Shard
Shard is a term associated with various elements in the Cyberpunk universe, particularly in relation to the character V and their experiences in Cyberpunk 2077.
Character Overview
V is a mercenary involved in events during the year 2077 and is the playable protagonist of Cyberpunk 2077. Character customization includes selecting a gender, with players able to choose between three Lifepaths: Nomad, Streetkid, or Corpo. Each Lifepath starts in a different location around Night City and affects dialogue options and unlocks specific side quests. Character customization also includes options for breasts and genitalia, and players can pick between a masculine and feminine voice. V has one out of three backgrounds based on their chosen Lifepath, having grown up in the American wilderness as part of the Bakkers nomad family.
Background and Early Life
V made their first kill at the age of 16, killing a Raffen Shiv scout with a single shot to the eye. V left their family after it merged with Snake Nation and made contact with Jackie Welles to smuggle Arasaka contraband. After a series of events, including getting their car repaired and crossing the border, V and Jackie discovered they were smuggling a living iguana. Jackie offered to help V set up in Night City and split their profit from selling the iguana.
Corporate Life and Downfall
V was raised in a corpo family from Charter Hill, Night City, and enlisted into the Arasaka Corporation. V became a high-ranking counterintelligence operative agent in the Arasaka Tower of Night City, completing multiple operations over two years. However, V was stripped of their corporate status and deactivated their implants after being targeted by Jenkins, leading to a life of mercenary work alongside Jackie.
The Heist and Aftermath
V was contacted by Dexter DeShawn for a job to steal a Relic from Yorinobu Arasaka. The heist involved retrieving a Flathead from the Maelstrom gang and ultimately led to a confrontation where Yorinobu murdered his father, Saburo Arasaka. Following a series of violent events, including being shot by DeShawn and dumped in a landfill, V was resurrected by the Relic, which began overriding their consciousness with an engram of Johnny Silverhand.
Existential Crisis and Choices
V learned that the Relic was permanently connected to their neural system and faced an existential crisis, with only a short time left to live. The engram of Johnny Silverhand demanded V to commit suicide, leading to V taking pills given by Misty. V's journey continued as they navigated their connection to Johnny and the implications of their choices.
Conclusion
V's story is intertwined with themes of identity, survival, and the consequences of choices in a dystopian world. The character of V was unveiled at the E3 2018 show, and players were introduced to a rich narrative experience in Night City.
Referencie
- ↑ . n.d. V (character).
- ↑ . n.d. Song So Mi.
- ↑ . n.d. Gig: Treating Symptoms.
- ↑ . n.d. Birds with Broken Wings.
- ↑ . n.d. Gig: Family Heirloom.