The Cypher Wars

Five months ago, strange items began to be found all over the world. At first they were considered to be some group-prank, a new internet meme or youtube flash mob. They were called cyphers since no one could understand them. Construction, materials, purpose: almost everyone drew a blank on figuring out what the items were or where they had come from. The lack of knowledge let to a general decline in public inters over the next two months save for conspiracy nuts of one stripe or another and collectors. Because of course there were rich collectors for the unexplained.

Three months ago this all began to change. Certain people were able to touch the items and activate them. They would focus, and they would change and the items would come to life, as it were. Able to be used, but each could be used but once and never again. Why certain people had been changed, why they could access cyphers and activate them – this never made the news, because the Keepers had come into existence. Sometimes called Gatekeepers or the Illuminati and the like, the Keepers have some permanent unknown cyphers placed inside them that allow them to confuse and befuddle the minds of people who do not have a focus: essentially, they tend to get confused about events involving Weird Things, though the limits of these abilities have never been explored.

The current state of things in Bridgeport:

Cyphers exist, and there are many who see them. Collectors desire them as oddities etc. and are largely unaware that too many cyphers in one place can be quite dangerous. Foci, the generic term for people with a focus, tend to want them because of power. The government, of course, wants them because this is definitely alien tech and they are scared out of their minds about it.

Of late, though, there has been something new. It’s as if the cyphers were a warning, or a defence system. Creatures have begun appearing at all. Strange, alien thing that have mostly been contained due to people using their focuses and cypehrs on them – and Keepers keeping the situation under wraps – but no one knows how long that will hold, or what is really going on.

At least, not yet.

Notes on Cyphers:

Cyphers exist in three states. Dormant, Passive and Active. The only difference between Passive and Active is if someone with a foci is using it or not. Dormant cyphers can be kept, stored etc. without a problem, but once someone with a focus touches one, it becomes active – which can set off a chain reaction among other dormant ones at times. Too many passive or active cyphers in one place – say, on a person – tends to lead to very unpleasant results happening.

Notes on Bridgeport:

Bridgeport – population 30,000 and one of the smallest cities to have its own subway system – is where the game begins, set next to a lake in middle America. The town has whatever amnesties a small city would have and can be fleshed out as needed or desired. It is one hour away and change away (sometimes two depending on the traffic) from the nearest major metropolitan centre, which is  located to the south.