Supermaxx

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

<Snipped quote by DruSM157>
maxx is a weak man with weak ideals

@TGM

you motherfucker

Gamblers of Vox Fortuna

Mechs :)

@DruSM157

:)

Gamblers of Vox Fortuna

too late I'm already here

@Mcmolly

goddamnit

Gamblers of Vox Fortuna

@Mcmolly@Asura@Hero@Sloth@TGM@Xiro Zean@Ortfinne

fuckin i dunno who else to @. if you're interested and i know you hit me up

Gamblers of Vox Fortuna

---

♫

Mankind's destiny had always lain among the stars. Space was a vast wilderness, untapped and untamed. The heavens have called to men since time immemorial. It was a tapestry upon which we could define our fate. It was the void, dark and foreboding, like a monster from myth demanding to be challenged. And it was the final frontier man would set out into in search of discovery.

And so they did. They stretched out their hands into the sky and laid claim to all they touched. A thousand worlds were united under a single people. It was a golden age of exploration that would endure for centuries. An emboldened humanity looked to the horizon for an even brighter future- hopeful, optimistic. What could possibly stop them?

Themselves, in short.

The year is 3061. The United Federation of Orion–Cygnus has officially dissolved as tensions between the great powers of the sector reach their boiling point. Most commentators believe open war between the nations of Orion-Cygnus to be improbable at best; vast stores of planet-busting weaponry owned by every major player make for a gunshy galaxy, they claim. But what think tanks and talking heads call 'a state of low-level conflict' looks a hell of a lot like war to the average citizen living through it.

Their communities are being occupied. Their space stations blown out of the sky. their trade vessels boarded, robbed of all they have and then scuttled- often with the crew still aboard. No one quite knows the extent of the damage, nor can anyone guess at the casualty numbers- the combatants have every interest in losing track. The fighting's not being done by the Sol Union, Thedes Empire or North Star League. Its being done by private security firms, paramilitaries, and foreign-backed militias. The frontier's the primary theater of war, sparsely populated and rich with unexploited resources. Many frontier settlements are de facto independent, even if they're technically within the borders of one nation or another. The settlers certainly don't care which color they are on some Coreworlder's map. They've thrived for generations on their own, relying only on the sweat of their brows and the helping hands of their neighbors. But times are changing. The scramble for the frontier's begun.

The Vox Fortuna is one of many small-time mercenary companies that've made their way to the frontier to join the scramble. They operate out of a single frigate called the Fortuna, specialized in carrying and deploying the premier platform for modern armored warfare: Exoframes. Giant, mechanical titans capable of immense destruction, as diverse in design and versatile in application as the people that pilot them. The Fortuna's crew, not-so-affectionately known as the Gamblers, are miscreants, cutthroats and outcasts. They have no home port, little wealth to their names and a reputation for fucking up every contract they swindle their way into. They've been blacklisted by every major state and corporation in the arm. Only the truly desperate would consider hiring them, and its always a gamble.

Lucky for them, war makes a gambler out of everyone.

---

Exoframes

An Exoframe is any single-pilot, mechanized vehicle propelled on two or more legs. It is typically reserved for military applications though civilian models do exist. Their invention three centuries ago revolutionized interplanetary warfare. A single platform could perform the role of heavy infantry, armor, and air power; they could operate in all known terrain including Zero G environments. Exoframes are designed to be modular, exchanging equipment and weaponry depending on the mission parameters.

In terms of armament, laser and plasma-based weaponry have all but replaced slugs and gunpowder. Missiles and sufficiently powerful railguns hold a niche space for their shield-piercing capabilities, but they fall flat against Exoframes and other vehicles equipped with personal point-defense systems. Melee weapons maintain a surprisingly useful presence in modern warfare for their precision: they can disable enemy Exoframes without causing a core meltdown, avoiding the destruction of a potentially valuable asset.

Exoframe models come in four size categories, based on a variety of factors including tonnage, height and battlefield role: light, medium, heavy and super-heavy.

Light frames are the smallest variety of Exoframes, ranging anywhere from slighter taller than the average human to a story tall. They're small, quick and easily mass-produced. They fill the roll of fast attack raiders and skirmishers, avoiding direct mech-to-mech combat and favoring softer targets. Light frames make excellent infantry support platforms and scouts.

Medium frames are defined more by what they aren't than what they are: they aren't as small as light frames nor as towering as heavy frames. They aren't light reconnaissance units and they aren't heavily armed bunker busters. They offer a balance of firepower, armor and mobility that none of the other roles could fill, making them excellent frontline workhorse models.

Heavy frames are powerful, specialized vehicles, difficult to deploy but frighteningly effective in the right situation. They can stand as tall as fifty feet high and weigh over a hundred tons. Often better armed and better defended than other frame classes, heavies suffer from their need for an extensive support network to function. They're mech destroyers, walking siege platforms and light artillery all rolled into one, deadly machine.

Super-heavy is the newest of the four weight classes. Their role is rather ill-defined as few super-heavy models exist, and they're rarely deployed on the frontline. These colossi operate more as status symbols than actual combatants. The few times they've seen battle, though, these super-heavies have been a nightmare of metal and destruction. Nothing short of an orbital bombardment could even scratch them- and god forbid two were ever sent against one another.

Factions

The United Federation of Orion–Cygnus was the government of the united humanity during its first steps into the stars. Made up of hundreds of individual nations, corporations and other NGOs, the UFOC constituted such a vast and manifold body of mankind that many thought of its long tenure as nothing short of a miracle. It had its internal conflicts and issues, but that democratic assembly kept the peace by making it far easier to solve disputes with arguments rather than lasers. Its fall was inevitable, however, thanks in no small part to its three largest contributors: the Sol Union, Thedes Empire and North Star League.

Centered on Earth, the cradle of humanity, the Sol Union claims to be the oldest contiguous state in history. Its made up of numerous constituent semi-autonomous provinces across many planets, moons and stations, each ruled by a Governor-General appointed by the Federal Unity Party, the current ruling party of Sol. The Union is nominally a semi-presidential democratic federal republic, though its democratic institutions could be described as flawed at their best and fatally corrupt at their worst. Its led by the infamous President Viktor Tolstoy, whose entering his eighth consecutive term of the 'elected' leader of the Union. Politically he's a cutthroat war hawk with a reputation for making his most vocal opponents disappear.

The Thedes Empire is the Sol Union's chief geopolitical rival, born out of a series of ultra-traditionalist insurrections in the Arcturus system. Thedes was the cradle of monarchist ideology's rebirth, centered on the von König family. Karl von König, founder and patriarch, built his dynasty through his vast wealth and a decades-long propaganda campaign. He turned himself into a nearly divine figure of opposition against the 'cultural degradation' of the Union, inventing a thousand-year noble bloodline and a religious cult to legitimize his rule. The empire rapidly absorbed neighboring states, either through bloodshed or political union, offering a place in the aristocracy to those leaders willing to bend the knee. Today, the Thedes Empire has abandoned its past as an absolute monarchy, embracing unitary parliamentary system and pushing its Emperor, the head of state, into a largely ceremonial role. Thedes' sprawling diet acts as the primary organ of power, with the Chancellor at its head. The imperial diet is headed by Chancellor Juliette Léa Abara, an endlessly pragmatic political animal that's managed to captain a big tent coalition by positioning herself as the 'tough on Sol' leader that Thedes needs.

And finally the North Star League, the youngest of the three major powers yet no less influential. Born out of an interstellar trade pact between the five largest megacorporations in the Orion Spur, the League has kept close to its roots. It represents a loose collective of traders, guilds and companies across Orion-Cygnus, with little in the way of economic regulation and a strong emphasis on 'free association.' The NSL has no formal military, choosing to rely on private military companies for matters of defense. What little government administration the League does have is focused on solving legal disputes between its members. The NSL is notorious for extraordinarily high crime rates and record-breaking poverty. Decision-making in North Star is top down, starting from the Executive Committee- made up of representative officers assigned by the shareholders of various North Star corporations- and headed by Chairman Sullivan Northwood. Sully is a man with no ambitions of his own and well-greased hands.

These three alliances collectively represented more than seventy percent of the galactic population. They've competed against each other for power, wealth and influence for hundreds of years. The founding of the United Federation was meant to keep their contest largely bloodless, shirking the wars for territory of aeons past in favor of competition in interstellar markets and cultural rivalries. Even in the era of the UFOC, however, tensions continued to bubble under the surface. Each side bent the rules they'd set for themselves until they threatened to breakdown completely.

The Minsky Station Massacre of 3059- when a dispute Sol Union Marines and Thedes miners on a remote commercial outpost ended in a bloody shootout- is often cited as the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. The Sol Union refused to punish its troopers, claiming they were acting in self defense, and the Thedes Empire would accept nothing less than life imprisonment or execution. The North Star League did everything it could to stoke the flames, eager to use the controversy to take control of Minsky for themselves.

Vox Fortuna

Vox Fortuna was founded thirty years ago when Deckard "Deck" Jones won the Fortuna in a game of cards. He hired a skeleton crew of debt-ridden wretches for a smuggling run, earning them the nickname that'd stick to Vox Fortuna like a second skin. That reputation followed Captain Jones for the next three decades as he struggled to make ends meet. In that time he met his first officer "Mad" Madeline Lyon, his pilot Texas Danger, and his chief engineer Ricky Hart. Those original four form the leadership of the mercenary company, though Deckard holds the opinions of his Exo-pilots in high regard.

The Fortuna is three-hundred meters long and has a crew compliment around a hundred and fifteen. Its rather poorly armed for a combat vessel, boasting a handful of close defense laser batteries and long-range torpedo tubes. It relies primarily on its Exos for ship-to-ship engagements. In a pinch, the Fortuna can field two sections of marines and has the facilities to maintain eight Exoframes. The ship was originally designed as a deep space freighter before being converted into a combat-capable vessel by the pirate Deckard swindled it from. Its an old rust bucket that should've fallen apart years ago, yet remains either too stubborn or too stupid to realize it.

The Fortuna a surprisingly complete suite of decks, including a comfortable officers quarters, a simulation deck for Exoframe training, deep space travel cryo-chambers, and a gymnasium.

---

Welcome to Gamblers of Vox Fortuna, a Real Robot mecha meets Space Western RP. Our story will follow a company of morally questionable mercenaries as they traverse the frontier in search of work as an interstellar proxy war wages in the backdrop. The narrative will be largely episodic, starting with the crew arriving at a destination, accepting a contract and then completing it (or not, as the case may be) as the players see fit. Will our roguish protagonists stumble their way into heroism? Or will the draw of a quick buck make them do the unthinkable? I'll do my best to present situations and scenarios that are compelling, fun and promote interesting interactions between your characters.

This is an invite-only RP. If we're friends you can hit me up on Discord if you'd like to join.

I won't be setting any hard and fast rules regarding posting schedules or content. If I'm inviting you I expect you to know not to be a freak, and if you're not going to be able to post in a timely manner I'm going to do my best to accommodate you without letting the game die in the process.

CS Template

[center][img]put your image here[/img]
(A picture. digital art and anime are both acceptable)
[/CENTER]
[h3]Personnel Dossier[/h3][h r][sub][color=gray][b]Name[/b][/color][/sub]
[indent](Self-explanatory)[/indent]
[sub][color=gray][b]Age[/b][/color][/sub]
[indent](Self-explanatory; advanced anti-aging technology allows for a greater range of older characters. No children)[/indent]
[sub][color=gray][b]Physical Evaluation[/b][/color][/sub]
[indent](Describe your character's appearance)
[/indent]
[sub][color=gray][b]Psychological Profile[/b][/color][/sub]
[indent](Either describe your character's personality or give me a few bullet-pointed traits, whichever you prefer)
[/indent]
[sub][color=gray][b]Background Information[/b][/color][/sub]
[indent](Where is your character from? How and why did they join the Gamblers? What motivates them to stay on, despite Vox Fortuna's many setbacks? Doesn't need to be a novel but I'd like a solid idea of who your character is.)
[/indent]
[h3]Exoframe[/h3][h r](A picture)
[sub][color=gray][b]Designation[/b][/color][/sub]
[indent](Your Exoframe's name.)[/indent]
[sub][color=gray][b]Weight Class[/b][/color][/sub]
[indent](Light, medium or heavy. Super-heavy frames are outside the Gamblers' budget.)[/indent]
[sub][color=gray][b]Description[/b][/color][/sub]
[indent](Describe the appearance, role and history of your Exoframe.)[/indent]
[sub][color=gray][b]Equipment and Armament[/b][/color][/sub]
[indent](Describe the typical loadout of your Exoframe. Include weaponry, shield and armor strength, and any specialized equipment they may have. Remember the monetary position the crew is in: your Exo's going to be on the cheap side. Bonus points for including flaws in design or any lingering damage your character can't afford to repair.)
[/indent]

Post Template

[color=silver][center][img]fontmeme name of your character[/img][/center]
[right][h r][color=white][b][b]Specific Location | General Location[/b][/b][/color]
Date[h r][/right]
[indent][indent][indent]Word.
[/indent][/indent][/indent]
[/color]

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

<Snipped quote by Cybermaxx>
Stop harassing me! It's transphobic!

@TGM

i am begging upon my hands and knees over here

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

roses are red
violets are blue
somebody fuckin post already

@Cybermaxx

Regenlied

i make my meager offering. tell me how its shit so i can fix it

---

Name: Tobias Barnabas Schmidt

Age: 18

Place of Birth: Armloch, a settlement deep in the Plain, nearer to the Reachline than Sonnehall

Division: Vulkan

Background Check: Tobias was born in Armloch, a backwater village at the edge of the world. He was one of sixteen Schmidts living and working on the family ranch; theirs was the twelfth generation to do so. The Schmidt patriarch always claimed they had some connection to the land, as if they drew their success out of the sand and rock. The old man's mysticism seemed foolish to Tobias even as a boy. His mind was drawn to that which was real. He took an early interest in the sciences. He wondered why the wind blew, why water flowed downwards, and how machinery functioned. It was the esoteric energy that powered everything around him that captured his imagination in particular. He obsessed over it. He would shadow Armloch's mechanics to learn all he could from them. Absorbing their teachings like a sponge, Tobias was never satisfied until he could mimic their every action. Every broken tool, vehicle, or farming implement set in front of him was a puzzle to be deciphered. The boy proved exceptional, for there were few challenges he could not meet.

Storms were an everyday occurrence out in the Plain. Any settlement wishing to last more than a fortnight needed to be prepared for the worst. Armloch found safety in its labyrinth of underground tunnels, both man-made and natural. Tight, twisting corridors where one wrong turn could land you in a pit of railroad spikes or a patch of landmines. Every settler had memorized the safe path to the bunkers where they were expected to wait out anything over a Benign 1. In practice, however, many of village's denizens choose to stay above ground to defend their property from the Regentier- the Schmidt family among them. The patriarch assured them that the land had protected his family for generations. There was nothing to fear from a light drizzle. Tobias's cousins often mocked him for joining the children and the elderly in the tunnels.

Tobias was seventeen when a roaring deluge washed over Armloch. It was sudden, too sudden for SNDP to be deployed ahead of time. Regentier were swarming the roads before anyone knew what was happening. The locals formed a posse to make a push for the bunkers, taking up what meager arms they had on hand to defend themselves. Tobias urged his family to join them, but the patriarch's voice rang louder and deeper. He was steadfast in his faith that they could hold the ranch.

By the time the hunters arrived Armloch was nothing more than a pile of scattered rubble. Only a handful had weathered the storm beneath the earth; there were far too few of them to rebuild. Most of the survivors took refuge in the nearby townships and hamlets. A few- Tobias among them- followed the SNDP back to Sonnehall. There was nothing left for him here but dust and bitterness. Perhaps he could new purpose in the capital, where the technology he'd always obsessed over was at its bleeding edge.

Maybe he could ensure nothing like Armloch ever happened again.

Graft / Weapon Specialty: Artillery

Name Change

Requesting a name change to Supermaxx. Thanks!