World The Ledger: Black for Business, Red for Blood Worldbuilding and Planning

[Vacyr]

WIP for RP with @Shiress

The Ledger: Black for Business, Red for Blood
The Red and Black Ledger Roleplay


Location: Novum Arx (New Citadel) ​

Within the hum, soot and steam arose from the citadel, alive like a clockwork beast with mazes of cobblestone streets and the tick of machines that burst billowing smoke from high brick stacks. It used to be splendid, a symphony of metallic groans and hisses as contraptions of copper powered the cities ever hungry industrial heart. From the highest airships to the lowest churn of waterwheels, Arx was a city where dreams were not only made, but realized.

And with such realizations, came change.

Nouvm Arx, the gilded dream of tomorrow, arose from the grime. Workers materials, brick and iron, replaced by stainless steel, glass, and granite that only the rich seemed to have access to. One by one, buildings reached desperately upwards in stepped silhouettes, gilded embellishments on shimmering limestone facades. Their sleek geometic lines, chevrons, and starbursts something to behold as old gave way to new.

Flying blimps and hovering cars only the tip of what Nouvm Arx could produce, its skyways carving out another dimension to the city that had otherwise been unused. Technology only progressing with each hungry business man who thought to make their vision reality. But not every rich man or family were famous.

With the towering wealth and prosperity that Novum Arx enjoyed came a darker, grittier, side of the coin. The underbelly of the city was also teeming with life. The disparity between the elite and lower classes driving wedges that no Mayor or figurehead could breech. The businessmen and government officials more likely to act with their pocketbook rather than for the good of the city as a whole. With this struggle of power came factions, crime syndicate families like the Versetti or Gallagher, who promised smuggling of exclusive or heavily taxed goods, bribery, blackmail, and enforcement of promises to keep their city afloat in their own image.

But when more than one family tries to pull the strings of Novum Arx, they're likely to get tangled. An old and bitter feud that left both families with their grip as tight as ever on the city they both are devoted to, leading towards a cycle of mistrust and violence that was bound to repeat.

Chaos prevails time and time again, yet the cycle may someday find its end.

 

[Vacyr]

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Tristan Castellani
Undercover FBI Agent;
Versetti Syndicate bodyguard

resilient

physique

HEIGHT: 6' 00"
WEIGHT: 195 LBS
AGE: 30
GENDER: Male
SIGN: ?
HAIR: Dirty blond
EYES: Blue
STRUCTURE: Bulky, strong

persuasive

psyche

optimist

pessimist

⠀

⠀

patient

reckless

⠀

⠀

logical

emotional

⠀

⠀

hesitant

decisive

⠀

⠀

negligent

meticulous

⠀

⠀

introverted

extroverted

⠀

⠀

stays in past

moves on

⠀

⠀

inarticulate

charismatic

⠀

⠀

audacious

prowess

♦ Personal protection, risk assessment, and crisis management

♦ Black belt (hand to hand combat, weapons defense/offense)

♦ Precision firearm expertise

♦ EVOC certified (emergency vehicle operations certification)

♦ Surveillance and covert transportation operations

♦ Strong situational awareness

♦ Socially perceptive

Spoiler: Faceclaim

Spoiler: Colt M1911

 

[Vacyr]

Novum Arx Districts Breakdown:​

The Pinnacle – Skyline dominated by towering spires adorned with gilded facades, geometric embellishments, and sweeping terraces. Private clubs, grand ballrooms, and lavish penthouses house the aristocrats and old-money dynasties. The streets are wide, quiet, and meticulously kept, patrolled by discreet security forces ensuring exclusivity.

The Underline – A dingy and dark labyrinthine underworld hidden beneath the grand boulevards and tracks of the skyrails illuminated by neon signs flickering against damp metal walls. Smoke curls from hidden speakeasies, where jazz bands play for smugglers and black market kingpins, clandestine activities running ramped. The filigree fades to rust and ruin, swallowed by shadows between steam pipes and crumbling concrete.

The Aerodome – Floating platforms of polished chrome and brass suspended above the city's lower districts, hosting private airship ports for the wealthy. Observation towers provide breathtaking views of the more glorious parts of the city while illicit gambling dens and sky-smuggling operations thrive behind lavish hanger doors. Only the privileged - or the cunning - can afford passage through its exclusive airways.

The Arxcore – White government edifices wrapped in striking verticality, adorned with monolithic sculptures and intricate reliefs depicting Novum Arx's trumphs. Inside, vaulted halls tower above politicians and businessfolk alike as they plan, fund, debate, and discuss in a ornate boardrooms.

The Ironside - Neon contrasts starkly with aged iron frameworks and exposed rivets that bind together brick and iron. Old steam engines power bustling workshops inside old train stations filled with innovators repurposing forgotten machinery. Murals and stained glass windows are stained with soot, once beautiful stories of industrial ambition now left to rust.

 

[Shiress]

BASICS
Full Name: Cecilia Versetti
Nickname(s)/Alias: Cece, Little Queen (mockingly by some)
Gender/Pronouns: Female / She/Her
Age: 24
Birthday: March 9, 1901
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Nationality: Italian-American
Place of Birth: New York City
Current Residence: Versetti Estate, Novum Arx
Airship: La Vendetta

APPEARANCE
Height: 5'4"
Build/Body Type: Slender, toned, strong
Eye Color: Golden amber
Hair Color/Style: Light brown, usually in a tight French braid

Distinguishing Features:

• A faint scar behind her right ear (from training)​
• Wears a silver locket with her mother's ashes inside​

Style/Aesthetic:

• Dark pant suits with clean lines​
• Military boots or polished heels, depending on the mood​
• Subtle makeup​
• Dark lipstick​

Typical Outfit:

• Black pinstripe suit​
• Leather gloves​
• Leather waistcoat​
• Dagger holsters sewn into the sleeves​

Accessories/Weapons:

• Slim pistol holstered beneath her jacket​
• Twin throwing daggers up each sleeve​
• Wears her mother's ashes in a locket around her neck​
• Carries a compact with a hidden blade and cyanide tablet​

CONNECTIONS

• Father's Role in the Mob: Leonardo Versetti – Don of the Versetti Crime Syndicate​
• Family Name: The Versetti Family​

Relationship with Family:

• Complicated. She fears her father, admires her late brother, and mourns her mother.​

Allies:

• Mo, her loyal airship pilot​
• MJ, Mo's son, who quietly has a crush on her​
• Her cat Penny​

Enemies/Rivals:

• Other rival families vying for power (Irish)​
• Her own inner circle​
• Those who doubt her ability to lead​

Love Interest(s): None actively (men intimidate her)

Bodyguard/Right-Hand Person: None yet (searching for security she can trust)

FBI Contact (Secret or Known): None yet (but someone may be watching her...)

PERSONALITY

Three Words That Describe Her:

• Observant​
• Repressed.​
• Volatile.​

Public Persona vs. Private Self:

• Public: Polished, unreadable, "daddy's perfect daughter"​
• Private: Lonely, bitter, quietly furious (resentful?)​

Biggest Strengths:

• Lethal accuracy with firearms and blades​
• Incredible observational skills​
• Keeps secrets like a vault​

Fatal Flaws:

• Afraid to say no​
• Short temper​
• Pushes people away​

Fears:

• Becoming like her father​
• Letting someone close and being betrayed​

Vices:

• Cigarettes​
• Late night whiskey​
• Bottling up everything​

Ambitions:

• Wants to break free but doesn't know how​

Secrets:

• She's never killed anyone despite training​
• She sometimes thinks about running away for good​

SKILLS / ROLE IN THE MOB

Official Title/Role: "The Heir" (unofficially called The Little Queen)

Combat Skills:

• Sharpshooting​
• Dual knife throwing​
• Close-quarters/hand to hand defense​

Street Smarts:

• Can read a room in seconds​
• Knows the power plays in Chicago's underworld​
• Can sense danger​

Influence & Charisma:

• Understated​
• Subtle power​
• People notice when she speaks​

Hacking / Tech

• Familiar with wireless signal jammers and basic encryption​

Disguises/Deception Skills:

• Social deception​
• Poker face​

Underworld Reputation:

• Underestimated​
• Quiet​
• Dangerous​
• Bad Temper​

BACKSTORY

What was her childhood like growing up in the mob?

• Tense. Cold father, emotionally absent. Groomed early for the role after her brother died. Trained like a soldier since 17.​

How involved is she in the family business?

• Deeply. Expected to run the show, but resents it.​

What turning point shaped her into who she is now?

• Her brother's death and the way her father acted like it was her problem to solve.​

What is she hiding?

• Her desire to flee​
• Her innocence​
• Doubts about everything the family stands for.​

What does she want more than anything?

• To be free and live a quiet, honest life -but doesn't know what that looks like.​

EXTRAS

Favorite Drink: Whiskey with two ice cubes
Signature Scent: Leather, and gardenia
Favorite Weapon: Twin daggers -silent, clean, and precise
Favorite Song/Record: "Dream a Little Dream of Me"
Catchphrase or Quote:

• "Quiet don't mean weak, sweetheart."​

Fun Fact(s):

• Has perfect aim at 20 paces​
• Sleeps with the window open even in winter​
• Keeps a journal in a loose floorboard beneath her bed​

 

[Shiress]

NPCs thus far:

Spoiler: Antonio Bellacasa

Spoiler: Matteo Abate - Head of Security

Spoiler: Anna Aiello - Personal Maide

Spoiler: Sydney (Sid) Gallo - The Cook

Spoiler: Penny - The Cat

 

[Shiress]

Versetti Family

Spoiler: Leonardo Versetti

Spoiler: Leonardo and Livia Versetti - Wedding 1895

Spoiler: Versetti Family Portrait - 1906

Spoiler: Last Versetti Family Portrait - 1916

Spoiler: News article - 1916

 

[Vacyr]

Castellani Family: Work in Progress

Mother - Casandra
Father - tbd
Tristano (Tristan, M): 30
Piero (M): 30
Serafina (F): 28

 

[Shiress]

The New Arx Civic Syndicate​

The New Arx Civic Syndicate is a powerful political body that governs the city's infrastructure, commerce, and underworld with an iron fist. On paper, it appears to be a non-elected council of Novum Arx elites, industrialists, philanthropists, real estate magnates, and civic planners who shape policy, laws, and economic development in Novum Arx. In truth, the Syndicate is a white-gloved crime apparatus dressed in civic duty. Members hold influence over the city's transportation grids, zoning laws, construction permits, and commercial licensure. Every airship route, every construction contract, every sanctioned weapon permit, or political fundraising gala passes through their influence. It is an engine powered by bribes, blood, and blind agreements. Nothing moves in New Arx without someone in the Syndicate signing off on it.

Cece inherited her place at the table when her father, Leonardo Versetti, withdrew from public appearances and relocated to his private estate outside the city. His absence was not retirement; it was a reshuffling of power. With Leonardo still pulling strings from the shadows, Cece was sent to the Versetti Tower to serve as the family's visible face. The seat she occupies in the Syndicate was not earned by vote or merit. It was bequeathed, like a kingdom passed from a king to his reluctant heiress. Many Syndicate members see her as a placeholder, a spoiled heiress playing queen while the puppetmaster watches from afar. Cece's ideas are disruptive. Her desire to build affordable housing and shift resources toward the city's poor undermines the Syndicate's elite system, but more importantly, it reduces revenue. Her very presence is a test of the old guard's tolerance. She plays their game, yes, but with different pieces, and that makes her dangerous. Or, if she's not careful, very disposable.

 

[Vacyr]

Core Members of Arx Civic Syndicate Council as noted in Cecilia's brief (post #39):

1. Victor M. Bellacasa – Transportation Chair
   Publicly affable, politically moderate. Known associate of Cece's family through Antonio. Old-money influence
   
   
2. Loretta "Red" Marcone – Union Liaison
   Controls several trade guilds with an iron grip. Fiery speaker, deeply respected -and feared- by dockworkers.
   
   
3. Councilor Edwin Mirthridge – Public Welfare Oversight
   A high-society philanthropist with deeply buried corruption ties. Rumors suggest embezzlement through housing projects.
   
   
4. Orrin Gallagher – Import/Export Oversight
   Slimy, silver-tongued. Known for laundering goods through dock contracts and illegal shipping routes.
5. Declan Gallagher, Don and patriarch of the bloodline
   
   
6. Sable Donatti – Infrastructure & Expansion
   Cold, calculated, and pragmatic. Her family helped fund half the rail systems in northern Arx. Suspected of having a private militia.
   
   
7. Mayor Julius Stroud – Figurehead & Public Liaison
   Smiling puppet. Hasn't made a decision without whisperers in nearly a decade. The press adores him. Cece does not.
   
   
8. Luther Vance – Energy & Industry
   Controls multiple refineries and factories along the eastern steel corridor. Known to be short-tempered and anti-shifter.
   
   
9. Silas Revane – Legal Affairs
   Suave and slippery. Owns several law firms and is often the last face seen before someone's charges magically disappear.

 

[Vacyr]

Side Characters for Tristan:

• Gabrielle Fairfax - auburn hair, earthy brown eyes
• Isabelle Rochette - black hair, green eyes, triangular build

 

[Vacyr]

Kinetic Inversion Sensory Syndrome X-49 Delta Injection
A sponge for motion and pressure
(posts 134 - 139)
"Subject Code: Castellani, T: Subject exhibits early-stage indicators of K.I.S.S. - a neurological and muscular anomaly allowing the absorption, retention, and reversal of kinetic energy. Subject's tactile system is now hyper-sensitized, able to detect and internalize motion, vibration, impact, and momentum.

Energy absorbed through muscle tension or physical contact is stored temporarily in the subject's tissue and nervous system. Once saturation thresholds are met, subject may voluntarily release force in a reversed kinetic event (RKE), manifesting as explosive movement, impact redirection, or strength surges."

"Tactile Perception Overload is likely. Subject may feel overwhelmed by subtle movements, textures, even temperature shifts. Control may be difficult at first. Must monitor for signs of destabilization - hand tremors, jaw clenching, muscle tightening without cause. In these events, instruct subject to:

• Ground kinetic charge via repeated motion into resistant objects (e.g. concrete, reinforced steel, earth).
• Use low-impact rhythmic movements (e.g. pacing, controlled breathing, compression tools).

Avoid mirrors, thin glass, or unstable surfaces until regulation is achieved."

Control protocols are critical. Subject must monitor for advanced symptoms of mass build-up: joint stiffness, pressure behind the eyes, temperature spikes, micro-tremors, and sensitivity to noise or texture. Delayed release or failure to expel absorbed energy can result in:
– Muscle spasms or convulsions
– Temporary blindness or auditory distortion
– Uncontrolled energy backlash (possible damage to self or environment)
– Cardiovascular strain or collapse in severe cases.

Recommended mass kinetic discharge techniques include:
– Striking solid or reinforced objects to expel minor energy.
– Engaging in full-body movement (sprinting, grappling, rolling, running).
– Channeling energy into controlled combat scenarios and training once awareness is developed.

Note: Based on metabolic readings and response to serum X-49 Delta, subject may develop secondary or tertiary enhancements not yet observable. These may manifest gradually or in response to heightened stress, trauma, or emotional extremes. Possibilities include but are not limited to:
– Reflexive perception mapping (seeing movement before it happens)
– Localized muscle density increase (temporary superhuman strength)
– Tissue reinforcement or heat resistance (soft tissue is more resilient)
– Electromagnetic sensitivity or atmospheric awareness (sensitivity to electromagnetic fields)
– Adrenalic overdrive (near-death rage state/berserker trigger)
These are theoretical. Continuous observation is required. Log all changes here.