IMAGE SOURCE: Artur Sadlos
Life in the 2080s is a strange thing.
Mankind now coexists alongside a plethora of intelligent species once thought to be legend. Elves, Dwarves, Minotaurs, Vampires, even Ghouls. Collectively known as "Ahumanity," their introduction to society has changed our world forever. Magic has been proven to exist, and has changed the face of our culture, economics, military, even day to day life. Having a team of experienced telepaths is just as important to a company as having an experienced IT team.
Following a series of wars and conflicts, the geopolitical landscape has changed greatly. Governments are mainly proxies for corporations, and it's barely a secret. Security forces battle mercenaries, anarchists, and terrorists on a day to day basis. Companies hire battalions of 'Freelance Mercenaries' to take care of their dirty work, or in the occasion that their operations need to be kept secret, small teams of specialized operatives. Hackers, mages, soldiers, coming from all races and walks of life, if you have the money and the patience, you can find anyone for any job.
While corporations clearly run the world, the most apparently powerful are ubiquitous across society. One of the most influential is Crucifix Security Solutions; a private security force and weapons manufacturer. Their specialty is in creating gear to combat Ahumans; handheld stake drivers, anti-magic bullets, and many more. While clearly powerful, their mere existence is divisive. Some consider them a force for oppression and segregation, others believe they are necessary to maintain security in a world where humans aren't the only thing to worry about. Whichever way you view it, they're here to stay, for better or worse.
Despite numerous advances in technology and science, the world is still not an easy place to live. New sources of energy have been discovered thanks to the efforts of scientists and magi across the globe, but many communities still exist without electricity. Magic portals allow us to travel to space and beyond, making colonization of other planets immensely cheaper, but you're only living off planet if you or your family is either extremely rich, or your family has a contract to work there. The total wealth of the world has been increased immensely, but for many, financial security is simply out of reach.
In larger cities, riots and uprisings are a regular occurrence. Anarchist movements have sprouted up across the globe in response to increasing corporatization of society, with differing goals, methods, and levels of success. While many exist to create a purely lawless world, there are still some that are truly trying to help the people, smuggling supplies into communities on lockdown, rerouting power to poorer communities, and even preventing private data from ending up in the wrong hands. These rebellions are fighting an uphill battle, but have made it clear that they will not back down, even from the threat of war from the corporations.
This is the world in 2085. The face of the world has been changed forever, and whether you're a wealthy CEO, a powerful mage on the Council of Magic, or another citizen just trying to make it on the streets, everyone has their own part to play.
What's yours?
This is a little something new I'm trying out, trying to shake my writer's block. This is a 'universe' I've been working on for quite some time now, heavily inspired by things like Cyberpunk 2020, Shadowrun, and similar fiction. From today forward, I'm going to try and make at least one post a day about this world, detailing aspects of life and lore in this future.
Beyond that, I'm not sure what to do with it. I may write a novel or short story set in it if I find the time and inspiration, maybe I'll make a game if I find the funds to assemble a team of artists, programmers, and other people who want to make it a reality (I'd love something on the Steem blockchain), but at the moment these things are out of my reach either due to time, skills, or resources.
So for now, I'm just putting this world on display for all to see.
If you like it, be sure to upvote, comment, and resteem. I'd love to see what you all have to say on it.
Like I said, expect at least one post a day.
Tomorrow, I will likely write about the biggest corporations in the Crucifix Universe.