Post by ShikMyPants (GM) on Aug 19, 2015 20:28:09 GMT 8
Gai
In a not so well known corner of the cosmos is a world unlike any other. 'Gai' is her name and she is the setting for your adventures and stories. Gai is a strange world, for starters its non terrestrial, a gas giant. It inhabitants live on the floating islands that orbit in the upper atmospheric layers. These islands have formed over millions of years as a result of gravity colescing small rock particles into larger and larger chunks until theyre big enough to support an eco system. The islands arent the only place youll find life though. Just as in the case of a terrestrial planet Gai has oceans, except hers are oceans of gas, deeper than you could possibly imagine and teaming with all kinds of life from the smallest fish to the gigantic sky whales.
There were two main human civilisations originally, the Alterian Empire and the Alaarian Conglomerate. When they first encountered each other in 3542BU (before unification) they did not get off to a good start. Years of war and bloodshed followed until they were finally united by a man know only as "the great one". This period of history is known as the Unification Wars. Before all this though there was another civilisation inhabiting Gai, not much is known about it and what humanity does know if from rare archeological discoveries. What is known though is that they were extremely advanced, even more so than present day humanity, they are refered to as the Old Ones. In recent years explorers have begun to investigate the great western continent and the dense forest and jungle that covers it, so far evidence of the ruins has been reported and rumors of ancient vaults have begun to circulate.
After the Unification wars the two nations joined to form the Empire and started the modern world as we know it. The year now is 300AU (after unification) and at the turn of the century with new discoveries explorative, scientific in nature occuring almost every day it is an exciting time to be alive.
The Great Age of Steam
The great age of steam officially started on the seventh of february 60AU. Edward Sommers a world renowned scientist at the time discovered an new element that he modestly dubbed Sommerite. The element had a peculiar natural ability to lower the boiling point of water when introduced to it. This alone made steam engines 70% more effective but a few years later Sommers discovered anothrr new element know as Dolite which would prove to be the true catalyst. Dolite is a radioactive element that gives off extreme heat and when placed in normal water only heats it up, but when introduced to Sommerite saturated water it flash boils it almost instantly. This combined with a moisture delivery system allows all modern airships to skate on the cloud layers that form the top of the Nimbian Strata.
Here is also a timeline to give some context.
Stark, the city that never sleeps.
The Temple District - Situated right at the heart of the city it is the home of prayer and worship, prayers take place at all hours here around the "fountain of the great one". This towering fountain can be seen from almost anywhere in Stark and is a symbol of the "great one" the original founder of Stark who helped lay the first foundations over eight hundred years ago.
Movement through the district is permitted to all, however there is one rule that all must obey by, if not in prayer then no sound is to be made. This was originally passed out of respect many years ago but I recent times due to the uproar from the temples regarding numerous incidents involving members of the Crows criminal syndicate, the rule is now enforceable by a fine and in some extreme cases imprisonment.
There are many hundreds of buildings in the temple district, almost all of these however are tiny shrines to many obscure gods a deities, many of which are not worshiped within the empire. The cities connection with the outside world however means that many people from many different cultures travel through Stark and in an attempt to preserve international relations Stark provides in many ways for these cultures, including their religions. There are four noticeably large building within the Plaza of the District however, these are the temples of Industriology, Mortis, Vitism and The Great One. These are the four main religions within the Empire.
The Church of Industriology - This is a relatively new religion only having been around for the last 300 years, however it has become extremely popular extremely quickly and as it sits it is the second most popular religion in the whole Empire. It belief system is based off of the worship of technological advancement and furthering of mankind as a result. Idustriologists believe that due to our advanced state that we can no longer evolve any further and that the only way to improve ourselves as a race is through technological advancement. As a result of this there is a natural clash between Industriology and the concept of genetic powers, individuals with powers are the continued evolution of mankind and put a proverbial spanner in the works of Industriolgy, as a result any person with a genetic power is declared a heretic by the church and its members are asked to kill them on site. This has caused many political and religious issues in the past but as many high ranking members of government are members of the Church very few of the attacks ever actually enforced, also there is the added fact that many individuals with genetic powers find it very easy to defend themselves. Even so the majority of individuals with powers tend to hide the fact they have them to avoid the threat of the church.
Mortis & Vitism - These two religions go hand in hand with each other, their members respect and interact on a daily basis. Followers of Mortis worship death and the rebirth that follows it (founded in Alter) while Vitists worship creation of life and the journey to death (founded in Ulaar). Together they complete the cycle that is life and death. They both share a major tenant in that they both worship the "Great One" who was said to be immortal and transcend the great cycle. In both holy books of Mortis & Vitism there are passages discussing a second coming of the "Great One", the books say that he Is not dead but simply in reclusion and one day he will return to help mankind in its troubled times.
The Cult of the Great One - This is the most widely followed religion in the Empire. It follows the exploits of the "Great One", the founder of the United Empires of Alter and Ulaar. The Holy book is essentially a story book of his exploits and is used to show how noble, caring and brave he was. The tenants of the religion believe you should strive to live your life like the Great One and be kind, caring and accepting of your fellow man. They have very close ties with Mortis and Vitism and is an offshoot of them incorporating both into one religion, approx five hundred and fifty six years ago it became independent.
The district has many hundreds of festivals held in it every year, almost one every day. With this much going on the Temple district is at the heart of Starkian culture and I one of the most important areas of the city.
The Presidium - This is the political heart of the Empire, housed here are the offices of the Elector General and the embassies for all the nations of the world, well at least the ones that are on good terms with the council of nine. The Presidium is also home to some of the most beautiful gardens in the whole of Empire, outshone by only the gardens on the island of Eden. In fact the gardens in Stark were planted and to this day maintained by gardeners from Eden, it is testament to their great skill and dedication.
The Presidium is also houses the more fiscally privileged of Starks populace, with beautiful residential houses and amazing facilities this is the most prestigious place to live in Stark and possibly even the Empire.
Residential District - As the names says this is the main residential district in Stark. As well as housing the permanent residents it also houses temporary visitors to the city, whether it's due to trade or just pleasure, visitors to Stark can for a reasonable fee, rent temporary accommodation rather than staying in one of the cities many inns.
The Barracks - This is the Headquarters of the Empire Navy. Not much is known about this district which is understandable considering it is for all intensive purposes a fully operational military installation. This mystery and secrecy has led the locals to deem it the installation and many conspiracy theories about the operations within have circulated for many years. In truth it is most likely a parade ground and a municipal hub for the navy, as it appears from the air.
The Slums (Crowshaven)- Every city has them, no matter how well they are hidden, the only difference in Stark is that they amount to almost a third of the city and they are not hidden, in fact quite the opposite. The Slums of Stark are not like many other slums, slums are usually a result of poverty, war, political situation or a combination of all of these factors. Stark however is out of choice. About thirty years ago the leader of the Crows criminal syndicate Douglas Trevithick began to gain considerable power in the cities old market district. This all happened during a great time of turmoil between The Empire and Avarr, the vast bulk of Navy forces were stationed off the Avarian coast in case of war which left very little forces at home to defend the Empire. Trevithick seized this opportunity to take control of the old market district. His bruisers waltzed into the stores and stalls of the districts and began extracting money from the owners through any means possible. There was an outcry from the people to the Grand Soveriegn but their pleas were ignored, demonstrations were held in the presidium but the best they got was a comment stating "You will have to deal with the current situation until forces can be allocated to deal with the threat". There was massive uproar from the inhabitants and vendors within the district, with no help coming they rose up against their oppressors and many people died at the hands of Crow weapons but in the end Trevithick was killed and usurped by a man named Angus McKavick, his original second in command. Angus could not stand the way that Trevithick was treating the people, protection rackets were one thing but outright cruelty did not sit well with him. When the residents of the district revolted Angus took the opportunity and assisted the rebels in overthrowing their oppressors. Following this the entire district declared its independence and due to the ongoing international situation the coincil granted it. Officially speaking the slums are an autonomous state that is still part of Stark as a whole, but that makes its own decisions in regards to all matters within and how it interacts with the outside world.
To obtain entry to the district one must obtain a pass card, these can be purchased from the representatives at the entrances to the slums. The Crows are still officially considered a criminal organisation, however they now act mainly in a governmental role for the district and are responsible for its running. Laws here are different certain things are legal that wouldn't otherwise be, but as long as it does not spread into the rest of the city many people don't care.
The Industrial District - As this sounds, this is the main district of industry within Stark and is responsible for providing construction and manufacturing services for the whole city. It also provides the majority of jobs for the permanent residents of the city, many living within the slums.
It also houses the enforcer courts. The enforcers are the police of Stark and patrol to keep the piece and fight the inevitable crime that appears within a city as eclectic as Stark. They operate from the enforcer barracks which are within the courts complex. The courts themselves are located here and many a Starkite criminal has been condemned at the hand of the head judge. Stark has a very heavy handed approach when it comes to crime, for many years they had serious crime problems and had to instigate the "Judge On Site" Law. Members of the judges courts known as "Conservators" roam the city on patrols with the enforcer teams, they wear the same uniforms as the enforcers so cannot be distinguished. The carry a weapon know as a "Dealer of Justice" an extremely powerful hand cannon. If they deem the crime excessive enough they are permitted to terminate the criminal on the spot. When this law was passed twenty three years ago, within three months crime dropped by eighty seven percent.
The district is also the location of the cities new market, much smaller than the original old market that became part of the slums. This new market tends to serve the higher class citizens as the vast markets of the slums are still in operation and everyone else tends to use these.
The Fabricator's Quarter - This is the centre of creativity and ingenuity within Stark. Most of the new inventions and technological advances within the Empire start as a spark within the mind of an artisan within this district of the city. Some of the greatest minds in the whole of Gai gather hear to discuss work and ideas along with carrying out their research. This is also the philosophical and scientific heart of the Empire, with famous individuals in these areas furthering the advancement of mankind.
The Harbour- Possibly the most important district in Stark, the harbour is the first point of call for any new arrival to the city. The majority of trade that enters the Empire from outside nations comes through the harbours of Stark and as a result there are a wonderful variety of people and goods in the city and the Empire as a whole.
The harbours are divided into twelve different areas, when ships approach they are designated a landing area and dock number which they will keep for the duration of their stay. A Semaphore system is used to communicate these details between the ships and the docks.
There is also an advanced Navy facility located in the Harbour, the main fleet is not docked here but they use this facility for testing and ship building.
Supernatural Abilities
Over the last few decades individuals have begun appear all over the world that have some kind of supernatural ability. These abilities are known as "Tides" and their owners known as "Tidals" they seem to manifest randomly usually when a person is under extreme stress and seem to be completly random in nature. Some people may go their entire lives without even realising they have a Tide. There have been reports of individuals with extremely powerful abilities appearing of late and no one knows what this means the future holds.
In terms of playing a character with a power you can decide at creation if you would like to play a character with or without one. If you decide to then I will randomly determin what this power is and as far as your character is concerned they have no idea they have one as it has not manifested yet.
In a not so well known corner of the cosmos is a world unlike any other. 'Gai' is her name and she is the setting for your adventures and stories. Gai is a strange world, for starters its non terrestrial, a gas giant. It inhabitants live on the floating islands that orbit in the upper atmospheric layers. These islands have formed over millions of years as a result of gravity colescing small rock particles into larger and larger chunks until theyre big enough to support an eco system. The islands arent the only place youll find life though. Just as in the case of a terrestrial planet Gai has oceans, except hers are oceans of gas, deeper than you could possibly imagine and teaming with all kinds of life from the smallest fish to the gigantic sky whales.
There were two main human civilisations originally, the Alterian Empire and the Alaarian Conglomerate. When they first encountered each other in 3542BU (before unification) they did not get off to a good start. Years of war and bloodshed followed until they were finally united by a man know only as "the great one". This period of history is known as the Unification Wars. Before all this though there was another civilisation inhabiting Gai, not much is known about it and what humanity does know if from rare archeological discoveries. What is known though is that they were extremely advanced, even more so than present day humanity, they are refered to as the Old Ones. In recent years explorers have begun to investigate the great western continent and the dense forest and jungle that covers it, so far evidence of the ruins has been reported and rumors of ancient vaults have begun to circulate.
After the Unification wars the two nations joined to form the Empire and started the modern world as we know it. The year now is 300AU (after unification) and at the turn of the century with new discoveries explorative, scientific in nature occuring almost every day it is an exciting time to be alive.
The Great Age of Steam
The great age of steam officially started on the seventh of february 60AU. Edward Sommers a world renowned scientist at the time discovered an new element that he modestly dubbed Sommerite. The element had a peculiar natural ability to lower the boiling point of water when introduced to it. This alone made steam engines 70% more effective but a few years later Sommers discovered anothrr new element know as Dolite which would prove to be the true catalyst. Dolite is a radioactive element that gives off extreme heat and when placed in normal water only heats it up, but when introduced to Sommerite saturated water it flash boils it almost instantly. This combined with a moisture delivery system allows all modern airships to skate on the cloud layers that form the top of the Nimbian Strata.
Here is also a timeline to give some context.
Stark, the city that never sleeps.
The Temple District - Situated right at the heart of the city it is the home of prayer and worship, prayers take place at all hours here around the "fountain of the great one". This towering fountain can be seen from almost anywhere in Stark and is a symbol of the "great one" the original founder of Stark who helped lay the first foundations over eight hundred years ago.
Movement through the district is permitted to all, however there is one rule that all must obey by, if not in prayer then no sound is to be made. This was originally passed out of respect many years ago but I recent times due to the uproar from the temples regarding numerous incidents involving members of the Crows criminal syndicate, the rule is now enforceable by a fine and in some extreme cases imprisonment.
There are many hundreds of buildings in the temple district, almost all of these however are tiny shrines to many obscure gods a deities, many of which are not worshiped within the empire. The cities connection with the outside world however means that many people from many different cultures travel through Stark and in an attempt to preserve international relations Stark provides in many ways for these cultures, including their religions. There are four noticeably large building within the Plaza of the District however, these are the temples of Industriology, Mortis, Vitism and The Great One. These are the four main religions within the Empire.
The Church of Industriology - This is a relatively new religion only having been around for the last 300 years, however it has become extremely popular extremely quickly and as it sits it is the second most popular religion in the whole Empire. It belief system is based off of the worship of technological advancement and furthering of mankind as a result. Idustriologists believe that due to our advanced state that we can no longer evolve any further and that the only way to improve ourselves as a race is through technological advancement. As a result of this there is a natural clash between Industriology and the concept of genetic powers, individuals with powers are the continued evolution of mankind and put a proverbial spanner in the works of Industriolgy, as a result any person with a genetic power is declared a heretic by the church and its members are asked to kill them on site. This has caused many political and religious issues in the past but as many high ranking members of government are members of the Church very few of the attacks ever actually enforced, also there is the added fact that many individuals with genetic powers find it very easy to defend themselves. Even so the majority of individuals with powers tend to hide the fact they have them to avoid the threat of the church.
Mortis & Vitism - These two religions go hand in hand with each other, their members respect and interact on a daily basis. Followers of Mortis worship death and the rebirth that follows it (founded in Alter) while Vitists worship creation of life and the journey to death (founded in Ulaar). Together they complete the cycle that is life and death. They both share a major tenant in that they both worship the "Great One" who was said to be immortal and transcend the great cycle. In both holy books of Mortis & Vitism there are passages discussing a second coming of the "Great One", the books say that he Is not dead but simply in reclusion and one day he will return to help mankind in its troubled times.
The Cult of the Great One - This is the most widely followed religion in the Empire. It follows the exploits of the "Great One", the founder of the United Empires of Alter and Ulaar. The Holy book is essentially a story book of his exploits and is used to show how noble, caring and brave he was. The tenants of the religion believe you should strive to live your life like the Great One and be kind, caring and accepting of your fellow man. They have very close ties with Mortis and Vitism and is an offshoot of them incorporating both into one religion, approx five hundred and fifty six years ago it became independent.
The district has many hundreds of festivals held in it every year, almost one every day. With this much going on the Temple district is at the heart of Starkian culture and I one of the most important areas of the city.
The Presidium - This is the political heart of the Empire, housed here are the offices of the Elector General and the embassies for all the nations of the world, well at least the ones that are on good terms with the council of nine. The Presidium is also home to some of the most beautiful gardens in the whole of Empire, outshone by only the gardens on the island of Eden. In fact the gardens in Stark were planted and to this day maintained by gardeners from Eden, it is testament to their great skill and dedication.
The Presidium is also houses the more fiscally privileged of Starks populace, with beautiful residential houses and amazing facilities this is the most prestigious place to live in Stark and possibly even the Empire.
Residential District - As the names says this is the main residential district in Stark. As well as housing the permanent residents it also houses temporary visitors to the city, whether it's due to trade or just pleasure, visitors to Stark can for a reasonable fee, rent temporary accommodation rather than staying in one of the cities many inns.
The Barracks - This is the Headquarters of the Empire Navy. Not much is known about this district which is understandable considering it is for all intensive purposes a fully operational military installation. This mystery and secrecy has led the locals to deem it the installation and many conspiracy theories about the operations within have circulated for many years. In truth it is most likely a parade ground and a municipal hub for the navy, as it appears from the air.
The Slums (Crowshaven)- Every city has them, no matter how well they are hidden, the only difference in Stark is that they amount to almost a third of the city and they are not hidden, in fact quite the opposite. The Slums of Stark are not like many other slums, slums are usually a result of poverty, war, political situation or a combination of all of these factors. Stark however is out of choice. About thirty years ago the leader of the Crows criminal syndicate Douglas Trevithick began to gain considerable power in the cities old market district. This all happened during a great time of turmoil between The Empire and Avarr, the vast bulk of Navy forces were stationed off the Avarian coast in case of war which left very little forces at home to defend the Empire. Trevithick seized this opportunity to take control of the old market district. His bruisers waltzed into the stores and stalls of the districts and began extracting money from the owners through any means possible. There was an outcry from the people to the Grand Soveriegn but their pleas were ignored, demonstrations were held in the presidium but the best they got was a comment stating "You will have to deal with the current situation until forces can be allocated to deal with the threat". There was massive uproar from the inhabitants and vendors within the district, with no help coming they rose up against their oppressors and many people died at the hands of Crow weapons but in the end Trevithick was killed and usurped by a man named Angus McKavick, his original second in command. Angus could not stand the way that Trevithick was treating the people, protection rackets were one thing but outright cruelty did not sit well with him. When the residents of the district revolted Angus took the opportunity and assisted the rebels in overthrowing their oppressors. Following this the entire district declared its independence and due to the ongoing international situation the coincil granted it. Officially speaking the slums are an autonomous state that is still part of Stark as a whole, but that makes its own decisions in regards to all matters within and how it interacts with the outside world.
To obtain entry to the district one must obtain a pass card, these can be purchased from the representatives at the entrances to the slums. The Crows are still officially considered a criminal organisation, however they now act mainly in a governmental role for the district and are responsible for its running. Laws here are different certain things are legal that wouldn't otherwise be, but as long as it does not spread into the rest of the city many people don't care.
The Industrial District - As this sounds, this is the main district of industry within Stark and is responsible for providing construction and manufacturing services for the whole city. It also provides the majority of jobs for the permanent residents of the city, many living within the slums.
It also houses the enforcer courts. The enforcers are the police of Stark and patrol to keep the piece and fight the inevitable crime that appears within a city as eclectic as Stark. They operate from the enforcer barracks which are within the courts complex. The courts themselves are located here and many a Starkite criminal has been condemned at the hand of the head judge. Stark has a very heavy handed approach when it comes to crime, for many years they had serious crime problems and had to instigate the "Judge On Site" Law. Members of the judges courts known as "Conservators" roam the city on patrols with the enforcer teams, they wear the same uniforms as the enforcers so cannot be distinguished. The carry a weapon know as a "Dealer of Justice" an extremely powerful hand cannon. If they deem the crime excessive enough they are permitted to terminate the criminal on the spot. When this law was passed twenty three years ago, within three months crime dropped by eighty seven percent.
The district is also the location of the cities new market, much smaller than the original old market that became part of the slums. This new market tends to serve the higher class citizens as the vast markets of the slums are still in operation and everyone else tends to use these.
The Fabricator's Quarter - This is the centre of creativity and ingenuity within Stark. Most of the new inventions and technological advances within the Empire start as a spark within the mind of an artisan within this district of the city. Some of the greatest minds in the whole of Gai gather hear to discuss work and ideas along with carrying out their research. This is also the philosophical and scientific heart of the Empire, with famous individuals in these areas furthering the advancement of mankind.
The Harbour- Possibly the most important district in Stark, the harbour is the first point of call for any new arrival to the city. The majority of trade that enters the Empire from outside nations comes through the harbours of Stark and as a result there are a wonderful variety of people and goods in the city and the Empire as a whole.
The harbours are divided into twelve different areas, when ships approach they are designated a landing area and dock number which they will keep for the duration of their stay. A Semaphore system is used to communicate these details between the ships and the docks.
There is also an advanced Navy facility located in the Harbour, the main fleet is not docked here but they use this facility for testing and ship building.
Supernatural Abilities
Over the last few decades individuals have begun appear all over the world that have some kind of supernatural ability. These abilities are known as "Tides" and their owners known as "Tidals" they seem to manifest randomly usually when a person is under extreme stress and seem to be completly random in nature. Some people may go their entire lives without even realising they have a Tide. There have been reports of individuals with extremely powerful abilities appearing of late and no one knows what this means the future holds.
In terms of playing a character with a power you can decide at creation if you would like to play a character with or without one. If you decide to then I will randomly determin what this power is and as far as your character is concerned they have no idea they have one as it has not manifested yet.