Bestiary

Entities composed of living information, memophores (also known as daemons, zerks, data beasts, info elementals, and other humanocentric names) display self-willed intellect. Originally, it’s been said, these Digital Web inhabitants begin as human- crafted computer programs. In time, however, they gain sentience through enigmatic combinations of Quintessence, information, and the invested attention and belief of the Masses. Such origins certainly spawned the early generations of data beasts. Newer ones, however, appear to generate spontaneously from the essence of the Digital Web itself – embodying popular concepts, perhaps, but never programmed in the human sense of that word.

Not long ago, netizens considered such entities virtual animals or, in more flattering terms, Internet angels embodying the Divine Will of the Web. Memophores have their own ideas about their origins, ranging from bland acceptance to existential contemplation or religious fervor. Simple entities follow the basic dictates of game-system characters or data-courier programs given hints of personality. Their advanced counterparts, on the other hand, seem as real as any human netizen, with all the emotional complexities that such reality entails.

The spontaneous existence and deepening sophistication of the various memophores (a name, incidentally, that many such beings reject) reveals the continued evolution of the Web as a cosmos in its own right. Where once it was viewed as the creation of Virtual Adepts (a perspective many Adepts still share), the Digital Web appears to be a self-generating, self-regulating reality… one that’s tied, without a doubt, to human technology but no longer dependent upon it… if, indeed, it ever was dependent upon it in the first place. That revelation, in turn, has thoughtful mages pondering the origins of humanity… and considering the origins of the first memophores, the potential answers aren’t always flattering.

Twenty-first century memophores range from simplistic clouds of information or digitized reflections of CGI to full-bodied, eloquent beings with impressive powers and capabilities. Game-wise, these characters possess five Attribute Traits – Strength, Dexterity, Stamina, Intelligence, and Wits – plus a range of Abilities that suit an individual memophore’s nature and personality. The overall appearance and agendas of such characters depend upon their origins: office programs inspire dry, simple memophores with industrious personalities and rigid temperaments; hacking programs have evolved into rebellious anarchistic memophores, whereas advertising spawns loud, garish, and frequently annoying entities.

Originally divided up into power levels (see Digital Web 2.0), today’s memophores often get referred to by category ratings… in much the same way that meteorologists refer to storms by category ratings. This in itself says a lot about the way that human netizens view their data-elemental peers who keep evolving in the unpredictable cosmos of the Digital Web.

Category 1: Traits of 1, three dots of Abilities, three health levels Category 2: Traits of 2, six dots of Abilities, four health levels Category 3: Traits of 3, 10 dots of Abilities, six health levels Category 4: Traits of 4, 15 dots of Abilities, eight health levels Category 5: Traits of 5, 20 dots of Abilities, 10 health levels Category 6: Traits of 6, 25 dots of Abilities, 15 health levels A few sample memophores include:

• LOLCat: Cuteness elemental, often manifesting as an adorable (often young) animal in an endearing situation. Tends to speak in abbreviated childish banter (“I can haz…?”). Apparently immortal, this shapeshifting entity seems to be totally impervious to harm, avoiding conflicts through the sheer intensity of its charm. Has an uncanny talent for making people smile. Traits: Category 1; Expression 3

• Screamer: Ranting dude or lady with a monumental (sometimes literal) chip on their shoulder about some cause or aggravation. OFTEN SPEAKING IN ALL CAPS, Screamer tends to be extremely annoying… and, these days, he seems to be everywhere. Traits: Category 2; Brawl 2, Expression 3, Research 1

• Link: Eager information courier, often embodied as a flash of light illuminating potential areas of interest and connection. Speaks either in the warm voice of a young woman or the confident tones of a mature man. Apparently devoted to creating greater connections between people and information, possibly as an act of religious fervor. Traits: Category 3; Etiquette 4, Research 5

• Nerdrage: Seething cloud of aggressive and often incoherent insults, sometimes manifesting as a white human male of unflattering appearance and demeanor. Tends to be grotesquely sexist, racist, homophobic, and obsessed with bodily functions and related insecurities. Fanatically fixated upon pop-culture trivia and/ or paranoid political theories; often has impressive resources to draw upon. Can occasionally be talked into something resembling pleasant conversation by an apparently sympathetic peer. Traits: Category 4; Computer 3, Esoterica (geek culture) 4, Expression 3, Research 3, Technology 2

• The Leak: Coruscating dark swirl of information, seeping through shadows and cracks, sometimes taking on vaguely human shapes. Rarely speaks, and whispers when it does so, in a sibilant voice with no discernable gender or culture. Occasionally, that voice sounds like a crowd of people speaking urgently in hushed tones. Dedicated to exposing secrets from any source, the Leak possesses a knack for slipping through computer security systems, and occasionally allies itself with mortal hackers who promise to put that information to good use. Traits: Category 5; Computer 5, Research 5, Stealth 3, Subterfuge 2

• Non: Masked and black-robed person of undetectable gender. Speaks in accented English, though that accent ranges from upper-crust English to Latin-American Spanish, Academy-formal French, and a vaguely Nordic tone not tied to any specific nationality. Non honors no country nor ideology beyond self-government and the will of the People. That said, Non despises secrecy, especially among powerful and abusive institutions like banks and governments. Occasionally manifests sharp blades and speaks with great eloquence. Allied with the Leak, Non despises the Technocracy and has been included on several internal kill-lists… none of which acknowledge that Non exists only as self-willed information. Traits: Category 6; Academics (political philosophy) 3, Athletics 2, Expression 3, Melee 3, Research 3, Stealth 5