Editing Stardust&AetherWinds:Main Page

The Empire, the Republic, and the border nations, were once one great empire. Shattered into fragments and grown into new nations on their own, the stellar nations still remember faintly what once was... and perhaps wonder at the 'truth' of recorded history.

The Empire, the Republic, and the border nations, were once one great empire. Shattered into fragments and grown into new nations on their own, the stellar nations still remember faintly what once was... and perhaps wonder at the 'truth' of recorded history.

=Magic & Technology=

=Magic & Technology=

==The Shaped==

==The Shaped==

The shaped are those who have been genetically tampered with. Either while alive, or before they were born, their genes and forms were tinkered with through the use of genetech. As many possible roles as exist have at one point or another had a being crafted to fit that role. The Shaping process is very expensive, both in terms of time, labor, and resources, so not all beings are shaped. However, most beings in the galaxy can find at least one shaped individual in their family tree, and shaping tends to breed true. The many beastmen living in the galaxy are proof of that.

The shaped are those who have been genetically tampered with. Either while alive, or before they were born, their genes and forms were tinkered with through the use of genetech. As many possible roles as exist have at one point or another had a being crafted to fit that role. The Shaping process is very expensive, both in terms of time, labor, and resources, so not all beings are shaped. However, most beings in the galaxy can find at least one shaped individual in their family tree, and shaping tends to breed true. The many beastmen living in the galaxy are proof of that.

=The Aether=

=The Aether=

Ships follow the Aether winds, and chart its gusts, eddies and currents as any good sailor would. Pirates also use this knowledge to predict the paths of ships and lay in wait along particularly favorable Aether gusts , stealing the wind from the merchant ships, swooping in and plundering, then gone again into the night, traveling on (they hope) hidden aether winds of their own to hidden asteroid bases and backwater planets.

Ships follow the Aether winds, and chart its gusts, eddies and currents as any good sailor would. Pirates also use this knowledge to predict the paths of ships and lay in wait along particularly favorable Aether gusts , stealing the wind from the merchant ships, swooping in and plundering, then gone again into the night, traveling on (they hope) hidden aether winds of their own to hidden asteroid bases and backwater planets.

=Wildlife=

=Wildlife=

When the gods abandoned their tinkering with life, they left scattered across the cosmos, seeds of various shapes and forms. None of them harbored within them the spark of thought, but many were strange to the core worlds that humans had been born to. Among this number are the Dragons. Powerful, winged, able to sail the Aether at will... and utterly mindless, these great beasts are majestic and beautiful to see in their native habitat. They make their lairs in hollowed out asteroids, hording fabulous treasures of raw ore and gems. Dragon hunting can be richly rewarding... for the dragon as well, since so few meals are quite so obliging as to drop off so much food at once.

When the gods abandoned their tinkering with life, they left scattered across the cosmos, seeds of various shapes and forms. None of them harbored within them the spark of thought, but many were strange to the core worlds that humans had been born to. Among this number are the Dragons. Powerful, winged, able to sail the Aether at will... and utterly mindless, these great beasts are majestic and beautiful to see in their native habitat. They make their lairs in hollowed out asteroids, hording fabulous treasures of raw ore and gems. Dragon hunting can be richly rewarding... for the dragon as well, since so few meals are quite so obliging as to drop off so much food at once.

=Factions=

=Factions=

There is a 6th 'clan' in the Empire, though it has no official standing or recognition. Officially the ninja do not exist, and are certainly not organized into anything like a clan. In truth, the Shadow Clan are highly organized, and influential in all manner of underhanded as well as overt actions. They serve no party completely, simply selling their services and using their power to make certain that no matter what may happen in the galaxy, the clan will continue.

There is a 6th 'clan' in the Empire, though it has no official standing or recognition. Officially the ninja do not exist, and are certainly not organized into anything like a clan. In truth, the Shadow Clan are highly organized, and influential in all manner of underhanded as well as overt actions. They serve no party completely, simply selling their services and using their power to make certain that no matter what may happen in the galaxy, the clan will continue.

==The Republic==

==The Republic==

===Life in the Republic===

===Life in the Republic===

The republic is governed by the senate, a body of individuals (all humans) who are 'elected' as the planetary head to the senate floor speak for their planet's goals and needs. Whether the representatives actually say what the people truly want is irrelevant... as long as the money continues to flow in the proper direction (towards power) the ruling system will remain unchanged. By and large, the position of senator is hereditary, and passes to the favored child upon the retirement or death of the previous senator. The head of the senate is known as the 'demiurge', and shifts position from year to year based on a complex system of votes, bribes, and track record. The vast majority of the republic citizens merely live in it. Slavery is common, and beastmen are most prized for their specialized strengths in workman roles. A 'citizen' by the official definition of the word in the republic, owns property in excess of a certain value. Voting takes place yearly, and costs a fee to enter your vote. (Plus any required bribes of course).

The republic is governed by the senate, a body of individuals (all humans) who are 'elected' as the planetary head to the senate floor speak for their planet's goals and needs. Whether the representatives actually say what the people truly want is irrelevant... as long as the money continues to flow in the proper direction (towards power) the ruling system will remain unchanged. By and large, the position of senator is hereditary, and passes to the favored child upon the retirement or death of the previous senator. The head of the senate is known as the 'demiurge', and shifts position from year to year based on a complex system of votes, bribes, and track record. The vast majority of the republic citizens merely live in it. Slavery is common, and beastmen are most prized for their specialized strengths in workman roles. A 'citizen' by the official definition of the word in the republic, owns property in excess of a certain value. Voting takes place yearly, and costs a fee to enter your vote. (Plus any required bribes of course).

==The Pirates (The Brotherhood of High Sail)==

==The Pirates (The Brotherhood of High Sail)==

===Life as a Pirate===

===Life as a Pirate===

For many desperate to leave a planet, or find a new place to start, the pirates serve a welcome base and home. Many beastmen, looking for a new place to start over, or simply wishing for revenge on the 'hated humans', have turned to piracy over the years. The brotherhood makes no distinctions, and it is commonly said among the pirates that “Pirate blood washes the past away.”

For many desperate to leave a planet, or find a new place to start, the pirates serve a welcome base and home. Many beastmen, looking for a new place to start over, or simply wishing for revenge on the 'hated humans', have turned to piracy over the years. The brotherhood makes no distinctions, and it is commonly said among the pirates that “Pirate blood washes the past away.”

==The AI==

==The AI==

When an AI has need or wish to embody itself, it will download it's consciousness into a shell, and travel as it wills. AI's treat their shells as temporary homes. Nice in their own right, and worth taking care of, but no AI truly fears death. Only loss of experience. Transference to and from shells takes time, and the destruction of a shell far from home is a blow to the collective. All AI's morn the loss of knowledge the “death” of such embodied explorers represents.

When an AI has need or wish to embody itself, it will download it's consciousness into a shell, and travel as it wills. AI's treat their shells as temporary homes. Nice in their own right, and worth taking care of, but no AI truly fears death. Only loss of experience. Transference to and from shells takes time, and the destruction of a shell far from home is a blow to the collective. All AI's morn the loss of knowledge the “death” of such embodied explorers represents.

==The Beastmen==

==The Beastmen==

In the republic, the beastmen's lot is far worse. Beastmen are considered slaves, and there are no laws about proper use and maintenance of slaves in the Republic. Slaves are property, and as such anything that the owner chooses to do to or with his slaves is entirely his own business. Killing a slave is destruction of property, and children born to slaves are slaves themselves.

In the republic, the beastmen's lot is far worse. Beastmen are considered slaves, and there are no laws about proper use and maintenance of slaves in the Republic. Slaves are property, and as such anything that the owner chooses to do to or with his slaves is entirely his own business. Killing a slave is destruction of property, and children born to slaves are slaves themselves.

==The 100 Kingdoms/The Border Empires==

==The 100 Kingdoms/The Border Empires==

===Life in the 100 Kingdoms===

===Life in the 100 Kingdoms===

Life in the 100 Kingdoms is as varied and many fold an experience as the full range of human empires and passions can make it. From debased and debauched planets that make the Republic look a model of sanity, to the highest minded ideals of ivory tower intelligentsia writ large, all manner of societies and peoples can be found here.

Life in the 100 Kingdoms is as varied and many fold an experience as the full range of human empires and passions can make it. From debased and debauched planets that make the Republic look a model of sanity, to the highest minded ideals of ivory tower intelligentsia writ large, all manner of societies and peoples can be found here.

==The Society of Luminous Aether==

==The Society of Luminous Aether==

So far, the only overt sign of their actions is that the brotherhood has a form of controlled explosion which it fires towards any pursuing ship. The resultant spherical aether detonation between the pirate ship and the pursuers causes the aether to push the pursuers back, while giving an extra boost to the pirates.

So far, the only overt sign of their actions is that the brotherhood has a form of controlled explosion which it fires towards any pursuing ship. The resultant spherical aether detonation between the pirate ship and the pursuers causes the aether to push the pursuers back, while giving an extra boost to the pirates.