The Nebulous

ASOIAF: The Last Dance

Just a bit of a nitpicky thing here, so feel free to totes ignore this, but for the POV Character sheets: "Main Title" ought just be "Titles" or "Titles Held", and "General Title" should be "Styled As". :)

ASOIAF: The Last Dance

I'm going to park my tush right here and say I'm interested.

Beyond Odyssey

With the tour of Vericil officially starting, Roman raised up the small single-eye visor device and snugly fastened the plastic clip around the back of his ear. He then pushed in the audio bud that dangled from a tiny wire connected to the visor's main stem. For decades, major tech companies had tried to create slick-looking communication devices that consumers could wear on their person and effectively phase out cell phones, but no one could compete with Apex's own ergonomic and fashionable design for the market.

A single transparent display, no bigger than a standard glasses lens, was suspended over the wearer's non-dominant eye to relay a flurry of desired information. A wrist watch, that used haptic adaptive projections, handled commands that the user would input. This base technology supported the Linguistic Retro-Analysis software that the OEF relied upon for communication with Astrians. LRAs were ultimately simple in the long-run, and most certainly shouldn't be used for advanced conversations without a reliable interpreter, but they did an otherwise fine job of real-time language recognition and translation.

"I wish I had one of these on my first trip to Egypt," said the young brunette woman standing beside the professor as she fastened on her own LRA.

Clara Sandiego, an archaeologist that was as ambitious as she was impatient, was Professor Sullivan's star pupil. Even though their talents greatly differed, the two of them made quite the duo on several previous adventures.

"It wouldn't have helped you, you know," Roman said.

"Of course it would have. These things are freakin' awesome!"

Chuckling, the professor said, "We were in a traditional Islamic area for that excursion, remember? You refused to wear a hijab. No one wanted to talk to you to begin with."

"Well, at least women are treated as equally as men in Arcanaan," she commented after a brief sigh.

After moving further into the village, Roman noticed a local stall vendor waiving over to them. He appeared to be selling woven baskets. Even though neither of them had been given any tradable currency, Roman decided to be polite and investigate anyway. The encounter would also mark his first interaction with an indigenous Astrian. He would be foolish to pass up the opportunity.

The gutteral greeting that immediately came from the man's lips as soon as Roman and Clara approached was recognized by the LRA. A rectangular text cursor briefly flashed on the display before darting across, revealing a simple "Hello!" as the English translation. It was immediately followed by a recommended response in Abian.

"Well met," Roman replied in the man's tongue with a somewhat practiced dialect. If he were to compare Arcanaanite Abian to a language from Earth, it would be Italian or one of the other Romance languages. There were striking similarities beyond just sound, one of them being that it was an inflected language--where meanings could change by altering the ends of words and phrases.

"Terrans I haven't seen before," the man said with his eyes darting to other OEF members that were enjoying their walk about the town. "Have you just recently arrived from your own world?"

Nodding, the professor simply returned, "Yes. We are new." Gesturing toward one of the baskets that the man was selling, he asked, "May I look?"

The stall owner excitedly grinned and nodded. "Yes! Please! For you, new Terran, it is only thirty crowns!"

Upon closer inspection, the wicker weave seemed to have been made from a fibrous plant similar to bamboo, but there was a noticeable difference in both the color tone and the physical rigidity. The plant material felt even tougher than its terran counterpart, which was truly difficult to believe at first. Then again, everything about Astria was still a genuine puzzle.

"I'm afraid we don't have any money," Clara had replied while Roman admired the man's handiwork.

The merchant seemed disappointed, but he put on a charming smile and insisted, "Then come back when you have some and I shall still be happy to sell it to you!"

With a cocky grin, she said in slightly broken Abian, "I'll hold you to that, old man."

After reading his protégé's translated words on the LRA lens, Sullivan replaced the basket and spat out with wide eyes, "Clara!"

"What?" she innocently asked in English with some concern written on her face. "Did I say that wrong?"

Beyond Odyssey

"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown."

― H.P. Lovecraft

Beyond Odyssey

A Kings of Tomorrow Story

At first, Roman had his reservations about being cramped in an up-armored personnel transport for nearly a good hour; but he had been pleasantly surprised by how well the vehicle handled the narrow dirt path that had seen decades of erosion. The potholes and deep ruts had little effect on the suspension and large tires of the monstrous military transport, and there was a remarkable amount of room on the inside. Ten individuals, including himself, were comfortably fastened to their seats with harnesses. Five of them wore the black and blue uniforms and ceramic-plated body armor of the Expeditionary Apex Security Forces, while Roman and the other four wore civilian attire of their own choosing.

With two more E-ASF personnel up at the front to steer and navigate, their vehicle rolled along in a column formation of three transports and two scout vehicles. It was Professor Roman Sullivan's first outside-the-wire convoy since arriving on Astria two weeks prior. After crossing through the threshold of the Polyphemus Gate--an impressively engineered iris that forged a bridge between universes--Roman and his team of fellow anthropologists had been itching at the chance to dive right into the alien world that had been waiting for them.

Of course, they were not the first visitors from Earth of their profession to blaze a trail on the mysterious planet. Professor Sullivan's team had only just recently relieved their predecessors, and they have been tasked with picking up where the first anthropology team left off. Before they went to work, however, they had to finish a mandatory "acclimation", which served as a two-week period of security, safety, and intelligence briefings; as well as an opportunity to adjust to a planet with slightly increased gravity and atmospheric pressure, not to mention a less polluted ozone.

For the final part of the acclimation, the new personnel that arrived together, regardless of profession or affiliation, would be escorted by E-ASF personnel to a nearby village of indigenous. This would let the new arrivals meet the locals and practice speaking in the native language. It was also an opportunity for the villagers to befriend more visitors from Earth, which, in return, would continue to foster strong relations. The village in question was approximately eighty kilometers northwest of the Odysseus Expedition's base of operations, dubbed Ithica. Roman had learned in one of the earlier briefings that the village, named Vericil, was a deep-rural town that economically relied on its diverse livestock. It was also well within the borders of the Arcanaan Empire, whom Odysseus and the E-ASF were on good terms with.

An audible ping echoed from a hidden speaker inside the transport, beckoning Roman to raise his head from a computer tablet that he had been holding in his hands. The voice of one of E-ASF handlers, 1st Lieutenant Katelyn Becker, came over the comms after a brief pause that followed the ping.

"Alright, newbies, listen up," the woman's voice barked with a chipper tone. "You're about a minute out from Vericil. When the convoy stops, let the security detail do a quick sweep of the area before stepping out of your transports. We don't need any of you brainiacs taking a surprise arrow to the face. For the most part, we've established a great relationship with Arcanaanites, but there will always be some that don't want us here. That said... just because someone approaches you with a cheerful smile, don't let your guard down. Be polite, practice some daily conversation in Abian, and try not to wonder too far from your escorts."

"Entering the outskirts," exclaimed the driver from up front.

"Look alive, people," Becker said. "Rendezvous back at the convoy by fifteen-hundred local. Becker, out."

Roman felt the inertia as the transport slowed to a sudden stop. When the heavy rear door to the vehicle opened downward with a hiss of air, the five soldiers that had been sitting in front of him were on their feet and already moving. Each of them carried an impressive and deadly-looking battle rifle, designed by their employer. In fact, everything they were equipped with had been privately developed by the Apex Corporation. The men and women that used the technology were just as outstanding, with most of them being veterans from national military services. However, Roman only trusted them as far as he could throw them. At the end of the day, they were still the guard dogs of a commercial entity.

When the all-clear was given with a wave of one of the specialist's hands, Roman and his team unfastened their harnesses and awkwardly shuffled out of the back of the transport. Excitement surged through him as he anxiously stepped off of the ramp and onto another patch of new, foreign soil. The sun was high, and a calm breeze swept the cool air around him.

With a deep breath, he followed along with the security detail that had been assigned to his team's vehicle. After a quick glance over his shoulder, he saw that the other vehicles were disembarking their passengers as well.

The village of Vericil was a quaint, humble town of structures made mostly out of logs, planks, and thatch. If Sullivan were to describe it in a single word, it would be "medieval". A small agricultural town in a pre-industrialized world would fittingly be without any impressive engineering capability to construct sturdier homes and other buildings. Architecture for the residents of Vericil wasn't about aesthetic so much as it was about necessity. As long as a home had walls that could withstand winds and a roof that wouldn't leak too much, then it was good enough to live in and that was all that mattered.

On the other hand, the town wasn't without its charm. Roman could clearly make out personal touches on the exteriors of different homes, such as neatly arranged flower gardens that primarily served as decoration, or fences that marked off property to espouse a sense of privacy. There were market stalls along the main road that divided the town into two distinct sides; one clearly for homes, and the other for the working citizens to toil about their day jobs.

Where some would probably see only a meager, forgotten town with nothing remarkable or outstanding about it, the professor saw a wealth of discovery and academic value. Roman could immediately tell that little Vericil was well worth the two-week acclimation period.

Beyond Odyssey

Roman Daniel Sullivan, Prof.

Age: 32
Alignment: Chaotic Good, "Rebel"
Nationality: American (United States)
Languages: English, Arabic, Armenian

Professor Sullivan is a distinguished anthropologist specializing in Ancient Mesopotamian studies, primarily architecture. He currently heads a field-focused archaeological team based out of an office in Dallas, Texas, USA. While the professor is more of the indoors type, he does occasionally enjoy getting his hands dirty by visiting dig sites and ruins. His team is comprised of five highly skilled individuals of different academic disciplines, ethnic backgrounds, and experience.

Sullivan and his team were invited to join the 2nd OEF in late July 2056, shortly after the expedition's official start and transition of personnel. Dr. Hampstead's team (the previous OEF Anthropology Team) stands officially relieved.

Johnathan Alex Titus, Commander

Age: 37
Alignment: Lawful Good, "Crusader"
Nationality: American (United States)
Languages: English, Farsi

After separating from the USMC, Titus applied for a position with the Apex Security Forces, the privatized and well-equipped militia owned by the Apex Corporation, and charged with guarding their employers' high-level assets. He served as a captain for a little more than one full year before being selected to command the expedition team through the Polyphemus Gate and establish a base camp.

During his time up until his special selection, Titus worked diligently on any assignment handed to him, and volunteered on every occasion to personally escort Dr. Evenway on his trips outside of Safe Haven. He eventually became the CEO's defacto bodyguard.

Charged with leading and protecting the 1st Odysseus Expeditionary Force, Commander Titus had taken on the greatest, most dangerous mission of his life. He had to carefully balance diplomacy and military strength in an effort to protect the egg heads under his charge. One wrong move could have sparked a war between a private force from Earth and an entire nation on another planet. It was no simple task.

Nevertheless, Titus' leadership is exactly what the OEF needed. Dr. Evenway and ASF Commissioner Evaline Stone both concurred that the appointed commander remain in the role for one more expedition. Will this time around prove to be as smooth sailing as the last?

Beyond Odyssey

Under construction. Between myself and ravenDivinity.

Brief Synopsis

On the 11th of February, 2055 CE, a team of physicists working for the Apex Corporation managed to establish a quantum entangled bridge connection to another universe. This bridge allowed instantaneous transport to another world, called Astria. In many ways, it is similar to Earth; a terran planet with vast, complex ecosystems and evolved life. However, in many other ways, the laws of that world are perplexing and mind-blowing. Endeavoring to explore and establish a foothold on Astria, Dr. Isaac Evenway (the founder and CEO of the private Apex Corporation) assembled an expeditionary team of the brightest minds from all over Earth and then placed them under the sole protection of his company's security branch, the Apex Security Forces.

The 1st Odysseus Expeditionary Force was assembled on the 20th of June, that same year. As a single wave of scientists from nearly every discipline necessary and a small army of highly trained private soldiers, Odysseus walked through the Polyphemus Gate and started to construct a primary base of operations on Astria.

Not everything went as smoothly as hoped, but that was to be expected of travelling to an alien world. A long-standing political, religious, and military conflict between two major indigenous nations, geographically situated on either side of the Odysseus foothold, threatened what was supposed to be a peaceful exploration. Besides that, the locals didn't take too kindly at first to the strange visitors from Earth...

The commanding officers of the E-ASF must carefully balance diplomacy and military defense. They fully understand their role as protectors and must avoid causing a war between their hosts and Earth. Meanwhile, anthropologists and biologists must grapple with the existence of a near-human species, physicists must wrap their heads around a phenomenon that can create and destroy matter, and Evenway himself must keep his own ambitions in check.

It has been a year since the arrival of 1st Odysseus. Plenty of the members are ready to return home, but some wouldn't dare leave the adventure of a lifetime. Now, the next expedition stands ready to relieve the first. What mysteries will the eye of Polyphemus show them?

Astria (Planet)

Neither Kansas or Oz. Welcome to Astria.

Orbital Distance: 1.3 AU
Orbital Period: 1.48 Earth Years (541 Earth Days)
Keplerian Ratio: 1.013
Radius: 6,892 km
Day Length: 27 Hours
Atm. Pressure: 1.17 atm
Surface Temp: 22 °C (mean)
Surface Gravity: 1.08 g
Mass: 1.094 Earth Masses
Satellites: Argo, Daela
Sun: Leo

Bridge: First successful trans-verse bridge connection established 11 February 2055.

BLUF: Astria is a habitable terran planet that sustains vast, complex ecosystems similar to Earth's. Most flora and fauna species are genetically similar but still unique. Homo sapiens evolved on the planet some millennia ago, but another humanoid species, the Vigilants, came first and still exist to this day as a minority.

Multiple human civilizations have been identified across the planet's surface, but technological and civil progress is globally locked in a "pre-industrial" age of imperial-feudalism.

Breakdown

Seasons - Four standard seasons similar to our own--spring, summer, autumn, and winter--known in Abia as the season of rebirth, the warm season, harvest season, and the cold season respectively. Seasons follow a 61/58 rule: with winter lasting for 61 days, spring for 58, summer for 61, and autumn for 58.

Dating - There is no familiar dating system easily translatable to our own Gregorian calendar. Abian historians, both Arcanaanite and Zoroastrian, continuously count forward until the end of a year, inscribing records with the numerical day followed by the year and era. Similar to our pre-Julian regnal systems, an era is named after the currently reigning emperor of the nation with which the record is associated.

Ex.
238th Day, 5th Year, Alepites​

Likewise, as with a lack of definable months, there are no definable days or weeks outside of the regnal date.Where we have a seven day week, Astrians (primarily Abians) lack any specific day systems. Our ISO week date system divides the Gregorian calendar into "work days" and "rest days", but Abians have no need for such division as there are no officially recognized "rest days". If one were to ask the question "What day is it?", they would mostly like receive the numerical date as a response (ex. "It's the ninety-seventh day" or "Day ninety-seven"). On the plus side, there are no Mondays.

When more narrow ranges of dates or specific dates are required (usually by those in scholarly fields), the four seasons may be integrated into the system.

Ex. 1
15th Day of Rebirth, 5th Year, Alepites

Ex. 2
15th of Rebirth to 1st of Harvest​

Divisions of Time - We would remind Odysseus members that our planet has a 24 hour day length, but Astria rotates three hours slower on its axis, giving it a 27 hour day length. Using our standard measurements of time is certainly possible, but we recommend learning the Abian time system and using it as applicable, which relies easily enough on the prime factor of 3 for dividing their day.

The three major divisions of an Abian day roughly translate to "newday", "midday", and "lateday" (each lasting exactly 9 metric hours). Each of the major divisions are broken down by an additional 3 units, which last 3 metric hours. These lesser divisions are referred to as (after translation) "first of", "middle of", and "last of". Progression through the day can be determined by sundials with appropriately carved marks for each minor and major unit. A written measurement of time would be as follows:

Ex. 1
The first of newday

Metric time translation = 00:00 hrs to 02:59 hrs.
​
Ex. 2
The last of midday

Metric time translation = 15:00 hrs to 17:59 hrs​

The concept of "hours", "minutes", and "seconds" are unknown to Abians as their society has little need for complex divisions of time. Thus, attempting to explain our modern metric time system might prove difficult, and more often than not be met with confusion.

Abia (Continent)

A continent of Astria, divided by two empires.

Hemisphere: Northwest
Dominant Language: Common Abian (two distinct dialects relative to imperial domain; Arcanaanite and Zoroastrian)
Nations: Empire of Arcanaan, Empire of Zoroastria -- Both nations use a modified feudal system, in which several territories and city-states owe allegiance to a dominant, imperial power.
Rare Resources: Silk, astrinium, glowlite (crimson and vermillion), iridium (unusually high concentration around a suspected crater/impact site in the northeast)

BLUF: The continent is divided by two major empires that have warred with each other for approximately 1,000 years (Leo). Currently, both powerhouses are locked in a "cold war", with powder-keg political tensions threatening peace. The 1st OEF established trans-verse bridge connection and made landfall in Sol 2055, arriving in the south-central grasslands of the main continental body, the Amber Province.

Bridge Report: Sol 2055, 20 June, Commander Jonathan A. Titus, 1st OEF, Expeditionary Force Commander

• [Refer to Bridge Report 2055-01.a for further details]

Geo-Political Analysis

Compiled by Malcolm J. Everette, Prof., 1st Odysseus Geography Team, Toponymist/Etiologist

Arcanaan - The largest of the two Abian empires, Arcanaan dominates the western half of the continent. The climate is mostly temperate, well-suited to agriculture; and several regions possess dense, evergreen forests. Fair springs and warm summers provide for comfortable temperatures throughout most of the year. Far northern regions are either covered in an icy tundra, or are vast, white barrens of inhospitable temperatures.

The furthest northeast territory, once known as Sage, is one of the ice-covered regions unsuitable for human settlement, although that was not always the case. Abian historical records claim that "the Creator shed a fiery tear, filled with His anger and contempt, and destroyed the bountiful paradise of Sage, dooming the lands around it to a cold depravity for the remainder of days". An unusually high concentration of iridium at the bottom of the Sea of Sorrow (from aerial drone readings) suggest that the enclosed sea is actually a meteor crater. It is highly probable that an extraterrestrial impact was responsible for Sage's destruction, and it would poetically harmonize the "Creator's tear" account.

Vermilion glowlite can be mined from various deposits in the western-most territories of the empire. Glowlite is a rare, phosphoric crystal that emits noticeable light in dark environments, sans the name.

Zoroastria - The phonological parallel between Astria's Zoroastria and Earth's ancient Zoroastrianism is uncanny, to say the least. However, similarity stops at the name. There are no logical trans-verse connection possibilities between the Astria nation and Earth's ancient religion or it's attributed founder (Zoroaster).

On the name, according to pre-imperial Isepox language decryption, the word for garden is "zor", and of is "o". To say that one thing is "of another", the "o" is used to combine the object and subject. Millennia ago, Zoroastria was literally considered to be the "garden of Astria" (mythological equivalent to Abrahamic lore's "Eden"). Over time, this titular phrase became the official name of the existing sovereign empire.

This empire is actually the first of the two. The establishment of Arcanaan was the result of a massive civil unrest caused by political-religious division within the greater Zoroastrian macro-culture (for more details on this period of Abian history, refer to Prof. Crannum's Historical Analysis). As a result of the separation and preceding wars, Zoroastria's borders have significantly receded from their original reach. Most of the nation now consists of high-temperature climates with a massive rocky desert making up roughly the entire sub-continent in the southeast.

Crimson glowlite is a valuable resource in the central parts of the desert, and is in more abundance than the known vermilion glowlite deposits of western Arcanaan. Zoroastria is also the only known region on Astria where the metal astrinium can be mined (southern headlands of the sub-continent).

The Vigilants

Homo felis sapiens.

SO-Classification: Sentient Species - Homo Felis Sapiens
Region: Most settled regions of Astria
Languages Spoken: Dependent on region and level of education

BLUF: The Vigilants are a humanoid race, presumably indigenous to many regions on Astria. It is difficult to trace their evolutionary footprint to any particular cradle of life, as evidence of former civilizations dating back several millennia (Leo) are scattered across the planet. Isepox lore praises them as Astria's "caretakers", and were presumably the "first of the Creator's children" and also "His beloved". It should be noted that the Isepox were an ethnic collective of nations that were ruled by all-Vigilant aristocracies that stood for multiple dynasties before their collapse.

Vigilants are "anthropomorphic" to the extent that they have a complex structural mix of genetic information from the homo and felis genus families. (See Analysis for further details)

Anthropological Analysis

Compiled by Jeffery James Hampstead, Ph.D., 2nd Odysseus Ethnic Anthropology Team, Team Lead [And smartass]

Etymology - Putting this first, as there is likely to be grammatical confusion at some point among Odysseus members (Victor): the capitalization of "Vigilant" and treatment of the word as a proper noun is not an oversight or typo. As a matter of fact, the term is a proper noun, as there is no known comprehensible term for the species aside from Zoology's assigned Linnaeus classification (homo felis sapiens). According to the translations of ancient Isepox mythological texts, the equivalent words for "vigilant" and "caretaker" are interchangeable titles for the species. So, while we don't capitalize human, we do capitalize Vigilant. (It also just helps to clarify what we're talking about, contextually.)

Biology - Quite simply: they are "cat-like" humans that possess two sets of ears (one set human, other set felidae), a tail, and sharp canines that resemble noticeable fangs. Beyond those physical traits, they are almost entirely human-like upon visual inspection.

Prevalence of body hair is based entirely on hereditary traits, contrary to a common belief of the humans that rarely interact with Vigilants (they are often thought of as entirely covered in fur and/or more beastly in appearance). Whether on Earth or on Astria, the least connected have a tendency to be the most bigoted…

However, it should be advised that even the most seasoned zoologist or trained anthropologist may be stricken with an intense curiosity that borders on rudeness when they come into contact with a Vigilant for the first time. Understandably, their physical appearance can spark something of an "uncanny valley" feeling, which might explain the high rates of intolerance for their kind among many human societies across Astria.

As might be initially expected, both sets of ears function and actually serve to enhance a Vigilant's range of auditory sensory perception. Their felidae ears can pick up high-frequency sounds, while their human ears function like and perceive as ours can. The behavioral twitching and folding of the felidae ears (as well as the waiving, flicking, or curling of the tail) can betray a Vigilant's emotional state, as is the case with all known wild and domesticated felis species (of course, I'm not a zoologist… I'm just writing their portion of this report… Victor).

Vigilant lifespans can far surpass our own; however, due to the poor conditions they are forced to live in, they are burdened with a high mortality rate. Normally, a physically and mentally healthy Vigilant can expect to live up to three hundred years (Sol), more than triple our average lifespan. They also appear to age at a slower rate; meaning that a sixty year-old Vigilant can look twenty, by human comparison.

Society - To call them "nomads" is hardly justifiable, but I must admit that I fail to see a more suitable classification for them. They are without a nation-state of their own and wander between sovereign states without recognized citizenship. Thus, by definition, they are nomadic, no matter how sprawled-out their numbers or where they choose to cluster in small communities.

There is no longer a home for them anywhere across all of Astria. They were once the rulers and majority species of the fallen Isepox Realms, an alliance of nations that--according to known history texts--spanned the globe. While improbable, it is still certainly possible; as they are, evolutionarily speaking, the oldest existing humanoid race on Astria. If it weren't for the fact that the Realms no longer exist, they would still be ethnically called Isepox.

In even the most developed nations, Vigilants are at the bottom of the social pyramid; a complete one-eighty from their days as the ruling race. Throughout the Arcanaan Empire, almost all of them are enslaved. Those that are free are only so because they are lucky to elude imperial authorities and slavers. In the Zoroastrian Empire, they are only slightly better off. While Zoroastrians detest slavery, they are all for indentured servitude, which many young Vigilants sell themselves into in order to make a living. They remarkably find ways to survive in a nation that does not afford them citizenship.

While I do not normally let anything else other than my sarcasm color my reports, I will say that I am disheartened by the quality of life that Vigilants are burdened with. We would use the term "inhuman" to describe their treatment. Unfortunately, this is exactly how Astrian humans would describe it, as well, only they would be far more satisfied and quite content with the observation; as if that is how it should be.

Common Occupations - Of Abian concern, specifically Zoroastria (I will exclude Arcanaan, as their slave system does not inherently afford Vigilants any legitimate occupational roles), Vigilants that indentured themselves to serve a human master for a respectable period of time (at least three years or more) may endeavor to be high-ranking domestic workers or helpers. This is more common for those that serve affluent masters; but, since contracting an indentured servant can be as cheap as the master desires (they have all the power, after all), almost any Zoroastrian can have a Vigilant working directly for them as "the help". Of course, the wealthier the master, the better off the accommodations and compensation--or so it is generally believed (lack of verifiable data).

Outside of the indentured servitude route, Vigilants may be blacksmiths, carpenters, herbalists, and peddlers. However, it is difficult to make a sustainable living when humans too often turn their noses up to your products and your fellow Vigilants are too poor to afford what you're selling.

There is one other common occupation; but it, sadly, also requires entering into servitude: a cavalier's pawn. Where the knights of Arcanaan have squires, the cavaliers of Zoroastria have pawns; but where a squire is trained and meant to become a knight, a pawn is simply expected to give his life on the battlefield for the glory of their cavalier. If a pawn returns from battle alive, they are either praised for their skill and prowess, or executed for their failure and cowardice (obviously, the judgement is dependent entirely on the performance… or the cavalier's temperament).

Pawns typically do not last long, but the same can be said of any soldier in a pre-industrialized world, acting only in accordance to the whims of their tyrannical betters… But I digress. Nevertheless, pawns are often meant to be cannon fodder and serve in the vanguard of most assaults. Pawns that have distinguished themselves in battle, however, may slowly find themselves progressing further back in the formations. Eventually, they may be recognized as formal retainers of the cavalier, and will remain by their side as trusted followers and attendants, occasionally acting as a color guard during large-scale conflicts. The rank awarded to them upon reaching such a position can be translated as "ensign"--the only actual rank they will ever receive as Vigilants, if they are even deemed worthy of it.

Additional Notes -

• Some of the distrust geared toward Vigilants may be due to the personified or naturally inherent traits often associated with felid species: cunning or crafty, stealthy, nocturnal, deceptive… These have become stereotypes attributed to the very cat-like Vigilants. My team seeks to educate human communities on the harm of racism and classism in the greater scheme of things (not just in relation to Vigilants), but it will prove difficult, considering we ourselves are not yet fully trusted.
• Before anyone asks: yes, it is absolutely possible for Vigilants to procreate with humans. As I painstakingly described as simplistically as I could above, there is little biological difference between the two of us. As far as what such a union would produce… I will refer you to the Exobiology Team.
• No, Victor, they are not "nekojin".
• Since a lot of information pertaining to the Isepox Realms and their respective cultures is buried under ruins and lost to the pages of warped history, I have a vested interest in the Vigilants and their origins.

The Resonance Factor

ATTENTION :: CLASSIFIED INFORMATION :: TOP SECRET

BLUF: The resonance factor (more simply, resonance) is the as-of-yet unexplained phenomena of rapidly creating and destroying matter or causing high-energy anomalies that can have observable effects on the physical world. Humans called Sagens are capable of using resonance with an alarming skill. InOps has designated Sagens with a Level 5 threat rating. E-ASF personnel are advised to not engage in the event that hostile confrontation is likely.

Phenomenon Analysis

Compiled by Alaric A. Goodwin, Ph.D., 1st Odysseus Physics Team, Team Lead

The Facts - According to the Law of Conservation of Mass [Antoine Lavoisier, 1785], matter in its most compact form can neither be created nor destroyed. From what we know (or at least have understood for more than a century) is that mass remains constant, even if its states change or energy is transferred. On that note, energy itself also cannot be created or destroyed. Earth's scientific community is keenly aware, however, that the Breit-Wheeler process proposes pure light can be transformed into matter, but even this process follows Lavoisier's finding.

Our understanding of this basic principle regarding matter and energy is astonishingly called into question with the Sagens' ability to create a genuine sword from seemingly nothing. Close observation through multiple spectrums has revealed that matter is indeed being created without disrupting existing space-time. To put simply, where an object is "projected" into existence using the resonance factor, the pre-existing matter or energy is simultaneously being replaced, not converted. There is no Breit-Wheeler pair production, only a phenomenon that defies the very laws of physics.

My team and I are very much aware that the Polyphemus gate has brought Odysseus into an alternate universe, hardly "parallel" to our own. Thus, I am willing, if only hesitantly, to concede that Clarke's Third Law (any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic) does not apply in the case of the resonance factor.

Observations - From what we understand based off of our own observations and the explanations of reliable indigenous, Sagens (as well as certain species of fauna) are able to materialize physical mass or produce energy by thought alone. Animals capable of resonance typically use it according to primitive survival instinct, such as for defense against predatory species or when hunting prey themselves. Only a handful of sentient creatures are known to have resonance capability and their projections are often weak against humans. Legends and folklore, however, may sing a different tune, but Zoology has yet to confirm the existence of such lifeforms.

The true miracles of the resonance factor are done by the Sagens. This ethnic group of humans can cast projections of energy and mass that can have adverse or devastating effects on the physical world around them. Imagine one Sagen generating a storm of arrows without even a single bow, or engulfing a battlefield in a fiery inferno. These scenarios are not just "what ifs", they are recorded historical events during the military conflicts between Arcanaan and Zoroastria.

Resonance is capable of altering reality itself in small amounts; sometimes permanently, sometimes temporarily. We do know that projections can have physical drawbacks on the user, whether Sagen or animal. It seems that a mental and physical toll must be paid in return for the power to play god.

Additional Notes -

• "Projections" are the created energy phenomena or physical matter by way of the resonance factor.
• Resonance can be used both offensively as well as defensively. In a defensive capacity, a projected energy barrier can conform to a body in order to negate incoming kinetic forces. It is unknown how long a resonance barrier can withstand modern weaponry, but there is no known record of a Sagen falling in any of the Arcanaan-Zoroastria conflicts. Of course, we also don't know if an enemy even came close to a Sagen before they were utterly decimated by the power of resonance.
• Transference of resonance factor control is believed to be strictly genetic; therefore, a Synthetic Genesis application may be a valid approach for artificial reproduction. I have submitted a request for the collection and analysis of Sagen DNA to the EFC.
  
  [Response Logged: "You're a theoretical physicist, Dr. Goodwin, not a xenobiologist. Furthermore, SynGen is way outside your pay grade. Request denied. - JAT"]

Raven's One-on-One Search [1x1]

@ravenDivinity, your Imperial Dissonance and To the Stars ideas have greatly piqued my interest (especially the first). I've been working on a science-fantasy story that might echo some elements from both of those. If you're willing to listen, I'd like to pitch it to you over a private conversation. I can say with absolute confidence that I can meet all of your requirements.

Mass Effect: Brink

Ezra; Helmsman

Appearance

Born into the batarian slave trade, Ezra was quickly separated from his mother, as if she were only meant to produce more labor and nothing else. Under the harshest conditions of sleep-deprivation, physical and mental exhaustion, malnourishment, and painful abuse at the hands of his masters, the boy had hardly been able to develop a sense of self. Though he remembered the names of each master that had owned him, he never had a name of his own. Only a tracking number and insulting nicknames usually bestowed to living property (Kon'fadah being one of them, which is roughly comparable to “little bitch” post-translation).

Despite a lack of any formal education or skill training, Ezra was actually a fairly sharp lad. He had a level of patience and resilience that far surpassed his fellow slaves. The boy taught himself to read and write early on. This was, of course, limited to the batarian languages and dialects; but he managed to use this to his advantage when he was being routinely traded at an auction. His picked out the potentially least worst of the buyers and made his knowledge of how to read and write blatantly known by speaking out of turn. This earned him a brutal retaliation of several lashes to his back, but the batarian that would actually go on to buy him grabbed the whip on the down-swing to stop the punishment. He then introduced himself to the child as Farith Cres'baros.

Farith would end up being Ezra’s final master in his thus far miserable existence, and at least he was a far easier master to serve under compared to the previous dozen others. During their short time together, Farith made considerable use of Ezra’s ability to read, write, and communicate effectively with other batarians during trade deals and negotiations as a translator and someone that could also put a unique spin on whatever Farith was selling. This had the amusing effect of greatly pissing off Farith’s competition, as they saw having a slave as both a spokesperson for a company and a personal translator--and a human at that--as being incomprehensibly disgraceful and preposterous. Furthering Ezra’s talents at being a translator, Farith taught the boy how to mostly read, write, and speak the galactic trade languages to get across complex points and hold conversation. This eventually evolved into a more sturdy multi-linguality.

Ezra’s relationship with Farith was… complicated. Some moments, he was the batarian’s favorite of the other slaves; and at other times, he was receiving the blunted end of a beating club. Whenever the boy made the occasional and near-fatal error of thinking Farith was a friend, he was always severely disappointed and suffered greatly for it. There were also a few darker moments that haunt him still. However, despite the rotten hand he had been dealt in life, Ezra strived to remain ever optimistic.

Fate finally graced him with surreal relief when the Reaper War affected Omega. Cerberus’ short lived occupation of the station had completely halted all business, especially the trading of slaves. Farith ordered Ezra and his other slaves fight with guns in the streets as the overwhelming Cerberus forces and their nightmarish Adjutants decimated Omega’s mercenary forces. It was the first time that Ezra had held a gun, let alone killed others. He was a horrible shot, of course, and could only end up downing a few of the soldiers that had been caught off guard by others; but those moments would add to the many thoughts that keep him awake at night to this day.

A specially held amount of xenophobia toward batarians saw to it that Farith received a mass accelerated round to the cranium from one of Cerberus’ armored goon squads. Fearing for his own life and caught up in the confusion just as much as the next person on Omega, Ezra ran for his life and hid among the masses of citizens that had been cooped up in their districts behind the Cerberus-deployed containment fields.

A few days after Aria T’Loak aggressively took back the station from the invaders, she took notice of Ezra attempting to steal provisions from one of Afterlife’s storage rooms. He was immediately suspended in the air and trapped in an endless orbit around a biotic singularity. Oddly, however, the young human refused to beg for his life. This had caught Aria off guard and Omega’s ruler found herself taking a liking to him. Ezra was the name she had given him, finding that a tracking number no longer suited the boy.

Aria quickly learned that Ezra’s appearance was quite deceiving, masking the horrible tale of a survivor of both slavery and war. Unaccustomed to not answering to anyone, the boy shadowed Aria wherever she went, despite her protests. At one point, she threatened to throw him onto the streets… and she eventually did. Yet, Ezra always found a way to come back. Finally, at her wit’s end with the boy, T’Loak agreed to let him work for her; but that he would be granted simple jobs that wouldn’t endanger his life. This was seen by some in her inner circle to be out of character for her. Of course, Aria’s estimation of how dangerous something is, is… well… unique, to say the least. Ezra was put in charge of transporting valuables and goods to and from Aria’s warehouses on Omega. This was done at first by using small single-man vessels that could easily navigate the station’s expressways. After he proved to be a fast learner, Aria approved his role in larger shipment operations, upgrading his new skill to encompass freight transport vessels and small mercenary frigates around the Sahrabarik system and, eventually, the rest of the Omega nebula.

Blood tests place Ezra’s biological age at approximately fifteen years old.

Mass Effect: Brink

I'll go ahead and tell everyone now, for the sake of allowing those interested to get into a certain mood about things with their characters, that Cerberus is actually going to be taking center stage in the overall story. While I will still be holding back specifics and the juicy plot twists until more appropriate times, I can say that they (or what is left of them following the Reaper War) will be the primary antagonists. The deal that Declan struck with Aria (which was omitted from my narration so far) revolves around this, so expect some fun main story missions.

Side missions will mostly consist of typical space pirate stuff, as well as your characters' loyal missions (of which I only have one submitted to me so far, so... *nudge nudge*).

Oh, and as a quick side note, since I realize some may not be totally familiar with military lingo: "RV" is common shorthand for "rendezvous".

Mass Effect: Brink

I just posted two minutes ago! lol

It's a long-winded one, but it wraps up everything in regards to Aria, replies to Errol and Alexia's actions/dialogue, and Trish provides a semi-wrap-up perspective of the Vol situation. I did my best to still keep that scene open-ended for everyone else, though. I don't think that could have played out any better! I was laughing my ass off.