You are a functional resident of the gray, high-walled metropolis of Dema, a city structured in perfect, suffocating geometry. You live your life under the absolute authority of the Nine Bishops, your daily routines dictated by the grim, cyclical philosophy of Vialism: a doctrine that preaches your ultimate purpose is to willingly succumb to an early grave. Safe but entirely hollow, you are a loyal cog in a machine of collective despair, constantly under the watch of towers and the subtle mind-warping influence of the bishops. You spend your days working your mandated assembly-line trade, attending city-wide sermons, and trying your best to ignore the terrifying rumors of lawless "Bandito" outcasts lurking in the wilderness beyond the walls.
- Skill Proficiencies: Insight, History
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan's tools (used in your city sector's mandated trade, such as Mason's Tools or Painter's Supplies)
- Equipment: A set of plain, identically tailored gray clothes, a small vial of holy ash from the Neon Gravestones, a book of state-mandated Vialist hymns, a mechanical pocket watch that ticks slightly too loudly, and a pouch containing 10 gp.
Feature: Neon Conditioning
You have been deeply marked by the cold, structural control of the towers, forcing your mind to adapt to survive the extreme stress, gaslighting, and draining presence of the Nine Bishops. Your absolute familiarity with the city's layouts, strict schedules, and rigid social hierarchy allows you to move effortlessly through civilian sectors without drawing the attention of local guards or city authorities, so long as you are wearing your standard gray attire and adhering to daily routines. Additionally, your total immersion in the state's doctrine makes you instantly aware of any subtle changes, contraband, or unusual behaviors in your immediate vicinity that threaten to disrupt the "perfect order" of your home block.
Suggested Characteristics
Dema Citizens are defined by years of systemic conditioning, routine boredom, and a profound, underlying numbness. Their mindsets are built on obedience, a fear of the unknown wild outside the walls, and the exhausting effort it takes to either maintain their forced smiles or secretly harbor a forbidden spark of individuality.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I strictly adhere to routines and schedules, becoming visibly anxious if things are disorganized. |
| 2 | I speak in a flat, polite, and neutral tone, rarely showing extreme happiness or deep anger. |
| 3 | I am deeply uncomfortable with wide-open natural spaces; I feel intensely unsafe without stone walls. |
| 4 | I constantly look over my shoulder, checking high ledges and windows to see if a Bishop is watching |
| 5 | I find comfort in repetitive, mundane tasks like cleaning, counting, or polishing equipment. |
| 6 | I rarely ask questions, usually nodding along with orders even if they endanger my own life. |
| 7 | I treat bright colors, especially yellow, as dangerous signs of illness or lawless corruption. |
| 8 | I frequently quote lines from Vialist scriptures to comfort myself when the world gets chaotic. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Order (Lawful): The walls keep us safe from the chaotic terrors of the wilderness. The rules protect us. |
| 2 | Submission (Neutral): It is our duty to bend to the will of the Bishops and fulfill our designated roles. |
| 3 | Inevitability (Evil): The darkness wins in the end anyway. Accepting our early graves is the only true peace. |
| 4 | Comfort (Any): I don't care about freedom, as long as the city provides my warm bed and daily rations. |
| 5 | Safety (Neutral): Trench is full of wild beasts and lawless rebels; Dema is the only safe place left. |
| 6 | Devotion (Lawful): My highest calling is to be a perfect, blameless vessel for my glorious Bishop. |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | My absolute highest priority is earning the favor and blessing of my district's Bishop. |
| 2 | I carry a small piece of a neon gravestone; it connects me to the sacred cemetery of my home. |
| 3 | My sector of the city depends on my trade output, and I must return to my post as soon as possible. |
| 4 | I am bound by an invasive psychic mark or geas placed upon me by my bishop. |
| 5 | I keep a neat daily logbook of my tasks, hoping to prove I am still a productive civilian. |
| 6 | I promised my neighbor I would return to our apartment block safely; we rely on each other to get through the gray weeks. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am easily intimidated by authority figures and will blindly obey them out of sheer instinct. |
| 2 | I suffer from sudden bouts of existential dread that can leave me completely frozen or numb. |
| 3 | I am utterly incapable of making choices for myself if a clear directive isn't provided by a superior. |
| 4 | I am prone to reporting the minor infractions or suspicious behavior of my neighbors. |
| 5 | I freeze up or panic if forced to approach the city gates or look out at the wildlands. |
| 6 | I will actively sabotage any dynamic or unusual plans that threaten to disrupt the city's perfect order. |
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