Interested! Question though: Did the two superpowers use their conquered peoples as soldiers? If so, what became of them during the withdrawal?
Attitude is prohibited
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
They didn't! No conquered people were conscripted.
(Avatar by Coffee)
Hm, interest. Time to lift stuff from a Stellaris playthrough!
The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground
- Name: The Tlatlathui Imperium
- Species: The inhabitants of the Tlatlathui Imperium are the zhur’rya, tall and lanky avian humanoids that evolved from creatures resembling the archaeopteryx or azhdarchid pterosaurs. They stand 7-9 feet tall on average, with a neck measuring 1’6” to 2 feet, 5-6 foot long arms, and significantly shorter legs. The length of their arms allows the zhur’rya to drop onto all fours and gallop at good speeds like the azhdarchids they vaguely resemble. They have pointed beaks with serrated edges like teeth, two primary eyes, and a smaller third eye on their brow. Their hands and feet are covered in scales and have large black talons, while the rest of the body is covered in a mix of finer scales and feathers. Bright crests of feathers grow on their heads and down the length of their arms, which can be grown out and styled in ways analogous to human hair styles.
- History: The zhur’rya evolved on Tototl, a tropical world in the Tlatlathui system. Theirs was a passionate and violent civilization, nations and city-states frequently warring with one another throughout their history. They had successfully colonized Tototl’s twin moons and several worlds in their solar system before unlocking the secrets of faster-than-light travel, and managed to put small colonies on worlds in two nearby systems before they suddenly found the Yohzhu Empire on their doorstep.
- Being combative types, the zhur’rya repeatedly asked their new overlords to face them in battle so that they might test their strength against them. After ignoring many of these requests, the Empire finally acquiesced and told the zhur’rya to assemble their greatest armies on the plains of Molcaxitl—whereupon they reduced the plains and the assembled warriors to a glass crater. The zhur’rya wisely decided to drop the issue.
- The Occupation dealt a significant blow to zhur’ryan pride, and when the war suddenly ended and the Empire and Alliance suddenly declared them to be free, the zhur’ryan populace was gripped by a single thought: we will not be made weak and subservient again. To that end they accelerated their efforts to colonize nearby worlds and systems, rebuilding their armies, and—albeit reluctantly—joining the Galactic Nations. And thus, the Tlatlathui Imperium was born and took its first tentative steps on the galactic stage.
- Government: The Tlatlathui Imperium is a theocratic hegemonic empire ruled by monarchs called the tlatoque. Individual planets are governed by minor nobles known as cuahtlatoani, who are in turn subordinate to the tlatoani that rules the planet’s system. Each tlatoani is in turn subordinate to the Huey Tlatoani, or Emperor, who rules the entire Imperium from his throne on Tototl. When the previous Huey Tlatoani dies, a conclave of priests convenes to select a replacement from one of the active tlatoque.
- The Tlatlathui Imperium’s foreign policy holds that the enemy of my enemy is, if not my friend, then at least a useful ally. It is for this reason that they take part in the Galactic Nations, as those who have suffered under the yoke of the Empire and the Alliance should remember the humiliation and be unwilling to experience it again. Such politicking and alliance-building is seen as something of a necessary evil: much as the zhur’rya might wish they could stand against their old tormentors alone, they know that they cannot.
- Territory and Population: The Tlatlathui Imperium encompasses four solar systems and all the planets therein. The Tlatlathui system contains the capital planet Tototl, its moons Huilotl and Huexolotl, and three other inhabited worlds. The Cueyatl system contains three inhabited worlds, including the system capital Amoxcalli. The Miztli system contains two inhabited worlds, including the system capital Mizton. Finally, the Pitzotl system contains two inhabited worlds, including the system capital Quimichin. All told, the Imperium has a population of 44 billion zhur’rya divided amongst its four systems.
- Military: The Tlatlathui Imperium takes great pride in its armed forces, which make up roughly 25% of the population (11 billion in total). The military draws from both commoners and the nobility: the former make up 60% (6.6 billion) and tend to be general infantry without significant specialization, while the later are specialists belonging to one of several knightly orders. The military is seen favorably by the general populace, as it provides an avenue of upward social mobility for commoners: exemplary service is rewarded with entry to one of the Orders and ascension to the lower rungs of the nobility. Thus, even a pauper who has nothing can make a name for himself in combat.
- Zhur’ryan philosophy considers conflict to be a form of art, and accordingly the Tlatlathui Imperial Military uses weapons that are flashy and visceral, but somewhat inefficient. Examples of this include the use of electromagnetic atlatls for sidearms, laser-bows instead of rifles, and chainsaw macahuitls whose oscillating blades create kaleidoscopic smears of light when the weapon is swung. Similarly, soldiers typically go into battle dressed in vivid, eye-catching colours instead of camouflage, as they wanted the enemy to know they were coming. Since the Yohzhu Occupation and the devastation of the armed forces, this has been dialed back somewhat.
- Prior to the Occupation, the zhur’rya did not have a significant space fleet as they did not see a need for one. Their encounter with the Yohzu Empire and the Tennosian Allied Worlds Nations was a painful eye-opener, and since then the Tlatlathui Imperium has been slowly building up a fleet of ships to protect their worlds. Tlatlathui vessels tend to be fast but fragile, favouring powerful engines and deflector shields over armour plating.
- One element of the Imperium’s space fleet is the Nagual, a small, agile, lightly-armed star fighter with a profile resembling a bird of prey. These craft can tuck in their wings and deploy a pair of digitigrade legs, allowing them to assume a bipedal form—and more importantly, to land on the hull of enemy spacecraft in order to take out vital systems and gun emplacements from point-blank range. There has been talk of adding a zhur’ryanoid form to future designs.
- Culture: The Tlatlathui Imperium is dominated by a panentheistic religion which teaches that the universe was created by a supreme being who subdivided himself into countless diametrically-opposed deities in order to improve himself through conflict. To become closer to godliness, one must better oneself by seeking out challenge and overcoming adversity, preferably by earning glory through combat. This belief led the pre-Imperium zhur’ryans to make war on each other frequently, both for the glorification of the participants and the appeasement of the gods. Were it not for the terrible losses of resources and manpower suffered during the Occupation, and the Empire and the Alliance establishing themselves as a much greater common enemy, the zhur’rya would likely still be at war with one another. In a way, this humiliation forced their species off of its self-destructive path onto a more constructive one.
- With their three eyes and keen vision, the zhur’rya have a fondness for the visual arts. They have produced many statues, sculptures, mosaics, and other works of art over the millennia, much of which was plundered by the Empire during the Occupation. Their philosophy holds that the greatest art is the most visceral, and thus their works often depict subjects with exaggerated detail and in scenes of passion or violence. Next to the warrior, the artist is one of the most respected careers in the Imperium.
- Education is compulsory in the Tlatlathui Imperium. Hatchlings are enrolled in communal academies from an early age and are then transferred to specialist schools once they fledge. Those who demonstrate exceptional aptitudes for a given subject receive further training to allow them to begin working immediately once they graduate. It is generally expected that children will take up the same careers as their parents, though this is not always true. Nobles receive a more intensive and comprehensive education than commoners, as they are expected to shoulder greater responsibilities.
- Trivia:
- It should go without saying that the Tlatlathui Imperium is heavily based on the Aztec Empire. Most of the names used are words taken from the Nahua language.
- The Nagual starfighters are based on the VF-1 Valkyrie variable fighters from Macross, minus the fully humanoid form. The name refers to a type of Aztec sorcerer with the power to turn into an animal.
- The Imperium has a complicated view on scarring. Superficial scars are considered attractive, but only in moderation: a warrior with too many scars is a warrior who allows himself to be hit too often. Scars from grievous injuries, such as the loss of a limb, are considered a mark of shame.
edited 7th Nov '17 6:26:44 PM by SullenFrog
The Danse Macabre Codex
Attitude is prohibited
Looks good to me! Approved! Welcome to the galaxy, Tlatlathui Imperium.
Not entirely dead.
Glad to hear it. I'll get to work on characters this week.
The Danse Macabre Codex
- Name: The United Stars of Woglinde
- Species: Dotur and Spaceborne
- A dotur is the original sentient life form of the planet Kiyoshimo. A short and stout species with a coat of fur which varies in color, thickness, and length depending on ethnicity. Bipedal with large feet, doturi are quick and agile and have extreme leaping capabilities, which are often utilized during sprints. Equally oversized are their ears, which can hear at great lengths and higher pitches than most. The ears can move independently of one another, making hearing the most useful sense for a dotur to establish their awareness of their immediate surroundings. Doturi give birth to live young after a male and female mate and reach maturity around 15 years. They have an average lifespan of about 92 years.
- Spaceborne are an genetically engineered species of living weapons created during the interplanetary wars between doturi factions prior to the conquest by Yohzhu and TAWN. Spaceborne have changed morphology several times throughout their existence, but the modern incarnation is a mostly round, green blob approximately five feet in diameter. Eight eyes and eight tentacles dot the surface of a Spaceborne's body in no discernible pattern. A Spaceborne has no "front" and thus rarely needs to turn its whole body when changing directions. Spaceborne are mush stronger than their looks would suggest, using their tentacles to move around very rapidly. Spaceborne have no bones, and can squeeze themselves into tight spots. Food is absorbed through the membrane of the body, and though consumed rapidly, takes a while to digest. This allows them to store food in their bodies for great lengths of time and thus go days without eating with no negative effects. Tentacles and most membrane tissue can heal much faster than a dotur and limbs, eyes, and certain organs can regrow on their own if given the time. Modern Spaceborne are divided into males and females, and upon mating with birth a young one which takes about 15 years to mature. Spaceborne live an average of 77 years.
- History: Woglinde, a lost continent on the world of Kiyoshimo. Supposedly the home of an advanced civilization that brought light to the darkest days of the world’s ancient era. For this legend, the Stars of Woglinde were named, a bright light bringing the people out of the darkness that was the ever present war between Yohzhu and the TAWN. Not that life before the war was any brighter. Wars between the nations of Kiyoshimo followed them into space, which led to new weapons for this new frontier, among them the Spaceborne. These sentient bioweapons turned on their creators though, resulting in yet another war.
- Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, what was building up to be a war of annihilation ended up cut short with the arrival of bigger space powers. As far as Yohzhu and the TAWN were concerned, both species of Kiyoshimo were just there to provide resources for their more important feud with each other. In a better world, this would have resulted in cooperation between doturi and Spaceborne, banding together to resist their oppressors. In the world as it was though, the two species continued to engage in conflict with each other, to the bafflement and frustration of the occupiers, who kept having to divert occupation troops from active combat zones over to Kiyoshimo to pacify them whenever they disrupted resource gathering.
- A depressing pattern emerged; one power would pick one species to act as their puppet rulers, then when a planet fell to the other side, revolution and bloodbaths would occur and the oppressed species would be set up as the new puppet rulers. This went on for years until one Yohzhu ruler made a tremendous effort to quell the violence. In what would become known as the Hazavin Accord, strict laws regarding the treatment of the two species by each other were enacted, with a large occupation force enforcing the Accord on the streets. For the first time in history, doturi and Spaceborne got along, albeit at gunpoint. But it meant that, finally, one could walk down the street without the fear of a car bomb going off. Ironically, now that peace had time to develop between doturi and Spaceborne, they could turn their attention towards outside matters. When the TAWN came once again, they were met with a peaceful, united, resistance. Didn’t work out so well for the natives as the TAWN simply unleashed another sickness, but it was a shared struggle at least.
- When the war came to an abrupt end and the occupation ended, the leadership recognized the potential for chaos and changed very little of their civil laws from the Hazavin Accord. If anything, they made them stricter. There were some instances of returning to the hatred of old, and the carnage horrified the rest of the people. Ironically now having to police their own planets, the doturi and Spaceborne systems came together to form a permanent government, one that would unite all their peoples. And so digging into forgotten history for a name, the United Stars of Woglinde were born. The prejudices and hatred of the past would be buried by peace and stability under this new republic, with laws and culture being shaped to ensure internal strife between species would never break out again.
- While many would criticize Woglinde as overbearing and nanny-state-ish, the government maintains that it is the only way to keep the peace. A stable, not race war-torn nation set out to meet its brothers among the stars and joined the Galactic Nations not long after it was formed, hoping to prevent the chaos that had so long plagued its own people from spreading across the Known Galaxy.
- Government: As a result of growing out of a Yohzhu installed government and the democracy demanding public, Woglinde is a parliamentary republic, with supreme authority residing in a three branch government; a bicameral legislature called the Assembly, a Supreme Court which interprets laws, determines their constitutionality, and oversees all lesser courts in the nation, and the head of state and head of government; the president and prime minister, who are the chief executives of the government and military. Underneath the national government are the prefecture governors, who are appointed by the executive branch to manage the affairs of the different regions Woglinde, be they areas of a planet, moon, or space colony.
- Territory and Population: 3 star systems with a population of 34 billion
- Military: It is not hard to kill or wound a doturi, and no one knows this better than themselves. Their comparative speed and agility though, and history of low level warfare against the Spaceborne, has led to the doturi members of the Woglinde armed forces to emphasize sudden strikes and avoid straight up and prolonged engagements. Indeed, the power suits worn by the infantry play to their strengths by boosting speed, leaping ability, and sensory output, while offering just the bare minimum of protection. In contrast, the Spaceborne were designed for the sole purpose of fighting, with non-gravity situations being the specific cause for their creation, and have faster healing and limited regenerative capabilities. Their eyes spread across their bodies give them greater awareness in combat and their tentacles enable them to attack from any direction without having to turn their bodies. For heavy combat, Spaceborne pilot hovering robots with dense armor and an array of weapons. In space, Woglinde services spherical warships of varying size and velocity depending on their roles.
- Infrastructure: In a sharp break from the ethnic warfare of the past, Woglinde has strict laws regarding crimes, specifically hate crimes. It is illegal for a dotur to ride atop a Spaceborne, even if the later consents to it. Any sort of slang used to refer to a species is outlawed, which is a frequent source of trouble for foreign visitors. Mind altering substances such as drugs and alcohol cannot be sold late at night to discourage drunken criminal acts, as doturi get drunk easily and Spaceborne won’t even realize they are consuming alcohol or drugs until after they start feeling the effects, which take an obnoxiously long time for their bodies to process. Private weapons are strictly regulated, and homemade weapons carry a massive prison sentence or possible execution if found.
- Communication on-world is facilitated through the nanosphere; nanomachines which hover across the planet receiving and transmitting signals. This innovation has enabled service practically anywhere on a world’s surface as well as working as a planetary radar for air traffic.
- Many inhabited areas are separated by blighted land, the result of TAWN and Yohzhu exploitation and warfare. For mass transportation between cities large airships are used, with smaller craft for personal transportation. On the ground, small vehicles wirelessly connected to the energy grid are used to move about. There is a speed limit within city limits of 65 kph which everyone ignores.
- Doturi are herbivores, while Spaceborne are omnivorous but generally eat the same foods as their dotur counterparts. The war polluted and destroyed swathes of lands in all three of their systems, forcing much food production into space. Many of the space colonies are designed with agriculture in mind, and old space fortresses had their swords turned into plowshares, so to speak. As a result, Woglinde is now a food exporter and takes pride in their colony engineers. Back on the planets, the reclamation of the blighted zones is a top priority, especially as population levels have risen dramatically in the peaceful years.
- Culture: Woglindian culture was formed from the mixed influences of old dotur societies, the open conflict between doturi and Spaceborne, the TAWN and Yohzhu conquests, and the modern state. A monotheistic religion called Rawlivicism is the dominant belief system in Woglinde, with Spaceborne having a higher percentage of practitioners. The holy book of Rawlivicism, the Sasara, instructs in the proper manner of living in accordance with the divine decrees of the Creator; faith and love towards the Creator and love towards each other. Indeed, religious extremism partly fueled the pre-Conquest war. Other, technically secular, belief systems also exist which have been embraced in part for their emphasis on social harmony.
- Pre-Conquest poetry has been noted to have a very fatalistic streak, and often lacking in meter or rhyme patterns. Since the establishment of Woglinde, more variety was introduced even as it became more structured. Poetry is a national pastime, and even Woglinde’s political leaders have been known to scribble a verse or two reflecting their times in office. More physically inclined Woglindians plays sports with games resembling soccer, and a capture the flag-dodgeball hybrid being the most popular.
- Respect is an important aspect of Woglindian culture. Everyone is addressed as Mister or Miss when first being introduced until the people are familiar and friendly enough to drop the titles. Seniority is highly valued, though in recent years a backlash by younger, meritocratic-minded members of society has caused some unrest. Woglinde strives to implement the Golden Rule, Treat others the way you want to be treated, in positive contrast to the Silver Rule of the Conquest – Treat others the way they treat you – and the Dark Rule of the Pre-Conquest – Treat others like they’re the enemy.
Attitude is prohibited
Looks good! Parapproved!
Not entirely dead.
Hip Hop, Hurray!
The Flamebringer
R Ping with shit I've made in Stellaris? Cool!
All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.
Attitude is prohibited
Hi! While it's totally fine to base your nation in this RP off something you made in Stellaris, please note that this is not a Stellaris-based game. 
The Flamebringer
True, but I've been wanting do do stuff with it for a while because I think it's neat, so!
All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.
A Squid
Name : The Establishment at Solmark
History : The helderseun began as an attempted human colony, funded primarily by military means. They picked a planet rich in metals, perfect for their purposes. It was only upon landing that they discovered several primitive non-carbon based life forms, including a dangerous parasite who quickly began to prey on humans. Like certain viruses from Earth, these parasites changed the DNA of the host by injecting their own. However, due to them having XNA, this led to catastrophic mutations among the newborns.
The scientists on board the colony resorted to extreme genetic engineering and bionic modification to ensure the survival of the human colony. Even then, stillborns were common, and other hostile species led to a severe decline in population. After many years, the inhabitants of Solmark had changed drastically enough from baseline humanity that, with proper care and modification, the helderseun could once again give birth without losing both mother and child.
The parasites became symbiotes, and eventually, they simply ceased to exist as they melded wholesale with the helderseun, who had begun either killing them or forcing them onto the baseline humans.
The Tennosian Allied Worlds Nation was the first to make 'contact' with the helderseun, or rather, the first to blow their orbital installations to smithereens. Coincidentally, they happened to do this while St. Whyle the Ascendant was supervising the construction of the ORC I, an orbital cannon meant to subdue the other living saint at the time, St. Angnos the Furious. With the death of St. Whyle, who was the ruling saint at the time, the helders immediately submitted to the rule of the TAWN. Two of the apostles of St. Whyle later became saints themselves. Besides the death of St. Whyle, there wasn't much of a major change in the helders' life, as the TAWN mostly left them to their own devices.
Soon enough the Yohzhu Empire came knocking, and with the arrival of two Kirimashi-class vessels, became the new overlords of helderseun space. The second Kirimashi left soon after arrival, but one was sufficient to keep the helderseun obedient. The helders, having recently recovered from the First Saints War that was held during the TAWN occupation, were in no shape to fight back in any case. The Yohzhu had a dislike for the helders, comparing them unfavorably to baseline humans. However, some had a fascination with these 'aberrations' or 'uncanny valley humans'. They sold the helderseun as basically 'limited edition humans', as they were more rare than the baseline. At one point a revolution was attempted by St. Sever the Loyal, but this was put down rather swiftly via orbital bombardment, which St. Sever survived, humiliated and newly servile.
The TAWN rather abruptly came back in quite a while after the Yohzhu occupation, rather suddenly blowing the Kirimashi out of the sky, luckily the debris of which did not land near civilization. Shortly after their arrival, the Darkmoss virus was released into the helder's city of Juni, infecting the entire population of Juni and leaving some helders in nearby cities with darkened patches on their skin, something that was passed down to future generations. Those infected with the Darkmoss virus and their progeny experienced problems with expressing emotions and in fact speaking at all, often being mute. The city of Juni was quarantined, and still is to this day. It's said that the people of Juni have developed their own way of life, a silent and dying way of life.
Then, suddenly, the TAWN delivered the news: The helderseun were free. They took this news gladly, and almost immediately St. Angre the Incandescent rushed to proclaim himself supreme ruler. After a short skirmish between him and St. Dain the Tybalt, they agreed to share leadership, with St. Angre as the unofficial head of the two as he possessed the homeworld of Solmark. St. Angre eventually gave way to St. Tetra the Invincible, and St. Dain to St. Donovan the Grey and St. Luddick the Schemer. These three were the eventual leaders who took part in the Second Saints' War. After the war, which established the current boundaries of the saints, the saints turned inwards, each focusing on building up their own forces and doing their own research.
Government : The Establishment is currently run by three living saints, St. Tetra the Invincible, St. Luddick the Schemer, and St. Donovan the Grey. St. Tetra holds Solmark and Furrden, making her the foremost ruler. St. Luddick holds Devron and Plutia, while St. Donovan owns Theros. St. Luddick and St. Donovan, while technically equals to Tetra, tend to follow her orders. This has led to the colloquial title of the 'Big Three' or the 'Triumvirate', referring to the fact that three saints command the helderseun population. Whenever Living Saint Tetra dies, it's said that Luddick will take control of Solmark and take charge of the Establishment. Until then, Tetra is the superior ruler. Certain sections of the planets are governed by the apostles of the saints, who use Fathers to carry out their will. The Establishment is rather xenophobic - most encounters with alien species have been negative, though in the 80 years since the YE-TAWN war they have improved. Living Saints suffer no one lightly, so diplomatic tensions run rather high, which is why they now appoint apostles as diplomats, as they tend to be more tolerable to others and more tolerant of others.
Territory and Population: There are three star systems under helderseun rule, Sol II, Devotia, and Sylva. Sol II holds two inhabited planets: Solmark, the capital world known for its military academies and its low concentration of solium, the metal used in machinery utilizing hard light; and Ferrdun, known for its mines, which contain a high concentration of solium. Devotia contains two planets: Devron, which is believed to have once held relatively advanced lifeforms (though traces are rare); and Plutia, named after Pluto of Sol. Lastly, Sylva contains Theros, a planet widely regarded as a playground for St. Donovan the Grey's biological experimentations. The population is roughly 24 billion.
Military: The military is very large, roughly 22% of the population, though it used to be more. They mainly specialize in light/laser weaponry and explosives. All infantry carry short blades with them, roughly two feet in length. Most infantry use 'Reverend' rifles, which have both stun and lethal settings (stunning is faster than lethal), to stun opponents before closing in for a close up kill. Notable exceptions include snipers, who are equipped with LRC (Light Refraction Camouflage) and long-range light rifles, and demolitionists, who carry up to eight grenades and hard-light shields. Officers tend to carry longer blades and hard-light shields, plus they will wear short single shoulder capes.
The navy is rather small, with the majority of large vessels being carriers for smaller boarding ships. These ships are small, but very, very fast, while still being moderately hardy, and come equipped with laser cannons. They are mostly used for boarding; helderseun prefer close combat.
The army gets by far the most funding, with the navy (space) getting the second most. The helderseun have little to no planetary navy forces. People see the military as, in short, a glorious occupation for its people. Surprisingly, there isn't a stigma towards civilians. The only real division in the military is the forces of each planet, as they tend to side with their respective saints. While it's been a generation since the last Saints War, tensions can still run a bit high at times regarding alliances.
Infrastructure: Science and technology are a daily part in the life of all citizens, as with genetic engineering they have made themselves very modification-compatible, with even their blood a fuel source. Personal AI's and AI's in general are used for many things.
Cybernetic and bionic modifications are extremely popular, both for practical and aesthetic reasons. One popular type is a communicator, inserted into the ear and an eye and acts as a connection to others, like a phone and computer in one. A popular mod for soldiers is two AI controlled arms, so as to improve efficiency on the battlefield.
Due to all stemming from one source and the hardships they suffered, the Fernites tend to all be of one mind and cooperative with each other. However, alliances with certain saints do cause tension, though civilians tend to not be affected by it as much as the actual religious figures of the Establishment.
The preferred method of transportation among the helderseun are Pathfinders, a train-like public transport vehicle. They hover above the ground, without rails, and instead find a path using sophisticated AI's that communicate among each other. Among those who prefer private transport, a type of vehicle called a Tommy is used. A Tommy is another form of hover vehicle, shaped almost like a half-circle, designed to comfortably fit four.
Culture: One thing held in very high reverence on Solmark and in the Establishment in general is light and color. For the longest time they were restricted to a dark planet, as they themselves became pale, white and black creatures. They held art from the old world in high regard. Now, unleashed upon the galaxy, they have found a new place in the universe. The fashion sense among helderseun turned to bright colors, slashes of vibrant shades among their formerly drab worlds and in contrast to their pale-skinned, dark quilled and eyed selves. Most wear a pleasant blend of a rainbow of colors, easy on the eyes. Besides that, they have generally stuck to old human styles, though currently the single shoulder cape and masks are going back in style, especially among the elite.
edited 18th Dec '17 2:52:56 PM by Kepler-7
Attitude is prohibited
For future reference, the ship limit from the previous iteration is no longer so strict. Which is to say, the entire space navy consisting of "ten ships" is quite unusual. Also, please note that sentient or near-sentient AI are extremely rare. You can have A.I.s all over the place, but not the type that can pass the Turing Test/be considered people.
Also, nit-pick, but of course, if any debris from a YE ship fell to one of your planets, you can't use it for anything.
A Squid
Don't worry, the debris is untouched and the AI are non-sentient. I fixed the issue where the navy had ten ships. Cleaned up!
Attitude is prohibited
In that case, looks good! Approved!
Not entirely dead.
The Best Worst Psychonaut
No sentient AIs? Damn. I suppose a Robot Republic is out of the question, then. :/
"If you think like a child, you will do a child's work."
Attitude is prohibited
They exist, but there's very few of them. Certainly, there aren't enough freely floating around for them to come together and form their own country. Sorry!
I've got some aliens I could use. Expect something soon in the future.
Characters inbound.
Adventure
- Name: Xaltozan Ceehecatl
- Age: 29 standard years (31.9 zhur’ryan years)
- Sex: Male
- Species: Zhur’ryan
- Rank:
- Adventurers: Engineering Staff
- Appearance: Xaltozan is of average height for a zhur’ryan, standing seven feet six inches tall. He has vivid blue plumage, with the feathers on his arms being a darker shade that gradually transitions to neon blue cranial feathers in a striking gradient. His cranial feathers are relatively short, save for two long ones growing above his primary eyes like a pair of elfin eyebrows. Like most zhur’rya, he has piercing yellow eyes with black sclera.
- Xaltozan’s left arm has been replaced with a crude-looking but functional prosthetic. No attempt has been made to conceal the arm’s artificial nature: the limb segments are covered with dull brown ceramic plating, the joints are gunmetal balls, and the fingers make audible clicks and whirs with every movement. The index finger contains a miniature plasma torch in the fingertip; this torch is intended for precision welding and is of very limited used as a weapon.
- Xaltozan typically wears a brown one-piece jumpsuit with a spotted white ruff, as well as a set of three-eyed goggles with adjustable multispectral filters.
- History: Xaltozan was once a promising warrior in the Tlatlathui Imperial Military. During his training and education he demonstrated aptitudes for piloting, mechanical engineering, and close combat, and in skirmishes against pirate forces on the Imperium’s borders he demonstrated skill—and recklessness—by managing to take several raiders captive, a feat that put him on the fast track toward membership in one of the Knightly Orders. Unfortunately, his promising career was cut short when a rash decision on his part led to the loss of his arm and the death of a comrade, and Xaltozan was subsequently discharged.
- Shamed and shunned, Xaltozan wandered the fringes of Imperial space, making ends meet by applying the skills he’d acquired during his training. After years of labour—some legal, some less so—he managed to get a job on the CSS Horizon, a long-term position that might restore a semblance of purpose to his life.
- Skills/Occupation: As a former warrior, Xaltozan is in good physical condition, is quite strong, and is trained in the use of various weapons found in the Tlatlathui Imperium. He also received training in mechanical engineering, and has both simulated and actual experience in the cockpit of Nagual fighter as he was being considered for that Order before his discharge. In short, he’s a decent mechanic and can handle himself in a fight.
Political
- Name: Acoatl Tzahualli, Cuahtlatoani of Coyametl and Ambassador of the Tlatlathui Imperium.
- Age: 40 standard years (44 zhur’ryan years).
- Sex: Male
- Species: Zhur’ryan.
- Rank:
- Diplomats: Ambassador
- Appearance: Acoatl is relatively short for a zhur’ryan at a “mere” six feet eight inches. His plumage has been dyed to form an eye-searing gradient of hot pink to lime green, and nanites in his cranial feathers allow the colours to shift back and forth in a surreal, kaleidoscopic display. He has a tuft of black bristles under his beak resembling a lammergeyer’s beard, and his eyes have atypical off-white irises and red sclera. He has subtle bags under his primary eyes, and his long cranial feathers are often styled in a single backswept beam resembling the crest of a parasaurolophus.
- Acoatl dresses in finery that reflects his status as a both a member of the nobility and a veteran of several battles. He wears a matching set of matte black armour with gold trimming—consisting of vambraces, greaves, triangular pauldrons, and a breastplate that stops just below the ribs—over a grey nanomesh bodysuit. A black mantle with an iridescent inner lining hangs from his pauldrons. He wears gold rings on each of his fingers, and a golden amulet depicting a tlatlathuian ocelot hangs from his neck. Between his shoulder blades hangs a hologram projector which can project the image of a large solar disc behind his head, though Acoatl dislikes wearing it due to the projector’s weight and only puts it on for the most ostentatious ceremonies.
- History: Acoatl was born the eldest son of Tizoc, second Huey Tlatoani of the Tlatlathui Imperium. He was raised in comparative luxury and given the finest education available, and he had every right to believe that he would eventually ascend to the empire’s throne. It was not to be: Tizoc fell ill and died while Acoatl was not even fledged, and a distant cousin, Atezcatl, was instated as the third Huey Tlatoani. From this, the young Acoatl learned a valuable lesson: blood alone, even royal blood, entitles you to nothing. To obtain something you want, you must work for it.
- And work he did. Acoatl threw himself into his studies and graduated with honours, attaining a position within the prestigious Order of the Ocelot. In this capacity he served as both a capable warrior and a field commander for a decade, leading many successful campaigns against pirates and raiders. These accomplishments earned him governorship of a province on Coyametl in the Pitzotl border system, and after several years he was elevated to cuahtlatoani of the entire planet. Pitzotl’s close proximity to the United Stars of Woglinde’s border gave Acoatl a certain familiarity with the ways of non-zhur’rya, and his dealings with them were the final element that secured his position as the Tlatlathui Imperium’s Ambassador to the Galactic Nations.
- Credentials: See the above paragraph.
- Name: Meztli Xochitl (roughly translated as “Moon Flower”)
- Age: 7 standard years (7.7 zhur’ryan years)
- Sex: Female.
- Species: Zhur’ryan.
- Rank:
- Diplomats: A daughter who came for Take Your Daughter To Work Day and decided she'd rather not leave.
- Appearance: An unfledged child, Meztli is very small for a zhur’ryan at three feet, six inches. Her body is covered with fluffy white down, and the scales on her hands and feet are soft to the touch and of-white in colour rather than the dark grey of an adult. She has the white irises and red sclera of her father.
- In contrast to her father’s ostentatious attire, Meztli wears a simple cream blouse with gold trimming and a matching skirt. She has gold wristlets and wears a gold icon of a tlatlathuian tochtli—a gift from her father—on a chain around her neck. Unbeknownst to her, the icon contains both a tracking device and a personal shield generator, ensuring her protection in the event that she gives her guards the slip.
- History: Meztli is the eldest daughter of Acoatl Tzahualli, and she wants nothing more than to make her father proud. As a reward for doing well in her studies, she has been given permission to visit her father at the Galactic Nations. She has been looking forward to this trip for some time, as father’s business often keeps him away from home; more than that, she’s also excited to see the strange alien beings he works with. Maybe they’ll be friendly. Maybe there will be other children for her to play with…
edited 20th Nov '17 8:09:45 AM by SullenFrog
The Danse Macabre Codex
Attitude is prohibited
Looks good! Congrats on the first characters! Approved.
NEW! Discussion thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=15111328870A54150100&page=1#1
Stay tuned for cool, extra lore...
Not entirely dead.
Excellent! I look forward to seeing everyone else's nations and characters.
The Danse Macabre Codex
- Name: Tyoni Marusul
- Age: 24
- Sex: Male
- Species: Dotur
- Rank: Communications Officer
- Appearance: A tan, fuzzy dotur with a white cottontail and white patch on his forehead. Tyoni has wide black eyes and a nose with whiskers that get twitchy when excited. He stands about three feet high and like most dotur wears open foot sandles when able. His clothes are decidedly pedestrian, and worn out, having been with him throughout a long time of travels. His ears hang low and flop about in their default position, only going straight up when needed.
- History: A restless spirit, Tyoni had grown up on the outskirts of civilization on the planet Vihavu with his parents and two siblings. He hailed from a family of environmental scientists working for the government to restore the world's ravaged ecosystem and often spent his free time exploring the barren land. This life was tragically altered when some leftover hidden ordinance exploded where his parents were working and killed them both. The badly shaken Tyoni and his siblings were taken in by an uncle in the city across the continent where he further experienced culture shock from the dense, urban metropolis.
- His dislike of the city notwithstanding, Tyoni did eventually integrate with his new home and his peers at school, though wandering off on his own became a consistent habit that worried his family. An average student, he nonetheless was very active in school activities in his teen years, applying himself in sports and amatuer media until graduation. Prior to attending higher education, he took odd jobs to pay for a a trip back to his childhood home. The journey down memory lane was apparently not what he was hoping for as he returned very shortly in an unhappy disposition.
- Tyoni took courses largely related to his hobbies in radio and filming, but chafed under the restrictive environment of the school. Shortly after receiving his diploma he took what money he had and booked a flight off world. The city he found overbearing and the outskirts were filled with bad memories, thus leaving the planet entirely was his plan.
- With no particular destination in mind he travelled Woglinde, taking odd jobs along the way to support himself. Despite now living a frugal existence, Tyoni felt more alive than ever. With wanderlust in his heart, Tyoni left Woglinde entirely to see and explore whatever and wherever he could. He nearly died a month later. With a novice's arrogance and lack of preparedness, his first adventure out of the country led to him almost freezing to death in the tundra while trying to live off the land. By the grace of God, some hikers found him and brought him to safety. Afterwards a humbled Tyoni settled down for a while, actually learning about the places he planned to visit and preparing accordingly.
- For the last two years Tyoni's life has been hopping from system to system, recording his travels on his blog, which has gained a small following. He gains employment on ships to get him places before disembarking at his next planned expedition, where he then wanders the world, moon, asteroid, or space station recording all there is to see. Recently, he has begun contemplating returning home, and plans for his next job to be for the long haul in case he decides to settle down permanently.
- Skills: Tyoni's main trade skills involve communications and electronic repair. His media hobbies with speaking and handling cameras has occasionally also brought him some money.
- Name: Ambassador Myrir Munbeem
- Age: 54
- Sex: Male
- Species: Spaceborne
- Rank: Ambassador to the Galactic Nations
- Appearance: A gray blob with the same number of eyes, ears, and tentacles as any other Spaceborne. His eyes are blue. On his "front" is a cyber implant which translates his thoughts into recognizable speech patterns.
- History: Born to a family of lawyers on Freyja IV, a space colony orbiting Kiyoshimo, Myrir lived with his parents and elder brother for most of his childhood in the same sector of their habitat in a middle class neighborhood. Unfortunately, that neighborhood was just a little too close to the poor, overcrowded, rundown sector of the colony, a sector with pent up anger and frustration at the rest of a society which ignored their needs. A sector which one day just had enough. The riot killed and injured many, and destroyed many homes, business, and habitat facilities. Myrir's family fled, and though their home was spared, the riot left a deep impression on the young Spaceborne.
Initially angry, Myrir's attitude changed when he saw an interview with one of the rioters. When the reporter pointed out that most of the destruction had been within their own poor neighborhoods, that their own community would be the ones to suffer because of it, and asked what the point of it was, the rioter answered, "We got what we wanted. We got them to finally pay attention to us."
- Anger turned to sympathy. From then on Myrir vowed to work for the good of the less fortunate. While in school he joined in poverty relief efforts until on the advice of his parents he began to pursue a career in law. His work was impressive enough to get him appointed as Assistant District Attorney, which then propelled him to Prefecture Attorney for the entire Freyja Colony Cluster. During these years he focused mainly on prison reform, reducing jail time, and targeting predatory housing practices against poor home owners and renters. Critics say he made work harder for police officers and was lenient on cases that could result in political favors. If this was the case, he eventually called in those favors, as he was elected to the Freyja Assembly and made the First Minister, the head of government at the prefecture level, and one of the most powerful prefecture at that.
- Myrir continued his work, building up on his experience and connections while making news ones not just in neighboring prefectures, and the central government, but with the systems belonging to neighboring nations as well. Nearing the end of his term limited time in office, Myrir struck a deal with members of Parliament, in exchange for his support they would guarantee him a place in the central government. And thus, he found himself as the Ambassador to the Galactic Nations.
- Credentials: Lawyer, Assistant Distract Attorney, Prefecture Attorney, Assemblyman, First Minister.
edited 22nd Nov '17 6:19:40 PM by Parable
This seems like a really cool idea... I just wish I had the time for it!
It's been fun.
For as long as there has been spaceflight, there has been war. From the moment you took your first tentative steps into the galaxy at large, you were assured of two things: you were at war, and you were going to lose. Since time immemorial, the Known Galaxy has been a battleground, divided between the deadliest superpowers in history; the Yohzhu Empire and the Tennosian Allied Worlds Nation .
Caught between the vaunted starfleet of the Empire and the terrifying “psionic” abilities of the Alliance, you have suffered greatly. As the titans clashed, tearing up the galaxy in their wake, all you could do was try to keep out from underfoot, and hope your new overlords didn't notice you. Those who stood up were crushed, those who fled were chased, and those who hid were inevitably found.
And then, things changed. Abruptly, the war was declared to be “over”, replaced by an “indefinite ceasefire”. The battle-lines that had once seemed so fluid - shifting and changing almost daily - suddenly solidified, and evaporated. Offensives were withdrawn, bases were scuttled, and even occupation forces began to thin. And when the last of their forces left your space, your ever-gracious overlords delivered you the good news: they, in their infinite generosity, had decided to release you from your bonds.
You were free! Free from the boot-heels of both the Empire and the Alliance. No longer did you have to fear the displeasure of your conquerors, no longer did you feel the uncertainty of “what side of the lines will we be on tomorrow?”, “who will be our oppressor today?” No more! Freedom, at last! The transition was sudden, chaotic and difficult... But in the end, you made it.
That was 80 years ago, to the day. That galaxy has heard very little from either the Empire or the Alliance since then, though things have not exactly been quiet since then. Civil wars, border skirmishes, simmering tensions and a plague of pirates all weigh heavily on the denizens of the galaxy. A great deal of pressure is placed upon the ambassadors of the Galactic Nations, the front-lines in the struggle for galactic peace and stability.
And for those in the know, those in the upper echelons of government, the 80th anniversary of your freedom is marred by the reports your spies return with: the Empire engages in massive top-secret construction projects, and the Alliance's leaders hold secret meetings with increasing regularity. Are they preparing to restart the war? Or is something else afoot? Hope that you don't have to find out the hard way...
Hello! Interested?
To participate, make yourself a nation, and if it's accepted, a maximum of 2 diplomats for your activities at the GN and a maximum of 2 adventurers for your tour around the galaxy (sign-up sheets below).
Your ambassadors will liaise with the other players' diplomats and the NPC nations' diplomats, working to balance your nation's interests and the greater good of the galaxy against local intrigue and politics, among other things. The deals you broker and the resolutions you help pass – or kill – might be felt throughout the whole galaxy!
If you decide to have 2 diplomats, one should outrank the other, or else they should have different duties. If only to avoid them accidentally contradicting each other.
Your adventure characters are the newest members of a starship's crew. In fact, they're sitting around in a mostly-deserted old spaceport, waiting to board the CSS Horizon, a long-distance cargo-hauler. The pay is poor and the work is often difficult – and due to a piracy problem, dangerous – but it's good way to see the galaxy, meet new people and get paid while doing so. Life aboard a civilian starship like the Horizon is transient and risky, with long periods just spent traveling between destinations. Far from home, always on the move, risking life and limb in outer space... Tell us why your character wanted/needed this life!
You can have 2 adventuring characters, too. They don't have to be the same species, but for the sake of keeping everything clear and organized, they should probably be from the same nation. Or they can be stateless bums, if you want. Just make sure they're (mostly) qualified to be part of the crew.
SOME RULES!
SPECIAL RULES!
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND! For flavour and fun.
PLEASE FILL THIS OUT ONLY IF YOUR NATION IS ACCEPTED!
Cargo Inspector, Cook, Legal Consultant, Janitor,Ship's Doctor, Medical Staff,Communications Officerand “Able Crewman”. (If you can think of a specific position that you'd prefer, but which isn't listed here, write it here and we'll see if we can make it work).Discussion thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=15111328870A54150100&page=1
Game: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=15147554460A31875400&page=1#1
edited 2nd Jan '18 5:08:36 PM by Blackfire667
Not entirely dead.