story
Our story takes place far in the stars, in a place called the Arati System, where human explorers from Earth built their colony and prospered. Four hundred years after settling on planet Ellarion and its two moons, Osiris and Caelena, the human civilization encountered a previously unknown sentient race they called the Machines, who quickly initiated unprovoked hostilities towards the human colonies. The Machine war, primarily a series of unpredictable skirmish-like attacks by the Machines, lasted for eight decades, until very suddenly all grew quiet.
Twenty years passed without a single sighting of the Machines. Then, without a warning, the Machines returned and executed a coordinated and devastating attack against the EOC Nations, destroying all major cities and leaving the few survivors scattered and beaten.
The larp begins seven days after the destruction.
Our journey takes place onboard ESS Odysseus – an old military ship built during the early years of the Machine War. She originally served as a scouting, stealth and support vessel, but during the twenty years of peace was repurposed for research and exploration missions.
Odysseus was returning to Ellarion after a nine-month research mission in the outer rim when it received the emergency broadcast about the attack. Disobeying emergency protocol ALPHA, Odysseus set course to Ellarion and succeeded in saving twenty souls from a military installation on the surface, among them family members of some of the crew. For the past few days, Odysseus has been trying to locate the fleet made up of other surviving vessels, and has managed to rescue the passengers of a stranded ship, OSS Orion. As the larp begins, Odysseus has just reached another ship in distress, the ESS Starcaller.
Onboard the ESS Odysseus, this mixed band of survivors must now embark on a fateful journey to save themselves – and the human race.
Twenty years passed without a single sighting of the Machines. Then, without a warning, the Machines returned and executed a coordinated and devastating attack against the EOC Nations, destroying all major cities and leaving the few survivors scattered and beaten.
The larp begins seven days after the destruction.
Our journey takes place onboard ESS Odysseus – an old military ship built during the early years of the Machine War. She originally served as a scouting, stealth and support vessel, but during the twenty years of peace was repurposed for research and exploration missions.
Odysseus was returning to Ellarion after a nine-month research mission in the outer rim when it received the emergency broadcast about the attack. Disobeying emergency protocol ALPHA, Odysseus set course to Ellarion and succeeded in saving twenty souls from a military installation on the surface, among them family members of some of the crew. For the past few days, Odysseus has been trying to locate the fleet made up of other surviving vessels, and has managed to rescue the passengers of a stranded ship, OSS Orion. As the larp begins, Odysseus has just reached another ship in distress, the ESS Starcaller.
Onboard the ESS Odysseus, this mixed band of survivors must now embark on a fateful journey to save themselves – and the human race.
world
This is a quick recap of the world of Odysseus and the kind of information that is common for everyone. More detailed information will be made available for players along with their character sheets and briefings.
history
800 years in the future, the human race has expanded to the stars and founded a civilization far away in a place called the Arati System.
In the year 2144 earth time, 30 000 humans left the Earth for a new home in the stars. This exodus was called the Genesis project. The journey lasted for six generations, with the pioneers facing numerous difficulties during the voyage.
One disaster almost ended the journey: for unknown reasons, the fleet’s databases were corrupted, and most of the information about the Genesis Project and their – by then already distant – ancestors on the faraway planet Earth was lost, as were all the star maps created during the journey.
Despite all the problems, 26 out of the 30 Genesis ships made it safely to the Arati System, where they landed on the planet Ellarion in 2302, after travelling for 158 years. This marks year 0 of the new calendar. During the following years, the humans built cities and industry, and colonized Ellarion’s two moons (Caelena in 32 and Osiris in 46). Year 50 marked the official birth of the EOC Nations (named after the three inhabited celestial bodies: Ellarion, Osiris, and Caelena) and the Planetary Senate. The new civilization flourished, and humans learned once again to live on the surface of planets, after generations of life in space.
The colonization of the world demanded a lot of sacrifices. Expanding to the moons of Ellarion was necessary to secure materials and other resources, but it also began a development that in time led to the segregation of people based on their origin. Criminals and other members who didn’t fit in the society were sent to the moons to do physical labor to ensure the growth and prosperity on Ellarion. From very early on, the inhabitants of Caelena and Osiris were considered lower class citizens compared to those born and raised on Ellarion.
In the year 439, the peaceful life of EOC Nations came to an abrupt end. An unknown enemy emerged from the deep space and destroyed a space station above Ellarion. A war that would last almost a hundred years had begun. It was never a full scale war. The enemy jumped into the system, bombed distant space stations and outposts as well as starships above the planet and sometimes even cities on the surface – and then jumped off. The enemy remained unknown as their ships were unmanned, piloted by an AI, and their soldiers were robots programmed to destroy their targets.
Quite naturally, the enemy came to be called the Machines.
Despite massive efforts, the enemy’s home world was never found. The machines also showed no interest in securing a foothold in the EOC area. They conquered some space stations and outposts during the war, only to eventually abandon or destroy them. During the last decades of the machine war, persistent rumors started to circulate among the EOC citizens: the machines had androids that looked like humans. These rumors were never confirmed.
Twenty years ago, in the year 522, the war came to an end as the enemy disappeared as suddenly as it had once appeared. Year after year passed without a single aggression from the enemy, and the citizens of the Arati System let out a sigh of relief.
The past twenty years have been a time of prosperity and exploration for the EOC Nations. The decades of the machine war had tied the resources of EOC into a difficult conflict, but the war also led to some major technological breakthroughs.
The most significant technological progress was the discovery of jump technology roughly 50 years ago, following the examination of captured or damaged enemy ships. While the technology did not prove to be of major help during the war, it opened up the possibility to explore much farther away than before. A few scouting missions were already launched during the war, and one of these missions returned with stunning information.
There existed another human population – the Velians.
Planet Velian was uninhabitable, but on the surface of it there lay a single dome which sheltered a city. The dome was clearly alien by origin. It was not the first time the people of EOC had stumbled upon proof of a sentient race inhabiting the Arati System long before their arrival, but this was the first time they discovered anything of such magnitude. The Velians welcomed a few EOC researchers into their city and sent a few ambassadors to the EOC territories, but due to EOC resources being tied to the war with the Machines (and the Velians being a rather private and closed community), there was never any large scale interaction between the two nations.
After the machine war came to an end, the EOC Nations could again invest in research and exploration, and some new discoveries concerning the ancient alien race were made, though much is still shrouded in mystery. The unknown alien race was named as the Elders.
After the war there came a massive breakthrough in android technology, and during the past decade androids have started to become more and more common. In the past few years the most advanced android models have started to be indistinguishable from humans.
Unfortunately, the time of peace did not last, as some had always feared.
Seven days ago, on the 148th stardate of the year 542, the Machines returned with a massive surprise attack. All EOC defense systems dropped offline simultaneously as the enemy jumped into the system and bombed all the major cities in one perfectly coordinated and executed strike. With all the planetary defenses down, all major cities destroyed and their armies massively outnumbered, the remaining survivors had no other option but to flee.
During the past seven days, the ships that survived the initial attack have formed a fleet, which is desperately trying to stay ahead of the enemy while locating and rescuing any other remaining survivors. For the remains of the EOC Nations, their best chance of survival now rests on the ancient belief of the Old Ways religion – a belief that the Genesis ships have left behind a trail of beacons to guide the explorers back home. However, multiple search attempts during the past decades have never been able to locate even a single beacon.
In the year 2144 earth time, 30 000 humans left the Earth for a new home in the stars. This exodus was called the Genesis project. The journey lasted for six generations, with the pioneers facing numerous difficulties during the voyage.
One disaster almost ended the journey: for unknown reasons, the fleet’s databases were corrupted, and most of the information about the Genesis Project and their – by then already distant – ancestors on the faraway planet Earth was lost, as were all the star maps created during the journey.
Despite all the problems, 26 out of the 30 Genesis ships made it safely to the Arati System, where they landed on the planet Ellarion in 2302, after travelling for 158 years. This marks year 0 of the new calendar. During the following years, the humans built cities and industry, and colonized Ellarion’s two moons (Caelena in 32 and Osiris in 46). Year 50 marked the official birth of the EOC Nations (named after the three inhabited celestial bodies: Ellarion, Osiris, and Caelena) and the Planetary Senate. The new civilization flourished, and humans learned once again to live on the surface of planets, after generations of life in space.
The colonization of the world demanded a lot of sacrifices. Expanding to the moons of Ellarion was necessary to secure materials and other resources, but it also began a development that in time led to the segregation of people based on their origin. Criminals and other members who didn’t fit in the society were sent to the moons to do physical labor to ensure the growth and prosperity on Ellarion. From very early on, the inhabitants of Caelena and Osiris were considered lower class citizens compared to those born and raised on Ellarion.
In the year 439, the peaceful life of EOC Nations came to an abrupt end. An unknown enemy emerged from the deep space and destroyed a space station above Ellarion. A war that would last almost a hundred years had begun. It was never a full scale war. The enemy jumped into the system, bombed distant space stations and outposts as well as starships above the planet and sometimes even cities on the surface – and then jumped off. The enemy remained unknown as their ships were unmanned, piloted by an AI, and their soldiers were robots programmed to destroy their targets.
Quite naturally, the enemy came to be called the Machines.
Despite massive efforts, the enemy’s home world was never found. The machines also showed no interest in securing a foothold in the EOC area. They conquered some space stations and outposts during the war, only to eventually abandon or destroy them. During the last decades of the machine war, persistent rumors started to circulate among the EOC citizens: the machines had androids that looked like humans. These rumors were never confirmed.
Twenty years ago, in the year 522, the war came to an end as the enemy disappeared as suddenly as it had once appeared. Year after year passed without a single aggression from the enemy, and the citizens of the Arati System let out a sigh of relief.
The past twenty years have been a time of prosperity and exploration for the EOC Nations. The decades of the machine war had tied the resources of EOC into a difficult conflict, but the war also led to some major technological breakthroughs.
The most significant technological progress was the discovery of jump technology roughly 50 years ago, following the examination of captured or damaged enemy ships. While the technology did not prove to be of major help during the war, it opened up the possibility to explore much farther away than before. A few scouting missions were already launched during the war, and one of these missions returned with stunning information.
There existed another human population – the Velians.
Planet Velian was uninhabitable, but on the surface of it there lay a single dome which sheltered a city. The dome was clearly alien by origin. It was not the first time the people of EOC had stumbled upon proof of a sentient race inhabiting the Arati System long before their arrival, but this was the first time they discovered anything of such magnitude. The Velians welcomed a few EOC researchers into their city and sent a few ambassadors to the EOC territories, but due to EOC resources being tied to the war with the Machines (and the Velians being a rather private and closed community), there was never any large scale interaction between the two nations.
After the machine war came to an end, the EOC Nations could again invest in research and exploration, and some new discoveries concerning the ancient alien race were made, though much is still shrouded in mystery. The unknown alien race was named as the Elders.
After the war there came a massive breakthrough in android technology, and during the past decade androids have started to become more and more common. In the past few years the most advanced android models have started to be indistinguishable from humans.
Unfortunately, the time of peace did not last, as some had always feared.
Seven days ago, on the 148th stardate of the year 542, the Machines returned with a massive surprise attack. All EOC defense systems dropped offline simultaneously as the enemy jumped into the system and bombed all the major cities in one perfectly coordinated and executed strike. With all the planetary defenses down, all major cities destroyed and their armies massively outnumbered, the remaining survivors had no other option but to flee.
During the past seven days, the ships that survived the initial attack have formed a fleet, which is desperately trying to stay ahead of the enemy while locating and rescuing any other remaining survivors. For the remains of the EOC Nations, their best chance of survival now rests on the ancient belief of the Old Ways religion – a belief that the Genesis ships have left behind a trail of beacons to guide the explorers back home. However, multiple search attempts during the past decades have never been able to locate even a single beacon.
Society
Life in the Arati System is not fundamentally different from our contemporary lives on Earth, as much of our culture and customs have been preserved. However, some changes have happened during the centuries of space travel and living under strange skies. Notable differences are that science is more advanced than ours, though it is not completely futuristic (Battlestar Galactica and Stargate are good reference points), and that the society is ruled by the Emperor, the Senate, and the Dynasties.
The population is divided into different socio-economic groups. The upper class consists of high-ranking members from the Dynasties, politicians in the Planetary Senate, the higher ranks among the scholars of the Faith of the High Science, celebrities, business owners, high-ranking military officers, and basically all sorts of rich and influential people and their families. The middle class consists of workers in valued fields such as science, medicine, military, education, government, law enforcement, technology, entertainment, etc. The lower classes consist of the rest of the population, workers in less respected fields such as industry, sanitation, etc., as well as unemployed people and workers in questionable professions.
There are major issues of equality between the classes, but there is no inequality between races, genders, or orientations. Among the upper classes, marriage is still considered a political tool and a way of forming and maintaining alliances between the Dynasties. It is also common for the upper classes to deny their offspring the chance to marry outside their class.
The population is divided into different socio-economic groups. The upper class consists of high-ranking members from the Dynasties, politicians in the Planetary Senate, the higher ranks among the scholars of the Faith of the High Science, celebrities, business owners, high-ranking military officers, and basically all sorts of rich and influential people and their families. The middle class consists of workers in valued fields such as science, medicine, military, education, government, law enforcement, technology, entertainment, etc. The lower classes consist of the rest of the population, workers in less respected fields such as industry, sanitation, etc., as well as unemployed people and workers in questionable professions.
There are major issues of equality between the classes, but there is no inequality between races, genders, or orientations. Among the upper classes, marriage is still considered a political tool and a way of forming and maintaining alliances between the Dynasties. It is also common for the upper classes to deny their offspring the chance to marry outside their class.
Geography and socio-economy
Human colonies in the Arati System are spread across planet Ellarion and its two moons Caelena and Osiris as well as several nearby space stations and outposts.
Ellarion is a large planet with a pleasant climate. Most of the surface is covered by water, and there is only one bigger wholly populated land mass. The capital Ellarion City is the center of all aspects of life: it is the cradle of culture, the spiritual center, and the home of politics and military forces.
Caelena is the bigger of the two moons. It has a warm but volatile climate, the soil is fertile, and there are great landmasses split by lakes and rivers. There are large native animals inhabiting the moon. Caelena was colonized to provide supplies to support Ellarion’s growth. Due to its climate and indigenous wildlife, Caelena was early on considered a less desirable place to live compared to Ellarion. Caelena has remained a provider of raw materials and wood industry, and the population consists mostly of lower class citizens. There are a few bigger cities in Caelena with universities, entertainment, and spiritual centers, but the majority of the population lives in smaller towns across the moon, surrounded by huge fields.
Osiris is a mining colony. It is a harsh moon the surface of which is too cold for large-scale habitation. There are a few small villages on top of the surface, but most of the inhabitants of Osiris live in huge cave cities amidst rich mineral deposits. There are large excavation sites and mining tunnels in which the miners work, with the cities growing into the empty tunnels and large caves. The population is mostly made up of the lower classes. Noteworthy is that in addition to the corporations, which own the mining operations and transport the minerals to Ellarion and Caelena, Osiris is the base of operation for most shady businesses on the grid.
Human colonies in the Arati System are spread across planet Ellarion and its two moons Caelena and Osiris as well as several nearby space stations and outposts.
Ellarion is a large planet with a pleasant climate. Most of the surface is covered by water, and there is only one bigger wholly populated land mass. The capital Ellarion City is the center of all aspects of life: it is the cradle of culture, the spiritual center, and the home of politics and military forces.
Caelena is the bigger of the two moons. It has a warm but volatile climate, the soil is fertile, and there are great landmasses split by lakes and rivers. There are large native animals inhabiting the moon. Caelena was colonized to provide supplies to support Ellarion’s growth. Due to its climate and indigenous wildlife, Caelena was early on considered a less desirable place to live compared to Ellarion. Caelena has remained a provider of raw materials and wood industry, and the population consists mostly of lower class citizens. There are a few bigger cities in Caelena with universities, entertainment, and spiritual centers, but the majority of the population lives in smaller towns across the moon, surrounded by huge fields.
Osiris is a mining colony. It is a harsh moon the surface of which is too cold for large-scale habitation. There are a few small villages on top of the surface, but most of the inhabitants of Osiris live in huge cave cities amidst rich mineral deposits. There are large excavation sites and mining tunnels in which the miners work, with the cities growing into the empty tunnels and large caves. The population is mostly made up of the lower classes. Noteworthy is that in addition to the corporations, which own the mining operations and transport the minerals to Ellarion and Caelena, Osiris is the base of operation for most shady businesses on the grid.
military
During the early years after the colonization of the Arati System, the EOC Nations didn’t have a properly organized military. The Genesis Project had been a civilian program, and a small internal security force had been more than enough to keep the peace. As there initially were no external threats in the Arati System, the need for large-scale armed forces seemed something out of ancient history.
But by the time of the founding of the Planetary Senate, the originally small internal security force had gradually grown and morphed into the beginnings of the EOC Armed Forces. For a long time, it’s main function was still to act as internal peacekeepers, but as more and more resources were funneled into space technology, the armed forces eventually split in two: the internal security arm became the civilian police force, while the EOC Armed Forces continued to develop into a full-fledged army focused on exploration and military technology.
The beginning of the Machine War in 439 caused a rapid growth in the EOC Armed Forces. Military academies were established in every city, and the cultural significance of the army grew fast. By the end of the Machine War, over 80% of the adult population had some form of military training, and the army was considered a major branch under the rule of the Planetary Senate.
The highest rank in the army is Admiral, and the commander of the entire EOC army (the Galaxy Commander) is chosen from among the most meritorious of Admirals. There are no separate ground, naval, or space units, and so as everyone belongs in the same hierarchy, there is only one ranking system in use.
While some Dynasties are known to provide significant funding to the military and have several of their members in high positions in the armed forces, the army is generally considered to be outside the influence of the Dynasties and to be very proud of this independence. During the Machine War, this emphasis on independence led to the development of a common army greeting still in use: to raise your right hand, just as any citizen of the higher classes would, but instead of showing the Dynasty tattoo on the back of your hand, close your hand in a fist to represent strength and hide the tattoo with your left hand. This gesture emphasizes your loyalty to the army above loyalty to any one Dynasty.
But by the time of the founding of the Planetary Senate, the originally small internal security force had gradually grown and morphed into the beginnings of the EOC Armed Forces. For a long time, it’s main function was still to act as internal peacekeepers, but as more and more resources were funneled into space technology, the armed forces eventually split in two: the internal security arm became the civilian police force, while the EOC Armed Forces continued to develop into a full-fledged army focused on exploration and military technology.
The beginning of the Machine War in 439 caused a rapid growth in the EOC Armed Forces. Military academies were established in every city, and the cultural significance of the army grew fast. By the end of the Machine War, over 80% of the adult population had some form of military training, and the army was considered a major branch under the rule of the Planetary Senate.
The highest rank in the army is Admiral, and the commander of the entire EOC army (the Galaxy Commander) is chosen from among the most meritorious of Admirals. There are no separate ground, naval, or space units, and so as everyone belongs in the same hierarchy, there is only one ranking system in use.
While some Dynasties are known to provide significant funding to the military and have several of their members in high positions in the armed forces, the army is generally considered to be outside the influence of the Dynasties and to be very proud of this independence. During the Machine War, this emphasis on independence led to the development of a common army greeting still in use: to raise your right hand, just as any citizen of the higher classes would, but instead of showing the Dynasty tattoo on the back of your hand, close your hand in a fist to represent strength and hide the tattoo with your left hand. This gesture emphasizes your loyalty to the army above loyalty to any one Dynasty.
Technology and science
While the world of Odysseus has many major technological inventions, the baseline is not entirely futuristic. The everyday life of the citizens of the EOC nations is not fundamentally different from our everyday lives.
Here we’ll introduce the most relevant technological differences:
Androids
Several EOC Dynasties have sought to create androids, and some have made real progress in the field. During the past decades, several android models have been brought to daylight. The first android indistinguishable from a human was introduced by the scientist Evin Reid: Ziva Callahan, a prototype created with the cooperation of the Wisdom Dynasty and the government science division. During the past couple of years, more such androids have been built, but they are still a rare sight. It has long been rumored that the Machines have the capability to create undetectable human androids, but nothing has been proved.
Memory transplants
For years, there have been experiments and projects to discover the secrets of the human mind. There are rumors that it could be possible to store and implant memories, but this technology is still in its early stages. However, for quite some time, it has been possible to erase memories. There are some companies that offer a memory wipe as a service, but it is still somewhat experimental and expensive.
The Machines
The enemy is clearly more technologically advanced than the EOC Nations. However, during the war, studying captured enemy ships has made it possible to shrink the gap and to utilize the inventions of the enemy, as well as to study the Machines themselves further. There are at least three different types of Machines. 1) Robots called Drones, which are roughly human-sized, sturdy and hard to kill, equipped with effective weaponry and a strong armor. During the war, Drones were used to capture ships or stations. Drones are controlled by a control unit and if taken too far from the controller, they cease to operate. 2) Small, fast, autonomous space capable fighter vessels that have no pilots (but can carry several Drones). 3) Larger autonomous (and more strategically capable) ships that can carry a small army of Drones and smaller ships.
Starships and space stations
The EOC nations have a large fleet of starships at their disposal. There is a lot of cargo and passenger traffic between Ellarion and the moons, as well as to and from several space stations located both near the planet and its moons and in more remote locations. Before the Machines attacked, the EOC Nations had concentrated on building ships for exploration (with just a few warships at their disposal), but the war saw a fast growth in military starships and space stations. Military vessels are equipped with weapons, shields, and jump engines. Nowadays, most transport vessels and civilian ships have jump capabilities as well, though the technology is still mainly used in exploration and defensive missions. Cryotechnology on starships was already available during the Genesis journey, but these days very few ships have the technology installed.
Jump technology
Jump capability is one of the main technologies acquired from examining the wrecks of enemy ships. From the start of the war, it was evident that the enemy possessed technology allowing them to instantly appear and vanish. Roughly 50 years ago, the first prototypes of EOC jump engines were ready for testing. The first ships with this technology were introduced a few years later. The first wave of jump engines were very volatile and ineffective, but the technology has evolved during the past decades, with major breakthroughs reached about a decade ago. New jump engines are much more reliable, and they are capable of crossing far longer distances than the older generations of engines. The majority of EOC ships have been updated with new jump engines, but the crystals used to distribute engine power are still somewhat rare, which has limited exploration relying on jump technology.
Weapons and armor technology
There are several advancements in both weapons and armor technology. Soldiers use force field armors that deflect most of the ammo used by both the EOC and the enemy. However, the force field can sustain only a limited amount of hits before dropping and requiring a recharge. The force field also protects (to some extent) from radiation, temperature, pressure, etc. so they are also used for exploration and work in hostile environments. Weapons used by soldiers have some advancements that maximize the damage they do to the Machines, but the Machine Drones are still extremely difficult to kill and can receive extensive amounts of damage before being disabled. The biggest breakthroughs have been in the field of shipboard weapons and bombs, with the discovery of a few rare and extremely volatile materials that have been utilized to create extremely effective explosives.
Alien technology & the Velians
From early on, the colonizers of the Arati System had made a few rare discoveries pointing to the existence of an unknown alien race that inhabited the system long ago. These consisted mainly of wrecks of ships destroyed long ago, as well as the ruins of a few small outposts. With the invention of jump technology, a major new discovery was made. Around forty years ago, explorers found a planet a few grids away from the Arati System. On this otherwise uninhabitable planet there was a dome that was able to sustain life, and under that dome there was an ancient city most likely built by the same aliens that the EOC Nations had found only traces of before. This city was inhabited by humans who called themselves Velians.
It was immediately suspected – but never confirmed – that the Velians originated from one of the Genesis ships that never reached the Arati System. Velians have been rather reserved towards visitors, but they have allowed a few scientists to access their city, and have in turn sent a few ambassadors to the EOC Nations. Velians haven’t been enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge of the alien technology with outsiders, and only a few visitors have been allowed to stay in their city for longer periods of time. However, the rare visits to Velian (and some other later discoveries from other distant planets) have allowed the EOC Nations to start studying these ancient aliens and their technology in more detail.
A few years ago, a major new discovery was made on a faraway planet, with a team of explorers discovering a buried but partially intact alien outpost. Nine months ago, a science mission was launched, and a group of scientists onboard ESS Odysseus was sent to investigate this outpost further.
Here we’ll introduce the most relevant technological differences:
Androids
Several EOC Dynasties have sought to create androids, and some have made real progress in the field. During the past decades, several android models have been brought to daylight. The first android indistinguishable from a human was introduced by the scientist Evin Reid: Ziva Callahan, a prototype created with the cooperation of the Wisdom Dynasty and the government science division. During the past couple of years, more such androids have been built, but they are still a rare sight. It has long been rumored that the Machines have the capability to create undetectable human androids, but nothing has been proved.
Memory transplants
For years, there have been experiments and projects to discover the secrets of the human mind. There are rumors that it could be possible to store and implant memories, but this technology is still in its early stages. However, for quite some time, it has been possible to erase memories. There are some companies that offer a memory wipe as a service, but it is still somewhat experimental and expensive.
The Machines
The enemy is clearly more technologically advanced than the EOC Nations. However, during the war, studying captured enemy ships has made it possible to shrink the gap and to utilize the inventions of the enemy, as well as to study the Machines themselves further. There are at least three different types of Machines. 1) Robots called Drones, which are roughly human-sized, sturdy and hard to kill, equipped with effective weaponry and a strong armor. During the war, Drones were used to capture ships or stations. Drones are controlled by a control unit and if taken too far from the controller, they cease to operate. 2) Small, fast, autonomous space capable fighter vessels that have no pilots (but can carry several Drones). 3) Larger autonomous (and more strategically capable) ships that can carry a small army of Drones and smaller ships.
Starships and space stations
The EOC nations have a large fleet of starships at their disposal. There is a lot of cargo and passenger traffic between Ellarion and the moons, as well as to and from several space stations located both near the planet and its moons and in more remote locations. Before the Machines attacked, the EOC Nations had concentrated on building ships for exploration (with just a few warships at their disposal), but the war saw a fast growth in military starships and space stations. Military vessels are equipped with weapons, shields, and jump engines. Nowadays, most transport vessels and civilian ships have jump capabilities as well, though the technology is still mainly used in exploration and defensive missions. Cryotechnology on starships was already available during the Genesis journey, but these days very few ships have the technology installed.
Jump technology
Jump capability is one of the main technologies acquired from examining the wrecks of enemy ships. From the start of the war, it was evident that the enemy possessed technology allowing them to instantly appear and vanish. Roughly 50 years ago, the first prototypes of EOC jump engines were ready for testing. The first ships with this technology were introduced a few years later. The first wave of jump engines were very volatile and ineffective, but the technology has evolved during the past decades, with major breakthroughs reached about a decade ago. New jump engines are much more reliable, and they are capable of crossing far longer distances than the older generations of engines. The majority of EOC ships have been updated with new jump engines, but the crystals used to distribute engine power are still somewhat rare, which has limited exploration relying on jump technology.
Weapons and armor technology
There are several advancements in both weapons and armor technology. Soldiers use force field armors that deflect most of the ammo used by both the EOC and the enemy. However, the force field can sustain only a limited amount of hits before dropping and requiring a recharge. The force field also protects (to some extent) from radiation, temperature, pressure, etc. so they are also used for exploration and work in hostile environments. Weapons used by soldiers have some advancements that maximize the damage they do to the Machines, but the Machine Drones are still extremely difficult to kill and can receive extensive amounts of damage before being disabled. The biggest breakthroughs have been in the field of shipboard weapons and bombs, with the discovery of a few rare and extremely volatile materials that have been utilized to create extremely effective explosives.
Alien technology & the Velians
From early on, the colonizers of the Arati System had made a few rare discoveries pointing to the existence of an unknown alien race that inhabited the system long ago. These consisted mainly of wrecks of ships destroyed long ago, as well as the ruins of a few small outposts. With the invention of jump technology, a major new discovery was made. Around forty years ago, explorers found a planet a few grids away from the Arati System. On this otherwise uninhabitable planet there was a dome that was able to sustain life, and under that dome there was an ancient city most likely built by the same aliens that the EOC Nations had found only traces of before. This city was inhabited by humans who called themselves Velians.
It was immediately suspected – but never confirmed – that the Velians originated from one of the Genesis ships that never reached the Arati System. Velians have been rather reserved towards visitors, but they have allowed a few scientists to access their city, and have in turn sent a few ambassadors to the EOC Nations. Velians haven’t been enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge of the alien technology with outsiders, and only a few visitors have been allowed to stay in their city for longer periods of time. However, the rare visits to Velian (and some other later discoveries from other distant planets) have allowed the EOC Nations to start studying these ancient aliens and their technology in more detail.
A few years ago, a major new discovery was made on a faraway planet, with a team of explorers discovering a buried but partially intact alien outpost. Nine months ago, a science mission was launched, and a group of scientists onboard ESS Odysseus was sent to investigate this outpost further.
Politics
The EOC Nations are led by a symbolic leader: the Emperor, whose title is inherited through a special bloodline from the early days of the colonization. The Emperor is a loved and respected leader but has very little concrete power. True power resides with the Planetary Senate and in the local provinces, with citizens voting for their representatives from among several established political parties.
A major player behind the politics and everyday life in the Arati System are the Dynasties. There are dozens of Dynasties, each a different mix of a family, clan, and corporation. The Dynasties form the upper class of the EOC Nations, and they have a significant amount of power. Some Dynasties are stationed in certain provinces or focused in specific industries, whereas others have spread over several provinces, industries, and colonies. Belonging to a more influential Dynasty means excellent prospects for success in life.
A major player behind the politics and everyday life in the Arati System are the Dynasties. There are dozens of Dynasties, each a different mix of a family, clan, and corporation. The Dynasties form the upper class of the EOC Nations, and they have a significant amount of power. Some Dynasties are stationed in certain provinces or focused in specific industries, whereas others have spread over several provinces, industries, and colonies. Belonging to a more influential Dynasty means excellent prospects for success in life.
Dynasties
The Dynasties lurk behind all seats of power in the EOC Nations. They hold an economic stranglehold over the EOC Nations and have their fingers in pretty much everything. Every now and then, new Dynasties rise and some older ones die out (or are integrated into others), but the biggest Dynasties have held their power since the early days of colonization. The Dynasties were born in the early days when the first Genesis Ships landed on the surface of Ellarion, likely based on some proto structures already in place during the Genesis journey.
Each Dynasty has a symbol that is tattooed on the back of the hand of each member of the Dynasty. The common greeting among the wealthier population of EOC is to raise the right hand at the height of the face to show which Dynasty they belong to. The Dynasties operate in various ways, and it is commonly known that some will also operate (at least occasionally) on the wrong side of the law and get away with it.
Player characters can belong to six different Dynasties:
Purity, one of the biggest, oldest and most powerful Dynasties. They would like to see even more power concentrated in the direct hands of the Dynasties (mainly themselves). Purity speaks for the most conservative politics in the senate.
Hope, a business empire that has risen to be one of the power players during the last century. The Dynasty is the success story of the Cain family. Regardless of strong business associations, they are also known to be behind many successful politicians campaigning for greener and more sustainable politics.
Defiance, one of the cautionary stories among the Dynasties, proving that even the big ones can fall. A few decades ago, some high profile members were accused of and sentenced for connections to organized crime, and it has been mainly downhill for the Defiance Dynasty from there on.
Mercy, a family-based Dynasty closely linked to the Old Ways. One of the oldest Dynasties but never one with great power.
Strength, a big and powerful Dynasty. Heavily invested in business, as well as funding and supporting the military.
Wisdom, one of the most prominent newer Dynasties in the field of science. A few of the latest big discoveries have originated from this Dynasty. Members of Wisdom have also gained more and more standing among the Faith of the High Science as well as politics associated with it.
The Dynasties lurk behind all seats of power in the EOC Nations. They hold an economic stranglehold over the EOC Nations and have their fingers in pretty much everything. Every now and then, new Dynasties rise and some older ones die out (or are integrated into others), but the biggest Dynasties have held their power since the early days of colonization. The Dynasties were born in the early days when the first Genesis Ships landed on the surface of Ellarion, likely based on some proto structures already in place during the Genesis journey.
Each Dynasty has a symbol that is tattooed on the back of the hand of each member of the Dynasty. The common greeting among the wealthier population of EOC is to raise the right hand at the height of the face to show which Dynasty they belong to. The Dynasties operate in various ways, and it is commonly known that some will also operate (at least occasionally) on the wrong side of the law and get away with it.
Player characters can belong to six different Dynasties:
Purity, one of the biggest, oldest and most powerful Dynasties. They would like to see even more power concentrated in the direct hands of the Dynasties (mainly themselves). Purity speaks for the most conservative politics in the senate.
Hope, a business empire that has risen to be one of the power players during the last century. The Dynasty is the success story of the Cain family. Regardless of strong business associations, they are also known to be behind many successful politicians campaigning for greener and more sustainable politics.
Defiance, one of the cautionary stories among the Dynasties, proving that even the big ones can fall. A few decades ago, some high profile members were accused of and sentenced for connections to organized crime, and it has been mainly downhill for the Defiance Dynasty from there on.
Mercy, a family-based Dynasty closely linked to the Old Ways. One of the oldest Dynasties but never one with great power.
Strength, a big and powerful Dynasty. Heavily invested in business, as well as funding and supporting the military.
Wisdom, one of the most prominent newer Dynasties in the field of science. A few of the latest big discoveries have originated from this Dynasty. Members of Wisdom have also gained more and more standing among the Faith of the High Science as well as politics associated with it.
Religion
There are two major religions in the EOC nations, the Faith of the High Science and Old Ways.
Faith of the High Science is the dominant one, with a majority of the upper and middle classes in the EOC following its teachings. It is most influential on Ellarion and has strong ties to the Wisdom dynasty, as well as the Senate, where the leaders of FotHS hold considerable sway over the Senate’s decisions on science and education. FotHS sees science and the advancing of human knowledge as the highest purpose of humanity. It generally supports developing androids, as creating immortal artificial intelligence can be seen as furthering the goal of humanity rising to a higher level of consciousness.
Old Ways is the smaller of the two religions. It is most commonly practiced on Caelena and has strong ties to the Mercy dynasty, but has practically no political influence. Old Ways is very community oriented, centering around the belief in the Spirit of the Universe, which will guide those who seek its help, as well as the notion of Earth as the birthplace and destined paradise of all humans. Old Ways is somewhat mistrustful of androids and AI. They are seen as unnatural, taking people further away from the Spirit and the invaluable core of humanity.
Both religions have their origins in the beliefs of the people in the Genesis ships that crashed on Ellarion, but they have since grown into two distinct belief systems with different interpretations on the Genesis journey and the origin and fate of humanity.
Practically all characters born in the EOC nations follow one or both of these religions, though not all characters have strong opinions about religion.
Faith of the High Science is the dominant one, with a majority of the upper and middle classes in the EOC following its teachings. It is most influential on Ellarion and has strong ties to the Wisdom dynasty, as well as the Senate, where the leaders of FotHS hold considerable sway over the Senate’s decisions on science and education. FotHS sees science and the advancing of human knowledge as the highest purpose of humanity. It generally supports developing androids, as creating immortal artificial intelligence can be seen as furthering the goal of humanity rising to a higher level of consciousness.
Old Ways is the smaller of the two religions. It is most commonly practiced on Caelena and has strong ties to the Mercy dynasty, but has practically no political influence. Old Ways is very community oriented, centering around the belief in the Spirit of the Universe, which will guide those who seek its help, as well as the notion of Earth as the birthplace and destined paradise of all humans. Old Ways is somewhat mistrustful of androids and AI. They are seen as unnatural, taking people further away from the Spirit and the invaluable core of humanity.
Both religions have their origins in the beliefs of the people in the Genesis ships that crashed on Ellarion, but they have since grown into two distinct belief systems with different interpretations on the Genesis journey and the origin and fate of humanity.
Practically all characters born in the EOC nations follow one or both of these religions, though not all characters have strong opinions about religion.