[center][img=http://oi57.tinypic.com/v3d46p.jpg][/center] It has been half a century since World War III. Nations from all over the world were devastated in the nuclear attacks, leaving the land in ruins. From the ashes two new empires arose like phoenixes. In the east, covering the former Asia, Eastern Russia, and Southern Africa, the Silver Empire took control. Very little is known about it apart from its name and territory. Spanning from the former Americas to what used to be Europe and Northern Africa, the Golden State dominated, taking over with brute force. The State demolished all weaponry within its own land (not including what it used to start up a new war with the Silver Empire) to prevent rebellion and used excessive security - hidden cameras, microphones, and a secret police known as the Reapers - to keep its people under control. The Golden State established a rigid job system, where a person is assigned a permanent task at birth. The job is determined by a technologically advanced aptitude machine, which is known by the common people as the Boss. The machine judges one’s potential IQ, physical limits, emotional limits, et cetera to pick the most fitting job. Once assigned a duty, a person is put into “training” to learn how to carry it out efficiently. The training consists of mainly of hypnopedia, or “sleep-learning”, until the age of five. This technique uses a recorded voice to convey information while the target is asleep. It ingrains ideas or skill sets in a person’s sub conscience that are difficult to reverse. At five years of age, one would be sent to a trade school for his or her job to build upon the hypnopedic teachings. Most Golden State citizens end up working between the ages of ten and sixteen, depending on how difficult the work is. With the differing job difficulties comes the caste system. There are three levels: Alpha, Beta, and Omega. [hider=Alpha]These are the top-class citizens. They have the highest IQs and often take on jobs in the government or in positions of power. They have the easiest lives as well: the nicest houses, tastiest foods, Omega servants to take care of simple tasks, etc… Alphas rarely find reason to complain in their pampered lives. They tend to look down on the lower castes as being inferior to themselves, and refuse to offer them any help or raise the standard of living. Instead, they put all of the government’s money towards funding the war against the Silver Empire and bettering their own lives.[/hider] [hider=Beta]The Betas’ quality of life is significantly worse than the Alphas’. They live in large tenements with faulty water systems and no electricity. Their food is rationed and they never seem to have enough to eat. The Beta jobs mostly focus on helping the Alphas stay in control, which tends to make them even bitterer about their situation. They are being forced to help their overlords dominate them. The Betas are tasked with censoring media that goes against the government’s policies and burning or converting books from before the reign of the Golden Empire. There is one special advantage for being a Beta though. If one carries out his or her duties exceptionally well, he or she can be promoted to join the Reapers. The Reapers get to have their own individual houses like the Alphas (although the Alphas’ houses are much bigger) and they are permitted to disregard the food rationing so they have more to eat. Their pay is also much higher than if they stuck with their old jobs. The duties of the Reapers may be cold-blooded, but many Betas think it is well worth it to escape their miserable conditions.[/hider] [hider=Omega]Omegas are the peasant-folk of the Golden State. They carry out all the common jobs such as working in a pawn shop or on an assembly line. They live in the worst conditions even though they make up nearly ninety percent of the population. Their tenements are located in the parts of the State that were desolated by the third World War, their food is very strictly rationed, and they are treated like slaves by the two upper castes. However they are a very simple people and are able to find joy in the little things in life, making the best of their dreary situations. Because they never seem overly discontent, the Reapers don’t spend much time watching them for signs of rebellion.[/hider] Despite the looming presence of the Reapers, the overwhelming power of the government, and the lack of weapons, there is a rumor floating around of a rebellion. No one knows if it is true or who is involved if it is. All anyone knows is that it calls itself the Insurgency. The Alphas are aware of the rumor, but always act like it doesn't faze them in the slightest. After all, they are the ones who have all the weapons. Still, they keep a close eye on the Betas who would have the most reason and the best opportunity to start a rebellion. [b]Important Details[/b] [hider=The Silver Empire]The Golden State takes full advantage of the fact that its people knows next to nothing about the enemy they are at war with. It posts large propaganda posters all over the cities and towns depicting the Empire as a cruel and sadistic place that wants to take over the State to turn its people into slaves. The State government tries its best to instill fear into the citizens. It wants them to think of it as their Great Protector, saving them from the horrible life of slavery. The Golden State also uses the war as an excuse to funnel all of the money away from raising the standard of living. It didn't want this to happen because if the standard were raised, wealth could be evenly spread and the castes risked elimination. The government needed to make sure the masses remained far beneath them. So instead, the State put all excess funds towards the war with the Silver Empire.[/hider] [hider=The Reapers]If their grim name didn't tell you already, the Reapers are the Golden State's secret police. They wander around to collect anyone who was observed to be showing individuality and take him to the Persecutors (the highest ranking Reapers). No one knows what happens to the people who disappear. Because the Reapers work in the shadows and keep their identities secret, they are a cause of great fear among the Betas, who are watched most closely. A boss or even one's best friend could be a Reaper in disguise, so sharing one's innermost thoughts was impossible. If a Reaper somehow got wind that one didn't love the government, he would not hesitate to capture that person the instant he or she was alone. The Reapers are the biggest problem the Insurgency runs into when trying to take down the government because of their frightening stealth and efficiency.[/hider] [hider=Love Relationships]The State strongly emphasizes that the only reason for romance is to bear children. It discourages dating relationships and youthful flings to the point where many people are actually frightened by the idea. Marriage never happens between two people who truly love each other. It is strictly business. A few lovers might try to sneak away from the urban areas in hopes of spending a night together, but they are almost always caught and taken by the Reapers.[/hider] [hider=A few job examples][b]Alphas[/b] -Spy (watches the security cameras and listens to recorded audio to find Enemies of the State) -Inner Circle Member (decision making part of the government) -Head of Old Information Department (makes sure the Beta workers stay on track and properly destroy all old works) -Head of New Information Department (makes sure the Beta workers don't let any works against the State go public) [b]Betas[/b] -Old Information Department Employee (destroys or changes old works that go against the State) -New Information Department Employee (censors modern works before they go public) -->sub-categories for both: music, news, literature, history, etc... [b]Omegas[/b] -Jobs are similar to what we have today. Just keep in mind that there the Omegas have no access to electricity and the towns they live in have never been restored since WWIII half a century ago. [/hider] --- In this RP, you can be from any of the three castes. You can choose if you are already in the Insurgency, hoping a recruiter will notice you, or completely against the idea of a rebellion. Note that Alphas are going to be against the Insurgency, not for it (I [i]might[/i] allow one Alpha to be in the rebellion as an exception, but no more). This rebellion will be a little different since the Golden State government is hoarding all the weapons. The members of the Insurgency will have to get creative as to how they plan to attack the Alpha controllers without firearms. [hider=Rules]1. All standard RPG rules apply 2. You may make no more than two CS's 3. Romance is fine, but please keep it PG-13 4. No OOC posts in the IC 5. No supernatural powers. This is a human only RP 6. Each post should have a minimum of two good paragraphs 7. Wait for at least two posts before you post again, and don't leave anyone behind 8. Post at least once a week, unless you pm me ahead of time to tell me if you can't[/hider] [hider=Application]Name: (Self-explanatory) Age: (Keep in mind: since the standard of living is so low, even people in their 40's are considered to be very old) Appearance: (Only descriptions and/or real life pictures are allowed) Caste: (Alpha, Beta, or Omega?) Occupation: (Be sure to pick a job that someone in your caste would have) Personality: (Self-explanatory) Bio: (Minimum of two good paragraphs) Part of the Insurgency?: Y/N (If you are not but want to join, explain here) [/hider] [b][u]Accepted Characters[/u][/b] [b]Alphas[/b] Adrianna Fields {Diggerton} Liam O’Donnell {Enigma} [i](Pending)[/i] [b]Betas[/b] Matthew Abbot {Wolf} Jacob _ {Simplicity} James Wolff {Heyitsjiwon} [b]Omegas[/b] Kathrine O'Malley {Darkwolfsoul010} Verity Daniels {Amaranth} John Lawrence {Plightz} --- [b]My CS[/b] Name: Matthew Abbot Age: 24 Appearance: [hider=Matthew][img=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQFL9Y808-Y/TWcKav5NKdI/AAAAAAAAAvY/5RnkdcONM5k/s1600/blond%2Bhair.jpg][/hider] Caste: Beta Occupation: New Information Department; Non-fiction Literature Censorship Personality: Matthew is a very curious young man. He loves puzzles and tries to find a solution to any unanswered question he comes across. He is usually serious, but that is only because his Beta hypnopedic lessons instilled a slight disgust for fun in him. "Play takes away time that could be used helping the State protect its citizens". Because of his flexible mind, however, he still attempts to make jokes and laugh from time to time to overcome his hypnotism. If social interaction were more important, Matthew would be considered a people person. He holds himself with a friendly, open demeanor when addressing coworkers which causes some to feel comfortable around him, but others to be wary because of that same hypnopedic teaching about enjoying oneself. If he didn't outwardly respect the Great Protector (government) so highly, the Alphas probably would have sent a Reaper after him a long time ago. Matthew has perfected his pseudo love of their leaders to the point where the Spies don't pay him much attention anymore, assuming his occasional joking is just the result of a defect in his hypnopedia. This gives Matthew an advantage in working for the Insurgency. Bio: Matthew was always a thinker, even when he was a small child. His favorite question was "Why?" He learned early on not to ask it out loud though, as curiosity was forbidden. He was forced to just accept everything he was told, but he secretly always tried to solve what he didn't understand on his own. In the time he spent alone, he would sharpen his mind by analyzing what he was taught for his future job working for the N.I.D. Matthew was employed when he turned 14. This was a year earlier than most Betas graduated Information Trade School, but his teacher noticed how he excelled in the class and reported his progress to the Department Head Alpha, and he was permitted to start work early. From the moment he began his duty of censoring books, it didn't feel right. Why couldn't people express their own ideas, especially when they were good ones? He read countless works from people who might have become famous for their ideas, had the public been able to hear about them. But because the ideas went against what the Great Protector said, they were forcibly censored. Two years later, one of his coworkers, Richard Jones, took notice of his increasing frustrations. Jones stopped him in the hallway after work one day and had a brief but polite conversation with Matthew. Afterwards, the two shook hands, and Matthew felt a the man slip a piece of paper into his hand during the exchange. Upon reading it later in the privacy of his room (the installed camera couldn't quite see the far corner from its angle), he discovered that it was a date and the address of an old abandoned building. No one ever entered it on the possibility that it might collapse on their heads. Incurably curious, Matthew decided to check it out. A week later - on the date specified by the paper - Matthew slipped away from the floods of people leaving work to visit the old building. There, he discovered and was recruited by the Insurgency. He has been working for them ever since, getting small missions to complete on papers left in his work bag, slipped him him in passing by other members, and other such secretive ways. Part of the Insurgency?: Yes --- Side-note: Yes, I did base this off of Orwell’s “1984” and Huxley’s “Brave New World” a little bit, but no, you do not have to be familiar with those books in order to join this RP. There’s enough of a difference that it won’t matter.