joe moter
Radio Bob Approved
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2024
- Messages
- 449
- Thread Author
- #1
The Combine treated the average human as cattle, it acted indiscriminately, no matter ones attributes unless they directly showed signs of rebellion as it hauled the last generation on trains, I believe that children should be included with that. No Combine government would seriously consider spending lots of resources on shipping kids to facilities to learn. The most a wealthy city with progressive administrators could possibly do is start up small education facilities in their districts, even then, the districts would still have to find competent teachers. While I will spend a good amount of the text speaking about cultures, this is primarily about how children were affected in V3 lore.
After the Seven Hour War, anyone who could recoup their belongings and find their way into whatever Combine-controlled refugee camp or city would most likely bring their children and family along. However, once everyone was rounded up, the relocations began: The Combine would split families quickly, moving them from city to city, shuffling the decks of available known people. This left the children in a horrible position, mostly or at best minimally uneducated, they would wander the world generally alone only being able to seek temporary mentors from place to place. This would leave most children having to develop or adopt their own philosophies or cultures within the Combine's walls without any parental intervention, possibly with other groups of children.
Children being alone means they alone need to provide for themselves, that means children digging through trash for scraps, working long hours doing whatever jobs they can, or being in an apartment block with people nice enough to take care of you. Unfortunately, because of the lack of parental control, children would develop bad habits especially for their ages, the most common being drinking the carcinogenic Dr. Breen's private reserve, however their were outliers who took in horrible habits for the age such as, smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, or at worst taking various substances. The cause of this could be for various reasons, whatever the cause was, it probably lead to various mental issues, and piled with the lack of education would lead to a generation burdened by being ignored.
Because of this poor management of youth, many would die, some would live, and even fewer would thrive in Combine society. The ones who survived developed cultures and ideologies adapted for their districts, for their cities. These beliefs vary heavily, some being tied with whatever loyalist political party or rebel cell the child was most associated with. Now, most of the children have grown up, and have become malformed adults adjusted to living with the Combine.
Children being alone means they alone need to provide for themselves, that means children digging through trash for scraps, working long hours doing whatever jobs they can, or being in an apartment block with people nice enough to take care of you. Unfortunately, because of the lack of parental control, children would develop bad habits especially for their ages, the most common being drinking the carcinogenic Dr. Breen's private reserve, however their were outliers who took in horrible habits for the age such as, smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, or at worst taking various substances. The cause of this could be for various reasons, whatever the cause was, it probably lead to various mental issues, and piled with the lack of education would lead to a generation burdened by being ignored.
Because of this poor management of youth, many would die, some would live, and even fewer would thrive in Combine society. The ones who survived developed cultures and ideologies adapted for their districts, for their cities. These beliefs vary heavily, some being tied with whatever loyalist political party or rebel cell the child was most associated with. Now, most of the children have grown up, and have become malformed adults adjusted to living with the Combine.
I don't want to make the cultures, I think players could probably do that, but here are some example cultures/ideologies to give some inspiration or at least give an example of a culture.
GUTTERBORN
Disgusting children which decided scrapping and fighting was the best life path. The most rebellious, prone to joining local rebellion cells. These children were probably beaten during their development stages, making them anti-Combine, also a result of the Combine making them fend for themselves.
The most desperate children, the ones who work long hours for low pay, live ration to ration, known for their horrid habits for their ages like smoking and even drinking. These children seem to show signs of extreme stress, paranoia. They are obedient and afraid to move out of line, they aren't smart, and they aren't brave or stupid enough to resist.
The children who love the Combine, the Combine give them free food, the administrators and loyalists teach them, they give them wisdom and advice. Most of these children have never lived in a world without the Combine and the rebellion, these ones decided to choose the Combine. These children vary, some of them actually have some very good for the time, but very informal education, Claw-Wavers usually gave themselves parents through the loyalist idols they see on a daily basis, these kids usually adopt Combine supported values and get into more prestigious positions then the other cultures.
Disgusting children which decided scrapping and fighting was the best life path. The most rebellious, prone to joining local rebellion cells. These children were probably beaten during their development stages, making them anti-Combine, also a result of the Combine making them fend for themselves.
- Self-reliance, until a group with similar beliefs are found
- Extremely anti-Combine, at most they tolerate them
- Drugs are used for leisure and in a way out of resistance for the Combine
- Generally shifty, capable of physical labor, excels with firearms and weapons
- Frequent violence is looked favorably, if not duty. Physical infighting that isn't lethal is seen as bonding or leisure
The most desperate children, the ones who work long hours for low pay, live ration to ration, known for their horrid habits for their ages like smoking and even drinking. These children seem to show signs of extreme stress, paranoia. They are obedient and afraid to move out of line, they aren't smart, and they aren't brave or stupid enough to resist.
- Dislike or slight support of Combine, certainly not loyalists
- Very capable workers for their age, usually in fields which demand physical or unskilled labor
- Any legal methods which will not get a Block in trouble are used to relieve stress
- Very good at living in poor conditions for a long time, very emotionally resilient
- Anti-social, unless it is required for survival
The children who love the Combine, the Combine give them free food, the administrators and loyalists teach them, they give them wisdom and advice. Most of these children have never lived in a world without the Combine and the rebellion, these ones decided to choose the Combine. These children vary, some of them actually have some very good for the time, but very informal education, Claw-Wavers usually gave themselves parents through the loyalist idols they see on a daily basis, these kids usually adopt Combine supported values and get into more prestigious positions then the other cultures.
- Love and loyalty for the Combine and all affiliated with it
- Some labor capable, others better with skills adjacent to desk-jobs
- Total sobriety usually, depending on their loyalist idols
- Reporting dissidents is almost gamified and fun to them, and it gets them closer to their idols
- Very social, usually charismatic enough and well versed in Combine law and speech
Remember, though, this is still a lore post. Give some probably much needed criticism.
(made to be posted on the discord btw, i just don't like the formatting.)
