Dark • Matter

Gothic Couture

Dark Matter appeals to a very specific clientele. The forgotten, the weird, the downtrodden... or those who perceive themselves to be. At it's core, Dark Matter is a celebration of radical self-expression in all its forms. But mostly in the sphere of Gothic and Avant-garde aesthetics. Belts, spikes, frills, and so, so many zippers. Those who shop at Dark Matter enjoy something different that most other places in Diamond City would never produce - and that's the point.

As a sponsor, Dark Matter is a bit... ritualistic. A meeting arranged by Dark Matter representatives might be indistinguishable from a seance when you arrive, but it quickly reveals itself to be mainly for fun and aesthetic. It is a ritual not of summon spirits, but to summon the strangeness inherent in all of us. Duelists of Dark Matter may appear at first glance to be loners, cynics, or nihilists, and sometimes they are. But more often they express themselves this way because it helps them connect with the world around them in a way that makes sense to them. Don't question the vampire fangs. Just go with it.

Brand Deal

You may Pursue a Brand Deal with Dark Matter if you meet one of the following prerequisites:

• Make yourself welcome at one of Dark Matter's eclectic, niche gatherings
• Show one of the brand's representatives that actually, you're a lot like them

Anyone who begins to Pursue a Brand Deal with Dark Matter will quickly realize that what at first seemed like a collection of wannabe vampires is actually a found family of self-professed weirdos who all have similar, dark-colored interests. Pursuing a Brand Deal here generally takes the form of lots of hang outs and getting to know the relatively small group of people at the heart of Dark Matter, and becoming part of their found family. They will only accept those who fit into their weird little puzzle. But once you're in, they'll forgive just about anything you could ever do. The brand's reputation is already fairly resistant to ridicule, and the most important thing to them is the community they share.

Brand Move: Why So Serious?

When you attempt to diffuse a tense or emotional moment by saying something out of place, roll + Friendship:
On a 10+, There is a pause, and then everyone laughs. Someone at the heart of the tense moment can avoid taking baggage they otherwise would have, if they choose.
On a 7-9, Your dark humor had an impact... just not quite the one you hoped. Pick one:

• Your friends feel better, but you alienate yourselves from everyone else in the process.
• You take all the pressure onto yourself to relieve the burden from the others; describe how you go all in to distract everyone else.

On a 6 or lower, you failed to read the room. Gain Baggage.

Rivalry

Dark Matter has no heated rivalries. They don't have many allies either. Mostly, they are left alone by other Brands and their Duelists. They do a Brand Collab with Memento Mori every now and again, but there is an unspoken understanding that they must scale back their strangeness during the event. Some of the core members in Dark Matter resent this feeling.