Empire of the Indigo Star -- Sci Fi political intrigue freeform original setting

[Niferbelle]

The Empire of the Indigo Star

Nearly a millennia ago, humans were scattered across the galaxy, with nearly as many leaders and governments as there were stars. With nothing to unify them, they fell into a series of petty squabbles and wars that never seemed to end, and civilization nearly fell apart in their wake. It was in this dark time a leader emerged, Martius the Great, who swept through on the winds of war but left peace behind him. It took nearly his entire lifetime but on the day that he died he left a mankind that was unified under his rule with power distributed equally through nine other Great Houses, one time enemies that became his advisors and generals. Centuries later this system is preserved – the Great Houses still vie for position under the hand of an Emperor whose authority is absolute and thus mankind has continued to prosper and grow. Long live the Empire!

The Empire of the Indigo Star is a free form game set in a far future where technology is advanced but the culture is feudal. Characters will be members of one the Great Houses only to be swept up in the intrigue and cutthroat politics of business as usual in the Empire. It is an original setting that was created with the input and help of several other players in the world-building forum – an experiment come to life![/b]

There is a good chance that characters might be at odds with each other from time to time in this game so I am looking for mature players who are solid writers. It will be very important for writers to separate IC from OOC, please keep that in mind. As GM I will have ongoing plots and will try to keep them moving along though I intend to allow some sandboxing as well. I will not automatically approve all players/characters necessarily if I get a lot of submissions as I don't want to start with a huge cast. Finally, I will be placing the game in the Extreme section as those kinds of situations could conceivably come up, however, no writer will be forced into an Extreme situation by the GMs or another player -- extreme content must have the consent of the writer and will be used sparingly. Aiden will be my co-GM and should be copied on any PMs regarding the game. More information about the setting is in the next few posts. It’s a lot to read but it will give you a basic grasp of the way things are. Thank you for reading all this!

Threads of Interest

Character Sheets (GMs will post)

Game Information

Out of Time (IC Thread)

OOC Thread

Chapter 1 IC thread

Elsewhere -- IC Thread

[Niferbelle]

LIFE IN THE EMPIRE

The Burden of Femininity

Women in the Empire do not enjoy the same status as men. Inheritance is a male to male proposition and as in ancient days, marriage is often the glue that holds alliances together. Women are expected to fulfill the traditional roles of wife, mother, and organizer of the household, with a little more latitude given to spinsters and widows. The highest qualities that a woman can possess in this society is fertility, a gentle tongue, a willingness to please, and diligence toward the care of her family. There are always exceptions to the rule of course but this is true of the vast majority of women from any social class. Women are expected to dress modestly and especially among the upper classes, are not allowed to be out and about unchaperoned. The notion of romantic love is of course discouraged and the vast majority of marriages are arranged.
     As always there is an underside to things. Women are of course still taken as mistresses and concubines, a practice that is accepted if not discussed though the women in those roles are generally shunned by society at large. Those that serve at the whim of more wealthy patrons have developed their own social structure with merchants and businesses that tailor to their needs specifically. Lower still are the women taken as indentured servants or slaves, whose fates are entirely in the hands of their masters. The matter of bastards is left up to the head of the household – if he publically recognizes the child as his own then it is expected that the child be accepted as a full member of that household without question even by other noble families. If a child is not recognized, they can expect no special consideration and can only be grateful for anything gifted to them by their parent.

Of Human Bondage

Slavery in the Empire is only legal in specific forms. The first is indentured servitude. Defaulting on your debts is considered a crime and courts most commonly assign the offender to work off the debt with their creditor. The second from of legalized slavery involves sentenced felons. Any criminals that are incarcerated are available for purchase. The length of their servitude depends on the length of their sentence -- if you were sentenced to ten years, you would serve ten years as a slave. If sentenced to life, you would die in servitude. Both indentured servants and felon slaves are fitted with internal trackers so they can always be located. Additionally felon slaves are tattooed on their faces to make their status obvious and also injected with nanites that will kill them in seconds when activated. While there are limitations on who can enslaved, there is virtually no regulation for their treatment and little recompense for harm done to them (short of cold-blooded murder but most find it easy to lie about that and get away with it).

     

Have Wormhole Will Travel

Faster than light travel was never developed rather mankind took to the stars through the use of wormholes. This become known as burrowing or to burrow. In the early days of space exploration travel was dangerous as it was difficult to determine what was on the other side of the wormhole  being created and so there was always the possibly peril of coming out too close to a star planet, asteroid, etc. and your hull being pierced. Fortunately these days it is extremely safe, Beacons have been set out at specific jump points throughout the Empire so a burrowing ship will always know ahead of time that the way is clear. Occasionally there are some who will still try a blind burrow due to exigent circumstances and to mixed results.

The Great Houses

Each of the Great Houses is assigned a sector of the Empire and all the systems and resources within it. Though most of the Houses have kept the same territory throughout most of their history, it is never forgotten that the Emperor could at any time give or take away and he does so on occasion when displeased. While ostensibly they are to be the hand of the Emperor in far flung places, of course there isn’t one of them that wouldn’t leap at the chance to win the Imperial Seat. Fraught with rivalries and alliances both public and private, wading into House politics is much like traversing a mine field. Each House has its own unique culture that sets it apart though the appearance of decorum and proper behavior.
     The Head of the House is known as Duke, his children as Prince or Princess. There is no Duchess title -- his wife is referred to as Lady or Princess if she is the daughter of a Duke. Within each House there are lesser noble families serving the Duke -- Counts, Barons, and Earls -- all of whom are referred to as Lord, their wives and daughters as Lady.
     Given the Emperor’s age and his lack of male heir, this is an especially active time for the Houses, all of whom hope to marry a male heir off to the eldest of the Emperor’s daughters. This would effectively move that House into the Emperor’s Seat and so change the fortunes of the House forever. There are few lines they will not be willing to cross to achieve this end.

Sexuality

Marriage is central to life in the Empire. In a time where mankind is colonizing the vastness of space, an ever increasing population is needed. As a result, marriage and children are central to Imperial life. It is considered your duty to have a large family and contribute to the growth of the Empire. There is a definite double standard regarding sexual matters between the sexes – people do not give a second thought to men having mistresses and fathering children outside of their marriage but adultery for a woman is considered a serious crime. Noble women are expected to be ‘pure’ before marriage but this does not hold true for the lower classes. In fact. For some a healthy sexual appetite in a woman before marriage is considered a good sign (though she is expected to remain faithful to her husband after).

People of course fall all over the spectrum and while male-female couplings are most prevalent, same sex attraction is considered a natural part of life though there are some unique perspectives on it. For instance, if a married woman takes another woman as a lover, that is not considered adultery (men of course can do what they want with other women so other men are certainly not an issue). Same sex marriages are not prohibited, however, same sex couples will face the same pressure to procreate and have children as any other couple would (whether through adoption or the use of biogenetics).

Do to the importance placed on procreation, large families are common. Multiple births also occur frequently as fertility drugs are used sometimes even when they’re not necessary, just as insurance.

Sacred Life

Religion plays an important role in the society of the Empire. Heresy is considered a serious offense (though the definition of it can be a bit tricky) and few have the courage to openly admit to atheism. There are three deities that are worshipped, each with its own sphere of influence, though as with most religions, there are disagreements on the details. There are hundreds of sects as a result. The basics, however, are as follows.

LUXIAN, the god of Light, the architect of Creation, the genesis of all. He is a being of action, power, control, wealth, strength and growth. He is generally associated with the positive – any outcome you would wish for would likely be attributed to him. His symbol is a large raptor clasping a fruit branch in his talon.

NYXANI, the mother of Darkness, the harbinger of Entropy, the bringer of the End. Weakness, passivity, loss, and decay are her realms. Natural disaster, illness, and accidents are said to be her work. Some honor her in acknowledgement in the importance of her role in the balance of the universe – most simply seek to appease her so as not to become a victim of her ire. Her symbol is the scarab which is known for cleaning the bones of the dead.

MYSTERIAN, the Unknown, the embodiment of Mystery, the Guardian of Transition. Mysterian is sometimes referred to as he, sometimes she, sometimes with no acknowledgement of gender. It is generally agreed that Mysterian is neither male nor female however – to some he/she has no gender, others say he/she possesses both simultaneously, still others that the being switches between genders depending on the situation. This is all considered a matter of interpretation. You pray to Mysterian for luck when it’s needed, for the answer to questions yet unfathomed, for guidance through the impenetrable both physical and moral. He is also known as the patron of space travel. His symbol is the serpent which transitions many times during its life.

The Ten Houses

House Xavendir

COAT OF ARMS: Indigo Imperial star on a field of gold (Imperial standard)
A red fist clutching an arrow on a split field of grey and white (House standard)

EMPEROR:  Zerezaan Owynne Xavendir

HEIRS: No male heirs. Several unwed daughters.

RECENT HISTORY: The Emperor by most people's calculations must be past his 90s though he shows no sign of slowing down. It is only recently that he began presenting his daughters in public --all offspring of his concubines as he never married -- and there is a rumor being passed that he had any male infants born to him killed. There is some hope that the appearance of his daughters means that his health is failing and the Imperial Seat will once again be open which is some cause for celebration given his unpopularity.

NOTABLE FOR: A mercurial temperament coupled with a cruel streak. Seemingly  having eyes everywhere. Cunning and decisive with his enemies. Any number of rumors involving his many perversions.

STRENGTHS: Absolute power. He's the Emperor, after all. The ability to give and take any resource/system/territory etc. Can make law, pass sentences unilaterally. Personally commands legions of the Indigo Guard which is fanatically loyal and arguably the most skilled troops in the Empire. Vast intelligence resources. Zerezaan has been fascinated by the mysterious House Potemkin since its reappearance and continues to make allowances for them and in return, they are the strongest of his few genuine supporters and may be supplanting House Saiah. The technology of House Potemkin in the Emperor's service would make the Imperial House virtually unassailable.

WEAKNESSES: Has managed to anger pretty much every House and there are few who wouldn't take a shot at him if they thought they could get away with it. Inflexible. Arrogant.  Somewhat ruled by his whims.

House Atalaryk

COAT OF ARMS: Argent (silver) chevron on a field of black.

DUKE: Tarrek El'Essen Atalaryk 

HEIRS: The Duke is unmarried but has a surviving uncle and three living brothers.

RECENT HISTORY: Tarrek has only been Duke for a few months. His father was a vigorous man who died rather suddenly in what is being categorized as an accident. There are rumors of course that the old Duke was killed but speculation about who might have been responsible for that changes depending on who's telling the tale.

NOTABLE FOR: The Atalaryks, since the House's inception has been the protector of the Frontier, that is, the border region surrounding Imperial Space. They have the largest territory of all the Houses but it is relatively lacking in resources. Their status was greater at the time of first contact when it wasn't known for certain the Xeno Alliance would be friendly but since the aliens have posed no threat, this status has waned. They are seen as a stubborn bunch that is more than a little rough around the edges -- uncouth some might say -- but are also known to be straightforward in their dealings. They allow their women far too much freedom and as a result, Atalaryk brides are rarely sought after. They marry most frequently among the lesser nobility that serve the House. It is rumored that the House refuses to use GELs as a labor force.

STRENGTHS: House Atalaryk has the largest navy of all the Houses which is necessary to patrol the far reaches of the Frontier. When it comes to ship to ship combat, there are no finer tacticians in the Empire. As their holdings are so remote, no others know the Frontier so well and it is relatively easy for them to operate with few prying eyes about.

WEAKNESSES: Their holdings are so spread out it is something of a logistical nightmare to keep track of. Their fleet is large but also aging since a lack of resources in their space means they are somewhat dependent on the Emperor for new ships and he has been stingy in the last couple decades. They have no formal alliances with the other Houses so if they got themselves into trouble they'd have to get out of it on their own.

House Dhaaz

COAT OF ARMS: Outline of a tree in a yellow circle on a split red and white field

DUKE: Gherien Saulisonis Dhaaz   

HEIRS: Unmarried, no children, brother and many nephews

RECENT HISTORY: Like Tarrek of House Atalaryk, Gherien only recently ascended to the head of his House and is one of the younger Dukes. Gherien’s father, the former Duke, is still alive but suffering from dementia so severe that he was no longer able to function as Duke. Gherien is not the eldest son but his older brother refused to take the seat, leaving it for Gherien. 

NOTABLE FOR: Developing and still possessing the secrets to all the greatest biotechnological advances in the Empire including mechanical augmentation and genetic engineering. GELs, the labor force most Houses rely on for mass production, are available only from Dhaaz which has made them quite wealthy. Rumors abound that  House Dhaaz has even greater technology than they are sharing and that the gods only know what they have growing in their labs.

STRENGTHS: Wealth. Highest level of biotechnology of all the Houses. Produces GEL troops quickly and in great number.

WEAKNESSES: They have no standing army of their own to speak but rely on mercenaries and GEL forces for defense when necessary (GEL troops are a double-edged sword – they can be made in great numbers but are generally poorly trained and require a great deal of supervision). Plenty of other Houses would like to get their hands on what Dhaaz has and are always trying to lure their leading scientists away or worse. Gherien is an untested leader and there is some internal dissension regarding his ascension. 

HOUSE ROVONA

*a Cyrano Johnson creation*

COAT OF ARMS: Golden interlaced septagram radiant on blue field.

DUKE: Haora (Duke) Marafeadhira Rovona V, a.k.a. "Razayana" ("The Raider"), Duke of Beyran and Protector of Sector Deonaru *

HEIRS: Xai (Prince) Tsayafa Rovona, a.k.a. "Prince Yafa," Marquess of Nabara and Acting Protector of Sector Deonaru **
Xai (Prince) Gamenkaga Imera-Rovona, a.k.a. "Prince Kaga," Marquess of Kaumara
- (m. to Othoro (Princess) Laila Rovona, a.k.a. "Ushan" ("The Cloud"), Marquise of Kaumara)

* ailing and effectively withdrawn from public life
** currently the public face of the dynasty

RECENT HISTORY: An ancient House from an obscure mixture of Terran cultural offshoots, they control a multitude of small organics- and mineral-rich planetoid settlements in the seven systems of Sector Deonaru.

The current Haora or Duke, Razayana, is a cantankerous figure close in age to the Emperor himself, but in ill health and these days seen in public only at state functions. He has an army of children, legitimate and otherwise, but his most direct heir is the glamorous playboy Prince Yafa, beloved of the masses and effectively now the dynasty's head and public face. His most clearly capable heir, though, is the elder Prince Kaga, who rumour has it is already running much of the family's data acquisition business... but who unfortunately is a more distant relative hailing from an inferior distaff branch of the House. Kaga's claim to the ducal throne comes through his wife, the Duke's young but brilliant daughter Othoro (Princess) Laila Rovona, a famous beauty nicknamed "Ushan" or "Cloud" by the people; she is rumoured to chafe at her powerless position and eager to seek influence through her husband.

NOTABLE FOR: Once proudly warlike, House Rovona has reinvented itself over the past several centuries as a conspicuous sponsor of high culture and, more importantly, a player in intelligence gathering and data-brokering. It sponsors a wide variety of scholarly, artistic and religious foundations which operate widely throughout the Empire and whose ranks are heavily-riddled with various sorts of Rovona operatives, informers, analysts, hackers and even mech-augmented assassins.

STRENGTHS: Employs a very compact but serviceable and modern navy, but by far House Rovona's greatest asset is its large, diverse and professional secret service, which provides a valuable edge in negotiating with and scheming against other Houses. The former Rovonian fame for ruthlessness in warfare has since translated to their reputation as shadow operators.

WEAKNESSES: House Rovona's financial resources are constrained by its limited territory, which makes maintaining its military and intelligence infrastructure a serious burden that is becoming increasingly noticeable to its subjects. The House's unity of purpose is extremely fragile, with a major succession struggle looming on the near horizon as the reigning Duke retreats from public life; indeed the struggle may already have begun.

Prince Yafa, Marquess of Nabara and Acting Protector of Sector Deonaru

House Prawomir

*a Flower creation*

COAT OF ARMS: A black raven flying towards a blazing sun, blood falling from its claws.

DUCHESS:  Ghalia Prawomir, Blessed and Beloved Mother of the People

HEIRS:  Djamel and Dahlia (Twin Heirs to the Church, currently six years of age)

RECENT HISTORY: The Duke has fallen. The controversial headline claimed every front page of news feeds. And, in its wake, the conspiracy theories followed. Some claimed his death was inevitable. He was a man who lived recklessly, threatened whomever did not bow before his superiority, and lived in a manner which went against the very precepts of the religion his Church held sacred. Others have whispered a possibility drenched in treachery. Blood had been spilled in the holy temple. This was no natural act. The whispers became loud enough to gain the attention of the authorities. For three long and stressful months, the citizens of the Indigo star screamed for House Prawomir to be brought to justice. Political officials however did not wish for their secrets to possibly become unearthed in the process of fulfilling those demands. Plus, if the people got it in their minds that one mighty house could be toppled from greatness, what would stop them from turning their eyes towards another?

They did not permit House Prawomir from fall.

Innocence or guilt was irrelevant in their eyes. Still, the damage had been done and their reputation suffered greatly as a consequence. Due to their loss of standing in the eyes of the public, they found it increasingly difficult to fill their ranks to the capacity. The widowed Duchess and current leader of the faith, backed into a corner, was forced to make a secret and treasonous deal with House Rovona in order to avoid ruination. Their combined efforts eventually represented her to the empire, not as a woman but a holy vessel, one who could receive messages directly from the Goddess. Where many would not hesitate to trample a woman underfoot, they hesitated to position themselves in a place which might anger the divine.

Slowly but surely, necessary changes were made to ensure House Prawomir did not become extinct as many of their enemies silently or vocally wished for. The temple, once only cared for by members of the upper echelons, now permitted lowly peasants the opportunity to aspire to heights that had not been available to them in the past. They could now dedicate their lives to the service of the goddess and, more importantly, the Duchess.

This allowance won them back the affection and devotion of the poor but infuriated the upper class all the more.

NOTABLE FOR:  Historically, House Prawomir has always cared for the temple of the goddess and acted as a figurehead, making all choices and decisions for which path the religion should take.

STRENGTHS: They hold a tremendous amount of sway over the general public.

WEAKNESSES: They are led by a woman; also, they have been practically ostracized because of their leader and recent controversy.

House Chainer

*an Aiden creation*

COAT OF ARMS: A manacled fist breaking free of its chains

DUKE: Tiberius Kane Chainer

HEIRS: Clint Kane Chainer (Eldest Son), Raynor Tyranus Chainer (3rd oldest), Jeska Rose Chainer, (eldest daughter, second oldest), Kamal Findley Chainer (youngest son) 

RECENT HISTORY: House Chainer and those who pledge their allegiance to them in their section of the empire are best known for defying logic and reason by mining the rich vespene gas and minerals of astroid belts and comets. House Chainer prefers to keep the other houses at bay unless they are in search of mineral rights or looking to establish or resign trade agreements.

Recently, Tiberius is constructing a great shipyard which will serve as a new waypoint for intergalactic travel, a feat made harder as it must find a way to both fund the project and honor its contracts and taxes to the Empire. House Chainer  has set its eyes on new uncharted space to expand its mining and harvest efforts.

NOTABLE FOR: Long ago, House Chainer was nothing but convicts, fugitives, refugees and the scum of the universe. The emperor at the time sent the condemned to work the (highly fatal) asteroid fields for resources, keeping them under heel by force. Augustus Chainer organized a rebellion and seized control of Empire holdings in what would later become territory of House Chainer.

A stalemate followed, the rich gas and mineral deposits of the area withheld while the empire embargoed and blockaded food and supplies. In the end an agreement was struck and House Chainer was born.

STRENGTHS: Rich in Mineral Ores/Metals and Vespene Gas, the lifeblood of ship construction. House Chainer is constantly hosting new trade merchants and envoys from the other houses who are looking trade. Chainer Steel is fine forged armor plating for war and work ships, all locally within the floating foundries and refineries that orbit the desolated worlds that belong to them.


WEAKNESSES: House Chainer has no lands capable of food growth or production of raw materials outside of ore and gas. Most of its population orbits the planets on large space colonies and platforms due to the hostile living environments.  House Chainer's "castle" is an orbiting space station that has a tendency to vanish (a secret that kept them in power during a civil war many generations earlier and other inter house wars). Because of this, they rely heavily on trade and alliances. Tiberius is now seeking suitors for his only daughter and pressuring their sons to find suitable houses to marry into and cement new alliances.

House Broedin

*an Amelita creation*

COAT OF ARMS: A bull's head shaped by grapes on one side and a harp on the other, topped by bull horns. Golden (and black) template on a green background.

DUKE: Carathir Broedin

HEIRS: 6 sons: Kiehm*, Dhalar**,  Jynai*, Unomir**, Nijarham** and Valair**.  A younger brother, several nephews and cousins (as well as sisters and nieces).
(16 daughters. There of only three politically eligible daughters, daughters of the woman who birthed Carathir's first son and was thereby offered marriage. The rest live with their mothers in Carathir's mansions but are not publicly recognized by him. A wife and four mistresses.)
*Sons of Carathir and his wife
**Sons of mistresses, all recognized.

RECENT HISTORY: Carathir has held steady reign over the house since his father died and he inherited the seat, at twenty years of age. He is now 63, his oldest child 42 and his oldest son 37. His younger brother, Toronak, attempted to have him assassinated six months ago and was executed in punishment by demand of the outraged common people Carathir graciously and humbly listened to. ::) The public execution was quite a show, a full week of festivals leading up to it. Toronak's sons slipped out of the spotlight and have not been publicly seen since. Some rumours are buzzing about them plotting to overthrow their uncle but nothing of that sort has been confirmed.

NOTABLE FOR: Diplomacy and hospitality, a colorful vibrant culture of arts and entertainment. Women are renowned for fertility and pleasant disposition, but also notoriously difficult to tame as wives. To some a challenge, to others a deal breaker, and some just want to be certain they'll be given sons.

STRENGTHS: Abundance of land resources, advanced farming and product processing technology, strong trading status.

WEAKNESSES: Slow military technology advancement and their meagre forces focused solely on defences. They rely on alliances, GELs or mercenaries to keep them from being one big booty for plundering, depending on how the trading winds blow.

House Saiah

COAT OF ARMS: Golden raptor clutching a fruit (the symbol of Luxian) tree branch on a purple field

DUKE:  Ruel Xin Saiah

HEIRS: Numerous sons and grandsons

RECENT HISTORY: Duke Saiah and his wife, A-Li are noted and popular figures throughout the Empire and are often held up as the standard to which all marriage couples should aspire. In their youth they were quite the glamorous couple, lauded for their religious convictions, their deep commitment to each other and the ever gracious and docile A-Li’s ability to pop out baby after baby. In all they had seventeen, each birth celebrated in the popular media.

NOTABLE FOR: For generations House Saiah has been a staunch supporter of Imperial power and a bastion of traditionalism and conservatism. You do not want to commit a crime in their territories for their punishments are harsh. Rather than dominate any one industry, they dabble in several and try to remain as self-sufficient as possible and due to their influence are also known to win Imperial contracts over Houses far better equipped to fulfill them. The Saiah consider themselves agents for Luxian and wear their piety like a crown. 

STRENGTHS: Saiah is almost as wealthy as Dhaaz but in their case due primarily to savvy investments and strict fiscal policies. They often make their investments through third parties and so occasionally will pop up in other Houses’ financial affairs unexpectedly. Though their military is not particularly large, their troops are comprised of career soldiers who are disciplined and considered second in skill only to the Indigo Guard in skill (rumor is they train with them). They have the Emperor’s ear.

WEAKNESSES: As the Emperor gains enemies within the Houses, so does House Saiah. They will feel the repercussions of his actions and anyone who moves against him will assume they will have to move against House Saiah. Outside of the Imperial House, they have no allies to speak of with the other Houses.

House Novari

COAT OF ARMS: White starburst on an orange field

DUKE:  Jennit Mioris Novari

HEIRS: His eldest sons (twins), Jalen and Jurien

RECENT HISTORY: After Jennit’s first husband passed away, he wasted little time in remarrying. His new husband is a much younger man and long-time courtier in the Novari court. Rumors abound about this of course as well as speculation that the Duke’s sons are sleeping with the new husband and that this is some kind of coup in the works. There is no evidence of this of course. Jalen is a popular figure among the elite of noblemen’s children even given the House’s current lack of status and is known primarily as a peacock and a wastrel. Jurien appears to be the opposite, a serious-minded young man who is considered a workaholic and is heavily involved in House administration.

NOTABLE FOR: The current Duke’s father was discovered to have genetically altered himself which led to the downfall of the House. The Emperor chose not to execute him but essentially gutted the House, appropriating most of its assets and taking back the most choice systems in their territory only to distribute them to other Houses. The House that benefitted most from this turn of events was Potemkin who received several mineral rich worlds as a result. Novari resentment toward House Potemkin exists to this very day as a result.  Jennit’s father killed himself from the shame of it all shortly after these events and thus Jennit was quite young when he became Duke.

The Novari are still borderline pariahs in the current political climate except for Jalen who is popular on a personal level with others his age.

STRENGTHS: Despite having the funds for more than just the minimal upkeep, Jennit has devoted what resources he can toward building a relationship with the emissaries of the Xeno Alliance. Strangely enough, this seems to be working as Novari is the only House that will be hosting a Xeno consulate – all others exist in Imperial Space. It will be opening in the coming months and is sure to be a big event. Given society’s preoccupation with the aliens, this is sure to draw some business back into Novari territories and the Duke is hoping it will also lead to an influx of alien goods to give the economy a boost. 

WEAKNESSES: Almost too many to list, lack of financing being at the top of the list. The denizens of House Novari territories are and have been suffering from high unemployment and scarcity for quite some time. There is always grumbling but thus far the Duke has been adept enough to forestall any serious revolt, always finding a way to mollify the masses when things get too heated up.

House Potemkin

COAT OF ARMS: A golden bear cracking open the nucleus of an atom with it's claws before a red field.


On star ships, cruisers, star fighters, Potemkin Troopers, the coat of arms has been abbreviated to the golden atomic symbol with the nucleus in the centre having a lightning bolt - like crack down it.

DUKE: Count Gabor Petrovich Potemkin III  (The esteemed House of Potemkin does not acknowledge the Empire's ascribed title of Duke)

HEIRS: The twins Prince Ilya Ivanovich Potemkin & Prince Obrecht Piotr Potemkin || Princess Esfir Ekaterina Alexeyevna Potemkin || Prince Artyom Oberon Potemkin

RECENT HISTORY: One of "youngest" houses to have joined the Empire, House Potemkin had been all but forgotten before arriving from a wormhole with the entirety of their fleet seventy-five Earth years ago.  As it turns out, Potemkin R&D Teams had been on the cutting edge of wormhole research.  They were years ahead of most research based primarily on their "exploration and discovery no matter the cost" mandate.  Being torn apart at an atomic level by warped time-streams due to failure in the coterminous equations was a small price to pay for the betterment of "the people".  This belief manifested in a spectacular fashion when the entire House of Potemkin and their home planet, Odessa simply ceased to exist.  Empire researchers and investigators would find an intricately woven pattern of cosmic strings with a black hole in the very center of the pattern.  Within that black hole came readings of the most powerful singularity ever recorded.  There was absolutely no evidence that House Potemkin, the planetary body of Odessa and it's seven moons ever existing in that galactic quadrant; and shortly thereafter it was declared forbidden to simply be found in that quadrant.  The Empire's Primus Admin Sofian Reza classified the Odessa quadrant as Crimson-7 and there is no shortage of strange tales coming from crews and captains about what goes on in the Odessa quadrant and at times and what manages to break its way through the blockades from time to time. Despite the fear and disbelief that met with House Potemkin’s return, The Emperor was fascinated by this reappearance and held many secret meetings with House leadership. There were ten Houses as a new one had been exalted to replace the disappeared all those centuries before so Potemkin’s return would have made them an 11th. Instead, rumors of rebellion and treason suddenly abounded about one of the current Houses and in punishments, the Duke and the heirs were executed, the House seat taken back and soon presented to Potemkin and thus they once again became one of the ten. Later when House Novaris was punished for its Duke’s transgression, many systems were taken from him and added to Potemkin’s territories.

House Potemkin was gone for nearly six centuries and where they went and what they experienced is shared only amongst themselves and no others. Attempts to hold them accountable for what had transpired in the Odessa quadrant and accusing them of scientific misconduct on a galactic scale seemed of little concern to them. House Potemkin had returned for the benefit of the Empire from itself as well as the threat that they believed the xenomorphs would prove themselves to be.

NOTABLE FOR: Recklessly pursuing scientific and research goals no matter the cost and pushing the limits of what is considered legal for biomechanical augmentation.  The great House of Potemkin recognizes the law that no more than 40% of the human form can be converted. They would like to state clearly that any citizens that have exceeded these thresholds did so prior to Emergence (Emergence a self-given title that is the date in which House Potemkin returned to "Universe One"). House Potemkin apologizes for these transgressions and are still working to bring offending citizens to within acceptable Empire parameters. Despite these assurances it's rumored that there are whole battalions of Potemkin troopers that far exceed the Empire's threshold of 40% conversion, even that there are "full biomechanical" conversions kept well out of sight from Empire investigators and inspectors.

Nearly all citizens of the great House of Potemkin are modified with a throat modulator and aural receptors.  This allows them to speak to one another in a heavily modified form of binary code that sounds to others like an unsettling, whispered droning. It is forbidden for any of these citizens to use these enhancements in the presence of the Emperor or his sanctioned agents.

While highly advanced, Potemkin technology looks anything but, especially in comparison to Dhaaz’s easthetically pleasing biomechanical work. Potemkin tech could never be described as elegant or subtle -- rigid, angular and imposing, each piece of tech tends to have only one purpose but also tends to satisfy that purpose exceedingly well.

Removed from the evolution of the Empire for a great many centuries; the great House of Potemkin acknowledges the role that women play in the galaxy now but they acknowledge the culture of the Empire and seem to be bringing their women in line with expectations since their return. Every citizen of House Potemkin worships Mysterian and often portray Mysterian as a female.

STRENGTHS: Burrowing. There are few that have as firm a grasp on time and space. Ruthless advancement of technology and science. Seemingly of one mind in all things. Very effective, single-purpose technology. Militaristic

WEAKNESSES: Inelegant tech that is sometimes dismissed or underrated. Lack of subtlety in general. Having a society that is of "one mind" takes a good deal of work, resources, observation and manipulation. Militaristic. The divide between the Haves and the Have Nots is quite vast.

Count Gabor Petrovich Potemkin III

Princess Esfir Potemkin

The 11th or Lost House

House Orzorone

Coat of Arms: An argent (silver) balanced scale on a field of deep blue]

Once upon a time House Orzorone was in its rightful place among its fellow nine Houses. Well-run and  prosperous, it rarely had enemies due to its adherence to diplomacy over confrontation. In fact, the House was so known for this quality that it was often called in by other Houses as a neutral party to help settle disputes. The last Duke of the Orzorone, Damiano, was a perfect representative of his House. Keen in both wit and tongue, Damiano was straightforward man who believed in speaking his mind, even to the Emperor himself though with humility and tact of course. The unimaginable happened when the long vanished House Potemkin reappeared, stunning everyone, even the Emperor. Representatives of House Potemkin met with the Emperor in secret for several days and shortly after, Duke Damiano disappeared much to his family's dismay. Frantic searches turned up nothing other than rumors that the Duke was at the Imperial Palace.

About a month later the Emperor went on all the newsfeed to announce that the Duke of Orzorone had been executed and that henceforth the Orozone family had lost its House seat and were being evacuated from their home. This announcement was timed with the arrival of the Indigo Guard at all the Ozorone holdings, rushing them out and allowing them only some personal keepsakes and their clothing. Anyone who resisted (or in some cases looked like they might resist) was killed, the rest were herded onto a ship. Eventually all the Ozorone were dumped at a spaceport, dazed and grieving, soon to find that the Ozorone accounts were frozen save for the personal accounts the Emperor felt were minor enough not to bother to track down.  Most chose to seek refuge within the Houses. This wasn't hard as Duke Damiano had been an honorable man and nobody really believed he would commit treason. They would not, of course, confront the Emperor about it but they would hospitality at one level or another (all but House Saiah and the newly appointed House Potemkin).  House Atalaryk, House Rovona, and House Broedin (who would step into the diplomacy vacuum left by the fall of Orzorone) welcomed any Orozone to settle in their territories and even gave them holdings so they might retain a lesser but still noble standing (they would be become the equivalent of barons who are answerable to the Duke of the House). The other Houses would offer members of the family a comfortable residence and enough funds to start over, to varying degrees depending on the House.

At present, the Orzorone are scattered throughout the Empire in a variety of roles and occupations, from simple worker to Baron. They could pop up practically anywhere. The descendants try to keep in contact with each other and occasionally have reunions, but they are mindful of still being watched after all these years.

OTHER DENIZENS

The Xeno Alliance

About a century ago mankind made its first contact with alien intelligence. A delegation from an amalgamation of alien races made formal contact to open diplomatic ties and thus this monumental revelation was remarkably peaceful in nature. Since that time alien diplomats have been welcomed in the Empire though surprisingly little is known about them. No man has yet visited their home systems and while it is believed their technology is slightly superior to human, they are not generous with any of the details regarding things of that nature. They have brought some goods into the Empire primarily as gifts but they are primarily novelties such as foods, liquors, textiles, jewelry, items of that nature. It is considered a sign of status to welcome a member of the Alliance to your House and any gifts received from them are proudly shown off. There will be more info on the races on an information thread to be set up later.

Genetically Engineered Labor (GELS)

The Empire has become quite adept with genetics and there are large labs scattered throughout its many systems. Early in its scientific development, the Empire favored Bioengineering over robotics and as a result, robots are still fairly rudimentary and really only handle basic tasks. Instead the Empire has come to rely on a labor force comprised of beings grown in a laboratory, often tailored for specific conditions and function depending on the work they will do. Most commonly animal genes are spliced into a human embryo and so these beings are set apart in appearance from natural born humans. In addition to giving them different abilities, the animal DNA serves to set them apart from natural born humans at sight. GELS are almost universally viewed as subhuman with reduced mental skills and poor communication skills that would leave them ill-suited for society anyway. There are no regulations regarding the treatment of GELS -- they are treated as a commodity or a necessary piece of equipment. 
     Of late there have been rumors of a GEL run amok, a leader of some persuasion who has been skirmishing in various systems to liberate his fellow GELs. The very thought of such an organized rebellion would strike fear in the hearts of most if they believed it but it is nonsensical of course to think a GEL would have either the means or the intellect to pull such a thing off.
     Genetic modification of those not created for this purpose is strictly forbidden. Occasionally there will be a rumor that one House or another has genetically modified an heir to be superior in one aspect or another and indeed, some of these rumors have been born out which when discovered, has dire consequences for the House in question. If there are any progeny out there who have been so modified, their lives would be forfeit if they were discovered. What is acceptable is for parts of the body to be regrown to replace limbs or organs that have been damaged by disease or misfortune.

The Mechanically Enhanced

Though most prefer to have limbs regrown, there is a small number of people who voluntarily become mechanically enhanced. The law is that no more than 40% of the body can be replaced with mechanics. These enhancements are varied and can involve just about any part of the body. Among this minority are those who have had their brains augmented to increase reaction time, computational ability, and memory. This is a difficult procedure however. Few have the capacity to adapt to it and the cost is prohibitive to all but the most wealthy. Most noble families would never risk doing this to one of their own – more commonly a suitable candidate is found, the House pays for the procedure, then the newly augmented individual pays off the debt through service.

[Niferbelle]

Some things to Keep in mind before you begin on your character sheet…

*Take a deep breath. I know this is a lot of information to get through. If you find it overwhelming, please PM myself and my co-GM Aiden so we can help you out. We will be able to help steer you in a good direction. A question like ‘I know what kind of character I want, I’m not sure what House they would fit in’ can be easily answered and options presented to you. We’re here to help!

*Some concepts have only been touched upon. If you want more information about something, please ask in this thread. It will not only benefit you but others as well!

*I am specifically asking for certain NPCs to be adopted as player character. They are Tarrek, Duke of House Atalaryk; the eldest daughter of the Empire; Princess Laila of House Rovona; and the mysterious GEL who is out there stirring things up.  Just keep in mind that there will be some backstory with these characters that you will have to work within but otherwise you are free to develop them. A special note for the Emperor’s daughter, she had a rather harrowing childhood so please be aware some issues could be raised.

*You are allowed to create as a character Dukes (or spouses) of the following Houses: Novari, Rovona (in this case, the Prince and public face of the House) and Saiah. The Dukes of other Houses may open up but if you’re interested, please PM me before filling out the character sheet. House Potemkin and the Emperor’s House are not available for PCs (with the exception of the Emperor’s eldest daughter). Any other House, if there are relatives listed (sons, daughters, etc) you can play any of those. Some are named, some are not – chances are I will let you change the name if you hate it. In some cases, only the heirs are alluded to (i.e. the males). That isn’t to say there can’t be daughters in those Houses as well (I was being lazy in some cases). You can also make characters from lesser noble Houses that are under the Great Houses (like a Baron under a Duke). I haven’t fleshed any of those out yet so keep in mind if you choose this option you will need to have input into building the house 

*When you’ve decided what character and which House you’d like to be from, please PM Aiden and I before completing your sheet. We went to prevent any doubling up on character. I will likely be posting in this thread when positions are taken. We also ask that you PM the completed character sheets to us rather than post them here. Once it’s approved we will have a character sheet thread where it can be posted.

Roles current payers have asked to be filled:
Protector for a Princess of Broedin -- requested by Amelita
Female partner in intrigue to Orozone exile employed by Rovona -- requested by Cyrano Johnson
Acquaintances/contacts of a Princess of Atalaryk who was fostered with House Rovona -- requested by Caela[/I]

Characters in development by other players:
Princess of House Chainer

Completed Characters:
Princess Illyana Atalaryk -- Caela
Diarivo (Baronet) Kairitsu Sundosa-Zurun (nee Calixto Medani Orzorone) (with House Rovona) -- Cyrano Johnson
Princess Maleida Broedin -- Amelita
Princess Rhebekka Emanuelle Atalaryk -- Crash
Duke Tarrek El'Essen Atalaryk -- CShades
Prince Jalen Novari -- Ontan
Crown Princess Azurine Udele Xavendir -- Emjay



OK, here we go!

Code Select Expand

[b]PLAYER NAME:[/b]
[b]CHARACTER NAME:[/b]
[b]AFFILIATED HOUSE:[/b]
[b]CONCEPT:[/b]
[b]PRIMARY SKILL:[/b]
[b]SECONDARY SKILLS (3-5):[/b]
[hr]
[float=right][img height=300 padding=5]***url here***[/img][/float]
[b]AGE:[/b]
[b]DESCRIPTION:[/b]

[b]PERSONALITY AND MANNERISMS:[/b]

[b]PERSONAL HISTORY:[/b]

[b]CHARACTER’S AMBITIONS:[/b]

[b]RUMORS:[/b]

Example Character Sheet

PLAYER NAME: Niferbelle (NPC)
CHARACTER NAME: Hana Rossielle Atalaryk
AFFILIATED HOUSE: Atalaryk
CONCEPT: Unmarried Lady of House Atalaryk, secret bad-ass
PRIMARY SKILL: Spacefaring
SECONDARY SKILLS (3-5):
Bladed weapons
Logistics
Planetary Survival
Counter Security
Marksmanship

AGE: 25
DESCRIPTION: Hana is unmistakably a daughter of House Atalaryk with her ebony hair and steely grey eyes. Her face is pretty enough upon inspection but a sullen or challenging expression usually mars the effect it might otherwise have on young men. Though not entirely lacking in feminine appeal she has an athletic body that lacks the lush curves preferred these days. In her rare appearances she looks as if she put no thought into her wardrobe at all and appears ill at ease in the gowns she must wear at these times.

PERSONALITY AND MANNERISMS: Hana is blunt, sometimes to the point of rudeness, but never simply for the sake of hurting feelings but rather in the interest of the truth. A woman who is forced to keep a lot of secrets, she makes a point of keeping her personal interactions free from deception. Amongst her people she is lively and good humored though you would never know it if you met her outside of Atalaryk space where is apt to be dour, tight-lipped, and miserable. Something of a firebrand, she has learned to bite her tongue for the greater good no matter how much it might make her blood pressure skyrocket.

PERSONAL HISTORY: Hana was born into a House that allowed a unique experience for a young girl. The women of Atalaryk are not only allowed to pursue the same activities as their male counterparts they are expected to be productive so her tomboyish tendencies were welcomed and encouraged. Hana was doted on by her father and from ten time she could walk well enough to keep up, was her brother Tarrek’s constant shadow. When her parents adopted a young man near her age, he quickly became inseparable with the twosome and together the three of them had many adventures growing up.

Her father’s unexpected death really rocked Hana to the core and set off a series of consequences that have made her life and that of her brothers far more complicated. She is somewhat more pensive these days but no less determined. Currently she is the commander of the supply fleet and has her own personal ship with a hand-picked crew though she isn’t on it as often as she’d liked given the pull of her duties to the House.

CHARACTER’S AMBITIONS: Mainly to keep her two brothers alive, something that seems to be getting harder and harder. To seek justice for her father and those that need it most.

RUMORS: Who? Oh, that Atalaryk woman. She’s certainly past her prime though I can’t say I’m surprised. The woman has no social graces at all regardless of her breeding. The women of Atalaryk have always been a little rough around the edges, of course most of the other Houses find them unsuitable for brides. What a waste. She should have had two or three children by now.

[Amelita]

-plants a flag-

::)

[Niferbelle]

*ties a little bow in the flag to make it pretty*

[Crash]

*Snatches up flag and waves it around*

I have an idea for a lesbian wife, but I need a player to play her gay husband.  ;D

I may just make him an NPC if necessary....hmm...

[Niferbelle]

I like that someone is interested in that kind of a relationship. I think it could be a very rich one.

[Crash]

Yeah there is plenty to mine there.

If no one is interested in her other half I will leave him as an npc. 

[Caela]

~peeks at Ame's flag and tosses a comfy chair into a corner to curl up in to read all the info~

You have been busy Niferbelle!! At just a glance this looks really interesting, am looking forward to reading the info section.

[Niferbelle]

Hello Caela!

Yes, it's a lot to read. Original settings leave a lot to be explained I'm afraid and I wanted everyone to have enough info to make an informed choice of characters.

[Caela]

Oh I wasn't complaining, it's fantastic! :D

[Cyrano Johnson]

You know, it's been a while since I got into a game on here. I think I wouldn't mind giving this one a whirl if Nif will have me. An exiled Orzorone baronet working for the Rovona might be fun.

[Niferbelle]

We'd love to have you Cyrano! I like your idea already. While you're here can I ask how you would feel about people playing the characters in Rovona that you created?

[Cyrano Johnson]

Sure, as for playing Rovonians, anyone should feel free to have at it, absolutely.

[Amelita]

I'd probably be looking at either the heir to House Broedin (Kiehm Broedin) or one of the three non-bastard daughters.

[Niferbelle]

Excellent Ames! I'd love for you to represent that House in one form or another.

[Niferbelle]

Hi kc! Nice to see you. I will probably seek Amelita's input on Broedin characters, yes, but as GM I'll be approving everything.

That's an interesting question about languages. Pretty much everyone speaks the same language but there are probably many, many different dialects of it from House to House or even system to system. There is likely unique slang used by various groups that might be confusing to those outside it. There could also be code languages, intentionally created to allow communication that couldn't be understood (as in a military unit or a criminal organization or a House, etc.) There might not be a need for an interpreter except in very specific situations but I can see a professional class that acts as a cultural interpreter - someone who knows the slang, knows the etiquette, customs, and culture of a very specific group of people.

There's room to play around with it but perhaps that gives you a jumping off point.

[Kokaine]

Expressing tentative interest though i have no clue what I'd play >.<

If anyone has ideas or a role connected to theirs that they wouldn't mind seeing filled, I'm all ears!

[Crash]

Nifer- Linguistic anthropology

Koka - Are playing male or female.  I have a need for a gay husband to my lesbian lady.  I could also use a mistress for her, but I know most people like to sort that stuff out in game.

[Niferbelle]

Expressing tentative interest though i have no clue what I'd play >.<

If anyone has ideas or a role connected to theirs that they wouldn't mind seeing filled, I'm all ears!

Hiya! Most people are very much in the early stages of things and might not have an idea on this. I'll keep it in mind though.



I was asked a question that I thought might be useful info for everyone.

Quick question, with the society being feudal in nature, do the Houses foster children with each other for a time during their teen years?

Yes, this is a common practice. Again, the experience is different depending upon who is fostering whom but it occurs regularly.



Linguistic anthropology -- I like it Crash. Makes sense.

[Caela]

Working on a bastard Atalaryk daughter and want to say THANK YOU to our lovely GM for all her help while I tweak the concept and her sheet.

[Crash]

So we have an older and younger sister and now a half sister of Atalaryk.  Nice, peeps to plot with.

[Caela]

So we have an older and younger sister and now a half sister of Atalaryk.  Nice, peeps to plot with.

Who is playing all of these? I thought the only person I'd actually seen name a House was Ames.

[Crash]

Older sister myself and younger sister Niferbelle.

[Caela]

Ahhh, gotcha. You hadn't actually said which House your girl was going to be from so your comment threw me! :)

My half-sister is going to be 27, don't know how that lines up with your gals age.

[Niferbelle]

Who is playing all of these? I thought the only person I'd actually seen name a House was Ames.

I'm trying to update the character sheet page as people weigh in. I'm excited by the mix. There ae three sisters in the same house but they'll all have a unique role. It's working out great.

BY the way, my NPC sister is the example character sheet if you would like to glance at it.

[Caela]

I'm trying to update the character sheet page as people weigh in. I'm excited by the mix. There ae three sisters in the same house but they'll all have a unique role. It's working out great.

BY the way, my NPC sister is the example character sheet if you would like to glance at it.

I actually looked it over as I was making my own sheet so I knew who one of the sisters was, I just hadn't actually seen Crash say which House his woman would be in so his comment, initially confused me. Having sisters will be fun...makes for lots of plotting opportunities!

[Aiden]

I'll be playing as well, I plan on writing one or two of the Chainer brothers.

One is a bit older, (early 30's, widowed, no kids) and he has been called "insane" as he oversees most of Chainer's mining operations which includes slingshoting onto comets, mining them clean then escaping before they crumble and or collide with something.

The other is late 20's, the baby of the Chainer family and spends his time getting into trouble. Prefers to spend his time having fun before his family reel him in.

The other 2 chainer kids are NPCs, one the standing commander of Chainer's Navy/Fleet and the sister a noble woman who is actually a female Han Solo who owns the Space Station "Deadman's Port" that borders on Chainer Space and a local hub for Smugglers, Outlaws and the scum of the universe.

[Crash]

Ahhh, gotcha. You hadn't actually said which House your girl was going to be from so your comment threw me! :)

My half-sister is going to be 27, don't know how that lines up with your gals age.

Rebekah is 28 and Hana is 25.

[Caela]

So Illyana falls in the middle then. :)

[Crash]

Yep!

[Strangefate]

Such an impressive amount of world detail, reminds me a bit of Dune.  I'm just watching the thread for the moment as I really haven't any clue what I'd play, but it looks interesting.  :-)

[Niferbelle]

Welcome, Strangefate! Watch away :)

And thank you. I know it's a lot of reading and might be too much for some, but when it's an original setting on this scale, there's a lot to cover. Dune was an influence, definitely, but I wanted to take some of the basic concepts and move in different direction with them.

[Niferbelle]

As I create threads, I will be listing them in the first post in this thread. For now I only have a charcter sheet thread. I will be posting people's characters as theyre approved.

[Caela]

Thanks KC! I'm looking forward to playing her. Hit me up for plottage/connection when you're done with your own character.

[Niferbelle]

I won't be around much today so if you leave a question, it may be a little before I get back to it. But please, don't let that stop your brainstorming!

[Drake Valentine]

No space pirates? ;\

[Outlaw Fallen]

I'm definitely posting interest here if you'll put up with me, Niferbelle =P

Though, I'm stuck in that culture-shock feeling of just needing to let it all sink in at the moment before trying to figure out what I would like to play. Definitely loving the Dune influences <3

[Aiden]

No space pirates? ;\

House Chainer does not condone piracy.

With that said, their lands/space is a bustling hive of smugglers/pirates and black market traders.

[Nymphadora]

I'm growing more and more interested (thanks, KC) hehe
Not sure if I will play, but I'm definitely pondering and reading things over again and again.

It is a great set up, Niferbelle!

[Amelita]

I'm working on a daughter of Broedin. My concept for her is to be a bargaining chip for her father to secure renewed or new protection deals. [you protect my vessels, I give you my daughter] It's a wife with political benefits, a precious commodity to some.

For it to be any fun I need the potential protector as a character.

Any interest?

[Drake Valentine]

House Chainer does not condone piracy.

With that said, their lands/space is a bustling hive of smugglers/pirates and black market traders.

So they are like the (can't think of what the place was called in the series) island in the TV show Black Sails, seeming like legitimate/organized traders but actually full of cutthroats and backstabbing pirates? ;o

[Cyrano Johnson]

As I'm developing my character concept, I find myself in search of a companion player. So from this week's Imperial Personals:

Exiled Orzorone baronet, now a simple man trying to make his way in the Galaxy, seeks attractive female companionship of any House and cultural persuasion for scheming, swashbuckling, intermittent will-they-or-won't-they sexual tension and possible skulduggery at one another's expense on behalf of any number of possible employers. Do you like charming rogues? Convoluted conspiracies? Mind-bending cosmic mysteries? Living in constant peril, and not knowing whether the greatest peril comes from the unseen forces of Imperial intrigue or your own partner? Then this might just be the adventure for you! PM CyranoJ for details. Smokers, drinkers and cognoscenti of obscure Xenoid poisons welcome; prior experience w/ wretched hives of scum and villainy preferred, but negotiable.

[Aiden]

So they are like the (can't think of what the place was called in the series) island in the TV show Black Sails, seeming like legitimate/organized traders but actually full of cutthroats and backstabbing pirates? ;o

I haven't seen Black Sails, but house Chainer heavily relies on trade/alliances since their lands only produce Ore/gas (for ships and ship building,war stuff)

So food, commodities, etc etc, is all traded for. Sometimes trades are broken, alliance broken, and in that case they go to smugglers/pirates.

House Chainer will NOT come down on said pirates, as long as they don't target Chainer ships/traders.

So smugglers/pirates know they are relatively safe in Chainer space. Jeska Chainer herself is the Lord of Deadman's port, but her identity is a secret. She will have a different name to conceal herself.

[Aiden]

Once I get an actual sheet going, I am open to connections.

Atm, I am working out some details between House Chainer and Brodein which will be revealed as we set them up.

[Caela]

I'm open to connections for Illyana, either from negotiations she's done for her father or from family contacts or even that she met while during her teen years fostering with the Rovonas.

[Cyrano Johnson]

I'm open to connections for Illyana, either from negotiations she's done for her father or from family contacts or even that she met while during her teen years fostering with the Rovonas.

Might make sense for Princess Laila to know her from her fostering years.

[Caela]

Might make sense for Princess Laila to know her from her fostering years.

Certainly it would! When you've got her personality and such figured out we can decide if they liked each other and got on well or were just indifferent to each other or even actively disliked each other. :)

[Outlaw Fallen]

I'm working on a daughter of Broedin. My concept for her is to be a bargaining chip for her father to secure renewed or new protection deals. [you protect my vessels, I give you my daughter] It's a wife with political benefits, a precious commodity to some.

For it to be any fun I need the potential protector as a character.

Any interest?

Definitely interested, Ames, if I can figure out who/what my character will be

[Amelita]

Definitely interested, Ames, if I can figure out who/what my character will be

I'm most likely tying her into the Chainer-Broedin alliance, but thank you so much ^^ Maybe we could plot a friendship or lost romantic hopes or something instead :)

[CurvyKitten]

Oh wow didn't realize this was up! I'm reading over things now, but totally interested if there is still room?

[CShades]

Oh, you guys and all the plotting. I'm working on the Atalaryk madm.. I mean, Duke. Yeah. If anyone wants general hookery to come their way, I'm still working on stuff. Yeah, stuff.

Hi again, CK :D

I believe there's plenty of room, and some more npcs to adopt in the first or second post

[Niferbelle]

I've missed some posting! Welcome to all the new faces who have peeked in and thank you for the compliments on the setting :) I had lots of help with that and I spread the credit around. I haven't had a chance to check my PMs yet today, I have several, but I will jump on those as soon as I get through some mentoring business. I've also noticed people starting to ask for characters to go in tandem with theirs and I will try to add those in the character sheet section. Very excited to see all the activity!

[Cyrano Johnson]

Certainly it would! When you've got her personality and such figured out we can decide if they liked each other and got on well or were just indifferent to each other or even actively disliked each other. :)

I'm not sure if it'll be me or the GMs working on Laila's sheet -- I suppose either of us could do it, I'll check with them to see what they prefer -- but it should be interesting either way.  8-)

[Niferbelle]

We'll see if someone picks up Laila as a PC. If not, I will put her together as an NPC with some input for you, Cyrano. Either way it can be worked out that she's a contact of Illyana's.

[Outlaw Fallen]

If you are looking for suggestions, maybe House Rovona?  Their navy might be small, but is modern and efficient.  And I am sure it would suffice for escorting cargo ships.  Also, we have two PCs that have spent significant time in Rovona lands, so there is potential for tie-ins there.

Sounds like a solid suggestion. I just don't want to end up being the odd man out.

[Caela]

I'm not sure if it'll be me or the GMs working on Laila's sheet -- I suppose either of us could do it, I'll check with them to see what they prefer -- but it should be interesting either way.  8-)

Oh..oops my misunderstanding. I thought since you memtioned her that you were making her lol.

[CurvyKitten]

Now we can place daughters in various places correct?(excluding the families we can't make pc's for of course.) Or am I missing a more clear list of them?

[Crash]

Curvy - Correct.

[Kokaine]

Nifer- Linguistic anthropology

Koka - Are playing male or female.  I have a need for a gay husband to my lesbian lady.  I could also use a mistress for her, but I know most people like to sort that stuff out in game.

Sorry I took so long to get back to you but I will be taking a stab at the Jeska Chainer role because Pirate Queen! xD

[Crash]

Lol!  No worries Koka.  They could have been on the opposite end of a couple of Naval encounters. ;)

[Chreestafer]

So they are like the (can't think of what the place was called in the series) island in the TV show Black Sails, seeming like legitimate/organized traders but actually full of cutthroats and backstabbing pirates? ;o

I'm liking Drake's idea on the pirates.  If you're interested I'd jump in as a first mate on your ship.  I had the concept idea of an exile from the forgotten house who has jumped from house to house as a mercanary.  Maybe some how he finds his way into your service as 1st mate?

[Crash]

Character submitted!  Woohoo!

[CurvyKitten]

Been racking my brain, but the only idea my muse seems to be really into is one I don't think will really work for the game. I'm still trying, but we shall see if I can come up with something that works here and gets my muse eager to write.

[Outlaw Fallen]

Yeah, I'm having a bit of a hard time, myself.

[Emjay]

Wow can't believe I only heard of this now. I need to read through all of this very carefully so I don't miss anything xD

[Ontan]

As above – this looks amazing! If it's still up for grabs, I’ll be writing a character sheet for Jalen, the infamous prodigal son of House Novari.

[Niferbelle]

Hello Emjay and Ontan! Glad to see you both here.

Ontan, that character is still available so you're welcome to it!

Emjay, once you've looked things over if you'd like to brainstorm you can always shoot me a PM.

I'm getting tons of PMs. If something you've sent me seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle, feel free to send me a little poke if it's been a couple days. Thanks everyone!

[Outlaw Fallen]

Thinking of going with one the Chainer princes or Rovona. I feel like Chainer would be easier for me to write, but I dunno.

[Niferbelle]

Both sound good! If you think you'd like to give Chainer a go, I would poke Aiden, he would have lots of information for you.

[Outlaw Fallen]

I'll do that!

[Amelita]

Depending on who her mom was, a Chainer girlie might be cousins with my Broedins :)

[Emjay]

Hello Emjay and Ontan! Glad to see you both here.

Ontan, that character is still available so you're welcome to it!

Emjay, once you've looked things over if you'd like to brainstorm you can always shoot me a PM.

I'm getting tons of PMs. If something you've sent me seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle, feel free to send me a little poke if it's been a couple days. Thanks everyone!

Thanks Niferbelle! I PMed you a charrie idea. I just wanted to make sure it worked within the setting before I went ahead and started on the sheet. Also what is the protocol for reserving face claims?

[Niferbelle]

Actually I don't have a formal protocol for that yet. I haven't had any duplicate pictures being used so I hadn't given it any thought yet. I will put that on my list of things to do. For now, if there is a definite picture you want to use, please state it here. I'll get back to you on your PM soon :)

[Emjay]

Actually I don't have a formal protocol for that yet. I haven't had any duplicate pictures being used so I hadn't given it any thought yet. I will put that on my list of things to do. For now, if there is a definite picture you want to use, please state it here. I'll get back to you on your PM soon :)

Kk sounds good! In that case I shall go ahead and claim Léa Seydoux.

[CurvyKitten]

All the great characters coming up, love them. I however have had one hell of a time to get my muse to come up with something new. So I will try and watch some spacey movies or something and see if I can shake anything loss. No promises though.

[Niferbelle]

Awww, Curvy. Sometimes the muse just won't cooperate. Just don't give up on us!

[CurvyKitten]

Awww, Curvy. Sometimes the muse just won't cooperate. Just don't give up on us!

I'm trying, de muse liked the original idea. But I told it no, so I'm watching space stuff to help perk up something else. Currently Andromeda, may pick a movie too hehe I'm open to suggestions!

[Crash]

Curvy - I have it that Rhebekkah made a couple of friends when attending finishing school with Lady Torensson.  They are now all part of the Imperial Court if you want a connection you could make one of her former friends.  Should be lots of intrigue at court.

[CShades]

Feel free to tell us about the muse, Kitten, and what you liked about it. Maybe there can be suggestions!


Speaking of suggestions, I would be looking for some connections as well. Primarily, I have left the house he was fostered in open for interpretation, so if there's anyone that might like to have had a hand on the Duke's  upbringing, I'd love to hear from you.

[CurvyKitten]

Well it was a GEL, rough start but Nif had a way of dealing with that. She was going to have enhanced navigation and reflexes (tweaking and enhancing a birds ability to tell directions in a way that had her being a hell of a navigator and eventually pilot.)But the problem was that this is a nobility based game and she'd end up not being able to be a part of a big part of it. And starting a game with a large part of it being cut off from a character seems like a bad idea lol.

So I am trying to get an idea for a noble and shelving that one till when we are able to have more than one character.

[Caela]

I think a GEL would be an interesting character once the game is up and running and when the plot with the possible GEL (revolution, uprising? not sure which word to use here) get's running but can definitely see how it would be an issue until we get to that point.

[Niferbelle]

That's my intention, Caela. I started with one character per player partly because it was easiest for Aiden and me to get the game set up and running but also because once the game got going I thought people would have a lot more ideas for a second character and would have a better idea of where that character would fit in. When we get to second characters, we will allow GELs but they will come from a specific background.

[Cyrano Johnson]

I'm trying, de muse liked the original idea. But I told it no, so I'm watching space stuff to help perk up something else. Currently Andromeda, may pick a movie too hehe I'm open to suggestions!

Fantasy tropes are also a good fit for a setting like this one. Especially lost heirs to (or ladies of) great Houses disguised as common folk, for instance.

[Niferbelle]

I have to say I'm loving the character sheets I've been getting. There's a lot of creativity flying around this place!

[Ontan]

… And my character’s been approved! There is one very important OOC note I forgot to include, though: Jurien Novari is still available to play as a PC, and none of the info I wrote about him is necessarily canon. Beyond the brief description of Julien in the official Ten Houses info post, all aspects of his character are open to discussion – the blurb I’ve written is basically just a placeholder, just in case he needs to be NPC’d. 

[Flower]

And bookmarking. ♥

[Crash]

*smooshes da cheeks of Flower's avi*

[CShades]

Flowerrrrr Are you following me around? :P <3

[Flower]

*smooshes da cheeks of Flower's avi*

-said cheeks return back to perfect poutdom-

Flowerrrrr Are you following me around? :P <3

A good stalker never reveals her secrets.  ::)

[Niferbelle]

And bookmarking. ♥

The pouty face! It's my favorite!

And welcome Flower :)

[Niferbelle]

I wanted to point out that I have started a game information thread (see link in first post). Right now it's pretty much just the information in this thread repeated except that there is info there about the known alien races. I am going to begin to add in information soon to keep everything updated from character building process.

Thank everybody!

[Ontan]

A couple of points I forgot to mention in my last post:

• Nora, Jalen’s incongruously platonic companion, is available as a PC to anyone who wants to play a non-noble character, but still have significant connections.
• If anyone wants to set up some background with Jalen, just send me a PM. In fact, send a PM anyway, because my inbox is on 99 messages and it’s driving me insane.

there is info there about the known alien races.

I get the feeling Jalen would get on well with the Boodsi... :p

[Giantmutantcrab]

*coughs...*

<.<

>.>

*plants flag as well*

(\/)  ^___^  (\/)

[Niferbelle]

*cheers GMC*

[Giantmutantcrab]

:D

[CShades]

Hi GMC, welcome!

I have meant to ask this, but keep forgetting to. Do we know if we are all starting spread out, or are we thrown together somewhere for Reasons, or...  well, ambassadors and long distance comms work too. Sorry, stream of consciousness here. I think what I really want to know is what's the general communication paradigm between houses/empire AKA getting in touch.

[Niferbelle]

The game will be starting with everyone being called to the Emperor's Palace for some unnamed occasion. Attendance is mandatory ;)

[CShades]

Oi. Like those stories where the king invites the whole family to a party and no one leaves alive. I SEE

[Niferbelle]

Oi. Like those stories where the king invites the whole family to a party and no one leaves alive. I SEE

*laugh* Something like that.

[Giantmutantcrab]

Oi. Like those stories where the king invites the whole family to a party and no one leaves alive. I SEE

Pack your best costume, CShades.

Y'know, the one with the combat shotgun in the dinner jacket.

Just in case.

[CShades]

And the brown pants. Gotcha!

[Giantmutantcrab]

And the brown pants. Gotcha!

How about the body double?  Because, you know...  Big dinners with minimal security around the table, with no one able to check how, exactly, stuff was made and with what ingredients?

Ziegfried?

Yes, sir?

Get dressed, you're going to a dinner tonight.

Yes, sir.

[Caela]

*laugh* Something like that.

Niffs...just do us all a favor and remember you're NOT Gearge RR Martin and you don't want to  be!!!

[Giantmutantcrab]

Niffs...just do us all a favor and remember you're NOT Gearge RR Martin and you don't want to  be!!!

Lol, red wedding.

"Ok, so everyone died...  Guys, make new characters!

...

...guys?"

[CShades]

Sip. Swallow. Scroll.

Why does one ever forget this?

[Amelita]

Lol, red wedding.

"Ok, so everyone died...  Guys, make new characters!

...

...guys?"

-gigglesnortchokes-

[Giantmutantcrab]

Well, if my character dies, at least I could make a stand-up comedian.  :D

[Giantmutantcrab]

Serious question though...

We're going to play in a space-faring world with dozens, possibly hundreds of planets.

What kind of weapons are we talking about?  Something like Star Wars, with vibro-weapons, energy weapons, laser guns, force shields, etc?

Something like Warhammer 40k?  Gothic-decorated chainswords blessed by bald, blind priests and carried by dead babies with mechanical wings and an unnatural smile?

Or are we going somewhere different, like Dune?  Big, chunky personal shields that protect from blaster fire but is useless against slow weapons like knives?

Or...  Sticks and stones?

[Swashbuckler]

Oooooo, a Niferbelle game?  How very interesting....

*peruses*

[Aiden]

I decided to go a little more into detail about House Chainer, its lands and political structure.

WIP- But I will be updating, so you all can get an Idea on House Chainer.

Volcas - Home of Guid Ferra

Titan's Bane - The Largest Platform
within Chainer Space

House Chainer doesn't have other Houses under its banners like other Houses in the Empire. They are broken down into "guilds". Guilds are mini factions under Chainer rule that specialize in different skills.

Guild Terra - Are the guild of Miners and Engineers who are responsible for mining comets, planets and anything they can land a "Suicide" jet on. Currently a Chainer holds rank as Head Engineer.

Guild Ferra - "The Foundry"- This guild is a collective of Welders, Smelters and Iron Workers who take the rich ore from the Terra guild and smelt it down into the rich Steel that will eventually be used by the Vulcan Guild.

Guild Vulcan - "The Smiths" This guild are the elite craftsman who take Steel and turn it into plating for space ships and other projects.

Guild Chanaan - The Merchants and traders of House Chainer, typically the most intelligent (education wise), this guild is responsible for keeping the Economy of House Chainer in the black and its trades and alliances healthy. Duke Chainer sits on the board of the Chanaan Guild but he is wise to trust his advisers in the economical matters of his house.

Guild Guarra - The Military of House Chainer, Duke Chainer is the acting Commander but has relinquished all power to his eldest son and current Admiral of the Fleet.

Smaller Guilds - Arts, Music, Drama etc (Smaller guilds, a "renaissance" is blossoming within House Chainer as cultures from other houses linger and are adopted, creating a artistic movement within its people.)

---

Expectations of Women, Children and the Elderly -

All children are expected to serve Guild Guarra if capable for a minimum of 4 years entering their 15th year. In this time, their skills and abilities are sorted into the others guilds or are given the option to make the military a life long career. Men and Women train side by side, equal in every way despite the laws of the empire.

Women who chose to raises family are given the full support of the empire and given other jobs, from medical to administrative duties. The elderly or disabled also serve in these positions if capable.

----

"High Castle"  Chainer's Royal Palace

Deadman's Port

Chainer land holds various planets with very little hospitable space, massive cities stand in their place but the majority of the population live and thrive on the growing space platforms that orbit the various planets. Chainer's Castle is a Platform/Orbital Station that serves as a military station.  The various Space Platforms, Ships and Space Stations of House Chainer are always moving within their air space/territory. The volatile part of the galaxy has a constant influx of comets and meteor showers which requires constant vigilance. While other houses may boast pilots and/or navigators.  Pilots from House Chainer are known to be the most "insane" or "damn right stupid" due to their reputation of steering into danger and never away from it.

"Piracy, Smuggling and all the fun things in life"

Piracy and Smuggling is a way of life in the empire, more so for House Chainer. While they do not officially endorse these criminal acts, House Chainer has been known to look in the other direction. Smugglers of high reputation know to pay "taxes" to House Chainer and in return are allowed to operate in their space.

"Official" Smugglers and Pirates have been known to work exclusively for House Chainer when diplomacy and trade agreements go south. The majority of smugglers operating within these lands happen to be veterans or former guild members. Some retired guild members or veterans have been known to join a crew to keep things "interesting", speaking to the hard working mindset of people in this part of the Galaxy.

Official Trade Convoys of House Chainer are always well protected and only fools consider attacking a Chainer Trading Vessel as that would result in the fleet responding with extreme prejudice.

For those looking to hide, trade their illegal (in other parts of the galaxy) goods or just in the mood to misbehave, Deadman's Port might be the destinations for you. The large space colony/station that was carved around orbiting land masses in the center of the rings that surround the planet Mors (a dead desolated planet that was harvested in the early days of the Empire) make it the best place to hide out or get lost if that is what you desire. Extra goods/weapons and contraband flood black markets of  Deadman's port. While there is no official government or ruling structure, a smuggler/pirate has taken control of the port and those who come to port know who is boss.

Rumors claim a Chainer is the "mysterious pirate king". Rumors resurfacing after few learned that Tiberius himself was a pirate in his youth after his service to the military when his brother was alive and expected to take the title of Duke. (Before the Guild Wars)

The Royal Family

Tiberius Kane Chainer

Tiberius Chainer

The only surviving son after the brutal "Civil Guild Wars" decades earlier. Tiberius claimed absolute control of House Chainer after his brothers went to war with one another after the death of their father decided who decided to split his holdings among all his children equally. Former pirate and seat holder of Guild Chanaan, he took control and reorganized the guilds and their structure so none could assemble their own armies/navies after seizing control and initiating a decadea long peace and is credited with its current cultural growth (compared to its stagnation during the "old ways").

Clint Kane Chainer

Clint Chainer

Tiberius's first son, he was raised like his father before him. He was sent to Guild Guarra like all other children at the age of 15th. His name was stripped and he was given a number like the others and lived, trained and fought with them. Clint saw plenty of combat dealing with pirates, smugglers and an occasional contract from the other houses when they called in for military support. Choosing to reenlist for life (the only way to become an officer), he quickly proved himself a leader and capable captain. Before age 30 he was captain of his own Behemoth Class cruiser, a few years later he became A Fleet Admiral with more than half a dozen war ships under his command.

After proving himself further, his father stepped down as commander-in-chief in of Guild Guarra and promoted his son to the rank, effectively making him the next duke. Guild Guarra is run by the Commander, 4 Fleet Admirals, 2 Generals of the Army and 2 Generals of the Air Force.

Raynor Tyranus Chainer

Raynor Chainer

The Second son, Raynor, like his siblings before him, was sent off to Guild Guarra at 15. Unlike his older brother, he was a mediocre solider but outmatched him as a navigator. With his interest leaning towards mining and space exploration, he transferred to Guild Terra and became an apprentice miner. His ability as a navigator began to shine during this time, when combined with his fascination in geology he fit in with the other guild members who devoted their life to mining and surviving the constant dance with death. Raynor became Head Engineer of the Guild a decade earlier and has structured the organization to streamline more apprentices in an effort to prevent casualties and increase their operations.

Dubbed "the silent son", Raynor is a practical and happily married man who prefers to work and tend to his family when he is not out on an expedition. While not overly close with his other siblings, he tends to be the one they all go to when they need help as he did not inherit Tiberius's temper.

Jeska Chainer - Koka - Wip
Tychus Chainer - Aiden's Char - Wip

[Ontan]

Serious question though...

We're going to play in a space-faring world with dozens, possibly hundreds of planets.

What kind of weapons are we talking about?  Something like Star Wars, with vibro-weapons, energy weapons, laser guns, force shields, etc?

Something like Warhammer 40k?  Gothic-decorated chainswords blessed by bald, blind priests and carried by dead babies with mechanical wings and an unnatural smile?

Or are we going somewhere different, like Dune?  Big, chunky personal shields that protect from blaster fire but is useless against slow weapons like knives?

Or...  Sticks and stones?

There’s also the Mass Effect option, for that matter: small arms that are largely comparable to today’s weapons, but with a selection of high-tech ammunition; personal shields that can stop bullets, but collapse under sustained gunfire; melee weapons that are energized and extremely potent if you can get in close.

Regardless of which one we go with, my preference would be a level of technology where both guns and melee weapons are equally viable choices for head-on combat (presumably because armour or shields somewhat diminish the lethality of ranged weapons).   

[Crash]

I would guess that ship boarding actions would be mostly small arms and close combat to keep damage to a minimum.

[Giantmutantcrab]

I would guess that ship boarding actions would be mostly small arms and close combat to keep damage to a minimum.

There’s also the Mass Effect option, for that matter: small arms that are largely comparable to today’s weapons, but with a selection of high-tech ammunition; personal shields that can stop bullets, but collapse under sustained gunfire; melee weapons that are energized and extremely potent if you can get in close.

Regardless of which one we go with, my preference would be a level of technology where both guns and melee weapons are equally viable choices for head-on combat (presumably because armour or shields somewhat diminish the lethality of ranged weapons).   

See, these are reasons why I'm asking those questions.  :D

[Niferbelle]

Serious question though...

We're going to play in a space-faring world with dozens, possibly hundreds of planets.

What kind of weapons are we talking about?  Something like Star Wars, with vibro-weapons, energy weapons, laser guns, force shields, etc?

Something like Warhammer 40k?  Gothic-decorated chainswords blessed by bald, blind priests and carried by dead babies with mechanical wings and an unnatural smile?

Or are we going somewhere different, like Dune?  Big, chunky personal shields that protect from blaster fire but is useless against slow weapons like knives?

Or...  Sticks and stones?

I'm tempted to say sticks and stones just because it would be amusing :P

Big question, GMC. And an important one.

There are a wide variety of weapons. There is a wide variety of armor. There are slug throwers, laser pistols, sonic weapons, 'microwave cannons' (great for slaughtering large groups hard for anyone to get their hands on outside the Imperial House). Melee weapons are just as varied, however, most spacefarers when aboard ship carry just plain old fashioned blades for one reason. Ships can only travel long distances via wormhole which can be a tricky business. A ship's hull has to be very carefully designed and constructed to withstand the forces in a wormhole. It requires a balance of physical, chemical, and harmonic properties that must remain intact. If enough damage is done to the hull, the ship will not be able to jump. Therefore the crew of a ship would never pull a ranged weapon of any sort inside their ship except as a very last resort. Of course a boarding party that doesn't care about the integrity of the ship will bring anything they want, however, in the close quarters of a ship, smaller, more accurate weapons seem to perform the best.

As for armor, there is no one armor that will stop everything. The trick is knowing how to 'dress for the occasion'. There are personal force fields as well which will stop any attack to a point (as in Dune, a close attack with a melee weapon can get through though in my version, it takes some strength to force it through -- an average person with no physical conditioning would lack the strength to force a blade through the field). The problem with force fields is that they require so much energy that they are always finite. How long they last depends on the quality of the generator and the strength of the attack. A cheap field might only stop one or two attacks before it needs to be recharged, the most expensive ones might last a 12-15 or so of your average attack. There is no science to when the shield will fail however -- more powerful weapons will drain it faster. Armor, on the other hand, will condition to ameliorate damage as long as it's physically intact but it doesn't provide the total protection a shield does. As a player, what this means for you is that when you describe your character putting on armor, please include a brief mention of the kind of damage it's meant to protect from (or if you'd rather not reveal that to everyone, you can just PM the GMs). If your character has a field and enters into fight, we will try to give you an idea what your remaining field charges are as it proceeds (unless your character isn't versed in such things and we don't think he/she would have any idea what the status is).

Pride is very much a factor in the weapon that a man carries. Elaborate designs are common with an emphasis coming up with something unique. Some emphasis things that look intimidating while others are designed to be hidden by looking like something else. You can find just about anything at all. We only ask if you're thinking of anything too overly powerful, you PM us first so we can have some input into it.

I hope all this makes sense!

Oooooo, a Niferbelle game?  How very interesting....

*peruses*

Swashie! Yay!

Aiden, loving all the Chainer information coming out.

[Giantmutantcrab]

I'm tempted to say sticks and stones just because it would be amusing :P

Big question, GMC. And an important one.

There are a wide variety of weapons. There is a wide variety of armor. There are slug throwers, laser pistols, sonic weapons, 'microwave cannons' (great for slaughtering large groups hard for anyone to get their hands on outside the Imperial House). Melee weapons are just as varied, however, most spacefarers when aboard ship carry just plain old fashioned blades for one reason. Ships can only travel long distances via wormhole which can be a tricky business. A ship's hull has to be very carefully designed and constructed to withstand the forces in a wormhole. It requires a balance of physical, chemical, and harmonic properties that must remain intact. If enough damage is done to the hull, the ship will not be able to jump. Therefore the crew of a ship would never pull a ranged weapon of any sort inside their ship except as a very last resort. Of course a boarding party that doesn't care about the integrity of the ship will bring anything they want, however, in the close quarters of a ship, smaller, more accurate weapons seem to perform the best.

As for armor, there is no one armor that will stop everything. The trick is knowing how to 'dress for the occasion'. There are personal force fields as well which will stop any attack to a point (as in Dune, a close attack with a melee weapon can get through though in my version, it takes some strength to force it through -- an average person with no physical conditioning would lack the strength to force a blade through the field). The problem with force fields is that they require so much energy that they are always finite. How long they last depends on the quality of the generator and the strength of the attack. A cheap field might only stop one or two attacks before it needs to be recharged, the most expensive ones might last a 12-15 or so of your average attack. There is no science to when the shield will fail however -- more powerful weapons will drain it faster. Armor, on the other hand, will condition to ameliorate damage as long as it's physically intact but it doesn't provide the total protection a shield does. As a player, what this means for you is that when you describe your character putting on armor, please include a brief mention of the kind of damage it's meant to protect from (or if you'd rather not reveal that to everyone, you can just PM the GMs). If your character has a field and enters into fight, we will try to give you an idea what your remaining field charges are as it proceeds (unless your character isn't versed in such things and we don't think he/she would have any idea what the status is).

Pride is very much a factor in the weapon that a man carries. Elaborate designs are common with an emphasis coming up with something unique. Some emphasis things that look intimidating while others are designed to be hidden by looking like something else. You can find just about anything at all. We only ask if you're thinking of anything too overly powerful, you PM us first so we can have some input into it.

I hope all this makes sense!

So a nice, round, fist-sized rock for throwing and a branch for in-close combat.

My character is set to take over the Empire, one slow-moving, unarmed and unarmored opponent at a time.

*confident nod*

Let's do this.

[Niferbelle]

I know I have a few sheets outstanding and I don't want to rush anyone. Would there be interest in me opening a thread where people with approved characters can post little vignettes about their characters or act out scenes that occurred before the start of the game?

[Ontan]

100% yes. I really wanted to write a little prelude for Jalen ;)

[Giantmutantcrab]

...

...

...ohcrap

...ohcrapitotallyforgot

o___o

[Cyrano Johnson]

I know I have a few sheets outstanding and I don't want to rush anyone. Would there be interest in me opening a thread where people with approved characters can post little vignettes about their characters or act out scenes that occurred before the start of the game?

Sure, I'm in.

[Cyrano Johnson]

So a nice, round, fist-sized rock for throwing and a branch for in-close combat.

My character is set to take over the Empire, one slow-moving, unarmed and unarmored opponent at a time.

*confident nod*

Let's do this.

That's the spirit!  XD

[Giantmutantcrab]

That's the spirit!  XD

So long as no one is attacking him or hindering him in any significant way, he will rule over all. :)

[Flower]

Is there a deadline for character sheets? If so, when? Thanks! :)

[Giantmutantcrab]

Is there a deadline for character sheets? If so, when? Thanks! :)

Yeah...

...and if someone could be nice enough to remind me where I can actually find the character sheets and such, that would also be cool.

So I could...  y'know...  actually fill out a character sheet.

.__.

[Crash]

Yeah...

...and if someone could be nice enough to remind me where I can actually find the character sheets and such, that would also be cool.

So I could...  y'know...  actually fill out a character sheet.

.__.

Third post of this thread.  ;)

[Giantmutantcrab]

Thank you sir!

[Niferbelle]

Is there a deadline for character sheets? If so, when? Thanks! :)

No, no particular deadline. I would like to get started in the next couple weeks though :)


All right, I have a couple of things. First, I did start a thread for scenes that take place prior to the game beginning. It's called Out of Time.

Also, I added a bit about how time will be measured in this game into the FAQs on the game information page. I'm going to repost it here since it's new. Hopefully it won't be too complicated.

A day is 25 hours. Weeks are ten days. Months are 5 weeks long. There are ten months in a year. The current year count started over with Martius the Great’s ascendency to the throne. It is currently the year 989. People mark the year numerically, there aren’t any official names of the months although some Houses might have names they use that are particular to them.

The format for recording dates is as follows: DAY.MONTH.YEAR. The official starting date of the game will be the first day of the 9th month in the year 989. That would be written as 1.9.989. The time is recorded as military time, i.e. 3 am would be 03:00; 10:30 pm would be 22:30, etc. Remember, this time has been standardized so what time of day it is will vary from system to system, month to month, etc. Date won’t coincide with season.

You will note, that a year is longer in this scenario. Medical technology has improved so much that the human lifespan is longer, aging is slowed – therefore a twenty year old in this universe is roughly the equivalent of a twenty year old in our universe so no need to worry about shuffling around the ages of your characters ;)


Finally, I am going out of town for Thanksgiving. I may be in and out until this evening but will be absent for a couple days after that.

[Giantmutantcrab]

No, no particular deadline. I would like to get started in the next couple weeks though :)


All right, I have a couple of things. First, I did start a thread for scenes that take place prior to the game beginning. It's called Out of Time.

Also, I added a bit about how time will be measured in this game into the FAQs on the game information page. I'm going to repost it here since it's new. Hopefully it won't be too complicated.

A day is 25 hours. Weeks are ten days. Months are 5 weeks long. There are ten months in a year. The current year count started over with Martius the Great’s ascendency to the throne. It is currently the year 989. People mark the year numerically, there aren’t any official names of the months although some Houses might have names they use that are particular to them.

The format for recording dates is as follows: DAY.MONTH.YEAR. The official starting date of the game will be the first day of the 9th month in the year 989. That would be written as 1.9.989. The time is recorded as military time, i.e. 3 am would be 03:00; 10:30 pm would be 22:30, etc. Remember, this time has been standardized so what time of day it is will vary from system to system, month to month, etc. Date won’t coincide with season.

You will note, that a year is longer in this scenario. Medical technology has improved so much that the human lifespan is longer, aging is slowed – therefore a twenty year old in this universe is roughly the equivalent of a twenty year old in our universe so no need to worry about shuffling around the ages of your characters ;)


Finally, I am going out of town for Thanksgiving. I may be in and out until this evening but will be absent for a couple days after that.

How much is aging slowed?

Would, for example, a 90-year old Emperor still possess the vigor and strength of a fit man in his 40's?  Would be like a youthful 30-something?  Or did the docs mess things up because he's a meanie and no one likes him?  :P

Do the medical tech also allows for "modifications" of the body?  Not like, adding arms or legs but being able to shape a physical body to the liking of the "wearer"?  Build up muscle mass and tear down fat, for a price?  Be as flexible as a gymnist for the low cost of 9999.99 in one session?  Have the body of a fitness guru without spending a single minute in the gym?

[Ontan]

… And that’s two mammoth posts in the Out of Time thread.

I mentioned it in the thread itself, but I’ll repeat it again here: my usual posts won’t be even remotely close to being so long, and what you’re seeing there is more akin to a short story than a roleplay post. Hopefully it’s of some passing interest, though ;)

[CShades]

How much is aging slowed?

Would, for example, a 90-year old Emperor still possess the vigor and strength of a fit man in his 40's?  Would be like a youthful 30-something?  Or did the docs mess things up because he's a meanie and no one likes him?  :P

Do the medical tech also allows for "modifications" of the body?  Not like, adding arms or legs but being able to shape a physical body to the liking of the "wearer"?  Build up muscle mass and tear down fat, for a price?  Be as flexible as a gymnist for the low cost of 9999.99 in one session?  Have the body of a fitness guru without spending a single minute in the gym?

If I read it right, a 90 year old Indigo emperor would have lived aproximately 123 Earth years but have the physical characteristics of a 90year old instead of being a ball of dust, if that makes sense -- and a 30 year old would look 30 but have lived the equivalent time to about 41 Earth years, based on a simple 500day to 365day/year calculation. I may be completely off the mark, it's late :P

[CShades]

And I failed to account for the extra 500 hours <,<
I know, my nerd is showing. Soooo it's a 521 days to 365 days conversion, more or less -- not that it makes much of a difference on the whole but at least might let me sleep instead of numberizing all night :P

So, 90 Indigo years = 128 Earth years
      30 Indigo years = 43 Earth years

[Giantmutantcrab]

And I failed to account for the extra 500 hours <,<
I know, my nerd is showing. Soooo it's a 521 days to 365 days conversion, more or less -- not that it makes much of a difference on the whole but at least might let me sleep instead of numberizing all night :P

So, 90 Indigo years = 128 Earth years
      30 Indigo years = 43 Earth years

Umm... My question concerned medical advances... :|

[Ontan]

Umm... My question concerned medical advances... :|

Here's what we've got so far:

Regarding aging, etc.
Indigo years run slower, but advances in medicine mean that people age much better. These two forces cancel each other out. Putting everything in Earth terms, the Emperor is actually 128 years of age, but he’s as healthy as a 90 year old. My character, Jalen, is 30 Indigo years: that means he’s actually 43 Earth years, but by our standards he’s as healthy as a 30 year old.
(From Nifer’s above post, and CShades's clever calculations)

Regarding genetic modification
Advanced medicine and genetics can be used for therapy (healing, regrowing limbs, slowing aging) and reproduction (fertility boosters, and biogenetics to allow same-sex procreation). However, it’s strictly forbidden to use genetic modification for any other purpose, especially making improvements to one’s body. Going from the background info, House Novari’s previous Duke tried to give himself some genetic enhancements on the sly, and when he was discovered, the entire House was catastrophically gutted as punishment.

The only big exception are GELs, who aren’t seen as people: they’re viewed as laboratory products, and are distinctly marked as being non-human. Genetic modification can be as aggressive as the manufacturer wishes.
(From the info thread, especially GELS and House Novari info)

Non-genetic / non-mechanical modifications
There’s currently no information on non-genetic enhancements, such as steroids, hormone treatment, and so on. On a purely speculative note, it’s probably restricted at some level: the available information suggests that Indigo culture places extremely strict limits on anything that would grant an ‘unnatural’ advantage, namely mechanical engineering and genetic modification. Extrapolating this a little, it’s probably okay to take a muscle building drug to counteract the effects of a wasting disease, but it’s not okay to take the same drug in the pursuit of superhuman strength.

There’s also nothing on ‘convenience’ boosters like you mentioned – something that might dissolve fat, or boost a couch potato to the level of a professional athlete without all the hard work. It’s probably not a huge deal either way: even if one cheats to get the body of an athlete or commando, they’re not going to have the training, muscle memory, or psychological conditioning to match someone who’s done it the hard way. At most, it’d probably just ameliorate the effects of a few bad habits, which isn’t so far removed from conventional medicine.

Again, the last section is pure speculation. Consult your nearest GM for the official answer!

[Giantmutantcrab]

Hmm.

Maybe my question is too vague.

The question was regarding the slowing of the whole aging process.  I understand that mathematically, the Emperor (for example) is a 90-year old man that would have 128 years in Earth time.  And I also understand that there are medical tech that would allow the repairing of limbs, the healing of illness (thus allowing people to live longer, healthier lives).  My question was more of a HOW MUCH slower does someone age?

Is the Emperor looking and moving like a 90-year old man?  Or does he still retain some of the vigor and strength of a man decades younger?  That was my question.  Can a woman stretch on in years yet still remain "forever young", looking and feeling like a young lass in her twenties?

[Amelita]

I think from what information we have now, yes.A 90 year old man in Indigo years moves and looks like a 90 year old man in Earth years.

[Giantmutantcrab]

I think from what information we have now, yes.A 90 year old man in Indigo years moves and looks like a 90 year old man in Earth years.

Sweet.

So we just need someone to shove that old, nasty Emperor down a flight of stairs and he'll snap like an uncooked pack of spaghetti.

^__^

[Outlaw Fallen]

So, as awesome as this group is, and as much as I love this concept, I just can't seem to get my muse going for a character. I'm sorry, guys, but I think I have to back out.

[Giantmutantcrab]

So, as awesome as this group is, and as much as I love this concept, I just can't seem to get my muse going for a character. I'm sorry, guys, but I think I have to back out.

Aww.

I'm sorry to hear that.  If ever your inspiration comes back, hurry back!  We'll keep your seat warm.

[CShades]

So, as awesome as this group is, and as much as I love this concept, I just can't seem to get my muse going for a character. I'm sorry, guys, but I think I have to back out.

Muse can be fickle, I knows. Sometimes all it takes is a connection or distance; maybe once you step back a little it will come on its own!

[Flower]

Yep! Sometimes it helps to preplan with people as well. I am trying to decide if I want to tweak my house a little. I can't decide if I want to play the leader or her daughter. If I play her daughter, I would need to bump up the mother's age by quite a lot and make what happened a bit less current news. >.>

[Giantmutantcrab]

Ohcrap

Gottagomakethatsheet

Ohsheet

:D

[CShades]

Yep! Sometimes it helps to preplan with people as well. I am trying to decide if I want to tweak my house a little. I can't decide if I want to play the leader or her daughter. If I play her daughter, I would need to bump up the mother's age by quite a lot and make what happened a bit less current news. >.>

So curious!

I just went look and Prawomir looks quite fun~

Also remember the year length difference, so theoretically she could have had them at a young age - I think.

[Ontan]

In case anyone’s interested, here’s the current character breakdown:

Character	Faction	Primary Skill	Character Concept
Crown Princess Azurine Udel Xavendir	House Xavendir	Deception / Manipulation	The Emperor’s oppressed eldest daughter, who is looking to establish a powerbase of her own.
*	*	*	*
Princess Hana Atalaryk	House Atalaryk	Spacefaring	An unmarried princess, and secretly a skilled commando.
Princess Illyana Atalaryk	House Atalaryk	Intelligence / Diplomacy	An acknowledged bastard daughter, who’s turned her interests to information gathering.
Princess Rhebekka Emanuelle Atalaryk	House Atalaryk	Space Combat	A married Lady and Naval Officer, with a flair for diplomacy and combat.
Duke Tarrek El'Essen Atalaryk	House Atalaryk	Strategy	The incumbent Duke of his House, and a brilliant commander in his own right.
*	*	*	*
Princess Meleida Broedin	House Broedin	Trade Expert	The Duke’s beloved daughter, who’s fated to be used as a political bargaining chip in order to secure her House’s future.
*	*	*	*
Prince Gallatin Dhaaz	House Dhaaz	Scholar	A philosopher-politician, with an endless thirst for knowledge and an extensive web of correspondents.
*	*	*	*
Prince Jalen Novari	House Novari	Adventurer	The notorious rake of House Novari, famed for his adventuring exploits and wild parties.
*	*	*	*
Diarivo Kairitsu Sundosa-Zurun	House Rovona	Disguise	A second-generation Orzorone exile; publically a skilled performer and privately an agent of espionage.
*	*	*	*
Martius	Independent – GEL Rebels	Tactics (ground and ship)	The enigmatic GEL liberator stirring up unrest throughout the Empire.

[Giantmutantcrab]

Wow, there are quite a few good-looking, socially acceptable nobles who, at a moment's notice, pull out a red bandana, tie that around their foreheads and go into commando mode.

Sweet.  :P

[Aiden]

You just discovered house chainer unofficial motto

[Caela]

Gotta look out for those Atalaryk kids! They could cause all kinds of trouble. ~smiles innocently~

[CShades]

The border lands remember :P

[Giantmutantcrab]

Remember House Orzorone,
for they have not forgotten.

[Caela]

The border lands remember :P

All that space and quiet to plot and scheme...and a variety of skills throughout the siblings backgrounds to ferret out their father's killer...

[CShades]

It was uncle Fester and cousin Itt. Everybody knows this.

[Giantmutantcrab]

Cousin Itt?

With the bowtie and bowler hat?

:(

But he seemed so nice...

[Flower]

Working on this sheet today! I decided to play the other but push the death (-cough- murder) of the Duke back a few years.

I swear I can't find a face claim. I thought I liked the one picked originally but now I'm rethinking it.



PLAYER NAME: Flower
CHARACTER NAME: Ghalia Prawomir
AFFILIATED HOUSE: Prawomir
CONCEPT: Blessed and Beloved Mother of the People | Mouthpiece of the Goddess
PRIMARY SKILL: Beguilement
SECONDARY SKILLS (3-5):
Forgery
Resilient (Physically mostly but also Mentally)
Persuasion
Communication (Both Oral and Written | Public and Private)
Knowledgeable (History, Religion, Politics, Languages)

AGE: 35
DESCRIPTION: There is nothing special about Ghalia, at least not in a physical sense. She stands at a mere 5’4, shorter than most women, and has hair of ordinary color, the deepest of browns. Or as her dearly departed husband would say, the color of dirt which showed her real worth. However, what she lacks in appearances, she has been blessed with a mind sharper than any assassin’s blade. Once, in her younger years, when she was not troubled by the heavy responsibility of her position or the constant battle for security for her children, she smiled more often. However, it had become a rare commodity only witnessed by her twins. Due to the recent financial struggles, her ability to indulge in the finer goods in life has been curbed but she still manages to ensure her children and those who follow her do not appear like paupers.

PERSONALITY AND MANNERISMS:

Compassionate | Guarded | Protective | Scheming | Cunning | Deceitful

Despite her unreadable exterior, Ghalia is actually a compassionate woman. Those closest to her have witnessed her generosity, not only to those of her blood and friends, but also the poor who come to pay homage to the goddess who had granted her the ability to hold a position no other woman dreamed possible. She gives to those who she deems in deed freely and attempts to help them better their lives. On the other side, her past has caused her to be extremely protective to the point where she has perhaps pushed some people away who would have been beneficial to her cause. Trust does not come easily for her, especially with the secrets found in her world. The recent punishment has caused her to become even bitterer about her fate. For that, she is constantly on the lookout for an opportunity to make everyone regret mistreating her children, her people, and her.


PERSONAL HISTORY: Born to one of the lesser nobles, Ghalia lived a fairly laidback life, where her father did not beat her and her mother allowed her to run wild during her youth. It was only when she reached puberty did her life become more constrained as her parents concerned themselves with her future. She was taught the importance of holding her tongue while keeping her mind agile. As she entered the cusps of womanhood, her parents had secured her a match and a marriage was rumored to be on the horizon.

However, all that changed with one act of rebellion.

She had fancied a young farmer’s lad, one whom she had grown up with. It had been her intent to run away with him to a planet where they would be accepted and no questions of their origins would be asked of them. Their planning was for naught. Before they could board a ship and escape, they were captured by her father’s agents. Her love, one and only, was beaten to the point of death with a cane and she was forced to watch every second of it. Her father almost believed she was beyond marriage as everyone saw her as used goods and could not be sure if she still carried another’s child. When they originally learned of Fadil’s interest in their daughter, they believed it to be a harsh jest.

It was not.

Ghalia was married to Fadil in the dead of winter. Those who attended only did so out of respect for his family rather than hers. The affair was grand, flowers were imported from foreign planets while the meats were flavored to perfection. Ghalia actually thought herself fortunate as her husband was both handsome and influential even if he was second in line to his own brother, who was fated to rule the planet upon their father’s death. It was only during their marriage night was her misconception corrected.

Fadil had heard of her through other’s mouths who laughed at her expense. Where others found amusement, he found a challenge. He did not seek to marry someone of weak will. Instead, he sought the enjoyment of a partner he could break and mold into something of his own making. Honestly, it was the former he took the most enjoyment out of.

In his own sick way, Fadil loved her despite his strategic beatings and careful concealment of his true character. Ghalia’s attempts to deny him a child, through any means, failed. When she learned of her pregnancy, she cried rather than rejoiced like most. It did not help that most of her pregnancy was spent bedbound and sicker than a dog. Her labor was a painful and long ordeal but in the end her self-loathing faded when she looked into the faces of her twins, Djamel and Dahlia. A boy and girl. Fadil made it obvious which one he preferred. Djamel was spoiled rotten by his father while their daughter sat ignored.

During this time, when the twins were no more than two, Fadil’s brother passed away and left her husband in power. He became even drunk on his own power. No one was wiser to the fact than his wife who endured her husband when the mask of courtesy and charming fell from his face to reveal the beast underneath.

It was only over dinner when Fadil brought up the notion of sending Dhalia away did Ghalia become determined to ensure the protection of both of her children. In her desperation, she reached out to House Rovona and made promises, promises she now regrets, to ensure her husband never lived to fulfil his promise. At first, she thought they ignore her pleas or turn her in for daring to speak such a request.

They didn’t.

Fadil was murdered and Ghalia was left behind to try and pick up the pieces.


CHARACTER’S AMBITIONS: To bring her house of the the shadows and grow in power, ensure the survivable of her children, ensure no one dethrones her

RUMORS: She murdered her husband.

She's impoverished.

[Giantmutantcrab]

I have a very stupid question.

Should we write everything concerning our character in our character sheet?  Like, their dark secrets and the real stuff they do, etc?

[Flower]

I don't think you need to write everything. Character sheets, in my opinion, are just a way to jumpstart the muse and let the GM know that you don't plan to have anything to crazy in their personal background.

[CShades]

If there are things you'd like the GMs to know but you don't necessarily want everyone else to, it is usually a good practice to add them in an extra note to the gms outside of the sheet. Always worked for me!

[Giantmutantcrab]

Oh, well, I don't really mind that other players know stuff about my character.  I was just wondering if everyone was going to plainly state what their characters are, who they plan to assassinate / overthrow, etc.

I'm not super experienced in group RPs so I'm not sure how to proceed correctly.

[Caela]

I usually put most of that information in my sheet unless there is something in particular that needs to be kept just between me and the GMs.

[Giantmutantcrab]

All right-y, I will keep that in mind.

Thank you!

[Flower]

Also, I changed Ghalia's face claim to Jessica Stam. >.>

[Giantmutantcrab]

She's purdy.

[Niferbelle]

I'm back! May take me a bit to sort through my PMs, etc.

That Jessica Stam picture is awesome, Flower.

Crabby, I wouldn't put all your secrets on your character sheet but the GMs do want to know those things, so I would post that information as a separate note with your character sheet. We won't post that information with your sheet.

Ontan and Cyrano, loving the posts in the Out of Tome thread. I'm so excited about the writer's in this game.

Finally, kc has decided to withdraw from the game. I'll be adjusting things around to reflect this. I wish him luck wherever he settles in next.

I think from what information we have now, yes.A 90 year old man in Indigo years moves and looks like a 90 year old man in Earth years.

That's correct, Ames. I just don't want to overthink and get so technical that people have to do algebra to figure out the age equivalents >.> And after al, it isn't crap science to say that the human life span would be longer after millennia so I see it as kind of a win-win.

Oh, and Ontan, I love the chart your made. Totally awesome. And I love that everyone's first skill wasn't combat oriented.

[Flower]

Is there an OOC  thread somewhere or am I just blind?

[Niferbelle]

No, I hadn't put one up yet. I will probably do that soon and let everyone know :)

[Giantmutantcrab]

So we have an old, decrepit, evil, cruel, selfish Emperor who has wild mood swings, is on Death's door and has been able to pretty much piss everyone off.

<.<

>.>

...Am I the only one who wants to push him down a flight of stairs or add arsenic to his applesauce?

[Flower]

-giggles-

[Giantmutantcrab]

-giggles-

Flower, thank you for putting your character sheet up.  It...  Gives me an idea on how to build it so it makes sense.

[Flower]

You're welcome. <3 I just put it there so that I would not have to continuously quote it (within my pms) in order to continue adding to the sheet throughout the day.

[CurvyKitten]

I'm working on my sheet, but I'm having the hardest time finding a face that works. Mrr...pokes the internet~ work darn you, gives me what I'm looking for!

[Niferbelle]

Do you want some of us to help you hunt?

[Flower]

I'm working on my sheet, but I'm having the hardest time finding a face that works. Mrr...pokes the internet~ work darn you, gives me what I'm looking for!

Try here.

[CurvyKitten]

I am going to be playing a Novari, and wanted to find something that works with what is already established. Thinking their father probably started with dark hair that went white and maybe their mother had some red, to account for the auburn hair the boys had. And she could have anything in between. At first I thought maybe, Gatto Nero Katzenkunst but I feel iffy on her LOL But nothing else has really met what i see the muse as you know. Than again maybe I'm just thinking to much and being picky :P

[Giantmutantcrab]

I am going to be playing a Novari, and wanted to find something that works with what is already established. Thinking their father probably started with dark hair that went white and maybe their mother had some red, to account for the auburn hair the boys had. And she could have anything in between. At first I thought maybe, Gatto Nero Katzenkunst but I feel iffy on her LOL But nothing else has really met what i see the muse as you know. Than again maybe I'm just thinking to much and being picky :P

Oh.

Oh shoot.

Umm...

*raises hand*

The person I chose to be my character's face and body is Indian.  He is going to be a Novari.  Meaning he has dark hair, dark eyes and dark skin.  Well, darker than your average caucasian, anyway.  Is this a problem?

[Niferbelle]

I am going to be playing a Novari, and wanted to find something that works with what is already established. Thinking their father probably started with dark hair that went white and maybe their mother had some red, to account for the auburn hair the boys had. And she could have anything in between. At first I thought maybe, Gatto Nero Katzenkunst but I feel iffy on her LOL But nothing else has really met what i see the muse as you know. Than again maybe I'm just thinking to much and being picky :P

I just PM'd GMC about this :)

Duke Novari is gay and his first spouse was a male (the one he had children with). In these cases what they do is take genetic material from both husbands and use a surrogate mother to carry the child (they could just grow a child in the lab from an ovum but that's considered gauche). The twins would have the same mother but the Princess and a second son could both have different mothers -- that is, there could be three different mothers which would account for differences in the children's appearances. I will make the call that the Duke has dark hair before it turned white and that the first husband had auburn to red hair. GMC, your darker skin could be from your mother. I think this can work out all right. 

By the way, Curvy, I think Gatto Nero Katzenkunst would be excellent.

[Kokaine]

Oooh! If people are wanting to help with face claims I'd love some help >.>

She needs to be urm... Caucasian and look like she's 20 - 30 and err... not like you could push her over with a stick *cough*

She will be a Chainer, if that helps ::)

[Giantmutantcrab]

Oooh! If people are wanting to help with face claims I'd love some help >.>

She needs to be urm... Caucasian and look like she's 20 - 30 and err... not like you could push her over with a stick *cough*

She will be a Chainer, if that helps ::)

Ronda Rousey?

http://celebrityhive.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/RondaRouseyFF703.jpg

28 years old, caucasian, can kick ass with the best of them?

[Caela]

Oooh! If people are wanting to help with face claims I'd love some help >.>

She needs to be urm... Caucasian and look like she's 20 - 30 and err... not like you could push her over with a stick *cough*

She will be a Chainer, if that helps ::)

Adriene Padalicki

Anna Silk

Cote dePablo

Jaimie Alexander

Just a few thoughts.

[Kokaine]

Ronda Rousey?

http://celebrityhive.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/RondaRouseyFF703.jpg

28 years old, caucasian, can kick ass with the best of them?

*is getting flashbacks of Ilona* xD

She's in my possibles list though I don't see her blending in as a "proper daughter" like even for pretend, lol

[Kokaine]

Adriene Padalicki

Anna Silk

Cote dePablo

Jaimie Alexander

Just a few thoughts.

Ooh, hadn't considered Anna Silk... or Cote.
Adrianne was like the very first one I considered but since I was intending to play Mockingbird elsewhere originally I crossed her off the list... >. <

Hmmm... I shall ponder a bit more while at work. Thanks for the jumpstart GMC and Caela.

[Caela]

Anytime Koka...feel free to look through the other folders in the photobucket account for ideas...those were just the first four that came to mind with the whole, not looking like she could be blown over comment lol.

[Flower]

Here's a perfect face claim for you, Koka.

[Crash]

Here's a perfect face claim for you, Koka.

*snicker*

[Kokaine]

Here's a perfect face claim for you, Koka.

Careful or she just might show up in game to stalk your character >.>

[Ontan]

I am going to be playing a Novari, and wanted to find something that works with what is already established.

The person I chose to be my character's face and body is Indian.  He is going to be a Novari.  Meaning he has dark hair, dark eyes and dark skin.  Well, darker than your average caucasian, anyway.  Is this a problem?

More Novari!

Curvy and I have just been ironing out a few details regarding House Novari's family structure. I'll shoot you a PM soon. For now, though, can I ask what relation you were thinking of playing? Younger brother, distant cousin, etc. There's no right or wrong answer, of course, I'm just curious.

[Niferbelle]

Not to speak for GMC, but I think he's decided on playing a cousin -- a son of the Duke's younger brother who married a Lady of Orozone.

I vote for Jaime Alexander, Koka. I love her eyes. I think she looks even cooler with short hair.

[Emjay]

Not to speak for GMC, but I think he's decided on playing a cousin -- a son of the Duke's younger brother who married a Lady of Orozone.

I vote for Jaime Alexander, Koka. I love her eyes. I think she looks even cooler with short hair.

I agree with Niferbelle on this one. Jaime Alexander really looks like a Chainer with that short hair.

[Cyrano Johnson]

Whew! My last post (for now) in the OOT thread is up. Bit of a sprint, but strike when the muse is hot. Thanks Flower for letting me play a bit in the Prawomir sandbox.

I'm enjoying watching the game evolve. Nice work with Jalen, Ontan, it looks like he'll be rollicking good fun!

Great to see you back, Niferbelle!

[Aiden]

Hah, I love how Emjay pictures the Chainers already. I wonder if that has anything to do with them being created by me. (also, she ain't wrong) If she wasn't so damn skinny, I am really digging Krysten Ritter, But that was since "Dont Trust the B in apt 23."

[Ontan]

Speaking of Chainers, I was hoping to give Jalen a few connections to their House. I figured he’d probably get along with a bunch of troublemakers, rebels, and borderline insane comet miners… but just in case, I wanted to run it by everyone (particularly Aiden and Kokaine) before mentioning it in-game.

In keeping with the Chainer’s habit of distancing themselves from the other Houses, Jalen’s history with them would be as non-political as such visits can possibly get: he drops by now and then in his capacity as rake and an adventurer, rather than anything to do with official House Novari business. Following leads for his next expedition, indulging in the dubious pleasures of Deadman’s Port, and refitting his ship with whatever 'exotic' equipment they have to offer would be his main reasons for dropping by, but he wouldn’t be adverse to joining them on the occasional foray if there was ever occasion to collaborate.

Let me know what you think!

[Giantmutantcrab]

Ontan, if it is ok with you, I will write a little something about my character and Jalen and PM that to you to see if it is ok, ok?

Ok.

:)

[Ontan]

Ok.

[Kokaine]

I think I will roll with Jaimie Alexander and see what I come up with. She should be sent in either late today or tomorrow!

As far as connections, over all house connections I'll leave to Aiden but I'm open to connections for the Lady Jeska (and/or her alter ego :P). I kind of wanted her to have someone close who knew what all she got up to and either came right along for shenanigans or just helped cover for her but I think there have been a ton of requests for companions and the like so I'll leave it alone for now.

[Niferbelle]

Whew! My last post (for now) in the OOT thread is up. Bit of a sprint, but strike when the muse is hot. Thanks Flower for letting me play a bit in the Prawomir sandbox.

I'm enjoying watching the game evolve. Nice work with Jalen, Ontan, it looks like he'll be rollicking good fun!

Great to see you back, Niferbelle!

Really well done, Cyrano. I was impressed with all of it, but especially the way you captured the atmosphere and the culture of the place.

Ontan and Aiden, I still think the youngest Chainer guy would be a good acquaintance for Jalen.

ANNOUNCEMENT!

I have decided to let people have one secondary character or NPC. You do not have to create one but the option is there. The NPC will be treated a bit differently. When it comes to your main character, I will be plotting for them and trying to bring them into the big storylines in some way or another. If you create an NPC, they will not have the same focus. They would be primarily for RP purposes, for furthering politics in the House, for reacting to the events that occur. This is not to say if they happen to stumble into something they can't get involved but they won't be getting the same amount of attention from the GMs. Does this make sense? Same as before, if you get an idea, please PM Aiden and I before tackling the sheet so we can avoid any stepping on toes ;)

[Caela]

I think I will roll with Jaimie Alexander and see what I come up with. She should be sent in either late today or tomorrow!

As far as connections, over all house connections I'll leave to Aiden but I'm open to connections for the Lady Jeska (and/or her alter ego :P). I kind of wanted her to have someone close who knew what all she got up to and either came right along for shenanigans or just helped cover for her but I think there have been a ton of requests for companions and the like so I'll leave it alone for now.

Just a thought for connections Koka, will your girl have fostered somewhere, or been raised pretty much solely on Chainer space stations? Fostering is a good way to make connections outside your own house. :)

[Aiden]

She was sent to Guild Guarra  (Military) at age 15, until 19, after or before that, she was able to do what she wished. More so after 19, when she has more access to ships and such.

Koka, you can change the name also btw, Jeska was when she was a NPC, I am almost down with the extra info on House Chainer, I sorta got away.

Those awaiting connections will be contacted as well when I make my PC Chainer.

[Aiden]

Volcas - Home of Guid Ferra

Titan's Bane - The Largest Platform
within Chainer Space

House Chainer doesn't have other Houses under its banner like others in the Empire. They are broken down into "guilds". Guilds are mini factions under Chainer rule that specialize in different skills.

Guild Terra - Are the guild of Miners and Engineers who are responsible for mining comets, planets and anything they can land a "Suicide" jet on. Currently a Chainer holds rank as Head Engineer.

Guild Ferra - "The Foundry"- This guild is a collective of Welders, Smelters and Iron Workers who take the rich ore from the Terra guild and smelt it down into the rich Steel that will eventually be used by the Vulcan Guild.

Guild Vulcan - "The Smiths" This guild are the elite craftsman who take Steel and turn it into plating for space ships and other projects.

Guild Chanaan - The Merchants and traders of House Chainer, typically the most intelligent (education wise), this guild is responsible for keeping the Economy of House Chainer in the black and its trades and alliances healthy. Duke Chainer sits on the board of the Chanaan Guild but he is wise to trust his advisers in the economical matters of his house.

Guild Guarra - The Military of House Chainer, Duke Chainer is the acting Commander but has relinquished all power to his eldest son and current Admiral of the Fleet.

Smaller Guilds - Arts, Music, Drama etc (Smaller guilds, a "renaissance" is blossoming within House Chainer as cultures from other houses linger and are adopted, creating a artistic movement within its people.)

---

Expectations of Women, Children and the Elderly -

All children are expected to serve Guild Guarra if capable for a minimum of 4 years entering their 15th year. In this time, their skills and abilities are sorted into the others guilds or are given the option to make the military a life long career. Men and Women train side by side, equal in every way despite the laws of the empire.

Women who chose to raises family are given the full support of the empire and given other jobs, from medical to administrative duties. The elderly or disabled also serve in these positions if capable.

----

"High Castle"  Chainer's Royal Palace

Deadman's Port

Chainer land holds various planets with very little hospitable space, massive cities stand in their place but the majority of the population live and thrive on the growing space platforms that orbit the various planets. Chainer's Castle is a Platform/Orbital Station that serves as a military station.  The various Space Platforms, Ships and Space Stations of House Chainer are always moving within their air space/territory. The volatile part of the galaxy has a constant influx of comets and meteor showers which requires constant vigilance. While other houses may boast pilots and/or navigators.  Pilots from House Chainer are known to be the most "insane" or "damn right stupid" due to their reputation of steering into danger and never away from it.

"Piracy, Smuggling and all the fun things in life"

Piracy and Smuggling is a way of life in the empire, more so for House Chainer. While they do not officially endorse these criminal acts, House Chainer has been known to look in the other direction. Smugglers of high reputation know to pay "taxes" to House Chainer and in return are allowed to operate in their space.

"Official" Smugglers and Pirates have been known to work exclusively for House Chainer when diplomacy and trade agreements go south. The majority of smugglers operating within these lands happen to be veterans or former guild members. Some retired guild members or veterans have been known to join a crew to keep things "interesting", speaking to the hard working mindset of people in this part of the Galaxy.

Official Trade Convoys of House Chainer are always well protected and only fools consider attacking a Chainer Trading Vessel as that would result in the fleet responding with extreme prejudice.

For those looking to hide, trade their illegal (in other parts of the galaxy) goods or just in the mood to misbehave, Deadman's Port might be the destinations for you. The large space colony/station that was carved around orbiting land masses in the center of the rings that surround the planet Mors (a dead desolated planet that was harvested in the early days of the Empire) make it the best place to hide out or get lost if that is what you desire. Extra goods/weapons and contraband flood black markets of  Deadman's port. While there is no official government or ruling structure, a smuggler/pirate has taken control of the port and those who come to port know who is boss.

Rumors claim a Chainer is the "mysterious pirate king". Rumors resurfacing after few learned that Tiberius himself was a pirate in his youth after his service to the military when his brother was alive and expected to take the title of Duke. (Before the Guild Wars)

The Royal Family

Tiberius Kane Chainer

Tiberius Chainer

The only surviving son after the brutal "Civil Guild Wars" decades earlier. Tiberius claimed absolute control of House Chainer after his brothers went to war with one another after the death of their father decided who decided to split his holdings among all his children equally. Former pirate and seat holder of Guild Chanaan, he took control and reorganized the guilds and their structure so none could assemble their own armies/navies after seizing control and initiating a decadea long peace and is credited with its current cultural growth (compared to its stagnation during the "old ways").

Clint Kane Chainer

Clint Chainer

Tiberius's first son, he was raised like his father before him. He was sent to Guild Guarra like all other children at the age of 15th. His name was stripped and he was given a number like the others and lived, trained and fought with them. Clint saw plenty of combat dealing with pirates, smugglers and an occasional contract from the other houses when they called in for military support. Choosing to reenlist for life (the only way to become an officer), he quickly proved himself a leader and capable captain. Before age 30 he was captain of his own Behemoth Class cruiser, a few years later he became A Fleet Admiral with more than half a dozen war ships under his command.

After proving himself further, his father stepped down as commander-in-chief in of Guild Guarra and promoted his son to the rank, effectively making him the next duke. Guild Guarra is run by the Commander, 4 Fleet Admirals, 2 Generals of the Army and 2 Generals of the Air Force.

Raynor Tyranus Chainer

Raynor Chainer

The Second son, Raynor, like his siblings before him, was sent off to Guild Guarra at 15. Unlike his older brother, he was a mediocre solider but outmatched him as a navigator. With his interest leaning towards mining and space exploration, he transferred to Guild Terra and became an apprentice miner. His ability as a navigator began to shine during this time, when combined with his fascination in geology he fit in with the other guild members who devoted their life to mining and surviving the constant dance with death. Raynor became Head Engineer of the Guild a decade earlier and has structured the organization to streamline more apprentices in an effort to prevent casualties and increase their operations.

Dubbed "the silent son", Raynor is a practical and happily married man who prefers to work and tend to his family when he is not out on an expedition. While not overly close with his other siblings, he tends to be the one they all go to when they need help as he did not inherit Tiberius's temper.

Jeska Chainer - Koka - Wip
Tychus Chainer - Aiden's Char - Wip

[Aiden]

All done, The first 2 brothers will remain background NPCS, but I am willing to expand the Chainer Bloodline to add more if there are people interested.

I will work on my sheet soon, I will be going off to bed soon.

[CurvyKitten]

OK these are the faces I have narrowed my choices down to, let me know what you think :)

Alexandra Park

Holland Roden

Gatto Nero Katzenkunst

[Giantmutantcrab]

*cough*

Long Live the Novari

*cough*

^__^

---

Also, I am checking with top people to make sure that my character bio is ok before sending it out.

[CurvyKitten]

*cough*

Long Live the Novari

*cough*

^__^

---

Also, I am checking with top people to make sure that my character bio is ok before sending it out.

I agree long live the Novari! LOL Random and no help to my face claim though :P

[Giantmutantcrab]

What kind of face do you want, Curvy?

[Crash]

Adriene Padalicki

Umm yeah.  Definitely a fan.

[CurvyKitten]

I thought someone was already using her? Or am I wrong?

[Cyrano Johnson]

Umm yeah.  Definitely a fan.

She was the bee's knees as badgirl Perkins in John Wick. In fact she usually manages to be the bee's knees even in tragically shitty roles.

[Caela]

I thought someone was already using her? Or am I wrong?

I tossed her up as one of the options when Koka asked for someone who wouldn't like she could be blown over by a stiff breeze. I believe Koka settled on Jaimie Alexander however and that Adriene is available. :)

As for the ones you listed, I like the first and third better than the middle girl but that without knowing anything about the character's personality or background.

[Ontan]

OK these are the faces I have narrowed my choices down to, let me know what you think :)

Alexandra Park

Holland Roden

Gatto Nero Katzenkunst

As for the ones you listed, I like the first and third better than the middle girl but that without knowing anything about the character's personality or background.

Katzenkunst or Roden get my vote, if only because House Atalaryk seems to have a monopoly on the smouldering, dark hair & dark eyes look. That, and redheads are just the best.

And speaking of things that are the best: Cyrano! I finally got around to reading your entries in the Out of Time thread, and they were fantastic. I thought you should know that ;)



Edit: Here's the updated roster of approved characters. I've added faction specialties in there as well, the idea being that new / prospective players can get a rough idea of what's happening at a glance, without the need to flip back and forth to the info thread.

Approved Character Roster

Character	Faction (Specialty)	Primary Skill	Character Concept
Crown Princess Azurine Udel Xavendir	House Xavendir (The Emperor’s House)	Deception / Manipulation	The Emperor’s oppressed eldest daughter, who is looking to establish a powerbase of her own.
*	*	*	*
Princess Hana Atalaryk	House Atalaryk (Naval tacticians)	Spacefaring	An unmarried princess, and secretly a skilled commando.
Princess Illyana Atalaryk	House Atalaryk (Naval tacticians)	Intelligence / Diplomacy	An acknowledged bastard daughter, who’s turned her interests to information gathering.
Princess Rhebekka Emanuelle Atalaryk	House Atalaryk (Naval tacticians)	Space Combat	A married Lady and Naval Officer, with a flair for diplomacy and combat.
Duke Tarrek El'Essen Atalaryk	House Atalaryk (Naval tacticians)	Strategy	The incumbent Duke of his House, and a brilliant commander in his own right.
*	*	*	*
Ghalia Prawomir	House Prawomir (Religion)	Beguilment	The controversial but hugely influential ruler of House Prawomir, and a figurehead for the Empire’s faith
*	*	*	*
Princess Maleida Broedin	House Broedin (Landowners and traders)	Trade Expert	The Duke’s beloved daughter, who’s fated to be used as a political bargaining chip in order to secure her House’s future.
*	*	*	*
Prince Gallatin Dhaaz	House Dhaaz (Wealth and Biotechnology)	Scholar	A philosopher-politician, with an endless thirst for knowledge and an extensive web of correspondents.
*	*	*	*
Prince Jalen Novari	House Novari (Xeno-ambassadors)	Adventurer	The notorious rake of House Novari, famed for his adventuring exploits and wild parties.
*	*	*	*
Diarivo Kairitsu Sundosa-Zurun	House Rovona (Espionage and modern ships)	Disguise	A second-generation Orzorone exile; publically a skilled performer and privately an agent of espionage.
*	*	*	*
Martius	Independent (GEL Rebels)	Tactics (ground and ship)	The enigmatic GEL liberator stirring up unrest throughout the Empire.

[Niferbelle]

Really love this awesome chart, Ontan. I've added it to the information thread :)

Also, if you are creating an NPC, please consider one of the connections being sought by other players.

[Amelita]

My girl's name is Maleida Broedin ::)

When you say create NPC's, do you mean we can write them up sheets?

[Cyrano Johnson]

Really well done, Cyrano. I was impressed with all of it, but especially the way you captured the atmosphere and the culture of the place.

And speaking of things that are the best: Cyrano! I finally got around to reading your entries in the Out of Time thread, and they were fantastic.

Much appreciated! :D

Love your work with the character tables, Ontan, that's damned handy.

When you say create NPC's, do you mean we can write them up sheets?

Hoping that's what it means. I'm working on a sheet for Laila right now...

[Ontan]

Really love this awesome chart, Ontan. I've added it to the information thread :)

Love your work with the character tables, Ontan, that's damned handy.

Happy to help – hopefully it comes in handy. I’ll keep it updated as more characters get added to the roster.

My girl's name is Maleida Broedin ::)

That was a test. As a reward for passing, I’ve corrected the spelling of your character’s name.
… *awkward cough*

[Niferbelle]

My girl's name is Maleida Broedin ::)

When you say create NPC's, do you mean we can write them up sheets?

Yep! I would just use the same template. The major difference is just the focus of the GMs in getting the character interated into the game. Those from HaF know 'NPC's can become important characters in their own right.

Announcement!

We now have an OOC Thread

[Flower]

We're still recruiting! A lot of houses need more representation.

[Niferbelle]

Still accepting characters! I'd like to remind you, if you're finding the setting overwhelming for now, you can always PM Aiden and me an idea of what kind of character you would like to play and we can help you put the concept together :)

[Niferbelle]

Still plenty of room for more characters. Ontan put together a great 'game-at-a-glance' chart that might help when picking out a character. Not too late to jump in!

Character	Faction (Specialty)	Primary Skill	Character Concept
Crown Princess Azurine Udel Xavendir	House Xavendir (The Emperor’s House)	Deception / Manipulation	The Emperor’s oppressed eldest daughter, who is looking to establish a powerbase of her own.
*	*	*	*
Princess Hana Atalaryk	House Atalaryk (Naval tacticians)	Spacefaring	An unmarried princess, and secretly a skilled commando.
Princess Illyana Atalaryk	House Atalaryk (Naval tacticians)	Intelligence / Diplomacy	An acknowledged bastard daughter, who’s turned her interests to information gathering.
Duke Tarrek El'Essen Atalaryk	House Atalaryk (Naval tacticians)	Strategy	The incumbent Duke of his House, and a brilliant commander in his own right.
*	*	*	*
Ghalia Prawomir	House Prawomir (Religion)	Beguilement	The controversial but hugely influential ruler of House Prawomir, and a figurehead for the Empire’s faith
*	*	*	*
Princess Maleida Broedin	House Broedin (Landowners and traders)	Trade Expert	The Duke’s beloved daughter, who’s fated to be used as a political bargaining chip in order to secure her House’s future.
*	*	*	*
Prince Jalen Novari	House Novari (Xeno-ambassadors)	Adventurer	The notorious rake of House Novari, famed for his adventuring exploits and wild parties.
Lord Al-Karim ibn Novari-Orzorone	House Novari (Xeno-ambassadors)	Martial Arts	Head of the Xeno Alliance-Novari consulate project, and a radical force for social reform.
Inara Delvina Novari	House Novari (Xeno-ambassadors)	Knowledge	A model noblewoman… but also a ‘dark horse’ candidate for Xeno-diplomat, and a cunning information broker.
*	*	*	*
Diarivo Kairitsu Sundosa-Zurun	House Rovona (Espionage and modern ships)	Disguise	A second-generation Orzorone exile; publically a skilled performer and privately an agent of espionage.
Othoro Laila Rovona (Player NPC)	House Rovona (Espionage and modern ships)	Schemer	An ambitious princess with plans to rule through her husband, Prince Kaga.
*	*	*	*
Martius	Independent (GEL Rebels)	Tactics (ground and ship)	The enigmatic GEL liberator stirring up unrest throughout the Empire.
626, “Little song bird” (Player NPC)	Independent (Privately owned GEL)	Pleasure	A concubine GEL with dreams of finding her freedom.

Unrepresented Houses:

Faction	Specialty	Status
House Dhaaz	Wealth, Biotechnology, and GEL troop production	Unrepresented – players needed!
House Saiah	Pervasive economy, elite soldiers, and the Emperor’s favour	Unrepresented – players needed!
House Chainer	Mineral rich, trade, and shipbuilding	Characters / NPCs pending
House Potemkin	Ruthless technological development, advanced burrowing, homogenous society	Non-playable

[Flower]

I would love a handmaiden for my lady! Just wanted to put that request out there.

[Swashbuckler]

What is Pervasive Economy?

[Cyrano Johnson]

What is Pervasive Economy?

I was a bit confused by that, too. It seems to be a reference to this in House Saiah's description:

They often make their investments through third parties and so occasionally will pop up in other Houses’ financial affairs unexpectedly.

Maybe Diversified Portfolio would be a better way of putting it?

[Niferbelle]

Regarding House Saiah, I agree with Cyrano, diversified portfolio might be a better way to describe. I made that statement just to let everyone know about one of their financial tactics.

*tries to lure Swashie in with nudie photos*

[CShades]

Merger and Acquisitions?
Corporate Strategies?
Tha Man?

[Swashbuckler]

Ooooooooo, nude pics!

[Ontan]

Maybe Diversified Portfolio would be a better way of putting it?

That’s definitely better wording. “Stealth investments” sounded a bit weird, but I wasn’t quite sure how else to phrase it. Diversified Portfolio hits the mark much better – cheers Cyrano!

[Flower]

Yay! A Swash appears.

[Cyrano Johnson]

That’s definitely better wording. “Stealth investments” sounded a bit weird, but I wasn’t quite sure how else to phrase it. Diversified Portfolio hits the mark much better – cheers Cyrano!

Pleasure's all mine, bruv. :D

[Kythia]

How feasible would a female scientist be given the setting. Assuming there's no "no Kythias allowed" policy, of course.

[Cyrano Johnson]

We already have a female commando. I don't think a female scientist would be a stretch, though she might have to hide her light under a bushel a little bit. House Dhaaz, maybe?

[Kythia]

That was the plan yeah. And I was planning an npc husband for bushel purposes

[Cyrano Johnson]

Have to see what Nif and Aiden say but it makes sense to me.

[Niferbelle]

Welcome Kythia! We don't have an actual scientist yet so that would be a good niche to be in. In this setting, being a scientist would be difficult for a woman in most of the Houses but I think there are options. I will send you a PM.

[Kythia]

To which I have replied.

I was thinking of using Veena Malik as a face claim if no one objects.

[Niferbelle]

I certainly don't and I doubt the gentlemen will either...

[Cyrano Johnson]

* Googles Veena Malik * Oh my...

[Kythia]

Just to check - primary skills and secondary skills are just what we think per the character right?  As opposed to picked from a list somewhere (if so, where's the list?)

[Amelita]

No list, go wild ;)

[Kythia]

Funnily enough "Going wild" is what I wanted as my Primary skill.  Secondaries are "Blaming someone else for inevitable repercussions", "Avoiding punishment by strategic crying" and"Stubborn refusal to learn valuable lessons"

[CShades]

So

Berserk Mode, Creative Consequence Relay, Manipulation with a spec on Tears, and Advanced Rhetoric: self? :P

[Cyrano Johnson]

FWIW I used some of Burning Wheel's skill lists as inspiration for some of mine. One of those games which has a "skill" for like every conceivable fricking thing but has a knack of pitching them with the right mixture of specificity and general application.

[Ontan]

For those who are interested, here’s the updated 'game-at-a-glance' chart!

Remember, this is only meant as an overview: to the best of my knowledge, all Houses (bar Potemkin) are still open, so just go wherever your muse takes you ;)

Character	Faction (Specialty)	Primary Skill	Character Concept
Crown Princess Azurine Udel Xavendir	House Xavendir (The Emperor’s House)	Deception / Manipulation	The Emperor’s oppressed eldest daughter, who is looking to establish a powerbase of her own.
*	*	*	*
Princess Hana Atalaryk	House Atalaryk (Naval tacticians)	Spacefaring	An unmarried princess, and secretly a skilled commando.
Princess Illyana Atalaryk	House Atalaryk (Naval tacticians)	Intelligence / Diplomacy	An acknowledged bastard daughter, who’s turned her interests to information gathering.
Duke Tarrek El'Essen Atalaryk	House Atalaryk (Naval tacticians)	Strategy	The incumbent Duke of his House, and a brilliant commander in his own right.
*	*	*	*
Ghalia Prawomir	House Prawomir (Religion)	Beguilement	The controversial but hugely influential ruler of House Prawomir, and a figurehead for the Empire’s faith
*	*	*	*
Princess Maleida Broedin	House Broedin (Landowners and traders)	Trade Expert	The Duke’s beloved daughter, who’s fated to be used as a political bargaining chip in order to secure her House’s future.
*	*	*	*
Prince Jalen Novari	House Novari (Xeno-ambassadors)	Adventurer	The notorious rake of House Novari, famed for his adventuring exploits and wild parties.
Lord Al-Karim ibn Novari-Orzorone	House Novari (Xeno-ambassadors)	Martial Arts	Head of the Xeno Alliance-Novari consulate project, and a radical force for social reform.
Inara Delvina Novari	House Novari (Xeno-ambassadors)	Knowledge	A model noblewoman… but also a ‘dark horse’ candidate for Xeno-diplomat, and a cunning information broker.
Nora Annisko (Player NPC)	House Novari (Xeno-ambassadors)	Alertness	A felon-slave with extensive knowledge into the criminal underworld, who acts as Prince Jalen’s minder and advisor.
*	*	*	*
Diarivo Kairitsu Sundosa-Zurun	House Rovona (Espionage and modern ships)	Disguise	A second-generation Orzorone exile; publically a skilled performer and privately an agent of espionage.
Othoro Laila Rovona (Player NPC)	House Rovona (Espionage and modern ships)	Schemer	An ambitious princess with plans to rule through her husband, Prince Kaga.
*	*	*	*
Daria shel’Nessar	House Dhaaz (Wealth, GELs, and biotechnology)	Engineer	A talented GEL engineer, who now faces an uncertain future amid her strained political marriage.
*	*	*	*
Martius	Independent (GEL Rebels)	Tactics (ground and ship)	The enigmatic GEL liberator stirring up unrest throughout the Empire.
626, “Little song bird” (Player NPC)	Independent (Privately owned GEL)	Pleasure	A concubine GEL with dreams of finding her freedom.

Unrepresented Houses:

Faction	Specialty	Status
House Saiah	Diverse economy, elite soldiers, and the Emperor’s favour	Unrepresented – players needed!
House Chainer	Mineral rich, trade, and shipbuilding	Characters / NPCs pending
House Potemkin	Ruthless technological development, advanced wormholes, homogenous society	Non-playable

[Niferbelle]

Thank you, Ontan, for updating this awesome chart. We are just a few days away from starting but there is still time to get a character going. We have a wonderful batch of writer and world builders in this game and we'd like you to join us!

[Outlaw Fallen]

So, I believe a character concept might have struck me that could work if you guys approve. I'm thinking of perhaps a prince of house Saiah who believes that putting all of their house's eggs in one basket is foolish and is perhaps looking to establish some more connections and support outside of just the Emperor's house. I think with that sort of mentality, he could go in several different directions depending on whom he ends up getting involved with.

[Flower]

Sounds interesting to me.

Also we are still very much recruiting. The game has not started yet so don't drag your feet.

[Cyrano Johnson]

So, I believe a character concept might have struck me that could work if you guys approve. I'm thinking of perhaps a prince of house Saiah who believes that putting all of their house's eggs in one basket is foolish and is perhaps looking to establish some more connections and support outside of just the Emperor's house. I think with that sort of mentality, he could go in several different directions depending on whom he ends up getting involved with.

That sounds like a pretty nifty angle. I for one have been hoping House Saiah would get some representation. :)

[Kokaine]

My Chainer Princess is shaping up *finally* Hope to have her in today.

[Amelita]

Woot!

Ooooh imma work on my heir.

[Niferbelle]

So, I believe a character concept might have struck me that could work if you guys approve. I'm thinking of perhaps a prince of house Saiah who believes that putting all of their house's eggs in one basket is foolish and is perhaps looking to establish some more connections and support outside of just the Emperor's house. I think with that sort of mentality, he could go in several different directions depending on whom he ends up getting involved with.

Yes, I think you could really make something of this idea. I encourage you to work on it! I did, in fact, just did a little work on the Saiah, it's here if you didn't see it. Happy to help you anyway I can!

My Chainer Princess is shaping up *finally* Hope to have her in today.

*does a happy dance*

[Niferbelle]

Still time to sneak a character in. If you're on the fence, take a look at some of the preliminary scenes our writers have written for their characters while we're waiting to start to give you a sense of the quality of writers we have!

https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240253.msg11848470#msg11848470

[MisoThe Mouse]

So very interested. Wanted to know they possibility of a military man working his way up into the position of a lesser Nobel in Rovona? Shaping up a machiavelliian Baron  with ambitions to feed.

[Niferbelle]

Nice to see you, Miso. Check your PMs!

[Flower]

Random thought but I think it would be nice if Ghalia had a personal guard. Maybe a childhood friend who promised themselves to the sword or maybe even some wicked looking bow and arrow.  ::)

I would love a handmaiden for my lady! Just wanted to put that request out there.

Also, this request is still open.