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Ashton
Moon
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2018
Greetings!
I've been around for a while but this is the first time that I've really had the time to try and throw my own hat in the ring. This request is centered on a particular idea/setting that has been gnawing at me for a while that I'd like to play around with and build more on. The best way to do that is with the creative help of others and the exciting adventures that develop around whatever characters we create together. I'm predominately looking to run stories centered around female characters but the right male could work too. I'll just be fairly picky when it comes to males honestly. It doesn't matter to me what gender you really are either. I've got no problem running the full spectrum of genders and species so you can expect a wide variety of beings to interact with. As for where? Well, PM here on Blue Moon is definitely my preference. I think that covers the basics at least.
What I am looking for is a partner that wants to explore this setting and have some fantastical adventures within it. With a fair amount of sexy lewdness thrown in too. I can accommodate a wide range of possible characters. Treasure hunters, mercenaries, assassins, or heroic souls. Maybe you want to play a powerbroker looking to buy that artificial pleasure moon they've been eyeing in that catalog. Perhaps you'd like to take on the role of a noble in a Great House with mystical power at your fingertips and your own personal space yacht to travel in. There are so many options I could just go on and on with so I'll just leave it at that. I'd love to hear what kinds of characters you'd like to play. I would also be happy to hear ideas and such that you'd like to offer up. I've had a lot of time to dream up this setting but no one to share it with so that is what I'd love to do, so please if you are at all interested give me a shout.
So, as the title said I'm looking to do something within the universe that I'm calling the Perverse Verse, catchy isn't it? The short version is that it is a universe that has been struggling to recover from a very dark period in its history that has left its mark on everything that has come since. There are all the fantasy tropes that you love and love to hate. Usually with a different name and a bit different take than the more traditional variety. You can find advanced weapons, cybernetics, and spaceships all over but with the addition of demonic monsters and sparkle of magic. A dark and lusty undercurrent cuts through the universe though. One that has twisted and perverted many and daily threatens to overwhelm even the purest of heart. This isn't to say that it is casual sex-free for all but only that all the lovely sexy elements that we all love are just a natural part of things. You know, all those skimpy uniforms, outfits, and armor that really don't make a lot of sense in a practical way.
That is a pretty general run down with some artwork to help evoke the proper loose idea that I've got for the setting in the broadest terms possible. This isn't to say that everyone dresses like an exhibitionist and that there aren't more sensible armors and outfits, but just that there is nothing wrong with going a little crazy if you want with it. A license to be frisky and show it off if you've got it. Sex and danger go hand in hand were exploring an ancient tomb on a forgotten world could unearth wonderful treasure or unspeakable horrors. Sometimes those horrors want to fuck you before they devour you if you are into that kind of thing. It is a place where factions struggle for dominance in a shifting universe. Where a powerful mage or augmented super-soldier can turn an entire battle single-handedly. Where your allies have your back and more often than not are totally down to fuck. Even an enemy could turn into a lover under the right circumstances. It is all up to what we want to do with it, right?
Okay, this ended up going a bit longer than I expected it to but I hope at least some found it entertaining or intriguing enough to want to give it a shot.
Thank you!
I've been around for a while but this is the first time that I've really had the time to try and throw my own hat in the ring. This request is centered on a particular idea/setting that has been gnawing at me for a while that I'd like to play around with and build more on. The best way to do that is with the creative help of others and the exciting adventures that develop around whatever characters we create together. I'm predominately looking to run stories centered around female characters but the right male could work too. I'll just be fairly picky when it comes to males honestly. It doesn't matter to me what gender you really are either. I've got no problem running the full spectrum of genders and species so you can expect a wide variety of beings to interact with. As for where? Well, PM here on Blue Moon is definitely my preference. I think that covers the basics at least.
What I am looking for is a partner that wants to explore this setting and have some fantastical adventures within it. With a fair amount of sexy lewdness thrown in too. I can accommodate a wide range of possible characters. Treasure hunters, mercenaries, assassins, or heroic souls. Maybe you want to play a powerbroker looking to buy that artificial pleasure moon they've been eyeing in that catalog. Perhaps you'd like to take on the role of a noble in a Great House with mystical power at your fingertips and your own personal space yacht to travel in. There are so many options I could just go on and on with so I'll just leave it at that. I'd love to hear what kinds of characters you'd like to play. I would also be happy to hear ideas and such that you'd like to offer up. I've had a lot of time to dream up this setting but no one to share it with so that is what I'd love to do, so please if you are at all interested give me a shout.
To be honest, I've been around the block a few times and have built up a fair bit of experience roleplaying, writing, and storytelling during my 30+ years of doing it. I'm familiar with a lot of different systems and settings and draw inspiration from wherever I can find it. I don't like depending too much on system mechanics and whatnot anymore because it too often just bogs down the roleplay and distracts away from the story. I do my best to keep up with my partners and try and match or exceed their post length. It really depends on what is happening though. I'm usually pretty good about replies, but now and then I'll read a response, get completely sidetracked, and then forget that I've not responded. A good poke if you've not heard from me for more than a day will usually correct that oversight.
As for my preferences? Well, I'm pretty much open to all kinds of things from the weird, crazy, and nasty to the sweet loving, and adorable. I've got an F-List that breaks it down pretty well I think. This also has a different setting that I'm interested in based around the Infinity RPG by Modiphius Games. It is a pure science fiction setting without all the fantasy elements and the wider scope of what I'm trying to build here. So if you like what you see there and would rather explore that setting, just let me know and I'd be all too happy to do something with it.
As for my preferences? Well, I'm pretty much open to all kinds of things from the weird, crazy, and nasty to the sweet loving, and adorable. I've got an F-List that breaks it down pretty well I think. This also has a different setting that I'm interested in based around the Infinity RPG by Modiphius Games. It is a pure science fiction setting without all the fantasy elements and the wider scope of what I'm trying to build here. So if you like what you see there and would rather explore that setting, just let me know and I'd be all too happy to do something with it.
So, as the title said I'm looking to do something within the universe that I'm calling the Perverse Verse, catchy isn't it? The short version is that it is a universe that has been struggling to recover from a very dark period in its history that has left its mark on everything that has come since. There are all the fantasy tropes that you love and love to hate. Usually with a different name and a bit different take than the more traditional variety. You can find advanced weapons, cybernetics, and spaceships all over but with the addition of demonic monsters and sparkle of magic. A dark and lusty undercurrent cuts through the universe though. One that has twisted and perverted many and daily threatens to overwhelm even the purest of heart. This isn't to say that it is casual sex-free for all but only that all the lovely sexy elements that we all love are just a natural part of things. You know, all those skimpy uniforms, outfits, and armor that really don't make a lot of sense in a practical way.
That is a pretty general run down with some artwork to help evoke the proper loose idea that I've got for the setting in the broadest terms possible. This isn't to say that everyone dresses like an exhibitionist and that there aren't more sensible armors and outfits, but just that there is nothing wrong with going a little crazy if you want with it. A license to be frisky and show it off if you've got it. Sex and danger go hand in hand were exploring an ancient tomb on a forgotten world could unearth wonderful treasure or unspeakable horrors. Sometimes those horrors want to fuck you before they devour you if you are into that kind of thing. It is a place where factions struggle for dominance in a shifting universe. Where a powerful mage or augmented super-soldier can turn an entire battle single-handedly. Where your allies have your back and more often than not are totally down to fuck. Even an enemy could turn into a lover under the right circumstances. It is all up to what we want to do with it, right?
Here are three of the factions that I've been dreaming up with the most detail being given to the one that I've built everything else around. I'll also give a brief breakdown of three of the races that I think might scratch a few itches that people might have for character races and/or races they might like to play against.
Radiant Empire
The Radiant Empire, or just the Empire, has existed for a little over three thousand years and for the four thousand years before that, it was known as the Luminous Empire. This seven thousand stretch of history has allowed humanity to become the dominant power in at least a few galaxies before paranoia and fear caused it to consolidate its power in only one galaxy and leave the rest of its extensive territories in other parts of the universe to fend for themselves. They are a central part of the setting and filled with a mixture of high culture and unending decadence. They exploit other races and still support a limited form of slavery. It has a system of Nobles and Great Houses that hold a significant amount of the power within the Empire, more than enough as a group to keep the Emperor in check. These Nobles possess hereditary magical powers that grant them abilities similar to mages.
They are very much like the British Empire of the Colonial Period with a bit of the fashion sense to boot that ranges from Colonial to Victorian in its complexity and sophistication. Styles can range from scandalously risque to incredibly elaborate depending on the mood or function the person is attending. There are many of the worst traits of the period too with the elitism of the Nobels and the powerlessness of the commoners. It is hard for the common man or woman to get ahead but there are ways. The most recognized is as a Freelancer, someone who works for coin and favor in any number of capacities and is licensed and supported by a massive organization called the Exchange that is part universal bank, merchant guild, and mercenary contractor. These Freelancers are well known for their dashing figures, roguish good looks, and killer skills that keep them alive through their various adventures. They must adhere to the rules of the Exchange but as long as they do they gain access to several services and job boards that they can use to stay busy and earn a respectable living.
Various smaller nations and kingdoms make up parts of the Empire, and many of them are overseen by powerful Nobels. One of the largest, for example, is Avalon, which is like the Camalot of old with a heavy reliance on noble knights and sorcery for their strength. There are also more than a few member states that are far from loyal and have long since harbored a desire to break free of the Empire. The sheer size of their territory and ongoing wars of expansion keep the military busy with both internal and external threats. Tensions have begun to rise among the more powerful alien races as humanity tries to encroach on the ancestral homes of their people. Amid all of this, the sudden death of the Immortal Emperor has thrown the Empire into chaos. The man never established any kind of succession rules. He was incredibly old yet insanely powerful too and hadn't aged hardly at all since his transformation into one of the Empowered. So now various factions are looking to take over with several potential claimants to the throne all looking for a way to formalize their claim.
The Empire of the Eternal Throne
This is the chief rival of the Radiant Empire and as it probably sounds, is heavily Asian inspired much like Yu Jing from the Infinity setting. They are a heavily industrialized society that still maintains its ancient magical roots. The loyalist who splintered off from the Luminous Empire used their power and influence to cement their positions of authority over the government. It still honors the original Empress by naming one of her blood as Regent until the time comes that her line regains their hereditary power and can officially rule once more. In the meantime, the Five Clans rule from the shadows and use their impressive powers to keep their nation strong against their eternal enemy.
The entire region of space is filled with a melting pot of different Asian influences with probably a greater focus on Japanese over Chinese but there is no inner conflict between the different ethnic groups. It is easy to imagine a mixture of cyber ninjas and classical kunoichi jumping and running across rooftops to capture their prey. Tattooed crime figures holding court in their inner sanctum while holding a conversation with a holographic image of a state official that needs a delicate task handled. The Eternal Empire doesn't have the numbers to stand Empowered against Empowered even with intensive breeding programs to try and get more of their kind. So they must depend on their numerous commoners. They enhance them with cybernetics and dangerous genetic procedures. Deadly power armor is made available and predatory drones are built that can rip, shred, and lance their way through the enemy. All of this has made it difficult for the Radiant Empire to deal with the military of the Eternal Throne.
In the last millennium, there has been a steady shift in power that might be the only thing that saves the Radiant Empire from their enemy. The corporations have grown rich and powerful from the constant push for greater and greater technology. They hold many of the key industrial centers now and while the Clans have been overly focused on their bloodlines and other mages, the industrialist has been steadily gaining greater and greater influence across multiple fronts. What's more, there has been a steady increase in anti-mage sentiment among the commoners that have resulted in violent attacks and assassination attempts against Clan members. To further complicate matters, it appears that the sixth Clan, the Clan of Regents has suddenly regained its power up and down the different bloodlines.
The Infernal Courts
A different faction of Empowered came to be thanks to the meddling of members of the Luminous Empire. The Unbound fled to a different galaxy and made sure that their enemy could not follow. This gave them time to deal with their newfound freedom and try and make some kind of sense of who and what they now were. The original Unbound were never as numerous as the Empowered but it seemed that almost every single one of them was able to keep themselves from aging and in some cases, they could not only stop aging but reverse the aging process too. Some of their lots also began to transform in various ways, mostly with a slight shift in appearance towards the demonic. These changes also happened in those infected by them, which in those cases often resulted in more drastic and pronounced changes.
Their physical changes when combined with the shifts in their personality all led them to believe that they had become a new breed of monsters in the universe. They were free from what they thought of as demonic influence but that didn't mean they had not become Infernal. The majority of them embraced their new identities and began forming Courts of their infected followers. The strongest and more militant of the Unbound began infecting and conquering their new home while others established smaller Courts centered around whatever interests and abilities that they possessed. In the three thousand years since they've grown far more decadent and perverse than nearly anyone else. They have established their own culture and customers hammered together from old legends and stories. They've learned to harness their connection with the beings that once controlled them and now can summon demons to do their bidding. The Infernal Courts really are a demonic wonderland of sin and now it looks like the time is ripe for them to return to the galaxy they once called home.
The Unbound have at least managed to learn to control and contain their infectious state otherwise they'd make enemies wherever they went. Many still don't trust them and fear what they are capable of but there are still plenty of civilizations and species out there that are all too eager to trade and do business with the strangely alluring humans. This has brought them into contact with other functional galactic gates that they've been able to use to make inroads to territory once held by the Luminous Empire in other galaxies. The strange thing is that it looks like someone has reactivated those distant gates back home and now they can begin making small trips back home to determine if there is anything there to still fear.
The Elvari
You might be able to guess this one. Their space elves. They're not exactly an Elder race officially but they are old enough and equipped enough to fake it and who exactly is going to contradict them? I've got my own particular take on our favorite knife ears that break them down into subspecies along mostly ideological lines along with some physical differences. The first is the classic idea of a sun elf, the Solari (see what I did there? Very clever uh?). They are all about magic and strange magic-based technology that they use to augment themselves and their tools. Things like magical tattoos and markings. Potions and enchantments. Their haughty, smug, and all together pains in the ass to most non-elves. Their a popular slave race and ways have been found to turn their enchantments and markings against them. Branding them with things like a womb tattoo that can bind them to one person (or many) and allow for some fun tricks depending on what design is placed on their skin. As expected they do their best to keep nasty humans and Orsen (more on them in a bit) out of their space.
The second and most friendly subspecies, moon... I mean Lunari. These elves are very much into all things technology, especially nanotechnology. They diverged from their Solari cousins when they began to recognize the danger of relying on magic too much. So they made use of their keen curiosity and intellect to make use of other Elder technology that they still had access to and learned from it what they could. This has allowed them to become very proficient in a number of fields that they use to keep themselves safe from predatory species that might try and use them. They've gotten remarkably good at cloaking their ships and their persons from detection and can even phase/teleport through walls. This control over light and matter has also allowed them to make use of hardlight shields and weapons. When coupled with their long access to liquid metal, a form of nanite, they've been able to do some very devastating things to anyone who harms them. For this reason, they've been able to mostly remain free from harassment thanks to the fear of reprisal or simply not being able to find them.
The Onis
They are a mostly female race thanks to the fact that their so damn badass that their enemies tried to wipe them out with a bioengineered plague that targeted the males of their species. Think the Krogan from Mass Effect but they went after the males instead of the females, oh, and they look like Oni. The Orsen (their next, I promise!) were the ones responsible for the plague had plans for the females but never got the chance to see it through. Anyway, the species is supernaturally strong and tough. They've got a kind of healing factor that isn't quite as good as Wolverine or Deadpool but it's pretty damn impressive. They are a species born to fuck and fight. With copious drinking somewhere in there too. Their home planet is very hostile and pretty much follows the same idea. Everything wants to fuck you or eat you... or both. Even the plants. This has made them very good at staying alive and also very good at fucking since that is often a good way to deal with a threat while looking for an opportunity to kill it.
The men now are practically considered property of the strongest female, but she's often good about sharing as it is a sign of status to 'give' good genes to your allies. There are some males that aren't happy with this arrangement and turn the tables on the females and instead claim as many of them as they can manage, which often results in many fights for dominance along the way. As a species, they are very rapid breeders and the female can remain at peak performance till very late in the pregnancy, and then there is a last little growth spurt that finishes off the development so that they have a new baby Onis running around. As if that wasn't enough, the females have adapted to the lack of males by being able to now grow a dick. When they find a suitable female that would make a good match they go a little crazy and will try to subdue and impregnate her. More and more this has begun to happen with non-Onis as the species tries to adapt to all the new species they've been encountering since getting their hands on spaceships. Some idiots tried to invade. Oops.
The Orsen
These guys are one of the true Elder Races that became very good at genetic manipulation and the breeding of... well all kings of shit. There really aren't that many left thankfully. Unfortunately, there aren't many left to keep their servants in check. As the original Orsen began to decline, they depended more and more on their created servant races to keep their Consortium running. These are your typical green skins from orcs to goblins. The orcs are the front line face now of what is left of the Orsen. The males and females operate as enforcers and salesman/women depending on who they are dealing with. Adjustable pheromones tend to help smooth over negotiations. The goblins tend to the machines and ships left by their creators. They also come up with most of the strategies and business plans.
So, what is the Consortium? Well, I'm glad you asked! For millennia the Orsen has exploited everyone they've ever come across while traveling the stars. They've taken specimens for dissection and study. They've taken other races so they could breed more. They've created drugs to hook entire worlds on and designed plagues to infect those who don't want to buy their drugs. They'll of course sell the cure for a healthy chunk of your planet's gross domestic product. Entire worlds have been stripped of their populations to only be resold to some corporation in need of a workforce for that new mining colony they're setting up.
Then there are the entertainment channels. These vile creatures love to make monsters and unleash them on unfortunate worlds with ample camera drones around to record the raping and carnage the monster does. Their media networks have entire programs centered around the exploits of the lone horror systematically slaughtering whole cities. It isn't just a single monster either. They can engineer a zombie plague with all kinds of wagers and bets being brokered about body counts and such. Then they'll tweak the plague to make fuck zombies for their late-night viewers that want something special. Things just get worse if someone manages to defeat one of their creations. They then improve on the design and send a fresh one back in. They actually love it when their prey manages to defeat a few and drive up viewership as everyone turns in to see just how long whoever it is can manage to win.
Radiant Empire
The Radiant Empire, or just the Empire, has existed for a little over three thousand years and for the four thousand years before that, it was known as the Luminous Empire. This seven thousand stretch of history has allowed humanity to become the dominant power in at least a few galaxies before paranoia and fear caused it to consolidate its power in only one galaxy and leave the rest of its extensive territories in other parts of the universe to fend for themselves. They are a central part of the setting and filled with a mixture of high culture and unending decadence. They exploit other races and still support a limited form of slavery. It has a system of Nobles and Great Houses that hold a significant amount of the power within the Empire, more than enough as a group to keep the Emperor in check. These Nobles possess hereditary magical powers that grant them abilities similar to mages.
They are very much like the British Empire of the Colonial Period with a bit of the fashion sense to boot that ranges from Colonial to Victorian in its complexity and sophistication. Styles can range from scandalously risque to incredibly elaborate depending on the mood or function the person is attending. There are many of the worst traits of the period too with the elitism of the Nobels and the powerlessness of the commoners. It is hard for the common man or woman to get ahead but there are ways. The most recognized is as a Freelancer, someone who works for coin and favor in any number of capacities and is licensed and supported by a massive organization called the Exchange that is part universal bank, merchant guild, and mercenary contractor. These Freelancers are well known for their dashing figures, roguish good looks, and killer skills that keep them alive through their various adventures. They must adhere to the rules of the Exchange but as long as they do they gain access to several services and job boards that they can use to stay busy and earn a respectable living.
Various smaller nations and kingdoms make up parts of the Empire, and many of them are overseen by powerful Nobels. One of the largest, for example, is Avalon, which is like the Camalot of old with a heavy reliance on noble knights and sorcery for their strength. There are also more than a few member states that are far from loyal and have long since harbored a desire to break free of the Empire. The sheer size of their territory and ongoing wars of expansion keep the military busy with both internal and external threats. Tensions have begun to rise among the more powerful alien races as humanity tries to encroach on the ancestral homes of their people. Amid all of this, the sudden death of the Immortal Emperor has thrown the Empire into chaos. The man never established any kind of succession rules. He was incredibly old yet insanely powerful too and hadn't aged hardly at all since his transformation into one of the Empowered. So now various factions are looking to take over with several potential claimants to the throne all looking for a way to formalize their claim.
There is a lot of history here that you really don't have to read to play in this setting. This is just a lot of the details that I've got that set the stage and is there for those that want to dig in.
It all starts many thousands of years ago after a cataclysmic war that spanned several galaxies. The Elder races had spread far and wide and unlocked wonderous technology and fantastic magic. A few of the races even learned to combine the two in amazing and terrifying ways. As it always seems to happen, things eventually took a turn for the worse. History has lost the reason. Those of the Elder Races that are still around are shadows of their former selves. If any of their numbers still remember the way or the how they're not sharing. It boils down to two main factions that used everything they had learned and plenty of new developments to try and win. In the end, no one won and the universe entered a long period of darkness.
In that darkness, humanity managed to eventually return to the stars and began trying to rebuild what had been lost. Their numbers and tenacity put them ahead of the other races that were not so quick to recover. They knew enough to understand what had been lost and yearned to have that power again. The power of magic had been weakened and only a few could still wield its mighty power. With considerable effort and study, I might add. So a ship of explores went out to find a way to fix the issue. These were dedicated and intelligent people. Heroes really. They found what they needed much to their surprise. A world with a hidden temple that contained strange arcane devices and hummed with magical power. The captain of the expedition and her faithful officers managed to somehow trigger an infusion of power that swept through the entire ship and every man, woman, and child on board. This power changed their very DNA and granted these people magical power like that of the mages but even stronger and without a need for spells and whatnot. This power was limited though in its scope granting some the power to control and summon a single element while others gained more esoteric abilities.
This was how the Luminous Empire came to be.
Their newfound powers and abilities allowed them to return home and take control. They brought order to the chaos and light to the darkness. The people rallied to them and it did not take long for them to begin conquering other worlds. Some surrendered willingly while others fought against the tide. It didn't matter. None could stand against this new breed of mages. The Empowered. In time, they had formed a mighty Empire and brought stability to their corner of the galaxy. It also didn't take long for the Empowered to realize they weren't aging as quickly as everyone else. They also learned that the power they had was passed through the blood. An entire political system developed around these people and the families they created. Anyone with the same power was considered to be a part of that family which made it easier for them to keep the blood pure. These families grew strong and eventually became Great Houses with thousands of members in their extended families. The entire Empire prospered for four thousand years thanks to the guiding hands of the Empress and the Great Houses.
Things go a bit off track after those four thousand years. The Empire has reclaimed giant galactic gates that allow for travel between galaxies themselves. This has allowed them to expand far and wide and also encounter many other races both weak and powerful. There are even Elder Races with access to old yet still very powerful technology and magic that can pose a real threat to the humans of the Luminous Empire. Those early millenniums have also gone to their heads a bit and they've got a chip on their shoulder. I'd not go so far as to call them human supremest but they're pretty damn close, on average. The more exploitive-minded have long since given in to the inherent darkness of the universe and made most aliens potential slaves. This, of course, has been a boon and a bane for the Empire in their relations with others. Like old Roman themselves, they are all too happy to go conquering and enslaving their neighbors as they gobble up more and more territory. So those leads them to more and more often getting into trouble with these other aliens and it is only their Empowered who can really give them an edge in a lot of these engagements. Imagine being able to summon a spiritual construct that looks like an angel or a character from Fate to unleash hell on some green-skinned alien horde and you've got the right idea.
This leads to the Empire needing more Empowered, especially ones willing to fight. So a new expedition was formed to try and recreate the same thing that created the Empowered in the first place. This time loyal soldiers, killers, and champions were chosen to crew the vessel. There were a few great minds thrown into the mix. Intellectuals who were hoped would come out even greater than they were before so that they could devise new technology and magic to use against the enemies of the Empire. It was a gamble really and to everyone's surprise, they actually succeed... mostly.
Instead of the normal Empowered that they were expecting, these instead were bound to the darkness of the universe. They were given magical powers similar to the others had been but often twisted and vile in some way. They were frighteningly powerful. More so than regular Empowered and they were filled with hate and lust and all that was wicked in humanity's heart. One more little wrinkle was that instead of their power being passed through their children, they instead were infectious. The madness and power could spread to anyone normal who came into contact with them. They became monsters for an unseen power within the Universe that had been long since locked away back during the long war of the Elders. These.... horrors wanted chaos and blood. They wanted pleasure and pain and they above all wanted their freedom. These new Empowered were Bound to them and that cause. They went to war with the Luminous Empire because the Empress was key to that goal.
The Empress and the Empire's forces couldn't stop them. Only those directly loyal to an Empowered were safe from infection. There were plenty of soldiers who swore oaths to follow and obey their noble officers but that didn't protect the ordinary citizens. It didn't protect aliens either and there were a lot of those in the Empire too. The corruption worked differently in them. Transforming them into either horrible monsters or beautiful terrors. It granted them strange powers or unlocked old ones that still lingered in their genomes. The Horde was unstoppable and growing ever stronger with each passing day.
There were two plans for how to deal with the threat. The Empress favored one of hope while her closest friend and advisor pushed for unleashing their most potent magics that could snuff out the life on entire worlds at a time. The Empress could not accept the death of billions of people to stop the Horde so instead, she sacrificed her power and the power of her very bloodline to enact a powerful ritual that shattered the power holding the Bound to the dark entities and gave them their freedom. With their freedom, they got back their sanity and their ability to withdraw from the war their previous masters had forced on them. They still were not the people they once were but now they were only tainted by the darkness instead of consumed by it.
Victor, the Empress's advisor, couldn't allow these abominations to go on living. The man had been at her side since the founding of the Empire thanks to his connection to the Empress and her most loyal followers. It made him all but immortal but now the Empress was all but powerless. So he struck her down and took over the Empire from her. His first act was to declare the Unbound to be Anathema and marked each and everyone for death. The new Emperor unleashed powerful magic against them and anyone nearby. Entire worlds were left devoid of sentient life all to deny more converts to the Unbound. It was a quick and bloody war but the Unbound out of respect for the former Empress retreated beyond a galactic gate and then destroyed the one on their side to keep pursuit from following. It would take five centuries without a gate to travel the distance between galaxies so it was the easiest way to end the war.
The death of the beloved Empress and the short but brutal war with the Bound then Unbound greatly weakened the Luminous Empire. The newly crowned Emperor consolidated as much of the Empire as he could within its home galaxy. The people were given a chance to return home but eventually, he shut down each of the galactic gates within his territory to keep the Unbound from finding a way to return. The home systems of the former Empress rebelled and formed their own Empire, the Empire of the Eternal Throne in her memory. There were too many loyalists that switched sides and the Emperor was in no position to engage in a civil war. So he let them be and instead focused on consolidating his new 'Radiant' Empire with plans to deal with the traitors later.
Three thousand years later and the Eternal Empire still stands, stronger than ever.
It all starts many thousands of years ago after a cataclysmic war that spanned several galaxies. The Elder races had spread far and wide and unlocked wonderous technology and fantastic magic. A few of the races even learned to combine the two in amazing and terrifying ways. As it always seems to happen, things eventually took a turn for the worse. History has lost the reason. Those of the Elder Races that are still around are shadows of their former selves. If any of their numbers still remember the way or the how they're not sharing. It boils down to two main factions that used everything they had learned and plenty of new developments to try and win. In the end, no one won and the universe entered a long period of darkness.
In that darkness, humanity managed to eventually return to the stars and began trying to rebuild what had been lost. Their numbers and tenacity put them ahead of the other races that were not so quick to recover. They knew enough to understand what had been lost and yearned to have that power again. The power of magic had been weakened and only a few could still wield its mighty power. With considerable effort and study, I might add. So a ship of explores went out to find a way to fix the issue. These were dedicated and intelligent people. Heroes really. They found what they needed much to their surprise. A world with a hidden temple that contained strange arcane devices and hummed with magical power. The captain of the expedition and her faithful officers managed to somehow trigger an infusion of power that swept through the entire ship and every man, woman, and child on board. This power changed their very DNA and granted these people magical power like that of the mages but even stronger and without a need for spells and whatnot. This power was limited though in its scope granting some the power to control and summon a single element while others gained more esoteric abilities.
This was how the Luminous Empire came to be.
Their newfound powers and abilities allowed them to return home and take control. They brought order to the chaos and light to the darkness. The people rallied to them and it did not take long for them to begin conquering other worlds. Some surrendered willingly while others fought against the tide. It didn't matter. None could stand against this new breed of mages. The Empowered. In time, they had formed a mighty Empire and brought stability to their corner of the galaxy. It also didn't take long for the Empowered to realize they weren't aging as quickly as everyone else. They also learned that the power they had was passed through the blood. An entire political system developed around these people and the families they created. Anyone with the same power was considered to be a part of that family which made it easier for them to keep the blood pure. These families grew strong and eventually became Great Houses with thousands of members in their extended families. The entire Empire prospered for four thousand years thanks to the guiding hands of the Empress and the Great Houses.
Things go a bit off track after those four thousand years. The Empire has reclaimed giant galactic gates that allow for travel between galaxies themselves. This has allowed them to expand far and wide and also encounter many other races both weak and powerful. There are even Elder Races with access to old yet still very powerful technology and magic that can pose a real threat to the humans of the Luminous Empire. Those early millenniums have also gone to their heads a bit and they've got a chip on their shoulder. I'd not go so far as to call them human supremest but they're pretty damn close, on average. The more exploitive-minded have long since given in to the inherent darkness of the universe and made most aliens potential slaves. This, of course, has been a boon and a bane for the Empire in their relations with others. Like old Roman themselves, they are all too happy to go conquering and enslaving their neighbors as they gobble up more and more territory. So those leads them to more and more often getting into trouble with these other aliens and it is only their Empowered who can really give them an edge in a lot of these engagements. Imagine being able to summon a spiritual construct that looks like an angel or a character from Fate to unleash hell on some green-skinned alien horde and you've got the right idea.
This leads to the Empire needing more Empowered, especially ones willing to fight. So a new expedition was formed to try and recreate the same thing that created the Empowered in the first place. This time loyal soldiers, killers, and champions were chosen to crew the vessel. There were a few great minds thrown into the mix. Intellectuals who were hoped would come out even greater than they were before so that they could devise new technology and magic to use against the enemies of the Empire. It was a gamble really and to everyone's surprise, they actually succeed... mostly.
Instead of the normal Empowered that they were expecting, these instead were bound to the darkness of the universe. They were given magical powers similar to the others had been but often twisted and vile in some way. They were frighteningly powerful. More so than regular Empowered and they were filled with hate and lust and all that was wicked in humanity's heart. One more little wrinkle was that instead of their power being passed through their children, they instead were infectious. The madness and power could spread to anyone normal who came into contact with them. They became monsters for an unseen power within the Universe that had been long since locked away back during the long war of the Elders. These.... horrors wanted chaos and blood. They wanted pleasure and pain and they above all wanted their freedom. These new Empowered were Bound to them and that cause. They went to war with the Luminous Empire because the Empress was key to that goal.
The Empress and the Empire's forces couldn't stop them. Only those directly loyal to an Empowered were safe from infection. There were plenty of soldiers who swore oaths to follow and obey their noble officers but that didn't protect the ordinary citizens. It didn't protect aliens either and there were a lot of those in the Empire too. The corruption worked differently in them. Transforming them into either horrible monsters or beautiful terrors. It granted them strange powers or unlocked old ones that still lingered in their genomes. The Horde was unstoppable and growing ever stronger with each passing day.
There were two plans for how to deal with the threat. The Empress favored one of hope while her closest friend and advisor pushed for unleashing their most potent magics that could snuff out the life on entire worlds at a time. The Empress could not accept the death of billions of people to stop the Horde so instead, she sacrificed her power and the power of her very bloodline to enact a powerful ritual that shattered the power holding the Bound to the dark entities and gave them their freedom. With their freedom, they got back their sanity and their ability to withdraw from the war their previous masters had forced on them. They still were not the people they once were but now they were only tainted by the darkness instead of consumed by it.
Victor, the Empress's advisor, couldn't allow these abominations to go on living. The man had been at her side since the founding of the Empire thanks to his connection to the Empress and her most loyal followers. It made him all but immortal but now the Empress was all but powerless. So he struck her down and took over the Empire from her. His first act was to declare the Unbound to be Anathema and marked each and everyone for death. The new Emperor unleashed powerful magic against them and anyone nearby. Entire worlds were left devoid of sentient life all to deny more converts to the Unbound. It was a quick and bloody war but the Unbound out of respect for the former Empress retreated beyond a galactic gate and then destroyed the one on their side to keep pursuit from following. It would take five centuries without a gate to travel the distance between galaxies so it was the easiest way to end the war.
The death of the beloved Empress and the short but brutal war with the Bound then Unbound greatly weakened the Luminous Empire. The newly crowned Emperor consolidated as much of the Empire as he could within its home galaxy. The people were given a chance to return home but eventually, he shut down each of the galactic gates within his territory to keep the Unbound from finding a way to return. The home systems of the former Empress rebelled and formed their own Empire, the Empire of the Eternal Throne in her memory. There were too many loyalists that switched sides and the Emperor was in no position to engage in a civil war. So he let them be and instead focused on consolidating his new 'Radiant' Empire with plans to deal with the traitors later.
Three thousand years later and the Eternal Empire still stands, stronger than ever.
The Empire of the Eternal Throne
This is the chief rival of the Radiant Empire and as it probably sounds, is heavily Asian inspired much like Yu Jing from the Infinity setting. They are a heavily industrialized society that still maintains its ancient magical roots. The loyalist who splintered off from the Luminous Empire used their power and influence to cement their positions of authority over the government. It still honors the original Empress by naming one of her blood as Regent until the time comes that her line regains their hereditary power and can officially rule once more. In the meantime, the Five Clans rule from the shadows and use their impressive powers to keep their nation strong against their eternal enemy.
The entire region of space is filled with a melting pot of different Asian influences with probably a greater focus on Japanese over Chinese but there is no inner conflict between the different ethnic groups. It is easy to imagine a mixture of cyber ninjas and classical kunoichi jumping and running across rooftops to capture their prey. Tattooed crime figures holding court in their inner sanctum while holding a conversation with a holographic image of a state official that needs a delicate task handled. The Eternal Empire doesn't have the numbers to stand Empowered against Empowered even with intensive breeding programs to try and get more of their kind. So they must depend on their numerous commoners. They enhance them with cybernetics and dangerous genetic procedures. Deadly power armor is made available and predatory drones are built that can rip, shred, and lance their way through the enemy. All of this has made it difficult for the Radiant Empire to deal with the military of the Eternal Throne.
In the last millennium, there has been a steady shift in power that might be the only thing that saves the Radiant Empire from their enemy. The corporations have grown rich and powerful from the constant push for greater and greater technology. They hold many of the key industrial centers now and while the Clans have been overly focused on their bloodlines and other mages, the industrialist has been steadily gaining greater and greater influence across multiple fronts. What's more, there has been a steady increase in anti-mage sentiment among the commoners that have resulted in violent attacks and assassination attempts against Clan members. To further complicate matters, it appears that the sixth Clan, the Clan of Regents has suddenly regained its power up and down the different bloodlines.
The Infernal Courts
A different faction of Empowered came to be thanks to the meddling of members of the Luminous Empire. The Unbound fled to a different galaxy and made sure that their enemy could not follow. This gave them time to deal with their newfound freedom and try and make some kind of sense of who and what they now were. The original Unbound were never as numerous as the Empowered but it seemed that almost every single one of them was able to keep themselves from aging and in some cases, they could not only stop aging but reverse the aging process too. Some of their lots also began to transform in various ways, mostly with a slight shift in appearance towards the demonic. These changes also happened in those infected by them, which in those cases often resulted in more drastic and pronounced changes.
Their physical changes when combined with the shifts in their personality all led them to believe that they had become a new breed of monsters in the universe. They were free from what they thought of as demonic influence but that didn't mean they had not become Infernal. The majority of them embraced their new identities and began forming Courts of their infected followers. The strongest and more militant of the Unbound began infecting and conquering their new home while others established smaller Courts centered around whatever interests and abilities that they possessed. In the three thousand years since they've grown far more decadent and perverse than nearly anyone else. They have established their own culture and customers hammered together from old legends and stories. They've learned to harness their connection with the beings that once controlled them and now can summon demons to do their bidding. The Infernal Courts really are a demonic wonderland of sin and now it looks like the time is ripe for them to return to the galaxy they once called home.
The Unbound have at least managed to learn to control and contain their infectious state otherwise they'd make enemies wherever they went. Many still don't trust them and fear what they are capable of but there are still plenty of civilizations and species out there that are all too eager to trade and do business with the strangely alluring humans. This has brought them into contact with other functional galactic gates that they've been able to use to make inroads to territory once held by the Luminous Empire in other galaxies. The strange thing is that it looks like someone has reactivated those distant gates back home and now they can begin making small trips back home to determine if there is anything there to still fear.
The Elvari
You might be able to guess this one. Their space elves. They're not exactly an Elder race officially but they are old enough and equipped enough to fake it and who exactly is going to contradict them? I've got my own particular take on our favorite knife ears that break them down into subspecies along mostly ideological lines along with some physical differences. The first is the classic idea of a sun elf, the Solari (see what I did there? Very clever uh?). They are all about magic and strange magic-based technology that they use to augment themselves and their tools. Things like magical tattoos and markings. Potions and enchantments. Their haughty, smug, and all together pains in the ass to most non-elves. Their a popular slave race and ways have been found to turn their enchantments and markings against them. Branding them with things like a womb tattoo that can bind them to one person (or many) and allow for some fun tricks depending on what design is placed on their skin. As expected they do their best to keep nasty humans and Orsen (more on them in a bit) out of their space.
The second and most friendly subspecies, moon... I mean Lunari. These elves are very much into all things technology, especially nanotechnology. They diverged from their Solari cousins when they began to recognize the danger of relying on magic too much. So they made use of their keen curiosity and intellect to make use of other Elder technology that they still had access to and learned from it what they could. This has allowed them to become very proficient in a number of fields that they use to keep themselves safe from predatory species that might try and use them. They've gotten remarkably good at cloaking their ships and their persons from detection and can even phase/teleport through walls. This control over light and matter has also allowed them to make use of hardlight shields and weapons. When coupled with their long access to liquid metal, a form of nanite, they've been able to do some very devastating things to anyone who harms them. For this reason, they've been able to mostly remain free from harassment thanks to the fear of reprisal or simply not being able to find them.
The Onis
They are a mostly female race thanks to the fact that their so damn badass that their enemies tried to wipe them out with a bioengineered plague that targeted the males of their species. Think the Krogan from Mass Effect but they went after the males instead of the females, oh, and they look like Oni. The Orsen (their next, I promise!) were the ones responsible for the plague had plans for the females but never got the chance to see it through. Anyway, the species is supernaturally strong and tough. They've got a kind of healing factor that isn't quite as good as Wolverine or Deadpool but it's pretty damn impressive. They are a species born to fuck and fight. With copious drinking somewhere in there too. Their home planet is very hostile and pretty much follows the same idea. Everything wants to fuck you or eat you... or both. Even the plants. This has made them very good at staying alive and also very good at fucking since that is often a good way to deal with a threat while looking for an opportunity to kill it.
The men now are practically considered property of the strongest female, but she's often good about sharing as it is a sign of status to 'give' good genes to your allies. There are some males that aren't happy with this arrangement and turn the tables on the females and instead claim as many of them as they can manage, which often results in many fights for dominance along the way. As a species, they are very rapid breeders and the female can remain at peak performance till very late in the pregnancy, and then there is a last little growth spurt that finishes off the development so that they have a new baby Onis running around. As if that wasn't enough, the females have adapted to the lack of males by being able to now grow a dick. When they find a suitable female that would make a good match they go a little crazy and will try to subdue and impregnate her. More and more this has begun to happen with non-Onis as the species tries to adapt to all the new species they've been encountering since getting their hands on spaceships. Some idiots tried to invade. Oops.
The Orsen
These guys are one of the true Elder Races that became very good at genetic manipulation and the breeding of... well all kings of shit. There really aren't that many left thankfully. Unfortunately, there aren't many left to keep their servants in check. As the original Orsen began to decline, they depended more and more on their created servant races to keep their Consortium running. These are your typical green skins from orcs to goblins. The orcs are the front line face now of what is left of the Orsen. The males and females operate as enforcers and salesman/women depending on who they are dealing with. Adjustable pheromones tend to help smooth over negotiations. The goblins tend to the machines and ships left by their creators. They also come up with most of the strategies and business plans.
So, what is the Consortium? Well, I'm glad you asked! For millennia the Orsen has exploited everyone they've ever come across while traveling the stars. They've taken specimens for dissection and study. They've taken other races so they could breed more. They've created drugs to hook entire worlds on and designed plagues to infect those who don't want to buy their drugs. They'll of course sell the cure for a healthy chunk of your planet's gross domestic product. Entire worlds have been stripped of their populations to only be resold to some corporation in need of a workforce for that new mining colony they're setting up.
Then there are the entertainment channels. These vile creatures love to make monsters and unleash them on unfortunate worlds with ample camera drones around to record the raping and carnage the monster does. Their media networks have entire programs centered around the exploits of the lone horror systematically slaughtering whole cities. It isn't just a single monster either. They can engineer a zombie plague with all kinds of wagers and bets being brokered about body counts and such. Then they'll tweak the plague to make fuck zombies for their late-night viewers that want something special. Things just get worse if someone manages to defeat one of their creations. They then improve on the design and send a fresh one back in. They actually love it when their prey manages to defeat a few and drive up viewership as everyone turns in to see just how long whoever it is can manage to win.
Okay, this ended up going a bit longer than I expected it to but I hope at least some found it entertaining or intriguing enough to want to give it a shot.
Thank you!