Real Worlds - Story Ideas + Notes

Names are currently placeholders, will probably end up just going with them:

Mercenary: Gunnar (Bartsch 2023)

Having escaped Enforcer recruitment before it was fully completed, Gunnar's psyche is broken, his memory hazy and his body sometimes moving against his will. Not belonging anywhere, his only option is to become a mercenary, constantly on the run from both the Enforcers, and someone who seems very familiar...

alternate/ more brief version?

A mercenary who isn't welcome anywhere, biding his time until he can restore his memories, on the run from both the Enforcers, and someone who seems very familiar...

Reb: Skarde (the National Museum of Denmark, n.d.)

Feeling betrayed, Skarde relentlessly hunts down a former friend, who seemingly left the rebellion to join the enforcers.

 

Initial rough story:

They both lost everything to the council/ GCPS, their homes are now deadzones. They bonded over this, and became good friends, both joining the rebellion. To try and save up for better equippment, Gunnar takes any odd job he could find - eventually though, Gunnar ends up accepting a job from someone affiliated with the council, and he's forever cast aside by the rebs. Feeling betrayed, Skarde hunts him down relentlessly.

*"to describe the Rebellion as an organisation would be to somewhat exaggerate the matter. More of a movement, the Rebellion is the figurehead that people of all species turn to when their disillusionment at the Council’s rule becomes too much." (Mantic 2025). 

"Some try and work towards a common goal with other groups, while others strike out on their own." (Mantic 2025). 

 

Alternate idea:

Mercenary: Gunnar 

Gunnar failed the enforcer recruitment on a psychological basis, so he turned to mercenary work instead. Being involved in the decemation of Skarde's home, he now has a permanent, persistent thorn in his side.

Reb: Skarde (the National Museum of Denmark, n.d.)

His home destroyed, Skarde follows closely behind Gunnar and thwarts his endeavors at every turn.

Story idea 3 (ended up going with this one):

They were both rebs, and good friends. Gunnar, being human, ends up being forcibly conscripted into the enforcers. Fueled by a hatred for the council, the need for freedom, and a bit of fear, Gunnar escapes, but they had already partially modified him by the time he got out, so his memory is hazy, and sometimes his body moves against his will. Skarde doesn't realise the concription was by force, and feels betrayed, and hunts down gunnar relentlessley, much to his confusion and pain. 

Other notes:

Gunnar ends up heavily modifying his own body, replacing his arms with advanced prosthetic ones, hoping he would regain some control (they also come equipped with more weapons, which is a bonus). He's also collected (stolen) a variety of weapons, many of which from the enforcers, and has had to adapt his armour to increase defence against teratons or similar species. Out of pure desperation, he turns to the Nameless, knowing they might just kill or capture him but hoping their psychic powers might be able to restore his mind. They agree to try and help him if he does mercenary work for them, whether they actually hold up there end of the deal is unknown. They developed a kind of sign language to communicate with eachother.

"In the beginning, all Enforcers are human. At least before recruitment. Each Enforcer battalion is charged with maintaining its own numbers through recruitment from the planets within their assigned sector. How this is done varies from one strike force to another and ranges from voluntary enlistment upon completion of a test, to forced conscription." (Warpath Wiki).

"Applicants to the Enforcers are put through a gruelling, week-long selection process, culminating in a battery of genetic, psychological and physical tests. Only four percent of any batch of applicants will be accepted; a sizeable minorty of those who fail are mentally broken by the experience," (Warpath Wiki).

"[...] adaptations made to their brain patterns, which would result in the ability to carry out orders without question." (Warpath Wiki). 

- It doesn't say anywhere that enforcer's memories are wiped, but it seems plausible that if something were to interrupt the process of their bodies changing, especially when the brain is being modified, that something would go wrong/ that their memories could be affected.

 

"many Nameless possess 'powers' related to their biology; hallucinogetic pheromones, purely psychic abilities, and so on. " (Warpath Wiki). 

- these psychic abilities aren't really elaborated on, so I'm gonna hope that it's open to interpretation. I am willing to rewrite my current story completely if it wouldn't fit in universe, but I like this idea the most so I'll try it just in case. 

 

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Bibliography:

 

Bartsch, B., 2023. Untitled Reel/ Gunna [online]. Instagram. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxbA8KesoMP [Accessed 08 February 2025].  

Burman, R., 2018. DEADZONE FACTION FOCUS: REBS [online]. Mantic. Available at: https://search.app/GA96p9SDriKMkDHn7 [Accessed 05 February 2025]. 

Mantic, n.d. Deadzone 3rd Edition Rules (version 1.2) [online, requires you to sign up for free account]. Mantic Companion. Available at: https://companion.manticgames.com/deadzone-rules/ [Accessed 05 February 2025]. 

Mantic, n.d. Mercenaries [online]. Mantic. Available at: https://www.manticgames.com/deadzone/mercenaries/ [Accessed 05 February 2025]. 

Mantic, n.d. Mercenary Character: Teraton Shock Trooper [online]. Mantic. Available at: https://www.manticgames.com/deadzone/teraton-shock-trooper/ [Accessed 05 February 2025]. 

National Museum of Denmark, n.d. Viking names [online]. National Museum of Denmark. Available at: https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-viking-age/the-people/names/ [Accessed 05 February 2025].  

 

Warpath Universe Wiki, n.d. Rebs [online]. Fandom. Avaialble at: https://warpath-universe.fandom.com/wiki/Rebs [Accessed 05 March 2025].  

 

Warpath Universe Wiki, n.d. Enforcers [online]. Fandom. Avaialble at: https://warpath-universe.fandom.com/wiki/Enforcers [Accessed 05 March 2025]. 

 

Warpath Universe Wiki, n.d. Welcome to the Warpath Universe Wiki! [online]. Fandom. Available at: https://warpath-universe.fandom.com/wiki/Warpath_Universe_Wiki [Accessed 04 March 2025]. 

 

Warpath Universe Wiki, n.d. The Nameless [online]. Fandom. Avaialble at: https://warpath-universe.fandom.com/wiki/The_Nameless [Accessed 05 March 2025].