Scarcity - Hodgepocalypse Toronto - Part 1 - Overview and Species

 Scarcity – The Shattered Metropolis

 

Once known as the world’s newest great city, what was once known as Toronto is now a necropolis of a world that once was.  A mix of survivor factions contracted within the hollow wreckage of the city, it is a place of options and opportunities for those brave enough to pick a side.

History 

Toronto in the Hodgepocalypse: The Fall of the Megacity

Toronto was once the site of the largest population of Canada and arguably its most iconic city. Toronto stood as the beacon of modern urban life, defined by its multicultural vibrancy, economic vitality, and progressive values. Known as one of the most diverse cities in the world, its neighborhoods were a living tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions. The city thrived on innovation, with hubs like the MaRS Discovery District pushed boundaries in technology, healthcare, and green energy. As Canada's financial capital, Toronto boasted a booming skyline, anchored by iconic landmarks like the CN Tower, while its bustling arts scene and world-class events like the Toronto International Film Festival solidified its global cultural influence. Despite its prosperity, the city grappled with challenges: housing affordability, urban sprawl, and the growing pressure of climate change. The city’s leaders strived to balance progress with sustainability, but tensions between corporate interests, activist movements, and grassroots communities hinted at deeper struggles beneath its polished exterior. Toronto’s resilience and adaptability set the stage for both remarkable achievements and the seeds of the profound transformation to come.

The city's transformation began subtly—reports of strange phenomena in the PATH underground network, sudden blackouts that defied logical explanation, and rumors of individuals vanishing only to reappear days later with fractured memories. When the Revelation Wave struck, Toronto was irrevocably changed. The CN Tower, once a beacon of Canadian pride, became a lightning rod for dimensional instability. The surrounding downtown core warped into a twisted landscape where time and space no longer obeyed the laws of physics. This "Zone of Flux" remains impassable to this day, a haunting reminder of the city's darkest hours.

Toronto’s Survival: A City Reclaimed by the Unnatural

Today, the ruins of Toronto are a mix of wonder and horror. Small communities cling to the outskirts of the city, salvaging what they can from the remnants of advanced technology and adapting it with newfound magical knowledge. The city's remnants are inhabited not just by humans but by a mix of visitors and mutated wildlife.

The "New Towerers," a faction of mystics and engineers, have attempted to reclaim parts of the CN Tower. They believe the Flux can be harnessed as a power source, though many view their efforts as reckless. Meanwhile, the Toronto Islands, once a peaceful retreat, are now home to the "Waveborn," an enigmatic group who claim to have been transformed by the energies of the Revelation Wave and act as guardians of the lake.

Species of Note

Toronto of old was known as an incredibly multicultural city and even in the ashes of the Hodgepocalypse, this still applies to an even greater degree.  Just about any species can be found here, either plotting and scheming, or just trying to survive the day to day affairs.

Highly Feasible Species (Core of the City, Active Participants)

Beaver Folk

 

Practical and reliable, Beaver Folk tirelessly maintain Toronto’s crumbling infrastructure. Their craftsmanship shines on the waterfront, where they repair docks and reinforce trolley lines, ensuring the city’s lifelines endure.

Bogey

 

Masters of the shadows, Bogeys thrive in Toronto’s subway ruins and alleys. Equal parts tricksters and survivors, they trade secrets for favors, guiding the unwary through urban labyrinths.

Cats

 

Graceful and cunning, Cats prowl Neo-Toronto as spies, thieves, and messengers. They trade in whispers and treasures, often outsmarting larger factions with their agility and charm.

Feylin

 

The vibrant soul of the city, Feylin infuse Toronto with an enchanting mix of pop culture and faerie magic. Their districts hum with life, offering rare artifacts and surreal celebrations that blur reality.

Fossilborn

 

The Dinosaur folk with a demonic past are not an uncommon occurrence and are particularly common around the Royal Museum of Ontario, which they have rebuilt as their own bastion. 

Gnomes

 

Industrious and inventive, Gnomes are the tinkerers of the city, running everything from gadget shops to trolley systems. Their pizza stands and whimsical creations add quirky charm to bustling markets.

Humans

 

The adaptable cornerstone of Toronto’s population, Humans span all walks of life. From scavengers to scholars, they embody the city’s diverse resilience.

Kamidaver

 

Flocking to the city after the necromantic wars, Adrenaline junkies and undead daredevils, Kamidaver dominate the CN Tower and Rogers Centre, where they perform death-defying stunts that thrill and terrify the masses.

Malarkoids

The shadowy rulers of the Marlarkoid Cartel, these Faustian technocrats epitomize the city’s retro-futuristic aesthetic, blending alien allure with ruthless ambition.

Mechanical Life Forms (M.L.F.s).  

 

Whether it is artifacts from the past, or recent creations, Mechanical life abounds and even control key locations.

Trollitariot

Dockworkers and trolley operators by day, enforcers by night, Trollitariot are the muscle behind Toronto’s industrial revival. Their unionized syndicate is a force to be reckoned with.

Transband

 

Resourceful and chaotic, Transband Raccoons are Neo-Toronto’s urban survivors. They rule the rooftops, sewers, and alleys with an uncanny knack for scavenging and thriving.

Vamps

 

Elegant yet deadly, Vamps control Toronto’s nightlife, commanding clubs and skyscrapers with equal finesse. They trade in blood, power, and secrets under the city’s neon glow.

Moderately Feasible Species (Niche Groups in Specific Areas)

Aethyrfiends

 

These aquatic creatures of the dreamtime are particularly common along the Toronto Islands, both above and below.

Cyclops

Youthful giants with a greaser aesthetic, Cyclops gangs rule Toronto’s highways, balancing rebellion with camaraderie.

Dwarf 

Rugged and stoic, dwarves carve out a life in Toronto’s ravines and ruins. They thrive underground, repurposing the industrial past into tools for survival.

Elf

Reclusive yet vigilant, Elves inhabit the green remnants of the city like High Park, protecting these sanctuaries from encroaching urban chaos.

Haraak

Cowboy mercenaries, the Haraak patrol trade routes and guard Toronto’s most prized assets. They’re equal parts sharpshooters and strategists.

Harlowe

Masters of charm and subterfuge, the Harlowe run bars and shady enterprises in the city’s seedy districts, weaving webs of influence that keep them a step ahead.

Medusa

Artists and merchants, Medusas run high-profile businesses in Toronto’s art districts. Their petrifying gaze is both feared and revered.

Minotaurs

Powerful and imposing, Minotaurs find work as bouncers or gladiators, often seen guarding or fighting in the Rogers Centre’s arenas.

Tree Octopus

Rare and enigmatic, these creatures haunt Toronto’s ravines and waterfront, blending stealth with intellect to hunt or protect.

Verkhail

These liberated demons that were the lowest cast of the desecrators fight tyranny with infernal contracts and mystic prowess. Their rebellion is a beacon of hope in the city’s chaos.

Low Feasibility Species (Rare, Eccentric, or Outliers)

Fate Fugitives

Ethereal beings made flesh, Fate Fugitives wrestle with their place in Toronto, often taking refuge in philosophical enclaves or cults.

Garter Folk

 

Small and serpentine, Garter Folk inhabit sewers and ruins, thriving in niches but rarely taking center stage in the city’s drama.

Halflings

Hidden in micro-districts, Halflings farm and trade, bringing warmth to an otherwise harsh urban sprawl.

Harvesters

 

Plant-based psychic overlords, Harvesters have taken over the distillery for their own purpose and to create new experiments.

Kilgoreans

The Kilgoreans, alien warrior women from the legendary "Mondo de Revoj" (World of Dreams), are not native to Scarcity, but frequently arrive in the Toronto region to trade their advanced cybernetics and rare tech or to raid for scarce resources like fuel, metals, and biological materials. 

Little Bears

 

Playful yet hardworking, Little Bears are found in quiet boroughs running workshops or food stalls. Their rarity adds charm but limits their influence.

Stumpy

Stumpies are in Toronto because their growing sense of independence and exploration has driven them to urban areas, where they serve as laborers, adventurers, and investigators of their own mysterious history. The city's diverse population and cultural curiosity make it a natural destination for these gruff, tree-like beings seeking to "get off the damn farm" and discover the truth of their origins.

Ungo

 

Sasquatch analogues, Ungos operate as urban lumberjacks or guardians, their rural nature an odd but intriguing fit in Neo-Toronto.

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