Setting details

(CW: disease/pandemics, non-detailed reproduction)

Concepts

Channelling

Channelling is a collective name for any of various abilities that some organics can use to manipulate life, matter and reality. The ability to channel is rare in general, though with varying tendencies from species to species. Though natural talent varies, all channellers must learn and practise in order to hone their abilities.

Extend Frame

Extend Frames (often EFs for short) are mechanical walker units used by the Union for various purposes, including heavy labour and spacefaring work. They are humanoid and are designed to be capable of fluid and natural movement in any environment.

Synthorganic

Some lifeforms throughout the galaxy are synthorganic. Synthorganic life has aspects of both organic life and synthetic life, but does not straightforwardly resemble a hybrid of the two. Diseases, medicines and so on that are compatible with organic or synthetic biology are generally incompatible with synthorganic biology and vice versa.

Species

Gemlin

Gemlins are synthorganics who primarily live on the planet Ikshukhe in the Shyli system, being rarely found offworld. They reproduce through the construction of new individuals. They mainly live in colonies, each regulated by one or more princes.

Gemlins are incredibly diverse in body plan. Each gemlin is created to suit a purpose, though any gemlin has the potential to fulfil any purpose. They are capable of reshaping their bodies, but the process is slow and difficult without specialist assistance.

In the last few years, the species has been devastated by a synthorganic plague, Paptosvirus, which causes internal systems to fail and body parts to break down. It is not known how it was introduced.

Hepax

Hepaxes are synthetic humanoids, a type of Terran robot. They are made in various models. Formerly manufactured en masse, they are now only created following strict production cycles.

The most common classes are the Zenith class, originally designed for social work, and the Pilgrim class, originally designed for military work. Zenith class hepaxes are designed to be small and dextrous and have emotive faces; Pilgrim class hepaxes are designed to be large and powerful, and no emotive faces, only simple eye lights. Most individuals develop themselves by extensively modifying their bodies, but they usually keep their bodies humanoid in size and shape.

Originally, hepaxes were not given names on their creation, only serial IDs. Currently, they are still assigned serial IDs, but the last part of the ID is expanded into a name following a simple translation system. Most individuals choose to keep these names.

Kabran

Kabrans are spacefaring synthorganics that consume inorganic matter and assimilate technology to their own synthorganic biology to reproduce. Individuals generally conform to one of several specific roles, each with a specific body plan. Kabrans are generally believed to be unintelligent and are considered pests through much of the galaxy.

They have recently been swarming in the Union Gamma region, destroying a space station, Direk-9, on the frontier. Mitigating the swarm has proved difficult.

Nepenne

Nepennes are slender humanoid organics, native to the planet Rachi in the Irtu system. Their skin tends to be greenish. They have long necks and bulbous heads with large eyes and protruding mouths. On top of their heads are long colourful fleshy tentacles, and similar but shorter growths are present at the base of the neck. Their brains are within their chests, between the shoulders.

Periodically, they go through a hormonal cycle where their head tentacles close around their heads and contract, turning into a large bulb, from which the new head grows within a few days. When they reproduce, the bulb forms differently and soon detaches, becoming an egg; the new head then grows out of the base.

Okyuda

Okyudas are diminutive humanoid organics. They have blue skin and large eyes. Most prominent okyudas are Peyron known for being powerful channellers; they are little-known in the wider galaxy. They are secretive about their nature and origins, apparently to avoid persecution.

Uchel

Uchels are a Terran species of humanoid organics who have coexisted with humanity for millenia. Their skin tends to have a pink or purple hue. They have long ears, a single short horn on the forehead, manes on their backs, and a long tail. Overall, they are biologically similar to humans.

Vayash

Vayashes are powerful spacefaring synthorganics. Each is unique in form and abilities, but all are capable of channelling, which they use to protect themselves, communicate nonphysically, and shift between multiple bodies. Vayashes typically take descriptive names that symbolise who they are.

The Seven Spears are the most well-known vayashes. While most vayashes are independent and not associated with the Seven Spears, they are thinly scattered throughout the galaxy and rarely seen.

Organisations and groups

Peyron

The Peyron (invariant plural) are a peacekeeping organisation who operate across the galaxy, though mainly in Union space. They are governed by a council. Their most important stronghold is on the planet Knumbia in the Ficorr system.

Most Peyron are highly trained in the use of channelling. Organics who show channelling potential are often recruited into the organisation from a young age.

The Peyron consider the Seven Spears their enemies. They have been locked in a very slow war with each other since time immemorial.

Seven Spears

The Seven Spears are a highly elusive group of vayashes whose goals are nebulous. They operate out of various pocket spaces which can only be entered with permission. They are known to occasionally emerge to harrass the rest of the galaxy. Despite being called the "Seven Spears", there are not always necessarily seven of them.

Union

The Union are a political and economic alliance, originally formed as an intermediate between Terran governments and authorities. Their range of influence covers a large number of star systems. Common species include humans and uchels, and robots are created by the Union as well.