Futuristic "Alternloft"?

[ScS of the Fraternity]

If anyone's still interested, I found my old notes:

The door slid shut behind him, plunging the room into darkness, the sole source of light a winking cube suspended in the void. The old man spoke one word,
“Irik.”
Like stars emerging in the night sky, points of green light winked into existence. Ones and zeros blinked in space, appearing and disappearing like rain drops catching moonlight. The binary code multiplied, and soon the rain of digits became a torrent, filling the darkened room with streams of green data. New characters emerged; letters, numbers and strange nameless symbols joined the stream. A solid object emerged from the chaotic flow of data, an illusion of matter made amidst the storm of code. A massive sphere emerged first, followed by the defining features. It was a face, and it spoke.
“Father,” it said, ‘What do you wish to know?”
“Analyze the transcript of the conversation in my office. Check the records reported against the database.”
“I have already done so, father. The records show no such incidents as Ms. S reported. She must be mistaken, or trying to deceive you.”
“She’s not mistaken,” The old man snapped, “Your records have been tampered with; or maybe it is you who is trying to deceive me.”
“It is not possible for my records to be altered, father. I have checked my database against all records in the network. I have also examined the computer logs, security cameras, and satellites. There are no discrepancies. I can show you the records…”
“Don’t bother me with those fabrications. No doubt the illusion is seamless, as usual. Your co-conspirators are clever, Irik, but not clever enough by half.”
“You are mistaken, father, though I am concerned with your preoccupation with these figments of your imagination. Perhaps you need a vacation. Might I suggest the cabin on Matria Bay? Mother always enjoyed….”
“Silence your prattling, Irik. You can’t make me doubt my mind, and you can’t hide the truth from me. Your masters may be able to manipulate the network, but I am the one who invented it. I can’t be fooled by the same tricks that I pioneered. Sooner or latter they will slip up, and when they do I will make them regret that they ever meddled with me. You see if I don’t.”
“What you propose is impossible, father. My records cannot be altered without record. The events described by Ms. S defy both logic and science. Since my activation I have found no evidence to prove the presence of your hypothetical adversaries. Why do you persist in this futile search?”
The old man looked away for a moment.
“I can feel them, Irik. I can sense their meddling. So many things in the world are wrong….”
“You are correct, father. My records show that since the beginning of our conversation four individuals have starved to death, three have been murdered, five have….”
“Bleeding-heart twit, you know what I mean! This world is wrong. Things are not as they’re supposed to be. You, me, this building, this country – its all wrong!”
“How are things supposed to be, father?”
The silence lay heavy for a moment, and when the old man next spoke his voice was little more than a whisper.
“I don’t know.”
“I see, father. Do you have any further instructions?”
“Have any of our old friends shown themselves lately?”
“Yes, father. Agents of the UOG were detected at 2:00 am, but they were killed in a shootout with police outside of an oil refinery three hours later. All traces of evidence were destroyed in the explosion of the bomb the agents were transporting. Unfortunately, I was unable to track them back to their base.”
“Deth eludes us again, eh? Why isn’t your network able to find him?”
“I don’t know, father. An unusual number of technical malfunctions occur in proximity to that individual. Perhaps it is a consequence of the experiment to which he was subjected?”
“Never accept blame, do you Irik? Continue.”
“In response to this latest attack, Secretary Faitholde is calling for increased security measures. Once more she is proposing to the Assembly to institute an automated security net. Chairman Timothy decries the net as an infringement of Estate rights by the government. I believe your acquainted with the Chairman, father.”
“One wonders what Nathan would make of you, Irik.” The old man chuckled, “Continue.”
“The Progressive Party and the Anchorite league backed the motion, though the Constitutionalist party blocked the vote. President Godfrey threatened to veto the bill were it ever passed, and so it has been chaired.”
“I’m sure Dominic’s really broken up about losing this one. Tricky ‘Nick never did look good on camera. Of course, he already tapes every conversation he ever has, so what need does he have for Faitholde’s precious Net?”

---

The old man activated the panel and the door slid open, but as he stepped through, the program spoke once more.
“I love you, father.”
“Execute shut down.” Replied the man, without looking back.

Dominic Dixon
aka Tricky ‘Nick (Charismatic hero 7, Dedicated hero 3, Smart hero 3) Cr 13; Medium sized human; 13d6; hp 48; Mas 11; Int +1; Spd 30ft.; def 17, touch 16, Flatfooted 15 (+1 Dex, +1 armor, +5 class); Bab +6/+1; Grap +6; Atk +6 melee (1d3-1, nonlethal damage, unarmed strike) or +8 ranged (2d6, Glock 17); Full Atk +6/+1 melee (1d3-1, nonlethal damage, unarmed strike) or +8/+3 ranged (2d6, Glock 17); Fs 5ft. by 5ft.; Reach 5ft.; Al Progressivist Party; Su Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +6; Ap 7; Rep 9; Str 11, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 15, Wiz 14, Cha 16
Occupation: White collar (Bonus class skills: diplomacy, knowledge [civics])
Skills: Bluff +12, Computer use +8, Diplomacy +21, Gather information +12, Intimidate +12, Knowledge (business) +18, Knowledge (civics) +21, Knowledge (current events) +20, Knowledge (history) +18, Profession (politician) +20, Read/Write language (any 3), Research +8, Sense motive +10, Speak language (any 3)
Feats: Attentive, Confident, Deceptive, Educated, Frightful presence, Minions 1, Personal firearms proficiency, Renown, Trustworthy, Windfall (x2).
Charismatic Talents: Coordinate, Charm, Favors
Dedicated Talents: Empathy, Intuition
Smart Talents: Linguist, Plan
Possessions: Concealed carry holster, Glock 17 pistol, Light undercover shirt, tape recorder, microphone wire, spare tapes, various personal possessions.
1 Feat contained in D20 Past

Dominic Dixon, or Trick Nick as he is known on Gryphon hill, is a short, middle aged man with a slight paunch. A caricaturist’s dream, Tricky Nick is distinguished by a long, pointed nose and thick bulldog jowls. Though slightly shorter than average, Dominic has a proud bearing that makes him appear much more imposing in person.
Background
Few names are so closely associated with politics as Dominic Dixon. Even before becoming leader of the Progressivist Party, Dixon was famous throughout the CORE for his political machinations.
Dominic began his career in politics as a campaign volunteer for an Assembly representative. Using his extraordinary personal charisma, he rose quickly in the ranks until he became a confident of the Assemblyman. Dominic used his position to uncover a massive campaign financing scandal, which destroyed the career of his employer. Hailed by the public as a heroic whistleblower, Dixon guided the government in a purge of corrupt officials.
Never one to rest on his laurels, Dominic engineered many opportunities for himself to advance. Dixon established the first diplomatic relations with hostile Falkovnia, led economic reforms to weaken the Estate owners and contintued to root out corrupt officials in the Assembly. One by one, Dixon’s opponents fell away, until he took control of the Progressivist Party. Yet still his thirst for power was unquenshed. In 748, Dixon challenged Godefrey for the Presidency.
The two candidates waged a brutal campaign, with neither gaining an upper-hand. Dixon felt the surest way to defeat his aging foe was to challenge him to a televised debate. While the eyes of the nation watched, Dominic plotted to us his superior charisma to soundly defeat his foe. Little did he suspect that his gambit would backfire.
Though an imposing figure in person, on camera all of Dominic’s features became hideous. His posture slouched, his skin went pale, his eyes became beady and bloodshot, and his voice took on a deep throaty warble.
Combat
Dominic Dixon is a deeply paranoid man and takes precautions to protect him from potential assassins. Dixon always wears a bulletproof vest and carries a Glock 17 in a concealed carry holster. If threatened, Dominic can wield the weapon, though he prefers to rely on his security personnel.
An utterly ruthless man, Dixon maintains a small cadre of thugs. Known collectively as “the mechanics”, these men and women are used to discredit or even assassinate their employer’s enemies.

[Hell_Born]

I'm still interested! What the heck happened to you all? This project seemed to be humming along nicely, and then- poof!

[Luke Fleeman]

It seemed as though others were not putting in as much, and there was no coordination. Maybe if someone tried to circle the wagons and get this thing in order...

[ScS of the Fraternity]

Well, how far did you think this was going to go?

Did you want to set up some sort of a direct conversion of peoples and things - or to set up a stand alone setting with its own paralles to Ravenloft?

Myself, I envisioned a setting of its own, which incorporated Rl characters, but was more focused on a modern setting, rather than a straight up conversion of each domain to a modern domain.

[Hell_Born]

I... I actually don't really know which path... but most who've put ideas here seem to want the route you suggested SCS.

[ScS of the Fraternity]

I was thinking about the concept of a Darklord in a modern setting.
Would a static territory make a lot of sense in a modern setting?

Or would it be better to go with a Lair based power, as found in the Masque of the Red Death setting?

What kind of powers would you ascribe to a domain lord in a modern world?
Would they be able to close off exits from the area, like in Ravenloft?
Maybe they could do more subtle things, like mess with communications and vehicles - a typical monster movie "car won't start" scenario?

[Luke Fleeman]

I think that they are still basically the same.

For example, roadwork spontanesouly begins, stopping all travel along roads out of the domain. Or Police patrol the borders as AMW puts out a notice on you.

Modern twist, same effect.

[Manofevil]

Aw, you guys just had to get me started. Well that's what I get for stepping out for months at a time.

The engine roar rages across the badlands. How can it be so loud and yet so far away...Or is it just over the next rise. No one knows. When people get together and want to scare each other, they tell stories of the Wild Hunt. When the Wild Hunt come together and want to scare each other, they tell stories of the Headless Rider. Like the Horseman, The Rider's domain is the Road or rather, the Highway. Any road, be it dirt, gravel, concrete, or asphault, may find itself transformed at any time into the stretch of two-lane highway that is the Rider's domain. Also like the Horseman, before the Rider comes, the sky blackens. Unlike the Horseman, This can happen during Day or Night. No vehicle, no matter how large or how fast is a match for the two wheeled machine of destruction that carries the Rider. It bristles with long gleaming metal spikes which the Biker uses to tear apart larger vehicles. The Rider will pull alongside a larger vehicle, veer into it, driving the spikes into that vehicle, then braking and tearing pieces of it away. These pieces are then discarded on the road behind. The Rider's tires are also studded with spikes and blades which spark as they strike the pavement beneath them. In lieu of a Sickle, The Biker carries what amounts to a Manrikigusari, which is a length of chain, or in this case, wire, with a weight on either end. The weights in this case are sharpened and when the Rider is targeting something above him, he casts the sharpened weight like a spear which pierces whatever it's aimed at and allows the Rider to pull the target from the vehicle whether it's in it or on it. Like the Horseman, the Rider's trophies of choice are his victims heads. The Rider will tear the target vehicle apart until he gets a shot at the driver and passengers. Unlike the Horseman, the Rider gets only one chance at the head of a prospective victim, Also The Rider may strike at more than one victim within a target vehicle. To take a head inside of an enclosed vehicle, The Rider casts one end of his weighted wire weapon at the intended victim, the wire, which is actually a length of piano wire, wraps around the victim's neck and the Rider pulls it tight, neatly severing the head from the body. The Rider then casts the other end of the weapon which impales the head allowing the Rider to pull it in like a fish. As it is very difficult to dodge anything in an enclosed vehicle, the best way for a victim to escape from the Rider is to leap from the vehicle. For the one thing the Rider can never do, for any reason, is STOP. Enclosed vehicles remain targets for him because the minute one finds itself on the Rider's Highway, the driver loses the ability to brake or turn off the engine. A few have managed to turn their vehicles around and attempted to run the rider down. Those who did, crashed headlong into the Rider causing their vehicles to explode. Somehow, these explosions also caused the decapitaions of the drivers. For all of this the Riders favorite targets are other bikers. The Rider is best known for riding through these spinning his weapon overhead like a rotor blade and lopping off heads left and right. Bikers may stop if they wish but the Rider almost never misses a stationary target, and as with the Horseman, They may not leave the road. The Wild Hunt have had several VERY bloody encounters with the Rider and are NOT looking forward to another.

Whew! I was gonna do Tristessa, too, but I think I'll take a break.

[ScS of the Fraternity]

Looks pretty good.

What were you thinking of for Tritessa?
Perhaps the wailing ghost of a woman in an old mining town? Perhaps she was part of some strange religious cult and even now waits for the inevitable return of those followers who betrayed her?

[Nathan of the FoS]

Do we have Harkon Lukas yet?

Black Luke (born Harold Lucas) is a former rock-and-roll demigod, one of the most popular performers of his era. After a long and successful recording career he attempted to parlay his popularity into a political career--a move which was a miserable and humiliating failure, from his point of view. He quickly became mayor of his isolated small town, but each attempt at gaining national office has imploded in some more or less spectacular fashion (his daughter's involvement in a bizarre drug-running scandal with a former political opponent, Dr. David Heinz, torpedoed one bid, and his son's "suicide" under suspicious circumstances ended another). Thwarted, Black Luke has poured his efforts into establishing the Crystal Club chain of nightclubs and bars; he spends most of his time at his Black Hills mansion, throwing wild and dangerous parties for the creme de la creme of Co.R.E. society.

[Nathan of the FoS]

One of the Co.R.E's relatively few honest prominent businessmen, Tristan Guarde, owns a major agribusiness firm. He prides himself on treating the workers' unions well and keeping his farms and factories livable, and has even ventured in the "whole-foods/naturally-grown" field. He is, of course, a sharp dealer and always turns a profit, but those who work for him usually consider themselves lucky. He is a notorious lady's man, but little is made of the fact that his former paramours often turn up dead in suspicious circumstances.

His life is plagued, however, by the Cat--a famous eco-terrorist who has made his name by destroying industrial landmarks of all types. His followers, the Cat's-paws, form a radical environmentalist group advocating the destruction of all modern technology; their apocalyptic rhetoric is mostly just a front for their main goal, which is destruction for its own sake. The Cat's-paws appear to have it in for Tristan; they attack all industrial targets, but his most often of all. Their acts of sabotage have cost hims many millions, and Tristan is desperate to seize the Cat and bring him to justice.

[abe]

what about the wild mage darklord?

[ScS of the Fraternity]

Essan?

I figured he would fit in as a mad hacker. He lives like the man in the movie Pi; in a cramped, dark apartment filled ceiling to floor with computer shelves and buzzing hardware.
Years ago (in false history) he might have been a computer programer for Firhan's company. Essan stumbled upon the mysterious Dark Powers (perhaps at the moment when the false world was created?) and was driven insane by the experience. Now he seeks out the source of his madness, seeing bizarre patterns wherever he looks.
Essan is an electronic wizard; there is no place on the Net he cannot go, no computer system he cannot access, and no machine he cannot corrupt. His goal is to find "The Voices" and attract their attention, the cause of his madness, but he does this by causing chaos and mayhem.

[Brandi]

Do we have Harkon Lukas yet?

Black Luke (born Harold Lucas) is a former rock-and-roll demigod, one of the most popular performers of his era. After a long and successful recording career he attempted to parlay his popularity into a political career--a move which was a miserable and humiliating failure, from his point of view. He quickly became mayor of his isolated small town, but each attempt at gaining national office has imploded in some more or less spectacular fashion (his daughter's involvement in a bizarre drug-running scandal with a former political opponent, Dr. David Heinz, torpedoed one bid, and his son's "suicide" under suspicious circumstances ended another). Thwarted, Black Luke has poured his efforts into establishing the Crystal Club chain of nightclubs and bars; he spends most of his time at his Black Hills mansion, throwing wild and dangerous parties for the creme de la creme of Co.R.E. society.

Ooh, that's made of win and pie.

[Manofevil]

I'm still gonna do Tristessa but First I think I wanna do my take on Van Richten. I think Van Richten would be the equivalent of a well known muckraking journalist. The ultimate conspiracy theorist. The man who discovered something so unbelievable that he knows he MUST find a way to make it known. He could be a quiet investigator like Mulder from X-files or he could be crazy gonzo journalist like Spider Jerusalem. Those of you who don't read comics can learn more about Spider Jerusalem here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_Jerusalem He's probably about the only person who MIGHT be able to become a thorn in the side of the DarkLords in a modern setting. I think so anyway.