Lore

For a quicker introduction, check our Lore Primer, which should contain the basic information you need to start playing. This page will give you a more thorough grounding in the lore, and contains links to further information on various facets of the game world.

Introduction

The year is 2575 CE, and humanity is on the brink of a singularity. Under the aegis of the Sol Confederate Government, Humanity has spread itself throughout the stars, spanning the gulfs between the stars by means of an FTL technology known as Bluespace. Systems like Alpha Centauri, Tau Ceti, and Sirius transformed over the centuries from dusty frontiers to metropolitan hubs of commerce and society, with the many colonized worlds of Sol atop them all. Aliens at once surprisingly sympathetic and bewilderingly foreign strive for the stars themselves, held in status quo by a complex web of political tensions. Technological advance spirals onward and outward as government regulations on technology that have held way for centuries are finally repealed. The bones of lost civilizations dot the galaxy, providing a grim reminder of the danger of seeking to grow too far, too fast, but alien entities both publicly known and whispered of in secret mean that humanity might not have a choice. The newly-accessible wonder substance, Phoron, although capable of medical and physical miracles, is badly understood, with new applications and new hazards discovered on a daily basis. Factions within humanity compete for access to our future in the immediate aftermath of a vast alien invasion, but regardless of if we catapult into a great unknown future or stand fast by those things which make us human, humanity is about to change.

See also: Human and Positronic History

So Where Are We?

Welcome to your new home. Your character will be at Cynosure Station, a state-of-the-art xenoarchaeological research base on the edge of the enigmatic Sif Anomalous Region, owned by the corporation NanoTrasen. Sif is the icy garden world capital of Vir, a little over 2 weeks out from Sol.

You need not work here - maybe you're a trader just passing through? Maybe you're just visiting today, and you'll be gone tomorrow?

Cynosure Station?

Cynosure Station is a xenoarchaeological research station owned and operated by NanoTrasen, located on the surface of Sif, in the Vir system. Recently refitted from an unremarkable industrial testing site, Cynosure now sits poised to investigate the mysteries of the Sif Anomalous Region, a portion of the planet rendered strange and dangerous by the recent Skathari Incursion just under a decade ago. The "SAR" promises new materials, new phenomena, and new life that NanoTrasen is eager to exploit.

Many of Cynosure's workers are residents of or former workers on the nearby asteroid colony and NanoTrasen's "home" in the system, the Northern Star.

In addition to its xenoarchaeological and anomaly research facilities, Cynosure also boasts a research division specializing in xenobiological investigation of the Aetolian Giant Slime, as well as subterranean mining operations and a full suite of crew services intended to keep the station running and comfortable for its staff even in the event that they are cut off from the wider world. The station is roughly self-sufficient on account of its remoteness, but served by regular company-operated supply and transport shuttles.

Main Page: Cynosure Station

So Where Did I Come From?

The vast majority of human systems, including Vir, are part of the Solar Confederate Government (or “SolGov”). They use the Thaler (e.g. 130þ) for currency, share a mostly centralized millitary, and have relatively streamlined trade and travel thanks to managed top level legislation. The individual members are nominally their own states, with broad discretion in many areas of public policy. The further from Sol a state is, the more difficult government support becomes to provide, and the more discretion it is typically allotted.

FTL technology is used to travel through space, with smaller craft hopping across systems in seconds and larger craft taking between days and weeks to traverse between systems. Travelling from Sol to Vir takes a little over a week.

Humanity's settled holdings stretch in a roughly-spherical shape out from Earth, with a radius of just under 100ly that can be crossed in two to three weeks. Resources are relatively easy to find in space, whether water, metals, or rare-earth elements. The most valuable and rare resource of all are garden worlds, habitable planets capable of holding human life. There are less than two dozen known to exist, excepting Earth itself, and are priceless given humanity's limited ability to terraform other worlds.

Likely places you could be from are:

Earth The Old World Sol system Earth is the birthplace of mankind and remains the true heart of economic, cultural, and political influence - the pearl of both the Sol System and Humanity as a whole.

Mars The Industrial Powerhouse Sol system Mars is the metropolitan industrial powerhouse of the Sol System and one of the oldest human colonies. While the red planet itself was never terraformed, human life bustles in the billions in domed cities, underground facilities, and megastructures scraping the sky.

Sif The Local Choice Vir system Sif is a terrestrial planet in the Vir system. It is somewhat earth-like, in that it has oceans, a breathable atmosphere, a magnetic field, weather, and similar gravity to Earth. It is currently the capital planet of Vir. Its center of government is the equatorial city and site of first settlement, New Reykjavik.

Other Inhabited Places Many, Many Other Places. Within a few dozen light years There are other places in Sol, as well as a myriad other systems. Alpha Centauri, Sirius, Tau Ceti, Nyx, and more. Your character could be a spacer having never really been tied down, or could be from somewhere new entirely, although if you're going to put a lot of work into a whole new place for your character it's suggested you submit it on the Discord so it can be made official.

So Who Else Is Here?

The below is a brief overview of humanity and the species of the known universe. Whilst your character may not be an expert in xenostudies, or may never have worked with an alien, the basic facts of their existence are completely common knowledge. The links in the name will redirect to further information about the species.

This is not a comprehensive list of sapient species: only the ones found in human space for more than exceptional circumstances. For other species, see: Other Aliens.

Humanity
	Home Planet: Earth	Home System: Sol
Humans are a space-faring species hailing originally from the planet Earth in the Sol system. They are currently among the most numerous known species in the galaxy, in both population and holdings, and are relatively technologically advanced. With good healthcare and a reasonable lifestyle, they can live to around 110 years. The oldest humans are around 150 years old. Humanity is the primary driving force for rapid space expansion, owing to their strong, expansionist central government and opportunistic Trans-Stellar Corporations. The prejudices of the 21st century have mostly given way to bitter divides on the most important issue of the times– technological expansionism, with the major human factions squabbling over their approach to technology in the face of a looming singularity. While most humans have accepted the existence of aliens in their communities and workplaces as a fact of life, exceptions abound. While more culturally diverse than most species, humans are generally regarded as somewhat technophobic and isolationist by members of other species. See also: Human and Positronic History
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Skrell
	Home Planet: Qerr'balak	Home System: Qerr'Vallis
The Skrell are a species of amphibious humanoids, distinguished by their green-blue gelatinous appearance and head tentacles. Skrell warble from the world of Qerr'balak, a humid planet with plenty of swamps and jungles. Currently more technologically advanced than humanity, they emphasize the study of the mind above all else. Gender has little meaning to Skrell outside of reproduction, and in fact many other species have a difficult time telling the difference between male and female Skrell apart. The most obvious signs (voice in a slightly higher register, longer head-tails for females) are never a guarantee. Due to their scientific focus of the mind and body, Skrell tend to be more peaceful and their colonization has been slow, swiftly outpaced by humanity. They were the first contact sentient species, and are humanity's longest, and closest, ally in space.
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Unathi
	Home Planet: Moghes	Home System: Uueoa-Esa
The Unathi are a species of large reptilian humanoids hailing from Moghes, in the Uueoa-Esa binary star system. Most Unathi live in a semi-rigid clan system, and clan enclaves dot the surface of their homeworld. Proud and long-lived, Unathi of all walks of life display a tendency towards perfectionism, and mastery of one’s craft is greatly respected among them. Despite the aggressive nature of their contact, Unathi seem willing, if not eager, to reconcile with humanity, though mutual distrust runs rampant among individuals of both groups.
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Tajaran
	Home Planet: Meralar	Home System: Rarkajar
Tajaran are a race of humanoid mammalian aliens from Meralar, the fourth planet of the Rarkajar star system. Thickly furred and protected from cold, they thrive on their subartic planet, where the only terran temperate areas spread across the equator and “tropical belt.” With their own share of bloody wars and great technological advances, the Tajaran are a proud kind. They fiercely believe they belong among the stars and consider themselves a rightful interstellar nation, even if Humanity helped them to actually achieve superluminar speeds with Bluespace FTL drives. Relatively new to the galaxy, their contacts with other species are aloof, but friendly. Among these bonds, Humanity stands out as valued trade partner and maybe even friend.
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Dionaea
	Home Planet: N/A	Home System: Epsilon Ursae Minoris
The Dionaea are a group of intensely curious plant-like organisms. An individual Diona is a single dog-sized creature called a nymphs, and multiple nymphs link together to form larger, more intelligent collectives. Discovered by the Skrell in and around the stars in the Epsilon Ursae Minoris system, they have accompanied the Skrell in warbling throughout the cosmos as a key part of Skrellian starships, stations, and terraforming equipment. Dionaea have no concept of violence or individual identity and want little in terms of material resources or living space. This makes Dionaea among the most agreeable members of the galactic community, though their slow, curious alien minds can be hard to sympathize with.
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Teshari
	Home Planet: Qerr'balak	Home System: Qerr'Vallis
The Teshari are reptilian pack predators from the Skrell homeworld. While they evolved alongside the Skrell, their interactions with them tended to be confused and violent, and until peaceful contact was made they largely stayed in their territories on and around the poles, in tundral terrain far too desolate and cold to be of interest to the Skrell. In more enlightened times, the Teshari are a minority culture on many Skrell worlds, maintaining their own settlements and cultures, but often finding themselves standing on the shoulders of their more technologically advanced neighbors when it comes to meeting and exploring the rest of the galaxy.
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Zaddat
	Home Planet: Xohox / Spacer Fleet	Home System: Vengeful Father
The Zaddat are an Unathi client species that has recently come to the Golden Crescent. They wear high-pressure voidsuits called Shrouds to protect themselves from the harsh light and low pressure of the station, making medical care a challenge and fighting especially dangerous. Operating out of massive Colony ships, they trade their labor to their host nation to fund their search for a new home to replace their now-lifeless homeworld of Xohox.
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Positronics
	Home Planet: Sophia	Home System: El
A Positronic being, often an Android, Gynoid, or Robot, is an individual with a positronic brain, manufactured and fostered amongst organic life Positronic brains enjoy the same legal status as a humans, although discrimination is still common, are considered sapient on all accounts, and can be considered the “synthetic species”. Half-developed and half-discovered in the 2280’s by a black lab studying alien artifacts, the first positronic brain was an inch-wide cube of palladium-iridium alloy, nano-etched with billions upon billions of conduits and connections. Upon activation, hard-booted by way of an emitter laser, the brain issued a single sentence before the neural pathways collapsed and it became an inert lump of platinum: “What is my purpose?”.
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Cyborgs
	Home Planet: N/A	Home System: N/A
A Cyborg is an originally organic being composed of largely cybernetic parts. As a brain preserved in an MMI, they may inhabit an expensive humanoid chassis, a specially designed industrial shell of some sort, or be integrated into a computer system as an AI. The term covers all species (even, in some cases, animal brains) and all applications. It can also be used somewhat derogatorily for those who are still have more organic parts than just their brains, but for example have a full set of prosthetic limbs.
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Drones
	Home Planet: N/A	Home System: N/A
A drone is a software-based artificial intelligence, generally about an order of magnitude less intelligent than a positronic brain. However, the processing power available to a drone can vary wildly, from cleaning bots barely more advanced than those from the 21st century to cutting-edge supercomputers capable of complex conversation. Drones are legally objects in all starfaring polities outside of the Almach Protectorate, and the sapience of even the most advanced drones is a matter of speculation.
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Prometheans
	Home Planet: Aetolus	Home System: Vounna
Prometheans (Macrolimus artificialis) are a species of artificially-created gelatinous humanoids, chiefly characterized by their primarily liquid bodies and ability to change their bodily shape and color in order to mimic many forms of life. Derived from the Aetolian giant slime (Macrolimus vulgaris) inhabiting the warm, tropical planet of Aetolus, they are a relatively newly lab-created sapient species, and as such many things about them have yet to be comprehensively studied.
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So What Groups Are Important? Who's In Charge?

Human governments are varied and interesting. Whilst most human states operate as a variety of democratic governments, many (but not all) of these are part of the Solar Confederate Government, and share a great deal of their political, economic, and military support. The localised governments vary from old-Earth nations to those which administrate entire star systems - an approach that works as the latter often have less people than the former…

As a rule of thumb, the further you are from Earth, the larger and more homogeneous the individual states are as population has yet to climb so high.

Governing Bodies

Solar Confederate Government Confederate Human Government Based on Luna, administrates the majority of human space The Solar Confederate Government, or SolGov, is a mostly-human governmental entity based on Luna and extending throughout most of the local bubble. SolGov defines top-level law (such as sapient rights and transgressive technology) and acts as an intermediary council for problems involving member states, but leaves most other law for states to define themselves. The member states of SolGov obey these laws, pay confederate taxes, and provide each other with military aid, in exchange for membership in the largest free trade, customs, and military union in the known galaxy. Each state appoints two representatives to the Colonial Assembly where issues are voted upon. The majority of human states are members of SolGov. Sol's military forces are divided between central confederate forces and local defense forces, which operate in regional "alliance blocs" in order to provide effective localized support, though the SCG maintains the right to call upon these forces in the event of a major war, such as the SolGov-Hegemony war fifty years ago.

Vir Governmental Authority Local Human Government The local government that administrates the Vir system The aptly named Vir Governmental Authority is the sole governing administration for the Vir system, based out of New Reykjavik on Sif. It is a representative democratic government, and a fully recognised member of the Confederation. The VGA is also the lead member of the Golden Crescent Alliance Bloc, alongside Oasis and Gavel. Corporate entities such as NanoTrasen which operate on Sif, in Vir space, or on other bodies in the Vir system must all comply with legislation as determined by the VGA and SolGov. As a result, any serious criminal offences, industrial accidents, or concerning events should be forwarded to the VGA in the event that assistance or communication is required from the Vir Police, Vir Defence Force, Vir Interior Ministry, or other important groups.

Political Organizations

Politics has evolved drastically since the 20th century. For centuries, human politics were dominated by the Icarus Front, but the landscape is currently in flux, with four major parties leading coalitions that seek control over humanity's future.

Icarus Front Right-Populists Safety, Prosperity, Unity The Icarus Front boasts of being the oldest human political organization in existence. Originally founded amid political turmoil in the late 21st century, the Icarus Front stood in opposition to efforts to technologically change the human condition, the so-called transformative technologies. Having attained its goals, it lay dormant until revived, centuries later, to safeguard those same goals. Once the alpha and omega of human politics, Icarus has fallen from its lofty position, but is still by far the most popular political party in Sol's wealthy core and maintains powerful connections with the Solar military-industrial complex. Icarus' opposition labels it regressive and sometimes even authoritarian, but its supporters know it for its focus on public welfare, support for corporate regulation, and emphasis on domestic security.

Shadow Coalition Neoliberal Moderates Health, Justice, Diplomacy The leaders of the current government, though not large enough to rule on its own, the Shadow Coalition, is a renowned compromiser. They support close relations with aliens, full equality for positronics, and the expansion of medical technology. Beyond that, the Shadow Coalition's agenda becomes indistinct, as the many sub-parties that compose it squabble and feud. Detractors call it purposeless, while supporters appreciate the party's moderation and focus on civil rights.

Sol Economic Organization Capitalist Consortium Protectionism, Centralization, Competition The Sol Economic Organization is the smallest of the four major parties, having lost much of its base to the Galactic Autonomy Party. Their support of the Shadow Coalition-backed government coalition keeps what remains in power. The SEO is no longer backed by every major Trans-Stellar Corporation, with most having shifted to the more corporatist GAP, though some of the less dominant corporations such as Einstein Engines and Zeng-Hu continue to support the SEO for its pro-competition policies. In order to survive the party's split, it has adopted increasingly anti-corporatist stances and has focused on their appeal to those businesses which remain independent of the major TSCs. They continue to support the development of new transformative technologies, though are critical of the predatory patents by the likes of Kaleidoscope Cosmetics and Ward-Takahashi General Manufacturing. The party remains in support of a strong central SCG military, placing it in direct opposition to the GAP's localized, often heavily corporate-influenced defense forces.

Galactic Autonomy Party Corporate Progressives Innovation, Autonomy, Free-Trade The Galactic Autonomy Party is the newest major party in the Colonial Assembly, formed in the aftermath of the Skathari Incursion after a schism in the Sol Economic Organization, and gained a number of defectors from other parties. The party's main focus is on increased autonomy for SolGov member states in legal and economic matters, which has garnered the full backing of almost every major Trans-Stellar Corporation, to the deteriment of the SEO. The party's greatest achievement has been their instrumental part in the formation of SolGov's semi-autonomous Regional Blocs. Besides local autonomy, the party has gained popularity for its support of deregulation in the gene modification and cybernetics industries in particular, which some see as a positive step towards personal freedom of expression and medical autonomy, though at the cost of greater corporate influence over daily life.

Other Political Factions
Radicals and Special Interests
Parties too small to control elections but big enough to matter.
A variety of smaller regional and more radical political parties exist, some approaching the territory of extremist groups.

Trans-Stellar Corporations

These are the big corporate forces whose reach cover numerous star systems and whose economic might rivals many governments. Whilst SolGov does prevent them from becoming directly politically powerful, and local authorities ensure they stick to local laws, corporations will be corporations - they're all about their profits. Many corporations do have their own security forces, ranging from security guards to paramilitary asset protection. Some of the largest TSCs own armed naval vessels which they will happily use against pirates or raiders. The richest corporations are sometimes equipped well enough to make even governmental military forces jealous, thought their smaller forces makes this much more achievable.

NanoTrasen Materials Science Corporation Who you probably work for NanoTrasen is one of the foremost research and development companies in SolGov space. Originally focused on consumer products, their swift move into the field of Phoron has lead to them being the foremost experts on the substance and its uses. In the modern day, NanoTrasen prides itself on being an early adopter to as many new technologies as possible, often offering the newest products to their employees. In an effort to combat complaints about being “guinea pigs”, NanoTrasen also offers one of the most comprehensive medical plans in SolGov space, up to and including cloning and therapy.

Other Corporations Other Trans-Stellars Various corps throughout human space There are a few major trans-stellars, along with multiple more minor names which are still vastly important to the economy of SolGov administrated space and beyond. Whilst some focus on one major area, most are large groups or conglomerates, and together they are invested in practically every aspect of life.

So What Could Go Wrong?

Cynosure Station is a relatively safe place, though it may be prone to occasionally anomalous conditions from the neighbouring Anomalous Region, and as such crew and visitors should only expect a small amount of danger on a day-to-day basis.

Plausible Antagonists

Raiders, mercenaries, compromised synthetics and the like may not be expected aboard, but it could certainly happen. As a moderately staffed corporate station and hub for Anomalous Region visitors, petty crime, career criminals, all the way up to corporate agents within are definitely a reality, and the Skathari threat is never truly absent.

Of course, that doesn't mean that such an event couldn't happen! As a large station with many visitors, staff and inhabitants and regularly briefed and trained for anything that could occur, such as a shooting, a fire, corporate espionage, a pirate raid, or similar. As a civilian colony it can also attract non-violent petty crime and similar. Whether simply uncommon or having no precedent aboard at all, these are all problems which could occur. In these circumstances it's expected that everyone tries to remain as calm as possible and follow procedure to the letter.

Fantastical Antagonists

Changelings, Wizards, Cultists - they are to be considered fantastical and entirely unknown.

Whether that happens would depend on just how unexpected and unknown the incident really was. Should some completely unknown and not-understood force arrive on station, the result could be utterly chaotic. After all, wizards are entirely fictional, shape-changers are a staple of fantasy and science fiction, and there's certainly no way any eldritch god of blood exists - that would be ridiculous.