darkwolf687

Void of the Stars II: Return to the Stars [Sci-Fi] [Always Accepting]

And the 40k universe is over the top land, with massive 10 foot super humans religious zealots who have a bullet proof rib cage, can spit acid, can filter out sounds, are immune to all poison etc, clad in super strong, 6 inch thick power armour that they can still move like they are wearing nothing, with a chunk of metal in one hand that fires massive slugs of metal that can kill a man in a single hit, blowing him apart (pretty much an automatic railgun) and wielding a power sword in the other hand which can cleave a man in two in a single swipe with minimal effort

And that is from arguably the least scientifically advanced faction, not counting tyranids. (Orks could also be considered less scientifically advanced, but considering their tech works because they simply think it works, not sure whether that counts as tech)

Shields resisting plasma weapons = Okay, considering plasma weaponry would likely lose heat quickly as it travels and shields are of course shields
Armour made to help protect the user against plasma weapons = Yeah, makes sense and is likely possible with some alloys
Shields resisting two massive plasma explosions right next to you = Good luck...

Interstellar ~ Ascension

AlienBastard said
Good thing that you'll have to chew through the salty void first.

Nothing wrong with that, waiting for a good dinner is a lot better than getting a poor one, wouldn't you agree?

As for the sphere... Well, assuming the synthetics are entirely robotic and don't possess the equivalent of a nervous system which could be manipulated by the parasite, then fighting through trillions of synthetics to get to 100 billion humans hardly seems like good value for money, does it? I suppose there could be some tasty knowledge in the heads of those humans...

Whatever happened to good service, where the organics would be in the majority...

There are so many juicy meals out there, so little times... I am spoiled for choice!

Interstellar ~ Ascension

Asuras said
Potstickers.Shrimp tempura.A flaming bowl of sake...AND THE ERADICATION OF YOUR ABOMINABLE RACE.

Now that's not very nice is it? All I want to deal is eat everyone and add them to the hive, is that so bad? I don't think so... >:D

Interstellar ~ Ascension

Serpentine88 said
Sent PM.I am also working on my first IC post.@Darkmatter: How dare those Technocracy rustbuckets compare human AI to Graal space junk!@Silux: And so, the Space-Squid-Whale comes to meet humanity... @Kyelin: Those ancients of yours haven't been keeping up with events in the Powderkeg if they really think the young races can get along@Darkwolf: Poor alien lizard people... Another world lost to the parasite.

Indeed, more food for the hives... *looks around at the players* Now, what's next on the menu xD

Void of the Stars II: Return to the Stars [Sci-Fi] [Always Accepting]

TehAlphaGamer said
I'm seeing a lot of cases, Duck, where your units and soldiers have seemingly impenetrable shields and the abilities to withstand the force of god.Regardless of how rare these soldiers are, there's still a godmodding/powergaming rule in effect.

Hear, hear

Of Steam and Ambition - A Steampunk Nation Roleplay - Interested Check

No whales in my islands I am afraid. Besides, why bother with whales when we have all this nice water just lying around waiting to be filtered and used for steam!.

I'll to shake out the skeletons of it too when I am finished. Still need to finish writing it all up... And no, my spymaster isn't importing a plague, before you ask :p

Of Steam and Ambition - A Steampunk Nation Roleplay - Interested Check

Pepperm1nts said
@Rhymer: I know that.The issue has been rectified. People were wrongly referring to the late 1800s as the 18th Century. That is where the confusion came from, since metal ships wouldn't be a thing in the 18th Century. That said, bolt-actions were a 19th Century invention but didn't see combat (for a number of reasons) until the later half of the century (1860s). If the RP takes place in the late 19th Century, then it's fine to have bolt-action rifles. Just realize that they wouldn't be like the ones you see in WWII movies. Tanks, however, were a 20th Century invention and therefore should not be in the RP.Anyway, I skimmed over the latest nation sheet and... it's very, very Dishonored-y. Looks like someone downloaded it off Xbox Live and really liked it :PEDIT: Read some more. Must have really, really, really liked it....

I did indeed. Playing it last year was when I first encountered steampunk as a genre. Loved it right away.

Of course, it doesn't help that dishonoured has British influences in its system and I am British and all. Use some of the names as throwbacks too hehe, and being British I just cant resist my natural urges to start an Empire with one of its peoples oppressed and proceed to try and oppress the rest of the world.

Sheets still a work in progress, I intend to try and deviate a bit more.

Of Steam and Ambition - The Library of Nations

Empire of Corustaria (WIP)

Nation Sheet

Nation's Name: The Empire of Corustaria

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Nation's History: The islands, culturally varying massively from each other, have their of own creation stories, both for their people and for the island, and philosophers and scientists have search for years for an answer. Saxley and Morland share a similar creation story, both believe that the Isle rose from the ocean at the command of their God to provide a lord of the seas and ruler of the coast, and populated it with the races who would eventually unite and become King of the Ocean. Of course, despite believing essentially the same story, the two men for years argued over the correct way to practice the religion.
The island nations that compose the Empire have been around for mellenia in various forms, and conflict between them was not unheard of, particularly between Morland and Saxley. It was the in Dark Age that the situation really collapsed. Morland invaded and crushed Saxley, records of how it happened are sketchy and inconsistent to say the least, but it is believed that the Morish Army killed the Dragon of Saxley and it is known that it was a brutal invasion. Vivia and Alswell fought over political disagreements, with Alswell trying to force republicanism on the Kingdom of Vivia. The Elves dismissed the idea of Republicanism, believing an "uncivilised rabble of peasants" could never reliably dictate the future of a country without some form of counter balance.
The Union of the Isles came seventy years later, when the Empire of Morland, the Kingdom of Vivia and the Republic of Alswell united into the Empire of the Corustarian Isles, also known as the Empire of Corustaria or the Empire of the Isles. This led to the formerly relatively weak nations becoming a powerful nation almost over night, but all of it meant little given the state of the world. There were three further Saxley rebellions during this time, one of which led to the establishment of the short lived "Free Republic of Saxley", which was promptly wiped off the map eight months later and absorbed back into the Empire. As a result of this insurrectionist, the Empire recognised Saxley as a separate country to Morland, giving it its own devolved parliament and separating it from the Empire of Morland (Thus technically the Empire of Morland back to the Kingdom of Morland, though the name was never legally reverted) This, and other acts that followed, helped to slowly quell Saxleys independence calls, though they have never ended completely.
With the advent of Steam technology, the islands industrialised rapidly, and their already powerful fleet became one with the new technology. An airfleet was made, the army armed with the latest equipment... Factories became filled with machines and steam trains began to plough across the railway lines. The newly industrialised power turned its attention outwards, and is now ready to expand its lands for Empress and Empire!
Just over 120 years ago, the Reforms were put into action. A national health system was established, a minimum wage was set and free speech and equality were enshrined in law (Despite having existed for hundreds of years prior amongst the islanders, with the exception of the Men of Saxley and the Heartland Men, who maintained a rivalry until many years after the Reforms) Regardless of the Reforms, Church and State have never been officially separated, although the influence of the Church over parliament and the Empress is negligible at best. This produced workers of a higher quality due to health and allowed the economy to continue growing, and also sweeping support among the populace.

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Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Political Status: Stable
Political Overview: The Monarch of the Empire (Known as the Emperor or Empress) is a very important and powerful figure. Alongside the monarch there is a parliament with a range of powers which acts as a legislator. The monarch can dissolve parliament at their own discretion, and also has many administrative functions, working with parliament rather than independently of it. While Morland is the heart of the Empire, the remaining islands are mostly autonomous, with their own heads of state, for example Vivia having a king. All these are subservient to the Emperor/Empress and the Imperial Parliament. Elections to the Imperial Parliament are held every six years, at the start of the new year, though elections for mayors may range from every two years to as long as eight years depending on the town.
Current Political Leader: Prime Minister William Carnifex (61): Elected to office two years ago, this is the second time the Veteren politician has held the office of Prime Minister. Among other campaign promises, he said that he would increase funding to the Health System and expand the rapidly growing Air Force. Funding for the Health System has increased by 4%, and the Air Force, despite being the newest branch, is now receiving the second most funding, trailing behind the Navy.
Empress Emmeline Wight (37): Monarch of the Empire of Morland and Empress of Corustaria by birth rate, the armed force swear fealty to her and to parliament and she is popular with the people, being recognised as the Empress who pushed for the increase of the minimum wage and the Empress who was instrumental in the establishment of the Air Force and the Empress who turned one of the Royal Estates into a home for orphans and under privileged children who had no where else to go. The Empress pays for this entirely out of her own pocket and this has brought her wide spread admiration throughout the Empire
Notable Figures: Emperor Brandon Wight (46, DECEASED) The Late Emperor was a strong willed man who, while he could be generous, was known to have a ruthless streak. He knew where he wanted to take his nation, and would stop at nothing to get there. His controversial proposal to slash the navy budget led to allegations of him being a turncoat and a traitor, and parliament was quick to throw it out before it could gain ground. Instead, the Emperor decided that in order to get the required money, he would slash the politicians wages. In turn, parliament introduced a "Royal Tax", which was, in essence, a poll tax for the royalty. This race to the bottom drove a rift between Emperor and parliament that was only mended by his wife's intervention. As a result of the incident, the ability to slash the wages of ministers has been handed to the ministers, and any form of poll tax, whether it be on peasant, noble or royal, has been banned.
Princess Lillian Wight (15): The young Duchess is not the first in line for the throne (much to her brothers delight).
Prince Christopher Wight (16): Next in line to inherit the throne, Prince Christopher has been groomed for the task since he could talk. The young Prince has developed an effective grasp of military tactics and management, and is serving in the armed forces as a junior officer aboard a naval vessel (As is customary for members of the royal family.)
Royal Spymaster Richard Black (42): Sir Black is a patriotic and cunning man, with the utmost devotion to the crown and to the country. Born in Vivia's capital, the young Elf was raised to be a merchant, but against his fathers wishes left to enter service to the crown. The architect behind the capture of many infamous figures and the thwarting of many plots, ranging from assassination of key figures to organised crime to steal the crown jewels, Sir Black is content to work mostly in the shadows for the good of his country, and is aware that few citizens pay the office the respect it deserves.
Royal Bodyguard Severus Mason (47): Aside from being the poster child for intimidation, the burley Royal Bodyguard is in charge of the security of the royal family, the prime minister and then cabinet, referred to as the "Lifeguards". It is hardly a secret that failure for a lifeguard may lead to trial... And depending on the reason for failure, possibly to the gallows. Like all Lifeguards he is veteran of the armed forces, having served in the army previously for two decades.
Royal Physician Marie Roseburrow (31): The personal doctor of the Royal Family, the Royal Physician is also in charge of the nations health services, which are paid for by the nation to the benefit of its citizens. The role has seen four deaths tragic deaths in office since it was created as part of the National Health Plan some 120 ago. The first passed away from a heart attack the day after she was appointed, the second lost all his money gambling and died when the ship he was sailing on hit a reef and sunk (his was the only death), the third was sexually assaulted and beaten to death while in bed by a deranged servant, and the fourth lost both his wife and 13 year old daughter at the hands of a murderer. Broken and in despair, he committed suicide by launching himself off an airship . The office has been branded by the public as cursed as a result (Despite the fact that only 4 of the 24 Royal Physicians have died in office) though Marie believes the so called curse to be rubbish and says that she is yet to see any of this supposed bad luck.
Field Marshall Darius Gertz (49): Widely regarded as somewhat of a bore, Field Marshall Gertz has nonetheless shown great aptitude at command and management of the Army. The Alswell born officer is known for his ferocity, which he has proven time and time against when fighting and sparing, though also for his attention to detail. It is rumoured that his own body guards are especially careful with their uniforms, as he will notice a single speck of dust. Though clear hyperbole, it is known that his inspections are rigerous and he enforces strict discipline in the army. It was he who abolished the system of paying for ones rank and commission, a practice the navy had dropped two centuries prior, and introduced several officers from the ranks... Much to the distaste of the nobles in the armed forces. When several resigned in protest, the field Marshall supposedly commented on warning the public that they were getting the leeches back. This has made him an unpopular figure among the conservative nobility, and relatively popular among liberals
Minister for War and Grand Admiral Esmond Thorne (51): A Heartland man, through and through Grand Admiral Thorne of the navy is among the most experienced officers in the navy, and is both a politician and an Officer. His command of the navy from his flagship, a massive Ironclad ship of the line, has been nigh on perfect and his control of the allocation of the navies funding has ensured the navy is a force to be reckoned with, having the best ships the Imperial Funding can buy... Somewhat to the discontent of the army, who have always played second fiddle to the Navy and the Marines.
Grand Air Master Rupert Parsons (37): Leader of the newest branch of the Corustarian armed forces, the branch is essentially his brain child, envisioned as he was hit by projectile vomit from a civilian zeppelin above the City of Glassley. Originally it included only zeppelins that would drop explosive bombs, though shortly after the great inventor Benjamin Simmons produced the Simmons flying machine, which allowed much easier movement and could make short work of the Zeppelins with a rifle, though it could not carry as much weight as a result, the zeppelins were made with multiple sections in the gas balloon to prevent one shot taking it down, and it was given light armour plating.

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Total Population: 168.1 Million
Employed Population 166.3 million
Military Population: 2.1 million

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The Specie's Information

Men of Saxley:

"Saxley never yields!"
The Men of Saxley are a minority in the Empire of Corustaria. Hailing from the Eastern (Or western, depending how you look at the map) most island, these men are the only nation to have been brought into the Union by force, and brutal force at that. 400 years ago, the Kingdom of Morland landed forces on the coast of the Republic of Saxley, and fought their way in land and captured the government building, putting it's parliament to death and, according to legend, managed to kill Orthak, the famed Saxley Dragon. The two countries had long since been at each others throats, another invasion by the Morish just 60 years prior had resulted in a humiliating defeat and it is believed that the reason for the brutality in the second invasion was motivated by revenge rather than necessity. As a result, Saxley long had a strong inclination towards independence, though after the 5th Rebellion on the Island (The Pottershead Insurrection) was destroyed and the government of the Empire adopted a new approach to peace within Saxley 100 years ago, the region is now considered stable, thought here is a significant minority of die hard independents who frequently attempt to get themselves into Saxleys devolved parliament in order to make moves towards independence. Orthak is an important figure in Saxley legend, supposedly a great dragon that watches over the people of Saxley. According to legend, the Morish army killed Orthak when he came to the aid of his people, and his bones are supposedly still found to this day. Some of these supposed bones, large canine teeth, were sent to be fixed into the Throne of the Isles, on the arm rest. The origin of these bones are disputed, as is the existance of Orthak, and as most of the bones which would make up such a great beast are missing, he is considered nought but a myth by most of the Isles, though the Men of Saxley insist that he was real, some believing he lives on and guards Saxley to this day. They are not represented on the national flag, though some unofficial variants exist inside Saxley that move the Lion over to the left of the flag and emblazen the Dragon in the right of the flag. The Isle of Nether and Hunttingtons Isle are both under the authority of Saxley, in addition to any surrounding islands. The difference between the two men that inhabit the isle is mostly in name, with no significant difference being known

Heartland Men/Morish:

"Morland rules the seas!"
The Morish, sometimes known as the Heartland men given their position in the isles, are closely related to the men of Saxley, despite the long rivalry between the two. This is partly because whenever one has discovered a natural resource on its lands, the other has came to try and steal it. The Morish turned out to be more successful at this and annexed the Republic of Saxley into Morland some hundred years before the creation of the Empire of the Isles. This led to many insurrections before a peace has been achieved through various political means which separated Morland and Saxley again. Saxley, however, still has no representation on the national flag. The Morish have always dominanted the islands waters, so it is little surprise that they have come to be associated with the navy. Indeed, more Morish sign up for the Navy than any other peoples of the islands. Morlands proud history as a maritime nation has been instrumental in the Corustarian military, making their navy one of the best to sail the seas. The harbours are filled with many beautiful vessels, the largest and most powerful of which were crafted by the 'Master Builders" in the Moorish capital of Stavedon. Morland is represented in the Corustarian flag by the Lion of Morland. The islands surrounding Morland, along with the further off Lesser Morland, are considered to be part of Morland (Though Lesser Morland was formerly disputed with both the Republic of Saxley and the Republic of Alswell) The difference between the two men on the island is mostly in name.

Vivians/Tropical Elves:

"Vivia forever!"
The so called tropical elves hail from the warmer part of the isles, thanks to the convection currents of the seas. As a result, their homelands were warmer and they long since held a monopoly on grapes and wine. They built their own trade empire within the isles before the unification, but were never able to get a trade agreement with the Alswellians, who arguably have the island with the rarest resources. The unification opened up free trade between the islands, giving the Vivians access to the many riches of Alswell for their trade Empire. They are represented on the Corustarian flag by the Blue. They are ruled over by King Magnus, who is subservient to the Empress and the Imperial Parliament, in spite of his power at home. Some mistakenly believe that since the Vivian assembly was created that the King is merely ceremonial, but he actually holds power over the assembly similar to the power held by the Empres over the Imperial Parliament... And the Vivian Assembly holds power over him similar to that the Imperial parliament holds over the Empress. The islands surrounding Vivia are also considered to be part of Vivia, and the far off Camilla islands and the newly named Simmons Islands are also under Vivia's authority. The Elves have a keen eye, and are generally considered the best sharpshooters in the isle, much to the annoyance of the Morish who long since boasted about their marines accuracy on deck

Alswellian:

"The Guards of the South answer the call!"
The Alswellians are a race that is known to many outside of Corustaria as the Island Trolls, or more rarely Island Orcs. The term they prefer to be recognised by is Alswellian, and this is the term that is considered correct within Corustaria. Technically, Alswell is actually three islands though they are administrated as if they were one by the government and have always been referred to as if they are one island. Standing at over 12 foot, with bulging muscles and a thick hide, they are toughest of all races in the Empire, they make brutal and tough combatants in close combat, and though their effectiveness has been somewhat diminished by the advent of gunpowder, they have been known to take over a dozen shots before going down and retain a record of combat effectiveness from individual to individual unmatched inside the Isles. Hardened by the cruel conditions of Alswell and its mines, Alswell has produced some of thetoughest and most effective infantry regiments. They are the self proclaimed Guards of the South, owing to an old legend, of which no one can be sure to what measure it is true, where the Alswellians saw off a massive invasion of "Giant Men and Sea Snakes" from the south who threatened to capture all the islands. Nothing of the sort has ever been founded in the south, though a Morland naval report that is supposedly the 1100 years old speaks of a sea snake being used by Vivia's navy to fight off a Morish invasion fleet. This has never been independently verified, and while a few bones supposedly from sea snakes have been produced, no full skeleton has been constructed and they are believed to be myths by the Islanders. More recent speculation points to the words "Giant Men" and "Sea Snakes" being metaphorical rather than literal, given that these giant men would have to be at least 20 foot tall to match their smallest description in the Weyland variant of the legend, and no such skeletons have been found on the island. Whatever the case, it features prominently in Alswellian myth and legend, and the artifact sent from Alswell to construct the "Throne of the Isles" was a spectacular gem that was cut like a star, according to legend taken by the Alswellian President at the time from the Giant King's warhammer. This has been termed the "Star of the South", and features on Alswells regional flag. According to the legend, whoever wields the Star will be undefeatable. As a result, it is removed from the throne and given to the monarch upon coronation at the Cathedral, who proceeds to carry it until the return to whatever palace they have chosen as their residence, where they will personally set it back into the throne. They are represented on the Corustarian flag by the colour Red.

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Army Overview: Army is a strict and professional force which has historically seen less deployment, and as a result less prestige, then the naval wing. While the navy has been out establishing dominance of the waves, the army has typically been twiddling its thumbs. In fact, the Marines saw more deployment and victories than the army did, and to this day maintain their lead.
This is not to say the army is worthless or weak, when they have been given the opportunity to prove themselves, they have done so with flying colours, and in the near future they expect to see more action as the imperial ambitions of Corustaria mature and the Corustarians prepare to take land through diplomacy, bribery and no small amount of strong arming.

S-2 rifle:
The successor to the infamously unreliable S-1, the S-2 has proven to be much, much more reliable. Accurate and deadly, the marines are rumoured to be able to land a bullseye on a target on another ship when in violent waters. Though obviously an unlikely story, it does go some way in showing the reputation of the weapon in the isles, where it is a favourite in marksman festival. It can have a bayonet attached to it, and all soldiers carry one. It is fixed to the underside of the barrel, and as a result the weapon can be fired with the bayonet attached... A favourite amongst infantry regiments, and the Corustarian armed forces are reknowned for their accuracy.

S-2/C
A carbine variant of the S-2 designed for usage by Dragoons. It has a shorter range, but is nonetheless deadly and accurate. These dragoons often carry a sword with them for charges should it be required

Double Action Revolver
All officers carry a double action revolver as a sidearm. This weapon is often used by officers in conjunction with their sword in close combat. It chambers six rounds which impact for massive damage to their targets.

Sword:
The sword is an old weapon which still finds some use in the hands of officers and horsemen, who are able to slash down at infantry from above. Although its dominance of the battlefield is long since over, it is still an effective weapon in close quarters combat. Corustarian swords often have engravings on the side, though the words "Death before Dishonour" are always engraved on the right side. Supposedly, this is a tradition which began with the Emperors Lifeguards, but was copied by other swordsmen. Eventually, the practice became so widespread that once the presence of swords was reduced due to an increase in the usage of muskets and rifles, the government ensured that all new swords issued to officers and cavalry had the words engraved on their side, and ordered that it be places "On the right of the sword that the enemy may see our defiance". This is likely just a legend (There are no records of any such decree), but regardless it is obvious that it has become a tradition among the armed forces

S-4 Explosive Grenade:
This nasty metal device can be thrown by hand, though it also has a small rope attached to it which can be used to spin the device and loose it, using centrifugal force in order to make the grenade travel further than by hand. It is devastating against groups of enemies and this in small, enclosed spaces. The grenadiers that use these are dominantly Alswellians, further adding to the distance the grenade is throne. Once these grenadiers have ran out of grenades, they often engage in conventional combat.

12 Pound Cannon:
Designed to scatter infantry regiments, the twelve pound cannon fires, as the name suggests, a 12 pound cannon ball. Comparative to the larger howitzer cannon, it is relatively light and travels further, in addition to being somewhat more accurate.

24 Pound Howitzer: The heaviest cannon used by Corustaria, this cannon fires a 24 pound cannon ball for destroying buildings. It is inaccurate with a shorter range than other cannons, though as it is expected to hit buildings the former is somewhat irrelevant.

Battle dress uniforms:
The forces of Corustaria wear bright colours, red and blue being used dominantly (Infantry and Navy respectively). Contrary to popular misconception, the use of bright colours by military forces at this time is tactically necessary due to the thick smoke from gunpowder, which tends to hang around and culminate into a thick fog to the point one can not see. Bright colours have to be used so regiments xqn tell who is who so theu didn't shoot their own men; Identification is much more important than the disadvantages the colours pose Depending on situation the soldiers will use different colour uniforms. These uniforms are rarely armoured (If someone of human strength or near human strength was wearing armour that was thick enough to stop bullets, they would likely be unable to move easily. Since guns now rendered almost all armour ineffective, it is considerably better to be mobile than armoured.) The exception is the battle dress worn by Alswellian regiments, which includes thick armour which makes them even harder to bring down with conventional fire.

M-1 Rapid Fire Cannon
A relatively new arrival to the battlefield, this rapid fire weapon is in the words of its invention "A bullet hose in wheels". This device is bulky but extremely effective once in position, laying down a devastating barrage of bullets. An excellent defensive piece, this weapon is often portrayed in fiction as having been shrunk down to a hand held size and used in infantry charges. It requires two men to operate, one to feed the bullets and another to aim and fire it. Bullets are kept in their hundreds, allowing a continuous stream of fire

Navy Overview:
Corustaria's Imperial Navy is the jewel in its crown, operating many magnificent and advanced ships, commanded by some of the finest naval officers in the land. It operates a notably high number of ships of the line, believing that dominance of the waves will lead to dominnce of overseas trade, as well as security. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the navy is its "Airship Carrier". A somewhat insane idea, airships are carried aboard this massive behemoth of a vesel and deployed when needed. These large ships make excellent targets for the enemy and as such are often heavily defended by other vessels. Concerns have been rose about the economics of having such an expensive investment, though the air force is adamant that it continue, as it is from these ships that the majority of the air forces activity is done.

Air Force Overview:
The Corustarian air force is far from the most impressive branch of the armed forces, lacking the navies prestige and tussling with the army for second place. While the air force has some advantages that are too good for Corustaria to throw away, they don't provide enough to be considered the most important to the armed forces. Air force is, after all, more of an augmentation force than a main battle unit. It works in synergy with the navy and army, providing transport, reconnaissance and supporting fire.

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Nation's Location:
Nation's Geography: The isles have a somewhat varied climate, with the northern Islands being warmer and the southern islands being colder. One would think that Morland would be a nicer place to live, but due to the underwater currents of the sea its the wettest of the islands and the dirt can quickly turn to mud. Saxley is somewhat protected from this, and is considered to have the better whether of the two islands of man. Many forests dot the islands, though over the past few hundred years many forests have been felled to support the navy or to be used in other ways for industry. This deforestation was at first so rampant that parliament had to pass laws placing woodland under protection and declaring the maximum amount of wood that could be taken, lest the entire isles run out of tree's! The terrain is mostly hilly, with an above average number of mountains on Saxley. These hills are either covered in rolling green grass, though after heavy rain they can become boggy. The people of the isles are used to the sudden changes in weather, and have earned a reputation as tough island races, willing to stand their ground viciously for their home lands. This image is helped somewhat by their defiant battle cry of Death before Dishonour...

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Economy Overview: The economy of the islands is powered massively by steam, particularly in the factories of Morland and the mines of Alswell. Steam engines ply a massive part, for example the Weyland islands, a small string of islands barely a mile each below Alswell, are all connected by railway bridges transporting the gems and metals mined from them to the mainland (As well as the workers at the end of the day). Morlands railways have cut the time to cross the island dramatically, and goods can be taken from the mainland to the docks quickly. As a result, the inner lands have seen an industrial boom as formerly insignificant towns become economic workhorses. Vivian wine is brought by the carriage load to the ports, where it is exported and exchanged on the market at large. Saxleys agricultural produce helps to ensure the isles have a good food surplus and a wealth of wool, milk and meat, the many mines of Alswell export rare metals and beautiful gems... And masterly crafted weaponry, used by the Elite, both social and military. To say that Corustaria has not become prosperous, thanks to both the advent of steam technology and their unification, would be to ignore the cold facts. The single currency and single market has allowed trade to flow between the islands quickly and easily, and their people have benefited massively.

Interstellar ~ Ascension

Rise of a hive on a primitive world, aftermath...

The "meteorite" had crashed into the world, creating a crater some 18 meters in diameter. The meteorologists of the planet had raised to investigate this new crash has uncovered what was being hailed as the greatest find of their century. The discovery of organic tissue in a meteor. It was overgrown with this strange, organic substance that the worlds biologists though tk be some strange form of alien plant or fungus, given the large spore like sacks growing in it. They had set up a bio containment site around the meteorite, and were studying this life form intently, suspecting it to be proof of the possibility of alien life.

The truth was, of course, much more insidious. Seven Parasitic spore forms had escaped the crash, and while their brethren were maturing inside the surrounded meteor, these parasites had set to work in the nearby forest. The mass of creatures and plants gave them no shortage of biomass, though of course animals were more useful.
The bodies were dumped together and slowly turned by the little creatures into biomass, as they secreted their unique bacteria onto it. These broken down bodies turned into a thick 'skin', and from it small sacks began to form, feeding off the biomass to create more spore forms with which to infest the world, the time it took them to mature being abnormally short

The young boy, Fenrir, had snuck out with his friends to see this supposed bio containment site, which had over the past two weeks it had been there become the towns myth and legend. Some said they saw alien like figures go inside or come out, and though the meteor was actually a crashed space ship, others said it was actually a site for conducting illegal experiments on the towns residents, others though it was some form of conspiracy to cover up the truth. Naturally, this piqued curiosity in the youth, who often dared each other to go near it at night or sat up on "Alien watches", hoping to catch a glimpse of the apparent aliens. Apart from the military bio hazard vehicles which transported samples away, nothing ever really happened.

The three boy's, Fenrir, Ezik and Arrage had been out to it at night before, but Ezic was insisted that they had missed something. Ezic was by far the smallest and weakest of the three, and always seemed to want to prove his worth. There was no challenge that Ezic would not accept and try. After two days, they finally gave in to his constant pestering and went out to prove to him once and for all that there was nothing. They arrived on the edge of the crater to overlook the facility and, as it did every night, it looked creepy and foreboding. Fenrir shuddered at the thought of being caught by the military... Or worse one of the aliens.
"See? Nothing" Arrage whispered, turning to face Ezic. Ezics yellow, lizard like eyes blinked twice and his whispered back
"We should go closer" No sooner had he said that then he slid down the hill and towards the strange, dome like construct. Fenrir was quick to follow, despite Arrages protests.
"Come on!" Ezic hissed up at Arrage, who remained knelt on the ridge above, shaking his head
"You're mentally challenged, they'll be guarding the roads out." He said
"They weren't when we passed them" Ezic countered as Arrage stood up and turned away, disappearing into the black. Ezic shrugged and muttered something, which Fenrir didn't hear properly. He was about to ask when the two were cut off by the sound of a muffled yell and a gunshot from within the biocontainment.

Almost instantly, Ezics couraged dissipated. The two could not retreat back up the hill, they would have to proceed forwards and pass one of the two doors that were on either side of the biodome to reach one of the paths leading out of the crater. The two remained rooted to the spot as they listened to the sound of yelling and gunshots from within the biodome... Then silence, and what sounded like someone talking and a dull laughter. Ezic smiled, then chuckled slightly
"We've been taken for fools, Fenrir, we must be near the guards quarters, they might have a picture box!" He said, turned and walking towards the door, passing it slowly. Fenrir wasn't so certain, it had all sounded much, much more real than a PB. He whispered slowly
"It sounded real, Arrage..."
"They probably have a better model than us, besides..."
"My family owns the best, Arrage, it wasn't a PB..."
"Maybe its something government issue then, just... Come on before we're seen" Ezic said with false confidence, and Fenrir edged forwards towards the door. He had images in his mind of a massive alien storming out of the door and grabbing him, tearing his tongue out and eating his arms and... He pushed the images to the back of his mind, but as he got closer to the door they only got more and more intense. Ezic seemed the be nervous too, keeping his eyes on the door as he crept past, and was careful to stay as far away as possible in the tight crater. Fenrir approached it and took his eyes off it, closing them tightly as he crept past, determined not to look at it. His fear git the better of him, and his left eye opened to take a peek. Fenrir found himself staring at the white door... And nothing more. He opened his other eye and took another step and cleared the door, before realising he had been holding his breath and exhaled. His fear subsided slightly, and he almost laughed at how absurd it was. They had found some form of alien plant after all, hadn't they? If there was another form of alien life, surely they would have announced that too.
Whatever the case, both he and Ezic began to jog, not wanting to delay long enough for the road to become guarded again. Ezic beat him too it and came to a stop at the top of the crater. Fenrir looks at him curiously and as he came over the top of the crater his heart sank as he saw a humanoid shape. The gaurds must have been back. They slowly began to approach, knowing that they would be caught either way now.
As they approached, however, they realised that the shape wasn't wearing armour... In fact, it wasn't even armed... That figure also looked surprisingly Arrage shaped. Fenrirs heart kept and he broke into a run, dashing up to Arrage from behind and calling out for him. Arrage didn't turn, even when the two knew he could hear them. They approached him and Ezic reached out and tapped him on the shoulder...

No sooner had he done that, Arrage spun around and seized Ezic by the throat, lifting him off the ground. Ezic cried out in shock and Arrage seemed to be examining him for a moment, sizing him up. Suddenly, Arrage spun around, releasing his grip and sending Ezic flying, the screaming teenager soaring through the air and over the edge of the crater. Ezics screams came to a sudden stop and a sickening crunch resounded up from the crater. Fenrir slowly backed away and the light cast on Arrage as he approached Fenrir.
Arrage was not Arrage. His face looked pale and lifeless, his eyes darted around like a hungry predators rather than a sentient being, his claws had grown larger and his clothing had a small, bloody hole torn in it. The face if the not-Arrage seem to be mocking him, and Fenrir felt himself back into something. He stopped and whimpered. Fear over came him, sweat dropped from his clothing. He did not want to turn to see what was behind him, but he knew that he had to. Slowly he turned around, and behind him was the most disgusting sight he had seen in his life.
The creature wore body armour, though a small hole was torn it in. Bolbous sacks hung from its flesh, and something appeared to be moving inside of them. Its eyes started at him blankly, and its arms had mutated, the left one having changed into a large tentacle like appendage. In its right arm it still clutched its rifle, its finger on the trigger. He felt the tentacle wrap around his throat, and he clutched at it, tearing at it with his claws to try and pry himself loose, but the thick skin protected it and it merely tightened. Slowly, one of the disgusting sacks on the creatures right arm began to split open, and a strange blob like creature with small, tentacle like legs began to emerge from it, covered it a sticky fluid and struggling its way out. Watching the repulsive blob fight its way out of its strange birthplace, Fenrir began to feel physically sick and began to struggle again, tossing himself from side to side, but the tentacle kept its horrid grip, keeping him trapped under its grip. It was only a moment later that he realised, in absolute horror and disgust, why it hadn't killed him. It wanted to turn him into one of those things, it wanted him intact.
The blob leapt onto his chest, and he felt a sharp and sudden pain as small, razor like teeth began to tear at his flesh. He tried to cry out in horror but the tentacle that was wound around his neck tightened and cut off his screams.

The beginings of a hive had been created, and now that it had gained sufficient biomass to create enough spore forms, it would spread out from the area and infest the world... The L'Er had spread to another world, and in time would take the entire world. The Tribunal of the Hives turned its attention to the newly forming hive, waiting eagerly for the formation of a Mind...

Void of the Stars II: Return to the Stars [Sci-Fi] [Always Accepting]

Duck, I missed the part where the Sazkarjhit were using basic ballistic grenades or rocks.

How powerful are your personal energy shields that two plasma grenades exploding and showering your Ghosts in plasma is rendered harmless?