Stratus

Sky High Fashion

Stratus has standards. Before you learn anything else about them, you'll learn that. Stratus values wealth, status, and elegance - and it tends to consider the latter to a direct result and even a responsibility of the former two. Having money and status requires you to be poised and beautiful. Anything less is a failure. Stratus stands above the rest of the Diving world, picking only the few that meet their sky-high standards. Each item of Brand Identity created by Stratus is made one-of-a-kind for the Diver in question. One of their prestigious designers is assigned to create a portfolio of custom fashion designed to model the unique strengths of the Diver.

As a sponsor, Stratus has some of the highest expectations. They are fickle and expect you to keep up with the current fashions accordingly. Their Divers tend to be from high society and are suitably attention-garnering and fashion-forward. They often share the same high standards as their sponsor, or at the very least they follow them as closely as they can, for fear of falling from their place on high.

Brand Deal

You can Pursue a Brand Deal with Stratus if you meet one of the following prerequisites:

• Belong to an obscenely wealthy family
• find a wealthy patron who is willing to take a shot on you

The Brand Deal and resulting sponsorship is by far the most grueling in Diamond City. Your posture, body, upbringing, fashion sense, and general pedigree will be scrutinized by many. There will be engagements and meet-and-greets with high-society people - people who are easy to offend and hard to befriend. There will be some parties and events that you MUST go to, which require a substantial amount of buy-in, either in clothing and accessories, entrance fees, donations, or some combination of all three. Not being in the right place at the right time might cause your bid for sponsorship to evaporate overnight. Time moves fast in high society, and useless things are quickly forgotten. You may have to sacrifice something of your individuality along the way, friendships you had before may be left behind as you step up into the Stratus Sphere.

There is a saying that "The Stratus Brand Deal never closes". And there is some truth to this. Even after you secure a brand deal and acquire the Brand Staple, your fitness for your sponsorship is constantly being litigated - even while you aren't in the room. You might be discharged for any reason at all. Perhaps you wore the wrong color to a party, showed up on time to a meeting instead of early, said something someone didn't like. Maybe someone with enough money just doesn't like you. Being a Stratus Diver means you're constantly walking on eggshells while keeping your back straight and your head held high. It's the slowest marathon you'll ever run, but everyone's eyes will be on you.

Brand Move: Do you know who I am?

when you try to use your clout and influence to get something you normally couldn't, describe what you're after, and roll + passion.
On 10+, you command attention and will the rules to bend to your status and whim. The Judge describes how this widens the gap between you and the people around you.
On 7-9, You manage to get what you want, but something goes a bit wrong. Pick one:

• Your self-important behaviour alienates somebody close or important to you.
• You have to promise a favor to the person whose rules are being compromised. the Judge describes what they want from you.
• You misrepresent your connections in some way. Describe how you'll have to jump through high society's hoops later to tie things together.

On 6 or lower, your attempt to throw your weight around blows up in your face. Gain Baggage.

Rivalry

When dealing with other brands, it's always a handout for Stratus. They see themselves as being above the other brands. They have wealthy investors all over the city and any time spent working with the lesser brands is a charity. Some other brands, notably Dauntless, refuse to work with them unless forced to do so. A simmering resentment for Stratus boils below the surface of many other brands, but Stratus never feels it - they're too busy walking on clouds.