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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jago" data-source="post: 7000517" data-attributes="member: 6855130">You folks are doing pretty great on the connections and histories and backgrounds (Dear Magi, the Backgrounds), So I, your Ben(Mal)evolent Storyteller, is just going to sit back for now to let these connections form unless you need answers.So, fun stuff!Attached is a small glossary concerning some terms I've been throwing around, containing details that may help with further development.[ATTACH]80119[/ATTACH]I also have compiled a list, as promised, of Inspirations for my ideas of The Setting and Tone, so without further ado, I shall present these.Literature1984, by George OrwellThe big one. A dystopian nation where resistance against the government is, quite literally, impossible. Trust is impossible to give or receive due to the very nature of society. The people are constantly watched, propaganda has become truth, and even language is being destroyed to hinder the ability to rebel. Our protagonist is not a hero, but instead someone who just knows that this feels wrong, and so revolts in his own, personal way against this oppressive control. No grand overthrowing the government, but instead a case of personal liberties to fight fascism.The Hunger Games, by Suzanne CollinsThough I myself have never read any of this series, I know enough about the themes and story beats to say that this definitely fits: city districts left to compete with one another against an oppressive elite to the point where any sort of revolt is considered suicide. Bonus points for having an attempted revolt in the backstory to the novels ... only to have it fail and so our story opens up after this unsuccessful uprising.FilmV For VendettaI assume far more people are aware of the film rather than the graphic novel, so here we are. Once more: Fascist, Oppressive government that does horrible things to its people, lies about it and covers it all up with an amazingly competent propaganda campaign, and a hero who could be argued is far more a terrorist than a messiah trying to take the elite down, masking his desire for bloody vengeance under the noble shroud of Freedom. Just like V and his protégé, Evee, our players will be those who see the horribleness of the world but ultimately feel that it will take the People rising up in order to do anything to change the circumstances.ChinatownIf you haven't seen this, literally stop reading right now and go watch it, then come back. An amazing tribute to the film noir genre, Chinatown tells a deeply dark and disturbing story of a man who initially does not want to get involved in a simple investigation, and instead goes far deeper than he ever could have thought this rabbit hole goes. The themes and ideas of the corrupt being untouchable, the good-hearted not necessarily being the winners, and the idea that choosing involvement of any sort means you're stuck in until the end, for better or worse, certainly suits our City Heroes. The more and more I've developed this setting, the more and more I've found that Noir is definitely a feel that is being evoked, and I plan to follow that. Forget it, Jake: It's Sector Five.Dark CityA man with no memory slowly unravels that something is horribly, horribly wrong with his city. Nobody around him seems to know this or agree with it, making him feel like he's going insane even as he's hunted by strange, powerful men who clearly understand that this amnesiac is a threat. Another (much) more modern take on a Noir style of storytelling, Dark City follows a growing theme of being unable to trust your surroundings or those around you, and maybe even your own memory is suspect. In The City, plagued by propaganda, revisionist history, and the constant interference of The Magi, the average person is probably just as accepting of the strange circumstances as the citizens in Dark City, while our heroes may feel a little crazy as they learn more and those around them stay ignorant.MusicThe ProtomenHonestly the main source of inspiration (for me) for this story and setting. A Rock-Opera group with a very 80s sound, their main albums (the self-titled The Protomen and Act II: The Father of Death) tell a rather dystopian and dark take on, of all things, the story of Mega Man.Yes. The Blue Bomber.Their music speaks of a utopian world that falls into darkness, a man who has failed time and time again to rectify the mistake he's made to no avail, and a city that relies upon Heroes to save them but does nothing to save themselves. Just, go listen to it, both Albums are easily found on Youtube with a quick search, and then you two can understand why This City Needs You Now.The Message, by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious FiveSo, total tone shift. We go from 80s Rock Opera to quintessential classic Hip Hop. Written about New York City in the 70s and very early 80s, The Message very clearly encapsulates a sense of overwhelming frustration and anger at the circumstances of the misfortunate of the city, with an almost casual mentioning of some of the daily pains and horrors that The Big Apple could give to some people. It is an anthem of rebellion and yet acceptance, a warning to do better whilst also acknowledging that the odds are so far stacked on one side that it may be impossible for things to change. Our heroes of The City would probably feel this same pressure, this same sense of being overwhelmed with the madness of The City that it's all they can do to keep going. Try not to lose your head.Video and Tabletop GamesMidnight, by Fantasy Flight GamesWhile I have never played this, some of you may be familiar with it. Another major inspiration behind this idea, Midnight is basically the quintessential Dark D&D setting: The bad guys won, overwhelmingly so. The whole idea is based around is Sauron managed to get The One Ring, and boy does it run with that idea (like how simply being an Elf or Dwarf is punishable by Death). Slavery is incredibly widespread, there are Ringwraith style creatures that hunt down anyone who dares to use Magic, pillars of obsidian that literally leach magic from the very world, and The Church of The Shadow has basically cleaved any connection to the Gods that may be able to do something to fix this broken world. Basically, being a true D&D-style Hero here kiiiinda sucks. A lot. Take a look.We Happy Few, by Compulsion GamesAn indie title, but a great theme: people either literally drink the Kool-Aid known as Joy to help forget some horrible, terrible event from the past that almost destroyed society ... or they exist outside that society as a "Downer" who has accepted The Truth of their world and this knowledge alone is enough to drive them to suicidal depression or homicidal rage. The city itself, "Wellington Welles", is rundown and dilapidated, but those who accept the nature of society (and therefore, take the hallucinogenic known as Joy) are perfectly okay not questioning why things are so broken, because to question is to invite trouble, and to invite trouble is to be a Downer. Our Heroes have a lot in common with these Downers: those that have rejected the "Joy" of The Magi and face the idea that something must change, no matter how much trying to change hurts. Our Heroes here are rebels against society, unwilling to just take their pill and fit in while being quiet and complacent. They're going to shake things up, even if it means breaking the illusion The Magi hold over The City and forcing the entire populace to come down from the High of complacency.</blockquote>

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