[center][img]http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/rubixon/wildbannercard_zpsx3no3g0g.jpg[/img][/center]

[center][url=https://discord.gg/N8fpj6G]Roleplay's Chat Server[/url][/center]

[b][u]OOC Information[/u][/b]

Welcome, one and all! As you can all tell, this is a story of heroes and horrors! Mutants and men! Demons and do-gooders!

Okay, so maybe not. It's a story of discrimination, mass fear, twisted media-backed narratives, and all the people caught in between. As is the Wild Cards staple! 

While this is heavily based on the original anthology series, which spans over 60 years of lore and history, this is an alternate universe where the Wild Card virus was released in the mid-year of 2016, with the game taking place roughly 6 months later in late January of 2017. This concept was decided on by the GMs in order to create a starting point for newcomers to the concept of the Wild Cards universe, cutting down the Bible of information that would otherwise be required reading for this game. 

Players can take on the role of an Ace, Joker, Joker-Ace, Deuce, Latent, or even a Nat. 

The game sports a pseudo-sandbox/open world play style, but players will be guided and highly recommended to join episodic arcs as they come out, one way or another. In between each arc, players are free to do as they wish, and they're even allowed to forsake the episode itself if you have a personal story you want to tell! However, every player needs to understand that we intend to make this an [i]organic[/i], living world. Your actions, no matter how small, or how great, will have lasting effects on the present and the future. Write a post about an Ace beating down a bunch of random thugs? The news begins posting stories of Wild Carders "running rampant". Decide to show a Joker attempting to rob a bank? Watch as police patrols become more apparent, and brutality rise. This goes doubly for episodic arcs, as these can be world-changing events. While the GMs will attempt to guide players along in these missions, the choices you make are ultimately up to you and affect how the world sees Wild Carders from then on. 

As an extra editor's note, we would like to make something clear. While we use the likeness of several real-world politicians, such as Donald Trump, this story is not about a political debate, nor is it to be taken seriously. This is a satire of real-world events and people, and we simply decided to use Trump and his presidency as a backdrop for the story because of the social and political tensions it has borne into the real world. If you do not feel comfortable playing a game with a fictionalised version of a real individual, we completely understand and wish you the best of luck in your other RP endeavors.

[b]Important OOC Details[/b]
[list]
[*] Co-GMs for the game are Architect, and myself.
[*] Game standards are High Casual, with leniency for Casual and Advanced writing. [i](aka: A GREAT game for RPers wanting to improve.)[/i]
[*] Feel free to chat/plot with us in the game's chat server.
[*] The game will begin January 2017.
[*] Current NYC Mayor: undemocratically appointed Rudy Giuliani.
[*] We encourage people to play more than Aces.
[*] The virus hasn't yet spread outside the US, but it's getting there.
[*] You are assumed to be an adult by submitting a character for this game; please act like one.
[*] Important NPCs will be GM controlled; but you can request to help us write them if you're a fan.
[*] All thanks and credit to George RR Martin, Melinda M. Snodgrass, et all. We claim no ownership to anything.
[/list]

[center][b]Below you'll find IC information. Not everything listed below is common IC knowledge. [i](Like the virus being alien in origin.)[/i] 
Please no metagaming. Wonder what you may, or may not, know IC? Ask us.[/b][/center]

[b][u]IC Information[/u][/b]


[hider=Timeline]

[u]July 6, 2016[/u]: Takisian Prince Tisianne betrays the Takisian science team readying to unleash the Xenovirus Takis-A into Earth's upper atmosphere; a Xenovirus he was instrumental in "perfecting." Prince Tisianne attacks the Takisian science team's spaceship using his own personal craft, forcing both into the lower layers of the atmosphere. Prince Tisianne succeed's in stopping the virus from being released in the upper atmosphere (thus sparing all of the planet from exposure to the virus), yet damages the science team's spaceship so severely that the virus is accidentally released over the skies of the greater New York City/Tri-State area. The science team's spaceship crashes somewhere in the northern arctic. Due to the advanced alien technology in areas of weaponry and stealth, the battle goes mostly unnoticed except for small blips on the systems of NORAD.

[u]July 7, 2016[/u]: "Black Queen Day"; Hundreds of thousands flood Tri-State (Eastern New Jersey/Southern New York/ Western Connecticut) area hospitals and health clinics. 90% of the infected die within days. Deaths are agonizing, the entire body racking with impossible pain as human biology attempts to fight off the as of yet unnamed virus. The CDC recommends Manhattan, ground zero for the virus, be completely cut off in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus. President Obama refuses to issue the order. All law and order in New York City is lost, martial law is declared by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

[u]July 10, 2016[/u]: Hundreds of thousands more die, isolated cases of the virus begin to appear as far east as Ohio, as far south as Virginia. The New York Times runs a story citing unnamed sources detailing the CDC's request to cordon off Manhattan in attempt to stem the spread of the virus. This same story features a quote from an anonymous CDC official describing the virus, "We're calling it the Wild Cards virus behind closed doors; it seems every person that gets it has a chance to either die, mutate some hideous deformity, or come out of it healthier than they were before they got sick. It's like drawing a card in a poker game." The name, Wild Cards virus, sticks. The same story refers those monstrously mutated by the virus "Jokers" for the first time, indicating they "drew a Joker", as if their deformity is some cruel joke by the gods of chance. 

[u]July 12, 2016[/u]: Public outcry pushes Congress, and a reluctant President Obama, to cordon off Manhattan, handing control of the New York City to the National Guard and the CDC. Former SOCOM CO, and Navy SEAL, Admiral William McRaven is put in charge of the overall effort. Tracy Porter, an African-American from Brooklyn, assaults a National Guard depot in search of food for his family and friends. The incident is noteworthy because bullets bounce off Porter, knife blades bend as if made of rubber against his skin. Elements of SEAL Team 6 finally put Porter down using gas attacks. Though the military attempts to cover the incident up, viral video immediately releases on the internet. In top secret briefings, the NSA pegs a hacker named "One Eyed Jack" as the originator of the viral video and it's upload onto the internet. 

[u]July 13, 2016[/u]: The Washington Post dubs Tracy Porter an "Ace", using sources within the Pentagon to verify his superhuman abilities were a result of the same Wild Cards cirus. NORAD, with help from NASA's JPL, come to a shocking conclusion in secret: there was a battle in the upper atmosphere of Earth on July 6th. On the very same day, a UFO is recorded over the skies of Roswell, New Mexico. Though Prince Tisianne and his vessel had tried to repair the damage from their battle on July 6th, Tisianne comes to the conclusion he cannot make it out of Earth's atmosphere. Having observed media feeds since July 6th, the alien Prince decides to stay and see what he can do to help these "Wild Carders"--he lands at Area 51 that night. Both Prince Tisianne and his craft are immediately taken into military custody; the US military does not believe he is an alien, or that he knows the origin of the Wild Cards virus. 

[u]July 20, 2016[/u]: Republican candidate for President Donald J. Trump announces he purchased a small Russian biotech research firm claiming to have developed a drug that shows "promise" in curing the Wild Cards virus. Wild Carders are added to his venomous rhetorical attacks, along with Hispanics and Muslims. Though many in the media call it disgraceful to attack "the sick", a scared and paranoid public begin to flock to Trump's camp, inflating his poll numbers and political rallies. On the same day, the wealthy Joker Charles Dutton begins privately lobbying Admiral McRaven to turn the Bowery into a safe-zone for those afflicted with the Wild Cards virus.

[u]August 30, 2016[/u]: Clean-up and recovery on a large scale begin within the Tri-State Area. Most agree General McRaven has done a fantastic job in an otherwise impossible scenario. In a political rally for Donald Trump in Virginia, Anti-Wild Carder hysteria reaches new, frightening, heights. A Joker named Brandon Sizemore with the mutation that makes him appear as a humanoid cat, throws off a disguise and shouts in protest of Donald Trump. Trump calls Sizemore a "mistake of nature and danger to everyone present" before Trump's security escorts Sizemore out, careful not to touch him without gloves. Outside the rally Sizemore is beaten to death by Trump supporters, though not before using his own increased physical attributes to take some Trump supporters with him. It is not the first mob inflicted death a Joker, but it is the most high profile as it's caught on video by CNN. Sizemore is the first Joker to publicly be called a "Joker-Ace."

[u]Octorber 11, 2016[/u]: Donald Trump criticizes Admiral McRaven's handling of New York City, focusing on President Obama and Admiral McRaven's decision to turn what remained of the Bowery of New York City into a "safe zone" for Jokers, dubbing it "Jokertown" for the first time. The new Wild Card residents of the Bowery use the name as a badge of honor as means of defying Presidential Candidate Trump and the hateful ignorance he champions. Jokers Charles Dutton (in secret) and Xavier Desmond (in public) begin bankrolling rapid reconstruction of the Bowery into Jokertown to speed up the government's effort in the same vein. The combined efforts make a quick "creation" of Jokertown from an impossibility to a reality. The Big Blind IRC chatrooms goes online. 

[u]November 8, 2016[/u]: Donald Trump wins in a surprisingly close US election. President Elect Trump immediately promises to dismiss Admiral McRaven and enact Anti-Wild Carder legislation once he comes into office. On the same night, President Obama and Vice President Biden are given a top secret briefing by the US military intelligence community on the presence of Prince Tsianne and his spaceship, having come to the conclusion that Prince Tisianne is exactly who and what he says he is. For the first time, though top secret, the Wild Cards virus is believed to be alien in origin. 

[u]December 15, 2016[/u]: Control of New York City is returned to Mayor Bill de Blasio and martial law is lifted. The 5th Precinct of the New York City Police Department is nicknamed "Fort Freak" due to it's proximity and area of responsibility of Jokertown. Prince Tisianne receives his first contact from President Obama via-video conference. The President then sends records of the video conference to the British Prime Minister, the French President, and the German Chancellor. 

[u]January 7, 2017[/u]: Cases of the Wild Cards virus are verified as far west as Kansas (ironically infecting a member of the staunch Anti-Wild Card Westboro Baptist Church; they draw the Black Queen) and as far south as Florida. The first European case is verified, the crewman of a private cargo vessel that came down with it while at sea in the Atlantic. The website Buzzfeed releases the infamous Trump Dossier; many journalists had their hands on it before this date, but only on this date did Buzzfeed release it without verifying it's contents. An unnamed source at the New York Times credits the "One Eyed Jack" with delivering them the dossier on Trump in the first place. 

[u]January 20, 2017[/u]: During his Inauguration speech, President Trump announces the creation of National Guard health clinics at several points just outside Jokertown where Wild Carders can begin to sign up for the Trump Cure, secretly using data stolen from Area 51's efforts to create a cure, work at Area 51 headed by none other than prisoner Prince Tisianne. President Trump also announces the appointment of Rudy Giuliani as acting Mayor of New York City; an move criticized by many on both sides of the political aisle as undemocratic at best. President Obama's final act in office is to secretly get word to Prince Tisianne about this cyber theft of the Prince's work. Prince Tisianne responds by escaping Area 51, though he is unable to take his spaceship with him. 

[/hider]

[hider=The Virus]

Xenovirus Takis-A, known as the Wild Card virus due to its seemingly random effects, is a highly complex alien retrovirus developed by the Takisian race. Originally designed to enhance the psionic powers of the aristocratic class of House Ilkazam, pioneered by Dr Tachyon himself (a gifted scientist in his own right), the virus was designated too unstable to be administered to members of House, as the viral mutations were exceedingly random and infinite, and it was decided that it was to be tested on an alien population first. As humanity had a nearly identical genetic code to the Takisian race, earth was chosen. Horrified by the prospect of destroying and mutilating an entire race, Tachyon rebelled and attempted to destroy the ship. As we all know, that didn't turn out so well.

The virus is extremely potent and deadly: 90% of those infected draw a "Black Queen" and die horrifically as their bodies undergo drastic and severe mutations. Of the unfortunate 9% who survive, they become grotesquely mutated monstrosities, sometimes deformed beyond recognition of who they once were. They are said to have drawn a "Joker". Of the 1%, the rarest and most lucky, are the "Aces". Their mutations have granted them incredible abilities without the agony of a Joker body. Some fly, some are capable of benching sedans, but all possess power only seen in comic books and film. In between are Deuces, mutations that are generally benign and otherwise useless, Joker-Aces, which combine the deformity of being a Joker with the power of an Ace, and latents, carriers of the virus who haven't "flipped a card", or developed any symptoms yet.

Mutations are incredibly random and specific, with no two Wild Carders being the exact same. While two may possess superhuman strength, one Wild Carder could have incredible power due to their high density, while another could gain power from radioactive materials.

Flipping ones card is generally brought on by great stress or trauma, or even through the hormonal cocktail of puberty, and Tachyon has speculated that the virus reacts both to the environment of the host, as well as the host's own subconscious thoughts and desires.

Once infected, a host cannot personally spread the virus to others, as it becomes a part of their DNA and non-commutable. The Wild Card virus can be inherited, however, just as any child may inherit hair or eye colour from one parent. However, no children thus far have been born to any Wild Carders.

While most of the virus was focused on New York, particulates have been found to carry on local air currents and infecting new populations. Outbreaks have been reported throughout the Midwest and down the Atlantic, with sightings as far south as North Carolina. There have even been claims of individuals in Europe and Asia displaying strange abilities and inhuman traits, although these claims are more than likely false.

[/hider]

[b]Jokertown[/b]

The Bowery of New York has since become the mecca of the malformed after the release of the Wild Card virus. Due to the chaos of Black Queen Day, including the thousands of deaths and damage to local infrastructure, many tenants packed up and moved, if they were outright killed. The remaining few were severely deformed Jokers who had no place else to go other than the ramshackle husk they once knew as home. Soon, other outcasts followed, and as the new tenants began to grow in number, a ghetto for the unwanted.

However, some time after the tragedy, Charles Dutton, a Joker and successful businessman before turning his card, took up residence in the slum and began buying up property and renovating. It was Dutton who convinced Admiral McRaven and President Obama to officially sanction the Bowery as a refuge. As more influential Jokers began trickling in, Dutton convinced these new members of the community to pool their wealth together in order to help rebuild their new home into something it once was. As the primary financial backers of this "renovation project", spearheaded by Dutton himself, Jokertown quickly began to take on a life of its own over the following months, developing bars, new homes, sources of entertainment, and even its own set of customs and lingo. This includes the prevalence of masks and mask stores throughout the neighborhood, as the Jokers living within attempt to hide their deformities as best they can. 

[hider=Notable Jokertown Locations]

[u]The Bowery Wild Card Museum:[/u] Located at 235 Bowery, the establishment formerly known as the New Museum of Contemporary Art is currently undergoing renovation financed by Charles Dutton to become "the Bowery Wild Card Museum", designed to hold both artistic works of Wild Carders, as well as up-and-coming exhibits on famous events. No one thinks it'll go anywhere. 

[u]Church of Jesus Christ, Joker:[/u] Located on Orchard Street, what was originally Our Lady of Perpetual Misery was bought and reconsecrated by Father Squid, the head priest of the small parish. Alongside several junior priests, both male and female, but all Jokers, the grounds are tended by Quasiman, a Joker-ace hunchback with great strength and the ability to teleport. Father Squid lives in the adjoining cottage alongside the church, and Quasiman resides in a small shack found in the graveyard out behind the Gothic structure.

[u]The Crystal Palace:[/u] The same venue which used to house the famous CBGB is now run by Chrysalis as a profitable bar and information hub. Headed by Elmo Schaeffer, the wide dwarven bouncer with the strength of five men, and bartender Sascha Starfin, the eye-less telepath, the establishment is known for its safe and calm atmosphere, as well as its subpar food and exquisite drinks (courtesy of Sascha reading the desires of patrons). Chrysalis lives on the upper floors and occasionally wanders down in the bar for drinks and business: for the right price, information on almost anyone and thing in Jokertown is yours.

[u]Fort Freak:[/u] Officially the NYPD 5th Precinct, the four-story patch of white brick earned its name due to its proximity to Jokertown. Most law enforcement officers assigned to the precinct consider it a punishment or "rite of passage", and numbers are relatively low because of this. Headed by Captain Thomas Jan Maseryk, Fort Freak has its work cut out for it.

[u]Freakers:[/u] A bar and strip joint located near Chatham Square, it's known for its seedy nature and legally dubious activities. Rumored to be run by Chinese gangsters, the bar utilizes the gimmick of its all-Joker acts. A neon sign depicting a three-breasted female Joker makes this abundantly clear. The drinks and food are subpar, the customer service is negligible, but everyone knows why you're really there. A side room is designated for high-paying guests who wish for the "VIP service", and while Jokers work there, only Nats (or Aces passing as Nats) are allowed as patrons.

[u]The Funhouse:[/u] Jokertown's premier cabaret nightclub, co-owned by Xavier Desmond and Angela "Angelface" Fascetti. As a renovated Bowery Ballroom, the Funhouse is spacious and designed for entertainment. Various musical and entertainment acts take place every night, mostly Joker and the occasional Ace talent, with one or two Nats here and there. Dr Tachyon's infatuation with Angelface brings him to the club quite often, lending to its impressive reputation, alongside its high-end food and drinks, which come at a relatively moderate price. Every room is decked out with built-in warped mirrors in order to show any Nat brave enough to venture within what it feels like to be a Joker looking at one's own reflection.

[u]Holbrook's:[/u] Formerly Bowery Poetry, this venue underwent a swift renovation and became Jokertown's number-one mask shop. While the prices are a little steeper than other places, the masks sold here are of high quality, customizable and durable. Owned by Charles Dutton personally, he lives above the newly-added second floor.

[u]Jokertown Clinic:[/u] Headed by the mysterious Dr Tachyon, the Jokertown Clinic is a free medical clinic for all Wild Carders, located out on South Street. Overlooking the East River, the building is surprisingly well-kept due to Tachyon's resources, with a variety of equipment for a variety of needs. Thus far, the staff is relatively small, with a few volunteer nurses, and Doctors Cody Havero, a middle-aged woman notorious for her eyepatch, and Bradley Finn, a centaur-like Joker with "surfer boy" good looks.

[u]Jokertown Cry:[/u] The local newspaper run by disgraced Joker journalist Lucas Tate and a handful of editors who help run the website. Tate constantly wears a mask, so no one knows just how severe his deformity is, other than the dark, fleshy tendrils growing from his scalp resembling dreadlocks. Tate used to be an investigative freelance journalist before he drew his Joker and realized no one wanted anything to do with him anymore. Under funding from Dutton, Tate opened up the Jokertown Cry, an unbiased and unfiltered source of information for the otherwise cut-off neighborhood. Local celebrity One-Eyed Jack is also known for submitting articles every now and then, and remaining as the primary source of maintenance for the website.

[u]The Big Blind[/u]

Though not really a "place", The Big Blind is one of 1EJ's many networks of communication. Acting as a chatroom for Jokers (and anyone else willing to remain civil), the Blind is an information hub where 1EJ can get into contact with many of his informants, as well as answer questions and get in touch with the community. The IRC is protected by an encryption key, and members are required to use VPNs in order to safeguard their locations and privacy. [i](In-character use of the Big Blind can be found in the Discord)[/i]

[/hider]

[hider=Notable NPCs]

[u]Charles Dutton:[/u] The wealthiest man in all of Jokertown. Originally a successful entrepreneur with a focus in the stock market, Dutton's life as a high-society 1% ended the day he pulled a Joker. With the skin of his face turning a pale yellow and tightening around his skull, he resembles a living skeleton, but refuses to wear a mask or take on a "Joker name". He has secretly funded or at least partially funded most of the businesses and homes being built around Jokertown, but refuses to admit it publicly.

[u]Chrysalis:[/u] Proprietor of the Crystal Tower, Debra Jo Jory is a hairless Joker with transparent skin, showing off the muscles, blood vessels and organs beneath. A confident and calculating businesswoman, Chrysalis often wears revealing clothing to put strangers on edge, giving her an advantage in any diplomatic confrontation. As the owner of the Crystal Palace, Chrysalis is a source of information regarding Jokertown, and some aspects outside it, and this information can be shared, for the right price.

[u]President Donald J. Trump:[/u] The newly-elected President, Trump is almost the same as he is in our world, although skewed a bit more openly. His calls for regulation and laws surrounding the treatment of Jokers and Wild Carders in general, gripping an already-afraid public, helped him win the Presidency, along with his proposed funding of a cure for the virus, aptly dubbed the Trump Cure. Sceptics, however, have voiced their concern with the purportedly rushed nature of the cure research, and infamous internet hacker/journalist One-Eyed Jack has sarcastically come to call it the "Trump Virus."

[u]Gimli:[/u] Tom Miller is a dwarven Joker-Ace, gifted with twice the strength of an Olympic weightlifter, but forced to half the height. Taking on the name Gimli after the famous Lord of the Rings character, the Joker-Ace is a radical left-leaning Joker activist with a hot temper that fuels his zealous crusade. As founder of the JJS (Jokers for a Just Society), he's willing to fight for his fellow Jokers and is completely devoted to the cause. He's not afraid to shy away from violence and has been accused of orchestrating several terrorist acts through his organisation. He is currently in hiding.

[u]One-Eyed Jack:[/u] The notable hacker and unknown voice of the Jokers Wild Podcast, a "rebel radio" show that claims to tell the raw truth about the goings-on of the world. 1EJ, as he calls himself, claims to be a Joker, but no one knows who he is or what he looks like. Members of Jokertown and abroad can find his podcasts on his website, jokers-wild.com, and he also runs The Big Blind, an IRC chatroom for Jokers to communicate discreetly. [i](IC chatroom found in the RP's chat server.)[/i]

[u]Father Squid:[/u] Father Robert St. Cabrini, known among his flock as "Father Squid", is a Joker with tendrils in place of a nose, pale skin, bulging eyes, and suckers at the tips of his fingers and his palms. A veteran of the Vietnam war, Squid took up priesthood many years prior to the outbreak as a way to cope with the trauma he'd experienced in war and is considered one of the kindest and most giving men in all of Jokertown. Despite his advanced age, Squid's mutation grants him impressive strength and resistance to harm, and his amphibious nature allows him to remain submerged for roughly half an hour before needing to come up for air. He also has a salty scent, reminiscent of ocean spray.

[u]Dr. Tachyon:[/u] Secretly Prince Tisianne brant Ts’ara sek Halima sek Ragnar sek Omian of House Ilkazam, under disguise as Jokertown Clinic Dr Tachyon, is a Takisian prince of House Ilkazam. Like all members of his race, Tachyon is extremely long-lived, but due to his royal blood, he has a lifespan of thousands of years and possesses incredible psionic abilities, including advanced telepathy and mind control. He is also a gifted scientist on Takis, and made several breakthroughs in his people's development of the Wild Card. Known for his outrageous fashion (which resembles brightly coloured Renaissance garb), wild personality, and raging Takisian libido, Tachyon is secretly an incredibly guilt-stricken individual who blames himself solely for the grief he has caused all Wild Carders, both Ace and Joker alike, and has begun falling to alcohol in recent months to cope. He currently heads the Jokertown Clinic, and has several love interests, including the beautiful Joker Angelface and his fellow Doctor Cody Havero.

[u]President Vladimir Putin:[/u] While Putin isn't a known player as of yet, he has openly spoken out against the Wild Card community, warning against their possible dangers and inhuman nature. Some conspiracy theorists speculate he and Trump have developed an alliance in order to further research on the Trump Cure, but these are more than likely exaggeratons and unfounded.

[u]Xavier Desmond:[/u] Co-owner of the Funhouse, Xavier Desmond is one of the more successful members of Jokertown, second only to Charles Dutton. A former investment banker, he was fired and had his wife leave him and take their infant daughter after he pulled a Joker, developing a long, pink trunk-like proboscis for a nose, with seven finger-like appendages at the end. Using his saved wealth, alongside his severance package, Xavier decided to do what he did best: he invested. Undertaking renovations of Jokertown under Dutton's proposal of a "revival", Desmond began taking more active notice of the plight of his fellow Jokers, who were discarded and overlooked without a second's thought. This spurred him to found the Joker Anti-Defamation League, an activist group aiming to spread word of Joker plight and fight for their rights in a peaceful manner. Since then, he has become known as one of Jokertown's biggest benefactors and is looked to as a pillar of the community. 

[/hider]

[hider=Notable Organisations & Groups]

[u]Cannibal Headhunters:[/u] Not so much a gang as much as a roving pack of anarchists. Led by the brutal Scar, a bald, squat, stocky Ace of Maori descent, the Headhunters have only become apparent in the last month or so, and consists of Jokers and Aces, and the occasional Nat: anyone who wants to cause trouble, really. They're known for gangland violence, assaults, robberies, and more, and are immediately recognizable by the black-and-crimson moko (Maori tribal markings) tattooed on their faces. Scar is a vicious Ace capable of teleporting anywhere he can see and has developed a keen sense of awareness in order to maximise the use of this ability in combat. His Bowie knife helps, too.

[u]Demon Princes:[/u] This gang formed around the time Jokertown came into existence. Developing as a response to local Nats moving on Jokertown turf in order to beat on Jokers for a laugh, younger members eventually grouped together under the leadership of the enigmatic "Lucifer" in order to fight back and defend their home. Known for their petty crimes, they are the most well-equipped and numbered gangs in Jokertown, acting as the chief criminal element. However, while they [i]are[/i] a gang, the Princes tend to avoid assaulting Jokers, as they consider themselves "protectors" of the community (although this doesn't stop them from asking for protection money). They operate on a ranking system similar to the Court of Hell, and each new member is required to change their name upon joining, usually relating to a demonic figure from Judeo-Christianity or entities of the Underworld in pagan religions. Members either wear an inverted cross around their necks or pinned to their clothes, and may even tattoo it on their bodies alongside their new name. Their leader, Lucifer, is a mystery, as only the most inner circle of the gang have seen him, though many have claimed he is a frighteningly hideous and powerful Joker-Ace.

[u]Joker Anti-Defamation League:[/u] A Joker-oriented activist group consisting of Jokers, Nats, and even a few Aces. Founded by Xavier Desmond after his personal experience of being ousted from society due to his status as a Joker, as well as observing the conditions his fellow neighbors lived in, the JADL aims to spread awareness of Joker rights and treatment through peaceful and diplomatic means, and aims to ensure that equality can be met without bloodshed.

[u]Jokers for a Just Society:[/u] A radical left-leaning terrorist group founded by the Joker-Ace Gimli, this relatively small cell was founded several months after the initial outbreak of the virus. With the goal of achieving equal Joker rights by any means necessary, the JJS has induced several Joker-led riots across New York and was even responsible for the bombing of Trump-funded research centre (though no one was harmed). While they refuse to harm other Jokers, these zealots aren't as merciful towards Nats or Aces.

[u]SCARE:[/u] The [b]S[/b]enate [b]C[/b]ommittee for [b]A[/b]ce [b]R[/b]egulation and [b]E[/b]nlistment was Trump's proposed regulatory body designated to regulate and observe all Wild Card activity, especially the enlistment of Ace operatives in military action. Recently formed, SCARE has been criticized openly by pro-Wild Card and general left-leaning critics as a Big Brother figure which aims to use innocent Aces and Jokers as weapons against their will and treat them all as second-class citizens. They have, of course, denied these claims.

[u]Werewolves:[/u] The B-grade gang to the Demon Princes. Led by Warlock, the muscle-bound Ace with the apparent ability to cast "death curses" on individuals, their numbers are far less than the Princes, and they harbor far less altruistic motives. Resorting to extortion and assault, members vary from Jokers to Joker-Aces and can be distinguished by their habit of wearing the same mask as Warlock, usually a famous or infamous individual, such as Kennedy or Hitler. Attempting to take off these masks can actually send a Werewolf into a rage, as they wholeheartedly identify as part of the group and nothing more.

[/hider]

[hider=Glossary of Terms]

[u]Ace:[/u] The lucky 1% of infected who benefit from the virus, rather than the [i]Jokers[/i]. These [i]Wild Carders[/i] exhibit terrific superhuman abilities and can generally fit into human society with ease. They are also less prone to outright discrimination due to their human appearance.

[u]Black Queen:[/u] The result of infection 90% of the time, Black Queens are [i]Wild Carders[/i] whose bodies are incapable of properly assimilating the severe changes to their bodies brought about by the virus, and in turn die slow horrific deaths. 

[u]Black Queen Day:[/u] The infamous and tragic day the wild card virus was released, July 7th, 2016, a day of mourning and loss.

[u]Carrier:[/u] A person carrying the [i]Wild Card virus[/i] who is incapable of producing any symptoms, or [i]pulling from the deck[/i]. Carriers can pass on the virus to their children, creating future Wild Carders.

[u]Deuce:[/u] A [i]Wild Carder[/i] with an incredibly specific or useless ability, such as changing hair colour. These individuals are uncommon, but not as rare as [i]Joker-Aces[/i].

[u]Joker:[/u] The 9% of [i]Wild Carders[/i] who survive initial infection, but are then twisted by the virus. Jokers are generally horrifically deformed, though some deformities may be mild, such as inhuman eyes or elongated canines. While some traits from these deformities can be considered "beneficial", such as an ape-like Joker having impressive strength, they are simply side-effects of their new form, and cannot be considered [i]Joker-Aces[/i].

[u]Joker-Ace:[/u] [i]Wild Carders[/i] who have some visible deformity, alongside an incredible superhuman ability. These individuals are extremely rare, and theories state that they can be some of the most powerful Wild Carders alive.

[u]Latent:[/u] An individual infected with the [i]Wild Card virus[/i], but who hasn't exhibited or [i]pulled from the deck[/i]. This usually occurs under moments of extreme duress and trauma; however, it is also possible a latent will never pull from the deck, though this is unlikely.

[u]Nat:[/u] A slur developed by the [i]Joker[/i] community relating to non-infected people, or "naturals". Used in the context of non-infected being "just nats."

[u]Pulling from the deck:[/u] Also known as [i]flipping your card[/i] or [i]being dealt a card[/i] or [i]drawing a card[/i], this has become the phrase among [i]Wild Carders[/i] for when they begin exhibiting symptoms and/or abilities.

[u]Wild Card:[/u] Slang term for the retrovirus, known officially in Top Secret circles as [i]Xenovirus Takis-A[/i], that turns normal humans into [i]Wild Carders.[/i]

[u]Wild Carder:[/u] Individuals infected with the [i]Wild Card virus.[/i]

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[b]Additional IC resources[/b]

[url=https://discord.gg/N8fpj6G][u]The RP's chat server[/u][/url] - Here you can chat with the GMs and fellow players about questions/comments, or enter the IC chatroom The Big Blind, as well as find transcripts of the Joker's Wild IC Podcast. Who knows, you may even find yourself chatting with the One Eyed Jack himself.

[url=http://wildcards.wikia.com/wiki/Wild_Cards_Wiki][u]Wild Cards Wiki[/u][/url] - The wikipedia for the Wildcards universe. Please keep in mind this wikipedia has information only on canon Wildcards, not our AU Wild Cards universe. Still it's a wonderful resource for everything from little details about Jokertown to character and story ideas. 

[u]GURP Wildcards[/u] - A table-top RPG sourcebook for the canon Wildcards universe. We'd never advocate online piracy, of course, but we hear it may be found online in PDF form for free if you search the Google. So we hear.

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[b][u]Character Sheet[/u][/b]

[i][u]Few CS Notes:[/u][/i] Post WIP/not yet accepted Character Sheets in the OOC tab for review. Post them in the Character Sheet tab ONLY after approval. Approval could take a few days as the GMs coordinate our review of each sheet.

[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Birth Place:[/b]
[b]Appearance:[/b] [i]If description. If using an image, just place it at the top of the Character Sheet.][/i]
[b]Drawn Card:[/b] [i](Joker, Joker-Ace, Ace)[/i]
[b]Card Manifestation:[/b] [i](If a Joker, your mutation. If a Joker-Ace, mutation and power. If Ace, your power.)[/i]
[b]Character History: [/b]
[b]Jokertown Role:[/b] [i](Optional. Own a business in Jokertown? Member of the NYPD's Joker Squad? J-Town's Mr Fixit? Drug dealer? Just got a flat? List it here.)[/i]