Ain't Talkin'

Bank Notes - Currency. Bank notes have differing value across worlds due to individual historical timelines that affect inflation. Most forms of currency in the post-catastrophic world are interchangeable and are essentially worth the number that is printed on them. Ie: A 5$ note is worth the same as a 5£ note in most places, given that most people are not literate. Though bank notes are accepted currency, this is simply because they are of not other use. Many people in the wastelands also prefer to trade in liquor, tobacco, ammunition or services.

Border Towns - Towns that are not necessarily on the ‘border’ of anything. This term simply refers to towns that are off the beaten path and more often than not do not have any real organized system of government, defense or judicial system. Towns that do are usually only ruled over by elected coppers. They differ mainly from most larger cities and walled cities in that aspect.

The Catastrophe - The event that occurred at Ground Zero (Terra 1) which ate holes through the fabric of existence into six different realities of Earth, each fundamentally the same yet vastly different. The catastrophe is a mysterious historical event though it is clear that it was caused by old-world scientists working with the ether.

Copper - A slang term for members of organized law enforcement in towns and settlements. These men are mercenaries who are paid through collective taxation of their home town to protect the better interests of locals. They are not above bribery or persuasion in most cases and are often reformed mercs or highwaymen who have settled in one place.

The Corporation - See: Ethercorp

Ether (The White) - The space between worlds. The ether is the construct substance that makes up the smallest iotic particles of existence. The ether was discovered and isolated in containment by scientific researchers over 200 years before the present day. The experiments and research conducted on the ether caused a catastrophic event referred to simply as the ‘catastrophe’. This catastrophe essentially bored myriad holes between the fabric of the Ground Zero plane (referred to as Terra 1) and a number of other planes, six of which have been catalogued and explored. Each plane is referred to as Terra 1-6 in the order that they were discovered and entered. This does not account for myriad other worlds which may be accessible but have not yet been catalogued.

Ethercorp (The Corporation) - Ethercorp is one of the only private, government or military entities that exists across multiple planes, not because each plane developed it independently (as with many governments and military bodies), but because the minds behind Ethercorp saw to it that the corporation established itself post-catastrophe in multiple planes. The nature of the Corporation is secretive, though it presents the appearance of being research based and for the betterment of mankind across all six planes. Meeting employees or hired guns of the Corporation would beg to differ however, as they operate on a similar level to a major criminal organization.

Etherfish - Tachyons. Entities that populate the ether. Neither living nor inanimate, they are particle-based conceptual entities that travel backwards or sideways through time, which is cyclical but perceived in a linear fashion. Laypeople in contact with etherfish while they swim through the fabric of existence often experience phenomenon similar to déjà vu (seeing the same thing twice, forgetting obvious notions, the tip-of-the-tongue feeling, among many others). Walkers are accustomed to seeing and feeling the effects of etherfish, so much so that they rarely notice them unless they school.

Highwaymen - A general term for criminals who prey on others in the post-catastrophic wasteland. They often work in groups and use surprise attacks and trickery to subdue their foes. They have no hierarchy or organization outside of their individual bands. Some bands of highwaymen have been known to eat human flesh to survive in the wastelands for lack of any other meat. Continuous consumption gives them the ‘shakes’ in their hands making these individuals easy to identify.

Hunter - A bounty hunter. Less specifically a mercenary who specializes in finding people. Whether these be men who have skipped town after committing a crime, missing persons or anyone who needs to be found and brought back in a specific or unspecific condition is often inconsequential.

Merc (Mercenary) - Hired soldiers who are not necessarily a far cry from being highwaymen themselves. The only difference being that these soldiers for hire present themselves as being more honorable or reliable than the average highwayman, though this is generally not the case.

Old-World - Refers to anything that has existed since before the catastrophe event.

Resistance (The Res) - A pocket of militia soldiers who fight against Ethercorp. They can be known as both freedom fighters or terrorists, though both labels are appropriate. They know that Ethercorp is in essence working towards creating a New World Order that crosses planar boundaries and experimenting with weaponizing ether. They work towards thwarting the Ethercorp at all turns, though their efforts are often undermined by the simple fact that they have little financial backing.

Walker - A professional who has mastered the art of moving through the vague whiteness of the ether that exists between worlds. Often employed as a guide or a tracker. Their consistent exposure to the fabric of existence between worlds means that their bodies no longer necessarily adhere to the rules of our own worlds. They age extremely slowly, require little to nothing for nutrition, and through manipulations of the ether that seeps into our world have faster reflexes than the average person. A select few who have mastered the art of calling upon the ether can use it to their advantage in grave situations, essentially making them stronger, faster and more deadly than other human beings. This all being said, these qualities alienate them from most people who still occupy the post-catastrophic world and they tend to be loners and vagabonds.

Walled Cities - In the chaos following the catastrophe many cities, mostly larger cities, put up barrier walls made of concrete, stacked cars, metal barricades and stockade wood to keep roving bands of raiders and militia out and to keep the populace in. These cities have a tendency to be more strongly and efficiently governed than border towns, usually with an elected mayor, standing police force and other elected officials.

Wastelander - Someone who lives alone outside of an organized settlement. Usually for a reason (criminal activity, undesirable in some way), though sometimes for no reason besides being a person who prefers to live in solitude.

The White - See: Ether

Cast of Characters for Ain’t Talkin’

Alex Markus - A young man in the employ of Ethercorp. Handpicked by a district manager for the corporation. He was invited to work for the Corporation and quickly found a niche in the Applied Sciences division conducting research on the ether and doing weaponization research. Upon discovering the bastardization of etherfish and formation of military ether-constructs, Alex fled to the only organization he could turn to, the Resistance. Before he made contact with the Res, he was apprehended in Polkun county by the Corporation. A Res member posing as Alex’s father hired Walter Roche to retrieve the young scientist.

Alma Merryweather - An old woman who wanders the wastelands around Lake Tahoe. Close to a hundred years in age, she carries her life with her on her back, moving from place to place periodically to avoid highwaymen and other wastelanders, yet always staying in the Tahoe region. She’s known for distilling some of the finest potato vodka west of the Mississippi, though where she grows the potatoes or where she distills the liquor is anyone’s guess. Carries a 12-gauge for protection, not terribly fond of company other than those she knows well.

Blackbirds - The Blackbirds are a wastelander mercenary corp. Such battalions and brigades of loosely organized soldiers-for-hire are a common thing in the wastelands, though the Blackbirds claim to have the asset of ‘communication’. Whether this communication is short-wave or long-distance is unclear, though it must contribute to their organizations efficiency.

Briggs - A Resistance soldier.

Fray - A Corporation soldier.

Jex (Jackson Bullock) - A former mercenary out of the central U.S. Lost his leg below the knee in a firefight some years back in the Great Lakes region and replaced it with a handmade iron peg. Now maintains the Emporium (Empoorium), a waystation west of Polkun County that sells miscellany to an exclusive set of customers. These products range from guns, bullets and body armor to cigarette rolling papers and coloring books. An easy-going man with strong loyalties to those he considers friend.

Dr. John Weaving - A clasically trained physician and researcher originally working for the Corporation. He had defected to the Resistance shortly before the release of constructs from New San Francisco into the world. Claims to have knowledge in genetic reconditioning of unborn fetuses and propagates to be able to condition the brain via electrical signals to ‘transplant’ a human being. Is one of the largest benefactors of the Resistance. He is a man of incredible capability and a shrewd constitution without the burden and restriction of a conscience.

Kendall Miner (Alex Markus’ ‘father’) - An older gentleman who ranks as a Lieutenant with the Resistance. A longtime resident of Polkun County who was enlisted to liason with Alex Markus and discern his usefullness to the Res. Seeing that Alex was swiftly apprehended by Corporation soldiers gave Kendall the idea that Alex was indeed a valuable asset. As such he hired Walter Roche, a hunter with a reputation for success, discretion and ability.

Lansing - The ‘leader’ of the mercenary company, the Blackbird’s. A man of solid common sense and large build.

Leon Wellam - A walker. A former soldier who began walking for his own reasons. Following his exit from the white, Leon joined the service of the Resistance. A man of his early sixties, his time walking has not been long, though this does not make him one to underestimate. Rolls with a pair of pistols and prefers solitary walking to vehicles or horses.

Mollie Groux - A young woman who figured in Roche’s youth. Whether she and Roche were in a relationship or perhaps family is unclear. The only fact is that her death was what cause Roche to take to the white, hoping to save her life. This was fruitless and she dissolved into the ether while Roche began wandering the spaces between existences.

Thomas - A walker. A younger man of twenty-five, probably walking for something on the order of eighty years. Wears a hooded jacket and carries a long-barreled pistol. Rides a motorbike often. Close cropped hair reveals a number of scars crossing his scalp. A loner with few loyalties other than money.

Walter Roche - Born in the Northeastern part of the old United States sometime after the catatstrophe. Learned to read and write at a local library (a rarity in the current world, both to have access to books and to be literate). Following a tragedy in his early twenties involving a young woman by the name of Mollie Groux, Roche took to the white to become a walker. Has been walking and taking jobs as a hunter for longer than a century. Prefers gunfighting with a pair of old-world Ruger revolvers to any other firearm, but has been known to be very proficient in the use of most guns and can also capably weild a knife or shortblade. Penchant for drinking and smoking. He is a man who is often referred to out of context as he is not in the habit of leaving witnesses to his transgressions outside of the ‘law’, though when it suits him he prefers to keep on the better side of the local coppers.

The Wolf - The wolf referred to by Roche and Wind In The Trees is a possible anomaly in the ether, a mutated etherfish or a figment of Roche’s imagination, though it is just as likely to be an actual wolf that happened to wander into the white of it’s own accord. This occurrence is not unheard of. Occasionally an animal will accidentally enter a hole or door into the white, though due to their lesser-intelligent conscious-selves, they tend to dissipate into nothing, as their minds have great difficulty in understanding the complete lack of stimuli and physical limitation. This wolf, in particular, it seems, is an exception to that rule, and has lived in the white for an unknown length of time.

Will Dunham, Patchy Wilkes, Andrew Vickers - The three young men who, after a harvest dance, raped Mollie Groux and beat her to death. Walter Roche attempted to save her by carrying her through a door into the ether in a ravine near their hometown. She dissolved and he became lost. When he reemerged he hunted down the three young men, who were now old and decrepit and murdered them for vengeance. Roche hung Patchy with a rope by his wrists behind his back and slit his belly open after he castrated him as Patchy was the one who had instigated the rape. Andrew was shot in the lower spine by Roche and set afire with gasoline near a river with a chance to save himself as he was the one who was least guilty. Will Dunham was found sleeping in his home in a chair. Roche shot him again and again over the course of many hours, cauterizing his wounds as he went with a hot poker, starting with his extremeties until Roche lost control and fired dozens of shots into Dunham’s chest.

Wind In The Trees - An ancient Cherokee medicine man and shamen. Considers himself the gatekeeper of a tear into the ether somewhere south of the 50 below Lake Tahoe. Sits in a crater of animal drawings and sings and plays his drum. Calls Roche ‘Walks With Many Legs’ on account of the white-eyed wolf that follows him and the many, many people Roche has killed over the years who walk beside him.

Songs That Play In Ain’t Talkin

It Feels Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag - Country Joe and the Fish

Cry, Cry, Cry - Johnny Cash

Pink Houses - John Mellencamp

Segeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles

Ain’t Talkin’ - Bob Dylan