Welcome to Santa Somabra
In a world where humanity has evolved alongside all manner of mythical creatures, Santa Somabra is a sleazy, crime ridden city in the American West; a filthy metropolis caught in a seemingly unending whirlwind of gang wars and criminal activity. Cars whiz past, and gawking passers-by shamble aimlessly down grimy roads, as unseen mob bosses plot to destroy one another. Santa Somabra is a bleak, soulless city, where the strong pray on the weak, and those who have been spat out by civilized society turn when they have nowhere left to go.
The great crime families and ruthless gangs dominate Santa Somabra, with the law enforcement sat comfortably in their pockets –either brought or scared into submission-. Ruzghul Elfchewer, two-headed ogre kingpin of the Martovanni family, is the big boss of Santa Somabra’s underworld, with wannabe contenders and bloodthirsty rivals endlessly snapping at his heels.
Those who make it in Santa Somabra do so by leaving all laws and moral codes in the dust, and stomping on whoever they can to climb up another crocked rung in the twisted social ladder.
OOC
The game takes place in a dreary noir setting, incorporating elements of the crime drama and fantasy genres, with the players able to choose from a wide roster of different mythical creatures, or play as a human character. Players may choose to take on the role of any member of society, be it a lowly thug, officer of the law, or a simple shop owner caught up in the struggle of getting by in Santa Somabra.
There is no set plot, with the players shaping the world around them, and the various threats that lurk in the shadows responding to these changes.
Useful bits of information
• Magic is a risky and unpredictable business, with most preferring to use physical means to get their dirty work done. However, a few occult groups exist within Santa Sombra, giving sacrifices to otherworldly beings in return for demonic powers, and the occasional down-on-their-luck gambler will pray to some obscure trickster god in an attempt to fix a poker game. The most common use of magic is in distilled manners, such as placing charms on weapons to increase their lethalness, or reinforcing bank vault doors with protective wards.
• Large mythical beasts (Dragons, Gryphons, giants etc) tend to stick to more rural areas, and are very rarely found in large urban zones.
• Whilst real-life drugs exist in this setting, many fantasy-based illegal substances are prominent in Santa Somabra. Fairy Dust, Demon’s Blood, and Runez are a few examples.
• Whilst dabbling with demonic entities has always been a taboo subject, the Nazi’s use of hellish magics in World War II cemented the world’s view of witches and warlocks as being something to be shunned and hunted.
The Factions
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The Rats- A combination of different street gangs, the Rats have no specialized area, and make their money from selling a wide variety of different guns and narcotics. Notorious for using the vast sewer networks beneath Santa Somabra as a means of moving their goods back and forth, the Rats are only a real threat in the more poverty-stricken parts of the city.
The Nyte Kyngs- An unruly faction of vampires who broke away from the larger crime families, The Nyte Kyngs are a small but vicious gang of nocturnal bloodsuckers, who control the Fairy Dust dens.
The Reapers-A formidable mob-like gang, the Reapers are notorious for their brutal methods and the necrotic tattoos that cover their bodies. The Reapers have the monopoly on Runez in Santa Somabra.
The Rotfaces- Brought together by the wide-spread discrimination against undead citizens, the Rotfaces are a gang composed entirely of free-willed reanimated corpses. A tightknit community who detest the living, the Rotfaces work as information dealers, hitmen, and kidnappers for hire.
The Hunters-Seemingly a group of feral homeless people, when the moon is full the Hunters reveal their true, savage nature. The werewolf community of Santa Somabra tend to stick to the outskirts of the city, only traveling inwards to organize their monthly hunting sessions, where they chase their pray throughout the cracks and crevices of Santa Somabra.
The Nyctari family-An ancient society of vampric aristocrats, the Nyctari family have existed since the earliest days of humanity. Evolving alongside mankind, the Nyctari have spent an eternity praying on their weaker cousins; using the “inferior” races as thralls to further their malicious goals. In the modern day the Nyctari are a strictly organized crime syndicate, using their dark powers to extend their reach over Santa Somabra. The Nyctari control the red lights district, and the majority of the city’s human (and nonhuman) trafficking operations.
The Martovanni family-Splicing their thugs on potent demon’s blood, the Martovanni family possess the most lethal goons in all of Santa Somabra. Once a prominent mob of elven Italians, the Martovanni family was recently taken control of by the nefarious Ruzghul Elfchewer, whom uses fear to keep his new criminal empire together. The largest criminal faction in Santa Somabra, the Martovanni family has the monopoly on demon’s blood.
Drugs and narcotics
Fairy dust- A bright yellow/gold powder, fairy dust induces an incredible high, which floods the nervous system with a euphoric flying sensation. Sending the user into a temporary comatose state of unageing, prolonged use of the drug can result in a permanent comma, with the victim remaining in the exact state they were in when they first took the drug.
Runez-Injected through the neck, Runez grant the user the ability to unstably shift in and out of a corporeal form, and to teleport short distances. Whilst incorporeal the user becomes invulnerable, however there is no way to control when this process happens. Runez junkies are characterized by the eerier tattoo-like marks that spread across their skin after prolonged use of the drug, which have a bright blue hue to them.
Demon’s Blood- A thick, dark red liquid, Demon’s blood is ingested by drinking, or being injected straight into the blood stream for a more potent high. Bolstering the user’s strength, speed, and agility, first time users become practical super soldiers, whilst also experiencing an overwhelming sense of greatness and self-importance. However, over the time the prideful sensation is replaced by an intense rage, as users begin to hear the whispers of otherworldly beings in their ears, usually drawing them into a state of extreme paranoia.
Attitudes towards different races
Vampires-Technically considered a disease, official law enforcement guidelines state that Vampires should be hunted with extreme prejudice. Despite their enhanced capabilities, most smart Vampires tend to keep their dark secret guarded, for fear of attracting unwanted attention. Despite this, the Nyte Kyngs openly flaunt their vampirism.
Werewolves-Despised by almost all of Santa Somabra, the monthly raids that the Hunters lead on the citizens of the city has given them a monstrous reputation, and law enforcement agencies will pay handsomely for known werewolves, alive or dead.
Elves-Considered by some to be father-figures to humanity, and by others to be elitist fascists, attitudes towards elves vary depending on the community.
Orcs-Having become known for being lazy and prone to violence, many Orcs find it difficult to shake the scummy reputation that the worst of their species have given them.
Goblins-Considered to be dishonest and heartless, Goblins are regarded as untrustworthy rodents-like creatures by most of Santa Somabra.
Ogres-Generally considered little better than beasts, Ogres are accepted as a necessity in terms of security work, but are rarely welcomed into non-Ogre communities, with a few exceptions.
Sooo….any takers?
