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From Elan Vital Wiki
It Is the Year 709 AT
In the distant future, on an alien world, the descendants of colonists struggle to find the answers behind this peculiar and hostile world...
Contents |
In the Beginning...
Before the current calendar era set by the people of Voltumnus, the Terran Empire stretched out across the Orion Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. In the 6th millennium of the planet Earth's Current Era, the Empress Titania authorized further exploration of the galaxy, moving ever closer to the galactic core.
One such exploration and colonization mission was that of the ES Starfall, a colony ship bearing 1200 passengers. Two minor noble Houses, Stocklin and Petakova, were given command, and for years they drifted through the stars.
On the fifty-seventh year, the Starfall came upon an earth-like planet and its single moon. After probes sent to the planet sent back information on the planet's habitability, the Starfall descended into the atmosphere, landing on a plateau on a peninsula, in the middle of a river that would become known as the Whiterush north of the Carinac Sea.
Voltumnus, they named the planet, after an old god ancient barbarians worshiped. Pomona, they named the moon, after a goddess associated with him. Where they landed, they founded the city of Titania on both sides of the river, Stocklin to the east and Petakova to the west.
The Early Years - The Era of After Titania (AT)
While the colonists were hopeful, life on Voltumnus proved difficult. The peninsula they landed on was hard land, mountainous and rocky. Building on it, and forming the land to meet their needs, proved difficult, though they learned over time. Just as well, they learned how to deal with the hurricanes that hit the coastline yearly.
The true source of troubles for the Titanians of this new era was the animal life of Voltumnus. Alabears, best described as blue-furred, fire breathing frogs, dwelt in the trees. Kodresh, large, cat-like creatures with sabre teeth, stalked the highlands. And these were far from the worst of what was faced. Against all common sense, all manners of strange and hostile creatures lurked on this new world, bearing what could only be described as, by most people, magic.
For years, the Titanians built up their city and technology to defend against these threats, and all efforts to expand beyond their first colony were in vain. Starfall became coated with river silt, an island, and the people grew used to just living in one place, because to go beyond was certain death.
There were some good things, however. Some animals were at least partly domesticated, most notably the Kodresh, many of which now work in the city, especially Petakova.
The Rise of the Celestians
After 300 years, change came to Titania, in the form of a young boy born to parents of modest means in Petakova. The boy found within him abilities, the full extent of which were beyond his novice mind's control, to create flames, to mold the earth, to see further than any other could. In short, the boy- Jacob Linden- found magic, and was the first of the sorcerers known as Celestians.
The boy was also far from the last. More Celestians began to rise, displaying wondrous powers which could be used to defend the city, but they were not always wanted. Many were frightened of the abilities, and shunned those with them, and not for no reason. Those who wield magic could not wield the modern technology of man. Electronic devices, be they cars, computers, or the guns of that age, could not be wielded by the Celestians, and in their presence began to malfunction, opening holes in the city's defenses.
Even worse, many of the Celestians lacked the strength of will to keep their powers under control. Flames could rise up at an angry thought, wind storms caused in moments of fear. The Celestians were a real danger to the city, and the Houses reacted. Stocklin reacted by the banishment of all who could not control their powers, valuing the ability of their technology to protect citizens, and save lives. Petakova reacted by herding them in, and building an academy for them, to teach control.
This division came to define the city in the ensuing years. House Stocklin became more and more advanced, bringing in the best scientists, so they could support the city, and eventually find a way to dominate and protect, and if possible, to eventually re-establish contact with the Empire. House Petakova in the west lost most of its technology, preferring to guide its people to power by mastering the natural forces of this strange world, and brought in more and more Celestians.
Starfall Island became the Titania Grand Arcology, neutral ground between the two halves, and the seat of the Council that mediated and helped to govern the people.
And ever outside, the beasts prowled the wilderness, striking at times, and tearing apart any effort to expand.
Recent History - 709 AT
The past sixteen years have been years of unprecedented peace, with only minor skirmishes with the beasts, and only far outside the city walls. Together, the people of the city have begun to relax, and enjoy it while they can.
Given time to rest, the Amera of House Stocklin and his subordinates began working on spacecraft, in order to explore their surroundings and perhaps find escape from their hostile world. However, this project was engulfed in controversy and Lunist terrorism, ending in an explosion as the test rocket that was fired collided with an invisible shield in the sky.
The capture of the terrorists relaxed tensions between Petakova and Stocklin back to acceptable levels, and together they began to look outward. An outpost system led to the discovery of old, forgotten technology, but then was eradicated in a single night by the anger of the beasts.
Warily the people of Titania began to realize that their enemy acted with intelligence and foresight, and that the only way to win their war was to understand. Exploration discovered a sunken underwater city far to the south of Titania, holding mysteries clues to the world's past, and soldiers went in search of live beast speciments to study. As 709 continues and war begins to loom on the horizon once more, perhaps in response to these discoveries, the city finds itself torn.
Is it nobler to stay within their city's walls and cease to hunt for the truth, if the truth will only get more and more people killed? Or should they fight to understand at all costs? Tensions rise again in the city as this question remains undecided.
A single person could tip the balance: you, perhaps?
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| Theme | |
| Titania | Calendar - History - EV Versus Real Life |
| Major Organizations | House Petakova - House Stocklin - Titania Militia - The Masks - High Council - Tradesman's Guild |
| Culture | Education - Law - Lore - Religion - Society |
| Magic and Technology | Celestians - Science and Technology - Celestian Academy - University of Stocklin - Magic |
