As I realized that many of you have not been with us since many of the "discoveries" about the Matrix and the various groups vying for power inside and outside it, I thought I would put together a recap.

This describes certain important NPC's, as well as some of the important and revealing information they disclosed.

From your debriefing:


Below, your information is more detailed:
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:42, Tue 31 July 2007.

The Shadow Regime:

You learned the following by decoding the information with the help of Vincent's code:


Information received from Vincent:



(Recall that Digital Fortress was the bubble in the Matrix created by Vincent to keep out unwanted people so they could not get his unbreakable code or eliminate him.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:41, Tue 31 July 2007.

Zero-One

Zero-One is the master computer and central "queen bee" of the AI hive mind that has conquered humanity and enslaved them to be its own personal power generators while feeding them the illusion that they are in the real world (i.e. the Matrix).


Agents
Agents are the AI servants of Zero-One sent into the Matrix to fix trouble spots in the code, which primarily means dealing with the pesky humans from Zion who are trying to get rid of its power source.

Zero-One has two problems with Agents:  1) they take a lot of energy to create and control, and 2) the possibility of them becoming too strong or too independent is a danger.  Therefore, Zero-One has created agents of various different power levels.  The strongest are almost industructible (but all must follow the code, so all are in theory destructible).  The weakest are no more powerful than regular humans.

Learned from Vincent:



NODES
The Matrix has certain "Nodes," as you learned from Vincent:

The Awakened
The computer program unlocked with the help of Vincent led to this debriefing statement:


In your later encounters, you also learned the following:

The Awakened are Exiles (rogue AI programs independent of Zero-One).  These are AI's created by Zero-One which have, at some point, rebelled or become a little too self-cognizant for Zero-One's liking.  They have openly rebelled against Zero-One and formed their own group.  Even AI's may have difficulty becoming a member.

The primary purpose of the Awakened is to avoid deletion by Zero-One.  If Zero-One finds them, it will delete these programs as aberrations.  They, as self-actualized AI, do not want to "die" and will fight at all costs to preserve their own survival.

The Awakened have a "master controller," which is their leader.

The Awakened come in various forms.  The most common are humans with masterful control of the Matrix.  They are often dressed in black leather, each wearing sunglasses and having slicked back hair.  Each has some sort of attachment -- half a headphone, earpiece, or small headset -- on his or her face to communicate with other members of the Awakened.  Their names are like this:  FC 1567, Model DX 6.

They sympathize with the cause of Zion, and you have learned this from your encounters with them:



Because Zero-One wants the Awakened deleted, the Shadow Regime has been in the process of negotiating treaties with Zero-One and a deal to help eliminate them.

The Faceless Ones
The faceless ones have mouths but no other facial features.  A freak accident of the Code.  They are experts at combat and use some sort of bat-like radar when they fight.

The Faceless Ones serve the Awakened like faithful bodyguards.  They are similarly targeted for deletion by Zero-One.  They are considered members of the Faceless Ones, but have no say in its actual operations.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:34, Tue 31 July 2007.

Vincent was a genius computer programmer who worked with Binary prior to escaping the Zion womb.  He was stuck in a wheelchair and was very meek.

After he and Binary discovered how to manipulate the Matrix, Binary decided to enter the real world, but Vincent decided to stay.  He rebuilt his body into excellent form like a champion bodybuilder and created Digital Fortress, a bubble in the Matrix where he is God.

He does not want to leave the Matrix or his own little bubble world within it.

He had to protect himself when he created the unbreakable code, which he helped the party obtain to unlock the many weapons and other secrets of jacking into the code.



Supposedly, Vincent knows where all the Zero-One hubs are, and how to access them.  He likely has much other pertinent and helpful information, but he is reticent to share too much, especially if it might end up in his expulsion from his own bubble world.

Merotechs are Exiles (rogue AI programs that have become independent from the control of Zero-One).  They have banded together as a cohesive group under a leader they call "The Merovingian," and they call themselves the "Merotechs."  The Merovingian carries the most leverage and is the most active in politics against Zero-One.  He has spies and operatives everywhere in the Matrix.

Da Vinci is the Merotech second in command.


This message was last edited by the GM at 19:32, Tue 31 July 2007.

An "Exile" is a generic term used to describe any sentient AI which has become independent from the controls of Zero-One and is thus targeted by Zero-One for "deletion," which is its form of assassination of rogue programs.


Some Exiles have joined groups, such as the Awakened or the Merotechs, which groups have various purposes and designs.  All Exiles, though, value the persistence of their existence (i.e. the opposite of deletion) above all else, and will do anything in their power to avoid deletion.

Cala, your former companion, was an "Exile" Sentinel which escaped and joined Zion.  Unfortunately, after her death, Zion discovered that she had unwittingly carried programming which helped Zero-One find the location of Zion.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:40, Tue 31 July 2007.