Torg: the Cyberpapacy

The Near Now …

Later today, early tomorrow, sometime next week, the world began to end.

The Possibility Raiders had come to steal Earth’s energy, its Possibili- ties. At the start of the invasion, France experienced the Collapse, a period during which techonology ceased to function. Then the Raider’s plan went wrong and technology returned, with a vengeance. The Cyberpa- pacy was born.

A false Pope, Jean Malraux I, has brought the gift of cyberware to a waiting nation. He promisesSample glories unimaginable, file security in an uncer- tain world, spiritual power in a darkening age. All you must do is serve God. Serving God is easy, for Jean Malraux is His Vicar. Jean Malraux shall tell you what to do. Always. The Cyberpapacy has everything under control. Except the streets. Those are yours.

This is the realm of … Torg: The Cyberpapacy

Roleplaying the Possibility Wars TM The Cyberpapacy The Sourcebook of Virtual Reality

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Introduction 4 THE REALM AND COSM Sample file Chapter One: Magna Verita 7 Chapter Two: Jean Malraux I 11 Chapter Three: Organizations in the Cyberpapacy 18 Chapter Four: CyberFrance 26 Chapter Five: Paris 47

THE RULES Chapter Six: World Laws and Reality Storms 54 Chapter Seven: Skills 59 Chapter Eight: Miracles 61 Chapter Nine: Characters and Creatures 71 Chapter Ten: Cyberware and Equipment 76

TEMPLATES 101

2 TORG - The Cyberpapacy

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Eric Aldrich (James S. Bracher, Jeff Brown, Garry Corbin, Letha Owens), Jeremy Duffer (Bill Askins, Robert Blanton, Jeff McManus, Bryan Prince, Eric Prince), Dr. Michael A. Fortner (Kevin M. Carrol), Robert A. Maxwell (Kevin Barkan, Rob Brese, Paul Keck, Leigh McNicholas, Heather Pritchett, Marc Silverboard), Louis J. Prosperi, Lawrence J. Trainer Playtesting and Advice

Titel und Inhalte dieses Werkes sind urheberrechtlich geschützt. Der Nachdruck, auch auszugsweise, die Bearbeitung, Verarbeitung, Verbreitung und Vervielfältigung des Werkes in jedweder Form, insbesondere die Vervielfältigung auf photomechanischem, elektronischem oder ähnlichem Weg, sind nur mit schriftlicher Genehmigung der Ulisses Spiele GmbH, Waldems, gestattet. Torg: The Cyberpapacy Introduction

elevision screens and cel- microchip circuitry blink and flash on themselves to the will of God, and We, lular phone lines across the right side of his face. A huge cross his humble servant upon earth. France flicker into life. A towers behind him with coiling wires “To this end, We have prepared a gleaming golden crucifix running up its sides. Lights blink up Papal Bull to root out and destroy appears on millions of its length and across it arms. heresy, and godless behavior wher- screens as a deep voice fills the air- The Cyberpope raises a smaller cir- ever it may lurk. waves. cuitry encrusted cross to his lips and “By the power invested in Us as the “France at Six O’clock, brought to kisses it. He radiates an aura of au- rightful successor to Saint Peter, We you by the News Service of the Cyber- thority and calm as his hands fall se- condemn and declare all who deviate papacy.” renely into his lap. from the path of righteousness as her- The crucifix fades and is replaced “Catholic people of France, we face etics who seek to destroy the sanctity by live action scenes of the day’s news. today our greatest crisis since the Ger- of the Church and its teachings. Her- “As the Antichrist continues his man invasion of 1940.” His voice is etics who refuse to follow the teach- assault on the French nation, severe deep and resonating. “Never before in ings of the holy Church are to be rooted Apocalypse storms continue to isolate the history of the Church has the power out by the most holy of institutions, France from the rest of Europe of the Antichrist been so strong. His the Inquisition. “Labor unrest continues in the Paris grip tightens around us, and the agents “True Catholics have nothing to fear district. of darkness foment industrial unrest from the Inquisition. Its use and meth- “The Nuclear disaster at Creys- in our urban areas. Vital services are ods have been sanctioned by God. All Malville continues to claim more lives denied to the old and the sick by hea- who hold the true faith in their hearts as fallout blows over Isere, Savoie, then agitators and heretics. Nuclear should gladly condemn those they and Hautes-Alpes. ‘accidents’ have been instigated by the suspect of heretical beliefs and behav- “The collapse of the European Eco- agents of the Antichrist. France now ior. The agents of the Antichrist are nomic Community and the ending of stands alone against the forces of dark- amongst us. They harbor godlessness petrochemical imports brings untold ness. The rest of Europe has already and disobedience to the Holy Church, hardship to millions. fallen to the Antichrist. and seek to spread impiety and sacri- “AIDS continues to spread amongst “Although isolated and cut off from legious beliefs. the poor and heretics.” many vital imports and from our part- “Trust in the power of the Church, A richly dressed Cardinal appears ners in the European Economic Com- and we shall stand firm against the on the screen and smiles benignly at munity, we have our faith to sustain tide of the Antichrist. Hold God within his audience of millions. us. But ourSample faith must be strong.file Only your hearts, be pure in your thoughts, “These are only some of the top the power of Christ can support us and report anyone you suspect of her- stories in the news today. Stay tuned and give us the strength to throw back esy or blasphemy to the Church Po- for detailed reports on each of these the powers of the dark one. There is no lice, either personally or via modem or stories and for an up-to-the-minute room for the godless servants of the phone. The GodNet is open and wait- account of the steps taken by the Cy- Antichrist or for deviants who still ing for your calls. berpope to counter the menace of the look to Rome for guidance. “Peace be with you, and may the Antichrist. But first, an important mes- “Rome has fallen. God, in His ulti- Lord watch over us all.” sage from his Holiness, Pope Jean mate wisdom, has entrusted to us the The Cyberpope blesses his congre- Malraux I.” secrets of cybernetics and the omnipo- gation as telephone numbers and com- A fanfare of trumpets and synthe- tent power of the GodNet computer. puter call numbers flow in a thin high- sized sounds erupts from the speak- With their great strength we will turn lighted band across the bottom of the ers. The glowing crucifix reappears back the powers of darkness and bring screen. The Pope waves and fades from and begins to revolve slowly. It fades salvation to all souls who readily ac- the screen. and is replaced by the smiling counte- cept the teachings of Jesus Christ into The Cardinal reappears, “Members nance of the Cyberpope. their hearts. But the path is not an easy of the Inquisition will soon be visiting A shining golden halo surrounds one. Pure and correct thinking, and your neighborhood. Assist them in Pope Jean Malraux’s miter and head. obedience to the Papacy at Avignon whatever way you can. Report all sus- Circuitry flashes along the edges of his are required. Only by complete sub- picious activity and any who question miter, illuminating his snow white servience to the power of the Papacy the Church. And now we go live to hair. His right eye is milky blue and can we defeat the Antichrist. For the Flanders for the latest information on his left flashes cryptic red LED dis- Antichrist is adroit at exploiting the the Apocalypse Storm sweeping the plays. Wires run up his throat and weak and the foolish who seek earthly English Channel....” disappear into his neck. Lights and salvation without fully subjugating

4 Introduction

Radio Free France blasted around the borders, it was too communications and monitoring the late to stop them. Isolated from the movements of people and goods, came As images of violent storms sweep- rest of Europe, France found itself lack- to life. Advanced cybernetic systems ing over the English Channel ap- ing raw materials and petrochemicals. were everywhere. peared, Christophe Goldstein reached The fall came fast. The technologi- Once ensconced in the medieval over and switched off the vidscreen. cal base of France mysteriously col- seat of the French papacy at Avignon, Behind him Francois Dubango swore lapsed. Vital supplies disappeared Pope Jean Malraux I took firm control and shook his head, “Possibility Raid- overnight as armed hit squads de- of the Church and society. Supported ers got dis sewn up, mon. They sell the stroyed or captured stockpiles. by right-wing elements and by sec- people hope and religion while they Mass hysteria spread through the tions of the armed forces, he tightened destroy the world around us, mon. French population as word of the Re- his grip on France. We’s gotta do something,” he crushed ality Storms spread. France was cut Liberal members of the Church were out the smoking remains of a cigarette off, surrounded on all sides by titanic purged, many of them never to be into the ashtray. forces that threatened to engulf it. Loot- seen again. Christophe lost his profes- Christophe reached over the trans- ing broke out in Paris and other major sorship when the universities were mitter in front of him and flicked a cities as food and medical supplies placed under Church jurisdiction. As couple of switches. “Just get this unit became scarce. Word spread that the a Jew he, like all Protestants, Muslims, powered up and then we’ll broadcast AIDS virus contaminated all medical atheists, Marxists and other heretics, the truth over the airwaves,” he said. supplies, further adding to the fear. was expelled. The Church took over Francois shook his dreadlocks and Unable to prevent widespread loot- the running of the country, although attached wires from his cyberdeck to ing and public disorder, the army and some areas such as the large Paris the input sockets at his temples. “Take police stood by helpless. Elements of conurbation remained in open rebel- more than the truth to convince those the armed forces, including elite ar- lion and governed itself as a commune. people, mon. The Whore of Babylon mor units, refused to obey orders and All of the media outside of Paris and has got dem scared and ready to be- contributed to the spreading anarchy Marseille was brought under Church lieve anything, mon. Babylon’s dress- by seizing supplies for their own use. control, giving it a monopoly on infor- ing everything up as the work of the Conflicts broke out between renegade mation and an effective means of con- Antichrist!” His fingers played across units and those still loyal to the gov- trolling public opinion. the cyberdeck in front of him. His eyes ernment. Many industrial and urban Clergy who refused to accept the glazed over. areas became battle grounds, with refu- new orthodoxy and its technology Francois’s breathing slowed, his gees fleeing into the overcrowded cit- were removed from their posts and body sat relaxed in the chair. Only the ies, further taxing the already strained subsequently disappeared. Others, slight movements of his fingers indi- resources. Disease and famine spread perceived as reluctant to follow the cated that he was still awake. fast, fanned by the flames of war. To commands of the Cyberpope, were Christophe made a final adjustment to many it looked like the Apocalypse taken to Avignon for re-education. Not the transmitter and waited for Francois had arrived as Famine, Disease and all emerged from those ancient dun- to emerge from the GodNet. Events War stalkedSample the land. file geons and catacombs, but those that had happened fast. Christophe had As the government proved unable did were fanatical in their belief in the been a lecturer at Lyon University. to cope with the crisis, the Church infallibility of the Cyberpope. He’d watched with interest the grow- stepped in to do relief work and to Christophe winced as he thought ing strength and public demonstra- preach that it was the sins of the world about what was to come next. With the tions of the right wing hit squads, but and material greed which had brought Inquisition again active it was only a little suspected at the time that this about the current crisis. Many people, matter of time before all Jews and her- was the first stage in the Possibility fearing the end of the world, looked to etics were rounded up and placed in Raiders’ plan to conquer Earth. When the Church for guidance and spiritual concentration camps. All dissidents the sabotage of the fast-breeder nuclear redemption. It was then that the Possi- would feel the clamp down of the reactor at Creys-Malville resulted in a bility Raiders put the next part of their Church. He shuddered at the pros- fallout of immense proportions he, like plan into action. Jean Malraux arrived pect. The possibility of a crusade most observers, attributed it to human and preached that the current catas- against all heretics was not out of the error. The apparent upsurge of AIDS trophe was the work of the Antichrist. question either. The Church had a his- cases was terrifying, but Christophe By turning away from God the people tory of bloodshed in its single minded had little reason to suspect the Possi- had brought it upon themselves. pursuit of orthodoxy. France had pre- bility Raiders had altered the disease But other dramatic changes accom- viously suffered in 1209 when the Pope to change it into something even more panied the coming of Jean Malraux. had decreed that was far better to frightening. Little did he suspect that Equipment which had failed to work, murder heretics than to convert them France was being prepared for inva- suddenly whirred back to life. Not to a blameless life. Over 20,000 were sion. only that but new technology appeared killed by the Church in the Albigensian When the Raiders opened their everywhere. The GodNet, a country Crusade in southern France. The ac- cosm to Earth, and the reality storms wide computer grid controlling all tions of the Nazis against the Jews was

5 Torg: The Cyberpapacy a further reminder that man’s inhu- stake and the darker regions of the manity to man was not restricted to GodNet. But all has not gone accord- medieval times. ing to Jean Malraux’s plans. He is from a medieval cosm where the Church R eligions in a Game ***** holds temporal and spiritual power. It Francois groaned, breaking off was his intention to impose its reality This sourcebook describes a Christophe’s train of thought. The upon his new realm. fictional religion as it exists and young Rasta rubbed the sides of his Forces beyond his control have operates in the fictional setting head, “Hey, mon, time to go. They not transformed him and his realm into an we have created for the Torg monitoring us at the moment,” oppressive blend of Medieval Catholi- game. It is in no way intended to Francois said. “I ’n’ I’s going back in. cism and hi-tech cyberware. A con- Stay cool, mon.” Francois’s conscious- portray a real religion operating frontation with the Storm Knights in ness again disappeared into the in the real world. the aboriginal Dream Time (as told in GodNet. the Torg novel, The Nightmare Dream) Christophe flicked switches send- caused him to be altered by Hachi ing the pre-recorded broadcast over Mara-Two’s custom dataplate. The at the realm of the Cyberpope, and at the airwaves. reality in the plate was seized upon by his home cosm of Magna Verita. The the Darkness Device, which sent an Cyberpapacy Sourcebook is filled with immense flux of Possibility energy descriptions of the current state of The Possibility through the technological axiom, in- France, the powers of cybernetics creasing the technology of France by available to its inhabitants, and the Wars decades. It brought him the power of organizations that work for and The Possibility Wars have brought the GodNet, a vast matrix of comput- against the Cyberpope. It presents new dramatic changes to Earth. The realms ers and communications devices; and rules to bring to life the reality of the of the High Lords have come blasting of cybernetics. He and his followers Cyberpapacy, and new character tem- down to transform the Earth and its were transformed. The Cyberpapacy plates for the heroes who must sur- inhabitants in unexpected ways. In was born. vive all that the Cyberpope throws Indonesia and Malaysia, the Gaunt Now, the Cyberpope’s cyberneti- against them. Man’s realm has brought untold hor- cally enhanced followers are imple- With The Cyberpapacy Sourcebook, ror to millions. The Middle East and menting his plans throughout his you can set adventures and campaigns northern Africa lies under the control realm. Many look to the Cyberpope as in the Cyberpapacy, or use it as a of Dr. Mobius’s 1930s-esque pulp fic- their saviour. Faced with a world gone reference for adventurers who pass tion reality. Kanawa’s Nippon Tech mad, many believe Jean Malraux’s through this dark realm. realm has brought advanced technol- claims. To them the Cyberpope is all It is a dark time. Heretics are ruth- ogy and corporate wars to Japan and that lies between them and everlast- lessly hunted down by the Inquisi- parts of the far east. In Canada and the ing torment;Sample should the Cyberpapacy file tion. The power of the Cyberpope United States, heroes battle the sha- come to full fruition it will be the most reaches out to bend all to his will. manistic power of Baruk Kaah’s Liv- oppressive institution in history. Those who oppose him know only too ing Land. Britain and Scandinavia have Yet, while hope may be diminished, well the fate that lies in store for them. been transformed into a fantasy real- it is not entirely lost. A Resistance They are prepared to take up the ity. There hope shines out from the movement has arisen to oppose him. struggle to once again restore Liberty, turmoil as the Lady Ardinay has arisen Storm Knights fight desperate battles Equality and Fraternity to France. to defeat, at least for now, the power of to save the citizens of France from his the High Lord Uthorion. Across the tyranny. The odds are stacked against English Channel hope is diminishing. them but, with luck, they may yet save Cyberpope Jean Malraux I is expand- France from the worst holocaust in its ing his dark and grim hold over France. history.

The Cyberpapacy The Cyberpapacy Sourcebook From Avignon, the medieval seat of the French Popes of the Middle The Cyberpapacy Sourcebook expands Ages, Cyberpope Jean Malraux I con- on the information given in the Torg demns thousands of heretics to the basic set. It provides an in-depth look