Hey – I’m Evilbrennan from the Visual team. Let’s talk about my favourite identity in Elevation: BANGUN!
Agensi Pembangunan Pasca Bencana, better known as BANGUN, is a public company that started out as a search and rescue corporation. BANGUN disaster relief teams specialized in finding those lost at sea, and helping those endangered by natural (and man-made) disasters close to the shore.
South-East Asia is home to many island countries and BANGUN had their work cut out for them. Coastal erosion, landslides, flooding, earthquakes, and wildfires frequently batter the region, but BANGUN was there to answer the call. Taking to the air in their flying headquarters Vimāna, named after the mythological flying palaces, BANGUN hovers over disaster areas and launches rescue pods full of well-trained operators, equipment, survival supplies and medical aid.
However, after years of serving the public good, the executives at BANGUN started to look for opportunities to increase their margins. Keeping the equivalent of a small city in the air just waiting for disaster to strike wasn’t making the numbers go up in the way they wanted.
It started slowly. A few suspicious explosions, fires that started remarkably close to BANGUN’s competitors, people getting rescued but not coming home. Bit by bit, a former public company slowly shifted towards becoming something more sinister.
BANGUN isn’t what it used to be, and that’s by design.
Now they are a paramilitary force, dropping out of the clouds with the impact and gravity of a small moon to take those in danger away. Where are those people taken? And how did that disaster happen in the first place? Dangerous questions to ask – those that voice them in public might find themselves facing a disaster of their own.
Mechanically, BANGUN doesn’t care that you know where their agendas are. They want you to know. As soon as those tempting points hit the table, you’re welcome to go and scoop them up. But watch out: the next thing scooped up might be you.
In the past, Weyland’s faceup agendas were constructive, representing important public projects that delivered revenue or incorporated justified protection against malicious intrusion. Cards like City Works Project and Oaktown Renovation benefitted the Corp for investing in advancing them – but BANGUN isn’t here to rebuild or renovate. They’re here to tempt you. They’re here to say, “I dare you. It’s right here, go on and take it. There will be consequences”
The flying fortress Vimāna is brought to life by the talented artist Vitalii Ostaschenko. We wanted the sense of scale to be the main thing depicted here. Like another familiar Weyland mobile supercarrier, Vimāna is unimaginably massive. It’s hard to believe it can take to the skies; the people on the street surrounding the rescue pod are dwarfed in comparison. Perhaps they are starting to wonder if they really want to be saved.
But that’s not the point. What they want doesn’t matter. BANGUN is here. Soon, you won’t be.
BANGUN: When Disaster Strikes
Weyland Consortium Identity: Corp
Minimum Deck Size: 45 – Influence: 15
You may install agendas faceup. (This does not make their abilities active.)
Whenever the Runner accesses a faceup installed agenda, do 2 meat damage and give the Runner 1 tag.
We’ll be there.
Illustrated by Vitalii Ostaschenko
BANGUN: When Disaster Strikes
As part of OSEAN’s efforts to fund the Mahkota Langit, many government-owned companies were sold to corporate interests. Among those was the Agensi Pembangunan Pasca Bencana, renamed BANGUN by its adopted parent company.
At one time, BANGUN had been Indonesia’s disaster response agency, supporting victims and rebuilding communities in the aftermath of tragedy. Thankfully, and with the efficiency to be expected of a privatized public service, BANGUN now arrives even before disaster strikes.
Illustrated by Olie Boldador, Anna Butova
Join us in Kota Kalimantan when Elevation releases on April 24th 2025!
