"Urgh. I hate teleportation sickness." Grumbled Brigadier Whitechapel as she walked with her scouts along the line investigating the orc threat, taking an offered spyglass as she tried to fend off another bout of nausia even her divine physique had trouble dealing with. "Orcs, trolls, goblins. Lots of goblins. I wonder who among them has the power to command such a host?"
"Meaning you would like whoever it is dealt with, Lady Whitechapel?" Whispered a cheerful voice into her ear, which revealed itself to be the short, seemingly cute-looking form of Adept Tarthe, the leader of the black-winged Valkyries attached to the expeditionary force. And notable for supplementing her rapier with a pair of quad-barreled flintlocks and bandoleers of ammunition, as well as the red runes tattooed into her face. "My talents only work up-close. But there is one among us with long-range skills and a new gun she is itching to try out."
"Use a gun, you draw the whole army down upon us with the noise." Dismissed Whitechapel. "And guns arn't accurate enough at range even with magic for that kind of thing. No, we need to handle this methodically. Orcs eat more than humans, giants eat for five times as many. Harry their foragers, coordinate with the scouts to hit their supply lines, but we must avoid direct action until we can set the time and place of it ourselves."
"Ah, just like seducing a tavern wench."
"Oh shut up."
Action: The Valkyries begin scouting the orc army while performing skirmishing raids. Objective is to harry supply lines and avoid direct combat for now.
"So, orcs to the North." The Divine Seer peered at the map table as servants helped her remove the bulky ceremonial regal robes and vestments she had still been wearing during the morning prayers to the Light before the reports came in. "How do you judge it, Lady of War?"
"Distant, but not something we can ignore." Said the silver-haired valkyrie that was the mistress of all the fighting troops of the Empire. "Afterall, we do intend to eventually spread the Light towards the territories of the North, correct? Letting orcs kill them all beforehand would rather defeat the purpose."
"Always the one with the dark wit. But yes, that is something to consider your holiness." Grumbled the Lady of Coin as she took out her magic ledger to begin recording and sending the orders to her subordinates. "But considering the distances and that we have yet to be able to open a bridge to the Celestial Realms anywhere outside of the capital, we can't afford to send too many. Say, two battalions?"
"Two battalions. Plus a levy of Blackwings." The Mistress of War raised a hand to forestall the other's objections. "Their methods may be harsh, but they are effective and we don't have a full understanding of everything that lies to the North just yet. They have their uses, this is one of them."
"I shall defer to your judgement." Declared the Divine Oracle, her friendship outweighing misgivings regarding the dark valkyries in the Empire's midst. "Select your two battalions to investigate this orc incursion and scout the Northern lands. Make sure their commander is one we can trust, they will be too distant for reliable scrying."
"Fret not m'lady, I know just who to send for a task such as this. The Silver Knight Whitechapel upholds her duty to the Empire and Light above all else. And she will not fail us in this regard either."
Summary: The Valkyrie Empire prepares to send two battalions of Valkyries (150 knights and 350 rangers) and a Blackwing cohort to investigate the orcs and lands of the North.
Armaggedon Station Union Fleet Covert Deployment Base
The shuttle gently rumbled under the feet of its occupants as it flew among greater ships hanging in space around Armaggedon Station. Aboard it, one of its passengers was quietly counting the assembled force in mixed awe and skepticism of why it had been concentrated so. Admiral Gwenevere hadn't finished counting yet, but the numbers were just not adding up with what she knew of of the war with the Phoenix Empire as a whole.
"A fleet carrier, two escort carriers, and four destroyer squadrons. Torpedo frigate wing off Intemperate..." She muttered under her breath as she kept reading the display in her cabin suite, not having to adjust or amplify the digital display of what hung outside the base she was being sent to besides showing the hull names. "Damn. Mostly newbuilds. Hell of a force to add to the Third Fleet."
<<Would prefer more cruisers.>> Pointed out her traveling companion in electronic monotone. The dog-eared captain's gaze was seemingly locked on the video game he was playing on his holo-com, but he followed his Admiral's intent. <<Even with your flagship plus escorts, still not a full task force.>>
"Indeed, but you know what our industry is like Baylet." Replied Gwenevere, turning away from the display to pick up a cup of tea on the table between them. "Miracle we got this many ships here to begin with."
<<Uncovering key areas is more likely.>> The dog intoned, with the Valkyrie only able to grudgingly nod in acknowledgement. Baylet made too much sense in that regard, these ships would be useful in any number of places. Why would they be all concentrated here, on the far edge of the Union away from the Empire? <<You see the list of mech pilots they sent with us? A third veterans, the rest are rookies fresh out the vats, but a lot of first-rate hardware. I bet its the same for those ships out there.>>
"What is so much heavy metal doing out here?
<<We'll find out soon. We're coming up on the station.>>
Name: The Biosynth Union Species: Biosynths Magitech-created humanoid servants of the 3rd Phoenix Empire, now left astray and on their own as they do not recognize the new Empire as the successors of their long-gone masters. Biosynths are human in shape, but are genetically, physically, and magically altered to be both compliant and specialized in specific fields of ability to be ideal servants, posing difficulties for a collection of biosynths trying to stand on their own as some models were lost and others deliberately handicapped or withheld to ensure dominance by their masters. Engineering and strategic command types are in notably short supply in comparison to the overabundance of warriors, soldiers, and cultural models.
Drones (Labor)- Basic grunt labor biosynths. Drones form the Union's masses of unskilled physical laborers for all kinds of menial or dangerous physical duties. Cheap, simple, and mass-reproducible with only simple magitech facilities and resources, the Union doesn't lack for raw labor. Drones may be tasked towards higher duties, but require cerebral implants or mental-imprints to learn how to perform them.
Proteges (Adv. Labor)- More advanced labor models, Proteges possess some degree of intelligence and problem-solving ability, making them suited for industrial tasks or assisting more specialized or sophisticated models. Efforts are ongoing to replace Drones with Proteges, but its a continuous balancing act with producing other models that share their facilities. Also used in combat as shocktroopers, utilizing cocktails of combat drugs and conditioning to turn them into fearsome yet readily replaceable troops.
Asimov (Technical)- One of the few major technical models of the Union, Asimov-type biosynths are robotics technicians meant to maintain robots and mechs. Most of their problem-solving revolves around building robots and loading them with pre-programmed routines to accomplish even the most simple of engineering tasks. Still, they at the very least have the mental flexibility to trial and learn how to build robots and mecha for a wide range of fields, making them vital for maintaining the Union's infrastructure and ships.
Theranthropes (Culture/Soldier)- Out of mad genius or perversion by ancient arcanosmiths, a wide range of biosynths were created with animal features and traits spliced into their bodies. Besides the obvious cultural appeal of catgirls, dogs, and the like as servants and "companions"; Theranthrope models also proved to be surprisingly able soldiers. While not explicitly stronger or faster without supplemental modding, they are more mentally hardened for the rigors of war than most humans and naturally pack-disciplined, if usually erring on the side of too much aggression for their own good.
Valkyries (Soldier/Tactical Leader)- Valkyries are a dedicated female warrior model. While their appearances rarely drop below "attractive" (and frequently much higher), do not mistake their appearances for softness. Designed to be ultimate soldiers, their bodies are infused with powerful magic and genemodding for perception, reflexes, coolness under fire (termed "Battle Trance"), and exceptional regeneration. In the fall of their masters, Valkyries have also come to occupy a large number of forward leadership roles to great ability, although they are relatively poorer staff officers and strategic leaders.
Government: Fascist Autocracy
Description of Technology: Magitech, approximately 40% magic, 60% tech ratio on average.
The Union favors a mix of last-gen and reliable technology for the bulk of their system defense forces and society, with the main Union Fleet upgraded with examples of 3rd Empire technology they have been able to salvage and reverse-engineer or reproduce.
The majority of Biosynth technology is derived from or salvaged from the fallen Third Phoenix Empire, as well as relics from other past nations they have salvaged and repurposed. The majority of the more advanced technology is consolidated into flagships and capital ships that can accomodate the secondary systems needed to duplicate greater power supplies or heat dispersal.
Genetically, the Union is very advanced in the genesplicing arts. While they can't create new templates of biosynths, they can readily genemod and enhance individuals with abilities beyond the humanoid form.
The Union Fleet is a carrier-heavy force, emphasizing support and deployment of large numbers of small craft backed by a small yet elite core of capital ships. Every ship in the Union fleet is designed with some degree of mech-carrying capacity, and ship production highly emphasizes construction of carriers.
Mecha are commonly used by the biosynths for ease of use with magitech mind-machine interfaces, and because they have been able to salvage several 3rd Empire autoplants and relativistic foundries specialized towards mech production. While slow to develop new mech models, the biosynths are able in adapting and customizing their equipment as needed, and have no shortage of talented pilots to field them en masse by the thousands, carriers permitting.
Standard combat doctrine is to swarm enemies with large numbers of mechs, fighters, bombers, and corvettes. Followed by groups of frigates and cruisers if heavier firepower is necessary. Carriers and capital ships are deployed as last resort and kept at a distance, as the Union cannot readily replace them.
The Union's primary fleet advantages are effectively infinite supplies of general crew and pilots, which can go a long way in a space age where conscription is rarely effective, and advanced warship technology for the ships they do have, such as the plasma focus and shield-piercing electron beam cannon. Flatspace-entanglement magic enables several models of Elite Mechs to carry and swap between large weapon loads while still highly mobile.
Union culture is very fragmentary to say the least. While the Founders gave some semblance of individualism to the biosynths before their fall, biosynth culture is strictly divided between model type and between those who possess the spark of independance and who don't, creating a type of imitative culture.
Culture-models lean towards hedonistic lifestyles. Patrons and partakers of the arts, luxuries, and pleasures of the bed. Those who serve provide all forms of pleasure, and those with the Spark consume it either for personal satisfaction as per their role or in imitation of their masters. Most biosynths are uncomfortable with living at the level of their masters, yet there must be consumption of the works of the large cultural basis of the population. Therefore its not uncommon for soldier biosynths to take leave on a beach without understanding why it was a recreational hotspot, only that it is a traditional pasttime for soldiers in books they read.
Warriors and soldier types are primarily martial in mindset and exercise. Gladiator games and bloodsports are common, as is military reenactments and constant physical drill. Some military philosophers have emerged from their ranks however, and they are not simply dumb muscle either as they strive to apply and adapt their military mindset to other areas of society.
Engineers are perpetual workaholics, rarely deviating from their work and obsessively tinkering even when off duty. As a rule, all biosynths give Engineers and Technical types a wide berth and all support they can muster in deference to the technical specialists.
2000 years ago, the 3rd Phoenix Empire fell. Leaving behind hundreds of ruined worlds, and a race of servants, slaves, and soldiers. Born of complex arcane spells and magitech alchemy, the biosynths were bred to be the perfect servants within their given roles.
Before their final fall, the Founding Mages of the biosynths gave the gift of freedom to their creations and enough tools to ensure some means of their own survival. Ensuring that some of their creations would survive the dark ages to follow. Spread across the ruined stars, many biosynth colonies fell as the specialized servants could not exist on their own. But some colonies stood tall, and rose from the ashes anew.
Led by the four main models: the Valkyries, the Liberators, the Asmiovs, and the Proteges; the Biosynths slowly rediscovered interstellar travel and reunited the scattered biosynth models. Yet even then, unity was impossible to achieve among servants without masters. Not even the greatest leaders of the biosynth worlds possessed the authority or ability to unite all the worlds by diplomacy, force, or trade.
It would take an invasion of the Fourth Phoenix Empire before the factions would finally unite in shared belief that the outside usurpers were not the successors to the legacy of the masters they once served. Marshaling their armies and peoples and scouring ancient ruins for technology and magic to even the odds, the newly formed Biosynth Union now stands in a desperate fight for survival against a greater empire.
Name: The Biosynth Union Species: Biosynths Magitech-created humanoid servants of the 3rd Phoenix Empire, now left astray and on their own as they do not recognize the new Empire as the successors of their long-gone masters. Biosynths are human in shape, but are genetically, physically, and magically altered to be both compliant and specialized in specific fields of ability to be ideal servants, posing difficulties for a collection of biosynths trying to stand on their own as some models were lost and others deliberately handicapped or withheld to ensure dominance by their masters. Engineering and strategic command types are in notably short supply in comparison to the overabundance of warriors, soldiers, and cultural models.
Drones (Labor)- Basic grunt labor biosynths. Drones form the Union's masses of unskilled physical laborers for all kinds of menial or dangerous physical duties. Cheap, simple, and mass-reproducible with only simple magitech facilities and resources, the Union doesn't lack for raw labor. Drones may be tasked towards higher duties, but require cerebral implants or mental-imprints to learn how to perform them.
Proteges (Adv. Labor)- More advanced labor models, Proteges possess some degree of intelligence and problem-solving ability, making them suited for industrial tasks or assisting more specialized or sophisticated models. Efforts are ongoing to replace Drones with Proteges, but its a continuous balancing act with producing other models that share their facilities. Also used in combat as shocktroopers, utilizing cocktails of combat drugs and conditioning to turn them into fearsome yet readily replaceable troops.
Asimov (Technical)- One of the few technical models of the Union, Asimov-type biosynths are robotics technicians meant to maintain robots and mechs. Most of their problem-solving revolves around building robots and loading them with pre-programmed routines to accomplish even the most simple of engineering tasks. Still, they at the very least have the mental flexibility to trial and learn how to build robots for a wide range of fields, making them vital for maintaining the Union's infrastructure and ships.
Theranthropes (Culture/Soldier)- Out of mad genius or perversion by ancient arcanosmiths, a wide range of biosynths were created with animal features and traits spliced into their bodies. Besides the obvious cultural appeal of catgirls, dogs, and the like as servants and "companions"; Theranthrope models also proved to be surprisingly able soldiers. While not explicitly stronger or faster without supplemental modding, they are more mentally hardened for the rigors of war than most humans and naturally pack-disciplined, if usually erring on the side of too much aggression for their own good.
Valkyries (Soldier/Tactical Leader)- Valkyries are a dedicated female warrior model. While their appearances rarely drop below "attractive" (and frequently much higher), do not mistake their appearances for softness. Designed to be ultimate soldiers, their bodies are infused with powerful magic and genemodding for perception, reflexes, coolness under fire (termed "Battle Trance"), and exceptional regeneration. In the fall of their masters, Valkyries have also come to occupy a large number of forward leadership roles to great ability, although they are poor staff officers and strategic leaders. Their production is limited to a few advanced worlds, and they are not compatible with accelerated growth methods.
Government: Parliamentary
Description of Technology: Magitech, approximately 40% magic, 60% tech ratio on average.
The biosynths have a noted issue of limited skilled technical personnel, perpetually short of logistics staff and advanced engineers. This in turn results in a shortage of heavy industry and shipyards, resulting in technology and ships designed to last and be as low-maintenance as possible. This is mixed with technology salvaged from the Phoenix Empire and other fallen factions the Union has found and attempted to use to compensate for their industrial disadvantages.
The majority of Biosynth technology is derived from or salvaged from the fallen Third Phoenix Empire, as well as relics from other past nations they have salvaged and repurposed.
The Union Fleet is hamstrung by the Union's industrial deficiencies. Leaving it with fewer capital ships and problematic supply trains at best. To compensate, the Union makes extensive use of easier to manufacture and maintain destroyers, frigates, and mech strikers. As a rule, the Union prefers carriers over battleships, and outfits every ship with some degree of mech-carrying capacity.
Mecha are commonly used by the biosynths for ease of use with magitech mind-machine interfaces, and because they have been able to salvage several 3rd Empire autoplants and relativistic foundries specialized towards mech production. While slow to develop new mech models, the biosynths are able in adapting and customizing their equipment as needed, and have no shortage of talented pilots to field them en masse by the thousands, carriers permitting.
Standard combat doctrine is to swarm enemies with large numbers of mechs, fighters, bombers, and corvettes. Followed by groups of frigates and cruisers if heavier firepower is necessary. Carriers and capital ships are deployed as last resort and kept at a distance, as the Union cannot readily replace them.
The Union's primary fleet advantages are effectively infinite supplies of general crew and pilots, which can go a long way in a space age where conscription is rarely effective, and advanced warship technology for the ships they do have, such as the plasma focus and shield-piercing electron beam cannon.
Union culture is very fragmentary to say the least. While the Founders gave some semblance of individualism to the biosynths before their fall, biosynth culture is strictly divided between model type and between those who possess the spark of independance and who don't.
Culture-models lean towards hedonistic lifestypes. Patrons and partakers of the arts, luxuries, and pleasures of the bed. Those who serve provide all forms of pleasure, and those with the Spark consume it either for personal satisfaction as per their role or in imitation of their masters. Most biosynths are uncomfortable with living at the level of their masters, yet there must be consumption of the works of the large cultural basis of the population. Therefore its not uncommon for soldier biosynths to take leave on a beach without understanding why it was a recreational hotspot, only that it is a traditional pasttime for soldiers in books they read.
Warriors and soldier types are primarily martial in mindset and exercise. Gladiator games and bloodsports are common, as is military reenactments and constant physical drill. Some military philosophers have emerged from their ranks however, and they are not simply dumb muscle either as they strive to apply and adapt their military mindset to other areas of society.
Engineers are perpetual workaholics, rarely deviating from their work and obsessively tinkering even when off duty. As a rule, all biosynths give Engineers and Technical types a wide berth and all support they can muster in deferrence to the technical specialists.
2000 years ago, the 3rd Phoenix Empire fell. Leaving behind hundreds of ruined worlds, and a race of servants, slaves, and soldiers. Born of complex arcane spells and magitech alchemy, the biosynths were bred to be the perfect servants within their given roles.
Before their final fall, the Founding Mages of the biosynths gave the gift of freedom to their creations and enough tools to ensure some means of their own survival. Ensuring that some of their creations would survive the dark ages to follow. Spread across the ruined stars, many biosynth colonies fell as the specialized servants could not exist on their own. But some colonies stood tall, and rose from the ashes anew.
Led by the four main models: the Valkyries, the Liberators, the Asmiovs, and the Proteges; the Biosynths slowly rediscovered interstellar travel and reunited the scattered biosynth models. Yet even then, unity was impossible to achieve among servants without masters. Not even the greatest leaders of the biosynth worlds possessed the authority or ability to unite all the worlds by diplomacy, force, or trade.
It would take an invasion of the Fourth Phoenix Empire before the factions would finally unite in shared belief that the outside usurpers were not the successors to the legacy of the masters they once served. Marshaling their armies and peoples, the newly formed Biosynth Union now stands in a desperate fight for survival against a greater empire.
Nations name: The Valkyrian Empire Your race: Valkyries, humans
Description: Forged atop the ruins of a dozen human city-states ravaged by war, disease, undead, and famine into a new kingdom led by winged Valkyries descended from the celestial realms, the Valkyrian Empire is a shining beacon of light and prosperity. A beacon they seek to spread across the world, even if their neighbors may not fully appreciate the true value of the Light just yet. All will come to know the glory of the Light, or face its burning wrath if they deny it.
Nation Notes * Gunpowder weaponry is known but has limited production due to very limited supply of magical blasting powder. The gunmage Order of Black-Wings use flintlock firearms and bullets as conduits for their spells, but the majority of Valkyries prefer to use traditional spells and arrows instead of unpredictable blasting powder which the alchemy guilds keep under tight grips. No cannons or serious effort to introduce muskets en masse. * Connection between the Empire and Celestial Realm is limited. The Valkyries can communicate with the higher realms and allow additional Valkyries to come to this world only infrequently. Attempts to improve the conduits between the Midrealm and Celestial Realms will be an ongoing issue. * Humans and other races in the Empire's lands are effectively second-class workers and laborers for the Valkyrian Empire. Admittedly well-treated for what amounts to being peons and serfs writ kingdom wide, but most middle-class and all upper-class positions are held by Valkyries under their "divine" rule.
