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THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES IN 2066

No one would have thought it possible for a country to be better off after a world-shaking events like the mass awakenings of 2013, much less the Darkest Vigil. Furthermore, no one would have expected a country that – prior to the changes – had been consistently flagged as one of the worst possible places for anyone to live in, burdened, as it was, by an “undisciplined” populace suffering from a corrupt government, an astronomical amount of foreign debt, gang violence, religious conflict, and then some. Nevertheless, the Republic of the Philippines is one of the few examples, and its miraculous turnaround is attributed, mostly to Netsach’s influence.

During the 15th Century, extensive research on the Methuselah’s part revealed that the Philippines – then a nondescript archipelago that had fallen under the sway of Spain – was sitting solidly at the center of a powerful set of leylines, thus making it a veritable hotspot of supernatural activity. The conspiracy decided to make the country its main base of operations within Southeast Asia, hoping, as they were, to serve as a good counterbalance to Zangyaku. From that point on, terrible conditions that the country was in, ironically, made it much easier for the Methuselah to operate, serving, in a way, as a natural shield from the World of Light’s prying eyes. The fact that its people – used to, as they were, to dealing with the “otherness” of the supernatural – made finding strange allies in strange places even easier, and gave the Methuselah a steady source of recruits and independent agents to rely upon.

Later on, the schism between the Methuselah and Netsach pushed Aidan Clayce to move the entirety of Netsach to the Philippines, both out of convenience and because the country’s location put it closer to its closest and largest ally, Zangyaku. Then, following the mass awakenings and the reforms, Netsach took matters into its own hands and attempted to help the Philippines clean itself up. The old ways, ones that had once served the conspiracy’s best interests, had become detrimental to development. That, and it was about damned time.

Through a combination of “sponsoring” individuals and organizations that were attempting to do real good in the country, a systematic clean-up of both the government and the Roman Catholic institutions in place within its borders, resolving – as far as they could – internal religious and ethnic conflicts within Philippine borders, and hard-handed justice levied against the criminal elements within the Filipino underworld, Netsach put the Philippines solidly on the road to recovery in less than thirty years. Furthermore, Netsach’s presence in the Philippines saved the country from suffering heavily during the Darkest Vigil. Now, in the year 2066, the Republic of the Philippines is a major player in world politics, noted for its warm reception of supernatural communities in general. Some writers, in fact, have taken to calling the tiny country a “new Eden” for supernaturals.

The Philippines still has a few crises of their own looming on their horizons. Discrimination against the Islamic community – supernatural and human alike – remains high, and although diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China continue to swing towards cool/barely cordial and almost hostile. Nevertheless, for the moment, things are looking up for them. It will likely remain that way unless something incredibly terrible happens.

METRO MANILA

Metro Manila has come a long way from the haphazardly planned, congested and terribly polluted city that a few foreigners have referred to as "the Gates of Hell". It is, in the world of Waking the Dead, one of the most beautiful cities in existence, and a go-to destination - especially if you happen to be supernatural.

The entirety of the metropolis has been re-planned, and features state-of-the-art technology and public facilities. Areas that had traditionally been historical landmarks - like Intramuros - have been restored to perfection, just as they had been before corruption, neglect and the ravages of time ruined them.

Players who are familiar with the Metro Manila of today are free to assume that generally, locations have not switched places. You're also free to make up completely new places - it's supposed to be 2066, after all.

THE FALNER ESTATE

The Falner Estate is the main headquarters of Netsach. It is a sprawling, beautiful, 400-hectare co-located space between Britain, Germany, and the Philippines, although the weather within the Estate grounds is almost always temperate and pleasant. The flora and fauna in the area gives both a sense of familiarity as it looks at first glance like things you’ll find on Earth, and a weird sense of otherworldliness. Given the size of the place, the Estate is less of a compound and more like a town unto itself. The older buildings within the estate are gothic in their construction, and clear throwbacks to 19th Century Europe. The newer facilities, however, sport cutting edge contemporary designs that were clearly inspired by Fourth World architecture and technology.

Getting to the Estate is easy; getting in is a matter of gaining clearance with the Arcanum, which often means that one has to be “invited” unto the grounds. Most folks won’t ever be able to enter Falner even if they’re right at the Main Gates of the Estate, and intruders will often find themselves staring down the barrels of several mechs that seemed to pop out of nowhere. If you’re welcome on the grounds, though, the best way to travel around is by using one’s own vehicle (or mount, depending on your inclinations), or by hitching a ride on the hover trams that roam around the entire grounds.

A character who is a Netsach Hunter will always, for whatever reason, end up at the Estate, or may find themselves living or training there. Furthermore, all characters in Waking the Dead are going to find themselves in the Falner Estate by merit of being stationed there, as representatives of their respective compacts and conspiracies. As such, this link goes into what the place has to offer.