
• proper communication and regeneration of body cells
• repair damaged tissues
• prevents muscle cramps
• as anti-ageing support
• reduction of grey hair & return of natural colouring
• gives relief from joint pain
• increases electrolytes
• improve vision
• increase level on energy in a person
• promotion of DNA and RNA
• strengthen bones & teeth
• maintain a healthy blood sugar level
• maintain a healthy immune system function
• promote a healthy cellular ph balance

Alchemy is an ancient practice that continues to this day. Ancient cultures known to practice alchemy include the Sumerians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Chaldeans, Babylonians, early Asian races, Arabians, Grecians, and Romans. For the Egyptians, alchemy was a master science, which they believed was revealed to them through their god Thoth, who was called Hermes Trismegistus by the Greeks. Therefore, alchemy is a Hermetic Art. 

The goal of alchemy is to transform the base or common into the pure or rare. Put another way, alchemy can be considered to be the transmutation of matter into spirit. Alchemists sought the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life, which were thought to impart higher spiritual consciousness, cure physical maladies, and confer eternal life.

Alchemists believed that there was a hidden and higher order of reality, which constitutes the basis of all spiritual truths and all spirituality. Perceiving and realizing this higher order of reality was the work of alchemists – the Magnum Opus or The Great Work – the Absolute Realization. To perceive this truth requires the consciousness to be radically altered and transmuted from ordinary (lead-like) level of everyday perception to a subtler (gold-like) level of higher perception, so that every object is perceived in its perfect form – The Beauty of All Beauty, the Love of All Love, the Holy of Holies, the Highest High. This is a material and a spiritual realization at once.

Alchemists work in three worlds: the spiritual, the elemental, and the material. As above, so below. As below, so above.

There are precise correspondences between the visible and invisible, matter and spirit, planets and metals. Alchemists understand this basic truth so that while they are working in their physical lab creating their physical Stones and Elixirs, they are simultaneously working at the subtler levels. The Great Work is realized at the apex of the triangle where the three worlds meet.

Quantum physics tells us that matter has particle-like and wave-like properties, and that the subatomic “particles” that make up matter (protons, neutrons, and electrons) are really pure energy. Light also can either be a wave or a stream of particles called photons, packets of pure energy in which the amount of energy is directly proportional to the frequency of the light. New science, then, tells us that all matter, including our physical bodies, consist of forms of light and therefore is pure energy in essence. Matter is light whose frequency has been slowed down and lowered – matter is light of a higher density; matter is light that has become solid. Thus, drawing on the implications of modern physics, we can conclude that human beings are made of light held in matter. We are a light body as well as a material body.

The goal of alchemy is to transform the base or common into the pure or rare. Put another way, alchemy can be considered to be the transmutation of matter into spirit. Or matter into light. To transmute matter into light means to raise its vibrational frequency – from a base, mundane state (low frequency, dense, slow matter) to a pure exalted state (high frequency, high energy light).

Within the Hermetic Arts, the Light Body is called “the immortal body,” the soma athanaton. So, when alchemists create the Philosopher’s Stone or Elixir of Life in pursuit of spiritual and physical perfection and eternal life, they are creating substances that build up their light body into a strong immortal body. This is where the three worlds meet in exalted spirituality. I continue this Great Work today. I transmute matter of the noble metals and platinum group elements into their exalted light state where they are then used to build up the immortal light body to achieve spiritual and physical perfection. This exalted material is called Ormus and effects achieved include increased spiritual perception and psychic abilities, the balancing of the left and right hemispheres of the brain with experience of the “hu” sound, a higher perception of reality as interconnected and whole, and awakening the kundalini for a full incarnation of higher dimensional forces and energies, thereby strengthening and healing the etheric and physical body.

PLAGUE

"Black Death"

A top secret research facility that studies and manipulates diseases was working on several strains of the Black Plague.  Through a series of mutations and other experiments they developed a weaponized version of the disease.  The plague was only one in a number of studies that were being carried out in secrecy.

Due to failed safety protocols the mutated Black Death was accidentally carried out of the facility.  Once this disease left the building it did what it was created to do and carried out it genetically engineered program systematically.  Several weeks later people were dying for unknown reasons and a world wide quarantine took place.  Cities across the globe were shut down and a state of global emergency took place.  The world was in a state of panic, and the United Nations had to initiate martial law in order to keep some form of stability.

There is no commercially available vaccine against plague.

Could plague be used as a biological weapon?

Concerns about plague include the potential for its use as a biological weapon. In fact, Yersinia pestis has a history of being used for bioterrorism. Historical examples include the catapulting of infected corpses over city walls and dropping infected fleas from airplanes.

Patient Zero

More specifically, who is "patient zero" for the outbreak. Also known as an index case, patient zero is a term used to describe the first human infected by a viral or bacterial disease in an outbreak. 

Advances in genetic analysis now make it possible to trace back the lineage of a virus through those it has infected. Combined with epidemiological studies, scientists can pinpoint individuals who may have been the first people to start spreading the disease and so trigger the outbreak.

Identifying who these people are can help address crucial questions about how, when and why it started. These can then help to prevent more people from getting infected now or in future outbreaks.

Do we know who patient zero is in the "Black Death" outbreak?

The short answer is – no.

Sicarii

Founding of the Sicarii

Home Base

Historical Context

Fear Tactics and Weaponry

… a different type of bandits sprang up in Jersualem, the so-called sicarii, who murdered men in broad daylight in the heart of the city. Especially during the festivals they would mingle with the crowd, carrying short daggers concealed under their clothing, with which they stabbed their enemies. Then when they fell, the murderers would join in the cries of indignation and, through this plausible behavior, avoided discovery. (Quoted in Richard A. Horsley, "The Sicarii: Ancient Jewish "Terrorists," The Journal of Religion, October 1979.)

The Sicarii and the Zealots

The Sicarii are frequently described as the same as or a subset of the Zealots, a political party who opposed Roman rule in Judea in the period just before Jesus' birth. The role of the Zealots and their relationship to an earlier movement, the Maccabees, has also been the object of much dispute.

Vampires in Ancient Egypt

    Vampires were highly respected in the Ancient Egyptian society, many of them having become rulers. The ancient vampire having a pure blood line, were a fierce and powerful breed and were regarded as Gods in these times.

    One of the most revered vampires from this era was Osiris. He and his brother Set, born unto vampire, were abandoned by their parents. Set and Osiris were raised by a family that practiced the dark arts. The surrogate parents and their daughters, Isis and Nephtus, trained the two brothers well in the arts. Osiris would become king and marry Isis. He would use his knowledge of the arts aand his power as a Vampire to teach his people how to work the land. Egypt was on it’s way to becoming the legendary metropolis that it was it that time. As Egypt continued to grow in wealth and population Set became jealous of Osiris and his stature throughout the land. Set continued to nurse his rage and began to feed on humans, building an army of minions to help him overthrow Osiris so that he may take the throne. When the time came, Set and his children murdered Osiris, immediately promoting himself as Pharaoh.

    Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris was associated with a powerful sorcerer known at that time as Ra. Enraged by the actions of his uncle, Horus went to the sorcerer and had him place a curse on Set and his children; They would never walk in the daylight again lest they be destroyed. In the meanwhile, Isis in her grief, had been vigilantly searching for a way to bring Osiris back from the dead. Having turned to the book of the dead, she found success and retrieved Osiris from the netherworld but could not break the ties as he was now forever bound to the world of the dead. Legend states that this is when Osiris earned the title “Lord of the Underworld” later to be known as Hades.

    Osiris or Hades, having ties to the underworld would allow for his bloodline to have access to knowledge and abilities that were unobtainable by humans. It is suggested that this is when the inherited traits of psychic and telekinetic abilities were obtained throughout the Vampire race.

Menes – The Vampire Pharaoh

    The child king Menes was said to have been the first of many pharaohs that were known to be incarnations of a different Egyptian Gods. Haro, mother of Menes claimed that he was the offspring of Anubis – God of the Dead. Much secrecy surrounded the youth as he was no presented before his subjects until age six. Suspected of having been an evil Diety, Menes was not accepted by his court or his subjects, though shunned by his kingdom, Menes led a blood-filled reign in the name of building the Egyptian Empire, thus dubbing him with the credit of having founded the first dynasty. Not many archeological artifacts remain of his sixty two year rule, the ones that have been recovered depict Menes as a demon. One relic in particular, a ivory label for Naqada bears several glyphs that state Menes as the “arisen” pharaoh. During his fierce reign, Menes ordered the sacrifice of the first born son of each of his subjects’ households, some say inspiring the Christian legend of King Herod.

    In 1908 the Bartholomew Museum of Antiquities sold off several lots of it’s esoteric items to finance the addition of a new wing. Amongst these items was half of the mummy of Menes, complete with fangs. Though most legends indicate that Menes was a child ruler, they also indicate that he reigned for sixty years. Forensic investigation reveals that the body was that of a man that was beyond 100 years in age when he was mummified.

    Haro had bred with Erobis to create the vampire child Menes with the aspiration of vampires having taken over the city of Egypt. the plan failed, the court of Menes formed and uprising and slaughtered Menes upon him having gorged himself with the blood of his subjects. Menes body was cut in half, leaving his organs intact in order for him to proceed into the gates of the underworld where he would soon rise again as Meni, ruler of Abydos.

Sekhmet – Egyptian Vampire Queen

    Sekhmet was know in ancient Egypt as a fierce warrior goddess, the healer, the hunter and the protector of the Pharaohs. Her following was so dominant throughout the land that the Pharaoh Amenhemhat I moved the capital of Egypt to Itjtawy. Itjtawy would erect an enormous temple in the name of Sekhmet where various holidays, rituals and daily sacrifices would be held in her honor. The city was said to have had thousands of statues erected in her honor as well over 700 in one funerary temple alone.

    According to writings found in the tomb of Seti, Sekhmet was said to be the daughter of Ra, An ancient legend tells of the end of Ra’s rule on earth. Ra sends Sekhmet to destroy all humans that had conspired against him. The legend states that Sekhmet’s blood lust had not been sated by the end of the battle, her thirst drove her to nearly destroying the human race. Ra poured out beer laced with red ochre so that it would appear as blood. Sekhmet drank the laced beer and became so drunk that she abandoned her murderous spree peacefully and returned to Ra. After this Ra would refer to her as “The one who comes in peace” naming a holiday in her honor, “The Festival of intoxication”. Sekhmet would now also be known as the protector of the undead, a ruler of the underworld.

    Both the living and the undead sought her affections and would vie for the position of initiate at her temple. Candidates were tested brutally, they would endure the ritual of death while facing the demons that awaited them in the underworld. Those that did not succeed in overcoming their fears, if they survived, were disqualified. Those that were successful moved on to become Sekhmet’s priests and priestesses which were considered extremely powerful. Sekhmet’s clergy were known to posses great powers as both physicians and practitioners of the dark arts, having the ability to command and destroy demons.

    Egyptian demons were separated into two groups, one that served Sekhmet and the other that were of the underworld. Sekhmets’ demons were dispatched upon the land as avengers of those guilty of wrong doing, with them they would bring disease, chaos and pestilence to punish the evil doers.

GLOSSARY (taken from Neuromancer)

AI's: artificial intelligences. Not permitted self-awareness/autonomy, though are allowed citizenship of sorts via the Equivalence Act of '53. [p.73]

arcology: the term used for huge self-contained societies run by the corporates (or rather the megalith of a building that houses such an operation/location). Like huge malls, more or less.

BAMA: aka the Boston-Atlanta Metropolitan Axis, aka the Sprawl. [p.43]

clinic tanks: a quick way to make a buck is to roll some hopeless loser and sell his or her body parts. You'd have to be really shifty to buy such biologicals no questions asked, and probably really desperate to by such items back from the black clinics. Similar such urban myths abound today about organ theft, but I do not know of any hard evidence.

cloning: everyone knows what this is, but Gibson goes crazy with it (so that entire families are run by clones of the same people). Mixed with eugenics to form super-humans. Genetic engineering is also a way of life for the obnoxiously rich and powerful.

coffin hotels: exist even today in Japan and China. You pay for a tiny one-room room; about enough room for one person to sleep comfortably (if one is not claustrophobic).

construct: a digital copy of a human's persona/psyche. Not really self aware, but capable of make decisions like that of the original. [p.49]

cortex bombs: a few references here and there. Corperate types might possibly implant these in an employee's head. If that employee runs off, betrays the company, or is extracted, BOOM.

cryogenics: cold sleep, hybernation. A good way to waste a few decades and only age a few minutes.

cyberspace: the matrix (the web, the internet) --Gibson is responsible for this term (cyberpunk trope). The matrix is highly eroticised in Gibson's novels, and reaches the level of a spiritual plane in many respects. See page 51 for an in depth definition and history.

Freeside: an extremely affluent orbital colony. Home of Tessiere-Ashpool.

microsofts: circuits hardwired with info, programs, whatever. You plug them into your brain, you know stuff. Tech. Not Bill Gates.

New Yen: American dollars are worthless, and paper money itself is illegal (strickly black market). In a sense, much like the situation in Russia a decade or so past. Legit biz is done via bank chip. [p.6]

Panther Moderns, The: a gang/rogue band of scientists/anarchist group. (Also the name of John Shirley's punk band).

polycarbon suits: state-of-the-art camo. Notice the reference to gargoyles on page 67. Did Stephenson pick up on this?

sarariman: Japanese businessmen/corporates.

Screaming Fist: a unit of cyber-commandos. Someone glitched their operation during the war (they were after the Russians and their data centers). [p.28]

simstim: virtual reality pulled directly from the brain, recorded and played back for a full real-life experience (full sensory trip). A form of addition (like t.v.) though not without its uses.

Single Identification Number: we can assume this is just a social security number of sorts. But since this is cyberpunk it's probably much more Orwellian.

space adaption syndrome: why you start puking the first time you go topside.

the Sprawl: an unpleasant metropolis that stretches across the East Coast. Most people live (die) here, unless you're lucky enough to go up the well (orbit) or live in an arcology (corporate living on a grand scale).

street samurai: a ronin, a mercenary, and most definitely wired (bodily augmented and enhanced). Expect high reflexes, grafted muscle, extraordinary senses, and nasty implants (like razorblades). [p.30]

Turing Police: they moniter AI activity (each AI has a Turing Registry number). If an AI gets out of line, the Turning Police attempt to shut it down.

Cyberpunk