[OOC] These Dark Stars - IC is open -

[Sigma]

A good point actually. Although for that, I'll leave it up to Khan to figure out :P

[Isotope]

I can take your claims now by the way, do use this map to make them as I've made some adjustments to ensure I can fit... Readable system names in there. Open the image in a new tab to actually read it.

https://i.imgur.com/YoslSUl.jpg

[Ozerath]

OOH DIBS!



https://i.imgur.com/bHICBJY.jpg

EDIT: Is 4 too many systems?

[FrostedCaramel]

I'd like to claim these two systems if possible. I'll have my NS up soon.

[Isotope]

@OzerathNo idea.

EDIT:

Here you are.

https://i.imgur.com/TLK791C.jpg

[Ozerath]

@Isotope Thanks bud!

For next draft, there's a typo in the legend. It's 'Concordat' not 'Concordant'.

[Legion02]

Added my faction, going all in on the Vacare and rebrand it Aivira.

[GreivousKhan]

@GreivousKhan so what exactly is Gene-lock technology? Is it like a password system that only works with certain genes or... what?

@FrostedCaramel

Basically, gene-lock tech is something that locks down access/activation of a device. For example, the imperial government itself could control all rights to warp drive construction, the engines that allow us FTL through the void. The emperor then unlocks said software which allows anyone to then use it as long as said emperor is alive. Possibly further control can be established through remote access meaning said emperor can take away access of said devices should a vessel rebel.

My idea is the first emperor after establishing himself burned the activation factor into his genes. The activation factor is then inherited by his descendants. The noble houses, who swear fealty to the Royal Family, are bestowed FTL engines and the activation factor. Due in part to this, the people of the empire have been are oppressed under a monarchy centered around genlocked technology.

It would explain why we have a monarchy in the first place and how he might have taken power from the Bureaucracy. It also works into the apparent narrative with all these influential houses. Imagine the emperor has full control over how many starships you have, how many war engines on the ground you can use. It would give a single family absolute power even in a massive solar empire like this one.

The command decks of Imperial capital ships, the control stations of starbases, other orbital installations, it could all be subject to caste-based gene lock.

Question, what's keeping the clone guy from cloning the Emperor's DNA then?

@Legion02

This would have probably been a major worry early on for the imperial family, but if they oversaw cloning. (and even in a society void of gene-locking why would you not clones in the right place can take down an empire.) They could easily arrange for clones to have some kind of genetic defect that makes it impossible to interface with said gene-lock technology.

Though honestly though, there was nothing stopping clone guy from replacing an imperial family member before this. I imagine they are just watched much more closely than any other faction specifically for this reason. I think cloning humans is illegal in IRL for a reason. *and most sci-fi setting I believe.)

I'm not the GM of course and will never tell people what they can or can't do. That whole clone thing would make for an interesting plot line after all. It's easy enough to get around with a little genetic tempering on part of the empire though. If you're being watched closely anyway I'd find it hard to explain why your lab is making a clone of the emperor's third cousin. Heck, the Imperial family might have taken precautions like doing something to their genes so a clone always comes out deformed.

Edit: Map claim if possible.

[Isotope]

Update with @GreivousKhan's faction.

https://i.imgur.com/4kMk02s.jpg


So far The Concordat has the most connected system at 5 starlanes, and is tied with the Order for largest faction.

EDIT: Updated the map with Legion.

[Legion02]

Wrote some Vacare fluff for Aivira

The Two Ways

Auraxian Vacare, that is a Vacare that was either born or spent a significant portion of time mastering and studying their gifts in Aurax, often start to diverge from their outsider counterparts in several ways. One, obvious change is that they often master their powers better through the expertise of Aivira. Still, other changes are facilitated. One strange one is the two ‘ways’ of Auraxian Vacare. These ways certainly hold a religious feel. Though any and all Vacare following either way will sternly deny it. Even though their very explanation sounds religious in nature.

The first Way is called Aineth Kairn. Aineth Kairn dictates that the Void is all around. To achieve mastery, understanding and control over your gifts, you must reach out to the Void. Followers of Aineth Kairn are often found on ships and space stations. Prefering the closeness to the eternal void over the safety of a gravity well. They are talented navigators and greatly excel in manipulating their surroundings. There are more extremer practices too. Some Vacare will ‘bond’ with the ship. The ship in question is outfitted with various sensors picking up vague radiation types or just general radiation background noise. Though those following Aineth Kairn will say that this is the Void talking to them. Once the sensors are in place, a Vacare will outfit himself with a certain type of implant to connect himself with the ship. Getting closer to the Void. Extremists of Aineth Kairn are marked with antrophied bodies, as the zero-G environment wears heavily upon their unmoving bodies. It often gets so bad that they require exo-skeletal assistance to move. That being said, Aineth Kairnites can manipulate their surroundings in terrible ways.

The second way is called Aineth Ither. It dictates that mastery over the gift lies within understanding of yourself. To comprehend, discover and use your gift, one must first fully grasp the inner workings of the mind and everything beyond it. Aineth Itherites are often found meditating, contemplating or telepathically debating various subjects. Even mundane things as a rock can lead to hours upon hours of telepathic debate. The audible silence is often quite unnerving to those who cannot hear or understand the debate going on. Deeper understanding of one’s self leads to a deeper understanding of the Void. Though there are certain ‘side’ effects. Often times the Vacare meditates too deep and cannot comprehend that which he learned. Which can lead to decisions taken in a moment of panic or madness. Aineth Itherites often deprived themselves of one or more senses. Blindness is the most common one, though deafness or a cut out tongue are not unheard of. Never the less, Aineth Itherites perceive the world around them enough to wander it unaided. Even when missing several senses. The understanding of their own mind and that of others makes them expert diplomates, negotiators and interrogators.

While extremists exist of both ways, neither will deny the possibility of the other. Instead, the extremes simply state that they cannot grasp the founding concept of the other way. Not that the other way is wrong but they simply cannot understand it. Most Vacare opt to follow a bit of both ways. They meditate but also reach out to the Void around them. More balanced Vacare argue that mastering both ways to the extend as the extremists do at the same time would unlock a legendary third way: Aineth Vacirn. Or the True Way.

However, there is certain Auraxian Vacare behaviour that cannot be attributed to the level of understanding they have of one way. The most common is 'The Marking'. Where a Vacare wakes up in the middle of the night, wanders to the nearest tattoo parlor. The Tattoo artist will immediatly go to work in creating a complex mark on the skin of the Vacare. After which the Vacare leaves. Neither the Vacare nor the artist will remember this event. So far the reason behind these markings is unknown. As they offer no quantifiable increase in power. It has been theorized that this is the Void subconscoiusly marking those who achieved a milestone. Though as Vacare powers (especially mostly mental ones) are very hard to quantify, it is inconclusive at best.

[Isotope]

@GreivousKhan

I'm cool with there being gene lock tech and it being important, but i don't think the Emperor can't control warp tech because of the civilian market. There's no way a noble head or royal is there to activate every new commercial vessel. Also selfish because I'm not technically a noble house :p It's going to be a plot point.

[DracoLunaris]

if there's time to finish it before the IC gets underway, I might make a faction based on a former lost colony/colonies that experimented on gene modding to adapt to less than ideal conditions, bit like 40k's Abhumans.

[GreivousKhan]

@GreivousKhan

I'm cool with there being gene lock tech and it being important, but i don't think the Emperor can't control warp tech because of the civilian market. There's no way a noble head or royal is there to activate every new commercial vessel. Also selfish because I'm not technically a noble house :p It's going to be a plot point.

@Isotope

I meant more war vessels and not every trading ship out there. Which why I mentioned starbases and not starports. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they'd only need to do so with the command decks of Imperial capital ships, and skip smaller vessels like corvets and destroyers altogether.

Anyway, I'm glad there are at least people open to the idea since I'm growing quite fond of it myself. Mind you this is all up to the GM in the end, but the idea of there being a gene-locked caste system for the aristocracy is so interesting I might use this idea myself some time down the line. I also mostly had this in mind for the Cataphracts (mobile walkers/engines of war: Think titan fall) idea I have that lines up with this.

But first things first.

ALSO WHY I'M I BLUUUUUUUE!? :p

[Isotope]

youtube.com/watch?v=BinWA0EenDY

@GreivousKhanNOBODY GETS BLACK ON BLACK.

So you're thinking of gene locking IA worships to their command crews? Makes sense.

[Drunken Conquistador]

I don't have access to my computer at the moment. Could someone please add Virezhir to the upper right hand corner of the map?

Also, all this talk about gene-locking made me wonder if it can be bypassed/breached. Could be a major project undertaken by the Virezhir gene-guilds. Specially now that there's no Emperor to stop them from trying that. Or a host of other tabboo experiments

[Isotope]

@Drunken ConquistadorThis good?



On another note @Polybius are you controlling all the pretenders or can we hijack some second cousin of the emperor?

[Flagg]

@Isotope can i reserve the triangle of stars just to the left of @Drunken Conquistador's area?

[Isotope]

Gotcha @Flagg
i.imgur.com/yssaYQH.jpg

[Flagg]

Gotcha @Flagg
i.imgur.com/yssaYQH.jpg

@Isotope

Thanks. Just to be clear, I intend the system that cuts off @Drunken Conquistador's territory to be contested, not under my control. We can hash that out later, just wanted to reserve that system.

[Sigma]

@Isotope Here's my claim.