The current year is 2525. About a hundred years ago, the humans of Earth almost destroyed themselves with constant war over resources, poisoning their very world. The fighting only stopped when visiters from beyond the stars revealed themselves to the humans; they called themselves the Sect. Emergency cease fires followed by UN meetings brought the violence to a screeching halt to decide how humanity as a whole would meet these newcomers. Before they could reach a decision, the alien race made contact, proclaiming they would allow some of the Earth’s popoulation to board their ships and make a new life in the stars. The world leaders decided to take the offer as opposed to total annihilation. The visitors allowed the humans to pick for themselves who would live and board their vessel and who would be left to die. The process of deciding took months on the part of the world leaders. They chose themselves and their kind, the Earth’s top percentage of citizens. They boarded the vessel to be whisked away from their doomed world, but as the vessel took off, it was destroyed by the aliens. They spoke once more to the remaining humans, explaining that they had known what the decision would be and instead chose to destroy the selfish humans and allow the wouldbe doomed to board their vessels and leave the doomed planet behind. After rescuing the humans from their dying world, the aliens helped them to settle on Mars. From there, humanity used their second chance at life to spread out amongst the stars and have become a normal part of life in the vast reaches of space, bringing new cultures and ideas to the Universe. They have since been inducted into the Intergalactic Federation of Unity, an organization similar to the antiquitted UN of Earth, which has been converted into a galactic junk yard. The IFU does their best to keep peace between the various races of the Universe, but there has been a split since humanity has joined. Some races don’t thinnk the humans deserve to be a part of the IFU since they came so close to destroying themselves and their own world and believe they are a poison. This divide has sparked a war among the stars. Our tale, however, has little to do with the war directly and instead focuses on the Average Joe of the Verse. This story is about a ragtag group of individuals who just try to make ends meet and survive off of a mix of their own skills and dumbluck. [hr] [hider=Rules] [list] [*] Be respectful to one another and me, in IC and OOC. [*] I don't mind mature content, but pointless gore and debauchery add nothing to a good story. [*] Should something happen, I have final say, as does a Co-GM if I choose to appoint someone. [*] This is an Advanced RP, so I'd like posts to try and be a minimum of three paragraphs. I know sometimes things will lull and it can be difficult to write that much, but I'd this to at least be an average length. [*] Keep it fun for everyone. [/list] [/hider] [b][u]Universal Encyclopedia[/u][/b] [u]Races[/u] [hider=IFU] [hider=Anphid] [b]Lifespan:[/b] Indefinite so long as they are not killed and have another Anphid shell to transfer their consciousness to. [b]Physical Decription:[/b] [img]http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff9/nacron/670f103c-cb5b-480e-a727-d7fefb3ae850_zpswjw84vay.jpg[/img] The Anphid were made to look like the race that first constructed them and brought them to life. They were made to average around 5 feet tall and are made of synthetic materials made to copy the internal workings of their makers while being covered in metal plating that can vary in color for each individual. [b]Genders:[/b] Physically, the Anphid are genderless, but the more feminine in personality have sleeker bodies, closer in shape to the females of the race that made them. The males are bulkier and resemble the males of the race that made the Anphid. [b]Homeworld:[/b] Anphose Prime [b]Society:[/b] Each dome city has its own elected governor who sits on the council that rules over the planet. [b]Alignment:[/b] The Anphid have chosen to side with the IFU. [/hider] [hider=Grunge] [b]Lifespan[/b]: Provided they don't die through external causes, the Grunge are capable of living for all eternity, due in no small part to their ability to constantly absorb new material into themselves, adopting new personalities when an older one is no longer stable. (There are rare exceptions to this case, though these leviathan blobs are more creatures of instinct, unstable and irrational) [b]Physical Description[/b]: A typical Grunge starts off as a small spore within its parent's interior; As it matures, it'll eventually slip out and away to become its own putrid slime-blob, growing in size and intellect the longer it survives. They vary greatly in coloration, though the key contributing factor happens to be their diet of absorption, and an elderly Grunge is often Grey, murky-Brown/Red, hazy-Green or Black. It is considered normal for a Grunge to adorn its exterior with a garish medley of trinkets from its past meals. They are without a distinct shape and smell horrendously to all but themselves. Within their very core lies a fluid sack containing their various internals, including their brain. The largest Rogue Grunge (An unstable Grunge of considerable age who didn't happen to swap personalities late in life) was found to be floating around within the planet at a height of 1219 Centimeters, before shortly afterwards being disintegrated by a rising electrical storm. [b]Genders[/b]: The Grunge are without gender and entirely asexual. [b]Homeworld[/b]: QW3-RT-7 [b]Society[/b]: The Grunge have no ruling society, though they do practice the concept of Digestive Restraint, that they won't end up consuming the entirety of their planet's internals. It is considered acceptable for any particular individual conflict to end in the cannibalism of one Grunge by the other that defeated it. [b]Alignment[/b]: The Grunge are for the IFU, providing fleets of gelatinous 'space-whales' to their cause for the purpose of enveloping and capturing enemy vessels.[/hider] [hider=Sect] [b]Lifespan:[/b] 60 USYs. [b]Physical Decription:[/b] [img]http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff9/nacron/bde8f9d7-0bc1-4ddb-be34-aadf5e4c92f7_zpsgsanrsqb.jpg[/img] The Sect reach an average height of 7 feet and have long, slender bodies with arms reaching most of the way down their bodies. They do not walk but float a few feet off the ground. They wear long sweeping robes that hang down to cover their legs when they are floating. Because of this, some people think they don’t even have legs. The Sect are born without eyes. Instead, they see through different light spectrums via the plate that stretches from their their forehead down above their nose. [b]Genders:[/b] The females grow small ridges along the middle of their heads. [b]Homeworld:[/b] Novect [b]Society:[/b] Sect society is a monarchy, with a king presiding over the vast territories across the planet. The king takes on three mates to provide him with more children. [b]Alignment:[/b] The Sect remain allied with the IFU. [/hider] [/hider] [hider=Neutral] [hider=Avaryn] [b]Lifespan:[/b] Around 120 Universal Standard Years [b]Physical Decription:[/b] [img]http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff9/nacron/2ed99949-6d84-4457-9e37-53b2cdfd1d35_zpszcrmr0r4.jpg[/img] The Avaryn are a species take on the appearance of different birds but only have feather on their head in place of hair. Avaryns hit sexual maturity around 20 Universal Standard Years. At this point, the Avaryn reach their full height, the tallest reaching around 5'10" in height, and are done growing physically. The Avaryn have three talone digits on their hands and feet, the middle of which is the longest. Avaryns have a very lithe frame due to their bones being less dense than those of humans. Because of this, however, the Avaryn are known to move much faster than humans but are less durable, which they compensate for with heavily shielded armor for their warriors. They cannot make the armor heavier than average, so they have high-strength individual personal shielding built into their armor. [b]Genders:[/b] Male Avaryns are distinguishable by their lighter-colored feathers. [b]Homeworld:[/b] Airys [b]Society:[/b] In Avaryn society the females are more prominent, similar to how males usually are in human society, taking on roles of power such as in politics, military, etc. The males usually involve themselves with more passive professions like science, medicine, etc. That’s not to say males in Avaryn society don’t join the military or rise to power or that females never become doctors or scientists. The Avaryn military is known for its long range and espionage-based fighters. They are also known for their more defensive approach to military technology, preferring to research more into protecting their troops than they do in harming opposing armies. [b]Alignment:[/b] The Avaryn people have decided to split from the IFU but are not actively involved in the war currently. [/hider] [hider=Nunaaj] [b]Lifespan[/b]: Around 14 Moon Cycles, or approximately 180 Universal Standard Years years. [b]Physical Description[/b]: http://gyazo.com/c599c1f7fc7c5fcbd8214abad0b643fd http://gyazo.com/68857d8aad551224056588b73ef3c9d4 Aside from this, those residing above-ground are usually burnt in coloration, while the wealthier Nunaaj residing below ground are seen as angelic from their pail complexions (even if they are physically weaker). They usually stand between 190-280 Centimeters. [b]Genders[/b]: The genitals and physical features of this race are similarly humanoid, although there is the chance that a Nunaaj may end up with characteristics of both. [b]Homeworld[/b]: Casca'Jadun'Osaye'Benden (1st Star'2nd Star'Planet'Moon) [b]Society[/b]: The Nunaaj are divided into Clans, with each Clan marking its members from birth with lower-lip extensions and body-tattoos bearing their respective markings. It's ruling system is Freehold-based, though there are holes in this system, such as in the case of wealthier Clans being able to team up in approving their own ideals. Because of this, the smaller Clans are very organized, constantly attempting to pit the larger Clans at odds with one another, that they might further their own goals or open up opportunities for Clan Ascension. They value all genders as equals, defining Merit as the principle justification for the praise or degradation of any character or Clan...however, they are partially biased against races other than their own. [b]Alignment[/b]: The residents of Casca'Jadun'Osaye'Benden are secretly for a united IFU --given that there is little harm in prosperity-- but openly Neutral, preferring to wait for a proper victor. Because of this, there have been several occurrences in which their territories have become the play-grounds for several warring factions...although, they are too weak a faction to dispute this disrespect.[/hider] [/hider] [hider=Split] [hider=Bacta] [b]Lifespan[/b]: 1(Male average)-4(Female average) Universal Standard Years [b]Physical Description[/b]: The Bacta are a tiny, centipede-like race with incredibly high intelligence. When seen outside of their vastly larger robotic shells, they can clearly be made out as brown, centipede-like organisms that scurry about frenetically. These shells are capable of being designed to mimic the properties of other races, provided a Bacta is wealthy enough; However, the less fortunate simply make due with smaller constructs such as floating spheres...lesser still, without them at all. With their robot shells, they usually stand (or float) between 30 - 579 Centipeders; Without them, they sit between 0[b].[/b]4 - 3 Centimeters. [b]Genders[/b]: While they are all of the same coloration, the females are more prominent in size (mostly because the males feed them so much), with their ruling matriarchy being almost seven times the average male's superior. Sexual organisms also differentiate them, but are far more difficult for any but a Bacta to spot. [b]Homeworld[/b]: BaQtria [b]Society[/b]: The Bacta are ruled in a matriarchal style, with females predominately being responsible for birthing and the governance of their assigned male Congregations. Males work under instruction of said females, and a female without trust-worthy males under her governance is commonly thought to have lost all self-respect. Where one female Bacta goes, a dozen or more follow in strict servility. Also under their lengthy control are several dozen Colony Worlds...many of which several IFU member-factions have previously argued were "Illegally Occupied", despite the Bacta having clearly shown legitimate documentation pointing strictly to the contrary. [b]Alignment[/b]: Disgusted by Humans --who happened to be equally disgusted of them-- and insulted that they should have to sit next to them on any matter, the Bacta are now thoroughly opposed to the IFU...all the more worrisome for their former allies, given the excessive size of their Hive-Fleets.[/hider] [/hider] [u]Worlds[/u] [hider=Airys] Airys has a surface covered in vast cities of tall spires reaching toward the sky. Outside of the cities, Airys houses vast forests filled with lush flora and fauna. The winds of this world are incredibly powerful, and there are often wind storms stronger than Earth’s hurricanes. The towers errected by the Avaryn people withhold such sorms though and allow them to study them more closely. The planet’s surface is only covered in 40 percent water. The days here stretch on for 50 hours, 24 of which are night.[/hider] [hider=Anphose Prime] Anphose Prime is a wartorn world almost entirely unihabitable by organic lifeforms. Most of its surface is covered in wastelands strewn with debris from a long gone society. There are pockets of highly advanced citites encased in large domes spread across the planet. Anphose Prime has 20 hours of daylight and 10 hours of night.[/hider] [hider=BaQtria] BaQtria, once a jungle planet, suffers heavily from over-population. Despite this, it's upper levels are marvelous wonders of archeological achievement, with thousands of different styles and sizes being incorporated to welcome all but the most distant races in diplomacy. The world's weather system is now entirely mechanical (thanks to the revolutionary amounts of power provided by their Solar Terminals across the planet), leading to increasing wealth and splendour for the nobility, and decreasing standards of living for the penurious. It should also be noted that the entire planet finished its Weaponization in Mass Mechanical Development (WMMD) project several millennia prior, and is now capable of knocking out Asteroid and Starships alike due to the inanely complex Threat-Neutralization Abreast Destructive Security (T-NADS) system. (It should be noted that rare cases of small enough ships bypassing this system have been documented, though the culprits have assuredly all been detained) [/hider] [hider=Casca'Jadun'Osaye'Benden] Casca'Jadun'Osaye'Benden (1st Star'2nd Star'Planet'Moon) is a rather scorched planet of scintillating dunes and shimmering oases, often with whole cities built around these lakes and the massive underground reservoirs beneath them; These cities often extend deep into the ground and far into the sky; The weather is harsh, with sandstorms being able to pick up whatever isn't nailed down to the ground, and for this reason, shutters are made of the same stone as everything else in the city, and appropriately locked when a storm is approaching; There are frequent earth-quakes, though they reside on mapped Fault-lines that go on for miles, uninhabited by the general populace; There are *No Oceans* on Casca'Jadun'Osaye'Benden, only oases and underground reservoirs of water; The planet's moon is uninhabitable and one of its stars is steadily dying, though a ways off in this regard. It's Day wherever the moon isn't lined up in front of the star, in which case it's then Nights -- Nights only occur every few 7-8 years, lasting for 3-4 years (as the planet is forever stuck between the twin stars, with the moon gradually rotating around it). [/hider] [hider=Novect]Novect is 50 percent water with three large continents covered in jungle. The Sect citites blend with the jungles and use them rather than clearing them out to construct buildings. Daylight lasts for 35 hours here, and night lasts for just as long.[/hider] [hider=Pegasus]Pegasus' arid mountain climate and rich mineral deposits made it a popular spot for corporations to set up their own mining projects; though the harshness of the climate combined with the 40 hour long day cycle makes it somewhat of a risky project. The planet's capital, Trinity, is one of the only major built up areas on the entire world. [/hider] [hider=QW3-RT-7]QW3-RT-7 is a gaseous planet with low gravity. Because of this, the various continents and liquids within the planet are unstable, floating around with its rotation. It is governed by one star and several dozen moons made up of those pieces of terrain/space-debris that almost escaped Qw3-RT-7's gravitational pull. It has flora and fauna, but the intelligence of the Grunge allowed them to 'tame' their world, more or less. Occasionally, electric maelstroms will escape the planet's center, ravaging whatever they touch before becoming trapped in the planet's strange stratosphere. [/hider] [hr] [hider=Dossier] [b]Name:[/b] [b]Race:[/b] Feel free to create your own race here, but I will need you to fill out the form so I can add it to the Enyclopedia. [b]Age:[/b] [b]Gender:[/b] [b]Appearance:[/b] Description or image is fine, but make sure if you sumbit an image that it's not overly huge. [b]Homeworld:[/b] Again, feel free to make one up, but you will also need to provide a description of this for the Encyclopedia. [b]Personality:[/b] [b]Skills:[/b] I'm alright with some above average skills, but don't go overboard. Remember, we're the Average Joes here. [b]Motivation:[/b] What is your character's motivation in this Universe? What drives them? Give a little bit of backstory here, just main points of their life. [B]Gear:[/b] [/hider] [hider=Race Application] [b]Name:[/b] The name of the race. [b]Lifespan:[/b] [b]Physical Decription:[/b] A physical description or image of your race. [b]Genders:[/b] What marks either gender if anything does. [b]Homeworld:[/b] Provide the name, environment(s), and day cycle length of their homeworld. [b]Society:[/b] What is your race's society like? [b]Alignment:[/b] Which side of the war, if either, is your race on? [/hider]