Matthew A. Goodwin
Cyberpunk Saga Resources
THE BOOKS
History of the
Cyberpunk Saga world
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Xuefeng Robotics created automatons called drudges which are cheap enough to replace human labor in many sectors.
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In an increasingly automated world, humans begin to get cybernetic augments to compete for jobs with the drudges.
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Conventional physics defied, interstellar travel begins in earnest.
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Habitable planets were discovered, Dyeus Industries begins colonizing space.
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Colonists starts to experiment with Accelerated Evolution Bioengineering to help adapt to life on distant planets.
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Earth’s population reaches a critical mass and starvation gives way to riots.
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ThutoCo researchers genetically modify a weather resistant plant which can, “feed the world and restore a healthy planet.”
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The plant is quickly nicknamed “prophet root” or “P root” for short.
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Many crops are replaced around the world with the fields of prophet root.
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New, higher yield strains were rushed to market without governmental oversight..
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A strange fungus grows on the unchecked plant.
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The Great Pandemic (more information to come, stay tuned):
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The fungi infect farmers
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Companies scrabble to find a cure
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Cities erect walls to keep out the infected, many fall
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Massive quarantines lead to the rise of digital education and lifestyles
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National governments are blamed and fall as well, giving way to powerful city-states.
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Though claiming to be unable to cure the disease, ThutoCo unveils a spray which could stem the spread of the fungus and it’s aerosolized counterparts. They simultaneously announce a method for treating the infected plants to make it viable for human consumption once again. ThutoCo begins buying up land owned by surviving farmers hoping to make a life for themselves in the cities, as well as surrounding land previously claimed by national governments.
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As chaos engulfs the planet, the colonists on other planets begin revolting and working together to break free of their corporate rule.
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Back on earth, much of the planet’s population has been decimated and vast, walled in mega cities are all which remain- run by mayors funded by corporations and inflated taxes.
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The Carcer Corporation is hired to police the bloated cities and outlying lands.
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ThutoCo erected fields of misters to keep the cities safe from the spread of infection.
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As the land outside the cities is deemed unlivable, the companies begin establishing farms of crops and solar panels which can be tended by drudges operated remotely.
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Burbs, large corporate housing structures were built within the city walls for refugees who took jobs from the remaining companies.
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ThutoCo’s president formed a clandestine organization with the planet’s other largest companies to work together to control the world’s wealth. They deemed this group the Amalgamated Interests Council.
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In western North America, land disputes became a problem for ThutoCo. Andreas City had given land claims to one of ThutoCo’s rivals and the company was not pleased. ThutoCo convinced the new mayor of B.A. City that a war with Andreas would be in both their interests: the company would build more Burbs to accommodate some of the city’s new population as a draft would help to cull some of the citizens.
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B.A. City declared war on Andreas and, with the backing of ThutoCo, were victorious- though many lives were lost. ThutoCo was given the rights to all of the newly conquered land, cementing their stranglehold on the coast.
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The Amalgamated Interests Council then set about making peace with the colonists (who had formed companies of their own), much to the chagrin of Dyeus.
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The peace meant trade could resume between earth and off-world, though piracy was commonplace. The trade made the companies all the richer as new minerals and materials were shipped to the earth in exchange for crops and spices.
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Occasional wars broke out between cities and companies but life on earth was mostly quiet.
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The rich grew richer as the citizens of earth grew more poor and desperate.
Glossary
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AIC (Amalgamated Interests Council): An illuminati of business owners working together to control planet earth for profit.
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Atheletiskyn: A Dermidos (under D) brand suit to be worn during exercise to monitor all vital signs.
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Audon: German luxury car manufacturer.
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B.A. City: Northern California megacity.
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The Betweens: A colloquialism for the space between the cities.
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Bovidae Biotechnics: South African cattle producer.
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Breaker: Hacker
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Bub: Slur for someone who grew up in a burb.
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Burb: Corporate apartment structures where employees can work from home and have all their needs met.
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BurbSec: Burb security.
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BurbSec Zetas: ThutoCo’s corporate military.
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Carcer Corporation: Private military force used by many cities as a police force.
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Carcer City: A prison city run by the Carcer Corporation. There are several such cities.
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CerebralSync: Brainwave controlled digital experiences.
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Comph: The largest clothing brand in the world.
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Conka: Popular slot machine style gambling device.
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Crassun Emergency Services: For-hire fire and emergency medical treatment with additional at cost transportation to your nearest hospital. They also do corpse removal.
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Cybermesh: Digital fabric.
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D2E: Internet provider and entertainment company.
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Dermidos: An electronic full-body suit with many features from cloaking to temperature control depending on the model.
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DigPlate: Optical enhancement device that replaces an eye with a computer.
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DLI: ThutoCo company currency.
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Dronepack: A dangerous and illegal form of personal transportation- a metal backpack that can move operators via flight.
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Drudge: A robot with vaguely human shape manufactured and sold by Xuefeng Technologies.
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Dyeus Industries: Company that established the first off-world colonies.
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Esodo Automotive: Italian flighted car manufacturer.
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Fibermail: A strong, bullet resistant mesh worn under armor plating.
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Foddier: Food synthesizer.
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Graymaker: Electronics dampening device.
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Great Black: Outer space.
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The Great Pandemic: A period of disease that killed much of the human population and forced people into walled-off megacities.
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Gro4All: Vat meat producer
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HackAd: Digital advertisement that utilizes neural implant to advertise directly to the brain.
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Hex: Individual apartment within a burb housing unit.
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HoloAds: Holographic advertisements.
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Holoprojector: Machine that projects holograms.
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Hoplite Motorcycle Club (MC): A worldwide ‘one-percenter’ gang whose members typically ride motorcycles.
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Kingfisher Munitions: Electronic weapon manufacturer.
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Legion Motorcycle Club (MC): A worldwide ‘one-percenter’ gang whose members typically ride motorcycles.
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Lenscreen: Digital contact lens.
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Levitengine: Thruster on flighted vehicle.
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The Mass Illusion: The most popular virtual reality
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Miners Football Club (FC): The premier soccer team of B.A. City.
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Neo Dark Age: A time of economic and government collapse that followed the Great Pandemic.
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NeoVerge Industries: Company formed by off-world rebels after breaking with Dyeus.
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The Night Crystal: Carcer Corporation headquarters in B.A. City.
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Opperistic Wealth Network: The largest international bank.
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Palmscreen: A touchscreen-based smart devise cybernetically sewn to a user’s palm.
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Pristiners: A sect of people who believe the human body should not be augmented.
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Prophet Root (“P-Root”): Genetically engineered plant whose root can be processed into food, stalked and leaves into materials and helps to restore the environment.
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Quix Fix: Chain of 24-hour urgent care facilities
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REGNAD display: In-helmet digital display for security officials.
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Relief Aide: Humanoid robots (manufactured by Atsuko AndroiTech) used for pleasure by humans.
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RENTec Building Associates: Large building ownership group.
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RePurp Industries: Salvage company that uses pieces scrounged from the world outside the major cities.
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Rises: B.A. City neighborhood where all the businesses were built out on platforms that jut out from the sides of former apartments.
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Scuba: Nomadic raiders who live outside the city walls. So named for the breathing apparatus they wear.
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SeaDome: ThutoCo vacation complex.
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Smartshades: Sunglasses with cellular and mobile computing functions.
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Suggi-O’s: A synthetic sugar based meal in a can for children.
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Teotl Coffee: An American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves headquartered in B.A. City
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Thermaskyn: A Dermidos (under D) brand suit to be worn during exercise to monitor all vital signs.
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ThutoCo Bioengineering: Company that provides electricity and genetically modified crops.
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Tomar LTD: Mexican food manufacturer.
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Vat Food: Laboratory grown food products.
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Wall Burg: B.A. City neighborhood which abuts the wall around the city.
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Warden: Carcer Corp senior officer. Permitted to collect Carcer bounties.
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Xuefeng Technologies: Chinese drudge manufacturer.