The Merge Universe

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betterwatchit
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Re: The Merge Universe

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Post-Merge Technology

The Merge brought all sorts of technologies, changing lives and causing controversy. Here's a few examples, with Griffin's opinions on the subject.


Forced-Growth Cloning: On Autoduel-Earth, Texas A&M discovered how to accelerate the maturation rate of clone embryos. In another Texas lab, the Mechanical Memory Storage Device (MMSD) was found capable of reading the memories of a corpse. For decades, Gold Cross used the technology to provide the ultimate life insurance policy: As long as your policy's paid up, they can make a clone of you.

Post-Merge, Gold Cross still provide this policy, which has naturally attracted arguments from conservative religious factions. The expense of it doesn't help either.

Gold Cross can copy and update all memories from a living person into storage at a cost of $25,000. It's only $5,000 to copy the memories of a corpse (who died no more than 48 hours, or ten days if the body is refrigerated) directly into a clone. The MMSD can only insert someone's memories into their own clone, attempts to do otherwise have failed.

It costs $10,000 to grow a clone to be biologically about 25 years old, taking six months (Clones of those younger than 25 only get grown back to their time of death). It costs $1,000 a month to maintain the clone (which is used as an organ donor should the client be unable to pay, and is clearly mentioned in the policy). It costs $2,000 a month to use a MMSD to insert the original person's memories into the clone (failure to do so wipes the clone's mind, making it only useful as an organ donor as previously stated in the policy).

It's widely believed (but not publicly confirmed) that the White House has Gold Cross policies active for the President of the United States and the Vice President.

It takes solid proof of death before Gold Cross will activate a clone. In the United States, the replacement clone legally becomes the person they replaced, including all the relevant rights, responsibilities and property (meaning that if the President had a up-to-date policy and was assassinated, his clone would become the President but would still be subject to all laws concerning the office). In Australia, the clone is legally a descendant of the original person, and cannot inherit more than 50% of their property. This measure helps to reduce general stupidity and helps give their other descendants a fair go.
Griffin's Note: My main concern with this technology - other than the more obvious risk of overpopulation - was the possible stagnation of culture and society in general. That's why I discussed with their CEO about the possibility of a "three strikes policy." The basics of such a policy are that the third time anyone dies, they can no longer get a policy with Gold Cross. An addendum to the policy would also invalidate it for someone subject to life imprisonment or the death penalty. The CEO admitted that I brought up some fair points, but he's still going to have to discuss it with the board, which is fair enough. Another thing I'm concerned with is the possibility of someone else taking the body over, which simply wasn't an issue on Autoduel-Earth. Shedim from the Sixth World need to possess a soulless body to have a physical presence, and a soulless clone of an wealthy and influential person - like someone who can afford a Gold Cross policy - is very juicy bait.

Gel Rounds: From the Sixth World, these bullets are designed to give firearm users a non-lethal option and are available in handgun, SMG and assault rifle calibres. They look like other bullets in the same calibre, but with a bright blue gel tip. Naturally, people everywhere are pushing for police to use them wherever possible. Especially in the United States.
Griffin's Note: They work great for bounty hunters and other people who need their targets alive. A word of advice, burst-fire makes it easier for gel rounds to floor a target if your gun can do it. The assault rifle calibres allow police with a belt-fed machine gun to quell a riot with less drama compared to using live ammo!

Head-Up Display: Modern consumer-grade HUDs are designed to link the HUD to your smartphone via Bluetooth and use the phone's mobile bandwidth or Wi-Fi to transfer data. More secure HUDs use a wire to physically connect with the phone to reduce emissions. Basic apps for each include altimeter, chronometer, compass and a marquee display. Motion sickness sufferers can simply place a dot on their "screen" to focus on and ease their symptoms and it's common to have a minimap on the corner of a HUD's screen.

Brand names include Google Glass, StarkSight and Trilotech EagleEye.
Griffin's Note: You have no idea how useful my custom EagleEye is. But it's a bad idea to wear one while driving a car or flying a plane. It's considered to be as distracting as using your phone at the wheel, with similar penalties in force when the police catch you doing it. Most countries only allow a driver to use a vehicle's built-in HUD, if it has one in the first place. All HUDs have a red tally light that's visible to other people while the HUD is recording.
(What Griffin hasn't mentioned is why his custom HUD is useful. He has a customised app installed that makes it easier for him to read body language (as a side effect of his ASD, its perhaps the only language his Gift of Understanding doesn't work on) and otherwise tell if someone's lying to him. (In M&M terms, the app gives him Skill Mastery: Insight) His assistance in its design also gave him legitimate access to a highly restricted version of the EagleEye's firmware that's normally only available to law enforcement agencies. This firmware lets the user choose whether or not to turn the tally light on while recording and has the option of connecting to law enforcement and intelligence agency databases. (Griffin's connections to the Mechanicsburg government give him said access.) This means that if he sees some ne'er-do-well out on the street, he's going to find out what they ne'er did well.)

Killbox: Slang term for a field-deployable automated or remote-controlled sentry gun. Killboxes are chambered in pre-existing calibres and are usually compatible with box and drum magazines for firearms made by the same manufacturer. All killboxes come with RFID tags that designate the wearer as a friendly and instructions on how to programme your own codes and tags. Naturally, most governments classify killboxes as being for military and law enforcement only. Killbox IFF codes are considered classified information. Killboxes sometimes have threaded barrels, allowing the use of compensators or suppressors.

Killboxes loaded with gel rounds are called stunboxes.

The covert agency sometimes called the Division are said to deploy throwable killboxes to give themselves some extra firepower.


Killbox models include:

Colt Defender, chambered for 5.56mm NATO. It supports STANAG magazines.

FN Gardien (Guardian), chambered for FN 5.7×28mm. It supports P90 PDW magazines, allowing 50 shots per load.

H&K Wächter (Watchman), chambered for HK 4.6×30mm, 9mm Parabellum or 5.56 NATO. The 4.6 version uses MP7 magazines. The 9mm version uses MP5 magazines and the 5.56 version uses STANAG magazines.

JSC Kalashnikov Concern Chasovoy (Sentry), chambered for 5.45×39mm. It uses AK-74 and RPK-74 magazines.

Griffin's Note: Unless they're being used to surprise someone, SOP is to deploy more than one killbox where possible, making sure that cones-of-sight overlap slightly. Due to their chambering in pre-existing calibres, killboxes can be loaded with speciality rounds, including gel or silver.

Prisons that use stunboxes turn them on after lights out. Anyone without a valid tag (in other words, the inmates) found outside of a cell suddenly gets floored with the stunbox making enough noise to warn the guards.

Remote control of a networked killbox can be done via mouse or via PS4/XBox One controller connected to a PC. Default config for controllers is right stick to aim, L1/LB to use a built-in speaker if available (usually to shout a warning), L2/LT held down to turn the safety off and R2/RT to fire. I remember seeing a pre-Merge recruiting advert for the British Army which showed British soldiers using a XBox 360 controller to pilot a recon drone, so using a XBox One controller for a sentry gun isn't surprising.
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Re: The Merge Universe

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Team Names

The concept of the freelancer isn't new, but the Merge blew up the concept in the eyes of the general public. As well as the more usual terms like "clan", "crew", "irregulars" and "squad", there are different historical names around the world that these irregular and freelance groups have been known to call themselves.


Condottiero "Contractor" (Renaissance-era Italy)

Franc-Tireur "Free-Shooter", also Franc-Archer "Free-Archer" (France)

Freikorps "Free Corps" (18th century Germany)
Griffin's Note: I've encountered modern Freikorps that espouse various political ideologies. If you have to go to a Freikorps for help, try to find a more apolitical one or at least a more centre-leaning Freikorps. I only suggest going to a strongly-aligned Freikorps if your own politics already lean that way or if your problem is being caused by someone of an opposing ideology.
Gallowglass (Scots operating in Ancient Eire)

Knights Errant (Medieval Europe)
Griffin's Note: In my native Britain, there's also been a slow increase of Pegasus crossings due to the increase of people using a mount. A Pegasus crossing is like a standard puffin crossing but with another signalling button a few feet above the button pedestrians use. Someone riding a horse (or an equivalent-sized mount) uses the raised button to signal the crossing without dismounting first. Sixth World trolls like using them as they don't have to bend down to signal. The Wikipedia article linked above includes a pre-Merge example of a Pegasus crossing. Word is a crossing with the second button closer to the ground is in the works for areas with a large amount of gnomes and halflings.
Landsknecht "Servant of the Land" (Renaissance-era Germany)

Private Military Company AKA PMC (Modern)

Private Security Provider AKA PSP (Modern)

Rōnin "Wave Man" (Feudal Japan)
Griffin's Note: In the modern era, rōnin is also used to describe someone who is studying to retry an university entrance exam, between jobs or to mean a more traditional freelancer or gig economy worker.
Sentai "Task Force" (Modern Japan)
Griffin's Note: Sentai is often used in English to mean a Japanese superteam, while it's used by the Japanese themselves to mean any superteam in general.
Last edited by betterwatchit on Sat Sep 10, 2022 10:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Merge Universe

Post by Neo-Paladin »

Pegasus crossings are also much more convenient for centaurs which is why many southern European countries have implemented them, given the higher population of these X-Dees in that area.


Gel Rounds: From the Sixth World, these bullets are designed to give firearm users a non-lethal option and are available in handgun, SMG and assault rifle calibres. They look like other bullets in the same calibre, but with a bright blue gel tip. Naturally, people everywhere are pushing for police to use them wherever possible. Especially in the United States.
Griffin's Note: They work great for bounty hunters and other people who need their targets alive. A word of advice, burst-fire makes it easier for gel rounds to floor a target if your gun can do it. The assault rifle calibres allow police with a belt-fed machine gun to quell a riot with less drama compared to using live ammo!
They also have the added bonus of being immune to the powers of ferrokinetes (metal controllers) - since they don't need the stopping power of other ammo, a plastic casing can take the place of any metal normally used in their production. Also, in some instances, they can be surprisingly useful against rotted undead, the bullets able to take out weakened limbs with no worries about collateral damage.
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Re: The Merge Universe

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I've made a small gallery of Post-Merge pictures: https://postimg.cc/gallery/j5mY1W9
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Re: The Merge Universe

Post by Bladewind »

I should make the setting doc I was maintaining available for y'all to update...
Thorpocalypse wrote: Sun Oct 07, 2018 6:01 pm Building to be comics "accurate" is different than building to run a PC or building something to challenge a group.
Bladewind's 3ed M&M Builds
The Merge Setting document
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Re: The Merge Universe

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Bladewind wrote: Mon Oct 24, 2022 10:20 pmI should make the setting doc I was maintaining available for y'all to update...
That would be a good idea. :D
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Re: The Merge Universe

Post by Bladewind »

Sent via PM - let me know if you can access it.
Thorpocalypse wrote: Sun Oct 07, 2018 6:01 pm Building to be comics "accurate" is different than building to run a PC or building something to challenge a group.
Bladewind's 3ed M&M Builds
The Merge Setting document
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Re: The Merge Universe

Post by Neo-Paladin »

The Masks

Also going by the name Jackals, Hyenas, Vernons or Shapes, the Masks represent some of the most reprehensible individuals in the post-Merge world.
They do not commit atrocities because they believe in a cause or because some otherworldly power has them in their thrall.
They do so because, inside of them, boredom and nihilism have festered for so long they begin to hate even their own humanity.
These people - most of them young males between 16 and 25 - idolize not superheroes or villains.
Their idols are Jeffrey Dahmer, Jason Vorhees, Ed Gein, Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, H.H. Holmes and Jigsaw.
Serial killers, the worst of them having made the transition to our Earth during the Merge.

Their "bible" is a manifesto posted on January 3rd, 2020 by a hitherto unidentified reddit user named " Knife". The link was quickly removed but, as these things go, by that time, the damage was done and it began to make its way through the internet.
It's been renamed, reformatted and added to over time but the most common title is simply " A quick and easy hunter's guide"

It's neither quick and easy, going over every single detail from making up a backstory, a theme, choice of victims, tools, ways to transcend mortality by tapping into what the author calls " the Truth of Death", even a training regimen to boost toughness, strength and stamina.
The writing is dryly witty but very matter-of-fact and the whole work is an excellent guidebook, clearly written by a master planner and talented nonfiction writer. There is no rambling, no diatribes. Just a very effective guide to becoming a serial killer. There is even a passage on how to handle oneself if killed and transported to Hell, how to arrange for a return and possible pact with an infernal power to continue the killing spree.

Of course, there are quite a few people who own the book and read it just for thrills or to be "edgy", but enough bored, alienated youths have taken the lessons to heart and formed an informal network of slashers-in-training, supporting each other, sharing kill lists and strategies. Some of them, like Trollface in Houston or the Tapper in LA have even developed the first hints of superhuman abilities.
So far, the group has been connected to more than 30 killings all over the US, probably a couple of hundred worldwide.
And it does not seem as if they are going to stop...
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Re: The Merge Universe

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I've recently converted Bladewind's Merge Setting Master Document into PDF, which can be downloaded here: The Merge Setting Document in PDF.
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Re: The Merge Universe

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A Night in New York

The Last Round was the preferred bar for powered types and X-Ds in all the Five Boroughs and recognised by most as neutral territory. Where Londoners "hit the Bottle" and Los Angelenos "headed for Home", New Yorkers "got a Round in." The Last Round had drinks from around the world to satisfy the tastes of its varied clientele. Ale, beer, sake, vodka, whiskies, wine… It even had champagne for those special occasions. Not just the domestic sparkling wine they say is champagne, but the genuine article from the French wine region of Champagne for those really special occasions. There was also a Reunion Network terminal and a bulletin board.

Griffin has having his usual bacon, cheese and onion omelette and ice cold cola mixed with lime cordial when he saw an anthro kestrel come in. One tap on his HUD and Griffin soon obtained what Mechanicsburg's Foreign Ministry knew about the man.

Code: Select all

Name: Jeff "Top" Ranking.
<FILE PHOTO>
Gender: Male.
Species: Common Kestrel.
Dual Citizenship: United Kingdom and United States of America.
Est. Power Level: 8.
Affiliations: Crimestrikers, DXDO.
Occupation: Aerial Pursuit Specialist.
Languages: English, Esperanto.
Known Abilities:  Flier (60 MPH, Wings), Extended Vision and UV Vision.
Favoured Weapons: "Triple Threat" Chestpack (2x Laser, 1x EMP Missile), Talons.
Notes: Notable Cockney accent. All Crimestrikers are required to have fluency in Esperanto.
Griffin knew that the Crimestrikers were a team backed by the DXDO and based in San Francisco. And like a lot of X-D groups, the Crimestrikers imported a feud from back home. As Griffin understood it, Diana Mastron, the fox who would later found and lead the Crimestrikers, was courted by two rising executives in her father's company, Blaine and Vance. She chose Blaine, but Blaine and her mother both died before the wedding.

Diana later found proof that Vance was not only a member of the terrorist organisation called Outrage, but that he murdered both Blaine and Diana's mother. And her own father was Vance's accomplice! Most people would have been broken when they realised what happened. Instead, Diana made sure that both her father and Vance answered for the murders and were both sent to prison. Diana went into law enforcement and, from what Griffin heard, she was good at it. Then M-Day gave Vance and Diana's father their chance to break out again. They've done enough since the Merge to warrant imprisoning them again if they're ever caught.


What Jeff saw when he scanned Griffin with his phone gave him cause for concern.

Code: Select all

Codename: Griffin.
<FILE PHOTO>
Gender: Male.
Species: Angel (appears to be human of western European descent w/ wings hidden).
Dual Citizenship: United Kingdom and Mechanicsburg.
Est. Power Level: 10.
Affiliations: Heavenly Host and House Heterodyne of Mechanicsburg.
Occupation: Former freelancer, now advisor/diplomatic courier for the Government of Mechanicsburg.
Bears Mechanicsburg title of Waffenbrüder (Brother-In-Arms).
Languages: English, but documented Doolittle, Omniglot and Rosetta Stone.
Known Abilities: Bulletproof (12 ga. shot & 9mm Parabellum confirmed), Doolittle, Fearless, Flier (250 MPH, Con. Wings),
Healer, Omniglot, Rosetta Stone.
Favoured Weapon: Shortsword "Justice", capable of striking spirits, cutting steel and firing beams of holy light.
Notes: Noticeable London accent. Addresses deities as "Lord/Lady" as a way to simultaneously show respect and warn every mortal in earshot.
Wings known to come out in bouts of emotion. Refers to the deity he serves as "his Liege."

*Often possesses diplomatic status, check for inactive status BEFORE pressing charges.
*Post-Merge history of violence and use of lethal force.
*Documented inability to be intimidated by any conventional means.
*Has KNOWINGLY worked alongside MULTIPLE members of the Morningstar clan!
Jeff said "I'll have a cola and a Bovril. With the Bovril in a spouted mug if you've got any." Like most avians, Jeff preferred to drink from a spouted mug. It was easy to spot the difference between a jug and a spouted mug: the spouted mug has two spouts, both at a 90° angle to the handle, giving most avians room for their beak, allowing less spillage.

The barman said "Alright, but if you're drinking with Griffin… You share his table at your own risk, you know?"

Jeff said "Don't worry, I can handle it." After paying, he then went to Griffin's table and said "Evening, Griffin."

Griffin raised his glass slightly and said "Evening, Jeff. How's the team doing?" Griffin was quite aware that a lot of X-Ds like Jeff often stuck closer to any team of theirs who made it over, as their families sometimes didn't. As a result, asking the team's health was like asking the health of someone's family: it was the polite thing to do.

"Doing well, thanks for asking. I was wondering, do you know why most people I've seen wear goggles while flying?"

"I do, actually. You know how you have those inner eyelids so your eyes don't dry out while flying? Most other species - including humans - don't have those."

"Really?"

"Yeah, mate! That's why most non-avians wear goggles while going at high speeds, so they can still see properly with the wind in their face. Why else do you think we invented the windscreen? So it doesn't matter who you are, you can still see clearly while going at speeds faster than a run. I would've thought you'd know that for a fact back home."

"I… Never really thought about it."

"Now you know an aspect of my job, Jeff: To make other people think and make them aware of issues they wouldn't have foreseen on the grounds of culture, privilege or simply not needing to do it before. It's part of my job as an advisor to make people pay attention to this sort of thing. And paying attention helps when I serve as a diplomatic messenger."

"So how does being a diplomatic messenger even work? I heard that you do that sort of thing now."

Griffin had a swig from the glass Jeff gave him and said "Sometimes, a government finds that there are messages that need to be sent to one of their embassies, but it's simply too sensitive to just send an encrypted e-mail and be done with it. In such cases, diplomatic messengers, who are among the most loyal and trusted people in their nation's service, have to deliver it. First, the Ambassador, Consul, Foreign Minister or the head of state themselves uses a typewriter to commit a one-time pad message to paper."

"A typewriter?! I thought those went out when computers got affordable!"

"With all the infomorphs out there now, people need something they can type on that won't get hacked. That's why typewriters are coming back in! All-mechanical construction means they work even when there's a power cut or an EMP. And infomorphs can't break in, as there's nothing they can use. Anyway, the Embassy or the home government are informed of the impending delivery, then a messenger is given plane or train tickets to the message's destination, the package in question and a separate document proving that the bearer is on diplomatic business. Mechanicsburg isn't a UN country, despite my suggestions to Lady Heterodyne, but we did formally ratify the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations a while back."

"The what Convention?"

"The 1961 Vienna Convention formally codified several diplomatic customs into international law. That document I mentioned earlier is needed for diplomatic couriers to legally claim its protection. And it's the only way to legally obtain access to a diplomatic bag."

"Makes sense. Aren't you worried about the bag being scanned at the airport?"

"Not at all! The terms of the Convention mean that local law enforcement can't legally search a diplomatic bag! No weighing, no scanning, nothing! They have to let it through unchecked! And Convention protocols require it to be clearly marked as a diplomatic package on the outside, so even the customs man on his first day on the job knows that he's not allowed. They can still check the diplomat's documents to confirm their status and to check their personal luggage, the Convention confirms that it's no breach to do that. At JFK Airport, because of the big UN presence here, all the international arrival terminals have four different queues: One for US citizens, one for first-time visitors to the US and a third for returning visitors and Lawful Permanent Residents AKA Green Card holders. The fourth line is reserved solely for diplomatic use. Since the courier is travelling on diplomatic business -with the documentation proving it- they often just walk right up to the head of their own queue on a slow day!"

"You're joking!"

"Not at all, I've done it myself! Adhering to the Convention means that people on formal diplomatic business are not to be unduly impeded. They're usually only impeded long enough for Customs and Border Protection to confirm the traveller's diplomatic status. Once the messenger gets their luggage from the carousel, they get picked up by some of their Embassy's staff. And whoever's picking them up usually brings a couple of bodyguards for protection. Once they get to the embassy or consulate, it's their business, no one else's."

"Fair enough. I've got to ask, have you ever heard of Kobra?"

"Which one? The high-tech terror organisation or the mystical cult who want to bring about the Kali Yuga?"

"The cult."

"I've bumped into a cell in London. It was only because of the healing touch my Liege gave me that their cyanide pills didn't work. The Met certainly weren't complaining about me making sure there was someone to interrogate. We have a mandir consecrated to Lady Kali in Mechanicsburg, so I simply went and asked her priest about her position on them. I certainly didn't expect Kali herself to just possess him! She made it quite clear that she doesn't back Kobra and that the Kali Yuga will happen on her terms, not those of any mortal."

"How's that a good thing? And are you certain she was the one who possessed him?"

"It's a good thing as you don't have to worry about her cursing you whenever you have to fight them. And yes, I know for a fact it was indeed Lady Kali herself who possessed him. I saw her and Lord Ganesh manifesting in her Kolkata temple with my own eyes during the Incursion. It's a little-known fact that I can see spirits as well as most people can see the living. And you'd better believe that divinity has an aura all of its own! So I have no doubt that Lady Kali was the one in control. And I made sure the priest was okay afterwards. Getting possessed can hit you hard, even when it's your own patroness doing it." Griffin switched to Esperanto as he said "<One thing she told me that I should tell you is that Kobra have access to blood magic. Blood doesn't lie, so it doesn't take long for a Kobra recruiter to find out if they should let a new recruit join them or make sure that they don't leave the building alive.>"

"<That's something our team doesn't know about. And I didn't know you spoke Esperanto!>"

"<I can, yes. One of my Liege's gifts is that They made me fluent in every tongue and script! Even with constructed languages like Esperanto and with X-D languages. There's a reason I often get interpreter duty when I'm on a diplomatic assignment.>"

"<That makes sense to me. Also, did you really escort the Devil's daughter around Tamessa last year?>"

"<Tamessa… Oh! We call it London around here, but yes. I did. No one else would dare. I'm used to guarding people, but this assignment was one of the all-time heaviest. I was on my annual leave and I went back to London for a spell. I got a call from the Folly, where the Met base their Special Assessment Unit in Russell Square. If it involves magic or the supernatural, the SAU have jurisdiction over it in London, hence my familiarity with the place. And they told me to wear a suit if possible. That's when I got my Mortimer of London suit on and took off.">

<"Don't Mortimer tailor armoured suits?">

<"Yeah, that's right. You have to remember, I work for a head of state. I often have to attend official and diplomatic functions where visible armour is a terrible faux pas at best. Mortimer's the only place I've seen in London that makes a dinner jacket that both looks alright on formal occasions and helps protect the wearer. I won't reveal the exact modifications I've had done to mine, but it suits me fine. And as they're from the Sixth World, they've had decades of practice at it before M-Day. So I flew over and after I peace-bound my sword - in front of a squad of Firearm Officers with carbines loaded with armour-piercing rounds to keep me honest - I was escorted to Charlie.>"

"<Charlie?>"

Griffin got his phone out, showing a selfie he took of himself and a pale-skinned young woman with very long platinum blonde hair wearing a red pinstripe suit in Trafalgar Square. He said "<Here you go, that's me with Princess Charlotte 'Charlie' Morningstar of Hell.>"

"<I have to admit, she knows how to wear a suit.>"

"<That's what I thought when I saw her! Charlie tried teleporting to Earth and landed in the Folly. She asked for me by name. I convinced the SAU to let me give her a tour of London. Mainly as I didn't want her father to break her out of there. The tour went quite well. But there was one complication I'm sure you know of.>"

"<When you…>"

"<When I had to knock out a paladin of Iomedae in Trafalgar Square to protect Charlie. I just finished treating her to a meal at my expense when a woman in plate armour blocked the door out! I was Charlie's guardian angel at the time, so of course I had to throw the f**k down to protect her! In my defence, I did give the paladin one chance to stand aside first. So it's not my fault she drew her blade! I tripped the paladin with my still-sheathed sword, tore her helmet off and then I made my opinion of what she just tried to pull quite clear. By beating the paladin bloody and unconscious with my bare hands. When I Fultoned Charlie to my house afterwards, I saw her mum and dad in the front room, having a cup of tea with my dad! It turned out that the Morningstars were watching the pair of us the whole bleeding time and they found the fight to be hilarious. Better than getting homicidal over a dead daughter, I suppose.>"

"You what? You had THREE Morningstars in your house and lived to tell the tale?! You must have bricked it!"

"No chance. My Liege made sure I can't fear anyone else any more. At all. Not even a family of Morningstars giving me their full and undivided attention. The fact that Charlie's dad saw me level a paladin was the main reason all three left the house and went back to Hell in peace. I informed the Folly at once. And now you know why I'm on record as having worked with more than one Morningstar. It's the fact that my loyalty to my Liege can still be proven on demand that keeps me from being considered a total pariah and a mortal threat to any group that isn't infernal in nature."

That was when Griffin's phone started beeping. He had a look and said "That's the Consulate, so I have to go. Thanks for the drink, Jeff."

Jeff said "That's alright. Good night."

Griffin then walked out to the alley behind the bar, revealed his white feathery wings and took off into the night.
Last edited by betterwatchit on Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:35 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: The Merge Universe

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Gibraltar, Post-Merge:

Population: 34,000 (Approximate)
Demonym: Gibraltarian (Official), Llanito (Colloquial)
Language: British English. Spanish and Llanito also widely spoken.
Time Zone: GMT+1
IEC Plug Type: G


Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory on the Iberian Peninsula, with Spain as its northern neighbour. It's known for its military bases, its Mediterranean climate, the Barbary Macaque and for the world-famous Rock of Gibraltar, a promontory that defines the local landscape.

As a British Overseas Territory, Gibraltar must defer to Great Britain in matters of defence and foreign relations but it is independent concerning its domestic matters.

People can enter by crossing the land border (on foot or by most vehicles), docking at the marinas (and passing a HMRC inspection) or via Gibraltar International Airport (IATA: GIB, ICAO: LXGB).

The procedure for crossing the border is pretty much the same as it was pre-Merge. One important difference is that if you're a flier approaching from La Linea (the Spanish town across the border), you must land before you go into the border post. Afterwards, you usually have to cross the runway, which is bisected with the only road into or out of Gibraltar. The same runway that's shared with RAF Gibraltar. It's illegal in Gibraltar for a flier to fly in the area south of the border and north of the runway. Same thing goes for flying over the runway if you're not piloting a plane scheduled to land there. Or unless you are a plane scheduled to land there, like some that live in the Isle of Sodor.

The recently built tunnel to the east means that most vehicles drive around the runway instead.
Griffin's Note: Some things haven't changed much since the Merge. Spain still wants Gibraltar back while Britain keeps invoking Article X of the Peace of Utrecht to point out that Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in perpetuity and that it'll remain British unless the people who live there choose to vote otherwise. And given how the last couple of referendums on the subject were landslides (Over 95% in favour of remaining British!), I do not expect this to change soon.

And yes, those pre-Merge photos you might have seen of the road in and out of Gibraltar splitting the airport's runway are for real! You can go on Google Maps to see for yourself! (Just make sure to turn the Satellite Layer on!)

To discourage unauthorised flying over the military bases, each base has a pair of quadcopter drones with LMGs fitted. One drone is loaded with gel rounds (less drama on the world stage if they hit some tourist who just got lost and didn't know that you're meant to learn the local laws before you set off if possible) and the other is loaded with live ammo in case someone flies their own drone over the base. And they don't suppress the drones so they serve as a warning system.

Gibraltar's modern economy is based mostly on tourism, online gambling, financial services and bunkering (supplying fuel to ships).

The Upper Rock Nature Reserve has the world-famous Barbary Macaques, the Apes of the Rock, who are the only wild primate population in all of Europe. Rabbits and foxes also roam the Upper Rock as well as bats in the caves.

Pokémon Presence: Mankeys, Primeapes, Vulpixes, Bunearys, a Ninetales and even a Mega Lopunny who serves as the Bunearys' matriarch live in the Reserve along with Zubats in the caves. Pokémon trainers are not allowed to fight in the Reserve to protect the Macaques. And it's not just the police who get involved (see below). Said law only protects the Pokémon within the Reserve. Any wild Pokémon found inside inhabited areas like the City of Gibraltar to the west, Europa Point to the south or Catalan Bay to the east are considered fair game. There are various water-type Pokémon in the Mediterranean Sea surrounding Gibraltar, such as Staryu, Marill and Wingull.
Griffin's Note: The local Mankeys and Primeapes have a sense of kinship with the Macaques and you had better believe that they will respond to alarm calls made by them! First post-Merge holiday I had on the Rock, I saw a travelling trainer make the big mistake of throwing her Pokéball at a Macaque. She was suddenly surrounded by Mankeys and it was only the fact that I was there to hold them off that kept her intact enough for the Royal Gibraltar Police to arrest. What? The rule of law must prevail, you know! Anyway, all known Pokémon are documented as being oviparous (egg-laying) species and the location of the wild Pokémon nests is the best kept secret in Gibraltar. Only the Reserve personnel and Royal Gibraltar Police officers who train with Pokémon have any need-to-know concerning the location of the nesting spots.

Religion:

Christianity (of various denominations), Judaism, Hinduism and Islam are all a part of the religious landscape on the Rock. Various churches, a synagogue, a mandir and a mosque are all available in Gibraltar. There are even two cathedrals: The Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and the Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned.

Post-Merge, one deity whose worship is on the rise on the Rock is Abadar. His main temple-banks on Earth-Prime are in Absalom on the Mediterranean Sea. He is a deity of civilisation, progress, the rule of law and of wealth honestly earned. His symbol is a golden key (with a city skyline on the top if there's enough room for it) and his preferred weapon is the crossbow.

The Bank of Abadar (the official name for his organised church) is evangelising all over the world, particularly focusing on places with emerging markets and in places like Gibraltar and Monaco, areas without much territory where a lot of money goes through.
Griffin's Note: When I first encountered a cleric of Lord Abadar in London, she asked me what day of the week would be a good day to hold public services. I told her that it would be a good idea to hold them on Monday. The reason is that Muslims have their public services on Friday, Jewish people have it on Saturday and Christians usually have it on Sunday. I said that having it on Monday reduces friction by not "double-booking" it with pre-existing major faiths. Nothing I've seen in Abadar's own scripture, The Order of Numbers, says anything stricter about his services than having to hold them indoors in man-made structures where possible.

While it's difficult for deities who aren't benevolent to turn their mortal followers into paladins, Abadar's sheer honesty and devotion to ethical behaviour made it possible for him to work out how to do it.

The part the Bank's older clerics are finding difficult is adapting to an age where money can be as much a card or notes in your wallet or digits in your account as it is coins in your purse. The reasons the Bank are in Gibraltar are simple: It's one of the wealthiest places in all of Europe and monkeys are sacred to Abadar. They must have thought the monkeys were a sign from the Golden One himself. The fact that a gold key - Abadar's holy symbol - is on the Gibraltarian coat of arms (and yes, it was there pre-Merge) would also give them the idea.

I've heard this rumour going around that they're seriously thinking of having an Archbanker on the Rock! The closest pre-Merge equivalents that the locals are familiar with would be an archbishop or a cardinal, to give you an idea on just how big a deal this would be!

They even have just enough influence with HM Government of Gibraltar to carry their trademark Fugitive Finder crossbows. Fugitive Finders are blessed to not only deal non-lethal damage (which helped make their case) but to also make their wielder run faster. Comes in really handy when pursuing fugitives.
Mechanically, a Fugitive Finder is an Easily Removable Device dealing Ranged Damage 4 with Improved Critical 1, Subtle 1 (DC 20 Perception) and the Quirk (Non-Lethal Only) as well as giving the wielder Speed 2. What Griffin doesn't know (but wouldn't be surprised about if he found out) is that the Bank has a deadlier version of the Fugitive Finder for use in the event of a hostile actually making it into their vaults. These "Fugitive Hunters" are Damage 8 with Improved Critical, Subtle 1 and Limited (Only on Humans) with it dealing Ranged Damage 4 with Improved Critical and Subtle 1 on anything else. Fugitive Hunters also give the wielder Speed 2.
Last edited by betterwatchit on Sat Nov 04, 2023 9:18 pm, edited 6 times in total.
kirinke
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Re: The Merge Universe

Post by kirinke »

One thing during Pokemon Training Amy learned, be aware of the local laws and make sure you have all proper permits before doing whatever it is you have to do.
Kirinke's Compendium of Wondrous Creatures
Kirinke's Conversions (D&D Items to M&M3E Rules)

Battle Init
Viv: 24
Ren:22
Peekaboo: 20
Deutschritter: 19
Amy: 15
Angrboda: 15
Adeleth: 14
Thugs: 12
Lilly: 7
Alma: 5
Neo-Paladin
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Re: The Merge Universe

Post by Neo-Paladin »

It should be noted that Absalom and the island it's situated on - Kortos - partially merged with the island of Corsica but have been self-governed ever since. While Corsica is French and the French government would love to incorporate the enormously rich city-state, Absalom has fiercely defended it's independence, pointing at the ruined fortresses and siege towers around the city walls as a not-so-subtle reminder of what happened to others who tried to take over.

Absalom maintains profitable trade relations with France and the EU in general but have also flat-out refused to even consider entering the EU, NATO or any other conglomeration of states. If asked, the city-state sees itself similar to Switzerland. Friendly, but neutral and unwilling to be beholden to anyone but itself.

Given Absalom's stable economy, backed by actual gold and other rare treasure, so far, this approach works out for them. In fact, there are many traders in Absalom who still prefer to be paid in actual rare metals than paper money or digital currency. Not because these kinds of exchanges are not understood - seven years is more than enough for the shrewd businessmen of the city to learn the ways of the new world - but simply because they understand and value the stability that comes with actually possessing a material representation of your wealth.
Normally, this might be a hindrance, but Absalom has a lot of things on sale which are desired the world over - magic items, mercenaries, exotic drugs and spices, to name a few - and so many jump through those hoops.
kirinke
Posts: 4322
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 2:28 pm

Re: The Merge Universe

Post by kirinke »

Amy's Notes, tips and observations on Pokemon and Partnerships.

Over the years, I've learned that you do not own Pokemon. You can't. They are for the most part, just as intelligent as the people who partner with them and they are, in their own way, just as strong. The capture process is also a misnomer. What you are doing during that “capture” is establishing and starting a professional and emotional relationship that can last for a lifetime. In fact, pokemon partnership is a life-time commitment. What pokemon are doing during that process is judging whether or not you're a good fit for them.
The "capture" fight is a complex ritual dance of sorts. If they decide you won't be good for them, you'll never be able to develop a partnership with them. If you even try to take a pokemon by force, in all likely-hood, their friends and family will drive you off or do their best to kill you. So no, you aren't ever going to be able to “catch them all”. But if you're lucky, you'll be able to form a partnership with a select few pokemon that will change your life in ways you wouldn't believe possible. Basically, they are your familiar in every sense of the word.
Also remember, that size does not correlate to effectiveness and also be aware that you have to feed, shelter and take care of your pokemon. They aren't just pixels and code stored in a box somewhere. So if you live in a desert for example, having a Wailmer is not recommended for obvious reasons.

Notes on Laws
It is also recommended to take all offered pokemon training courses offered by the local authorities in whatever province, state or municipality that you are in, traveling in or working in. Laws can and do vary and trainers are advised to be up to date on all permits, permissions and customs of those places they are in.

Held items and move sets
Held items are very different in real life and pokemon moves affect different real life entities in different ways. It is recommended to consult with local trainers, dex holders and rangers on what items are available and are effective against the local problem entities you might encounter. So yeah, the type-index for match-ups for pokemon is.... evolving to say the least. Especially when you're going up against hostile non-pokemon.
As far as move-sets go, make sure that the moves you and your pokemon agree on are legal and applicable to whatever you're collective goals are. The moves Surf, Magnitude and Earthquake are not going to be legal in most countries for obvious reasons. Even if they aren't, they probably are in coastal and earthquake prone regions. So it's best to just don't have those particular moves.

Examples of New Items
Blessed Silver Claw: These held items make melee attacks like Iron Tail effective against undead and Therianthropes.
Kirinke's Compendium of Wondrous Creatures
Kirinke's Conversions (D&D Items to M&M3E Rules)

Battle Init
Viv: 24
Ren:22
Peekaboo: 20
Deutschritter: 19
Amy: 15
Angrboda: 15
Adeleth: 14
Thugs: 12
Lilly: 7
Alma: 5
kirinke
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Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 2:28 pm

Re: The Merge Universe

Post by kirinke »

Dorothy syndrome
Slang term for the propensity for some kids to be whisked into adventures and trouble, especially the longer they stay at home. Traveling and purposely getting into adventures seems to lessen the effects. Named for the original Dorothy Gale from the Oz books, who got into a good deal of adventures and trouble and probably still is. Extreme cases literally have been known to be teleported randomly to such situations, or wake up in locations where the adventure begins. Otherwise, it seems at first, like a random sequence of events which lands them into the situation. Not to be confused with Friends of Dorothy, which is completely different.

Meddling kids
Slang term named after the Scooby Doo Detective agency, they are usually a group of mystery solving kids/teenagers or even Urban Explorers. A team pet is common, nowadays pokemon are popular for obvious reasons. Although talking animals do occasionally pop up. Like the Dorothy syndrome kids, they often get into a fair amount of danger/trouble.
Kirinke's Compendium of Wondrous Creatures
Kirinke's Conversions (D&D Items to M&M3E Rules)

Battle Init
Viv: 24
Ren:22
Peekaboo: 20
Deutschritter: 19
Amy: 15
Angrboda: 15
Adeleth: 14
Thugs: 12
Lilly: 7
Alma: 5
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