Secrets of the Sprawl

Beyond the concrete and chrome, beyond the daily hustle and bloodshed, lies a world of deeper secrets. These are the whispers in the dark alleys, the bleeding-edge tech that defies morality, and the truths so valuable that people will kill—or die—to protect them. This is a glimpse into the esoteric underbelly of the world.

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Mutations: The Unwanted Gift

What exactly is a mutant? In biological terms, an individual of a species that differs genetically from its kin. In human politics, something much more specific and, apparently, sinister. The modern term “mutant” refers to a particular class of mutation first observed in the aftermath of the Secession Wars: people with unusual, if often subtle, abilities and physical abnormalities.

Stories of mutant supermen are largely a myth. Little is known about the phenomenon due to the political hysteria that erupted upon its identification. In a mere two years, an international decision was made: these “people” were not human and therefore not subject to human rights laws. Shoot on sight orders quickly spread as the Eastern-Border Cities fortified themselves. New AI-driven technology sprang up for their instant identification and extermination, with security conglomerates like Tower Group investing heavily. Modern systems boast an accidental termination rate of a mere five percent.

This brutal policy forces mutants in Cinci to live in hiding, pass as normal, or flee to the relative anarchy of the Badlands. Outside the city walls, however, a mutation can be an asset. The army, for instance, cared little for genetic purity if an individual's abilities were useful. The scavenger Jake possessed a mutation that allowed him to sleep with only half his brain at a time, a perfect trait for a life where constant vigilance is key to survival.

Behind the facts, many conspiracy theories lurk. Whispers of alien intervention, sinister corporate plots, or failed supersoldier programs are common. The reality, however, is far less grand and perhaps more disturbing. The 'mutant' phenomenon is not the product of a government or corporate conspiracy, but the successful work of a lone individual—a 'neckbeard' out in the badlands who acquired a gene-editing suite and, for reasons unknown, began to alter the human code.

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Vampires: The Biotech Myth

Are they real? In the slums, whispers persist of figures who are more—and less—than human. These aren't supernatural creatures of folklore but the horrifying potential endgame of black-market biotech and radical body modification. The myth speaks of individuals so heavily altered that they require fresh blood or specific biological components to sustain their augmented bodies or reverse cellular decay.

These "vampires" are the ultimate urban predators, a rumor that haunts the organ-harvesting clinics and snuff studios of the Core. They represent the terrifying fusion of human desire and unchecked technology, a dark legend in a city already drowning in nightmares. Whether they are a genuine threat or a cautionary tale, the fear they inspire is very real.

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Secret Weapons & Black Tech

In the shadow wars between corporations and criminals, the right weapon isn't just an advantage—it's everything. These tools range from high-tech corporate assassination hardware to disposable street-level implements of death.

Biological & Human Weapons

The most insidious weapons are those that walk and breathe. The assassin Angela demonstrated the pinnacle of this concept, her body converted into a biological bomb by a custom nanite swarm. Keyed to her death, the swarm deconstructed her at a subcellular level to create a potent, undetectable explosive. On a cruder level, individuals can be turned into "puppets" or "shell entities"—their minds digitally wiped and reprogrammed for a single mission, making them the perfect deniable asset, as seen in the Gamble Street bombing.

High-End Assassination Tools

For corporate work, only the best will do. The BRA Khemall ANR60 is a prime example: a smart rifle that links directly to the user's cortex, firing laser-guided, high-velocity rounds. Loaded with illegal, short-lived disassembly nanites, its projectiles not only kill the target but also consume the evidence, making it a ghost's weapon.

Street-Level & Disposable Tech

On the streets, desperation breeds innovation. Fixers and runners use untraceable, 3D-printed, single-shot firearms known as "cunt guns". Designed to be concealed within the body, they are the ultimate last resort—a weapon born from the need to get a gun past even the most invasive security search.

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High-Level Information: The True Currency

In the world of 209X, data is power. Information—corporate secrets, personal data, underworld intel—is the most valuable commodity, and wars are fought to control its flow.

Information Brokers

At the apex of the data trade were figures like the legendary Siprasi Twins. They were ghosts in the machine, capable of stealing any secret and altering any record at will. They operated from a completely sealed, armored bunker, their power so absolute that the only way to stop them was with a weapon as unconventional as they were.

Corporate Espionage & Memetics

The shadow war between megacorps like CinnTech and Naas is fought with information. They employ elite counter-extraction experts who use sophisticated psychological profiling, multi-layered deception, and even memetics—subliminal messaging and suggestions—to influence and extract high-value personnel. These operations are complex chess games where human beings are the pieces.

The Shadow Networks

The nervous system of the underworld. This is a web of encrypted communications, dead drops, anonymous chat rooms, and courier networks. It's how fixers like Layde, drone operators like Trix, and smugglers on the Riverfront trade the street-level intel that keeps the illicit economy moving. Access to this network is the difference between being a player and being prey.