Prince Nautilian could not stop looking at the massive shield, standing proudly in the distance. It pained him that he was forced to stay so far away. Other, less reputable, factions had taken up residence around the Shield. Probably making their desperate attempts to breach it. “You’re sure of it?” He asked his lead scientist, who stood behind them. “Yes sir. The shield is impenetrable through conventional means. It shares the same radiation spectrum with Ashtar shield data we found in the archives.” Nautilian turned and marched towards the large, wooden table. A luxury imported from Asra itself. It wasn’t the only luxury found in the Asrian’s camp.
Nautilian could only chuckle as he realized that some poor conscripts had to camp around the shield, sleeping on a tough mattress at best. Not here. Thrall Commanders and several Orders had raised make-shift housing with climate control. The food, while not of the highest standards of the Royal Palace, was still locally prepared and served. Such opulence in a time of shadowy war could only be maintained if more than 90% of the forces didn’t eat at all. Luckily for the Asrians, that was exactly the case.
“High Commander Urson.” Nautilian slammed his fist against his breastplate and gave the commander a small bow. The High Commander followed suit, though his bow was far deeper. “Report.”
“I have ten artillery commanders setting up their forces on the perimeter.” He began. The center of the table lit up in a hologram, showing the mountain the Asrian outpost had occupied. Strange, quadrupeds carrying a large cannon-like structure on their back either stood at attention or slowly lumbered towards their designated location. “Furthermore, five more commanders are scouting out the terrain.” With his mind he bid the hologram to focus on a group of four hound-like Thralls running down the mountainside. One of many squads. “Our location should be safeguarded by nightfall. Furthermore, we did not detect any troop mobilization against us as of yet. We’re presuming that they do not consider us large enough a threat, as we took camp further away from the Shield.” Two other commanders, part of Urson’s staff, nodded in agreement.
It was only obvious that they wouldn’t. He was on Adgemnar on purely scientific reasons. A noble reason most factions at the very least begrudgingly accepted. Nautilian gave him a respectful nod and then turned to his scientist team. “Do you have anything more?”
“Well, sir. As I said, the radiation is very alike. However, the shield appears much stronger than it should be. You see, Alpha particles are well within normal levels. Beta levels seem to be somewhat higher than normal. Theta lower but Psi-levels seem very consistent with what we’ve seen before. We believe that the Ashtar are powering this through an advanced generator of theirs. Though the exact nature of their power generation still is unknown to us. Seismometers suggest that the shield also blocks any entry underground. It’s really interesting because this makes region within the shield bubble almost entirely sealed off from the outside atmosphere. We do wonder if it lets light through. That could lead to-“
“Stop.” An increasingly impatient Nautilian commanded. “Do you have a way to get through?”
“N-No sir.” The lead scientist stammered. “In fact, I don’t think we can ever get through. The shield is so strong, we might not be able to develop the technology to pierce it for another three hundred years.”
Nautilian slammed his fist against the table. “Are you telling me that we have absolutely nothing against it!?”
The lead scientist did not want to answer. However, a scientist behind him did step forward and spoke up: “My Prince.” He voice was far less fearful than that of the lead scientist. “There might be a way. We’ve been looking at it wrong.”
“Be quiet!” the lead scientist sneered.
But Nautilian silenced him with just a motion of his hand. “Continue.”
“If you would indulge my analogy: the shield is a door. We and every other faction on this planet has tried to kick it down. But it’s a door with a lock. So it has a key. Sir, I believe the solution to our problem won’t be found on Adgemnar. We will find on Manir.”
A crippling silence fell over the meeting. Manir had become the downfall of the Darkstars. “Are you telling me the key to all of this is on Manir?” The very name conjured disgust in his mouth. Manir, a place where the Asrians were almost at their vilest.
“No sir.” The scientist said, still unafraid. “I think that on Manir there is a lock like this but open. If we have an open lock, we might fashion a key from it.”
Another voice instantly chimed in. “My Prince.” It was Admiral Volanus. “I can dispatch a Darkstar fleet to retake Manir. We will bring you this key.” It was spoken like a true Admiral. Volanus might not have fought in the Great War but everyone knew his ancestors had. It were, sadly enough, also his ancestors that had nearly doomed the Asrian Ascendancy and brought great shame through their genocide. Now he wanted to right the wrong through the only way he knew: conquest.
Nautilian never liked the Admiralty. It was too traditional and conservative. Never the less, it was an enticing offer. A Darkstar fleet would no doubt be able to conquer Manir once more. They were built for it. It was an easy, practical solution. “No.” He said. “We will not invade Manir again. Contact my sister.”
~
Lady Olliana was one of the few Royals to enter the Admiralty. Unlike her brother she thoroughly enjoyed their traditionalist values of power and strength. Her own psionic abilities had far overtaken that of her brother. Even now she was using her innate telekinetic power to puzzle together something that looks like a shattered rubric cube. Yet not all cubes would fit. Some had magnets that attracted and repelled. It was a game of guessing for the foolish and memory for the wise. Or so Olliana liked to think. From the throne of her Eternity-Class Battleship, she tried to spot Adgemnar to no avail. She could barely see the star. Instead, she and her fleet were hiding in the radiation of a nearby gas giant.
“Sister. I have a task for you.” Chimed through her bridge.
~
To be sent off to the Republic of Rolvius, that felt like a bad joke. To make her a diplomate to broker a deal with them? That was madness. She was a fighter. A warrior. She even had her own Coven. Even her father said she was born for war. He said it solemnly but Olliana had taken it with pride. It had driven her as a little girl and now she was sent of as a bootlicker? She couldn’t deny her brother’s demand though. Still, she would not go ask one of those meek, gift-bearing, desperate to please bureaucrats. Instead, she split off her main fleet with her Legacy and two Destiny-Class Battleships in tow. Accompanied by a Ziggurat and a Spire-Class Battlecruiser. Her navigators were going through all the formalities of FTL and activated the diplomatic broadcast codes on her ship. Then she was off, racing towards Rolvius where she would make her demands.
The Asrian Ascendancy strives towards psionic apotheosis. Their psionic potential in modern times is second to none. Aided by their specialized technology and readily available, psionic resources they managed to become the unrivaled masters of the art. During the Great War, they wanted to replace the Ashtar as the dominant, policing race. An effort reflected in their large, slow but well protected and heavy-hitting ships. However, this led to truly gruesome acts of wanton slaughter and in some cases even genocide. Today the Asrians mostly see themselves as the custodians of the Ashtar legacy.
Nation type
Major Belligerent
Overview
A general summary of your nation. Just a paragraph or so with the high-level points.
History
The Asrian Ascendancy’s beginnings are somewhat unclear. It is almost certain fact that it all began with a colonization ship with a skeleton crew to commence planet preparations for a larger population’s arrival. However, upon arrival, some sort of cataclysmic event must have taken place as there is almost no source about this time period. The most accepted theory is that humanity’s interaction with the Psichrite particles on Asra created an array of mental problem. The most prominent being widespread amnesia. This shattered the unified crew of the colony ship into several factions each going their own way.
Around 200 Post Colonization (PC) several factions, despite their amnesia, managed to recovered computers and fabricators meant to aid the construction effort. Though their capabilities are not to be underestimated, there were vast amounts of knowledge lost. Thus these computers and fabricators became revered as God Engines. Through trial and error by the developing “priesthood”, they managed to glean information from the computers.
At 351 PC the Wasrhaïa nation managed to activate the fabricator. A year later they were able to design and produce a rudimentary sword. In the years following, vast amounts of “holy objects” were produced by the fabricator. Though the fabricator was eventually exhausted, the Wasrhaïa began the initial conquest of Asra and a massive expansion drive. Resulting in the first Asrian Empire (also referred to as the Age of Wasrhaïa). After several years of peace, the priesthood was able to make several other Fabricators work and gleaned even more information from the computers. Resulting in a rapid advance of technology. In 489 PC the Wasrhaïan Empire shattered at the Battle of Oros Fields. Where an upstart sect of the priesthood managed to create several “iron men” who fought with strange weapons. Back in the day these weapons were seen as magic. Though today we know these Iron Man were automatons armed with arm mounted rail guns.
With the first Empire, and the priesthood that served it, shattered many warring factions drove on the technological advancements. Where the First Priesthood had turned dogmatic in their usage of the God Engines, these sects were tasked by their political lieges to find an edge for an impending battle. The next great advance made was that of Soulcasting. In fact, this was the first discovery made with limited aid from the God Engines. In 634 PC, through the help of the Iron Men, Psichrite could be minded from deep within the crust of Asra. This condensed crystal could be interacted with through psionics. The arriving humans had no affinity towards psionics. However, years of exposure to small Psichrite particles in the air have given the Asrians a latent power. Crystalline Psichrite was used first to enhance ones mind. Not much later it was used to control more than one Iron Man directly. A controlled Iron Man was a menace upon itself (as the pilot could be as dangerous and reckless as he needed to be with no consequences to his own life). A squad of controlled Iron Men meant the end to all wars. The Soulcasting technology quickly spread across Asra.
Though the wars never stopped. In fact, they worsened. Though, after a particularly vicious war costing thousands of lives, the Treaty of Oros Field was written. This was because human life was exceptionally valuable. Despite the many years, Asra population could not swell to that of modern planets (many assume this is an additional effect of the Psichrite). Thus Battlezones were established upon Asra. Places where nations could go to war with each other without fear of human loss. A loss at this Battlezone meant a loss of the war. Though it was often contested, the results were generally accepted.
This changed in 855 PC, with the Yvriën City State’s challenge against the Rockheart Dominion. The Dominion had superior firepower and numbers. However, Yvriën had a secret weapon. For the first time in 120 years, a human walked on the battlefield. Dressed in elegant but protective power armor. She outstretched her arm and reached towards the Psionic connections behind the Drones fighting. At first, she killed five pilots from the battlezone, even though the pilots were assumed to be safe far away. Then she began cutting massive amounts of psionic connections. Leaving the dominion’s army frozen and soon after destroyed.
Yvriën was able to hold this power secret for some time and Yvriën continued its conquest. Of course, there were several uprisings in the cities themselves by disgruntled populations. However, they were quickly squashed by the quickly growing superior military of Yvriën. The Sorceress Lucinia, the Spear of Yvriën, had united the plant Asra through her power. In the following decades, more Sorceresses and Warlocks like her rose up from humanity. With psionic gifts. However, Yvriën maintained its grip on the world and began to usher in a space age.
Colonization of the nearby moon began in earnest at 975 PC (after the famous speech of High King Saran Versen assuring they would reach the stars before a millennium after their arrival had passed). Soon after the nearby gas giant gained an orbital station and a starship gantry. At this point of time, Asra’s focused mostly on psionic development and an attempt at FTL travel (technology that eluded them still). The Asra eventually reached the next solar system through FTL in 1.003 PC. In 1.006 PC the Ashtar invaded.
It wasn’t a battle. It was a slaughter. The fledgling ships of the Asra Ascendancy were utterly crippled through a psionic wave. On the ground, all combat drones were frozen in place by the Ashtar. The Asra Ascendancy kneeled and offered an unconditional peace. What choice did they have? Though after they submission almost all hatred for the superior race vanished. It was decided, to keep the peace, that the Asra would be somewhat aided. To level the playing field with the other factions within the galaxy. They were given psionic education mostly. Which propelled their understanding of the powerful gift. Of course, whatever light they had within. It was but a pale, fading candle flame compared to the Ashtar’s own power.
For a hundred years the Asra thrived. Seeing themselves as the Apprentice faction of the Ashtar. This relation was never truly acknowledged. Then they vanished. At first, the Asrians were shocked and paralyzed. They had come to see the Ashtar not quite as gods but some form of obtainable divinity.
By far one of the most important occupied regions during the Great War was the planet of Manir. A place that held, until recently, one of the most intact Ashtar outposts. Manir was besieged from almost the start of the Great War with sole objective: obtaining the Outpost and get all the Ashtar knowledge from it. The Gesha house was quick to act and obtained great amount of relics (which, sadly, remain unusable) and even managed to enter the first room of the Outpost. The rest of Manir fared less. Continuous resistance constantly endangered the dig site. Multiple Darkstar Dreadnoughts have razed large city centers as vengeance. When the Rolvius began to regain territory, the Admiralty wanted to sunder Manir, making it utterly inhospitable and denying the Rolvians access to the Ashtar Outpost. The endless begging of the Gesha combined with the quickly slipping public support prevented such harsh measure.
A disastrous event that occurred right after the Great War. The Admiralty’s experiments with Psionics were becoming increasingly dangerous. However, the experiment that led to the Cataclysm was one of truly epic proportions. Vast amounts of psychrite were shipped in, while large amounts of Choirs were working around the clock. The Admiralty wanted to create a fleet-destroying power that could be used from an inter-system distance. The result was nothing near what they thought it would be. A psionic ripple tore through the Asrian Ascendancy. Those lucky died in an instant. Less fortunate Asrians were driven mad. In total 60% of the Asrian population perished due to Cataclysm-related causes. It was thanks to a strong king at the time that the Asrian Ascendancy didn’t perish politically. As parliament had largely perished as well. The Nobility, previously falling more towards the background, re-established itself as the prominent political players. The discovery of Thralls allowed the Asrian Ascenandcy’s economy to survive and even flourish. Never the less the population remains diminished.
Major Holdings
Asra – Named the Crown World. Asra forms the seat of the Asrian Ascendancy. Here the Noble World representatives voice their grievances and desires in the High Court. Where the High King and his Council of Lords reside. Once Asra was a sprawling mess of cities and industrial zones. No more. Its nature is healing over the wounds of industrialization. The few cities that remain are opulent centers of research, culture and wealth. These sprawling urban centers are filled with low-rise villas, public gardens, colonnades, and museums publicizing the latest creations. Picturesque workshops allow the Asrian tourists a peek into the artisan (but highly controlled) growth of the Crown World. For those with close ties to royalty, there are the numerous well-hidden summer and winter homes spread across the “wilderness” of Asra. Poverty is inexistent through displacement schemes and an extremely tough stance on crime. Only the walled capital city of Nemubia is accessible to foreigners. Though only to foreign dignitaries and embassy personnel.
Serenas – A unique world within the Asrian Ascendancy. Serenas is neither a Tributary nor a Noble World. It is the only planet (and system) that is totally owned by the Asrian United Royal Military (AUR-M). Serenas itself has many military bases surrounded by truly untouched wilderness and hostile fauna. Its moon is home to several black sites as well. Many stations orbit the main planet, some of them containing the biggest docks and gantries of the Ascendancy. In fact, the only shipyards capable of producing the feared Dreadnoughts of the Asrians can be found here. In far outer orbit of the local star you can also find a black site gantry where Asra makes her Hyper-Dreadnoughts. While almost all military research and development is carried out in the Serenas System, there is one very important exception: psionics. Serenas counts its fair share of Cabals, Covens and Orders but the high-level research in psionics is absolutely forbidden.
Agresha Ashtari – A planet discovered and colonized at the start of the Great War by the great House of Gesha, Agresha Ashtari is home to many Ashtar ruins. Under the rule of the Gesha, this planet turned into the galaxies greatest research center into the Ashtar and their psionic powers. However, they did not stop there. Agresha Ashtari laid on an important FTL “highway” from Gateway. The Gesha opted to open up several city centers to foreigners. In which they constructed massive temples for the Ashtar to worship them as gods, grand museums to publicize several nuggets of wisdom the Asrians have gleaned (though it is well known that the Asrians do not show off all their knowledge in these musea) and a myriad of shops providing incense, statuettes and other souvenirs and trinkets.
Gateway – Another unique system, Gateway marks the official point of entry into the Asrian Ascendancy. All foreign traffic has to enter through here and pass customs. While within the Asrian Ascendancy corporations are limited in how many employees and how much land they may lease or own per planet, within Gateway they are free to buy anything from orbit coordinates for space stations up to entire asteroids if it suits their purpose. The Gateway system is also home to a myriad of smaller civilian gantries and docks for ships to dock and unload. While customs formalities are carried out when leaving the system to go deeper into the Ascendancy, taxes within Gateway are exceptionally low. Making it a favored trade hub.
Demographics
Population
The official stance is that the billions of inhabitants of the Asrian Ascendancy are all pure Asrian. These are humans that, over the course of a millennium, evolved and mutated into a psionically capable species. Biologists could make a strong case that Asrians are no longer strictly human. However, the number of Asrians is quite low should one compare it to other empires of equal size. The reason for this is the Cataclysm. A terrible event that took place within the central Crown World and the Noble systems surrounding it. While the Cataclysm killed billions, those that remained gained massive psionic power. Still, the Asrian Ascendancy’s population is definitely at the smaller end in general. The population generally resides within the Noble worlds, as these are fully colonized and capable of sustaining life. Some might be send out as Thrall Supervisors on outposts.
Society
Civilians within the Asrian Ascendancy are actually quite well off in general. Through the Universal Basic Income, none of them need to carry out menial or unrequired tasks. As almost all of these tasks are carried out by Thralls these days. Joined with free public education, healthcare and subsidized higher education. While technically Asrians do not need to work, many of the lower classes still work the more menial control jobs. Supervising the legions of Thralls working the mines, fields and other industries. There is a tax levied upon these extra incomes. While companies do exist, Asrian companies are more seen as a union of people working towards a common goal rather than the maximization of profit. Capitalist thinking died with the Cataclysm, after which many leaderless companies were forced to part with vast sums of their wealth to rebuild and provide a good life for the population as a whole. There was a fear that the coming of foreign companies would destabilize this dynamic. Though by giving these foreigners a different status and subjecting them to different laws (and most importantly: minimizing their presence) the Ascendancy continues to maintain its delicate balance.
Middle classes give great importance to personal achievements and those of their offspring. They are the corporation owners or merchants in general. Though many of them also enter into research, art or military. Each time trying to prove and bring honor to themselves in a bid to one day turn their family into a Lesser House. Middle Class also provides the most Commanders for the military in a bid to maximize their own prestige that way.
The higher classes start with the Lesser Houses. These are generally tributaries of the High Houses that rule the system. Lesser Houses rule large pieces of land, several corporations and can boast several locally renown researchers and artisans as their ancestors (during the Great War, the emphasis laid largely upon war heroes, however since the Cataclysm their importance has waxed and waned). Lesser Houses are more capable to provide wealth for individual researchers and artisans within the family. As tributaries to the High House, Lesser Houses are also expected to provide support in the form of bureaucrats and other personnel. Lesser Houses on the Noble Worlds wage a constant war with each other in the shadows of the court. Trying to win the favor of the High House. The greatest honor a Lesser House may receive is a marriage proposal.
Each civilian has the right to vote for the Crown Prince of his/her Noble World when their High Lord dies. They may also vote their Crown World Representative every 5 years. Both are extremely important positions. The position of Representative is bound to the most social etiquette. Candidates may not slander, insult or mistreat one another personally. They are encouraged to utilize failed former promises and pointing out outright deceit. Amongst the prince and princesses, attacks upon personality may happen. As these elections are generally considered far more personal. Never the less most try to be wary with their words as becoming High Lord/Lady does not absolve them of their insults.
Religion is not outright banned by the Ascendancy. However, it is tightly regulated and overseen to prevent the disastrous Zealot Wars that broke out at the start of the Great War. Most of the Asrians do believe Gods exist in the form of the Ashtar. However, they refrain from worship because most of them believe they will one day, as a race, ascend into godhood as well. Still, some Asrians do worship the Ashtar as Gods. Foreigners on Open Cities are free to have shrines in their own houses. If a religion is sanctified by the Royal Court, they may open up one place of worship within the Asrian Ascendancy.
(To do: expand upon fashion)
Economy
Trade - While the Asrian Ascendancy has made many promises of openness, it is still quite an isolationist place. However, since the creation of Gateway, the Ascendancy really has opened up a bit. FTL-Infrastructure allow for fast movement along FTL Highways towards systems that chose to open themselves up. While some Noble Worlds chose to allow foreigners to trade with them, the Asra System is still completely off-limit for non-Asrian civilian ships. Foreigners may embark such ships from any Noble world though.
Merchant vessels diverging from these FTL Highways will be quickly caught and requested to return to their former path. Should they, somehow, be able to trade outside of an opened up system then they are, by law, smuggling (at the very least).
Workforce = Thralls and supervisors Noble Systems = Economic and administrative hearts Tributary Worlds = Production centers, agrarian zones, forge worlds Outer Systems = uncolonized harvesting zones Taxation = high corporate taxes
Psychrite – The foundations of the Ascendancy are made of Psychrite. The crystal grows in the presence of minerals and psionic power. It, in of itself does generate small amounts. However, when psionic powers interact with it, this growth is greatly enhanced. The internal lattices allow espers to manipulate the substance. Psychrite is often used for both generation of psionic power and the creation of the Thralls their psychrite cores. Which gives them their consciousness.
Nebula Pearls – Naturally appearing in the gas giant of the Asra system’s rings, nebula pearls to those without the psionic gift appear as perfect black spheres the size of a fist. However, those blessed will see a vast and endless nebula within. The very colors they see often changes from person to person. Nebula pearls in of themselves do not generate psionic energy. They are, however, exceptionally good at storing it. A side effect of storage is that the nebula inside glows ever brighter to those who can see it.
Lunaleaf flowers – recognizable by their crescent leaves, the pale white flower of these plants is a potent psionic drug. It appears to be a light and highly controllable hallucinogens. This mind expanding drug does naturally increases psionic power within an individual but it is the person’s enhanced creativity that makes up the bulk of extra created psionic power. While the psionic power generated is substantional, sadly Lunaleaf flowers cannot be used during combat situation. As it lowers focus which has lethal consequences. Instead it is often used for psionic research (and has given Asrian researchers an even greater edge).
Solarium Incense – The Solarium flower releases an extremely pleasant smell which makes it a fan favorite in many homes as chamber plant. However its true potentional arises when the plant is burned in a very specific way. Its smoke is more of a trance inducing incense. Allowing those who take it in to enhance their focus. Many describe it as “narrowing the path”. Unlike Lunealeaf, Solarium incense is used in combat but almost exclusively by choirs to focus all their power on the generation of psionic energy.
(Potentially adding more)
Government
There are 3 tiers of the main government. The first tier is the local government. This concerns the outposts on the outer systems and cities on the tributary worlds. The position of governor over these locations is not elected. Instead, Lesser Houses are tasked with the administration and management of these places by the High House they serve. Despite the fact that these locations are not elected, civil unrest can be a very real threat. Most outer and tributary worlds supply the Nobles system they serve with vital food, goods, and even border security. Should a Lesser House fail in their duties, punishment is generally demotion and the dissolution of the House. A grievous wound to inflict upon a family, who may have to work for generations to get back on their feet.
The second tier of government is that of the Noble Worlds. Lesser Houses act as bureaucrats, administrators, managers and other support personnel for the High House. The more important department a Lesser House manages at the Noble System, the more prestige they accumulate and the more chances they get to ascend. However, corruption and general inefficiency become more and more visible to the High House and thus faster and harder punished. A department can be re-allocated to another house every 5 years. At the height of governance for Lesser Houses is the Noble Council. To have a member of your family become Councilor here is the greatest honor a Lesser House can experience. Councilors here often get their first taste of actual law-making. The only way to advance yourself now is to become a High House yourself. This is nigh impossible. For one it requires several High Houses to vouch for you and your kin. Secondly, it requires a position of such rulership to open up. A rare occurrence during this Post-Colonial era. The only few times a new High House was created was when Tributary worlds grew too big and High Houses were forced to part with them and the surrounding tributary and outer worlds. This has always resulted in rivalries between the two Houses. Where one declares the other a traitor while the other claims it is their right.
Such rivalries are the matter of the third tier of governance. Here the fate of entire systems is decided. Every High House has a representative at the Court at the very least. However, by decree of the High King a High House may be asked to send more people to act as councilors and advisors during the various meetings and councils at the High Court in Asra. These High Councils have very specific fields in which they operate like the High Council of Agriculture, the High Council of Psionic Research, the High Council of Foreign Relationships, High Council of Culture and so on. Once again, to be invited to such High Council is a great honor. Representatives hold no seat on such councils, however, they are often invited if certain decisions are to be made about one of the systems they represent. Representatives will often advise on how to achieve certain goals without completely disrupting the represented systems.
There is, however, a fourth tier of governance. However an exceptional few can reach it if they are not born of royalty. The Royal Council may overrule any previous made law or demand. They are comprised of the royal appointed Advisor of a field (Royal Advisor of Industry, Royal Advisor of Culture, Royal Advisor of Psionic Research, etc). They speak with the voice of the King, most of the time. Though the King can still overrule them. While it is highly unlikely for a Royal Advisor to be relieved of his duties, a 65% majority vote on the High Council he seats at may result in such thing to happen.
Some free thinkers (generally foreigners) will decry such a monolithic structure. Where there seems to be no clear difference between the executive and the legislative branch. In fact, they would say it looks awfully much like a dictatorship of the monarchy. This is not entirely incorrect. It may appear as if the common folks have painfully little control over their rulers. Their direct leaders are often chosen only once in a lifetime. Their representatives may be chosen once every five years. Never the less, the inalienable right of the civilians to move to whichever system they want to (accompanied by the Universal Basic Income that enables such move) means that dissatisfied civilians may and will leave systems should they fully disagree with their rulers on whatever matter. And because many rulers often rule for several decades, they can enact grand schemes and works that will bring prosperity and prestige to their system without being subjected to the fickle currents of a democracy.
Technological Information
Major Techs
Psionic Tech - Ancient Asrians were faced with a terrible problem. They had reached the end of manageable psionic power. Any usage beyond said milestone generally led to the loss of control (and life). The psionic energy just could not be applied in any meaningful way without aid. That aid came in the form of Psionic Tech. Runes, the most widespread usage of Psionic Tech are used not just to channel but to control psionic power. These runes were once simple creations. Today the Rune modules are intricate and highly specialized creations and implants. Made only by sanctioned artisans. However, Psionic Tech has grown beyond the usage of Asrians. The creation of the Thrall Core was another milestone, allowing the Asrian Ascendancy not just to survive but to thrive after the Cataclysm. While in ancient times Psionic Tech could only work with psychrite, today many psionically enhanced and exotic products are used in Psionic Tech.
Thralls - Easily mistaken for robots, Thralls form the backbone of the Asrian empire's wealth. They are largely made out of synthetic muscle fiber and bones. However, they are not controlled by a classical computer. Instead, they possess what some would call a base, animalistic consciousness. Given to them by the psychrite core they have in them. This gives them some instincts and even an ability to learn (though in a very limited way). Old, experienced cores will begin to alter the physical form of a Thrall to better suit their needs. For example, Thralls that only mine will rebuild themselves with strong muscles and skin but forsake optical sensors.
Military technology
Lightweaving – The basis of the Asrians main weapon, it lets you program a tiny shard of psychrite to follow a certain, mathematically decided, path. Then superheated plasma is bound to the sliver and fired off. It uses the plasma to steer itself across the path. The more plasma it has, the slower it will move (though it’s general speed is quite fast) but the further it can travel. The plasma gets more effective the closer the target is.
However, the real advantage lays with the Lightweavers. In space these Asrians are suspended in a pod along a right with a VR headset. Their neural implant connects them with a computer that turns intent and thoughts into the mathematical paths the shards are programmed with. Experienced lightweavers can use up to 10 ArcLights (the main weapon that uses lightweaving). To catch smaller ships (like corvettes and larger), lightweavers forsake the main ArcLight weaponry in favor of the Amonthok Net. It uses a multitude of small programmed slivers to create a shard on par of what an ArcLight battery might use. However, at a certain point (depending on its programming) the Amonthok shard breaks apart to form a light woven net to capture the smaller ships.
Deliverance Weaponry – A Deliverance core, from which all Deliverance weaponry draw their power, is an exceptionally unstable power source. Its core material is destabilized enriched Psychrite, done by bombarding it by a massive amount of positrons. While the destabilized Psychrite is slowly but steadily breaking down it releases dangerous amounts of energy. It took help from the Ashtar to build a somewhat stabilizing housing for the Core. The housing stops the Psychrite from breaking down until whatever it powers requires energy. Then the self-destructing crystal surges with power. The housing must be build to both stop the destabilization and channel its power when needed. This is a dangerous balance that must be maintained at all times. Yet in return deliverance beam weaponry delivers a lethal combination of heat with a constantly fluctuating magnetic field around it. Deliverance weaponry is often slow to aim but lethal against all that it hits. This it is generally utilized as anti-capital weaponry.
Void Shields – Void shields are the main shields used by the Asrian forces. Void Shield sensors track incoming attacks (or predict them in later incarnations) and open up miniature portals right in front of them. The oldest ships their Void Shields generally spit out the attacks back behind them. However modern ships will bend the portal’s path and return incoming attacks to their source. They quite energy-intensive however and Void Shield batteries can be overloaded when too much matter has to pass through. Resulting in the Void Shields temporary shutting down (for the safety of the ship. While ship captains may demand the overcharging of their Void Shields this will, with no exception, result in the violent implosion of the ship). The larger and more modern ships have several Void Shield layers as a back-up should one fail.
Labyrinth System - The Labyrinth system used the Void Shields of a ship to defend itself against smaller craft as well. It is an experimental system where the targeting computer will open up void gates in front of them, redirecting them constantly through a maze of portals. Eventually to crash into another craft. The Labyrinth system requires vastly more energy and strong Void Shields, thus it generally cannot be fitted on smaller craft.
Choirs and Covens - While the choir chants. The chants are created to let the singers enter a state of dazed trance. In which they generate vastly more psionic energy. Which is then siphoned from the room anywhere it needs to be. Choirmasters must pay close attention to the mental, psionic and physical state of the singers. As this is still a taxing endeavor. Covens reside in similar rooms. However, while some of their people might work as supplicant singers, Covens generally utilize a focus (could be the entire ship even) to work their void magic. They throw dangerous telekinetic forced around, attempt to grasp fighters or cast lightning against hostile ships.
Choirs can generally move from ship to ship with little issues as long as there is a standardized choir chamber for them. Covens, on the other hand, will grow attached to the ship they are on. Often claiming that it speaks in its own language to them. Covens that have stayed on the same ship for over a decade will loathe a change and their Coven chambers will often be so adapted to their own needs that no other chamber will suffice.
Manifestation Egnine - While Covens can use the hull of a ship itself to channel their void psionics, it is far from a good focus. Meaning the psionic power is often diffused. Resulting in lethal close to the ship but over long distances, it lacks in power. The Manifestation Engine is the result of painstaking psionic research. Never the less it is a dangerous axis weapon that can deliver the manifestations of psionic magic over a further distance with greater effect. However, it is quite big and smaller ships will be unable to carry such a dangerous and powerful weapon.
Military Information
Fleet/Navy: Asrian United Royal Navy
Doctrine
The Asrian United Royal Navy (AUR-N) doctrine is quite simple really. They will form the uncontested monolithic force of the galaxy. Unmoving and uncaring, their weapons will fire until everyone else’s guns cooled down. Victory or annihilation. During the Great War that last part was quite certainly taken literally. Where, if the Asrian Ascendancy could not hold on to a planet, they would make every effort to make it utterly uninhabitable. They lost vast amounts of their own force because they simply refused to retreat and regroup. Though at the same time it earned them a reputation as dangerous and unyielding opponents who can only be completely destroyed. While some would assume the doctrine died with the Asrian Cataclysm, it has not. Despite the damage, they suffered the admiralty still stands as a proud, unyielding and fairly nationalistic bastion. Most of them have ancestors that had committed genocide.
Darkstar-class Support Dreadnought
A sign of imminent planetary annihilation. The Darkstar dreadnoughts were not the most formidable opponents against hostile fleets. However, they were expertly build to invade planets. With vast orbital bombardment deliverance beams and enough bays and living quarters to house an army, the arrival of the slow-moving Darkstar was generally the sign of imminent doom. During the Great War it were the Darkstars who glassed the most planets the fastest. Their kill-count is in the millions. Many civilians are still distraught about their continuing existence and the Admiralty has chosen to generally keep them away from the public eye. Never the less most Darkstars are still manned and used.
Destiny-Class Assault Battleship
A Great War era ship that supported the Darkstars. The Destiny-Class has broadside facing ArcLight Projectors and several lower faced Deliverance beams. With two two-layer launch decks, the Destiny-Class housed quite a few strike craft groups as well. While not very fast, it was exceptionally well protected for its time. While today they may not pack the hardest punch anymore or take the most damage without falling apart, they were and still are thought nails to crack.
Legacy-Class Battleship
Designed and produced during the time of the Détente, the Legacy-Class was the first of its kind housing several Choir chambers. Allowing onboard covens to work their psionic magic in the void. Throwing asteroids, holding nebulas around the ship and even throwing great arcs of psionic lightning from the ship itself. The Legacy sacrificed several rows of ArcLight projectors and entirely lacks the Deliverance beam weaponry. In return, they are more heavily protected. They still have the Destiny-Class’ layered launch bays however they are generally filled with interceptor class strike craft to protect the Legacy-Class (and more importantly, the Choirs and Covens inside). They were not hugely popular though, as they were build when both the events of the War and the Cataclysm were fresh in people’s memories. Still, they are quite dangerous and capable.
(They bent the rules of the Détente somewhat. As the presence of choirs and coven onboard did not technically count as “weapons”)
Eternity-Class Battleship
The latest and greatest kind of Battleship. The Eternity-Class stripped even more of its conventional weapons. In return, it has an axis mounted Manifestation Engine. Allowing the many covens and choirs onboard to channel their powers into the weapon and deliver great blasts of telekinetic force, lighting, fire and other void powers. The Eternity-Class is meant to be an utter danger to all other capital ships. Its main weapons (all Deliverance beams) are slow to fire, as is the Manifestation Engine. So while it can cut through Battlecruisers and up, most cruisers should be able to dodge the large and slow-moving ship. The designs for the battleship had been a secret project within the Admiralty and they began production the moment the first faction broke the Détente. Still, two admirals were sacked over its creation.
Ziggurat-Class Support Battlecruiser
The Ziggurat-Class is a highly advanced anti-strike and anti-small-class ship. Equipped with several rows of Amontek casters and ArcLight projectors, the Ziggurat is meant to hunt down corvettes, frigates, and even destroyers too fast for the Battleships and Dreadnoughts. It does this not by outrunning them. Instead, it simply utilizes vast batteries of its weapons to continuously barrage the ships until they are hit. While they might not really be able to touch hostile dreadnoughts, battleships, and battlecruisers, they aren’t really supposed to do so anyway. However, it truly shines in its advanced anti-strike craft “weaponry”. The Labyrinth System. This utilizes the defensive Warp gates to create a sort of constantly shifting maze of warp gates around it. Hostile strike craft caught by the system will constantly fly in and out of warp gates until they inevitably crash into each other or hostile fire that’s being diverted. Developed at the tail end of the Détente, it is meant to protect the fleet against dangerous strike craft swarms.
Spire-Class Psionic Supremacy Battlecruiser
The Spire-Class is a recent creation by the Asrian Navy. While it houses some ArcLight projectors and is very well defended by shields, its main power comes from the vast amounts of Coven and Choirs onboard. The whole ship’s superstructure is layered with psychrite lattices that allow superior psionic conduction. This in combination with the experimental generators and the outer hull being covered with psionic projection arrays, allows the Spire-Class to create vast psionic suppression and shielding areas. The suppression will strike hostile espers in the void while the shielding makes sure that no hostile psionic attack will harm the fleet. Some Spire-Classes have been equipped with more hostile oriented arrays which throw lightning at the enemies. Though this approach is seen as dangerous and reckless. In truth, the Spire-Class is not meant to be in the vanguard. Instead, it is one more tether allowing a fleet to maintain unmoving from their objective.
Eyrie-Class battlecarrier
While the Eyrie certainly does not lack in conventional weaponry, its most important facilities are the rows of hanger bays where the many strike craft lay dormant. Ready to swarm out to meet their foe. The Eyrie-Class has existed since the Great War, where it joined the Darkstars in planetary invasions. As the strike craft were traditionally capable of both space and atmospheric flight. Though they were also responsible for the indiscriminate bombing of further (but smaller) hostile outposts. Since the Great War, the Eyrie-Class has been continuously updated. Its great reliance on the strike crafts it houses means that upgrading the Eyrie is generally far cheaper than scrapping it and remaking an entire carrier again.
(official designation: Battlecruiser, by sheer luck the Eyrie already fell under the treaty of Détente’s definition of a battlecruiser. Though this is largely because it depends on the strike craft is houses)
Allegiance-Class Variable Cruiser
It’s easy to see it as a monster. While it may appear as an average Asrian ship it houses far from traditional weapons. Instead of ArcLight projectors and deliverance beams, has modular turrets and broadside spots meant for intergalactic acquired weaponry like railguns or missiles. Mostly bought from huge corporations. Its design was more of a civilian demand to show how open the Asrian Ascendancy was becoming towards foreigners and their corporations. It faced stark protest from every branch of the military. Even the Army who declared such craft to be unreliable at best. The compromise was that only foreign sourced weapons could be outfitted. Its propulsion and shields would still be Asrian made. The Allegiance-Class first saw “action” during a series of routine training simulations during the Era of the Détente. Where the Admiralty begrudgingly acknowledged its existence and thought nothing more of it. Despite its hated status in the Navy, many more open-minded tacticians believe the versatility of the Allegiance-class is exactly what the Asrian United Royal Navy requires.
Solaris Knightframe
Halo-Class Knightframe
Quandary-Class Knightframe
Exigency-Class Knightframe
Army/Planetary forces
The Cataclysm hit the Asrian United Royal Army (AUR-A) the hardest. With vast amounts of troops dying in mere seconds. Like Asrian society as a whole, it was forced to change and adopt sometimes uncomfortable ideas. To build an entire army upon a singular technology can be dangerous. The resulting Thralls are nothing like their civilian counterparts. More fortified and independent, their animalistic instincts are honed for one purpose: to kill. For years only Thralls were allowed on the forefront of any battlefield. Their commanders were hidden away in safety. Only recently did Orders deliver individuals strong enough that the Army as a whole deemed them safe enough to deploy. Strong, however, is a very relevant term. As the deployed Sorcerers of the various Orders are far from weak.
Orders
While Covens and Choirs are generally used onboard space ships to power its psionic weaponry, Orders consist of psionically enhanced individuals that take to the field. These individuals, squads or even groups are exceptionally well protected by vast scores of Thralls that will not hesitate to throw their own lives away to protect Order Sorcerers. Given their high investment in equipment, education and overall life. Orders bring the overpowering psionic power when needed. Other factions psionics might attempt to fight off and even break a Commander’s psionic link with a Thrall, or throw simple lightning around. Orders bring the psionic storms and purging flame. Each order generally specializes in a single method of applied psionics. Their own R&D department (a very notable exception of the elsewise highly centralized general psionic research) is purely focused on turning psionic energy in dangerous chants, spells, and rituals. There are simple applications like the usage of fire, ice or lightning but there is also the more complex uses of enhancing Thralls, manipulating magnetism and even the cosmic powers. Orders are to be feared upon the battlefield for no other faction save the Ashtar can face them in psionic vs psionic head-on combat.
(To be expanded upon with a list of the most prominent Orders)
Thralls & Commanders
Because of the Cataclysm, many Asrians prefer to stay far away from the deadly firefighting. Instead, they send out their Thralls to do the dirty work for them. While Thralls, with their base instincts, can work well enough together as a pack, they often lack direction beyond simple “survival”. This is where a Commander comes in. From a safe distance, he creates the orders and objectives for the Thralls to follow. Depending on the implants, mental capacity, and rank, a Commander can hold command to up to 250 Thralls at any given time. Though exceptions have been known where commanders control over 500 Thralls. Though this is often paired with dangerous overtaxing of the brain. While some might think this is a very dishonorable way to fight, within Asrian culture commanders are still highly respected.
Thralls can come in a million shapes. Large, small, infantry, hounds, tanks and even aircraft. Of course, the bigger the Thrall, the more mental capacity direct control will demand and the more complex orders it can execute. Commanders will, after a few battles, start changing the roster of their controlled Legion. Opting to either completely dedicate themselves to a single kind of Thrall (like artillery) and thus maximize said units potential on the field, or greatly diversify their Legion so they can act flexibly in the field.
Veteran commanders will often create a very personal bond with the Thralls under their command. Which creates a feedback loop in which the Thralls begin to imprint on their Commander. Commanders will begin to personalize certain Thralls. Giving them decals to denote ownership and pride. A common decoration is the “kill count” where front line Thralls are given a marker for every kill they perform. Thralls may also be functionally enhanced. Commanders pay for higher grade synthetic muscles, weaponry or extra capabilities.
(To be expanded upon with various Thrall examples)
Hyperdread
Infinity can quite easily be mistaken for a space station. As it generally stays static in orbit. However, Infinity is far from a fortress in the void. It is a testament to the Asrian naval doctrine. To be both an immovable object and a deliverer of vast amounts of damage. Infinity is equipped with several layers of warp-deflection shielding. Capable of throwing back hostile arms back at them. The new Labyrinth II technology expands upon this warp-deflection as anti-strike craft weapon. The warp gates generally used to catch larger missiles and torpedoes is used to absorb strike craft into a constantly changing dance and change of direction until they crash within the labyrinth of warp gates. It also possesses the experimental Singularity projector. Beyond that, it has numerous conventional ArcLight and Amenthok projectors and Deliverance beams. With over 50 choirs on board, the Infinity packs a terrible amount of psionic power.
However, this all comes at a great cost. While its FTL capabilities are fair and its sublight engines might be a tad bit slow, outside of all of these it has no real means of maneuverability or movement. It is a terrible monolith with fast power and defenses but it is still a monolith. Fast craft are its general weakness (though don’t expect a mere corvette group to take down this monster).
The Asrian Ascendancy strives towards psionic apotheosis. Their psionic potential in modern times is second to none. Aided by their specialized technology and readily available, psionic resources they managed to become the unrivaled masters of the art. During the Great War, they wanted to replace the Ashtar as the dominant, policing race. An effort reflected in their large, slow but well protected and heavy-hitting ships. However, this led to truly gruesome acts of wanton slaughter and in some cases even genocide. Today the Asrians mostly see themselves as the custodians of the Ashtar legacy.
Nation type
Major Belligerent
Overview
A general summary of your nation. Just a paragraph or so with the high-level points.
History
The Asrian Ascendancy’s beginnings are somewhat unclear. It is almost certain fact that it all began with a colonization ship with a skeleton crew to commence planet preparations for a larger population’s arrival. However, upon arrival, some sort of cataclysmic event must have taken place as there is almost no source about this time period. The most accepted theory is that humanity’s interaction with the Psichrite particles on Asra created an array of mental problem. The most prominent being widespread amnesia. This shattered the unified crew of the colony ship into several factions each going their own way.
Around 200 Post Colonization (PC) several factions, despite their amnesia, managed to recovered computers and fabricators meant to aid the construction effort. Though their capabilities are not to be underestimated, there were vast amounts of knowledge lost. Thus these computers and fabricators became revered as God Engines. Through trial and error by the developing “priesthood”, they managed to glean information from the computers.
At 351 PC the Wasrhaïa nation managed to activate the fabricator. A year later they were able to design and produce a rudimentary sword. In the years following, vast amounts of “holy objects” were produced by the fabricator. Though the fabricator was eventually exhausted, the Wasrhaïa began the initial conquest of Asra and a massive expansion drive. Resulting in the first Asrian Empire (also referred to as the Age of Wasrhaïa). After several years of peace, the priesthood was able to make several other Fabricators work and gleaned even more information from the computers. Resulting in a rapid advance of technology. In 489 PC the Wasrhaïan Empire shattered at the Battle of Oros Fields. Where an upstart sect of the priesthood managed to create several “iron men” who fought with strange weapons. Back in the day these weapons were seen as magic. Though today we know these Iron Man were automatons armed with arm mounted rail guns.
With the first Empire, and the priesthood that served it, shattered many warring factions drove on the technological advancements. Where the First Priesthood had turned dogmatic in their usage of the God Engines, these sects were tasked by their political lieges to find an edge for an impending battle. The next great advance made was that of Soulcasting. In fact, this was the first discovery made with limited aid from the God Engines. In 634 PC, through the help of the Iron Men, Psichrite could be minded from deep within the crust of Asra. This condensed crystal could be interacted with through psionics. The arriving humans had no affinity towards psionics. However, years of exposure to small Psichrite particles in the air have given the Asrians a latent power. Crystalline Psichrite was used first to enhance ones mind. Not much later it was used to control more than one Iron Man directly. A controlled Iron Man was a menace upon itself (as the pilot could be as dangerous and reckless as he needed to be with no consequences to his own life). A squad of controlled Iron Men meant the end to all wars. The Soulcasting technology quickly spread across Asra.
Though the wars never stopped. In fact, they worsened. Though, after a particularly vicious war costing thousands of lives, the Treaty of Oros Field was written. This was because human life was exceptionally valuable. Despite the many years, Asra population could not swell to that of modern planets (many assume this is an additional effect of the Psichrite). Thus Battlezones were established upon Asra. Places where nations could go to war with each other without fear of human loss. A loss at this Battlezone meant a loss of the war. Though it was often contested, the results were generally accepted.
This changed in 855 PC, with the Yvriën City State’s challenge against the Rockheart Dominion. The Dominion had superior firepower and numbers. However, Yvriën had a secret weapon. For the first time in 120 years, a human walked on the battlefield. Dressed in elegant but protective power armor. She outstretched her arm and reached towards the Psionic connections behind the Drones fighting. At first, she killed five pilots from the battlezone, even though the pilots were assumed to be safe far away. Then she began cutting massive amounts of psionic connections. Leaving the dominion’s army frozen and soon after destroyed.
Yvriën was able to hold this power secret for some time and Yvriën continued its conquest. Of course, there were several uprisings in the cities themselves by disgruntled populations. However, they were quickly squashed by the quickly growing superior military of Yvriën. The Sorceress Lucinia, the Spear of Yvriën, had united the plant Asra through her power. In the following decades, more Sorceresses and Warlocks like her rose up from humanity. With psionic gifts. However, Yvriën maintained its grip on the world and began to usher in a space age.
Colonization of the nearby moon began in earnest at 975 PC (after the famous speech of High King Saran Versen assuring they would reach the stars before a millennium after their arrival had passed). Soon after the nearby gas giant gained an orbital station and a starship gantry. At this point of time, Asra’s focused mostly on psionic development and an attempt at FTL travel (technology that eluded them still). The Asra eventually reached the next solar system through FTL in 1.003 PC. In 1.006 PC the Ashtar invaded.
It wasn’t a battle. It was a slaughter. The fledgling ships of the Asra Ascendancy were utterly crippled through a psionic wave. On the ground, all combat drones were frozen in place by the Ashtar. The Asra Ascendancy kneeled and offered an unconditional peace. What choice did they have? Though after they submission almost all hatred for the superior race vanished. It was decided, to keep the peace, that the Asra would be somewhat aided. To level the playing field with the other factions within the galaxy. They were given psionic education mostly. Which propelled their understanding of the powerful gift. Of course, whatever light they had within. It was but a pale, fading candle flame compared to the Ashtar’s own power.
For a hundred years the Asra thrived. Seeing themselves as the Apprentice faction of the Ashtar. This relation was never truly acknowledged. Then they vanished. At first, the Asrians were shocked and paralyzed. They had come to see the Ashtar not quite as gods but some form of obtainable divinity.
By far one of the most important occupied regions during the Great War was the planet of Manir. A place that held, until recently, one of the most intact Ashtar outposts. Manir was besieged from almost the start of the Great War with sole objective: obtaining the Outpost and get all the Ashtar knowledge from it. The Gesha house was quick to act and obtained great amount of relics (which, sadly, remain unusable) and even managed to enter the first room of the Outpost. The rest of Manir fared less. Continuous resistance constantly endangered the dig site. Multiple Darkstar Dreadnoughts have razed large city centers as vengeance. When the Rolvius began to regain territory, the Admiralty wanted to sunder Manir, making it utterly inhospitable and denying the Rolvians access to the Ashtar Outpost. The endless begging of the Gesha combined with the quickly slipping public support prevented such harsh measure.
A disastrous event that occurred right after the Great War. The Admiralty’s experiments with Psionics were becoming increasingly dangerous. However, the experiment that led to the Cataclysm was one of truly epic proportions. Vast amounts of psychrite were shipped in, while large amounts of Choirs were working around the clock. The Admiralty wanted to create a fleet-destroying power that could be used from an inter-system distance. The result was nothing near what they thought it would be. A psionic ripple tore through the Asrian Ascendancy. Those lucky died in an instant. Less fortunate Asrians were driven mad. In total 60% of the Asrian population perished due to Cataclysm-related causes. It was thanks to a strong king at the time that the Asrian Ascendancy didn’t perish politically. As parliament had largely perished as well. The Nobility, previously falling more towards the background, re-established itself as the prominent political players. The discovery of Thralls allowed the Asrian Ascenandcy’s economy to survive and even flourish. Never the less the population remains diminished.
Major Holdings
Asra – Named the Crown World. Asra forms the seat of the Asrian Ascendancy. Here the Noble World representatives voice their grievances and desires in the High Court. Where the High King and his Council of Lords reside. Once Asra was a sprawling mess of cities and industrial zones. No more. Its nature is healing over the wounds of industrialization. The few cities that remain are opulent centers of research, culture and wealth. These sprawling urban centers are filled with low-rise villas, public gardens, colonnades, and museums publicizing the latest creations. Picturesque workshops allow the Asrian tourists a peek into the artisan (but highly controlled) growth of the Crown World. For those with close ties to royalty, there are the numerous well-hidden summer and winter homes spread across the “wilderness” of Asra. Poverty is inexistent through displacement schemes and an extremely tough stance on crime. Only the walled capital city of Nemubia is accessible to foreigners. Though only to foreign dignitaries and embassy personnel.
Serenas – A unique world within the Asrian Ascendancy. Serenas is neither a Tributary nor a Noble World. It is the only planet (and system) that is totally owned by the Asrian United Royal Military (AUR-M). Serenas itself has many military bases surrounded by truly untouched wilderness and hostile fauna. Its moon is home to several black sites as well. Many stations orbit the main planet, some of them containing the biggest docks and gantries of the Ascendancy. In fact, the only shipyards capable of producing the feared Dreadnoughts of the Asrians can be found here. In far outer orbit of the local star you can also find a black site gantry where Asra makes her Hyper-Dreadnoughts. While almost all military research and development is carried out in the Serenas System, there is one very important exception: psionics. Serenas counts its fair share of Cabals, Covens and Orders but the high-level research in psionics is absolutely forbidden.
Agresha Ashtari – A planet discovered and colonized at the start of the Great War by the great House of Gesha, Agresha Ashtari is home to many Ashtar ruins. Under the rule of the Gesha, this planet turned into the galaxies greatest research center into the Ashtar and their psionic powers. However, they did not stop there. Agresha Ashtari laid on an important FTL “highway” from Gateway. The Gesha opted to open up several city centers to foreigners. In which they constructed massive temples for the Ashtar to worship them as gods, grand museums to publicize several nuggets of wisdom the Asrians have gleaned (though it is well known that the Asrians do not show off all their knowledge in these musea) and a myriad of shops providing incense, statuettes and other souvenirs and trinkets.
Gateway – Another unique system, Gateway marks the official point of entry into the Asrian Ascendancy. All foreign traffic has to enter through here and pass customs. While within the Asrian Ascendancy corporations are limited in how many employees and how much land they may lease or own per planet, within Gateway they are free to buy anything from orbit coordinates for space stations up to entire asteroids if it suits their purpose. The Gateway system is also home to a myriad of smaller civilian gantries and docks for ships to dock and unload. While customs formalities are carried out when leaving the system to go deeper into the Ascendancy, taxes within Gateway are exceptionally low. Making it a favored trade hub.
Demographics
Population
The official stance is that the billions of inhabitants of the Asrian Ascendancy are all pure Asrian. These are humans that, over the course of a millennium, evolved and mutated into a psionically capable species. Biologists could make a strong case that Asrians are no longer strictly human. However, the number of Asrians is quite low should one compare it to other empires of equal size. The reason for this is the Cataclysm. A terrible event that took place within the central Crown World and the Noble systems surrounding it. While the Cataclysm killed billions, those that remained gained massive psionic power. Still, the Asrian Ascendancy’s population is definitely at the smaller end in general. The population generally resides within the Noble worlds, as these are fully colonized and capable of sustaining life. Some might be send out as Thrall Supervisors on outposts.
Society
Civilians within the Asrian Ascendancy are actually quite well off in general. Through the Universal Basic Income, none of them need to carry out menial or unrequired tasks. As almost all of these tasks are carried out by Thralls these days. Joined with free public education, healthcare and subsidized higher education. While technically Asrians do not need to work, many of the lower classes still work the more menial control jobs. Supervising the legions of Thralls working the mines, fields and other industries. There is a tax levied upon these extra incomes. While companies do exist, Asrian companies are more seen as a union of people working towards a common goal rather than the maximization of profit. Capitalist thinking died with the Cataclysm, after which many leaderless companies were forced to part with vast sums of their wealth to rebuild and provide a good life for the population as a whole. There was a fear that the coming of foreign companies would destabilize this dynamic. Though by giving these foreigners a different status and subjecting them to different laws (and most importantly: minimizing their presence) the Ascendancy continues to maintain its delicate balance.
Middle classes give great importance to personal achievements and those of their offspring. They are the corporation owners or merchants in general. Though many of them also enter into research, art or military. Each time trying to prove and bring honor to themselves in a bid to one day turn their family into a Lesser House. Middle Class also provides the most Commanders for the military in a bid to maximize their own prestige that way.
The higher classes start with the Lesser Houses. These are generally tributaries of the High Houses that rule the system. Lesser Houses rule large pieces of land, several corporations and can boast several locally renown researchers and artisans as their ancestors (during the Great War, the emphasis laid largely upon war heroes, however since the Cataclysm their importance has waxed and waned). Lesser Houses are more capable to provide wealth for individual researchers and artisans within the family. As tributaries to the High House, Lesser Houses are also expected to provide support in the form of bureaucrats and other personnel. Lesser Houses on the Noble Worlds wage a constant war with each other in the shadows of the court. Trying to win the favor of the High House. The greatest honor a Lesser House may receive is a marriage proposal.
Each civilian has the right to vote for the Crown Prince of his/her Noble World when their High Lord dies. They may also vote their Crown World Representative every 5 years. Both are extremely important positions. The position of Representative is bound to the most social etiquette. Candidates may not slander, insult or mistreat one another personally. They are encouraged to utilize failed former promises and pointing out outright deceit. Amongst the prince and princesses, attacks upon personality may happen. As these elections are generally considered far more personal. Never the less most try to be wary with their words as becoming High Lord/Lady does not absolve them of their insults.
Religion is not outright banned by the Ascendancy. However, it is tightly regulated and overseen to prevent the disastrous Zealot Wars that broke out at the start of the Great War. Most of the Asrians do believe Gods exist in the form of the Ashtar. However, they refrain from worship because most of them believe they will one day, as a race, ascend into godhood as well. Still, some Asrians do worship the Ashtar as Gods. Foreigners on Open Cities are free to have shrines in their own houses. If a religion is sanctified by the Royal Court, they may open up one place of worship within the Asrian Ascendancy.
(To do: expand upon fashion)
Economy
Trade - While the Asrian Ascendancy has made many promises of openness, it is still quite an isolationist place. However, since the creation of Gateway, the Ascendancy really has opened up a bit. FTL-Infrastructure allow for fast movement along FTL Highways towards systems that chose to open themselves up. While some Noble Worlds chose to allow foreigners to trade with them, the Asra System is still completely off-limit for non-Asrian civilian ships. Foreigners may embark such ships from any Noble world though.
Merchant vessels diverging from these FTL Highways will be quickly caught and requested to return to their former path. Should they, somehow, be able to trade outside of an opened up system then they are, by law, smuggling (at the very least).
Workforce = Thralls and supervisors Noble Systems = Economic and administrative hearts Tributary Worlds = Production centers, agrarian zones, forge worlds Outer Systems = uncolonized harvesting zones Taxation = high corporate taxes
Psychrite – The foundations of the Ascendancy are made of Psychrite. The crystal grows in the presence of minerals and psionic power. It, in of itself does generate small amounts. However, when psionic powers interact with it, this growth is greatly enhanced. The internal lattices allow espers to manipulate the substance. Psychrite is often used for both generation of psionic power and the creation of the Thralls their psychrite cores. Which gives them their consciousness.
Nebula Pearls – Naturally appearing in the gas giant of the Asra system’s rings, nebula pearls to those without the psionic gift appear as perfect black spheres the size of a fist. However, those blessed will see a vast and endless nebula within. The very colors they see often changes from person to person. Nebula pearls in of themselves do not generate psionic energy. They are, however, exceptionally good at storing it. A side effect of storage is that the nebula inside glows ever brighter to those who can see it.
Lunaleaf flowers – recognizable by their crescent leaves, the pale white flower of these plants is a potent psionic drug. It appears to be a light and highly controllable hallucinogens. This mind expanding drug does naturally increases psionic power within an individual but it is the person’s enhanced creativity that makes up the bulk of extra created psionic power. While the psionic power generated is substantional, sadly Lunaleaf flowers cannot be used during combat situation. As it lowers focus which has lethal consequences. Instead it is often used for psionic research (and has given Asrian researchers an even greater edge).
Solarium Incense – The Solarium flower releases an extremely pleasant smell which makes it a fan favorite in many homes as chamber plant. However its true potentional arises when the plant is burned in a very specific way. Its smoke is more of a trance inducing incense. Allowing those who take it in to enhance their focus. Many describe it as “narrowing the path”. Unlike Lunealeaf, Solarium incense is used in combat but almost exclusively by choirs to focus all their power on the generation of psionic energy.
(Potentially adding more)
Government
There are 3 tiers of the main government. The first tier is the local government. This concerns the outposts on the outer systems and cities on the tributary worlds. The position of governor over these locations is not elected. Instead, Lesser Houses are tasked with the administration and management of these places by the High House they serve. Despite the fact that these locations are not elected, civil unrest can be a very real threat. Most outer and tributary worlds supply the Nobles system they serve with vital food, goods, and even border security. Should a Lesser House fail in their duties, punishment is generally demotion and the dissolution of the House. A grievous wound to inflict upon a family, who may have to work for generations to get back on their feet.
The second tier of government is that of the Noble Worlds. Lesser Houses act as bureaucrats, administrators, managers and other support personnel for the High House. The more important department a Lesser House manages at the Noble System, the more prestige they accumulate and the more chances they get to ascend. However, corruption and general inefficiency become more and more visible to the High House and thus faster and harder punished. A department can be re-allocated to another house every 5 years. At the height of governance for Lesser Houses is the Noble Council. To have a member of your family become Councilor here is the greatest honor a Lesser House can experience. Councilors here often get their first taste of actual law-making. The only way to advance yourself now is to become a High House yourself. This is nigh impossible. For one it requires several High Houses to vouch for you and your kin. Secondly, it requires a position of such rulership to open up. A rare occurrence during this Post-Colonial era. The only few times a new High House was created was when Tributary worlds grew too big and High Houses were forced to part with them and the surrounding tributary and outer worlds. This has always resulted in rivalries between the two Houses. Where one declares the other a traitor while the other claims it is their right.
Such rivalries are the matter of the third tier of governance. Here the fate of entire systems is decided. Every High House has a representative at the Court at the very least. However, by decree of the High King a High House may be asked to send more people to act as councilors and advisors during the various meetings and councils at the High Court in Asra. These High Councils have very specific fields in which they operate like the High Council of Agriculture, the High Council of Psionic Research, the High Council of Foreign Relationships, High Council of Culture and so on. Once again, to be invited to such High Council is a great honor. Representatives hold no seat on such councils, however, they are often invited if certain decisions are to be made about one of the systems they represent. Representatives will often advise on how to achieve certain goals without completely disrupting the represented systems.
There is, however, a fourth tier of governance. However an exceptional few can reach it if they are not born of royalty. The Royal Council may overrule any previous made law or demand. They are comprised of the royal appointed Advisor of a field (Royal Advisor of Industry, Royal Advisor of Culture, Royal Advisor of Psionic Research, etc). They speak with the voice of the King, most of the time. Though the King can still overrule them. While it is highly unlikely for a Royal Advisor to be relieved of his duties, a 65% majority vote on the High Council he seats at may result in such thing to happen.
Some free thinkers (generally foreigners) will decry such a monolithic structure. Where there seems to be no clear difference between the executive and the legislative branch. In fact, they would say it looks awfully much like a dictatorship of the monarchy. This is not entirely incorrect. It may appear as if the common folks have painfully little control over their rulers. Their direct leaders are often chosen only once in a lifetime. Their representatives may be chosen once every five years. Never the less, the inalienable right of the civilians to move to whichever system they want to (accompanied by the Universal Basic Income that enables such move) means that dissatisfied civilians may and will leave systems should they fully disagree with their rulers on whatever matter. And because many rulers often rule for several decades, they can enact grand schemes and works that will bring prosperity and prestige to their system without being subjected to the fickle currents of a democracy.
Technological Information
Major Techs
Psionic Tech - Ancient Asrians were faced with a terrible problem. They had reached the end of manageable psionic power. Any usage beyond said milestone generally led to the loss of control (and life). The psionic energy just could not be applied in any meaningful way without aid. That aid came in the form of Psionic Tech. Runes, the most widespread usage of Psionic Tech are used not just to channel but to control psionic power. These runes were once simple creations. Today the Rune modules are intricate and highly specialized creations and implants. Made only by sanctioned artisans. However, Psionic Tech has grown beyond the usage of Asrians. The creation of the Thrall Core was another milestone, allowing the Asrian Ascendancy not just to survive but to thrive after the Cataclysm. While in ancient times Psionic Tech could only work with psychrite, today many psionically enhanced and exotic products are used in Psionic Tech.
Thralls - Easily mistaken for robots, Thralls form the backbone of the Asrian empire's wealth. They are largely made out of synthetic muscle fiber and bones. However, they are not controlled by a classical computer. Instead, they possess what some would call a base, animalistic consciousness. Given to them by the psychrite core they have in them. This gives them some instincts and even an ability to learn (though in a very limited way). Old, experienced cores will begin to alter the physical form of a Thrall to better suit their needs. For example, Thralls that only mine will rebuild themselves with strong muscles and skin but forsake optical sensors.
Military technology
Lightweaving – The basis of the Asrians main weapon, it lets you program a tiny shard of psychrite to follow a certain, mathematically decided, path. Then superheated plasma is bound to the sliver and fired off. It uses the plasma to steer itself across the path. The more plasma it has, the slower it will move (though it’s general speed is quite fast) but the further it can travel. The plasma gets more effective the closer the target is.
However, the real advantage lays with the Lightweavers. In space these Asrians are suspended in a pod along a right with a VR headset. Their neural implant connects them with a computer that turns intent and thoughts into the mathematical paths the shards are programmed with. Experienced lightweavers can use up to 10 ArcLights (the main weapon that uses lightweaving). To catch smaller ships (like corvettes and larger), lightweavers forsake the main ArcLight weaponry in favor of the Amonthok Net. It uses a multitude of small programmed slivers to create a shard on par of what an ArcLight battery might use. However, at a certain point (depending on its programming) the Amonthok shard breaks apart to form a light woven net to capture the smaller ships.
Deliverance Weaponry – A Deliverance core, from which all Deliverance weaponry draw their power, is an exceptionally unstable power source. Its core material is destabilized enriched Psychrite, done by bombarding it by a massive amount of positrons. While the destabilized Psychrite is slowly but steadily breaking down it releases dangerous amounts of energy. It took help from the Ashtar to build a somewhat stabilizing housing for the Core. The housing stops the Psychrite from breaking down until whatever it powers requires energy. Then the self-destructing crystal surges with power. The housing must be build to both stop the destabilization and channel its power when needed. This is a dangerous balance that must be maintained at all times. Yet in return deliverance beam weaponry delivers a lethal combination of heat with a constantly fluctuating magnetic field around it. Deliverance weaponry is often slow to aim but lethal against all that it hits. This it is generally utilized as anti-capital weaponry.
Void Shields – Void shields are the main shields used by the Asrian forces. Void Shield sensors track incoming attacks (or predict them in later incarnations) and open up miniature portals right in front of them. The oldest ships their Void Shields generally spit out the attacks back behind them. However modern ships will bend the portal’s path and return incoming attacks to their source. They quite energy-intensive however and Void Shield batteries can be overloaded when too much matter has to pass through. Resulting in the Void Shields temporary shutting down (for the safety of the ship. While ship captains may demand the overcharging of their Void Shields this will, with no exception, result in the violent implosion of the ship). The larger and more modern ships have several Void Shield layers as a back-up should one fail.
Labyrinth System - The Labyrinth system used the Void Shields of a ship to defend itself against smaller craft as well. It is an experimental system where the targeting computer will open up void gates in front of them, redirecting them constantly through a maze of portals. Eventually to crash into another craft. The Labyrinth system requires vastly more energy and strong Void Shields, thus it generally cannot be fitted on smaller craft.
Choirs and Covens - While the choir chants. The chants are created to let the singers enter a state of dazed trance. In which they generate vastly more psionic energy. Which is then siphoned from the room anywhere it needs to be. Choirmasters must pay close attention to the mental, psionic and physical state of the singers. As this is still a taxing endeavor. Covens reside in similar rooms. However, while some of their people might work as supplicant singers, Covens generally utilize a focus (could be the entire ship even) to work their void magic. They throw dangerous telekinetic forced around, attempt to grasp fighters or cast lightning against hostile ships.
Choirs can generally move from ship to ship with little issues as long as there is a standardized choir chamber for them. Covens, on the other hand, will grow attached to the ship they are on. Often claiming that it speaks in its own language to them. Covens that have stayed on the same ship for over a decade will loathe a change and their Coven chambers will often be so adapted to their own needs that no other chamber will suffice.
Manifestation Egnine - While Covens can use the hull of a ship itself to channel their void psionics, it is far from a good focus. Meaning the psionic power is often diffused. Resulting in lethal close to the ship but over long distances, it lacks in power. The Manifestation Engine is the result of painstaking psionic research. Never the less it is a dangerous axis weapon that can deliver the manifestations of psionic magic over a further distance with greater effect. However, it is quite big and smaller ships will be unable to carry such a dangerous and powerful weapon.
Military Information
Fleet/Navy: Asrian United Royal Navy
Doctrine
The Asrian United Royal Navy (AUR-N) doctrine is quite simple really. They will form the uncontested monolithic force of the galaxy. Unmoving and uncaring, their weapons will fire until everyone else’s guns cooled down. Victory or annihilation. During the Great War that last part was quite certainly taken literally. Where, if the Asrian Ascendancy could not hold on to a planet, they would make every effort to make it utterly uninhabitable. They lost vast amounts of their own force because they simply refused to retreat and regroup. Though at the same time it earned them a reputation as dangerous and unyielding opponents who can only be completely destroyed. While some would assume the doctrine died with the Asrian Cataclysm, it has not. Despite the damage, they suffered the admiralty still stands as a proud, unyielding and fairly nationalistic bastion. Most of them have ancestors that had committed genocide.
Darkstar-class Support Dreadnought
A sign of imminent planetary annihilation. The Darkstar dreadnoughts were not the most formidable opponents against hostile fleets. However, they were expertly build to invade planets. With vast orbital bombardment deliverance beams and enough bays and living quarters to house an army, the arrival of the slow-moving Darkstar was generally the sign of imminent doom. During the Great War it were the Darkstars who glassed the most planets the fastest. Their kill-count is in the millions. Many civilians are still distraught about their continuing existence and the Admiralty has chosen to generally keep them away from the public eye. Never the less most Darkstars are still manned and used.
Destiny-Class Assault Battleship
A Great War era ship that supported the Darkstars. The Destiny-Class has broadside facing ArcLight Projectors and several lower faced Deliverance beams. With two two-layer launch decks, the Destiny-Class housed quite a few strike craft groups as well. While not very fast, it was exceptionally well protected for its time. While today they may not pack the hardest punch anymore or take the most damage without falling apart, they were and still are thought nails to crack.
Legacy-Class Battleship
Designed and produced during the time of the Détente, the Legacy-Class was the first of its kind housing several Choir chambers. Allowing onboard covens to work their psionic magic in the void. Throwing asteroids, holding nebulas around the ship and even throwing great arcs of psionic lightning from the ship itself. The Legacy sacrificed several rows of ArcLight projectors and entirely lacks the Deliverance beam weaponry. In return, they are more heavily protected. They still have the Destiny-Class’ layered launch bays however they are generally filled with interceptor class strike craft to protect the Legacy-Class (and more importantly, the Choirs and Covens inside). They were not hugely popular though, as they were build when both the events of the War and the Cataclysm were fresh in people’s memories. Still, they are quite dangerous and capable.
(They bent the rules of the Détente somewhat. As the presence of choirs and coven onboard did not technically count as “weapons”)
Eternity-Class Battleship
The latest and greatest kind of Battleship. The Eternity-Class stripped even more of its conventional weapons. In return, it has an axis mounted Manifestation Engine. Allowing the many covens and choirs onboard to channel their powers into the weapon and deliver great blasts of telekinetic force, lighting, fire and other void powers. The Eternity-Class is meant to be an utter danger to all other capital ships. Its main weapons (all Deliverance beams) are slow to fire, as is the Manifestation Engine. So while it can cut through Battlecruisers and up, most cruisers should be able to dodge the large and slow-moving ship. The designs for the battleship had been a secret project within the Admiralty and they began production the moment the first faction broke the Détente. Still, two admirals were sacked over its creation.
Ziggurat-Class Support Battlecruiser
The Ziggurat-Class is a highly advanced anti-strike and anti-small-class ship. Equipped with several rows of Amontek casters and ArcLight projectors, the Ziggurat is meant to hunt down corvettes, frigates, and even destroyers too fast for the Battleships and Dreadnoughts. It does this not by outrunning them. Instead, it simply utilizes vast batteries of its weapons to continuously barrage the ships until they are hit. While they might not really be able to touch hostile dreadnoughts, battleships, and battlecruisers, they aren’t really supposed to do so anyway. However, it truly shines in its advanced anti-strike craft “weaponry”. The Labyrinth System. This utilizes the defensive Warp gates to create a sort of constantly shifting maze of warp gates around it. Hostile strike craft caught by the system will constantly fly in and out of warp gates until they inevitably crash into each other or hostile fire that’s being diverted. Developed at the tail end of the Détente, it is meant to protect the fleet against dangerous strike craft swarms.
Spire-Class Psionic Supremacy Battlecruiser
The Spire-Class is a recent creation by the Asrian Navy. While it houses some ArcLight projectors and is very well defended by shields, its main power comes from the vast amounts of Coven and Choirs onboard. The whole ship’s superstructure is layered with psychrite lattices that allow superior psionic conduction. This in combination with the experimental generators and the outer hull being covered with psionic projection arrays, allows the Spire-Class to create vast psionic suppression and shielding areas. The suppression will strike hostile espers in the void while the shielding makes sure that no hostile psionic attack will harm the fleet. Some Spire-Classes have been equipped with more hostile oriented arrays which throw lightning at the enemies. Though this approach is seen as dangerous and reckless. In truth, the Spire-Class is not meant to be in the vanguard. Instead, it is one more tether allowing a fleet to maintain unmoving from their objective.
Eyrie-Class battlecarrier
While the Eyrie certainly does not lack in conventional weaponry, its most important facilities are the rows of hanger bays where the many strike craft lay dormant. Ready to swarm out to meet their foe. The Eyrie-Class has existed since the Great War, where it joined the Darkstars in planetary invasions. As the strike craft were traditionally capable of both space and atmospheric flight. Though they were also responsible for the indiscriminate bombing of further (but smaller) hostile outposts. Since the Great War, the Eyrie-Class has been continuously updated. Its great reliance on the strike crafts it houses means that upgrading the Eyrie is generally far cheaper than scrapping it and remaking an entire carrier again.
(official designation: Battlecruiser, by sheer luck the Eyrie already fell under the treaty of Détente’s definition of a battlecruiser. Though this is largely because it depends on the strike craft is houses)
Allegiance-Class Variable Cruiser
It’s easy to see it as a monster. While it may appear as an average Asrian ship it houses far from traditional weapons. Instead of ArcLight projectors and deliverance beams, has modular turrets and broadside spots meant for intergalactic acquired weaponry like railguns or missiles. Mostly bought from huge corporations. Its design was more of a civilian demand to show how open the Asrian Ascendancy was becoming towards foreigners and their corporations. It faced stark protest from every branch of the military. Even the Army who declared such craft to be unreliable at best. The compromise was that only foreign sourced weapons could be outfitted. Its propulsion and shields would still be Asrian made. The Allegiance-Class first saw “action” during a series of routine training simulations during the Era of the Détente. Where the Admiralty begrudgingly acknowledged its existence and thought nothing more of it. Despite its hated status in the Navy, many more open-minded tacticians believe the versatility of the Allegiance-class is exactly what the Asrian United Royal Navy requires.
Army/Planetary forces
The Cataclysm hit the Asrian United Royal Army (AUR-A) the hardest. With vast amounts of troops dying in mere seconds. Like Asrian society as a whole, it was forced to change and adopt sometimes uncomfortable ideas. To build an entire army upon a singular technology can be dangerous. The resulting Thralls are nothing like their civilian counterparts. More fortified and independent, their animalistic instincts are honed for one purpose: to kill. For years only Thralls were allowed on the forefront of any battlefield. Their commanders were hidden away in safety. Only recently did Orders deliver individuals strong enough that the Army as a whole deemed them safe enough to deploy. Strong, however, is a very relevant term. As the deployed Sorcerers of the various Orders are far from weak.
Orders
While Covens and Choirs are generally used onboard space ships to power its psionic weaponry, Orders consist of psionically enhanced individuals that take to the field. These individuals, squads or even groups are exceptionally well protected by vast scores of Thralls that will not hesitate to throw their own lives away to protect Order Sorcerers. Given their high investment in equipment, education and overall life. Orders bring the overpowering psionic power when needed. Other factions psionics might attempt to fight off and even break a Commander’s psionic link with a Thrall, or throw simple lightning around. Orders bring the psionic storms and purging flame. Each order generally specializes in a single method of applied psionics. Their own R&D department (a very notable exception of the elsewise highly centralized general psionic research) is purely focused on turning psionic energy in dangerous chants, spells, and rituals. There are simple applications like the usage of fire, ice or lightning but there is also the more complex uses of enhancing Thralls, manipulating magnetism and even the cosmic powers. Orders are to be feared upon the battlefield for no other faction save the Ashtar can face them in psionic vs psionic head-on combat.
(To be expanded upon with a list of the most prominent Orders)
Thralls & Commanders
Because of the Cataclysm, many Asrians prefer to stay far away from the deadly firefighting. Instead, they send out their Thralls to do the dirty work for them. While Thralls, with their base instincts, can work well enough together as a pack, they often lack direction beyond simple “survival”. This is where a Commander comes in. From a safe distance, he creates the orders and objectives for the Thralls to follow. Depending on the implants, mental capacity, and rank, a Commander can hold command to up to 250 Thralls at any given time. Though exceptions have been known where commanders control over 500 Thralls. Though this is often paired with dangerous overtaxing of the brain. While some might think this is a very dishonorable way to fight, within Asrian culture commanders are still highly respected.
Thralls can come in a million shapes. Large, small, infantry, hounds, tanks and even aircraft. Of course, the bigger the Thrall, the more mental capacity direct control will demand and the more complex orders it can execute. Commanders will, after a few battles, start changing the roster of their controlled Legion. Opting to either completely dedicate themselves to a single kind of Thrall (like artillery) and thus maximize said units potential on the field, or greatly diversify their Legion so they can act flexibly in the field.
Veteran commanders will often create a very personal bond with the Thralls under their command. Which creates a feedback loop in which the Thralls begin to imprint on their Commander. Commanders will begin to personalize certain Thralls. Giving them decals to denote ownership and pride. A common decoration is the “kill count” where front line Thralls are given a marker for every kill they perform. Thralls may also be functionally enhanced. Commanders pay for higher grade synthetic muscles, weaponry or extra capabilities.
(To be expanded upon with various Thrall examples)
Hyperdread
Infinity can quite easily be mistaken for a space station. As it generally stays static in orbit. However, Infinity is far from a fortress in the void. It is a testament to the Asrian naval doctrine. To be both an immovable object and a deliverer of vast amounts of damage. Infinity is equipped with several layers of warp-deflection shielding. Capable of throwing back hostile arms back at them. The new Labyrinth II technology expands upon this warp-deflection as anti-strike craft weapon. The warp gates generally used to catch larger missiles and torpedoes is used to absorb strike craft into a constantly changing dance and change of direction until they crash within the labyrinth of warp gates. It also possesses the experimental Singularity projector. Beyond that, it has numerous conventional ArcLight and Amenthok projectors and Deliverance beams. With over 50 choirs on board, the Infinity packs a terrible amount of psionic power.
However, this all comes at a great cost. While its FTL capabilities are fair and its sublight engines might be a tad bit slow, outside of all of these it has no real means of maneuverability or movement. It is a terrible monolith with fast power and defenses but it is still a monolith. Fast craft are its general weakness (though don’t expect a mere corvette group to take down this monster).
Alyssa stood with her back against her just locked the door and let out a sigh of relief. When she heard that there would be a big get together where Valerian would be present, not in a thousand years would she have guessed that not just all Tepes' children but also the Artois and Zeno would be there! And she was none of them! Still, she managed to blend in well enough as she sipped Mimosas. Which were mostly to take the edge off her situation. When she saw him she finally understood what her best friend was talking about for three whole decades. He was a prince and very much dressed for the role. She tried to get his attention in the hall and with some waving she even got it! Of course, his father's speech interrupted everything and things were getting a bit too hot for Alyssa's liking. So she fled to her room. Ready to use plan B.
To: Valerian Tepes I need to talk to you about a scarf, a guitar and heart shaped glasses. Meet me in room 312.
When she pressed 'send' a shiver went down her spine. She didn't like this. Back on the Island, it appeared as if they could see everything. Every chat, every message, hell every phone she made. It felt as if it was all monitored. From time to time, it felt as if her own mind was being checked upon. They always knew, somehow. Except now. They didn't know about the handful of Polaroids she had scattered over her bed. They all had the same person on them. Except for one: where the girl of all the other pictures shared the little rectangle with another man. They were at a beach, holding hands and looking at each other with starstruck eyes. Those who didn't know Aria would say she looked happy in all of them. Alyssa knew better. In every picture something was wrong. Something was eternally gnawing at her. In the last, her smile was something else entirely. It was disingenuous. She was content but not happy.
Over the course of decades, Alyssa had heard every story her best friend could tell about Valerian. How they met and how they, for a time, were very happy together. Then finally, the accident and she turned into a vampire. A sickly one at that. Despite the years, Aria was still hoping Valerian would come. Every night she'd look out of her window into the ocean water beyond. Sadly, time erodes even the strongest of bonds and one night, Aria stopped looking out her window at night. A day later she became content.
Alyssa wouldn't stand for that though. As she looked at the picture. They guy wasn't a bad person. Far from it. But from the stories, Alyssa thought that Aria deserved better. She deserved her prince. She might not be able to leave the Island but Alyssa was. Security wouldn't just check her luggage, they would check the content of any digital device before she could leave. Luckily though, she managed to slip a few pictures out. It was dangerous, though. If security had found those pictures, she could be banned from the Island forever. That was not a fate she wanted to suffer. Still, she hoped the pictures would be proof enough that Aria was out there still waiting for her Valerian.
Her mind had taken her on a nostalgia trip as she looked over her photos. She got so deep into it that she almost didn't hear the fluttering from outside. All her windows but one were closed and thick, sun-blocking curtains made sure she wouldn't get a horrible sunburn. However, this also meant she couldn't see who was outside. Carefully she took a step back from her bed. Then the curtains moved some more. "Hello?" She said. "Anybody there." In answer, the curtains moved a little bit more. She heard something touching the wooden frame of the window. Something was moving against the curtain. It kept sneaking around under the thick cloth. It went down. Towards the little bit of space that kept the curtain off the ground. Alyssa had taken three steps back already. She wished she had something with her. Anything to defend herself. "Get back or I'll scream!" She declared with all the fury she could muster.
Until a figure came from under the curtain. It was a crow. Instantly all fear fled Alyssa. "Oh thank god." for a second time that day, she let out a sigh of relief. Luckily she was of the adventurous sort. It might not look like much but she loved the thrill she was getting. "Who's pet are you then?" she said teasingly at the blackbird, who ignored her and flew up onto the back of a chair. Seemingly overlooking the pictures on the bed. "Are you hungry?" Alyssa asked. The crow looked at her for a second, probably just to find the source of the sounds it heard. Still, she saw it as confirmation and went to a cupboard. The private island wasn't just a quick getaway place, Alyssa had found. Some cupboards were actually filled with snacks. Like a little pot with nuts, which she unsealed and shook towards the crow. It didn't move, instead, it kept looking at her bed. "That's strange. Are you okay, little crow? Do you want some water?" Alyssa didn't wait for an answer. She went into the bathroom where there was a beautiful bowl she filled partially with water and carried to her bedroom again, where she put it down for the crow to see. Still, it didn't budge. "Are you okay, little crowley? Did you hurt a wing?" She asked, as she slowly approached the creature. Trying to look as unintimidating as possible. The crow, this time, kept its eyes on her. As if it was studying her. "It's okay. I'm your friend."
The crow took off with unnatural speed. Before Alyssa could full and well react, it was heading straight for it. It flew fast. Too fast for any bird. She held out her hands to keep the beast away but it moved too quickly. With unnatural speed and went straight for the eye. Before the girl knew it, it’s unnaturally sharp beak was pushed through her eye. Supernatural speed pushed it deeper. Her body fell backward. The bloodied crow crawled out of the eye socket it came into. Covered in gore. It walked towards the bowl and bathe itself into the water, washing off the bits that clung to it. Once it was sufficiently clean, it flew up on the bed to observe its kill. The girl never even had a chance to scream. When content with its work it turned around and collected three pictures. The one with Aria and the other man remained, and another of Aria standing in a window as well. The crow crawled under the curtain and flew away.
"All of it, miss?" a very confused voice said through Amelia’s phone. "Yes. All of it. And get me an apartment. In Manhattan. Near-" She wanted to say near central park. But who would pay that? She was cut off from her mother's money. Sure, she had her own savings but those wouldn't cover one of the most expensive penthouses. She let out a heavy sigh. "Just get me someplace not too far from the office." She pulled the phone away, not caring what her assistant would say. She was a good person. She'd find a place but Amelia couldn't handle anything really right now. If there weren't so many vampires on the island, she would've run to her room and cry. Instead, she was forced to pretend like everything was fine. Because that's how this infernal game was played and she knew it.
It was morning but she already felt exhausted as she fell down in one of the chairs in the hallway a bit further away from the main hall. You could say that the whole ordeal had taken a heavy toll but in truth, she wasn't feeling very well rested after last night. Happy, she felt very happy about last night actually. But not rested. On top of that she now also felt completely and totally lost. What about her brand? Her place to live? Her friends and family? Normally she'd run to her mother with all those questions. But then she realized one very important question: what about her boyfriend. She could call him her boyfriend now, right? Maybe not in public yet but soon? Still, she swirled her phone in her hand. Maybe she could talk to Sebastian? He'd understand. Somehow the old Tepes always understood. Hell, he even understood when she slapped a corpse. The very memory made her almost laugh.
To: Seba I really need someone to talk to. Can I talk to you? I'm in the East Hallway.
To: Butterfly Absolutely. One sec.
His heeled dress shoes could be heard coming from down the hall. When Sebastian wanted to be noticed, he made sure he was. And when he didn’t? Well, that was a different story entirely. His steps echoed and each one had a purpose, a rhythm, and a likeness to it. As if he was someone that was untouchable, and he knew it. Presentation was everything, after all. The lights were dim, not on a glaring bright setting, and it made the blonde woman appear small. The armchair cushions took the form of her dainty body and while she felt despair, he saw beauty. The Artois ladies were diamonds to him and he saw incredible potential, even if they weren’t always capable of mustering the strength to see for themselves. He adored them and he appreciated that they sought him out during their darkest hour.
There was no doubt that this Elder vampire was handsome, let it be from the wisdom and intense care in his stare to the gentle touch in his expressions and voice. He was the kind of vampire that would have many women, and men, swoon over him simply by giving them a kind smile. A casanova, they’d say. But not in the way that the younger generations loved. Their love was forgettable, thoughtless, with no goal in sight. His love was forever and left an everlasting mark. Sebastian had years of experience where he could make just about anyone feel special and needed when they felt lonely.
Aside from Dmitri, simply because of the obvious betrayal on the flamboyant man’s part and their rocky past. Why would he, an ingenious, impressionable, and innovative Elder, solely serve a house that frowns upon the way he loves? Why should he confine himself to the cage that was his brother’s idealistic utopia that he wanted to force upon his counsel, his children, and all vampires that believe him to be king? Sebastian wasn’t that kind of man that followed someone blindly. You can have his loyalty, if you’ve proven to him worthy, but he refused to sell his soul to someone of his level or lower. Perhaps this was the way of a modest gentleman. Perhaps he was simply too old to give a fuck. He wouldn’t know. He did what he believed was right for him and that's that. At the end of the day, every vampire had to serve themselves and this challenge would teach them just that.
Promptly, Sebastian slipped into the light to show himself. It took only a second. His lips curled into a warm, loving smile. It had a hint of femininity, but his bone structure was completely and utterly all male. If Sebastian could be related to a flower, it would be a rouge poppy. He was vibrantly bright, with overwhelming confidence and stood out wherever he went. A conversation piece for the dinner table. Hate or love, he didn’t care. As long as he was worth a mention, he’d say that was a success for his drawn-out existence. “Are you alright, Amelia?”
Amelia didn’t answer the question. Instead the blonde got up and rushed towards Sebastian. Before he could react she threw her arms around him. When she was sure they were around, she pulled in tight, pushing her face against his chest. She was quiet for a moment. Then a bit longer. Though her breathing was a bit more labored than it usually was. She was soaking up the safety of the man that let her in his house. The man that didn’t scold her when she slapped a corpse, thinking the person was just asleep. The man she called uncle, even though he wasn’t even an Artois. After what felt still far too short she released him and whipped away two tears that had been welling up in her eyes.
“Sorry.” She said, her voice was surprisingly well kept together. “Just, the whole…this!” She said as she flailed her arms around her as a dramatic gesture. “It’s getting too much.” She released another sigh and she felt a lot calmer already. “So I’m not okay. But I’ll manage. I’m an Artois. We always manage. It’s just… has anyone before now ever have to ‘make’ a House like Dmitri asked?” There was a certain level of disdain when she said the name Dmitri. She was no great supporter of the Tepes clan. Their somewhat reserved stance towards humanity had been a thorne in her side for some years. Most recently some old fart had blocked a collaborative fashion show even! And she actually made the quotation marks when she said 'make'. As she tried to push her point of just how insane it all was.
“Oh my sweet, precious butterfly.” Sebastian couldn’t help but smile at her dramatic antics. Full of fire and a life with little hardship. Afraid of the unknown. Afraid of failing. Afraid of not being the crème de la crème. The one that stands at the top. It was cute, really. While she was in his embrace, he had quietly twirled her blond strands around his pointer finger, playing with her womanly pride that was her mane, until he could sense she was going to push away. When the spotlight was on him, he shook his head, “Do not apologize.” He crossed his arms and carefully watched her. “I’m here for you, you know that.”
He paused for a moment before clearing his throat, his jolly tone becoming serious the more he talked. “As to answer your question, we did not, but also—” His purposeful break was for anticipation purposes. Absentmindedly, he turned his sigil ring around his finger, “—I come from a time where opportunity to make a house was non-existent. You came from one of four ancestors and that bound you by blood. A contract that you take to the grave. If you disagree, you were sentenced to death. If you proposed different ideals, you were ridiculed. Having a legacy to live up to isn’t as charming as you think it is. And, my dear, we still had far more odds against us than you do.”
He sighed to himself, knowing that this wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but needed to. “You cannot just ‘manage’, Amelia. We are in the century where you can access information with a simple swipe on your phone. We are in the century where being gay is a trend and not a sickness. We have right over ourselves and our opinions. You have flourished in your career pursuits but that doesn’t change you still use the strength of your family rather than yourself. Hours ago, two purebloods were savagely murdered at Central Park. An unspoken proclamation of war. Do you think Ambrosia, or even me, can protect you? Do you think we’re always going to be here?” He decided to let that sink in, gesturing for her to take a seat with him. “We do what we can, but we’re not gods.”
Her face grew solemn when she heard the news about the purebloods’ deaths. She made a mental note to send flowers to the graves and her condolences to the families. Even if they weren’t from a tributary house of Artois. Violent deaths of her own kin hurt her the most. Violence in general hurt her the most. She took the seat Sebastian motioned towards. His lecture on doing better also stuck. It made her realize just what she was squaring up. It felt even more daunting. Especially as there wasn’t any history to learn from. No, she would be breaking ground on this project. Instantly her image changed. She would be a pioneer! A heroine in the books of history! Like queen Victoria, Empress Theodora or queen Boudicca! She’d meet any problem with the same fire!
Though she didn’t forget what Sebastian said about her own career as well. If anyone else would dare say such a thing she would have slapped them on the cheek there and then. Except maybe for Trixie and her mother. Her work was her pride. Her tool to change the world. To hear now that it was a creation from her family felt personal. But this was Sebastian and he would never lie to her. He was right, sort of. If he wasn’t, she wouldn’t have had to call her assistant just now. Not that she would admit it though.
“Maybe not mom or you, but Trixie will. She will always protect me.” She said, utterly convinced the elder vampire would come to her aid when she needed the most. “Besides, she’s training me to fight as well! I’m good with a dagger you know!” She said and with a flick of her wrist, a knife appeared in her hand. She cut the air in front of her, almost like a child excitedly showing her skills. It made her smile as she realized Béatrix would probably scold her for having ‘a bad form’ and ‘being stupid and reckless’. So she quickly put the knife back in her sleeve. Not that it was very dangerous. The blade was very dull. As to not cut her own skin. It was the only knife she really trusted herself with.
“But you’re right.” She said, trying to contain herself a little bit more. If she was going to play this game, she would have to become unreadable. Like Sebastian when he wanted to. Or the uptight Viktor who probably never smiled. Or she could do what her mother did and just fool everyone. “I’ll do better! I’ll make my new house better. In my house, no vampires will die a violent death and nobody will be ridiculed again!” She exclaimed as if she was queen already. In her mind, she would make it so. Peace and happiness for all. There would be challenges.
Amelia wasn’t completely foreign the workings of politics. She needed people. So she turned to Sebastian. “Will you help me?”
Sebastian’s gaze twinkled. This is what he loved about her. How she could turn something intimidating to something worth the chase. A positive disposition, for a bright woman. “Well, of course. What better way to start your journey off by making an Elder an ally, and a resource.” He reached for her hands lovingly, “Keep your eyes set on the picture you have in your mind. Use that to lift you up when you feel down. You can make an absolute masterpiece, Amelia. A work of art. You just have to believe in yourself and don’t let the other children, like Kasania, Octavius, and Niklaus, make you feel inferior.”
Leaning in, he gave both her hands a gentleman’s kiss, before adding, “My first suggestion. Find a place outside of your residency that you, and your following, can meet, even if at first, illegally. There are many abandoned buildings on Staten Island. It’s a ferry ride away but the distance might be worth it. And—” Whether his intent would be well received by her was beyond him, but he felt like she was smart enough to understand why this was necessary to do. “—Always take precautions.” He released her hands and allowed her to once again digest the information.
The girl was ecstatic that an elder like Sebastian would help her out. She tried not to show it, as practice in containing herself. Though she failed miserably as the smile on her face only grew ever brighter. She listened carefully at his advice about the meeting place and how she should take precautions at any turn. She didn’t really understand why the initial gatherings should be illegal. Sure the court of vampires was a cutthroat place but the others wouldn’t really cut her throat…right?
“Tavi doesn’t make me feel inferior.” She blundered out before she knew it. She refrained from slapping her hand over her mouth to stop the words. Knowing full well that would only implicate her even more. Their… relationship had to stay a secret. For both their sakes. The worlds they each lived in would not like the idea of them dating or even interacting! But she loved him still. He was sweet and caring, deep down. He had the same fire as her as well! A blaze that would change the world. Of course he would try to make a house on his own but she would convince him to join hers instead. As the king to herself as queen. They could both finally let go of the family ties that kept them apart for so long.
To quickly change the subject, hoping Sebastian wouldn’t notice the note about Tavi and only Tavi, she said: “I would never think about you as a resource! That’s Tepes thinking and I will not think like a Tepes!” she stated firmly. Sure, they might be masters at the game of politics. Sure, they ascended to kings but at what cost? They were horrible, antiquated and so relentlessly Machiavellian that the best ones barely had a heart left to love the world they wanted.
She got up, invigorated by her little talk. She needed that. To just vent and let it all out for a minute. He followed suit. “Now, I still have a few phone calls to make and e-mails to send out. Before the sun goes down today Sanguine will be totally and absolutely mine.” She gave him one last, tight hug and said, “Thank you. For everything!” Before she went off towards her room.
While she walked away, Sebastian couldn’t help but smirk in amusement. She was truly a delight. An absolute gem. Genuine, with adoring faith. Beautiful. With one last piece of advice, he called out to her: “You’re welcome, butterfly. Do be careful, though! Not everyone who smiles at you is your friend.”
As if fate was against him, or some shit, AJ stood off in the distance, with wide eyes. His face fell faster than a rapid-fire finishing move on WWE. It’s like he got a chokeslam chaos and was completely paralyzed, his feet planted to the ground. The pain took over a portion of his brain. Something he hadn’t felt in awhile. The sort of pain that was like flame against his skin. This feeling didn’t even come in small doses. No, it came in fast, as if he was getting punched repeatedly, swiftly and deadly, taking away his ability to talk or move. Acidic anger and sadness, all in one go.
What-the-flying-fuck.
He was too far to catch onto anything they were saying, but the moment she pressed her lips against his, he was shot down like the sheriff. He recalled their freshman year, when she bitched and whined about never being kissed before. He couldn’t understand why she was so caught up on a topic that was incredibly menial to him. Taking it upon himself, to shut her up, he snatched the opportunity and made her first kiss, his. There were no feelings behind it. It meant nothing. He was simply doing a friend a favor.
This felt different. This didn’t feel right at all, like the only reason she did this was in spite of him. Like the only reason she had the courage to do a bold move out of his book was because he basically called her a coward. Like the only reason she was seeking affection was because he made her hate herself more than she already did.
WHY DID HE DO THAT?!
Since when did Val go full on carpe diem?! There was so much unpleasant warmth eating at his stomach, it was literally killing him from the inside out. Part of him wished he could take back the fight. If he didn’t say those words to her, if he wasn’t hurt from the rift she put between them, everything would be how it use to be. How things were meant to be. Them side by side enjoying each other’s company.
On top of that, the bastard pulled a way!
What a fucking waste.
And then she… looked happy. She did a little shimmy and exclaimed her pride and joy. Did he ever make her smile like that? His eyes peered down to the ground, as he softly whispered to himself, “Good for you, Tink.” It wasn’t his place to take this moment away from her. It wasn’t his place to feel like this.
Maybe it was time to go back to the campfire...
...Yeah, he’d do that.
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Matt had driven like a madman. Speeding was the least of his sin. His foot was lead and only the highest two gears saw any action. The engine was roaring way beyond the advised 4.000 RPM. Though brazen Matt was at all times in control. Skillfully but aggressively switching lanes and weaving through the much slower though luckily sparse traffic. He didn’t even try to strike up a conversation with Kim, who rather unfortunately chose to be his passenger. Though amongst the Misfits, she seemed to be the least horrible choice so Matt never protested. Talking to her might distract him from practicing his skill. He hadn’t raced in some months now but he didn’t forget his old tricks. In fact, he could even keep up with AJ’s antics. Who clearly didn’t learn anything about the RV accident. As of why he drove like the devil himself was behind him? Well that became apparent when they arrived at their destination.
He didn’t say a word as he pushed the breaks and came to a sudden standstill right in front of a cabin. Minutes later he had a key and walked in. His bag got tossed on the floor and he threw himself on the bed. His door was locked behind him. For a minute it got too much for him. Again. AJ and Val’s fallout. The Misfit’s RV crashing. Emilia’s breakdown. For the first time in hours he wondered if he did the right thing. No, he did the right thing. If she broke down by the mere sight of him and AJ, she hadn’t stopped crying since Prom. Those were many, many painfilled nights. It paled with anything Matt could say he ever felt. Was what she and Brandon had so real? So fantastic? That it destroyed her to her core? Alas, it didn’t matter. She deserved to be happy. For the months he had known her she was nothing but cheerful and caring. What he doubted was just how much he gave. Did she even know how to take it? Questions of her welfare began to bounce through his head. More questions. More worries.
There is only so much Matt could hold to himself before he needed to feel numb about it all for a while. So he did what he always did: he distracted himself. Once outside he noticed people had gathered around a campfire. He didn’t really feel the need to join in. They had the company of a stranger already. So instead he lit a cigarette, opened a bottle of tequila and popped the hood of his BMW. He wasn’t a mechanic like Chris but checking everything about his engine (and soon his underside as well) gave him a measure of piece. The next hour and twenty-three minutes he could be utterly absorbed by the inner workings of his car.
That is until approaching footsteps, the sound of a crunch of gravel and sand, echoed in the surrounding desert. Appearing from one of the hiking pathways, a dejected AJ Tyler found himself in the lot where the cars were, slowly making his way back to the fire. His eyes were cast down, his hands were shoved into his pants’ pockets, and his shoulders slumped. The boy glanced over to the noise of tinkering and set his gaze on one of his friends. Matt. He didn’t have it in him to pretend he was doing okay, so instead, he announced his arrival with a question, his voice giving away that he was in one of his lows, “Not in the party mood?”
Matt knew, from the way he walked, that AJ was moving behind him. He turned around, taking a swing from the tequila bottle resting on the bumper of his car. The light hanging from the open hood was barely enough to illuminate the engine. In fact, it would appear as if it all made everything around it just a little bit darker. AJ did not look alright. No, that was an understatement. He didn’t look entirely alright after he and Val had fought. What was standing there was an empty shell.
“For once I’m not.” He said with an ironic smile. Another lie. He hadn’t really partied for several weeks now. Normally Matt would try to prop himself up and at least look like he was holding it somewhat together. But at the sight of AJ he let himself go a little as well. There was no need to hide it anymore. He exhaled the smoke from his cig and said: “You look like shit.” It was insulting but hell, that’s what friendship is. And even though he just said that he also offered the bottle of tequila, with the cap loose on it. “Read something bad about Jamie again?” Matt knew his friend well enough. AJ couldn’t help it when he gets on the internet to look up his ex. It got worse when Chris wasn’t around.
Without hesitation, AJ took the bottle and gulped down a large, unhealthy portion of Tequila, disregarding the burning sensation. Everyone knew when AJ drank, he drank. For most of the parties, AJ chose to be the DD. He was just that type of guy, but when he absolutely couldn’t handle whatever was going in his life at the moment, sure. He’d turn to this regrettable poison that makes him do stupid shit, more so than he already does. Yeah, why not? “Fuck no, I wish this was about Jamie.” At least with his growing pains about his ex, he was used to it. This pain, though? Was on a whole ‘nother level. “It’s… about Val.” He paused debating if he wanted to tell Matty boy about the kiss or not, he decided against it, “I did her wrong, Matt. I’m a god awful friend.”
Matt frowned when AJ said it wasn’t about Jamie. Then it went to complete and utter surprise when he learned it was about Val. Their friendship was no secret to Matt. Hell, he still felt partially responsible. Not in a good way though. To him, she was toxic and dangerous. And when AJ said it was his fault, something snapped. “Oh shut up!” He said with a sudden fire in his elsewise eternally joking voice. “She ghosted you for weeks!” He took the bottle back from AJ with a forceful swipe, took a gulped from the bottle and then used the neck of it to point at him. “She played games with you my friend.” He continued. Though inside he was still mad. How dare she? How dare she make his friend feel this bad? “And when you pointed it out, she literally jumps you? And you feel sorry!? Screw that!” He offered the bottle again. The liquid inside of it, between the two, looked like it wouldn’t last another half hour. “You got nothing to feel this bad about. She's the horrible friend here.”
“Hey. She might have issues, but she isn’t horrible.” AJ defended her. Why was he defending her? “Everyone does fucked up shit, Matt. I tortured Jamie even after the break up because I knew he still was into me. He just didn’t want to be with me. I knew exactly what I was doing in the halls. I knew exactly what his wishes were and still toyed with him, because I had that power. Fuck, even me not noticing what Brandon was doing to Emi was shitty. It’s like I purposely turned a blind eye because what? I can’t get over myself? All Val did wrong was not tell me her feelings. Not tell me she was scared!” Wait. Scared of what? His mind went to the fight they had and the conversation he shared with his Valentine. What made her so scared to act the way she did again? Jealousy?
Matt rolled his eyes as AJ tried to defend Val. He guessed it would always be like that. Sure, no-one could say AJ was a saint. Sure, what he did to Jamie might not have been necessarily good. But to Matt, there was a stark difference between what AJ did to Jamie and what Val did to AJ. For one, AJ was paying for what he did almost every day now. Matt just knew that when it came down to it, AJ still thought about Jamie every day. It was the most horrible self-torture he could remember and only time would make him stop. But Val. Val was just toying with him and there were no consequences. There was no karma that would punish her for it. Hell, if she approached AJ here and now and just talked to him as if nothing happened, AJ would just take her back. Hell, he would apologize first. That’s how AJ worked and to Matt, Val was abusing it.
But then the subject of Brandon came up. Your fault. Your fault. Your fault. The words echoed through his brain as he nearly stopped listening. A spike went straight through where he thought his heart would be. His stomach contracted as he remembered all the times he subtilty took AJ around a corner. Your fault. Liar! Your fault. He looked down at his own feet as he remembered all the time he quickly turned AJ away from another girl hanging around Brandon’s neck. Your fault. Liar! Your fault. He wanted to puke. Right then and there he wanted nothing more than to puke out his guts. His guilt. His faults. He couldn’t though. No matter how much he’d try to heave and get it out, it was stuck inside of him. Every horrible decision he took for what he thought was ‘the greater good’.
Despite his sudden state deuteriation of state, Matt had still listened. He spoke, though meekly: “Why are you still defending her? Can you at least admit she was a bad friend for not even trusting you with her feelings? Can you at least admit she was at fault?”Can I?
Sighing to himself, taking back the hard liquor, AJ’s joyless eyes looked back at his friend, “I could, but that doesn’t change how I—”Feel about her. Oh god. Another chug. He shook himself out of this sappy stupor and shoved the drink back at Matt, straight to his chest with force, “Enough of this pussy bitch shit. Val gonna’ do what she gonna’ do, and so are we. ‘Nough with the car too. It’s going nowhere. Let’s go have fun and be merry, or I’ll fight you.”
Matt took the bottle, a bit surprised at the sudden change in AJ. But then he reflected on it and yeah. AJ was right. They were walking down a winding path down. If they had to go up again, they had to turn around. So following his friend, Matt took a big gulp of the bottle and then grinned when AJ joking offered a fight. “I would have you down eating dirt before you could call me a pussy.” He said, his usually jokingness abound. Behind him, he quickly killed the light and closed the hood. Then he went on his way towards the rest, sitting around the campfire. Still with a half-empty bottle of tequila in hand. Though after a step or two beyond AJ he quickly turned around and said: “Before I forget.” There was a half-apologetic smile on his face. “Emi might… be different.” Without any more explanation, he turned back around and went straight for the campfire.
“Different? How? Should I check on her?” Turning his head, he realized Matt wasn’t even beside him anymore. OKAY, MATT. THANKS FOR WAITING UP. Picking up the pace, to catch up to Matt, AJ found himself going with the motions, his thoughts focused on: what was wrong with Emi. He saw the gorgeous blonde glowing from the firelight and he smiled to himself. Creeping behind her, and the girl she was leaning on (Kim), he kneeled down, intentionally whispering in her ear, “Are you enjoying yourself, Goldie?”
Time: 10:28 Location: Secluded Parlor Collab between Seraphina & Béatrix@GhostMami Seraphina had prepared the room down to the most insignificant details. All the windows to the outside were closed and covered, allowing no sunlight in. Except for one door behind where she would sit. She considered it a precaution. Still, the room was filled with artificial light so everyone could see everything quite clearly. On the central table stood two cups and a pot. Though they weren’t made from porcelain, instead they were made from clay. The pot itself had a dull glaze on it and mandarin signs carved into it. Her father’s orders were extremely stern when it came to using the pot. Only one kind of tea could be brewed in it, no metal was to touch it, and it had to be cleaned with water and left to air dry. Seraphina had followed these orders down to the letter. Now she could only wait, two minutes before 10:30.
She was anxious as hell. Princes and princesses she could handle. Most appeared to be either young or yet to outgrow their arrogance. She could level that arrogance. Béatrix offered another challenge, though. She was older and much, much colder. Her file was painfully short on any meaningful information. The only thing she had was the small footnote of her father: be cautious, be suspicious, and do not underestimate her. All of that would’ve been much easier with some bloodwine in her but her father insisted on tea. She hated tea. She hated waiting. She hated having to talk to Béatrix. Though none of it showed. She just wanted it to be over with so she could grab the bottle she hid in a drawer.
Seraphina Aghrem. It was an unfamiliar name to Béatrix, be it that she came from too small a family to matter, or that Aghrem was simply not a family at all. The letter explaining her reason for summoning Trixy for ‘tea’ was vague and signed by some nameless entity. Perhaps they were both nameless entities, or perhaps they were one in the same entity. Regardless of aliases or namelessness, this entire situation had Trixy on full alert. This reeked of a trap, but thankfully, she always came prepared to face those who wanted her dead. There was a long list, after all.
Béatrix rolled up the letter and stored it away in her bag. With the door to her room locked behind her, she changed out of her elegant breakfast outfit into something more appropriate for conducting business. Pulling a safe out from her suitcase, Trixy scanned her fingerprint and opened it to reveal two handguns, a cache of ammo, two daggers, and her badge. Working for the NYPD had its perks. With a badge, it was pretty much no questions asked when it came to getting your weapons through security. This saved her the effort of having to actually compel humans to let her by with weaponry. When it came to conducting her own personal business, however, the badge could stay behind. Trixy left it in the safe and proceeded to conceal all four weapons on her person. With a pair of tall boots and a leather jacket, she looked much like the average New Yorker, with no outward sign of the heat she was actually packing.
Promptly at the time specified in the letter, the staccato of Trixy’s boots hitting tile announced her arrival in the parlor. The air around her shifted to match to cold expression on the woman's face as she approached the table where this Seraphina sat. In addition to once again sizing up the stranger, Béatrix also scanned the room. The invitee had took caution to keep the sunlight out, either because she was Turned herself, or because she knew that Trixy was. There was also a clay teapot, steam curling up from the spout, keeping up the facade that this meeting was actually meant for them to share tea. If this turned out to be the rouse that Béatrix suspected, she would give the girl points for style before ending her life. Effort was very important.
Without any formal greetings, nor even a smile, Béatrix sat across from the woman and watched her reactions. After a few moments of silence, she moved her piercing gaze to the teapot and spoke. “If this mysterious author knows so much about me, you'd think they'd consider offering wine to a frenchwoman instead of tea.” Her icy blue eyes returned to Seraphina now. “I will not be drinking it. Leave that pisswater to the english and the orientals, and instead let’s discuss why I’m really here, shall we?”
Seraphina was braced for many things. Still, to hear the elder vampire talk in such a brazen, impatient way. She felt the same kind of meek fear she felt with her father. A fear that told her she was in the presence of something much bigger. Not many of her age would understand that what she was facing here was something that could kill her easily. It’s why she kept the door open and for now the reassurance that she could run into the sun kept the fear down low inside her.
Though when Béatrix spoke about the tea, Seraphina suddenly felt so relieved. In an instant she shot up and went towards her drawer. “Ah, then I might have something better.” She said as reassurance as she slowly opened it up. From it she pulled a glass bottle filled with a very dark liquid. At its core it looked black but the edges, where light could pass through, showed that it was in fact crimson. The bottle lacked any form of sticker. Instead the year, the name and line of blood it came from were formed in the glass. Seraphina brushed her hand over where the letters should be. A normal human couldn’t hope to discern the minute details within the glass shape but a vampire’s enhanced senses showed a complete image. She poured two glasses and placed one before Béatrix as she took a small sip herself to show that it wasn’t poisoned.
Trixy stared down at glass suspiciously. This was turning out to be a peculiar meeting. Mysterious unlabeled bottles of dark liquid in lieu of tea. Granted, whatever it was, was probably better than tea. When Seraphina took a sip from her own glass, poured from the same bottle, Trixy relaxed marginally. The woman appeared to be relieved to be able to reach for the bottle, and eagerly took a first sip, so the offering seemed to be genuine. Far more genuine than the fanciful tea pot was. With a small ghost of a smile, Trixy elegantly plucked up the glass and breathed in the aroma. Blood. She had just drank, but something about this scent beckoned her to indulge, awakening the predatory instincts she kept under lock and key. Fighting the bloodlust to down it all in one go, Béatrix instead took the daintiest of sips. She wanted to dislike it, to be snarky, but… “That’s…. That’s quite good, actually.” She admitted in earnest.
“Let’s get to business.” Her father would want her to go slow. To coax her prey. Though Seraphina made her own judgement of the situation. Béatrix did not seem too intent to be wooed. “My employer-” She hid it well, but she still hated that word. She hated it because it was a mask of what she truly was. Of what she wanted to be. “-fears that the young Artois girls are not up for the task they were given today. They are young, either brazen or shy and know next to nothing about the true world of Vampires. To put it bluntly: at best they will be puppets. At worst they will be killed.” That was a lie. The worst was the Crypt. Seraphina had only seen it once. She would rather die than be imprisoned in the Crypt. “So my employer offers them an alliance. One that would shield them from the worst of the contenders.”
As the woman began to speak, Trixy’s inner detective flourished. She watched her lips, her eyes, all of the subtle hints that one gives away in their body language when lying… or when telling the truth. Much to Trixy’s surprise, despite the stranger’s magical affinities — given the raven trick — she did not appear to be experienced enough to defend her mind. She must be young. Younger vampires tended to be easier to read for Trixy, their minds were open and they hadn’t learned to control their thoughts yet. When the woman spoke of this “employer”, her thoughts curled around the word like shadows and rejected it. A lie, or at the very least, half a truth. Trixy sensed her discomfort and tried to hone in on it. There was plenty else to address in what she was saying, but Trixy would first focus in on what had caught her attention before getting to the matter of the Artois girls.
“Your employer, was it?” Her french accent wrapped the question in a seductive taunt. Trixy smirked and tilted the glass to her lips once more. “If you wish to gain anything from this meeting, you should start with being truthful.” She set the glass down and folded her hands in her lap properly. “You don’t consider them an employer. Why? Are you being forced to be here, against your will?” There was a touch of genuine concern in the last question. Béatrix had special punishments in place for those who forced women to do things against their will.
Seraphina took a sharp breath. Of course the elder picked up on that. Why did it have to be that? In truth she wanted to tell Béatrix who her ‘employer’ was. On the surface just to show what kind of power the elder was dealing with. But deep down she just wanted to name herself daughter. Though sadly, her father has forbidden her from revealing his identity. Putting her in a particularly difficult bind right now. “Not forced.” There was annoyance in her answer. She didn’t have anyone to care for her when she was born. She wouldn’t need it now. “As for truth, none of what I said is a lie.” She took a quick sip, letting the oxygenated blood energize her. “And this meeting isn’t about me.” She continued, trying to steer the conversation back on track. “This is about the Artois girls. I am here so they won’t be forced to do anything they don’t want to do. So what do you say? Will you help us help them?”
The response was uncomfortable, that much was obvious to the observant vampiress. Sera might not be forced to be here, but she was forced to withhold information. Béatrix was a patient detective, she would get to the bottom of it. If not today, then the next. After Seraphina brought up the girls once more, it was Trixy’s turn to be annoyed. She leaned forward, her elbows digging into the flesh above her knees as she looked squarely into the other woman’s eyes. “The Artois are in perfectly capable hands.” Trixy opened her palms and displayed them proudly. “Mine.” She calmly inhaled and sat up straighter. “You were correct in stating that they are young… shy… but they are revolutionaries. They know nothing of the “true vampire world” because they are not part of it. They will turn it on its head, and the world will be better for it. They will not be puppets, and they will not be killed. And hear me now, if your employer wishes to do them any harm, I will kill him. And then I will kill you. And then I will kill anyone else involved.”
Trixy stood up now, a clear power play so that she could look down on Seraphina. “A word of advice: If you are going to make a point of meeting with elder vampires, you might want to work on guarding your thoughts. If your father truly wants to meet with me and discuss a possible alliance, he can do so in person. I won’t shoot the messenger, but I certainly don’t trust them.” It was a shot in the dark, guessing that the entity was the girl’s father. Béatrix would observe the girl’s reactions to gauge how close the guess was.
She speaks like father would. Those were the thoughts that floated up from Seraphina’s mind. Béatrix spoke with the same conviction as him. In a way that erased all doubts and made what they said simply facts. In the past she could simply revel in that certainty. Now she had to rise up against it. No, she didn’t get up. That would simply level the playing field. Seraphina remained seated yet utterly unintimidated as she slowly swirled the glass of blood in her hand. Though her eyes stared back with a wild flame behind them. She released a sharp breath and said: “When Amelia was in Milan and Irine in New York, in what side of the world were you? Where you watching Amelia partying in some house or looking over Irine taking a stroll through Central Park?” She never had to deal with a vampire like Béatrix before. The Elder managed to push all the right buttons.
Especially the one about her father. “As for my father.” She would put it to rest. No matter how influential, threatening or powerful she would not reveal him. “He is dead. I don’t even know where he is buried. So I’d ask you to refrain from the subject.” It was a complete lie. She simply switched parents. The only thing she knows about her mother is her last name: Aghrem. “And for the threats against me and my people. They are unnecessary. We bear the Artois’ no ill will. I simply offered our help. If you insist on declining, then I am afraid there is nothing we can do.” To hell there wasn’t. As if Seraphina would let it just be. This was simply the easy route. “As for your curiosity for my employer, I will relay it your wish and because you gave me such gracious advice, I will return in kind.” She got up. Now all diplomatic neutrality flowed out of her. These were no longer talks about alliances and help. It felt personal. “You’re underestimating him. Don’t.”
She stretched out her arm passed Béatrix and pointed with an open hand towards the door. “I’m afraid that concludes our little talk.”
Trixy watched the girl’s growing anger with proud amusement. She did not take the bait on her mention of the Artois girls, it was just a reactionary swing on the other woman’s part. Trixy had hit a soft spot, meaning that her guess was far more accurate than she could have hoped. “Darling, I don’t underestimate anyone.” Hence why she arrived to this meeting with enough firepower to challenge an entire family of vampires, instead of just one. “I don’t decline the offer… yet. Please do forward my request to meet eye to eye. I’ll expect your raven.” With a half smile, Trixy’s gaze followed Seraphina’s arm towards the door. She dipped in a quick curtsy and made her leave just as coldly as she had arrived.
No,no,no. There is 582 Bio-FTL's inside of a Hive Frigate. That would mean that a single Frigate can warp 582000 km. The Hive Capital Ship has 8183 Bio-FTL's, meaning the ship can warp 8183000 km with about 5000-6000 other ships inside of it. The Bio-FTL's are only small parts of the Hive-Minds psionic power. The Hive-Minds power is strong enough to tear a 2 km hole in the space-time continuum. But this would exhaust the Hive-Minds life energy as well and it would die or become life threateningly weak.
Alright, so your hypderdread can jump 8.183.000 km at the most. Neptune, which isn't even outside of the sun's gravity well, is 4.495.000.000 km away from the sun. Your hyperdread would need 550 jumps just to reach the outer fringes of the Sol system's gravity well. Even if we say that we put 6000 frigates inside your hyperdread and it can use all those FTLs you're still not reaching Neptune. Let alone another solar system. So the Bio-FTL is still super weak.
As for the psionics. I was honestly expecting something more but okay I guess.
@Nate1008 On your Bio-FTL: I mean, great you just needed 5 ships to get 5000 km (at best). The earth is about 149.669.000 km away from our own sun. It takes 4 lightyears to reach the nearest star system (Alpha Centauri A). You would need an armada of ships to stack that many jumps to get there. Basically, the Bio-FTL is still exceptionally weak. And to be honest, you're seemingly mostly banking on taking other people's ship to use their FTL but I can assure you that's not going to work out.
On another note: do you have psionics? If so, how do you use them? So far most factions seem to either have psionics or anti-psionic weapons and I'd assume a giant hivemind that uses psionics for FTL has some powerful psionics.
@Nate1008 So I went over your sheet real quick and bounced on something. Your biological weapons are quite weak to be honest.
For starts your Bio-FTL will be next to useless if that’s your actual method of FTL to go around systems. The moon is at its closest approach with earth 405.000 km away from us. An FTL jump of 1.000 km is nothing in the grand scale of space.
Your Bio-Cannon and heavy Bio-Cannon are also next to useless. For one they can easily be taken out by point-defense. Secondly, because you’re lacking any technological method of launching these objects I’m assuming you’re using something in the way of muscles? Which can only shoot off objects so fast before they start destroying themselves and even pushed beyond their limits you’re not going go as fast as a bullet or a missile. Modern space ships will easily dodge your projectiles and if they don’t, I can’t imagine they’ll do much more than scratch the hull. Also, poisoned bone spikes aren’t going to do anything against a ship. You need to be lucky to break through the hull and hit a crew member and that victim is going to have bigger issues than being poisoned.
For your fleshrippers, what exactly would their purpose be? They are short-range tentacles with bone tips. Nobody is going to move in close enough for those to be viable and even then, a tentacle flailing bone isn’t going to do much damage (except, maybe, against strike craft or really small corvettes).
And finally, I’m guessing the bio-spore is supposed to be some sort of anti-strike craft weapon? Again it just sounds really weak against anything bigger than a Corvette or maybe a frigate. It may try to latch on to anything bigger but as it can only survive for 5 minutes I don’t think it would really do anything against a hull. Also again, point-defense would massacre these things.
To sum up: you don’t seem to have anything capable of destroying a destroyer or upwards. I’d review those weapons if I were you.
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