Difference between revisions of "Solar Storms"

From Xeriar
Jump to navigationJump to search
 
(37 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
== Genesis ==
+
{{HB}}
"And the serpent said unto the woman, "Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and [[ye shall be as gods]], knowing good and evil." - [[Genesis]] 3, 4-5 (KJV)
+
"And the serpent said unto the woman, "Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and [[ye shall be as gods]], knowing good and evil." - [[Genesis]] 3: 4-5 (KJV)
  
== Preamble ==
+
----
Half a million years ago, [[human]]ity learned the secret of fire. Setting themselves apart from the animals that surrounded them, mankind took its first step out from under the oppressive thumb of Nature.
+
Half a million years ago, [[human]]ity learned the secret of fire. Setting themselves apart from the animals that surrounded them, [[mankind]] took its first step out from under the oppressive thumb of Nature.
  
Seventy thousand years ago, [[human]]ity learned to speak. Though they were able to communicate before, no longer were they limited to nasal grunts and clicks of the tongue. From Africa, they conquered the [[Earth]].
+
Seventy thousand years ago, humanity learned to speak. Though they were able to communicate before, no longer were they limited to nasal grunts and clicks of the tongue. From Africa, they conquered the [[Earth]].
  
Twelve thousand years ago, [[human]]ity learned to harvest. Where once there were thousands, in time, there would be billions.
+
Twelve thousand years ago, humanity learned to harvest. Where once there were thousands, in time, there would be billions.
  
Six thousand years ago, [[human]]ity learned to write. Where once the knowledge of previous generations had to be endlessly repeated, it could now be known for all eternity.
+
Six thousand years ago, humanity learned to write. Where once the knowledge of previous generations had to be endlessly repeated, it could now be seen for all eternity.
  
Not so many decades past, [[human]]ity unlocked the power within the atom. For good, and for ill, even the most ignorant amongst the masses could not help but respect the smallest of things.
+
Not so many decades past, humanity unlocked the power within the atom. For good, and for ill, even the most ignorant amongst the masses could not help but respect the smallest of things.
  
As the third millenium sent [[human]]ity into a frenzy, the secrets of aging itself were laid bare, and Science found for mankind the [[Fountain of Youth]].
+
At the dawn of the [[21st century]], those who would be gods work to harness the [[fusion|power]] of the [[star]]s themselves, seek the [[Fountain of Youth]], and have begun constructing likenesses in their own cognitive image - [[artificial sapience]].
  
At the dawn of the [[23rd century]], the people of [[Terra]] have colonized many worlds within its star system, and plans for three worlds in [[Alpha Centauri]] are already underway. The terraforming of [[Mar]]s is nearing completion, and work on making [[Venus]] habitable is well underway.  The [[light barrier]] is being bent apart, with [[tachyon]]s allowing for nearly instantanious communication and construction of great [[stellar gate]]s is underway to literally cut the vast distances between the stars.  Some three hundred million do not call [[Earth]] home, and billions of artificial intelligences happily slave away for the betterment of mankind.
+
And what if these last - the sons of Man - are found to have a [[soul]]?
  
But above all, in their quest to bend the laws of existence itself, [[human]]s have discovered something best described as magical.  In just six years time, the discovery of the [[mobius pattern]]s has accelerated mankind's progress by tens of thousands of years.
+
----
 +
The story began sometime in what was then known as the [[23rd century]].  In their ceaseless quest for knowledge, humanity's theories suggested that its comprehension was complete.  While not everything was known, for the first time, everything could be understood.  In triumph over its own ignorance, there would be no more theories - physics itself had been 'solved'.  No more questions that needed asking.
  
The vast expanse of space stretches before humanity, cold, but inviting. All of its knowledge, all its wisdom, all its power, seems like naught but a tiny candle amidst an endless night.  The [[Solar System]] is the Third Cradle of Man, out of Africa, off of [[Earth]].  Not satisfied with mere immortality, humanity gathers its resources and hones its intellect, preparing to storm across the [[Milky Way]].
+
Except, perhaps, for the inevitable.
  
Small, and fragile, but it only takes a single flicker to light the inferno.
+
''"Are we sure?"''
== Redux ==
+
 
[http://ss.anenris.com Solar Storms] is a science-fantasy setting and role-playing game set in the early 23rd century, with largely [[transhuman]] and [[gnostic]] elementsWith most of humanity trapped in apathy, those with a will to change are the artisans of the future.
+
After countless experiments suggested that there was nothing more to be discovered - an abyss from which nothing more could be learned - mankind chose to look into that void anyway, and found something.
 +
 
 +
The final fruit of the tree of knowledge.
 +
 
 +
The [[mobius pattern]]s seemed to defy the laws of thermodynamics, offering no explanation for their capabilities. Most were small, and fragile, but they were something else.
 +
 
 +
They were life, and entropy was their sustenance.
 +
 
 +
It would be decades before humans became aware of just what they had done. Before their intervention, the [[multiverse]]s... [[megaverse]]s... whatever, were happily colliding away, self-immolating, only to be reborn anew, with no such thing as a memory of their previous state.
 +
 
 +
Until humans brought a piece of this immolation, this rebirth, into their own realm, and began to bend it to their will.  A delicate flicker that threatened to become an inferno that would sweep the [[Galaxy]], and beyond, in a massive storm.
 +
 
 +
Such presumption of divinity did not go unnoticed in the infinite expanse. Forces numerous, ancient and mighty arrayed themselves against the nascent power, seeking to end the people of [[Sol]] and claim humanity's unique discoveries for their own.  
 +
 
 +
Because humans were not the [[First]] to ask questions of the void.
 +
 
 +
[[Earth]] was lost, and its [[Sun]] would no longer grace the [[Milky Way]] with its light.  Scattered across the [[Universe]] in a great [[diaspora]], the flames of human civilization were reduced to cinders.
 +
 
 +
----
 +
Ten thousand years later, the wounds between mankind and its genocidal enemies have begun to healDuring their truce, new forces have emerged, some with violence, others with tranquility.  As with all truly mighty powers, they may choose sides, but such is fleeting - they are their own side. In this thin peace, the embers of violence glow brightly, for the stake is existence itself, and the prize is apotheosis.
 +
 
 +
God itself would have a say in the matter.
  
 
{{SS}}
 
{{SS}}

Latest revision as of 05:06, 1 May 2007

Solar Storms
Solar Storms Square Logo.jpg
  Introduction
  Factions
HumanityRenlaiShadow
TriadFirstNephilim
LegionDreadArchons
ConcordVirgonHydra
  Culture
StrainsHabitats
EconomyTechnology
InhaloOuthalo
  History
Before the Purge
The Purges
CanshenDiaspora
HellnachtsNephilomachy
Aftermath and Peace

"And the serpent said unto the woman, "Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." - Genesis 3: 4-5 (KJV)


Half a million years ago, humanity learned the secret of fire. Setting themselves apart from the animals that surrounded them, mankind took its first step out from under the oppressive thumb of Nature.

Seventy thousand years ago, humanity learned to speak. Though they were able to communicate before, no longer were they limited to nasal grunts and clicks of the tongue. From Africa, they conquered the Earth.

Twelve thousand years ago, humanity learned to harvest. Where once there were thousands, in time, there would be billions.

Six thousand years ago, humanity learned to write. Where once the knowledge of previous generations had to be endlessly repeated, it could now be seen for all eternity.

Not so many decades past, humanity unlocked the power within the atom. For good, and for ill, even the most ignorant amongst the masses could not help but respect the smallest of things.

At the dawn of the 21st century, those who would be gods work to harness the power of the stars themselves, seek the Fountain of Youth, and have begun constructing likenesses in their own cognitive image - artificial sapience.

And what if these last - the sons of Man - are found to have a soul?


The story began sometime in what was then known as the 23rd century. In their ceaseless quest for knowledge, humanity's theories suggested that its comprehension was complete. While not everything was known, for the first time, everything could be understood. In triumph over its own ignorance, there would be no more theories - physics itself had been 'solved'. No more questions that needed asking.

Except, perhaps, for the inevitable.

"Are we sure?"

After countless experiments suggested that there was nothing more to be discovered - an abyss from which nothing more could be learned - mankind chose to look into that void anyway, and found something.

The final fruit of the tree of knowledge.

The mobius patterns seemed to defy the laws of thermodynamics, offering no explanation for their capabilities. Most were small, and fragile, but they were something else.

They were life, and entropy was their sustenance.

It would be decades before humans became aware of just what they had done. Before their intervention, the multiverses... megaverses... whatever, were happily colliding away, self-immolating, only to be reborn anew, with no such thing as a memory of their previous state.

Until humans brought a piece of this immolation, this rebirth, into their own realm, and began to bend it to their will. A delicate flicker that threatened to become an inferno that would sweep the Galaxy, and beyond, in a massive storm.

Such presumption of divinity did not go unnoticed in the infinite expanse. Forces numerous, ancient and mighty arrayed themselves against the nascent power, seeking to end the people of Sol and claim humanity's unique discoveries for their own.

Because humans were not the First to ask questions of the void.

Earth was lost, and its Sun would no longer grace the Milky Way with its light. Scattered across the Universe in a great diaspora, the flames of human civilization were reduced to cinders.


Ten thousand years later, the wounds between mankind and its genocidal enemies have begun to heal. During their truce, new forces have emerged, some with violence, others with tranquility. As with all truly mighty powers, they may choose sides, but such is fleeting - they are their own side. In this thin peace, the embers of violence glow brightly, for the stake is existence itself, and the prize is apotheosis.

God itself would have a say in the matter.

Solar Storms Logo.jpg
Solar StormsAboutCreditsQuestionsResourcesGlossaryUpdatesWebsite