Wolf

The Insurgency (Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian)

The OOC is now officially up and running

The Insurgency

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Important Details

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.

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.

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.

A few job examples

Alphas
-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)
Betas
-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...
Omegas
-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.

---

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 might 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.

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

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)

Accepted Characters

Alphas
Adrianna Fields {Diggerton}
Liam O’Donnell {Enigma} (Pending)

Betas
Matthew Abbot {Wolf}
Jacob _ {Simplicity}
James Wolff {Heyitsjiwon}

Omegas
Kathrine O'Malley {Darkwolfsoul010}
Verity Daniels {Amaranth}
John Lawrence {Plightz}

---

My CS

Name: Matthew Abbot

Age: 24

Appearance:

Matthew

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.

Outlaws to the End

Name: Dakota Hendricks

Alias: The Performer

Age: 25

Appearance

Job: Outlaw

Bio: Dakota's past was a traumatic one. His father was a violent drunk, often coming home in a rage and beating Dakota or his mother. Because of this, Dakota learned to avoid his father early on. He would time his comings and goings from home to keep his father from seeing him. Eventually even this was not enough, as his father didn't have a set routine every day. Sometimes Dakota would time him wrong or assume he was leaving when he wasn't. These little blunders resulted in more beatings. He had to learn to sneak in the darkness to avoid the drunken man. He had to become a shadow.

At the age of 16, Dakota had had enough. He was sick and tired of creeping around in his own home, so he packed up the few possessions he had and left. He felt a little guilty for leaving his poor mother alone with her violent husband, but even if he stayed, what could he do? The man would just attack them both if he ever tried to stand up for her and as a young teen Dakota didn't have the strength to fight him off. So, he went on his way to make a living for himself with no money and just a loaf of bread and some apples to tide himself over until he found a job.

But no one would hire him. It was too risky to employ a runaway teenager, they said. They always gave him a small amount of cash out of pity and sent him away. After three weeks of the same result, Dakota decided he had to change his approach. He entered what he called the "actor" phase of his life. His first role was "The Orphan". Dakota would prowl the streets, a desolate, starving child with no family to care for him. He learned to pick out the people who would fall for his guise most easily. From them, he would get food, money, clothes, and the occasional place to spend the night. He spent a year doing this until he realized he could be putting his talents to better use and getting more out of his sympathetic victims.

Dakota's next role was "The Critic". He would roam the streets of the marketplace, holding his head high and carrying himself in a self-important manner. He would look over the vendors' merchandise with a scrutinizing eye and begin to question them about what they were selling, as though it were inadequate. While the vendors were distracted and flustered by his random criticism, he would snatch a few of their products and maybe some money whenever he ever had the opportunity.

Dakota traveled around and lived assuming different personas and aliases for the next three years, until a gang member took notice of what he was doing. The man approached him one day and offered to let him join the gang, saying they could use a fresh, young talent such as himself. Dakota happily obliged, thinking of how much more money he could get in a gang than by himself. Maybe he could finally save enough to get his own home and settle down. Maybe he could meet a girl. No woman in her right mind would even think of marrying him the way he was now. He didn't want it to always be that way.

Maybe things were finally turning around.

At first, Dakota's admittance into the gang had seemed like a stroke of luck. He was making a lot of money at a rapid pace and even discussing putting an end to his days as an outlaw with one of the other members. The two quietly decided that this next robbery would be their last. However, their plans were snuffed out by an unexpected treachery by the rest of the gang. One of the more bloodthirsty members, Dwayne Robins, turned his gun on Dakota and his friend, shooting them both while the rest of The Prowlers pillaged the town. The two were abandoned by the gang to take the blame for the robbery and barely escaped with their lives. Dakota was furious at the betrayal. He put aside all thoughts of settling down and replaced them with vengeful plots against Dwayne and his crew. Now, he and his friend were traveling to Nevada in search of new blood for their gang.

Personality: Dakota has learned how to be very manipulative when he wants to be. He is able to con almost anyone into giving him what he wants, when he wants it. Among friends, however, he is a loyal companion: the type of person who always has his friend's back when they're in trouble. He has some trust issues because of his rocky past, so he has trouble getting very close with those who care about him though, often keeping to himself when something is bothering him. He tends to be in his head a lot; a deep thinker, but he can also be extremely talkative and witty when he wants to be. His outwardly friendly demeanor draws others to him and allows them to feel like they can trust him. A good thing for friends, but a terrible mistake for enemies.

Family/loved ones: Dakota left his family behind when he chose to walk the path of an outlaw

Weapons: Two colt pistols and a booey knife

The Insurgency (Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian)

Darkwolfsoul010 said
Sounds a lot like Orwell! I love it :D

Thanks! I'm a big Orwell fan too, if you couldn't already tell lol! His books are very insightful and entertaining all at once.

The Insurgency (Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian)

Simplicity said
Is there going to be much focus on the Silver Empire or does it exist just as a detail?And sorry for so many questions. XD

That's fine. I was planning on explaining more in the OOC, but I'm happy to clear it up for you :)

The Silver Empire is referenced because the Golden State uses it as an excuse to keep the standard of living low. For example: "The production of boots is slow because all fundings are going to the war effort. It's for the better good of the State that you have no shoes." The Silver Empire is also made to look like an terrible place through propaganda. I'll explain why the government would do this in the OOC and IC later on.

EDIT: Now that I see so much interest, I'll definitely plan to start up the OOC tomorrow when I find the time! (4th of July celebrations and all)

The Insurgency (Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian)

Simplicity said
Just curious-what time zone are you in?

MST

The Insurgency (Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian)

Glad to hear it!
If we get one more by tonight, I might just start the OOC tomorrow

The Insurgency (Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian)

Simplicity said
How many people do you want interested before you open up the OOC?

Probably four or five in all.
I'd give it a day or two though. INCKs don't move very quickly

The Insurgency (Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian)

Simplicity said
And question-are social classes dependent on the job you get? Or are they inherited (parents were omega, I'm omega sort of deal)?

The class is dependent on the job you're assigned, but most often if your parents are in one class, you'll end up in the same one because intelligence seems to be genetic (at least in part). Occasionally there are intellectual anomalies where a child ends up moving up or down the caste system, though, so don't take that as a rule.

The Insurgency (Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

---

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 might 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.

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.

Any interest?