Truth and Darkness will be an episodic space adventure utilizing the templates, rules, and abilities of nWOD, rethemed but mechanically identical, to represent the characters who are the various ranking officers of the P.V. Requiem, the crown jewel of the People's Liberation Space Defense Forces. The P.V. (People's Vessel) Requiem is also the recipient of the experimental Higgs Field Drive, a new faster than light drive holding great promise, and great danger.
Each of the major and minor templates will be represented in one way or another, each with completely new fluff and thematics aligning them with the new setting, but retaining all of their rules (for the most part.)
The themes of the game will be discovery, experimentation, moral dilemmas, and overcoming challenges.
The overall mood of the game is one of desperation, dire circumstances, and heroism.
This game will work best with 4 to 6 players. I would like to invite everyone, but there isn't room for everyone. Therefore, I would like interested parties to make bids for spots in the game, stating any limitations on elements they will accept in the game, and stating what they bring to the game.
This game draws elements of the original 3 year Starforge, the incomplete setting Stardrive, the world of darkness itself, Star Wars, Star Trek, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers and the 25th Century, Warhammer 40k, Doctor Who, and Sliders, along with original content specifically for this game.
As darkness comes to fall, only you stand between Man and Oblivion. Will you triumph over the mind bending obstacles you face, or will your spirit and your mind break, leaving mankind a forgotten and destroyed race.
Characters should be as original as possible, but may be inspired from the above citations, including previous characters from Starforge in all it's incarnations, and any science fiction I have written or have stated has influenced my work, such as Lensman or Foundation.
In addition to the core rules found in the WOD book and the various template specific books, alternative rules and systems will be used from sources such as Mirrors, such as Skill Tricks, Forbidden Knowledge, and so on.
Any recommendations, questions, or ideas in regards to how this game will work and what it will include are more than welcome.
This game is not currently scheduled for a start date.
Background - part 1
The ultimate resolution of the battles for prestation amongst the governments and governmental philosophers of Earth ended with a merged philosophy that is derived from communism. As multiple communist societies emerged and re-emerged and competed with democratic societies for economic resources, the concept spread and without a great war of conquest, without ideological crusades for or against it, these societies influenced others and their ideas spread. Immigration into the then called "fed societies" sapped free market capitalist societies and democratic societies of their intellectual power, raw physical labor work force, and scores of young people, as they immigrated into countries that had plenty of food for all. In the end, no one country and no one philosophy won out hegemony of mankind, rather, the separation of borders and cultural boundaries blurred into extinction. Those resourceful and influential men whose small numbers made up the captains of the largest and most interconnected socialist society declared August 29th to be unification day, though like so many other remembered days, it is the day of remembrance, and not the day that any distinct event took place.
Over the course of numerous generations the new mankind began to take shape. The tenets of government and society that took a permanent hold in the society of Man became enshrined in the Great Monuments, structures that symbolized the commitment of Mankind to Mankind to uphold certain traditions and values. Over the course of over a hundred years, these monuments and their associated values and declarations became the constants of philosophy and governance, and are constructed identically in every city and on every colony, and representations of them are crafted as part of any capital space faring vessel. They consist of a physical declaration of the rights of man, and much as similar tributes to higher concepts in the past, are never omitted or ignored. Each monument is known to each human being in extreme detail, and, though valued differently by each, inform the values of each man.
The First Monument – The Copper Arrow
Physically appearing to be a great spire and generally located in the exact center of any city or settlement, the Copper Arrow is a tremendous antenna which uses advanced coiling patterns and careful geometry to resonate at the frequencies of cosmic background radiation. This conducts gigawatts of power from electromagnetic radiation of a broad spectrum, more than enough to power the entire city. The arrow can also be used to broadcast information to and receive information from other arrows, over mundane radio frequencies. The Copper Arrow formally represents free and unlimited electricity and communication with the whole world, and at the same time points into the sky and stars both literally and figuratively. The arrow creates the promise that mankind as a closely connected family will, using the power of technology both be shielded from the elements and will reach into the heavens, both by perpetually raising the quality and quantity of life for all, and by traveling into the stars and colonizing distant worlds. A representation of the copper arrow on board spacecraft is frequently the communications array and parts of the reactor core. The insignia of the copper arrow is used to represent the loftiest ideals of man. The Order of the Copper Arrow is an honor reserved for citizens and soldiers who demonstrate that they place the majority of man above and beyond their own welfare, and is the highest honor a human can receive from their government. It is more frequently awarded posthumously than it is to extant individuals.
The Second Monument – The Crucible of Tears
This facility appears like a large bowl from the air or space, and is generally set to the northeast of a city. The geographical location of a city will determine which of its several functions it is actively performing, but it is essentially a water refinery. Waste water is purified with fire, rain water is collected, sea water is hydrolyzed into hydrogen and oxygen and stored in a stable hemi-metallic liquid state, and ground water is collected. Regardless of which function it is actually performing, the Crucible provides both clean potable water and stable basic fuel for ground, air, and near-space vehicles. By using hydrogen fuel cells or hydrogen-oxygen chemical reactions as fuel, and by recycling waste water, the Crucible of Tears is a twofold commitment. The first commitment it creates is “That the weeping of the thirsty and those in drought will never again be heard,” which is to mean of course that clean water for drinking and irrigation will always be provided. The second commitment is to the longevity of the society of man, that “we shall tend our world with care that it might tend to us in perpetuity.” The crucible of tears is the hope that by creating a harmony with natural forces man might never again suffer at the hands of the same. The crucible represents the value that suffering must be stopped, even at great lengths. Aboard space vessels the crucible is represented by waste treatment and water purification facilities. The insignia of the Crucible of Tears is used to represent the stewardship of the unfortunate and suffering. The Order of the Crucible of Tears is an honor reserved for citizens and soldiers demonstrating an unyielding commitment to ending the suffering of others. It is the second highest honor a human can receive.
The Third Monument – The Wheel
Physically appearing to be a huge flat circular disk, the Wheel is the agricultural strategy of mankind. Centered around the Crucible of Tears, the wheel draws clean water and reclaimed biomatter from the crucible facility, and uses it to irrigate and fertilize aeroponic crop lands of rather sizable dimension. The most variable of the monuments, the wheel is built to be as large as it needs to be to accommodate the local population plus 20 percent more. The wheel represents the commitment to leave no mouth hungry, and to plan for privation and disaster both for oneself and for others. The surplus crops are stored in case of failure of the crucible or the wheel, or in case the same happens to another city. Aboard space vessels the Wheel is represented by similar facilities of smaller scale, and by the bridge of the ship. The insignia of the wheel represents strategy and planning. The Order of the Wheel is an honor awarded to individuals whose ability to anticipate and plan has benefited society in general.
The Fourth Monument – The Infinity Road
Physically appearing to be a black pyramid opposite the crucible, the Road is the center of education and repository of knowledge. Each Road is the same, though each student is different. The Roads are constructed the same, and each is updated frequently to contain the whole breadth of human knowledge. Citizens spend the majority of their early and middle youth on the Road, some continue in perpetuity and some emerge ready to become productive workers. The majority of the floors of the Road are library, most Roads contain physical paper books, though on space vessels an electronic archive is always used. The Infinity Road represents the tireless and never ending pursuit of knowledge, the value of that knowledge, and the commitment to bring all of it to the fingertips of every citizen. Of all the monuments, the Infinity Road has the largest electronic presence, as an electronic version of the standardized Infinity Road can be accessed remotely by any citizen from their home or while mobile, via the Copper Arrow. Any symbol depicting a profession or area of knowledge and the Infinity Road insignia represents advanced education in that area. The Order of the Infinity Road is an honor afforded to those whose scholarship or pedagogy has profoundly benefited mankind.
The Fifth Monument – The Shroud
Physically appearing to be an oblong dome shaped building in any corner of the city, the Shroud has two major functions. It is the barracks, military base, and training ground for militia and security forces of any city, and it is a shelter capable of withstanding significant radiation and destruction, making it the default point for a town or city to see shelter in when natural or military adversity takes place. The Shroud represents the commitment to defend one another with blood and sweat and toil, and to prepare for disaster and attack even when none is evident. The hull of a space vessel represents the Shroud. The insignia of the Shroud is present as the background in all military ranks. The Order of the Shroud is an honor reserved for those who suffer as a result of choosing to place themselves between others and danger, particularly those who are physically wounded in doing so.
The Sixth Monument – The Star
Physically appearing to be a ring of six outward facing equilateral triangles, the innermost surface of which is at a radius of 500 to 1500 meters from the Copper Arrow, the Star is physically a defensive weapon system. The power output of the Copper Arrow can be channeled into the Star to create a beam of substantial destructive power in defense of the city. The Star represents the ideal that when working together, Man is stronger than individual men. Aboard space vessels, the Star is represented by the sum total of the shipboard weaponry. The insignia of the Star represents anticipation and cooperation. The Order of the Star is awarded to those who bring their comrades together for the common good, usually in times of strife and at great risk. It is also awarded to those who made great victories against the enemies of man in times of strife.
The Seventh Monument – The Hammer of Man
Physically appearing to be a huge rectangular building with a high pointed roof that touches the ground, the Hammer of Man is the center of manufacturing and invention in any human city. This represents the victory of man over nature, and the triumph of accomplishing such by working together. The hammer represents the commitment to constant industry, forever crafting and designing and improving what has already been done, never becoming complacent or stagnant. It also represents the commitment to stand together to wield the hammer, never forgetting the craftsmen who sweat and toil to create the conveniences and tools of modern life. The insignia of the Hammer of Man is used to represent those with great expertise in crafting or engineering. The Order of the Hammer of Man is awarded to those who have innovated a substantial breakthrough in either technology or workmanship.
The ultimate resolution of the battles for prestation amongst the governments and governmental philosophers of Earth ended with a merged philosophy that is derived from communism. As multiple communist societies emerged and re-emerged and competed with democratic societies for economic resources, the concept spread and without a great war of conquest, without ideological crusades for or against it, these societies influenced others and their ideas spread. Immigration into the then called "fed societies" sapped free market capitalist societies and democratic societies of their intellectual power, raw physical labor work force, and scores of young people, as they immigrated into countries that had plenty of food for all. In the end, no one country and no one philosophy won out hegemony of mankind, rather, the separation of borders and cultural boundaries blurred into extinction. Those resourceful and influential men whose small numbers made up the captains of the largest and most interconnected socialist society declared August 29th to be unification day, though like so many other remembered days, it is the day of remembrance, and not the day that any distinct event took place.
Over the course of numerous generations the new mankind began to take shape. The tenets of government and society that took a permanent hold in the society of Man became enshrined in the Great Monuments, structures that symbolized the commitment of Mankind to Mankind to uphold certain traditions and values. Over the course of over a hundred years, these monuments and their associated values and declarations became the constants of philosophy and governance, and are constructed identically in every city and on every colony, and representations of them are crafted as part of any capital space faring vessel. They consist of a physical declaration of the rights of man, and much as similar tributes to higher concepts in the past, are never omitted or ignored. Each monument is known to each human being in extreme detail, and, though valued differently by each, inform the values of each man.
The First Monument – The Copper Arrow
Physically appearing to be a great spire and generally located in the exact center of any city or settlement, the Copper Arrow is a tremendous antenna which uses advanced coiling patterns and careful geometry to resonate at the frequencies of cosmic background radiation. This conducts gigawatts of power from electromagnetic radiation of a broad spectrum, more than enough to power the entire city. The arrow can also be used to broadcast information to and receive information from other arrows, over mundane radio frequencies. The Copper Arrow formally represents free and unlimited electricity and communication with the whole world, and at the same time points into the sky and stars both literally and figuratively. The arrow creates the promise that mankind as a closely connected family will, using the power of technology both be shielded from the elements and will reach into the heavens, both by perpetually raising the quality and quantity of life for all, and by traveling into the stars and colonizing distant worlds. A representation of the copper arrow on board spacecraft is frequently the communications array and parts of the reactor core. The insignia of the copper arrow is used to represent the loftiest ideals of man. The Order of the Copper Arrow is an honor reserved for citizens and soldiers who demonstrate that they place the majority of man above and beyond their own welfare, and is the highest honor a human can receive from their government. It is more frequently awarded posthumously than it is to extant individuals.
The Second Monument – The Crucible of Tears
This facility appears like a large bowl from the air or space, and is generally set to the northeast of a city. The geographical location of a city will determine which of its several functions it is actively performing, but it is essentially a water refinery. Waste water is purified with fire, rain water is collected, sea water is hydrolyzed into hydrogen and oxygen and stored in a stable hemi-metallic liquid state, and ground water is collected. Regardless of which function it is actually performing, the Crucible provides both clean potable water and stable basic fuel for ground, air, and near-space vehicles. By using hydrogen fuel cells or hydrogen-oxygen chemical reactions as fuel, and by recycling waste water, the Crucible of Tears is a twofold commitment. The first commitment it creates is “That the weeping of the thirsty and those in drought will never again be heard,” which is to mean of course that clean water for drinking and irrigation will always be provided. The second commitment is to the longevity of the society of man, that “we shall tend our world with care that it might tend to us in perpetuity.” The crucible of tears is the hope that by creating a harmony with natural forces man might never again suffer at the hands of the same. The crucible represents the value that suffering must be stopped, even at great lengths. Aboard space vessels the crucible is represented by waste treatment and water purification facilities. The insignia of the Crucible of Tears is used to represent the stewardship of the unfortunate and suffering. The Order of the Crucible of Tears is an honor reserved for citizens and soldiers demonstrating an unyielding commitment to ending the suffering of others. It is the second highest honor a human can receive.
The Third Monument – The Wheel
Physically appearing to be a huge flat circular disk, the Wheel is the agricultural strategy of mankind. Centered around the Crucible of Tears, the wheel draws clean water and reclaimed biomatter from the crucible facility, and uses it to irrigate and fertilize aeroponic crop lands of rather sizable dimension. The most variable of the monuments, the wheel is built to be as large as it needs to be to accommodate the local population plus 20 percent more. The wheel represents the commitment to leave no mouth hungry, and to plan for privation and disaster both for oneself and for others. The surplus crops are stored in case of failure of the crucible or the wheel, or in case the same happens to another city. Aboard space vessels the Wheel is represented by similar facilities of smaller scale, and by the bridge of the ship. The insignia of the wheel represents strategy and planning. The Order of the Wheel is an honor awarded to individuals whose ability to anticipate and plan has benefited society in general.
The Fourth Monument – The Infinity Road
Physically appearing to be a black pyramid opposite the crucible, the Road is the center of education and repository of knowledge. Each Road is the same, though each student is different. The Roads are constructed the same, and each is updated frequently to contain the whole breadth of human knowledge. Citizens spend the majority of their early and middle youth on the Road, some continue in perpetuity and some emerge ready to become productive workers. The majority of the floors of the Road are library, most Roads contain physical paper books, though on space vessels an electronic archive is always used. The Infinity Road represents the tireless and never ending pursuit of knowledge, the value of that knowledge, and the commitment to bring all of it to the fingertips of every citizen. Of all the monuments, the Infinity Road has the largest electronic presence, as an electronic version of the standardized Infinity Road can be accessed remotely by any citizen from their home or while mobile, via the Copper Arrow. Any symbol depicting a profession or area of knowledge and the Infinity Road insignia represents advanced education in that area. The Order of the Infinity Road is an honor afforded to those whose scholarship or pedagogy has profoundly benefited mankind.
The Fifth Monument – The Shroud
Physically appearing to be an oblong dome shaped building in any corner of the city, the Shroud has two major functions. It is the barracks, military base, and training ground for militia and security forces of any city, and it is a shelter capable of withstanding significant radiation and destruction, making it the default point for a town or city to see shelter in when natural or military adversity takes place. The Shroud represents the commitment to defend one another with blood and sweat and toil, and to prepare for disaster and attack even when none is evident. The hull of a space vessel represents the Shroud. The insignia of the Shroud is present as the background in all military ranks. The Order of the Shroud is an honor reserved for those who suffer as a result of choosing to place themselves between others and danger, particularly those who are physically wounded in doing so.
The Sixth Monument – The Star
Physically appearing to be a ring of six outward facing equilateral triangles, the innermost surface of which is at a radius of 500 to 1500 meters from the Copper Arrow, the Star is physically a defensive weapon system. The power output of the Copper Arrow can be channeled into the Star to create a beam of substantial destructive power in defense of the city. The Star represents the ideal that when working together, Man is stronger than individual men. Aboard space vessels, the Star is represented by the sum total of the shipboard weaponry. The insignia of the Star represents anticipation and cooperation. The Order of the Star is awarded to those who bring their comrades together for the common good, usually in times of strife and at great risk. It is also awarded to those who made great victories against the enemies of man in times of strife.
The Seventh Monument – The Hammer of Man
Physically appearing to be a huge rectangular building with a high pointed roof that touches the ground, the Hammer of Man is the center of manufacturing and invention in any human city. This represents the victory of man over nature, and the triumph of accomplishing such by working together. The hammer represents the commitment to constant industry, forever crafting and designing and improving what has already been done, never becoming complacent or stagnant. It also represents the commitment to stand together to wield the hammer, never forgetting the craftsmen who sweat and toil to create the conveniences and tools of modern life. The insignia of the Hammer of Man is used to represent those with great expertise in crafting or engineering. The Order of the Hammer of Man is awarded to those who have innovated a substantial breakthrough in either technology or workmanship.