Difference between revisions of "Ascension Isle: Legacy"

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First Session: Sunday 12 July, 2 pm Central (7pm GMT)
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Channel moved to #AscensionIsle.<br>
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Kobold Space Program total success - ''Ad Astra!''<br>
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Ascension Isle: Legacy continues!<br>
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-IX<br>
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==Overview==
 
==Overview==
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[[File:Correctional Zone.jpg|thumb]]
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This is a character based RPG set in the fantasy world of Arth, as part of the modern Ascension Isle setting.  This is a modified version of the AI world discussed for the proposed Nation Game, and differs in a several key ways.  The most important is that in this world magical development fed technological development and vice versa, leading to a world with technology that in many ways exceeds our own - as well as being a world with magical creatures, non-human races, and supernatural powers.<br>
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The old kingdoms of the demigod Chosen who have ruled the world for centuries are collapsing, and the Characters are caught in these times of revolution.  Can they build a new order, or will they just burn the old to ashes?
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==Background==
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[[AI:L Background]]<br>
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[[AI:L Armoury]]<br>
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[[AI:L Spellbook]]<br>
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[[AI:L Character Creation]]<br>
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[[AI:L Skill List]]<br>
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[[AI:L Trait List]]<br>
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[[AI:L Quirk List]]<br>
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[[AI:L Combat]] (updated with range combat rules, 2019/03/02)<br>
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[[AI:L Social Conflict]]<br>
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<br>
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[[AI:L Spinoffs - Kobold Space Program]]<br>
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[[AI:L Rules Testing]]<br>
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==The Player Characters==
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[[Chrysanth, Candidate for Zadkiel]] - Shrike<br>
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[[Jonas Flavius]] - Lokar<br>
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[[Gregorio Arhyna]] - Ent<br>
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[[Aranitha Fury Morrigan]] - FBH<br>
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[[Alice Samelrand]] - Silence<br>
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[[LoranClementine]] - Andronicus <br>
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[[Eugenie Letizia Kerdaniel]] - G <br>
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==Campaign Themes==
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(GM) Event: The Liberation of Eleutheria<br>
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::Jonas: Strongly Support
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::Aran: Support - "A knight should save the weak."
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::Chrysanth: No Opinion
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::Alice: Strongly Support<br>
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::Greg: Strongly Support<br>
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::Loran: "From ''what''?" <br>
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(Lokar) Organization: Restore the Republic<br>
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::Jonas: Strongly Support - "I wish to restore the Republic, one more committed to the ideals of equality."
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::Aran: Support - "Let the humans have their glory."
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::Chrysanth: Support - "The Republic is part of Zadkiel's legacy - but the lesser part."
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::Alice: Strongly Support - "Whatever Jonas wants - the crown of the Consul if he wills it."<br>
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::Greg: Support - "They'll probably let me do my thing, right?"<br>
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::Loran: Neutral. "Restore the Republic of Zadkiel not the republic of the mob or the red brigades." <br>
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(FBH) Person: Lord General Marianne Saint Just<br>
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::Jonas: Strongly Oppose - "The Elf has first claim, but if Aran doesn't kill her, then I will see the Lord General tried and executed for her crimes."
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::Aran: Strongly Oppose - "I will hold her in my arms as the life spills out of her, and she will know that all her works are ruin at my hands, and pray to her liar god in vain."
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::Chrysanth: No Opinion
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::Alice: Oppose - "Just another body to pave the Cordinal's path."<br>
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::Greg: Strongly Oppose - "Flunky from a bygone era." <br>
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::Loran: Oppose. "The Lord-General is issuing illegal orders and acting in a way that betrays her office." <br>
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(Shrike) Person: Assume Zadkiel's Legacy<br>
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::Jonas: No Opinion - "I will not hinder Chrysanth but if she intends to reimpose the old order I will stop her."
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::Aran: Oppose - "I kill Chosen. I'm not going to restore them."
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::Chrysanth: Strongly Support - "I will immanentize my eschaton."
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::Alice: No Opinion - "Not a waifu option for Jonas so don't care."<br>
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::Greg: Oppose - "I'd rather not have the Chosen come back."<br>
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::Loran: Support. The return of the Lord of Mercy can only be a boon to mankind!<br>
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(Silence) Ideal: The Legend of Cordinal Jonas Flavius<br>
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::Jonas: Oppose - "I am just a man fighting for what is right and a better future."
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::Aran: Support - "He gives a good speech and he's pretty handsome, but overall I prefer the crazy one."
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::Chrysanth: No Opinion
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::Alice: Strongly Support - "I am the ideal waifu for the ideal Cordinal and he will realize that eventually even if I have to. . . remove. . . any competitors."<br>
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::Greg: No Opinion<br>
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::Loran: Jonas-sempei is a hero! <br>
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(Ent) Event: Free Thaumatechnology from the shackles of the Church.<br>
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::Jonas: Support - It is through the Church's control of technology that they shackle the people. The free flow of technology allows for a free people.
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::Aran: Supports - Let the Chosen's Works be known to all, and lose any power they might have had in the doing of it <br>
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::Chrysanth:
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::Alice: No Opinion - "Whatever the Cordinal wants"
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::Greg: Strongly Support<br>
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::Loran: Oppose. Radical measures produces nothing but misery. <br>
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(Loran) Event: Pick up chicks, drive a giant robot! <br>
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::Jonas:
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::Aran:
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::Chrysanth:
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::Alice:
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::Greg:
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::Loran: <br>
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[[Objectives: Team Republic]] <br>
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[[Objectives: Team Chosen]]
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==The Chosen==
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Zadkiel: Chosen of Cydonia, Chosen of Mercy, who created the Eluetherian Republic from his old Cydonian Protectorate.  Zadkiel vanished before the Republic's destruction, and it is suspected he may have met his end at the hands of one or all of the "Correcting" Chosen.<br>
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Liah: Chosen of Coreven, Chosen of the Crusade, and one of the Chosen who invaded the Republic with her Crusade armies.  Beleived by many to be the ring-leader of the Correction.<br>
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Leliel: Chosen of Enduscare, Chosen of Night, and one of the Chosen who invaded the Republic with her Crusade armies.  Known to have a particular hatred of the "lesser races."<br>
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Auriel: Chosen of Telloren, Chosen of Light, and one of the Chosen who invaded the Republic with his Crusade armies.  A reclusive Chosen, but who runs a stern domain, and is known to be a longtime ally of Liah.<br>
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==CZ Central Political Scene==
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===The Noble Houses===
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'''Heiro House Archangeli'''<br>
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House Archangeli was re-admitted into the ranks of the Heirophant Houses of Arth following its surrender at the end of the Araden Interdivinum.  It "rules" over the Unity District at the center of CZ Central, however it is common knowledge among the people of the city that Governor Armiger Archangeli, once the Praetor and greatest hero of the Republic, is now nothing more than a mind controlled Chosen puppet.
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'''Heiro House Aikenrand'''<br>
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House Aikenrand is one of the old Araden noble houses that refused to swear loyalty to the Republic.  With the return of the Chosen they were rewarded for this loyalty and granted title over Alpha Ward, in the Coreve Occupation District.<br>
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'''House Lyris'''<br>
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House Lyris swore loyalty to the Republic, and was one of its leading Patrician families.  The family's noble line suffered heavily during the War, and survives only due to its close relationship with its surviving cadet branch, Lyrey-Makkali.  It has title over Beta Ward in the Tellen Occupation District<br>
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'''House Arhyna'''<br>
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House Arhyna swore loyalty to the Republic, but was narrowly rejected from entry into the Patrician families by a close vote of the Senate.  The House has a scandal plagued history, and it is rumoured that fey blood may even run through the veins of some of its scions.  The House survived the war largely intact, and was too powerful for the Chosen to easily disenfranchise, despite its reputation, and the feirce resistance many of its members put up during the War.  It has title over Gamma Ward, in the Tellaren Occupation District.<br>
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'''House Megus'''<br>
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House Megus is known for the potency of its blood, and has birthed some of the most notable Thaumaturges in the history of the Zones.  It is rumoured this opportunistic noble house only supported the Republic so as to gain access to its wondrous electronic "ZENTek."  House Megus is allied to the cadet branches of Taiani, Malkaritus, and Maikom, and has title over Delta Ward in the Tellaren Occupation District.<br>
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'''House Sentonius'''<br>
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House Sentonius survived the war, but was nearly annihilated in the aftermath for the humiliations it inflicted upon the armies of the Chosen Leliel.  The other two Chosen, Liah and Auriel ultimately talked down their fellow, and in her mercy (or the other Chosen's warped senses of humour) Leliel allowed Sentonius to survive in her service.  To the bemusement of many, although not formally bound in marriage, House Sentonius maintains close relations with House Arhyna, and the two fought side by side in the War.  House Sentonius is known for being given all the most humiliating tasks within the Enduscare Occupation Zone, and along with its surviving cadet family of Var-Vistus, has title over Epsilon Ward in the Endare Occupation District.<br>
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'''House Samelrand'''<br>
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House Samelrand was one of Patrician families of the Republic, but has fallen far since then.  Most of its leadership was killed in the War, and its young Matriarch, Ingria Samelrand, is known to be insane.  Samelrand now performs some of the most heinous acts in the Correctional Zone, and its jumped up client family, Venamus, operates Enlightenment Camps of Zeta Ward in the Endare Occupation District, where hundreds of thousands have since met their end.<br>
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'''Heiro House Lentithe''' <br>
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House Lentithe was a minor house of suspect loyalty that was never admitted into the ranks of the Patricians.  Following the War it was restored by the Chosen Leliel and given title over Eta Ward in Enduscare's Occupation District.  Paradoxically, House Lentithe is now one of the most ardent, if secret, supporters of a republican revival, a sentiment likely driven by its utter loathing for House Samelrand.<br>
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'''Heiro House Clementine'''<br>
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House Clementine remained true to the Chosen Zadkiel, and was one of the initial Patrician families, but voluntarily rescinded its title following independence.  It is one of the most respected Noble Houses in the Correctional Zone, and its members are known for their moral "uprightness," giving its words weight far beyond the house's modest wealth and power.  Clementine holds title over Theta Ward in the Coreve Occupation District, which is a hotbed of rebellion due to the house's perhaps ill-advised soft touch.  The spirited Clementine cadet house Emeraldine is tied by marriage to House Archangeli, and the fate of the Lady Aster Emerald-Archangeli has driven a wedge between the house and the Chosen.<br>
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===The Empyrean Church===
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Church of Liah<br>
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Church of Leliel<br>
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Church of Auriel<br>
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Church of Zadkiel<br>
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===Heretics and Infidels===
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Memnites<br>
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Astrana<br>
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Entelism<br>
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The Perithelians<br>
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===The Pleb Street===
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'''25th Libra'''<br>
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25th Libra is a fast growing global revolutionary movement.  It traces its genesis back three hundred years, to a series of books by Mikaelan Librarian Lara Sullivan called "The Bridge of Time."  The books presented an alternate past, present and future for Arth, each without the Chosen, and indirectly showed their malignant influence through the comparison, although the Chosen are never mentioned directly in the novels.  The books were immediately suppressed, but gave rise to a number of underground movements which stubbornly resisted the efforts of the Chosen to completely stamp them out.  Finally, with the Silent War and the fall of the Chosen the various movements have started to coalesce under the banner of the "25th Libra movement" - the day the Ascended Isles Fell.  25th Libra calls for the people of the world to throw off the shackles of the Chosen and unite to build a better future.  In CZ Central, 25th Libra generally preaches peaceful change, and the creation of a new, stronger and fairer Republic.<br>
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'''The Red Brigades'''<br>
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Named after the Red Hand, a violent pleb movement which murdered several Nobles in the Cydonian Protectorate Zone two hundreds years ago, the Red Brigades demand violent revolution.  From a platform of equality, they preach that the plebs will only be free when all those with unequal advantages - the Nobles and the Constructed Races among them - are overthrown.  Many low ranking citizens and pleb soldiers from the days of the Republic, believing themselves betrayed by the nobility, have joined the ranks of the Brigades, making them a formidable military force.
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::'''The Drummers'''<br>
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::The Drummers are the radical arm of the Red Brigades, responsible for various acts of terrorism across CZ Central, and the Correctional Zone at large.  They preach a particularly apocalyptic version of the Red Brigades' ideology of violent change, including not just the overthrow but the complete extermination of all those of Noble blood.<br>
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===The Street Gangs===
  
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This is a character based RPG set in the fantasy world of Arth, as part of Ascension Isle (prime).  This is a modified version of the AI world discussed for the proposed Nation Game, and differs in a several key ways.  The most important is that in this world magical development fed technological development and vice versa, leading to a world with technology that in many ways exceeds our own - as WELL as being a world with magical creatures, non-human races, and supernatural powers.<br>
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'''The West Side Monsters'''<br>
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The West Side Monsters mainly operate in the Tellen Occupation District on the east side of CZ Central.  Their name comes from CZ Central's location at the west end of the Tellen Occupation Zone, and the gang has a presence throughout several of its cities.  In CZ Central it numbers about 1,500 members.  It is run by Artemis Hougan, a massive man half muscle and half machine.  Hougan is supposedly a veteran first of the War, and then of Megus experiments to help him recover from his wounds.  The Monsters are known to be an egalitarian lot, and include elves, goblins and ogres as well as Rafaelans, Mikaelans, and even Jibrilites in their numbers.  They also perform extreme body modifications, starting with tattoos and going up from there.The sign of the Monsters is three sylized claws, and their gang sign is two crooked fingers.<br>
  
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==History==
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The Monsters dabble in all forms of criminality, but most of their income comes from illicit drugs, which they smuggle into the city from several grow ops in the Tellen Zone countryside.  Aside from that, they are known to be particularly violent, and are not above hiring out as muscle for a little cash on the side.  They are rumoured to have an arrangement with House Megus, where Megus gets to test some of its more esoteric technologies on their members, and those members who survive the process get to keep the tech.<br>
  
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[[File:Map of Arth.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Map of Arth]]<br>
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'''Lunar Crew'''<br>
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The Lunar Crew are an elven gang based in the ring wall slums of the Coreven Occupation District, particularly West Park and Firion Park, and with a presence througout the Endus Occupation District. The gang numbers 3,000 - all elves - and is run by an inner circle called the Winter Council.  Although Artemis Crimsene has been publicly associated with Crew, the Council denies any involvement with that stylish masked outlaw.  The Lunar Crew's sign is Luna's Eye - four lens shapes interlinked in a cross pattern.  It is common for the gang to enchant these signs with various spell effects, often to warn them of trespassers.<br>
  
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Magic was discovered about a thousand years ago in roughly simultaneous events on the continents of Jibril, Rafaela and Heylel (called Zenith by the locals).  Magic, called Prana by the Zenith, and Praxis by the Jibrilites, is driven by an energy called Ether pulled from another universe across from our own, and particularly attracted to the energy of life and thought.  Initial magical spells were simple, limited as they were by the ability of the users to mentally conceive the uses of this energy and control their application.  In those days magic mainly took the form of additional physical prowess or the basic induction of excess energy into other objects, usually with destructive effect.<br>
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The purpose of the Lunar Crew is the preservation of elven lives and culture.  The gang smuggles elven refugees in from the other district, and then out to the northern Coreven Zone.  It has several arrangements with northern landowners to provide cheap labourers, and also receives remittances from those it has saved.  It supplements this income with theft and burglary, gaining for itself a deserved reputation as a pack of thieves.<br>
  
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Approximately 700 years ago Jibrilite thaumaturges discovered that certain materials could be used to contain and channel Praxis before its ultimate discharge.  This allowed the thaumaturge to craft vastly more precise and complex spells (called Cyclos, or circuits) by first crafting into a physical item pathways the Ether would follow, before finally being given form.  Magical ability exploded, and with it scientific and technological advancement.  At the time, the technology level was about equivalent to Earth's 15th century, but it now aided by their Praxis it began to advance in leaps and bounds.  At first the many kingdoms of Jibril warred upon themselves, but soon they began to look further afield, to continents they had only irregularly visited before (due to the electromagnetic effects of Ether, the compass does not work on Arth, limiting - although not preventing - long range navigation).<br>
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Recently the Lunar Crew has entered into an arms length, informal arrangement with House Lentithe.  The two previously had an "understanding" where Lentithe would look the other way as the Crew smuggled refugees through its Ward.  Lenthithe has expanded this arrangement, and is paying the Crew to report on events within Ward 6.  This corresponds to a falling out between Lunar Crew and Nexlexis.  The two gangs were allies in the past, but are becoming increasingly hostile to each other.<br>
  
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It was this expansion that brought the Jibrilites into conflict with the race known as the Xaro.  Living on the continent of Mikaela, The Xaro had never developed any serious magical ability, although their technology was said to rival any in the world.  Most of the history of the Xaro is now lost, however it seems they were an insular and secretive race.  Jibrilite records describe them as a stunted and twisted race with dark skin and glowing eyes, although the veracity of these is questioned by Zenith scholars.  In any event, the Xaro resisted the Jibrilite move into Mikaela, aided by their ability to control several of the less advanced non-human races, and a long and brutal series of wars followed, during which the Xaro were exterminated, and other non-human species including the goblins and ogres were reduced to slavery.<br>
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'''Legio XIII'''<br>
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The 13th Legion professes to be the remnants of the Republican Legion of the same name.  It's leader styles himself "Legate Cordinal Catarian", and operates out of the Scarlet Street area of Ward 5.  The Legion is the smallest of the major gangs in the city, with only 500 core members (although it claims its strength is 6,000), however it is known to possess some quantities of old Republic ZEN-Tek, making it a force to be reckoned with.<br>
  
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Seeing the advance of the Jibrilites across the continents of Mikaela and Rafaela, the nations of Zenith realized that they could soon be next.  Although Zenith had a substantial human population, it also had several non human races to which the Jibrilites had already shown great hostility.  The Jibrilite thaumaturges jealously guarded the secrets of the etheric circuit, but the sorcerers of the Zenith found another means to channel their power.  The Zenith had for some time realized that the universe from which Ether came was not, in fact, as the Jibrilites assumed, a formless void.  It was instead a shadow universe which they called the Locus, and populated by its own denizens.  At the appropriate time when Arth was aligned with the hidden worlds of the Locus, the Zenith enticed several of these beings, alternately known as Demons, Deva or Dragons, across the Veil between worlds, and fixed the greatest of them to human souls.  This gave the new Dragonsouled or Zohaka power over the Ether comparable to that of the Jibrilite Thuamaturges.<br>
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The Legion sustains itself mainly through "taxation" or wide ranging protection and shakedown rackets.  It is mostly ignored by the Constabulary who do not have enough firepower to willingly enter a fight with the group.  Whether the 13th Legion is actually heir to the Rebublican brigade of the same name is an open question, however the group does not profess loyalty to the General Staff, and appears to have long forgotten any ideals it once defended.<br>
  
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A series of wars followed between the Jibrilites and the Zenith, escalating in ferocity over a period of about a century, until both sides realized nothing further could be gained by conflict, and the Confederacy of Jibrilite kingdoms, and the Dragon Empire of Zenith declared a truce and entered a long cold war.  By then technology had reached a level roughly comparable to that of the modern day. . . and then it stopped.<br>
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'''Burnt Cannibals'''<br>
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The Burnt Cannibals are the bogey men that mothers in CZ Central use to terrify their children with if they don't go to bed at the Codex approved time.  The exact size of the group is unknown, but they are suspected to number at least 1,000 members throughout the city.  Their leader is Artemis Blaize, who is rumoured to be either an immortal Rafealan Witch, an Imperial Zenith Sorceress, or maybe a dragon, who settled in Prion city prior to the Correction, and awakened and angered by its destruction.  Members of the Cannibals wear little if any clothing, have smouldering skin and eyes like burning coals, and have Aether auras like infernos that seethe with power and rage.<br>
  
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As the wars were winding down, the Zohaka, who had set themselves up as the hereditary god kings of the Zenith, unlocked the power of immortality.  To gain peace they shared this with their most powerful Jibrilite opponents, who also used it to set themselves up as immortal rulers - the angelic "Chosen." The world's new ruling super-humans decided that it would be in everyone's best interest to limit the spread of this power, and for the next 500 years Arth entered a period of relative stasis, divided in two between two rival super powers.  The Chosen decided to erase much of the historical knowledge of their citizens, instead indoctrinating them in the belief that their rulers were divine beings in fact, and creating an entire religion to worship them.  The Zenith were not so extreme, but the Dragonsouled still set themselves up as a heavenly mandated Imperial family.<br>
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The Cannibals do exactly as their name suggests, prowling the streets of the slums and the undercity after dark, and dragging off the unwary to be devoured.  The members of the gang have sworn themselves to Blaize for some hellish pact of power that only the insane or desperate would consider.  Although Artemis Blaize can be negotiated and bargained with she is untrustworthy, and the authorities long since gave up trying. Instead they bent their efforts to wiping her and her twisted cult out.  Prior to the Silent War they had mostly succeeded, although Blaize herself remained at large.  In the past six months though, the gang has seen a resurgence, and once more Blaize's Cannibal acolytes stalk CZ Central.<br>
  
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All that ended with the "Silent War." It had been known for some time that while Ether was drawn to living beings, in some areas of the world if was drawn more strongly.  This effect had long been measurable, but otherwise of only modest significance. Then, on the island of Saranavo, almost equidistant between the two superpowers, a massive ether font of unprecedented scale was discovered.  Where before nothing in the world had been worth conflict between its god kings, all of a sudden this was a prize worth fighting over.  Mediation failed, and war broke out, first between the Zenith and the Jibrilites, and then within a month among the Chosen and the Zohak princes themselves. From that point the war rapidly escalated. . . and then abruptly ended.<br>
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'''Nexlexis'''<br>
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Nexlexis is the largest street gang in CZ Central.  It is run by Artemis Frost, who claims to be a bastard daughter of House Arhyna, and has gathered a coterie of bastards and exiles around her, as well as an army of plebs. All told Nexlexis numbers around 5,000 core members spread mostly throughout the Endus District.  Frost runs the gang with a mixture of charm and violence - she and many of her lieutenants are skilled Magi, using a mix of Jibrilite and Rafaelan arts. Their gang sign is crossed index fingers, and their symbol is a stylized X.<br>
  
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By now most of the Chosen lived in vast orbital palaces accessible only to themselves called the Ascended Isles.  The Zenith Zohaka had their own retreats hidden in bubble realms along the Veil.  Who struck first is no known, but over the course of a few hours the god kings of Arth began to attack each other's previously inviolate centers of power.  By the end of a day most of the world's former rulers were dead - the few survivors, fled.<br>
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Nexlexis runs entertainment houses in every Ward of the city, at which gambling, prostitution, and banned entertainments are conducted.  It also runs protection rackets and slum tenements in the areas it controls, and traffics in illegal drugs and restricted goods.  Nexlexis also dabbles in kidnapping and human smuggling on the side.  Nexlexis does most of its public activities under the auspices of Nexen Corp (logo: neXen), a supposedly above board service provider, headquartered in Ward 6's inner ring "Red Light" district.<br>
  
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Most citizens saw the war only as an endless shower of falling stars across the sky, as their ruler's vast orbital palaces exploded and burned up, leading to it's moniker, the "Silent War." The next day they found that much of their world had also fallen silent.  Without the power of the Chosen vast magical factories ground to a stop, power plants shut down, and the nations of Jibril began to fall apart.  In distant Zenith, although the social impact was less severe, the various provinces of the Empire now began to move toward civil war as disagreements long contained by the Imperial family began to erupt.<br>
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Nexlexis is known to have contacts with several Noble families, including Samelrand, Arhyna, and Megus.  It also has numerous individual nobles who it has made contact with through its entertainment houses, and many that it can call on for favours, or just blackmail.  Due to its penetration of the Constabulary, Nexlexis is all but immune from conventional prosecution, and it takes pains to remain useful to the various Crusader factions.  It has recently received an influx of funds from an unknown source, and is expanding its efforts into construction and infrastructure, often using cheap labour borrowed or redirected from the Enlightenment Camps in Ward 6.<br>
  
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This is the world and the period in which this game is set.<br>
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===The Republic===
  
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==Background Fluff==
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Anthem of the Republic - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rss-xVvOBwo "The Call of Elysium"]<br>
  
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Some images shamelessly stolen from Deviant Art to give an idea of the style of the game:<br>
 
  
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[[File:City-of-the-Future-484.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Aldicore, island capital of the Divine Dominion of Coreven]]<br>
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'''Prion in Exile - The General Staff'''<br>
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The General Staff are the military leadership of the republic who never surrendered.  The Chief of Staff is Marshal Akalis (a ''nom de guerre'' to protect his identity), and until recently they were located deep within the Mikaelan interior, sheltered by the Library to evade Chosen hunters.  Rumour is that since the Fall, the General Staff has sent senior representatives back to Eleutheria, with Captain General Medira rumoured to have been sent to Prion City itself. Contacting the General Staff is difficult, but they are always looking to regather the forces of the Republic, and will offer aid to those who swear themselves to its cause - that of a restored Republic.<br>
  
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'''Patrician House Castellum'''<br>
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House Castellum is one of three surviving Patrician families that refused to swear loyalty to the Chosen following the Correction.  The house mainly operates in the Telloren Occupational Zone, and supposedly has several hidden caches of ZEN-Tek weaponry scattered on various islands throughout Deception Strait.  It funds the remnants of three Republic Legions, VI, IX, and XXV<br>
  
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[[File:Marsel Slums.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Marsel City Slums, Coreve Mikealan Zone]]<br>
+
'''Patrician House Elysenium'''<br>
 +
House Elysenium no longer exists as it did in the days of the Republic. The house was effectively exterminated in a final suicidal attack on the Chosen Leliel.  It's banner has been taken up by several plebes who claim to be illegitimate bastards of its rather prolific First Prince, the legendary Ryzard Arhyn-Elysenium, the Lion of Acheron.  Under this banner the polyglot Legio XXI continues to fight on in the countryside of the Enduscare Occupation Zone.<br>
  
 +
'''Patrician House Luciani'''<br>
 +
House Luciani is not technically a Patrician house, being formed of exiled remnants of House Archangeli.  It is sometimes referred to as fallen-Archangeli.  Although the smallest by far of the three surviving Patrician Houses.  Rumour says it maintains the elite Legio I "Invictus" hidden somewhere in the north of the country.<br>
  
−
[[File:Glowing Gunship.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Coreve Herald-class Aerodyne Gunship]]<br>
+
'''The Library'''<br>
 +
The Library, or the Great Library, is one of the oldest institutions on Arth, despite the Chosen's attempts to destroy it.  The Library maintains the history of Arth, as it was before the Chosen sought to rewrite it.  The library also records events as they happen and adds them to its volumes, all of which are banned by the Chosen, and anyone caught reading them can potentially face severe penalties.  The Library has no one central location, operating instead out of many distributed locations that continually reprint and republish its old works.  Most of the Library's work is concentrated on the continent of Mikaela, although it does maintain a large repository in the Zenith Empire, which serves as insurance the total destruction of its works.<br>
  
 +
'''ZEN-Tek LLC'''<br>
 +
ZEN-Tek is a shadowy and mysterious company that is best known for its extremely advanced "electrotech" weapons.  ZEN-Tek came to prominance in the early years of the Eluetherian Republic, when its weapons flooded the Republic's Army.  The exact source of these weapons remains a mystery, even after the War and subsequent Occupation.  Some have theorized that the Chosen Zadkiel developed them so as to give his people a means of defense independent from the Chosen-controlled Thaumatech.  Despite the ruthless lethality of their armaments, anyone reading the pictographic ZEN-Tek operating manuals is left with the distinct impression that, whoever they are, ZEN-Tek isn't taking this all completely seriously.  The booklets feature the exploits of exaggerated cartoon characters, like the overeager Lt Grass and the portly Sgt Fingus, and contain more puns than a stage full of goblin comedians.  Regardless, ZEN-Tek remains fully committed to the Republic and the only a handful of captured weapons have seen service in the hands of Crusaders.  After several high profile cases of sabotage, leading to the deaths of senior Crusade officers who took ZEN-Tech weapons as trophies, the Chosen issued a general edict against the practice, and now all captured weapons are turned over to the Church for destruction.<br>
  
−
[[File:Jibril Infantry.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Coreve Crusaders with Inquisitor]]<br>
+
==The City of CZ Central==
 +
[[File:Midgar.jpg|thumb]]
  
−
[[File:Midgar-final-fantasy-vii-30916-1920x1080.jpg|200px|thumb|right|CZ Central, Formerly Prion City, capital of the Eleutherian Republic]]<br>
+
Total population: 10,000,000<br>
  
−
==Game Concept==
+
'''Ward 2''' is home to the House Lyris, which is basically just a puppet for the Tellen Crusade, being gutted of power
 +
:'''Knight's Bastion''' is the site of the temple to Auriel
 +
:'''Squall Rise''' has a most excellent restaurant with fabulous lemon crepes.
  
−
The game will take place on The Continent of Mikaela, in the Correctional Zone, which used to be the Eleutherian Republic.  The Capital of the Correctional Zone is CZ Central, also called CZ-CUR or CZ City, which used to be the city of Prion. The Eleutherian Republic was formerly the Auraden Protectorate Zone, under the rule of the Chosen Zadkiel.  About 50 years ago (97 ER - Era of Repentance - the Chosen calendar is divided into eras of varying length based on various themes, and intentionally designed to muddy the length of history) Zadkiel began moving the Auraden Zone towards self governance. 10 years ago the former Zone reached full autonomy and declared itself the Eleutherian Republic.  The Republic was immediately subjected to a covert campaign to undermine it conducted from the Protectorates of several of the neighboring Chosen, who called its independence the "Abandonment."  After an escalation of rhetoric and military build up, five years ago Eleutheria was invaded by the Crusading armies of Coreven, Endruscare and Telloren.  This invasion was called the Corrective Re-Enlightenment by the Chosen.  The war was bloody with several unexpected early setbacks for the Crusader armies. In the end, despite their advanced technology, the forces of the Republic were crushed by the unleashed powers of the Chosen.  Eleutheria was divided into three "Correctional Zone Regions," with the ruined former capital of Prion rebuilt as a jointly administered Central Urban Region.<br>
+
'''Ward 3''' (Gamma Ward) is the sector of House Arhyna.
 +
:'''Touph Street''' is outer slums and red light districts, including the extremely popular (among young female nobles) nightclub ''Meat Market''.
 +
:'''Balamb Gardens''' is the grounds for House Arhyna's sprawling mansion complex.
  
−
It is now the year 5 E.A., in the Era of Ascension, six months after the Silent War, and the Fall of 25 Libra, which saw the death of the Chosen.  The Correctional Zone is breaking down, with the three Administrative Regions on the verge of war with each other over mounting suspicions and increasingly scarce resources.  In the middle of this, the resistance which was once the Army of the Republic, is stirring, gathering its forces, and preparing to re-ignite a war of liberation.<br>
+
'''Ward 4''' is the sector of House Megus.
  
 +
'''Ward 6''' is host to the concentration camps and has mostly been bulldozed flat.
 +
:'''Samelrand Spire''' is accessible by the Cross-City Link Line.
  
−
Recruitment is closed, and characters are now being built.<br>
+
'''Ward 7'''
 +
:'''Yojimbo Avenue''' is where Jonas has his secret base inside a warehouse
  
−
==Rules==
+
'''Ward 8''' is the sector of House Clementine, and their cadet house, House Emeraldine.
 +
:'''Emerald Road''' is the grounds for Emeraldine's mansion
  
−
Version 0.2 of the Ascension Ruleset is uploaded here (Word Doc):<br>
+
'''North of the City''' is Mirune Bay, currently unpleasantly icy.
 +
:'''Greg's crashed stratodyne''' is partially buried in the mud bordering the bay and is reachable by a dirt path or boat.
  
−
https://www.sendspace.com/file/kmjbpb
+
'''Republican Districts''' in the time of the former Republic the Wards were know as districts and had names...
 +
:Ward 0 was known as the Capitoline District
 +
:Ward 1 was known as the Pincian District
 +
:Ward 2 was known as the Vatican District
 +
:Ward 3 was known as the Aventine District
 +
:Ward 4 was known as the Caelian District
 +
:Ward 5 was known as the Viminal District
 +
:Ward 6 was known as the Esquiline District
 +
:Ward 7 was known as the Quirinal District
 +
:Ward 8 was known as the Palatine District
  
 +
==Characters==
  
−
==Interested Players==
+
'''The Lord General's Staff'''<br>
  
−
If you're interested put your name below, and your faction preferences.<br>
+
[[Lord General Marianne Saint-Just]]<br>
 +
[[Captain Caspar Saint-Just]]<br>
 +
[[CZ Chief Thaumatech Giannina "Nina" Megus]]<br>
 +
[[Cardinal of Liah, High Priestess Joanna Alisandre]]<br>
  
−
Shrike - Faction tbd
 
  
−
FBH - Stranded Zenith commando
+
'''CZ Central Authorities'''<br>
 +
[[Peace Marshal Spartus Venamus]]<br>
 +
[[Chief Inspector Renton Scarbrough]]<br>
  
−
Entropy - Prole Revolutionary
 
  
−
Lokar - Of the Rebellion (revolutionary)
+
'''The Street'''<br>
  
−
==Etheric Magic In Detail==
+
[[Artemis Crimsene]]<br>
 +
[[Artemis Frost]]<br>
 +
[[Legate Cordinal Catarian]]<br>
 +
[[Chey Hexum]]<br>
 +
[[Solomon Dior]]<br>
 +
[[Philo Marks]]<br>
 +
[[Malarkey]]<br>
 +
[[Niskeneskie]]<br>
 +
[[Delray]]<br>
 +
[[Malaika, Fate's Hand]]
  
−
Magic - Background
+
'''The Red Brigades'''<br>
  
−
The system of magic presented here is specific to the Ascension Isle setting.  Magic is performed with “Ether”, which is an extra-universal energy that is attracted to living organisms, particularly those with advanced nervous systems.  Ether is extremely powerful, both as raw energy but also due to its probabilistic effects which can induce or reduce entropy and uncertainty, and destabilize or change matter from one form or state to another.
+
[[Ion Valdemar]]<br>
  
−
When Ether enters a living being capable of wielding it, it is commonly called Aether.  For a time it was believed that Aether was naturally and spontaneously generated by all living creatures, 500 years ago Jibrilite and Zenith savants realized its true origin.
 
  
−
The universe from which Ether originates is called by different names; Jibrilites call it the Void, and consider it an formless space of chaotic energies, while the Zenith call it the Verge, and consider it the doorstep to another world much like Arth in many ways, but utterly unlike it in others.  The membrane between Arth and the Void/Verge is called the Veil through which Ether naturally seeps.  The Void can also be penetrated by various artificial means, although some of these come with great risk.
+
'''Wild Cards'''<br>
  
−
Once Aether has collected in a living being, it can be physically and psychoactively controlled by a skilled individual.  This is done through a range of physical movements, meditative mantras, and breath exhalations.  If conducted in the proper manner, these actions can induce Aether to perform various practical functions.  Unfortunately human gestures and thoughts are a crude means of controlling so complex a force as Ether, leading to the more advanced practices developed by the Chosen and the Zenith Sorcerors.
+
[[Captain Jericho Lander]]<br>
 +
[[Radachel Kezmet]]<br>
  
−
The Chosen of Jibril developed a means of transferring Ether from a living being and through a physical circuit made of a complex Ether-conducting silver-alloy called Archenium.  This allowed the Etheric circuit to be finely crafted to achieve a precision previously undreamed of.  It made this form of magic easy to use for anyone with the basic knowledge of how to channel Ether and access to the appropriate circuit, however the Chosen jealously guarded its deeper principles, meaning most Jibrilites have a working knowledge of how to use this “Thaumatech,” but very little understanding of its deeper principles.
+
[[Artemis Blaize]]<br>
  
−
The Zenith went a different route.  Unlike the Jibrilites, the Zenith delved deep across the universal boundary and into the Void, and realized that it was not in fact empty.  There were worlds, and beings, on the other side.  At the right times, when the worlds of the Verge were in conjunction with the world of Arth, these beings could be enticed across the Veil.  In their natural form, these creatures were unable to survive in our universe (just as humans were unable to survive for long in the Void – the research was costly), but they could be fused with the Aetheric field of a living being, creating a creature that was much more than the sum of its parts, able to draw on, and wield Ether at levels previously unimaginable.  These fused individuals were called Sorcerors in Zenith and the Zones. . . and various forms of demon worshippers by the Jibrilites.
+
'''Heiro House Clementine and Allies'''<br>
  
−
Ether has one particular property that is of interest.  Etheric radiation from living beings floods the higher electromagnetic spectrum, generating particularly powerful radio waves.  These waves are useful for detecting the presence of Aether-charged individuals, but they also generate a great deal of random white noise on those frequencies.  The active use of Ether also generates powerful electromagnetic and probabilistic quantum spikes, which serve both to overload and short out insufficiently shielded electronics, as well as randomly change the state of electric transistors.
+
[[Cordelia Clementine]]<br>
 +
[[Moira Clementine]]<br>
 +
[[Loran Clementine]]<br>
 +
[[Hazel Emeraldine]]<br>
 +
[[Lily Emeraldine]]<br>
 +
[[Aster Emererald-Archangeli]]<br>
  
−
These effects have prevented the development of many technologies on Arth, particularly since advanced Thaumatech can replicate or exceed the capabilities of many of them.  Although electricity has been known for some time, its use is quite limited.  The telephone is not used (early experiments with it led to widespread fires after Ether was used near the telegraph lines), nor is electricity widespread, or radio, or radar.  Engines are based on Etheric principles rather than electromagnetic, and the Jibrilites have no understanding of the transistor.
 
  
−
This is not to say these technologies are unknown and do not exist on Arth.  In areas of the Mikaelan continent technology sometimes appears of fantastic levels of advancement.  Most recently, the independent Eluetherian Republic of the former Auraden Protectorate Zone came into the possession of civilian infrastructure and military equipment that would be considered advanced even for Earth’s 21st century, however the source of this “Electrotech” remains unknown.  Jibril captured many copies of the most advanced devices during the Corrective Re-enlightenment (invasion) of the former Eleutherian Republic, however understanding of them has so far escaped the Church’s best savants.
+
'''Tellen District Nobles'''<br>
−
+
[[Lieutenant General Roald Janvier]]<br>
−
Hedge Magic
+
[[Wren Arhyna]]<br>
 +
[[Gideon Taiani]]<br>
 +
[[Bishop of Auriel - Priestess Ailena Tiadalos ]]<br>
  
−
No schooled practitioner of the Etheric arts or sciences calls the wielding of Ether “magic.”  The term was applied to the earliest use of Etheric energies, but in modern days is considered derogatory (even heretical) by all Jibrilites and most Zenith, suggesting a simple and mystical art.  Nevertheless, the simpler practices are still in use today, and are often called “magic” by the less well educated.
 
  
−
The simplest use of Ether is generally known as “Hedge Magic” in the Zones, or sometimes “Minor Praxis” (Jibril) or “First Prana” (Zenith).  Hedge Magic was the first form of Etheric use discovered by humans about a thousand years ago, in the rough technological equivalent of Arth’s Late Middle Ages / Early Rennaissance Era.  It allows a person to temporarily boost their natural statistics, as well as briefly infuse Ether into animate and inanimate objects by touch, or short range convection and conduction.  These infusions are most easily used to damage or destroy the targeted object, however the most skilled practitioners can change or modify other objects with Ether.
+
'''Endus District Nobles'''<br>
 +
[[Lord General Chesne Du-Blessed]]<br>
 +
[[Ingria Samelrand]]<br>
 +
[[Axelle Venamus]]<br>
 +
[[Aeternia Lentithe]]<br>
 +
[[Cordinal of the Cross Maiden DuThaire]]<br>
 +
Cordinal Kiera Dellarme, an auburn haired woman who would be stunningly beautiful if not for the livid half-healed laser scar marring the left side of her jaw.
  
−
The most powerful practitioners of the First Prana in the world are the Fey and Dragonbound Zenith Knights.  They Fey have a natural magical talent, descended from their otherworldly origin.  The Dragonbound possess power shards of shattered sorcerous souls, still radiant with power despite their destruction.  The Zenith Knights are an army of Fey and Dragonbound sworn to the Imperial Throne, who utilize secret techniques to allow them to fully unlock their power.  Although a Zenith Knight lacks the flexibility of a Sorcerer or the versatility of a Thamatechnician, there is nothing that can match their raw power, and they vie with Jibrilite solinarks for the title of Arth’s greatest Etheric warriors.
+
There's also Knight Marshal Hellicia Lusaine, a very pale woman with ruby red lips and a halo of red hair wearing the short elbow length crimson half cape of the custos knights.  The Endus temple troops.  She'd be in command of the local garrison
  
−
Thaumatech
+
The corpse pale Axelle Venamus, the only representative of the local house cadet forces here.  Lady Venamus has a mass of green hair floating about her like she's underwater and a cold artificial beauty that can only come from mimesis praxi.
  
−
The invention of Thaumatech seven hundred years ago changed the world far more than the initial discovery of Ether did.  Before Thaumatech, magic was seen by some as a useful advantage, and by others as the devil’s work, and was alternately embraced or shunned.  It was neither overwhelming in power, nor widely practiced.  Aside from the difficulty of learning the various magical forms, the fact that extended use of Hedge Magic upon one’s own body usually led to the development of cancer and an early death from heart attack or aneurism did not help matters.
 
  
−
Within a century of the introduction of Thaumatech to Jibril, all nations were either run by Thaumatechnicians, or conquered by them.  Within two centuries, those leading Thaumatechnicians had become gods, and had elevated themselves to become the angelic “Chosen.”  The Zenith use of Sorcery, though a powerful art in its own right, was ultimately a desperate reaction to the rise of Thaumatech by the magi of that continent, to prevent their conquest by the Chosen.
+
'''Stock Mooks and Characters'''<br>
  
−
Thaumatech is far more powerful than Hedge Magic, but its true value comes in its versatility.  No other Etheric practice can match the complexity and reliability of the Praxis that can be performed with Thaumatech.  It can do virtually anything, from lighting a cigar; to adding an explosive discharge to a lead bullet; to accelerating the healing of a wound; to establishing a telepathic connection around the world; to predicting future possibilities; to levitating huge flying machines; to travel to other planets; to granting immortality.
+
[[Constabular Gendarme]]<br>
 +
[[Constabular Officer]]<br>
 +
[[Constabular Inspector]]<br>
 +
[[Constabular Sheriff]]<br>
  
−
In the modern era Thaumatech has spread around the globe, and is practiced in some fashion on all four continents.  It is alternately contracted to “Thautek” (considered colloquial and informal), or called “Magitech” (common in the Zones, considered derogatory by the Jibrilites, and so also used insultingly by the Zenith), however the highest state of this science remains rooted in Jibril, and particularly with the Chosen.
+
[[Crusade Armsman]]<br>
 +
[[Crusade Officer]]<br>
 +
[[Crusade Cleric]]<br>
  
−
Thaumatech at its root involves creating an appropriately pattered Etheric circuit out of Archenium, and then channeling Ether through it.  It requires no more from the user than the ability to properly channel Ether.  The actual design and construction of Etheric circuits is done by skilled technicians.  Due to Chosen dogma, these technicians are concentrated in the Chosen’s Empyrian Church, and their work shrouded in layers of divine mysticism.  As a result, the patterns of modern Etheric circuits often take the form of complex religious shapes, and are often named after Empyrian practices, or the Chosen themselves.  Often these circuits are coded to secret rituals or noble Jibrilite bloodlines, which restricts their use to the select few.
+
[[Gigganger Cogmek]]<br>
  
−
The proper uses of Thaumatech are laid out in the Empyrean Codex, the Chosen’s book of religious teachings.  The Priestesses of the Church are the ordained Thaumatechnicians, and monopolize Thaumatech teachings in Jibril.  It is very difficult to acquire theoretical Thaumatech knowledge outside of the Church in Jibril, and in some Domains even attempting to do so is considered heretical.  As the militant order of the Church, the Priestesses are guarded by the Inquisition whose most fearsome members are the magical cyborg soldiers known as “Solinarks.”  A Solinark has Archenium circuits fused into their body in a very painful and often fatal process, that if successful leaves them as awesome Etheric combatants.
+
[[Legionary Veteran]]<br>
 +
[[Legionary Recruit]]<br>
  
−
Sorcery
+
==Military Forces in CZ Central==
  
−
No Etheric practice is as controversial as Sorcery, both across Arth and within the ranks of its practitioners.  Externally, Sorcery draws the ire of those who view it as demon worship, and making deals with devils.  Internally, Sorcery is divided by those who seek to completely dominate the beings they meld with (the “Zohaka” to the Zenith, also called First Level Sorcery), and those who seek a symbiotic relationship (the “Zahara”, also called Second Level Sorcery).
+
CZ Central is a large city of nearly 10 million people (although half the population it contained as Prion City) split into four occupation districts.  One district for each of the occupying Chosen Dominions, and then a central Unity District.  The City has many armed military forces, including the three Dominion Crusade armies, the city Constabulary, Noble House Cadet Guards, as well as various gangs, and the resistance forces.  The resistance forces themselves are scattered between local forces, revolutionary movements, and the Army of the Republic, which are the remnant forces of the Republican Legions.
  
−
The roots of Sorcery are rumoured to go back far further than the discovery of Ether, and it is suspected that there may have been Sorcerers as far back as 5,000 years.  Due to the particular limits on Sorcery, these Sorcerers must have been very few, possibly no more than could be counted on the fingers of both hands.
+
'''The Crusaders'''<br>
 +
The Crusaders are not a unified force, with divisions apparent and growing between the forces in the three Occupation Districts.  There are reports of clashes between the various Dominion forces out in the Zones as they scuffle over increasingly limited resources, although open fighting has not (yet) broken out in CZ Central itself.<br>
  
−
Sorcery involves pulling or coaxing a living being from across the Veil to merge with the Aetheric field or “Aura” of a human being.  However the Verge is not overflowing with such beings.  In fact, they can only be reached at certain inter-dimensional conjunctions, when the planet of Arth in our universe (called Apatha by the Zenith) temporarily passes near one of the worlds in the Etheric universe (called Peritha).  There are three known worlds in Peritha, with conjunctions occurring over cycles of decades (Iris), centuries (Azis), or millennia (Morgana).  There are rumours of vast creatures that roam the Void between conjunctions, and may be summoned or encountered by the lucky or the unwary, but most learned Sorcerors consider these just Old Magi’s tales.
+
A full strength foot brigade is 5,000 soldiers with 250 Autoclaires.  A full strength wing brigade is 3,000 soldiers with 100 Autoclaires and 250 Arthrodynes.  Numbers given below are for establishment but most formations will be below these numbers due to attrition and detachments.<br>
  
−
Zenith scholarship suggests that the Fey are in fact descendants of beings who crossed the Veil from Peritha five thousand years ago during the time of the Great Plague, and specifically from the world of Morgana during one of its rare conjunctions.  The Fey possessed the bodies of various animals, and then over time moulded them into forms closer to those of human.  Zenith Sorcerers put this forward as the reason why, although they have great intrinsic Etheric power, there are no Fey Sorcerors – it is impossible for a Perithan Aura to successfully anchor another unmanifest Perithan.  Some Sorcerers also put the existence of the Fey forward as cautionary evidence of what can happen to a Sorcerer if he or she were to lose control of the bond, and become subsumed by a Perithan soul.
+
::'''The Coreve Crusade''' 13,000 soldiers, in two foot brigades (117th "Inexorable", 192nd "Delight of Liah"), and one wing brigade (915th "Day of Truth - The Lord General's Own")
 +
:::Based at Highwind (117th), Western Heights(192nd), and the Aerostat Port (915th)
 +
:::Another 5 foot brigades and 2 wing brigades deployed in the northern Zone
 +
Coreve equipment is dominated by large rounded plates and smooth, sleek edges.  It tends to be simpler and more functional in appearance than that of most other Jibrilite dominions, but with extremely large and prominently displayed weapon mounts.  Coreve colors are blue and gold on white or silver.
  
−
Once a prospective Sorcerer has attracted a being from across the Veil they must bind the Etheric being to their own Etheric Aura.  If this bond is not soon formed, the Perithan will either release back to its own universe, or dissipate in this one.  It is the nature of this bond that defines the Sorcerer.  The Zohaka consumes the Perithan with their own Aura, subsuming all its power, and gaining full control over its abilities.  The Zahara on the other hand forms a symbiotic link with the Perithan, and exists as two beings, each with its own intelligence.  Although the terms “bond” and “link” are often used interchangeably, Zenith pedants call the Zohaka process the “bond,” and the Zahara practices a “link.”
+
::'''The Tellen Crusade''' 8,000 soldiers, in one foot brigade (332nd "Rebuke in Anger") and one wing brigade (1055th "Terrible Swift Sword")
 +
:::Based at Hartilly Hill (332nd) and Knight's Bastion (1055th)
 +
:::Another 4 foot brigades deployed in the eastern Zone
 +
Tellen equipment is baroque and highly stylized, with semi-archaic looking designs sporting an excess of filigree and statuary.  It is generally considered to be the "classic" appearance for Jibrilite equipment.  It tends to be larger than similar equipment from other Jibrilite dominions.  Tellen colors are gold, yellow and white.
  
−
Zohaka Sorcerers alternately claim that the Perithan forces they consume have no true intelligence and the act is no worse than consuming farm animals for food; or that whether they have intelligence or not is irrelevant because the Sorceror has the will, and the need.  Certainly that will saved the Zenith from conquest by the Chosen in its hour of need, and gave rise to the Empire and the line of the Imperial Dragonsouled.  This followed from the conjunction between Arth and Azis nearly 600 years ago, which allowed a thousand Zenith Sorcerers to summon and bind the souls of the beings they called Dragons.  These five hundred Sorcerers became the first Drangonsouled, and established a hereditary dynasty that ruled the Zenith Empire for more than half a millennia.
+
::'''The Endus Crusade''' 20,000 soldiers, in four foot brigades ([[522nd "Leliel Ascends"]], 510th "Deliverance," 601st "Smite All Falsehood", 677th "As is Just")
 +
:::Based at Adaman Lookout (522nd), Gau Rise (601st) and Zeta Camp (510th, 677th)
 +
:::Another 4 foot brigades and 2 wing brigades in the western zone - word is that in early Aries the 557th was badly mauled in a fight with unknown invaders out west by Tremscare Point
 +
Endus equipment is sharp and pointed, having many flat planes brought together at angles.  In some cases it can be difficult to see the true shape of the equipment and looking at it too long can strain the eye.  Endus colors are black with orange highlights, often with motes of light like stars floating within.<br>
  
−
The Aura of a First Level Sorcerer is an awesome thing, called the Sa’at, the Shade, or the Oversoul.  The Sa’at is functionally immortal and nearly indestructible, and allows the Sorcerer to reach over extreme distances with his power to manipulate etheric energies.  When working particularly powerful Prana, anyone with the ability to see Ether can clearly see the Sorceror’s Shade as a vast shape reaching across the sky.  Although not possessing so vast a range of abilities as Thaumatech, a First Level Sorcerer is unmatched in power and flexibility, and the Imperial Dragonsouled are first among Sorcerers, and a match for the Chosen of Jibril.
+
'''The Constabulary'''<br>
 +
The Crusaders mainly operate from large fortified camps.  The Constabulary keep day to day order on the streets.  About 2/3rds of them are from the Jibril Dominions, the other 1/3rd are local recruits.  There are about 70,000 Constables spread over the 8 wards and the Unity District.  The Constabulary maintain checkpoints, investigate crimes, and keep order.  They will only deploy in large numbers for incidences of social unrest, with most of these riot forces coming from the Unity District.  These days they will more commonly deploy large stego lizard cavalry rather than Autoclaires and Arthrodynes due to supply shortages.<br>
  
−
The power of the Sa’at can be transferred from one person to another, but only at the time of death.  It is possible for this power to be transferred as a unitary force, or broken and subdivided amoung several recipients.  The transference can be done to anyone, but it is much easier to conduct when the Sorcerer is related by blood to the recipient, with parent to child transactions being the easiest.  A failed transference usually results in the death of all participants, although the Sa’at itself is not lost, and can be recovered by a suitably skilled Sorcerer.  It is also possible, in very rare cases, for the Sa’at to break free and make off with the animated corpse.  Zenith children tell hushed campfire tales of the undead abominations that stalk the swamps at night, hungry for human flesh.
+
::Unity District - 18,000
 +
::Ward 1 - 6,000
 +
::Ward 2 - 5,000
 +
::Ward 3 - 7,000
 +
::Ward 4 - 6,000
 +
::Ward 5 - 4,000
 +
::Ward 6 - 15,000
 +
::Ward 7 - 3,000
 +
::Ward 8 - 6,000
  
−
Despite the immortality of the Sa’at, over time the number of the original thousand Azis-bound Sorcerers available to the Zenith has declined, and before the Silent War was thought to number no more than two or three hundred.  The remainder were diluted across multiple heirs (the Dragonbound), consumed into more powerful souls by rare (and forbidden – a terrible civil war resulted) practices, or broke free either as powerful and vengeful undead, or in five particular cases, as reborn elemental forces that still roam the world of Arth, glorious and terrifying.
+
'''House Cadet Guards'''<br>
 +
Traditionally Noble Houses of Jibril maintain small "cadet" forces to see to their own security and train the next generation of noble officers.  These forces tend to be small but of high quality and heavy on Thaumatech and Clerical support.  Carefully and suspiciously reconstructed after the War, most of the Cadet Guards of CZ Central fall far below the Jibrilite ideal, as far as quality is concerned.
  
−
This does not mean the number of Zohaka in the Empire is limited, only that few of the original Azis souls remain.  Less powerful sorcerous bonds with the denizens of the world of Iris are much more common, however these do not reach the power even of the diluted Dragonbound, and are thus looked down upon by the Sorcerous elite of the Zenith Empire.  There are rumours of particularly powerful souls gained from Iris that are a match for the ancient Azis Dragonsouls, but the Imperial College of Meridian has always scoffed at these rumours as peasant tales and revolutionary drivel.
+
Although peace still prevails between the Crusade forces, open fighting has broken out between the Guards of houses Samelrand and Lentithe on several occasions, with additional proxy conflicts between the street gangs Nexlexi and Lunar Crew likely working in contract for the two houses.  Several members of House Sentonius have also been murdered by Samelrand, and House Arhyna is also under investigation by the Constabulary for a series of raids into CZ Central against armament storehouses of House Archangeli.<br>
−
 
−
Zahara Sorcerers form the other main group who deal with beings from across the Veil.  The second souls they link with are called the Satama by the Zenith, or the Exosar in Jibril.  The latter term is scientific; in every-day use a Jibrilite is more likely to spit the word “Demon!”  Zenith themselves also use the term Demon, although without the overtones of horror.  From the Zahara it is known that the intelligence of the Perithans is exceedingly alien, and communication is difficult even between bonded Sorcerors and their Logos.  Communion is conducted through a trickle or torrent of images, feelings and free associations, much like unstructured telepathy.  It is also known that the bond is a two way transaction, and the Satama will often request power from the Zahara, leaving them weakened and drained.  Zahara theorize that the universe of Peritha lacks the form of our own, and the Perithans use the energies of Apatha to create physicality in their own universe that would otherwise be impossible.
 
  
−
Because the Satama link is difficult to form, requiring a unique confluence of willing candidates, Zahara sorcery is relatively uncommon in Zenith.  It would be virtually unheard of, if the Satama was not also able to be transferred from one Sorceror to another, allowing the Zahara to maintain a limited pool. This transference can be done without killing the human host, and can be initiated by either the Zahara or the Satama.  It is not unknown for a Satama that has become dissatisfied with their host to spontaneously jump to a more willing vessel.  Most Satama souls are necessarily from Iris, however there are rumoured to be a small number of the original thousand Dragons who bonded their souls as Zahara rather than Zohaka.  If so, this is a secret held deeply within the Imperial families.
+
::House Archangeli - 500 elite guards, superbly equipped and trained, essentially all transplanted Coreven cadets from Coreve houses Ingram, Saint-Anzeray, and de Chalice.
 +
::House Aikenrand - 200 elite guards.
 +
::House Lyris - 200 militia, poorly trained but with a great deal of heart.
 +
::House Arhyna - 100 guards (declared), rumoured to have many more, suspected to be funneling soldiers to the resistance.
 +
::House Megus - 100 elite sguards, heavy on the Thaumatech
 +
::House Sentonius - 200 civic militia, unarmed and used for shit duties.  Literally.
 +
::House Samelrand- 5,000 guards, equivalent to a poorly equipped foot brigade, justified for work in the camps
 +
::House Lentithe - 2,000 militia - declared - rumoured to be much larger due to conflict with Samelrand
 +
::House Clementine - 100 elite guards, well equipped with Auroclaires
  
−
To magical sight the workings of the Satama link look similar to that of the Sa’at bond, although a skilled observer can sense a difference in the purity of the aura (the Satama aura is ‘cleaner’ and usually more animated).  In practice the Zahara are capable of similar feats to the Zohaka, but they must pay a higher price for them.  The Satama however does provide a significant skill bonus to Etheric workings, as the Perithan is better able to directly manipulate the energies and in many cases has centuries of experience in doing so.
+
'''Known Resistance Forces'''<br>
  
−
Second Level Sorcery or “Witchcraft” is actually more common in the interior of the Rafaelan continent due to the presence of a unique lifeform known as the Selkie.  Selkies are semi-substantial beings that look like nothing so much as glowing jellyfish drifting on the breeze in their natural form.  During nights of spring and autumn they drift into being across the Veil and float eerily along the lakeshores of Rafaela, before fading out of existence by dawn.  Jibrilite colonists and adventurers sometimes harvest them for Ether, to the horror and disgust of traditional Rafaelans.  Selkies possess a unique connection across the Veil, and can be bonded in a manner similar to the Sorceror’s bond, becoming a witches’ familiar.  As a familiar, Selkies usually take more human forms (looking like nothing so much as little glowing fairies), and communicate in a manner similar to human children.  True Sorcerers look down their noses at Witches, who lack anything like true sorcerous power, however Rafaelan witches (and warlocks) are far more numerous.
+
::Legio X "Sum Umbra," The Ghosts - 100 elite scouts, 900 militia cadre, the remnants of the Republic Army's 10th Legion, which, along with most of the army, never actually surrendered.  Nevertheless, very little remains of the original 6,000 men of the Legion.  The Ghosts have enough old republic weapons to arm 100 men, but little ammunition or replaceable power cells for them.  They also have an additional 900 cadre militia recruited since the end of the war, and armed with stolen Crusader weapons.  The core of the Ghosts all hardened veterans of the Long War, and are man for man a match for any force in the city, save perhaps the Archangeli House Guards and Alpha Company of the Lord General's Own.  Nevertheless, they will need additional men and supplies if they intend to have a larger impact on events in CZ Central.
  
−
There was a final type of Second Level Sorcery, although it was never called that, at least not without risk of persecution and death.  Through a telepathic link, the most favoured Preistesses of the Churches of the Chosen had the ability to call on the power of their patrons.  This was called divine blessing or miracles, but it was actually functionally identical to Second Level Sorcery, although the controlling hand rested firmly with the Chosen.  This power has vanished since the Silent War and the Fall of Heaven, but if any of the Chosen have survived in hiding, it could appear once again.
+
==Chapters==
  
 +
'''Prologue'''<br>
 +
[[Prologue I]]: "A bold young man, and a worthy enemy." (Shrike, Lokar)<br>
 +
[[Prologue II]]: "A good ship late of a bad cause." (FBH, Ent)<br>
 +
'''Chapter 1 - The Last Dance'''<br>
 +
[[Session I]]: "A glittering battlefield." (Shrike, Lokar, Ent, Silence)<br>
 +
[[Session II]]: "Truth disguised as prophecy." (FBH, Lokar, Ent, Silence)<br>
 +
[[Session III]] "My distant love, unto death." (Lokar)<br>
 +
[[Session IV]]: "As tricksome a devil as any." (Shrike)<br>
 +
'''Chapter 2 - Bloody Hands'''<br>
 +
[[Session V]]: "A bloody hand, and I the arm behind it." (FBH, Silence)<br>
 +
[[Session VI]]: "Useful idiots." (FBH)<br>
 +
[[Session VII]] "Zadkiel's Legacy." (Ent, Shrike)<br>
 +
[[Session VIII]] "Call of the Fox."(Lokar)<br>
 +
[[Session IX]] "Thy sword unsheathed - The battle of Scarlet Street." (Lokar, FBH)<br>
 +
[[Session ]] (Silence)<br>
 +
'''Chapter 3 - Spark to Flame'''<br>
 +
[[Session ]]: (Ent, Shrike)<br>
  
−
==Basic Transmutation Effects==
+
==Miscellanea==
 +
*Metatron Form:  One-liners and combat banter
 +
*Liah Form:  Melee skill, emphasis on duels and 'honorable' bladecrossing
 +
*Mariel Form:  Thaumaturgy
  
−
Air to Flourine Gas
+
[[Category:Ascension Isle]]
 +
[[Category:Ascension Isle: Legacy]]

Latest revision as of 00:08, 16 June 2019

Channel moved to #AscensionIsle.
Kobold Space Program total success - Ad Astra!

Ascension Isle: Legacy continues!

-IX


Overview

Correctional Zone.jpg

This is a character based RPG set in the fantasy world of Arth, as part of the modern Ascension Isle setting. This is a modified version of the AI world discussed for the proposed Nation Game, and differs in a several key ways. The most important is that in this world magical development fed technological development and vice versa, leading to a world with technology that in many ways exceeds our own - as well as being a world with magical creatures, non-human races, and supernatural powers.

The old kingdoms of the demigod Chosen who have ruled the world for centuries are collapsing, and the Characters are caught in these times of revolution. Can they build a new order, or will they just burn the old to ashes?

Background

AI:L Background
AI:L Armoury
AI:L Spellbook

AI:L Character Creation
AI:L Skill List
AI:L Trait List
AI:L Quirk List

AI:L Combat (updated with range combat rules, 2019/03/02)
AI:L Social Conflict



AI:L Spinoffs - Kobold Space Program
AI:L Rules Testing

The Player Characters

Chrysanth, Candidate for Zadkiel - Shrike
Jonas Flavius - Lokar
Gregorio Arhyna - Ent
Aranitha Fury Morrigan - FBH
Alice Samelrand - Silence
LoranClementine - Andronicus
Eugenie Letizia Kerdaniel - G

Campaign Themes

(GM) Event: The Liberation of Eleutheria

Jonas: Strongly Support
Aran: Support - "A knight should save the weak."
Chrysanth: No Opinion
Alice: Strongly Support
Greg: Strongly Support
Loran: "From what?"

(Lokar) Organization: Restore the Republic

Jonas: Strongly Support - "I wish to restore the Republic, one more committed to the ideals of equality."
Aran: Support - "Let the humans have their glory."
Chrysanth: Support - "The Republic is part of Zadkiel's legacy - but the lesser part."
Alice: Strongly Support - "Whatever Jonas wants - the crown of the Consul if he wills it."
Greg: Support - "They'll probably let me do my thing, right?"
Loran: Neutral. "Restore the Republic of Zadkiel not the republic of the mob or the red brigades."

(FBH) Person: Lord General Marianne Saint Just

Jonas: Strongly Oppose - "The Elf has first claim, but if Aran doesn't kill her, then I will see the Lord General tried and executed for her crimes."
Aran: Strongly Oppose - "I will hold her in my arms as the life spills out of her, and she will know that all her works are ruin at my hands, and pray to her liar god in vain."
Chrysanth: No Opinion
Alice: Oppose - "Just another body to pave the Cordinal's path."
Greg: Strongly Oppose - "Flunky from a bygone era."
Loran: Oppose. "The Lord-General is issuing illegal orders and acting in a way that betrays her office."

(Shrike) Person: Assume Zadkiel's Legacy

Jonas: No Opinion - "I will not hinder Chrysanth but if she intends to reimpose the old order I will stop her."
Aran: Oppose - "I kill Chosen. I'm not going to restore them."
Chrysanth: Strongly Support - "I will immanentize my eschaton."
Alice: No Opinion - "Not a waifu option for Jonas so don't care."
Greg: Oppose - "I'd rather not have the Chosen come back."
Loran: Support. The return of the Lord of Mercy can only be a boon to mankind!

(Silence) Ideal: The Legend of Cordinal Jonas Flavius

Jonas: Oppose - "I am just a man fighting for what is right and a better future."
Aran: Support - "He gives a good speech and he's pretty handsome, but overall I prefer the crazy one."
Chrysanth: No Opinion
Alice: Strongly Support - "I am the ideal waifu for the ideal Cordinal and he will realize that eventually even if I have to. . . remove. . . any competitors."
Greg: No Opinion
Loran: Jonas-sempei is a hero!

(Ent) Event: Free Thaumatechnology from the shackles of the Church.

Jonas: Support - It is through the Church's control of technology that they shackle the people. The free flow of technology allows for a free people.
Aran: Supports - Let the Chosen's Works be known to all, and lose any power they might have had in the doing of it
Chrysanth:
Alice: No Opinion - "Whatever the Cordinal wants"
Greg: Strongly Support
Loran: Oppose. Radical measures produces nothing but misery.

(Loran) Event: Pick up chicks, drive a giant robot!

Jonas:
Aran:
Chrysanth:
Alice:
Greg:
Loran:

Objectives: Team Republic
Objectives: Team Chosen

The Chosen

Zadkiel: Chosen of Cydonia, Chosen of Mercy, who created the Eluetherian Republic from his old Cydonian Protectorate. Zadkiel vanished before the Republic's destruction, and it is suspected he may have met his end at the hands of one or all of the "Correcting" Chosen.

Liah: Chosen of Coreven, Chosen of the Crusade, and one of the Chosen who invaded the Republic with her Crusade armies. Beleived by many to be the ring-leader of the Correction.

Leliel: Chosen of Enduscare, Chosen of Night, and one of the Chosen who invaded the Republic with her Crusade armies. Known to have a particular hatred of the "lesser races."

Auriel: Chosen of Telloren, Chosen of Light, and one of the Chosen who invaded the Republic with his Crusade armies. A reclusive Chosen, but who runs a stern domain, and is known to be a longtime ally of Liah.

CZ Central Political Scene

The Noble Houses

Heiro House Archangeli
House Archangeli was re-admitted into the ranks of the Heirophant Houses of Arth following its surrender at the end of the Araden Interdivinum. It "rules" over the Unity District at the center of CZ Central, however it is common knowledge among the people of the city that Governor Armiger Archangeli, once the Praetor and greatest hero of the Republic, is now nothing more than a mind controlled Chosen puppet.

Heiro House Aikenrand
House Aikenrand is one of the old Araden noble houses that refused to swear loyalty to the Republic. With the return of the Chosen they were rewarded for this loyalty and granted title over Alpha Ward, in the Coreve Occupation District.

House Lyris
House Lyris swore loyalty to the Republic, and was one of its leading Patrician families. The family's noble line suffered heavily during the War, and survives only due to its close relationship with its surviving cadet branch, Lyrey-Makkali. It has title over Beta Ward in the Tellen Occupation District

House Arhyna
House Arhyna swore loyalty to the Republic, but was narrowly rejected from entry into the Patrician families by a close vote of the Senate. The House has a scandal plagued history, and it is rumoured that fey blood may even run through the veins of some of its scions. The House survived the war largely intact, and was too powerful for the Chosen to easily disenfranchise, despite its reputation, and the feirce resistance many of its members put up during the War. It has title over Gamma Ward, in the Tellaren Occupation District.

House Megus
House Megus is known for the potency of its blood, and has birthed some of the most notable Thaumaturges in the history of the Zones. It is rumoured this opportunistic noble house only supported the Republic so as to gain access to its wondrous electronic "ZENTek." House Megus is allied to the cadet branches of Taiani, Malkaritus, and Maikom, and has title over Delta Ward in the Tellaren Occupation District.

House Sentonius
House Sentonius survived the war, but was nearly annihilated in the aftermath for the humiliations it inflicted upon the armies of the Chosen Leliel. The other two Chosen, Liah and Auriel ultimately talked down their fellow, and in her mercy (or the other Chosen's warped senses of humour) Leliel allowed Sentonius to survive in her service. To the bemusement of many, although not formally bound in marriage, House Sentonius maintains close relations with House Arhyna, and the two fought side by side in the War. House Sentonius is known for being given all the most humiliating tasks within the Enduscare Occupation Zone, and along with its surviving cadet family of Var-Vistus, has title over Epsilon Ward in the Endare Occupation District.

House Samelrand
House Samelrand was one of Patrician families of the Republic, but has fallen far since then. Most of its leadership was killed in the War, and its young Matriarch, Ingria Samelrand, is known to be insane. Samelrand now performs some of the most heinous acts in the Correctional Zone, and its jumped up client family, Venamus, operates Enlightenment Camps of Zeta Ward in the Endare Occupation District, where hundreds of thousands have since met their end.

Heiro House Lentithe
House Lentithe was a minor house of suspect loyalty that was never admitted into the ranks of the Patricians. Following the War it was restored by the Chosen Leliel and given title over Eta Ward in Enduscare's Occupation District. Paradoxically, House Lentithe is now one of the most ardent, if secret, supporters of a republican revival, a sentiment likely driven by its utter loathing for House Samelrand.

Heiro House Clementine
House Clementine remained true to the Chosen Zadkiel, and was one of the initial Patrician families, but voluntarily rescinded its title following independence. It is one of the most respected Noble Houses in the Correctional Zone, and its members are known for their moral "uprightness," giving its words weight far beyond the house's modest wealth and power. Clementine holds title over Theta Ward in the Coreve Occupation District, which is a hotbed of rebellion due to the house's perhaps ill-advised soft touch. The spirited Clementine cadet house Emeraldine is tied by marriage to House Archangeli, and the fate of the Lady Aster Emerald-Archangeli has driven a wedge between the house and the Chosen.

The Empyrean Church

Church of Liah

Church of Leliel

Church of Auriel

Church of Zadkiel

Heretics and Infidels

Memnites

Astrana

Entelism

The Perithelians

The Pleb Street

25th Libra
25th Libra is a fast growing global revolutionary movement. It traces its genesis back three hundred years, to a series of books by Mikaelan Librarian Lara Sullivan called "The Bridge of Time." The books presented an alternate past, present and future for Arth, each without the Chosen, and indirectly showed their malignant influence through the comparison, although the Chosen are never mentioned directly in the novels. The books were immediately suppressed, but gave rise to a number of underground movements which stubbornly resisted the efforts of the Chosen to completely stamp them out. Finally, with the Silent War and the fall of the Chosen the various movements have started to coalesce under the banner of the "25th Libra movement" - the day the Ascended Isles Fell. 25th Libra calls for the people of the world to throw off the shackles of the Chosen and unite to build a better future. In CZ Central, 25th Libra generally preaches peaceful change, and the creation of a new, stronger and fairer Republic.

The Red Brigades
Named after the Red Hand, a violent pleb movement which murdered several Nobles in the Cydonian Protectorate Zone two hundreds years ago, the Red Brigades demand violent revolution. From a platform of equality, they preach that the plebs will only be free when all those with unequal advantages - the Nobles and the Constructed Races among them - are overthrown. Many low ranking citizens and pleb soldiers from the days of the Republic, believing themselves betrayed by the nobility, have joined the ranks of the Brigades, making them a formidable military force.

The Drummers
The Drummers are the radical arm of the Red Brigades, responsible for various acts of terrorism across CZ Central, and the Correctional Zone at large. They preach a particularly apocalyptic version of the Red Brigades' ideology of violent change, including not just the overthrow but the complete extermination of all those of Noble blood.

The Street Gangs

The West Side Monsters
The West Side Monsters mainly operate in the Tellen Occupation District on the east side of CZ Central. Their name comes from CZ Central's location at the west end of the Tellen Occupation Zone, and the gang has a presence throughout several of its cities. In CZ Central it numbers about 1,500 members. It is run by Artemis Hougan, a massive man half muscle and half machine. Hougan is supposedly a veteran first of the War, and then of Megus experiments to help him recover from his wounds. The Monsters are known to be an egalitarian lot, and include elves, goblins and ogres as well as Rafaelans, Mikaelans, and even Jibrilites in their numbers. They also perform extreme body modifications, starting with tattoos and going up from there.The sign of the Monsters is three sylized claws, and their gang sign is two crooked fingers.

The Monsters dabble in all forms of criminality, but most of their income comes from illicit drugs, which they smuggle into the city from several grow ops in the Tellen Zone countryside. Aside from that, they are known to be particularly violent, and are not above hiring out as muscle for a little cash on the side. They are rumoured to have an arrangement with House Megus, where Megus gets to test some of its more esoteric technologies on their members, and those members who survive the process get to keep the tech.

Lunar Crew
The Lunar Crew are an elven gang based in the ring wall slums of the Coreven Occupation District, particularly West Park and Firion Park, and with a presence througout the Endus Occupation District. The gang numbers 3,000 - all elves - and is run by an inner circle called the Winter Council. Although Artemis Crimsene has been publicly associated with Crew, the Council denies any involvement with that stylish masked outlaw. The Lunar Crew's sign is Luna's Eye - four lens shapes interlinked in a cross pattern. It is common for the gang to enchant these signs with various spell effects, often to warn them of trespassers.

The purpose of the Lunar Crew is the preservation of elven lives and culture. The gang smuggles elven refugees in from the other district, and then out to the northern Coreven Zone. It has several arrangements with northern landowners to provide cheap labourers, and also receives remittances from those it has saved. It supplements this income with theft and burglary, gaining for itself a deserved reputation as a pack of thieves.

Recently the Lunar Crew has entered into an arms length, informal arrangement with House Lentithe. The two previously had an "understanding" where Lentithe would look the other way as the Crew smuggled refugees through its Ward. Lenthithe has expanded this arrangement, and is paying the Crew to report on events within Ward 6. This corresponds to a falling out between Lunar Crew and Nexlexis. The two gangs were allies in the past, but are becoming increasingly hostile to each other.

Legio XIII
The 13th Legion professes to be the remnants of the Republican Legion of the same name. It's leader styles himself "Legate Cordinal Catarian", and operates out of the Scarlet Street area of Ward 5. The Legion is the smallest of the major gangs in the city, with only 500 core members (although it claims its strength is 6,000), however it is known to possess some quantities of old Republic ZEN-Tek, making it a force to be reckoned with.

The Legion sustains itself mainly through "taxation" or wide ranging protection and shakedown rackets. It is mostly ignored by the Constabulary who do not have enough firepower to willingly enter a fight with the group. Whether the 13th Legion is actually heir to the Rebublican brigade of the same name is an open question, however the group does not profess loyalty to the General Staff, and appears to have long forgotten any ideals it once defended.

Burnt Cannibals
The Burnt Cannibals are the bogey men that mothers in CZ Central use to terrify their children with if they don't go to bed at the Codex approved time. The exact size of the group is unknown, but they are suspected to number at least 1,000 members throughout the city. Their leader is Artemis Blaize, who is rumoured to be either an immortal Rafealan Witch, an Imperial Zenith Sorceress, or maybe a dragon, who settled in Prion city prior to the Correction, and awakened and angered by its destruction. Members of the Cannibals wear little if any clothing, have smouldering skin and eyes like burning coals, and have Aether auras like infernos that seethe with power and rage.

The Cannibals do exactly as their name suggests, prowling the streets of the slums and the undercity after dark, and dragging off the unwary to be devoured. The members of the gang have sworn themselves to Blaize for some hellish pact of power that only the insane or desperate would consider. Although Artemis Blaize can be negotiated and bargained with she is untrustworthy, and the authorities long since gave up trying. Instead they bent their efforts to wiping her and her twisted cult out. Prior to the Silent War they had mostly succeeded, although Blaize herself remained at large. In the past six months though, the gang has seen a resurgence, and once more Blaize's Cannibal acolytes stalk CZ Central.

Nexlexis
Nexlexis is the largest street gang in CZ Central. It is run by Artemis Frost, who claims to be a bastard daughter of House Arhyna, and has gathered a coterie of bastards and exiles around her, as well as an army of plebs. All told Nexlexis numbers around 5,000 core members spread mostly throughout the Endus District. Frost runs the gang with a mixture of charm and violence - she and many of her lieutenants are skilled Magi, using a mix of Jibrilite and Rafaelan arts. Their gang sign is crossed index fingers, and their symbol is a stylized X.

Nexlexis runs entertainment houses in every Ward of the city, at which gambling, prostitution, and banned entertainments are conducted. It also runs protection rackets and slum tenements in the areas it controls, and traffics in illegal drugs and restricted goods. Nexlexis also dabbles in kidnapping and human smuggling on the side. Nexlexis does most of its public activities under the auspices of Nexen Corp (logo: neXen), a supposedly above board service provider, headquartered in Ward 6's inner ring "Red Light" district.

Nexlexis is known to have contacts with several Noble families, including Samelrand, Arhyna, and Megus. It also has numerous individual nobles who it has made contact with through its entertainment houses, and many that it can call on for favours, or just blackmail. Due to its penetration of the Constabulary, Nexlexis is all but immune from conventional prosecution, and it takes pains to remain useful to the various Crusader factions. It has recently received an influx of funds from an unknown source, and is expanding its efforts into construction and infrastructure, often using cheap labour borrowed or redirected from the Enlightenment Camps in Ward 6.

The Republic

Anthem of the Republic - "The Call of Elysium"


Prion in Exile - The General Staff
The General Staff are the military leadership of the republic who never surrendered. The Chief of Staff is Marshal Akalis (a nom de guerre to protect his identity), and until recently they were located deep within the Mikaelan interior, sheltered by the Library to evade Chosen hunters. Rumour is that since the Fall, the General Staff has sent senior representatives back to Eleutheria, with Captain General Medira rumoured to have been sent to Prion City itself. Contacting the General Staff is difficult, but they are always looking to regather the forces of the Republic, and will offer aid to those who swear themselves to its cause - that of a restored Republic.

Patrician House Castellum
House Castellum is one of three surviving Patrician families that refused to swear loyalty to the Chosen following the Correction. The house mainly operates in the Telloren Occupational Zone, and supposedly has several hidden caches of ZEN-Tek weaponry scattered on various islands throughout Deception Strait. It funds the remnants of three Republic Legions, VI, IX, and XXV

Patrician House Elysenium
House Elysenium no longer exists as it did in the days of the Republic. The house was effectively exterminated in a final suicidal attack on the Chosen Leliel. It's banner has been taken up by several plebes who claim to be illegitimate bastards of its rather prolific First Prince, the legendary Ryzard Arhyn-Elysenium, the Lion of Acheron. Under this banner the polyglot Legio XXI continues to fight on in the countryside of the Enduscare Occupation Zone.

Patrician House Luciani
House Luciani is not technically a Patrician house, being formed of exiled remnants of House Archangeli. It is sometimes referred to as fallen-Archangeli. Although the smallest by far of the three surviving Patrician Houses. Rumour says it maintains the elite Legio I "Invictus" hidden somewhere in the north of the country.

The Library
The Library, or the Great Library, is one of the oldest institutions on Arth, despite the Chosen's attempts to destroy it. The Library maintains the history of Arth, as it was before the Chosen sought to rewrite it. The library also records events as they happen and adds them to its volumes, all of which are banned by the Chosen, and anyone caught reading them can potentially face severe penalties. The Library has no one central location, operating instead out of many distributed locations that continually reprint and republish its old works. Most of the Library's work is concentrated on the continent of Mikaela, although it does maintain a large repository in the Zenith Empire, which serves as insurance the total destruction of its works.

ZEN-Tek LLC
ZEN-Tek is a shadowy and mysterious company that is best known for its extremely advanced "electrotech" weapons. ZEN-Tek came to prominance in the early years of the Eluetherian Republic, when its weapons flooded the Republic's Army. The exact source of these weapons remains a mystery, even after the War and subsequent Occupation. Some have theorized that the Chosen Zadkiel developed them so as to give his people a means of defense independent from the Chosen-controlled Thaumatech. Despite the ruthless lethality of their armaments, anyone reading the pictographic ZEN-Tek operating manuals is left with the distinct impression that, whoever they are, ZEN-Tek isn't taking this all completely seriously. The booklets feature the exploits of exaggerated cartoon characters, like the overeager Lt Grass and the portly Sgt Fingus, and contain more puns than a stage full of goblin comedians. Regardless, ZEN-Tek remains fully committed to the Republic and the only a handful of captured weapons have seen service in the hands of Crusaders. After several high profile cases of sabotage, leading to the deaths of senior Crusade officers who took ZEN-Tech weapons as trophies, the Chosen issued a general edict against the practice, and now all captured weapons are turned over to the Church for destruction.

The City of CZ Central

Midgar.jpg

Total population: 10,000,000

Ward 2 is home to the House Lyris, which is basically just a puppet for the Tellen Crusade, being gutted of power

Knight's Bastion is the site of the temple to Auriel
Squall Rise has a most excellent restaurant with fabulous lemon crepes.

Ward 3 (Gamma Ward) is the sector of House Arhyna.

Touph Street is outer slums and red light districts, including the extremely popular (among young female nobles) nightclub Meat Market.
Balamb Gardens is the grounds for House Arhyna's sprawling mansion complex.

Ward 4 is the sector of House Megus.

Ward 6 is host to the concentration camps and has mostly been bulldozed flat.

Samelrand Spire is accessible by the Cross-City Link Line.

Ward 7

Yojimbo Avenue is where Jonas has his secret base inside a warehouse

Ward 8 is the sector of House Clementine, and their cadet house, House Emeraldine.

Emerald Road is the grounds for Emeraldine's mansion

North of the City is Mirune Bay, currently unpleasantly icy.

Greg's crashed stratodyne is partially buried in the mud bordering the bay and is reachable by a dirt path or boat.

Republican Districts in the time of the former Republic the Wards were know as districts and had names...

Ward 0 was known as the Capitoline District
Ward 1 was known as the Pincian District
Ward 2 was known as the Vatican District
Ward 3 was known as the Aventine District
Ward 4 was known as the Caelian District
Ward 5 was known as the Viminal District
Ward 6 was known as the Esquiline District
Ward 7 was known as the Quirinal District
Ward 8 was known as the Palatine District

Characters

The Lord General's Staff

Lord General Marianne Saint-Just
Captain Caspar Saint-Just
CZ Chief Thaumatech Giannina "Nina" Megus
Cardinal of Liah, High Priestess Joanna Alisandre


CZ Central Authorities
Peace Marshal Spartus Venamus
Chief Inspector Renton Scarbrough


The Street

Artemis Crimsene
Artemis Frost
Legate Cordinal Catarian
Chey Hexum
Solomon Dior
Philo Marks
Malarkey
Niskeneskie
Delray
Malaika, Fate's Hand

The Red Brigades

Ion Valdemar


Wild Cards

Captain Jericho Lander
Radachel Kezmet

Artemis Blaize

Heiro House Clementine and Allies

Cordelia Clementine
Moira Clementine
Loran Clementine
Hazel Emeraldine
Lily Emeraldine
Aster Emererald-Archangeli


Tellen District Nobles
Lieutenant General Roald Janvier
Wren Arhyna
Gideon Taiani
Bishop of Auriel - Priestess Ailena Tiadalos


Endus District Nobles
Lord General Chesne Du-Blessed
Ingria Samelrand
Axelle Venamus
Aeternia Lentithe
Cordinal of the Cross Maiden DuThaire
Cordinal Kiera Dellarme, an auburn haired woman who would be stunningly beautiful if not for the livid half-healed laser scar marring the left side of her jaw.

There's also Knight Marshal Hellicia Lusaine, a very pale woman with ruby red lips and a halo of red hair wearing the short elbow length crimson half cape of the custos knights. The Endus temple troops. She'd be in command of the local garrison

The corpse pale Axelle Venamus, the only representative of the local house cadet forces here. Lady Venamus has a mass of green hair floating about her like she's underwater and a cold artificial beauty that can only come from mimesis praxi.


Stock Mooks and Characters

Constabular Gendarme
Constabular Officer
Constabular Inspector
Constabular Sheriff

Crusade Armsman
Crusade Officer
Crusade Cleric

Gigganger Cogmek

Legionary Veteran
Legionary Recruit

Military Forces in CZ Central

CZ Central is a large city of nearly 10 million people (although half the population it contained as Prion City) split into four occupation districts. One district for each of the occupying Chosen Dominions, and then a central Unity District. The City has many armed military forces, including the three Dominion Crusade armies, the city Constabulary, Noble House Cadet Guards, as well as various gangs, and the resistance forces. The resistance forces themselves are scattered between local forces, revolutionary movements, and the Army of the Republic, which are the remnant forces of the Republican Legions.

The Crusaders
The Crusaders are not a unified force, with divisions apparent and growing between the forces in the three Occupation Districts. There are reports of clashes between the various Dominion forces out in the Zones as they scuffle over increasingly limited resources, although open fighting has not (yet) broken out in CZ Central itself.

A full strength foot brigade is 5,000 soldiers with 250 Autoclaires. A full strength wing brigade is 3,000 soldiers with 100 Autoclaires and 250 Arthrodynes. Numbers given below are for establishment but most formations will be below these numbers due to attrition and detachments.

The Coreve Crusade 13,000 soldiers, in two foot brigades (117th "Inexorable", 192nd "Delight of Liah"), and one wing brigade (915th "Day of Truth - The Lord General's Own")
Based at Highwind (117th), Western Heights(192nd), and the Aerostat Port (915th)
Another 5 foot brigades and 2 wing brigades deployed in the northern Zone

Coreve equipment is dominated by large rounded plates and smooth, sleek edges. It tends to be simpler and more functional in appearance than that of most other Jibrilite dominions, but with extremely large and prominently displayed weapon mounts. Coreve colors are blue and gold on white or silver.

The Tellen Crusade 8,000 soldiers, in one foot brigade (332nd "Rebuke in Anger") and one wing brigade (1055th "Terrible Swift Sword")
Based at Hartilly Hill (332nd) and Knight's Bastion (1055th)
Another 4 foot brigades deployed in the eastern Zone

Tellen equipment is baroque and highly stylized, with semi-archaic looking designs sporting an excess of filigree and statuary. It is generally considered to be the "classic" appearance for Jibrilite equipment. It tends to be larger than similar equipment from other Jibrilite dominions. Tellen colors are gold, yellow and white.

The Endus Crusade 20,000 soldiers, in four foot brigades (522nd "Leliel Ascends", 510th "Deliverance," 601st "Smite All Falsehood", 677th "As is Just")
Based at Adaman Lookout (522nd), Gau Rise (601st) and Zeta Camp (510th, 677th)
Another 4 foot brigades and 2 wing brigades in the western zone - word is that in early Aries the 557th was badly mauled in a fight with unknown invaders out west by Tremscare Point

Endus equipment is sharp and pointed, having many flat planes brought together at angles. In some cases it can be difficult to see the true shape of the equipment and looking at it too long can strain the eye. Endus colors are black with orange highlights, often with motes of light like stars floating within.

The Constabulary
The Crusaders mainly operate from large fortified camps. The Constabulary keep day to day order on the streets. About 2/3rds of them are from the Jibril Dominions, the other 1/3rd are local recruits. There are about 70,000 Constables spread over the 8 wards and the Unity District. The Constabulary maintain checkpoints, investigate crimes, and keep order. They will only deploy in large numbers for incidences of social unrest, with most of these riot forces coming from the Unity District. These days they will more commonly deploy large stego lizard cavalry rather than Autoclaires and Arthrodynes due to supply shortages.

Unity District - 18,000
Ward 1 - 6,000
Ward 2 - 5,000
Ward 3 - 7,000
Ward 4 - 6,000
Ward 5 - 4,000
Ward 6 - 15,000
Ward 7 - 3,000
Ward 8 - 6,000

House Cadet Guards
Traditionally Noble Houses of Jibril maintain small "cadet" forces to see to their own security and train the next generation of noble officers. These forces tend to be small but of high quality and heavy on Thaumatech and Clerical support. Carefully and suspiciously reconstructed after the War, most of the Cadet Guards of CZ Central fall far below the Jibrilite ideal, as far as quality is concerned.

Although peace still prevails between the Crusade forces, open fighting has broken out between the Guards of houses Samelrand and Lentithe on several occasions, with additional proxy conflicts between the street gangs Nexlexi and Lunar Crew likely working in contract for the two houses. Several members of House Sentonius have also been murdered by Samelrand, and House Arhyna is also under investigation by the Constabulary for a series of raids into CZ Central against armament storehouses of House Archangeli.

House Archangeli - 500 elite guards, superbly equipped and trained, essentially all transplanted Coreven cadets from Coreve houses Ingram, Saint-Anzeray, and de Chalice.
House Aikenrand - 200 elite guards.
House Lyris - 200 militia, poorly trained but with a great deal of heart.
House Arhyna - 100 guards (declared), rumoured to have many more, suspected to be funneling soldiers to the resistance.
House Megus - 100 elite sguards, heavy on the Thaumatech
House Sentonius - 200 civic militia, unarmed and used for shit duties. Literally.
House Samelrand- 5,000 guards, equivalent to a poorly equipped foot brigade, justified for work in the camps
House Lentithe - 2,000 militia - declared - rumoured to be much larger due to conflict with Samelrand
House Clementine - 100 elite guards, well equipped with Auroclaires

Known Resistance Forces

Legio X "Sum Umbra," The Ghosts - 100 elite scouts, 900 militia cadre, the remnants of the Republic Army's 10th Legion, which, along with most of the army, never actually surrendered. Nevertheless, very little remains of the original 6,000 men of the Legion. The Ghosts have enough old republic weapons to arm 100 men, but little ammunition or replaceable power cells for them. They also have an additional 900 cadre militia recruited since the end of the war, and armed with stolen Crusader weapons. The core of the Ghosts all hardened veterans of the Long War, and are man for man a match for any force in the city, save perhaps the Archangeli House Guards and Alpha Company of the Lord General's Own. Nevertheless, they will need additional men and supplies if they intend to have a larger impact on events in CZ Central.

Chapters

Prologue
Prologue I: "A bold young man, and a worthy enemy." (Shrike, Lokar)
Prologue II: "A good ship late of a bad cause." (FBH, Ent)
Chapter 1 - The Last Dance
Session I: "A glittering battlefield." (Shrike, Lokar, Ent, Silence)
Session II: "Truth disguised as prophecy." (FBH, Lokar, Ent, Silence)
Session III "My distant love, unto death." (Lokar)
Session IV: "As tricksome a devil as any." (Shrike)
Chapter 2 - Bloody Hands
Session V: "A bloody hand, and I the arm behind it." (FBH, Silence)
Session VI: "Useful idiots." (FBH)
Session VII "Zadkiel's Legacy." (Ent, Shrike)
Session VIII "Call of the Fox."(Lokar)
Session IX "Thy sword unsheathed - The battle of Scarlet Street." (Lokar, FBH)
Session (Silence)
Chapter 3 - Spark to Flame
Session : (Ent, Shrike)

Miscellanea

  • Metatron Form: One-liners and combat banter
  • Liah Form: Melee skill, emphasis on duels and 'honorable' bladecrossing
  • Mariel Form: Thaumaturgy
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