An Egyptian setting of dystopian tech, gods, and monsters for the :Otherscape Mythic Cyberpunk RPG + Neuro:OS, a cyberspace expansion
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Start playing Defying Death - the Egypt setting campaign!
5 months ago
– Fri, Apr 24, 2026 at 09:19:04 AM
Hello there clones of Egyptian deities!
It's been two weeks and you're due for an update from us, so let's dig in!
Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy v0.4 is sending out!
During these two weeks, work continued on Cairo and we are happy to add 4 out of the 6 Jobs of Defying Death, the Egypt setting campaign, to the playtesting copy.
This updated version of the Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy is now being sent out to backers via DriveThruRPG.
Jobs 5 and 6 will be added to the playtesting copy in a future update.
If you spot typos or any other mistakes, or if you have any other feedback for us, please let us know on the Discord threads below:
If you did not get your copy, or if you ran into any issues with receiving content updates, please reach out to [email protected] .
Release highlights
If you are planning to play Defying Death as a player, you might want to skip ahead to the "Next Release" section of this update as there are potential spoilers ahead!
An iso-map of the Djed building, the Ennead's HQ, from Job #6
Chapter 5 - Defying Death
Defying Death is a six Job campaign for Cairo:Otherscape in which the crew explore the Cairo Megacity, wade through the vast social tapestry of Egypt, encounter many dangerous foes, and try to thwart the nefarious plans of an Ennead exec seeking to become immortal.
JOB #1: DEAD CHANNEL
A downtown investigation goes off the rails. Dead Channel is a neo-noir investigative scenario in which the crew looks into a recent murder in Downtown Cairo. Under the glow of neon, the PCs meet a varied array of locals and may even broker a bit of peace between two gangs, before facing the murderer in cinematic combat deep below the Megacity.
JOB #2: THE KNOCKOFF
On the hunt for a master imitator who cannot be replaced. Seeking and melding souls appropriate for an Avatar takes a lot of work, but perhaps another possibility exists. What if a soul could be copied or forged, allowing a single powerful soul to aid several would-be immortals in their quest?
JOB #3: LOST AN EYE
Ancient ruins, judgement and rebellion, and high payload missiles. Lost an Eye sees the crew enter an ancient temple of Horus to secure an ancient protective artifact, facing off against the Red Mercury Company in an abandoned mall in Damanhour.
JOB #4: KNOWLEDGE BURNS
An anything-but-peaceful visit to the streets of Alexandria. The crew make their way up to the district of Alexandria where they must navigate the narrow alleys of a souq, harness themselves to the old Library of Alexandria (now uploaded to cyberspace!), and confront Ennead goons atop the newly-built Pharos Lighthouse.
---
The two Jobs that conclude the Defying Death campaign will be added to the playtesting copy at a later date. Here's a short brief of what they contain.
JOB #5: THE OASIS HEIST
A high-stakes heist where nothing is as it seems. The Oasis Heist is a high-stakes incursion into the manor of an ultra-wealthy artifact collector in one of the most secure parts of the Cairo Megacity. It is up to the crew to get into the estate, steal a priceless artifact, and get out – but nothing is as it seems.
JOB #6: RETURN OF OSIRIS
The dead and returned god comes back once more. At the culmination of Defying Death, the crew must face the Ennead exec who's striving for Avatarhood and immortality, while watching their back from a potential betrayal by a previously-trusted ally.
The next release
Our next update will be two weeks from now on May 8th. On that update we'll aim to release the remaining two jobs from Chapter 5. Other sections that we hope to already share with you then are the Ways of Magic section from Chapter 2, and a small vendors subsection at the end of Chapter 3, which adds more loadout catalogue items to the book.
-----
That's it for today - see you in the next one!
- Omer and the Son of Oak team
Another update to the Cairo Playtesting Copy!
6 months ago
– Fri, Apr 10, 2026 at 09:29:30 AM
Hey there desert nomads tormented by mischievous Jinn and sinister Akhu!
Two weeks have passed and it's time for another update from us. Let's get straight to it!
Some beautiful pre-rendered character art by Isago Fukuda
Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy v0.3 is sending out!
Work continued on Chapter 3: Akhu Database, which hosts common Challenges of Egypt that your players might be confronted with in your games. Along with Ifrit and Jinn, Akhu spirits and monsters, these Challenges include magical sandstorms, crumbling temple ruins, and more.
We've added this chapter to the Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy which is now being sent out to backers via DriveThruRPG.
A small subsection from this chapter titled "Akhu Vendors & Goods" is still due for a final pass and will be added in a future update.
This update already includes some fixes to typos, updated faction logos in chapter 4, and other general corrections. If you spot typos or any other mistakes, or if you have any other feedback for us, please let us know on the Discord threads below:
But here are a few choice spreads from this chapter:
Play :Otherscape on Roll20!
If you're itching to play :Otherscape online, you can now do it over on Roll20!
When you create a new game, just pick out the :Otherscape character sheet from the drop-down menu:
Choosing this will unlock the following :Otherscape features for your game:
Character Sheets: include all the current themes and theme types, Loadout and Crew themes, and Essences.
Challenge Profiles: contain everything you need to create Challenge profiles for any adversary, monster, or event.
Tracking Cards: great for tracking your statuses, tags, and story tags, and can be set to positive or negative depending on how they affect your roll. This feature follows the highest status rule and tags can be burnt for a hit.
Go Out in a Blaze: automatically calculates your total themes for Self, Mythos, or Noise for Go Out in a Blaze.
An example of a filled Character Sheet, Tracking Cards for statuses and tags, and the dice roller
An example of a filled Challenge Profile
The next release
Our next update will be two weeks from now on April 24th. On that update we'll aim to release at least some of Chapter 5, which is the Cairo campaign titled Defying Death - six interconnected Jobs that see the players exploring the Cairo Megacity, wading through the vast social tapestry of Egypt, encountering many dangerous foes, and trying to thwart the nefarious plans of an Ennead exec seeking to become immortal.
Timeline estimate
With the current pace we're estimating a full digital release of Cairo around the end of May or start of June, and Neuro during June/July. We'll continue to keep you posted if anything changes in regards to our expected fulfillment timeline.
-----
That's it for today - see you in the next one!
- Omer and the Son of Oak team
Challenges for Cairo Chapter 3: Akhu Database being finalized!
6 months ago
– Fri, Mar 27, 2026 at 07:47:37 AM
Hey there harnessed mercs quizzed by crypto sphynxes!
During these last couple of weeks work continued on both Cairo and Neuro and we're happy to announce that, other than one Job that is still being written, writing for the Cairo book is essentially done!
After this Job is fully written, our writers will be able to fully concentrate on writing the remaining portions of Neuro. We'll start sharing parts of Neuro after we finish releasing the Cairo Playtesting Copy in its entirety.
While we hoped that Chapter 3: Akhu Database would be ready to be shared this week, dev has not yet released it for layout as they're still tweaking to make sure that all Challenges in this chapter walk the fine line of being mechanically interesting, well-balanced, representative of the Egypt setting, and most importantly, cool and fun to use (as an MC) or encounter (as a player)!
Chapter 3: Akhu Database
Here's a short summary of some of the things you'll find between the pages of Chapter 3 of the Cairo setting book:
The Akhu and the Jinn
Ahku is a catch-all term used by the people of Cairo for evil spirits and supernatural threats. It includes ghosts and other dead who haunt the living, as well as demons of Duat, and mythological monstrosities.
Jinn are magical beings whose personalities and appearance aren’t that much different from those of humans, but they are spirits able to transform into animals and create various magical effects. They exist both within the real world and in cyberspace.
You've previously encountered Jinn in Chapter 2, where we detail how your players can portray Jinn characters. In Chapter 3 we provide you with examples of Jinn as Challenges which can be encountered both in meatspace and in cyberspace.
Megacity Adversaries
The Challenges that you'll encounter in this section are divided between the following categories:
CYBERSPACE AKHU
CURSED LOCALES
FEARSOME AKHU
SOCIAL PHENOMENA AKHU
NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE
STREET ENCOUNTERS
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Power Sets
This sub-section provides you with ways of turning any encounter or adversary (from the Metro book or elsewhere) using Self, Mythos, and Noise power sets, into something befitting a Cairo Megacity Challenge.
Akhu Vendors & Goods
A list of hard-to-reach or hard-to-find suppliers of unique gear and items, enchanted by gods or tainted by Akhu, or are sold by supernatural beings.
In this section you'll find items that can be procured from the following:
Riah - a Jinn of the trade winds
Statue-Mart - an ushabti-run corner store
Shemsu-Heru Cafe - a tea shop run by near-Avatars
Abqarino's Truck - a salvaged technology vendor
Some more iso-maps
Work doesn't only continue with writing but also with art, where we're commissioning more and more beautiful pieces from various artists. You can expect to see more art from people who've previously created for :Otherscape, such as lead character artist Isago Fukuda or chapter cover artist Daniel Liang.
Though you are very familiar with her exquisite work on Legend in the Mist, we're happy to say that Cairo and Neuro will be the first :Otherscape books to feature some of Alejandra Pinal's incredible art!
Another newcomer to :Otherscape, we've previously shared two of his iso-maps that will be featured in the Cairo campaign Jobs. Here are a few more of these lovely creations by Rodrigo Artuso, who will also be creating the battle maps for the :Otherscape Scene Maps and Tokens accessory.
Created for Job #4 - Sometimes, the knowledge you seek is guarded
Created for Job #5 - What might you find in the basement of an Egyptian mansion?
The next update
Our next update will be two weeks from now on April 10th. We're quite confident that we'll be able to update the Cairo Playtesting Copy by then with Chapter 3: Akhu Database.
After Chapter 3 is added to the Cairo Playtesting Copy we'll work on finalizing and releasing Chapter 5, which contains the Cairo campaign - 6 interconnected Jobs that see the players exploring many districts of the Cairo Megacity, wading through the vast social tapestry of Egypt, encountering many dangerous foes, and trying to thwart the nefarious plans of an Ennead exec seeking to become immortal.
-----
That's it for today - see you in the next one!
- Omer and the Son of Oak team
Chapter 2 of Cairo added to Playtesting Copy!
7 months ago
– Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 09:38:02 AM
Hey there midnight smugglers of ancient and mythical wares!
Two weeks have passed and it's time for another update from us. Let's get straight to it!
Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy v0.2 is sending out!
During these last couple of weeks we continued to refine Chapter 2: Khopesh & Shield, which focuses on creating characters or tailoring them to fit the Cairo:Otherscape setting and gives your players a trove of new options for themekits, loadout catalogue items, new specials, and more.
We've added this chapter to the Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy, which is now being sent out to backers!
The Ways of Magic subsection is still being crafted and will be added in a future update. We've decided to give it some extra care to make sure we get it just right.
If you spot typos or any other mistakes, or if you have any other feedback for us, please let us know on the Discord threads below:
But here are some choice spreads from this chapter:
Use Cairo Character Tropes to rapidly create new characters for the Egypt setting.
Choose from dozens of new setting-appropriate themekits for Self, Mythos, and Noise.
Load up on guns, ammo, and even source-touched items with the Cairo Street Catalogue.
The next release
Our next update will be two weeks from now on March 27th. On that update we're hoping to release Chapter 3: Akhu Database, which focuses on Challenges for the Egypt setting book.
We'll continue to refine the Ways of Magic subsection from Chapter 2 and if we feel that it's ready then it will also be included in the next update.
Timeline estimate
We recently had a dev meeting to discuss progress in writing, production of art, and our planned digital release schedule. If everything continues in its current pace, we're on track to finish both books before the end of May with a digital release in early to mid June.
We will continue to keep you posted if anything changes in regards to our expected fulfillment timeline.
-----
That's it for today - see you in the next one!
- Omer and the Son of Oak team
Crafting of Cairo Chapter 2: Khopesh & Shield continues!
7 months ago
– Thu, Feb 26, 2026 at 08:09:30 AM
Hey there high-copy pseudo-celebs!
In these last couple of weeks we've continued working on both Cairo and Neuro, and while we're not yet ready to update the Cairo Playtesting Copy with new materials -- there are still a few kinks that our dev team is tinkering with -- we did want to give you a sneak peak of some of the things you'll find in Cairo Chapter 2: Khopesh & Shield.
Chapter 2: Khopesh & Shield
Cairo Character Tropes
Here are some examples of Cairo character tropes your crew might feature:
Scorpion King - An assassin with expertise in deadly and crippling poisons, you’ve been so exposed to deadly chemicals that you’ve grown immune to most. Few are as deadly as you and people in the know start to take notice – out of respect, or fear. Soon others will be coming to you for contract jobs or just to see if the tales of your deadliness can stand the text.
Hookah Lounge Host - Hookah lounges form a crucial role for merc work in Cairo. You and your family own one such lounge, where jobs can be planned and Cyberspace runs can be accomplished amid ample seating and a chill atmosphere. Sure your Harness rigs are cobbled together, but you think of yourself as the ultimate host, making sure everyone is comfortable and safe, with gear that’s suitable for their needs.
High-Copy Pseudo-Celeb - You deserve only the best, but you have to settle for best-looking. You’ve developed an endorsement deal with Helmi Electronics, a first step in your cybercelebrity journey toward greatness. You’re surrounded by flimsy, cheap, but amazing-looking knockoffs, to suit your almost-famous lifestyle and impress the viewers. As you keep saying to yourself, this shallow facade is, of course, nothing like your rich and multilayered soul.
New themekits
Cairo features dozens of new themekits for Self, Noise, and Mythos, here's a taste of what you'll find there:
Mercenary Subculture [AFFILIATION] - You’ve ensconced yourself in Cairo’s merc scene, which is centered around certain hookah bars and night clubs. You know who’s who in the merc world and you’re tapped into the apps and fixers who can get you a Job when you need one. Cairo is home to many of the best mercs in the world, serving as a hub for international crews, so you’re well placed to keep ascending as a professional if you do your job and don’t get yourself killed.
Powerful Soul [EXPOSURE] - Some part of your soul, one of the pieces identified by the ancient Egyptians, is much stronger than that of other people. This manifests in your own unique way, depending on the part that is supernaturally strong (New Source Type: Aspect Of The Soul). This powerful soul can be a burden, causing you to stand out from the crowd and potentially making you a target of the Ennead who seek out such souls.
Aghzal Farady Cloak [AUGMENTATION] - Wearing complex and beautiful fabrics, interwoven with copper wires, you have become an expert on cloaking yourself from signals. You can keep your devices from being tracked or leaving digital fingerprints on Nearspace networks, keep others from hacking your gear and cybernetics, and scramble any outgoing communications. This has its drawbacks, as you are often cut off from comms, drones, and other tech.
Loadout: Cairo Street Catalog
The streets of the Cairo Megacity are home to some of the best markets in the world, here are some of the wares (or favors) you might find there:
Ear of the Sheik El-Hara - Someone has spoken well of you to the Sheik El-Hara, the neighborhood elder. You can meet with them or invoke their authority in local matters, within reason.
CairoTrail - A leaked government database of official and colloquial names, as well as aliases and known addresses. As many residents change and hide their birth names in Cairo (for fear of Jinn and Cairo-OS), this can be critical in tracking people down.
Timsah Lungs - Developed for Timsah workers for underwater construction applications, these lungs allow for underwater breathings and extract magical energies from the Nile and its branches to empower the user’s body and soul.
What do you think this gizmo is?
Ways of Magic
For the first time in use in :Otherscape, and successfully adapted from Legend in the Mist, Chapter 2 of the Cairo setting book will feature Egypt-specific Ways of Magic, to help your table explore the Egyptian magic system of Hekau.
While the basic game elements of :Otherscape – themes, tags, statuses, etc. – already support a wide variety of general spellcasting, you can think of Ways of Magic as a useful framework to help you facilitate these fantastical powers and abilities and to make them come to life during gameplay, providing you with a distinct way to interact with the specifics of Egyptian magic.
This subchapter will explore Egyptian alchemy, astrology, hieroglyphics, and even memetics (Sebayt Memes, as explored in chapter 4).
Cairo/Neuro Dice Update
Work also continues on the physical production front, where we just received our shiny new Cairo Self dice. Previously, we shared a failed at attempt at capturing the essence of the Self "Sand" dice, but now we think that we have it!!
Feast your eyes on this beauty!
The Self Sand die joins its siblings of Mythos and Noise to form a set that we think will grace your Cairo or Neuro :Otherscape game table for many a session!
Here's a reminder of what the other two look like, followed by the original mockup from the Kickstarter campaign.
Original mockup from the Kickstarter campaign
The next update
Our next update will be two weeks from now on March 13th. We're very confident that we'll be able to update the Cairo Playtesting Copy by then with Chapter 2: Khopesh & Shield.
After Chapter 2 is added to the Playtesting Copy we'll be aiming to release Chapter 3: Akhu Database next. This chapter focuses on Challenges for the Egypt setting book -- magical, cyber, and mundane!
