Chicago

OVERVIEW

THE WINDY CITY

Located on the shores of freshwater Lake Michigan, Chicago, officially the City of Chicago, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the third-most populous city in the United States. Perhaps it is only natural, then, that its history is rich with influence from both the God Machine and feats committed by its local Unchained.

While such is true, Chicago has been known in the Symphonic world as a remarkably quiet place to be despite the dense population of which the God Machine sticks to like a parasite. Undoubtedly, this is due to the fact that the city itself directly functions as a massive PSU for the God Machine, producing massive amounts of power that is then transformed into the incomprehensible life essence the God Machine needs to function. While this knowledge is kept a close secret by those in charge, it's a tantalizing reveal for any ambitious saboteur, and certainly hasn't helped the city's ingrained distaste for integrators.

AGENCIES

STERRENHEMEL

One of the longest standing Free Agencies in the United States, Sterrenhemel has long since been solidified as 'top of the food chain' when it comes to the Chicago Symphony. Perhaps its luck that they seem to have no interest in running the place with an iron fist and cruel heart, but not everyone has taken kindly to them, nor does everyone agree with their tendency to help maintain the status quo, regardless of if it proves beneficial to everyone.

Currently, their base of operations resides within Saint Astra Hospital located in Hyde Park, Chicago, housing the entrances to a pocket dimension that shares the agency's name, though it is formally known as the Sacellum. Furthermore, it's been said that the pocket dimension was once generated by one of the only rumored Quintets to ever be created successfully: the Genesis Engine.

RINGS

SIGNAL BOOST

A former Chicago-based Inquisitor Ring in operation from 2007 to 2012. In its prime, Signal Boost was a Ring of about 4 demons at its smallest, and around 8 at its largest. Particularly, the Ring was known for scouting out local Infrastructure and active matrices, selling off the information to other Rings - essentially the kind one would outsource work to, or that would prove to be a reliable go-between.

In current day, only 3 of its original members still remain living. After a tragic incident while collaborating with another Ring due to the betrayal of one of their longtime members, the survivors lost contact and fell apart, going their separate ways. With the survivors reunited thanks to a freak coincidence, with their betrayer included, they are currently in the process of picking up the pieces and salvaging what little they have left of their destroyed Ring, though they still operate as part of a unit, if a small one.

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SONS OF DYNAMITE

Chicago's black sheep, or a reliable business relationship, opposite statements that are both very much true. The Sons of Dynamite are a polarizing subject among the older Symphonic residents of Chicago, and especially to those that had been involved with the Kinzie street tunnel flooding incident. A small Ring founded by Mr. Dart, formerly known as The Demolisher, the Destroyer angel that put a swift end to Sterrenhemel's infamous failed tunnel project, the group is mostly composed of Dart and some of the most unfortunate humans of Englewood that he's taken under his wing, though it isn't without its other Symphonic members and allies as well.

Despite the small size of the Ring, its managed to maintain its neighborhood as an Infrastructure free zone for years now with an almost alarming efficiency. There is some debate on how the group manages to do so, but its leader's abilities to bring down any structure have persisted even through his Fall.

FULL CIRCLE

Full Circle has been in Chicago for over half a century, lurking in its shadows. To some, the Ring is nothing more than a glorified squad - its members rarely stay for longer than a few missions at a time, and it's not uncommon for them contract independent mercenaries before vanishing into the night, laying low until something catches their eye again.

But do the semantics matter as much as their results? The Saboteur Ring is admittedly effective in the reigns of their founder - and sole permanent member. They seem to know exactly how to leverage their advantages at the right moments, and when it's best to live to fight another day. Few know of the actual extent of their work, as no doubt for every diverted matrix attributed to them, there are three others that go unnoticed in their fall. It was never about the glory, after all - only about doing what needs to be done.

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THE ETIQUETTE

A Ring in technicality, the Etiquette is not actually a stand alone group. Rather, it is a field branch belonging to Faux Pas of Los Angeles, akin to an embassy. The Ring provides support for all members of Faux Pas passing through the area, and the current Ambassador represents the Agency's interests should anything of note occur in the city. The Etiquette purposefully keeps a low profile, supposedly only involving itself in the local Symphony in order to stay up to date on happenings. As an unsurprising result, they have some longstanding relationship with Sterrenhemel. Rumor has it that Faux Pas' relationship with the Free Agency is the only reason why the Etiquette exists in the city at all.

Their members are more often seen as independent agents, rarely using their official Ring name. For good reason - attitudes quickly change when their true affiliations are revealed. Even this far from the coast, Faux Pas is a name to be respected and reviled.

THE ATELIER

Perhaps Chicago's freshest Symphonic face in the ecosystem, the Atelier has cropped up as the most recent gadgeteer Ring on the block. Organically composed of a few of the remnants of a now-defunct Insurgent Agency lovingly handled by a coup d'etat, as well as former Red Fang members and angelic pawns, its constituents have turned their attention to new and exciting matters - black market healing, resurrections, gadgets, commissions, money, sick motorcycles, leather jackets, and whatever else may happen to strike their fancy. A desire to unabashedly take up space in the world noticeably permeates the mindset of the Ring, or at least where its founders are concerned.

If one spent time looking closely enough, they would find that most of the connections in the Ring revolve around their resident human Psychopomp embodiment, like an intricately constructed web.

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FELLOW TRAVELERS

The threat of Fellow Travelers hangs over the city of Chicago like a dark pall, casting an air of unease over everything and warping some individuals into unreasonable, reactive creatures. Previously thought to have been an urban legend perpetuated by the God Machine and Its minions to instill paranoia into the Unchained, the myth turned out to be a reality with the capture of Mr. 3D, changing how many demons thought about previous events, especially upon learning that many of the city's tragedies were engineered by one Traveler alone.

With Sterrenhemel's reveal to the Symphonic ecosystem of Chicago the existence of Travelers, the city's hatred for Integrators has been on the rise just as much as the anxiety that even your closest friend could be a traitor. The confirmation that multiple Fellow Travelers have infiltrated Chicago as well only serves to fray the nerves even further.

ANGELS

The holy cousins and siblings of the Unchained haunt Chicago as they would any other stage set by the God Machine. Many care little for the schemes of their Fallen kin, quietly focused on their missions before being recalled to the Gears. Others are irreparably tangled in Unchained matters as allies, enemies, and manipulators alike.

As an unavoidable part of Symphonic life, Hell-side individuals have learned to adapt to the presence of angels in the city. Keeping up with the latest sightings and matrices is one of many steps required to survive. In rare cases, the Unchained and Unscored of the city choose to not outmaneuver an angel, but instead move to slay it. Rarer still do they succeed, but even one victory can change the city's landscape - for better or for worse, depending on who you ask.

OTHER

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