Fantasy Starborn - Lore

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Starborn - Lore

This is a world that can be described at solar punk with a Victorian twist. It is not unlike Disney’s Treasure Planet, where the space-traveling ships are massive sailing ships with solar energy-collecting sails. There are alien races and a special branch of magically-changed humans called biomen. There are also sentient automatons, created by the master automateurs, usually in the service of nobles or kings. Most of the galaxies in the known universe are under Imperial control, and subject to Imperial law. Many previously-inhabited planets were colonized and their native populations assimilated into Imperial culture, though there is a weak attempt to preserve the original cultures and languages, and most of the effort is made by the native peoples themselves. There are galaxies outside Imperial influence, those are within “Out Space” and it is strongly discouraged for any Imperial citizen to go…they usually do not return.

Space is vast and the trade routes between galaxies and planets are patrolled frequently by pirates. Merchant ships and Imperial vessels are often weaponized with energy canons, and a fighting force employed on board armed with beam sabers and blasters that draw similarities with Victorian weaponry. The Imperial capital is on a planet called Centralis, in the central most galaxy of Imperial space, Imperialis. The city was given the name St Celeste, by the first emperor.

In this section you will find information about the world, the magic, the races and the many locations we will be traveling to. There are many sections where the players will be adding to the lore, and it will all be posted here.

 

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Races

• Human
• Automaton
• Bioman
• Alien

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  The most common race within the empire, human settlements can be found throughout it. They are not the only ones who can use thaumaturgy, though they are selectively preferred by the academy. They are known throughout the universe as resourceful, innovative and creative, yet they are also characteristically prideful and oftentimes greedy. Their minds are deemed their strongest asset, as physically, they are on the weaker side of galactic species.
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  They can look like anything, but generally have size restrictions to that of an average human. They are often sapient, capable of speech and free willed-thought. Effectively they are robots and as such, made of metal, though they can have synthetic skin coverings, and are very susceptible to electrical current and or water, depending on the sealants used. They can be in possession of super-human strength, though this skill often means they are more obvious as automatons and cannot pass for a normal human. Automatons have very few rights and are generally seen as expensive servants, even though many have independent minds and free will. Automatons are generally stronger than your average human, and can have enhancements built in that many humans cannot. They are however incredibly susceptible to electric attacks, and can be rendered paralyzed by an electricity elementalist.
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  Biological transmuters are discouraged from partial transmutations and it is illegal to magically experiment on sapient lifeforms, though with so many planets, the Imperial forces cannot regulate every inch of space, and there are both adult augmentations and fetal genetic mutations that have occurred unchecked. Partial transmutations are exceptionally difficult to undo and will not reverse on their own as with full transmutations. Generally, these biomen are enhanced with the abilities of pre-existing species. Any attempt to graft magical ability onto an untalented host has always ended in horrible failure. Most often these biomen have very little that betrays their biological manipulations to the eye, though some retain the physical qualities of the animal they have been grafted with almost completely. Due to the incomplete understanding of life and how it is put together, biomen frequently suffer from genetic defects, this could be in the form of diseases or ill-formed or missing body parts. It is very rare for a bioman to be free of some sort of defect associated with the partial transmutation. Nearly all biomen are sterile.
  
  Spoiler: More human form

  
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  Each alien race is registered in the Imperial watchkeepers records, and in imperial space, they all abide by imperial law. The specifics of each race, their history and culture can be written by the player, but must be reviewed and approved by a gm to be added to the lore. Each race must have a weakness, as described in the other races above.

 

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Job Classes

The profession’s you are permitted into are very much dictated by class, nobles are expected to go become academics or politicians or artists, very few have had the mechanical skill to become automateurs, creators of very detailed robotic life-forms called automatons. If they are possessed of magical abilities they are immediately admitted to train at the academy in St Celeste for Thaumaturgy and can specialize in one of four main fields: elemental manipulation, biological transmutation, Alchemy or the healing arts.

The lower classes are generally labourers, in fields, factories or at the docks. The even less fortunate turn to scrapping, scrounging junkpiles for usable material or thievery and other crimes. Despite the utopian atmosphere of the cities, there is a thriving underground with many different niches for talented street rats. Lowborns skilled in mechanics are trained as ship engineers or automateurs, and those with magical abilities are forced to attend the Thaumaturge academy and must be registered. Lowborns also have the option of joining the military for formal training in combat or solar ship professions like engineering, piloting and navigation. Only nobles generally become captains of their own vessels, but a few commoners showing exceptional bravery or promise may become captains. Otherwise, one can steal a ship and proclaim themselves captain of it, if this happens, you are branded a pirate.

 

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Magic

Called “wonderworking” by common folk and “Thaumaturgy” by nobles, there are four main branches of magic, and though it is possible for a student to show minor ability in more than one, they will be schooled and therefore excel in only one. These abilities are by no means godly, they are in truth, fairly weak; their usefulness then, lies purely in the creativity with which they are employed. Though gifted people of all classes are admitted, there has always been an elitist mentality within the academy, with lowborn thaumaturgy students having a tougher time. Generally children manifest this ability by age 5 and can beadmitted to the academy at that age. They stay until they are at least 18 but may continue to hone their skills and invent new techniques for their craft.

• Elemental manipulation
• Biological transmutation
• Alchemy
• The healing arts
• mythical magic

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  This is the creating and control of elemental forces and generally elementalists develop a mastery of only one. The elements that have developed methods are: fire, ice, air, earth, electricity, light and gravity. Generally, effects are small, example: the impacts of fire, electricity and ice are limited to severe burns, but not a human fatality, unless the magics are used creatively to attack known weaknesses. An earth thaumaturge might be able to destabilize the foundation of a one-story house, gravity and air users might be able to lift someone of their own weight and throw them a few feet. Light thaumaturges could power a small skiff from activating the solar sails for about an hour, or create a convincing illusion about the size of a house.
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  This is the art of transforming one biological form into another, and can be used on the self, or on others. People who use this skill are called “Transmuters”. Generally, the form can only be at largest, four times the size of the original body, or at smallest, a quarter of the size. A human could then become a cat, or a gorkle*, but nothing smaller or larger respectively. This skill works much better on willing targets, outside of self-transmutation, the effect has a time limit which is directly related to the willingness of the individual. Willing participants can maintain the shape for about 3 hours, while unwilling subjects may not transform at all, though if successful the effect usually lasts only for minutes. It is dangerous to transmute only part of one’s body, and the methods of this are taught only using animals and never with humans or other sapient races. The methods are used to create chimeras and partial transmutations are generally permanent and irreversible, due to the danger of untangling the biological makeup of the bodies. There has been illegal experimentation to try and create hybrid races, though anytime the Imperial army catches wind of it the operation is shut down quickly.
  
  *The gorkle is a mountain creature from the Edantus galaxy, often caught and trained to bear riders or cargo.
  
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  This, simply put, is the ability to change one element into another. Every alchemist is trained very strictly in physical chemistry, and if used with this knowledge, this is the most powerful of the thaumaturgical arts. With it one can sabotage mechanics, create valuable materials, explosives or even oxygen or water. Again, the quantities of material one can transmute are limited, and generally equates to one’s own body mass. It is strictly prohibited to turn lead into gold, though that doesn’t stop some…just don’t get caught. Players choosing this skill will need to refer to the periodic table of elements, they can change the chemical elements 5 numbers up or down the chart, so you could not turn helium (2) into lead (82), for example.
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  One of the most valuable arts, healers are highly coveted by the Imperial army and few escape that life if they are raised in the empire. Those that do usually have their abilities hidden, by themselves or family members, to be developed outside of the academy with varying success. A fully-trained healer is capable of sealing a mortal blast wound, or re-attaching a limb, though the effort would most often have them collapse and unable to heal further until they have rested. Anything other than a fully-academy-trained healer would likely kill themselves in the attempt. These magicians are also trained in the herbal healing arts and can work with biological transmuters to help create the plants they need.
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  Clairvoyance*:
  
  There is a fifth discipline of magic, though it is not considered a true form of thaumaturgy, and the academy itself will not recognize its existence. The ability to see the future is possessed by a very rare few and there is no school within the Empire that can develop it. The ability can come upon the user suddenly, in the form of a vision, or in sleep, as dreams. It is uncontrollable and unpredictable, though there have been legends throughout Imperial history that speak of heroes or saints that used it to save towns or win the empire glorious victories.
  
  *This skill is not an optional skill to choose for your characters, this is for plot reasons. It only exists in the world.
  

 

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Planets and alien races

This section will be developed by the players as they wish to add to their characters’ backstories, races or general lore.

The Imperial house:

Symbolized by a golden tree on a red background the Imperial family rules over most of the known galaxy. The Empress, Galatea has been known to be fairer and more just than her conquering predecessors, however she governs the resource-bearing colonies with just as much of an iron fist. There are many who are happy with her reign, and there are many who are not. Empress Galatea has no siblings and only one heir. Her cousins are stationed in high-ranking posts throughout the galaxy and though she works hard to keep them happy, ambition is seldom quenched with favour.

 

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Locations visited

• Imperialis
• Deep space

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  The planet in the galaxy at the center of the empire (simply called "Centratus"), the land on this planet is a single continent of vast grasslands and high mountains. Most of the grasslands have been converted into farmland to provide for the massive city on the coast. The mountains are still fairly wild however and they are used to breed several species of animal, native and alien used for transport or food. The climate is usually on the cool side, with moderate rainfall.
  
  St Celeste
  
  
  
  
  
  Named after the most notable saint in Imperial history, St. Celeste is the thriving capital of imperial space; the beating heart of the empire. It is a massive city made of layers of stacked buildings, set onto the edge of the planet’s only continent, the highest tiers are for the elite and at the very top of the mountain that serves as the city’s foundation, sits the imperial palace, surrounded by a fantastic garden and headed by a courtyard large enough to fit most of the city’s five million inside of it. Lower down are the businesses, shops squeezed together in every inch of available space as tram tracks snake their way about the ensemble. The spaceport is also on this level, a massive curving dock that houses the Imperial fleet as well as births for every manner of solar ship, from dreadnought to dingy. There are tree-lined alleys and gardens and a large glass greenhouse and menagerie, providing shelter to exotic species from across many galaxies. The main square is just by the port, and ruled by a massive astrological globe clock, floating above its pedestal, rings encircling it, held up and kept in motion by gravity magic. Lower still and close to the spray of the ocean are the slums, the lowest tier for the poorest people. Most of the houses are made of wood, worn and barnacle-encrusted. Tiny one room apartments are stacked on top of one another and the pathways to get around are as much ladders as rotting boardwalks. It is dangerous here, and anyone of obvious wealth might find themselves stripped of it very quickly if they decided to take a stroll.
  
  Spoiler: St Celeste Imperial rotunda, central to the palace

  
  Spoiler: St Celeste Main Square

  
  Spoiler: St Celeste Space Port

  
  Spoiler: St Celeste Slums

  
  Spoiler: St Celeste Central City

  
  
  The Imperial Academy of Thaumaturgy
  
  
  The Imperial Academy is on an island in the ocean one league (3.5 miles) off the coast of St. Celeste. It is an near self-sufficient establishment, having a small farm and orchard, forest and quarry. It is made of several stacked buildings, from the great hall to seperate classrooms, magical combat arenas, greenhouses and laboratories. Since the students arrive at a very young age the instructors also act as caretakers and mentors and often form close bonds with their classes. The students are trained not only in the magical arts, but also to tend the crops and animals, make small repairs, make and mend clothes and generally become self-sufficient members of society. They are also taught history, mathematics, geography, astrography and sciences. Children often manifest their magical abilities at age five and are sent to the academy from that age. Nobility can opt not to send their child to the school, in which case they will never develop their talents to their full potential. Private tutors cannot match the quality of instruction at the academy as no teachers are permitted to teach outside of it. Lowborn children who are gifted are forcibly taken from their homes, their families given meager compensation and forced to study at the academy until they have mastered their abilities. Most families are happy for their children to go, but there are some who hide their gifted children. These children can have a mild development of their talents, but are generally not as skilled as schooled thaumaturgists. There are alien species who can manifest these abilities and they are also permitted to study. Though they are not forcibly taken, they are often treated just as poorly as the students from poorer backgrounds.
  
  
  
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  The atmosphere is breathable, and most often a decent temperature, though it does tend to get a little chilly far away from any stars. The general atmosphere is life-sustaining for all creatures. It is also beautiful, with billions of twinkling stars, rainbow gas clouds of distant nebulas, spiraling galaxies and a plethora of very interesting rock or ice formations that no one seems to know much about. That being said there are also many dangers in space, black holes, supernovas, collapsing stars, asteroids, savage, space-roaming monsters. Plenty to keep the intrepid spacer on their toes.