ascendancy
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| The Ascendancy was born out of brutal struggle and hardship in the Sol system after the biosphere of Terra collapsed nearly four millennia ago. Those who survived, on fragile colonies and orbitals, were compelled to create a rigid and authoritarian society as the only alternative to chaos and extinction. From the early council of station commanders came the system of Houses - aristocratic groups who would come to rule over vast fiefdoms, and collectively decide the destiny of humanity and the lesser species in their care. | The Ascendancy was born out of brutal struggle and hardship in the Sol system after the biosphere of Terra collapsed nearly four millennia ago. Those who survived, on fragile colonies and orbitals, were compelled to create a rigid and authoritarian society as the only alternative to chaos and extinction. From the early council of station commanders came the system of Houses - aristocratic groups who would come to rule over vast fiefdoms, and collectively decide the destiny of humanity and the lesser species in their care. | ||
| - | Discipline and order are prized within the Ascendancy, and the ruling Houses move swiftly to suppress any dissent lest humankind fall back into the anarchy that led to Terra's fall. Their mighty naval and military forces stand ready to combat any threats to humanity's supremacy, though the Ascendancy's leadership may jostle for power and influence amongst themselves. Those who seek status within the Ascendancy must show evidence of their success as well as deference to authority, all while courting the patronage of the powerful. | + | Discipline and order are prized within the Ascendancy, and the ruling [[Noble Houses]] move swiftly to suppress any dissent lest their domain collapse back into the anarchy that led to Terra's fall. Their mighty naval and military forces stand ready to combat any threats to humanity's supremacy, though the Ascendancy's leadership may jostle for power and influence amongst themselves. Those who seek status within the Ascendancy must show evidence of their success as well as deference to authority, all while courting the patronage of the powerful. |
| ===== Ascendancy Culture ===== | ===== Ascendancy Culture ===== | ||
| - | The culture of the Ascendancy was born in the hardship and brutal survivalist conditions endured by the surviving humans in the Sol System after the collapse of Terra's biosphere. During this period, resources were extremely scarce, and had to be hewn from asteroids or cultivated in the unforgiving conditions of space or Mars. High art, much of the trappings of formal religion and individual national cultures were extinguished during this period as survival and collective duty became paramount. These trying times imprinted an austere and authoritarian outlook on the formative Ascendancy which has changed little in the 3.5 millennia since. Ascendancy citizens are taught to stay in line, do their duty, and despise wastefulness. Form must be inextricably tied to function, and waste or frivolousness is sin. Even the colonies founded by pre-fall Terrans were universally subjugated on their discovery by the Ascendancy, and almost all remnants of pre-Fall Terran culture have been erased and replaced with the new order. Subjects of the Ascendancy are expected to live and work in a frugal manner, take orders and contribute to humanity's ongoing Ascendancy. In practice, the more influential and powerful one becomes, the more leeway one is afforded. The most powerful live lives of grandeur and excess behind curtains closed to the population at large. | + | {{ :image:ascendancy:ascendancy_soldier.jpg?300|}}The culture of the Ascendancy was born in the hardship and brutal survivalist conditions endured by the surviving humans in the Sol System after the collapse of Terra's biosphere. During this period, resources were extremely scarce, and had to be hewn from asteroids or cultivated in the unforgiving conditions of space or Mars. High art, much of the trappings of formal religion and individual national cultures were extinguished during this period as survival and collective duty became paramount. These trying times imprinted an austere and authoritarian outlook on the formative Ascendancy which has changed little in the 3.5 millennia since. Ascendancy citizens are taught to stay in line, do their duty, and despise wastefulness. Form must be inextricably tied to function, and waste or frivolousness is sin. Even the colonies founded by pre-fall Terrans were universally subjugated on their discovery by the Ascendancy, and almost all remnants of pre-Fall Terran culture have been erased and replaced with the new order. Subjects of the Ascendancy are expected to live and work in a frugal manner, take orders and contribute to humanity's ongoing Ascendancy. In practice, the more influential and powerful one becomes, the more leeway one is afforded. The most powerful live lives of grandeur and excess behind curtains closed to the population at large. |
| While life in the Ascendancy is generally rigid and ordered, more freedom is afforded to specialists, the military, and the powerful members of the Houses who hold most of the assets. The trappings of militaristic discipline and aristocratic restraint pervade the culture - the Houses hold onto power by clamping down hard on dissent, and the reinforcement of cultural norms and ideology are a key tool in doing so. The culture of the Ascendancy has developed little in the past two thousand years as a result. Drills, inspections and repetition of loyalty oaths are the norm for everyday people, and spying and reporting deviant behaviour in one's neighbours is well rewarded. Above this level, the Houses compete for power, resources and influence over each other, using ordinary citizens in their elaborate power plays and schemes. | While life in the Ascendancy is generally rigid and ordered, more freedom is afforded to specialists, the military, and the powerful members of the Houses who hold most of the assets. The trappings of militaristic discipline and aristocratic restraint pervade the culture - the Houses hold onto power by clamping down hard on dissent, and the reinforcement of cultural norms and ideology are a key tool in doing so. The culture of the Ascendancy has developed little in the past two thousand years as a result. Drills, inspections and repetition of loyalty oaths are the norm for everyday people, and spying and reporting deviant behaviour in one's neighbours is well rewarded. Above this level, the Houses compete for power, resources and influence over each other, using ordinary citizens in their elaborate power plays and schemes. | ||
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| ==== Advantages ==== | ==== Advantages ==== | ||
| - | Ascendancy Terrans have 2 locational hits and a death count of 200. They may purchase Discipline skills, representing the brutal training and conditioning the Ascendancy applies to its favoured operatives. Ascendancy groups also tend to have higher incomes than their equivalents in other factions. | + | Ascendancy Terrans have 2 locational body hits and a death count of 200. They may purchase Discipline skills, representing the brutal training and conditioning the Ascendancy applies to its favoured operatives. Ascendancy groups also tend to have higher incomes than their equivalents in other factions. |
| + | |||
| + | ===== Vassal Species ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Many vassal species call the Ascendancy their overlords. Although most are kept confined to their home system, many of the more useful species have found roles within the Ascendancy's hierarchy and can be found working various lesser jobs across Terran space. | ||
| + | |||
| + | It is possible to create your own vassal species - if you have a great idea for a species, then you can submit it to the game team for possible inclusion into the Orion Sphere universe. See the [[Vassal Species]] page for details and guidelines of the kind of things we are looking for in a new species. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Urgs ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Urgs are an aggressive race from the [[system:Urgholme]] system in the [[sector:Hyades Sector]], deep within Ascendancy space. They are one of the earlier races encountered by the Terrans as they expanded outwards after discovering warp drive technology.\\ | ||
| + | **Character:** Urgs are quarrelsome and enjoy combat, but they are quick to submit to the orders of those that they consider to be an authority figure. They enjoy participating in military activities with a bit of pomp and ceremony, particularly when being observed by superiors. Within their species, they value honours and medals very highly as symbols of status, and have a hightened (if fragile) sense of pride.\\ | ||
| + | **Appearance:** Urgs are physrepped by a full-face balaclava “orc” style mask. The colour of the mask can vary, usually between black and olive-green or beige.\\ | ||
| + | **Abilities:** Urgs are naturally tough, and start with 3 locational body hits and a Death Count of 250 seconds. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Sollen ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Sollen fit in well within the Ascendancy’s order, being naturally inclined towards finding a position in society, and a low impulse to question authority. They are originally from the [[system:Sollest]] system in the [[sector:Crux Sector]], where their dying star promoted a rigidly ordered system to conserve resources. Since being integrated into the Ascendancy, they have spread far and wide, exported in numbers to make use of their facility with machines.\\ | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Character:** Sollen have a tendency towards being humble and self-effacing, and prefer to blend in with the crowd or lurk in the background rather than occupy the spotlight. They take a quiet pleasure in facilitating the success of others, and ensuring that both machines and society run smoothly.\\ | ||
| + | **Appearance:** Sollen appear very similar to humans, but possess three thin bands of horn-like growths on their foreheads, radiating outward from their eyeline. These horns are ringed with scaly plates that vary in colour from blue to green and red.\\ | ||
| + | **Abilities:** Sollen are physically quite frail, and start with only 1 locational body hit and a death count of 200 seconds. They make up for this with their aptitude with machines and devices – Sollen start with 1 rank of both the [[Professional Skills#Engineer]] and [[Professional Skills#Extra Mods]] [[Professional Skills]] for free. | ||
| ===== Inspirations ===== | ===== Inspirations ===== | ||
| - | The Empire (Star Wars); North Korea, Nazi Germany or other real-world authoritarian dictatorships; The Imperium (Warhammer 40K); The UCF (Starship Troopers); Mirror Universe Terran Empire (Star Trek); The Alliance (Firefly); Martian Congressional Republic (The Expanse) | + | The Empire (Star Wars); The Imperium (Warhammer 40K); The UCF (Starship Troopers); Mirror Universe Terran Empire (Star Trek); The Alliance (Firefly); Martian Congressional Republic (The Expanse) |
| + | [{{ :image:ascendancy:ascendancy_soldier_torch.jpg?200|Ascendancy costume and tech is militaristic in style.}}] | ||
| ===== Costume ===== | ===== Costume ===== | ||
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| ===== Faction Attitudes ===== | ===== Faction Attitudes ===== | ||
| + | [{{ :image:ascendancy:ascendancy_crush_the_alien.jpg?200|Ascendancy citizens are brought up to mistrust the aberrant alien}}] | ||
| ==== Ascendancy Vassals ==== | ==== Ascendancy Vassals ==== | ||
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| ===== Leadership ===== | ===== Leadership ===== | ||
| - | The Ascendancy is ruled by a council of aristocratic Houses, usually those who hold the greatest political power and influence. These aristocrats hark back to the austere and militaristic culture of the post-Terran Sol System in order to maintain their power. They operate spy networks within their own citizenry and reward those who uncover treason. Rebellion by the citizenry is crushed by overwhelming force when it is encountered, but the aristocrats constantly plot against each other and maneuver for advantage. Groups may be able to gain advantage with certain aspects of the government or with certain families, but this will almost certainly make them enemies of others. | + | The Ascendancy is ruled by a council of aristocratic [[Noble Houses]], usually those who hold the greatest political power and influence. These aristocrats hark back to the austere and militaristic culture of the post-Terran Sol System in order to maintain their power. They operate spy networks within their own citizenry and reward those who uncover treason. Rebellion by the citizenry is crushed by overwhelming force when it is encountered, but the aristocrats constantly plot against each other and maneuver for advantage. Groups may be able to gain advantage with certain aspects of the government or with certain families, but this will almost certainly make them enemies of others. |
| The majority of the population are controlled by general propaganda, which reinforces the necessity of the Ascendancy's harsh rule, the benefits provided by the rigid social structure, and fear of dissenters and hostile aliens. The Ascendancy maintains the official stance that Terrans are the superior species within the galaxy, and client species are treated as useful second-class citizens - although they can advance and distinguish themselves within their individual fields, they cannot gain positions of high authority and there are no opportunities to become aristocrats. | The majority of the population are controlled by general propaganda, which reinforces the necessity of the Ascendancy's harsh rule, the benefits provided by the rigid social structure, and fear of dissenters and hostile aliens. The Ascendancy maintains the official stance that Terrans are the superior species within the galaxy, and client species are treated as useful second-class citizens - although they can advance and distinguish themselves within their individual fields, they cannot gain positions of high authority and there are no opportunities to become aristocrats. | ||
ascendancy.txt · Last modified: 2022/06/21 02:03 by conan
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