The Doctors

The secrets of life are explored in the laboratories of the Doctors, and their research notes plumb and catalog nature’s wonders. Their original mission was to find the Cure. But it has become clear that they must also oversee issues of public health, given that they are the only medical professionals avilable. This has limited their ability to spend the time and resources required for finding the Cure.
The Doctors have come to believe that complete health — of individuals and of society as a whole — depends on the mutual adaptation of nature and civilization to one another. Thus, biological experimentation has always been among its primary concerns. They believe that in achieving the ability to manipulate their nature is achieving the first steps towards becoming a god. The Maker has given them the tools and now they must prove themselves worthy of ascending.
Historically, the faction’s approach to its mission has been one of incremental progress toward finding the Cure. This research has provided them with a great deal of medical knowledge that can be applied in various ways, but has yet to provide the evidence they need to acheive godhood. Thus, those Doctors that continue this tradition are considered to be the most holy and devote worshippers of the Maker.
The Holdfast principle, named for the biological mechanism that keeps kelp and sponges anchored to the sea floor, advises the Doctors never to stray so far from nature that they become “adrift.” It espouses the idea that nature left undisturbed will evolve toward adaptive traits and increased strength. Nature will flourish and grow, and every creature will find its proper niche in the ecosystem where it can thrive. Remaining aligned with nature means that humanity will remain strong.
The Upwelling principle, named for the phenomenon of nutrient-rich water rising to the ocean surface, advocates that the new and enlivened should replace the old and depleted in an unending cycle, bringing constant refreshment and renewal. This principle accounts for the Doctor's analytical bent and its emphasis on knowledge as a means of transformation. Learning the secrets of the universe lets you shape the world as you desire. The Upwelling encourages every creature to discover its full potential. Reaching this potential means finding your place as an equal with the Maker.
Their vision is of an ideal world in which nature and civilization exist in balance, in which natural life adapts to life in the midst of modern civilization and the civilized world adapts to accommodate these creatures. They generally interpret the Holdfast principle as being about staying rooted in nature, and the Upwelling as concerned with slow, predictable, cyclical improvement.

Dipolmacy

Th Doctors are allies with the Church of Hope as they share the religious belief system as the foundation for their faction. They are allies with The Scribes who are the record keepers that make their learning and research possible. In general, they maintain a neutral position with the other factions.

Doctor Characters

• Alignment: Usually neutral, often true neutral
• Suggested Races: Human
• Suggested Classes: Medic, Techie, Face
• Suggested Archetypes: Authority, Field Medic
• Suggested Ladders: Born Leader, Runner

You might enjoy playing a character who belongs to the Doctors Combine if one or more of the following statements are true:

• You are drawn to the image of the mad scientist tinkering with the fundamental forces of life.
• Prying into secrets and mysteries inspires your curiosity.
• You want to make the world a better place through research.
• You want to play a healer who is driven to improve society and save the world.

Background: Doctor

If your character was born and raised in Camp Hope, you can choose this background instead of those listed in the Ultra Modern Redux rule book.
Imagine a perfect world: one in which nature and civilization exist in harmony, adapted to each other; one in which life is shaped to match its environment and the environment is shaped to match life. That’s the world you have been trying to achieve as a Doctor.. Nature is all about adaptation, evolution, and balance — but for it to keep up with the pace of advancing civilization, nature needs some help from science. The reverse is also true. For humanity to continue to adapt to the every changing environment, science is needed.

• Skill Proficiencies: Medicine, Investigation
• Languages: Two of your choice
• Equipment: A Medical Insignia, a set of commoner’s clothes, a book of research notes, an ink pen, a bottle of ink, a vial of acid, 10 credits.
• Renown 1 and Rank 1 with the Doctors.

Feature: Researcher

When you attempt to learn or recall a scientific fact, if you don’t know that information, you know where and from whom you can obtain it. Usually, this information comes from a Doctor's laboratory, or sometimes from New Medical Library, or Medical Academy, or an independent scholar or other learned person. Knowing where the information can be found doesn’t automatically enable you to learn it; you might need to offer bribes, favors, or other incentives to induce people to reveal their secrets.
Your DM might rule that the knowledge you seek is secreted away in an inaccessible place, or that it simply can’t be found. Unearthing the deepest secrets of the world can require an adventure or even a whole campaign.

Suggested Characteristics

Contacts

Doctors come into contact with many people as the perform their tasks. They provide medical care to anyone in Camp Hope and require support from scavangers, bounty hunters and others to aquire the resources they need to conduct their research.
Roll twice on the Simic Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Simic Contacts table.

Culture

The focus at the hospital is maintaining and increasing the medical knowledge. Because of this focus, teaching and learning are a core part of the culture. Older doctors serve as mentors to younger doctors. While the younger doctors are expected to study for long hours. Research is highly valued.

Public Agenda

The primary public agenda is to maintain the medical knowledge of humanity. The secondary agenda is to find a cure for Sonohoka Syndrome. The first is primary only because it must be in place for the second to be successful.

Education

The Doctors go through a long and roboust educational program that they enter into as an adolescent and complete when they are 25 or 30 depending on how quickly they get through the material. After completing all the required learning material, they are granted their Doctorate in Medicine. After that they must complete their residency which is a three year hands on training program. The last step is a one year specialty training program.

It is the expectation that every Doctor will continue with life long learning. For there is always more to know. They are also expected to engage in life long teaching for there are alway those who wish to learn.

Restoring humanity.

General Biases

These are the biases that are generally held by members of the Farmers Guild.

Positive Bias

Favors Humans over other races.

Negative Biases

Considers The Awakened and The Others to be lesser races

Founding Date

13

Leader

Essence Timaios Kendal

Leader Title

Medical Director

Founders

• Barrett Kory Averill

Major Exports

The doctors provide medical treatments that are then exported to other camps. These exports can be in the way of medications or in education packets that other providers can learn from.

Major Imports

Due to the constant demand for research on Sonohoka Syndrome they are always looking for tissue samples from the infected. They are also interested in medical artifacts from the Before Time.

Location

Camp Hope

Related Ranks & Titles

• Medical Director

Controlled Territories

• Hope Hospital
• Medical Academy
• Medical Clinic

Notable Members

• Christine Louis Segers
• Emanuel Dougal Kendal
• Micha Simone Kendal
• Pene Susanna Kendal
• Stu Marley Kendal

Related Species

• Human

Related Plots

• Play Testing 1
• Tuner Hunt

Related Historical Events

• 13SE
  The Doctors were Founded

On Pain

And a woman spoke, saying, Tell us of Pain.
And he said:
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.
And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;
And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.
And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.
Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility:
For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,
And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.

-Kahlil Gibran

The virus has become our new God, our Maker. The one true God for it shall unmake us if we fail to put it before all other things.

-Hope's Purpose

Allies

The Scribes

100

The Doctors

100

The Scribes serve as the record keepers. They hold all the medical texts and learning materials that the Doctors need to learn their craft. Additionally, the Scribes keep copies of all the medical research that has been completed, making it available to future generations.

Allies

The Doctors

50

Church of Hope

50

They share in their religios views. Both factions are followers of The Maker. The Church of Hope worships the Maker while The Doctors strive to become its equal. Both factions consider Sonohoka Syndrome to be a test for humanity that must be endured to prove to the divine that humanity is worthy of ascending to godhood.

Neutral

Town Watch

0

The Doctors

0

Neutral

The Solstice Syndicate

0

The Doctors

-10

The Doctors do not approve of the drug use that the Solstice Syndicate promotes as they consider this to be behavior that is unhealthy. That being said, they generally do not have a political position against the Syndicate or have an investment in their actions. The Doctors simply provide education against drug use.

Neutral

The Farmers Guild

0

The Doctors

0

Neutral

The Doctors

0

Engineers

0

How Do I Fit In?

As a Doctor, your mission likely aligns with the Adaptationist philosophy; which places a priority on research. This means that regardless of which specialty you choose, you are still expected to perform research while performing your other duties. That might mean investigating new treatment options while serving as a Hospital Attendant. It could also mean researching the zombies while serving as a Field Medic. Or you could dedicate your career to research and the finding of the Cure as a Resercher.
Self-improvement is also an important part of your mission. Anything you can do to make yourself more capable — whether learning new information or installing more cybernetics — gives the Doctors a stronger weapon in its arsenal. Humans must change to survive, and that means individuas must grow and adapt as well.

Rank and Renown

The Doctors are a highly structured faction. They have divided their organization into tiers of responsibility and importance.

Rank 1: Medical student

• Prerequisite: Renown 1 with the Doctors.

As part of education and training, medical students work under supervision. Medical students can study a patient's diagnosis and stay up to date on the patient's treatments and recovery. They also perform hospital rotations as part of their schooling and may also take a patient's history and fill out paperwork that a resident or attending reviews and approves for accuracy.

• You gain access to the Medical Academy and are given a Medical Insignia.

Rank 2: Intern

• Prerequisite: Rank 1, Renown 3 with the Doctors, Medicine Skill +2 or more.

An intern is a recent graduate from the Doctorate program through the Medical Academy who in now in the three years of residency. Although interns cannot practice medicine without the supervision of an attending, they can take patient histories, perform examinations and meet with family members. They also perform certain medical procedures under supervision and observe the procedures of residents and attendings. They also attend seminars and clinical rounds, which is a method of teaching that includes presenting a patient's symptoms and treatments in a group forum.

• You gain access to Hope Hospital, You gain access to New Medical Library.

Special Rank: Chief Resident

• Prerequisite: Rank 2, Renown 5 with the Doctors, Medicine Skill +2 or more.

A chief resident is a senior resident who leads within the residency program. They oversee and direct the assignments of other residents in the program and also help train residents. They advocate for their residents within the hospital environment and may also organize seminars and learning opportunities for their residents. The chief resident will be in their last year of residency.

• You can call upon 1d4 Residents to help you in your research projects or other assignments. Use the following stat block for the Residents: with a +5 to medicine and investigation. They will not endanger themselves or break the law to assist you.
• You gain one additional contact from either contact table listed under the background section.

Rank 3: Fellow

• Prerequisite: Rank 2, renown 10 with the Doctors, Medicine Skill +4 or more.

A fellow is a doctor who has had three or more years of residency training and has accepted a fellowship to continue to train for their chosen medical path. This extra training will determine the general role that they will serve at the camp such as being a Field Medic, Hospital Attendant or Resercher. Fellows can consult on treatment plans while working closely with an attending physician who has completed their specialty training. Fellowships typically last a year and are very competitive.

• You are given a cybernetic implant to improve yourself. Select one of the following cybernetics: Cyberlink (connects only to Camp Hope computers without hacking), Focused Skill Implant, Knowledge Chip, Implanted Computer or Sensor Amplification.
• You gain one additional contact from either contact table listed under the background section.

Rank 4: Attending Physician

• Prerequisite: Rank 3, renown 15 with the Doctors, Medicine Skill +6 or more.

An attending physician is a fully trained physician with three or more years of residency training and has completed their specialty training. They handle the planning and execution of treatments for their patients. They also help train residents and interns. They are expected to contribute to society by researching either Zombies or ways to improve Humanity.

• You are eligible to oversee your own project. The hospital gives you laboratory space, and you have a staff of 3d12 researchers. Use the following stat block for the Researchers: with a +5 to medicine and investigation. You can have this staff work on projects for you, which can include researching a particular subject or gathering medical reference materials. You may add their bonus (+5) to your Investigation skill check when they are assisting you in this way.
• You are given another cybernetic implant to improve yourself. Choose one cybernetic implant from the Ultra Modern 5 source book.
• You gain one additional contact from either contact table listed under the background section.

Rank 5: Head of Department

• Prerequisite: Rank 4, renown 25 with the Doctors, Medicine Skill +6 or more.

At this point, there are three departments. One for each of the specialties. Given that much of the medical knowledge has been lost with the Fall, the current medical practice is focused on general practice rather then the specialties that existed before the Fall.

• You are given more support for your research. The hospital gives you laboratory space, and you have a staff of 5d12 researchers. Use the following stat block for the Researchers: with a +7 to medicine and investigation. You can have this staff work on projects for you, which can include researching a particular subject or gathering medical reference materials. You may add their bonus (+7) to your Investigation skill check when they are assisting you in this way.
• You are given another cybernetic implant to improve yourself. Choose one cybernetic implant from the Ultra Modern 5 source book.
• You gain one additional contact from either contact table listed under the background section.

Rank 6: Medical Director

• Prerequisite: Rank 5, renown 50 with the Doctors, Medicine Skill +6 or more, must be human or passing as human. The appointment criteria must also be met, see the Medical Director rank article.

A medical director is the highest level of a doctor, and they hold the most power and responsibility within the hospital. They coordinate and direct medical and health services for the entire facility. They supervise staff and conduct hiring and performance reviews. They train and mentor staff and update and enforce hospital policies, which include regulations, technology and healthcare laws. They are also in charge of the hospital's accounting and the general administration of the hospital.
In this role, you are advised — and ordered around — by the Board of Hope. You are in regular communication with the board members, who places you in charge of all major faction initiatives. You might be tasked with improving recruitment, developing a plan for dealing with Other or Awakened infiltration, or collaborating with the Bounty Hunters to improve aqusition of research samples.

• You are given more support for your research. The hospital gives you laboratory space, and you have a staff of 7d12 researchers. Use the following stat block for the Researchers: with a +10 to medicine and investigation. You can have this staff work on projects for you, which can include researching a particular subject or gathering medical reference materials. You may add their bonus (+10) to your Investigation skill check when they are assisting you in this way.
• You are given another cybernetic implant to improve yourself. Choose one cybernetic implant from the Ultra Modern 5 source book.
• You gain one additional contact from either contact table listed under the background section.

Hippocratic Oath

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:
I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.
I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures that are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.
I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.
I will not be ashamed to say "I know not", nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.
I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know.
Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty.
Above all, I must not play at being a god for I have not yet acheieved that greatness.
I will remember that I do not treat a fever, a chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.
I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.
I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.
If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.