This is the start of the player handout blerb for a Burgess Shale Traveller Universe I'm kicking round in my head. I'd really appreciate peoples thoughts, particularly what sort of universe they'd picture from what's written. (The rather "corny" fantasy style is intended, after all it is a holy book).
Excerpts from the Holy Book of the Saved
"Earth was dying, the teaming mass of humanity had exhausted her riches, polluted the seas and poisoned the air. Most of Earth's teaming billions lived short lives of misery, existing on the megre handouts of the all powerful state, while the elite lived in domed cities sucking on the final breaths of the planet. It was in the domed cities that the few remaining idealists, The Founders, concocted a plan to save at least some of our species. The only salvation they reasoned, lay in the stars. An ark would be built, sent out to find another world to start anew..."
"...For millennia, the ark journeyed through the cold darkness while its precious cargo lay in their dreamless sleep. Finally the ark found what it was seeking. A new home, a second chance for humanity. Finally the Saved awoke to gaze upon a virgin world and name it Eden. But the Saved were not the first to set foot on Eden. For soon they found the strange three sided pyramids of the Sidthe..."
"...The pyramids of the Sidthe held both perils and treasures. Many would die or lose their minds in the dark catacombs, but those that braved the the pyramids found many strange treasures. Devices and writings, many never fathomed. But amongst these relics were the first Jump drives..."
"...In the thee hundredth and thirty seventh year after founding Eden was swept by famine and pestilence. The dead were burnt in great pyres and the stench of decay hung over the entire planet. The plague was carried to the new worlds also and death came to the stars themselves. Many believed the Saved would be lost, but their came forth a woman, Karn, who took gave the Saved hope and brought order from the chaos. Karn guided the Saved till the fields bloomed again and the plague was mastered. And the Saved rewarded Karn by declaring her Empress..."
"...The great Empire stretched many light years from Eden, ruled by those of the High Nobility. For many centuries they ruled with justice and wisdom. But by the thirteen hundredth and sixty second year after founding a cancer was growing within, Myssa the Darkone. The wisdom of Karn and her children had been lost, petty jealousies and ambition now crept into the thoughts of some. And in the shadows the Darkone, had waited and grown in strength, gathering the depraved and desperate to her. In that year the he struck down Emperor Karl VII and placed the pretender Malcom on the throne. She found allies in the High Nobility, those who's ambition out weighed their honour, and his servants powers of the mind allowed them to bend the will of others..."
"...Though the Darkone's powers were great, she could not break the will of true men of honour. In the thirteen hundredth and seventy ninth year after founding, Baron Anton Weinrite of Senton, a lowly common noble, drove a dagger into his heart. Though she did not die and Anton was thrown from the palace walls, his bravery sparked rebellion. Throughout the Empire, true men and women rose against the Darkone and his minions..."
"...After four and twenty years, the Darkone's forces were scattered and the pretender Malcom's body hung from the palace walls. But no heir to Karl VII could be found. Thus even as the Darkone fled back to the shadows, a new war began to seize the crown..."
"...The High Nobles tired of the long bitter war, worlds lay ruined and millions were dead. The nobles met on Ninavah and signed a compact. The child Emperor Chandra would sit in Eden and all would pledge themselves to him, but they would forever remain lords of their own domains, sovereign and sacrosanct..."
Excerpts from the Holy Book of the Saved
"Earth was dying, the teaming mass of humanity had exhausted her riches, polluted the seas and poisoned the air. Most of Earth's teaming billions lived short lives of misery, existing on the megre handouts of the all powerful state, while the elite lived in domed cities sucking on the final breaths of the planet. It was in the domed cities that the few remaining idealists, The Founders, concocted a plan to save at least some of our species. The only salvation they reasoned, lay in the stars. An ark would be built, sent out to find another world to start anew..."
"...For millennia, the ark journeyed through the cold darkness while its precious cargo lay in their dreamless sleep. Finally the ark found what it was seeking. A new home, a second chance for humanity. Finally the Saved awoke to gaze upon a virgin world and name it Eden. But the Saved were not the first to set foot on Eden. For soon they found the strange three sided pyramids of the Sidthe..."
"...The pyramids of the Sidthe held both perils and treasures. Many would die or lose their minds in the dark catacombs, but those that braved the the pyramids found many strange treasures. Devices and writings, many never fathomed. But amongst these relics were the first Jump drives..."
"...In the thee hundredth and thirty seventh year after founding Eden was swept by famine and pestilence. The dead were burnt in great pyres and the stench of decay hung over the entire planet. The plague was carried to the new worlds also and death came to the stars themselves. Many believed the Saved would be lost, but their came forth a woman, Karn, who took gave the Saved hope and brought order from the chaos. Karn guided the Saved till the fields bloomed again and the plague was mastered. And the Saved rewarded Karn by declaring her Empress..."
"...The great Empire stretched many light years from Eden, ruled by those of the High Nobility. For many centuries they ruled with justice and wisdom. But by the thirteen hundredth and sixty second year after founding a cancer was growing within, Myssa the Darkone. The wisdom of Karn and her children had been lost, petty jealousies and ambition now crept into the thoughts of some. And in the shadows the Darkone, had waited and grown in strength, gathering the depraved and desperate to her. In that year the he struck down Emperor Karl VII and placed the pretender Malcom on the throne. She found allies in the High Nobility, those who's ambition out weighed their honour, and his servants powers of the mind allowed them to bend the will of others..."
"...Though the Darkone's powers were great, she could not break the will of true men of honour. In the thirteen hundredth and seventy ninth year after founding, Baron Anton Weinrite of Senton, a lowly common noble, drove a dagger into his heart. Though she did not die and Anton was thrown from the palace walls, his bravery sparked rebellion. Throughout the Empire, true men and women rose against the Darkone and his minions..."
"...After four and twenty years, the Darkone's forces were scattered and the pretender Malcom's body hung from the palace walls. But no heir to Karl VII could be found. Thus even as the Darkone fled back to the shadows, a new war began to seize the crown..."
"...The High Nobles tired of the long bitter war, worlds lay ruined and millions were dead. The nobles met on Ninavah and signed a compact. The child Emperor Chandra would sit in Eden and all would pledge themselves to him, but they would forever remain lords of their own domains, sovereign and sacrosanct..."
The setting is inspired by the "magic and SciFi" thread. Its on the backburner at the moment while I work on my "shoe salesman of the third imperium" adventure (no I'm serious), but it was my intention to submit it to FT when I get it finished.
