Netbounds

Netbounds, like all undeads of the Informatic variant, were only documented after the internet was invented, and like the other Informatic ghosts, grew in number as the internet became more entrenched in human society.

They are the ghosts of various people trapped in the internet, bounded to the servers of their most used social media account. The don't usually pose a threat to human society, but this will vary depending on the individual Netbound.

Several organisations like the various National Agencies have task forces meant to identify them and offer functional ones a choice. They could be unconditionally freed, "freed", but they have to work for the organisation that freed them, or be killed or euthanised. The dysfunctional ones are typically killed-on-sight to save everyone the trouble.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Netbounds are anchored to the server their most used social media account is on. Destroying the server will result in the slaying of the Netbound if they were not freed beforehand, but attempting it when the server belongs to big companies like Facebook, Twitter or Discord is difficult unless you are a powerful Initiate or part of a powerful Initiate organisation.

Genetics and Reproduction

The full details of how one becomes a Netbound is unknown. The only thing Initiates know for sure is that prior to death, a living person needs to have an active social media account. This is not the only requirement as not everyone with a Facebook account becomes a Netbound upon death, but it is the only one that researchers into the Netbounds as a phenomenon can verify beyond reasonable doubt.

Growth Rate & Stages

Overtime and depending on the circumstances of the individual Netbound, it is possible for them to transform into other types of Incorporeal Undeads if they do not die (again) before then.

The best case scenario for a Netbound is for a benevolent individual or organisation to free them from the server they're trapped in and convert them into a different type of undead, one allowing them to act more freely than they could as Netbounds.

A less ideal but potentially still acceptable scenario is when a Netbound is found by a less benevolent individual or organisation. Their offer of freedom will come with strings attached, but lonelier Netbounds might accept the offer anyway.

The worst case scenario happens when a Netbound's loneliness becomes too much for it. In this case, they would allow themselves to join the hivemind of a Collective, making the Collective more powerful. Preventing this is why National Agencies find it worthwhile to track down Netbounds and stop them from making a Collective stronger.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Netbounds don't require any sustenance as such, but for them to interact with the world, the server they're bounded to needs a power supply and an internet connection.

Behaviour

In terms of behaviour, Netbounds have demonstrated several broad patterns.

The first pattern is that they freak out over their circumstances before proceeding to cause problems in their panicked state. If they were a non-Initiate prior to death, it is almost guaranteed that the Netbound will panic, and have a high chance of causing a panic in others.

The second pattern is that they behave as they did or would in life, typically after an adjustment period that will vary depending on the individual Netbound. They may or may not maintain a facade of still being alive to their Initiate or non-Initiate acquaintances.

The third pattern is that they become lonely, which happens if their most used social media account is from a relatively small website that falls out of use as its living members move on while the Netbound can't. These Netbounds exhibit more desperation for human contact and are more vulnerable to manipulation, and are easy targets for a Collective to absorb into their hivemind.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

For as long as they are bounded to their account's server, Netbounds can only really interact with the world through the functionalities of their social media account.

Netbounds

Summary

Type: Undead
Subtype: Incorporeal/Informatic
Status: Tolerated [With Exceptions]
Estimated Numbers: N/A
Censor's Veil: Temporarily Uncensored.

Alignment

Creator Power: N/A
Alignment Status: Varied
Sanity Damage: N/A
Corporeal Stability: N/A
Magic: N/A

Combat

Combat Behaviour: Varied
Threat Level: Varied
Physical Damage: Vulnerable
Magical Damage: Vulnerable
Glyphs: Vulnerable
Notable Weaknesses: N/A