From publisher blurb:
The elusive Haven – the fabled centre of the Universe – is said to be a world of everlasting life. For all the Solar Empires our Galaxy has given rise to, none can claim dominion over such a Planet. There are those who believe fragments of it’s potency exist in the relics which provide the ability to traverse great distances. Some say that Haven is not a physical mass, but a temporal conduit via which the Universe receives it’s connection to Magic. To some, Haven is simply a place we hold sacred inside of ourselves.
Whether Haven is merely a concept or indeed the celestial cradle of all sentient life, the major players on the Galactic stage seek to control it’s essence and therefore the Universal narrative. Trillions of credits in resources and personnel have been dedicated to the continuing pursuit of locating and securing Haven. Many have claimed success in this endeavour, but none have ever demonstrated irrefutable proof. Magic, science, and technology have provided the means to prolong and in some cases even replicate life, but this has all been shown to be finite in the end.
The year is now 3066 and the sentient Species of the Known Universe vie for dominance using every tool at their disposal. Mega corporations, Colleges of Magic, a vast criminal Underworld, as well as governmental and private militaries, all take to the stars each day in the search for power, glory and ultimately, Haven.
THE SETTING
The Known Universe in 3066 is an assortment of wonders and miseries. Those who pursue conflict shall soon find it, yet there are places for the peaceful to converge together.
The tales of Haven are prevalent across the stars. Pursuit of Haven takes many forms and leads many to follow paths they may otherwise have forsaken. Most governing Assemblages would seek to keep their citizenry from Haven’s fruits, for the quest for Haven is synonymous with the quest for freedom.
In addition to the Corporeal Known Universe there exists a Spirit Realm – interconnected Planes of existence which are navigated by the Supernal Spirits. Encounters with these beings are rare, but not unheard of.
Governments, corporations, and scientists all seek to shape Galactic existence, while networks of outlaws and agitators watch and wait for opportunities to exploit.
Many things have changed in 1000 years; many things remain the same.
THE KNOWN UNIVERSE
The Milky Way is home to many Species – some are key Galactic players and some are yet to be discovered. Some have willingly turned their backs on inter-planetary exploration. The Diaru and the Formari are the oldest known Species. The Diaru can live for centuries but number far fewer than the Formari. Both Species keep eachother’s power balanced throughout the Galaxy by maintaining a war of attrition through mutual enmity.
The Parnun are a stocky, hardy people who have been harnessing the resources the Known Universe has to offer while others engage in conflict. The humble Tenarnun and the noble Bhedun both claim to provide balance through harmony. Both also claim to be the originators of Magic in the Known Universe. The Salvus are self-aware Formari replicants. Their AI and sensory receptors are without equal and they have fought for millennia to be recognised among the Sentient Species.
There are an innumerable amount of Factions at play within the Known Universe. Some Factions are formed based upon the bonds of kinship within the same Species, but most Factions are not limited by this. All Factions are known as Assemblages and may range from single Planets governed by one overall ruler, or may be vast Solar Empires comprised of hundreds of Planets. Worlds without a unified system of governance (or any governance) are known as Fractured Worlds. Many (or no) Assemblages may lay claim to Fractured Planets.
THE FOUR SECTORS
The Galaxy is broken down into Four Sectors – Wahid, Aithnayn, Thalatha, and Arbea. Though all of the prominent Species of the Known have made contact with each other, some Sectors are more remote and sparsely populated than others.
The centre of the Galaxy – known as the Core – is the focal point of space travel and distance to the Core is always taken into account when journeying between Sectors using the Haven Nexus. The Core is Neutral Space.
Each Sector is around 50k² Lightyears. There are around 25-30 billion Planets in each Sector.
While each Assemblage controls a certain region or territory (and some may claim fealty from hundreds of Planets), no Assemblage can claim full dominion of any entire Sector. There is immense potential for the possibility of undiscovered life forms on previously uncharted Worlds
SPACEFLIGHT
Though advances in conventional spaceflight have enabled the production of propulsion engines capable of reaching up to 15k miles per second (one eighth the speed of light), the most efficient method for Spaceflight is the Haven Nexus.
The Haven Nexus is a network of Haven Beacons scattered throughout the Four Sectors of the Galaxy. So far there are six known Haven Beacons, including the central Beacon at the centre of the Known. Beacons are navigated via a ship’s Haven Nucleus. Once the Haven Nucleus is engaged the ship is “pulled” through time to the Core Beacon, and then instantaneously navigated to another Beacon in one of the Four Sectors.
Hyper Spaceways (HS) have been manufactured to connect various parts of Space together, however these are fraught with piracy and other dangers such as structural instability. If the journey goes off without a hitch however, HS enable travel at speeds nearly half the speed of light.
PROMINENT SPECIES
There are seven prominent Species of the Known. The Formari are the most populous, they include the Formarian Star League and the humans of Earth and Mars. The Diaru as a Species are at least as old as the Formari. Though they are not as widespread or numerous they have tremendously long lifespans. The Parnun are stocky and strong people who have spent many generations mastering engineering and mining. The Tenarnun spent most of their documented history reflecting inwardly prior to taking to the stars to share their spiritual code. The Bhedun are reserved, yet renowned for their fearsome sense of honour. So few have encountered the Yarathun that many doubt their existence. Those who have encountered the Yarathun know this to be unwise. The Salvus are a sentient Artificial Intelligence, only recently recognised as a Species in their own right. The vampiric Gifted are not made up of one Species alone, but are unique in their ways.