10 Hooks and Rumours for Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0.’s Europe

This list has ten hooks and rumours that can be heard about Italy. Whether or not they are true is up to the GameMaster. They can be used as background colour or as potential adventure hooks.

1. Biotechnica and Montedison are the foremost Italian corporations and the real power in the country. It’s rumoured that both companies are under threat of hostile takeovers by foreign megas, especially as controlling them would mean essentially gaining control of the entire country.
2. Italy has a president as the head of state, but the real power rests with the prime minister. It’s rumoured that presidents have been trying to slowly whittle away the power of the prime minister and make the president’s office not merely just the head of state but also the power in the land.
3. Italy has been divided into four states, each of which is fairly autonomous when it comes to their internal politics. It’s rumoured that some of the states feel that they should be completely autonomous from the central government and are pushing for Italy to be dissolved.
4. Mafia-controlled areas in parts of Italy seem better off than their corporate-controlled counterparts, and it’s said that this is not only strengthening the hold organised crime has in those areas, it’s also said that inhabitants of the corporate-controlled parts of the country are secretly helping the Mafia against their corporate overlords in the hopes that the Mafia will be able to take over.
5. Milan is one of the richest, most expensive and secure cities in the world, but the threat of terrorism has resulted in a greater police presence that’s starting to suffocate the city. It’s rumoured that efforts are being made to completely eradicate the terrorists so that the police can be scaled back.
6. North Italy is the richest state of Italy and controls the National Congress. Given that it’s ruled by a coalition that’s partly corporate in nature, there are rumours that it uses its influence in government to pass regulations favourable to the companies controlling it and harmful to everyone else.
7. Organised crime in Italy, under the Neapolitan Camora and the Sicilian Mafia, have started to take control of the federal government in some parts of the country. It’s rumoured that this attempt to control the local federal government is merely the start of a process that is intended to result in the entire government falling under their control.
8. South Italia is mostly ruled by the Camorra, but there are many corporate exclusion areas where the corps rule. It’s rumoured that the Camorra are trying to find a way of dealing with this and limiting the power of the corps without suffering any negative effects.
9. The Camorra in the south of Italy is the controlling power of the state, but they have effectively sold out their people to the corps which has led to unhappiness and the rise of the Nuova Mafia. Though the Nuovo Mafia primarily targets the corporations and the central government, it’s rumoured that some within it have decided that the Camorra are their true enemy.
10. Violence is spreading out across Italy from Naples, largely the result of the Nuova Mafia, a combination of criminal organisation and anti–corporate political movement, and mostly targeting the corps. It’s rumoured that the corps are considering calling in more security in order to quash the violence.

D10: Europe Rumours: Italy is unofficial content provided under the Homebrew Content Policy of R. Talsorian Games and is not approved or endorsed by RTG. This content references materials that are the property of R. Talsorian Games and its licensees.