Vorlon Empire

Lords of Order and bulwarks against chaos, the Vorlons are dedicated to preserving order . . .at any cost. The Vorlons are the sworn opponents of the Shadows. From time immemorial, the Vorlons have rallied races around them to unite and do battle with the Shadows. These conflicts have ravaged planets, systems, entire regions of space. With an empire that comprises a good part of the Milky Way, they are a force which cannot be ignored by any of the younger races. Given their secretive nature and unknown agenda the Vorlons are a formidable - and dangerous - unknown.

The Shadows

Old beyond comprehension and terrible in their strength, the Shadows threaten all civilized life in the galaxy. Their cultural imperative is to aid evolution by creating conflict and war among developing races. As a result, the Shadows emerge every thousand years to decimate any civilized race they encounter. To this end, the Shadows either move directly, utilizing their awesome weaponry or subtly manipulate races into conflict with each other. The Shadows lurk at the periphery of the galaxy, the Rim, beyond the influence of most interstellar governments. Opposing the Shadows are the Vorlons, and any race brave enough - or foolish enough - to try to stand between the Shadows and their goals.

Minbari Federation

A major race, the Minbari are on the path to becoming as powerful as the Old Ones who came before them. The Minbari have been an interstellar race for millennia, and were active participants in the last Great War. Avatars of order and peace, the Minbari race has been in ascendance for a 1000 years. This strength has not been diminished by a recent war with humanity. As humanity learned to its sorrow, the Minbari can be as terrible in their anger, as they are skilled in battle. But now, new enemies threaten to tear the Minbari race apart from within, and without.

Army of Light

Hand in hand with the Vorlons(at least at first) in their struggle against the Shadows are a coalition of interstellar races dedicated to fighting against the darkness. The current Army of Light has the Minbari and Humans at their core. The rangers, a unique Minbari/Human organization, form the integral ranks of the Army of Light. To aid in fighting against the terrible power of the Shadows, the Vorlons have given the Minbari some of their technology to create powerful weapons for the Army of Light. The Army of Light stands as a force for order, and a weapon against the Shadows.

Earth Alliance

The Human federation of worlds first came to prominence when it aided the League of Non-Aligned Worlds in repulsing the invasion of the Dilgar. Flush from their victory against the Dilgar, humanity sought to challenge the might of the Minbari. The resulting war almost resulted in the genocide of the human race. Since that time, the Earth Alliance has been single minded in regaining a strong military presence and becoming, once again, a player on the galactic scene. In resurgence after their strange end run victory against the Minbari Federation, the Earth Alliance represents a wild card in the galactic political game. With a chip on their shoulder and the power to enforce their will, many races look with unease to the Earth Alliance's next move.

Centauri Republic

150 years ago the galaxy trembled at the bellowing might of the Centauri. They conquered star systems in days, ruled the Narn with an iron hand, and ruled known space. But with success came complacency, and eventually, neglect. The passing of time has seen the mighty Centauri empire pass from glory into decay and retreat. With this retreat, there has grown an increasing resentment within the Centauri people as to the injustice of their fate. The victory of the Narn Regime against the Centauri only served to underscore how far the Centauri had fallen from their height of power. Humanity encountered the Centauri during this decline, and benefited from the Centauri's need to ally themselves with powerful allies by gaining valuable information and technologies. Now just a dozen star systems, the Centauri Republic is a galactic "has been"; a small collection of worlds living on memories of a golden age. Only a miracle, or a powerful ally, could act to restore their former glory.

Narn Regime

An agrarian race, the Narn were enslaved by the Centauri for many years. The brutality and maltreatment the Narns received at the hands of the Centauri forever changed them. Driven by intense hatred and a desire to be free, the Narn commenced a bloody, extended war of attrition against the Centauri on Narn. After many years and more deaths the Centauri were finally driven from Narn. Recently freed from slavery to the Centauri, the Narn have been single minded in their desire to exact revenge on their Narn oppressors. The Narn also seek to become a major galactic power. This need for revenge and esteem has driven the Narn to amass a sizable military force.

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