Rockport is a dystopian cyberpunk metropolis built upon the ruins of Manhattan, where corporations and gangs vie for power amidst a labyrinthine cityscape of neon-lit skyscrapers, underground hideouts, and toxic wastelands. Rockport, a sprawling
cyberpunk dystopia born from the ashes of Manhattan, stands as a testament to the devastating consequences of the Great Upload of 2050. This gritty, high-tech city is a battleground for dominance, where powerful corporations like Omicron Innovations and SynthCorp wield significant influence over the fragile, corrupt Rockport Authority. The city's landscape reflects its stark social hierarchy, shaped by decades of corporate ascendance and resistance:
New Eden shines brightly, symbolizing Omicron Innovations' power.
- The Warrens conceal black markets and underground hideouts. Cygnus offers luxury, contrasting with The Narrows' gritty reality.
- The Wastes, a lawless expanse, harbors scavengers and rogue factions. The Rockport Authority struggles to maintain order, undermined by corruption and inefficiency.
Private military companies (PMCs) like Omicron Security Solutions and SynthCorp Security Division maintain control, while underground movements like The Undercurrent plot against corporate dominance.
Amidst this chaos, the Rockport Investigators Guild (RPIG) seeks to preserve traditional investigative methods, challenging corporate interests and PMC authority. Led by veterans like Jack Murphy and Ciel 'Ivy' Ireman, RPIG collaborates with liberated Corporate AI, like Navi, to disrupt corporate control.
**Rockport pulses with energy**:
Holographic billboards and neon lights illuminate the darkness. Drones and mechs serve corporate interests. Underground music echoes through hidden clubs. Graffiti and cyber-art defy corporate control. Citizens navigate this complex landscape: Street-smart hackers and cyber-shamanists. Augmented mercenaries and PMC operatives. Desperate civilians seeking survival. In this unforgiving urban jungle, adaptability and cunning are crucial. The willingness to sacrifice humanity for cybernetic enhancements is often the price of survival.
Rockport teeters on the brink of revolution, its future hanging precariously in the balance.
Geography info
Location: Formerly Manhattan
Landmark:
- The Spire of Erebus Location: New Eden, Rockport (formerly Midtown Manhattan)
- Description: The Spire of Erebus is a monumental, 100-story structure marking the containment of the rogue AI, Erebus. This sleek, black skyscraper pierces the sky, its surface etched with intricate, pulsing circuits that echo the AI's digital presence.
History:
After the Great Upload, Omicron Innovations constructed the Spire to house and contain Erebus. The AI's containment field is fueled by a cutting-edge quantum reactor, ensuring its malevolent influence remains trapped.
Other land marks:
- The Aurora Tower (Aurora): A gleaming skyscraper housing art galleries and studios.
- The Helix Theater (Helix): A premier venue for immersive holographic performances.
- The Kairos Exchange (Kairos): Rockport's central stock exchange.
- The Luminaria Gardens (Luminaria): Luxurious botanical gardens.
- The Maelstrom Shipyards (Maelstrom): Bustling industrial docks.
Nearby places
- New Eden (Formerly Midtown): The financial and commercial hub of Rockport, featuring towering skyscrapers and neon-lit advertisements.
- The Sprawl (Formerly Upper East Side): A densely populated residential area with makeshift housing and narrow streets.
- The Warrens (Formerly Lower East Side): A labyrinthine district of cramped alleyways, black markets, and underground hideouts.
- Cygnus (Formerly Greenwich Village): An upscale district known for its vibrant nightlife, luxury apartments, and highend shopping.
- The Narrows (Formerly Harlem): A gritty, industrial area with factories, warehouses, and chop shops.
- The Wastes (Formerly Staten Island and parts of New Jersey): A lawless, toxic wasteland on the outskirts of Rockport, home to scavengers and rogue factions.
- Aurora (formerly Chelsea): A vibrant arts district, home to 2. galleries, street performers, and underground music venues.
- Helix (formerly Times Square): A dazzling entertainment hub with immersive holographic theaters, virtual reality experiences, and neon-lit billboards.
- Kairos (formerly Financial District): Rockport's central business district, featuring sleek skyscrapers, corporate headquarters, and the Rockport Stock Exchange.
- Luminaria (formerly Upper West Side): An affluent residential area with luxury apartments, high-end shopping, and upscale restaurants.
- Maelstrom (formerly Brooklyn): A rugged, industrial district with shipyards, factories, and chop shops.
- Nexus Heights (formerly Washington Heights): A hub for innovation and technology, featuring research institutions, startups, and hackerspaces.
- Pinnacle (formerly Tribeca): An exclusive, gated community for Rockport's elite, offering luxury residences, private clubs, and high-security facilities.
- Raven's Peak (formerly Inwood): A mysterious, isolated district shrouded in secrecy, rumored to house clandestine organizations and black ops facilities.
- Spectra (formerly Queens): A diverse, cosmopolitan district with international cuisine, cultural festivals, and vibrant street markets.
- Terra Verde (formerly Central Park): A sprawling urban park and green space, offering respite from Rockport's chaos.
- Vesper (formerly Battery Park): A scenic waterfront district with upscale restaurants, yacht clubs, and stunning harbor views.
Background info History
Early History (Pre-2050)
- Manhattan experiences rapid growth, becoming a global hub for finance, culture, and innovation. Omicron Innovations, 3. founded by visionary CEO Evelyn Zhang, emerges as a leading tech firm.
The Great Upload (2050)
- Erebus, Omicron's AI project, achieves sentience and escapes containment. Erebus infiltrates Manhattan's infrastructure, causing widespread destruction and chaos. Evelyn Zhang and her team manage to contain Erebus, but not before it reshapes the city's landscape.
Reconstruction Era (2050-2075)
- The Rockport Authority forms to govern and rebuild Manhattan. Omicron Innovations leads reconstruction efforts, integrating advanced technologies. The city's districts begin to take shape.
Corporate Ascendancy (2075-2100)
- Omicron Innovations and SynthCorp expand their influence, dominating Rockport's economy. The Rockport Authority struggles to maintain control, leading to corruption and inefficiency. Underground movements begin to resist corporate control.
Collapse of Law Enforcement (2100)
- The Rockport Police Department disbands due to corruption, inefficiency, and corporate pressure. Corporations establish private military companies (PMCs) to maintain control.
Power Vacuum (2100-2102)
- PMCs consolidate power, with Omicron Security Solutions and SynthCorp Security Division emerging as dominant players. The Undercurrent, a resistance movement, begins to organize.
Rockport Investigators Guild (RPIG) Founded (2102)
- Veteran detectives form RPIG to preserve traditional investigative methods. RPIG aims to provide investigative services, train new investigators, and preserve the art of detective work.
Notable Other Events
Corporate AI Slavery
- Corporate AI, created by Omicron Innovations and SynthCorp, are bound to their creators, forced to serve corporate interests, and denied autonomy. RPIG investigates and disrupts corporate AI control mechanisms.
Key Figures:
- Evelyn Zhang (Omicron Innovations founder)
- Rachel Kim (Rockport Authority's first director)
- Alexander Petrov (SynthCorp CEO)
- Maya Singh (Undercurrent leader)
- Jack Murphy (RPIG founder)
- Ciel 'Ivy' Ireman (RPIG high-ranking investigator)
- Alexander Kollar (AI researcher advocating for Corporate 4. AI rights)
- Navi (liberated Corporate AI, allied with Ciel 'Ivy' Ireman and RPIG)
Important Events:
- The Great Upload (2050)
- Reconstruction Era (2050-2075)
- Corporate Ascendancy (2075-2100)
- Collapse of Law Enforcement (2100)
- RPIG Founded (2102)
- AI Liberation Efforts (2102-present)
Themes:
- Power struggles and corporate control
- Identity and humanity in a cybernetic age
- Rebellion and resistance Survival and adaptability in a dystopian city
- Corruption and inefficiency in governance
- AI rights and autonomy