Kill the Truth : Journalism and Espionage Roleplay (Interest Thread)

[Iron]

Rec...

The first thing that catches your eye is the poor quality and clipped edges of the image. You can imagine the camera staring into the scene from a hidden container or a pouch, slowly swaying back and forth and capturing the conversation that is about to take place. There are two figures in the scene, both of which are men, which you could realize by their size and hearing their voice. One of them is standing over the other, his back turned to the camera. The other is sitting down, half of him hidden by the other.

"Bohemian...Grove..." the words roll off the tongue with bile and hatred. The man standing sways to the left, hiding the other entirely. Something happens - you can hear a thump, and then a desperate yelp of pain from behind him. He was too tired to scream anymore but it still hurt. The man swayed to the right enough for moonlight to show a glimpse of the other. He was bound to a chair, wearing torn and bloody clothes belonging to some bum or vagrant. His face was caked with dry blood.

"The G-8, in Bern" something reflected the light to the camera, followed by another yelp. His head slumped forward in an attempt to pass out, but his captor would have none of it. He held his chin firmly, lifted it up and put the blade to one of his ears. A quick nick and he sliced it clean off, an act that brought the prisoner back to consciousness and to unending realms of pain.

"Beijing...the closed council..."

You begin to understand why this footage came to your possession and at that moment the sadist torturer suddenly turns to the camera and acknowledges it.

"This is no leaked footage. They intend for you to observe. See his fate for yourself. Nicknamed, 'the Congolese Belgian'. This is a message I am to deliver through your feed. I will find you-"

"You can't...Kill...the Truth..." the seemingly dead prisoner spoke up in an act of astounding defiance. It happened in a flash - he turned, the knife went inside his heart and out at that very second, and then he turned back towards the camera.

"-and I will kill you".

Spoiler: Kill the Truth

"Kill the Truth" is a game of Journalism and Espionage, in a time when the two are intertwined and synonymous, Information is the world's most valuable resource and great powers fight each other in the world by moving chess-pieces around the table, the pieces themselves completely oblivious of the game taking place.

A loose collective of individuals spread all around the world maintain 'the feed', an international pirate news organization that covers what ordinary journalists would be shot for if discussed in the open. Their methods of extracting information are often illegal and dangerous because those in power changed the rules long ago so they could not be found out.

Recently a series of disappearances occurred within the feed's contributors - which culminated in the release of a videotape, depicting what appeared to be the torture and execution of a top contributor, nicknamed "The Congolese Belgian", famed for his coverage of the brutal civil wars within the Congo. The assassin warned the journalists that he would be coming for them next.

Spoiler: Interest Thread

"Kill the Truth" is a globe trotting adventure of Espionage in a world gone horribly wrong - controlled by the elites and the grounds of a massive shadow-war, the world is at the mercy of a handful of individuals. The only way to set the world free is to free humankind and introduce it to the truth. In the process you will have to evade detection, collect leads, gain contacts, avoid arrest, compile your story and above all - stay alive long enough for the truth to come out.

I want to see if there's any interest in this type of game. Each player takes control over a character, a member of the feed - a journalist and a spy, investigating shady dealings around the world and exposing the truth. They are loosely connected through the feed itself and were recently shaken by the appearance of an assassin sent after them. Someone wants the truth silenced, and it is up for the players to get it out there and survive long enough to release it to the world.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

I like the sound of this. Gimme a few days and I may even have a character sheet.

 

[alandavidson]

This looks like fun. I'll try to have a character sheet up soon. Any specifics on sheets we need?

 

[The Harkinator]

I'm very interested in this, hopefully have a sheet up soon.

 

[Iron]

I like the sound of this. Gimme a few days and I may even have a character sheet.

This looks like fun. I'll try to have a character sheet up soon. Any specifics on sheets we need?

I'm very interested in this, hopefully have a sheet up soon.

Character sheet templates all feel similar:
Name:
Nickname: (Just like "the Congolese Belgian". Based on your professional history)
Gender:
Age:
Nationality:
Appearance:
History:
Personal Affairs: (Married, boyfriend, kids, sick grandma - everything close to you that can be used against you)
Professional History: (What type of stories you write about, do you like to write opinion pieces, report from the field, etc.)
Professional Traits: (Your Journalistic skills and Spycraft. Known associates, contacts, leaks, etc.)
Connections: (Your connections to other operatives within the feed)
Current Lead: (You may not have any, in which case I will provide it)
Notes: (Equipment and/or anything else you want to mention)

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Spoiler: Coldblood

Name: Juan-Hugo Gomez

Nickname: 'Coldblood'

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Nationality: Venezuelan

Appearance: A little on the short side (around 5'8") with a skinny build, most of Juan's wardrobe consists of various combinations of cargo-shorts and faded t-shirts, often branded with some kind of pop-culture iconography (though in truth Juan doesn't care much for what he wares, so long as it's cheap, practical, and leaves him inconspicuous in a crowd). He has short, scruffy black hair with bushy eyebrows, and slightly darker than usual skin for his heritage. He likes to keep himself clean-shaven, but that isn't always possible. Quick and athletic despite his slight stature, Juan is well-accustomed to staying out of sight and getting out of trouble fast.

History: South America was booming for much of Juan's childhood, and Venezuela was no small example of that economic success. Many problems still existed to be certain. Corruption and social disparity were ever-present barriers in the way of ordinary citizens, but the region was slowly but surely shaking off its troubled past, in no small part thanks to huge investment by the global tech industry, that targeted the continent as it's next big emerging market. This influx of capital was fuelling the emergence of a large, aspirational middle class, of which Juan's family were model members. Juan may have been a bit of a spoiled brat because of this as a kid, but he was not without talent. Recognised as something of a tech wizard early in his schooling, Juan's parents were more than happy to provide their son with all the toys he needed to keep honing his gifts. At the time, his dream was to become a big movie director, and by adolescence was already uploading short films he had made with his friends to the web, and garnering no small measure of praise.

The good years didn't last. Feeling threatened by the possibility of a new crop of powerful nations, foreign interests began funding and arming the drug cartels and violent revolutionary groups that had almost, but not quite, slipped into obscurity. In retaliation, the interests that opposed those interests did the same with the Venezuelan government, among others, and together they tore a promising nation apart. When Juan was sixteen, an extremist militia occupied his neighbourhood in Caracas. The government panicked at such an incursion so far within the heart of their nation, and responded with airstrikes... while most of the civilian population was still inside.

While both sides were busy blaming each-other for the slaughter on the international stage, Juan was lying amongst a pile of corpses, some of whom were once his friends, overcome with terror and feelings of hopelessness. He couldn't fight back against missiles coming from the sky, and the rebels were shooting any civilians who tried to flee. Out of a desperate desire to do something, Juan did the one thing he could. He filmed the experience from an angle no-one else in the world was seeing. For six days, without food or water, Juan lay deathly still amongst the rotting bodies of his neighbours, pretending to be one of them, his camera catching the death and depravity that unfolded around him, none of the perpetrators taking any notice of one more stiff on the pile. The rebels eventually pulled out at the end of the week, and Juan took his chance to escape before the government could occupy the district and confiscate has camera.. or worse. The first chance he got, he uploaded the footage to 'The Feed', offering it, and his future services, in exchange for those running the pirate network to get him and the remainder of his family out of the country and off the map. They agreed, and Juan was christened 'Coldblood' in recognition of the way he'd caught his first scoop. It's not a name Juan particularly likes very much, but it serves its purpose.

Personal Affairs: Juan is not currently romantically involved with anyone, and is a little nervous and awkward in person, particularly with those he has a language barrier to (He speaks English moderately well, and Spanish and Portuguese fluently, but nothing else). His only personal tie is his sister Gabriella, the only other survivor from his family's week of terror. She is two years younger than him, and wears her emotional scars far more on her sleeve. Since fleeing Venezuela, Juan has set her up in a small but comfortable apartment in New York City. It's always a balancing act, allowing her to have a life again versus keeping her below the radar of those that might target her. If Juan had any choice, he'd never let her out of his sight. However, he has to earn his keep, and his work demands that he travels.

Professional History: In the past six years, Juan has covered wars, riots and natural disasters alike. He is not numb to the things he's seen, far from it, but his approach to dealing with it all (or not, as the case may be) is to keep throwing himself back into the meat-grinder, rather than stop long enough to really take it all in.

Professional Traits: Juan is a field reporter, going where the action is. Using the skills he learned in Caracas, he is infamous for being able to get right in the middle of whatever story he's covering while remaining unnoticed, though he hasn't had to literally hide under a pile of bodies recently, thank God! He's literate enough, but his true skill remains in the filming side of things, preferring to send what he captures off to separate writers, though that isn't always possible. For this, Jaun relies on nothing more than a smartphone. He doesn't film from a distance, and anything larger would be too conspicuous. He's constantly upgrading the device with the latest tech so that he can still produce professional quality footage; and of course, he's modified it so it can't be used to trace him.

Connections: (leaving this blank until I see what other players come up with)

Current Lead: Juan is currently in Morocco, capturing a brutal drought and famine in the region that is being suppressed on all mainstream outlets. Despite being born half a world away, he fits in quite well in the Mediterranean.

 

[Iron]

Spoiler: Coldblood

Name: Juan-Hugo Gomez

Nickname: 'Coldblood'

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Nationality: Venezuelan

Appearance: A little on the short side (around 5'8") with a skinny build, most of Juan's wardrobe consists of various combinations of cargo-shorts and faded t-shirts, often branded with some kind of pop-culture iconography (though in truth Juan doesn't care much for what he wares, so long as it's cheap, practical, and leaves him inconspicuous in a crowd). He has short, scruffy black hair with bushy eyebrows, and slightly darker than usual skin for his heritage. He likes to keep himself clean-shaven, but that isn't always possible. Quick and athletic despite his slight stature, Juan is well-accustomed to staying out of sight and getting out of trouble fast.

History: South America was booming for much of Juan's childhood, and Venezuela was no small example of that economic success. Many problems still existed to be certain. Corruption and social disparity were ever-present barriers in the way of ordinary citizens, but the region was slowly but surely shaking off its troubled past, in no small part thanks to huge investment by the global tech industry, that targeted the continent as it's next big emerging market. This influx of capital was fuelling the emergence of a large, aspirational middle class, of which Juan's family were model members. Juan may have been a bit of a spoiled brat because of this as a kid, but he was not without talent. Recognised as something of a tech wizard early in his schooling, Juan's parents were more than happy to provide their son with all the toys he needed to keep honing his gifts. At the time, his dream was to become a big movie director, and by adolescence was already uploading short films he had made with his friends to the web, and garnering no small measure of praise.

The good years didn't last. Feeling threatened by the possibility of a new crop of powerful nations, foreign interests began funding and arming the drug cartels and violent revolutionary groups that had almost, but not quite, slipped into obscurity. In retaliation, the interests that opposed those interests did the same with the Venezuelan government, among others, and together they tore a promising nation apart. When Juan was sixteen, an extremist militia occupied his neighbourhood in Caracas. The government panicked at such an incursion so far within the heart of their nation, and responded with airstrikes... while most of the civilian population was still inside.

While both sides were busy blaming each-other for the slaughter on the international stage, Juan was lying amongst a pile of corpses, some of whom were once his friends, overcome with terror and feelings of hopelessness. He couldn't fight back against missiles coming from the sky, and the rebels were shooting any civilians who tried to flee. Out of a desperate desire to do something, Juan did the one thing he could. He filmed the experience from an angle no-one else in the world was seeing. For six days, without food or water, Juan lay deathly still amongst the rotting bodies of his neighbours, pretending to be one of them, his camera catching the death and depravity that unfolded around him, none of the perpetrators taking any notice of one more stiff on the pile. The rebels eventually pulled out at the end of the week, and Juan took his chance to escape before the government could occupy the district and confiscate has camera.. or worse. The first chance he got, he uploaded the footage to 'The Feed', offering it, and his future services, in exchange for those running the pirate network to get him and the remainder of his family out of the country and off the map. They agreed, and Juan was christened 'Coldblood' in recognition of the way he'd caught his first scoop. It's not a name Juan particularly likes very much, but it serves its purpose.

Personal Affairs: Juan is not currently romantically involved with anyone, and is a little nervous and awkward in person, particularly with those he has a language barrier to (He speaks English moderately well, and Spanish and Portuguese fluently, but nothing else). His only personal tie is his sister Gabriella, the only other survivor from his family's week of terror. She is two years younger than him, and wears her emotional scars far more on her sleeve. Since fleeing Venezuela, Juan has set her up in a small but comfortable apartment in New York City. It's always a balancing act, allowing her to have a life again versus keeping her below the radar of those that might target her. If Juan had any choice, he'd never let her out of his sight. However, he has to earn his keep, and his work demands that he travels.

Professional History: In the past six years, Juan has covered wars, riots and natural disasters alike. He is not numb to the things he's seen, far from it, but his approach to dealing with it all (or not, as the case may be) is to keep throwing himself back into the meat-grinder, rather than stop long enough to really take it all in.

Professional Traits: Juan is a field reporter, going where the action is. Using the skills he learned in Caracas, he is infamous for being able to get right in the middle of whatever story he's covering while remaining unnoticed, though he hasn't had to literally hide under a pile of bodies recently, thank God! He's literate enough, but his true skill remains in the filming side of things, preferring to send what he captures off to separate writers, though that isn't always possible. For this, Jaun relies on nothing more than a smartphone. He doesn't film from a distance, and anything larger would be too conspicuous. He's constantly upgrading the device with the latest tech so that he can still produce professional quality footage; and of course, he's modified it so it can't be used to trace him.

Connections: (leaving this blank until I see what other players come up with)

Current Lead: Juan is currently in Morocco, capturing a brutal drought and famine in the region that is being suppressed on all mainstream outlets. Despite being born half a world away, he fits in quite well in the Mediterranean.

You captured the spirit of what I was looking for in potential characters for this particular game very well. If you wish, I will give you a short assignment - write what Juan is currently doing in Morocco and how he's holding up.

Coldblood will be a fine addition to the feed's contributors.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Spoiler: Coldblood

Name: Juan-Hugo Gomez

Nickname: 'Coldblood'

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Nationality: Venezuelan

Appearance: A little on the short side (around 5'8") with a skinny build, most of Juan's wardrobe consists of various combinations of cargo-shorts and faded t-shirts, often branded with some kind of pop-culture iconography (though in truth Juan doesn't care much for what he wares, so long as it's cheap, practical, and leaves him inconspicuous in a crowd). He has short, scruffy black hair with bushy eyebrows, and slightly darker than usual skin for his heritage. He likes to keep himself clean-shaven, but that isn't always possible. Quick and athletic despite his slight stature, Juan is well-accustomed to staying out of sight and getting out of trouble fast.

History: South America was booming for much of Juan's childhood, and Venezuela was no small example of that economic success. Many problems still existed to be certain. Corruption and social disparity were ever-present barriers in the way of ordinary citizens, but the region was slowly but surely shaking off its troubled past, in no small part thanks to huge investment by the global tech industry, that targeted the continent as it's next big emerging market. This influx of capital was fuelling the emergence of a large, aspirational middle class, of which Juan's family were model members. Juan may have been a bit of a spoiled brat because of this as a kid, but he was not without talent. Recognised as something of a tech wizard early in his schooling, Juan's parents were more than happy to provide their son with all the toys he needed to keep honing his gifts. At the time, his dream was to become a big movie director, and by adolescence was already uploading short films he had made with his friends to the web, and garnering no small measure of praise.

The good years didn't last. Feeling threatened by the possibility of a new crop of powerful nations, foreign interests began funding and arming the drug cartels and violent revolutionary groups that had almost, but not quite, slipped into obscurity. In retaliation, the interests that opposed those interests did the same with the Venezuelan government, among others, and together they tore a promising nation apart. When Juan was sixteen, an extremist militia occupied his neighbourhood in Caracas. The government panicked at such an incursion so far within the heart of their nation, and responded with airstrikes... while most of the civilian population was still inside.

While both sides were busy blaming each-other for the slaughter on the international stage, Juan was lying amongst a pile of corpses, some of whom were once his friends, overcome with terror and feelings of hopelessness. He couldn't fight back against missiles coming from the sky, and the rebels were shooting any civilians who tried to flee. Out of a desperate desire to do something, Juan did the one thing he could. He filmed the experience from an angle no-one else in the world was seeing. For six days, without food or water, Juan lay deathly still amongst the rotting bodies of his neighbours, pretending to be one of them, his camera catching the death and depravity that unfolded around him, none of the perpetrators taking any notice of one more stiff on the pile. The rebels eventually pulled out at the end of the week, and Juan took his chance to escape before the government could occupy the district and confiscate has camera.. or worse. The first chance he got, he uploaded the footage to 'The Feed', offering it, and his future services, in exchange for those running the pirate network to get him and the remainder of his family out of the country and off the map. They agreed, and Juan was christened 'Coldblood' in recognition of the way he'd caught his first scoop. It's not a name Juan particularly likes very much, but it serves its purpose.

Personal Affairs: Juan is not currently romantically involved with anyone, and is a little nervous and awkward in person, particularly with those he has a language barrier to (He speaks English moderately well, and Spanish and Portuguese fluently, but nothing else). His only personal tie is his sister Gabriella, the only other survivor from his family's week of terror. She is two years younger than him, and wears her emotional scars far more on her sleeve. Since fleeing Venezuela, Juan has set her up in a small but comfortable apartment in New York City. It's always a balancing act, allowing her to have a life again versus keeping her below the radar of those that might target her. If Juan had any choice, he'd never let her out of his sight. However, he has to earn his keep, and his work demands that he travels.

Professional History: In the past six years, Juan has covered wars, riots and natural disasters alike. He is not numb to the things he's seen, far from it, but his approach to dealing with it all (or not, as the case may be) is to keep throwing himself back into the meat-grinder, rather than stop long enough to really take it all in.

Professional Traits: Juan is a field reporter, going where the action is. Using the skills he learned in Caracas, he is infamous for being able to get right in the middle of whatever story he's covering while remaining unnoticed, though he hasn't had to literally hide under a pile of bodies recently, thank God! He's literate enough, but his true skill remains in the filming side of things, preferring to send what he captures off to separate writers, though that isn't always possible. For this, Jaun relies on nothing more than a smartphone. He doesn't film from a distance, and anything larger would be too conspicuous. He's constantly upgrading the device with the latest tech so that he can still produce professional quality footage; and of course, he's modified it so it can't be used to trace him.

Connections: (leaving this blank until I see what other players come up with)

Current Lead: Juan is currently in Morocco, capturing a brutal drought and famine in the region that is being suppressed on all mainstream outlets. Despite being born half a world away, he fits in quite well in the Mediterranean.

You captured the spirit of what I was looking for in potential characters for this particular game very well. If you wish, I will give you a short assignment - write what Juan is currently doing in Morocco and how he's holding up.

Coldblood will be a fine addition to the feed's contributors.

Thanks! That's be great.

 

[Iron]

Spoiler: Coldblood

Name: Juan-Hugo Gomez

Nickname: 'Coldblood'

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Nationality: Venezuelan

Appearance: A little on the short side (around 5'8") with a skinny build, most of Juan's wardrobe consists of various combinations of cargo-shorts and faded t-shirts, often branded with some kind of pop-culture iconography (though in truth Juan doesn't care much for what he wares, so long as it's cheap, practical, and leaves him inconspicuous in a crowd). He has short, scruffy black hair with bushy eyebrows, and slightly darker than usual skin for his heritage. He likes to keep himself clean-shaven, but that isn't always possible. Quick and athletic despite his slight stature, Juan is well-accustomed to staying out of sight and getting out of trouble fast.

History: South America was booming for much of Juan's childhood, and Venezuela was no small example of that economic success. Many problems still existed to be certain. Corruption and social disparity were ever-present barriers in the way of ordinary citizens, but the region was slowly but surely shaking off its troubled past, in no small part thanks to huge investment by the global tech industry, that targeted the continent as it's next big emerging market. This influx of capital was fuelling the emergence of a large, aspirational middle class, of which Juan's family were model members. Juan may have been a bit of a spoiled brat because of this as a kid, but he was not without talent. Recognised as something of a tech wizard early in his schooling, Juan's parents were more than happy to provide their son with all the toys he needed to keep honing his gifts. At the time, his dream was to become a big movie director, and by adolescence was already uploading short films he had made with his friends to the web, and garnering no small measure of praise.

The good years didn't last. Feeling threatened by the possibility of a new crop of powerful nations, foreign interests began funding and arming the drug cartels and violent revolutionary groups that had almost, but not quite, slipped into obscurity. In retaliation, the interests that opposed those interests did the same with the Venezuelan government, among others, and together they tore a promising nation apart. When Juan was sixteen, an extremist militia occupied his neighbourhood in Caracas. The government panicked at such an incursion so far within the heart of their nation, and responded with airstrikes... while most of the civilian population was still inside.

While both sides were busy blaming each-other for the slaughter on the international stage, Juan was lying amongst a pile of corpses, some of whom were once his friends, overcome with terror and feelings of hopelessness. He couldn't fight back against missiles coming from the sky, and the rebels were shooting any civilians who tried to flee. Out of a desperate desire to do something, Juan did the one thing he could. He filmed the experience from an angle no-one else in the world was seeing. For six days, without food or water, Juan lay deathly still amongst the rotting bodies of his neighbours, pretending to be one of them, his camera catching the death and depravity that unfolded around him, none of the perpetrators taking any notice of one more stiff on the pile. The rebels eventually pulled out at the end of the week, and Juan took his chance to escape before the government could occupy the district and confiscate has camera.. or worse. The first chance he got, he uploaded the footage to 'The Feed', offering it, and his future services, in exchange for those running the pirate network to get him and the remainder of his family out of the country and off the map. They agreed, and Juan was christened 'Coldblood' in recognition of the way he'd caught his first scoop. It's not a name Juan particularly likes very much, but it serves its purpose.

Personal Affairs: Juan is not currently romantically involved with anyone, and is a little nervous and awkward in person, particularly with those he has a language barrier to (He speaks English moderately well, and Spanish and Portuguese fluently, but nothing else). His only personal tie is his sister Gabriella, the only other survivor from his family's week of terror. She is two years younger than him, and wears her emotional scars far more on her sleeve. Since fleeing Venezuela, Juan has set her up in a small but comfortable apartment in New York City. It's always a balancing act, allowing her to have a life again versus keeping her below the radar of those that might target her. If Juan had any choice, he'd never let her out of his sight. However, he has to earn his keep, and his work demands that he travels.

Professional History: In the past six years, Juan has covered wars, riots and natural disasters alike. He is not numb to the things he's seen, far from it, but his approach to dealing with it all (or not, as the case may be) is to keep throwing himself back into the meat-grinder, rather than stop long enough to really take it all in.

Professional Traits: Juan is a field reporter, going where the action is. Using the skills he learned in Caracas, he is infamous for being able to get right in the middle of whatever story he's covering while remaining unnoticed, though he hasn't had to literally hide under a pile of bodies recently, thank God! He's literate enough, but his true skill remains in the filming side of things, preferring to send what he captures off to separate writers, though that isn't always possible. For this, Jaun relies on nothing more than a smartphone. He doesn't film from a distance, and anything larger would be too conspicuous. He's constantly upgrading the device with the latest tech so that he can still produce professional quality footage; and of course, he's modified it so it can't be used to trace him.

Connections: (leaving this blank until I see what other players come up with)

Current Lead: Juan is currently in Morocco, capturing a brutal drought and famine in the region that is being suppressed on all mainstream outlets. Despite being born half a world away, he fits in quite well in the Mediterranean.

You captured the spirit of what I was looking for in potential characters for this particular game very well. If you wish, I will give you a short assignment - write what Juan is currently doing in Morocco and how he's holding up.

Coldblood will be a fine addition to the feed's contributors.

Thanks! That's be great.

I hope you are not the only applicant to this game.