AoC NPCs

This information was unearthed as a series of embossed, colorful pages. It is suspected that this may have been a modern-day roleplaying game created to be played in the Age of Corporations. Oddly enough, the dating methods we used on the materials indicate that they may have been much earlier than the AoC... but that is clearly a mistake. Further research will be done into this error. ~Dog

There are many different and unusual characters populating New Washington, and this document has been written as a guide to help them come to life. These people will make up the heroes and villains on the periphery of your stories, and describing and roleplaying them accurately will give your players a sense of realism and make them want to be a bigger part of the story.

Without further delay...


Corporate Positions


Employees
The 'safe' job. Yeah, right
Appearance: Most corporate employees wear the standard AoC-era business suit, which consists of a plain white shirt, and pleated slacks (belted), and a tie. The shirt typically has a pointed collar somewhat larger than that of the late 20th century. Ties are similar, but take on unusual shapes indicative of the century. The jacket is the most changed part, ranging from very simple to quite ornate. Most follow the style of older suits in that they appear to button in the front, but many no longer do and many also lack buttons. The jackets are more comfortable and many are pull-overs that are light enough to wear in considerable heat without discomfort. Although women maintain a more diverse business wardrobe throughout the years, by 2300 A.D. most wear this standard pantsuit.
Behavior: Businesspeople are not unlike those in the early 21st century. Most are terribly ruthless, and attend to their cutthroat duties with passion. Some are simply trying to survive. Depending on rank, most employees will act like their ancestors. Due to the volatile nature of New Washington, however, many carry weapons; it is not uncommon to see a businessman walking about with a Hdplastic rapier at his side.

Corporate Militia
Like cops, but completely different
Appearance: Militia are outfitted by their company, and tend to wear dark, slate-colored clothing emblazoned with distinguishing marks. Like many armies of old, Corporate forces are forced to wear easily identifiable uniforms. Many have their faces covered by masks or helmets.
Behavior: Militiamen are the ultimate NW mooks. If the PCs are in trouble with a corporation, these are the goons who'll come to get them. Militia tend to be only nominally trained except in the cases of very martial corporations.

Corporate Knights
Honor, Integrity, and a stellar benefits package
Appearance: CKs tend to dress like employees, at first glance. Wanting to appear stylish, they wear business suits tailored to combat movement that still look good. Some knights prefer a more unique mode of dress, but only extremely competent ones get away with this without enduring derision. CKs wear their weapons openly.
Behavior: CKs are fed, housed, paid, and usually funded by the corporations they serve, and are unerringly devoted to the corporate cause. Most are very honorable types and are very honest; even those working for particularly manipulative corporations tend to maintain a stunning amount of integrity. Corporate Knights are feared and respected even more than mercenaries of many times their skill, and their behavior should reflect this.


Law Enforcement


Guardians
Plainclothes Robocops
Appearance: Guardians are hard to distinguish from normal people. Less graceful ones might thud when they walk, and perhaps you might hear a servo motor whirr as a Guardian opens a troublesome jar lid. But until you see one run up the side of a building or survive a point-blank explosion, it's hard to realize that Guardians are anything but normal people.
Behavior: Because of the combination of technomancy and humanity of which Guardians are comprised, most of these supercops are quite kind. They are owned by corporations but need only answer to the government in truth; all unfallen Guardians are truly on the side of justice. Fallen Guardians are perhaps the most dangerous villains in all of New Washington.

REACT
Riot and Emergency Attack Coordination Team
Appearance: REACT agents are posted in a solid grid all over New Washington. Every district has several agents posted there, with a concentration indicative of the intensity of crime or predicted crime in that area. Agents are plainclothed, perform ordinary activities, and do not react to normal or low-end crime. If extreme violence should break out, however, all agents in a certain area are called and break into action. This is why riot squads can appear almost literally out of nowhere if heavy violence should break out in the streets.
Behavior: Until they are called to duty, REACT agents are normal, if quiet, people. They will engage in dialogue only reluctantly, but usually are genuinely interested in their 'cover' activity, whether it be hanging out at a coffee shop or playing guitar on the corner. REACT agents are extremely competent and well-armed, and will react quickly and effectively to crises. They are formed and funded by the government, and so have no ties to corporate NW at all. They exist only to protect the populace. Once they are used in a crisis, they typically are discharged into other areas of law enforcement to maintain the veil of secrecy surrounding REACT.

Cops
Yes, they exist
Appearance: Uniforms vary from precinct to precinct. Detectives are all plainclothed, but patrol officers usually have a uniform. The designs seem to be borrowed, for the most part, from 20th-century uniforms with subtle changes.
Behavior: Cops know that they're disposable and at the bottom of the ladder. Most cope either by bullying their victims unnecessarily or by doing their job with grim determination. Cops tend to have a healthy distaste for mercs and are scared shitless by Guardians.


Independents


Mercs
Odd-job Men
Appearance: There is absolutely no regularity in the appearance of mercenaries. They come in all shapes, sizes and fashion senses. Some favor very conservative, military garb; others prefer a flashy, superhero-like demeanor.
Behavior: Most of the PCs will probably be mercenaries. They come from all walks of life and do all sorts of things. The only thing that all mercs have in common is the tendency to do jobs for money. Anybody could be a merc. Even office temps tend to be referred to as 'mercs' in the Age of Corporations.

The Shadowflames
Superheroes for Hire
Appearance: Shadowflames look like mercenaries, but flashier. All Shadowflames have a very unique look, and each bears his with pride.
Behavior: Flashy. Style plus substance equals Shadowflame. Every Shadowflame is extremely effective but also very stylish.


The Government


MIBs
Some things never change
Appearance: The appearance of the MiB has changed little. They wear employee-style suits, always with a pull-over jacket. Their suits are designed for easy combat and movement, and have well-concealed holsters for their extensive armament. Most MiBs are very subtly enhanced, often with Guardian-class technology. MiBs never have visible cyber or weaponry, ever.
Behavior: MiBs are even scarier in the AoC than they have ever been. Whatever ethnic features they might have seem almost completely subsumed by their bland features, and it is suspected that some have been genetically bred to be as forgettable as possible. In combat, they are quiet, effective, and emotionless. MiBs will seldom seen, since the government does not typically involve itself with crime. Only in the most heinous breaches of policy and law does the government appear, and its appearance is usually a sign that the situation will soon end.

The President
who?
Appearance: The president is a middle-aged man of forgettable heritage, with a relatively forgettable face. He dresses in nice suits, but is seldom seen. It is unknown precisely how much power he wields, but he has stayed in office for a long time. Maybe. No one really remembers.
Behavior: The president is a very elusive figure. Little is known.


Comments:

Any chance we might someday see a list of the various legendary characters (and maybe weapons)? With concise descriptions like these, I think they'd be a great addition, as they're so critical to the flavor of the AoC. ~~SabreCat


Duly noted. I was thinking about this, as well as outlining a little better the personal 'styles' of corporations. I'll try to get to this. ~~Dog


Shiny... ~Za



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