Computer networks are commonplace in our everyday world, but they are omnipresent in many science fiction settings. However, in grittier, grungier subgenres (particularly in cyberpunk), these networks have layers to them. The deeper one goes into the network, the darker and drearier the digital world becomes. In many ways, it’s a reflection of the rest of the setting, where the harsh struggle happening in the concrete canyons can feel miles away from the gleaming, corporate spires that dominate the skyline, even if almost no physical space separates the two of them.
This is where the concept of DrekNet (or just the Drek, as regular users call it) comes in. DrekNet, as an idea, represents those darker corners of any large-scale computer network. The secret places, lost chat rooms, password-protected social sites and all-but-forgotten digital real estate where shady types have moved in to do their business away from wandering eyes. Boasting aspects similar to the dark web and deep web of the real world, but cranked up to 11, DrekNet is a place where you can find anything and everything… but it’s also a place where anything can find you, if you aren’t careful.
While the disparate corners of this part of the network may allow one to acquire guns, drugs, illicit services and more, it’s also a place where one can go to find information. The whisper stream is a potent thing, and even the most absurd rumors may find a bit of footing on the Drek. So, if you want to include this as a method for your players to gain access to plot-relevant information, to locate resources they may have trouble accessing legally, or just as an aspect to make your game feel more organic, the following resources and rumors can help you get started!
To use the list, either roll d100 for a random result or select appropriate ones manually.
Here are some sample results:
24. One corner of the Drek that draws a lot of ears is the Merc Cast. This net show covers all the current bounties, both corporate and state, along with all the rumors and offers being put out there by outfits looking to recruit more muscle. Every shooter, freelancer and backroom bruiser looking to get their part of the action makes sure to tune-in whenever there’s a fresh episode, as their lives (and more importantly, their wallets) might be forfeit if they miss a piece of the action as it unfolds.
25. While average people trust regular banks, those who live on the Drek don’t usually have much truck with these institutions. A location referred to as The Vault performs all sorts of services for those willing to trust someone outside the usual, legal channels. Those who put their ear to the ground have also heard that this organization holds all kinds of contraband in addition to money, ranging from drugs, to guns, to significantly more ghoulish fare. Who runs this off-license service is hotly debated, but everyone agrees that whoever they are, they’ve always held up their end of any agreement made with their users.
26. The Drek is jammed full of bizarre conspiracies and weird, fringe beliefs. If you have the necessary sleuthing skills, though, you’ll find that most of them are actually artifacts of escalation. This term, while it sounds quite highbrow, just refers to how absurd statements that were originally used to make fun of conspiracies were adopted by the audience that was being made fun of, and used as the basis for entirely new, more extreme conspiracies. Whether it’s the crackpot idea that the moon is a gigantic, holographic projection, or that free-fi waves allow the government to sterilize you if you’re below a certain income bracket, there’s examples of these bizarre beliefs all over the place… and every single one of them was meant to be a joke.
Released: 17th February 2024 Pages: 24
PDF ($1.99): DriveThruRPG
“Blood in the Water”