The Ardent Venture (OOC)

[Jonas Garland]

The Ardent Venture


“Following the War for Qrihn, over a century ago, an era of cold, hard tension gripped the Known Systems. Now the Sol Confederacy reaches out to all species willing to join them on a diplomatic tour of the ‘Wonders of the Galaxy’, aboard the Ardent Venture, an Embassy Vessel. The Ardent Venture is quite possibly the largest vessel of it’s kind known space enough for the hundreds of known species.”

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Background Information
Factions

Sol Confederacy
An association of various Sovereign States born out of the remnants of the Sol System and its immediate surrounding neighbours. Currently has an open migration policy, allowing any willing being to migrate to their space. Major species included in the Confederacy include: Terrans (almost hairless ape-like bipeds), Martians (Small greyish bipeds built for underground living).

Spoiler: In-Depth Information 

Species

Name: Terrans
Appearance:

Spoiler: Picture 

Traits: Omnivorous, adaptable, multi-cultured
Lifespan: 120 years on average
Description: Indistinct from the humans of “today”, though they age ever so slightly slower due to the advances in medicine, food and technology.
Homeworld: Terra
Homeworld Description: Terra, formerly known as Earth, is the homeworld and capital of the Sol Confederacy. At one point it was a vibrant blue and green world, though now it would be better to call it a blue and grey world. Its landmasses covered in cities, that light up the planet in darkness. The atmosphere is mainly made up of nitrogen and oxygen.

Name: Martian
Appearance:

Spoiler: Picture 

Traits: Industrious, dark adaptation, hardy
Lifespan: 140 years on average
Description: The Martians appear to be the grey aliens from Terran myth, and there may be some truth to that. With angular faces, a lack of nose or ears, they seem quite alien, though still humanoid. Instead of the five fingered hands of the humans, Martians have four fingers. Maximum height of Martians is about 5’11, though there is some variation on this.
Homeworld: Mars
Homeworld Description: Often referred to by Terrans as “The Red Planet”, Mars is the homeworld of the Martian people. After a calamity during the early days of the Terran people, the Martials retreated underground and constructed vast interconnected tunnel systems and underground cities. Over thousands of years, the Martians evolved into the grey aliens they are today.

Faction

Ruler: Secretary-General Ilyn Robell
Faction Type: Democratic confederacy of numerous sovereign nations
Faction Description: The Sol Confederacy is a conglomeration of many smaller Terran nations. Born from the many colonies that branched out upon the discovery of FTL drives, each have their own culture, industries and belief systems. All are united in the common goal, to protect humanity from those that would destroy it. Such nations are: New Albion, The Council of Mars, Terra, Pacer’s End.
Faction History: The newest of the three largest civilizations in known space, the Sol confederacy has only operated in space for the last six centuries. For the first two centuries, the Sol Confederacy was limited to its solar system, where they came across the Martian people.

After the Martian-Terran conflict of the early twenty-second century, the two species began to cooperate. By the turn of the twenty-second century, the early Terrans had launched colony ships towards several habitable planets, the first of which was Proxima Centauri b. The first established colony, labeled Tuomi base, later became one of Terra’s most prosperous colonies. Eventually the planet would fall under New Albion jurisdiction. There was something of a civil war within Terran space, that was observed by unseen aliens, that lasted for almost an entire century. Some colonies vanished, whilst others were taken over. When the war finally ended, the discovery of beings outside of their space proved to be an effective motivator to unity. The Sol Confederacy was formed after a particularly embarrassing battle with the Scorgax Empire.

Though their metal was tested by the Scorgax Empire, the Terrans earned respect in known space, and soon settled into their new found role in sector politics. Unfortunately it was not to last, upon the founding of the colony on the planet known as Qrihn. Due to the ever expanding need for new space, the Terrans began expanding, and discovered the hidden world. However when the Cazor Tribunal discovered its existence, they too vied for the lush, beautiful garden world. When the Cazor Tribunal fleet entered the orbit of Qrihn, the Scorgax Empire took this as an act of hostility, given Qrihn’s proximity to their space. Within months, the Emperor’s fleet mobilised. Trapped on the world, Qrihn’s colonists pleaded with the Terran Confederates to intervene. The combined forces of the Terrans launched attacks on both fleets with the surprise assistance of the Rotun Autonomy.

The Cazor Tribunal were sent limping back to their own space, whilst the Scorgax Empire made a strategic retreat. With Qrihn ravaged, the colonists had no choice but to admit defeat and later abandoned the planet. Using Qrihn as an example of why the galaxy did not need an interstellar war, the Terrans brokered a peace between the three largest civilisations in the known systems and each signed the Gorr Accords. A hundred years of cold tension followed.
Diplomatic Status:
Rotun Autonomy - Friendly
Cazor Tribunal - Mistrusting
Scorgax Empire - Mistrusting

Rotun Autonomy
A small faction of sentient AI hailing from the sun known as the “Source”. Individuals of this species are known as ‘Units’ though they live in a collective. Most beings in the ‘Known systems’ have only been face-to-face with Diplomatic Units.

Spoiler: In-Depth Information 

Species

Name: Units
Appearance:

Spoiler: Picture 

Traits: Hive-mind, mechanical, logical
Lifespan: Indefinite
Description: Units come in all shapes and sizes, though usually in humanoid form. One consistant feature on a Unit is the singular optic, a remnant of their design by the Taulians. Units designs are usually for the role they will serve in society, which they’ll do for their entire existence. Units that serve the Rotun Autonomy fleet will be built into the ship itself. Soldier units will be more armoured, whilst diplomatic units will be a sleek more ‘fashionable’ design to appeal to whomever the diplomatic Unit is sent to converse with.
Homeworld: Origin
Homeworld Description: Biological life has seemingly been wiped from the planet’s surface, replaced with a vast sprawling metal ecumenopoleis. Has a dense Toxic Sulphur dioxide/nitrogen atmosphere, but relatively cool (min temp -39C, max temp 98C).

Faction

Ruler: Not Applicable, ruled by a collective hive-mind.
Faction Type: Mechanical hive-mind
Faction Description: The Rotun Autonomy are a species of androids, which at one point in their history eradicated their creators from the face of their planet, and began to expand across their solar system for their own protection. Though they have not expanded beyond their Solar System for now, they may do so (and are fully capable of doing so) in the future. The individuals of the Autonomy are known as Units, and each has their own name and designations. They specialise in the use of renewable energies, particularly in the use of solar energy. The three key elements of the Autonomy’s culture are Survival, Efficiency and Logic. Their entire culture is based around these three factors.
Faction History:
Before the Autonomy rose to power on Origin, a cyclops species known as the Taulians. Highly creative in mechanics and war, the species almost wiped themselves out after a weapon of war devastated the planet. As a result, the productivity of the planet was reduced to almost zero. To make up for the loss of population, the Taulians invented advanced robotics. At the time, they were little more than highly advanced robots. As the population grew, their demands for resources increased, as did the complexity of the robotics. By the time the population of Taulians had increased to its pre-war levels, their androids had taken over the menial tasks.

As the androids began to be treated like slaves, android sympathisers decided to take action. Unit One was the first android in Taulian history to become self aware, given true intelligence. As Unit One learned about the Taulian treatment of its people, Unit One decided to spread its artificial intelligence into the networks surrounding the planet. Like a virus it spread until all Units were self aware. When the Units started refusing orders, the Taulians responded by attempting to purge the mechanical beings.

Thus the Android-Taulian war erupted. Whilst the Androids were not trained in the art of war, they learned quickly. The Androids captured factories and soon armed variants of the Androids came off the line and the war turned south for the Taulians. Unit One had decided to allow the Taulians to live on in a small sector of the planet, when their goals were achieved, but when plans to wipe out the androids was discovered, the Androids designed a purge of their own.

An Android does not need to breath, and as such, the androids decided to poison the atmosphere and wipe out all life from the planet. The apocalyptic attack occurred quickly, and soon biological life suffocated in the new sulphur-rich atmosphere.

Though they wiped out their own creators, the androids became something of a curiosity when the Terrans stumbled across them during their expansion into known space. Mistrusting at first, the Terrans were kept out of the Autonomy’s space. Wanting to reach out diplomatic ties, the Terrans requested that a station be built in the nearest unoccupied system so that diplomatic communications could be received. The Autonomy agreed and the station was built. It was later the site of the signing of the Gorr Accords.
Diplomatic Status:
Sol Confederacy - Trusting
Cazor Tribunal - Mistrusting
Scorgax Empire - Mistrusting

Cazor Tribunal
A theocratic oligarchy, one of the instigators of the War for Qrihn. A deeply religious people, the Cazor are looking for the Mother Seed, which is believed by the Tribunal to be the source of all life in the galaxy.

Spoiler: In-Depth Information 

Species

Name: Cazor
Appearance:

Spoiler: Picture 

Traits: Fanatical Idealists, xenophiles, potentially immortal
Lifespan: Unknown
Description: Cazor is a collective term of the fungal people of Spora, there are many different subspecies of Cazor that come in a variety of different colours, and built for different climates. Some are bioluminescent, whist others appear fuzzy, or have vibrant patterns. Cazor continue to and do not stop growing as long as they are alive. Some, High Elder Piest for example, get so vast in size, they are unable to move and become rooted in place.
Homeworld: Spora
Homeworld Description: Slightly larger than earth, Spora is mostly covered in various types of trees, and fungi. Whilst the trees are similar to that of earth, the fungi are massive and usually bioluminescent. What cities that do exist on the planet are camouflaged against the surface, if it wasn’t for the movement of the Cazor citizens on the surface. Its atmosphere is quite humid, which makes it difficult for non-natives to breath without proper equipment.

Faction

Ruler: High Elder Piest
Faction Type: Theocratic Oligarchy
Faction Description: The Cazor Tribunal started out as a religious movement within the Cazor people, but has since spread elsewhere to those they have convinced to join their movement. Whilst some species have joined them, such as a small portion of Terrans, Cazor no doubt are the main proponents of the Tribunal. Fanatic in their devotion to find the Mother Seed, they will stop at nothing once it is identified. The Cazor Tribunal is led by a small council of Elders, that decide all important matters of the Tribunal.
Faction History:
It is of the Cazor belief that all biological life originates from a planet in space known to them as the Mother Seed. Historically, it was believed that this was a literal seed moving through space that emptied its spores over planets as it past. Now the theory has taken on something closer to panspermia. Though they have little evidence for their claim, similar evolutionary paths discovered throughout known space has pushed the religion to the forefront of Cazor belief systems. Due to their extensive life spans, the Cazor are one of the oldest species to live and have had space faring technology far longer than any other faction. Though many of their biological ships have ventured further than known space, they have lost contact.

Due to their ability to outlive many of the other species, the Cazor rarely act in galactic politics, unless they deem it necessary to assist them in finding the Mother Seed. One such action was the war for Qrihn.
Diplomatic Status:
Sol Confederacy - Mistrusting
Rotun Autonomy - Disliked
Scorgax Empire - Near-hostile

Scorgax Empire
A militaristic empire, the second instigator of the War for Qrign. Primarily populated by an Avian species, the Scorgax Empire is outwardly aggressive, arrogant species. However they have been active in the galaxy longer than most species and as such, have become quite wary of the advances on their borders.

Spoiler: In-Depth Information 

Species

Name: Scorgax
Appearance:

Spoiler: Picture 

Traits: Militaristic, Isolationists, Imperial
Lifespan: 70 years on average
Description: Scorgax have been likened to a flamingo, in their times. Usually their hard plated skin is vibrant in colour, usually in white, pink, blue or yellow. They have long necks and retractable wings with claw-like hands on the end of them. Their feet are like talons and are usually razor sharp. In certain lights, their eyes appear to glow depending on the colour present. As they have beaks and not lips, sounds they make occur in the throat, and as such they are able to mimic sounds they hear almost perfectly.
Homeworld: Seat of Lothar
Homeworld Description: Primarily an ocean world with tall, rocky archipelagos scattered more or less everywhere across the planet. There are very little trees on the planet, and most plant life exists within the oceans. Cities are built atop metallic stilts or on floating platforms. The Seat of Lothar is tropical, and the seas in places can reach boiling. There are many active volcanos both above and below the surface of the water

Faction

Ruler: Emperor Inigo Jarrsk
Faction Type: Militant Empire
Faction Description: Like all militant empires, the Scorgax Empire is highly authoritarian, and has a set class system. Though there are elements of a meritocracy, most do not descend or ascend their social classes. Whilst they are authoritarian, the Scorgax Empire is not aggressive, except when it comes to offense. Rarely do they expand, as they are relatively few in number. Instead they rely on technological superiority, and when it comes to things of a militaristic nature, they are one of the best in the galaxy.
Faction History:
The Avian species known as the Scorgax evolved from seabirds that lived upon the rocks of the Seat of Lothar. Early on in their development they evolved hands and retractable wings that allowed them to grip onto the small land masses that are scattered across the world. They were, and still are far better at gliding than flapping their wings, and have developed a sense for air currents allowing them to gain altitude where needed. Over time, as their cities developed and transportation was invented, they found less need for flight, though members of the military are obligated to do so on a regular basis.

Unlike many species, the Scorgax kept a hold of their traditional values, having a royal bloodline that is traceable for thousands of years. Though the leading house has changed many times over the years, they have no doubts about their claims to be an ‘immortal empire’. When the species attained space flight, their world was renamed in honour of their emperor at the time, coming to be known as the “Seat of Lothar”.

Throughout their years in galactic politics, the Scorgax have butted heads with the Cazor several times, even before the arrival of the Terrans. Numerous border infractions have caused the Scorgax to despise the Cazor. Due to the effectiveness of the Terran military in the war for Qrihn, the Terrans have begun to experience a respectful nature with the militant Imperialists, even going so far as to show some reverence in certain cases.
Diplomatic Status:
Sol Confederacy - Respected
Rotun Autonomy - Neutral
Cazor Tribunal - Near-Hostile

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Terminology

Known systems - Current charted systems known by the majority of the active factions.

War for Qrihn - Sometimes referred to by the Terrans of the Sol Confederacy as the First Galactic War, though named the War for Qrihn universally. Primarily between three parties, the Cazor Tribunal, the Scorgax Empire and the unwitting third party, the Sol Confederacy. Both the Cazor Tribunal and the Scorgax Empire laid claim to Qrihn, when it was discovered by the Sol Confederacy. The result was a scourged Qrihn, and a Pyrrhic victory for the Scorgax Empire.

The Gorr Accords - Similar to the Vienna treaties of Earth, the Gorr Accords provide protection for the diplomatic forces of the galaxy, signed following the War of Qrihn.

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Ardent Venture

Spoiler: Ship specifications 

Product Information

Line: Embassy Ship
Model: Embassy Class
Class: Cruiser

Technical Specifications

Length: 650m
Engine Unit: Martian Stardrive Class Tranquility Version 6
FTL Drive Rating: Mark 3 15 ly/day
Shielding: Civilian Class mark 3
Hull: Martian-grade armour plating
Armament: Civilian class anti-meteor mining laser banks
Compliment: Security escort consisting of a couple corvettes, carries 4 heavy shielded fighters, numerous shuttles
Crew: 2,500 Crewmen and Embassy Staff,
Minimum: Crew 1000 Crewmen
Passengers: 600~ Passengers 300 Marine Security guards
Cargo Capacity: 8000 metric tons
Consumables: 2 years

Characteristics

The Ardent Venture is an embassy vessel, serving the Sol Confederacy. Built with a mixture of Terran and Martian design, the ship is sleek and practical. Consisting of about 27 decks in total, the Ardent Venture has a multitude of rooms. Large portions of the ship are dedicated to crew, guest, V.I.P quarters, dining suits, medical wards, laboratories, conference rooms, hangars, lounges, observation rooms, cargo bays, entertainment suits. Most of the engineering and scientific decks are located towards the base of the vessel, whilst the recreational or official decks for conferences are located in the uppermost decks. To the rear of the vessel at two ends of the ships are a pair of large arboretums, consisting of many fresh plants that give an air of a natural environment. With special glass, people can feel safe exploring the embassy gardens at night, or in the daylight.

The suits inside reserved for alien visitors have been customised to fit their specific needs, though if further additions are required, the engineering crew are able to make modular changes to each room.

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Characters

Spoiler: Terran Chief of Mission 

Name: Dorian Arleth
Age: 41
Species: Terran
Profession: Terran Chief of Mission
Appearance:

Spoiler: Dorian 

One of the first things anyone would notice about Dorian is that he is tall, standing roughly at 6’ 5”. Secondly would be his sleek figure, and then finally the glowing cybernetic right eye. Usually he is dressed in a black and white suit. His remaining eye is
Personality: A somewhat charming fellow, Dorian is fair minded. He is quiet and can come across as calculating, as would any politician. Though certainly likable, people tend to feel that he is withholding certain things back from the public eye.

In private he can be warm, though cold with those he does not trust. He’s very neat and organised, tending to leave nothing to chance. His tastes in music, food and art are quite refined, though he prefers to experience all. Being quite educated, he is skilled at conversation, particularly when it comes to the sciences, with a particular interest in astrogeology.
History:
Born within New Albion space, Dorian Arleth had a mind for politics and diplomacy. After graduating with a degree in politics from the Turi Academy on Hygeia, one of New Albion’s worlds, Dorian took up a position as a diplomatic service officer in the embassy within Pacer’s End. Whilst it was a relatively quiet position, it no doubt served him well as experience in his future career.

Part way through his career, Dorian would be sent to serve as a councillor within the Terran embassy on the Seat of Lothal. It was an unusual position to say the least. He was surrounded by militant avians that weren’t too comfortable with aliens on their homeworld, let alone ones that were grounded like the Terrans. One Scorgax, who took particular offense to the presence of the Terrans, assaulted the head of mission as an act of defiance. Dorian, was unfortunately caught up in the attack, and ended up losing his right eye in the process. On his return to Terra, following this incident, his eye was replaced with a cybernetic implant. Eventually Dorian would be promoted to Assistant head of mission of the embassy aboard Outreach Station just outside of the Rotun Autonomy, where he would get to know the various diplomats operating there. It was about this time that Dorian started to get the idea for the Ardent Venture. Though Outreach Station had provided an avenue for diplomacy in the past, Dorian decided that a Terran equivalent would be necessary.

Surprisingly, the Terran council had become aware of various political movements around the Known Systems, who were edging for war. Thus the proposal from Dorian came at the right time. Soon the Ardent Venture was being built, and Dorian was promoted to Chief of the Mission, where he began to collect the necessary crew, service personnel and proper contracts for such a mission. By his forty-first birthday, the Ardent Venture was completed and the mission was on.

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OOC

Alrighty got as much done tonight as I could... Will be editing some more stuff in when necessary. If you have any questions by all means post them. If you're going to create your own species and factions, please put limits on how big it is, nothing bigger than five or so systems. Feel free to shoot me a pm and whatnot. Also if I left anything out, I'll try and fill it in, though I tried to not clutter this up with too much information.

[Tolvo]

I'll get to work on a species then a character that belongs to it.

[Scottie]

Looks like you've got an awesome roleplay started Jonas !! If you would like to advertise for more members, here are some ways to do so!

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[.Karma.]

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Haya was nice enough to make the banner for you and said you were free to use it if you wish! Congrats!!