DIGIMON DIAL UP: A Guide to the Tamer Factions

[Akurei Nagisa]

PARAGON

"I can't save the world by my lonesome or even my own life. But I have my family. My friends that stand with me right here and now. I finally understand the message you left... We are not islands by ourselves. We are connected."

Leader: Agito Soma
D-Phone Type: Champion Model

Base of Operations: The Galaxy Terminal, a Digital Space created out of one of Qinglongmon's Digicores that takes on the appearance of a combination apartment complex, heroes' meeting place, and train station; its Analog World entrance is housed in the basement of Cyan's "Level Up!" arcade.

Goal: To work towards a future where both worlds, Analog and Digital, coexist openly in peace and harmony, even if that's the most difficult path.

The former "Nakamura Group" amongst the unaligned mass of Tamers known as the "Freelancers", this group shed that identity after facing off against and claiming a surprise victory over the Digital World's tyrant rulers, the Royal Knights; but the seeds of this departure were laid long ago, via the close sponsorship of Mirai's "DJ" and the emergent qualities of its members.

Now given the patronage of the legendary Holy Sovereign Beast, Qinglongmon, the Tamers of Paragon are heirs to the legacy of the Chosen Children. While they may seem like a group of naïve children to some, they are idealistic, driven, and will never give up.

Theme/Keyword: "Cooperate/Unify"
General Aesthetic: Young people, seemingly ordinary but determined to make a difference.
Equivalents/Inspirations: Team Gaim (Kamen Rider Gaim), the Kamen Rider Club (Fourze); the Investigation Team (Persona 4); the Chosen Children/Digidestined (Digimon Adventure)

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CROWNS

"It is--it has always been--a hero's duty to defend the world from those who would destroy it, no matter what. We will continue to protect our world, and its people, as one team--together!"

Leader: Fleur de Croix/Crown Empress
D-Phone Type: Crown Model, Type "Caliburn"

Base of Operations: Special Fortress Complex "Avalon", a secret Digitally-enhanced and enormous underground base located beneath the headquarters of the Circuits Infinity software/tech megacorporation, in Cyan City's Business District, done in the style of an enormous and elaborate bunker complex.

Goal: To defend the Analog World from the myriad threats posed by the Digital, but maintain peace for both worlds and a livable status quo, involving the safe, gradual, and incidentally profitable adaptation of Digital wonders to the Analog World.

A secret, private organization of Tamers founded originally--in the wake of the First Crash--to find one missing man, the Crowns have a somewhat checkered history marked by good intentions gone sour and the betrayal of their own. The most prominent example of this, of course, is the treachery of Albert Pendragon, formerly one of the four Divine Crowns, who attempted to initiate a second Crash. But despite hardships, the Crowns are unbowed and unbroken, and after claiming the power of the Royal Knights' Omega Sword, they are newly revitalized in their mission to protect the Earth.

The Crowns operate on a hierarchical structure, at the top of which are the Empress and Emperor, then their four "holy generals", the Divine Crowns Lion, Dragon, Wolf, and Pegasus. Each Divine Crown commands a group of Chevaliers, named after their Divine--examples being Pink Lion Denebola, Blue Dragon Leviathan, etc.; one step down are the Lords, those Crowns entrusted with a personalized Visor and title (Crown Saver, Crown Star, Crown Witch), and after that are Vassals, the rank-and-file of the Crowns.

Theme/Keyword: "Defend/Secure"
General Aesthetic: Masked heroes with advanced technology allowing them a transformation capability and unique advantages.
Equivalents/Inspirations: Kougami Foundation (Kamen Rider OOO), BOARD (Kamen Rider Blade); SEES (Persona 3); the GoBusters (Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters); DATS (Digimon Savers)

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DAEDALUS INITIATIVE

"Our purpose is to ensure humanity's future in the coming age; by diplomacy, by conquest, by advancement of the human form, by any possible means necessary. Put very simply, we are Man's endeavor to become Gods."

Leader: Executive Director Nagisa Gendou
D-Phone Type: Oracle Model, Mark III "Sibyl"

Base of Operations: The Mobile Citadel 'Shai-Hulud', an immense land vehicle that might accurately be described as a traveling arcology, or a miniature city on tank treads stuffed into the form of a battleship. It's normally hidden from view by the THERMOPYLAE visual camouflage field it projects, and is very heavily armed.

Goal: The military occupation and pacification of the Digital World in the name of Analog authorities, and the radical advancement of human evolution via the adaptation or use of Digital World technology and sciences.

A top-secret, black-budget task force established under the auspices of the UN Combined Forces, it was actually formed prior to the First Crash after human scientists inadvertently discovered the Digital World, and were warned of its dangers by the former Chosen Child, Nagisa Gendou. Its reputation is perhaps the most "morally grey" out of all the major factions: while its goal of ensuring a human future is laudable, many non-Initiative Tamers see its military nature and tactics as heavy-handed, and there is no question that some of its scientific experiments have gone far beyond most ethical boundaries. Yet they've achieved tremendous things: perhaps first and foremost, the creation of the artificial Digimon known as the Genomon and Chimaimon species, and far more recently, claiming control of Satellite Polaris, allowing them the ability to transport themselves anywhere in the Digital World in seconds.

The Initiative's command structure is twofold--supreme executive power rests with the Executive Director, who oversees the Section Directors of Daedalus' eight major Sections; almost all Tamer personnel are members of the military wing, Section-V THESEUS, and the thirteen combat Divisions of its THESEUS-XIII. The THESEUS-XIII is lead by a set of thirteen Division Captains, just beneath whom are the Vice-Captains, then about eight further ranks of Seated Officers before one reaches the Operative rank-and-file.

Theme/Keyword: "Conquer/Advance"
General Aesthetic: Soldiers of a near-future and highly advanced military, among them genetically engineered or otherwise strange "assets", accompanied by "Men in Black" agents and labcoat-wearing scientists.
Equivalents/Inspirations: Yggdrasill Corporation (Kamen Rider Gaim); NERV (Evangelion); ZAFT (Gundam SEED); HYPNOS (Digimon Tamers)

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ORDER OF STABILITY

"Those that dwell in the darkness should never fear those that use a false light to justify their cruelty, and today is ground zero for a campaign to bring this world to a simple understanding: all Digimon, all elements, all species and forms have just as much right to this world as those that would call themselves our betters!"

Leader: Her Majesty Kasumi A.K. McDougal, the Vampire Queen
D-Phone Type: Grimoire Model, "Covenant" Form

Base of Operations: Castle Obscura, a great and ornate ancient castle located in its own district of Shadowveil, the capital of Nightwhisper Caverns--traditional home of Darkness and Demon Digimon--and belonging to the powerful Clan Obscura. Its entrance in the Analog World is located on the grounds of the McDougal family estate.

Goal: To bring about a revolution in the traditional social order of both worlds, lifting up the outcasts, rogues, downtrodden, and traditional "monsters" to an equal status with all others, whilst also seizing control of political power through manipulation, social pressure, and dispersed influence rather than direct force or action.

The youngest of the four major factions, the Order began simply--with Kasumi herself, who dreamed of wielding massive influence in the Digital World and unseating the tyrannous Royal Knights as an avenger of the demonic nobility. But slowly, as she encountered those who didn't fit in with the other factions or who shared her dream of a revolutionary Order--no mere rebellion inspired by loss, but an organization truly dedicated to change--Stability grew in strength and influence.

After its victory at the Royal Knights' feared prison of Iron Tartarus, the Order has become a refuge for all those who bear the Mark of Evil, and a rising power that cannot be denied. At its center, the Tamers of the Order form a court of shadows; they are not what you would call traditional "heroes", but their nobility is true and their loyalty to the Queen is absolute.

Theme/Keyword: "Manipulate/Dominate"
General Aesthetic: Rogues, scoundrels, and outcasts all--dark heroes or anti-heroes, all with a secret (or not-so-secret) "monstrous" side inside them waiting to be unleashed.
Equivalents/Inspirations: The Phantom Thieves of Hearts (Persona 5); Team Baron (Kamen Rider Gaim), the Fangire Race (Kamen Rider Kiva); the Black Knights (Code Geass)

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MINOR/UNAFFILIATED TAMER GROUPS

Tamer Clubs: Groups of like-minded Tamers who've formed a large enough team to be registered on the All Tamer Network!! maintained by the DJ. They can be brought together by shared hobbies, be friends prior to Contracting, or be bound together by an ideology. Unfortunately, Tamer Clubs who grow too big often decide to try ill-advised stunts...

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Vigilantes: Give people superpowers, some people will always try to play lone superhero...or supervillain. The most famous crime-thwarters of Cyan are the magical girl Ruby Saber X, the shining exemplar White Rose Knight Albion, and the mysterious dark figure known only as the Rider; less famous are the Gear Dan member Peter "Metal Gear" Elric, who moonlighted as an Analog superhero at least once, and more infamous is the dark shadow over Cyan's unaffiliated Tamer affairs, the misguided and violent Guardian Lion.

(Recently, a supervillain known as Dark Pearl Zwei has also appeared, who claims to be the Harbinger of Darkness and Ruby Saber X's ultimate demise. Only time will tell if it is so!)

It's entirely possible to be a "Vigilante" and a member of one of the four major factions--in fact, while we won't expose their identities here, all three of Cyan's top heroes are members of one faction or another!

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Digimon Hunters: Bounty hunters by trade, Digimon Hunters are tasked with the containment or deletion of Digimon scoundrels that law enforcement has trouble tracking down and bringing to justice. Though academies to train such fighters are more common now, the home of the hunters is Warsong Fortress.

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The Gear Dan (DEFUNCT): A group of prominent Digimon rebels against the Royal Knights, comprised primarily of Mechanical-type Digimon and at one time lead by the HiAndromon civic leader Gun Fangear, who encountered the Digitally stranded young man Peter Elric, and granted him the identity of "Metal Gear"; after Fangear was then killed by the Royal Knights, leadership passed to his protegé, who lead the team to become a prominent force against the Royal Knights and a group of some repute in both worlds. However, after they banded together with other resistance groups to form the Fangear Rebellion and retake Yggdrasil's seat of power, they were attacked by the Royal Knights and utterly crushed.

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ENEMY FACTION: THE ROYAL KNIGHTS

Leaders: Alphamon & Omegamon
D-Phone Model: N/A

Base of Operations: Meister's Tower

Goal: To invade, subjugate, and/or destroy the Analog World, along with all its inhabitants.

The tyrannical rulers of the Digital World, the Royal Knights rebelled against and deposed their master and deity, the ruling Core Intelligence Yggdrasil, during the First Crash, forcing him to take the gamble of creating the DJ gestalt simply to survive. They subsequently have turned the social order of the Digital World upside down, deleting whole species down to only a few members; slaughtering, imprisoning or enslaving prominent Digimon who might dare gainsay their authority; and engineering a plan for total war against the Analog World. They despise humankind, seeing them as only a threat, and have sworn to crush the Analog race.

Typical footsoldiers of the Royal Knights are the undead Troopmon, but they are often backed up by Knightmon and Grademon, sometimes customized to their masters' whims. Each of the Royal Knights keeps a retinue of various other unique types in their employ, and if the situation calls for it, one of the Knights themselves will take the field. Each of the Royal Knights is an Ascension Class Ultimate, the pinnacle of their existence and an unholy terror empowered by shards of Yggdrasil himself. While they can be beaten, unprepared or alone they will still crush Tamers like bugs.

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ENEMY FACTION: SENTINEL

Leader: Albert Pendragon
D-Phone Model: Dead Number

Base of Operations: UNKNOWN

Goal: To reconfigure both Analog and Digital Worlds according to the cold, merciless, hyper-mechanistic will of their patron deity, the fallen Core Intelligence Ragnarok.

A group founded in secret by Albert Pendragon, the mayor of Cyan and the former Divine Crown Dragon, to enact the will of his true master, the God-Machine, Core Intelligence Ragnarok, they are a collection of traitors to the other factions, psychopaths, and cultists, all of whom are linked by a horrific dead wavelength of Light of Evolution, Minus LoE, which overrides another being's soul and replaces it with itself. Their will would end in the death of both worlds, and probably more beyond that.

The footsoldiers of Sentinel are Rectifiers, human corpses animated by Minus LoE; however, they also have many Digimon infected with the Death-X Virus...or simply sworn to the dark will of Ragnarok, to the point they have thrown away their living souls to serve the God-Machine's "Great Design". The Tamers of Sentinel are clad in dark armor and black cloaks, and wield the bizarre "Dead Number" phones which can not only channel Minus LoE, but can cause Dark LoE levels to increase within those around them; they are all fearsome foes in their own right, and are likely valuable enough servants to the fallen god that he would preserve their forms should they die...