2139 (Y1)- Tensions rise within the solar system as a new figure rises to the head of Earth- Tenchi Yamayuki. Crowning himself Emperor of the United Nations, several factions within the planets begin to forment rebellion, starting at this time with anti-Imperial propaganda.
2143 (Y4)- Faced with boycotts from the Martian shipyards, the Jovian Mining Corporation and the Aphrodite Solar Power Corporation, Emperor Yamayuki unleashes the Imperial Fleet (a force of 10,000 battleshuttles) upon the first Mars; followed within months by Venus.
2145 (Y6)- Jovian Mining uses crude rocket engines to propel masses of asteroids towards Earth in retaliation to the conquering of both attacked planets. The asteroids never arrived. Summoned by dark cultists within the shipyards, the Seven (archdaemons from the beginning of time) rise and destroy not only the asteroids but the Imperial Fleet within minutes. Turning their attention towards Earth, the darkest days of history began as they began to open portals to the Hell Realms.
2150 (Y11)- Returning from his conquest, Emperor Yamayuki (now Yamayuki I due to the birth of his first and only son, Tenchu) amasses a force of religious and spiritualist "very special operatives" to take on the newly discovered magical threat. After 17 days of intense battle, with the entire force being laid waste, Yamayuki I banished the Seven. Supporters entered the battlesite only to find him mortally wounded. With his dying breath, Yamayuki I passed on the knowledge that he had pried from the minds of the Daemons he had fought- the GateWay system. Newly recognised spiritually-enhanced soldiers attack from the Lunar Bases, driving the lesser Daemons from the world. The crown passes to Yamayuki II, with Janus McCrawly being made regent until Tenchu's coming of age.
2055 (Y16)- After years of repairation and recovery, as well as minor and major setbacks from attempting to process the GateWay system, a wormhole creator is established in the asteroid, Vesta. Requiring a "linkup" GateWay at the end of each wormhole, the system cannot span the distances of stars; whilst the power is there, the wormhole is too unstable to survive. GateWays are established between the colonised planets, and peace reigns as transport times are reduced to next to nothing. System-wide communications increase tenfold as lag times drop to seconds.
2373-2399 (Y334-Y350)- After over 300 years of a new "golden age" of spiritual and technological discovery, the now Galaxy-wide Human Imperium begins to have dissent stirred within it's borders. After having made contact with three different races, one joining the Imperium as a "lost" colony, forces in Emperor Yamayuki V's family begin making a claim for the throne. After a brutal and bloody civil war, the Loyalist armies are finally defeated on the very steps of the Imperial Palace. With the Imperial Family captured, they are all executed. Yamayuki V's final request is the pardoning of all the Loyalist troops that survived him. With the remaining two races watching closely, the Imperium begins to rebuild under the control of Emperor Yama Akujin I.
2399 (Y350)- The present. Akujin I (also known as the "Dark King") begins to enforce strict rulings based on race, species, and class. Entire planets are balkanised as still-burning embers of Loyalist soldiers entice rebellion- only to be crushed from outside. The Galaxy's media corporations are forcibly taken by Imperial Police, leaving the population as a whole deep in Imperial propaganda. From without; the Elven Kingdoms of Sola (an Earth-like system only accessable through a specially-crafted GateWay), and the Kaitzen Theocracy (a race of spiritual, warrior humanoids decended from feline strains) watch for any signs of the Imperium's weakness. They too, are ready for the days of conquest...
Humans - Well... average and varied race as we are, they have become a very superstitious race, believing completely in the multitude of spiritual beings around them. Factions exist, including the Umborians (Christians who believe that Yamayuki I's life, and death, were the Second Coming), and the mystical Templars of Mithoris (Who believe that time is not linear, but conceptual). Humans have all 15 (!) stats at a maximum of 50.
Nemesians - As varied as they come. Nemesians are of old Human stock that mutated with an interesting quirk: they adapt in the womb. Every Nemesian is as different as the last, but all share the same basic genetic code and are able to breed. Want to play an anthropomorph that is part armadillo and part bengal tiger? Nemesians are the way to go. Nemesians have bonuses and minuses in any stat they wish, as well as "mutations" that could be both beneficial and harmful...
Elves - These aren't your little nice people that help Santa. They aren't the regal, noble people from generic fantasy. Simply put a creature with slightly hedonistic tendancies and a lifespan that exceeds a millenium into a culture of similar creatures that believe that all other beings around them are inferior. Now add phenomenal amounts of money (Venus is very rich), magical ability (to make sure that they can change things to how they like), and thousands of "wannabes" that wish they could be as "beautiful" as the Elven Ideal. The end result is typically neo-facism, perversion, and a general ability to manipulate everything around them. Elves gain (out of a maximum of 60) +10 Knowledge and (out of 40, the base is 50 for each stat) -10 Charisma.
Half-Elves - Shunned by Elves for their "imperfection", shunned by Humans for their long lives and development, these renegades have little to turn to but themselves. Finding a job is hard enough when everyone feels put out by your existance, try and find a companion on this long, arduous trial of life... Half-Elves gain no significant benefits or penalties, instead gaining a total of +5 Knowledge.
Lunar Cats - Truely inspired by anime... I'm not sure which one, though... A slave race to the Elves, these beings have the ability to "shift" their physical forms like a driver changing gears. Simply put, they have the ability to change from a really strong person into a tiny housecat. Most are fairly aggressive- they all have animal instincts in addition to conscious control -but it is usually limited to a bad temper and nothing more. Lunar Cats also have a negative Charisma (-20 out of 30), but have the ability to change into a housecat (without the ability to talk).
Kaitzen - What is with my obsession with cats? I don't know... Kaitzen are descended from felines the same way that Humans are descended from monkeys. A tough, strong warrior race, they have passions to match. Very spiritual beings, until roughly 250 years ago, when a "great prophet" was born. Having the ability to speak from birth, he began to preach of the wrongs of their race's path, instead teaching them of Spiritual Honour. A proud race, Kaitzen gain +10 Strength (Out of 60), +5 Reflexes (55) and +5 Spirit (55). On the downside, however, they lack good memories (-10 / 40), and social grace (-10 / 40).
The worlds are varied, so feel free to put forward a concept!
I'm usually friendly, so I'll consider any option you want to put forward.
Magic is around, so any race could have spiritual connotations, except for the Nemesians... something in their past restricts them from ever performing magical deeds... maybe the rumours of their having Daemon blood are true?
Before continuing, please look at the game's RULES LIST
1st - Backgrounds are a must- if you can't come up with a history, then let me know where you're having problems, and I'll help you out a bit.
2nd - you have 450 points to distibute amongst 15 stats:
| Statistics | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical | Spiritual | Mental | |||
| Dexterity: | __ / 50 | Charisma: | __ / 50 | Intelligence: | __ / 50 |
| Reflex: | __ / 50 | Luck: | __ / 50 | Knowledge: | __ / 50 |
| Stamina: | __ / 50 | Presence: | __ / 50 | Memory: | __ / 50 |
| Strength: | __ / 50 | Spirit: | __ / 50 | Senses: | __ / 50 |
| Toughness: | __ / 50 | Willpower: | __ / 50 | Subtlety: | __ / 50 |
Initiative = INTELLIGENCE + REFLEX + ____
3rd - You have 150 Award Points to spread amongst the following:
| Inititative: | +1 Initiative = -1 Award Point |
| Skill: | +1 Skill = -1 Award Point |
| Stats: | +1 Stat = -5 Award Points |
| Skill Max Levels: | +10 Max Skill Level = -5 Award Points |
| Stat Max Levels: | +10 Max Stat Level = -10 Award Points |
This includes the 16 skills, listed with their maximums:
| _________ | __ / 50 | _________ | __ / 40 | _________ | __ / 30 | _________ | __ / 20 |
| _________ | __ / 50 | _________ | __ / 40 | _________ | __ / 30 | _________ | __ / 20 |
| _________ | __ / 50 | _________ | __ / 40 | _________ | __ / 30 | _________ | __ / 20 |
| _________ | __ / 50 | _________ | __ / 40 | _________ | __ / 30 | _________ | __ / 20 |
These skills may be any skill determined by either the player or the GM.
At this stage, they have no values other than their maximums (you spend Award Points on them).
They may be classed in three different ways:
General: The skill covers a variety of different aspects and specialties of the same skill (ie. Driving, Piloting, Magic)
Specialised: The skill covers a loosely specific aspect of a skill (ie. Drive 4WD, Pilot Helicopters, Summoning Magic)
Specific: The skill covers a clearly defined aspect of a skill (ie. Drive Military 4WD, Pilot Search Helicopters, Spirit Summoning Magic)
There has been a certain return to melee weapons, due to the ability for armour to absorb/reflect/refract lasers, and kevlar's ability to stop projectiles, so people have been reverting.
Determine whatever equipment your character would have- if it exists today, and it's reasonable you can have it! If it doesn't exist, tell me what it does and I'll let you know if it's reasonable or not!
Shades of a Brighter Dawn is a roleplaying game based in a sci-fi/fantasy universe involving both technology and magic.
If you are interested in joining this RPG (it is a Play-By-E-Mail game, PBEM), please contact the author at [email protected] or [email protected]
This is a work of fiction. Any similarities between Shades of a Brighter Dawn and existing people or groups, either real or fictional, is purely unintentional. If potential conflict arises between the author and unrelated sources, please contact the author at [email protected] in order to prevent further difficulties.
© Ben Hayter, 2003