STORY

[GC.admin]

:: Who are the Staff?
Anya: Creator and Admin, Australia.
Court: Admin, Canada.
Ruby: Moderator, Belgium.
Becca: Moderator, USA.
Laurel: Moderator, USA.



:: Where is Gaimen City?
An ambiguous, undisclosed location. It could be any major city on earth - regard it as on par with London or New York. It is situated in the Southern Hemisphere, so you may want to bear the following in mind:

• It does not snow in winter.
• Summer months are December - February
• You are considered an adult at 18, and can then legally drink and drive (though not at the same time!)
• 'Counties' do not exist, they're called Shires
• You are not in America

:: What is Gaimen City like?
Yes, this is a 'crime' rpg, but that does not mean the streets are rife with it. In fact, things are pretty good. Sure, there are occasional bouts of violence between gangs associated with the Families and trouble stirred up by the Libertines, but most day-to-day life of the average citizen is unaffected. You won't see people getting mugged in broad daylight or stabbed or beaten. The Family System has been so successful for so long because they maintain the peace. They do it through what we would call criminal methods - bribes, blackmail, extortion, etc - but they do manage to run a tight ship and a safe city for most people so long as you do not cross them.

"Territories" between Families are not strictly divided, as you can see by the map. It's haphazard, all over the place. So your character can't be waltzing around in "Jade Territory" for instance, as it's highly likely the buildings on either side belong to another Family. There are no clear boundaries or divides: it's very likely your character won't even know who owns the area/building they are in.

::Explain 'alternate reality.'
The earth exists pretty much as we know it now, with the following exceptions:

The world governments are ruling families, which are scattered across the globe,
They rule the way they see fit: no democracies here,
This has been in force for just on a millennium.

::Who are the Ruling Families?
There are many of these. In Gaimen City, they are the de Winters, the Treymaines, and the Jades. These three are not limited to Gaimen alone, but are in other cities and countries with relatives (usually very distant) as heads. (Except for the Jades; they are ONLY in GC.) Globally, there are many other ruling families. the five most powerful are:

de Winter
Treymaine
Reuschel
Cheung and
Moretti

More Information.


::Can I play a character associated with another Ruling Family?
Not really, no. de Winter, Treymaine and Jade rule in Gaimen and do not suffer competition. Perhaps your character used to work for another family - that's fine. But they must be associated with one of the Three to be in Gaimen. No exceptions.



::What are the relationships like between families?
There's a superficial friendship going on. The heads act friendly towards one another even as they plot one another's doom. some Rivals from each family do openly loathe one another, some are actually friends. This exists because at present it can, but if open war is declared this will be outlawed. The de Winters and the Treymaines are currently allied.



::What's the go with the Libertines? Can my character be one?
The Libertines emerged about a decade ago, but have only just become a major threat to Ruling Families. They seem to have sprung up everywhere, silently assassinating key figures in Families and disrupting trade and functionality. They haven't openly declared themselves, no one knows who is behind them or who works for them.

At this stage, they are still in shadow. Your character can work for them and receive instructions (Libertine characters are invitation-only at present) but they cannot openly be associated with them.

At some point in the rpg, they will declare themselves and any characters working for them can switch allegiances.



::Are the supernatural elements?
No. No more than they are in real life.



::The Military/Police/Politics

The Police are known as the Brigade. They're everywhere and function much the same as western police forces do in our reality. However - they are controlled by the dominating Families in that particular city. So in GC - The Brigade are in the pockets of our 3 Families. Corrupt and confusing, considering some cops are working for the de Winters, some for Treymaines, some for Jades.

Law? It's all show: everyone knows who control the Brigade and the Courts are just as corrupt.

As there are no Governments as we know them to speak of: army, air force and naval units are again controlled by the Families. However, in GC, there are no bases of this kind, so this kind of career is not very relevant in GC.

More.



::Sport

Football is the worshipped sport in GC. Major matches are played at Treymaine Stadium, though throughout the year games are played at smaller grounds around the city. The favoured and most successful team is Carlton, 'the Blues'.

Cricket is the second most popular sport. GC's International cricket team is experiencing a five-year losing streak.

Gridiron, Baseball and American Rules Football are not played in GC. Soccer, basketball, hockey and netball are minor sports. Tennis is quite popular.



::The Arts
GC has a thriving art scene. There are a number of galleries, museums, theatres and festivals. It's regarded internationally as being a busy and creative artistic hub. Some playable locations of note are The Old Grecian theatre, Golden Walls (indie cinema) and the Museum and Ornamental Lakes in de Winter territory and the Bell and Brush in Jade territory.

Gaimen Fringe Festival, March-April: celebration alternate, or Fringe Theatre.

Scribes' Festival, July: celebrates playwrights, authors, poets, etc.

Mercury Film Fest, September-October: celebrating short films in September and feature-length in October. The awards are regarded as being very prestigious.

Paintbox Festival, January: known globally as just 'Paintbox.' Celebration of visual arts.

::Science
GC has a few independent laboratories, but none of them are major mover and shakers in the world of science. Henderson-Ives is a reasonably respected lab, specialising in vaccines. The Aquarium conducts reputable marine biology studies, specifically on mammals.



::What are the links in the sidebar under 'promotional video' about?
Promotional Video - our trailer, if you like, to promote GC visually.
Wiki - The Wikipedia with information about the city, her people and events.
Tube - YouTube playlist with fan-made videos.
Motion - Dailymotion playlist with fan-made videos.
LJ - See here.



If you have any more questions you can: reply here, send me a PM or type in the c-box.

[GC.admin]

This time line documents the major events leading up to present-day action at GC. For simplicity's sake, it lists only the births/marriages/major events of those high in the Family structure (heads, wives, children, chief lieutenants) - otherwise, the time line would be too cluttered! A more complete time line with the histories of every character at GC is in the works and will be posted on the Wiki.

This will be updated as necessary.

Special thanks to Raven whose hard work provided the foundation of this time line.

Key:
Births
Deaths
Family Events: marriages, alliances, etc
Libertine Events: mail-outs, actions, etc



1930-1939

1931:

August: Treymaine/Westlake civil war begins in New Zealand

1935:

January: Nerissa Dunstan-Huxley born

1940-1949
1944:

November: The Jades first appear in Gaimen City. They are only able to compete with the de Winters and the Treymaines because of a brief alliance with the latter

1945:

April: The first Libertine White Council is formed in GC. Hundreds of years of worldwide ground work begins to come together to stage the eventual revolution.

1950-1959

1950:

March: William Grant born

1958:

May: Peter Quentin born
Daniel Benedict Baylor born

1959:

May: Nerissa Dunstan-Huxley marries Maximillian de Winter in London

1960-1969

1961:

October:Douglas Jade born

1963:

June: Harrison Joseph de Winter born
July: Jade/Treymaine alliance ends, the Jades gain permanent foothold in GC
August: Elise Porter born

1964:

March: Evelyn Moira McCormack born
November: Corran Zander Treymaine born
Gael Jesse Jade born

1966

November: Jacqueline Emmanuelle Rosebud born

1968

January: Gustavo Liuz Olana Quintero Rivera born. Paternal father of Alex Jade
April: Isla Harrington born
Thomas James Dylan born
September: Katharina Devi Jameson born

1970-1979

1970:

June: Elizabeth Tomlinson born

1971:

May: Hannibal Forest Krane born

1972:

January: Nolan Wade Price born

1975:

August: Sofia Lourdes Cruz Diego Torres Pilar born

1976:

December: Jericho December Ezra born

1978:

May: William Grant creates the radical underground political party The Jacobins.

1979:

July: Peter Quentin joins an underground political party called the People's Front of Gaimen City (PFGC).
December: Catherine Isabela Price born

1980-1989

1981:

February: Corran Treymaine marries Elise Porter
December: Garreth Treymaine born

1982:

July: Peter Quentin becomes the leader of the PFGC
William Grant and Peter Quentin meet. They have very different political views, but become firm friends.

1982:

August: Consigliana Moretti born, heir apparent to Roman Morettis
Samson Robert Baylor born

1983:

March: Eleanor Rigby Haley born - her father is Gael Jade
November: Alexander Nicholas Jade born
Stella Violet Saint John born

1984:

August: Evan Lucan Treymaine born
October: Gael Jade marries Devi Jameson

1985:

A third anti-family political party is formed, The Phoenix
December: Cassandra Alexandra de Winter born

1986:

May: Cameron Gael Jade born

1989:

March: Daniella LeClaire Jade born
April: Peter Grant begins writing and circulating an anti-family newsletter called The Red Journal through GC. It encourages change by non-violent means

1990-1999

1990:

March: Luella Harriet de Winter born
May: Douglas Jade marries Jacqueline Rosebud

1991:

May: Harrison de Winter marries Evelyn McCormack

1994:

February: Emmaus Ring, a Libertine-backed people smuggling operation, is founded

1995:

January: Daniel Baylor marries Isla Harrington

1997:

June: Elise Treymaine is found dead on a Treymaine boat

1998:

January: The Libertines begin to emerge as a worldwide revolutionary group
May: Isaac and Isabelle Baylor born
October:Evelyn de Winter dies of a brain tumor

2000-2009

2000:

September: William Grant is apprehended by the Treymaines and imprisoned without fair trial.

2002:

January: Corran Treymaine marries Catherine Price

2006:

January: Isla Baylor goes missing
February: Harrison de Winter marries Stella Saint John
July: Elizabeth Tomlinson takes over leadership of The Phoenix

2007:

June: Garreth Treymaine is shot dead in his car by Cassandra de Winter
October: Thomas Dylan relocates to Gaimen City and becomes Corran Treymaine's second in command. Hannibal Krane, his assistant, joins him.
December: Douglas Jade is assassinated by the Libertines. Gael and Devi take over as heads.
Another appeal by William Grant is stamped out by Nolan Price on behalf of the Treymaines

2008:

June: - Consigliana Moretti disappears, under suspicion for the murder of her father
- Libertines send cakes with threatening messages to each Family Head
- de Winter, Treymaine and Jade heads and their wives have meeting at Hebblewhite Manor
- The Annual de Winter Black and White Ball. Attacked by the Libertines (who never took responsibility.) Corran Treymaine, Stella de Winter and Alex Jade seriously injured. Number of civilian and security deaths. de Winter yacht is destroyed.
- Libertines launch 'Nessun Dorma! campaign.'
de Winter-Treymaine alliance comes into effect

August: - Libertines send Family Heads letter asking them to leave town
- Citizens receive carved soap and personalized pens with messages from Libertines

September: Westlake empire in New Zealand finished by Treymaines, bringing civil war to a close

October: - Libertines mail out personalized tarot card to citizens
- de Winters retaliate and send out humourous copies to boost business
- Libertines email a 'List of Truths' to all citizens about the Families
- Jades retaliate and answer the email, sending to all citizens

November: - Libertines send out most important letter yet: detailing their ambitions and naming the Family heads and associates as Enemies of the People
- Libertines mail out fliers requesting release of political prisoner William Grant and argue other Family crimes
- Inner circle of each Family is targeted, sent a soft toy with something personal inside - some threatening, some reassuring
- Peter Quentin and the PFCG are convinced to join with the Libertines
- Nerissa de Winter is assassinated by the Libertines
- The First Riot in Saint Silvius Square. Anti-Family, inspired by the Red Journal. Begins peacefully, is violently shut down by the Brigade. 14 deaths, 52 hospitalized, 150-200 arrests made

December: - The Red Journal's circulation and popularity goes up
- de Winters and Treymaines host joint Christmas party. Libertines leave messages for the VIPs under the place settings

2009:

January: - Harrison, Corran and Gael each receive a phone call from the Libertines shortly after midnight giving them one final chance to surrender
- Attempted assassination on Samson Baylor fails; he is stabbed but survives
- Attempted assassination on Alex Jade fails
- Pro-Libertine billboard goes up above a Jade club

February: Cassandra de Winter is briefly kidnapped and released, given information on who killed her lover
- Second Riot in Central Gaimen. No deaths reported, a dozen arrests are made
- The Five Ruling Families are simultaneously hit worldwide: some assassinated, some missing

March: - Third Riot, at the Docks. Begins peacefully: ends when pro-Family radicals open fire on the pro-Libertine supporters. Official figures are not released: estimated some 150 are injured and between 70-90 are killed.

June: - Jacqueline Jade is executed by Gael and Devi Jade for treason
- Nicolo Moretti contacts Harrison de Winter via letter and wishes him 'luck' for the upcoming Black and White Ball.
- The de Winters host the 87th Black and White Ball. It is a disaster. Assassins from each of the 3 Families turn on one another, resulting in massive carnage. At least 30 guests are killed, some 40 more injured either by gunshot, trampling, falls or glass and brute force trauma.

July: - The Red Journal releases another issue distancing the Libertines from the Black and White Ball conflict and blaming the Families for the carnage.