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Heavenly Steel - East Asian Dark Fantasy Adventure

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GATEWAYS: THE NEXT GENERATION [NEW PLAYERS WELCOME!]

@Irredeemable CS above for your review.

GATEWAYS: THE NEXT GENERATION [NEW PLAYERS WELCOME!]

Jannah

Jannah

Government Form:
Jannah is a ruled by a Supreme Leader and Council.

Demographics:
20% Human
- Little has changed between the humans of Old Earth and those of Jannah.

80% Ajanbi
- The Ajanbi were created by Humanity, and not on purpose. In an effort to explore the possibilities of longer life and evolution on a largely water based world, scientists attempted to modify the standard human embryo before birth. The result is a race of hairless blue/green humanoids with reinforced armoured skulls, webbed fingers and toes, and an unmatched ability to swim and hold their breath.

Population:
Roughly a billion souls across the whole of the planet.
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Flag of Jannah

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Planet Name and Description:
Jannah is a verdant, beautiful medium size world, measuring just over sixteen thousand kilometres in diameter. It has a remote and isolated location on the outer edge of the Milky Way amid a cluster of asteroid fields. It has three moons that orbit together and two lesser suns rather than one massive one.

Jannah is comprised of rain forest island chains rising from clear, shallow fresh water oceans. Deeper oceans teeming with life are surrounded by rocky archipelagos. The planet's mantle is filled with dense metals that became valuable in modern construction.

Jannah's sandy beaches are tranquil and idyllic, and lead into massive rainforest canopies filled with wildlife, including massive Kuba nut trees (Somewhat like Cedars) and the giant Perias sea grape (Somewhat like Redwoods), which offer natural protection. The world has a temperate and comfortable climate, and from the surface appears as a tropical paradise despite its challenging ecosystem and dangerous predators that roam the oceans and forests.

While the flora is relevantly benevolent, the forests and oceans contain many amazing creatures that are incredibly dangerous to lone hikers, and even some that can damage ships and buildings if the mood takes them. Much of the planet, notably extensive underground caverns, remain unexplored.

History:
The colony ship that arrived on Jannah was funded by the members states of the Arab League. The only piece of their legacy that remains on Jannah is the Islamic tradition of building a house around a garden, not a garden around a house.

Their ship was the last ship off of earth, largely occupied by non-Arabs as the vessel was still docked in its building cradle in Europe. It was filled with scholars, scientists, pacifist, and what might be called "hippies". Not in the sense of dread locks and failing to shave, but more of a people who liked their devils-lettuce, believed the earth had been betrayed by humanity, and swore to do better next.

Their arrival on the paradisiacal planet of Jannah seemed like that promise could be fulfilled. While other colonies developed weapons of war and generally made nuisances of themselves to everyone around them, the Jannahites opted to explore and create.

Thriving might be an understatement as funding traditionally slated by many others for war was pushed into R&D in the civilian sector and planet defence. Brushes with friendly alien species, curious about these new human occupants in a region normally empty of their kind, brought them technology and progress.


Culture and Society:
In the terms of old earth, the Jannahites are a bunch of stoner pacifist space nerds. Priding themselves on the creative use of locally sourced plants to produce mind altering drugs, and the production of incredible underwater or space vehicles built from rare minerals within the planet core.

Marriage isn't a concept that made it through the gateway and the citizens of the planet live their lives wherever and with whomever they wish. Though there is no true military, there is a police force that backs up laws laid down by the Council. That said, violent crime is rare and sentences almost always end with an individual being shot into space without a space suit.

Where civilizations have marked their achievements with weapons, Jannah marks it with ever more environmentally friendly technology. Recycling is almost 100%, all homes are built gardens first, house second. These buildings themselves are rarely taller than six stories (The height of a Perias sea grape tree) and never in settlements of more than 100,000.

Architecture is very modern, designed to harness wind, water, and sunshine for operational uses and other neat features.

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Governance and Politics:
Supreme Leader is elected from a High Council that is in turn elected by the people of Jannah.

Technology Overview:
Jannah had essentially given up on offensive weapons. It is protected by a planetary shield and EMP cannons (Ion cannons) that serve to keep would be invaders at bay. Given the planets remote location and existence of gravity wells in the area, it is largely approachable from only one direction.

Jannahite ships are sleek, very efficient, and operate cloaking devices. Ion cannons are their main source of firepower.

Military Overview:
Jannahite ships are fast, cloaked, and carry almost no offensive weaponry.

Jannahite Pilot / Law Enforcement / Warden

Patrol Craft

Science Cruiser

Exploration Cruiser

Colony/Mining Ship

Origin Class Defensive Cruiser

Standard Settlement 1

Standard Settlement 2

On and on until we win... (Page and Saix)

Bocri Sauburc

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Bocri had not bothered to speak at all during the climb up the narrow stairs that smelled faintly of some kind of urine. He was utterly exhausted; his biological body was suffering as his mechanical body had begun to slow and freeze from the intense cold outside. The survival suits were meant to keep you alive while you sheltered in place, not hike across frozen tundra. Whoever had been contracted to supply the suits to the Republic Navy had cut every possible corner and, if things hadn't taken such a life threatening turn, he certainly would have lodged a complaint when they got back to Coruscant.

The glance Kodo gave them was likely well deserved. A black human cyborg and a purple skinned Twi'lek were certainly a rare sight on a planet like this and very likely to draw some attention if they stayed to long. It was possible that Kodo had never even had tow tenants who looked like they did and he was certainly going to mention it, if not to any family, than to any drinking buddies he might have. Betrayal for the moment was unlikely, but things could change in a moment when hunters arrived and money flashed about. He had done it often enough himself when hunting enemies of the Republic.

The unit was at least clean, the sharp smell of disinfectant still vaguely noticeable. They would certainly need some furniture, that was of no doubt; the lone bed would fit both of them if they got cozy but someone would have to stand guard. It would be foolish to escape the ship only to get captured or killed while napping. He longed to collapse facedown on the bare mattress but showing any sort of weakness in front of their new landlord would be foolish.

Kodo left with a final once over and the door closed behind him, leaving the two Jedi to stare at each other in the painfully bright white room. Hirani looked as tired as he did; he reached out a hand to help her pull the hood off her head tails. He wanted badly to peel off his own suit but until they replaced it with something more suitable there was no point. They had little in the way of food, only survival rations, their lightsabers, and he had a blaster he'd taken from the hanger. A couple hours sleep and meditation would see them restored enough to continue their escape.

Already he was considering options on how to try and contact the Jedi Council and make them aware that the two had survived. The truth was, and he would have time to unpack the emotions later, he had no idea what had happened or why. The basics of "Our troops tried to kill us" was obvious enough. The the why. That was going to drive him crazy for days. The pain they'd both felt throughout the force was another question. How many had died? Where? How? All questions that would need to be answered in the days to come.

"I reckon one of us should sleep." He said at length before looking down at his mechanical hand and flexing it slowly. "I need to make sure this thing isn't busted up to badly, so why don't you sleep first?"

It was a suggestion, not an order. The two had been partners a long time and they had never quarreled. His mechanical eye, the red having been dimmed in the hallway outside now brightened slightly as he swept it over the unit. No hidden electronics or other items jumped out while he conducted the scan and he felt his shoulders sag slightly in relief.

"I think our new landlord might even be honest. It seems safe enough for the time being but we'll need to move in a few hours if we want to get off world before more Clones arrive to lock things down." It would have been better to leave at once, but they didn't know the city, no transports would be leaving at this hour, and it would seem mighty suspicious for them to turn up in their survival suits, no matter how clever the ruse. Plus, exhaustion was going to hit hard and sleep would be important until they could find somewhere else to go.

The Fumes of War - 50s Pulp Dieselpunk Action At Its Finest!

Castiria

Castiria

Warring Factions:
Royalists - King Camilo Maldonado
Communists - The Workers Council of Seven
Fascist - General Rafael Fanta

Territory:

Map

History:
The region that makes up modern day Castiria has been fought over for thousand of years by various Empires and Kingdoms, each seeking to control the vital strategic location for themselves. In the 10th century, the region was conquered by the Kingdom of Marno, a powerful northern nation-state that subdued the various warring factions within Castiria with alarming ease.

Under the the rule of Marnosian Kings, much of Castiria, thrived, and science, architecture, and the decorative arts flourished. The Marnosian influence is still evident in architecture and customs throughout much of the country. By this time, a number of divergent cultures existed throughout the region, with many possessing a strong sense of independence.

Castiria was at last unified through the marriage of Sofía Cabanas of Castiria, and Prince Balthazar of Pertochova. The united forces of the free southern Castirian cities and their new allies succeeded in pushing the Marnosians out of the northern half of the Kingdom.

Despite this turmoil, Castiria flourished in art and architecture during this period. Further, Castiria embarked on an age of discovery as the voyagers and adventurers opened new trade routes the world over. This Golden Age, still lamented for, gave rise to a powerful and influential Kingdom.

Nothing can last forever and, for a time, Castiria began to bicker with Pertochova over colonies and trade routes; she subsequently began to lose influence closer to home. Economic problems surfaced at home and, again, war ensued. The war ended in a bloody stalement and an angry populace demanded reforms. King Camilo Maldonado, the fifth of his name, stepped meekly down, forcing Castiria to become a centralized nation. The government of the First Republic, however, stood on shaky ground as it was faced with rampant political corruption while at the same time anarchism grew among the populace.

Castiria largely avoided the Great War solely because she was in no position to get involved in anyway. Now, with the world on the verge of a second war, Castiria has exploded into civil war as the elite demand the return of the King, the people want more, and military leaders see the rest as sheep in need of a strong shepard. Thousands have already died and many more will continue to do so in the days ahead.

Pressing Issues:
Castiria is embroiled in a bloody civil war between Royalists, Communists, and Fascists. Infrastructure only recently repaired is suffering once again and the average Castirian sees a bleak future ahead.

Economy:
Economic success can be measured by region rather than on a national scale. Industry has been damaged, fields burned, railways bombed, and any number of ports damaged. Only some larger airports and seaports deep behind the frontline remain operational in any effective capacity. Trade is limited to what foot stuffs, valuable resources, etc, can be shipped out.

A home grown weapons industry has sprung up, mostly the weaponization of existing civilian equipment, or whatever limited military hardware came with the various military units when they chose sides.

Foreign Relations:
Pertochova is an agitator and ally of the fascist factions within Castiria.

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

I’ll be bowing out. Thank you.

The Fumes of War - 50s Pulp Dieselpunk Action At Its Finest!

Roger, engage.

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

Witch Clans of Choyla

Witch Clans of Choyla

Type of Government

Demographics & Population: 600,000

There are an estimated 60,000 Witches within Choyla, supported roughly ten times that number of slaves and servants. The Witches themselves look human while their servant base is made of virtually all other races.

Governance & Politics

Choyla is loosely ruled the High Coven, three Witches who hail from each of the lands main three Clans; The Red Claws, Black Talons, and Silver Fangs. These Witches are the most cunning and strongest among all their kin; they are succeeded by a chosen heir who is rarely one of their own line. While the High Coven exists it is not unusual for the various Clans to engage in limited warfare, skirmishes, raid, slave snatchings, Witchling kidnappings, etc. So deep are their suspicions of each other, no one can remember a time when all three clans fought side by side.

Culture & Society

The Choyla are all exclusively female. They are unable to bear male offspring, though males are required for breeding purposes; only human mates are capable of impregnating a Witch. Other races, Elves, Orks, and even some other humanoid species are known to be used for pleasure purposes. Witchlings are rare and highly valued by all Choyla. A Witchlings father is killed instantly to prevent any foolish paternal urges or actions.

The Clans occupy different portions of their Island home, a ragged yet beautiful land of towering spires and deep valleys that are ideally suited to their flying mounts. The Choyla ride Wyverns which are raised from a young age after being taken from nests found throughout the islands. These mounts are integral to a Choylas life and are bonded to their rider; if a Witch dies, so does her mount.

The Choyla keep significant numbers of "enthralled servants" who serve to keep the Witches fed, and harvest required resources for basic survival. This population serves to act as a food source if needed as the Choyla will consume the flesh of pretty much any other living creature when they're hungry enough using their retractable iron teeth and claws.

Magic & Technology

Technology

The Choyla have zero modern technology.

Magic

The Choyla are magically powerful, the only thing that has prevented them from being utterly overwhelmed by their enemies. Each Clan boast its own unique magical ability from being able to control the beasts of their home and the surrounding ocean, to shape shifting into various different animal forms, and even offense magics that serve to counter modern weapons. Each Witch has the single powerful ability to commit themselves to a "warding", an act that kills the Witch outright but creates a tremendous magical surge capable of killing almost anything within a radius of the warding.

Military Overview

The Choyla are a highly militant species that have preyed on their neighbor for centuries. Their ability to move quickly and larger undetected has made them a terrifying force to be reckoned with. The arrival of modern armies, however, and much of the resulting technology has levelled the playing field, if not tilted it the other way. Once powerful "Wings" of Choyla flyers have been burned from the sky by gunpowder weapons and recent loses in the last decade have halved the population leaving the survivors much more cautious.

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

Witch Clans of Choyla

Witch Clans of Choyla

Type of Government

Demographics & Population: 600,000

There are an estimated 60,000 Witches within Choyla, supported roughly ten times that number of slaves and servants. The Witches themselves look human while their servant base is made of virtually all other races.

Governance & Politics

Choyla is loosely ruled the High Coven, three Witches who hail from each of the lands main three Clans; The Red Claws, Black Talons, and Silver Fangs. These Witches are the most cunning and strongest among all their kin; they are succeeded by a chosen heir who is rarely one of their own line. While the High Coven exists it is not unusual for the various Clans to engage in limited warfare, skirmishes, raid, slave snatchings, Witchling kidnappings, etc. So deep are their suspicions of each other, no one can remember a time when all three clans fought side by side.

Culture & Society

The Choyla are all exclusively female. They are unable to bear male offspring, though males are required for breeding purposes; only human mates are capable of impregnating a Witch. Other races, Elves, Orks, and even some other humanoid species are known to be used for pleasure purposes. Witchlings are rare and highly valued by all Choyla. A Witchlings father is killed instantly to prevent any foolish paternal urges or actions.

The Clans occupy different portions of their Island home, a ragged yet beautiful land of towering spires and deep valleys that are ideally suited to their flying mounts. The Choyla ride Wyverns which are raised from a young age after being taken from nests found throughout the islands. These mounts are integral to a Choylas life and are bonded to their rider; if a Witch dies, so does her mount.

The Choyla keep significant numbers of "enthralled servants" who serve to keep the Witches fed, and harvest required resources for basic survival. This population serves to act as a food source if needed as the Choyla will consume the flesh of pretty much any other living creature when they're hungry enough using their retractable iron teeth and claws.

Magic & Technology

Technology

The Choyla have zero modern technology.

Magic

The Choyla are magically powerful, the only thing that has prevented them from being utterly overwhelmed by their enemies. Each Clan boast its own unique magical ability from being able to control the beasts of their home and the surrounding ocean, to shape shifting into various different animal forms, and even offense magics that serve to counter modern weapons. Each Witch has the single powerful ability to commit themselves to a "warding", an act that kills the Witch outright but creates a tremendous magical surge capable of killing almost anything within a radius of the warding.

Military Overview

The Choyla are a highly militant species that have preyed on their neighbor for centuries. Their ability to move quickly and larger undetected has made them a terrifying force to be reckoned with. The arrival of modern armies, however, and much of the resulting technology has levelled the playing field, if not tilted it the other way. Once powerful "Wings" of Choyla flyers have been burned from the sky by gunpowder weapons and recent loses in the last decade have halved the population leaving the survivors much more cautious.

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

Routhenrask Ruthelbora

Routhenrask Ruthelbora

Routhenrask Ruthelbora - Ro to his friends- is a smuggler, thief, and merchant. Born the only son of a fishmonger, he always had dreams and aspirations of moving beyond his anticipated station in life. As a young lad he signed onto a merchant ship. His journeys took him far and wide and he soon learned something of the world beyond the limits of his small town imagination.

He is a man who has worked hard for his station. From lowly cabin boy to first mate, he fought to move beyond the life that his parents predicted for him. The time came when he had saved enough money for his own boat. It had become obvious to him, during his time as a legal merchant that, while profitable, it could not compare to the money made smuggling.

Now nearly 37 years old he is considered one of the finest blockade runners of the age. His vessel, the StarSkimmer, is a marine ship modified for air travel and, though it runs lightly armed, it has no challenger for speed.

His crew is made up of freed slaves, free folk seeking adventure, and more than one young noble run away from home to test their mettle in the world.

Gregarious, generous to his crew, and ruthless to any who might betray him, Ro has earned the reputation as a daring and roguish figure who is impossible to dislike. Even the sternest Naval Captain can grudgingly admit that Ro is a gentleman first, a ragamuffin second.

He toes a fine line with his flaunting of any laws and will dump a cargo before engaging with any warship. This action, though not always popular with his clientele, has ensured no boarding party has ever been able to firmly pin him down as a criminal.

Whatever nefarious dealings he might be up to are always mixed with legal trade and tender. Ro is clever enough to ensure that some cargoes and their ownership are so convoluted that even he isn’t entirely sure what is going on.

Even so, if you’re desperate for manarite and need it sooner rather than later, Ro is your man. Or Elf? Maybe an Orc? No one really knows what race he is and he keeps that secret close to his chest.

Ro long ago made his fortune but something about the open sea and sky, the thrill of the chase, the pleasure of the deal, all of it perhaps, keeps him on the move.