[center][h1][b]Welcome to the Starlight Brigade![/b][/h1]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Q3i5w6-Ug[/youtube][/center]


[center][h2][color=#ffc300][b]✩ Lore ✩[/b][/color][/h2][/center]
[h3][color=#ffc300]The Bones of Civilization[/color][/h3]
[justify]The civilizations that exist now have been around for tens of thousands of years, but they are just small footnotes in the galactic history. The real Goliaths have already come and gone. The galaxy is quite old, and though the Talim Empire is the first in its era to claim an entire sector, it isn't the first galaxy-spanning civilization.

No one knows what the first civilization even was like, but their ancient presence litters the galaxy. In fact, the Talim Empire owes much of its progress to alien artifacts found on their home world, which improved their technology by leaps and bounds. The best dating techniques the Talim have indicate many of these artifacts are millions of years old. A notable few are even older, estimated to have been made over billion years ago.

Their continued search for more of these artifacts led them to the discovery of the first star drive, and the Galactic Leylines which power them. Often referred to as 'the veins of the galaxy', the leylines are streams of phantom energy that circulate across the galaxy. Star drives harness the exotic energy of the leylines to travel faster than light. No one really understands how exactly they work, but a handful of clever engineers quickly put the discovery to good use. The Galactic Leylines are now used as an FTL highway, and there are no other known methods of crossing vast stellar distances without them.

Despite the difficulty in finding them, ancient technology and alien ruins are quite common. Many star-faring societies, even outside the Talim Empire, were built on the bones of a previous one. The trash of one civilization became the treasure of another.

Despite alien junk being quite common, it's rare to find one in good working condition, and rarer still to find someone who can repair it. Many of these lesser artifacts, also known as a Cyphers, circulate the trading stations. Cyphers can be anything: a crystal wire, a ball of condensed sound, a metal slate covered in odd symbols, a silver disc with a button on it. Cyphers can create a wide variety of effects, but often break or become inert after 1 or 2 uses.[/justify]

[h3][color=#ffc300]Small Omens[/color][/h3]
[justify]Nanos are perhaps more of a mystery than star drives. Often manifesting as small creatures made of hardened light, these fairy-like beings tend to appear wherever an powerful artifact or leyline nexus is found. Unsurprisingly, many see them as a sign of good fortune and luck in many space-faring societies.

However, they possess abilities which are barely understood by even the most dedicated researchers. Nanos can meld into ancient technology like electric ghosts, and control them freely. Also like ghosts, Nanos exist in whatever dimensions or number of dimensions they choose, and can change how they manifest on a whim. Despite repeated attempts, they cannot be captured, bound, or destroyed. They just come and go as they please.

Most Nanos do not speak, or even acknowledge the existence of most creatures. The ones that do, spout glitchy gibberish not even the best translator A.I. can comprehend. There are rumors that being near a leyline nexus makes them easier to understand, but no such research has ever been made public.[/justify]

[h3][color=#ffc300]Life in the Empire[/color][/h3]
[justify]The Talim Empire has its flaws and detractors, but for the most part the royal family is content to let the many worlds under its dominion maintain whatever beliefs and practices they want. As long as they pay taxes and don't participate in rebellions, the Talim don't seem to care.

The reality is that despite their claims they don't have the resources to police every world or system. The Talim Royal Navy mainly polices the trade stations and leyline gates. In particular, the Navy operates a citadel-style battle station adjacent to every leyline nexus in Talim Space. The Royal Navy does not take kindly to insurrection or smuggling, and they police traffic near any nexus with impunity. Several well-known attacks have tried and failed to take down the citadels, and their infamy has even coined the phrase 'bombing the citadel', which generally means some idiot is pursuing a lost cause and will probably get himself killed.

In frontier space, life is very different. The long arm of Talim Imperial Law can't stretch the vastness of space, so the outer worlds, far from the loyal colonies, play by their own rules. Many systems are too remote to even collect taxes from. Governance and cultures vary wildly the farther one travels from the leylines.

The Istio system, in particular, is a known stomping ground of many exiles, navy deserters, refugees, smugglers, traders, pirates, and adventurers. Every station and colony in the Istio system is a melting pot of different cultures and alien species, and each one is starkly different from the next. 

One might think this chaotic experiment in alien cohabitation would fail miserably, but it didn't. Istio thrives. In fact, it is the most prosperous trading outpost outside of the inner worlds (mostly [i]off the books[/i] of course).[/justify]

[h3][color=#ffc300]Sun Eaters[/color][/h3]

[indent]"This is Marzia Satauros captain of the Halcyon, a frigate of the Talim Imperial Navy. 

If you're receiving this message, then we're already dead.

What it's important now is that you listen and spread the word. 

We rode the leyline to the Theurge's Nexus to trade food and supplies, but when we arrived there was nothing. The station was gone. The planets were gone. Even Theurge's Eye, a red giant, one of the few left in the sector, was gone. We only found bits of debris floating around in the void.

At first we thought it was fluke. We thought the star charts were wrong at first, but they weren't. My navigator was able to analyze and update our charts. But... our high-energy scans attracted... [i]them[/i]. 

The Eminent. 

My navigator thinks they've been mining nearby systems for at least the past decade, but no one noticed them until they came to harvest Theurge's Eye. The debris field we found earlier was what remained of the trading stations in orbit around the Eye. The best data we have suggests they've been targeting resource-rich systems and plundering them to the last atom, which means the Talim Sector is in danger.

The Eminent are real, and they are coming."[/indent]
[right]--[i]The last transmission of the Halcyon[/i][/right]
[h3][color=#ffc300]Echoes from the Void[/color][/h3]
[indent]"In the worlds of Talim Empire, Theurge's Nexus could be seen easily in the night sky. The nebula with its colorful palette of gold and blue stood out among the stars. Theurge's Eye was at its center, a red gem studding the starry canvas. It's been gone for thirty years now. It disappeared over the course of ten days, slowly fading into the pale white backdrop of more distant stars.

The Eminent were only rumors when I was a young boy, the kind of thing the old veteran merchants and traders told stories about after one too many shots of Istian Firebrew. We weren't blind. We all knew the legends. We all saw the stars fading... We just didn't want to believe it. Sun eaters? It sounded impossible.

The SOS message from the Halcyon was received by every station and scrap hauler from the Eos nexus to Istio.

Learning the true fate of the Halcyon and Theurge's Nexus made the nightmares real."[/indent]
[right]--[i]Edel Thane, Comms Engineer aboard the Ymeria[/i][/right]


[center][h2][color=#ffc300][b]✩ Getting Started ✩[/b][/color][/h2][/center]
[hider=Character Creation]
[h3][color=#ffc300]Describe your character in one line~![/color][/h3]

[justify]Digging through hundreds or thousands of lines of text, when I just need a quick reference is really frustrating sometimes. I have a limited amount of time to work on the RP, so streamlining things helps a lot. 

So... in additional to the normal, long form character sheet, I challenge you guys to write a one-liner! Haha! xD

Don't panic though! I got tips for ya <3[/justify]

[h3][color=#ffc300]Here's how it should look[/color][/h3]

[b]Name[/b] is a(n) [b]adjective[/b] [b]species[/b] [b]profession[/b] who [b]focus[/b]

[u][b]Examples[/b][/u]:
Vosk is a brawny Killorian fighter pilot who howls at the moon
Mei Fang is a brave Talim swordswoman who wields phantom blades
Skreed is a witty Tusker rogue who cuts with words
Xit'hachek is a strange Orvon mystic who listens to the void
L'Arachel is a short-tempered Myrrian scholar who steps through time
Thyrboss is a lucky Ulimari crafter who talks to machines

[i]Adjective[/i] - This can be anything really, but must represent your character's most obvious, and/or strongest attribute. It represents the first thing that comes to mind when someone else hears your character's name.

[i]Species[/i] - Super simple! What species are you? Are you a human? Or a sentient plant monster? Vote on your phones now!
Oh, and... Every last one of the alien species mentioned I made up on the spot, so there is no lore for them. You're welcome to make your own though! ;)

[i]Profession[/i] - Pretty straight forward here. Pick a skilled profession and put it here.

[i]Focus[/i] - This should be the one thing that makes your character stand out in this wild alien society. It should be a brief phrase that describes what your character does [i]best[/i]. They could be good at other things, and they may not be as skilled or talented as someone else. Still, this is what you're character is best at.

Alternatively, it could also be purely thematic. Someone who 'howls at the moon' could be a space werewolf, or follow a strange moon-worshiping cult. Both work.

Remember! It doesn't have to be perfect, it just needs to fit the character.

[h3][color=#ffc300]Character Sheet Breakdown[/color][/h3]
[u][b]Name[/b][/u]:

[u][b]Aliases[/b][/u]: (if any)

[u][b]Species:[/b][/u]
You can play any crazy species you want as long as you can meet a few vague criteria:
1) The species can communicate effectively with the other characters. 
2) Their language/culture/personal beliefs does not prevent them from allying with other characters in-game. It's expected that you guys will be teaming up.
3) The species has a way to fit into normal sized ships & vessels
4) The species has a way to physically interact with their surroundings (sentient gas clouds can only go so far!)

[u][b]Homeworld:[/b][/u]
You can make up your own world, use someone else's, one I've mentioned, or a random one. 
If none of that really suits you, just put 'Spacer' to indicate you were born and raised in the void. ;)
[u][b]Age[/b][/u]:
Tell me what age group your character belongs in for their particular species! 
Pick one of the following categories:
* Juvenile
* Adult
* Middle-aged
* Old
* Very Old
* Ancient

For humanoid species, I'm allowing juveniles (i.e. underaged) characters because this isn't smut, and it makes sense for the genre.
However, I don't need to tell you what the forum rules are, so please do me a favor exercise good judgement. If it seems questionable, you probably shouldn't do it, okay? (e.g. no romancing lolis, etc).

You can add numbers of years if you want to, but I don't require them.

[u][b]Gender[/b][/u]:
OPTIONAL
Some species don't have genders, y'know?
Jot it down, if it makes sense for your character to have one.

[u][b]Appearance[/b][/u]:
In keeping with the original music video, I'd prefer anime-esque art or digital art if you use images from the web.
Aside from that... pictures, written descriptions, whatever. I like 'em all. Go nuts.

[u][b]Personality[/b][/u]:
Put the usual here. You know what to do~

[u][b]Background[/b][/u]:
You can write a couple of brief paragraphs, or you can write a life story, if that's your jam. Both are fine. 
However, I need [b][u]everyone[/u][/b] to [i]at least[/i] answer these questions:
* How did you end up in the Istio system?
* How did you character earn the focus they have? (a.k.a. why does your short-form description make sense?)

If you get stuck, need more context, or just have a few questions... join the discord! 
I'll help you figure it out, and I'm sure others would probably be happy to help as well.

[u][b]Talents[/b][/u]
Pick three.

'Talents' can be can be skills your character has worked hard to master (crafting, larceny, stealth, piloting gunfighting, close combat), a strange ability, a special trait unique to your species, influence or renown with a specific group, or something else entirely. In any case, these should represent the cool things your character can do. You get bonus points, if your focus in the one-line description hints at them (not a requirement though).

They are NOT a license to make up cheatsy-doodle abilities that break the game, however~ You've been warned!
 
Protips: 
[list]
[*] At least one talent should be kind of useful for badass space adventures. ;3
[*] At least one talent should relate to the focus/theme in your one-liner
[*] Not being talented in something doesn't mean you suck at it. You're average at doing things by default.
[/list]
[u][b]Cyphers[/b][/u]:
Leave this blank for now.

Each accepted character will have one of these to start, which I may randomly generate.... Mwahaha!

If someone has a compelling/cool reason they should have one, we can work that out.

[h3][color=#ffc300]CS Template[/color][/h3]
Do the clicky thing for the free code sample. ;3
[hider][code]
<One line description goes here>

[u][b]Name[/b][/u]:
[u][b]Aliases[/b][/u]:
[u][b]Species:[/b][/u]

[u][b]Homeworld:[/b][/u]

[u][b]Age[/b][/u]:

[u][b]Gender[/b][/u]:

[u][b]Appearance[/b][/u]:
[hider][img][/img][/hider]

[u][b]Personality[/b][/u]:

[u][b]Background[/b][/u]:

[u][b]Talents[/b][/u]
[list]
[*] Name - Description
[*] Name - Description
[*] Name - Description
[/list]
[u][b]Cyphers[/b][/u]:
[/code][/hider][/hider]

[center][h2][color=#ffc300][b]✩ Rules and Expectations ✩[/b][/color][/h2][/center]
[hider=Dem Da Rules]
[h3][color=#ffc300]What I expect of you:[/color][/h3]
[color=#ffc300][i]Behavior[/i][/color] - Whether or not you are a legal adult, I expect you to act like one. Treat people with respect, avoid petty squabbles, and take responsibility for your actions. 
Being toxic will get you banned from my games. 

[color=#ffc300][i]Giving Criticism[/i][/color] - One of my biggest pet peeves is people who dish out criticisms that aren't also prescriptive. That means if you see a problem with a player or character and you want to call it out, you MUST provide a thoughtful solution for how to [i]solve the problem[/i]. If you can't do that, don't post it.

[color=#ffc300][i]Taking Criticism[/i][/color] - Another one of my pet peeves are people who can't accept good advice even when its presented to them on a silver platter. 
Keep an open mind and stow your ego. Criticism isn't always an attack. It has many legitimate purposes, and chief among them are maintaining continuity in the game and challenging other roleplayers to improve.
If you don't know [i]how[/i] to put good advice to use, there's no shame in that. You don't know what you don't know, right? Ask me or another player for help. There's an entire RP community here for you.

[color=#ffc300][i]Quality[/i][/color] - This isn't the Free section. We don't do one-liners here. You should be able to write at least one paragraph that meaningfully contributes to the current scene.
On the flip side, this also isn't Advanced. I'm not huge fan of hundreds of lines of text that don't have any real substance either. So, I challenge you as a writer to find a good balance between those extremes.

[h3][color=#ffc300]What you can expect from me:[/color][/h3]
[color=#ffc300][i]Deep Narratives[/i][/color] - A well-structured plot helps keep the story cohesive, so I have the plot outlined ahead of time and a few scenarios (somewhat) pre-written. Additionally, every character will share some common goal or struggle, especially during sandbox-style parts of the story. 

[color=#ffc300][i]Character-focused Storytelling[/i][/color] - The best stories are ones where you're really invested in your character, and I want to honor that by investing in making sure your character has an impact on the story. Your character should matter, and the decisions they make should have an impact. 
Oh! And... Simple stereotypes don't sit well with me, so I put a lot of effort into making my characters and NPCs as engaging and interesting as possible. 

[color=#ffc300][i]Quality[/i][/color] - I've been writing since middle school, and I've been running games (tabletop, PbP, or otherwise) for well over a decade. I've screwed up more times than I can count and I've learned a lot along the way. It's hugely important to me that my writing captures the essence of a scene or character, and drives the story forward without adding unnecessary baggage. 
That said, prepare for emotional gut punches. I've been told I'm good at those. >.>;

[color=#ffc300][i]The GM Hotline[/i][/color] - PM me if you're having trouble with the RP. 
Shit happens: IRL gets in the way, writer's block, other players disappearing, someone stole your pudding, etc. 
I get it. Shoot me a PM or message me on Discord. Let's work something out. 
If you need to vent, I'm here for that too. ;)

[h3][color=#ffc300]Rules:[/color][/h3]
[color=#ffc300][i]Rule Zero[/i][/color] - The GM has final say on everything.

[color=#ffc300][i]Standard Stuff[/i][/color] - No god-modding, puppeting, or wish-fulfillment bullshit like Mary Sue characters.

[color=#ffc300][i]Posting Rate[/i][/color] - Players must make at least one IC post per week.

[color=#ffc300][i]'Ghosting' policy[/i][/color] - After 14 days of inactivity in the IC thread, and no communication whatsoever, you will get you booted from the RP. 
[hider=Additional Context]
If 14 days go by and I haven't heard from you at all, even a simple OoC post or Discord message like 'Hey, IRL sucks right now', I assume you've dropped, intentionally or unintentionally. 

[i]No questions asked.[/i]

You're character will be blinked out of existence.

Is it fair to you and your unique circumstances?

Maybe not, but I'm responsible for running the game and keeping players engaged. If there's ever choice between a single inactive player and the group, I choose the group.[/hider]
[color=#ffc300][i]Sexual themes[/i][/color] - The story may be mature in many ways, and I don't have a problem with romance at all, but if there are two characters about to engage in sex, the scene should fade to black. If the its continued in PMs, I don't really care. Just not in this thread.

[color=#ffc300][i]Premeditated PvP Only[/i][/color] - If PvP happens at all, it must be planned. This RP wasn't intended for it, so players involved must decide the general outcome of the fight [i]before[/i] the PvP fight even starts. Also, message me what the plan is as a courtesy. Preesh <3

[color=#ffc300][i]List of Nope for Characters[/i][/color] - There are a few things that really don't fit into the kind of story I want to tell here. 
[list]
[*] [i]Evil/Amoral Characters[/i] - Every character should have some kind of guiding principles or moral grounding, even if it is very different from human morals. Sure, this game was inspired by space cowboys, which is more morally gray, but this game was never intended to accommodate blatant malice by a player character.
[*] [i]Super Grimdark Characters[/i] - Looking at you WH40K >.> Anyway, I like the Warhammer franchise, but this isn't the RP for it. Edgy characters with dark pasts are still fine within reason.
[*] [i]Reliable and Precise Mind Powers[/i] - Specifically things like non-consentual mind-reading, psychometry, precognition, etc. If the ability is both reliable [i]and[/i] precise, then I'm not likely to allow it. Telepathy and telekinesis are fine within reason. If you're not sure whether an ability meets these criteria, [i]ask[/i].
[*] [i]Horror-themed characters[/i] - I love the horror genre, but horror aspects will be reserved for the antagonists. Players should avoid this. Space Vampires, and mad scientists are still allowed, but there is a line. Again if you need more clarity, ask me about it.
[/list]
[/hider]