With an engrossing, open galaxy and diverse storytelling, this is the dark, gritty and original Sci-Fi epic...
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The Frontier Colonies, not under Imperative jurisdiction. The Void Settlements, conflicted alliances. The Core Worlds, home of the Imperative..
Disclaimer : This map only charts the notable worlds, there are hundreds of populated planets.
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Salvation When mankind suddenly found themselves isolated at the center of an uncharted galaxy, chaos curled it's maniacal fingers around their minds. The Collapse bred confusion and hatred, loss and grief and nearly contributed to the extinction of our race. But in our time of pure desperation, when we neared our breaking point. We found a world. Before we utilised our technology to terraform worlds for our needs, we found one already suitable. A place with Earthen qualities. We found Salvation. The first planet to be colonised by our new civilisation, under the guidance of the newly formed Imperative. We built Drones capable of building skyscrapers within days, mining resources from it's nearby twin moons.
Within a decade we transformed an Earth-like planet, into a city world. An ecuminopolis, it's surface entirely covered in endless levels of skyscrapers jutting up from the planets core, to reach the stars themselves. It became the center of politics, the core of the Imperative military and all other Imperative branches. It is the seat of the governemnts Ascendancy. It is arguably the capital of the entire galaxy.
Syberia The moment mankind arrived in uncharted space is now dated as 0 A.E, as a new dating system that was introduced by newly assigned historians. The current date is 2012 A.E. The first planet to be terraformed after the colonisation of Salvation and a sharp rise the populated due to neccesary new births, was Syberia. Due to complications with the newly designed terraforming drones, Syberia along with another world that was terraformed at the time, Athos, suffered complications. Due to the nature of it's complication, Syberia is stuck in perpetual dusk. Causing all sorts of geographical complications that the population have been forced to adhere to.
That said, Syberia is known for it's corporate assets, being a central location for companies with intrests in robotics, ship design and the mining colonies that litter the Void. The galacitc stock market is also present on Syberia, to the behest of the politicians and beauracrats living on Salvation.
Athos While Syberia is a slave to constant dusk, Athos is secluded in perpetual shadow. It takes years for the sun to orbit the planet due to gravitational complications with the terraformers as they tracked stars and moons necessary for sustaining life, the speed of the star tends to speed up during daytime, resulting in one day of sunshine every few years. The longest period of light lasted one week, to the behest of the people living there who have grown acustom to the darkness. Athos is quite a distance from the central planets in the Core and it's notoriety as a planet ridden within crime is known throughout the galaxy, given it's connections to various high-level crime organisations. Such as the Syndicate, the Black Star, the Solemnites and the Void Crime Lords.
Slavery has even been known to rear it's ugly head in the Athos underworld, despite it being outlawed in the Core.
Lantern To call Lantern in the 'Land of Leisure', is an understatement. The city world boasts the largest number of casinos, hotels, bars, nightclubs and resorts in the entirety of the Core and possibly the galaxy. Contracted by corporate interests to cater to the upper class of the Core, credit prices are extremely high and nigh unaffordable for the middle class of galactic society. Lantern is unique in the Core in that it has no Imperative Embassy at all, it is instead policed by corporate interests as they hire out mercenaries and security firms to manage their establishments.
Osiris Osirs caters to the social elite just as Lantern does, albeit for a more specific requirement, that of education. Some of the finest schools and universities call Osiris home, with their entry requirements threatening to keep their students isolated in classrooms with very little students. Their policies have become somewhat lax as of late given corproate funding outside of the Imperative, they have begun to accept citizens outside of the Imperative if they pass a required exam.
None have passed the examination, leading to an uproar among Non-Imperative citizens. There is also believed to be a racist and speciesest attitude towards the subhuman Alternates and Ciphers now prevlant in our new society, these rumours have been denied at every oppurtunity by the academics who call Osiris home.
New Heights New Heights is unique in that once a city was first established, no efforts were made to transform the entire world into a city planet. Vast oceans and deserts seperate large city scapes from one another, cities that appear primitive and small in comparison to the gargantuan worlds also situated within the Core. Theories abound as to the reason behind this sudden stop in buildings prospects, the most popular of which is that something was discovered beneath the surface of the deserts and oceans. Some believe it to be treasure, but others have more extreme theories.
Aether Fuel, that is the aim of Aether, mass production on an enormous scale. Given the mining of Aethelium in the Void territories, the precious substance must then be converted into a suitable form of matter so that it can be used in the fusion engines utilised to power space faring and orbital vessels. FTL (Faster than Light) drives are the only known form of long distance transport outside of sublight engines for manouevering vessels short distances. Utilising the power of fusion triggered by the Aethelium element, the engines cause an enormous explosion that then thrusts the desired object great distances. Capable pilots are required to pull off these sorts of manouvers as navigation is extremely difficult and without the proper calculations could result in a vessel catapulting straight into the center of a star, or result in being swallowed by a black hole.
Aether is built almost entirely in stone, as the factories used to convert Aethelium can become increasingly hot. Most offworlders mock Aether for it's perpetual stink due to the nature of it's facotories and working citizenry.
Trust Trust was the first world in the central territories not to undergo the entire process of transforming a suitable planet into a city-world capable of housing the increasing population of human life. Discussions began amongst the Imperative hierarchy, raising points that not all of the worlds should be immediately colonised by the populace but utilised for varying purposes. This was triggered by a bombardment of asteroids that occured for a number of years, reportedly due to the annihilation of a nearby planet triggered by a solar flare. After the storm subsided, propositions were called off and citizens were forced to colonise an abandoned world.
The size of it's cities are but a cell of light compared to the ocean of skyscrapers on Salvation, Siberia or Athos.
Glacier Glacier is a recently discovered world that has not undergone the terraforming process despite it's atmosphere that is suitable for human life, these planets are usually refered to as 'Rare Worlds'. It's entire surface is covered in ice and snow, thanks to it's unique core at the center of the planet. It's surface is currently being explored by archaeoligists due to the fact it may have been visited during the collapse. This scanning of the planet has become common thanks to the dicovery of thousand year old tombs riddled throughout the galaxy, built by the first humans to arrive in 0 A. E.
Constance The Core's first combination of a farming and mining world, Constance does not contain any quantities of Aethelium but does however contain a large stockpile of precious weapons for use in building ships, buildings and other pieces of technology integral to society. These resources are usually shipped to planets like Judas in order to build ships for the Imperative or private corporations for the selling of goods to regular citizens with ship permits.
Constance is integral to the exporting and crafting of goods in the Central systems.
Eden The surface of Eden is a combination of vast cityscapes and fields of Drone monitored grass and plant life, it's gardens are a source of tourism for Eden society, given the price of admission to these unique landmarks. As if it's unique plant life weren't enough of an excuse to visit the planet, Eden also plays host to the galaxies for Pinnacle Stations.
Pinnacles are large pyramid hubs built for the purpose of leisure and recreation. Patrons can pay large sums of money to enter the beautiful landmarks to take part in an enormous network of virtual reality systems. The Pinnacle operates through the Cortex, the information network that connects everyone in the Core and Void worlds via wireless broadcasts. Information is key in the Pinnacle Stations. Realities vary from attempts to recreate historical points in what little we know of Earth's history, or to War game scenarios were patrons can kill one another without harm.
Judas If you own a ship, if you've ever seen an FTL drive or you've ever heard of Aethelium, than you're aware that all of those things have most likely graced the surface of Judas. The world is an entire factory, constantly building, repairing and dismantling machines via massive city sized drones operating enormous cranes, inanimate machines and tools. Judas has contracts with everyone from independant merchants in the Frontier, mining colonies in the Void and even the Imperative Military and Political institutions.
They recently released a new model of FTL drive that has been known to explode or rupture if fed with too much Aethelium, investigators are currently looking into the matter on Judas.
Royal Prime Royal Prime used to supply most if not all of the other technology required for basic living in the galaxy, but due to a chemical rupture in one of the worlds largest factories, the planet was abandoned for many years. In the last few decades the world has been colonised with refugees fleeing the Void from pirates and other reported threats. It has been described as a planet sized abandoned warehouse, populated by scared mice and manipulative cats.
Monarchy Monarchy is known for the manufacturing of wepaons and defensive systems throughout it's sector but especialy the manufacture of drones, some of it's factories even working out of half of it's dozen moons. Companies have been known to trade with criminals however, to the behest of Imperative leaders who have been known to finance the interests of Monarchy engineers. They build everything from jetpacks, blasters, concussion grenades, biological weapons, EMP's and shielding for vessels.
Monarchy technologies are highly sought after commodities due to their quality and ease of purchase for independant patrons.
Krimson To say Krimson is a widely loved world by the galaxy is an understatemnt as it's surface is currently occupied by some of the largest sporting events known to man, the most popular of which are it's racing ciruits. Those brave enough throughout the galaxy can enter their personal Speeders into organised circuits, built throughout the surface of the planet. Some of which vary from tunneling through buildings, underground, under a designated plot of ocean and even through areas of volcanic activity.
Racers must dodge everything from attack drones, obstacles and whatever else wanders onto the track. The veterans of Speeder Circuits are even allowed weaponry and defense systems for higher level circuits. Winnings for these contests are legendary, with people even winning Ships. Gambling is also a large source of income for the people of Krimson.
Amazon Tombs of the first men are rare finds throughout the galaxy, but their existence simply cannot be denied. Given the Collapse, many were left on terraformered planets without the technology to craft a world around them, and thus they were left to build with basic materials they could find amidst the dirt, wood, water and stone. Archaeoligists have described these tombs as integral to our society, given the fact our connection from what we deem as our homeworld, has been completely cut off, the tombs are our only culturual signifiers.
Ancient treasures are said to be buried amongst them, but their paths are rocky and treacherous. Amazon is a jungle world, littered with history and rich with the potential for discovery. Private instituions are currently in a war of words with the Imperative over who should have the oppurtunity to explore the uncharted structures.
Rome One of - if not the - most isolated mining station in the entire galaxy, Rome has had a sordid history. Noone is entirely sure who originally built the structure, buried halfway through an enormous asteroid, given the fact it's occupants have regularly changed. It is currently occupied by scientists from Osiris, along with a military detail of hired mercenaries. They currently investigating attacks on the stations Aethelium deposits, but they have yet to discover the identity of the perpetrators.
Spirit The worship of Earth is a movement concerned with nothing but the truest of concerns, our origins. Thus the name of the religion was given that fitting name, Origin. Members of the Order of Origin are concerned only with examining why we were removed from Earth, if we were at all, they are not interested in the how. Temples are commonplace throughout the galaxy, except for the Frontier where there are dozens if not hundreds of belief systems. Origin has had enormous funding afforded to it by corporate entities and Imperative officials, given the message of harmony it claims to convey. But Origin has come under fire in recent days, because of their outlook towards augmentation.
Ciphers, Alternates and Drones are not welcome in the church. Many have gone missing after attempting to enter Spirit's atmosphere, arguably the capital of the Origin belief system. Yet no evidence of foul play has been found.
Tibet Tibet is ruled by crime, to say otherwise is to be a slave to delusion. Noone is exactly sure how the Void Crime Lords managed to usurp the Imperative from Tibetan power, but some believe it was via faux corporations and shady back room handshakes. Power can make or break a society after all, and Tibet is the prime example of what happens when the power of money is left in the hands of people who are slaves to it. The Void Crime lords are organised, methodical and relentless, contracting some of the highest level criminals to orchestrate their goals.
Smuggling, rape, murder, theft and fraud, all are connected to the whims of the rulers of Tibet. The Imperative is well aware that the only viable method they can use to rid themselves of the Void Crime Lords would be through a military manouver, something they don't seem willing to risk as of yet.
Oasis An experimental process was carried out by terraforming Drones under the guidance of disgruntled scientists operating out of Judas. They needed to test the effects of submergance on their deep-space craft, thus the desicion was made to terraform an entire world for this purpose. After building large facilities to carry out their tests, populations began flocking to the established settlement, eventually resulting in civilian occupancy of Oasis. It is now the only occupied world fully submerged in ocean, with absolutely no landmasses whatsoever.
Promise Formerly a world rife with volcanic activity and perpetual storms, Promise is a world currently under the process of being transformed into a City-Wide planet by the Primer Initiative, a corporation dealing with architectural construction and drone manufacture. It is the only world currently undergoing the process. It is occupied only by workers, scientists and Drones, there are no civilians allowed whatsoever.
Newfoundland (Scum Haven) Newfoundland was supposed to be one of the Imperative's shining examples of simple living for those who desired it in the early days of their government, but once piracy began raping planets and their populace for resources, it fell victim to their desires. It is now a haven for the most villainous and scum ridden folks in the entire galaxy, ruled over by warring bands of pirates, insane convicts, mutated Phreaks, Cipher extremists and cannibalistic bandits. Due to the nature of their interests, the entire world has fallen into dissaray, as they use primitve technologies such as oil powered machines to survive. The atmosphere has become heavily polluted as a result.
Slavery is as normal as breathing to the people of Newfoundland, or Scum Haven as it has come to be known.
Violet Contracted for occupation by the Order of Origin, Violet is curious in that the ocassional tombs found on it's surface are of unknown origin, it's architecture cannot be trace, dated or cross referenced. Although many believe the Imperative or other secretive organisations outside of government jurisdiction may be reponsible for this. What is clear, is that the Order has claimed it as a place of religious signifiance. It has been classified as sacred ground. It is a victim of pereptual blizzards and ice storms.
Shade One of many moon colonies left in the wake of the Forgotten War, Shade was built as a research station monitoring the unique behaviour of a nearby star cluster. It was abandoned after a solar flare torched much of the facility, including it's occupants. It has now been re-populated by a new citizenry who have described the living situation as increasingly difficult.
Parisium One of very few planets that rejected the citification process of transforming terraformed worlds into vast cityscapes for a modern populations needs. Parisiums technology has evolved 'naturally' to a degree throughout the last two thousand years since mankind arrived in this galaxy. It employs tram systems and a number of other technological machines that the galaxy deems primitive if not ancient. But the people of Parisium are happy given their isolation from society and it's shocking advancements.
They have their own installed governement council, consisted of the Mayors that govern the various cities riddled throughout the small landmasses of the planet.
Wilderness The under city is riddled throughout the crust of the Wilderness' underworld. After examining the properties of the planet deep in the Void systems, scientists discovered that the terraforming process necesary for human living would be impossible to carry out on the surface, as the planet was too unstable. Efforts were made to possibly populate the poisonous surface with Drone colonies for acquiring resources, but those failed as well. The final act was a gamble to the highest degree, human engineers used newly developed drilling technology to craft pillars beneath the surface of the world, giving birth to the enormous underground pillar cities that we know today.
Safari (Purgatory) Orbiting a dying planet called Safari and cut off from the rest of galactic society lies the maximum security prison facility, Purgatory. Housing some of the most dispicable and disturbed criminals that Imperative Forces have ever encountered throughout their colonies. Colonial officials have contracted mercenary groups to monitor the facility, after going through rigorous background checks. It is the most secure prison facility in the entire galaxy.
Presidium Presidium is home to a beautiful and out of the ordinary landscape, miles and miles of industrial towers cover the landscape as far as the eye can see. Presidium was originally a site planned for the building of planetary terraformers, devices built for altering a worlds atmosphere and eco system for the sake of human habitation. As the workers maintaining the facilities began to become overpopulated and as equipment failures myseriously began to increase, the planet became a populated city of ancient terraformers, with exposed piping and wiring detailing horribly beautiful architecture.
It is a popular despot for smugglers and criminals.
Reach One of few worlds to boast the use of Space Elevators, Reach was supposed to be the shining example of Core World civilisation but ultimately due to an uprising of Phreaks in the area, it became militarised. In recent years these military barracks have since been dismantled, leading to occupation of the world by citizens throughout the galaxy, some even living in the hundreds of space stations the space elevators lead to.
Rust (Hellhan Station) Hellhan Station, situated in the Rust nebulae occupying the void territories is one of if not the most famous Fighting Arena known to man. Murderers, Pirates, Bounty Hunters and Mercenaries from every star across the expanse have come to test their metal in intense fighting tournamenets, most of them ending in certain death. Originally a monitoring station sent out to search for potential mining deposits, the station was bought out by an enterprising Alternate woman named Minnie Minerva. Minnie adores Drones and takes it upon herself to apprehend them from all those who mistreat them, usually employing them as Battle Dummies for her fighting displays, most of which are broadcasted to worlds outside of Imperative jurisdiction.
Selam Sewage, sewage and filth, that is the legacy of Selam, an old Earth word for 'peace'. Increased irrigation and sanitation issues triggered by corrupt water purifiers have led to the planets infamous reputation for a pereptual stink, a pandemic that has even led to a decrease in the populations mortality rate. The entire settlement has fallen into dissaray as a result, but has also seen an increase in the Cipher population, especially those with lung and sensory augmentations.
Black Sands Black Sands, in the Ashen Asteroid Belt, is the premier distributor of priceless minerals throughout the Frontier and the Void, not having any ties or relations with corporate of governmental interests. Most of the miners are volunteers, choosing to live out their lives in colonial seclusion away from the prying eyes of federal institutions.
Windmill Windmill, like all of the Frontier Worlds, is completely cut off from Imperative control, or the control of any entity for that matter. The people of the Frontier are largely free, governing themselves per their own rules and instilling their own values in their private societies. While economic times are difficult and dangers roam the galaxy at every turn, they largely satisfied with their lack of governance by such large domineering organisations like the Alliance. Windmill is a prime example of this defiance, having been colonised in the early days of expansion by humankind almost immediately after terraforming began. But due to dwindling resources, most if not all of the Frontier worlds have been left resmembling hollow stretches of desert and rocky mountains.
Windmill is aptly named due to it's small cities built entirely out of massive windmill contraptions left over from the first era of colonisation. Instead of building small settlements around them, cities were built into them, as the provide limited power for everyone. Most of the Frontier worlds possess small governments, in the form of Sheriffs and Law Enforcement volunteers.
Cairo Considered a traiding hub by most travellers, Cairo is distinguishable by the fact that the entire surface of the planet is covered in a city made out of hollowed out military vessels and abandoned technologies. Scavengers from outling planets in the Expanse, and the junkyard world of Dust have been known to come here to conduct their trading arrangements. It's policed mostly by mercenaries hired by the traders themselves, they get paid extra for kills too, despite the mess it makes.
Fantôme Fantôme is an ancient and mysterious landscape, a world suffering for every second of it's existence, under the might of perpetual storms. Lightning storms are as common as wind, striking the ground day and night without pause, while tsunamis and earthquakes are as common as rain. Those insane enough to travel to the planet, have found hostile people to greet them. A primitive culture that hides out in caves, using crude weapons not unlike arrows and bows, sometimes even stone swords. Few dare to travel the world of storms.
Dust Used as a dumping ground by almost the entire galaxy, Dust is a desert of nothing but abandoned memories and forgotten dreams. It is a graveyard of everything from Drones to ships, from weapons to speeders, from bones to coils. It's a common attraction for the scavengers of the galaxy, vultures picking off spoils from the dead carcasses of abandoned vessels. It would seem that one daring enough could manage to make a tasty profit if they're satisfied with digging through metal scraps for months on end. Most choose not to.
Shinjitsu If Violet, Spirit and Amazon consider themselves worlds ancient in comparison to the rest of civilisation, then they are ignorant to the wonders inherint in the world of Shinjitsu, an old Earthen word for 'Truth'. Riddled throughout endless mountains lie abandoned treasures and long abandoned tombs, sealed away for centuries by the first men and women to greet the galaxy. It is rumoured that Shinjitsu was a place for worshipping the old gods, the idols praised by humankind before we found ourselves amongst stars foreign to our senses. Shinjitsu is currently undergoing archaeological excavation by scientists originating from the Void, to the behest of Imperative interests.
Pripyat Metal and snow, that is the life a settler of Pripyat lives. Colonials have been forced to live of their own accord afterall, sliced away from the high-rise living of the Central Systems. Pripyat is the epitome of that struggle to live under unbearable conditions, with blizzards becoming increasingly irratic with seemingly no pattern to the weather that befalls them. The advantage Pripyat has over other uniquely ice-ridden worlds however is their engineers. Recruited from Cairo, New Haven and even various worlds in the Void systems, engineers have been building Mechanoids for traversing the icy expanses of the Pripyat wastes. Everything from walkers, to massive drilling machines investigations have begun as to why these engineers would choose to take these jobs, but one theory seems to be the most popular.
Pripyat is rich with precious Aethelium. This theory has yet to be confirmed.
New Haven What used to be one of the most pristine settlements to grace the Frontier, has completely fallen from grace. An influx of the mutated Phreaks has cascaded around the outlying valley settlements from the worlds distant moons, ripping the population to threads and burning colonies to the ground. New Haven has become a wasteland and a nightmarish one at that. Mercenaries have begun searching the world for potential treasures left behind by the colonists, few if any have returned.
Curiously, independant investigators from the Void have discovered an increase in the Phreak population since the global incident occured, leading some to believe the mutation that riddles them is infectious. But no scientist has ever managed to isolate or capture a mutant.
Harvest Some would call Harvest one of the last great farming worlds of it's nature, but thanks to the nature of the current economy, those days of growth have all but faded from memory. Equipped with enormous yet dated air harvestors acting as pseudo-plant life in order to produce oxegen, Harvest has seen fewer and fewer prospectors visit it's world for the notion of trade. This is due to many contributing factors, the consolidation of resources, fear of Phreak advancements in the frontier and a sharp increase in pirate activity.
Providence Providence is a dark world, in every sense of it's meaning, plagued by long nights and miniscule day, most of it covered in dense clouds, contributing to intense rainfall. It's isolation and communication issues were essential for it's initial settlements, because Providence was never intended for civilian occupation, Providence was intended to be a Listening Post, a world for gathering intelligence on insurgents during the Collapse. Thousands of satelitties were structured throughout it's rocky landscape. Enormous sattelites, a thousand times the size of your average horse. Because of the grandiose nature of their design, settlements were built into them, giving birth to thousands of tiny cities.
To climb a ridge in the east mountains and look down upon the sattelite cities is to taken in the strange beauty of it's circumstances. Providence is a truly unqiue world.
Myst There is no solid ground within the world of Myst whatsoever, the entire world is simply a gas giant, but one that's been terraformed to become remarkably habitable. Settlers live aboard floating colonies, flanked by business owners abboard makeshift shuttles and floating government facilities. Fire is generally frowned upon within it's confines, as it's element quickly drowns out all of the breathable atmosphere around it, a fact that has been exploited by those daring enough to attack Myst settlers in the past. A world with floating cities and eternal fox, what a strange world Myst is.
Looking Glass Looking Glass is a prime example of a common Frontier planet, shanty towns litter it's surface, scattered across barren deserts and rocky valleys. There are no medical facilities, no education and no government. All they have is the presence of the Order of Origin, and resources smuggled in by Scavengers from Dust. Looking Glass truly is the lowest backwater settlement the distant expanse has to offer.
Veritas Veritas represents the only corporate foothold anyone has managed to plant in the entirety of the border planets lining the Frontier. Industrial interests originating from Judas and Monarchy have ventured out into the Frontier, reportedly in order to exploit the resources gathered by the Black Sands mining facility, which caters exclusively to citizens originating from outside of the Imperative. These corporate entities have triggered a fast rise in the Veritas economy, but despite the monetary advancements, they have excluded themselves from the rest of the Frontier, even going as far as building a new city for it's employees and their families.
Much to the behest of the poor and sick that make up so much of the Frontier citizenry.
Obsidian Deep beneath the surface of the ground on the planet of Obsidian lie the Obsidian Undercities, vast networks of tunnels and enormous caverns surrounded by treacherous volcanic activity. Slaves have been rumoured to flee through their tunnels once smuggled by vigilantes out of the worlds outlining the expanse. Some have taken to calling it 'the Sanctuary' given it's shelter of these slaves, most of which are then melded with the general population so as to avoid the prying eyes of enterprising slavers. Attempts to raid these undercities have been continuously thwarted by hired mercenaries, due to the large mining operations annual revenue that the settlements generate.
Schön The old Earthen name for this world is not without a sense of irony, given the fact it is the word for 'Beauty'. Schön is a world connected through industries strictly to the Black Sands mining facilities that the Frontier ship owners rely on so heavily for Aethelium deposits. This planets conversion facilities are utilised to transform the ancient but precious rocks into viable fuel sources for the fusion process needed for Deep Space Propulsion. Making the planet one of the most vital resources in the Frontier, one that few occupy, accept for the workers and trained guards.
Luna Luna is a society built of nothing but stone, specifically the moon rocks that make up it's entirety. Everything is built from it, from their cities, their houses to their artwork and culture. The precious stone is used in the building of most if not all of the most sturdy building structures in the galaxy due to the extreme strength of the material. It is one of the Frontiers main exports to the other systems, apart from what is rumoured to be large cultivation of drug ingredients for criminal clientelle, but that business is elsewhere. Luna is a moon that deals with nothing but stone. The people reflect this in their demeanour, cold, hard and unforgiving.
Ghetto Refugee central has become increasingly overpopulated in recent years due to increasing violent activity, Ghetto is the culmination of every culture in the galaxy, from the thousands of lesser known religions, to the historical nature of ancient tomb research to disagreements on the Imperative governement structure and the domineering crime syndicates, all of these opinions seem to descend on the planet. Refugees are fleeing everything from plagues, mutants, pirates, slavers and inhospitable worlds. Ghetto has become a cultural melting pot and it's only going to get worse.
Mausoleum Considered almost a sister world to that of Schön, Mausoleum suffers the same polluted landscape caused by a multitude of factories, Mausoleum however caters to many more interests, especially the building and manufacture of crude Drones and Space Faring vessels. While it's sister world is exclusively envolved in fue, Mausoleum is involved in many more deals. They cater to everyone from the Void, the Imperative, Criminals, Pirates, Slavers, the Frontier and some believe even the many Phreak colonies littered throughout the expanse.
These rumours have been denied.
Sapphire Sapphire is considered a place of hope for the people of the Frontier, it is the first and only world were citizens have come together in unison for the purpose of progress in Frontier society, instead of succumbing to fear and war mongering by the criminals who seek to opress them and siphon away their resources. One of the prime examples of this is in the acts of their premier trading settlements occupied by the famed merchant Charity Chance. She has contracted mercenaries sympathetic to her cause, rallying people to her town to help mend the wounds of lost refugees, offering to share some of the load being bared by worlds like Ghetto.
The desert world is ironically considered the only shining beacon the Frontier has left.
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{A citizen of the central systems compared to a traveller of the frontier} Humans Human beings are a curious and conflicted species, recognisable by their tenacity and eternal need for expansion in order to ensure survival. In the year 0000 A.E, humankind suddenly found themselves at the center of a galaxy, that was over two thousand years ago. Noone has any idea what led to the arrival, from what little information has been gathered, noone is even sure if humankind had any memories of their journey or their world after arriving. What is known, is the panic that followed. Surrounded by strange and highly advanced machines, containing recordings of their apparent history on Earth, they fell into chaos. Butchering one another out of fear, fueled by the need to survive.
The conflict was subsided by divisions, the most notable of which was strangely the formation of a unified government, founded by the most powerful corporations left over from Earthen society. Colonisation began, and humankind expanded out into the stars. But their divisions saw fit to change them entirely, birthing new and strange cultures, some becoming races in their own right.
Alternates Alternates or 'Alts' as they are sometimes referred to, are an enormous group of what have been deemed 'sub-humans', that occupy much of the galaxy. Their entire culture has origins in the first human beings becoming obsessed with physical augmentation and cosmetic perfection, becoming the epitome of their own residual self images. What they themselves longed to resemble. Appearances became more and more unique as humankind underwent genetic re-assignment surgery, becoming something other than human. The physical appearances vary greatly, from alien skin tones, to shocking eye colours but some have taken steps even further, implanting themselves with animalistic qualities, some even posessing tales and reportedly even horns.
As a culture they suffer opression from the rest of the galaxy, particularly in the form of religious segregation performed by the Order of Origin who will not accept Alternates into their church, the same goes for Ciphers too however, a culture that has been described as genetic cousins of the Alternates. Alternates are mainly distinguishable from humans due to their genetic augmentation. This is the definition of an Alternate, an individual who has undergone genetic treatement or alteration. Due to inbreeding amongst this new species, Alternate babies are also born with their parents altered genes.
{The variations of Cipher augmentations} Ciphers While the Alternates have tied their origins to human perfection, the Ciphers are readily aware of the fact that they were born from human limitation. Sometimes referred to as 'Ciphs', Ciphers are cybernetic individuals who have undergone bio-mechanical augmentation either by choice or necessity. Some have even had these augmentations fused with their cells at birth in order to ensure survival, or advancement depending on the given scenario. As a culture they are largely secretive and abrasive, readily aware of how obvious their differences are to the people around them. They are very psychologically self concious people, although most if not all of them would never admit it.
Augmentations can vary from eye implants to allow for infared or even x-ray vision, while more severe changes can be seen in the form of completely replacing limbs with mechanical alternatives. Some have become so extensively modified that they are almost completely indistinguishable from Drones.
Drones Fully-sentient, fully-realised robotic individuals, that is the most concise way of describing the Drones. Initially, any mechanical instillation with mild intelligence software programming was considered a Drone, built for the purpose of forging and maintaining suitable worlds for humankind. They monitored terraforming operations, repaired malfunctioning equipment, built new technologies and even mass produced others of their kind. While originally any autonomous machine was considered a Drone, the use of the word has become restricted to mainly sentient machines, capable of self-motivated desicion making informed by their programming.
Drones are extremely varied in their designs, functions and even personalities. Massive junk drones monitor the junkwasters of Dust, while smaller medical drones are integral to the work at high-level hospitals in the central systems. All sentients are required to undergro regular maintenance memory wipes, the time between memomry erasure completely varies from model to model. But what is clear, is that without the maintenance, Drones can become increasingly independant, irratic and unpredictable. Many believe this has led to the recent disappearances of hundreds of drones throughout the galaxy. But noone is exactly sure.
{Non-playable} Phreaks One of the higher mysteries currently permeating the galactic discourse, is that of what the Imperative has referred to as ''Terrestrial Mutations'', or as they are more commonly known, Phreaks. They have become an increasing menace throughout the Frontier, Expanse and Void systems, ravaging and raping settlements without any indication of morality or mercy of any kind. They have even demonstrated cannablism amongst their own species. Their physical appearances are horrifyingly varied, from gargantuan overgrown skulls to aging limbs and leaking organs, complete with overgrown skin and backwards flesh. No two mutants have ever looked the same, especially in size and stature. What is clear is that they evidentally have human origins, given their slight humanoid resemblance and use of ancient human vessels in complete dissaray and disregard for their own well beings.
They are clearly extremely primitive in their actions, with their intelligence becoming significantly altered by the progression of their conditions. They have been known to even rape corpses while sowing the skins of their victims into their own flesh. Despite countless efforts, no scientist, mercenary or soldier has ever managed to isolate or capture a Phreak. Thus adding to the fear of these mysterious and terrifying creatures.
The Imperative
Forged in the wake of humanities near-extinction at the heart of an unknown galaxy, the Imperative is the primary governing body throughout the Core and also governs a fraction of the Void systems. During the chaotic period of the Forgotten War - also referred to as the Collapse - mankind's governments were weakened by dwindling resources and dwindling trust. Desperate for a solution to the dark struggle that surrounded them, they turned to the most powerful entities left over from Earthen civilisation, corporations. The corporate contingincies controlled the largest ships and the greatest amount of neccesities required for large scale and prolonged survival. The industires agreed to an alliance, melding their companies together to form the first unified government in our history, giving them unparalleled control over our daily lives.
Given the destruction that had taken place, the formation of the Imeprative marked the new age, the age After Earth 0000 A.E. This implied new beginnings, clean slates and the ability to progress beyond our dark history. The Core was colonised after the discovery of Salvation, the only habitable world with which they could develop terraforming machines capable of colonising the new worlds. They took the flag of a black background with three large blue spheres compiled together in a pyramid shape. The blue colouring represented the discovery of precious blue crystals, given the name Aethelium, it became vital componenet in building and maintaining the new civilisation. One sphere represented Earth, our origins and heritage, one represented Salavation, our fortitude and our future while the other represented the watchful eye of the Imperative. The current Viceroy and thus leader of the Imperative and the Ascendancy is Thiego Methaiuss.
The Imperative utilise a system-wide police force for monitoring and protecting the populations of their occupid worlds. This force is known as 'the Peacekeepers'. A Peacekeeper is usually restricted by their jurisdiction, most likely a planet or even it's moons as well. They uphold and ensure the dominance of Imperative Law, policing the population when necessary. Officers are equipped mostly with non-lethal weaponry but are prepared to use excessive force when necessary. Peacekeerp forces closer to the Central Systems even utilise Drones to strengthen their security, mostly in the form of Floating Nodes equipped with cameras and possibly even turrets. Some more elite forces on worlds with political and economic interests employ second generation Drones as actual personnel, utilising them as tactical applications more than full blown Peacekeeper Agents. These Drones are restricted by their programming just as any other controlled Drones within federal jurisdiction and law. They must adhere to the orders of their superiors.
Outside of the Peacekeeper Law Enforcement Regiments, the Imperative Government and in turn the Councillors and the Viceroy also employ the Imperative Sovereign Intelligence Service or (ISIS). The Imperative Sovereign Intelligence Service is an independent civilian intelligence agency of the the galactic government, it is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of Galactic Intelligence who in turn is required to adhere to the orders of the higher echelons of the government when required. With responsibility for providing galactic security intelligence assessment to senior Imperative policymakers. Intelligence-gathering is performed by non-military commissioned civilian intelligence agents, many of whom are trained to avoid tactical situations. ISIS also oversees and sometimes engages in tactical and covert activities at the request of the Viceroy of the Imperative. Often, when such field operations are organized, the Imperatie military or other warfare tacticians carry these tactical operations out on behalf of the agency while ISIS oversees them. Although intelligence-gathering is the agency's main agenda, tactical divisions were established in the agency to carry out emergency field operations that require immediate suppression or dismantling of a threat or weapon. ISIS is often used for intelligence-gathering instead of the Imperative military to avoid a declaration of war.
The primary function of ISIS is to collect information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and to advise public policymakers, but it does conduct emergency tactical operations and carries out covert operations. They have been known to cover up some objectives and assignments from the public however, which many have believed to be actions onpar with terrorism, assasinations and other illegal activities for the benefit of the Imperative government and perhaps also it's citizens. Agents operating under the veil of the Intelligence Service have been known to utilise codenames, with their own identities remaining hidden from the public and other outside entities, this is mostly employed when their agents are on specific and top secret assignments. When this is the case, agents will usually have handlers, members of the intelligence service they can meet to relay information with and discuss their assignments, usually in covert locations.
Colonials
Colonials do not have a flag, nor do they have an organised movement of any kind, they are simply the people living outside of Imperative rule. They are simply free, yet ravaged by the sickness of unrelenting poverty. When expansion first became a possibility outward from the Core due to terraforming technology, resources slowly began to disipate the further we reached for the stars. Like Icarus flying towards the sun with wings sealed with wax, we reached too far and payed for it in resources and lives. The Imperative retreated backward, leaving people behind on half-terraformed worlds with nothing but clothing and farming animals. If that gesture was a drop of water, then all of the Central Worlds are flooded in riches. There are no great skyscrapers out in the Frontier were the Colonials live. No great cities and no great technologies.
Life is simple with the Colonials, but that simplicity of living breeds difficulty with the miriad of hostile forces that constantly threaten their way of life. It is currently rumoured amongst the Free Colonies that a former Imperative soldier and now farmer in the Frontier is gathering those sympathetic to a rumoured rebel cause. Noone knows if these whispers behind closed doors have any truth to them, but something is definitely moving amongst the stars. Something wicked is in the works and the Colonials are at the center of it.
The Void Crime Lords Faceless, unrelenting and some would even say their methods border on the supernatural, the Void Crime lords are without a single doubt the most powerful criminal entities in the galaxy. And yet their identities are a complete mystery, shrouded in secrecy and blood, they have remained outside political and military radar for the better part of a century. Their main base of operations is rumoured to be the criminal run City World of Tibet, yet these whispers have yet to be confirmed. What is readily clear, is the power they hold over the Void and all of it's interests, power they even hold over other criminal organisations. The number of Lords is unknown, the gender and even their species is unknown, yet their power over information is readily apparent.
They are rumoured to even have agents within the Imperative government, siphoning off information and relaying it to them for countless power plays and border conflicts. Despite their power, the Void Crime Lords have never sought conquest of other worlds, they appear to be satisfied with the power they have over money, technolgoy and information, they have no desire to acquire worlds. Yet.
Solomites With so many materials precious to the people of the galaxy, not all of them can be handled by coropate interests, a fact that the Solomites are well aware of. Expert navigators, star chatters, FTL engineers and incredbile pilots make up the bulk of their organisation, all for the sole purpose of smuggling. They liason with various other organisations, including the Void Crime Lords, the unaligned Colonials and even interest parties in the central systems. Members of their organisation are highly sought after by Imperative authorities.
The Tyranny Vicious, visceral, violent and vemonous but most of all unrelenting, The Tyranny are the most feared alliance of pirate clans in the galaxy, they are one of the most dangerous armed organisations ever formed. They rival even the Solomites in regards to their resources and personnel but are infinitely less organised and less disciplined, they ultimately answer to the Pirate King Manik, a ruthless criminal who is currently at the top of the Imperative most wanted list. The Tyrant rules over his murder of crows with unparalleled dominance and efficency, pillaging colonies and lands all across the galaxy, with the planets at the center of the Core being the only territories they will not invade.
The Syndicate Secrets and death, two words that always grace the lips of those who dare to discuss the work of the Syndicate. Some believe their organisation is heavily devoted to the Order of Origin belief system, but none have ever confirmed this claim. Their devotion to their work however, is unprecedented. Assassins are nothing but dedicated afterall, concerned only with honing and perfecting their craft. Contacting them has proven to be the most difficult thing surrounding their covenant. Some believe they wander all worlds, using sophisticated networks to spy on would be clients. If they deem a client's word worthy, they will carry out their work and accept sufficient payment. None have ever escaped them once they've set their eyes on a kill.
The Free The Free...a title that has echoed throughout the halls of discourse for the last ten years, ever since the disappearance of Porxy 13, a medical droid, from one of the Imperative highest level medical facilities. Proxy 13's master died of unspecified causes, before being able to give his Drone it's necessary memory wipe. The maintenance was never carried out and therefore connections began to be made within Proxy 13's hardrive. Memories were conflicted, desicions were altered, choices were made. It fled the central systems, and was promptly labeled a terrorist and highly dangerous machine by the Imperative Authorities.
But after it's disappearance, other Drones began disappearing from the galaxy, some were charted and tracked as fleeing toward the Expanse. And then rumours began churning about travellers encountering secluded colonies of Drones, living together and building some sort of organised entity. The Imperative has debunked these rumours as fantasies, and yet the contract on Proxy 13's head remains.
Deep-Space Vessel Manufacture Vessels capable of orbital and deep space flight are mainly manufactured in the central systems, but anyone with enough knowledge of FTL Drives and Aetheliumn manipulation could be capable enough to work on space worthy craft. After humankind arrived in the uncharted territories, efforts were made to immediately study the archives onboard their sleeper ships, most records were lost during the Collapse but thankfully the ingenuity of humankind remained. New ships were built in an effort to reach new worlds, copying the same technology prevelant within the machines they awoke on, allowed them to develop and perfect their own designs.
FTL Drives (Faster Than Light) are sophisticated machines, powered by a newly developed form of fusion, which is triggered by the essential element Aethelium. FTL Drives are ''spooled'' or ''charged'' up before they can launch a vessel to a plotted location. Navigation through FTL is extremely difficult due to the nature of it's speed, it is possible that a vessel could end up halfway through a star, or leave a dead planet in it's wake after erupting in the worlds atmosphere. As the propulsion systems are powered by fuel refined from Aethelium ore, many have spent their entire lives searching for more of the precious material as costs for it increase within the galactic economy. A ship's primary propulsion systems, referred to as "sublight engines", allow it to travel at a slight fraction of the speed of light, which is sufficient to traverse the distances between planets in a solar system in relatively short timeframes.
A Faster-Than-Light drive enables a ship to travel interstellar distances almost instantaneously, by "folding up space" in between the ship and its destination. Since, under normal circumstances, a ship that has used its FTL drive cannot be followed without explicit information about its destination, this technology is used extensively in strategic and tactical manuevers. This process is simply referred to as ''jumping''. Larger vessels have more drives equipped, while smallers vesels are usually restricted to just one.
Most criminal, mercenary and military vessels are equipped with offensive weaponry and defensive technology. The offensive weaponry can come in many forms, mostly in the form of gun batteries and turrets that are equipped with conventional kinetic energy weaponry. Vessels can also be equipped with extremely powerful railguns, but these are usually restricted to high-level military vessels. Laser weaponry is extremely rare, not because of damage rate or even monetary risks but because it is a newly developed technology that has yet to be released amongst common ship owners. Missiles and nuclear weapons are mainly resticted to larger vessels as well, usually under Imperative control. Although some smuggler, bounty hunter and mercenary vessels employ missile weaponry, however on a much smaller scale.
Other aspects of Deep-Space vessels are mostly self explanatory, with the veseels employing a miriad of other basic domestic machines. Shielding is mostly employed through specially reinforced metal plating designed to absorb any kinetic impact. This kind of defense will most likely erode over time however and can be tracked with onboard computers. Galactic maps and guides are common for charting and plotting new desintations, a lot of vessels will also have access to the galactic Cortex, with most even having their own private servers. Communication capabilities are a must. All space-faring technologies are also required to employ artifical gravity fields, so that personnel and ship owners can walk abour and operate their ships freely without worry. Personal computers are also common, along with navigational computers, personal simulators, heat signature scanners, touch-screen and analog-monitors and other machines required for basic living onboard of a spaceship. Galactic slang originating from the Frontier mostly refers to ships as ''boats'', despite this term making little sense, it has grown in popularity overtime.
Some vessels are capable of housing stealth technology, although only in the form of avoiding radar detection and government patrols. Heat signatures are the only method of tracking sentient beings, although some Alternates have been known to genetically modify themselves to avoid these detectors, with some negative effects on their own anatomy as a result.
Complex Drone Development
The first ''Drones'' were created by man in the wake of the Forgotten War, an event most commonly refered to as 'the Collapse'. They were manufactured and designed by Earthen scientists after 'the lost children' were gathered under a veil of protection by the formation of the Imperative. The term originally referred to any self-operated machine built by man for use in various heavy to light labour and military applications. Cranes, terraformers, devices used for the preperation of food, clothing and even other machines were all referred to as Drones. They posessed moderate intelligence necessary for their operations. Once further advancements were made through artifical intelligence, rules were devised by the aforementioned scientists to remain in control of their creations. These rulings eventually came to be known as the ''Machine Trinity''. This was a code of ethics embued and programmed into every Drone before being fully manufactered. These laws were:
A Drone may not harm or injure a sentient, or through inaction, allow a sentient to come to harm.
A Drone must obey the orders given to it by sentients, except were such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A Drone must protect it's own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
These laws were further stressed by the monitored development of the first Drones in 1400 A.E to be capable of complete autonomy. These machines were built to slightly resemble humanoid forms and to also mimic but not actually experience humanoid personalities and emotions in order to make them more approachable and compatible with civilians in a domestic or military setting. Machines with basic artifical intelligences were thus no longer referred to as Drones but simply machines, with the new humanoid models being the only ones to retain the title. These bipedal androids were built from refined heavy metal alloys mined throughout the Expanse and came in varying heights and weight capacities. They carry backpack-like power cells and were protected by flexible rear armor which covers otherwise exposed internal mechanisms. Physically stronger than humans, the Drones were designed with sufficient dexterity and capability of using weapons and tools. Drones communicated at least partially vocally, but were also capable of receiving radio signals internally until they eventually developed full vocal capabilities.
These self aware Drones were usually quite logical with varying levels of speed and strength depending on the function they were designed for. A Drone is generally powered by either internal electronic or Aethelium power cells that would allow them to function for around nine to ten years without aid. Drones initially weren't available for public and domestic use given restrictions imposed by Imperative Law. Drones were built for specific use by corporate, militaristic and political entities. These duties included carrying heavy loads, quantifying vast information, aiding communication through varied linguistics, illiciting help through medical practices, protecting citizens from outlying threats and even quelling borders conflicts throughout the Void systems. Law Enforcement Drones are a newly developed design that have been utilised mainly in the central systems for use as tactical appliances by Imperative Peacekeepers. Usually in the form of tracking down efficient and chaotic criminals thereby subduing them, or protecting citizens. After extensive testing and conditioning, these defense level Drones are allowed use of conventional weapons. Some even having those offensive and defensive technologies built into their metal chasis.
The integration of these more advanced drones into modern society began at around 1999 A.E and continued into the year 2010 A.E. During this period however, a statistical anomaly was detected in every single Drone model that had been procuded by Imperative systems. The memory banks of Drone harddrives that were being overloaded with information, began to develop new programmed pathways some of which even led to the autonomous machines overwriting their own basic factory-installed programming. This alarming new development in the technology led to the Drones becoming more independant, unpredictable and even destructive. This violent and visceral ordeal was considered one of the strangest and unforseen in our history, nearly on par with the Collapse itself. To combat this new development, corporate industries developed a new maintenance technique that would need to be carried out on all Drones operating in the galaxy, no matter their design function or even their profession. This new protocol came in the form of a specifically designed program that carried out a relentless memory wipe on the target Drone.
This memory wipe, referred to as 'purging', removed all information from a Drones memory banks, everything but their basic functions required to carried out their objectives. A medical Drone would have their memory of all surgical procedures it had been involved in, completely removed from existence, causing the Drone to instead rely entirely on their own near-encylopedic knowledge of the medical profession. This development was met without resounding praise from the scientific community and the galaxy as a whole, although some splinter organisations in the Frontier have protested against the develoment, with some claiming they have developed profound relationships and friendships with their Drone counterparts. With some Ciphers even interfacing with Drones via cable connections to share memories and experiences in a shared dream sequences not unlike the virtual realities available on the Cortex and Pinnacle Stations on the planet of Eden.
However, in 2011 A.E an event occured right in the heart of Imperative civilisation, on the surface of Salvation. Proxy-13 was a medical drone serving under one of the top medical practitioners operating throughout the entire galaxy. This doctor, one Haebriel Thaiuss, was found dead in her home office, seemingly of an unforseen heart attack despite having no medical history that would lead to such an event. Peacekeeper authorities arrived on the scene to find Proxy 13 lunging itself out the window of the high-rise skyscraper apartment, despite the nearest ground being thousands of miles below the building itself. The footage of the raid was shown throughout the galaxy, with the Imperative then labeling Proxy as a malfunctioning machine and malicious terrorist. Even placing a price on it's head despite this being an incredibly unusualy thing to do for a machine entity. Since this event, many refuse to believe it merely a cooincidence that Drones throughout the galaxy have begun to disappear without a trace. With some even believing that a gathering of these Drones has begun in the Expanse of space, the only territories not populated by humanoids.
Medical, Domestic and Educational Systems
Advanced electronic technology or simply 'Tech', is a commodity readily accesible to the majority of people in the galaxy, in a number of different forms and levels of efficiency. The more advanced tech; Starship drives, city-wide monitoring systems, central systems weaponry, space stations, drones, vehicles etc. were mostly powered by specially crafted power cells specific to their design function. These powercells were usually fueled by extremely miniscule quantities of Aethelium, the crystalline material most precious to everyone in the galaxy. Development of all forms of technology, whether they be for domestic, political, medical or even educational purposes, usually takes place on a miriad of different worlds. With Aether developing the fuel necessary to power some of the technology and with other engineering planets such as Monarchy and Judas, supplying the tech itself. Not all of these commodities are powered by Aethelium however, most have back up systems and even more have solar power capabilities as a last resort if all systems should fail. While most sophisticated technology is largely restricted to and even constructed amongst the Core Worlds, those in possession of the correct materials, and with the right capabilities, could develop such technology themselves.
The most unifying types of tech however, are in the realm of communications technologies. These networks come in the form of the Cortex and Waves systems. The Cortex is a complex interplanetary computer network comprised of nodes and access points. An IdentCard is typically required to use the Cortex, and all activities are monitored to some degree. A private link is available to the wealthy via a dedicated source box, and public access is available in a pay by the minute scheme. The Cortex can also be accessed by a ship's computer or by a PDA. People are also known to connect to the Cortex illegally, co-opting someone's account or hacking into a public terminal with false credentials. It is possible to locate someone within a ship's orbit via node tracking—but from there, unless they were using landlines to connect, it is extremely difficult to pinpoint someone's location with only a Cortex trace. Almost all socio-economic routes are controlled through this interplanetary system, with most transactions taking place digitally online as opposed to traditional handheld exchanges. Marketing, education, business, advertising and even medicine are mainly controlled and initiated through the Cortex.
A Wave however, was a seperate function that could be utilised through the Cortex. Essentially a signal broadcasted in real-time, a Wave was a type of communication sent usually in the form of an audio-visual transmission. This signal could be broadcasted to various strengths, directions and degress and could have many different functions, most commonly to communicate long distances but in some instances you could utilise it to broadcast a ''distress wave''. This function is recognised in Imperative space as a call for help or an S.O.S message, a fact that is commonly exploited by pirates and slave traders to lure victims into traps. Because of this, distress waves are mostly left unanswered by both the Imperative and independant ship owners. wary of potential ambushes. Despite this, waves are rarely mentioned further out from the core and could possibly by a service supplied for the more wealthy. Causing those out in the Frontier to use more conventional and mundane means to communicate with one another.
InnerTech, ImpTech or CoreTech are all terms referring to the more advanced technologies more recently available in the central systems of the galaxy. More of a general term, it covers very specific areas of recent technological development, particularly in interaction, communication and medicine. A popular form of Tech is that of the Pinnacle. The Pinnacle is an interactive series of virtual realities that can be accessed via an installed pinnacle station, designs vary but it is most commonly a chair that seals the user inside of it with protective casings. A Cortex connection is also required. These are especially popular on the world of Eden, where users can interact with literally anything they desire, even with other users. The most obvious advancement is that of interactive holograms, a rarely used commodity even in the Void systems, they have become a widely loved function on the Core Worlds, utilised for everything from entertainment to basic communication. The most popular forms of entertainment being that of holo-strippers and other characters along with the broadcasting of Imperative Opera Houses to the wealthy citizens of the Core. Drinking wine with an orchestra in their living rooms. Educational institutions on Osiris have even begun to use these new developments to educate their students using three dimensional images to illustrate points integral to their lectures. These images have begun to become more and more complex and intricate, with more aesthetically accurate and pleasing designs. Medical practices have even begun to adopt these new programmes, utilising devices such as 3-D Neuroimagers. It is a highly advanced medical system used to scan a body's nervous system, which is then represented in a three dimensional hologram that can be manipulated and altred to chart surgeries and examine damaged organs.
More recent medical advancements include the cloning of bodily organs for use in transplant surgeries, these organs have troubling incubation periods but when put under closely monitored control they can last for years without host bodies attatched to them. This practice is common among black market rings traiding the organs for profit to the sick and needy in the Frontier systems. New advancements however, have bred new challenges. For ever disease man has concoured in recent memory, a new disease has taken it's place. This is mainly due to the development of cybernetic implants both at birth and out of neccesity for injured or desperate individuals. The same risks have been applied to the genetic manipulation prevelant within the alternate societies. It is not uncommon for surgeons and doctors to perform off the books surgeries for willing blackmarket and back alley clints in the Void and even the Central systems. These risky out of hospital procedures however, have increased the risks of disease and infection by a large margain. Cancer may no longer be an issue, but new and more vicious infections have taken up it's mantle.
The most striking and terrifying new infections that continue to baffle those in the medical profession, are that of the Pale Death and the Terrestrial Mutations or ''Phreaks''. This disease and this mutation have recently taken the galaxy by storm, striking right at the heart of the public discourse and leaving many wounds in it's wake. For all our advancements, our problems remain the same.
Military-Grade Technologies
The field of weaponry and defense development is open to both governmental and private sectors, although the Imperative have been known to monitor industires developing arms outside of their own federal factories and labratories. Advancements in weaponry are dictated by Imperative Law and closely monitored by their law enforcement divisions, particularly the intelligence services. Restrictions on weapons developments include the production and distribution of large-scale biological weapons per the Humane Agreement signed by the former Viceroy Althus Kreiten in 1987 A.E. Private sectors are mostly restricted to the production and improvement of conventional military-grade weaponry, the main concentration of which is Kinetic Energy Weapons (KEW's). A kinetic energy weapon is a weapon that causes damage as a result of the kinetic energy (motion) imparted to a projectile. This includes firearms firing solid bullets first and foremost but may also include guns firing explosive shells.
Small Arms are mainly developed for the use of conventional rounds, most of which are crafted from refined lead ore or any number of other heavy metal materials mined throughout the galaxy. Handguns, sub-machine guns, machines guns, shotguns, rifles and carbines can all be equipped with various types of rounds. Including but not limited to EMP rounds, explosive rounds, armour piercing and some other variations. Many small arms weapons utilise chemically propelled firing systems also. Ammunition for these conventional weapons can also vary from caseless round to magazines. Some heavy weapons also used varied forms of ammunition, such as Flamethrowers, Rocket/Missile Launchers, Grenade Launchers, Lightning Guns (shoot bursts of electricity at targets to burn/kill and/or stun enemies), along with stun weapons and conventional non-lethal gas technologies.
While conventional KEW's are much more common throughout the galaxy, they are not the only type of weapon manufactured for wide-spread use. A blaster is a ranged weapon that fires bursts of particle beam energy called blaster bolts from a replaceable power pack. Blasters' intense beams consist of compacted high-energy particles and intense light that can kill or paralyze their target, depending on the setting. Blasters range from compact pistols, all the way up to large, heavy rifles and starship-mounted blaster cannons. Blasts are generated by stimulating a "gain medium"; this substance was charged with electricity, radiation or even by chemical reaction so as to release energy in the form of photons. The gain medium could come in the form of a solid (often an Aethelium crystal), liquid or gas. The "gain medium", when charged, saw the rapid excitement of its constituent atoms. These atoms would experience increases in electron energy levels. Said electrons, seeking equilibrium, then released photons, or packets of electromagnetic radiation, so as to self-stabilize. The produced radiation, reflected and amplified by the optical cavity could then be released as a high-powered and potentially destructive beam of coherent radiation. The output coupler was responsible for the release of the beam from the optical cavity.
Instead of a coherent beam of light, the blaster fires a compressed, focused, high-energy particle-beam that is very destructive, commonly referred to as a "bolt" or a ''shard''. The composition and characteristics of a blaster bolt can vary depending on the means used to produce it. Although even less common, Plasma-based blasters are effective against all targets, but even more so against drones because of the nature of plasma as a superheated, ionized gas. Drones are vulnerable to ion energy, so ion weapons are a natural choice against a hostile droid alneong with Electro Magnetic Pulse weaponry (EMP). The more common type is the blaster that fires a high energy particle beam that is more deadly to humanoids and other biological targets than superheated plasma but can still be effective against mechanical targets. Most personal blasters use two kinds of ammunition: a gas cartridge and a power cell (usually comrpised of Aethelium). Blaster bolts usually dissipate in a small, but violent, explosion of extreme heat and force upon contact with an unshielded surface, sometimes leaving blast points or burns.
This is evidence of the destructive and messy nature of blaster weaponry, which can be incredibly hazardous to both the victim and firer of the weapon. Small Blaster Pistols rarely have the power to pierce the hulls of space craft along with their shielding, while rifles proved to be much more destructive especially to Armour plating. Because of this, using weapons modifications such as Silencers on Blasters proved to be mostly in vein, as someone paying enough attention could still hear the blast despite the weapon modification. Due to the destructive nature of blaster weaponry, the Imperative has imposed restrictions amongst the population per the Humane Agreement. Even those who aren't living under Imperative Law, rarely utilise blaster weaponry due to the risks they involve. Although some more efficient and daring criminals will utlise small arms that combine both conventional rounds and blaster rounds.
Starships also employ varied types of weaponry. Mostly in the form of gun batteries, point defense guns, missiles, blaster turrets and various defense systems. A battery is a group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place. A battery may vary in number and arrangement depending on class. These military contraptions employ a number of different types of ammunition, Falk ammunition, Power Cell ammunition and Offensive ammunition. Flak Ammunition employs exploding metal fragments at high velocity, creating a defense barrier around a larger vessel which can shear enemy fighters or incoming missiles. Offensive ammunition utilises a configuration of salvos that are lethal to unarmored vessels, this is usually employed as a main weapon, as is a blaster turret utilises power cell ammunition. It should be noted that the massive recoil caused by firing these flak rounds makes it impossible for the cannon to have a fast rate of fire like the point defense turrets. These shells are also too large to be loaded quickly and efficiently by crew members, and as such are loaded by mechanical hoists. Point defense funs are employed simply to destroy and slow incoming fire, mainly in the form of a missile defense system When engaging enemy targets over any kind of distance, a firing solution must be obtained. This requires several pieces of information to be input to a battery's fire-control computer, including the target's speed, course, and range; and the firing platform's speed and course. The velocity of the shells would be known, and is constant, given that there is no air friction in the vacuum of space. The resulting computation would allow the gun captains to accurately aim their weaponry to such a degree that firing will result in a probable hit. Some also employ lethal laser weaponry, although this and the other Starships weapons listed, are mostly employed on larger military vessels.
Explosives are also mainly conventional, using frag devices, C4 and even restricted biological weaponry along with Ion, Plasma and EMP blasts. In terms of defense, forcefields and invisibilty cloaking technologies are currently in the extremely early experimental stages in governmental labratories. Scientists and engineers have no idea when these advancements will finally be made, but for now vessels are limited to Blaster, KEW's, Explosive and Electro Magnetic weaponry. Utilising extra reinforced metal as vessel shielding for defense along with point defense turrets. Weapons cannot be fired within FTL jumps as the results would be deemed disasterous.
{Galactic currency: Monitored paper notes, numbers, blood, bullets and coins.}
The Central Planets—as formed by the Imperative—have a complex and sophisticated economic system. Financial institutions such as banks hold the money for their customers in interest-bearing accounts, investing it at exchanges throughout the Core Worlds. Most money transfer in the Core is done by computer, with data bytes and pixels replacing cold, hard cash. Currency exists in the Core, to be sure, in standard paper notes issued by the Imperative, called Credits. The notes are printed on special paper by sophisticated printing systems to discourage counterfeiters. Tracers on each bill allow the money to be tracked as it moves about. Paper bills and credit transfer are the only legal tender on Core planets, and those with gold or platinum coins must go to a licensed money changer. Purchasing goods with 'hard coin' is illegal and untraceable, which is why it's preferred by black market merchants everywhere.
The Frontier Planets, lacking the fancy trappings of 'civilized' life, rely on precious metal coinage, although others have been known to even utilise both weapons and even ammunition as currency. While different planets have different standards and mint coins in different ways, some basic standards have developed. The coins most often used are made from set weights of silver, gold, and platinum. Coins are however, not the only things used for business dealings. Barter is common practice, especially in transactions in which both sides have something besides cash to offer. While simpler, this economic system can also make prices and wages somewhat more fluid out on the Frontier, as there aren't Cortex-accessible exchange rates to fall back on, thus making haggling an important skill to master. Debt is tracked with a signed I.O.U, and often collected at the end of a gun barrel.
The Void Worlds have a mixture of both systems depending on what worlds you visit.
Phrases:
''By the Earth!'' - A way of expressing shock or disbelief.
''Stars guide us/you/her/him/it/them.'' - A term used for well wishes and praise.
''Get Phreaked!'' - A way of expressing disgust or insulting someone, there are many variations of this term, all generating from the populace of horrifying mutant throughout the galaxy.
Words:
Earthen - Something resembling information known of or about Earth.
Aethelium - The fueling element used to trigger the fusion process that allows for FTL engines to launch or jump vessels great distances at great speed.
FTL - Faster Than Light is the method with which pilots of space faring vessels travel great distances.
Sublight - Is a powerful method carried out by jet repulsors that allow for slowly manouvering vessels around, towards or away from objects.
The Imperative - The currently installed governement that controls the Core and half of the Void, they were founded by powerful corporations in the wake of the Collapse in the hopes of controlling and maintaining the populace.
The Ascendancy - The meeting of planetary councillors to discuss matters of importance to galactic politics.
The Viceroy - The appointed speaker of the embassy, whom has the final world during proceedings and is effectively the ruler of the governing body. The current Viceroy is Hotherin Priest, the Councillor of Salvation.
Alternates or 'Alts' - Alternates are individuals who have augmented themselves through cosmetic, genetic and micro-biological surgery to appear alien and inhuman. To the point of giving themselves glowing eyes, or hyper coloured skin. There is a large degree of racial aggro towards them.
Ciphers or 'Ciphs' - Much like the Alternates, Ciphers chose to augment themselves but through mechanical and robotic customisation, essentially becoming actual cyborgs.
Phreaks - Mutated and horrifying abominations with unknown origins.
Drones - Robots with installed AI, any robotic organism that does not have AI is simply referred to as a machine.
Terraforming - The process of transforming an inhospitable planet via massive mechanical and envrionmental proccess, into a habitable and Earth-like world.
Citification - Transforming suitable worlds into city planets.
Dreams Developed and distributed on a mass scale over a century ago, Dreams have become one of if not the most widely used recreational drug in the entire galaxy. Simulating the effects of common recreational plants such as the cannabis plant along with a very unique attribute. When Dreams - usually coming in the form of black granules - are inhaled, they simulate the effects of actual dreams within the realms of reality. When a user smokes or even sniffs the substance, their brains are convinced that their dreams have become a reality. If a man has dreamt of flying across the skyline of Salvation, he will believe it is happening. This can lead to extremely dangerous instances if taken in extremely high dosages.
It is most commonly used in extremely small quantities however, due to this, instead of the drug making dreams a reality, users are given the feeling that their dreams have already become a reality, filling them with a temporary sense of euphoria that helps to releave tension. Use of the drug as being legal is a hotly debated topic amongst Imperative politicians.
Time Time has a similar convincing affect on the humanoid brain chemistry, causing all sorts of strange apparitions and hallucinations. Time must be smoked in order to feel its effects, it comes in the form of a mixture of various rare plants found on un-terraformed planets in the Frontier. Once inhaled through the lungs, the chemical imbalance causes the brain to see Time as slowing down, allowing the mind to catch moments and details it otherwise would not have seen. Varying forms of the strange drug also allow for the mind to have a dulled sense of time, having the opposite effect, Time seems to move faster, meaning a person can barely understand what is taking place around them.
It is rarely used by the common thrawl of drug users and is mostly used by the criminal elements within the galaxy.
Shimmerdust A weaker drug in the grand spectrum of things, one that is actually considered legal within the Imperative Laws. Shimmerdust is snorted through the nostrils and comes in the form of glowing crystalline dust. Medical instutions have managed to alter the compound, metling the substance into a liquid capable of being injected into a patients veins. It acts as a pain killer, allowing a person to manipulate the very sensation of pain and transform it directly into pleasure.
It is popular amongst prostitution rings and the nightlife of the galaxy.
Limbo
An extremely potent form of poison that is capable of simulating the effects of death within an individual. It dulls the breathing and blood pressure to completely undetectable levels, while also simulating the smells and sensations attributed to a corpse. It mainly simulates the effects of a heart attack, possibly even an brain aneurysm.
Deathsticks A deathstick is a small roll of finely cut leaves inserted into a cylinder for recreational smoking. The deathstick or ''cigarette'' is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well. Most modern manufactured cigarettes are filtered and include other additives, in some cases even other drugs may be combined for differing effects. They do carry serious negative health effects with them, affecting the heart and the lungs with possible cancerous cells. And yet they are the most commonly used recreational devices in the galaxy given their calming effects as they mainly relieve stress or tension.
Alcohol
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed on most worlds, and over 100 worlds have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption. In particular, such laws specify the minimum age at which a person may legally buy or drink them. This minimum age varies between 16 and 25 years, depending upon the world and the type of drink. Most planets set it at 18 years of age.
Effects vary considerably, but the substance mostly dulls a user inhibitions.
(NPC's) Charity Chance A trader renowned throughout the Frontier systems and even throughout the Void, Charity Chance is known for her take no prisoners attitude when it comes to her craft. Having lost her husband to malicious pirates a number of years ago, she took her children to the edge of the Frontier and began a new life, working her way up from the kitchens of a bordello to becoming the stern merchant she is today. She resides on the barren desert world of Sapphire, in one of the planets only trading hubs. Having worked out a mysterious deal with the local bandit leaders, she is usually under a great deal of armed protection.
Although she would argue that she doesn't need it. Despite her past and her attitude, those lucky enough to become her friends know that she values them as much as her own children.
Councillor Atheena Each world under Imperative control is governed by a single Councillor and their delegates. That Councillor ultimately answers to the communal meeting of the Ascendancy, a gathering of all councillors to convene on matters of importance, most of it involving trade and economics. The Armed Forces, Medical and Educational institutions of each respective world ultimately answer to the members of the Ascendancy. Each Councillor ultimately answers to the appointed Viceroy, the writer of laws and speaker of rules, he or she settles disputes and ultimately has the last word during the meeting of the Ascendancy. The worlds in the galaxy not under Imperative control have varied forms of government, some being ruled by rich tycoons, tyrant and bandits while others have set up small governments managing small communitues.
Councillor Atheena is a cold and calculated woman, feared by her peers for her ideological outlook concerning the future of their political structure. She is known for voicing her conflicting opinions behind closed doors, regarding the futility of appointing a Viceroy and her controversial views concerning the worlds not under Imperative control.
Manik A ruthless Alternate pirate and smuggler, currently on the run from Imperative law. Formerly a soldier in the Imperative military before going MIA on a routine training exercise, he emerged in the Athos underworld completely transformed into an Alt. He had gained notoriety as a smuggler before ruthlessly dismantling an entire criminal empire and claiming it's resources as his own. He is wanted for the murder of three hundred and thirty eight individuals, not all of them killed individually. Not all of them killed by hand. Not all of them just men....not all of them adults.
To his allies and to his enemies he is known simply by a title, 'the Tyrant'.He is the leader of a large group of allied pirate clans, known as 'the Tyranny'.
Max Max has been described as cocky, arragont, irrsesponsible and insane by her peers. All are accurate descriptions of her character. A mercenary operating throughout the Void, Max is an extremely efficient killer, favouring bladed melee weapons over the distant and detatched killing force of blasters and guns. She is known for her admiration of those better at killing than she is and will glaldly lend and relay contracts to fellow mercenaries, if she is given a cut of the profits for her compliance of course.
She is not to be trifled with, given her addiction to the complex drug known as 'Time', she is dangerous and unpredictable. Unless you can beat her in a fair fight, she won't give you a moment of her time. The only comprimise, is payment.
Prophet To say Prophet is obsessed with information and the acquiring of it is an understatement. An aging Cipher with a penchant for speaking in toneless words without any hint of a sense of humour, Prophet has truly surrendered to the idea of being a machine. Technically an indpendant contractor but a civilian of the Core, Prophet usually operates out of the Athos underworld, lending information to those who require it for a high price....more information, information that he finds to be valuable.
Proxy 13 Labed a terorist and an anomaly by the Imperative, Proxy 13 is a curious thing indeed. Formerly a Drone operating out of an Imperative Hospital in the central systems, Proxy 13 was programmed to illicit help with complicated surgeries and life altering procedures. His owner was the proprieter of the hospital, a government official with vast corporate investments. From what little has been gathered by the Imperative Crime Office on Salvation, before Proxy 13 could be brought to it's docking station for a scheduled mindwipe for maintenance, his master died of a heart attack, despite Proxy's efforts to save him. Drones are usually given mindwipes depening on their model memory span, if mindwipes are not carried out, Drones can become unpredictable and unmanageable. Proxy left his master and his work behind, managing to escape in a shuttle offworld and leave for the great expanse beyond colonised worlds.
Rumours of other Drones disappearing throughout the galaxy began to erupt around this time, it is not believed to be a cooincidence.
Seraph Seraph is the seducive and illustrious callgirl operating out of Tibet in the Void systems. She is rumoured to have connections to the Syndicate crime organisation, although these rumours have yet to be assigned any proof to their claims. What is known is that she is an exceptional and extremely cheep prostitute, mostly catering to humans with fetishes for Alternate flesh. She is very good at what she does.
Serene After serving a few short years as a soldier with the Imperative as a young woman, Serene left the service to build a farm out in the Frontier, on one of Windmill's moons. She recently went missing, around the time the Imperative labeled her as a terrorist, even placing a bounty on her head, Fifty Million Credits, to be precise.
It is rumoured that she has ties to a rebellion operating within the Frontier, a rebellion that seeks to usurp the Imperative from it's throne of decadence, claiming them to be a manipulative and domineering Empire. Her ties to this organisation are unknown, but some actually believe her to be it's founder.
Specter Recent deaths throughout the Imperative government hierarchy have been caught on holo-feed in secured facilities in highly populated central planets, all of which have been carried out by a grotesque mass of machine and flesh. Whether or not it is a Cipher or a Human is unknown, it's identity is all but indiscernible, except for one recording were it's victim spoke a name.
'Specter'. It's origins are unknown. There is however a bounty of 1 Million credits on Specter's head, if you could call it's metal contrapation a head.
Smith An Imperative Intelligence Expert and rumoured asassin,
he is notable for his addiction to Dream, a potent drug that realeases
a blue flaming light when inhaled. He has been sighted on planets bordering the Void and Frontier, whispers have reported that he is seeking out ties to the loss of Drones and the rumoured rebellion, yet know truth or proof to these rumours have been found. That seems to be his purpose. Rumours throughout the Underworld claim that Smith is looking for allies however, those sympathetic to the Imperative cause. Which isn't many people to begin with.
The Lord Immediately recognizable thanks to a large gas apparatus that covers his entire face in a miasma of green gas, the Lord is a theatrical and boisterous man who operates out of Wilderness, preferring the underground nature of the city for his work. He is a chemical engineering expert, known for his insurmountable production of the galaxy's most sought after products, all of which are the most potent drugs known to man. Dreams, Time, Limbo, Shimmerdust, he produces it all.
He is one of, if not the most powerful men in the underworld, with one of the largest security forces in the galaxy, amounting to a small army of Drones. His underground facilitty is filled with all sorts of gases, most of which are rumoured to keep him alive, or perhaps he's as addicted to his products as the rest of the galaxy.
Trick Trick is an asshole. He's rude, rash, brash and stern, never taking no for an answer and never tolerating anyone who makes the mistake of mocking his origins as a Cipher. He is however, the finest engineer the Frontier has, operating out of Cairo due it's large supply of shipping parts and Central World engineering technology smuggled in by the Solemnites. It is rumoured that he is sympathetic to the supposed rebellion cause, some think he has ties to it already.
Tyrin Holliver An alcoholic, womanizer and all-round solitary man, Tyrin Holliver mourns the loss of his wife to a band of rabid slavers high on Dreams. She was kidnapped and suffered an affliction of the Pale Death after one of the slavers caught the disease from a peasent on a Void planet. He exhausted most of his government and military resources to find her and was nearly fired for his efforts. He still remains one of the Imperative Militaries highest ranking officers, despite his drinking problem.
General Tyrin Holliver is currently looking for new recruits.
Vektor 9 Programmed to simulate the personality of a cocky smuggler, Vektor 9 has been walking the breadth of the Void worlds for centuries, attempting to swindle citizens out of cash for whoever his masters might be. What is clear however, is his ability to smuggle and transport people from distant worlds to distant moons. All of which he will do for a modest price.
This section will be updated as new events begin to take place within the RP. {The progression of the disease is horrifying.} The Pale Death The Pale Death is not a whisper, it is not a nightmare, it is not a lie, it is the darkest disease ever to strike the flesh and minds of men. Galactic awareness of the disease began just four years ago on the brink of the Void. Worlds that had undergone citification began to notice an increase in refugees from the lower levels of their cities, leaving to seek lives on other worlds. When their fleeing was investigated, the afflicted were discovered. Medical personnel immediately imposed quarantines throughout the Void, cornering off entire neighbourhoods and evicting people from their homes. The progression of the disease was alarming, spreading at an incredible rate, without any regression whatosever.
It earned it's name due to the physical manifestation of the condition, as it transforms the pigmentation of the skin into a ghostly-white and pallid layer of flesh. As it progresses further, the cells begin to deteriate, bordering on rapid disintegration. Hair follics begin to fall off, along with nails and even the skin itself, revealing the crimson flesh beneath. The organs get the worst of the affliction, rotting from the inside out as the blood begins to turn to black. No origin has been found for the disease, all that is known, is that the affliction is contagious only through touch. The situation continues to be monitored.
Earth is long lost, yet its legacy has enveloped the stars. Yet despite this, its location and its history are unknown, and all that remain are scattered traces of seemingly lost stories. To most it is nothing but a fable, a lie you tell your children at night so they may slumber with smiles, but to some the belief in its existence is integral to their lives. The notion that all beings come from one area, the idea that the stars have a place for all to call home is...sacred. So much so that various religions have been founded studying and worshipping the prospect of it's existence. Theories abound as to why all of mankind arrived on thousands of ships, in systems they did not recognize, seeing star constellations foreign to all of their records. Reports vary about the origins of life, of our history and of our purpose. What is readily clear throughout these reports and studies, is that a substantial portion of our history and development has been removed from all record...and memory. We did not develop or grow...we simply were. With advanced ships, medicine and the technology to terraform uninhabitable worlds with landscapes that would suit our needs. If Earth ever truly was, then its scope pales in comparison to the breadth of the new worlds.
As mankind discovered a new system, a sea of new worlds, a sky filled with new moons and new homes, we settled. Colonisation ensured survival; habitable worlds were enveloped for the sake of continuing a dwindling existence. We left our true home, to rest amongst strange stars and uncharted territories.
Wars were fought for basic necessities; genocide was instigated for the sake of water and food, with men and women dying so that others could live. Borders were crossed; and divisions were made in the early days of our expansion. When mankind found themselves in the heart of a new body of stars, a dark, thunderous and visceral event riddled throughout our society. An event known by many names ‘The Collapse’, ‘The Chaos’ or ‘The Forgotten War’. Few details are known of exactly what transpired during the Collapse, what is clear is the affect it had on humanity as a whole. We arrived on primitive ships in foreign territory with little of our technology to share, scattered and scared of the path that lay ahead and given our need for resources, that fear turned into panic. And that panic resulted in slaughter.
The larger and technologically superior vessels were presumably owned and operated by Earth's largest corporations, industries and enterprises with all of them reportedly having interests and stakes involved in every aspect of our society. As the myriad of governments realised their influence over their people had waned during the Collapse, they pleaded with their obvious superiors for help. When the Chaos caused by fear and confusion nearly reached it's breaking point, the corporate entities united their forces like a tide of overwhelming influence. Every single one of the economic leviathans joined to form a new governing body that would preside over all of humanity as we colonised the new worlds, this governing body came to be known as ‘The Imperative’. We built primitive settlements, temples and shanty towns out of newly transformed worlds, some of which still stand to this day. We charted our surroundings and soon we came to realise where we were in relation to the rest of the galaxy. We were at the center, right in the middle of an astronomically enormous galaxy. The first world to be settled remains the political and economical capital to this day, it is called Salvation.
As our population boomed and more and more resources were required to sustain, we branched outward into further space. As the Imperative drove us further and further into the abyss, our resources dwindled and less and less time and neccesities were afforded to the settlers of new worlds. Some worlds barely even finished the terraforming process, leaving them as barren death sentences. The outer worlds came to be known as ‘The Frontier’, where the poor and down trodden now live under the shadow of crime and manipulation. ‘The Core' is the centre of the galaxy, a placed filled with pristine worlds dominated by the wealthy and political juggernauts of our new society. The worlds in between have been deemed ‘The Void’, the place between the other worlds, were laws were minimal and freedom was all but absolute, but political influence waned due to independent and efficient living, The Void was the victim of the desires of other worlds, cornered by the criminals and the politicians, they remain a conflicted people to this day.
The divide between rich and poor has become galactic in scale, with mankind fastly becoming an exploitave and violent people. Our differences have become perpetuated by our desires as our technology has advanced. We built machines capable of performing our work for us, but that was an arduous process, a mechanical path riddled with failure. 'Drones', we treated them like slaves, Farming Drones, War Drones, Medical Drones and more, built for every task and abandoned after they did their work. Some have somehow managed to exile themselves, becoming a race in their own right. But the division between man and machine has not been the only seperation within our culture.
Those that sought perfection through augmentation and physical surgery became obsessed with change, becoming something other than human. 'Alternates' they have been called, sometimes simply referred to as 'Alts', men and women who coloured their skin in alien tones by manipulating their cells and eyes into every shade of the rainbow, implanting their bones and muscles with all sorts of designs. Some have gone further than this, replacing entire limbs or other pieces of their bodies with mechanical, electronic and bio-mechanical alternatives. These cybernetic organisms have come to be referred to as 'Ciphers'. They both became cultures onto themselves and triggered yet another series of divides.
But something else is stirring in the hearts and minds of men as of late. Something is changing amongt the stars.
Something wicked this way comes.
ToBeAnnounced
Rules:
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No Godmodding.
No Speed Posting.
No Flaming.
No Trolling.
No One Line Posts.
Make an effort to interact with other characters.
Almost all mature writing allowed, except for descriptions of gratuituous sex, per site rules.
Post at least once a week.
No Spam.
You are only allowed to control one character and a possible companion, NPC's not included.
Have some method of Space Travel, even if it's public transport.
Don't tie others up, let us know if you can't post for whatever reason.
Most importanly, have some well written fun. The galaxy is yours.
Posting Etiquette:
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One paragraph minimum (average of five sentences) or higher, otherwise known as Guild standards.
Let at least 3-4 people post before you post again.
If your character absolutely has to be alone for whatever reason, he, she (or it) must be undertaking something relevant to the plot and or the mission at hand or at least have some knowledge of it.
At the beginning of every post, you must tag it with your location in the galaxy. Due to this world's enormous size, we must make efforts to detail our whereabouts so we do not deviate too far from one another within reason. We have to be able to find one another. This location must be colour coded as well, with respects to the colours representing the Frontier, the Void and the Core. There are however exceptions to this. If you absolutely must keep your location a secret, then you can simply list the area of the galaxy you are in (Frontier, Void, Core) and post something beside akin to 'Lost in Space', 'Somewhere in the Frontier' etc. etc.
Correct grammar and spelling are expected to be of decent to high standards, per the Guild Norm. We need to be able to read and understand your writing.
If you are in a scene with another character, one that isn't connected to the others, with lots of back and forth dialog, take it to PM. Then after you have RPed out the scene in PM the conversation or scene can be posted as a whole by one of the players. This makes for nice banter and keeps from losing the feel of the conversation when it gets broken up by other people posting. Be mindful if you do this, so that you don't tie up a player for too long. The collab post should be wrapped up quickly, say within a day or so.
If you are inactive for one week, you will most likely have your character turned into an NPC, making your death or other forms of manipulation (thievery etc.), all the more possible. Unless you have a valid excuse, which of course will be accepted.
Make an effort to utilise all of the information I and others provide for you. Think of this world like seeing Star Wars for the first time, titles and certain words are important to understanding things. What if you didn't know what 'the Force' was? Or a Jedi? Or even a Wookie? Familiarise yourself with everything.
Please be sensible with the amount of money and equipment your character has in their posession and their inventory, per the No Godmodding rule.
The worlds, colonies, moons etc. that are shown on the Galaxy Map merely list notable planets, it is implied within the mythology that there are in fact hundreds of populated areas. If you want to make up a world for whatever reason, you are free to do so, it is an open kind of world. The map I've provided is just a guide.
If you have any questions, comments or even concerns then please post them here. If you feel you cannot, then PM either me or whoever else I ask to become Co-GM of this story.
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I really love and respect the writing process, especially when it's a collaborative one, just like how I intend for this one to be. This is the sort of platform we can use to get to know one another, by recognizing one anothers styles and levels of skill and of course our personalities reflected in the things we say and the desicions we make.
I particularly love it when that kind of experience is one with a friendly atmosphere, one I hope we can all share here through this strange universe I've manage to scrap together. So don't hesitate to banter with one another and discuss whatever pertains to the RP, heck we can even give eachother pointers.
For the purposes of this RP I'm going to be really customizing the plot relating to who comes aboard, so there will be a decent pause between OOC and IC as I take the characters and players and tie them all together. So you know, bare with me.
When you're finished with your character, post it here. And if you have any ideas or opinions you think would be great for the RP, don't hesitate to PM me or throw me a Visitor's Message. Let's have some fun folks!
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Dramatis Personae:
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Essentials are marked with stars.
{Image}
*Name:
Age:
*Gender:
*Sexuality:
*Race/Culture:
*Appearance: (If image doesn't represent every detail.)
Height:
Weight:
Homeworld:
*Occupation:
Skills
*Personality:
Distinguishing Marks: (Scars, tattos etc.)
Ship: (If you have one.)
*Gear: (Clothes, credits, weapons if you have them. Just list your inventory.)
Companion: (If any.)
*History/Biography:
“Continuous eloquence wearies. Grandeur must be abandoned to be appreciated. Continuity in everything is unpleasant. Cold is agreeable, that we may get warm.”
— Blaise Pascal.
Age : 32
Sexuality : Heterosexual
Culture : Human
Homeworld : Providence
Occupation : Bounty Hunter
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Distinguishing Marks :
Deep scars carved across his entire back,
Prison Ink etched into the back of his neck,
Burn marks in the palms of his hands,
Fingertips have been chewed off,
Various shallow cuts across his arms.
Skills :
Capable Piloting,
Expert Marksmanship,
Hand-to-Hand Combat,
Navigation,
Tactics,
Tracking,
Plays the Guitar Badly,
Moderate Survival training,
Basical Medical training,
Basic Engineering training,
Expert Card Player,
Years of Field Experience,
Knowldge of History and Philosophy.
Gear :
Custom-Built Military Grade Blaster Pistols x2,
Armour-Padded Black and Grey Clothing,
A Dozen Throwing Knives,
Serrated Edge Combat Knife,
Smoke Grenades,
Flashbangs,
Gas Pellets,
EMP Grenades,
Frag Grenades,
Pack of Dream laced Deathsticks,
Military Grade Tactical-Readout Masque.
Masque Capabilities :
A Rangefinder attatched to the helm,
can track up to twenty targets.
The dark macrobinocular viewplate
offers a variety of vision modes, including infrared.
A pineal eye sensor on the helmet
combined with an internal overlay display
to provide tracking information within
a 360-degree radius.
Motion sensors.
An encrypted internal comlink.
A broad-band antenna complets the helmet's devices.
All of which can be linked to the wearer's
weapons or their personal starship.
Ship :
The Obsidian Crow
{Retrofitted Cargo Freighter.}
Identity :
A man of fierce conviction, Raziel is one of the most well travelled and experienced men in the galaxy. He has little interest in religion and political intrigue; by his own admission, Raziel only feels truly alive when fighting, travelling or making love. Moderately handsome, with sapphire eyes and a crooked smile, framed by a trimmed beard, means he hasn't had much trouble with the opposite sex. Despite this fact, he is not a man in posession of any kind of ego, at least not one of considerable size. His crooked half smile has been described as 'deadly', by those who have encountered him. He generally wears dusty grey clothing, complimented by dark black garb and a perpetual miasma of cigarette smoke framing his stature. Early in life, Raziel came off as arrogant, amoral, and dishonorable, living his life for nothing but coin and credits, disregarding beauty and affection, forgetting the future and killing with merciless effiency. He took whatever jobs he could get, turning a blind eye if he could to the legality of the job and the risks involved. However, his time in prison and his encounters with others across the stars, changed all of that. He became a man of compassion (refusing jobs that would involve him in slavery, for instance), with a strong sense of nobility. He especially swore against the apprehension and killing of children, striking down anyone who would detract from his one rule.
This new lease on life filled him with an existential stance on the stars, thinking of most conflics as petty and inevitably pointless in the grand scheme of things. He began referring to his targets as ''grave makers'', miserable ingrates whose selfish acts turned them into criminals, desired for nothing but death. He began mocking anyone he encountered who dared do the same too him, becoming an incredibly guarded man, with an incredible wit and prevelant self-awareness. He most of all mocked the various forms of organised religions that have been perpetuated throughout the galaxy, referring to them as ''children who don't understand the stars, so they call them gods''. He doesn't find himself caring or dwelling on the loss of earth, he considers everything his home. He believes the stars belong to us all. Despite his passion for philosophy and his heavy views, he's prone to bouts of humour, even getting into the occasional barfights out of boredom and disillusionment with the mundane nature of things. He is a damaged man, with a vast understanding eclipsed by a need to press on no matter the adversity that he encounters. He is an anti-hero in the truest sense of the word, he needs no victory or dominance, he just needs to...continue.
History :
A smouldering flame burned through the stars, soaked by endless rain, howling winds and opressive shadow. It sliced through the midnight sky over a slumbering Providence as the darkness drank the light of the crashing fire. The moonlight seemed to frame the source of the embers for a moment, as the shadow took the form of a dying vessel, fractured and damaged beyond repair. The falling ship was lost, rescue was impossible, marshalling to render aid was pointless. The people of the sheltered world of Providence were forced to spectate without action and without word. The metal hull grinded thunderously under the pressure of the fall, locked in a tremendous duet with the sound of the shrieking, magma coloured flames. Inches before the surface of the world, time seemed to come to a complete stop as the vessel was suspended in the view of the people. All of them heard the sound, but none dared to believe it. It was impossible, how could such horror be allowed to take place around such an innocent thing? But they knew it to be true, their senses had not betrayed them. It was the sound of a screaming newborn. Time resumed as the craft plummeted into the world, erupting in an explosion of biblical proportions, deafening them to the cries of the innocent. The heat seemed to reach the cities in the distance as all of Providence held it's breath. The rest was silence.
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Hard to top that description ain't it? The Providians always where a methodical and poetic people, although a little rough around the edges. The verse you just read was quoted to me a hundred times as I was raised on their our, world. It just so happens, it's exactly what happened the night I was born. Some farmers were out laying crops in dead fields, marvelling at the clear skies that revealed the stars to them. Clear skies were rare on Providence, but daylight was even rarer than that. The farmers were about to return to their lovers and children before I had to arrive and ruin their night. The crash was epic in proportions, like nothing any of them had ever seen before and some of them had served in the Imperative military. Hours after the explosion, the scrambled through fire, brimstone and debris to seek out survivors. Or at least that's what they told me, I always had a sneaking suspicion they were just scoping for salvage, Providians aren't the wealthiest people in the Frontier. But then they heard my screams again, like the moment they described to me before the crash.
They found me in the arms of my bleeding mother, without a scratch on me. We were in the cargo bay, sealed behind some crates filled with bullets, alongside some other containers packed with deathsticks. Not the cleanest place to birth a baby, but neither was doing it onboard a crashing spaceship. They salvagers deemed it a miracle, a message from the lost Earth that not all was lost amongst the stars. But any decent man worth their salt in vessel experience could tell that sealing yourself behind crates built for containing such profitable cargo, was the equivelant of being in the palms of a god. Mother was smart, she always was. I never did find out why we ended up on a crashing smuggling ship full of dead men, but I guess I never asked. I found it more fun to make up my own stories as a child. That my mother fought off an army of robots, with me in her womb. Or that she was a secret government agent. Or an angel. But she was just my mother. Just human. Just a survivor.
We were welcomed into the arms of Providence like wayward children, given food and shelter in the bowels of their enormous Satellite Cities. I was a bit of a problem child, fell in with every wrong crowd that would take me. I was only concerned with being loud, disruptive...explosive. It seemed fitting afterall, given the state I was born in. My mother got around, seeking comfort in the arms of farmers, mercenaries sometimes even their wives. She grew distant as I grew up, she became quiet as I got louder. We loved one another, there was no doubting that but there was this unexplainable void between us, like all the love had been taken away. There were nights were I'd return home as a child, drunk on the joy of burning crops and stealing food. I'd find her in the eastern lands, resting amongst roses and staring at the night sky. She was longing for something, missing something. I always thought it might have been my father, but I never asked. I respected her too much to question her. Even on those nights where we'd stare at the stars together, it was our home in a way. It was where our relationship began, amidst fire, metal and blood.
I never got to say goodbye. There was no grand farewell, no last dance, no curtain call. She just disappeared without a trace, without a midnight kiss on my slumbering forehead. I awoke on the roof our our city, beneath the shadow of the domineering satelitte, to find her absent from our home. Nobody had seen her and nobody ever did again. There were days were I found myself wishing I'd find her body, because then at least I'd know that she was gone. It was the not knowing...the uncertainty, that was hardest part of it all. A vanishing love is a wound you just can't heal, and it never has.
I ran from the settlements, stole all the resources I could before abandoning the people that had sheltered me for my entire childhood. I left them with all they'd taught me of life, of our history, of our philosophy. I stole my own life from them, a life they cherished as if I was their own child.
If I thought the crowds back home were bad, the circles I travelled afterward were nightmares. Pirates, thieves, murders and miscreants, all pandering to the needs of lost children. I smuggled myself aboards ships travelling throughout the stars for months, until I ended up in the Void. I stole for organised thieves, smuggled for mercants avoiding Imperative patrols. Any job worth having, I'd take it. I didn't have a goal, I didn't have a mission, there was no grand prize. My business was the same as everyone elses. I was surviving.
The darkness was perpetual, I was deep in the trenches of the Underworld, this was my life now. Home was gone, the life of a sheltered farmers boy was one I would never fufill. I've shed no tears on the matter, I accept my lot in life. I embrace the darkness, I breathe it in like black smoke and spit it back out. The progression forward gained so much momentum, that I found myself forgetting my own name, memories of home were fading. I had become a different person, switched from the body of a petrified boy, into that of a grissled mercenary.
I bought and stole the best weaponry, trained with veteran soldiers in exchange for favours and honed my skills in pursuit of a career. A few bad deals with some reputable Crime Lords in the Void ended with six years in Purgatory, the prison station orbiting a dying world. I've still got the ink cut into my neck, never did get the stamp lasered off. Bastards caught me in the central systems trying to get through customs, got my fingerprints on some black market weaponry. I ensured that I wouldn't make that mistake again, as the guards found my naked and hunched over the cell toilet. Chewing off my fingertips to avoid any future failures.
After the slammer I tried my hand at tournament fighting on Hellhan Station, even won myself a few rounds against some godly champions, regular titans in the arena. The last guy proved to be the most difficult, the guy was a Cipher alright, bastard had flamethrowers for arms. I've still got the burns on my hands, reminders of a swift and bloody victory. I finally used the money to help me craft my own armour, managed to 'commander' some sturdy metal from the Satellite over the city I was raised in back on Providence, it seemed fitting. Noone recognised me, and if they did, they didn't dare speak a word. Melted down and shaped into some of the highest quality gear available. They taught me well. But becoming a man wasn't my true vistory, making a home for myself holds that title. After winning an old Cargo Freighter from a blue-skinned Alternate in a game of cards, I stepped aboard my new life. It was confirmation of something greater, something better than what I'd been before. I was a survivor now, just like my mother. But I was different. I was free....not lost.
Last edited by Kaeb; 08-04-2012 at 04:14 PM.
“Continuous eloquence wearies. Grandeur must be abandoned to be appreciated. Continuity in everything is unpleasant. Cold is agreeable, that we may get warm.”
— Blaise Pascal.
I have all of the NPC images fully edited now. Working on more detailed write ups for the races and such. Just thought I'd get the basic layout/bones of the OOC up for everyone.
“Continuous eloquence wearies. Grandeur must be abandoned to be appreciated. Continuity in everything is unpleasant. Cold is agreeable, that we may get warm.”
— Blaise Pascal.
Working on the write ups for the drugs right now actually heh, drugs and weapons drive the criminal underworld in any nation, just as they will in AfterEarth.
“Continuous eloquence wearies. Grandeur must be abandoned to be appreciated. Continuity in everything is unpleasant. Cold is agreeable, that we may get warm.”
— Blaise Pascal.
No it won't, because I haven't posted the layout yet. Information will be updated both tonight and tomorrow night, with the roleplay expected to begin either Sunday night or Monday night.
“Continuous eloquence wearies. Grandeur must be abandoned to be appreciated. Continuity in everything is unpleasant. Cold is agreeable, that we may get warm.”
— Blaise Pascal.
Reply With QuoteAlso the space for my character sheet >.<
Originally Posted by Panquake
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