Greetings, Dan here!

In Beneath Twisted Earth one of the primary choices your squadron will make is what employers you will work for. The various factions that offer contracts tend to come in two flavors. The first is an Ark Faction engaged in the never ending power struggle of the Coolant Wars, and the second are those factions that are enemies of the Arks themselves. Today we will be taking a look at one of each featured in BTE Overdrive: The Nephilim Foundation, and The Venusian Vanguard Fleet.

Nephilim Foundation

“Vigilance in Obscurity”

When humanity fell, the shadows that it feared in the night did not fall as well. Originally an Old World secret society, The Nephilim Foundation is an elusive, and enigmatic organization set apart from the power struggles of the arks. Funded through unknown means, the foundation concerns itself with its sole market of interest, the anomalous. This organization is dedicated to tracking, cataloging, and defending remnants against the threats posed by anything paranormal. Whether the objects of their fascination are truly supernatural is largely irrelevant to the other ark powers. The Nephilim Foundation keep to themselves as much as possible, only appearing when they deem absolutely necessary, and in such rare instances wielding enough power to challenge even megacorp security forces. To get involved with the foundation is to become a player in a deadly game that the informed among the ark powers would much rather avoid.

Notes: Since one of the goals of Overdrive was to introduce supernatural elements to BTE for those wanting to add the fantastic, there needed to be a faction fully steeped in those aspects. The Nephilim Foundation is that focal point. One part Nerv from Evangelion, and another part SCP Foundation, they are much like the DoD in that they are risky to become involved with. While one the one had they grant access to unique equipment available only through them, they are also an organization that once you are their target they will do everything in their power to control you or destroy you.

Venusian Vanguard Fleet

“Earth is our Birthright”

When humanity fell, it only did so on Earth. Prior to the planet’s environment twisting, humanity had colonized its surrounding celestial bodies. As ecological collapse took place, support from home grew thinner and thinner until the ablation cascade took place, cutting Earth off entirely from the rest of the solar system. While this led to the gradual death of most colonies, the humans that had settled Venus endured. Through determination, ingenuity, and brilliance, the Venusians survived their abandonment. Unlike the Remnants, the Venusians did not pursue post-human technology, instead remaining bodily human. These natural born humans would found a Hegemony to focus all efforts towards the advancement of Venus. Through this focus, they were able to reach the stars again, reclaiming Earth’s lost colonies. Now, welding technology more advanced than any in the arks, the Hegemony dispatched a Vanguard Fleet to the Twisted Earth to prepare a way for the Venusians to reclaim their birth world. Hailing from an authoritarian state, fleet command has little interest in bartering with the ark powers. They will either collaborate or be eradicated. Indeed, the Venusians see themselves as entirely apart from their post-human cousins, holding little mercy for those they no longer deem as the same species.

Notes: The Venusians fill a couple of roles in BTE, first they fill the space invaders trope from mecha fiction, but they also provide a look at an alternative future for humans in the setting. Fans of the Gundam franchise will also see the similarities with Zeon and ZAFT. The Vanguard Fleet at a military run armada that is unquestionably an enemy of the arks. They are technologically superior and seek to subjugate the remnants. Yet, since they are human, they are not as enigmatic as the Mesozoins, providing for more roleplaying and storyline-building opportunities.

As mentioned previously, Beneath Twisted Earth: Overdrive will feature eight new factions, each covering a new trope/niche not covered in the base game to help GMs enrich their campaign with new worldbuilding opportunities. We have one more preview that I'd like to visit for the expansion before we wrap up this series. Next time we will take a look at some of the new adversaries that will be included in the expansion. Until then, thank you for your interest, and I look forward to seeing you are the launch of The Beneath Twisted Earth Premium Versions and Beneath Twisted Earth: Overdrive!