Earlier this year, I played an RPG with my friends Wystan, River, and Anansi. We co-created a world, and Wystan DM’d our game together. He wrote this description of the world we played in—I thought others might like to see it too, so I’m sharing it here:
The year is 2026, in a world much like our own…
Almost every human uncovers an aspect of magickal power in themselves at some point or another in life, usually during puberty but sometimes much later. Power and utility of magickal talent are far from evenly distributed, and throughout history the strongest have tended to dominate in any given society. Enlightenment ideals of egalitarianism are widespread, though in practice often might makes right, even if might is now mediated through the modern state apparatus.
Many are addicted to the magickal drug mana, which has short-lived (rapid onset <30 seconds inhaled/injected, 1 hour peak, trailing effects for another 2) euphoric and sensory acuity effects as well as temporary magickal enhancement, at the cost of high addiction and abuse potential, chemical dependence from sustained use, and an unpleasant-to-severe comedown (think delirium tremens for habitual users).
In the nation’s capitol, following years of economic turmoil and civil unrest, an astonishing feat was accomplished: a third-party candidate, Samuel Graves, swept to victory on a tide of popular resentment and mistrust of the established political powers. His vigorous campaign against corruption within the federal and local D.C. government has been popular, and with the mid-terms beginning next month forecasters say his new Justice party may take a majority in both the House and Senate, washing away the dregs of the dying parties of yesteryear which up to now have succeeded in blocking much of his radical legislative agenda.
Established to combat threats interplanar, foreign, and domestic to the magickal security of the nation, the Federal Bureau of Magick (FBM) has long been a bulwark against demonic and eldritch influence on the life of the country. The most-wanted man on the agency’s list has long been The Destroyer, though until now no agent has ever been successful in tracking him down. The DET, headed by the distinguished Agent Agni Sol is the pride of the agency.
Prostitution, gun-running (a bullet is often more lethally effective than most people’s magick, after all), mana-mongering, the capitol is a hive of corruption under a thin veneer of neo-classical charm. City police, local government, and many congresspeople and senators are all implicated in organized crime of one stripe or another. Those who speak out find their electoral opponents receiving massive donations, or are somehow convinced to change their tune. President Graves has made some inroads, but the criminals of D.C. are alive and prospering, if not thriving quite as they used to.
The art in this post was created by Sílvia Bastos, and is licensed under a CC BY 2.0 license. You can support her work on Patreon.