Editing Diaspora - The Great Filter - Main Page

'''Growing Up'''

'''Growing Up'''

You were born into the House of the White Ram, and ancient but obscure aristocratic family on the planet of Kedesh. From the earliest age you were educated in the history and traditions of your world, and in the ancient customs of nobility, including the martial arts. Your noble status was always minor, and it earned you few privileges, but your father was a soldier of the Sons of Argent Death, most prominent military guild on Kedesh, and his status earned the family a good living. In your eighth year, the ships came from distant Aklu, and you saw history moving all around you. A group of the most powerful guilds had banded together as the Restoration Council and sought to bring unite the world under their banner. The Sons of Argent Death were a part of the Council, and your father served in the successful campaign to unify Kedesh, finally dying a heroic death leading the assault on a breached arcology wall, earning the posthumous name of "Breaker of Walls", as well as great honor for his family. For this, his sons and daughters were granted the privilege of taking the admissions examinations for one of the guilds that make up the Restoration Council. You were able to pass the examinations for the Illuminators of the Wisdom of the Ancients, a mix of archaeologists, scientists, and scavengers, dedicated to technological recovery and advancement. Ever since then, you have been an ardent Restorationist, totally dedicated to the Council's vision of a renewed Kedesh.

You were born into the House of the White Ram, and ancient but obscure aristocratic family on the planet of Kedesh. From the earliest age you were educated in the history and traditions of your world, and in the ancient customs of nobility, including the martial arts. Your noble status was always minor, and it earned you few privileges, but your father was a soldier of the Sons of Argent Death, most prominent military guild on Kedesh, and his status earned the family a good living. In your eighth year, the ships came from distant Aklu, and you saw history moving all around you. A group of the most powerful guilds had banded together as the Restoration Council and sought to bring unite the world under their banner. The Sons of Argent Death were a part of the Council, and your father served in the successful campaign to unify Kedesh, finally dying a heroic death leading the assault on a breached arcology wall, earning the posthumous name of "Breaker of Walls", as well as great honor for his family. For this, his sons and daughters were granted the privilege of taking the admissions examinations for one of the guilds that make up the Restoration Council. You were able to pass the examinations for the Illuminators of the Wisdom of the Ancients, a mix of archaeologists, scientists, and scavengers, dedicated to technological recovery and advancement. Ever since then, you have been an ardent Restorationist, totally dedicated to the Council's vision of a renewed Kedesh.

'''Starting Out'''

'''Starting Out'''

As your training with the guild began, the Illuminators, perhaps the most prominent of the Council guilds after the unification, began to shift it's focus from recovering technology from the ruins on Kedesh to acquiring it from throughout the whole cluster. They soon realized that the training that had served them so well in the ruins could, with some modification, could also be effective for space travel. Like most Kedeshi, you had always held a great respect for technology, but as you began to truly understand technology, during your guild training, you began to truly revere machines, fully embracing the more spiritual aspects of the Illuminator's doctrines. This new found devotion seems to have served you well, as you began to excel as a scientist, and could have seen you go far in a laboratory, if you didn't instead request assignment to one of the first of the new Kedeshi merchant ships.

As your training with the guild began, the Illuminators, perhaps the most prominent of the Council guilds after the unification, began to shift it's focus from recovering technology from the ruins on Kedesh to acquiring it from throughout the whole cluster. They soon realized that the training that had served them so well in the ruins could, with some modification, could also be effective for space travel. Like most Kedeshi, you had always held a great respect for technology, but as you began to truly understand technology, during your guild training, you began to truly revere machines, fully embracing the more spiritual aspects of the Illuminator's doctrines. This new found devotion seems to have served you well, as you began to excel as a scientist, and could have seen you go far in a laboratory, if you didn't instead request assignment to one of the first of the new Kedeshi merchant ships.

'''Moment of Crisis'''

'''Moment of Crisis'''

Your first years among the merchant ship were sometimes thrilling, like when you actually got to interact with offworlders, or extremely dull, like the long trips through the void, but even during the dullest moments, you appreciated the chance to get to see the rest of the cluster. While trading for technology around the cluster, the captain of the merchant ship had established business relationships with several smugglers, including a man named Alan. While the ship was making a rendezvous with Alan's vessel to look over his merchanise, the two ships were attack by a pirate craft on the hunt. The Kedeshi ship was boarded by pirates during the battle. You had been trained for combat, but had never had to fight for you life before, yet when you saw one of your colleagues struck dead by a slug from a pirates weapon, in that moment you ceased to be Ningirsu the scientist, and became the son of Enmerkar, warrior of the White Ram, and you ruthlessly slew any pirate you could. As the boarders were repelled and fleeing to their own ship, you showed them no mercy, cutting them down as they ran, and when a shot from Alan's 'Void Wanderer' disabled the pirate craft, you called for all of the pirates to be executed. It was only when you noticed the crew's reaction to the suggestion that you realized how far you had gone. You weren't expecting this. You never though you'd be capable of this kind of thing, you certainly aren't comfortable about it, but then, is it not the tradition of your ancestors?

Your first years among the merchant ship were sometimes thrilling, like when you actually got to interact with offworlders, or extremely dull, like the long trips through the void, but even during the dullest moments, you appreciated the chance to get to see the rest of the cluster. While trading for technology around the cluster, the captain of the merchant ship had established business relationships with several smugglers, including a man named Alan. While the ship was making a rendezvous with Alan's vessel to look over his merchanise, the two ships were attack by a pirate craft on the hunt. The Kedeshi ship was boarded by pirates during the battle. You had been trained for combat, but had never had to fight for you life before, yet when you saw one of your colleagues struck dead by a slug from a pirates weapon, in that moment you ceased to be Ningirsu the scientist, and became the son of Enmerkar, warrior of the White Ram, and you ruthlessly slew any pirate you could. As the boarders were repelled and fleeing to their own ship, you showed them no mercy, cutting them down as they ran, and when a shot from Alan's 'Void Wanderer' disabled the pirate craft, you called for all of the pirates to be executed. It was only when you noticed the crew's reaction to the suggestion that you realized how far you had gone. You weren't expecting this. You never though you'd be capable of this kind of thing, you certainly aren't comfortable about it, but then, is it not the tradition of your ancestors?

'''Sidetracked'''

'''Sidetracked'''

After the battle, the damaged ship returned to Kedesh for repairs. While you where waiting for the repairs to be completed, you were contacted by an archaeologist from Tranquility named Sophie, who was looking for a specialist to consult with her about an artifact with some similarities to ancient Kedeshi relics. You too noticed the similarities, but beyond that, the artifact was an enigma, whose purpose and origin remained unclear. Just as you were becoming immersed in the study of this strange device, you and Sophie were attacked by some unknown party that was clearly looking for the relic. You owed Sophie your life that day, after she patched a bad shrapnel wound from an attacker's grenade while you hid, and dissuaded you from trying to pursue the attackers to claim vengeance. After that, you are absolutely convinced that this artifact is something very important, and you can't really rest without knowing the truth behind it.

After the battle, the damaged ship returned to Kedesh for repairs. While you where waiting for the repairs to be completed, you were contacted by an archaeologist from Tranquility named Sophie, who was looking for a specialist to consult with her about an artifact with some similarities to ancient Kedeshi relics. You too noticed the similarities, but beyond that, the artifact was an enigma, whose purpose and origin remained unclear. Just as you were becoming immersed in the study of this strange device, you and Sophie were attacked by some unknown party that was clearly looking for the relic. You owed Sophie your life that day, after she patched a bad shrapnel wound from an attacker's grenade while you hid, and dissuaded you from trying to pursue the attackers to claim vengeance. After that, you are absolutely convinced that this artifact is something very important, and you can't really rest without knowing the truth behind it.