Fanonical? What?
Fanonical posts are a new thing here at Untoldthegame.com, and as far as we know, something new to RPG's in general. We've talked about our Open Campaign Setting from "Day 1" around here, but we've not made much fuss of it so far. Well, that's about to end...
Basically, "fanonical" is a word we've coined based on the term canonical. Something that is canonical, or canon, is something that is accepted as being the truth or the "way that it is". In RPG's, something that is "canon" is something that has been "blessed and sanctioned" by whomever owns the IP. For instance, if you know anything about the Dresden Files RPG, you know that Dresden is a guy, not a girl - stuff like that is "canon".
Well, "fanonical" is like one mini-step below that. Fanonical posts are those submitted by fans that have become accepted as part of Splintered Serenity. They are now an official part of our shared game world and may even become part of the cards themselves! If you're interested in joining up with us and growing this world (and those to come), simply leave a comment below, or drop Ashy and email: ashy [at symbol] untoldthegame [dot symbol] com!
Keep and eye peeled for even more Fanoical posts to come!
Israeli Defense Force (IDF)
Unit Crest: Three white stars on a black field.
The Event was not kind to the birthplace of humanity. As Flux storms raged and cities became overrun with nightmarish creatures, the inhabitants of the Middle East fled for the Mediterranean coast, seeking what they thought would be Europe’s safer shores. But no ships came and the few ships that managed to make it off shore were ripped apart by Flux Hurricanes and sea beasts thought to be long dead. Thousands are stranded in Israel, which became the last bastion of humanity in the Hell that became the Middle East.
Israel has been overrun with refugees; most are other High-bred who had to make what can only be called a “fighting withdrawal” from other Middle Eastern countries, such as Iraq and Iran. Crammed into the nation’s tiny borders, these thousands have filled Jerusalem to the breaking point, and hundreds of shanty-towns and tent-cities have sprouted up around the ancient city. Gone are the days of fighting religious wars with one another, the inhabitants of the Middle East have set aside age old differences and banded together for safety and survival. The Israeli Defense Force is charged not only with protecting these refugees from the horrors that attack it’s border from all sides, but also with the difficult task of policing and regulating them as well. The current population of Israel is estimated to be around 120,000 with the IDF claiming only 8,000 individuals. A majority of the population is concentrated around Jerusalem; however there are strongholds in Tel Aviv along the coast and Beer Sheba in the South. The rest of Israel proves difficult to secure.
The IDF faces several threats, both from within and without. The country side is plagued with Apoc Scorpions, who find the rocky and rough terrain of the Israeli countryside a haven for their kind. Recent attempts have been made to both completely exterminate, as well as domesticate, this violent species, both of which have been met with limited success. Packs of overly vicious and intelligent Apoc Jackals also prowl the area, enjoying a reign of terror that has not been seen since the ancestors of man first stumbled out of Africa.
Like North America, the Middle East is over run with Undead. However, unlike the gooey, fleshy zombies of the North American continent, these undead are dry and rigid. Nearly mummified corpses, reanimated to unleash terror, Undead spill out of the Dead Sea valley by the thousands, created and guided by some unknown source. Undead populations get much denser near the border of Egypt, and there have been rumors that Egypt is overrun with Undead armies marching out of the Valley of the Kings. These rumors have yet to be confirmed. What is confirmed is the monstrous strength, blinding speed, and cold, unfeeling intelligence which sets these walking corpses a notch above the standard zombie.
There is also a powerful Flux Front that is massed on the Eastern bank of the Dead Sea, and branching out Northward into the Jordan River Valley. Horrors spew out of it daily, charging for Jerusalem with a fervor not experienced in other sections of the world. These horrors seem to desire little but to break the walls of Jerusalem. No one is sure why the Flux Horrors attack Jerusalem with such ferocity, but the mad mutterings of those soldiers who were captured and rescued babble incoherently about "seeking the Lost Gate".
Because of their relative isolation, the IDF has been unable to acquire the raw materials needed to create everything from ammunition to building materials. Recently, the IDF has been "reaching out" to its neighbors in hopes of securing goods and materials through trade. High-bred forces in Egypt and pocket groups in other nearby areas have attempted to answer the call and secure safe trade routes into Israel. Surprisingly, the H'runt from the nearby Arabian Peninsula and North Africa have gone so far as to "fight" their way into Israel through the Flux Front (which tainting influences they seem oddly immune to) to come to Israel's aid, bringing with them raw materials and food stuffs.
In return, H'runt mystics and chieftains have asked for the IDF to allow them a stronghold in Israel, and access to Jerusalem's holy sites. What they are searching for, they will not say, but the IDF isn't going to question such a useful ally. The H'runt have also brought a unique specimen, the Apoc Camel, which they have gifted to the IDF to use as a beast of burden. The IDF does have some limited contact with L'na and Klik. L'na, however, usually avoid the area, especially Jerusalem, citing some unknown and unusual energy that surrounds the place and makes them incredibly uncomfortable. A few, more inquisitive L'na might linger to investigate, but tend to disappear suddenly and unexpectedly. Klik try to avoid the IDF whenever possible. Ammo deprived, and starved for raw materials, the IDF tend to view the Klik as walking scrap heaps, whose metal can be put to better use when fired from an IDF rifle. As such, Klik are often "salvaged" whenever possible.
The IDF also struggles under the burden of protecting and policing the thousands of refugees crowded into the three cities under their control. A majority of this population is concentrated in Jerusalem, where thousands fled seeking the refuge of the numerous holy sites of the city. As such, Jerusalem is often subject to riots, mostly over food shortages. However, attempts have been made to secure the arable lands around each city to counter act this. These attempts have been met with little success, as the fields are difficult to defend from the marauding threats that roam the countryside. And the final major threats to the IDF are the near constant sieges that plague all three cities. These sieges usually come in the form of raiding Churls, but Flux horrors have been known to attack the walls of their strongholds, specifically targeting Jerusalem over the others.
With this in mind, the IDF specializes in three different forms of combat. The first tactics IDF recruits learn are the IDF’s siege-breaking tactics. The IDF prefer to break sieges as quickly as possible, to conserve their precious resources. The walls of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Beer Sheba are under constant repair, with new defenses and “traps” being installed whenever possible. Concentrated anti-personnel explosives, night raids on the enemy camp, and sharp shooting are all major tactics employed by the IDF. The IDF also employs a number of siege weapons in defense as well, ranging from catapults and ballistae to cannon and fixed artillery.
The second major tactic the IDF focuses on is crowd control. Riots are common, especially in Jerusalem; where the masses crowd around holy sites in protest of food and water shortages. To respond to these, the IDF uses a large number of non-lethal tactics and weaponry. Smoke grenades and rubber bullets are popular, and each IDF soldier is trained disarming and disabling martial arts, allowing them to safely secure rioting citizens.
The third and final major tactic employed by the IDF is urban combat. Most of the fighting the IDF is involved in is concentrated around their stronghold cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Beer Sheba and the shanty-towns around them. Masters of urban combat, the IDF is deadly in these settings. With an eye towards conserving ammo and supplies, most of the IDF focus in two main combat roles: snipers and melee specialists. Snipers and sharp shooters are essential. Embracing the “one shot, one kill” mentality, the IDF snipers are dangerous in urban environments, using each precious bullet with the ultimate care and consideration. However, the IDF snipers are far from hesitant. They must think and react quickly, rapidly selecting and removing targets that might threaten other soldiers or civilians. The melee specialists use stealth and cover, trying to attack opponents from the rear and either kill or disarm them quickly. While these IDF soldiers prefer long knives and choking cords, they also employ smoke grenades and tiny explosives when necessary.
Within the Israeli Defense Force exists three elite corps of soldiers who have proven their mettle in battle and receive a promotion into a more dangerous line of work. These corps hold the utmost respect of the IDF as a whole, as well as the civilian populace. These corps are the BELIEF squad, the Archangels and the Hammer of Heaven.
BELIEF Squad- Ballistic/Energy Liberation Intel and Evacuation Force
Unit Crest: A White Star on a black field.
Towards the end of pre-Apoc Earth, several world powers reinvested in nuclear energy. While this research was mainly directed at providing energy for the masses, several governments put substantial funds into developing nuclear weapons. The BELIEF Squad was formed to locate these nuclear and other explosive/ballistic caches and secure for later use by the IDF. To date, BELIEF has found mostly standard weapons caches, which the IDF desperately needs. However, BELIEF has also located a number of nuclear weapons as well.
While many High-bred forces are hesitant to use nuclear weapons, the IDF willingly accepts and stores them at a top secret location in the heart of Israel. Many speculate why the IDF wants these weapons. The IDF brass claims it is for nuclear energy research, to improve the civilian way of life. However, many reason that the IDF intends to use nukes on the Flux Front and the horrors within it.
The Archangels
Unit Crest: A white star with six white feathered wings, surrounded by a circle of white stars against a black field.
The Archangels is an elite group of religiously neutral veteran IDF soldiers who are tasked with guarding the various holy sites within the city of Jerusalem. Dressed in white or light tan fatigues, the Archangels can be found at any site of religious importance, guarding both the civilians who come to pray and the site itself from riots or other threats. With their command headquarters situated on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the Archangels are highly skilled in urban combat. On more than one occasion, a riot of hundreds has been quelled by only a handful of Archangels.
Archangels rarely move to the front lines, preferring to remain inside the city should attackers manage to overcome the walls of Jerusalem. However, on rare occasion and when the situation is dire enough, small squads of Archangels will move to aid the other IDF troops to break sieges. During these occasions, the Archangels favor a sort of napalm grenade fondly referred to as “Angel Fire”, which releases a bright flash before erupting in flaming napalm.
The Hammer of Heaven
Unit Crest: A silver hammer crossing a silver sword, surrounded by a circle of silver stars on a black field.
The Hammer of Heaven is a group of elite IDF rangers who specialize in tactical strikes and black ops. Their goal is locate, assess, and neutralize threats located in the Israeli countryside between Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Beer Sheba. Based out of Beer Sheba, with a small contingent of specialized naval forces located in Tel Aviv, the Hammer of Heaven has struck fear into the hearts of nomadic churl groups, and have even made Flux Horrors somewhat more reluctant to attack Israel. The Hammer of Heaven soldiers specialize in sharp shooting, hit-and-run tactics, and explosives.
The Hammer of Heaven rangers often go on long patrols, searching hidden valleys and caves, and following up on rumors and sightings reported by shepherds and farmers. The countryside immediately around Beer Sheba remains secured, but the stretch of land between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is proving difficult to secure. The waters around Tel Aviv also prove to be dangerous, with the local Hammer regiment doing regular patrols and dropping depth charges on any possible threat. The Hammer of Heaven regiment in Beer Sheba is gearing up for a long range strike on the Flux Front that lingers on the eastern side of the Jordan River valley, near the northern edge of the Dead Sea, in an attempt to relieve some of the attacks on Jerusalem.
All Battle Badge art by thecosmicgoose!