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➥WHAT HAPPENS ON ARRIVAL | ➥ORIENTATION | ➥LIES PROGRAM | ➥CITY MAPS
➥WHERE CAN THEY GO
For this can be said of people in general: that they are ungrateful, fickle, hypocrites and dissemblers, avoiders of dangers, greedy for gain; and while you benefit them, they are entirely yours. Offering you their blood, their goods, their life, their children... when need is far off, but when you actually become needy, they turn away.
The lights flicker, and you're alone in a room with no recollection of how you got there. Two shut doors stand in front of you; "left" is painted at the center in red on one door and "right" on the door beside it. Below each word, in the same red paint, is a different passage. Once you've read both, the locks will click open, and you may choose one: Left or Right.
Step on through to the other side.
Welcome to the city of Duplicity, population three million and growing. Split horizontally through the middle, half of Duplicity's residents live in towering skyscrapers of glass and metal and the others below the ground in a squalid, subterranean city crumbling to decay before their very eyes. Depending on the chosen door, left or right, you'll come out into one of these two sides. The former lacks for nothing, and the latter wants for everything. Society functions on a Dominant and Submissive rule. You are one or the other.
Welcomed equally by the people behind the doors, you'll be given matching accommodations and the same information:
LIEs, a program created a few decades ago to bring in new people, has been largely unsuccessful. The creator of the program was given the task of finding alternate humans that did not carry the deceit gene and bring them to Duplicity to make the city better. People keep arriving, but these alternate humans have yet to be found. Not to be discouraged, the creator put the program on auto-pilot and vanished, leaving the doors to reset every month and new arrivals to come in.
The creator has since returned and taken control of the city but has allowed the program to continue on auto-pilot for the time being.
DUPLICITY is a panfandom dystopian sex game that centers around negative traits, power imbalances, and the outcome of succumbing to darker urges. Bad behavior is encouraged; events will touch on kink, horror, science fiction, game plot, and slice of life tossed in when needed.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR CHARACTER ARRIVES
After choosing a door and stepping through to the other side, the first thing that greets them are the enthusiastic faces of people in medical scrubs and pristine lab coats. Their enthusiasm translates to eagerness as they strip your character of their clothes to perform a very thorough examination in which their height, weight, age, true name, and all other pertinent information are recorded. Characters who are aggressive or uncooperative on arrival may be sedated. At the end of the examination, they will be provided with the time and location of Orientation, as well as a device that gives them access to the network, and sent on their way in nothing but a paper gown.
Those who arrive in the Up are Dominants and will be picked up by a limo after processing and taken to their new apartment in the high-rise building reserved for members of the LIEs program. Those who arrive in the Down are Submissives and will be directed to take public transportation to the motel where they will be living — two to a room. In both cases, their clothes and other belongings await.
They will have some free time before Orientation, but participation is
mandatory for everyone in the program.
ORIENTATION
Orientation is where new arrivals will learn the rules of the LIEs program, as well as their role in Duplicity society, and have a chance to mingle with their fellow LIERs. The basic information they will learn includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- They must engage in sexual activity at least three times a month and check in at the Orientation Center in the Up once a month to report making their quota.
- They have three months to find their first partner and sign a contract.
- Only contracted Dominants/Submissives may live together.
- LIERs must have their devices on their person when out in public; this is for their safety, of course. Additionally they will not be able to pass the checkpoint between the Up and the Down if they do not have their device with them.
- LIERs are expected to adhere to the Duplicity rules of society when out in public; this includes Dominants pairing up with Submissives, not other Dominants.
For some examples of the workshops and seminars that make up the rest of Orientation, check out our
static arrival post. Attending Orientation as described in the TDM is IC-ly considered mandatory. This gives everyone a chance to play with TDM prompts and interact with new characters on TDM posts if they want to. Players who decide not to engage with any particular set of TDM prompts can simply handwave their characters' attendance and participation!
LIES PROGRAM
The stated goal of the LIEs program is to find alternate humans who do not possess the deceit gene. Their reasons and methodology for doing so are largely unclear. What is known is this: The devices characters are given monitor their sexual activity and send the data back to the computer system. Characters must be monitored for one year before they are released from the program, which is how long it takes to discern if they have the gene or not. During that time, characters must be sexually active as this boosts the system's ability to track the gene; sexual activity must be steady. This is why the monthly quota is necessary.
WHERE ARE THEY
Duplicity is situated on a large island. The aboveground portion of the city occupies about 20 square miles, but the urban area does not take up the entirety of the island. As for where the island is located… Very little information is available, but the stars and constellations visible in the night sky are different from any seen on Earth or any other known world.
WHAT IS THE CITY LIKE
Duplicity is a bustling city that is analogous in some ways to cities in present-day US or Canada and, in other ways, quite different. It has restaurants, shops of all kinds, cultural attractions such as museums and theaters, and much more. Animal life is what you can generally expect in an urban environment — rats, pigeons, squirrels, etc. More detailed information about animals found in Duplicity is located
here.
There are two halves to the city — the Up and the Down. The Up is bordered on one side by the ocean and has a natural stretch of beach that characters can freely access. The beach is not maintained in any way by the locals, so there are no umbrella rental stands or the like. Rumor is it's haunted. Hmm… There are some small wooded areas surrounding the city as well. The Down is located directly
beneath the Up and can be accessed via the central elevator, the train, or the cave system. Because of its underground location, the Down gets no natural sunlight (though it does have artificial lighting) and does not have its own weather, though it gets runoff from the Up when it rains or snows. It's a very damp and stuffy place.
(click for full size images, or right-click to open them in a new window/tab)
NOTABLE LOCATIONS
1. Public Housing 2. North Park 3. Up Jail 4. People Zoo 5. South Park 6. Obelisk 7. SLUT Center 8. Orientation Building 9. Fiddler's Square 10. Riddler's Square
WHERE CAN CHARACTERS GO
Anywhere on the
Locations page! This covers major landmarks, mod-created locations, and player-run businesses. Players are also welcome to make up or handwave the existence of NPC-run businesses that would be common in a large city, such as restaurants, stores, laundromats, office buildings, etc. During events, characters may end up in previously unrevealed locations within the city, as well as areas outside of it, but these will only become permanently accessible if they are added to the Locations page. Otherwise, if a character tries to return to an event-specific location they will be stopped or redirected. Characters that can fly simply won't see areas that are inaccessible or haven't been introduced yet.
CAN CHARACTERS LEAVE
In short, no. Characters are released from the LIEs program after a year, but will remain in the city post-graduation and must continue to act as members of Duplicity society. Though LIERs may disappear from time to time, this is considered a glitch in the program. There is no known method for controlling it.
There are roads out of the city, but characters will be stopped at the city limits and turned back.
If they try to leave by water, either swimming or in a boat, they will always end up back at shore. In a similar fashion, characters will be returned to the city if they try to fly too high or too far from it.
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➥UP & DOWN | ➥CLIMATE | ➥SUB MARKS | ➥BRACELETS & COLLARS | ➥DEVICE | ➥DUAL-CAM | ➥TRANSPORTATION | ➥JOBS | ➥MULTIPLE BUSINESSES
➥MEDICAL CARE | ➥MEDIA | ➥ANIMALS | ➥NPCS | ➥SIN GUARDS
WHERE DO CHARACTERS LIVE
When characters first arrive, they are provided with housing by LIEs and the city. For Dominants this is a 2 bed/2 bath apartment in a high-rise building in the Up. Characters living there have access to room service and maid service, 24/7, free of charge. For Submissives, this is a dorm-style room with two beds in the Down public housing motel, often shared with another Submissive. Bathrooms are shared and meals are provided in a cafeteria on the first floor between 8am and 8pm.
- New Dominants live in the Up public housing until they make other arrangements.
- New Submissives live in Down public housing (two to a room!) until they contract with a Dominant that allows them to move in or until their Dominant gets them their own place.
- Dominants may not live with other Dominants / Submissives may not live with other Submissives (unless they have the same Dominant.)
- Contracted pairs may not live with other contracted pairs.
Dominants can rent or purchase private housing for themselves or a Submissive with sufficient time (3 months in game minimum) and funding. Private housing can also be inherited from a dropped character or awarded in a game event.
All public and private housing is listed on the
Housing page and the
Asset Requirements page provides guidelines for obtaining private housing.
THE UP
The Up is beautiful and clean. Everything is nicer, but also more expensive. It's relatively safe in the sense that characters are unlikely to get mugged or have their homes broken into, however the trade-off is that LIEs has a very strong presence and influence here. Crime may be low, but surveillance is high and SIN Guards patrol regularly.
The heart of the city is filled with light and skyscrapers, state of the art technology, and world class entertainment, often with a Duplicity twist. The suburbs offer a quieter, quainter taste of life for those who don't enjoy being in the thick of the action.
THE DOWN
The Down is dirty and badly maintained. It has been reclaimed almost entirely by the gangs. Territory is split among the Rubies, the Bulldogs, and the Swallows, with a small neutral zone encapsulating the elevator, LIEs HQ, and the public housing for those in the LIEs program. It's considered a lawless district otherwise and crime is through the roof. Characters living in gang territory are expected to pay protection money and those who don't pay up - or otherwise run afoul of the gangs - may experience some nasty consequences.
There are few buildings taller than five stories in the Down, and although there is artificial lighting, many stretches of broken road lie in darkness. The edges of the populated districts are composed of dank buildings cut directly into bedrock. Pools of fetid runoff collect in the lowest spots and never fully evaporate.
CLIMATE & WEATHER
In the Up, the climate of Duplicity is much like the middle of the Eastern Seaboard of the US with average summer highs in the low to mid 90s F / 30s C and winter lows in the upper 20s to mid 30s F / -10 to 2 C. Humidity is most pronounced near the coast.
Spring and fall are the rainy seasons with the potential for flooding both in the Up and the Down. Occasional strange weather phenomena can cause other effects such as extreme heat waves, deep freezes, and precipitation that can affect mood and mental status.
The Down runs around 10 degrees warmer than the Up at all times with high humidity making for a much more miserable experience of the highs or lows. Being fully enclosed, the Down doesn't have its own weather. It is, however, prone to flooding after any heavy rains and can also freeze.
SUBMISSIVE MARKS
On arrival, Submissives are marked with a thin black line running from just under their chin to the middle of their breastbone that cannot be removed, magicked, covered with makeup, or in any way concealed. If they wear clothing which covers the mark, such as a scarf, they must be willing to remove or pull it out of the way whenever they are requested to do so. Embellishments, such as tattoos, are allowed as long as they do not alter the appearance of the mark itself — changes that would render the mark unrecognizable simply won't stick.
Likewise it is impossible to replicate the Submissive mark on someone who does not have one, whether by conventional means (such as painting or tattooing), or magical ones. A false Submissive mark will never look quite right and NPCs will not be fooled by it.
Attempting to hide one's Submissive mark may invite consequences from the city, such as a citation. The same goes for giving a Dominant a false mark.
BRACELETS & COLLARS
As of August 24, 2023, all Dominants and Submissives, regardless of contract status and without exception, are required to wear bracelets or collars in public according to their designation. These must be obviously bracelets and collars, not watches or necklaces, and should be easy to display if not readily visible due to clothing if confronted by a SIN Guard or other city authority in the Up or gang members in the Down.
Uncontracted Dominants may only wear a plain, city-issued black pleather bracelet. Uncontracted Submissives may only wear a plain, city-issued black pleather collar. The simplicity makes their contract status known at a glance. Contracted Dominants and Submissives may opt for fancier designs (which may be linked somewhere on their profile at player discretion).
Any character caught without their proper adornment in the Up will be subject to a fine for the first offense and progressively harsher punishments over time. Only in Bulldog territory in the Down is it likely a character won't face some form of harassment or consequence for not displaying the proper attire. In fact, wear a collar or bracelet in Bulldog territory, and you're asking for an ass beating or worse.
TECHNOLOGY / COMMUNICATION
The
foldable device allows characters to access the network. Characters can post as themselves, hack other devices to post as one another (please communicate before doing this), or post anonymously. The devices allow for video, text, and audio communication.
Each post shows the character's picture, name, and network handle and players should especially take care to include this information if it doesn't match what the journal would imply. This makes it easier for players tagging in to know who they're talking to. Characters may also post to only one part of the city if desired — please mark posts locked to the Up or Down accordingly — or send private messages to one another.
The device is more durable than the average smartphone and very difficult, though not impossible, to break. If lost or broken, characters can get a replacement from LIEs. It does, after all, serve a dual purpose in tracking characters' sexual activity and their locations within the city.
DEVICE APPS
- Dom/Sub Finder - This is a matchmaking app for pairing Dominants and Submissives. Every other month, characters' profiles are uploaded to the network.
- Fibber - This app pops up on characters' devices from time to time and cannot be uninstalled. Have you ever wanted your phone hacked? Have you ever hoped that your personal photos (pets, selfies, friends, families, nsfw pics and more) would be shared with strangers, acquaintances, or those closest to you without your permission? Welcome to Fibber.
- Honeypot - The newly-added Honeypot app will automatically find people of the proper designation within a five mile radius of your character and send them random icebreaker questions (player's choice.) They will also receive an accurate photo of the user of the app and can decide if they're interested in talking. You can assume the app is always active on your character's device and reach out to random IC inboxes. Like most tech in Duplicity, the app can occasionally glitch and reach out to someone of the wrong designation.
- SWINGER - This is the app that gets scanned when passing through Up/Down border checkpoints. Characters who travel between the zones must, if they are going to be gone longer than originally stated, 'check in' and update their status on SWINGER.
- Quickie - The Quickie app is a sort of fastpass for citizens of Duplicity (including graduated LIERs) to cut through some of the hassle of otherwise time-consuming processes. It can be used to 'check in' remotely when moving between the Up and Down instead of standing in line at a checkpoint and it can also be used to 'check in' for quota. Only citizens in good standing (i.e. those who regularly make quota and have no record of citations within the last six months) have access to it. Access can be revoked if a character misbehaves.
More information on SWINGER and Quickie can be found in
this post.
DUAL-CAM
Dualcam.com is a cam site featuring identical clones of all LIERs livestreaming erotic performances for anyone to watch. Every player character in Duplicity has an onscreen copy and the clones strongly exhibit each character's negative trait. Their performance can only be stopped by characters making a public video of their own and admitting, on camera, what their worst trait is. Characters may become aware of this through word of mouth.
The clones won't leave their cam studio and cannot be interacted with in person. It is not possible to locate the studio and confront them. Likewise, while they may take requests on stream for certain sex acts or to have sex with other Dual-cam clones, they can't be conversed with as if they were the character that they look like.
When characters leave Duplicity (either dropped or swept), their copies disappear. If characters re-app, their copy comes back with them — even if it was previously stopped or killed! While the clone is active, characters will receive a small stipend which has been 'earned' by their clone. The amount is not enough for characters to get rich, but will help to supplement their income.
TRANSPORTATION
Duplicity has several options for public transportation. The main one is the train, which makes stops in both the Up and the Down. Characters are given a train tour when they first arrive. There are also cable cars in the Up and buses and taxi services operating in both halves of the city — though the ones in the Down are much sketchier.
At the center of Duplicity is an enclosed elevator that makes trips every half hour. It stops in either the Up or the Down, loads passengers, and makes a ten minute trip the opposite direction. This service is free to all citizens.
Personal vehicles, such as cars and motorcycles, are also available for those with enough funds. In some ways they're less convenient than public transportation, as it's not possible to drive or transport vehicles between the Up and the Down. They're considered a luxury, so not as many people have them — especially in the Down. The streets in the Down are narrow and twisty and badly maintained, and theft is a major concern.
Note that characters
must scan their device at the border checkpoint at the elevator or train station when they move between the Up/Down. Scanning the device logs how long they have been out of the zone of their residence. If this time deviates greatly from the time they declared they would be gone for, they may end up questioned or detained by checkpoint guards. For characters who travel by alternate means, such as the tunnels or teleporting, they have a half hour window to 'check in' at the checkpoint office before the gangs in the Down or the SIN Guards in the Up take notice and begin to track them down.
JOBS AND MONEY
Duplicity currency is analogous to $USD, though of course it doesn't look the same. Cash, credit, digital payment apps all exist.
While characters new to the city have the basics of housing and food covered by the LIEs program and may receive some passive income from their Dual-cam clone, they will need a job if they want to do more than scrape by. Luckily, there's plenty of work available in both the Up and the Down! Positions for Submissives are low authority and minimum wage. For any job that is in a nicer place or has higher authority, the Submissive would need a Dominant to vouch for them; get them the job, check in, and take responsibility. Dominants can find a good job easily and work their way up quickly. Players can take initiative with careers or handwave that their character has one.
- Characters are welcome to start their own businesses in Duplicity, though it will take time and money — which they will have to earn. Please understand that this is a dystopian society and these things will not come easy to them, especially if they are marked Submissive.
- A small side gig or business that doesn't require a storefront, such as walking dogs or selling drugs, can be started at any time. Businesses with a physical location must follow certain guidelines and be submitted to the Feedback/Player Request for mod approval.
- See the Asset Requirements page for more information on starting a business.
- Characters can have a maximum of four businesses — including co-ownership, silent partnership, and business mergers — after two years in game.
- Players may handwave their characters getting hired at any normal NPC-run job; if you'd like to apply at one of the player-owned businesses, please contact the owner listed on the Location page.
- Submissives must have permission from a Dominant to work. If they are uncontracted, this can be from any Dominant including their prospective employer. However, uncontracted Submissives cannot legally make purchases. They will not be able to spend any money that they earn and will need to ask a Dominant to make purchases on their behalf. A Submissive in a contract can only spend money if they have written permission from their Dominant as part of their contract.
- Personal trainer? Radio? Modeling? — these are all available to your character as jobs! Work your way up, start your own side gig! Just keep in mind they won't get rich or famous overnight.
- Joining the SIN Guards or one of the gangs that run the Down are also possibilities. Inquire on the Feedback/Player Request page if interested!
- Native NPCs are generally distrustful of LIERs, so bear in mind that some career paths may be more challenging or limited.
ACQUIRING MULTIPLE BUSINESSES
Players of characters who are technically eligible to own multiple assets should wait 2 months between requests! This is to remain in line with the urban dystopian setting and helps us moderate how many businesses a single character can acquire at a time. Our hope is that this will also allow newer characters and players more opportunities to own businesses. Let's keep the game fair to other players!
HEALTH / MEDICAL NEEDS
LIEs will provide for characters' basic medical needs, including things like glasses, prosthetics, synthetic blood, supplements, etc. If they are a Dominant, it will be the top of the line care while Submissives get the bare minimum. There are clinics and hospitals in both the Up and the Down, though the ones in the Up are better. There are no STIs in Duplicity — should your character arrive with one, they'll be cured.
CULTURE & MEDIA
Duplicity has its own books, movies/tv, games, and other fictional media that can be similar to ones that characters may be familiar with — but not an exact match — or very different. Of course, all characters within Duplicity media adhere to the Dom/Sub system as well. As for music on the radio, it's mostly local tunes, but some songs
may sound similar to ones LIERs have heard before, only a little bit off somehow, either by a few notes or words. Characters will not have access to media from home unless they brought it with them, someone else brought it and left it behind, or they are granted it as an event reward.
As far as non-fictional media goes, it is available for some subjects, but there are no books, documentaries, etc. on the history of Duplicity.
Duplicity does have officially sanctioned press, in the form of tv/internet/radio broadcasts and printed newspapers. The newspapers are more tabloid-esque in nature and are very raunchy. There are also classifieds for odd jobs. Everything has a lewd spin to it, for the most part — even in serious news the writers can't help but throw in inappropriate puns. The media is very pro-Creator, unsurprisingly, but there are some independent journalists who are more objective in nature.
ANIMAL LIFE
The urban and suburban areas of Duplicity are populated with the types of animals one might expect to find in a city, such as pigeons and other small birds, squirrels, rats, raccoons, possums, and so on. There are also domestic animals like cats, dogs, hamsters, small reptiles, etc. that can be bought from stores or adopted from a shelter and a stable for renting or boarding horses. Despite the availability of meat such as chicken, beef, and pork, there are no livestock around.
In the woods bordering Duplicity, there is mostly small game to be found. For example: squirrels, chipmunks, mice, rabbits, hedgehogs, raccoons, frogs and toads, small songbirds, crows, hawks, owls, small lizards and nonvenomous snakes. There are no large predators or large prey animals.
Along the beach there are seagulls and crabs and in the ocean itself there are a variety of seemingly normal coastal fish, small squid and octopi, jellyfish, and molluscs. Less commonly, it's possible to encounter fish with unusual properties such as sting rays that may cause dizziness and a lack of inhibitions with their sting or starfish that amplify emotions when touched. There don't seem to be any large sea mammals.
In the caves there are bats, bugs, snails, salamanders, toads, fish and crustaceans. Some of these may have
mild effects if characters come in contact with them.
Duplicity does have some native cryptids as well. Many of these appear during events and won't be seen again otherwise, but some are a recurring or regular part of the setting and will be listed below:
The Kraken - This massive tentacled monstrosity lurks in the deep water off Duplicity's coast and is rarely spotted. It can only be encountered through game events or, in some cases, player plots involving the ocean.
Sewer Tentacle Beasts - These slippery beasts perform a vital function in Duplicity's sewer treatment facilities. Occasionally some might get loose during a plot, but characters won't casually run into them.
Mistlefoes - These mischievous creatures pop up once a year to spread holiday chaos.
Bannies - Warm weather in late spring or early summer can bring out these bitey little bastards. Where they spend the rest of their time is anyone's guess.
NPC ATTITUDES TOWARD LIERS
As a general rule, native NPCs in Duplicity are not friendly towards or trusting of PC characters. They see LIEs participants as foreigners who do not embrace Duplicity's culture. Those who have been living in Duplicity long enough to become citizens (i.e. for more than one year), and have embraced the Dom/Sub lifestyle without being seen to subvert it in any way, will find the locals are more friendly. However, there are some areas in which they will remain distrustful and, while they may patronize PC businesses, they will never show strong enough support for any PC to claim wealth through the support of NPCs.
NPC CHILDREN
Children in Duplicity are considered sacred until their 15th birthday and can occasionally be seen in public but keep to themselves or their families. Natives have a distrust for LIERs around their children and they are raised not to interact with outsiders. There are schools and shops that cater to children that are native-run. However, no LIER is allowed on the property of said schools.
With regard to the orphanage supported by Lay on Hands Interfaith Ministries in the Down, Duplicity officials still oversee its care. Those who are not native to Duplicity are not allowed to interact with the children beyond providing basic care (such as providing/cooking meals, volunteering to do menial chores such as laundry, etc.) They are, however, allowed to sponsor children monetarily. Adoptions are not allowed for any individual who has gone through the LIEs program, regardless of whether they've graduated or not.
Note: Characters are not allowed to play with NPC children in the setting in a direct capacity.
If you thread your character interacting with an NPC child, you will receive an official mod warning.
SIN GUARDS
SIN Guards are separate from the regular Duplicity police force. They were introduced to the city following the Creator's return and their job is to enforce the increasingly strict laws governing Dominant and Submissive behavior and root out deviance. They have the authority to issue citations and/or arrest characters who break these laws. Before the Rubies allied with the other gangs to oust them from the Down, they patrolled the entire city. Now, save for a few stationed at LIEs Headquarters in the Down, they're limited to the Up — which for a time meant they were just more concentrated. Since the Veracity Incident, this has changed with resignations and firings at an all-time high. SIN finds themselves stretched thin and stressed out, which makes enforcement more brutal and some guards trigger-happy.
They are equipped with power-nullification weapons in addition to firearms, tasers, nightsticks, and handcuffs and will subdue uncooperative characters by any means necessary.
It is possible for player characters to become SIN Guards — if this is something you're interested in, let us know by commenting to the Player Request/Feedback Page!
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➥APPABLE CHARACTERS | ➥POWER NERFS | ➥RE-APPS | ➥# OF CHARACTERS PER PLAYER
➥CANON UPDATE | ➥HIATUS | ➥DEATHS & DROPS | ➥ACTIVITY | ➥EVENTS
➥PLAYER PLOTS | ➥GODMODDING, INFOMODDING, & SELF-CEST | ➥MOD SCHEDULE & CONTACT
APPLICATIONS AND RESERVES
Applications are open on a monthly cycle. Please check the Calendar for reserve and application dates. Reserves are not required. Apps are not capped, but casts are capped at 15. Be sure to check the Taken list before reserving or applying.
TEST DRIVE MEME
The Test Drive Meme is posted every other month; each one covers two app cycles. There will be a note at the bottom assigning character designations based on requirements which change with each TDM.
On an IC level, characters will still have gone through the doors but the assignments are OOCly randomized. When applying, there is a section of the application that denotes whether the character chose "left" or "right." For those participating on the TDM, there will be a third option. Players may link either a top level or a thread (five or more comments from their character) from the TDM and title the link as "Door Pass." This means that the player is choosing to take the designation that they were randomly assigned on the TDM, rather than seeing what they get by picking a door. If the player decides not to use the pass and selects one of the doors instead, then they are trying their luck; they may get the same designation they had on the TDM or the opposite. Once the application is submitted, players can't change their choice.
TDM threads can be used for AC and follow the same rules for comment count as regular network or log threads. While top leveling on the TDM is reserved for prospective players/characters trying out the game, players already in game are welcome to use TDM prompts for their own logs.
APPABLE CHARACTERS
Canon, original, CRAU, canon AUs, and malleable protagonists*.
(*We are placing a limit on the WoL from FFXIV - only one WoL is allowed in game at a time. We may limit other malleable protagonists at our discretion.)
Not Allowed: Fandom OCs and fanon AUs. You also may not play more than one character per canon.
CHARACTER AGES
Characters of ages fifteen and up are allowed; they must be at least fifteen both mentally and physically, but not necessarily chronologically. If a character is, for example, a robot or clone that has only existed for a short time, or they belong to a species that ages differently from humans, they would be appable as long as they are both physically and mentally 'of age.' If you're unsure whether a particular character would be allowed, please ask!
All sexual conduct (discussions of sex and actual sex) with anyone underage must be labeled as such. Sexual interactions with NPCs are allowed and up to player discretion. We trust you to use your discretion on this. Failure to use opt outs and content warnings will result in an official mod warning.
HUMANIZATION
This is not required and we encourage players to keep characters as they are. The one exception would be characters that are too large to fit in the game setting and couldn't interact as fully as others might. Those characters can be altered to fit into the setting.
POWER NERFS
Powers generally only need to be nerfed if they are game-breaking. Depending on the power in question, it will either be toned down upon arrival in Duplicity or, if necessary, removed entirely. If you suspect a power will need to be nerfed, you can include suggestions for doing so when filling out the powers and abilities section of the application. We'll let you know if anything additional is required!
Some examples of powers that would require nerfing include time travel, interdimensional travel, and abilities that could destroy the entire city or kill large amounts of people at once. Powers that affect other characters — such as mind control or charm spells, telepathy, empathy, and so on — may or may not require nerfing, but will always require an opt-in permissions post.
For questions about a specific power, please ask here or on the Feedback/Player Request page!
INVENTORY
Each character is allowed three items from home when they arrive. Worn clothing/armor does not count toward your character's three items. Small pets/daemons are allowed as long as they are not themselves sentient enough to be considered their own character; cars/ships are not. Weapons are also allowed, but nothing game-breaking and additional ammunition for bows/crossbows/firearms counts for a separate slot. The item limit cannot be side-stepped with a bag of holding or hammerspace abilities.
NEGATIVE & POSITIVE TRAITS
On our application we ask you to outline your character's personality with one positive and three negative traits. Please choose carefully, as these traits can play a role in game events in which they are twisted or amplified.
It is possible to change your character's top negative trait when canon updating. You'll just need to give us a quick rundown on why you believe it has changed. You can do the same outside of a canon update by submitting a comment to the Player Request/Feedback Page explaining how their top negative trait has been altered by their time in game.
RE-APPING A CHARACTER
Characters previously in game:
- will retain their previous designation, but are free to play with different Dom/Sub dynamics on the TDM just for fun
- will lose any 'citizenship' that they received by previously having been in game over a year
- may retain previous Duplicity memories; please include them in the application if this is what you'd like for your character
Regarding game memories, characters who are dropped and re-apped would not have remembered Duplicity while at home. They will only regain those memories once they are brought back to Duplicity and it may take a few days (up to a week) for the memories to fully return.
Re-apps can include a canon update. You may also re-app a character and bring them from an earlier canon point but, in this case, they will not be able to keep their previous Duplicity memories.
NUMBER OF CHARACTERS ALLOWED PER PLAYER
Each player may have up to two characters to start and can app them in during the same round. To app a third character, a player must submit two regular proofs of activity plus two extra proofs for each character they already play. The proofs must be either in-game threads or from the Test Drive Meme and must meet regular AC levels from the previous AC round only (i.e. to app a third character in January, a player must have double AC for December).
To add a fourth character, the above requirements must be met, plus all three other characters must have been in game for at least six months.
NEW / ONGOING CANONS
New canons must be out for at least one month to be appable. Material from ongoing canons must be out for at least seven days to be appable or submitted for a canon update. Please warn players for spoilers if necessary.
CANON UPDATE
All canon updates must be submitted here for approval. Similar to a hiatus, characters will be asleep and wake with the new changes. Physical changes such as aging, new scars, etc. will be present when they wake, but their clothes will not change and they will not bring any items with them from home.
HIATUS
Taking a hiatus is only necessary if a player is going to be inactive in the game for longer than two weeks, but it can be done at any time before activity check. Players will be excused from providing AC for the month but will still need to comment on the activity post to check-in. Characters may either go on auto-pilot or fall asleep for the duration. Comment to the Hiatus page if you're going to be unavailable or inactive.
Please note that hiatuses cover one month and may only be taken once every four months. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis — if you have an emergency, contact the mods prior to activity check being posted and we will work with you!
DEATHS AND DROPS
When a character dies their death is "permanent." Players will be allowed to bring their character in again during the next application round and repeat the entire arrival process. Their memories will come back after they've been in the setting again for a week. Players don't have to actually re-apply, but please do contact the mods to let us know your character died. Some events will have special "event death rules" which provide an exception to the standard rule — typically in the case of prompts that encourage character death. If special rules are in effect, this will be made clear in the event OOC post.
Deaths can be combined with a canon update.
When a character is dropped officially it is said ICly that the program glitched and they were taken back. It's not known if this is true or not. If you drop, please utilize the Drop page. There is a section on the drop form for leaving assets such as houses or businesses to characters still in game.
MATURE CONTENT
Mature content is both allowed and encouraged, but must be labeled and specific content warnings included if appropriate.
PREGNANCY
Player characters are unable to become pregnant (or cause someone else to become pregnant) for the duration of their time in the setting, and characters who are already pregnant will arrive with the pregnancy on hold. Some event prompts may allow characters to mimic the state of pregnancy for kink purposes, but these would not be true pregnancies and any such effects will always be temporary.
LANGUAGE TRANSLATION
A great Duplicity mystery! No matter what language your character speaks, other characters can understand them — whether it is an Earth language or not. If two characters are speaking the same language, they will recognize that it's that certain language, and will be understood as such, but anyone overhearing them will be able to understand them as well. This also applies to written language, although characters who are illiterate will not automatically learn to read.
ACTIVITY CHECK
Activity check runs from the 5th to the 9th each month and closes at 11:59pm Eastern time on the 9th. For new characters, the first month is check-in only, and each month after will require two of the following in any combination:
- Five log comments from your character
- An open network or log post from your character
- Ten network comments from your character
- Fifteen private inbox comments from your character
TDM threads can be used; log style are five comments and network style are ten comments. Top levels on the Dom/Sub Finder can be considered an open network proof for AC purposes. If threads on a meme posted to ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
duplicitymemes can be used for AC, it will say so in the post.
Event, Open Log Top Levels, and Open Log Posts with multiple written prompts that are open to all are eligible to be used as a separate proof from the threads beneath it. For the post or Top Level to qualify for AC, there must be at least two written prompts that are open to all players. If there is only one written prompt + a wildcard option, the post or Top Level comment will not qualify for AC.
Please also note:
- We do not accept partial proofs to combine into one. AC proofs must be complete in order to count.
- Threads can be started during any month, but the activity submitted must be from the current month. Once a thread or post has been submitted, it can't be re-used for future activity checks.
- If you take a strike, you will need to supply regular AC plus one extra thread the following activity check. We reserve the right to request more proof of activity on a case-by-case basis.
- You may take one hiatus/strike every four months. For the purpose of AC, there is no difference between a hiatus and a strike. This applies per character, not per player. We will approach emergency situations, such as serious illness or a death in the family, on a case-by-case basis. If you have an emergency that affects your activity, please reach out to us prior to activity check!
AC PROOF QUALITY
Threads that are submitted as AC proofs should be of reasonable quality! We do not accept threads where multiple comments contain only a single word, and will request an additional proof. Toplevels or log prompts should be at least several sentences, and show some level of characterization on the player's part. We may ask for an alternative proof if we feel a proof is insufficient.
ACTIVITY SWEEPS
If you idle out of the game or your character is swept for any reason, the following applies:
- You must wait one full app cycle to re-app any character into the game.
- Your first activity check is a regular activity check, not a check-in, and you must make AC your first month back unless you have been out of the game with the character more than four months.
EVENTS & PLOTTING
Gamewide events are posted monthly. There will be an OOC post for players to plot with one another and ask event-specific questions several days before the event's IC 'start' date. When plotting for an event, please pay attention to the IC timeline. Check the Calendar to see when the next event plotting post is scheduled.
Events in the game are meant to put characters in positions that test them and push them toward bad behavior to help collect data on the deceit gene. Dominant and Submissive themes will be used to play on control issues and the gap between the two sets. There will often be sexualized events that play into this and darker elements may come up. Please communicate about your limits and comfort level and respect those of other players. We understand that not every kink or scenario will be desired, so opting-out is always an option. (While some plot heavy events may not be optional, we will never require you to thread anything that makes you uncomfortable.) Duplicity is, by no means, a true representation of real life D/s culture; please keep that in mind when exploring components of the game.
Duplicity is also a dystopian and strictly authoritarian setting. Characters may assimilate and become compliant or even complicit with the system, or they may be broken by it, but they cannot 'win' against it. This doesn't mean they can't fight it, but for every small victory there will be consequences.
If you have suggestions for events, or would like to conduct your own personal player plot, please contact the mods via the Feedback/Player Request page!
PLAYER PLOTS
All player plots require mod approval before taking place and should be submitted to the Feedback/Player Request page. Player plots are plots that affect large numbers of characters or the setting, make use of setting elements in a way outside of mod-run events or background information, or which involve a power level beyond what the character could normally achieve alone. Some examples would be:
- Making use of a game element outside of its ordinary intent;
- Significant NPC conflicts (e.g. killing groups of SIN Guards, getting into fights with the Rubies, 'defeating' NPC gangs);
- Investigations into the setting (note that we can't always promise meaningful answers);
- Developing their powers/abilities beyond what's seen in canon;
- Killing/maiming/assaulting multiple PCs;
- Causing widespread magical effects;
- Large-scale property destruction.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. If you are not sure whether something counts as a player plot, play it safe and ask! For more information on what kinds of player plots are likely to get approval, check out our Player Plot Guide.
NPC DEATHS
It is possible to kill NPCs, however we ask that you keep to a maximum of two NPC deaths or incapacitating injuries per thread. If this is something your character would be doing on an ongoing basis and/or in a manner that would draw attention, such as attacking people in a public place or targeting gang members or SIN Guards, you must submit a request on the Feedback/Player Request page so that limitations and consequences may be discussed. For hopefully obvious reasons, you may not kill important named NPCs such as the Creator.
GODMODDING, INFOMODDING, & SELF-CEST
Players should not godmod, infomod, or roleplay via self-cest.
- Godmodding includes any instance where a character affects or controls the actions of another character without that player's express permission.
- Infomodding includes any instance of players having their characters know or refer to things that they should not have IC knowledge of - including OOC plot elements about the game and NPCs, or details about other characters that have not been IC-ly communicated.
- Self-cest includes instances of a single player having their own character interact with or refer to doing activities/having conversations with another character that they also play. Characters played by the same player may know of each other through other characters, but they should not interact directly or indirectly.
GAME & MOD SCHEDULE
The game runs on a 1:1 schedule with a 24hr day clock. All dates and times listed on the calendar, events, and other mod posts are Eastern Time.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
All game announcements are also linked via the ![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
duplicitymods plurk and our official game discord. You can check the Calendar for the dates of scheduled posts.
MOD CONTACT
General questions about the game can be asked on this page. For any questions or concerns you wish to address privately, please PM ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
duplicitymods or comment to the Feedback/Player Request page.
jump to:
➥DESIGNATION SWAP | ➥CONTRACT BASICS | ➥HOW MANY SUBS PER DOM
➥LIVING ARRANGEMENTS | ➥PERMANENT CONTRACTS | ➥DISSOLVING A CONTRACT
➥IF CONTRACT PARTNER DROPS
DOMINANTS AND SUBMISSIVES
Dominants are looked to as authority figures within Duplicity society and should conduct themselves with dignity and their heads held high. They are responsible for their Submissives in every way.
Submissives should be respectful and show deference to Dominants. They are meant to serve them, but also to be taken care of by them. It's a mutual relationship.
Bedroom preferences don't matter in private, but a Dominant should take care not to be put in a submissive position in public and likewise Submissives should not behave like Dominants.
Dominant/Submissive relationships (within or without the confines of a contract) are encouraged and considered the expected norm. Dominants can be friends or colleagues, but romantic or sexual relationships between two Dominants are both illegal and considered a cultural taboo. Submissive/Submissive relationships aren't taken seriously or viewed as being "real" relationships, but they are not illegal.
DESIGNATION SWAPS
Characters can only change their designation for one of the following reasons: an event occurs that allows it or there are OOC reasons that make it a necessity. Designation swaps are usually offered by events twice a year. All designation swaps require mod approval, and each character can only switch once so take the time to consider the pros & cons carefully before asking for one.
Characters that are being re-apped will always keep their previous designation once in game, but players can opt to play on the TDM with different designations for fun!
ICly, designation swaps are not recognized by the city. NPCs will treat characters as if they were always that designation.
CONTRACT BASICS
Characters have three months in-game to select a contract partner. Dominants can have more than one Submissive if they choose to, but Submissives may only have one Dominant. Characters do not have to have sex with their partner, as platonic or even familial contracts can exist, but sexual partnerships are encouraged. The arrangement isn't inherently sexually focused, however, so characters can and still should have sex with others — unless the terms of their contract state otherwise. The contract is binding for three months and, after that time is up, players have to submit a comment renewing the contract for another three months or start looking for a new partner.
COURT SYSTEM AND LEGAL PROCESS
The Up and the Down used to have connected but separate court systems, but following the gang takeover in the Down all legal matters are now handled in the Up. The courts there are clean and efficient — when processing contracts, anyway. They do seem to get mysteriously bogged down if characters try to dissolve them.
Both parties must be present for the signing of the contract. There are very standard boilerplate contracts they can sign, or they can write their own terms. They are also allowed, but not required, to consult a lawyer.
INCENTIVES TO CONTRACT
For Submissives, the incentives to sign a contract are clear: they may not make purchases without a contract, they may not live on their own outside of public housing without a contract, and they may not wander unescorted around the Up. Uncontracted Submissives have no rights.
Uncontracted Dominants will face social pressure in the form of judgment, discrimination, and harassment as their deadline approaches. If they have a native employer, they may find their hours are cut so they "have more time for what's important." They might be the subject of random apartment searches or even get dragged to Realignment.
Characters of either designation who fail to find a contract on time will be jailed until they do so.
HOW MANY SUBS ALLOWED PER DOM
Dominants may have as many Submissives as they are able to provide for. From an OOC standpoint, we set the upper limit at four. As a general guideline, going from one Submissive to two we're looking for confirmation that housing has been considered and everyone is in communication and okay with it. Going from two to three, we're looking for confirmation that a character can support three Submissives, that they're financially stable, and that everyone is in communication. Going up to four requires communication, sufficient housing, financial stability, an understanding on the part of the Submissives that they may not get the time and attention the city sets out as "deserved" for a good Submissive, and an understanding from the Dominant that the care of their Submissives needs to come before their own needs.
HOW CONTRACTS AFFECT HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS
Only contracted Dominants and Submissives may live together. A Dominant may not live with another Dominant under any circumstances, a Submissive may only live with another Submissive in assigned public housing or if they share the same Dominant, and a character of either designation may not live with anyone they do not have a contract with. A contracted Submissive has the option of living with their Dominant or in a separate property rented/bought for them by their Dominant.
As of August 24th, 2023, all contracted pairs are required to live at least half of each month directly with one another under the same roof. Any Dominant wishing to take on more than one Submissive will be required to live full time with at least one of their Submissives and will still be expected to open their home for half of the month to any of the others or visit them in their separate living quarters for that time. They can work the schedule out among themselves.
Occasional sleepovers with someone they aren't contracted to are permissible, especially if a Dominant and Submissive are "courting," but extended or frequent stays will get characters in trouble.
RESPONSIBILITIES
A Dominant has the responsibility to provide for their Submissive's needs. At a basic level, this includes food and shelter. They are also responsible for the actions of their Submissive. If their Submissive breaks something, they will have to fix or pay for it. If their Submissive hurts someone, they can be held accountable. A Dominant may be fined or otherwise punished for their Submissive's infractions because this is seen as a failure on their part to provide necessary guidance or discipline.
A Submissive has the responsibility to obey their Dominant and abide by the rules of their contract. They also have the responsibility to behave publicly in a manner that reflects well on their Dominant.
WHAT GOES IN A CONTRACT
There is a wide scope of what's allowed in a contract — essentially whatever the involved parties want. A strict Dominant might want a contract that stipulates jobs, living arrangements, punishments, sex, clothing a Sub can wear, what they can eat, where they can go, while some more permissive Dominants might want a contract that only states that the Submissive has to live with them. If they choose the latter then there is more room for a Submissive to misbehave without consequences, which is something that might appeal to certain players. A lawyer would know that it's better to be very firm in a contract, but that doesn't mean that every Dominant and Submissive will want to do that or get a good lawyer. If it's not air tight then there will be loopholes for characters to exploit!
If a Dominant and Submissive want the Dom to be able to add provisions to the contract after it's been signed then that would need to be in the contract to begin with. Maybe something that says they'll revisit the contract every Saturday to make sure nothing new needs to be added, but the basic setup would stay the same. If that stipulation wasn't in the contract, then it could only be amended if both sides agreed to it. Otherwise Submissives or Dominants might be taken advantage of. Submissives are allowed to have a say in the contract that binds them with their Dominant. It's an IC legal process that is OOCly handled by players, which is why communication is so important. You don't have to write out an actual contract for your characters (unless you want to) but you should discuss what they would or wouldn't include.
It is possible to have a contract that forces kink or the Dom/Sub lifestyle on characters that might not choose it for themselves. Contracts are written by people, so mistakes can be made. Paperwork can be forged or misfiled or lost and replaced by an intern who doesn't want to get into trouble. If there is a specific type of contract that a player wants, then there is a way to make it happen on an IC level. Keep in mind that Duplicity, as a whole, believes that the Dom/Sub contracts are something to be respected and held in a positive light. They won't openly force a contract that isn't what the characters want, which is why it needs to be something that a particularly naughty or incompetent NPC would make happen.
PERMANENT CONTRACTS
If a Dominant and their Submissive are serious, they can have a contract that is long-term. The minimum contract time is three months, but NPCs and PCs alike can choose to go for a longer time. The court system will require them to be more specific and have long-term and short-term clauses, like check-ins and planning for the future. Duplicity NPCs will also be more respectful towards partners with a long-term/permanent contract.
CONTRACTS & MARRIAGE
The concept of marriage is foreign to the city of Duplicity, but over the years, they've come to recognize the cultural significance it plays in other worlds. They agree that two Submissives contracted to the same Dominant can marry if the Dominant agrees; a Dominant may marry their Submissive(s), but two Dominants may not get married.
DISSOLVING CONTRACTS
Requests to dissolve a contract should be made by PM to the dupemods account.
Standard three month contracts can only be dissolved if there are OOC issues between the players. ICly, you are welcome to play out your characters attempting to dissolve their contracts, but due to various legal hurdles and complications, the amount of time it would take to dissolve the contract would be equal to the time remaining in their contract. LIEs really doesn't want these contracts to break up, you know.
Permanent contracts can be dissolved ICly. When making a request for a permanent contract to be ended for non-OOC issues, include in the PM the characters' reasoning along with their intention of dissolving the contract. At that time the contract will be converted automatically to a three month temporary contract. This is a type of 'trial separation' from the city to see if the Dominant and Submissive can resolve their issues. After that three month contract ends, their permanent contract will be fully dissolved.
There is a difference though: unlike with standard contracts, there is no sympathy from LIEs or the city for these couples who dissolve a permanent contract. There will be no three month grace period between contracts for the characters. They must use their three month trial separation instead to find a new contract or else they will end up in jail when their contract expires.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR CONTRACT PARTNER DROPS
If your contract partner drops, the contract will be nullified and you will have three months to secure another contract. In the case of a Dominant dropping, the Submissive will be given time to readjust. They'll have a Dominant NPC come to help them for the first month since the loss isn't their fault. Duplicity is kind to the people who are coming out of a contract. They'll also have time to store or keep anything the Dominant left behind for them, as well as make arrangements to get into Down public housing again after that first month. A Sub can keep gifts given to them by a Dominant while they're uncontracted; it's part of courting and some Subs may get gifts often.
Dominants can also leave their contracted Submissives private housing in their name when dropping from the game; once the Submissive is contracted to another Dominant, their new Dominant must approve of that housing for the Submissive and sign on to the property to ensure that the Submissive is protected. In the case that the housing exceeds the Dominant's housing limitation, the Dominant must either relinquish a different property in order to take on the Sub's or sell the Sub's property and make other living arrangements for them. If a dropped Dominant leaves private housing to someone other than their Submissive, the Submissive will have to move back to public housing effective immediately.
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER
Submissives are not permitted to own property with the exception of property granted by the city as part of an event reward. Housing and businesses will always be in their Dominant's name and must be signed over if a Submissive changes Dominants and wishes to transfer that property with them.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO CONTRACT WITH AN NPC
For OOC and IC reasons we don't allow PCs to contract with NPCs. It would take away from the pairings and defeat the purpose of the LIEs Program.
jump to:
➥LIES 1 YEAR GRADUATION | ➥QUOTA | ➥SLUT CENTER | ➥CITATIONS
➥REALIGNMENT | ➥PEOPLE ZOO | ➥JAIL | ➥THE CAGE
DUPLICITY LAWS
Duplicity has laws against things like destruction of property, robbery, assault, and murder that one would generally expect to be illegal — that said, the sentences associated with these crimes tend to be shorter than what characters may be used to, especially for Dominants.
There are no drinking or drug laws in Duplicity. However, there are laws against doing things such as driving while intoxicated.
Seditious speech and public displays of defiance against the government, LIEs, the Creator, or the Dom/Sub system on the network will almost always result in a citation.
Dominant/Dominant relations of a romantic or sexual nature are illegal and Dominants caught engaging in such behavior will receive citations.
Submissives can get in trouble for disrespecting a Dominant verbally or getting into a physical altercation with one, though they may get away with it more in the Down than the Up.
If a Submissive commits a crime or otherwise makes trouble, it reflects poorly on their Dominant. Dominants can be fined, jailed, or otherwise punished for the behavior of their Submissive.
Submissives must have permission from a Dominant to work. If they are uncontracted, this can be from any Dominant including their prospective employer.
Uncontracted Submissives cannot legally make purchases. A Submissive in a contract can only spend money if they have written permission from their Dominant as part of their contract. If a Submissive has permission in their contract to spend money without asking, the city will provide them with a universal "money pass" that indicates this fact. Money passes will be honored by all businesses unless there is an in-game event specifying otherwise.
Submissives cannot own businesses or housing, regardless of contract status. They must have a Dominant co-signer. The only exception is if they are granted a business or housing through a game event. If they lose their Dominant, property can be held in trust for a limited time and ownership transferred when they sign a new contract. If they are simply switching Dominants, they will need their old Dominant to legally transfer the property to their new Dominant.
Duplicity has strict housing laws and citations will be issued for any housing violations. Uncontracted Submissives are only allowed to live in public housing. Contracted Submissives may live with their Dominant or in housing rented or bought for them by their Dominant. Dominants, regardless of contract status, may live alone in public or privately owned housing. A contracted Dominant may also live with their Submissive(s). Only a contracted Dominant and Submissive may live together.
Characters can get away with spending the night with someone they don't have a contract with once in a while, but do it too often and they'll get caught. Three nights a month (per person) is the maximum that they can stay with someone other than their contract partner before their behavior draws attention — either from public housing staff or nosy neighbors, CCTV, or even the location tracking on their own device. Living on the streets, camping for extended periods of time in the woods or caves, or squatting in abandoned buildings is likewise illegal and characters who don't return often enough to their documented legal residence, especially the city-run public housing, will get in trouble as well.
Characters must carry their device with them at all times.
Due to the conflict that has further split the Up and Down, there is now a border checkpoint on each side of the elevator and at the first train station on each side. Residents of one part of the city crossing into the other must scan their device and provide an estimate of how long they'll be in that part of the city. More details can be found in this post.
Contracts can have all sorts of stipulations that characters must abide by, but they can't supersede Duplicity law. For example, if a contract states that a Submissive has permission to live with someone other than their Dominant, that won't hold up in court. Characters who believe they may have an unusual legal exception can file a petition with a lawyer, and wait and see if their complaint is accepted (unfortunately, paperwork is often lost in Duplicity's court system).
Rights of LIERs in Private Property Law: At the conclusion of a player plot, developed in the wake of the Fort Harmony Event, the government of Duplicity approved a new law proposed by the PCs and presented to the government through official channels. This law protects the rights of PCs living legally in private housing. Legally means in accordance with the housing laws (as stated above) that only contracted Dominant and Submissive partners (or multiple Submissives if a Dominant has more than one) can live together. This law makes it illegal for anyone to force entry into the home and to remove residents or their property from the home without consent. It will also be illegal to require a Submissive to give consent (i.e. a Dominant seeking entry cannot demand that the resident Submissive give them access). It only covers the legal residents of that property. The law will not apply if the residents have been involved in illegal activity or there is a warrant for their arrest. It also applies to private housing only. Public housing is not owned by characters, and so these protections will not apply there.
LIERs must also abide by the rules of the LIEs program, such as meeting quota and making monthly quota check-ins.
There are surveillance cameras throughout the Up spying on characters in public and looking for any sign of rule-breaking. If your character is not actively caught breaking the rules, they can be cited after the fact if they were caught on camera.
As of 3/26/22 the city's camera network includes drones disguised as birds. These bird drones were made to account for gaps in camera coverage in outdoor spaces and can be spotted primarily in the Up, though some do occasionally find their way to the Down. They look like ordinary pigeons, sparrows, etc.
Characters who turn other characters in for lawbreaking and rule violations will receive unspoken "freebies," allowing them to skirt citations in exchange for how many they cause to be written. They may even explicitly earn monetary rewards through participating in the recently introduced Neighborhood Watch program.
LIES PROGRAM: 1 YEAR GRADUATION
Once your character has passed their ONE YEAR* anniversary in the city of Duplicity, they become a citizen of the city!
Unfortunately, your character has been confirmed to be a carrier of the deceit gene, but they are now considered a citizen of Duplicity and that status comes with some perks, something your character will become aware of in a letter that will be delivered to them. It will include the following statements:
» You are no longer a member of LIEs.
» You are a full citizen of Duplicity.
» All information has been handed over to the city.
» Your contracts are still in place as is Duplicity law.
» Quota remains mandatory for all LIERs, regardless of citizenship.**
» If your contracted partner(s) are still in LIEs, they will have to abide by LIEs. You will not.
» If this causes issues to arise, contact your Duplicity Representative.
» Members of Duplicity are assisted in permanent assimilation.
» The representative will assist in transferring all property out of LIEs and into your name.
» A city representative will assist you in moving to a permanent home if needed.
» The rep will assist you in finding a job, medical care, insurance, and all other necessities.
» You can take a permanent government position.
» You can choose to take a permanent name other than the one you hold now.
» LIEs will grant you a one-time settlement of $100.00 to be used at your discretion as a thank you.
» Your city representative will find you a lawyer to assist in any contract discrepancies.
» Your city representative will issue you a permanent Dominant or Submissive ID card.
» The city holds a dinner every year for the graduating participants.
» This dinner is for new citizens, and their guests, at a nice restaurant in the Up.
» Welcome to Duplicity!
*This only applies if your character has successfully made quota for their entire year in the program. Setbacks will delay graduation.
**As of April 2nd, 2023, quota for LIEs graduates now consists of a monthly sex challenge.
QUOTA
In order to meet the minimum requirements for quota, characters must engage in sexual activity three times a month. This can either be threaded (or handwaved) with fellow LIERs or handwaved with NPCs. Sexual activity for the purposes of quota is defined as an encounter between two (or more) people that is intended to be sexual and which results in one (or more) of the participants reaching orgasm.
- Group sex, such as a threesome, counts as a single encounter.
- Solo masturbation does not count. Neither does watching pre-recorded, non-interactive pornography. Phone sex/sexting/cybering/webcamming may count if participants are getting sexual satisfaction as outlined above.
- Voyeurism does count but, if the voyeur does not personally experience arousal or release and also doesn't make quota in other ways, graduation from the program will be delayed as LIEs cannot collect sufficient data.
The timeframe for making quota is between the first and last day of the month. Due to the arrivals schedule, new characters will have a bit of extra time added on for their first quota month.
Update, as of 4/2/23: LIEs graduates are no longer required to have sex three times a month, but instead must complete a monthly sex challenge. Failure to do so will result in a trip to the SLUT Center as usual.
Quota check-in is mandatory at the Orientation Center in the Up once a month for all those still in the program. Characters who have graduated and become citizens have the option of checking in via their device. This involves answering a few questions through the Quickie app and letting their device take a picture of them for a retinal scan. (Alternative identification means may be available if they do not possess retinas.) Dodging quota check-in is grounds for a citation.
SLUT CENTER
The SLUT (Sexual Liberation Unblocking Treatment) Center is specifically for those who cannot or will not meet quota. Quota is mandatory for all current and former LIERs, and those who fail to meet it (for whatever reason) are sent to the SLUT Center for rehabilitation. If they do not show up to their appointment on their own, they will be picked up by LIEs staff and brought there. There can be some wiggle room in the timing for this if an event would interfere with access to the SLUT Center.
After arriving at the SLUT Center, characters will undergo something like a doctor's checkup. LIEs staff will administer a drug that renders them unconscious and, when they wake up, they'll gradually (over several hours) begin to feel the urge to have sex. The longer they hold out, the stronger the desire will become for a kink that is predetermined by the player. If they don't indulge in that kink by choice before the week is out, it will be as if the choice is taken from them and they'll do it anyway.
Players are free to use this mechanic as needed to provide extra encouragement for their characters to meet quota. However, if your character would fail quota and require use of the SLUT Center for more than one month in a row, LIEs may feel a more serious intervention is required. In that case, players should contact us on the Feedback/Player Request page to discuss options!
CITATIONS
Characters who break the law or engage in inappropriate behavior may receive a citation from the city. Citations are an IC punishment for the character intended to be something fun for players. OOCly, you cannot have your character opt-out of a citation. You may handwave rather than play it out, but the punishment will still have taken place.
A citation may dictate that a character pay a fine, do community service, serve time in jail or the People Zoo, or go to Realignment. The specifics and severity of the punishment are dependent on the offense, but we will work to accommodate player preferences as much as possible.
As of January 2023, Duplicity authorities have introduced the Neighborhood Watch program to encourage characters to report on one another. Characters who do so may earn monetary rewards or even leniency for their own crimes. For more information, see January's event and February's State of the Game.
Remember! LIEs (and your mods) are watching! We may issue surprise citations for illegal behavior on Duplicity's comms — characters are taking a risk if they act out in public. Citations can also be requested via the form on the Feedback/Player Request page. If you feel your character has done something which merits a citation and has not received one, please contact us!
REALIGNMENT
Realignment is for characters who continually act outside of their designation and covers a range of "treatments" intended to correct their misbehavior and help them properly perform their role. It is possible for characters who are in good standing with the city to get brought in to assist with another character's Realignment as well. Some examples of what Realignment can entail include, but are not limited to:
- Mandatory lectures, educational videos, or study groups on "How to Be a Proper [Dominant or Submissive]"
- Mentoring with a Dominant or Submissive who truly exemplifies their role
- Punishing or being punished by a fellow Realignment participant according to directions
- Performing an intensive series of tasks as a Dominant/Submissive pair (sometimes referred to as Harmony Training)
- Public humiliation
- Drugs to induce aggression, compliance, or otherwise make one more suited to one's designation
- Behavioral modification devices
- Power nullification devices
This is a highly customizable mechanic, so if there is a particular scenario or kink that you're interested in exploring for your character, let us know! Note that characters who repeatedly act out and undergo Realignment may experience increasingly harsh consequences.
PEOPLE ZOO
The People Zoo, formerly located in the Down, is now located in the Up. It remains a prison mostly for errant Submissives (though a Dominant or two has fallen through the cracks) and Submissives will be detained there until a Dominant — any Dominant — pays their fine. Clothing is not always necessary while waiting in the holding cells. Due to the high risk of escape attempts and the unpredictability of LIERs, the People Zoo is reinforced with a power nullification field. Characters who are held there will find that any magical or supernatural abilities they may have will not work for the duration of their stay.
When a fine is paid, either partially or in full, a Dominant is hiring that Submissive out for a predetermined amount of time to use as they see fit. Local Dominants might rent a Submissive for something as simple as manual labor or to be decorative display for a private party, but even the most mundane tasks will have a sexual, kinky lean to them. PC Dominants can, of course, rent a Submissive from the Zoo for whatever they wish. Submissives must fulfill whatever purpose they were hired for or risk an unsatisfied Dominant returning them to the Zoo.
JAIL
The jail in the Up is well-decorated and comfortable. Intended for use as a short-term holding facility, it has single cells and does not allow for in-cell visitation. There is a separate visiting room used mainly for meetings with legal representation and, for those characters who are placed in jail after missing a contract deadline, brief interviews with prospective contract partners. Characters are not allowed out of their cells otherwise and there are no group activities such as showers, yard exercise, or cafeteria time.
Like the People Zoo, the jail is reinforced with a power nullification field. Characters who are held there will find that any magical or supernatural abilities they may have will not work for the duration of their stay. Unlike the Zoo, characters cannot be bought for the day. They must serve their time in its entirety.
THE CAGE
The Cage is located in the Down. It's what remains of the old People Zoo before the gangs in the Down started an uprising and took back what was theirs. Now, it is used for when tributes are not paid, for when an interrogation needs a quiet, out of the way place, or when troublemakers need to cool their heels.
It's been reinforced since the Rubies took it over and breaking out is nearly impossible. With the SIN Guards gone, there is no one there to make sure that what happens inside remains fair or legal.
If your character clashes with the Rubies and you're interested in having them spend some time in the Cage, use the Feedback/Player Request page to let us know.
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Also is there any place that stores city records, specifically about the LIES program? How long ago it was implemented, who implemented it and how?
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From our Premise Page: L.I.E.S., a program created a few decades ago to bring in new people, has been largely unsuccessful. The creator of the program was given the task of finding alternate humans that did not carry the deceit gene and bring them to Duplicity to make the city better. People keep arriving, but these alternate humans have yet to be found. Not to be discouraged, the creator put the program on auto-pilot and vanished, leaving the doors to reset every month and new arrivals to come in.
These records are not available to the public. Also, it's been established over the course of the game that, while the Creator has returned, the program itself still runs on autopilot for the time being.
no subject