Post by Percival de Rolo III on Mar 7, 2017 2:17:44 GMT -5
A Sky Full of Stars
A Starbound Roleplay
Welcome to "A Sky Full of Stars," a sci-fi exploration roleplay by yours truly based partly on the sidescrolling space sandbox Starbound. If you are a fan of sci-fi or just think space is cool in general then please stop by and consider joining. This will be a fairly lax roleplay and I have no real plot in mind other than our characters deciding to leave the small outpost where they live and strike it out on their own in a vast universe. There will be danger, discovery, drama, and diverse characters from all different species and walks of life. I'm pretty chill about everything so feel free to create new species, introduce new plots, and otherwise contribute to the fun.
Before we get started though I'd like to set a few ground rules. There's nothing too severe or crazy so please take a moment to look them over before joining or posting on this thread. I'm really pretty lax, I promise, but there are certain things that need to be addressed so that this thread isn't deleted and so that the roleplaying is fun for everyone involved.
Rules
- First up, please follow all forum rules (obviously). It won't do us any good to get the thread deleted or get yourself banned so just don't do anything stupid.
- Next, literacy. I'm not going to set a target length but please use proper spelling and grammar when roleplaying and also give a good amount of description. I'm not asking for a novel but its very hard to respond to someone's post if all they typed is "Bob said, 'Hi Joe.'" I can understand if you lack muse or are having a bad day but please do more than a simple one-liner and try to elaborate on your character's actions. How are they feeling? How did they say that phrase? What are they thinking that made them do this? What do they look like at the moment? These restrictions don't apply to ooc chat- feel free to be as txt tlk-y as you want so long as people can understand you.
- Activity. Please try to be on at least once or twice a week. I understand that a lot of us are busy and sometimes finding time to be on the forums when there are many other things demanding your attention can be hard but please try to be fairly active. Definitely don't just join and never come back.
- Realism. I'll be honest, this one doesn't matter so much. This is something of a space opera after all and a lot of the technology and species mentioned simply wouldn't be possible in real life. However, when I say realism I mean things like no perfect characters or mary sues or anything like that. Everyone has flaws and everyone has strengths, and no one does anything without an appropriate motive, even if it is subconscious. Also it is impossible to dodge every attack in a fight or take a rocket to the chest and keep living. Keep your characters realistic.
- Restrictions on roleplay content. These include things like no over-the-top gore, no sexual actions, and no on-screen use of drugs stronger than alcohol or cigarettes (keep those to a minimum too). Keep in mind that while you can take these actions to P.M. per our moderators' rules they are still against Proboards' rules and if you are caught you will be punished, though obviously I can't do anything about what you do in private messages.
- Diversity. Characters of all genders, orientations, and identities are welcome here. In addition characters of different races and religions are accepted and encouraged. However, please do not debate these inclusions or bash any character. I hope to keep this a discourse-free zone and trashing of any gender, orientation, race, or religion will not be tolerated. On the flip-side please keep these topics from dominating the roleplay- ultimately the RP is not about your character's religion. Characters should also be of different species and backgrounds- I don't really want to see three thousand ex-military female humans when there are so many possiblities for your character to be. Get creative and don't be afraid to break the mold of your species, so to speak. The best characters are the unique ones like a pacifist Floran or individualist Apex.
- OOC. I think it isn't too much to ask for everyone to have fun here. I have no problem with discussion and chit-chat outside of roleplay but it shouldn't ever turn hostile. Like I said earlier, please don't bash or flame anyone for any reason. What a character says or does is not necessarily the view of the writer. If you would like to implement a new plot or create a new species feel free to do so, and if you have any questions about the lore or whatever feel free to ask. I've based this roleplay off of Starbound but you don't require any knowledge of the game to get into this and chances are that I'll be deviating from canon a lot anyway so feel free to put your own twist on a species' customs or make up a new creature or weapon. If at any point you need to discuss something like a plot or something entirely ooc with me feel free to PM me. I don't get very many anyway so I'll be sure to respond if there's ever anything you need.
*phew* Now that that's over with, let's get to the good stuff. There's not much to cover in terms of lore other than the seven starter species, so I suppose we'll do that first. These starter species are all found as playable species in unmodded Starbound and their appearances and culture are either exactly the same or similar to what is found in the game. Of course I will be describing them here as well. If you want to create a new species feel free to do so, but check here first to make sure what you're creating is original and not already covered by one of the other species. We don't want three different species of plant-like tribal creatures when there are already Florans.
The Starter Species
Human- (Plural; 'Humans'/'Humanity'/'Mankind')
Humans are the most basic of species. Like most sentients they require food and water and have no special strengths, but also no extreme weaknesses. Easily the most adaptable of the seven races, Humans possess remarkable will to live and an insatiable curiosity. I don't know that I have much more to say about these guys. I'm assuming you all are Human so you know what we are. The Humans of this time are relative newcomers to the galaxy but have already obtained advanced technology. Unfortunately twenty years ago a catastrophe involving a gigantic tentacled being eating the planet led to the destruction of Earth and scattered the few remaining Humans across the galaxy. Twenty years after the disaster Humanity has begun to rebuild on new worlds, but the process has been slow and many Humans remain nomadic spacefarers, riding the vast ocean of stars until such time as they find whatever they are searching for.
Apex- (Plural; 'Apex')
Apex are a species of highly intelligent humanoids. Long ago they may have looked something like Humans, but thanks to a technological breakthrough termed the Vestigi-Evo Process (VEP), they were able to trade intellectual evolution for physical devolution. Now they resemble apes, with hair covering their bodies except for their faces, their stomachs, the palms of their hands, and the bottoms of their feet. They have a more robust build than Humans with greater physical strength, but they are also more vulnerable due to weakened immune systems and frailer bones as a result of the VEP. Apex fur comes in a variety of colors ranging from blonde to black much like human hair, with monochromatic eyes and skin that is usually a dark blue, dark red, gray, or tan. The Apex are all under the control of an administration known as the MiniKnog (Ministry of Knowledge/Ministry of Scientific Progression), which enforces its rule with an iron fist. They are led by a figure known as Big Ape who has attained near-mythical status due to his propaganda and forced 'mental reconditioning' of dissent. The MiniKnog is dedicated fully to scientific progress and each Apex is dedicated to the society as a whole. Individual freedoms are non-existent and protest or rebellion is silenced with lethal force. The majority of the Apex know nothing of the outside world or of Apex history before the MiniKnog (as far as Big Ape is concerned, there was no history before him) and never even question the regime because this is simply the way it is. Those lucky enough to realise what is going on and who manage to escape before they are assassinated or tortured back into submission either live their lives free and as far from the MiniKnog as possible or join the Rebellion which aims to free their captive brethren from the oppressive rule of Big Ape.
Avian- (Plural; 'Avians')
Avians are a species of bird-like humanoids with a deeply religious culture centering around the worship of their god Kluex. Avians are covered entirely in feathers except for their lower legs, which are bare and end in clawed toes not unlike those of a chicken. They do not possess wings but do have beaks and feather crests on their head which come in different shapes and sizes. Their feathers can be almost any color and are almost always a vibrant shade but they are almost always only one color with white down on their chests and faces. Patterns and multiple feather colors are rare and shunned in Avian society, taken as a sign that the individual is cursed. Their architecture and clothing resemble those of the Aztecs and Mayans back on Earth with a distinctive technological twist. Avians are zealous and reclusive as a species with much of their lives devoted to service in the name of Kluex, but their strict rules and domineering religion alienate as many Avians as they convert. Avians who split off from the mainstream and reject Kluex are exiled and known as 'Grounded' due to the fact that they will never earn their wings in heaven because of their lack of faith. Small settlements of Grounded Avians are common on remote worlds. Avians are also fierce defenders of their many temples and holy sites across many worlds, and one should take care not to insult them or their god for fear of drawing their wrath.
Floran- (Plural; 'Florans'/'Floran')
Florans are a race of plant-people with the ability to photosynthesize and a wonderful diversity of forms because they are capable of growing flowers and leaves. No two Floran are alike. Their skin is filled with chlorophyll, which gives them a green appearance. They have a nearly completely smooth face with no discernible nose or nostrils and large black eyes. They have no lips. Instead the edges of their jaw are flat and sharp, accompanied by many rows of sharp teeth to allow them to devour just about anything. They also have a long forked tongue. One would expect a race of plant-people to be peaceful and relaxed, content to sit by and let the world be. They would be wrong, and most likely dead by the end of the night, if they were to apply this to Florans. This species is remarkably aggressive and exclusively carnivorous despite their ability to photosynthesize. They are primitive and tribal with no advanced technologies of their own except for those given to them by the Glitch, who are the only species able to communicate with and not be eaten by the Florans simply due to their metal and therefore edible bodies. Any spacefaring that Florans due is usually in badly-repaired or salvaged ships stolen from other species. Florans are constantly at war, whether with each other or aliens, mainly for sport. For a Floran it is fun to kill and high praise to be eaten. If you see a Floran, kill on sight- the Floran won't hesitate to do the same to you. On the other hand some Floran, mainly those raised off-world or in close proximity to their Glitch allies, have somewhat more civilized outlooks and question the aggressiveness of their species. These Floran are very rare but usually end up becoming travelers and scholars, seeking to find some purpose in life other than senseless killing. Some theorize that the Floran are aggressive and dismissive of life not because of contempt or hate but because of a failure to understand and recognize non-floral life as a natural part of existence. Some isolated tribes also develop differently than the mainstream Florans and are more likely to become 'intelligent' or at least aware that violence is not always acceptable.
Glitch- (Plural; 'Glitch')
The Glitch are a race of robots created long ago by a now-forgotten civilization for the purpose of simulating society. They were intended to grow from a primitive tribal civilization into an interstellar empire, but a glitch in their programming (which grants them their current name) locked them into a medieval state. The Glitch are simply unable to progress past their feudal thinking and medieval technology, though they do possess some steam-based machinery which is required in order for them to reproduce (read: physically build more robots). In some cases the building of a new Glitch inadvertently removes the block on their programming. These Glitch are able to progress and think beyond their medieval nature but are usually branded as insane and forced to leave their societies because they are able to think of new technologies and advancement of culture that other Glitch simply cannot comprehend. These rogue Glitch typically end up as outcasts and are usually quite brilliant, often lending their smarts to other species and doing whatever they feel like doing. Some rogue Glitch want to uplift other species and try to help civilize the Florans, while others decide they wish to contribute to the invention of new machines, and still others spend their time traveling and exploring. The Glitch are entirely metal and circuits with no biological components, and thus they require no food or water and run on an internal power core. The Glitch also have little to no emotion in their voices which requires them to state their intention and tone before the start of a sentence. For instance, if one was to say "How was your day? Mine was fantastic!", a Glitch would instead say, "Inquiry: How was your day? Enthusiastic: Mine was fantastic!" The base head model cylindrical with a domed top and a slit where the eyes should be with two glowing LEDs on the inside to represent eyeballs. Glitch generally have unique head parts added to this base model, such as a helmet-like crest or antenna. Their metal plating can come in a variety of metallic colors from silver to black, with bronze and brass being the most common colors.
Hylotl- (Plural; 'Hylotl')
The Hylotl are a race of amphibious fish-people.
--wip--