In the world of Superconsumer not
everyone is happy with the current state of how the world is run.
Some have grown tired of the constant televised stream of corporate
influence on their lives. So they work to limit just how much they
have endure and are constantly looking for more ways to separate
themselves from the brainwashed masses and their masters.
They call themselves Slates in a
reference to 'blank slate' as they wish to become clean of outside
influence.
Of course different Slates have
different levels of dedication. Many of them just want a break from
the TV screen that is always going on around them. Others go to more
extremes of separation by moving to the worst, least monitored
sections of a city and having their data erased from the Net by some
very sneaky netrunners. So not all of them are the same and you
never know exactly what type of Slate you are dealing with.
Drowning out the Television.
Being creative is the key since the
government doesn't like it when you don't get their propaganda
streamed into your life. 'Mufflers' are the most common things used,
these are heavy blankets made with light stopping fabrics that are
draped over a television set in the home. Reducing the sound as much
as possible and cutting the light emitted to almost nothing. They are
also the most legally viable alternative since all one has to do is
claim a medical reason such as headache, eyestrain or extreme fatigue
as the reason why you 'temporarily' covered that screen.
The off switches and mute buttons are
the next level up. While illegal they are still quite sought after as
they completely cut off the set or just the sound. Commonly built in
disguised shells so they appear as something else entirely. Such as
older TV remotes, children's toys, ink pens, just about anything you
can think of. Some have even gone as far as to have their home set up
with fail safes such as the Television turning on whenever an entry
door is opened or on voice control.
Blackout goggles have started appearing
on black market stands as well. These are smart goggles tricked out
so they whenever a television screen comes into view it gets blacked
out in your field of vision. Although it doesn't do anything for the
sound. While not technically illegal yet there are laws currently
being pushed through and revised that will make them a criminal
offense to possess.
Communities
In several places in the run down
outskirts of modern cities you find communities of Slates living
together. Occupying abandoned buildings and subway tunnels creating
their own form of self reliance with each other. Some form gang like
levels of hierarchy while others make democratic microgovernments to
rule themselves. The further out from the center of a city they are
the less likely they are to be bothered by the law. Mainly because it
is not profitable to try and police such hostile areas and would cost
more than they could ever be worth. On the downside if there is
trouble in these communities they have to take care of themselves as
nobody is coming to help.
One thing these communities are really
good for is the black market selling of goods and services. Such as
finding old tech and those who know how to repair or even build it.
An endless variety of off and mute switches. Stolen property by the
truck load. If you need to sell something that would get you put in
jail for anywhere else, this is the kind of place you want to take
it.
The really big downside is that Slate
communities also tend to attract a less savory part of society. Not
because they want to escape the government televisions and
brainwashing but to escape the police who are after them for what
they have done. Career criminals will pass off as a Slate while
continuing what they do on the side. Sex offenders sadly find this a
preferred environment as well since they aren't known for what they
are guilty of. Even the Kindred will live here just to escape prying
eyes.
Adventure Seeds
The edgerunners have acquired a large
quantity of military grade weapons. If they get caught with them
there will be jail time so selling them is a better option. Following
a lead they hear the best place to move them is in a Slate
marketplace. What they don't know until they get there is that this
particular Slate community is sat up more like a gang dictatorship
and they see the PC's as potential threats.
The edgerunners are hired by a
community to help track down a sexual predator who has moved in and
is preying on their members. They don't know who it is but they want
him removed from the community altogether. There may even be a reward
for this person by the police after they skipped out of their
registration.
A police officer who is partial to the
Slates has caught wind of a large scale action being planned for one
community. The abandoned city block they are residing in is being
looked at by a corporation as a possible purchase IF the 'vagabonds'
are removed from the structures there. He tells a friend who is with
the edgerunners and they can chose to help. Either by finding another
suitable location, fighting off the police action or they may end up
having to run delaying actions so the people can get out in time.
Like what you see here, found out how to support this blog.
Check out Wildside for the Cyberpunk 2020 RPG.
---------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment