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FAMILY LORE
GNCO is a monopolistic megacorporation that controls almost every aspect of your life. Their primary business is manufacturing Blood+, an injectable blood-based supplement that enhances its users with superhuman powers. Blood+ is relatively easy to come by, but also highly addictive; withdrawals are frequent and often fatal.
Blood+ has been around for longer than almost anyone remembers. Decades ago, its introduction sparked off a global war that killed almost all of the populace and reduced the world to a barren wasteland. These days, the war is a distant memory, and only a small handful of people experienced it for themselves. While GNCO's private army is still present in force, they have taken a "peacekeeping" role due to the lack of real conflicts. Blood+ and the ominpresence of GNCO are facts of life.
GNCO was allegedly founded by a semi-mythical figure known as The Glorious Chairman. His existence is shrouded in mystery — if he ever existed at all. These days, GNCO is controlled by the Ohs, or at least it appears to be. Only select family members know that the company is jointly owned by not only the Ohs but also the Fursts, the Kincaids, and the Pabsts. The Ohs hold the majority stake, and are responsible for the company's operations; the other families vie for power amongst themselves. This balance is extremely fragile, and an upset could easily lead to another massive war.
The Ohs are the family behind GNCO's dominance. Of the great families, they are the most powerful, and they control the largest portion of GNCO itself. Since the war, the Ohs have continually increased their influence over the world: at the present, their rule is more or less unquestioned.
Kiyosha Oh I was the original patriarch of the Ohs. The current heads of the family are Kiyosha Oh III and his wife Stronteia Oh. They had two children, twins named Shan and Wyatt; however, Shan was disowned and exiled years ago, leaving Wyatt the sole heir.
The Fursts are the second-most-powerful of the great families, due largely to their role in GNCO's creation. At the dawn of the war, the Fursts handled finances and logistics for GNCO, which allowed them an insider position in the company's management. Nowadays, "second-most-powerful" doesn't amount to much. While their clothing stores are successful, the Fursts hope to improve their lot by developing a synthetic alternative to Blood+, and using this to undersell and out-compete GNCO. Research so far has been fruitless.
Moebius Furst was the original patriarch of the Fursts. The current head of the family is Niobe Furst; she had two children, Minerva and Curium. Minerva was the face of Furst advertising (and a cultural icon) from her early childhood, but was killed by an unknown attacker at 18. Curium works in Furst R&D, and tries to keep himself out of the spotlight.
The Kincaids are not a large family, but exert outsized power due to their control of the Cadium mines. As Cadium is the only known metal that does not react explosively with Blood+, the Kincaids are able to throttle the distribution of Blood+ at will. However, their small numbers and aversion to modern technology place them in a poor position relative to the other great families. During the war, the Kincaids controlled GNCO's private army; these days, they process Cadium and manufacture weapons.
Roland Kincaid was the original patriarch of the Kincaids. Roland is still alive, and more frequently known as "Old Man Kincaid". He insists that he has sired a child, but no one has proven themselves to be this heir. Without a direct descendant, succession passes to his grand-nephew Darach, who sincerely hopes that no heir is ever found.
The Pabsts are the most multitudinous of the great families, as they grant family member status to anyone who wants it. In return, new family members are injected with a DNA concoction that turns them into replicas of the family's original matriarch. Typically, the Pabsts stay out of GNCO politics, focusing instead on their restaurant business (they have a monopoly on food in the Wastes) and on maintaining their massive farming homestead. Similarly, they played a minimal part in the war.
Agatha Pabst was the original matriarch of the Pabsts. While she herself is long-dead, her clones — "Mrs. Pabsts" — can be found at any eatery in the Wastes, and plenty of other places besides. The collective nature of this family means they have no one heir.
The Breimans are no longer around, having been entirely wiped out during the war. Prior to their extermination, they handled the publicity department for GNCO.
Ezekiel Breiman was the original patriarch of the Breimans, and left behind no descendants.
ENEMIES
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BLOOD BAT Decades of exposure to Blood+ has caused extreme mutations in many animals — especially the sanguivores. These vampiric bats got a taste for Blood+ and are always on the hunt for more. Although they're not very tough, they create a major nuisance throughout the Wastes, attacking either alone or in pairs. Rumor has it that there's a new, meaner kind of bat out there too.
FOUND IN: Sewers; Wastes |
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GNCO DRONE These watchful drones are an unsettling combination of biological and mechanical components. They patrol the Wastes, serving as auxiliary eyes and ears for GNCO. They're extremely flammable, but destroying one nets a hefty penalty — if you're caught. Otherwise, feel free to light them on fire with impunity!
FOUND IN: Heisenburg; Wastes |
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IMMOREL Holy shit, is that a mushroom with a knife? Yes, it is indeed. Blood+ residue in the soil and water supply has caused these formerly peaceful (and immobile) mushrooms to develop a taste for violence. Immorels tend to congregate in isolated areas underground, but they're known to form companionships with other Blood+ mutants, and some have even been tamed by intrepid wastewalkers.
FOUND IN: Arena; Hospital; Sewers; Wastes |
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LEECHEROUS Decades of exposure to Blood+ has caused extreme mutations in many animals — especially the sanguivores. These lecherous leeches are one of the most dramatic examples, growing to immense sizes and wreaking havoc wherever there's Blood+ to be found. Once it latches on, a single Leecherous can suck its unfortunate victim dry within a matter of minutes.
FOUND IN: Hospital |
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MALSQUITO Decades of exposure to Blood+ has caused extreme mutations in many animals — especially the sanguivores. This gargantuan mosquito has bolstered its blood-drinking capabilities with extra siphons on its forelegs, perfectly positioned to drain your precious bodily fluids. Shan says he's seen one of these guys take down a tank. Honestly, it's plausible.
FOUND IN: Sewers; Wastes |
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WASTE RAT These aggressive rats don't drink blood, but that doesn't stop them from stealing any they can get their paws on. Their heightened intelligence makes them unpredictable, but they're more of a minor bother than anything else. Since Waste Rats are still about the size and strength of ordinary rats, they can be dispatched relatively quickly.
FOUND IN: Arena; Sewers |
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BANDITS Desparate times call for desparate measures. These bandits roam the Wastes, hoping to score food, money, or (ideally) Blood+ from their hapless victims. Luckily for you, they're not very good at it. You'll seldom find one bandit alone, but taking down two at once isn't much of a challenge.
FOUND IN: Arena; Wastes |
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BLOOD+ JUNKIE Blood+ is highly addictive and, in large quantities, can cause extremely unpleasant physical changes in its users. These junkies show the clear effects of long-term Blood+ abuse, becoming little more than insensible zombies looking for a fix. Best to steer clear if you can avoid them — after all, you might end up as one someday.
FOUND IN: Sewers; Wastes |
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FURST COUSIN All the great families have their lesser members: in this case, a cousin of a cousin of a cousin, but still nominally a Furst. Without any real family connections, they're reduced to wastewalking like the rest of the proletariat. While these Fursts have their family's typical ice powers, they're not very strong. Nothing is going to make them less uppity about their status, though.
FOUND IN: Arena; Wastes |
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GNCO EMPLOYEE You'd think someone with a steady GNCO job wouldn't have to roam the Wastes — and you'd be right! These employees (or, derogatorily, "whitecoats") are out and about for the hell of it. They're not enhanced, but they have the medical knowledge and technical expertise to pose a challenge to those they attack. Worse still, they're probably getting paid to do this.
FOUND IN: Sewer; Wastes |
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GNCO SOLDIER Soldiers in GNCO's peacetime army are frequently assigned to wander the Wastes, maintaining order where GNCO drones cannot. There are multiple ranks of soldier, with different strengths (and different stats), and they're all ready to bust heads in the name of GNCO. Without a war to attend to, they're happy to take out their anger on anyone who crosses their path.
FOUND IN: Factory; Gruze; Heisenburg; Sewers; Wastes |
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KINCAID IN-LAW All the great families have their lesser members: in this case, an in-law of a distant nephew, but still nominally a Kincaid. Without any real family connections, they're reduced to wastewalking like the rest of the proletariat. The Kincaids are an industrial family, and these in-laws have the strength to back it up — but they're not very good at using it.
FOUND IN: Arena; Sewer; Wastes |
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OH NIECE All the great families have their lesser members: in this case, a far-removed niece, but still nominally an Oh. Without any real family connections, they're reduced to wastewalking like the rest of the proletariat. Their natal fire powers can do some real damage, but even as desparate as they are for attention, these Ohs are often too snooty to go all-out.
FOUND IN: Sewers; Wastes |
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SIBLING OF THE VEIN As adherents of the GNCO-worshiping Siblings of the Vein, these acolytes view Blood+ as a vital part of life, and they're enhanced accordingly. They rove the Wastes, looking for overdose victims to rescue and then strong-arm into joining their cult. If you're not actively dying, a rogue acolyte isn't too much of a threat.
FOUND IN: Sewer; Wastes |
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SISTER WASTEWALKERS These sisters make their living in the Wastes while wearing fashions inspired by the late Minerva's iconic styles. They're not always together, but if you're in a fight with one, it's a safe bet that another will show up. It's rumored that some of them have even befriended the vicious Immorels.
FOUND IN: Arena; Sewers; Wastes |
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WASTEWALKER DUO If wastewalking is an art, these guys have perfected it. They're well-equipped to survive annything the Wastes can throw at them — short of an attack by any other wastewalker. Though they've got tough demeanors, they're not particularly strong in battles. Opportunistically picking off weaker wastewalkers is about the best they can do.
FOUND IN: Arena; Sewers; Wastes |
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STREET TOUGH Hardened by years spent skulking through the Wastes and its towns, this street-savvy ne'er-do-well will do anything to defeat a challenger. Her brawl training gives her the edge in combat, but if that fails, she'll resort to picking your pocket and stealing your items away. Steer clear if you can — if you cross her path, she won't go easy on you.
FOUND IN: Gruze; Heisenburg; Sartova |
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