Difference between revisions of "User:Triogenix/Sandbox 3"

From Aurora Information Uplink
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(22 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Navbox Lore}}
<!-- __NOCACHE__ -->
{{Navbox Unathi Lore}}
<!-- Do not touch the above line -->
[[File:Torn-Cities.png|The region known as the Torn Cities, or sometimes Kopesk States, and its surroundings.|thumb]]
<center>{{Navbox New Player Guides}}</center>
= Overview =
{{toc_right}}
<center>''"The Kopesk States have been broken, burned, torn apart in their entirety. We have saved our land and people with this surrender, but we have cast our souls to damnation."''
=New Player Lore Starter Guide=
-Excerpt from the final writings of Korza Azkeri, a prominent Kopesk shaman and Grand Herald of Tak. Written shortly before his execution.</center>
'''This is a new player's summary to the totality - or at least, as much as we can summarize quickly - of the Aurora server's most essential lore.'''
 
'''This is the first in a series of multiple guides that are connected to [[Guides/Character Creation]]. Once you're finished reading this, you are more than equipped with the knowledge necessary to create your character using that guide!'''
 
'''Below is absolutely recommended reading if you are new to the server!'''
== Overview ==
The purpose of this page is to get new players acquainted with the lore of the server and help them in understanding the ins and outs of the Orion Spur as it is in the 25th century. Aurora Lore is vast, and trying to get into it as a new player can feel overwhelming at times. This page represents the bare minimum needed to begin playing,
 
=== History ===
 
The year is '''{{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}} + 442}} CE''' (Common Era). Humanity has long since began its trek into space, and explored territory reaches out dozens of lightyears in every direction. It now shares the galaxy with many different species, in addition to be divided itself into many different nation-states formed in the long years since it first began to reach for the stars. However, it can be said that these states are secondary to the true power of the spur, the transtellar megacorporations. At the end of the 22nd century, the power and influence of the Sol Alliance was at its height, but this soon came to an end as an unexpected economic collapse and brutal civil war saw the power of transtellar corporations increase drastically, as the most powerful of them began to conglomerate into the megacorporation's known today. The foremost megacorporations would ultimately end up becoming the following:


The Torn Cities are a region stretching along the western coast of the Moghresian Sea, along a thin stretch of coastline that was not rendered uninhabitable by the Contact War. Once, they were the States of Kopesk - a loosely affiliated league of prosperous fishing city-states, known for their opulence and wealth. During the Contact War, the Kopesk States surrendered to the Izweski shortly before the fall of Darakath. Their Leaders, as leaders of the traditionalist coalition at the time, were executed, and new ones appointed. However, unlike the rest of the Traditionalist Coalition, the Torn Cities were not ruled by noble clans. Instead, the Kopesk States were a theocracy, ruled over by shamans of the local variation of Th’akh. However, following the Contact War, they are shadows of their former self, struggling against Gawgaryn raiders from the Wasteland and struggling under the weight of the ongoing famine. Izweski governors of the region have been appointed, and the shamans of the Kopesk Th’akh way have largely fallen into obscurity as the Sk’akh Church has worked to spread their beliefs into the Torn Cities. However, in recent years, a new prophet has arisen, attempting to revitalise the old faith - and seemingly succeeding.  
*[[File:Nt-logo.jpeg|20px|link=]][[NanoTrasen Corporation]], the megacorporation which shattered any semblance of equilibrium between the mega-corps following their discovery of the element Phoron in 2417. Phoron is a powerful element that is highly sought after for its untold capabilities and use in the average starship drive. After discovering Phoron, NanoTrasen quickly established a monopoly on it, with themselves sitting on the largest deposits in the known galaxy. The times that followed sent NanoTrasen skyrocketing to unofficially become the foremost power over Humanity. Through its determination and overwhelming wealth, it has become the dominant economic force over the expanse of the Orion Spur.
*[[File:EinsteinEngines2.png|20px|link=]] [[Einstein Engines]], IDK what to put here.
*[[File:Hephaestuslogo4.png|20px|link=]] [[Hephaestus Industries]], the industrial powerhouse of the spur, Hephaestus Industries represents an overwhelming amount of the spurs industrial capacity, from it's factory world of [[New Hai Phong]] to the monopolized economy of the [[Izweski Nation]].
*[[File:II-teal.png|20px|link=]] [[Idris Incorporated]], a shady banking magnate, which controls IDK.
*[[File:ZH-lightpurple.png|20px|link=]] [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals]], a Medical Company
*[[File:Zavodskoi Interestellar.png|10px|link=]][[Zavodskoi Interstellar]], the American MIC on steroids.


The Torn Cities have, historically, not had noble clans, with power being concentrated in the shamans instead. Following the end of the Contact War and the collapse of the Kopesk Church, the Hegemony has appointed their own nobles to govern the region. Largely, these Izweski governors have a poor understanding of their new lands, and are generally viewed with apathy at best and animosity at worst by the locals. For this reason, Watchmen, Levies, and other military/enforcement positions within the Torn Cities are given to non-native bannermen. While none of the locals have cared enough to act against them, rumours of a messianic figure rising along the coastline may shake the Izweski’s grasp of the region.
=== The Solarian Collapse ===
= Culture =
Perhaps the most important event in the spur, during late 2462 a massive phoron scarcity began to occur, as Nanotrasen's mines began to run dry. The Solarian Alliance, following the assassination of its prime minister by parties unknown, and the destruction of Mars in addition to the scarcity, began its final collapse. In a desperate move, the Alliance ordered the abandonment of all space outside of the Core Worlds, centered on Sol itself.. Many fleets disobeyed this order, with one notable fleet, the 35th, opting instead to attempt to invade Biesel, during an arc named King of the World, causing the formation of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. With help from the rest of the spur, the 35th was eventually beaten back and set up a statelet like so many other Warlords within former Solarian Territory. The territory abandoned by the alliance was labeled the [[Human Wildlands]], home to anarchy and limited governance. In this power vacuum, other nations of the spur took advantage and expanded their borders to include formerly controlled Solarian territory, skirmishing with local warlords for control. Since it's collapse, the Alliance has been slowly restoring its control over the Wildlands, with the recent creation of the Southern and Northern Reconstruction Mandates.
<center>''"The seas provide."''


-Common proverb in the Torn Cities, frequently used as a greeting among the population</center>
=== The Stellar Corporate Conglomerate ===
[[File:A broken buildi 1-transformed.png|200px|The wreckage of the contact war dots the coast of the Torn Cities.|thumb]]
Perhaps the single most powerful entity in the spur, the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate is, as the name suggests, a conglomerate made up of the megacorporations of the spur, minus Einstein Engines. It's primary goal is the furthering of member interests and the protection of member assets. It is run by Miranda Trasen, CEO of NanoTrasen. The SCC(sometimes called the Chainlink), through its member companies and their cooperation, has domination of several economies within the Orion Spur. From banks to manufacturers, only a sliver of economic productivity in the Spur is controlled by others, the main threat to the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate being Einstein Engines. Despite the power of the Chainlink, Einstein has managed to remain competitive against them through tight ties with the Solarian Alliance and Nrralakk Federation, both the largest economies in the spur to exploit. As one of the eldest megacorporations, Einstein Engines has maintained a constant throughout humanity's journey to the stars and shows no sign of exiting soon.
To the Kopesk Sinta, the oceans are the source of all life. Fishing is where the wealth of the Kopesk States once came from, and remains the primary source of food and income for the region. The Fishing League, as a consequence, holds great power in the region, having guildhalls in each of the Torn Cities - though many of these have been downsized significantly following the Contact War, as the cities can no longer support such a large population, and the Moghresian Sea’s fish supplies are growing increasingly sparse. Aquaculture remains the primary industry of the Torn Cities, and their fishing flotillas are still some of the more impressive on the Moghresian Sea. However, as the Hegemony is still gripped by famine, more and more of their fish is taken by the Izweski to be redistributed to regions suffering more - a state of affairs that has angered many of the locals, and is rapidly straining the popularity of the Izweski governors. The affinity for aquaculture combined with their religious tendencies has led to the Sinta of the Torn Cities being known as diligent, highly religious, and hardworking individuals, often being mocked for their superstitions by Unathi from other regions of Moghes. Sinta from the Torn Cities are used to a day of hard labour, and are willing to do almost any task, for the right price.


The oceans are sacred and to be protected in the eyes of the Kopesk. Thus, routine prayers are observed before meals, especially those including the ocean's holy bounties. Any time guildsmen were to reap profit from the sea, it would only be done after a proper prayer to appease the spirits of the ocean for taking from it. Nothing was to be wasted from the sea, and thus bones were ground and used as compost for plants in aquaculture, or even turned into divining items; scales were often stripped and incorporated into trinkets after a proper blessing was laid on them; the organs of fish were prepared and eaten alongside the meat, unless they were poisonous. Knowing these practices was required for any guildsman working with aquaculture, the ocean, or even just preparing food; not knowing and reciting them could result in licensing for these jobs being revoked within the Torn Cities. Despite being viewed as sacred, the Sitna of the Torn Cities are not above doing what they wish to the oceans in some ways. While pollution of the waters is considered a grave sin and crime, issues such as overfishing, commercial fishing, and large amounts of trapping threaten the ecosystem of the ocean floor. Recently amongst the more enlightened Sinta of the Cities there has been a campaign to stop these destructive habits, now enforced by law due to the famine currently facing Moghes, which has only strained the feelings of the peasantry more harshly, as they see no issues with the practices they’ve used for generations.
== The Setting, and Workplace ==
Nearly all Industry in the 25th century is dominated by a megacorporation in one way or another. As a result, a majority of the workforce finds themselves working directly for a megacorporation or one of its subsidiaries. Nowhere is this clearer than the Republic of Biesel, a state founded by NanoTrasen intervention, and despite strong Republican nationalism, exists at the whims of megacorporations. It is the economic heart of the spur, with it's capital system of Tau Ceti hosting the largest GDP per capita of any location in the spur. Still, it is not without its problems. From unrest in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, to a declining economy due to reliance on Phoron, the Republic never knows true peace. However, due to its ties to all megacorporations, it's capital planet of Biesel is the recommended starting background for new players to get accustomed to the lore of Aurora, with wide variability and simplicity assured. Relevant pages for lore can be found on the Character Creation Guide.


Aside from the Fishing League, the Merchants’ Guild has historically held several assets in the Kopesk States, having often facilitated much of the region’s trade with the Hegemony prior to the Contact War. With expansion into alien markets, and trade having dried up in the Torn Cities, the Merchants’ Guild has downsized its operations in the region heavily, though one guildhall in Sai remains open. The Construction Coalition has also been hired extensively in the past by the Kopesk Church, building several of the grandest temples and holy sites of the local variety of Th’akh. Several of their guildhouses remain open in recent times, though most of their work now is maintenance and reinforcement of the Cities’ walls, their last line of defence against raiders from the nearby Wasteland.  
=== The SCCV Horizon ===
With the unveiling of the '''[[SCCV Horizon]]''', the setting to which players have access stretches across the entirety of the Orion Spur. The '''SCCV Horizon''' is under the joint control of the '''Stellar Corporate Conglomerate''', a holdings corporation that has significant influence over the direction of the setting. You, among others, have been assigned to work aboard the '''SCCV Horizon''', a state-of-the-art general-purpose vessel that travels across the Orion Spur with the primary objective to uncover Phoron, however, secondary objectives exist at the whim of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. Due to the SCC operating the Horizon, they have the final say on Occupation Qualifications. While many jobs will have specific qualifications that can be found on their job pages, the baseline qualifications to work aboard the Horizon can be found here: [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate Occupation Qualifications]].


Following the Contact War, Sinta of the Fighters’ Guild have found steady employment in the Torn Cities, guarding their western border against Gawgaryn incursions. Several new guildhalls have been opened in the region, and many young warriors from the Cities flock to the Guild as a way to prove themselves and earn decent money, especially as overfishing takes its toll upon the waters of the Moghresian Sea. However, these Guild mercenaries have often had to compete with mercenaries from the nearby Reclaimer Clans, who have offered their services across the Torn Cities for securing them against the vicious incursions of the Wasteland.
In recent times (2462 and beyond) the setting has taken a turn for the worst as phoron scarcity threatens to drive the galaxy into the ground. While phoron remains in steady supply, its finite sources grow thinner by the day - soon enough, civilization will suffer the consequences.  
== Education ==
Before the advent of widespread schooling, the Sinta of the Kopesk States were known for their high levels of education - prior to the Great Endeavour of the Sarakus Hegemony, they were one of the only regions where the vast majority of the population were literate, leading to an oddly conflicted stereotype of the region's Sinta being both superstitious and scholarly. Even today with more widespread education, the well-established school system is largely better than the average peasant's education in most regions outside of the Izweski Heartland and urban centers of the Untouched Lands. Though the fall of the Kopesk Church has hampered the system somewhat, it largely persists similarly to how it did prior to the Contact War, though with a reduced focus on the religious aspect of schooling.


The standard curriculum of a Torn Cities education lasts for eight years, from the ages of six to fourteen. It covers literacy in Sinta'Unathi, though prior to the Contact War Sinta'Azaziba was also taught, and remains the language of choice among older Kopesk Sinta. It covers basic numeracy, the theological foundations of Kopesk Th'akh, the history of the region and a cursory examination of wider Moghresian history where it impacts the region, usually focusing on the period following the fall of the Sarakus. More practical skills are also taught, with schools tending to specialize in specific skills for future trades. These religious schools also tend to have a strong focus on athleticism among Sinta of all genders, with swimming races being a popular form of competition among young students.
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Your Place in the Workplace'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
All players including staff are subject to the believable character rule. More details on that rule can be found in the server rules, found [https://aurorastation.org/rules.html here.]


Further education following this schooling period usually came in the ordinary Sinta way, learning on the job or as part of a Guild apprenticeship. However, for those Sinta who showed particular academic aptitude, they were often encouraged to pursue the life of a shaman, and to learn the ways of Kopesk Th'akh from the church itself. This led to a culture with more social mobility than most regions - though power remained firmly in the shamans' claws, any who applied themselves well could seek to join their number, however humble their origins.
With this said, your place in the workplace is extremely flexible. It would not be a stretch to say you can be whatever you want on the Aurora server, within reason. Get creative! The possibilities are endless, and storied lore backgrounds are always here to help guide character creation.
= Faith =
<center>''"The water gives me fortitude, The wind gives me swiftness, The lightning gives me strength, And the life in the depth drives my blade."''


-The Ocean's Chant, a battle-prayer spoken by the Storm Heralds of Kopesk Th'akh before combat</center>
Ultimately, in the grand scheme of things, your binding rules are generally things such as being related to the '''Stellar Corporate Conglomerate''' and being aboard the '''SCCV Horizon''' legally. Opportunities to subvert even these rules are available but are not the same as player characters made from character setup unless exclusively permitted by staff. More details on these exceptions can be found on the [[Guide to Ghost Roles]] page!


The Torn Cities were once nearly entirely Th’akh - now, many of the regions have fallen into agnosticism or atheism, turning away from the traditional beliefs of the region. However, despite efforts, other faiths have not been easily able to replace this. Sk’akh’s spread to the region is highly limited, and the rare Si’akh groups largely come in the form of refugees from the Wasteland, who have difficulty in spreading their ideas among the locals. Though it is a shadow of its glory, Kopesk Th’akh remains the only faith to exist at any significant level across the Torn Cities.  
The vast majority of characters on the server are employees of the corporations beneath the '''Stellar Corporate Conglomerate'''. These individuals come in all shapes and sizes, with all of them sharing similar and quite low ranks in the megacorporate hierarchy. Certain ranks are afforded different privileges, such as medical practitioners and corporate security. Playing an official of higher rank is barred behind a whitelist to ensure quality control. Independent individuals or unaffiliated individuals are accessible as well through character setup. These roles include megacorporate-unaffiliated journalists, passengers, and [[Guide to Ghost Roles|third-party vessel teams]] who have found their way to the setting somehow.
</div></div>


The shamans of Kopesk Th’akh were very different from other Th’akh shamans across Moghes - while traditionally, Th’akh shamans held a largely spiritual position, the shamans of the Kopesk States held positions equal parts political and religious, operating in a fashion more similar to the Sk’akh Church than to other Th’akh sects across Moghes. Quite literally the "Harbingers of Tsunamis" in Sinta'Azaziba, the common shamans or Storm Heralds of Kopesk Th’akh were usually chosen as children. Children that had unnatural birthmarks or discoloured or rare azure scales were indoctrinated and trained from a young age to know the faith inside and out. By the time most are 14, these children seen as being "blessed by the sea" had matured enough to a point to become Kopesk shamans, despite not being legal adults among most of Moghes.
====The Economy====


On top of their normal duties as shamans, Storm Heralds had many other auxiliary duties. Shamans of this variety were often consulted by rural farmers when weather reports seemed unsure of their outcome. The blessing of a shaman was an unspoken requirement before someone took to the seas by boat. Storm Heralds were also consulted and sought out whenever large quantities of products are gathered from the sea, for an extra blessing over the harvest and to prevent spirits from becoming misaligned for these actions. These priests got their name from olden days; Storm Heralds used to play a vital role in predicting or even subverting the "Ocean's Wrath," which were usually seen through the three forces or outlets of energy from the seas: air, lightning, and water. Natural events such as lightning storms, hurricanes, tsunamis, and flooding were all under a Storm Herald's purview to try and prevent. The role of predicting these storms became exceedingly uncommon for them before the Contact War as modern technology largely helped predict whenever storms would pass. However, Storm Heralds in the Torn Cities try to predict whenever these events might occur through divining means, or trying to fend them off through daily, strenuous rituals. It has even been claimed recently Storm Heralds have protected Wasteland settlements from lightning storms and tornadoes, though no recorded proof outside witness testimony is found, especially in the Izweski Hegemony.
The Biesel Standard Credit (电/CR) is one of the dominating currencies that exist within the Orion Spur and was created shortly after the Republic of Biesel’s declaration of independence in 2452. It sees usage outside of the Republic, within the Izweski Hegemony, who adopted it as their official currency following the collapse of the Solarian Alliance, and some sections of the Coalition of Colonies near the shared border, as well as the People’s Republic of Adhomai. The BSC is available in electronic, bankcard and traditional notes forms that have the symbol of a lit torch on them. Responsibility for the currency falls to the Central Biesel Banking Authority, which is located in District One of Mendell City, the capital of the Republic of Biesel. It oversees monetary policy and the supply of the Biesel Standard Credit, with assistance from Idris Incorporated. Similarly to the Solarian Standard Credit, the BSC is able to function as a fiat currency.
[[File:TornCities-3.png|200px|The people of the torn cities worship the ocean, and all the bounties it provides.|thumb]]
In the Kopesk States, most citizens were not allowed to vote. It fell under the role and responsibility of nearby Storm Heralds to vote in their stead towards the High Tranquillity: the head of the Kopesk Church. The Church appointed people to govern cities, organisations, and bureaucratic functions as they themselves kept their rule to a broader scale, like a federal government ruling over individual states.


Most of Kopesk Th'akh follows the doctrines of the Th'akh religion, with some notable deviations. The Kopesk believe prosthetics do not inherently maim the soul. They still retain the notion Aut'akh are heretical due to claiming the flesh should be replaced. Generally, however, Dramos'krutii advocates that prosthetics should incorporate reclaimed metal from the seas of Moghes as it is blessed by the ocean's power, should an Unathi need it.
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
They also believe religion should influence governmental policy. A lack of morals from traditionalists and Izweski alike is what caused the Contact War to become so dishonourable; they maintain the fact that their nation's bidding in the war and before was as perfect as it could get for Unathi.
'''Your Place in the Economy'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The financial status of your character varies on a character-by-character and player-by-player basis. To reiterate, the believable character rule must be taken into account here - a security officer very simply has no excuse to be a billionaire, nor does a cargo technician have the ability to be an Interstellar War veteran. However, the pedantics of the extent of one’s wallet is in player control, barring mechanically of course. With this said, the cost of living is clarified or can be gleaned by context virtually anywhere set in lore - questions surrounding this can be directed to lore developers of the respective topic.  
</div></div>
</div></div>


Nature should be heavily preserved in the eyes of these Unathi. Those that follow this religion often have negative opinions of corporations like Hephaestus Industries for destroying Ouerea, or the former Coalition for dropping the first nuclear weapons and sparking the catalyst for destroying most native life on Moghes.
===Known Space - [[The Orion Spur]]===
Burial rites are largely replaced by aquatic burials. As all things have come from the sea, all things should find their way back to it. This can be any ocean or sea, not just the ones on Moghes. The rest of the burial rites remain similar to Th'akh.
The setting is based in the majority of the '''Orion Spur,''' the part of the Milky Way in which the [[Sol]] System - and its surrounding hundred lightyears, roughly - resides. It is very open-ended and diverse in its nature, and not wholly charted yet - the deep Frontier hardly scratches the surface of the unknowable depths of the galaxy.  


The creation myth for Kopesk Th'akh is a tale of the universe being a vast sea, devoid of life and light. The spirits constantly squabbled and bickered to pass the time. The first acts of creation came when spirits mingled with one another, the best of the lot turning into stars to shine light in the void. Then, more congregated to form other things in the cosmos, populating it with planets, each with water and land. The rumour goes that even in their new physical forms, the spirits still bicker; natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and lightning storms are attributed to the fact that the spirits inhabiting the world are fighting. These primordial ghosts eventually evolved back into a semblance of life, and their squabbling began anew as these animals hunted one another, the plants grew and competed, and the first Unathi grew and were shaped in the image of the spirits.
'''More details on the expanse of the mapped galaxy can be found [[The Orion Spur|here.]]'''
The Kopesk have rituals they consider and observe that distinguish them notably from other Th'akh worshipers.
The prayer of bounty is observed and done before and after a meal, which is usually a quick verse to thank them for the spirits giving up form to put food before a unathi. This is almost entirely universal among this religion. It is seen as extremely insulting to a unathi if someone does not do this prayer before that unathi eats. As a result, unathi often mutter this prayer quickly for meals served to those who do not share the faith, much to the confusion of other species or even other religions.


The renowned ocean's chant gained a lot of fame for being a commonly muttered word by the Marine Messiah and his closest followers. In the now dead dialect of Sinta'Azaziba, Storm Heralds use this prayer before they or someone they are blessing goes into battle or a duel. Some witnesses report a "tempest wind kicking up" with storms not too far behind them. Translated, it is usually spoken like so:
The expansion of Humanity has reached out in every direction, only stopping in the galactic west as they border the Nralakk Federation. Otherwise, their all-encompassing exploration has given them free reign to conquer the untouched - or abandoned - regions of the galaxy.  
<center>
The water gives me fortitude,


The wind gives me swiftness,
The major Human factions of the Orion Spur are numerous, but share a common theme in that they are universally affected by a catastrophe known as the Interstellar War. From this disastrous conflict, many new factions cropped up, with most opposed to the rule of the Sol Alliance.


The lightning gives me strength,
{{Aurora Starmap}}


And the life in the depths drives my blade.
==Major Factions==
</center>
These are the dominant political players in the Orion Spur that are relevant to you, the player. Any of these factions can be utilized in backstories or as origins for characters - go crazy!
== The Marine Messiah ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<center>
====[[Republic of Biesel]]====
''"He who lightning will not burn,
The core location of the setting itself. A bastion of prosperity amidst chaos.
He who waters will not drown,
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
He who speaks and calms the storm,
[[Image:Republicofbieselflag.png|65px|right]]
He who returns to us the truth and the way."''
The Republic of Biesel is an independent system within the core of Human space. It is heavily tied to the NanoTrasen corporation at every level of government, and may as well be considered as governed by it to begin with. The Republic of Biesel is the government of the Tau Ceti System, exercising authority over Biesel, New Gibson and all other settlements and installations within Tau Ceti's gravity well. It is one of the most populated systems in human space, a financial center, industrial powerhouse and one of the most prestigious systems in the galaxy. However, unrest and gridlock undermine the government, and the aggressive attitude of the Sol Alliance against its former system has made many worried of the future of the Republic. Tau Ceti is far from the limit of the Republic's boundaries, as the recent addition ''(post-2462)'' of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone have led to its size growing immensely. The CRZ, or the Zone, consists of hundreds of once-Solarian worlds which have had no choice but to fall under the Republic's banner, after their supply lines and defenses were cut off by the collapsing or defecting military.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====[[Sol Alliance]]====
A crumbling giant whose golden age has long passed.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Sol Alliance Flag.png|65px|right]]
Formerly the most populated singular government entity in known space, the Solarian Alliance is the first and one of the most politically powerful trans-stellar Human factions. While its reign formerly consisted of nearly a quarter of charted space in a growing sphere around Earth, it has now diminished significantly in size. Its loyal forces have recently retreated to the "Jewel Worlds," a region of space where its most treasured assets lay, not to mention its throne upon the home world. The Alliance is strangled by its long-standing reliance on [[Einstein Engines]], a corporation that has survived almost total nationalization to become the foremost employer in Solarian space. The government and the corporation now stand as fierce opposition to the growing Stellar Corporate Conglomerate whose power contests them. Sol's jewel worlds and secure borders are surrounded by the Human Wildlands, dominated by warlord admirals who formerly served the Alliance' tremendously bloated military.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====[[Coalition of Colonies]]====
Freedom and independence embodied on an interstellar scale.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Frontier_Alliance_Flag.png|65px|right]]
This loosely confederated Coalition is the largest power in the frontier, and possibly the most populous entity in the Orion Spur. It is the largest fracture from the Sol Alliance after the Interstellar War, and covers several regions with its utterly tremendous borders. The systems of the Coalition greatly value their independence and freedom. A few powerful systems dominate the politics of the Frontier, headed by the Xanu Free League - the capital of it all. Many of those in the Coalition of Colonies harbor distrust of the Sol Alliance even after the end of the Interstellar War. Humans and aliens from any and all ethnicities, as well as any combination of them, can be found in the Coalition of Colonies. In recent times, the Coalition has conquered a huge amount of territories where the Alliance formerly stood guard. For example, the tremendous Alliance Neutral Zone - a place where both sides were forbidden from entering - no longer exists, and has since been deemed Coalition territory after the Solarian withdrawal.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====[[Republic of Elyra]]====
Glistening utopian city-scapes and technological might.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Elyra Flag.png|65px|right]]
The Republic of Elyra, or its more official name, The Serene Republic of Elyra, is a bustling, benevolent independent power in the Badlands. It is made up of multiple star systems, with its capital in the highly developed technological utopia of Perispolis. Its national motto is "For Greatness We Strive". It is known for its exotic culture, highly progressive - if Pro-Human nature, and advanced industrial wonders. Elyra is one of the only three factions in the Orion Spur which innately possess phoron deposits of any sort, something they have exploited to their fullest potential in recent years.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====[[Empire of Dominia]]====
Religious pride in the Emperor and country.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Dominia_Flag.png|40px|right]]
A heavily religious absolute monarchy with its capital, Nova Luxembourg, on the planet of Moroz in the Mira Sancta system. This autocratic state is ruled by His Imperial Majesty Boleslaw Keeser. The Empire of Dominia was proclaimed in 2385 by then-Emperor Godwin Keeser, unifying a colony which had been isolated for hundreds of years. Imperial society is dominated by the Great and Minor Houses under the Emperor and is very socio-economically stratified due to the so-called blood debt, known as the Mor’iz’al.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">


-A description of the Marine Messiah, found painted on a wall in Sai.</center>
====[[Eridani Federation]]====
Corporation-dominated hell, personified through a terrible societal split.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Eridani Logo.png|65px|right]]
Eridani, or the Eridani Corporate Federation, is an oligarchic republic in the Epsilon Eridani system dominated entirely by a council of mega-corporations that seek profit and expansion at any cost. It has no official capital - government authority is exercised digitally. The Corporate Federation is known as one of the core economic powers of Solarian space, and is technically under Solarian supervision - though the true extent of this is up for debate. Corporations, in reality, rule the gloomy landscapes of the Corporate Federation’s worlds. Its citizens are called Eridanians. Eridanians are famed for their vicious treatment of one another, distinguishing between two primary classes ; Dregs, and Suits - who in effect represent a fine line between poverty and wealth.
</div></div>


Born as '''Nzra Vindek''' in 2437, the Marine Messiah was a frail child that had been blessed with azure scales. The Vindek clan of Sai, a small rural clan, continued the old ways of aquaculture, living life as a quiet clan. They became rustboys of a different variety after the war: the sea shores were privy to scrap metal, which was reclaimed by the Vindek as they cleared out their fish dens, that they sold to the Hegemony for profit.
==Common Sentient Species==
An outing of three siblings, Nzra, his brother and his sister, made their way out to sea on a smaller boat to collect scrap floating in. However, the vessel was accosted by powerful spirits, or so the story goes. After thought to be long dead, Nzra washed up on the shore two days later, the rowboat intact. Barely alive, it was seen to already be a miracle of the spirits above. The recovery having finished though, Nzra started to speak strangely, claiming the sea had spared him to spread its message. He spoke vastly of former Kopesk Th'akh beliefs, such that the family and neighbours never exposed him to. It was said that this knowledge was instilled in him by the spirits, to help revive the rightful religion.
These are common sentient species found throughout known space.
At just the age of 11, Nzra took on the last name of Dramos'krutii, or "Storm Calmer." Due to the lack of proper Storm Heralds, the Marine Messiah has taken to travelling the Torn Cities to find disciples and train them as a new generation of Kopesk shamans. He has retained a following of seven though that he trusts as his closest that journey with him through the Wasteland.
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Only recently in the Hegemony has his existence come into the limelight, though, as previously his time in the Torn Cities made him isolated and far off. The influx of trading with the Hegemony, in addition to word of the miracles he has performed, helped carry his message beyond the Izweski walls.
====[[Skrell]]====
[[File:Starter_skrell.png]]
An amphibian race hailing from Nralakk IV, Qerrbalak.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
An amphibious species whose passion mostly lays in the field of the combined sciences, the Skrell are the second oldest and first most advanced known species present on the galactic stage. The Skrell evolved on a planet covered in vast swamps and freshwater seas, also being one of the only species in the Orion Spur to naturally develop psionics.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====[[Unathi]]====
[[File:Starter unathi.png]]
A reptilian race hailing from Moghes.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The cold-blooded Unathi are a race of tall humanoid reptiles from their war-torn homeworld of Moghes. The planet’s history can be summarized as being dominated by various Clans of Unathi, with the strongest being the Hegemon of Moghes. Following first contact with Skrell and Humanity, there was a violent outbreak of nuclear war that formed a vast world-dominating desert called the Wasteland which has made life difficult for the Unathi. The surviving side of this war, the Izweski Hegemony, has struggled to bring a balance between expanding their empire off-world, or reconstructing their ancestral planet. Grandiose and Space-Operatic, the themes behind Unathi follow the struggle of religion, spirituality, honor, and rigid gender roles.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====[[Tajara]]====
[[File:Tajaraexpandedbackground.png]]
A feline-like race hailing from Adhomai.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The Tajaran race is a species of feline-like bipeds hailing from the planet of [[Adhomai]] in the S'rand'marr system. They have been brought up into the space age by the Humans and Skrell, who alledgedly influenced their eventual revolution that overthrew their ancient monarchies to become a totalitarian - and NanoTrasen friendly - republic. Adhomai is currently under a cold war between three factions in the aftermath of a global conflict, and many Tajara are fleeing their homeworld to seek safety and employment in human space.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====[[Vaurca]] (Vaurcae)====
[[File:Starter vaurca.png]]
An insectoid race hailing from Sedantis I.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The mostly bipedal, insectoid creatures hailing from the moon known as Sedantis I, Vaurca (Vaurca in singular term and Vaurcae in multiple), were discovered after the first Hiveship contact in human space, 2456. They once had access to great technology, however they had to flee their doomed homeworld. They have a complex caste system based on three types, and use something known as the Hivenet to communicate in thoughts and feelings near instantly between themselves, and enter a paradisiacal virtual reality. They require phoron to respirate, as well as requiring a unique and dangerous fungus, the k’ois spore, to sustain them. Although barely tolerated in the known galaxy, many have found homes in the more unkempt areas of their host’s society. There are four known Hives - Zo’ra, K’lax, C’thur, and Lii’dra. The largest, and most common hive in Tau Ceti is the Zo'ra hive. The Lii’dra, unique in that they are a true hivemind, are known as a powerful and secretive force and are hostile to most other entities known - including the other Hives.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">


= Holidays =
====[[Dionae]]====
Given the highly religious nature of the region, most holidays are focused largely on Kopesk Th’akh, and the veneration of the ocean and its spirits.  
[[File:Starter dionae.png]]
A mysterious plant-like race hailing from the depths of space.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Dionae (D. Primis) are a rather strange, cryptic species in comparison to the rest found in the Orion Spur. They have various forms comprised of cat-sized caterpillar-like creatures with a curious, childlike disposition - called Dionae Nymphs.


'''Sea’s Bounty:''' Traditionally held towards the beginning of Kasavakh, this festival is a time of celebration as the fishing season picks up, thanking the spirits of the oceans for the bounty that they grant to the Kopesk States. Traditionally, the Storm Heralds of a city would lead its residents at sunrise in a prayer of thanks to the spirits of the Moghresian Sea, before the rest of the day was spent indulging in celebration and feasting. While the Storm Heralds are a largely defunct organisation in the modern day, the traditions continue, and wherever the Marine Messiah or his disciples are found they will seek to lead the faithful in this ceremony.  
Enigmatic witnesses to various events through the centuries, the Dionae are an inquisitive species with a pacifistic disposition after gaining sentience. Their origins, behaviour and functions are never alike - with each being as unique as the next. The Dionae are capable of great intellectual, biological and physical feats going above and beyond what was considered possible for millennia. Dionae are similar to both plant and animal, however, they primarily survive off of the electromagnetic spectrum coinciding with a diet of biological matter to supplement their growth. Their inability to adapt to survive without  lack of radiation can lead to death, if not exposed to at least efficient lighting. Dionae have been seen across the Orion Spur, each with a unique history and personality.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====[[IPC|Integrated Positronic Chassis]] (IPC)====
[[File:Starter ipcs.png]]
Robotic entities making use of Positronic brains to match sentience, to a degree.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
An Integrated Positronic Chassis, or IPC, is an artificial intelligence inside of a bipedal, humanoid frame. IPCs are primarily characterized by their autonomy, not being bound to a master AI or set of laws. Often built to carry out a single, career-related purpose, they come in many different chassis, with varying degrees of intelligence. Within known space, their existence is a contentious topic with IPCs being seen as property or second-class citizens, undeserving of the rights other species possess.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====[[Synthetics|Synthetics, more generally]]====
[[File:Starter borg.png]]
Robots in the galaxy, endlessly diverse.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The term “synthetic” refers to a broad range of autonomous machinery. Dabbled with, first by the ancient skrell, and now humanity, synthetics can be classified primarily by the method of their intelligence. They include simple machinery not out of place in the 21st century, cyborgs, autonomous robots on circuitry, and now, advanced sentient artificial intelligences stored on positronic brains.
</div></div>


'''Day of Storms:''' A sombre ceremony, the Day of Storms is a day, usually held early in Travakh, where the population of a city will make sacrifices to the spirits of wind and wave, to appease them and grant good fortune to the city’s fishing fleets. Traditionally, the Storm Heralds would lead their city’s population to the waterside, where they would cast coin, food, or offerings of personal importance into the Moghresian Sea. This ceremony has largely fallen out of practice with the fall of the Kopesk Church - though again, the Marine Messiah seeks to revive it.  
'''From this point, you are again encouraged to move onto [[Guides/Character Creation]] provided you're at a loss for what to do.'''


'''Armistice Day:''' A new holiday, which arrived following the end of the Contact War, in remembrance of the souls lost during the nuclear war. A mournful and quiet ceremony, practised among those who abandoned the faith and those who still keep to it, it is usually accompanied by seaside vigils, in the hopes that those lost in nuclear devastation will return from the depths some day
{{Navbox Lore}}
[[Category: Lore]]
[[Category:Pages]]

Latest revision as of 09:45, 13 August 2023

New Player Section
This is a navbox. Pressing the links below takes you to the respective pages.

This specific navbox is tailored to new player guides and very important pages across the wiki for newcomers.

Character Starters Getting Started · New Player Lore Guide · Character Creation · Jobs
Background Starters Interstellar Travel · The Universe · Bluespace · Technology · SCCV Horizon
Faction Starters Corporations · Main Human Factions
Alien Whitelist Starters Skrell · Synthetics · Tajara · Dionae · Unathi · Vaurca

New Player Lore Starter Guide

This is a new player's summary to the totality - or at least, as much as we can summarize quickly - of the Aurora server's most essential lore.

This is the first in a series of multiple guides that are connected to Guides/Character Creation. Once you're finished reading this, you are more than equipped with the knowledge necessary to create your character using that guide!

Below is absolutely recommended reading if you are new to the server!

Overview

The purpose of this page is to get new players acquainted with the lore of the server and help them in understanding the ins and outs of the Orion Spur as it is in the 25th century. Aurora Lore is vast, and trying to get into it as a new player can feel overwhelming at times. This page represents the bare minimum needed to begin playing,

History

The year is 2466 CE (Common Era). Humanity has long since began its trek into space, and explored territory reaches out dozens of lightyears in every direction. It now shares the galaxy with many different species, in addition to be divided itself into many different nation-states formed in the long years since it first began to reach for the stars. However, it can be said that these states are secondary to the true power of the spur, the transtellar megacorporations. At the end of the 22nd century, the power and influence of the Sol Alliance was at its height, but this soon came to an end as an unexpected economic collapse and brutal civil war saw the power of transtellar corporations increase drastically, as the most powerful of them began to conglomerate into the megacorporation's known today. The foremost megacorporations would ultimately end up becoming the following:

  • Nt-logo.jpegNanoTrasen Corporation, the megacorporation which shattered any semblance of equilibrium between the mega-corps following their discovery of the element Phoron in 2417. Phoron is a powerful element that is highly sought after for its untold capabilities and use in the average starship drive. After discovering Phoron, NanoTrasen quickly established a monopoly on it, with themselves sitting on the largest deposits in the known galaxy. The times that followed sent NanoTrasen skyrocketing to unofficially become the foremost power over Humanity. Through its determination and overwhelming wealth, it has become the dominant economic force over the expanse of the Orion Spur.
  • EinsteinEngines2.png Einstein Engines, IDK what to put here.
  • Hephaestuslogo4.png Hephaestus Industries, the industrial powerhouse of the spur, Hephaestus Industries represents an overwhelming amount of the spurs industrial capacity, from it's factory world of New Hai Phong to the monopolized economy of the Izweski Nation.
  • II-teal.png Idris Incorporated, a shady banking magnate, which controls IDK.
  • ZH-lightpurple.png Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals, a Medical Company
  • Zavodskoi Interestellar.pngZavodskoi Interstellar, the American MIC on steroids.

The Solarian Collapse

Perhaps the most important event in the spur, during late 2462 a massive phoron scarcity began to occur, as Nanotrasen's mines began to run dry. The Solarian Alliance, following the assassination of its prime minister by parties unknown, and the destruction of Mars in addition to the scarcity, began its final collapse. In a desperate move, the Alliance ordered the abandonment of all space outside of the Core Worlds, centered on Sol itself.. Many fleets disobeyed this order, with one notable fleet, the 35th, opting instead to attempt to invade Biesel, during an arc named King of the World, causing the formation of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. With help from the rest of the spur, the 35th was eventually beaten back and set up a statelet like so many other Warlords within former Solarian Territory. The territory abandoned by the alliance was labeled the Human Wildlands, home to anarchy and limited governance. In this power vacuum, other nations of the spur took advantage and expanded their borders to include formerly controlled Solarian territory, skirmishing with local warlords for control. Since it's collapse, the Alliance has been slowly restoring its control over the Wildlands, with the recent creation of the Southern and Northern Reconstruction Mandates.

The Stellar Corporate Conglomerate

Perhaps the single most powerful entity in the spur, the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate is, as the name suggests, a conglomerate made up of the megacorporations of the spur, minus Einstein Engines. It's primary goal is the furthering of member interests and the protection of member assets. It is run by Miranda Trasen, CEO of NanoTrasen. The SCC(sometimes called the Chainlink), through its member companies and their cooperation, has domination of several economies within the Orion Spur. From banks to manufacturers, only a sliver of economic productivity in the Spur is controlled by others, the main threat to the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate being Einstein Engines. Despite the power of the Chainlink, Einstein has managed to remain competitive against them through tight ties with the Solarian Alliance and Nrralakk Federation, both the largest economies in the spur to exploit. As one of the eldest megacorporations, Einstein Engines has maintained a constant throughout humanity's journey to the stars and shows no sign of exiting soon.

The Setting, and Workplace

Nearly all Industry in the 25th century is dominated by a megacorporation in one way or another. As a result, a majority of the workforce finds themselves working directly for a megacorporation or one of its subsidiaries. Nowhere is this clearer than the Republic of Biesel, a state founded by NanoTrasen intervention, and despite strong Republican nationalism, exists at the whims of megacorporations. It is the economic heart of the spur, with it's capital system of Tau Ceti hosting the largest GDP per capita of any location in the spur. Still, it is not without its problems. From unrest in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, to a declining economy due to reliance on Phoron, the Republic never knows true peace. However, due to its ties to all megacorporations, it's capital planet of Biesel is the recommended starting background for new players to get accustomed to the lore of Aurora, with wide variability and simplicity assured. Relevant pages for lore can be found on the Character Creation Guide.

The SCCV Horizon

With the unveiling of the SCCV Horizon, the setting to which players have access stretches across the entirety of the Orion Spur. The SCCV Horizon is under the joint control of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate, a holdings corporation that has significant influence over the direction of the setting. You, among others, have been assigned to work aboard the SCCV Horizon, a state-of-the-art general-purpose vessel that travels across the Orion Spur with the primary objective to uncover Phoron, however, secondary objectives exist at the whim of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. Due to the SCC operating the Horizon, they have the final say on Occupation Qualifications. While many jobs will have specific qualifications that can be found on their job pages, the baseline qualifications to work aboard the Horizon can be found here: Stellar Corporate Conglomerate Occupation Qualifications.

In recent times (2462 and beyond) the setting has taken a turn for the worst as phoron scarcity threatens to drive the galaxy into the ground. While phoron remains in steady supply, its finite sources grow thinner by the day - soon enough, civilization will suffer the consequences.

Your Place in the Workplace

All players including staff are subject to the believable character rule. More details on that rule can be found in the server rules, found here.

With this said, your place in the workplace is extremely flexible. It would not be a stretch to say you can be whatever you want on the Aurora server, within reason. Get creative! The possibilities are endless, and storied lore backgrounds are always here to help guide character creation.

Ultimately, in the grand scheme of things, your binding rules are generally things such as being related to the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate and being aboard the SCCV Horizon legally. Opportunities to subvert even these rules are available but are not the same as player characters made from character setup unless exclusively permitted by staff. More details on these exceptions can be found on the Guide to Ghost Roles page!

The vast majority of characters on the server are employees of the corporations beneath the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. These individuals come in all shapes and sizes, with all of them sharing similar and quite low ranks in the megacorporate hierarchy. Certain ranks are afforded different privileges, such as medical practitioners and corporate security. Playing an official of higher rank is barred behind a whitelist to ensure quality control. Independent individuals or unaffiliated individuals are accessible as well through character setup. These roles include megacorporate-unaffiliated journalists, passengers, and third-party vessel teams who have found their way to the setting somehow.

The Economy

The Biesel Standard Credit (电/CR) is one of the dominating currencies that exist within the Orion Spur and was created shortly after the Republic of Biesel’s declaration of independence in 2452. It sees usage outside of the Republic, within the Izweski Hegemony, who adopted it as their official currency following the collapse of the Solarian Alliance, and some sections of the Coalition of Colonies near the shared border, as well as the People’s Republic of Adhomai. The BSC is available in electronic, bankcard and traditional notes forms that have the symbol of a lit torch on them. Responsibility for the currency falls to the Central Biesel Banking Authority, which is located in District One of Mendell City, the capital of the Republic of Biesel. It oversees monetary policy and the supply of the Biesel Standard Credit, with assistance from Idris Incorporated. Similarly to the Solarian Standard Credit, the BSC is able to function as a fiat currency.

Your Place in the Economy

The financial status of your character varies on a character-by-character and player-by-player basis. To reiterate, the believable character rule must be taken into account here - a security officer very simply has no excuse to be a billionaire, nor does a cargo technician have the ability to be an Interstellar War veteran. However, the pedantics of the extent of one’s wallet is in player control, barring mechanically of course. With this said, the cost of living is clarified or can be gleaned by context virtually anywhere set in lore - questions surrounding this can be directed to lore developers of the respective topic.

Known Space - The Orion Spur

The setting is based in the majority of the Orion Spur, the part of the Milky Way in which the Sol System - and its surrounding hundred lightyears, roughly - resides. It is very open-ended and diverse in its nature, and not wholly charted yet - the deep Frontier hardly scratches the surface of the unknowable depths of the galaxy.

More details on the expanse of the mapped galaxy can be found here.

The expansion of Humanity has reached out in every direction, only stopping in the galactic west as they border the Nralakk Federation. Otherwise, their all-encompassing exploration has given them free reign to conquer the untouched - or abandoned - regions of the galaxy.

The major Human factions of the Orion Spur are numerous, but share a common theme in that they are universally affected by a catastrophe known as the Interstellar War. From this disastrous conflict, many new factions cropped up, with most opposed to the rule of the Sol Alliance.


The Orion Spur

The Starmap; expand the collapsible, and feel free to open the image link in a new tab for a closer and more detailed look! ▶

Starmap5.png

Major Factions

These are the dominant political players in the Orion Spur that are relevant to you, the player. Any of these factions can be utilized in backstories or as origins for characters - go crazy!

Republic of Biesel

The core location of the setting itself. A bastion of prosperity amidst chaos.

Republicofbieselflag.png

The Republic of Biesel is an independent system within the core of Human space. It is heavily tied to the NanoTrasen corporation at every level of government, and may as well be considered as governed by it to begin with. The Republic of Biesel is the government of the Tau Ceti System, exercising authority over Biesel, New Gibson and all other settlements and installations within Tau Ceti's gravity well. It is one of the most populated systems in human space, a financial center, industrial powerhouse and one of the most prestigious systems in the galaxy. However, unrest and gridlock undermine the government, and the aggressive attitude of the Sol Alliance against its former system has made many worried of the future of the Republic. Tau Ceti is far from the limit of the Republic's boundaries, as the recent addition (post-2462) of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone have led to its size growing immensely. The CRZ, or the Zone, consists of hundreds of once-Solarian worlds which have had no choice but to fall under the Republic's banner, after their supply lines and defenses were cut off by the collapsing or defecting military.

Sol Alliance

A crumbling giant whose golden age has long passed.

Sol Alliance Flag.png

Formerly the most populated singular government entity in known space, the Solarian Alliance is the first and one of the most politically powerful trans-stellar Human factions. While its reign formerly consisted of nearly a quarter of charted space in a growing sphere around Earth, it has now diminished significantly in size. Its loyal forces have recently retreated to the "Jewel Worlds," a region of space where its most treasured assets lay, not to mention its throne upon the home world. The Alliance is strangled by its long-standing reliance on Einstein Engines, a corporation that has survived almost total nationalization to become the foremost employer in Solarian space. The government and the corporation now stand as fierce opposition to the growing Stellar Corporate Conglomerate whose power contests them. Sol's jewel worlds and secure borders are surrounded by the Human Wildlands, dominated by warlord admirals who formerly served the Alliance' tremendously bloated military.

Coalition of Colonies

Freedom and independence embodied on an interstellar scale.

Frontier Alliance Flag.png

This loosely confederated Coalition is the largest power in the frontier, and possibly the most populous entity in the Orion Spur. It is the largest fracture from the Sol Alliance after the Interstellar War, and covers several regions with its utterly tremendous borders. The systems of the Coalition greatly value their independence and freedom. A few powerful systems dominate the politics of the Frontier, headed by the Xanu Free League - the capital of it all. Many of those in the Coalition of Colonies harbor distrust of the Sol Alliance even after the end of the Interstellar War. Humans and aliens from any and all ethnicities, as well as any combination of them, can be found in the Coalition of Colonies. In recent times, the Coalition has conquered a huge amount of territories where the Alliance formerly stood guard. For example, the tremendous Alliance Neutral Zone - a place where both sides were forbidden from entering - no longer exists, and has since been deemed Coalition territory after the Solarian withdrawal.

Republic of Elyra

Glistening utopian city-scapes and technological might.

Elyra Flag.png

The Republic of Elyra, or its more official name, The Serene Republic of Elyra, is a bustling, benevolent independent power in the Badlands. It is made up of multiple star systems, with its capital in the highly developed technological utopia of Perispolis. Its national motto is "For Greatness We Strive". It is known for its exotic culture, highly progressive - if Pro-Human nature, and advanced industrial wonders. Elyra is one of the only three factions in the Orion Spur which innately possess phoron deposits of any sort, something they have exploited to their fullest potential in recent years.

Empire of Dominia

Religious pride in the Emperor and country.

Dominia Flag.png

A heavily religious absolute monarchy with its capital, Nova Luxembourg, on the planet of Moroz in the Mira Sancta system. This autocratic state is ruled by His Imperial Majesty Boleslaw Keeser. The Empire of Dominia was proclaimed in 2385 by then-Emperor Godwin Keeser, unifying a colony which had been isolated for hundreds of years. Imperial society is dominated by the Great and Minor Houses under the Emperor and is very socio-economically stratified due to the so-called blood debt, known as the Mor’iz’al.

Eridani Federation

Corporation-dominated hell, personified through a terrible societal split.

Eridani Logo.png

Eridani, or the Eridani Corporate Federation, is an oligarchic republic in the Epsilon Eridani system dominated entirely by a council of mega-corporations that seek profit and expansion at any cost. It has no official capital - government authority is exercised digitally. The Corporate Federation is known as one of the core economic powers of Solarian space, and is technically under Solarian supervision - though the true extent of this is up for debate. Corporations, in reality, rule the gloomy landscapes of the Corporate Federation’s worlds. Its citizens are called Eridanians. Eridanians are famed for their vicious treatment of one another, distinguishing between two primary classes ; Dregs, and Suits - who in effect represent a fine line between poverty and wealth.

Common Sentient Species

These are common sentient species found throughout known space.

Skrell

Starter skrell.png

An amphibian race hailing from Nralakk IV, Qerrbalak.

An amphibious species whose passion mostly lays in the field of the combined sciences, the Skrell are the second oldest and first most advanced known species present on the galactic stage. The Skrell evolved on a planet covered in vast swamps and freshwater seas, also being one of the only species in the Orion Spur to naturally develop psionics.

Unathi

Starter unathi.png

A reptilian race hailing from Moghes.

The cold-blooded Unathi are a race of tall humanoid reptiles from their war-torn homeworld of Moghes. The planet’s history can be summarized as being dominated by various Clans of Unathi, with the strongest being the Hegemon of Moghes. Following first contact with Skrell and Humanity, there was a violent outbreak of nuclear war that formed a vast world-dominating desert called the Wasteland which has made life difficult for the Unathi. The surviving side of this war, the Izweski Hegemony, has struggled to bring a balance between expanding their empire off-world, or reconstructing their ancestral planet. Grandiose and Space-Operatic, the themes behind Unathi follow the struggle of religion, spirituality, honor, and rigid gender roles.

Tajara

Tajaraexpandedbackground.png

A feline-like race hailing from Adhomai.

The Tajaran race is a species of feline-like bipeds hailing from the planet of Adhomai in the S'rand'marr system. They have been brought up into the space age by the Humans and Skrell, who alledgedly influenced their eventual revolution that overthrew their ancient monarchies to become a totalitarian - and NanoTrasen friendly - republic. Adhomai is currently under a cold war between three factions in the aftermath of a global conflict, and many Tajara are fleeing their homeworld to seek safety and employment in human space.

Vaurca (Vaurcae)

Starter vaurca.png

An insectoid race hailing from Sedantis I.

The mostly bipedal, insectoid creatures hailing from the moon known as Sedantis I, Vaurca (Vaurca in singular term and Vaurcae in multiple), were discovered after the first Hiveship contact in human space, 2456. They once had access to great technology, however they had to flee their doomed homeworld. They have a complex caste system based on three types, and use something known as the Hivenet to communicate in thoughts and feelings near instantly between themselves, and enter a paradisiacal virtual reality. They require phoron to respirate, as well as requiring a unique and dangerous fungus, the k’ois spore, to sustain them. Although barely tolerated in the known galaxy, many have found homes in the more unkempt areas of their host’s society. There are four known Hives - Zo’ra, K’lax, C’thur, and Lii’dra. The largest, and most common hive in Tau Ceti is the Zo'ra hive. The Lii’dra, unique in that they are a true hivemind, are known as a powerful and secretive force and are hostile to most other entities known - including the other Hives.

Dionae

Starter dionae.png

A mysterious plant-like race hailing from the depths of space.

Dionae (D. Primis) are a rather strange, cryptic species in comparison to the rest found in the Orion Spur. They have various forms comprised of cat-sized caterpillar-like creatures with a curious, childlike disposition - called Dionae Nymphs.

Enigmatic witnesses to various events through the centuries, the Dionae are an inquisitive species with a pacifistic disposition after gaining sentience. Their origins, behaviour and functions are never alike - with each being as unique as the next. The Dionae are capable of great intellectual, biological and physical feats going above and beyond what was considered possible for millennia. Dionae are similar to both plant and animal, however, they primarily survive off of the electromagnetic spectrum coinciding with a diet of biological matter to supplement their growth. Their inability to adapt to survive without lack of radiation can lead to death, if not exposed to at least efficient lighting. Dionae have been seen across the Orion Spur, each with a unique history and personality.

Integrated Positronic Chassis (IPC)

Starter ipcs.png

Robotic entities making use of Positronic brains to match sentience, to a degree.

An Integrated Positronic Chassis, or IPC, is an artificial intelligence inside of a bipedal, humanoid frame. IPCs are primarily characterized by their autonomy, not being bound to a master AI or set of laws. Often built to carry out a single, career-related purpose, they come in many different chassis, with varying degrees of intelligence. Within known space, their existence is a contentious topic with IPCs being seen as property or second-class citizens, undeserving of the rights other species possess.

Synthetics, more generally

Starter borg.png

Robots in the galaxy, endlessly diverse.

The term “synthetic” refers to a broad range of autonomous machinery. Dabbled with, first by the ancient skrell, and now humanity, synthetics can be classified primarily by the method of their intelligence. They include simple machinery not out of place in the 21st century, cyborgs, autonomous robots on circuitry, and now, advanced sentient artificial intelligences stored on positronic brains.

From this point, you are again encouraged to move onto Guides/Character Creation provided you're at a loss for what to do.