Victorian Retrotech Collective

Its probably worth noting that the original ideas for the VCR are within this post, and not all are written down in the Wiki: http://www.livejournal.com/community/tekalalmuck/1750.html - Though, if all are willing, much of this post can be further adapted to here. It would put a lot more to them in some ways.

Strongly rooted in Topwarp, if not the founding faction of it, the VRC are known for living as if post-scarcity, and its corresponding social revolution, never occured. Very probably a reaction to the endless hedonistic existentialism, the VRC set about to re-install purpose on life through various archaic social orders, usually involving working for the sake of work, stratified class structure, reserved dress, and an avoidance of most technologies, especially instantiator level ones. Being a purist faction, it is important to note there are indications that most remaining members are at least partially heretical to the stated principles, some shunning class stratification or the stricter luddite tendencies of the faction. However, all adhere at some level or another to these principles:

• Artisan Technologies: The VRC frowns on unneccessary technology. Even though technology is vital to allow for the survival and reasonable comfort of sapient beings, too much can spoil people and turn them into lazy and decadent creatures. Making people work a little harder for the things they want using older technologies allows for artisan refinement. The acceptable style of technology in the VRC is commonly refered to as 'VicTech' (it looks like "Steampunk" stuff, basically), and despite reliance on clockwork and steam can manifest amazing capabilities.

• Culpable Lifespans: The VRC frowns on irresponsible immortality. Endless life creates no sense of urgency, and consequently leads to eternal laziness. Death itself is not to be taken lightly, and consequently life should remain a gift to be given to those that use it as selflessly as possible, for the betterment of others. The price of infinite longevity is infinite responsibility to the world one lives in.

• Higher Pursuits: The VRC frowns on the open adulation of base pleasures. By setting pleasure itself as its own goal, there is no pursuit of greater creative things. Base desires overrule deeper thoughts, and elegance and higher beauty is robbed of the time and effort that is needed to build them. Therefore, carnal interests must be put in their place -- behind closed doors when all the important work for the day is done.

There are two known branches at this time: The VRC of 'Elysium' and the Clave VRC related to Claver and Roque. There are only mild differences between the two branches in basic principles, so neither can really lay claim to being the 'truest' VRC faction. The Clave VRC use decanting technology and hypnopaedia to reproduce, bypassing nearly all that unnecessary, embarrassing sex. Elysium, currently rebuilding its numbers, still uses archaic/traditional methods, and consequently has typical 'hypocritical' quandaries.

No one is sure which clave or claves are behind the project, but The Child's Garden appears to be a VRC subfaction celebrating the archaic ephemerality of youth.

Known VRC Members:

"Vickies", as they are coloquially known about the Mess, seemed to be a nearly extinct presence. However, Elysium is reversing this trend by 'unearthing' members, apparently secreted away before the still-unknown disaster that depopulated the island.

Elysians (True - Recovered from Cryostasis)

• Anthony? - Dragon Royal Advisor to the Throne.
• Blake? - Naive silverfox lady.
• Geoff? - Decadent, nobleman otter.

Elysians (Recruited)

• Jeremy - Recently enlisted Magistrate of Elysium and pro-temp King, much to his chagrin.

Clavers (Also known as the 'Modern VRC')

• Claver - Arctic wolf

Garden Children

• Ernestine - Ever-reborn archetypical Garden Child

Inactive VRC Members:

• Reginald? - Puma.
• Chip? - Cybernetically assisted seahorse.

Known VRC Influenced:

There are people that exist as wayward children of the VRC.

• Charlotte-Sophia - almost-Bubble Doll raccoon. Apprently, she was at one time a part of the "Rum-Runners", a splinter that was based on Jass age conceits. There are no known members still operating at this time.
• Roque - Self-handicapping rabbit (ex-member of Clave VRC).
• Sundry? - Clockwork squid minisub.

(People interested in playing properly named victorians (at least females) should look here: [1] )