The Glades:
Welcome to the Glades, formally known as Port Saint Lucie, Florida. It has been a long day for everyone; the schools canceled classes for the day to allow students and faculty to attend the opening ceremonies of the Atlas Space Elevator with their families. The elevator is the first of its kind, and you have been celebrating with the city all day. The festivities are winding down after a long day, with the sun setting on the enormous tether, glinting like a diamond in the setting sun. Above, you witness the awe of moving lights, the sun reflecting off the hulls of the starships in orbit above the Earth. Then, without warning, the serenity of the evening is broken by the sound of the Emergency Broadcast System sounding from multiple phones… “Find Shelter Now.”
Origins:
The story begins in the Glades, a near-modern city on the east coast of South Florida, north of Miami, on March 27, 2025. It’s a festive evening celebrating a historic moment—until the Emergency Broadcast System shatters the calm, hinting at chaos to come.
Area Info:
The Glades is a lively coastal city blending urban sprawl with Floridian charm, situated in Indian River County. Key locations include the bustling Downtown Plaza near the Atlas Space Elevator base, the residential Riverwalk District along the St. Lucie River, the industrial Spaceport Row, and the congested I-95 corridor leading out. The city’s layout offers escape routes—or choke points—depending on player decisions.
Local Factions:
At the start, factions are undefined as the evening shifts from celebration to uncertainty. Players may encounter fellow revelers, space agency workers, or shadowy figures as the situation evolves—alliances or enemies will form based on their actions.
Weapons:
This RP takes place in a near modern United States, where the population has access to anything ranging from blades to firearms (even some fancy Sci-Fi Blasters). Players start with one sidearm (nothing too crazy—think pistols or small energy weapons) but can scavenge or trade for more as the game progresses.
Armor:
Just like the weapons, body armor is your right and if you have the money you can buy just about anything that’s available on the market. Keep in mind, it is harder to “acquire” military hard suits, but anything is possible with the right connections. Initially, armor is limited to basic gear (e.g., vests, reinforced jackets) unless players find better protection later.
Communication:
The internet is an amazing thing. Not only can you communicate with people around the world in seconds through a social media app or message board, you can stream those funny cats videos on your augmented reality headset at the same time. In all seriousness though, communication systems are slightly more advanced than our current level of tech IRL. So pull out your favorite smartphone or comm unit and have fun.
Character Creation:
Below is your standard character sheet - please make your character as unique as you like. I do have some guidelines to character creation which will be listed below, and I do hold the right of final approval for each entry. That said, if you have a question about anything, let’s talk. DM me and I’ll work with you on getting your character approved.
DISCLAIMER:
This is a semi-serious RP, and it does have potential for the unaliving of Player Characters. That said, I REALLY don’t like putting players into a scenario where they don’t have a way out. And unless otherwise requested by a player, I’ll do my best to give you that option of surviving.
Also, I’m going to bend the standard RP rules for this one - each player will be allowed to create a Secondary Character that they can control to help their main on their journey. This Secondary Character will need to be approved by me or any player(s) who hold temporarily GM status should I be away due to IRL conflicts.
That said, and just as a reminder - the creator of the Secondary Character can auto-hit their own character.
Another modification to this RP. I’m going to allow some leeway for the players during their interactions with NPCs.
Example: Player John Doe decides they see an enemy in their line of sight, but a NPC is standing in their way. The Player can write out their action and say something along the lines like “John raised his pistol, but (random unnamed NPC) was in the way. John takes his free hand and pushes her aside and shafts shooting.” Since there is a random/unnamed NPC, I’m not going to count this as an auto-hit. She may say something later to express her annoyance, but that’s how the story goes.
Please keep in mind, there is no auto hitting named NPCs - and unless it’s your secondary character, you will need to DM me or the acting GM with your intentions and wait for approval.
Finally, (I say that but as time goes on this may not be the “final” statement) since this is the beginning of the RP, I am going to limit each character to $100 in game currency at the start of the game (yes, that’s included any approved NPCs as well), one sidearm (nothing too crazy) and one piece of unique equipment to help along the way. This equipment can be a radio, augmented reality glasses, a Flipper Zero, etc … just nothing too crazy and SciFi.
As a reminder, I am going to hold final say on all character sheets and will let you know if something needs to be modified before final approval is granted.
Also, first person to complete and submit an approved character sheet gets an item to help them and possibly the rest of the players along the way.
Game Mechanic:
There is a hidden game mechanic that is not affected by either the GM or the players. It runs in the background once a certain event takes place. The players will be notified that the mechanic is now in play, leaving it up to the players to determine what the mechanic is. Keep your eyes peeled—something subtle might ■■■■■the game in ways you won’t expect.
Character/NPC Sheet:
Name:
Age:
Weapons:
Equipment:
Appearance:
Personality:
History:
Trivia:
GM Assistance:
I’m going to do what I can in the beginning to help the Players get started in the campaign. There will be some helpful GMPCs to give you a kickstart, and who knows … maybe a familiar face from time to time to help along the way. I look forward to seeing you all in the Glades.
Technology Overview:
Tech is slightly ahead of 2025 IRL—smartphones with holographic displays, comm units with short-range encrypted channels, and augmented reality gear are common. The Atlas Space Elevator and orbiting colonies highlight the Glades’ role as a space hub. As the night shifts, power outages or network disruptions may limit tech use, forcing players to improvise.
Local Lore:
The Glades, a key support hub for space agencies and the Atlas Space Elevator, is rich with wild Florida legends that locals whisper about. The Skunk Ape, a hulking, foul-smelling beast, is said to roam the swamps near Spaceport Row—some claim it’s drawn to the hum of the elevator’s power grid, sniffing out scraps from colony shipments. The Wampus Cat, a shadowy feline with glowing eyes, prowls the Riverwalk District at dusk; old-timers say it’s a cursed woman who once worked the launch pads, now stalking anyone who lingers too long near the tether’s shadow. Then there’s Muck Man, a towering figure of dripping mud and tangled roots, like a living swamp given form—rumored to rise from the wetlands whenever the colonies overhead test something big, as if the earth itself protests. These tales are laughed off by most, but tonight, they might carry a shiver of truth.