Liotrent

GATEWAYS: THE NEXT GENERATION [NEW PLAYERS WELCOME!]

NEW HAVEN
NEW ATHENS
MAIN DIRECTORATE OFFICE
22:00 HRS

The Elysium system was a host to a multitude of problems, a lot of which was solved with heavy doses of media manipulation, brute force, and underhanded tactics including but not limited to assassinations, torture, and reeducation. The "concerned citizen" today is none-other than one of the sector directors, Vincent Lotte who recently appeared to have had unfortunate things to say about the Directorate as a whole.

"I'm telling you, it's fair criticism!" Vincent struggled against his restraints as usual, but I, Hubert was having none of this bullshit today.

"Listen, Vinnie, buddy- no! Pal! I know you have your gripes, but know your limits okay?"

"I- I- I don't understand-"

I press a finger to his trembling lips, "Shh shh shh... I've heard it all before Vinnie, I don't need another spiel about how you feel about the Directorate, how it's going down the wrong path, how it should be run, etcetera etcetera..." I then remove my finger from his pathetic face. "... Buuuut I don't need any of that, I need you to be able to follow instructions from the me, you know? The big honcho? 'THE' lead Director of New Haven?"

"Wh- What the hell did I do to deserve this?" His face went pale and sweat ran down the side of his face. I turned on a bright light and he recoiled, rattling the restraints on the table.

I take a syringe filled with good ol' nanotech, real good for getting to those pesky neurons in the brain. "Let's see..." I say as I tap the syringe to get the air bubbles out, "... I come back from my two week trip to god knows where after negotiating with two alien races and find that there's this controversial official at the Thesius colony spouting some nonesense about brainwashing and cover up schemes and-"

"B-But Hubert, you and I both know that to be tr-"

"I KNOW THEY'RE TRUE!" I turn to him, my eyes wide with rage, "Do you have any idea how long it took for us to get this very very fragile peace? Only a handful know the truth of how the wars began and how they ended." I took the syringe to his neck, "... Now you'll have to suffer an aneurysm so I can make you forget everything. It's a messy process, I might turn you into a vegetable in the process, but at least you won't blab anymore."

Good ol' Vincent tried to struggle out of it, but in the end I sunk the needle in just like I did with a lot of the other disobedient Directors under my jurisdiction - which at this point is just all of them - and forced him to see it my way.

"I thought I could trust you Vinnie ol' pal..." I pull up a holo screen and activate the process, "... Now I gotta do the ol' snip snip."

Just then one of my more trustworthy interns walk in, "Oh, I didn't realize you were still busy"

"Of course I am! Always! Busy busy busy, Haha!" the smile always seems to unsettle, the joyful facade I give is such a perfect mask, the language I adopt throws people through loops, my mannerisms make people doubt my intentions. "So what brings you around? Not enough morons to throw out the window?"

"I'm not like you Hubert."

"Oh. Come. On." I throw my hands up in the air and roll my eyes, "Dick... Big dick... Wazzinski, my brother... You'd do these in my place so don't tell me you ain't like me yo."

Dick stares at me as usual through his spectacles, pushing them up the bridge of his nose with two fingers, always unamused and unmoved by my jokes - he's not afraid like the others. "I've been your classmate, your thesis partner, your project partner, and now your vice chair. Above all that I'm your friend, and I've gotta tell you that I'm a little disappointed you think that way."

"Awww! Why's that? Are you disappointed cause you luuuuuuv me?" Of course I shoot him with the puppy dog eyes.

He shakes his head, "No..." he then sits down beside me, "... Because we've known each other this long, done this a hundred times, and I still have to remind you to press the execute command button." which he does for me, by the way.

Vincent begins to writhe in pain, his eyes begin to jitter and roll upwards, and he begins to scream like a deaf girl having sex. If god existed, he probably would damn my soul to hell, not that I care, all I care about is making sure this place is safe and that we have the biggest drone stick to wave around.

"This'll take a few hours..." Dick said.

"You're about to ask me to do something and I don't like it so I'll say no."

"Don't be childish, I need to know about that decision of yours?"

"Ah that! Well I need to invite them both over to carry out that little plan of mine."

Dick takes off his glasses and looks me straight in the eyes, "Is this a good idea?"

I pause, of course I know it isn't a good idea, but progress wasn't made by pussyfooting around... Most of the time... "Yes, this is a good idea." I am also a big fucking liar for my own gains.

"So meddling in the affairs of the FRA and the Yulzan is a good idea?"

"At the very least it shows we mean business when we go packing for a fight. Good to advertise that once in a while. I mean you should be familiar. It's 'DICK' measuring at its finest!"

"It would do the complete opposite if we were to falter against our enemy."

"That's why I don't wanna half ass this. Send our more serious ready troops and gear."

"But not before sabotaging the Yulzan war effort in some way shape or form?" Dick raises an eyebrow to the idea, "How do you even intend on doing that by the way?"

"In my opinion, I think those Yulzan think we're so stupid that we'd actually just trust them on their word or that we fear them and will offer some sort of weird tribute or something..."

Dick then pinches the bridge of his nose knowing what comes next, "Please don't tell me you plan to-"

"Yes, it is time to pull off the ol' trojan horse trick I read about!"

"God damn it..."

"Come on, we'll do it with drones and drone operators, minimal risks involved, and if it does fail, we can just fight them how we usually do."

Dick sighs, "Fine... Should I arrange for an envoy to meet with them again to discuss our setup?"

"Yup, let's meet those FRA fellows first. Let's hear their opinions, after all, they've fought them for longer."

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

DONT YOU DIE ON ME!!!

3, 2, 1, clear!

@Steel Legion

I'm not dead, I'm going through my finals weeks and enrollment periods so I'm extra busy atm. I've learned my lesson to sort of just keep this open and not let it die. I'm going to do this right and not rush things like I did in RP's I've tried to start before. Just know that I am still working on it.

GATEWAYS: THE NEXT GENERATION [NEW PLAYERS WELCOME!]

---

First Contact

_{A @Sigma & Liotrent Collab}

---

New Haven. It's a bright, progressive world that strives for the height of scientific progress. However, beneath the bright, thin veneer lies a web of ingtigue and political strife. The marks of the old wars have been erased, their images edited, their information cut and reworded to the point of being borderline untrue. This is what New Haven is.

Hubert loudly sips his coffee, then turns around and gingerly places it attop a tabletop.

"... I aim to change that and put it into the past. Because, let's be real here people..." He steeples his fingers as he turns to address the crew of the NHS ADAMANT, "That's the most depressing thing I've ever heard... so far-" he coughs, "I mean they could be worse, but just because they're worse doesn't make us too much better! So... Operation don't be assholes is in effect! Smile people!" he gestures to the crew drawing a smile on his face with both hands, "SMILE LIKE YOU'LL DIE TOMORROW!"

He then turns back to see an open gateway. A gateway they've been studying for a while. There were superficial structures all over it, research facilities and such. They've been trying to get it operational for years.

"Now... COME TO PAPA! Maybe... Probably... I mean it's on, that means there's something coming through right?"

The captain replies, "Sir, did you not read the report?"

"Listen, captain whats-his-face. I read one part... The Gateway was active and I started running towards the nearest shuttle."

"Right... Well, no it doesn't mean something's coming through. It just means we could and if we could the other side could too."

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go to the place we probably haven't been to before!"

"Sir that's not-"

"Oh just do it."

"Okaaaay... Ensign take us in."

NHD ADAMANT was a science ship, but due to insurrections in the past, all government affiliated ships are required to be lightly armed and crewed with at least 20% military personnel. The ship lurched forward diving into the unknown.

The ensign speaks up, "Sir the gate's interfacing with our navi-computer."

Hubert then says, "Pick something random."

"No, we can't just go in and pick something random sir." The captain protested

"Fiiiine... Choose..." Hubert paused then looked towards the navicomputer. "Choose that one."

"Aye aye sir, heading for set coordinates."

The captain asked, "Why'd you pick that system, Director?"

"It looked... Safe... ish..."

"What? That's it?"

"It's not like we know! We're explorers man!" he pulls the captain close then looks towards the gate with a hand stretched out towards the bright light, "We have to go and see the unknown!"

"F-Fine Director... Um... Could you like... let go now?"

A little over a week had passed since the gateway reopened, already both powers receiving visitors and sending ambassadors to other parts of the galaxy, all this was a little overwhelming for the both the leadership and populous. The situation regarding Gate ownership has led to many awkward conversations between officials of the Free Republic and the Ascendancy, a rather major first in decades. It was agreed upon that the gate region would remain a neutral space for the time being, any ship within the airspace would be guaranteed safety and wouldn’t be fired upon.

With that in mind, two ships from both sides would make another round, and venture off to a new world to establish relations, ships whose crews and captains are well acquainted with intersystem travel, and it seems for the time being, this would be their new duties. The FRS Gloria and the JFS Prosperity once again on a mission to rediscover more colonies.

Ambassador Ghask, the new, and temporary diplomatic liaison to the Gloria looked out the window in his quarters, staring at the gateway in awe, never before has he seen such a wonder. Such a moment would have to end as red alerts sounded up, something was about to come out of the gate. The New Haven ship, Adamant quickly emerging from the other side. “The job just got easier.” Ghask said to himself, and right on que, he heard a beeping coming form his desk. “Yes?”

“Sorry to interrupt, sir.” Captain Ranford’s voice spoke. “The trip just got cut short.”

“I’m very well aware, captain, I see it right now.”

---

Meanwhile, on the Prosperity, the Ascendancy decided on a very different type of representative. A squad of armed Janissaries marched down the corridors of the ship, leading down the hanger bay, ship personnel clearing out of the way, followed by gasps and hushed whispers as a member of the High Ascendants personally came to oversee this First Contact, the towering Yulzan looking down on his subjects as they looked in awe at his very presence. “Holy Shit! Holy shit!” Darius, one of the Janissary escorts, panicked internally, keeping his composure as they arrived to the hanger bay, a shuttle waiting for them.

As the NHS ADAMANT emerged from the gate, they were greeted with the sight of a beautiful system. However, what caught their eyes were two cruisers of vastly different design waiting for them.

The captain pushed Hubert away, "O-Okay, time to get to my job. That does not look friendly. We're turning aroun-"

"BELAY THAT!"

"Director, you're in danger, and from those sparks in the distance, this place is an active warzone."

"All the more reason to stay captain. Let's see what's in store. Oh, and do prepare the marines and the defense drones just in case. Ensign, slowly bring up the power to the weapons and our ADS/APS."

"A-Aye sir." The Ensign stammered, the rest of the bridge seemed to be buzzing with activity.

Hubert went over to the comms pannel and pressed a few buttons, overly familiar with the features of the ship. The ADAMANT broadcasted on open communications, "Greetings, I hope you can understand English, if not then... Um... Fiddlesticks. What's important is we get a response on this frequency anyways."

"Sir what are you doing? What if they can't understand us."

Hubert turned his gaze towards the captain with an unamused expression, "I just said what's important is we get a response. It'd mean they're at least willing to communicate. Please try to keep up captain."

There was brief moment of silence from both cruisers, trying to maintain a non-aggressive posture as they slowly advanced towards the Adamant, soon both ships responds.

“This is Captain Ranford of the Free Republic Navy; we hear and will soon met in person aboard your vessel. Captain Ranford Out.”

“This is Captain Ordius of Janissary Fleet Command. With your permission, a shuttle will arrive soon to your vessel to further discuss other matters. Over and out.” A short moment passes as one shuttle from each cruiser departs, both ships racing one another towards the Adamant, the closest to “fighting” they’re even allowed with. Both ships entering the docking bay, making their slow descent towards solid ground, boarding ramps lowering down as armed soldiers from both parties were the first to exist, followed by the captains of each ship, and lastly, Ambassador Ghask and High Ascendant Edanir stepped forward. The Free Republic delegates were taken aback by the presence of a Yulzan, let alone a member of the High Ascendants…if it weren’t for the damned agreement, they’d probably shoot the bastard on sight.

Hubert and the captain was already there to meet them. The captain spoke first, "I'm captain Friar, I'm usually the one in command of this vessel if it weren't for our Lead Director here beside me today."

Hubert greeted the delligates and their armed escort with a smile on his face, "Greetings, you'll find that there'll be no need for personal weapons on this ship. This is a science vessel afterall." As Hubert speaks, the scientific equipment and clean background is contrasted heavily with military personnel and automated drones. "... That... And we can already ensure your safety within the confines of this ship." The smile was there, but the joyful tone belied a very subtle and unfearful threat of immediate and violent retaliation if anything were to go wrong on the vessel.

"Oh how silly of me! My name is Hubert Seymour, the Lead Director of the New Haven Directorate. We value science and peace above all."

“Right…” Ghask thought to himself, very much doubtful of this Hubert’s reassurance, there is certain a story to tell with this New Havenists, the question of course….is will they be willing to share it? Regardless, this isn’t the time for such questions, that can come later, now is the time to open up yet another colony to the greater galaxy.

Ghask bowed. “Ambassador Jaril Ghask.” The Dathu stated his name. “I come on behalf of the Free Republic of Americana.” Some of the Janissaries present couldn’t help but snicker, Ghask shooting them a quick glare before raising his head back up. Captain Ranford stepped forward to introduce herself. “We’ve spoken a short while ago, Captain Ranford.” She said, followed by a crisp salute.

The Yulzan stomped forward, the Janissaries stepping clear away from him. “You stand at the divine presence of Edanir of the High Ascendants.” He “spoke”, his voice sounding almost ethereal, and artificial, his eyes glowing a deep hue of red. “I speak on behalf of all of the Ascendancy.”

Ordius stepped forward, not before bowing before Edanir. “My lord.” He mumbled as he passed him. “Captain Ordius, reporting.”

With introductions made, the three parties made their way elsewhere on the ship, the marines and janissaries given the order to remain with the shuttles.

The Adamant was what it was, a science vessel. Hubert began to explain its complex history, "We New Havenist folk are absolutely ecstatic about meeting new cultures and complex intelligent life other than our own. This ship is a science vessel, standing in as a diplomatic transport."

"Fascinating..." Edanir let silp, his eye wondering about. "The Ascendancy is equally exsited to meet new people, new worlds. And new subjects..." The last one of course, was Edanir thinking to himself.

Ordius on the other hand, was eyes sparking with wonderment, this never got old for him. Stepping in new ships, getting a brief look at the interior, seeing how different cultures developed in warfare and whatnot, he's always been a nerd for ships.

He led the way towards a corridor that would open up towards what would've been a lab. "This ship had to see many retrofits. Unfortunately, many of our more sophisticated vessels are out scouring our system for useful materials and possible colony founding locations."

“Hmm interesting.” Ghask said to himself, both promising as a means fostering relations and possibly get a slice that pie, so to speak. “We can maybe help with this.”

The bulkheads were crudely but effectively reinforced, the men inside the room were carrying around tungsten shells and carting warheads into another room, the moment they stepped into one of the weapons bay they were greeted with two flanking Marines, fully kitted in worn assault gear. "We've had to retrofit this ship to protect itself during the tumultuous periods in our history." Hubert smiled, not worrying what kind of impression this left with his visitors, "It's only been a few years since then so, we haven't gotten around to demilitarizing. Haha!"

"You want my advise? Don't." Ranford said, shooting a side glare of the Yulzan and his lapdog. Ordius rolling his eyes. "We've learned that the Galaxy is dangerous, pays to be prepared."

Hubert then looked towards the soldiers flanking them, "Oh come on, relaaaax guys, what? Are you afraid of unarmed diplomats? Jeez... Talk about paranoid."

"Well, I wouldn't entirely say unarmed." Edanir said as he demostrated, a short energy blade igniting from his wrist device. "Although I assure you, this is purely for my own well-being." He turns his gaze at Captain Ranford and Ghask, before shutting off the blade.

As he sparked the blades the marines reacted almost instinctively moving their bodies in between the director and Edanir. Ready to brandish their heat blades. They withdrew and quickly returned to their position. In that brief moment where they were closer, the guests were able to inspect the pieces of armor a lot closer. These worn pieces of armor were battle damaged, high velocity rail gun impacts, deep heat blade marks, small red spatters in hard to reach places that could've been oil or blood.

"I apologize for my men, the periods of war are still quite fresh in their minds, we're almost to the meeting room." Hubert continued to lead the way, "Anyway, tell me about yourselves. I feel as if I've prattled on a bit too much."

Once they entered the meeting room, the two groups took their seats on opposite ends of the room, staying as far away from each other as possible, but close enough to Hubert. “Our story is a rather…sore point for many…” Captain Ordius said with a smirk.

Captain Ranford maintained eye contact with her counterpart. “For the sake of not embarrassing ourselves…let's just say some REAL stupid decisions were made in the past. Decisions that led to a three-decade war. We fight to maintain the freedom of all the Americana System!”

“And WE fight to maintain the order and prosperity the Yulzan have given us!” Ordius raised his voice as tensions grew. Edanir couldn’t help but watch in amusement as the sparks flew, while Ambassador Ghask grew paler then usual as he watched.

Hubert didn't bother to stop them, instead as he sat he steepled his fingers once again, awaiting for a servitude drone to bring food and refreshments. He took the time to carefully assess who he was dealing with in the room. Edanir was obviously had questionable intentions. He thought of him as a justifiably overconfident man who enjoyed watching those he considered bellow him squable over what he would consider scraps. Randford on the other hand seemed very committed to her cause, admirable but foolish, many on New Haven perished for such noble stances only to be Killed unceremoniously a few months later, the same cannot be said for her counterpart, a weak man who bows to strength instead of taking it for himself. Ghask unable to control the situation before him can only anxiously hope it dies down.

Captain Friar never dealt with the Lead Director in person, he knew of him through television as a bright and cheerful personality. But when he looked into Hubert's eyes looking at the commotion in front of him, he recognized it. A shiver ran down his spine, though he dare not speak it. The Director, was working his mind, putting pieces on a chessboard that only he could see and weighing his options.

Just before everything fell apart, the servitor drone arrived, "Food and refreshments?l

"Right on time, Uno!"

The drone was humanoid, barebones, enough to function in a service capacity. Uno, named because he was the ship's first servitor drone in a long time.

Both officers sat down in silence, their faces red with frustration and anger, both willing to pull a gun out if they had one and turn the Adamant into a shootout. The service droid provided a convenient end to the tension, much to Ghask’s relief, sighing. Edanir simply shaking his head in disappointment. “Yes, please.” Ghask said, as the droid placed a tray down, he leaned towards Ranford. “Please captain.” Ghask said in a hushed tone. “Just bear with them a little longer and we’ll be on our way.”

“Understood..” Ranford felt defeated, here she was, in the same room as a High Ascendant and nothing could be done about it, it was infuriating. Ghask turned his attention back to Hubert. “I’m sorry for that, where were we?”

"Ah yes, I was very interested in both of your cultures And current situation. You both are currently at war with each other I take it? If so, I do apologize for making you both come aboard at the same time to deal with the same person. That's a diplomatic oversight on my part." A very deliberate oversight. People reveal themselves when dealing with their direct enemy. A fortunate happenstance, it was good that most weapons were left behind as to avoid a diplomatic mishap.

"I'll deal with you both in turn... Let's start with you, your excellency" He turned to Edanir bypassing the lapdog, "Care to regail us with tales of your home and history?" he addressed him with a respectful tone, not as if he was about submit.

“Of course!” He replied with enthusiasm. “We Yulzan are a species of martial prowess, and masters of the sciences. Ours is a history filled with bloody wars out of myth, scientific discoveries that changed us forever and for our own good, we slew Gods in order to become Gods ourselves, and through our divine minds and technology, we became so much more. Sadly, our undying legacy was put to the test, we fled our homeworld as it burned in stellar fire, taking what little of our legacy with us. We found this system, it was our salvation, those that came before us were distrustful, but in time, accepted us as we shared our legacy, our gifts. Many rightful saw us fit to rule their world and worlds beyond, but there were those that feared our power, fear that sparked the war you know today.”

Hubert nodded thoughtfully taking a moment to process all that's been said, then turned to Ghask, "Ambassador Ghask, what can you say about your proud, Free Republic?" Hubert was strategic in his selection, pushing both sides buttons slightly, trying to goad reactions, testing them, and gauging them against themselves.

Ghask cleared his throat as he begun. “Before the arrival of your people or the Yulzan, my people, the Dathu were enthralled by the Kingdoms and Houses of Dathon, what the humans now call Columbia, the original colony. We aren’t much too different from humanity, we squabbled over resources and fought in the name of our Lords, our Kings, and our Gods. After the humans arrived, there was a long period of struggle and war, eventually leading to the Unification War, a war that saw all of Americana united under the banner of the United Columbian Republic.” Ghask paused once again before continuing. “The Yulzan took that unity away from us. Columbia falling under their thumb.” Edanir let out a low, satisfied “hmph.” Not even denying his people’s crimes against the URC, now FRA. “The Free Republic was built on the promise of rebuilding the dream and taking back what’s ours, the Americana System will be free once again.”

A short term ally could be made out of the Yulzan in wars that will undoubtably be sparked by outside relations. However, the Free Republic, with its ideals could prove to be a more useful and furthermore reliable ally for personal matters. Currently, New Haven's other Directors have been looking for an opportunity like the gates opening To destabilize the fragile facade of peace on New Haven. War is inevitable. Hubert has prepared for it. Now he needs to find allies that he can trust. He remembers a holotablet containing the history of Japan during the Sengoku era through to the foreign invasion of powers. It was ancient, but the stories within hold truth. He was like Oda Nobunaga, he's the tallest tree in the forest, he needed a Tokugawa Ieyasu to back him up and make sure he doesn't suffer the same fate.

The talks continued, Hubert carefully navigated the two people's diplomatic efforts. In the end, Hubert simply stated that he'd conclude the talks of diplomacy until a formal meeting can be arranged under better circumstances.

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

Vecrya

Vecrya

The red line is Alos Vidi's origin, eventually, his people migrated West picking up other lines of refugees which are represented by the different colors. It is not a specific illustration as it is more to simply show the movement across geography and how others joined. These caravans are currently about 3/4 of the way to where the red territory is on the water. This territory will show where Vecrya settles in 2-3 posts.

Type of Government

Demographics & Population: 1 million

1. Humans (50%) 500,000

Noteable cultures/influences

Ignasi,
Zelenese,
Sarenian,
Eleim,
and Kyarusch.

2. Dark elves (20%) 200,000

Noteable cultures/influences

Darkling Womb

3. Wood Elves (15%) 150,000
4. High elves (4%) 40,000
5. Halflings (3%) 30,000
6. Dwarves (1%) 10,000
7. Gnomes (1%) 10,000
8. Centaurs (1%) 10,000

----------

Governance & Politics

Vecrya, the unofficial title of a people loosely led by Alos Vidi, govern themselves through a democratic process of open dialogue between decision-makers and followers. There are no set structures that must be rigidly adhered too. Everyone has freedom to lead, follow, challenge decisions, and leave. When disputes do emerge, it can be settled in a vote or in a duel. A fight to the death is not permitted, and engaging in a duel must be sanctioned as to maintain morale and order. If a duel occurs without being sanctioned by the people, the parties disputing will be left behind.

Culture & Society

Vecrya is a loosely organized group of refugees with varying backgrounds. Many intersecting cultures converge within Vecrya, and Vecrya itself has no standard set of traditions. The only unifying notion that bonds these people together as a culture is their pain and suffering, this can be immediately recognized in the unofficial name that members refer to their group “Vecrya”, translated to, “The Path of Tears”. The existential feeling each member shares, longing for a home that can provide peace and security, a reality their birth homes never realized.

Many Vecryans have lost family, close friends, lovers, and soulmates. Their shared experiences and diverse backgrounds shape next generation Vecryans as eclectic artisans, swordsman, and merchants. As a whole, there is no place for theoretical exercises or time to pursue academic ventures, everything a Vecryan learns can immediately translate into pragmatic and useful returns that either assist in the security of Vecryan society or help build it up physically. These directions may change as the society itself settles and realizes a new overarching identity.

Magic & Technology

Technology

Vecryans are resourceful inventors who are extremely skilled at repairing, modifying, and deconstructing existing technology. However, they have no technology that is going to be on the edge of research or what is possible. In fact, much of their gear will look as if it came out of an artist’s backyard.

Magic

Vecryans come from all walks of life and so does their magic. There is no consistency to the Vecryan’s pool of magic, yet, slowly as the next generation buds, there is a form of magic that has become the focus, Abjuration.

Abjuration is the practice of giving up one’s magical abilities for offense and solely converting their energy and spells into defensive techniques. This phenomenon began to emerge in the minds of Vecryan as they shared stories of their history. In all instances, magic was introduced and used for destruction. The Vecryans do not wish to repeat their origin stories and collectively began reorienting their magical affinities or those whom have some to mastering the art of dispelling and protecting against magic using magic.

Military Overview

The might of the Vecryan are dispersed across a roving caravan as guards. There is no real offensive military strategy other than whatever shapes up after an offensive force throws their will at the will of the Vecryans. Most of what the Vecryans have faced together could be boiled down to bandits and organized gangs festering in abandoned ruins, cities, and towns. Individually however there are extremely skilled veteran warriors who have seen all types of warfare and even some who have experienced moments of life in the prisons of their enemies. The next generation of Vecryans are taught in all sorts of combat, strategy, and weapon wielding. The most focused art of combat for a Vecryan however is the use of a horse. The caravan extends miles long and defending it using only foot soldiers was never going to sustain the life expectancy of the group enough to reach their “promised land”. Horses make up for this challenge in distance and at a young age the children of Vecryan are all taught how to ride, fight, train, and care for their horse.

@RezonanceV

Nomadic people. That's new. I like it.

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

@Liotrent

Thats good to hear. Am i in?

@Steel Legion

It's looking good just from a quick skim. I'll reread it in a bit, but so far I don't have complaints... Yet.

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

Sorry, I'm still busy with college work. I haven't been able to work on this as much as I'd want to. But I am still planning to run this at some point. It's just not gonna come as fast as most would like. If you're willing to wait, that'd be grand! Sorry for the inconvenience and the late update. It sort of just slipped my mind since I was busy.

GATEWAYS: THE NEXT GENERATION [NEW PLAYERS WELCOME!]

First and foremost. I am working on New Haven first. The ones that can actually talk to people and be peaceable. It's heavily work in progress because I'm trying to rewrite some of New Haven's older lore.

Hider

Nation Name: NEW HAVEN DIRECTORATE

Government Form: Police State masquerading as a Science Directorate

Demographics: Humans, Cyborgs, and Automata

Population:
5.5 Million
General Population Split:
50% Human
30% Cyborg
20% Automata

---

---

Planet Name and Description:

New Haven is an Earth-like moon that’s slightly smaller than Earth and orbits a gas giant. The surface is 57% Water and 43% Dry land. The days in New Haven last twenty eight hours. The climate is predominantly temperate in the south pole and gets warmer towards the north pole due to its exposure to the sun. Every few years this climate will shift as it makes its tilted rotations around the gas giant known as Elysium 03 also known as Atlas.

History:
The colonists that landed on New Haven were pleasantly surprised by the habitabilty of the world they had found and named this world New Haven. However, their introduction into the new environment had unforeseen consequences. The early colonists were struck with alien diseases and as if that wasn't bad enough, the colonists themselves spread diseases from Earth to their surroundings.

For years the colonists battled against disease and in an effort to keep themselves sterile invested heavily into robotics and biological research. Their early efforts into scientific advancement to conquer their inherent weaknesses would turn into a staple of their culture and society.

After a number of decades, the colonists would establish themselves and would soon adapt to their new home. Slowly, the science that was used to keep them alive was put to greater use in understanding their new home and making life easier for the colonists.

Slowly and slowly the colonists would be divided into two groups: the capable hardworking professionals and the decadent consumerist. Inevitably, there were government reforms that would eventually evolve into the directorate state the New Havenists are today. Hard work was rewarded well and the fat and lazy were punished. Specialists that have worked towards the benefit of New Haven would be allowed to retire and were allowed to be decadent being seen as having well earned it.

In later years there would be political instability within the New Havenist government. Splinter groups of different leaders in government disagreed in which way New Haven was to grow. This led to the infamous “Robotics Proxy War” that spanned for 40 long years with no end in sight. After a long and pointless struggle, the New Havenists drew up a treaty and yet another government reform was enacted. This time with a more centralized board of directors with one lead director to govern over all of New Haven. For the time being there was peace.

That peace did not last. Years of rebellions and instability would rock the new government. The faction known as “Heaven’s Door” garnered large amounts of support against the directorate. The Directorate was forced to enter a long and bloody war in which the Directorate was able to gain the upper hand. Heavy amounts of propaganda and a transition towards more intelligence gathering systems have made sure that the Directorate has the capacity to nip problematic elements at the bud.

It has been thirty years since the revolts. All information of the years past has been heavily scrutinized and edited for the benefit of the Directorate. Only the Directors are privy to this information.

Culture and Society:
New Havenist culture and society on their past hardships and their struggle. They derive great pride in their cunning and intellect. They are not adverse to different ways of achieving longevity be it artificial prosthetics and transhumanist ethics. However, they are not fanatics in this aspect and it is an generally an open choice whether to remain completely human or augmenting themselves.

Freedom of choice in most aspects of life is believed to allow people to find their niche in New Haven society. However, this only extends so much as the current Board of Directors allows. Spirituality for example is not strictly mandated. Religious freedom is encouraged so long as it does not disrupt New Haven's stability as a whole.

Disruption, even socially, is considered rude and so great care was taken by every citizen to be as orderly and as considerate as possible to the people around them. It is also because of their inherent struggle with alien diseases that they are meticulous with their own cleanliness - though not universal it is very common.

Technology Overview:

• Advanced Automation - Their experience with drone technology is above average and has proven self-sufficient even after losing communications. Executing objectives quickly and making decisions based on mission parameters.
• Advanced Medical Technology - Their early battles with disease has led to experienced medical physicians. Alongside them developed medical technology in order to allow them to do their jobs.
• Advanced Manufacturing Technology - After the Robot Proxy Wars in that divided New Haven into several parties, an arms race was launched both metaphorically and literally. Every side was researching how to increase manufacturing capabilities such as nano-constructors. These technologies were folded into civilian use and expanded upon after the end of the Robot Proxy Wars.

Near Human Cybernetics as a result of Advanced Robotics and Medical Technology

Nano-Construction Vehicle as a result of advanced manufacturing

---

Governance and Politics:
The governing body of the New Haven Directorate is a board of specialist directors of various departments of government. The most important is the Lead Director who oversees the Board of Directors. The Lead Director's role is a very powerful position, thus, the next Lead Director is carefully selected from a pool of candidates in secret - even the candidates themselves do not know. These candidates are selected by the current Lead Director. This process is mirrored in all roles within the board and all candidates are to be appraised of technical skill and knowledge on various subjects by the board before relieving the current board director.

Currently the Lead Director is a man named Hubert Seymour. An often times silly man with a penchant for the theatric. However, despite his eccentric personality he's proven himself as a leader for the last fifteen years. He spearheaded the campaign to explore the local system of New Haven (now known as Elysium) and reactivating the gates in order to expand outwards to rediscover Earth and explore new worlds in the name of science and discovery.

Hubert Seymour

Military Overview:
The New Haven Military structure is heavily invested in drones and automation. However, it still relies on manpower. New Haven infantry corps, New Haven mechanized corps, New Haven fleet, and New Haven air corps all have a role to play in battle operations. Though years have passed without conflict, the New Haven Military is still ready to defend Directorate interests and act as an peace enforcers.

Order of battle always begins with shock and awe. The fleet will move to establish air dominance whilst simultaneously pummeling the ground with bomber and orbital artillery. The landing force will then follow and establish a base of operations with a Nano-construction vehicle utilizing any nearby resources for base construction or being supplied with materials from orbit. Planetside artillery will help support the advance of infantry and mechanized corps. Air Support will be provided if possible. Airbases will be constructed to allow for planetside repairs and rearming.

To land a ground force the use of deployed decoys will be used to minimize beyond visual range lock on casualties. This should maximize the ground force's chances of survival if orbital artillery isn't enough to soften a target or if bombing and orbital artillery is strictly forbidden and there is simply no safer place to deploy.

Ground Army

New Haven Infantry

New Haven Automated Infantry

New Haven Infantry Support Mech

New Haven AFV

New Haven MBT

New Haven APC

New Haven Super Heavy

New Haven AAA

New Haven Artillery Walker

Fleet & Airforce

New Haven Ships

New Haven Fighters

New Haven Bombers

New Haven Dropships

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

So as a short update and as well as my plans for this RP. I'll be working on the IC ASAP and posting it. I find that in RP like this one, it's quite easy for people to come in and out of the RP seeing as the nation mainlands are not in the map and this is just a small part of the world. It allows for people to come in and out and allow some flexibility. While wars may indeed happen outside of this scope, the events outside serve mostly as a mechanism to move things within these lands. Thus, if say a major power has to leave in the middle of everything, we can say that the colony here has been granted some degree of authority or even an appointed governor that reports to your nation, however it is not seen as significant in the grand scheme of things. It essentially means that it does its own thing and bothers no one until you a player comes back.

These are some of the things I have planned. I'd also like to gather insights on those interested and their ideas. Not all of us can be active all the time, I plan for this to be rather low maintenance, post at your own pace type of deals.

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

I hate to say it, but I'm actually drawing a complete blank on what else to write so in favor of not taking up a spot, I'm going to be dropping this for someone else with a better NS to join instead, sorry.

@ClocktowerEchos

No problemo!

BLOOD & IRON: IMPERIAL AMBITION

The People of the Darkling Womb

Name of your Nation: The Drow Confederacy/self-named People of the Darkling Womb



Type of Government: Confederacy

Demographics & Population: Approximately 5 million.

Governance & Politics: The People of the Darkling Womb, though a technical Confederacy, can barely be called a unified people. Individual tribes and clans are governed in various ways - some by force, some by gerontocracy, some of the most ‘modern’ by classical monarchy, and others by vote. The confederacy is merely a loosely formal way for these tribes and communities to cooperate, meeting in a central, neutral location; a sanctuary nestled into the Earthen Womb, the large, towering mountain range near the western edge of their homeland. Deep within this sanctuary is an enormous pillar of a highly concentrated form of what the Darklings call the 'blood of the gods' (known elsewhere as manarite), running far deeper within the ground than even the Darklings have gone, holding enormous religious significance to most tribes. It is, however, incredibly dangerous to be around to all but the most powerful mages or the most physically resilient people.

Culture & Society: Contrary to popular belief in the human nation-states, the Dark Elves (or the People of the Darkling Womb, as they commonly refer to themselves), adamantly believe that elvenkind is the 'race' which others descend from, including themselves. Their race, they argue, descends from the pale-skinned stock adapted to the underground with darkened skin to better camouflage themselves in poorly-lit places, a wild difference from the ways in which some elves adopt other drastic changes to adapt to their environments - often in ways that humans cannot.

This is not to say that they believe elves to be inherently superior, however, but rather stands as an example of how their culture, absent human influence, has developed along fundamental lines that are not generally compatible with assimilation into human society.

Another is the relatively different nature of gender roles in Darkling society. The Darkling Kin, perhaps due to the unusual environment in which their civilization emerged, developed to be highly sexually flexible due to extremely high death rates (that often were just as high at the home as they were away from it), resulting in the unusually high prevalence of offspring-viable intersex people, and the cultural expectation that anyone, regardless of their biological sex, was expected to be highly fit and capable of fighting.

Darkling mastery over magic has since reduced many of these pressures, as has the introduction of foreign agricultural techniques, but the cultural expectation of violence and flexible gender roles has not abated, remaining strong even in the presence of influence considered highly unusual to the Darkling people.

Magic, likewise, has enormous cultural influence in the Darkling people, and ability to use it, while not the sole determinant of one's status, is a major contributor. Magic has both an enormous spiritual significance to the Darkling people (due to its necessity for contacting the extraplanar beings the Darkling communicate with and occasionally work alongside, particularly daemons and the divinities they serve) and necessary practical utility. It is, after all, incredibly difficult to survive beneath the earth without access to magic, and, in many ways, the Darklings' access to magic without the use of manarite technology is what allows them to survive being fully colonized. The foreigners may be communicated with, but they are nonetheless viewed with careful caution, as a general rule.

Magic & Technology: Unlike societies that rely on the industrial exploitation of manarite for their magic, the Darklings rely on it in another way entirely - exposure. Highly resilient to manarite mutation as a result of millennia of proximity to it, the Darkling are a generally highly magically adept people, though their unwillingness to cannibalize a substance they view with such immense reverence, and their until-recently lack of access to easily proliferating agricultural crops (not to mention the simple fact that they mostly live underground) has resulted in very low levels of industrial development compared to the countries colonizing their home archipelago. Many types of livestock of beasts of burden that allowed these civilizations to proliferate mass agriculture, also, simply didn’t exist until they were introduced, and many of those that have been introduced (such as horses) are utterly unsuitable for life in massive underground caverns.

What the Darklings have, though, are several sources of potent magic, both that from within and without; that is to say, through spiritual means. This magic, in fact, has been a prime factor in keeping their lands safe from encroachment, causing casualties in conflicts with colonial powers that make their home even less desirable, though it nonetheless posesses enormous resources of lumber and valuable minerals, not to mention an extensive network of underground tunnels to expedite transport.

Military Overview: Although a warrior culture in many respects, until skirmishes and battles with the Viceroyalty of Veliký Zelená (which have since ceased), the Darkling tribes, for the most part, had nothing resembling a formal military, instead relying on loose bands of warriors to resolve conflicts when words could not. Since contact with colonizers, however, a handful of bands have seen fit to adopt relatively modern military arrangements, complete with regiments and formal officer training. Most, however, still rely on nomadic bands, forced to constantly move through the places beneath the earth to avoid threats and follow sources of food, lacking the ability to establish permanent places for training.

Additional Info: (Miscellaneous information that don't really fit in any category.)

Bam.

@Jeddaven

I like it so far. Some dark elves that have... *RESOURCES*... I can see some interesting developments with your natives in the future.