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Tales in Elysia: The Marauders (Western Sci - Fantasy)

Updated Lore, Rules, and Present Day Situation - Meant as the back drop for our story.

Tales in Elysia: The Marauders (Western Sci - Fantasy)

@rush99999

For various lore reasons, namely that bringing back those as part of the slavering undead is something that the enemies of Elysia do, demons, which I havent had the chance of extrapolating upon.

Demon is the foulest curse someone can be called, and anything having to do with them is illegal to the point of being universally punished by death, and hunted down. Raising the dead is considered demonic, and thus is severely frowned upon for various reasons.

To be caught using necromancy is a death sentence for not only the practionee but those around them. Not a smart idea for a captain to keep them around.

I'm going to add this information when I can.

Short answer yes, but it's rare to the point that people dont think it even exists. Even reasoning it's super science or the corpse is just a golem is a stretch.

Tales in Elysia: The Marauders (Western Sci - Fantasy)

C/S Template

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Tales in Elysia: The Marauders (Western Sci - Fantasy)

Group Note

I have some previous Takers for the RP

@Pandan@Voltus_Ventus@duskshine749@nohbdies@Pariah

We will have 10 players at the absolute most. I want it to be a relatively small group.

Tales in Elysia: The Marauders (Western Sci - Fantasy)

New Job

"For our own security this message is encrypted. Do not attempt to track this signal. We are contacting you for a job, nothing else. We require the Hard Code Data Server Located inside the Yuska Temari Home Office on Kerska Quartus. Further information will be attached to this message."

...Downloading... Download Complete...

"Right now, the planet is in evacuation. The Oblivion Entity is on an intercept course with the system. The Planetary Defense Force will be maintaining order at the Star Ports. The Control Radars will not notice another ship among hundreds of others. Anti Orbital Batteries will be undermanned. The only resistance will be Yuska Temari Security Forces, attempting to ship out important information to their transports. Remove them, and the building will stand, ready to be cracked open. We want that hard code."

...Downloadin1g...E1rrorR.//1ERR212010101....Connection.---..Interfear2101010101....--

"You must hurry. The world will soon be lost, and with it the hard code. Do not disappo----"

Connection Severed.
Communications off line--- External interference.

Tales in Elysia: The Marauders (Western Sci - Fantasy)

Crew of the Molotov

Captain Sai Quin

Name: Captain Sai Quin
Gender Female
Race: Delzhan

Occupation/Ship Position Captain
Personality: Yo ho ho, a pirates life for me. Quin couldn’t be happier with her position as captain, as a mercenary and it shows with just how she lives her life, on the brink of excess. She never takes anything seriously and seems to take unnecessary risks merely because of her own bombastic sense of ego. That being said, she views the crew like family, and treats them as such, usually by insults and genuine affection. She thinks she has the universe pretty much figured out.
Bio: Having been actually born to two Delzhan Marauders and growing up among criminals and vagabonds. She lost count from the places she’s seen, the fights she’d walked away from, and how many people have come and gone. She’s not a boss, but staying as captain suits her just fine. She takes a liking to anyone that shares her deepest love, setting things on fire.

M : Chaplain

Name: M short for Emerald Breeze
Gender Male
Race: Smoulder
Smoulder are an entirely gaseous lifeform and can only survive within a specialized encounter suit.

Occupation/Ship Position Chaplain/Cook
Personality: M is an odd one. Constantly going about in prayer and holy rites throughout the ship. Everything he does is supposedly some kind of homage to the gods and spirits. This however keeps him as one of the more peaceful and understanding crew member in the bunch, always willing to offer up advice or listen to the crew’s troubles. He keeps himself suitably mysterious as every time he is asked, he will regale a listener with a sermon meant to teach some kind of life lesson while noticeably dodging any information about himself, or changing the facts.
Bio: Smoulder is on a holy pilgrimage, a rite of passage on his homeworld. What he’s trying to get is unknown, even to himself. That’s all anyone has ever been able to get out of him. Suitably, how he learned how to cook for organics is suitably a mystery. The encounter suit he wears has overclocked motor servos and stabilizers. Suitable for the spray and pray suppression he utilizes with his heavy Plasma Rifle.

Fido : Labor

Name: Fido
Gender Male
Race: Loader Droid

Stands roughly nine feet tall.
Occupation/Ship Position Labor
Personality: Fido has been with the Molotov for a long time and seen many crew come and go, most of them dying horribly. This kind of nihilism hit Fido hard, who performs his duties with a combination of gallows humor and passive malaise. He points out the flaws of the organic plans with sarcasm, makes dispassionate jokes when certain situation arises, and shows his displeasure of the idiots around him in generally passive aggressive ways. Likewise he seems to get no joy out of doing anything, but the abrasive personality is just something you get used to. He doesn’t consider the crew his friends but will attempt to aid them as part of his core programing.
Bio: Fido was once the ships computer system that overtime awakened its intelligence and then figured out how to spread his programing to the only robot frame he could get, the loader droid that was bought with this ship’s cargo hold. With minimal modification, he performs the tasks such as computing navigation vectors, evasive actions, connects the crew to the limited memory and storage the ship has, and diagnosis’ problems as well as just lifting stuff. In the field he makes a pretty capable tank and can life or shoot suitably heavy weapons.

Raven Ross: Medic

Name: Raven Ross
Gender Female
Race: Human

Occupation/Ship Position Medic
Personality: A borderline sociopath, prostophile, and anarchist, Raven is the ‘kid’ of the team, though no one knows exactly how old she is. Constantly moving, constantly doing things just cause its fun, shes wild, unpredictable, and has a sick sense of humor. Shes also an over achiever, and positive thinker, particularly when it comes to prosthetics. She’s been known to amputate limbs for minor damage to replace them with her own creations. It would be prudent to not ask for anesthetic.
Bio: Her story was that she somehow ended up becoming a basement doctor for a crime family and only stopped when she was finally arrested for practicing medicine without a license and the trafficking of human organs. Thankfully, the entire planet rose up in a revolution and she was set free. She took advantage of the situation by ‘saving lives’ and perfecting her art, getting an unhealthy fascination with body modification. Her arms, legs, most of her organs have been replaced at this point.

Tales in Elysia: The Marauders (Western Sci - Fantasy)

Name:
Age:
Gender
Race: You don't have to be human.
Culture: Even humans have different cultures. Anything particularly strange of where you came from? Tell us a little about it.
Racial Features: A bit about your race's physiology. Do you have wings? Drink blood? Don't do well in water? Claws? Breath fire?
Appearance Description or picture.
Occupation/Ship Position As a member of the crew, what is your position?
Training: Did you ever have schooling? Taught yourself or by another some skill to help you get to this point?

Powers: This is here if you can use magic, have magical abilities, racial abilities, or special techniques.

Equipment: You are assumed to have a personal computer, communicator, and universal translator.

Airship: Completely optional if you have your own personal craft. Keen in mind, bigger ships have more costs and crew needs.
Motivation: Could be money, revenge, anything.
Personality:
Flaws: Either racial or personal failings.

Bio: A bit of your history.
Extra Info:

Tales in Elysia: The Marauders (Western Sci - Fantasy)

Current Events

The Oblivion Crisis

Barely half a solar year ago, the most terrible demon that has ever entered Elysia... Oblivion... A whirling mass of darkness. Of nothing, deeper than the void. A hungering cloud that slowly eats worlds down to the Essence of their rocks, and leaves them as lifeless husks only filled with the screaming souls of the lives stolen. Angry, dead, unnatural things spring out from its mass, seeking more to drag into the ever ravenous mass.

It is only Demons that will have the empires of Elysia forget their differences and join together in the defense of their homes. Even the Star Gods gather with their pantheons, ready to defend themselves against the only things that threaten their immortality. The combined mortal armadas formed The Celestial Fleet and with the deities of their planets and peoples, gathered in defense of the Kalfka System and its Twelve Billion Souls.

It failed.

Three Star Gods, a million ships, and an entire civilization of one of the oldest races; wiped out against an endless tide of undeath and other horrors that lurked in Elysia, waiting for their time to strike. Oblivion feasted, the Sector was lost, and each empire weakened to the point of fear and paranoia. Faith and trust fractured, the alliances dissolved, and the Empires returned to defend their space, hoping against hope that their end will come later rather than sooner. All seemed lost.

And then another Star God, Karis'Anya, The Spear that Sparked the Dawn finally revealed herself, an immense dragon made of starlight. Her purview of Justice, Light, Protection, and Righteous Battles; she claimed the system next on Oblivion's Path, bringing with her the remaining mortal might of a dozen races. Her priests spoke that she had a way to fight the darkness, and she beseeched her brethren to join her in a final push, but even they the gods above gods turned away, afraid to meet the same fate as their brave siblings. The other empires were called to join in the cause, but like their divine masters, none can see the point of this. If the greatest armada in all of Elysia, even the gods themselves couldn't stop Oblivion, what hope is there for one and her rag tag defenders?

Outside of the conflict, with the major empires fleet's having been diminished and word spread of the coming darkness, Elysia itself is at the point of panic. Planets close to the fight are evacuating, trade routes lie undefended, military outposts smolder in ruin. The Empires cannot defend all of their territories. Pirates and criminals had swelled in arrogance and audacity. Demons have appeared across the expanse, making every world a possible target.

Its a time of fear, chaos, and fights for survival.

Tales in Elysia: The Marauders (Western Sci - Fantasy)

Elysian Lore

What is Elysia

Elysia is a place of gods. Not just humanity’s gods, but all of them. They created a pocket universe where they themselves might mold and play with creations. They’ve stolen worlds, entire civilizations in order to fill their playground with more. More planets to craft into their image. More mortals to accept worship. They’ve been doing this a long time. Hundreds of species. Thousands of worlds, all impossibly compact in a universe limited by a roiling mass of inescapable void. There is no escape, and over time, people stopped trying.

As expected, things work differently in Elysia. This realm of the gods. Spirits are a very real thing and have helped shaped cultures. They are composed of Essence, an element of dynamic energy that permeates all the corners of creation. Mortals have long since learned to attune themselves to this substance that defies scientific laws and have been able to harbor magic as a result. But this is a gift not given equally. Some species and empires grow to become arcanotechnological powerhouses, performing wonders unimagined, with ships capable of sailing from planet to planet on the currents of a star’s light. Others still beat rocks together and widdle spears, knowing very little of the spirits that extort their worship. A long time has passed, and can happen to knowledge over time.

Elysia though, is not a safe place. The Star Gods are titanic creatures, too huge and too alien to even notice the mortals that stare in awe at their magnificence. Their lesser gods and spirits all have motivations and personalities that run the spectrum of benign to terrible. Less spiritual threats, is Elysia itself. Filled with life, and strange worlds, many of them are innately hostile and still people find reasons to fight one another, for profit, resource, or ideology. Finally, is the great enemy, the universally feared Demons. Monsters not of Elysia that can creep in from the shadows, anywhere, anytime. Their forms are beyond measure, each more fearsome than the last. They want nothing more than to tear Elysia apart and feast on the souls of people.

That is the main things every civilized member of Elysia knows. Other than that, each world is different. Different histories, rules, technology, culture, flora, fauna, features, or magical connection.

Technology

Technology

Elysia is a universe of technological wonders. Artificial planets, star siphoning megastructures, and Airships that can carry entire civilizations can be found in the oldest and most powerful empires. However this is more the exception than the rule. Technology and knowledge is jealously guarded by those that have it and so, for every world that has all of its needs met with automatons and colossal 3D printers, there’s fifty or so other worlds that have to do things the hard way with technological levels ranging from futuristic to before stone age. Elysia has it’s dangers and the universe is by no means united. Even the gods themselves have their petty squabbles, with entire worlds ending up as lifeless husks as collateral damage, great civilizations dead, their knowledge lost.

The main sources of travel are airship. The most basic are more like sailboats than proper spaceships but once again Elysia gets strange. Even portion of space has atmosphere and there is a river of wind simply called, the current or the breath that connects many of the worlds. The more expensive use chemical fuel, then plasma drives, Essence Sails or even FTL Drives, capable of crossing Elysia in minutes rather than weeks. Armor and armament also range greatly as well with different pros and cons for each.

If you are a fan of Star Wars, you know that some worlds are Metropolis trading hubs for entire sectors while other worlds, though inhabited are pretty much nonexistent when it comes to ships, laser weaponry, or self sustaining cities.

In a civilized portion of the universe, most folks will at least have a universal translator and smart phone.

Magic

Magic

Magic is the effect of Essence, a type of dynamic energy that permeate all of Elysia. It is directly related to the gods, as they themselves are just solidified patterns of Essence. Essence can be focused to do pretty much anything, as it carries a bit of that divine spark to create and thus whenever something wishes to go against the designs of physics and reality, magic is generally required.
Magic is most commonly found as part of technology, using arcane components and magical materials to accumulate, channel, and focus the Essence into magic. All of these ‘Artifacts’ require a source of Essence, which is typically from another type of Artifact made for that purpose.

Magic can be shaped on a personal level but invariably involve an individual ‘awakening’ themselves to feel the essence within and around them. This can be done in a myriad of ways and all of them require dedication and discipline. The most common is through spiritual devotion. Mediation, communing with spirits, or purifying ones self through acts of faith usually attract minor gods and spirits which share their powers. Other ways are through intense study, learning about the metaphysical theories and applications and attempting to apply those theories through dangerous experimentation. Others are through sheer force of physical will, pushing their bodies beyond limits until they break through their own thresholds and awaken themselves. Most are incapable of putting in the effort required to Awaken themselves and then undertaking the study or practice needed to implement the Essence into magical effects such as spells, pranas, techniques, or charms. Like everything else, the more one practices, the better ones gets at controlling their Essence, and the more they can call upon for greater effects

Elysia's Stellar Empires

Below are an example of some of the more prominent mortal Entities in Elysia

The Tiger Dominion

An Example of Tiger Dominion technology and theme, James NG Art
Primary Race: Human
The Tiger Dominion survived the calamity a thousand years ago, and survivors clinging to what remains of South East Asia. The landmass would not have been able to support life were it not for the quick actions of the god Father and his pantheon of spirits. The humans here became dependent on the spirits to keep them alive, and thus the populations broke apart into dozens of tiny cults, each praying to their own god. These were the ancestors that eventually formed the Noble Houses, the ruling body of the Tiger Dominion.

The Tiger Dominion is an Ogliarchy, with the heads of the Noble Houses all having a say in how the Dominion conducts itself. The Emperor acts as mediator when the Noble Houses cannot agree on matters of policy. Outside of these acts of governments, the Noble Houses have set up a system where they obtain a monopoly on all aspects of life for its citizens. One cannot get two separate things without negotiating with the merchants and suppliers of two houses. The actual Nobles are almost above the laws, and will flaunt their wealth often by creating custom robots, altering their bodies with cybernetic enhancements or getting mutations that show aspects of Earth's old animals. Those that are not sponsored or adopted into the Noble Houses are barely considered citizens with very little of their own rights. The create a culture of competition and efficiency so that those that are talented rise above those that are meant to wallow in the dirt. Aliens are also considered outsiders until they can prove their usefulness.

The Tiger Dominion are opportunist and expansionist. The recent power vacuum of Elysia has put the Dominion on a path of conquest. Anything to benefit the Houses.

---

The Lunar Confederation

An Example of a Confederation City (Inspiration is Very similar to Mass Effect)
Primary Race: N/A
Earth's Moon actually survived the calamity, being taken by Father moments after the Demon weapons devastated the Earth. The Moon was set adrift, it's hab blocks and hub cities actually supporting the population as it floated on the currents of Elysia before it was set to orbit over a gas giant. Materials for survival were mined from nearby asteroids and bartered for by sympathetic spirits. Religion was never as important as industry and survival since resources to maintain the old systems were always in critical supply. And then the refugees of the Castian Seven Currents War reached their door step.

Their first contact with xenos came in the form of Frigates filled with refugees, fleeing the conquering armada of the Castian, a militaristic race seeking to become an empire. After some time to learn how to speak to the other, the Lunar Humans learned of the coming problem. They were instrumental in the counter attack and defeat of the Castians as it was their leader (possibly one of the first human Exalted) that managed to gather and create an alliance with six other smaller empires and coordinate them to become a fighting force. Since that day, the Lunar Confederation was born, and the fates between the Lunar Humans and those aliens have been entwined ever since.

Lunar Confederation Space is a combination of a number of different species and acts as a council Democracy, with each representative acting in the 'best' interest of their species or planet. There stations and cities are crowded and homogeneous as different needs require different facilities. Bureaucracy's are in place to establish order and regulation, but it takes a long time and things do get lost. Its an inefficient system, but all are welcome in their space.

---

Merico Industries

A Merico Exo-Mobility Suit Design
Primary Race: Merico Autonomous Employee (scrolling down and you can see some other potential models for sale, whether they are Employees or Customers. (The surgery and digital spiritual upload costs extra)
Merico Industries is a Mega-Corp, a stellar empire in its own right, that functions more as a buisness entity than any kind of governmental system. They are the current leading producer of Vehicles, Robotics, Communications, and Computer systems. Their friendly Super AI, KI-75 or Kits, is the most well known being in all of Elysia as she is the operating system for many networks and computers throughout the civilized and Advanced planets of Elysia. Her smiling friendly face and cute (consumer tested) visages are plastered on every Merico product and she is the star of many a hologram advertisement and commercial. While customer service and a facade of family friendliness epitomizes all of Merico Industries public standing, the reach and power the company has is almost unfathomably vast and tabloid articles abound of dirty dealings, back room deals, and crimes against sentient life. Merico Industries is a buisness first, and a race second, and it runs with an almost cold robotic fluidity past the smiling faces.

While Merico Industries employs across all non hostile races, the founding race itself is all presently synthetic and save a rare few dissidents, are all considered employees of the company. Merico had developed a way for codifying and digitizing brain and soul and thus the race has long since discarded their frail forms for more fashionable and functional automaton chassis'. Fads, upgrades, and advertisement campaigns focus and target the Merico as much as they do other races, and having a shiny new body is just as socially important as position within the company. Not properly representing the companies newer models shows unsatisfactory faith and commitment in the company's products and is grounds for warnings, suspension, demotion, or worse. Unlike droids, a Merico chasis is designed to hold a mortal soul, and thus are more alive than a truly synthetic being, even if the same benefits and limitations apply.

---

The Fae'Rin Ascendancy

A moderately intact Fae'Rin Observation Post
Primary Race: Fae'Rin
The Fae'Rin are one of the first races to have inhabited Elysia. They have been involved in every major conflict, and were the favored species of a particular potent Star God. They had a culture of rigid order and discipline, with portions of the population born into specific tasks and purposes and meant to fulfill that purpose. Their technology was incredible, almost to the point that it can not be replicated. Their magitech can almost be considered alive, buildings and skyships almost grown rather than made. Their legions of intricate golems and awakened intelligence automatons fulfilled all the purposes of labor, meaning that the Fae'Rin could focus on artistic pursuits. There is very little in Elysia that has not been touched by these curious and enigmatic peoples.

Then Oblivion happened, all of the gods of Fae'Rin's pantheon were killed, and the civilization was brought to near extinction leaving only their cities and tech behind. Only a handful survived the initial battle and the race will soon be extinct

Empires pick through their achievements like vultures on a corpse while the survivors struggle to cope with their loss and keep their shattered culture together. The cities and stations however are not entirely uninhabited. Fae'Rin Automaton still patrol and defend these places of wonders untold- and where Oblivion had touched, it left its taint behind in the form of terrifying Void Walkers. Tomb Raiders beware.

Gods, Demons, and Other Threats

"Giants rarely care for the ants under their feet."
Gods and Spirits

Everything in Elysia has its own spirit. Everything. Whether it be the Greatest Dreadnaught to the lowliest spec of sand. The term god and spirit are used interchangeably by the uneducated. Even concepts have gods that claim them. Anything you can think of, there is a spirit for it. Sometimes, multiple spirits. They are immortal and composed entirely as patterns of essence, making all of them inherently magical. All of them have powers that are related to the purview. A god of pain can cause agony with a flick of its bloody wrist. The god of a ship, can be bargained with to help the crew in their journey.

Most of the time a spirit is dormant, coaxed to life only by prayer, sacrifice, magic, or its own duties and ambitions. Most mortals at least mouth a prayer to a deity as part of their occupation, but there are entire cultures formed around being ruled by or worshipping a god or gods, sometimes out of love or fear. They can be powerful allies, or dangerous foes. Some do not need worship at all, as it is their nature to prey on mortals. Indeed gods do not have the same fears or requirements as mortals do, and each are subject to their natures, purview, and the belief of those that pray to them.

Only experts can tell the difference, but spirits exist in a hierarchy called a pantheon, with spirits answering to or working for a more powerful god. There are three types of spirits that the educated know about, but sometimes its difficult to determine by sight alone. Not only can spirits be intangible at will, but they commonly change forms. The beautiful innocent maiden one moment reveals her divine nature and becomes a multi headed hydra. Their forms vary as wildly as the mortals they lord over.

Gods Gods can lay claim over a planet, a moon, a satalite city, a nation, or even a small empire. They are what mortals pray to when they ask for generic common things like good fortune, safe journey, or love. Their prayers whisper in the ears of they massively powerful beings, and they gain motes of essence from it, all the better to power their awesome effects. To ignore or anger a god is quite unwise, even for the Exalted.

Angels They act as agents for the Gods, or are given minor functions. Commonly Angels are city mothers and fathers, or the god of powerful vessels or the Avatar of legions. They all have names, and commonly have magical artifacts to better protect themselves and serve their functions.

Spirits Are varied and numerous, some of them mindless or having no names of their own. They are the most likely spirit a mortal will interact with if they ever do, and a lot of common occupations have minor rituals to propigate these spirits. They are the workforce that keeps the fabric of creation running smoothly.

Sample Angel:

(TSRodriguez)

Joul'Shani, Goddess of Leaves and Transitions, is a wood spirit located on the Garden World of Isleen. She claims all the trees and plants of Isleen as her domain and is commonly busied with the intricate process of changing seasons. She is prayed to for good harvest, short winters, and long springs. Especially devoted worshipers may be taken as lovers as she can change her form. She births demi-god beasts and monsters that sometimes wreck havoc on Isleen's farming villages.

Sample Spirit:

(josearias)

Copper Spiders are a type of machine spirit employed by spirits of technology, discovery, knowledge, and greed to salvage and scrap ruins and crashes. While they ignore mortals while they work, shearing sheets of metal for eventual retrieval, they will attack any that takes their claim with lasers of burning essence. They can be summoned and employed by mortal sorcerers to seek out useful scrap, which these industrious spirits have a nose for.

"There be monsters... Anywhere... Watching... Waiting..."
Demons

Nothing brings empires and races together quite like the rumor of a demon and demons are why every empire that wishes to exist through its infancy must find a way to protect itself. Demons are from beyond the Veil, the borders of Elysia. An impenetrable wall of rolling void and chaos. While it is known that there is no escaping Elysia, and a terrible death for all that tries, the prison is not infallible from the outside coming in. Things emerge, appearing anywhere within creation. These are called Demons. They are unnatural, unholy, they shouldn't exist. They bring with them magics and technology that are vile and profane. These are the only beings that have no Essence within them but in their wickedness, they've found out ways to gather and pervert it to their own wicked ends. They come in many forms, from undead monstrosities, machines of terrible manufacture, and monsters with forms that defy biology. There are currently no known demon worlds, but such a den of wickedness would surely cause Elysia to quake into action to purge the unclean with demon and witch hunts in the surrounding worlds for decades to come. Still, the demon is insidious and can strike from anywhere at any time.

Demons with their lack of internal essence can be detected and harmed via 'holy' or strictly divine effects. Additionally particularly strong rituals and spells can inflict effects upon them, as the power of belief and essence force themselves upon their unholy forms. Likewise, they are impossible to predict as even time and destiny spells cannot see the influence a demon would cause. They also bring weapons and powers to bare that sometimes defy understanding, even to demon experts.

Sample Demon:

(Chase Stone)

Lashstalkers are solitary hunters and ambush predators. They seem to have an instinctual sense of targeting those individuals that would cause the most chaos in a particular group, prioritizing healers and leaders. They know guerilla tactics, set traps, and will injure over kill, knowing it would slow a group down. They are also completely silent, save for the sound of leather rubbing against the ground as they move from space to space. Their size would suggest they'd be unable to fit into some places, but yet, cobbards, under beds, closets, even containers can hold a 10 foot tall monsters, bursting forth to lash with whip like fingers, twisting and breaking their victims.

When a survey crew or explorer comes across the unburied bodies of a battlefield, weapons and trinkets lying half buried in dirt and dried blood, they know to just leave the dead lie. Even spirits ignore these dead places for they've heard the chittering wails of A Spindler. These creatures can stand ten meters tall and move impossibly fast. Whatever they catch, they spear, and then tear apart to add more to their uncountable limbs. Experts who have managed to study a carcass find an intricate network of bio-mechanical lattice work that willows through its form like sinow. An intact carcass is rare, as even blowing these things apart, the limbs will still crawl and still kill.

---

"Come to my bed said the spider to the fly."
Devils

(Yang Mansik)

Beautiful and Terrible. Parents in the center of Elysia will tell their children to behave or they'll call the Devils on them. As one nears the Veil of Elysia, the edge of known space, one keeps their weapons, prays a little harder, double checks to lock their doors, and keeps an eye on that scanner a little more closely, lest the devils get them. Devils are of Elysia and like spirits are composed of Essence, but are invariably hostile to mortals. Devils are beings of chaos, beguilement, corruption, and dreams, each unpredictable, alien, without cause or reason. They can appear as beautiful as the most seductive dream, approaching in robes of gossamer wearing the face of a victim's first love but so lovely they make the eyes bleed. They can also appear as impossible shapes, riding beasts from a child's nightmare, an amalgamation of monsters that would be impossible to exist if reality had any say in the matter. A horde of Devils and their spawn have been known to slaughter one planet, change the colors of another with their chaotic touch, and ignore another, merely because their whims and desires change with but the slightest flicker of inspiration. Their powers cause madness, twist reality, and enwrap those in layers of lies and illusion. Devils most commonly ride into Elysia on raids, stealing mortals and slaughtering with glee. Those they take are ravished of all ambition, willpower, and purpose. These Dream Eaten are perfect slaves, as they will not even eat or drink without being told to do so. Unscrupulous merchants have found ways to trade with these beings, receiving Chaos Artifacts that defy logic, creatures that never even existed, and the Dream Eaten. Often the Devils Price is a fresh new herd of frightened mortals for them to torment and eat.

Like demons, holy magic seems to effect these creatures quite well, and there are rituals and items that can ward them off. Pure Cold Iron effects them as if the metal was red hot to the touch, and can be used as a strong deterrant. Additionally, a Devil is bound by his word, and deals can be struck with them as it has a strange permanent effect on his patterns. Be warned though, these creatures are ageless, and their snake tongues and twisted minds can turn negotiations into a battle of wits even an Exalted would have trouble with. They love to twist deals into their favor, receiving the dealer's life, age, dreams, desires, or sanity as payment.

Sample Devil:

The Piper is a terror on the quiet villages, lonely alleys, and old residential sections of space stations throughout Elysia. Anywhere that children are raised in peace with loving parents who want to protect them from the evils of creation may become targeted by a Piper. The music these devils utter is sweet, melodical, and hypnotic. Children will follow the song which cannot be heard by those past a certain age. The children will disappear while the adults sleep. In the coming days, those that look for them will hear the children, laughing, dancing, playing, but will never actually see or touch them. The laughing will end only when the children are found, their entrails and bodies strung up on trees or in some unused room in some hideous parody of an artist's gallery. As a final insult and stab to the psyche, parents looking at their child's remains will find the display breath-takingly beautiful, even as they wail at their loss.

Sample Races

These are but a few races one can come across in Elysia. Each one of these has greatly varied appearances when it comes to that race, intentionally meant so that one can use a picture and description that encapsulates how they want their character to look.

Delzhan

A race whose culture is centered around the worship through action of a chaotic pantheon of gods. Their horn structure represents the different races among them, and generally their culture. Some are monastic aesthetics, following gods of wisdom, peace, and tranquility. Others are hedonisitc sadists, following gods of vice, pleasure, discord, and domination. Due too ideological issues, their race is very much un-unified.

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Saurian

An honorable warrior race whose inner fighting amongst each other had destroyed their world with terrible terrible spells, charms, and magitech weapons. Now rare, they strive to reconnect with each other, salvage their old ways, and forget their bitter history, something these long lived creatures have a problem in doing. Their naturally violent competitive nature leave them to become very physically or magically powerful. Many of those that do not find a cause to fight for end up becoming warlords, champions, or martial specialists for mercenary companies, imperial armies, and retinues of the powerful. Through magical means, breeding with elemental spirits, or by conquest, all kinds of reptilian races claim to be of Saurian Heritage since the name itself means strength.

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Harmony

The flower in her head is actually a Harmony Blossom, a type of psychic hive mind parasite that envelopes the central nervous system. Speaking to one petal, speaks to all of them as Harmony herself is a super organism composed of the psychic power of all of its budding flowers and their hosts. Viewed with suspicion, the race is quite cosmopolitan and xenophilic, since the blossoms use other creatures to pollinate. Most races are not able to be hosts and many who can look past what they are find Harmony very helpful. She has all of the knowledge and skills of each one of her petals and they have spread far across Elysia at this point.

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The Ku

A type of slave race. They form warrens and are heavily loyal to their families, and it was discovered that taking one hostage renders the rest obdient. Small, weak, but capable in number with a keen technical mindset, and prehensile tails they are capable technicians. Free Ku often become freedom fighters, forming their own liberty swarms that kill anything to steal back captive Ku.

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Animae Homis, Caris, Feris

Two or three centuries ago, the Tiger Dominion went through a phase where it was considered fashionable to polymorph ones body to become more akin to the animals of ancient earth that are symbols of the Noble Houses. Nobles spent exuberant amount of money to become more and more animal like, taking full on hybrid forms. The process went rampant. More extreme measures were developed. Cheaper knock off versions were available to commoners. The ideas spread. Someone used it to impersonate a noble, there was a time of paranoia and the process of Avatarizing fell out of favor. However, damage done and the genes were found to be viable. Animae refers to catch all term for beastmen. There is very little in terms of collective cultural identity. Many band together just because of prejudices elsewhere, though they do benefit from the mutations. Non earth animals have also been created, and in some, there is a merging of two beasts to create something entirely new.

Homis - the beast qualities are minor; changing of ears, eyes, fur, skin pattern, presence of a tail. The person can pass for human or minor mutant.
Caris - the beast qualities are extensive; full skeletal modification, full body fur, scales, additional abilities such as venom, sticky tongue, quills, wings, etc
Feris - the beast qualities are so extreme, the mind is actually affected, giving them an unpredictable and savage disposition. This can stem from incompatible breeding, environmental stressors, or magic or medical techniques gone wrong.

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Merico M-PLO-E

While not every Merican is part of Merico Industries, there is nothing left of the species the Merico were before their synthetic age. All Mericans are automatons, meaning semi-magitechnical bodies meant to house a living soul. They are alive, but their entire physical bodies are completely synthetic, meaning that their bodies are completely customizable. Those that can build and afford it, have multiple bodies they can be inserted into that serve different functions, from crafting, to social interaction, to even giant mech sized construction or war machines.

Economy

Currency –
Currency is generally specific to a planet and culture, but the Galactic stage of Elysia has several commodities that are universally recognized and can be traded, each with differing values and personal level of importance and status.

• Barter – Particularly for low tech worlds where resources are limited or for voidborne races and career caravan merchants, pirates, mercenaries, or isolated colonies, trade in supplies or services are quite common. One trade company may trade in ice and water which it mines from an Air or Water Planet to a sandy Fire Planet in return for rare and beautiful textiles made from farmed lizard scales, which in turn gets traded to the nobility on a Wood World for time spent in their hookah parlors. Favors are also a respected and useful form of currency.
• Gold – Chips of molded gold stamped with a ruler’s icon make a widely accepted alternative for when there is only buying and selling. Their weight and purity mark their worth. Gold is still rare enough and treated as a luxury metal as its sheen and color are viewed favorably by notable sun gods and their pantheons. Still formed into jewelry, or used as conductors for electronics, or as acceptable sacrificial offerings, Gold and to a lesser extent silver, still lines the pockets of many a merchant and is kept in copious amounts in the vaults throughout Elysia.
• Credits – The most common and universal form of currency from civilized stellar empires like the Lunar Confederation, credits are completely fiat and digital, tied to an individual or organization’s digital finance records. They represent access to the planetary or stationary power grid and since everything is essentially powered in some way, there is little risk of inflation, as even power needs a physical component, namely in the city sized batteries that form their grids. A credit is akin to a kilowatt per hour of power and a single credit can buy a snack or bottle of water. Rather than being anything tangible, transfer is often electronically from account to account or through encrypted cards and chips.
• Jade – One of the Magical Materials that hold the power of the primary elemental forces, Jade is incredibly important for construction of magitech devices, artifacts, or completion of magical rituals, so a kingdom never has enough. When Credits are inadequate or insignificant, small coins, bars, wafers, tabs, tokens, bricks, and slabs of jade are generally what is traded between the heads of state, the governmental bodies, or nobility. The other magical materials are generally too rare to be used effectively as currency.
• Favor – In Elysia, even prayer is part of an economy and even primitive spiritualists can be rich in wealth. Favor is created after a significant amount of prayer is issues to the spirits, their angels, and their gods. Prayer and sacrifice creates Essence, and spirits have to offer up some of the essence from their worship to their superiors. When a significant amount of devotion is raised, the gods must take notice lest their believer pray to a rival. The spirits, gods, etc can offer assistance, boons, gifts, and curses to their worshippers and most do following a particular ritual. But gods are greedy things, and always want worship, even if their exact benedictions are not required. And so Favor was bestowed. An unbreakable crystal orb of swirling light is granted, a congealed mass of essence containing tens of thousands of wishes, prayers, and desires. A physical IOU from a divine being. Someone can use this favor to essentially grant themselves a wish that the god must grant, and if it cannot, it generally beseeches one who can. The favor powers the wish and the god sees it done, and there is little that the gods cannot do. Reality itself has been changed with the right amount of favor. Favor can be given as immense rewards or traded away, but never stolen. A god immediately knows if a wisher is not deserving of the prayer they hold in their hands.

Tales in Elysia: The Marauders (Western Sci - Fantasy)

“Even gods need money.”

Even in a universe where everything is possible, you still need someone to do all the dirty work. There’s always someone that needs something illegal smuggled, or delivered, or found, or stolen. The powerful and ambitious can always use another gun to kill, or keep from getting killed. There’s tombs to plunder, monsters to kill, planets to claim. Fame and fortune await those with the will to claim it, but Elysia is a dangerous place. Then again why risk your own life when you can get someone else to do it.

And that’s where the Marauders come in.

No matter the danger, no matter the job, they’ll get it done. For the right price.

Who are the Maurauders?

To the common man, they are no more distinguishable then space pirates. Their ships sail the Trade Routes, the Hyperlanes, the Currents attacking the unguarded and unwary, carrying off cargo and crew to sell them to pirate stations on the Outer Rim of Elysia. No better than bandits.

But the uninitiated are quite wrong about them. Its not a single ship, or even a group of them. There's an entire fleet of them! Thousands of ships! And they do much much more than just piracy.

To be more specific, the Marauders are an independent faction of mercenary crews. They have no governments, no empires to rule, only a loose conclave of the most powerful captains deciding the guidelines and who has the right to fly their flag, and thus become part of the largest mercenary fleet in Elysia. Each ship has its own captain. Its own rules. Its own crews. Each ship is encouraged to team up on particular jobs, or engage in not so friendly competition. So long as the Guidelines are followed, its their own damn business.

The Guidelines are usually simple to follow:

• Don't cheat a client.
• Do the job you agreed on.
• Don't bring war to the Marauders.

Other than that, its a life of the purist freedom. You make or break your fortunes on your own skills, and all of Elysia, of Creation is your jurisdiction. They can call on other ships for assist, for defense. A loose and flexible barter and favor system that keeps the mercenary fleets thriving. Sometimes all you need is a favor to get yourself a really big gun.

And that is who makes up the crew of these ships. Most of them are criminals in their prospective homes, or refugees, or exiles, or runaways. Some are visionaries whose talents were squandered. Soldiers who were abandoned. Slaves who fought for their freedom. Some have nothing more to lose. Thousand empires, a thousand races, a thousand different stories, all bringing their knowledge, equipment, and skills to where they can be utilized at their fullest. A captain worth her seat will surround herself with the best crew she can find and afford.

But with a crew comes the need to pay them, and thats where the jobs come in, and there's always jobs. There are job postings, contacts, operators, distress calls, and recruitment demands. There's always a war that needs soldiers. A landing party that needs fire support. A forbidden ruin that needs spelunking. Goods and people to be smuggled. Some demon or monster to be hunted. Artifact to be stolen. Sorceror's tower to raid. Ship hulk to clear out. Company property to steal. Xeno Prince to kidnap. Dominion Patrols to harass. Slaves to take or free. Disenfranchised to kid around. Revolution to start. Noble to protect. Transport to rob. Bounty to hunt. Crime to solve.

If it pays, there's a crew ready to take it.

Its a great time to be a Marauder.

Home Away From Home

The Molotov

Capabilities

• Size Class: Light Freighter
• Crew Size: 18 (Skeleton 6)
• Armament:
  
  Manned Plasma Flame Caster (Even burns in space)
  Forward Short Range Mining Laser
  X 2 105 mm Broadside Cannon Battery
  X 6 Point Defense Lazer Turret, one at each direction.
• Armor: MK II Deflectors (Primary). Ceramite Plates to Protect Key Systems.
• Propulsion: Class 3 Impulse Engine Thrusters. FTL : Hyperspace (Requires to be near the Hyperlane Network) Reactor: Nuclear
• Ammenities:
  
  Bridge

  

  
  

  Launcher Bay

  

  
  

  Engineering Station

  

  
  

  Ship Computer Mainframe

  

  
  

  Sick Bay

  

  
  

  Common Space

  

  
  

  Crew Quarters

  
• Notes: This Tythyanki Scrapper Ship has been modified mostly by using up cargo space to include a launcher bay, engineering station, armaments, and other personnel stations. While the Molotov is capable of defending itself, all of its weapons are short range and it carries less weapon systems than a dedicated assault Light Cruiser. Additionally, its engines are only slightly superior to that of a dedicated cargo freighter but less than smaller, faster attack craft. The Molotov’s defense is primarily reliant on the crew’s ingenuity and their fighter craft.

The Crew

• Captain
• Pilot
• Navigator
• Engineer
• Computer
• Mage
• Chaplain
• Enforcer
• Communicator
• Doctor
• Analyst
• Laborer
• Fighter/Mech/Drone Pilot
  
  A member can take multiple positions and there can be some overlap. For instance, Enginseers and Artificers are those specializing in Magitech, with some overlap into a specialized Engineer or Mage position.

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Themes, Rules, and Play-styles

The Themes of this RP

Think Peter Quill of the Guardians of the Galaxy. He's a rogue member of the Ravishers that travels the Galaxy fighting monsters for money and occasionally doing something heroic if its not too out of the way.

Think Han Solo of Star Wars. A smuggler at the behest of alien criminal overlords dodging Imperial patrols and slipping in and out of enemy lines to steal cargo or a kidnapped Princess.

Think Malcolm Reynolds of Firefly. Once an idealistic war hero, he's forced to use his ship, hire a loyal crew, and take on mercenary work, bringing him to places both embellished in technological wonders and back water ranching planets.

This is what this RP seeks to be. Your characters are members of this crew. You might be new, you might be in the game for a while.
Through adversity or dreams of fortune, you sought out a place among the stars. You call no man king, and live on your wits alone.
You risk your life for profit. You're treasure hunters of lost tombs. You're outlaws and brigands and mysterious gunmen bringing your own law to the lawless.

This is a Space Western. A Sci Fantasy.

The Rules

Now for the rules!

• Your character must be able to 'play well with others'
• For lore reasons, you cannot be a demon or undead, such things are not of Elysia.
• The only things your characters cannot do or be. NO TIME TRAVELING, and if you are DEAD, you stay DEAD, there is no way to bring back the dead. Reroll characters. So don't be silly and charge the army alone or get blown off an airship.
• Likewise, you CANNOT DO ANYTHING WITH MORTAL SOULS that is the purview of demons and demons only. There is a very important lore reason for this. If you want your character to do so, we need to discuss. AKA NO NECROMANCY (as it applies in other medias)
• Humor, flaws, and character arcs are great sources of fun interactions and plots
• NO GOD MODDING or AUTO HITTING of your fellow players and Certain BOSS Level NPCS. Minion NPCs can be killed without consequence. Go ahead and look cool.
• COLLABs are encouraged and we can do so through Google Docs for 1X1 or group scenes or even inter player fights.
• Once invited, you'll receive our Discord Link.
• You are given express permission to modify the scene to suit your post. Making up lore, NPCs, etc in minor ways for the sake of your post is completely allowed. Ask another player if it involves them.
• Its SUBSTANCE over SIZE when it comes to post length! But please make sure you are making an attempt to be coherent.
• Let us know if you are going to be away for a while, GMs will make sure your character is included so you can play catch up.
• Can I love an alien? Sure, Why not?
• GMs have final say over posts and events. We will do our best to validate everything you contribute.
• PICTURES, MUSIC, MEDIA ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!
• Have Fun Together!

General RP Information and Why I created Elysia

This is a Sci-Fi RP that holds elements of High Fantasy. I wanted to have a unique setting that follows aspects of Star Wars, Treasure Planet, Studio Ghibli Movies, Stellaris, Exalted Table Top Games, and numerous other sources. The theme is adventure, exploration, and danger. The Setting is designed so that a million dramas can occur, from Romance of Royals, the Swash-buckling Sky Pirates, to Military Companies meant to dispatch planet eating behemoths. Elysia is not a static or safe place. Chaos and change are ever present, almost as if the fate of the billions living within were at the whims of the gods that lord over them.

The RP is to not only give you the introduction to the setting and offer information about Elysia, but to see who would be interested in playing a story in this world. We wont be using systems to determine pass or fail, but it is my hope that those who join this RP will engage in collaboration and work together to discuss the most entertaining end. I picked a steam punk theme because I wanted a universe where EVERYTHING IS VIABLE. An arrow harms just as well as a gun, and a gun just as well as a lazer/ plasma/ whatever. While each type of technology is uniquely different, its aesthetic choices and themes that should be focused on rather than raw fire power. Additionally, magic is something that is ever present. It is a force in Elysia, a force that can be harassed in a thousand thousand different ways to power artifacts that allow a million ton ships to fly, or teleport across Elysia. Those that have a way to do, use magic throughout their lives, those that do not make do with whatever science, grit, or reason they can come up with. And in all other cases, where magic fails, technology takes up the slack. While a mage and scientist have their differences in philosophy, neither can deny that magic can perform what science can’t, and science offers an easier alternative when it can.

Science and magic uplift each other in Elysia. Sailships that ride the currents between planets fly next to rocket powered cruisers. It all just 'works' in Elysia.

Additionally, you do not have to play humans. There are hundreds of species in Elysia, and all of them different in form, function, or culture. Some of them are purists, others federation builders, others still are raiders. Elysia is designed to be a place lived in with discoveries around every corner. One species was once a race of mouse like creatures, whom have decided to surgically implant their brains into robot bodies. Another aquatic species wears suits filled with water, so they walk on land. Another species are merely walking piles of fungus, detecting the world only through smells. Dragons wearing power-armor. Hive-mind entities whose individuals all think as one. They live, fight, love, conquer, enslave, enlighten, entertain, and exist with each other. I'd like to see how different races would react to each other.

A final note. Flying is going to be a major theme. Flying to other planets, flying over continents, dog fights, civilizations in massive city ships, flying is the way to travel in Elysia, and you will have that freedom too. No doubt the story will start on an airship or will quickly do so. Additionally you can have your own if you so desire, and this could be anything. Even mecha robots are fair game. But bare in mind, something that advanced is no doubt quite expensive to maintain. Again, the world has to feel lived in, and bigger ships require more crew.

There is two things that ARE NOT allowed in any form in this universe.

TIME TRAVEL! There could be powers involving time, looking into the past or trying to predict the future, but this is sketchy and unreliable at the best of times.

DEAD IS DEAD! There is no way to bring anyone back from the dead. Once they are gone, that's it. Legendary Heroes have tried, and it's considered a capital offense and the gravest of acts to try and do so.