Black Sun Rising
The first you notice is the smell of water, flat and cold upon your senses and the dry shift of sand upon your cheek. All is quiet and the gentle kiss of wind is not enough to stir the grains around you, leaving you in a world where even the sound of your breath is loud on the air. For one interminable heartbeat you lay there on the sand unsure whether your eyes are open or closed for no matter how you try the deepest darkness meets your gaze.
It does not last though and the night is fractured by the deepest blue that picks out the horizon, and illuminates the branches of the trees that mark the edge of the river that slowly makes its way past your resting place. A scene that would be desolate if not for the moving shapes that dot the landscape, people. You are not alone here.
This is enough to force you to your feet and the sand shifts through your fingers, the grains run smooth by the endless passing of the river and it captures your attention with rising shock. It is black like ash, yet it is no powder. The sand of this world is as black as the sun that begins to rise over the horizon. Yet still it lights this world.
The oddity of this place should concern you, you know, yet it speaks to something deep within you and you cannot help but feel a strange sort of peace. Almost as though the problems that burdened you in life have left you for your fleeting time here. Besides those who walk past you in a slow, but endless stream, seem unconcerned; their eyes finding yours before moving on.
Your hand drops and those black grains tumble back into the desert at your feet as a shadow falls over you. Your gaze rising to meet the face of a man who has seen so many years and wrinkled from every time his smile has graced him and, as though it is infectious, you feel yourself smile as well even though you cannot understand the words he speaks. You reply with a shrug that seems so universal as he laughs and only then you see it.
His hand extends towards you as if beckoning, calling you to join him on his journey. Yet through it you see the barest outline of the desert beneath you both. Your foot moves of its own accord and forces you back and away from this dead man; he travels a road that is not yet your own. You wish you could explain but your language divides you still so all you can do is shrug once more.
His face falls and he takes his own step back as his arm rails in your direction as he speaks in rushed, hoarse tones. You take a step towards him seeking to calm his temper even as he scrabbles back towards the river at his back. Was he truly so angry for you not joining him?
It is then you realise his gaze is not on you but behind you.
With growing fear you turn, not wanting to see what could scare a dead man so and you wish you had not looked. You barely have chance to take in the chaotic form, the evil in that gaze before the flash of metal approaches your face.
…
Far away from the desert of strange sand you wake caught in the memory of the place of the black sun.
The dream sticks with you well into the next day. Leaving you resolved that it was far from a normal dream.
You have to do something.
It is up to you how your character responds.
The dream would leave your character with a sense that they needed to find out what the dream/vision was all about. If just for your piece of mind.
Any research would lead you towards books and websites about Ancient Egypt and odd news clippings of Seth and Kahi in Millennium City.
Hacking UNTIL would reveal strange reports of their goings on (an industrious person that may be feeling very bored may find some on my DA gallery) and would provide ways of contacting them including mobile numbers and addresses in Millennium City.
Where you go from here, is up to you.
Contents
THE HISTORY
Black Sun Rising Industries, or as it was known, BSR Inc, was founded during the first large economic boom of the industrial revolution. Backed by a family with large material wealth they cornered the market on several leading advances and quietly held sway at more than one leading university funding the research of any project that interested them. While buying shares in companies that resulted in their own business doing far better than it would without them.
A major player in the economic scene all public knowledge of them slowly began to disappear in the nineteen thirties and by the time the Second World War started they were far from the public eye. Apparently defunct, and completely left to the history books, they continued on with perfect secrecy on the same path as before. The rise of the superhero, from the meddling of the Nazis in forces they did not understand, only increased their range and their recruiting pool.
Their secrecy remains perfect and no stock market will show their presence on the trading floor, indeed they could not for it is still strictly a family affair. Though many rumours still whisper of a shadowy organisation working behind the scenes in research and in government. Half whispered tales of agents working to better the cause of some unknown group. Conspiracy mungers would call them the agents of the Illuminati, the free masons and even agents of Viper. Who knows how they would react if they knew the truth.
STANDING WITH UNTIL
BSR has always had an interesting and, at times somewhat strained, relationship with UNTIL. Viewed sometimes as a helpful ally that supples top of the range equipment and both scientific and magical knowledge; at others as a potential threat with the web of secrets that surrounds them. Their true loyalties are hard to understand through such impressive obfuscation and UNTIL would have revealed them long before now were it not for the worry that they would be angering a group with a far greater reach than its own. Enough of a thought to make any General blush.
KNOWN FOCUS
While weapons development would be the usual focus of any company with this level of control BSR appears to care little for it and creates weapons more as a side effect to their other efforts and to aid them, rather than the goal. Instead the focus seems to be more on aspects that are more peculiar.
Behind the front that produces opiates for the masses on a grand scale and researches the important technologies you've never needed to know about inside your mobile phones, your cars and your homes, is curiosity. It is the only word to describe what truly occupies their mind.
Here magic is scrutinised as much as science, tearing it apart to find the secrets each spell held. Science and technology were pushed to their furthest and made to be a slave to the chained down and controlled breed of magic their labs became specialised in. Their research had only become easier after the Nazis had tipped the balance and allowed this universe to run with magic once more.
They are hoarders too. The greatest magical marvels are brought here to be inspected and stored away from those the company consider too 'amateur' for such things.
LIFE IN BSR
Many roles are available for the interested in BSR. Each is unique and offers its own challenges and while some are listed below there is always the role that is never quite on their books. You have to wonder what role is so strange that not even BSR keeps adequate records of their activities.
The Field Agent
The mainstay of the organisation the field agent often works alone, although teamwork is sometimes necessary, to procure or investigate anything that takes the company's interest. The nature of the job often means they are left with copious amounts of free time interspersed with moments of extreme excitement. All Field Agents need to be able to defend themselves by some means and the company training programme is as efficient as in any organisation that wants to keep its employees alive.
With an almost mercenary lifestyle the Field Agent suits those who prefer to be the lone wolf or enjoy a sense of life threatening danger. With the influx of 'superheroes' the number in their ranks has grown as has the danger. The pay, even for trainees, reflects that.
The Researcher
For those with an intellectual bent this is perhaps the perfect career. With openings in all areas of scientific endeavour any interest can be explored here. Indeed self exploration is encouraged for those who rise high enough to be trusted with such things. However any demonologist will be hindered here as summoning is strictly forbidden unless in a life or death situation. Technological research will take those with a passion for the new to any area of development that they want, giving them free reign to design and create the future.
The work may often involve long and often unsociable hours but it's because the researchers have no desire to leave their labs and not because they're chained there. While the mug of ever present coffee is optional it is usually how they manage to get through the day.
The Security
Any company needs security, BSR most of all. Those who join the security teams will have a life devoted to keeping the secrets and guarding the doors of a world they need not totally understand but can be thrilled by anyway. More than just the man behind the desk giving out security cards, they are the bodyguards, the security details and meetings that 'never happened' and the ones who ensure BSR stays exactly where it wants to. Often these are the ones who join UNTIL on their missions and keep up their public relations. Only the most skilled of fighters can join these ranks.
The Teacher
BSR prides itself on its knowledge and skills, keeping those that work for it at the peak of their abilities and helping them learn new ones. On the job training is never considered enough and if any skill is found lacking they aid them. Once hired BSR does not care to get rid of staff, partly for privacy but also from an odd sense of humanitarianism. For once you join the organisation you can't go back.
THE SHADOW NEXUS
With a desire to keep as much secret from UNTIL, and the world, as possible BSR had to find its own way to communicate as modern technology made much that they had used before too public. The Shadow Nexus, as it was named by its overly gothic creator, was the solution.
A network of satellites of BSR's own making, or software ghosting inside those of others, it creates a web that surrounds the planet allowing access for agents anywhere at anytime. With a rotating frequency it is as guarded as any modern signal can be. The usefulness of it means that members of BSR's organisation use it more for casual purposes than for actual official means.
This form of communication needed its own modified device, and so alongside the Shadow Nexus the Black Bracelet was born. A Technomancy project of the highest order it is part communicator, part holographic computer. While it isn't able to play snake or other once traditional mobile phone applications it does allow face to face communication, navigational controls, data recording and access to BSR's own range of software that makes each one a highly bespoke piece.
CURRENT KNOWN MEMBERSHIP
Cache
Name: Cache
Primus: Here
Methari
Name: Methari
Primus: Here
Lil'Allie
Name: Lil'Allie
Primus: Here
Frost
Name: Frost
Primus: Here
Mitsuko
Name: Mitsuko
Primus: Here
M.A.N.G.O
Name: M.A.N.G.O
Primus: Here
Exchange
Name: Soul
Primus: Here
SpaceRaven
Name: Jake
Primus: Here
Sadie
Name: Sadie
Primus: Here
