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Post by bridgekeeper3 on Aug 14, 2015 18:59:51 GMT -6
The waves crash against the jagged volcanic rocks, the wind howling and whistling in the perpetual twilight. In the distance, on a hill sits the grand observatory which looms like a shadow across the sky. Various holy men silently gather on the coast just outside the walls of the space port as they pay homage to the passing of both a first watcher and an era. Among their number are the tech priests who traveled far and wide from the various cities, away from their monitors and networks of wiring. After the tech priests came the tinkers, holy men and women who spent their days cloistered in isolation as they experimented on new gadgets. The farm overseers came next and then at last the Watchers, who marched from grand observatory with the body of the First Watcher. The Watchers had to be clad head to toe in robes to hide their pale and near skeletal forms. Scars and various surgical implants dotted the thin bodies of the watchers, their eyes devoid of emotion which are wisely hidden by the shadow of their hoods. The Watchers whisper long chains of numbers in unison as they carry the body of the First Watcher. The chains of numbers seem to merge with the wind as The Watchers approach. Some of the priests feel shivers crawl up their spines, but they can't admit their feelings among the devout. The numbers get louder and louder as the watchers slowly appear over the hill. Eventually The Watchers get close enough to where they get illuminated by the lights of the space port and their true forms are almost revealed. The body of the First Watcher is laid down on the rocks, the ceremony is finally able to start. The holy men chant the song of earth and the gates immediately open, The Watchers turn around and return to their precious observatory. The body is carried into the port and loaded onto the newly constructed ship sitting on the magnetic launch ramp. The launch ramp is raised as both holy men and spectators gather to witness it. The launch ramp hums before the massive ship quickly zooms off the ramp in a massive boom that shakes the ground and cracks windows. The ship leaves a trail of mist as it exits the atmosphere.
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Post by bridgekeeper3 on Sept 12, 2015 17:56:40 GMT -6
In the grand observatory, leaders from all over the planet gather to discuss the military actions on Astrea. Just over 20 years ago these leaders were merely tech priests and crusaders who led the enlightenment. Now the leaders bicker over the terms of the cosmic treaty that was signed to end the holy wars of yesteryear. The treaty forbade military action on sacred ground, which included all of sagan and earth (when it is found).
"Dissolve the armies, we cannot go against our holy vow" says the governor of Erminor
"You know as well as I do, there are demons who stand in the way of our pilgrimage" says the head of farms "and they are merely obstacles, we can't abandon our virtues over a few obstacles'
"and those 'few obstacles' have killed dozens of our people"
The room is soon filled with rambling words and petty accusations of passivity or war mongering. Some remain silent while others tear into their fellow governors. The debates get more and more heated until they devolve into shouting matches, none of the leaders willing to backing down. Suddenly the doors fling open as temple guards dressed head to toe in ornamented armor march in armed with resonance rifles. The guards surround the meeting before standing at attention. The room grows quiet before a common servant droid, resembling a transparent fluid filled ball, rolls into the hall. The droid stops before slowly warping it's shape to vaguely resemble a podium. The thing fills itself with air as the council watches in confusion. The "podium" slowly bulges at the top with a bubble of air until it forms a shape vaguely resembling a head. The podium expands as it forms a cavity of air. The droid slightly deflates itself which lets out a slow moan that turns into a inhuman voice.
"what is the meaning of this" says a governor
The thing lets out a slow, high pitched hiss before it speaks in a low, gurgling voice.
"ssssooorrrry.... caaannnn't aaatttend, oooonneee moooment"
The thing lets out several groans that vary in pitch, almost like a musical scale before it resumes speaking.
"This is Arch Paladin Gunther of Astrea, leader of the crusaders of Nas," The droid says in a nearly human voice.
"funny you arrived, we were actually discussing your continued existence," says Maxis, Head of Tinkerers The thing soon bellows and lets out a crude imitation of laughter.
"sorry, always wanted to try that, ah Maxis, how's your order of baldies and little girls"
"already resorting to insults, typical of a brute," Maxis says. "say that again and I'm dropping a rock on your sector," the droid says. "hey watch your place paladin, you can't threaten us, you serve us," one of the governors of the factory farms says.
"I serve no one but the first watcher and voyag"
"he's dead" one of the governors say in confusion.
Those words seem to give the paladin pause as the droid remains silent.
"what do you mean"
"I mean he's dead, the first watchers been dead"
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Post by bridgekeeper3 on Sept 23, 2015 2:46:39 GMT -6
It was a frenzied morning on the eve of the hive attack, crowds of enraged and frightened citizens storm the streets with many being trampled. Many are angry at the church, others at the cosmos for allowing demons to swarm out of the void. For some, the only escape is fervent prayer that their gods will save them as they flock to their cathedrals to pay homage. Among the carnage stands a preacher who shouts at the top of her lungs.
"nas has punished us for our wickedness, shame the whores and the beggars, shame the heretics who sit atop the golden observatory and shame us for our passivity, The demons shall cleanse the world and nas will remake the world, come my brothers and sisters, drink the nectar of the abyss and be claimed in nas' ever loving arms..."
The nectar left hundreds dead in ritual suicides throughout the nation. While the various towering factory farms and city streets of sagan were being torn apart in mass panic, the moon was silent. Communications from astrea had ceased since a small exodus in the moon a month ago. Many in the council continue to argue and bicker, the watchers remaining silent with their word no longer infallible. The council once formed to unite the pilgrims of nas had now become the center point of it's division. No one in the council agreed on the course of action, much less the actual problem to address. In the end, no matter what anyone in the council could do, their plans are impotent at best as the military no longer listens to them and the crowd outside wants their head. Rumors abound of the arch paladin's plans on the moon, some say he will save the day but others say that he has already betrayed them, especially as the few interplanetary ships on sagan have mysteriously disappeared.
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Post by Admin on Sept 25, 2015 18:48:26 GMT -6
Modmark
Desperation.
Sagan burned, overwhelmed by the bugs as millions of fellow citizens and observers died. The priesthood of Nas was in tatters, with only the skeletal remains of the government able to escape the carnage below. Suicides skyrocketed, people felt that it was the end of days. Could even the Arch Paladin stop such vicious hunger and such great numbers? Something had to be done, the surviving Paladins and Priests knew. Taking action, any action, would give the refugees hope and purpose to distract them from the despair they felt. Among them were some of the greatest soldiers, scientists and industrialists in the galaxy, hope was not yet lost. The question was simply which course of action to take.
War, many of the Paladins argued. Their forces were still strong. Emergency conscription and confiscation of supplies could give them enough to fight back and retake Sagan from the bug monsters. The entire society of the refugees could be reorganized for the single purpose of destruction. It would be a hard fight, but their zeal and skill would bring victory in the end. Naturally the Arch Paladin would lead them, he had the military skill and knowledge to lead the people out of the danger they were in.
Flight, others suggested. The priests had always followed the stars, they could also be a refuge. Using all the industry and resources left they could construct a massive, spacefaring worldship - an enormous arcology that could transport millions of people across the void of space. It was a ridiculously audacious project that even great civilizations would scarcely contemplate, but now the Pilgrims had lost the shackles of profit and feasibility - if they threw themselves into the effort, they could do it.
Adapt, a group of paladins and watchers recommended. Play the long game. They could devote their resources to genetic engineering and efficient terraforming, allowing them to adapt to seemingly inhospitable worlds. Thus fortified, they could turn Astrea (and other uninhabitable planets) into a power base from which to operate. It would mean extensive modifications, but they would survive as a people.
Perseverance many more faithful priests declared. Their society was strong and always had been. Voyag would not be brought down by a horde of monstrous insects. If everyone pooled their resources they could make enough to survive for some time, perhaps long enough to negotiate, fight, or seek allies.
-------------------------------------------------- The Choice
War Mobilize the refugees to fight to the last man. -- The Pilgrims of Nas switch from a theocracy to Military Rule -- The Pilgrims of Nas gain 2 additional armies -- All Pilgrim armies gain an additional positive trait -- Pilgrims of Nas gain a general or admiral agent.
Flight The Pilgrims flee into the stars. -- Pilgrims of Nas develop the unique trait: Starfarers -- Pilgrims of Nas gain 2 terrestrial tier Worldship free. -- Pilgrims of Nas gain 1 warship blueprint -- Astrea is abandoned.
Starfarers - your people roam the stars in great spaceships. -- Pilgrims of Nas can build Worldships. These ships are more vulnerable than normal sectors but are mobile, can jump between systems, and can function as warships. -- Each worldship is a massive spaceship that provides the benefits of a sector (Terrestrial, Orbital or System). The cost of a worldship is equal to the cost of the sector it provides (plus blueprint costs, if used). Worldships still follow system support rules, you must have at least 4 terrestrial tier worldships in a fleet to support an orbital tier worldship without penalties, etc. -- Worldships MAY act as warships and use warships templates. Terrestrial Tier sectors act as carriers (7 slots), Orbital as Battleships (9 slots) and System as Titans (12 slots). -- Founding a Sector on any planet, habitable or not, incurs the uninhabitable maintenance penalties
Adapt Your people choose to adapt to new and potentially hostile worlds. -- Astrea is instantly terraformed and becomes habitable -- Pilgrims of Nas develop the unique trait Hostile Adaptation
Hostile Adaptation - Through extensive gene mods and terraforming technology your people have mastered the art of changing worlds. -- Terraforming is now an Orbital Tier action instead of a System tier. -- Terraforming now terraforms 2 sectors a turn instead of 1. -- Terraforming now costs 25 Industry and 15 Credits a sector. -- You may terraform worlds to be Adapted, making them habitable to the Pilgrims of Nas, but uninhabitable to any other faction.
Persevere You gather your resources and plan your next move. -- Pilgrims of Nas gain 25 Credits and 5 Science -- Pilgrims of Nas have 30 Industry for Turn 8 only.
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Post by bridgekeeper3 on Sept 28, 2015 14:30:53 GMT -6
Losing hope for his planet, arch paladin Gunther carried out his desperate plan to preserve at least a fraction of his people. They unveiled a secret project and took to the stars in a great world ship but abandoned most of the population to the mercy of the bugs. Without a strong military presence to combat the bugs, the remaining people of sagan ultimately submitted to the bugs deal. Now a bitter split has formed among the survivors of sagan, those who fled were seen as cowards following an oath breaker while those who stayed behind are viewed as heretics. Faith in Nas has faltered among those who stayed behind, former tech priests now turn their worship to their bug overlords.
For those who left
-Flight: The lucky ones fled on a worldship and left the system.
For those who stayed
-Submit: the ones who survived the onslaught but couldn't escape submitted to the hive's bargain and more. Most of those who stayed behind now serve the hive in massive cults bent on feeding the infinite hunger of the bugs. Some of these survivors set out to other worlds and kidnap various people to be fed to the hive.
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Post by Admin on Nov 3, 2015 17:31:10 GMT -6
REVOLUTION IN NAS
Revolution, civil war, strife. Union organizers from the RWU moved swiftly preaching the goals of unionization, liberty, and equality. Although Syndicalism was unheard of among the Faithful of Nas, the unionizers took advantage of public distaste for martial law and the Paladin's policies. The majority of two worldships embraced union membership and rose up in arms against the Paladin's guards. Loyalists and the military rose up in response. Nas would be a warzone once again until one side was victorious.
SUMMARY 1 Industrial and 1 Commercial worldship UNIONIZED by RWU Comrade Nolwazi, Comrade Gretyly and Comrade Jensen all gain the trait Team Players: gain a bonus to attempts when working with other agents, but receive a penalty when working alone. Comrade Xiaoyu is killed in action (beaten to death by an opposing crowd) The Watcher faction and the Paladin faction are in civil war. You may choose which faction to support - the other one will become an NPC faction opposing you.
The Watcher faction controls 1 Industrial and 1 commercial worldship is supported by the RWU has 3 Armies with [Infantry X, Untrained trait (penalty to all rolls)]
The Paladin faction controls 1 Industrial worldship controls the 1st talon of Nas army controls all Nas warships has holdouts on other worldships allowing them to move soldiers and units.
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Post by bridgekeeper3 on Nov 4, 2015 3:59:36 GMT -6
"First there are bugs that steal our home and murder our people, now there are these damn welps undermining what little our proud people have left" Gunther said as he pounds the table.
Arch Paladin Gunther had become withered and bitter, his time in charge of the fleet had left him with the bearing and appearance of a old man. The Paladin was in the company of the four advisers he didn't order imprisoned, who silently watch him in terror. In the twilight years of his reign, Gunther had instituted horrific policies against the unions sympathizers and eventually all non humans. Gunther, once known as "hero of nas, savior of humanity" was now known as "the coward" and "the petty" to many of the disenfranchised. The Paladins, also known as "the order of the enlightened promise" claim to uphold tradition and defend the people of nas against threats posed by all aliens. The opposition against Gunther was disorganized, with various groups of different ideologies fighting under one banner. Adamant unionists formed the bulk of the watcher faction while those supporting a return to theocracy proved a loud minority. Leadership was something hotly disputed among the watchers, but the resistance had powerful figureheads such as Observer Sile Var Reis and the humble tech priest Zondark. Sile planned on remaking the nation on union ideals but guided by the infallible will of the observers. Zondark wanted his nation to follow Nas' original tenets of discovery and invention while placing the great machine and its human computer chips back in power.
OOC: I'll play the watchers
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Post by bridgekeeper3 on Dec 11, 2015 16:47:44 GMT -6
In the wake of the revolution, many were uncertain of what the future may hold. The conflicting ideologies of the revolution are now in an open struggle for control over the revived nation. The Tinkers had a major political victory after successfully saving millions of lives from the paladin's half baked attempt at glory. The defeat of the loyalists meant the end of an era, the paladin order was left in shambles with the remaining members being tried for war crimes. Secretly, the tinkers got to work on a replacement for the paladins along with the previously destroyed watchers, something that would cement their hold on the people of nas. Meanwhile, the observers frenzied their supporters to punish the counter revolution as mock trials were carried out against Gunther's sympathizers. The choice that was given to most of the loyalists was either exile or submission, exile really being a glorified execution by airlock.
Uncertainty was even greater as a foreign force invaded the system the people's fleet was moored at.
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Post by bridgekeeper3 on Dec 16, 2015 21:52:11 GMT -6
It was silent as the fires of the revolution began to die down. The only bodies left on the street were leftovers from the harsh judgements of the observers, displayed as a cruel banner of victory. In the hall of history on board the newly constructed people's cathedral, Sarbon and the last of Gunther's court await their executions. Sarbon waited with his hands bound, praying to the god of the cosmos for forgiveness as a figure dressed in a techpriest's frock approaches from the shadows. Sarbon lowered his head, expecting the barbarians to make a spectacle of his death in front of Nas itself. "What do you wish of me, hmm, the guillotine, a simple knot for a long death for the crowds to throw trash at me as I choke, or do you merely want something bloody and brutal to satisfy the animals of your revolution," Sarbon said in disgust.
"I do not come to punish you," said the mysterious figure.
"really, you barbarians had already butchered the young and the old, you didn't even spare my personal nurse, I watched as your kind ejected them into the cold abyss. I saw your revolution tear children apart for following orders, yet you let me and the rest of the court, the ones who orchestrated all the violence live among the gods but out of sight from the prying eyes of the public"
"I would gladly watch you burn for following such a coward as he conspired to kill countless people, even those who swore loyalty to him just to spite the RWU" "then what are you waiting for, watch my blood boil, send me out into the abyss and get it over with," Sarbon begged.
"no, I'm not here for that, you know who I am or at least what I am, yes"
A chill slowly crept up Sarbon's spine, an almost unmistakable stench lingered with the figure as it drew closer. Sarbon backed away as the figure drew ever closer and revealed itself in the light, one of them. Gunther was right to fear their infiltration, the talk of bug worshiping humans wasn't the invention of a madman justifying tyranny after all. The figure was tall, far taller than any human born on a worldship and far less lanky as well. The figure took off it's hood to reveal itself as a strikingly beautiful woman, a woman who reeked of the hive. Everything about the creature in front of him was wrong, he already knew what let her become so healthy.
"the hive, you are the hive but how," he asked in a confused yet terrified voice.
"Our founder was one of the betrayed and he of his own volition came to the worldships to convert those following the false god"
"and just what could you possibly want with me, oh wait let me guess you want me to join you is that it"
The woman tilted her head and slowly got down to his level, staring straight into his eyes as she wrapped her hands around his head. Suddenly a pain had overcome his head, as if something was piercing his brain.
"What are you doing," Sarbon yelled
"sending a message"
Screams echoed throughout the empty halls, only to be quickly cut off as the guards rushed to discover the grisly sight.
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