The Twilight Reach: A Space Opera/Space Western Game
I. Intro
II. Alien Species
III. Notable Planets and Places of the Sector
IV. Tech Level
V. Rules
VI. Character Sheet Skeleton
I. Intro
There was no grand ascent to the stars, no special destiny for the Human race, no interstellar federation or star empire. Rather, Humanity collapsed in and of itself, its own flaws denying it the strength to reach out to space. Devestated by its own divisions, the nations of Earth fell into poverty, war, and environmental collapse years before first contact was made; when Aliens finally contacted Humanity, the latter was in no place to complain about being in the lowest rung of the interplanetary social ladder.
Two centuries later, the species of the Galaxy regard Humanity as synonymous with criminality, crudeness, and violence; not helped by the fact that oppressive conditions have forced many Humans to take up the worst jobs, legal and illegal. Earth, still-devestated, churns out migrants by the millions, even as many more of its population try and eke a living in the barren wasteland most of the planet has become. Rebuilding is slow, and some say it might never happen. But nevertheless, one cannot deny this: Humanity is completely and utterly responsible for its own fall - It cannot blame others.
Then in the year 2388 AD (5416 Galactic Standard), Humanity received its 'lucky break' - The Galatic Exploration Commission, a corporation that acts as the main authority over interspecies and interstellar matters, had discovered a variety of habitable planets in a new region called the 'Twilight Reach', an area of space far from interstellar civilization and peopled mostly by pirates and criminals. Thus, the area was deemed a fit place for Humanity to colonize.
Three decades later, 2418 AD (5446 Galactic Standard), the Twilight Reaches are dotted with human colonies, peopled by men and women seeking a better life. Many of them obey only their own laws, paying only the lightest of 'rents' to the Galactic Exploration Commission, which regards itself as the true owner of the Twilight Reach due to its discovery of its potential. A few are even industrious enough to produce their own spacecraft, a worrying development in the eyes of those who view Humanity as dangerous. The Pirates have also been largely defeated, but many still lurk and wait for the chance to re-emerge.
And on the planet of New Patmos, a discovery is made that can shift the tide of galactic politics forever...
Two centuries later, the species of the Galaxy regard Humanity as synonymous with criminality, crudeness, and violence; not helped by the fact that oppressive conditions have forced many Humans to take up the worst jobs, legal and illegal. Earth, still-devestated, churns out migrants by the millions, even as many more of its population try and eke a living in the barren wasteland most of the planet has become. Rebuilding is slow, and some say it might never happen. But nevertheless, one cannot deny this: Humanity is completely and utterly responsible for its own fall - It cannot blame others.
Then in the year 2388 AD (5416 Galactic Standard), Humanity received its 'lucky break' - The Galatic Exploration Commission, a corporation that acts as the main authority over interspecies and interstellar matters, had discovered a variety of habitable planets in a new region called the 'Twilight Reach', an area of space far from interstellar civilization and peopled mostly by pirates and criminals. Thus, the area was deemed a fit place for Humanity to colonize.
Three decades later, 2418 AD (5446 Galactic Standard), the Twilight Reaches are dotted with human colonies, peopled by men and women seeking a better life. Many of them obey only their own laws, paying only the lightest of 'rents' to the Galactic Exploration Commission, which regards itself as the true owner of the Twilight Reach due to its discovery of its potential. A few are even industrious enough to produce their own spacecraft, a worrying development in the eyes of those who view Humanity as dangerous. The Pirates have also been largely defeated, but many still lurk and wait for the chance to re-emerge.
And on the planet of New Patmos, a discovery is made that can shift the tide of galactic politics forever...
II. Alien Species
The Deva'Kin - The most plentiful sapient species are the Deva'Kin, a race of sapient plants whose main strength is their ability to populate multiple types of planets, and in some cases, even terraform them by themselves. Though vulnerable to fire and bladed weapons, the Deva'Kin are resistant to bullets and poisons, and almost completely immune to diseases (bar tree rot). The Deva'Kin can be found amongst all walks of life, whether as soldiers, artisans, scientists or mechanics. They have a controlling share in the the Galactic Exploration Commission.
Ran'yar - An Avian species which lost the power of flight years ago in exchange for increased intelligence, the Ran'yar are a race of warriors, scholars, and merchants who have fought a series of wars with the Deva'Kin which ended in a draw - The resulting peace treaty led to the establishment of the Galactic Exploration Commission, and the resulting 'Duopoly' over Space exploration.
Tyrell'Keth - A lizard-like, omnivourous species which despite their hideous apperances, resemble humanity closely in psychological profile. However, this spurs competition as well as cooperation with Humanity, and members of both species often sell each other as slaves whenever they can get away with it. They hate the Galactic Exploration Commission and their duopoly, and strive to acquire larger shares in it so they can dissolve it entirely.
The Drakul - Any Xenobiologist worth their salt would recognize that the Drakul were not the products of natural evolution, but were rather created, perhaps as weapons of war by a long-lost species. It is also theorized that the creators of the Drakul were highly intelligent themselves, and wanted 'tools' that can take care of themselves and didn't want constant maintenance. Either way, the Drakul can naturally fly, breathe fire and electricity, and super-strong, and super-intelligent.
Behemoths - The original spacefarers, Behemoths are benign creatures with mysterious biologies that allow them to manipulate space-time in order to create 'warp bubbles', which are the basis for most means of FTL. Highly intelligent, with each one having the knowledge of an entire populated planet's academic establishment, Behemoths prefer to be left alone to ponder 'cosmic questions', only rarely interfering in galactic affairs. Should one attempt hostilities against them, Behemoths can literally suck entire enemy armadas into a cosmic rift, or age them into dust. Alternatively, they can reverse physical aging or even halt it, granting immortality to a chosen few for reasons best known to them...
Ran'yar - An Avian species which lost the power of flight years ago in exchange for increased intelligence, the Ran'yar are a race of warriors, scholars, and merchants who have fought a series of wars with the Deva'Kin which ended in a draw - The resulting peace treaty led to the establishment of the Galactic Exploration Commission, and the resulting 'Duopoly' over Space exploration.
Tyrell'Keth - A lizard-like, omnivourous species which despite their hideous apperances, resemble humanity closely in psychological profile. However, this spurs competition as well as cooperation with Humanity, and members of both species often sell each other as slaves whenever they can get away with it. They hate the Galactic Exploration Commission and their duopoly, and strive to acquire larger shares in it so they can dissolve it entirely.
The Drakul - Any Xenobiologist worth their salt would recognize that the Drakul were not the products of natural evolution, but were rather created, perhaps as weapons of war by a long-lost species. It is also theorized that the creators of the Drakul were highly intelligent themselves, and wanted 'tools' that can take care of themselves and didn't want constant maintenance. Either way, the Drakul can naturally fly, breathe fire and electricity, and super-strong, and super-intelligent.
Behemoths - The original spacefarers, Behemoths are benign creatures with mysterious biologies that allow them to manipulate space-time in order to create 'warp bubbles', which are the basis for most means of FTL. Highly intelligent, with each one having the knowledge of an entire populated planet's academic establishment, Behemoths prefer to be left alone to ponder 'cosmic questions', only rarely interfering in galactic affairs. Should one attempt hostilities against them, Behemoths can literally suck entire enemy armadas into a cosmic rift, or age them into dust. Alternatively, they can reverse physical aging or even halt it, granting immortality to a chosen few for reasons best known to them...
III. Notable Planets and Places of the Sector
To be Added.
IV. Tech Level
Tech Level is...variable, thanks to the effects of widespread upheaval. Automation is common in the more civilized portions of the Sector, as well as lasers, railguns, EMP emitters, and plasma throwers. The main method of FTL is the use of a 'wormhole system' that links most planets, but the Galactic Exploration Commission use Spacewarpers, spaceships that either use Behemoth-derived Super-tech that can turn a hundred light years' worth of distance to one day's trip.
Cybernetics exist, but armong the richer planets of the sector, where biotechnology is preferred as 'it does not mar the 'pure biological form'. Power Armor is common, along with drones, medical regeneration packs, and even the rare 'Singularity Gun', which uses Behemoth-derived tech to well, throw singularities.
Cybernetics exist, but armong the richer planets of the sector, where biotechnology is preferred as 'it does not mar the 'pure biological form'. Power Armor is common, along with drones, medical regeneration packs, and even the rare 'Singularity Gun', which uses Behemoth-derived tech to well, throw singularities.
V. Rules
1.) No Godmoding or Powergaming, aka no controlling other players' actions, no defeating your enemy in one shot, and no shrugging of all hits without a strong energy shield.
2.) Any consenting relationship between people of the same age group is allowed, whether it's Homosexual or Heterosexual. If you cannot stand such things, don't post here in the first place.
3.) Be polite to others.
4.) Please notify me if you will be gone for more than a week, I myself will let you guys know if I will be gone for that same amount of time.
5.) GM Updates are weekly - if you don't respond to two updates in a row, and you don't give a good reason, you are regarded as dropped.
6.) The GM reserves the right to control inactive PCs as NPCs in order to keep the plot moving.
2.) Any consenting relationship between people of the same age group is allowed, whether it's Homosexual or Heterosexual. If you cannot stand such things, don't post here in the first place.
3.) Be polite to others.
4.) Please notify me if you will be gone for more than a week, I myself will let you guys know if I will be gone for that same amount of time.
5.) GM Updates are weekly - if you don't respond to two updates in a row, and you don't give a good reason, you are regarded as dropped.
6.) The GM reserves the right to control inactive PCs as NPCs in order to keep the plot moving.
VI. Character Sheet Skeleton
[b]Name:[/b] What’s your characters name?
[b]Age:[/b] How old is your character?
[b]Physical Description:[/b] What does your character look like?
Place any photo’s here.
[b]Psychological Profile/Personality:[/b] Motives, hopes, dreams, and wants, as well as flaws.
[b]Equipment:[/b] What is your character armed with?
[b]Short Bio:[/b] Tell us your character's story up to this point.