NationStates Jolt Archive

Thread List: (Newest threads are at the top of the list)
On top of the Trashheap (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12072356#post12072356) (Open, essentially an (un?)fortunate Trashie's find, some massively valuable thyraza. As you can imagine, there'll be some maneuvering for that.)
The Imperial Council (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12072337#post12072337) (open to all Families, or people who would likely have representation in the Council)
Galactic Piracy on the rise! (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=510500) (open, the affairs of the Kel’moran Triad)
To travel the stars (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=510482) (my bad. Open, mainly the dealings of the Tenan Family)

The Ideas Thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=509767&)

Yeah. I couldn't really think of anyway better to phrase this, or any other way to put it. This is a takeoff of some of the ideas from the aforementioned thread. An idea for an alternative universe, to set the scale for an epic RP. Of course, the term 'epic' is subjective, and the point of this is to provide a dynamic backdrop for character RPs, and to see what would happen if things evolved a little more realistically - weapons taking precedence over defenses, as they have ever done, and humanity displaying its unfortunate tendency for greed and selfishness, to leave a once-glorious empire in shambles, crumbling, hurtling towards the grave, those who are left in power picking over its corpse.

This will borrow slightly from Dune, a bit from the Emperor of the Fading Suns, a touch from Hyperion, and many ideas in the abovementioned threads, with a healthy dose of original technology and politics to make it new and fresh.

The setting is this. Humanity, ever-expansive, manages to spread towards the stars. Over thousands of years, they develop the hyperjump, a method to travel faster-than-light instantaneously, and relatively cheaply, once the initial investment in a ship is made. Of course, a human doesn't develop this drive. An AI does. An AI which, having developed the hyperjump, is summarily destroyed by a frightened humanity, scared of the potential it could develop.

And so humanity spreads out among the stars. Colonies turn into city-worlds, city-worlds crumble and fall with the fire of war, and asteroids are turned into ramshackle habitats for those wishing to forsake the danger of the planets. Ringworlds and Dyson Spheres are well within humanity's capacity to construct, but are never completed, due to politicians who cannot see beyond the term of their next election.

Earth, a weakening homeworld, tries to exert control over its colonies, as resources are low on the planet, with disastrous results. The most devastating weapon ever developed, the relatavistic kill vehicle, is even moreso, when coupled with the hyperjump. There is no way to stop a hyperjump, no way to prevent the attack. Earth is rendered lifeless, shattered and dead. Most weaponry used in this age is kinetic, as the fear of AI extends deep into the psyche of humanity, and the fear of anything alien likewise.

When any trader can crash a small asteroid into a burgeoning world, rising alien species have no chance to develop. As humanity expands, it finds it has no room for other intelligent lifeforms. Eventually, covering a majority of the Milky Way, humanity reigns supreme - and alone.

Thousands upon millions of colonies are spread across the galaxy, unified, smaller worlds wiped out on a whim, the larger, multi-system powers of the galaxy kept in check by the knowledge that there is no way to prevent a relativistic strike on their worlds - a galaxy-wide Cold War, which cannot end.

However, it is not through strength of arms that the galaxy is unified. A single world, blooming with life, is discovered by one of the larger galactic powers. On this world, a substance is discovered. Termed thyraza by those who first discovered it, thousands of names arise, and the substance spreads. It gives longer life, heightened intelligence, a feeling of general goodwill, and only grows on the Thyraza Planet.

With the secret knowledge of this world's location, the ten-system power spreads their influence throughout the galaxy. A few resist, only to find that thyraza withdrawal is fatal - not only that, but an agonizing, weeks-long death, with no cure. Under the name of thyraza, the galaxy is unified. The Galactic Imperium rules, and the Families arise. Cultivating thyraza is incredibly expensive, incredibly hard, and very risky, but those few who manage to duplicate the conditions manage to gain control over certain sectors of the galaxy.

Democracy still reigns, but, atop it, thyraza reigns supreme. Humanity cannot live without the drug. War is forgotten, and a stagnating humanity spends its effort on producing the drug. The Family that owns the planet on which thyraza was first found produces over 99% of the drug, and is massively rich as a result.

Simple monarchy arises. Children are easy to indoctrinate, and can be trusted. Fleets are built, but never used. The ever-present threat of relativistic attacks remain, and going to war means extermination.

And then disaster strikes. The First Family, as they call themselves, are wiped out. A reactor failure on their shuttle sees them destroyed. And, through almost a thousand years of empire, they did not disclose the location of the planet to anyone. So every upstart dictator decides to get a piece of the pie. The planet is settled by many, with more trying to control trade, and rivalries abound.

This is the setting. To control many systems is nigh-impossible - even with the hyperjump, space travel is expensive. To control a hyperjump-capable ship is remarkably expensive, and many systems have a single frigate, which they rely on for supplies. The greater Families are those who control many systems, occasionally letting them secede as to further their own power.

There are no 'shields', no special weapons, no massive laser-guns, and space combat is all but unknown. There is no method of detecting something faster-than-light, apart from hyperjumping to a new location, and using radar from there. A world can be shattered with ease, by any party. Attacking someone is tantamount to suicide, and no-one hates life enough to spark a war. When a war does break out, a scant few worlds are destroyed, before the remaining, living parties decide that peace is better than death.

Despite their thousands of years in space, humanity has not advanced all that much. They can terraform planets, making them much like Earth, construct asteroid habitats, and build colonies on lifeless moons, and even build 'colony' ships, which are space-borne colonies, for those who wish to avoid the dangerous and exciting life of the planet-bound.

And, throughout all this, the desire of thyraza reigns supreme. Although only the tiniest amount is required to fuel the addiction for months, to go without it means certain, agonizing death. Thyraza is power and life, everything else is within humanity's grasp.

You can play as a fringe group, against the drug which stagnates society, or perhaps a set of colonies, fighting for their thyraza supplies, or one of the great Families, with vast fleets of spaceships, using veiled threats and assassins to gain power, too fearful to unleash the horror of relativistic weaponry.

The crumbling Imperium has a hundred claimants, and, where space combat is unknown, the cost of interstellar travel, and lack of communication on many smaller worlds means that ground combat is common. Vast armies are often arrayed against each other, fighting on neutral worlds to control a freighter's-load of thyraza, or merely for honour. Where a trader can gain control of a world due to his load of thyraza, chaos reigns.

And yet the Imperium has a system that keeps it intact. Each of the Families has a single vote, electing a Regent in the Imperial Council. To risk destroying the Thyraza Planet is unthinkable, and so the Regent administrates the planet, giving his or her Family a massive advantage in galactic affairs.

And, finally, the Imperium's hatred of AI, and their taboos on genetic engineering, and aliens, are slowly fading. Fringe groups do what they deem necessary to 'save' humanity, or perhaps merely to gain what they want.

It is a galaxy of chaos, where a massive, intricate Cold War reigns, where humanty infests the stars from one end of the galaxy to the other, and where anything is possible. No eldritch powers, or ideologies rule Families, merely the lust for thyraza, and power. You could be anything you wish, a mad scientist, a fringe group, a Family, or perhaps a thyraza merchant, trying to make as much money as possible.

- - - - -
And now, a brief summary of the 'rules', for those of us deciding to join in.

1) No 'exotic' technologies. Hyperjump is the only thing that violates any scientific principle. Shields do not exist. Other methods of FTL do not exist. Any weapon you might think up for your NS nation does not exist.

2) This is a primarily character RP. You cannot control a massive faction of thousands of stars, because none such exist. In a galaxy of millions of inhabited worlds, if not more, you are utterly insignificant. If you decided to embark on a 'cleansing' program, and destroy as many worlds as possible, you would be annihilated before you could destroy the thousandth part of humanity's holdings, if that. The whole point is to RP intrigue, to RP without the massive fleet-slogging random-battles that plague FT. There are no special powers, no new, super-duper technologies that give you the edge. The fun is in making intricate plots, and using subtlety, and intelligence, to achieve your goals, and to plot against other players, for whatever reasons you might have.

3) You can create your own faction, whether it be a single colony, a Family, or a starship captain. Perhaps a company of mercenaries. Either way, what you RP is entirely up to you, provided that it doesn't violate the reality that takes hold within the Imperium.

4) It's all subject to my approval. I know, I didn't write that above, but it is. I don't want wankers and idiots spoiling this RP. For those of us who are willing to get into intricate intrigue, and three-dimensional characters, I'm more than willing to admit you. I reserve the right to kick people out at any time.

5) Other than that, jump in! If one of your characters, or factions, is annihilated, you can always create another. There is no reason to godmod your way out of things, and there's no way to wank. If you have any ideas, or changes that could be made, throw 'em at me!

Belarius Tenan, Regent

The Tenan Family is an ancient one, spanning a mere two systems. The first of these systems is the world Tenan itself, defended by thousands of combat satellites, asteroid habitats, hidden from sight, housing the valuable Family members.

It is due to their lack of powers that Belarius was elected Regent. Beforehand, in the last election, two major Families were vying for control, each trying to destroy the other. Of course, the neutrals swung from one side to the other - and the Families took action, killing each other's candidates for election. With very little strong-arming, Belarius put on a strong, honest face, and promised to share the thyraza fairly, hammering out agreements in return for votes. The two major Families, to spite each other, voted for Belarius, garnering him a massive majority. His control of the thyraza has seen him construct more ships for the Tenan Family, and to put his five-year term to good use, stockpiling thyraza, and short-changing minor Families, in order to keep himself in power in his general area.

He has a penchant for hand-to-hand combat, and often fights in the many arenas which spring up around the worlds, with thyraza riding on the battles. Although fairly popular, he is amoral, and has no compunction against killing others, or blackmailing them, to get what he wants. Mildly hedonistic, he sleeps with as many women as possible, using his power to fulfill his desires.

His control over his Family is fairly tenuous, although his secret thyraza stockpiles have given him an edge on the more addicted Family members. He is also a fan of using single-molecule 'traps' around his room, as well as more inventive measures, and delights in killing the assassins which come at those in power. He is heavily addicted to thyraza, and takes ten times the normal dose.

*TAG*

Check your TGs

Tag

Tag | Nice to see someone liked my idea... :P

The Shadow Mercanaries are a relitivly small group of mercanaries that developed only a short hundred years before the death of the imperial family. They seem to enjoy moderate success and are lead by four men:

The leader of the bunch is simply known as Nightstalker. No one seems to know when he comes, he's just suddenly there. Having trained extensivly eastren martial arts, Nightstalker is an old school Ninja assasin, but that isn't all. Nightstalker has also been researching modern technology to add to his skills and abilities, to make him even more feared among his four friends.
Though rarely seen with his four friends, he's never too far away, unless he's away on business. Nioghtstalker stays around, only because his other three friends are so easy to take advantage of.

Kannon is the stupidist one of the bunch, a fact confirmed by his inability to comprehend simple math and basic strategy. Kannon is a very strong man who enjoys melee combat, but is rather easily tricked. Thankfully, he's never actually been in charge of anyone other than himself. Kannon is under the illusion that his friends all love and respect each other, and that water goes downhill, only because its too lazy to go back up.

Chip is a nerd. Chip is the sort of nerd other nerds avoid. He is the one person in every group that knows more about technology, than any one human being should ever actually know. He always wears a lab coat and usually spends his time researching and inventing. He thinks of himself as the consumate ladies man, but history will show that in fact, this is as far from the truth as is possible. Chip loathes and dispises everyone else, and constantly tries to kill them when their not looking.

Dan is the public face of the group. Dan has memoriesed imperial law, and acts as the groups lawyer. Dan has also memoriesed several other books and enclopedias, and usually everyone avoids talking to him, because he always gets technical on them. No one likes dan, but dan always gets to stay because Nightstalker makes Chip and Kannon let him stay. Why, not even Nightstalker knows.

The Shadow mercanaries extend only to 20 people. And they usually stay on their ship The Shadow walker, looking for their next job.

The Trashies, as they are known to those around them, are probably the most smelliest and grottiest of people. They are a small family that manage to barely survive by finding and making a creative contraption or purely cleaning something up and re-sell. They are barely able to get enough thyraza, they are seen as disgusting, weak and stupid though this is not the case. They only manage to avoid destruction by others purely because they are seen as "some what useful"

They are in truth, resilent, strong and resourceful purely because they have to be, while they don't have any real technical experience they are extremely adept at Jerry-rigging a solution to a problem. And while they do have weapons should the need arrise they prefer not to kill but have no compunction about doing it should the need arrise.

1) No 'exotic' technologies. Hyperjump is the only thing that violates any scientific principle. Shields do not exist. Other methods of FTL do not exist. Any weapon you might think up for your NS nation does not exist.

Does this mean that as long as we can provide real scientific principles to support something(lasers/energy weapons notwithstanding), you can have it?

Also any objections to cybernetics/'fringe' based gene-splicing?

Lastly, how prevelent/widely spread amongst the general(non-rich) population is thyraza?

Whoo, here we go.

Firstly.. Ah, what the hell. Go from last to first. Makes a nice change.

Does this mean that as long as we can provide real scientific principles to support something(lasers/energy weapons notwithstanding), you can have it?

Also any objections to cybernetics/'fringe' based gene-splicing?

Lastly, how prevelent/widely spread amongst the general(non-rich) population is thyraza?


Anything is possible, so long as it's based on real scientific principles. Keep in mind that things like antimatter and matter-annihilation will be horrendously expensive, where fusion and fission would probably be run-of-the-mill.

Just keep in mind that AI, genetic tampering, and cybernetics, although possible, they're very taboo, for the most part. Thyraza addiction tends to filter down from the top, where it's highly concentrated, to the occasional person on the bottom. There's generally a lot of addiction there, and many people are too poor to obtain more, and so die. Of course, the barest trace of the stuff, inhaled, or eaten, sees instant addiction, but thyraza isn't often let among the population, simply because it's *so* expensive.

But when it's a cure-all for most mental diseases, just about any debilitating physical condition you can imagine, aids regrowth and regeneration for people.. it's immensely useful, apart from its addictive qualities, and is the main reason for the technological stagnation in the galaxy.

Ri-an and Bazalonia, you're fine. Just keep in mind, Ri-an, that space travel is INSANELY expensive. So you'd better be making some big bucks to subsidise your mercenary travel. Then again, with all the plotting and scheming Families do against one another, there's always a need for paid assassins, and people who can destabilize enemy Families.

Ri-an and Bazalonia, you're fine. Just keep in mind, Ri-an, that space travel is INSANELY expensive. So you'd better be making some big bucks to subsidise your mercenary travel. Then again, with all the plotting and scheming Families do against one another, there's always a need for paid assassins, and people who can destabilize enemy Families.

OOC: I took Moderate success to mean that they could afford their space gas, or whatever fuel it turns out to be that a starship needs, and still be able to afford such unneccessary luxuries like food, clothes, water, decent weaponry, and the other minor things that make a merc group a merc group.

I'm hoping to end up on a planet or space station anyways.

Emrys Apperson
Once one of the most powerful families in existence, commanding a vast Duchy of seven systems at their height, the Appersons lost a tremendous amount of power after several wars with neighboring families. In the aftermath of the last war, several of the systems it held declared open revolt and raised their minor families to be their leaders. The Appersons have been fighting a low intensity war ever since to retake several of the worlds. However, their power base is almost completely gone, and what is left has been used to the point of exhaustion. They currently hold two systems with a total population of about ten billion. There has been a large amount of inbreeding, as evidenced by Emrys's parents being brother and sister. Much of the once grand palaces are now in various stages of decay, accelerated by occasional infighting between various family members, as well as the occasional assassination.

Emrys's wife, Crystin, has often been accused of sleeping with other Patriarchs, however, Emrys wields iron fisted control over what is left of his family, to the point where many fear his presence. He has two daughters, Aderyn and Meinwen, and a son, Idwal.

House Apperson's most recent move was to aid an allied family (one of the two HT mentioned) in forcing a motion through the Imperial Council to make Belarius Tenan Regent. As such, it believes its relations with House Tenan are on relatively good terms. Emrys hopes to be able to gain much politically through his assumed good relations with the Regent, and regain some of his family's status. His eventual goal is retaking some of the planets his fathers ruled. In addition, he may be seeking strategic alliances with some families though marriage.

Military:
The space forces of the Appersons were once quite extensive. However, after years of fighting losing battles, they have been whittled down to a fraction of their former strength. There are three active hyperspace-capable vessels in their fleet. However, one of them is a massive creation from their golden age, and is capable of transporting several smaller non-hyperspace vessels inside itself. They have about fourteen assorted non-hyperspace craft in total, and innumerable defensive positions and minor craft throughout their holdings. They have a mothball fleet of six vessels, one of which is (or was at the time of construction) hyper-capable, but lack the resources to ever hope to refurbish it. They posses three rundown shipyard slips over their homeworld, two for non-hyperspace capable vessels and one for hyperspace-capable vessels, which are often used to overhaul their ancient fleet.

On the ground the story is much different. Their forces are often loosely organized and are given little direction. They consist entirely of conscripts with cheap weapons, and their officers shoot deserters on sight. Discipline is often nearly fatal. Their emphasis is on the largest number of bodies at the important point of the conflict, and casualty figures are atrocious. Expect mass desertions.

In short:
Combat Systems: 1 large hyper, 2 standard hyper, 14 assorted non-hyper, 1 mothball hyper (terrible condition, non-usable unless fully overhauled), 5 mothballed non-hyper (condition varies from rusted out hulk to just needing to be dusted)
Ground Troops: unskilled, rely on swarm tactics, large numbers, rely on imported weapons
construction facilities: 1 hyper slip, 2 non-hyper slip, all in horrid condition
RKVs: 1 with hyper, numerous without, all bought from external sources, no domestic production ability
Atomics: around two dozen in varying degrees of functionality, all imported from outside sources
Population:
---6.5 billion Sion +.6% per galactic standard year
---3.5 billion Trevor +1.2% per galactic standard year
Family: 1 son, 2 daughters, all 'in the market' (important for a feudal system, neh?)
Delegate to Imperial Council: Mercher Vaughn
Planets:
-Houseworld: Sion
-Second World: Trevor


Worlds in Revolt:
Aled
---population: 4.1 billion +.9% per galactic standard year

Other four planets to be added at some point

Well, it's not really something that bothers me. So long as you try and play it realistically, everything's good. What you create here is merely a fun backdrop for the characters. So long as you don't slide into RPing your Family, and not the characters which make it up.. I'm as happy as a pig in mud. With a jetpack.

Well, it's not really something that bothers me. So long as you try and play it realistically, everything's good. What you create here is merely a fun backdrop for the characters. So long as you don't slide into RPing your Family, and not the characters which make it up.. I'm as happy as a pig in mud. With a jetpack.
:P mmm.... pigs with jetpacks. http://www.g3l.com/animation/wm/pig_250.gif

But yeah, I'm going to take the angle of a once powerful family with everything going wrong, desperately trying to reclaim their old glory. :P should be fun. About when might this RP be starting up?

The Kel’moran Triad



The Ke’lmorian Triad is an interplanetary crime syndicate. The Triad was founded many decades ago by various crime bosses from the planet of Kel’mora. These powerful men managed to muscle out their competition and became the primary crime organization on the planet. The Triad has ties to the Kel’moran government and can use their connections to avoid being targeted by local law enforcement. This syndicate has been noted for the following crimes, extortion, illegal gambling, illegal arms dealing, assassinations, prostitution, and smuggling. The Triad has now managed to expand their criminal enterprise onto other planets via booking passage on local space flights. The organization is currently based and run from the planet Kel’mora.



The Triad’s organizational structure :


The Council of Three:

The Council of Three represents the three head bosses that run the upper echelons of the organization. The leaders are usually the descendants of the men that originally began the organization. The title is not hereditary and sometimes some of the Bosses from underneath have tried to take the position. That tends to lead to some brutal internal mob fighting between the Bosses and the Council usually the Council wins but sometimes the Bosses managed to take over.
The Current leaders:

Leader Tony Garazoni, Leader Vito Barlucchi, and Leader Aldo Corlini.

The Bosses:

The Bosses are powerful men that are given an entire planet to run as their private territory. These guys run all criminal enterprise within these planets and use their managers and supervisors to help maintain control over the lucrative black market of each human inhabited world. The Bosses all pay tribute to the Council and in exchange the Council gives each leader a certain amount of autonomy along with supplies of weapons and men to help defend their territories from rival crime organizations.

Current Bosses:

Boss Ando Valtachi, Boss Salvatore Guilano, Boss Mathias Lichencrest

The Managers:

These men answer to the Bosses. They make up the second command spot along the organization and usually give instructions to the Supervisors. They tend to avoid being in the spot light and prefer to plot in the shadows until they can bump off their boss and take over.

The Supervisors:

The Supervisors are the middle men of the organization. They control a crew of forty to sixty soldiers. They run the day to day activities of the Triad and usually act as street bosses for their Managers. They pay a large tribute fee to their managers and Bosses.

The Soldiers:

The Soldiers are the main men of the organization. They are the street muscle and the hit squads of the Triad. They are usually recruited from small time hoods and well reputed criminals that have proven themselves loyal to the Triad. The Syndicate uses the soldiers to perform day to day tasks like card sharking, performing hits and protecting fronts for the organizations business.

The Associates:

These are people that are not quite trusted by the syndicate. They serve out of respect and in some cases fear of the Triad. They are usually are appointed to work in the fronts of the organization and sometimes if they prove themselves by performing a service they can be promoted to a soldier.


Short info:

Organization Type: A massive Crime Syndicate
Planets infiltrated: 4
Systems infiltrated: 2
Known Crimes: Piracy, Extortion, Assassinations, and Illegal gambling, Illegal arms dealing, and Prostitution.

The organization has access to several merchant type vessels which they use to smuggle goods and people from planet to planet. They also have a small fleet of military grade ships used for raiding rival merchant vessels and to extort local trade organizations.

NE, there's a thread up.. right now. I figured I'd kick things off.

Deatharon, keep in mind that Families, the groups who rule worlds, have a tough time keeping military-grade ships in action. So a 'small fleet' could probably be amended to a 'ramshackle group of ships that can, surprisingly, stay intact in space'. After all, piracy in space doesn't involve boarding other ships. It involves threatening to blow them up if they don't capitulate.

Deatharon, keep in mind that Families, the groups who rule worlds, have a tough time keeping military-grade ships in action. So a 'small fleet' could probably be amended to a 'ramshackle group of ships that can, surprisingly, stay intact in space'. After all, piracy in space doesn't involve boarding other ships. It involves threatening to blow them up if they don't capitulate.


Okay that means my fleet would probably be ships that were mothballed from the old Kel’Moran System Defense Fleet. That will most likely mean we have really out of date equipment and could not take on anything stronger than a merchant vessel or a lone patrol vessel. (We would probably swarm such a target.)

House Keramen:

The Keramen is perhaps the smallest of the Great Houses; reigning over not a vast planet, but a series of small space stations orbiting above a cold deserted world on the outskirts of space and a small lunar base in the capital system; but is by no means the least ambitious.
For generations, they would profit as pirates during the galactic cold war, intercepting valuable goods and weapons shipments shipped form one corner of the galaxy to another, selling the bounty to feuding warlords in order to finance their luxurious lifestyles and expensive toys.
Then, with the emergence of the thyraza trade came the downfall of this noble business. With the galaxy united under the banner of thyraza, the pirates find themselves without a profitable black market. Without the warlords, the constant skirmishes and the clashes of arms on foreign worlds, there was no longer any demand for an extensive arms production. Without arms, and without the demand for them, the Keramen had lost their primary source of income. Arthurios Vance Keramen, then leader, styled Pirate King, of Kermanen; pushed his brethren into a new direction. From arms dealers and pirates, the Keramen family turned to smuggling. During his lifetime, Arthurios established a complicated networks of agents within the First Family's thyraza production; a network which provided him with enough of the deadly drug to create a profitable black market.
Arthurios died however; assassinated by his first cousin once removed Nicholas Antille Keramen, who then took the throne of the Pirate King. Almost simultaneously, the First Family was killed in the now infamous reactor accident, and the galaxy is once again thrown into chaos and disorder. Out of this chaos, like Venus rising out of the foaming ocean, Keramen rose to prominence. The thyraza trafficking, for large parts of Arthurios’ network had survived both him and the rest of the First Family, made Keramen a force to be reckoned with.
Through their wealth and partial control of the thyraza market, Keramen grew to be recognized as an independent House and gained representation in the Council.

The House is divided into two branches; the Antilles and the Vances. A blood feud, spanning generations, has split the family in two. While they do not openly wage war against each other like separate families. assassinations, defamation and exiling are common practice in the quest to bring ones own branch to power. The current ruler of the Keramen is Nicholas of Antille; while the leader of the Vances is one James Vance Keramen, although he is banned from ever entering Keramen space.


Prominent members:

Antille:
Nicholas Antille Keramen:
Nicholas Antille Keramen is the current leader of the House Keramen, though he has not taken the title of Pirate King. He was born into the Antilles branch of the House, the extra-marital son of Job Antilles Keramen. Job Antille was killed whilst over watching a small arms delivery to one of the great powers of the pre-cold war galaxy. His cousin Arthurios Vance seized the throne as Pirate King, claiming that the bastard Nicholas Antille was forbidden to claim the throne for himself by rule of law.
Nicholas however, plotted the downfall of his cousin. Waiting several years for his chance, the opportunity finally came one day when Arthurios was visiting the core systems. Disposing of his cousin, Nicholas claimed the throne for himself. The Antilles family members supported him, and those of the Vances that openly protested were executed, something which did greatly diminish the power of the Vances.
Nicholas now wields supreme power over the other House members, and although his authority is quietly questioned, perhaps even secretly undermined, by the Vance faction, he is highly praised by the other Antilles.

Mary Antille Keramen:
Mother of Nicholas
More to be added

Vance:
James Vance Keramen:
To be added
To be added

OOC: Cancelled, didn't have the will to write anymore.

Kay. I enjoy Deatharon's idea, mainly because it ties in well with the galactic setting. Addictive and useful drug controlling all politics in the galaxy? Check. Mafia-type organization moving in to make a buck? Seems likely.

On the flip side, ST, I have absolutely no idea where your organization would fit into galactic politics. Firstly, 'artifacts of old' implies that humanity has gone backwards technologically. It's merely on a technological plateau, stagnating. Anything that could be done a thousand years ago can be done now.

Secondly, the 'energy weapons' you speak of are probably widely unused. And bladed weaponry is easy enough to manufacture, but if you're referring to lightsaber-style stuff.. chances are, it doesn't exist.

it is quite resistant to energy weapons, however, bladed weapons can cut through it quite easily due to materials woven by the Krath Guardians themselves, each Guardian makes their own Robes as a rite of passage.

Keep in mind only the hyperjump violates known physics. I don't know of any material that simply *resists* energy weaponry (although I'm sure lead dresses would do admirably against various -aser weapons), and is easily cut through by blades. And then, this isn't Star Wars. Wars aren't fought, for the most part, up-close-and-personal. Although expensive, missiles exist, artillery exists, and sniper rifles exist.



Priests are quite defenseless, however they are excellent healers and stratagists...

Define 'healer'. Do they understand the basics of first aid? Do they have some cunningly-wrought nanobot that can regenerate human flesh and bone? And strategy is really quite irrelevent when you're facing enemies who can simply shoot you.

Keep in mind, as I said before, that the galaxy is on a technological plateau. Most needs are provided for, and thyraza keeps the more brilliant minds content, and less creative. To develop new weaponry means to risk war, and to risk war means to risk utter annihilation.

The ranking and the clothing these people wear is relatively irrelevent to me. A bit more detail on these energy weapons, the Krath role in galactic affairs, and why they seeemingly eschew explosives and kinetic weaponry would incline me to approve this.

Tg, HT.

Larn Jheryn Vaellan, Merchant Prince of Venai

Larn's father, Jheryn Caellus Vaellan, was a wealthy trader who worked as a middleman between the authorities of the trading hub of Neras I within the Venai cluster and the Merchant Princes and Families who sought to trade there - if you needed an authorisation for your trade documents, you went to Vaellan's office, if you needed to find markets for your product, you went to Vaellan's office, if you needed a certain rare product for customers or a Family head back home? Vaellan's office.

Jheryn Caellus Vaellan's father had been a middling merchant of relatively little significance, his only points of note being that he provided his son with the wealth and contacts to start his family on the road to riches. When Jheryn Caellus Vaellan took over the family business after his father's untimely death, his first actions were to insinuate himself into the ranks of the nobility and Family of Neras I. Over a few years he had placed himself in official positions of significance, and started to simply let the money flow in, always investing it, or using it to gain greater political leverage.

It was during this period of his life that Jheryn came across a small, unclaimed sealed container in his warehouse. After an examination it was discovered by his agents that the container had been for a high ranking noble who had died when his property burnt to the ground, leaving him no heirs. Under Nerasian law, should a man die without any next-of-kin, any property uncollected becomes that of the current holder - a law originally intended to advance the stronger Families of Neras I, who controlled the vast bulk of shipping.

The contents (kind of predictable, I know) was Thyraza, known as Tyr in Neras, and in enough supply to take effective control over the trading world of Neras I. The profits gained in turn led to greater control over the planet, and eventually the purchase and outfitting of a hyperspatial frigate - to be captained by his son.

With the funding received from his father, Larn began his first moves in the world of interstellar trade, transporting trade goods, weaponry, Tyr. Once more, wealth flowed into the coffers of the Vaellan Merchant Princes. Such was the money earned during his early years - both by himself and his father - that his younger siblings were set up with trusted advisers on other planets in the Venai system, and still the wealth flowed.

Over time, the Vaellan mercantile presence spread across the cluster - the merchant house would never seek to gain official political power, but always the significant merchant positions, keepers of official storehouses and customs posts, any mercantile position available, until eventually they were stronger than the greatest of the Venai Families.

Thus enters the present day, the Vaellans are the Princes of Venai, adventurous, ruthless, disciplined. The Venai economy has accelerated, competition for wealth is fiercer than ever beneath Vaellan oversight, and even the mightiest of the Venai Families cannot hold a candle to the economic power of their Merchant Princes. While a few Families complain, the majority are content - no longer are the be-all and end-all of their worlds, but they are richer than ever, and content to drift ever more swiftly into stagnation and ever more into the hands of the Princes.


Summary (Larn, not his House):

Organisation type: Merchant House

Character type: Merchant Prince/Trader
Ship: Song of Silver Skies
Manpower aboard: 25, well trained & equipped entourage (Sons of Silver). 10, standard crewmen, well equipped but nothing special (Sons of the Skies)
Current aim: Discovery and exploitation of new markets, wealth


Thoughts/suggestions etc.?

Updated post.

HT, couldja make a list of the threads in the OP so we can keep track easier?

Kei Space Pirate Guild: The Thousand and Eight Suns
http://members.aol.com/lian137/dragon.gif
Since before the birth of space travel upon ancient earth there existed a group of pirates and thieves, men who were not against selling what they could find, steal, or kill. Throughout the ages before the dawn of faster-than-light travel they were led by a high Guild Master, and they became known in the years 3020 as the Thousand and Eight Suns.

Birthed from ancient China these assassins, pirates, and mercenaries are some of the most dangerous of all pirate groups within Imperium Space. They form groups of ten or twenty, creating operation cells on more than a dozen planets, as well as controlling their own planet near the mid reaches of space, Keimon Khan, and is ruled overall by their current leader Hazanko.

The members of this pirate group have an edge over their opponents and enemies. Through piracy, assassination, and dealings with several of the Great Houses the Kei Pirates have managed to amass huge amounts of Thyraza and sell it gram by gram to the highest bidder. Because of this hidden stockpile and impact on the local trade space ways the Kei Pirates have great amounts of political influence in the local House politics, allowing them to operate as if they themselves were a Great House.

The elite members of the Kei Pirates, and the more feared of assassins, utilize a form of combat that has been passed down generation to generation since their inception more than thousands of years ago on Earth. That power and form of combat is called senjutsu, or Tao Magic, allowing them to increase their physical abilities and mental abilities; there have been spare reports of victims being burned to charred crisps by the 'fire' of these senjutsu attacks.

Yet not only do the Kei Pirates have secret hand-to-hand techniques in ground combat, they also have a small private fleet of combat ready ships. Thanks to their ability to persuade Great Houses and attain certain technology, as well as through the great profits from Thyraza trade, they have some very high-end combat ships that use a system known as "grappling". These ships are not only armed with missiles and other forms of long range combat, but also have mechanical combat arms that allow them to enact in ship melee combat.

Their ultimate goal is not clear. Hazanko, by far their most ruthless leader yet, has dared to bring them to limits that they had never before seen. His ambitions are his own and his plans are wide and span light-years. How far he will go is anyones guess.

Ships

Obsidian Hammer
Pic (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/battleship_arcadia2.jpg)
Private ship of Lord Hazanko
Length: 1,200m
Weapons: 9 rail cannon, 30 missile tubes
Extra: 4 grappler combat ships in hanger

Reaper Craft, Kei Pirate Frigate
Pic (http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/images/edf/patrolship_avatar.jpg)
Length: 60m
Weapons: 1 rail cannon, 6 missile tubes
Grappler: Heated scythe capable of cutting or severely impacting metal

Zaiken Fighter/Patrol Ship
Pic (http://artships.com/2006/mustang_bottom_front_quarter2.jpg)
Length: 20m
Weapons: 2 Heavy HE Cannon

That power and form of combat is called senjutsu, or Tao Magic...
Thrash, read from the OP:
No 'exotic' technologies. Hyperjump is the only thing that violates any scientific principle.

That means no magic from what I can tell.

Thrash, read from the OP:


That means no magic from what I can tell.

Its not technology though, and it doesn't destroy planets or ships...so I don't see the problem?

Well, it's not technology, but it DOES violate the laws of physics, and from what I understand HT here was trying to make a nice hard sci-fi setting, which Tao Magic kinda violates. Kudos for use of Outlaw Star stuff, but I really don't see it working here...

Anyway, post with a summary of my faction coming up shortly.

Since we're on sort of a Duniverse binge here, would something like the Bene Tlelax be acceptable? Gholas are perfectly reasonable with current science, but I have doubts that Face Dancers and the like would be acceptable, thanks to that old principle of conservation of mass.

So..

Ordon Whyatika

As the Old Earth orders descended into chaos, a religious craze lashed against many scientists, such as biologists and certain chemists. In fear that their knowledge would be lost forever, five thousand biologists and chemists boarded a colony ship and fled the planet. After a series of hyperjumps to already-colonized systems, a desperate gamble lead them to an uncolonized world in a system on the fringe of Earth space. Their society grew, with the sparse equipment they had with them, they were able to clone themselves to induce population growth. As other colonies found the Whyatikans, they traded specially grown organs and clones for other technology, allowing them to terraform the rest of their system.

Currently, the Ordon Whyatika is headed by a group of men, elected by consensus every five local years. The current dominant man in the Ordon is called Fen Ajidica, the fifty-first clone of the original colonist Fen Ajidica. His specialty is genetic engineering. He believes in something called the 'Golden Path', which roughly translates to a plan to induce genes in one person who can lead humanity out of it's current stagnation.

Most major governments do not have contact with the Ordon due to the taboo on genetic engineering.

Organization Type: Fringe Faction
Number of Planets: 7 claimed, 4 colonized
Ships: 5 transports, 2 warships
Leader: Fen Ajidica

OOC: I'm back. Bitches.

The Kelorists

Kelsov was a man that saw what Thyraza actually did to people...he watched it destroy his father, turn him into a man who depended on something....and watched him die for it.

Vowing never to be like his father, he spent his whole life never touching Thyraza. People around him began to believe he went insane, maybe he did, but he could not go against his one true value. Time and time again he failed as a business man, seeing his family fall victim to the drug, he took what little he had left, and all the Thyraza his family had, and bought the Purity. An aging vessle she would be his home, and his base of operations.

Over the next few years, to his amazement, he met others like him. People who Thyraza destroyed. Those people came to him in need and he gave them not only the physical help they needed but also the mental structure they have been longing for. They begun to call themselves The Kelorists.

In a way they became a religion. The Purity soon was accompanied by the Sacred Promise, The Way, and Long Walk. Each ship while old and aging, became Hope for The Kelorists.

This "Fleet of Hope" passed by a many of a worlds, until they came upon this one...Draco somehow felt different, and after many long years in space, Kelsov felt it was time to make a permanent stop. (NE's planet, also My first post in the RP would be my fleet arriving in-system)

Stats

Leader: Kelsov Romant
Beliefs: Destruction of Thyraza
Man Power: 544 "Followers"
Militant Wing: 244 "Arm of Romant"
Worlds "Pacified": 0 (One in process, pending first Post)
Main source of Funds: Selling Thyraza (Ironic No?), Assassinations, Mercenaries. (Kind of funny that a "Religious Order" Would be so Militant. NOT)

Ships: 4

Purity: Old aging Cruise Liner
Length-700m
Armaments- 2x 50mm AutoCannons

Sacred Promise: Aging Military Frigate
Length- 465m
Armaments- 6x 50mm AutoCannons
-2x Rampart Missile Pods (No Ammo)

The Way: New Yacht
Length- 100m
Armaments- 1x 50mm AutoCannon (No Ammo)

Long Walk: Old Yacht
Length- 100m
Armaments- 1x 50mm AutoCannon

*If any other info is needed tell me. Or if anything needs to be changed.

HT, I decided to add one last thing, because theirs all sorts of things one can do with a hospital. Besides, Deatharon has to get his drugs from somewhere.

The order of healers.

The order of healers is a not for profit organization that exists soley on the benifit and goodwill of the imperial and great families, as well as donations from private citizens and and merchants. And for good reason too, The Order of Healers licenses some of the best medical practitioners to be had anywhere in the galaxy. Their hospitals can be found many places, but largest and best one is at the site of the Imperial capital.

Dr. Tottenkaufen is quite possibly the best physician in ages, and his advances, though few in number, have been groundbreaking in importance. He continues to practice medicene at the main hospital where he teaches medicene still to the newer generations. Though, disturbing rumors circulate of his dealings with less than lawful markets and shady characters in attempts to keep his hospitals funded.

He keeps mostly to himself, though he is married to a beautiful wife and three kids, all of whom, prefer a private life.

OOC: in short, Dr. Tottenkaufen is a docter. A very good docter. The hospitals are basicly plot devices where characters can end up after this battle or that battle, or remain comatose for awhile and heal.

Its also a good source of Drugs, and coming from a hospital, quality is assured. But only if you have money.

the hospitals are free, operating on public donations much like Saint Jude's hospitals, wheresome of the finest childrens care can be had. This is much the same, only for all ages.

The politics that can be had.

If neccessary I'll fake a minor docter at the hospitals in the outlying areas, but the only one I plan on using, is Dr. Tottenkaufen.

Relative Liberty, you're in. A divided Family seems to be more than fairly interesting.

Newbish Delight, keep in mind representation within the Council is very easy to obtain, provided one has the wealth to convince the Regent to let you join. And Regents tend to be easily bribed (and, of course, they can't dismiss people from the Council, so it simply grows). So your Merchant House could eventually grow into a full-fledged Family, if they so had the desire.

Thrashia, nothing exotic means exactly that. It's not for play balance (after all, when you can claim whatever you damn well feel like, and your worlds are vulnerable to fragging at a moment's notice, no matter what you do, combat technologies really don't matter that much). It's to keep the RP completely as hard as possible. No-one has to deal with the abilities of others, decipher their equipment, or deal with things that they themselves don't possess, thus forcing them to 'make' new abilities to make themselves as able or as powerful as others.

Techwanking is a plague in II, and one of the laws of good hard sci-fi is to change as little as possible. I've introduced one thing, FTL travel, and nothing else. Humanity doesn't understand the principle behind it, so anything else you do will have to be possible in reality.

Whyatica, I can imagine 'fringe factions' being more powerful than Families (you're not constricted by the paralyzing fear and political maneuvering the Families are, although you can't access the vast wealth and trade of the galaxy, for the most part), and a bit of genetic engineering would probably be an efficient way to keep a populace in line. Besides, you're fun, in any case. You're in.

Yukatania, crazy (or maybe sane, considering the state of the galaxy) fringe cults are always fun, and.. yeah. Welcome a-galaxy-board!

Ri-an.. hospitals, although somewhat removed from galactic politics, can always make for an interesting RP when everything else loses its sheen.

Oh, and NE, the link-list is up. I'll be updating it periodically, I guess.

....aaaaannnnd.. that's it. Wjhew!

Sweetness.

"Brothers! Let us destroy this vile plauge brought upon us!"

Huzza! Huzza!

Family Shourisha

Family Shourisha is paranoid. This is not without reason: Two past homeworlds of the House have been destroyed, R-bombs wiping them clean of all life by their enemies. Twice, pure luck has saved the Family from extinction, with most of the members offworld to discuss important matters. Twice, the Family has retaliated in kind, annihilating their attackers with storms of RKVs. Twice, they have recieved the Regent's absolution for their actions.

The reason behind the violence against the Family is their martial heritage: For a thousand years, the Shourisha have acted as mercenaries without peer, fighting in countless battles across known space. Their worlds have become known as schools of war, reserved for the best of the best. Shourisha Bushi are in high demand amongst the Families as leaders, and their Ryodan are highly valued across the galaxy. This skill at arms has garnered the Family many enemies, leading to the bombing of their homeworlds.

The bombings each dealt a monumental blow to the Family, with members and countless Wards killed by each attack. Still, the Family has nearly entirely recovered from the latest bombing, and has resettled each sterilized world, reseedinging them with life, and using them as training grounds and reminders of what they have lost, and of what they do to those who would harm the Family.

Family Shourisha is ethnically Japanese, and their holdings are governed by the Shogunate. The Shoguns, each a member of the Family, rule their assigned territories with absolute power, but they are not merely bureaucrats. Each Shogun is expected to aid in the teaching of the Bushi, as well as lead their men on the field of battle, and are chosen for their tactical genius as well as their ability to rule. From their ranks, the Shoguns elect a Daishogun. The Daishogun, currently Shourisha Reiko, speaks for the Shogunate and the Family as a whole.

The Wards of the Family live in reasonably comfortable, although often rural, conditions, many working as farmers and tradesmen across their worlds. High technology is commonplace, bought with the gains of the Shourisha Bushi. Of course, such luxury is not without cost: Every Ward is required to give the Family three years of their life as Bushi upon their eighteenth birthday, and to continue their training throughout their lives. Weapons are issued to these conscripts upon their first day of training, and are retained upon dismissal from service. This has lead to a general view of Shourisha worlds as untouchable by many other Families, and the Family's stockpile of RKVs does nothing to dispel these whispers.

Family Shourisha, having been victim of RKV attacks in the past, maintains it's own arsenal, with several dozen of the weapons secreted away across Shourisha space. The Family maintains a strict policy of retaliation, never initiating an RKV exchange, but holds firm to the complete annihilation of any bold enough to begin one. The fact that it has done so in the past has dissuaded any of it's current enemies from even considering the use of relativistic weaponry.

Vital Statistics
Head of Family: Shourisha Reiko
Worlds Claimed: Kyoto (capitol), Nippon, Tengoku, Kyushu, Nagasaki
Population: 10 billion
Military: 130,000,000 Bushi (4.6 billion fit for service)
Fleet: 14 "Orochi" warships, 30 "Kappa" transports, 60 "Kaze" courier craft

New Thread - On the top of the Heap - The Trash Heap that is (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12072356#post12072356)

Ah, a more militant Family. Probably one of the larger, more powerful entities, to be sure. Well, Otagia. Let's see how your Family works out in Council, eh...?

....aaaaannnnd.. that's it. Wjhew!

Did you miss my Tg?

Oh, right. I tend to be very.. sporadic, checking my TGs. But yes, the idea's more than viable. The actual discovery would probably be intensely dangerous (creating thyraza artifically is possible, and it's certainly done, but it's a net-loss operation, overall.), but it'd be a fun set of RPs.

Just post a thingummy here (or, more accurately, a descriptor of your faction), and that should get it started.

So...that means no Tao Magic? But then can I replace it with martial arts mastery?

Crazy karate-guys is fine. So long as it's possible, and they have some reason for doing so.. fine, just fine.

If someone wishes to hire my assasins, or use the hospitals, post in this thread. Otherwise, I genuinly have no reason to participate.

Just let me know who to contact and what thread to post in. If my assasins are in one, I may not be in another, depending on the situation.

As for the hospitals, those are always availible, just let me know what thread their being used in, so I can use the docters to look at you.

Oh, and Otagia. I've brought you into the first RP. The bottom one on the list on the first post. I think what I've done really gets us all involved, so we can start off the plotting and scheming wholesale!

If someone wishes to hire my assassins, or use the hospitals, post in this thread. Otherwise, I genuinely have no reason to participate.

Just let me know who to contact and what thread to post in. If my assassins are in one, I may not be in another, depending on the situation.

As for the hospitals, those are always available, just let me know what thread their being used in, so I can use the doctors to look at you.


The Kel'moran Triad is going to want to make contact with your hospital. We need to get medical supplies and other hard to get materials. The Triad will also need hire some of the more corrupt medical doctors to set up shop in Kel’mora. The Triad always needs black market doctors to patch up their boys after getting into scraps with each other and other rival organizations..

We may also want to hire your assassins as special muscle to acquire the thyraza on the trash heap thread.

The Council of Three will pay a lofty sum to the group if they manage to get the entire supply from the trash people....

Pfft... Good luck finding it. It could be anywhere within the tip. And then again we are a total unknown entity, you have no idea what my trashies can do...

Also HT, you might want to ask the Mods to change the title of "To travel the stats" to it's intended name. They can and I've certainly had positive response from the mods when I have asked for a previous thread of mine's name to be changed.

Pfft... Good luck finding it. It could be anywhere within the tip. And then again we are a total unknown entity, you have no idea what my trashies can do...


I know, that is why I am hiring outside muscle. It lowers my own death rates in such a fight. I may send a few of the crews to begin an blockade of the trash heap but we will not enter that heap. We never rush into a situation unless we know or think we can win.

The Kel'moran Triad is going to want to make contact with your hospital. We need to get medical supplies and other hard to get materials. The Triad will also need hire some of the more corrupt medical doctors to set up shop in Kel’mora. The Triad always needs black market doctors to patch up their boys after getting into scraps with each other and other rival organizations..

We may also want to hire your assassins as special muscle to acquire the thyraza on the trash heap thread.

The Council of Three will pay a lofty sum to the group if they manage to get the entire supply from the trash people....

I'll go to both threads then. Your in luck the good Dr. Tottenkaufen is always looking for sources of funding.

The Shadow mercs will make an appearence in the other thread.

To the threads! *Makes like batman and zooms off in a fast car.*

Oh, right. I tend to be very.. sporadic, checking my TGs. But yes, the idea's more than viable. The actual discovery would probably be intensely dangerous (creating thyraza artifically is possible, and it's certainly done, but it's a net-loss operation, overall.), but it'd be a fun set of RPs.

Just post a thingummy here (or, more accurately, a descriptor of your faction), and that should get it started.

Will get my description up tomorrow(sometime in the afternoon).

The ideas I have planned will turn it into a massively net-gain operation. ;)

Can I have like, a couple of families that... that you know... Don't want to kill me (or perhaps want to kill Ri-an's or Deatheron's guys more) Join my thread. IT would be o, so much appreciated.

HT, I will be joining this as well as a starship captain. When I have more time, I will make a bio. But I am joining. Looks good, by the way.

Can I have like, a couple of families that... that you know... Don't want to kill me (or perhaps want to kill Ri-an's or Deatheron's guys more) Join my thread. IT would be o, so much appreciated.

Give me the Thyrazia and I won't have to use those particular problem-solving abilities.

Can I have like, a couple of families that... that you know... Don't want to kill me (or perhaps want to kill Ri-an's or Deatheron's guys more) Join my thread. IT would be o, so much appreciated.

hehehe, well, its not fair to have an unbalanced thread.

Therefore, I shalll join, with my own family.

The Kamakura Family.

The Kamakura family is a very powerful family within the empire. Their worlds are far to the east, and enjoy several billion visitors each year.
They are of pure asian decent, having slowly merged into one large family over the decades.

The Kamakura Family Ressurected The Ancient Society known as The White Lotus Society, and updating it for the current modern era, renamed it The Black Lotus Society. It is rumured that Daimyo Magesha is the head of this secret organization within the Kamakura family, but nothing has ever been proven. It is also rumored that his beautiful wife, Kiku, is in it, but again, nothing has ever been proven.

The Kamakura family has had several enemies, but none have survived, exterminated by The Black Lotus Society.

Daimyo Magesha is the head of the Kamakura family, His hair was balck, now grey with age. He is a Samurai Warrior, the best in all of the Kamakura family.
He is loyal only to the Emperor, but respects the regent. He is indeed the head of The Black Lotus society, believing that his actions best serve the Regent, and in turn, The Emperor, when the true emperor is restored to the throne.

Kiku, Magesha's wife. Mother of his children, learned mistres of Martial Arts, and Nightstalkers teacher. She is the personal envoy of emperor Magesha, and his private personal assasin. She has taught many the arts and the skills of the ancient ways.

Hidetsugu, First born of Magesha. He has been called an Ogre, for he stands, a freak of nature, at 7 feet tall. He is strong, and built like a warrior. His hair is white, his eyes are black. He has scars covering his body, but they are rarely seen. He is almost as good as his father in combat skills.

Aiko, Magesha's daughter. She has followed her mother's path, but also spends time crafting dolls. She has long black hair, has been gifted by nature, and is currently availible. she longs to marry Nightstalker.

hehehe, well, its not fair to have an unbalanced thread.

Therefore, I shalll join, with my own family.

The Kamakura Family.

The Kamakura family is a very powerful family within the empire. Their worlds are far to the east, and enjoy several billion visitors each year.
They are of pure asian decent, having slowly merged into one large family over the decades.

The Kamakura Family Ressurected The Ancient Society known as The White Lotus Society, and updating it for the current modern era, renamed it The Black Lotus Society. It is rumured that Daimyo Magesha is the head of this secret organization within the Kamakura family, but nothing has ever been proven. It is also rumored that his beautiful wife, Kiku, is in it, but again, nothing has ever been proven.

The Kamakura family has had several enemies, but none have survived, exterminated by The Black Lotus Society.

Daimyo Magesha is the head of the Kamakura family, His hair was balck, now grey with age. He is a Samurai Warrior, the best in all of the Kamakura family.
He is loyal only to the Emperor, but respects the regent. He is indeed the head of The Black Lotus society, believing that his actions best serve the Regent, and in turn, The Emperor, when the true emperor is restored to the throne.

Kiku, Magesha's wife. Mother of his children, learned mistres of Martial Arts, and Nightstalkers teacher. She is the personal envoy of emperor Magesha, and his private personal assasin. She has taught many the arts and the skills of the ancient ways.

Hidetsugu, First born of Magesha. He has been called an Ogre, for he stands, a freak of nature, at 7 feet tall. He is strong, and built like a warrior. His hair is white, his eyes are black. He has scars covering his body, but they are rarely seen. He is almost as good as his father in combat skills.

Aiko, Magesha's daughter. She has followed her mother's path, but also spends time crafting dolls. She has long black hair, has been gifted by nature, and is currently availible. she longs to marry Nightstalker.

well, now at least we know who taught Nightstalker.;)

Can I have like, a couple of families that... that you know... Don't want to kill me (or perhaps want to kill Ri-an's or Deatheron's guys more) Join my thread. IT would be o, so much appreciated.

Gimmie some time, I'm interested in a purchase.... and possibly more. :)

*plots*

O goodie, 2 new faces showing up.... go intrigue.

*Schemes and plots*

My Ordon sells many things to non-Imperium factions..starship parts, genetically engineered clones, small amounts of artificial thyraza, and the like. Just TG me if you want to arrange a deal..

That brings up an interesting question: Should Thyraza be able to be artifcially made? If it can be then whats the point of finding the planet? Or having cloak and dagger about control of that planet?

Its a question that we need to consider since it could have serious effect on the Great Houses and, well, the entire universe.

It's a net-loss for me to produce thyraza in small scale. I can't afford to produce thyraza in large scale because of the enormity of the cost of the equipment and chemicals. Nobody an afford to buy enough thyraza to make it worthwhile.

The thyraza planet will always be the best source to get it, period. I can produce it in small quantities for a net loss to me unless people are willing to pay more for it than you could get from the Thyraza planet.

Which, if you happen to be a non-Imperium faction, might make me your only source.

That brings up an interesting question: Should Thyraza be able to be artifcially made? If it can be then whats the point of finding the planet? Or having cloak and dagger about control of that planet?

Its a question that we need to consider since it could have serious effect on the Great Houses and, well, the entire universe.

I have few options I'll support on this...

1: Thyraza should not be artificially makable at all. Which IMO probably would not be all that realistic as families would at least try and if not able to get it exactly right would most likely duplicate at least some of the functions

2: It can be done but it is so expensive to do so that it either is not worth to do it or quantities so small can be made it would not be worth it for any commercial endeavour

3: Can be done but artificial Thyraza has a few particularily nasty side-effects that natural thyraza does not .. Like big serious ones...

2: It can be done but it is so expensive to do so that it either is not worth to do it or quantities so small can be made it would not be worth it for any commercial endeavour

Fairly-well sums it up. Although there's always those who are rich enough to pay more, or to pay for thyraza that can't be tracked. That's the real inspiration for making artificial thyraza.

TheBlackLotusSociety, your new Family is in, by the way.

well, now at least we know who taught Nightstalker.;)

Who else would, or could? BTW you know the history we talked about in Telegrams. Should make for a fairly intresting side story in the threads, while providing reason for me to go to a landfill looking for drugs. I'm going to go jump on that after this post, in Bazalonia's thread.

TheBlackLotusSociety, your new Family is in, by the way.

Good, good. I can't wait to get into the political intrigue part.

A thought occured to me while I was awaiting approval.

Having read similar stories of seccession from empires when there is no Emperor to control the throne, I thought of doing a thread in that same vein, when the Kamakura family decides to leave the empire altogether, believing the emperor's house destroyed, and the empire too corrupt to be saved. Unless of course I somehow end up as emperor, but, I think that's going to be one in a million.

Meanwhile, after a time, The Black Lotus Society may or may not accept jobs, depending on how the story goes.

Now, off to terrorise Ri-an.

Having read similar stories of seccession from empires when there is no Emperor to control the throne, I thought of doing a thread in that same vein, when the Kamakura family decides to leave the empire altogether, believing the emperor's house destroyed, and the empire too corrupt to be saved. Unless of course I somehow end up as emperor, but, I think that's going to be one in a million.

The Emperor's Family is gone, and the Empire, well.. it's not so much an Empire as it is a crumbling set of Families tied together by thyraza. Essentially, the Regent has minimal authority. He is meant to command the Imperial Fleet, the Imperial Army, and the Imperial Eyes, the intelligence branch of the Imperium, but all three are grossly under-funded, and none of them are functioning, any more.

The least of the Regent's powers, as they had been seen at the time, had been to administrate the distribution of thyraza. Each planet has a certain amount it is entitled to, and no planet may have over a certain amount per person on it, so the system simply allows the Regent to see when and where ships are going (to expose them to his own raiders), and to occasionally 'accidentally' give more thyraza to one Family, at the cost of another.

The Regent also has planetary authority, allowing him to use the Imperial Guard, the formerly galaxy-wide police force (now reduced to a single garrison on whichever planet hosts the Imperial Council), and, in theory, can dissolve Families, and create new ones, if he obtains a 50% vote in the Council.

Of course, trying to dissolve a Family is impossible, because the Families themselves oppose it on principle, and creating new ones tends to suck more thyraza away from the others. Thus, the Regent's powers are extremely limited, and Regents historically don't wield their powers, because, once they're not re-elected, things turn out.. badly, for their Families.

So, yes. Leaving the Imperium certainly won't spark a war. In fact, the only consequence is that you no longer get a steady supply of thyraza, in return for your 'taxes' (the money given to the Imperium, which then goes to purchase the trade ships which ship thyraza around. A little goes to the Imperial branches, but not often).

The problem with a new Emperor is that almost no-one wants one. Long-term benefits are clouded by the short-term losses, and law and order would merely reduce the power of individual Family heads.

Transascendent University
Transascendent University is, perhaps, the strangest of it kind in the universe and oft considered the largest unbarred mental ward bar none. Making its home in a system that bears a highly unusual orbit comprised of two worlds orbiting at opposite points in the same orbit with the first being a relatively stable terra type world while the other is an infamous deathworld.

The university itself was founded by scientists, researchers and other men of science that were rejected, disbarred or otherwise prosecuted for having vastly outlandish, socially unacceptable or even criminal ideas and the willingness to conduct research for thier ideas. The stated goals in the charter are that the only restrictions put on research is the necessity for an idea and the willingness to do what is necessary to test that idea.

Because of this openess, many of the fields that might otherwise be closed to cultural or social conflicts are explored at TU. Due to these reasons members of the Families have often come seeking treatments or for other reasons to get what they can not at home. The doctors and scientists are always happy to oblige, for a fair price.

Chairman Marius Mariko: The head of the Transcendent University and aware of the various projects that the researchers are working on, a leading scientist in various biological and chemical fields. A third generation member of the university, he is also a capable administrator and leader when outside interests take an interest in TU for whatever reasons. He has a number of secret goals and ambitions that some Families would take objection to if they found out.

Subject 1083-B4: One of the more successful of the human experiments involving a wide variety of biological and technological alterations as well as psychological manipulation and conditioning. What his function or purpose is is known only to Marius, thought he is often found either travelling, at the main compound of the university with the Chairman or on the deathworld.

Jan DragonWolf: Nominal leader of the deathworld she is one of the first generation, the first children born on the planet rather than arriving on it. A product of life on one of the harshest world, she has adapted into an excellent warrior and survivalist.

Hmm, if the Council is that easy to bribe...I'll add this to House's bio:

Three years before the present day, the House purchased their seat upon the council, making themselves technically a Family. As with all their dealings, this was done by manipulating the smaller families already effectively within their economic power, forcing the House to pay but a fraction of what most would to simply "buy" their way into Council.

The Princes have expressed little interest in actually trying for the Regency, instead letting it be known that their support can be garnered through various means that the House finds greatest to their own benefit - money is always an option, but they have enough of that coming in, and they have other markets to gain footholds in.

New thread:

A Proposition (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=511103) - Closed to No Endorse, Yukatania, and I.

The Ordon Whyatika make contact with a selected noble House of the Imperium to discuss matters that may rock the entire galaxy..

/me thinks we need more houses. How many pure houses do we have?

This is awesome. A new House will be formed soon, one quite focused on gaining power. Even if it cannot decide who in the House will get the power, or how it will be gained.

Theao, you're in. Another crazy fringe-world faction.

^_^

HT, how is thyraza administered?

Post coming up today, hopefully.

HT, how is thyraza administered?

Post coming up today, hopefully.

And just so I can know for my hospitals, what are its effects, medical or otherwise?

Oh look, a ravening madman! (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12108459#post12108459)

Drugs, G. K. Chesterton and two obscure Bob Dylan quotes. It doesn't get any better!

This deserves a bump.

Woo! Back on board!

And, now, for the question asked whilst I was away. Thyraza, in its purest form, is administered through merely contact, breathing particles of it in, virtually anything involving contact with it. As such, it's usually packaged by large amounts of either other, less-addictive drugs, or anything that can stop the stuff flying away (from pills to a mini-vacuum), so it doesn't touch people as easily.

Thus, for the most part, people will be taking it like a normal drug - via pill, or powder. However, if you were (un?)fortunate enough to stumble onto the Thyraza Planet itself, you'd be addicted and overwhelmed within short-order, unless you had some sort of full-body suit.

Excluding my recent post, the last one was in '06. Come on, people!