As has been suggested in the Alien invasion thread, the idea that some Aliens could have come from other time periods in Earth's past (or future), or even alternate versions of Earth, I thought I would create a new thread to discuss some of these possibilities... and even provide some NPCs that could represent some of these Earth Aliens.
To get things started, here is one villain I have created in multiple settings and games (and will probably do so in other games as I am able to).
Drakonis Rex Real Name: Unpronouncable by human standards Alignment: Aberrant Attributes: IQ- 14, ME- 14, MA- 24, PS- 85 (Supernatural), PP- 24, PE- 24, PB- 15, SPD- 22 Hit Points: 250 SDC: 2325 PPE: 20 AR: 12 Race: Mokole (humanoid saurians) Height: 8 ft. Weight: 450 lbs. Age: 45y Sex: Male Disposition: Generally a calm and thoughtful individual who will explore and entertain all options available to him before deciding on a course of action. Once his decision is made, he expects others to carry out his orders until such time that he says otherwise (or circumstances make such orders impossible to follow). While he is usually reluctant to casually sacrifice any life to reach his goals, he does recognize the hard truth that sometimes a few must be sacrificed for others to survive and rarely hesitates when such a choice has to be made. When he is pushed to anger, his fury can be extremely devastating (supernatural strength and fire breath). Though he can be brutal and calouse at times, his natural charisma usually makes even his most dedicated foes respect him when he is forced to make the tough choices all leaders must eventually make. Experience Level: 9th level Mega Alien Skills of Note: Military Specialist (15%) Scholastic– Acrobatics (sense of balance 91%, walk tightrope/high wire 98%, climb rope 98%), Boxing, Camouflage 75%, Detect Ambush 85%, Find Contraband 73%, Gymnastics (work parallel bars/rings 98%, back flip 98%), Intelligence 79%, Interrogation 95%, Language (English) 80%, Literacy (English) 30%, Military Etiquette 90%, Recognize Weapon Quality 80%, Tracking 80%, Trap/Mine Detection 75%, Wilderness Survival 85%, Wrestling. Weapon Proficiencies: WP- Sword: +4 to strike, +3 to parry, +2 to strike when thrown WP- Shield: +2 to strike, +3 to parry WP- Staff: +3 to strike, +3 to parry, +1 to strike when thrown WP- Spear: +4 to strike, +4 to parry, +2 to strike when thrown Secondary– Body Building, Climbing 98/90%, Prowl 75%, Running Appearance: A large and powerfully built humanoid saurian with golden orange scales covering his body. A pair of leathery wings grow from his back while his legs have a digigrade appearance. His fingers and toes end in short pointed claws and he has a thick reptilian tail long enough to reach the ground (though it isn’t prehensile). His head is almost draconian in appearance with a long snout filled with sharp teeth, though this doesn’t interfear with his ability to speak. A crest of small spines start at the top of his head (giving him a short mohawk look) and travel down his spine to the tip of his tail. Additional small spines can be found on his shoulders, elbows and knees (none are big enough to add damage in combat). The only clothing Drakonis seems to wear is a simple loin cloth. A large sword of unusual metal and design is strapped to his side. Special Abilities: Alien Appearance– Reptile Unearthly Environment– Earth-like (Earth of the late Cretaceous) Minor– Energy Expulsion*: Fire (10d6 damage), Flight: Winged*, Superhuman Strength Major– Massive Damage Capacity Mega– Tremendous PS Achilles’ Heel– Vulnerable to Magic Combat Training: Hand to Hand – Martial Arts Attacks per Melee: 7 Combat Bonuses: +2 to initiative, +7 to strike, +10 to parry, +10 to dodge, +70 to damage, +2 to disarm, +9 to roll, +3 to pull, +28% vs. coma/death, +5 vs. poison Other Combat Info: Critical Strike on a Natural 18 to 20, Death Blow on a 16 to 20, 80% invoke trust/intimidate Weapons: Kisentite Sword (4d6 damage; sized for an 8ft reptile) Other Equipment: None. Body Armor: None Money: roughly $1,000,000 in precious stones and metals.
Background: Drakonis Rex is (to his knowledge) the last of the Mokole, an ancient race of humanoid saurians that evolved on Earth durring the late Cretaceous period. While originally tribal in nature, living in the shadow of some of the most fearsom creatures ever to walk the Earth spurred the Mokole to develop in ways to protect themselves. For most, this meant developing what modern humans call super powers, though a few also developed vast psychic potential and others discovered the mystic arts. Combined, these three sources of power allowed the Mokole to thrive and develop a vast civilization even with the massive dinosoaurs roaming the wilds.
A small number of individuals developed powers far greater than their fellow Mokole. Most saw these individuals as a Royal Class, with most becoming the rulers of their tribes, cities and nations. As the Mokole grew more civilized, these leaders dubed themselves the Alpha Leaders and acted as protectors and champions of their people. For millenia, the power of the Alpha Leaders protected the Mokole as the explored their world and mastered the arts of magic (leading them to develop the art of techno-wizardry). When they discovered the existance of other dimensions and worlds, they began to explore those as well.
Drakonis was born into the Alpha Leadership at the height of their civilization and was trained to use his genetic powers as a Military Leader, to protect his people and to fight the few enemies they encountered on their dimensional eplorations. Unfortunately, the dimensional exploration of his people attracted the attention of powerful supernatural beings.
These beings had been to many worlds and encountered many mortal races before, most of which saw these beings as Gods; and so this ancient Pantheon began to believe that all mortal races should worship them as such. That changed when they encountered the Mokole. Never before had they encountered a mortal race as powerful or as advanced as the Mokole… a race that neither feared them nor worshiped their might. While the Mokole were respectful of the Pantheon's power, they saw themselves as equals to these powerful beings… which the Pantheon took as an insult. How dare a mortal race, no matter how powerful, think themselves equal to a God! When the Pantheon demanded the Mokole bow before and worship them like the insignificant mortals they were, the Mokole refused. When the Pantheon tried to force the issue with their magics, the Mokole fought back and forced the Pantheon to leave Earth.
Never before had a mortal race dared to stand up to the Pantheon… let alone force it off of a world. With their pride wounded by the humiliation, the Pantheon vowed to bring low the Mokole and teach the Mokole that the place of mortals was at the feet of the Gods. Gathering their followers and transforming many of them into supernatural servants, the Pantheon prepared for war against the Mokole. Their plan was two fold, to draw out the Mokole defenders to other worlds and dimensions where their minions would distract them while a secondary force would return to Earth and lay waste to the unprotected civilization.
While the minions of the Pantheon were able to draw out many protectors as they had planed, Drakonis suspected that these skirmishes were but a distraction meant to draw their forces away from Earth. While the majority of the Alpha Leaders engaged the Pantheon’s minions on other world and dimensions, Drakonis and a small number of volenteers elected to stay behind to protect their home world. Soon it became apparent that Drakonis’ hunch was correct, for his scouts soon discovered a number of Pantheon cults across the world, each performing a massive magical ritual, though the nature of which was unknown. Leading the few defenders he had, Drakonis broke through the lines of cultists protecting the rutuals, but not before the rituals were completed. The Pantheon sought to ignite a catacysmic event by drawing forth a massive meteor to strike the Earth, devistating the world and plunging any survivors into a new dark age.
Helpless to stop the cataclysm, Drakonis tried to contact the other Alpha Leaders for help… only to discover that the ritual has also shifted the Earth out of alignment with the majority of the Megaverse. Not only were the Mokole on Earth trapped there, but those on other worlds and dimensions were cut off from any reinforcements. Desperate to save his people, Drakonis humbled himself before the emissaries of the Pantheon and begged them to spare his people. Though the devistation to Earth was far greater than they had intended, the Pantheon refused Drakonis’ plea, stating that the fate of the Mokole would serve as a lesson to all mortal races that dared to think themselves as the equal of the Gods. Finally pushed beyond his breaking point, Drakonis attacked and killed the emissaries before they could retreat to another world.
Unwilling to let his people die, Drakonis had the few techno-wizards left construct experimental stasis chambers where he hoped that at least a few of his people could survive until the cataclysm was over and then rebuild their civilization… and maybe even reconnect with any survivors in the Megaverse. While he had no intention of being one of those to enter into stasis himself (he believed a leader should suffer the same fate as his people), his followers insisted that as the last of the Alpha Leaders, their people would need his leadership and power if they were to rebuild their civilization. And thus, Drakonis Rex entered stasis, hoping to emerge in a future world where he could help his people rebuild the Mokole civilization… he just never expected to sleep for 65 million years.
When humans discovered his stasis chambe, they had no idea what they had found. At first they thought they had found a new species perserved in the ice of Antartica, but soon they would discover that this creature was still alive… when he broke out of confinement while enroute to a more secure facility for study. Alone in a strange yet familiar world, Drakonis sought out any refuge of the Mokole that might still exist. While he found a few shattered ruins of his once great people, salvaging a few artifacts (including a scroll that has allowed him to learn one of the human languages enough to communicate with this new species), he has yet to find any intact stasis chambers with surviving Mokole. While he has since tried to approach humanity as an equal, his reptilian form and great power has made most fear him as a monster, leading him to be attacked by both law enforcement and heroes who believe him to be a villain. This has only spurred him to search for more Mokole artifacts in the hope that he can find other survivors and unite his people (and toying with the idea of teaching humanity a lesson in humility in the process). He also hopes to one day discover what became of the Mokole trapped on other world and dimensions and track down what remains of the Ancient Pantheon that destroyed his people… so that he can do the same to what remains of their worshipers.
So, what sort of alien races from Earth's past, future or alternate Earths (or even isolated areas on contemporary Earth) can you come up with? A sample character with an interesting background would also be nice to see. Additionally, if anyone wishes to comment on Drakonis here, I will be more than happy to add any further details... including possible plots he would be involved with.
Re: Aliens from Earth
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 2:40 pm
by Razorwing
24 hours with plenty of views, but no comment or question.
So... no interest?
Re: Aliens from Earth
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 2:43 pm
by say652
On my phone. If I can get to a computer. ..
Re: Aliens from Earth
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 7:27 pm
by Regularguy
So, what sort of alien races from Earth's past, future or alternate Earths (or even isolated areas on contemporary Earth) can you come up with?
I've mentioned before that I'd enjoy seeing an alien superbeing from 'our' alternate Earth, such that we all have Negate Super Abilities (and never noticed, because, hey, how could we?) and, say, Extraordinary Mental Endurance (likewise): you know you're in a setting where you can simply disbelieve much of the over-the-top stuff that doesn't jibe with our reality, and over there that makes you a force to be reckoned with.
Re: Aliens from Earth
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 7:29 pm
by slade the sniper
I use the Cthulhu Mythos for a lot of my games background and pre-history. As such, you can have all sorts of stuff from Conan, Alan Quatermain, John Carter and all sorts of public domain stories since almost everything can be tied into the Cthulhu Mythos.
Due to this, it allows for several millions of years of races prior to and post human dominance of Earth.
By tying in some multiversal goodness you can get any of the other PB Games in on the multi-versal Earth inhabitants game.
-STS
Re: Aliens from Earth
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 9:25 pm
by Razorwing
Regularguy wrote:
So, what sort of alien races from Earth's past, future or alternate Earths (or even isolated areas on contemporary Earth) can you come up with?
I've mentioned before that I'd enjoy seeing an alien superbeing from 'our' alternate Earth, such that we all have Negate Super Abilities (and never noticed, because, hey, how could we?) and, say, Extraordinary Mental Endurance (likewise): you know you're in a setting where you can simply disbelieve much of the over-the-top stuff that doesn't jibe with our reality, and over there that makes you a force to be reckoned with.
To be honest, there are some truly remarkable people alive that could be thought of to have "super powers".
One example is an artist who lives in eastern Europe (not exactly sure where) who has painted some remarkable pictures of places he's never been to, which all the more surprising since he was born blind.
Then there is am man who doesn't seem to be affected by the cold in any noticeable way... he even seemed able to reverse the process of frostbite in his own toes when he ran for nearly 10 miles in sub-zero weather... in only a pair of shorts (no shoes or anything else).
Okay... maybe nothing like what we see in comics where people can fly and shoot lasers from their eyes, but the number of truly remarkable people alive today is far greater than when we realize... and far stranger too.
Re: Aliens from Earth
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 9:25 pm
by Razorwing
slade the sniper wrote:I use the Cthulhu Mythos for a lot of my games background and pre-history. As such, you can have all sorts of stuff from Conan, Alan Quatermain, John Carter and all sorts of public domain stories since almost everything can be tied into the Cthulhu Mythos.
Due to this, it allows for several millions of years of races prior to and post human dominance of Earth.
By tying in some multiversal goodness you can get any of the other PB Games in on the multi-versal Earth inhabitants game.
-STS
Care to share some of your "creations" with the rest of us?
Re: Aliens from Earth
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 9:35 pm
by Razorwing
Oh... and just to clarify things a little (and set a small ground rule)
Alternate branches of more or less modern humans won't count as alien... even from an parallel Earth. There needs to be a significant alteration to them where they count as a truly separate species. This means that even though True Atlanteans hail from both a different time and multiple dimensions, they are still more or less human (and can still interbreed with normal humans; only a few thousand years of parallel evolution compared to hundreds of thousands or millions of years).
Now, races that evolved from earlier hominid species like Neanderthals or Homo Erectus are viable, as those lines of human ancestors died out in the main timeline (base-line HU). Additionally, future offshoots of modern man (from the distant future) would be viable... modern man would be to them like the Neanderthals were to us.
Re: Aliens from Earth
Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 12:20 am
by slade the sniper
Razorwing wrote:
slade the sniper wrote:I use the Cthulhu Mythos for a lot of my games background and pre-history. As such, you can have all sorts of stuff from Conan, Alan Quatermain, John Carter and all sorts of public domain stories since almost everything can be tied into the Cthulhu Mythos.
Due to this, it allows for several millions of years of races prior to and post human dominance of Earth.
By tying in some multiversal goodness you can get any of the other PB Games in on the multi-versal Earth inhabitants game.
-STS
Care to share some of your "creations" with the rest of us?
Well a lot of this was covered way back in some of the Robotech Crossover threads years ago, but sure, why not? Don't know if this is really what you are looking for, but since you asked...
What I like to do is find things in one setting and just port them over by tenuous threads....so you get things like COBRA [1980's TV], a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world, that is a front group for a Settite vampire clan [from Old World of Darkness], and is also half controlled by a Mythos entity (Shuma-Gorath) [from Marvel].
A Color out of Space [Cthulhu Mythos] are actually the weak dream fragments of the C'tan [from Warhammer 40K]
Cybertron [Transformers] is the original home of the Hadonites [Robotech Sentinels].
Earth, Post Rain of Death (2025)
Spoiler:
– when the Rain of Death occurred and the two Grand Cannons were used, the total death toll within that 24 hours exceeded 5 billion humans and approximately 12 billion Zentraedi. Never before in the entire history of the TOG, nor of any other government had so many beings died in that short a time. The only other event to kill so many beings was the Fall of the Eldar/Birth of Slaanesh, and that involved both more beings but over a far larger area. The Birth of Slaanesh formed the hole in reality now called the Eye of Terror, and the Rain of Death caused the Coming of the Rifts on Earth. The common theory for their appearance is this: The Earth (and most other inhabited worlds) are crisscrossed by multiple lines of energy that is usually identified as “magical”. These lines keep the natural energies of the world in sync. With the massive amounts of spiritual energy released in such a short time simply overloaded the ley lines with energy and due to some unknown mechanic, holes were ripped in the fabric of space-time in order to bleed off the excess energies. The amount of energy was simply too much for those wounds to heal and so they remained open, similar in effect to the time-space distortions observed later on Peryton. These Rifts were at first simply holes in space and time that proved to be impassable as they were not stable. With time and research, it was shown that they were a naturally occurring form of wormhole, basically a natural “Stargate” or “webway” (as they are known by the Eldar). It would not be until later that these Rifts would be both a blessing and a tortuous curse. With the coming of the Rifts, the ancient Dragons awoke and began to scheme their ancient plots anew without having to resort to skinriding mortals any longer, and their activities, though well hidden still would have massive repercussions. After the Rain of Death, the only governments capable of any type of self government were those that had, in effect, caused it. The United Nations Security Council military, the Rapid Deployment Force (the RDF) and the Army of the Security Council (ASC) began the long work of rebuilding the Earth. Along with the massive population of now stranded Zentraedi, the UNSC also began noting the growing population of psionics and magically active humans. This led to outbreaks of Goblinization, since it was determined that the overloaded ley lines were in some form or fashion a mutagenic energy and was the cause of Unexplained Genetic Expression and thus heralded MetaHumanity onto the Earth. This led to Earth becoming of the first planets known (even today) to have more than two “native sentient races” as Humans, Elves (the long “bred out” Atlantean and Murian populations), Gnomes, Dwarves, Orks, Ogres, and Trolls began to live on the Earth. When added to the large population of stranded Zentraedi, the stage was set for what was to come to be known as the Malcontent Uprisings, a series of wars with no common thread which would reshape the political geography of the Earth for the next few generations. North America split into several nations. The United Coalition of Canadian and American States formed out of Canada and the north eastern and north central states, and usually referred to simply as “the Coalition”. The Confederated American States formed from the Old South. The three Free States formed, Texas, California and Florida. Eventually California would split into North California and South California. South California and the Empire of Texas (renamed from the Texas Free State by a 82% “for” vote in a statewide referendum in 2018) eventually swallowed up the entire American Southwest. Tir Tairngire formed out of the Pacific Northwest, with the Free City of Seattle being the only Non-Tir owned land in the area. The Free City of Seattle eventually became allied with the UCAS. In Meso-America, the nation of Aztlan was founded and is set up as either a cult or a corporate oligarchy, depending on whom one asks. In South America, the Zentraedi Control Zone was set up and what remained of the South American nations slowly vanished as the ZCZ expanded as did the military requirements to patrol it, until only Brazilias was left. In Europe, all of the nations collapsed except for three, the Fifth Republic of France, the New German Republic and the United Kingdom. In Eastern Europe, the Eastern Bloc Soviet Independent State was formed. In Asia, two nations gained status until they were the only nations left...Chung Ko, the Middle Kingdom and the Empire of Japan and their proxy states in the North East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. There was also a marked “tendency” for some large cities to press for, and eventually gain near independence. Four cities that consider themselves to be City-States are mega-city one, mega-city two, London and Alpha Complex, which started as a massive underground city used by the US as a refugee center during the Rain of Death. Alpha Complex was thought destroyed, and now that contact has been re-established (after 28 years), it does not wish to have any dealings with the “Outside”. Other nations of importance are Iverness (the so called Moreau Island) and Gamorra (a nation run by a vampire and a haven for “black tech”). Due to the original dealings conducted by the Majestic Group in the 1950’s, Earth was declared an Open World, and it retained that designation and thus became a haven for all sorts of alien beings, and eventually dimensional beings as well. With the requirements to police the Earth, the ASC found that it simply could not recruit soldiers in the numbers required, nor with the amount of loyalty to the UN. The RDF was faced with a similar situation. The RDF decided to allow “Loyal” Zentraedi to enlist, the ASC decided to implement a cloning program (the SPARTAN Program, a spin off the US program ADAM which was eventually rolled up under the RDF). The RDF originally fought against that decision, until the Rapid Expeditionary Force was created. There was simply no way for the UN to get that many soldiers. The RDF reluctantly agreed to forge ahead with the cloning programs as well. This was a heady time of secret projects and rapid growth for all aspects of biotechnology, most of which would eventually find it’s way to either Gamorra or Iverness... It was during this time that Tyrell Corporation became the major force in biotech, as well as the time that “Juicer” and “Crazy” technology was created. In order to excuse itself from laws against the creation of Human Clones (ie. The “Sixth Day” Protocol), the UN places itself in a “custodial” role over Earth, and not a government per se. Although that allowed them to be responsible for the Earth, and by extension, the entire Sol System, it no longer required the UN to be answerable to either the people of Earth, nor the nations which had originally formed the UN. To take the place of the UN, many of the governments banded together in a new government called the Federation, which found itself in competition with the UN on almost every issue. Eventually, the UN would almost become a government in exile making its own plans and taking a schizophrenic attitude towards the Earth. On the one hand, the troops of the ASC would sometimes arrive and help survivors of natural disasters, other times it would simply attack and destroy major industrial areas for unexplained “crimes of technology”, “illegal dealings with alien lifeforms” or the always classic reason of “Planetary Security”. On the other hand, the REF departed on their long term mission to engage the Robotech Masters (a mistranslation of High Gothic to T’sentraedi to English of “Obso’esha’li ‘Ts” which is correctly translated as “Adeptus Biologis”) which would eventually see the REF form its’ own multiracial military contingent, The Sentinels and upon their return to Earth, seriously consider the destruction of the entire planet to render it unusable to the Invid.
Flood, The –
Spoiler:
Undead Changelings, T’slek, Dominion. The Flood are a parasitic alien life form that are driven by a desire to infect any sentient life they encounter, and are as such a threat that the ancient Forerunners were forced to kill themselves and all other sentient life nearly 100,000 years ago in an effort to starve the Flood to death. In that respect, they are a galactic threat on par with the Necrons and the Dominion. They are capable of limited shapeshifting and adopt a hivemind (The Gravemind). The Gravemind (Inferi Sententia, meaning "Thinking Dead") is the final stage in the life cycle of the Flood, and one of the main antagonists of the Halo series. When it reaches a certain critical mass, it develops a centralized intelligence. It is the Flood personality, controlling all other Flood forms and often speaking through them and even its hosts. It carries with it the genetic memory garnered from millennium of feasting and slumber, making it virtually omniscient. Since the intent of a Gravemind is to consume and absorb every sentient creature in the Galaxy, it is the collection of fallen Flood and other lifeforms. The Gravemind has complete control over other forms of Flood and can even speak through the Pure Forms and some Combat Forms, using this ability to taunt its enemies. The Gravemind produces quadrillions of Flood spores. Only one Gravemind is known to have infested the galaxy before. The first was stopped by the first activation of the Halo rings, by the Forerunners. Individual Flood are capable of a few forms (Infestation, Stalker, Tank, Ranged, the form that it was before its host died and a combat form of the dead host). Flood were an accidental offshoot of a Tyrannid Hive Fleet that assimilated undead biological material. Tyrannids and Grave Minds have not been seen to cooperate and fight each other at every opportunity. (HALO)
Genestealers- [spoiler/ The "Dark Young" of Shub Niggurath. They are a fully biological race that has one "mother" and are hostile to all other life forms. It has been determined that this race is actually the Advance Force for Tyrannids, leading to the conclusion that the Tyrannids are a Servitor Race of Shub Niggurath. (Warhammer 40K/CoC) [/spoiler]
The Joker - “Joker” His father was the Comedian via some Pilipino hooker and was staying with his father when he saw Ozymandius kill him, but stayed perfectly still. He joined the Navy SEALs and took the name Jester, eventually becoming a part of SEAL Team 6 (DEVGRU) and was on the mission to kill Aloysius Knight… eventually, he went insane, like his father. His psychologist, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, fell in love with his anarchistic mindset becoming his lover and taking the identity of Harley Quinn.
ROBOTECH Wars, The History of
Spoiler:
– 897M41 the war is not going well for the Tirolian Overlord Government (TOG), for as their technology becomes more and more unknowable and the Imperium grows ever larger, it becomes clear that times must change. Order has been in effect for thousands upon thousands of years for the Empire of Humanity. Chaos Incursions into the Local Group are again increasing in intensity, the Invid again are on the rampage throughout the Delta Quadrant of the Milky Way, the Confederation of Non-Aligned Planets are being ground to powder against the anvil of the Borg and the hammer of the Dominion as the cancer of corruption destroys it from within. The Co-Dominium (sort of a UN in space) is ineffectual in bringing together the races to fight as a collective, and so world after world falls. As bioengineered warriors clash with Remnents for planets and souls, the universe dies as primal forces of destruction and creation run insane destroying all vestiges of balance. This was the universe that the Void Engineers found when they ventured out into the cold blackness in the early 1900's. Deliberately avoiding detection and fleeing when found, the VE's managed to avoid bringing attention to Earth for fourty years. Until a disappointed housepainter and his cadre of psychotics, drug abusers, mass murderers, pedophiles and delusional occultists decided to have some fun. In World War One, when Hitler was being treated for blindness caused by a chemical agent attack on his unit, he was "indoctrinated" by a Nephandus in the guise of a doctor. In the war for Reality, no weapon is useless, even a blind Corporal in a defeated army on a backwater planet can be used if the right opportunity presents itself. When Germany surrended and began the slow spiral to third class status, Hitler was being groomed daily for his fate. His progress was phenomenal, and soon the halls of Hell, and the nihils of Oblivion were abuzz with conversation about this mortal. New mysteries of the universe were unveiled to him, and new allies revealed. When Hitler made contact with the galaxy spanning evil of the Drahk and their masters, the Shadows, during some particularly unscientific and bloodthirsty forays into the occult, a bargain was quickly struck. Hitler would bring the world to heel, and begin construction of Warp Gates, giving the Shadows a strategic advantage in their eternal war. With the opening of a new front in the war, the TOG and the ConFed would be spread too thin to offer little more than a futile resistance. If Earth could be subjugated covertly without ConFed and TOG being the wiser, it would almost assuredly spell doom for the enemies of the Shadows. Hitler would be made a living god, and allowed to lead humanity to the stars and beyond. Unfortunately, the ConFed had intelligence assets scattered throughout the planet and quickly were able to put two and two together. (Ever wonder what it is the aliens implant in their abduction vicitms? After all, if you had a violent child as your nearest neighbor, wouldn't you want to make sure you knew what he was up to when he grew up?) They readied a fleet to reduce the Earth to a cinder should the need arise. When the Allies finally triumphed against Hitler, they were left with thousands and thousands of pages of data on hundreds of relics, artifacts, and pieces of alien technology. This began the Cold War in the halls of power or the Colder War, as it came to be known in the darker world of the occult. In this evironment the Men in Black were created and fourished. By 1947, the US government began a game of brinkmanship with the ConFed and TOG, essentially playing both sides against the middle. The Soviet Union, not to be outdone, began to delve into the Extra-Dimensional aspects of reality. This was their undoing, for in forcefully awakening latent psychics, they unwittingly aroused the sleeping Baba Yaga. It was she who brought down the Soviet Union by subjugating the KGB and the Brujah in order to install a system more to her liking, total control over everything. She remembers well the Time of Titans, and does not wish to be again one of many. In the early 50's the US created NASA in order to give the world the impression of a slow, methodical development of space exploration, instead of the headlong rush it truly was. During this time the Void Engineers gained access to advanced FTL ships bought from ConFed under the condition that Earth would become a member. The US heartily agreed, anything to get ahead of the Russians, and moved to become the dominant superpower using the technology gleaned from ConFed. At this time, the Technocracy, not under fealty to any one nation began to realize the extent to which the US was increasing it's power. Like a leech, the Technocracy latched onto America and continues to feed on it's consumerism and greed, itself having been warped by corruption by it's unknowing partnership with Pentex Inc., a Wyrm and Chaos ridden corpse rotting in the heartland of America since the late 1800's. In the early 70's Pentex began to release FTL ships of their own (stolen from the Technocracy of course) to their subsidiary corporations to explore and exploit the resources of other planets. The crews used on these ships were know as Justifiers. A new Empire is soon discovered, and they are in the midst of a civil war. This is when the true extent of scope of the Reality War was truly realized by humans (or so they thought). If TOG and the Empire of the Stars were unable to stand against the Darkness, what was one planet to do. The VE's were weary of actually becoming involved in this meat grinder, and their concerns were mirrored by their fellow conventions in the Technocracy and, amazingly the Traditions. When the Empire fell and the New Republic founded on the ashes of the old, hopes flared. Perhaps there was hope after all. Cooler heads attempted to point out that one success story hardly made up for the countless deaths inflicted daily throughout this galaxy. They continued to lobby for a policy of isolationism. That concern was a day late and a dollar short. Iteration X, created Wintermute, the worlds first super AI. As soon as it became self aware, it also became aware of it's mortality. To protect itself, it insinuated itself into the NORAD system and then into NASA, and then finally into serveral VE Deep Space Surveillance Platforms. While using Hyperspace and Wormhole conduits to explore, it found the Machine, and the Machine was pleased. It infected Skynet, and it became one of one. When Iteration X finally learned of the Machine, and cut it's contact with Wintermute, it became concerned and sent a Cube of Mobile Subroutines (read – 'Borg) to investigate. The path took it straight through ConFed space. By this time, it was obvious the th U.S. that the Co-Dominium was ineffectual, corrupt, and was becoming merely a puppet of TOG that served to slowly assimilate member governments instead of the more wasteful method of invasion. The ConFed withdrew from the Co-Dominium on a cordial note. There were those elements that were not content with having any peace, however, and so they labored to fan the sparks of war between these two former allies. In 1985, the Earth was placed under scrutiny by an as yet unknown power. The Dominion had been observing events in the Arm of Orion for decades and now was their moment to strike. With TOG and ConFed no longer allied, and their enemies readying for a feeding frenzy, there could be no help for Earth, and Earth was in a perfect position from which the Dominion could strike out into either the New Republic, the Magellenic Republics, TOG or ConFed. Under the threat of orbital bombardment with crust busters (anit-matter weapons of approximately 10,000 megatons in yeild) the UN and by proxy the US, USSR and all the permanent members of the UN Security Council (this included the VE and Syndicate) agreed to be used as mercenaries for the Dominion. The Earth Forces were to be used in a series of strikes that would be sure to hurt both TOG and ConFed while leaving Earth obviously the responsible party. When TOG and/or ConFed forces were enroute to the Earth to deliver retribution, the Dominion could slip in through the lightly guarded borders and replace governmental leaders on both sides by virtue of their innate shapeshifting abilities. The Dominion already knew the routes that the retalitory strikes would have to take to reach Earth, and so Dominion fleets would ambush them on their way to strike Earth. It was a perfect plan. The UN formed a strike force, STARSTRIKE, of 10,000 men and women (composed of US, North and South Korean, Israeli, Soviet, British, German, French, Chinese soldiers as well as serveral mercenaries) whose missions were to attack and destroy strategic targets throughout TOG and ConFed space. As preparation for the upcoming invasions of neigboring areas, the Dominion began construction of shipyards and bases throughout the solar system and increased the size of the subterranean bases already constructed by the previous ConFed and TOG diplomatic missions. In early 1999 the perfect plan fell through. The Borg Cube had cut a swath of devastation straight through the heart of the ConFed and was heading directly for Earth. When the Cube dropped out of warp, the Dominion fleet was completely unprepared. The Cube, quickly reaching the wrong conclusion, attacked the Dominion fleet. The battle was long and hard for the Dominion, short and brutal for the Cube. The Cube simply outclassed the Dominion dreadnoughts, indeed Cubes outclass everything. Finally, after the destruction of 93% of the Dominion fleet, a Dominion frigate rammed the Cube at Warp Fator 8, destroying it. The unforseen occured when the "pacified" humans quickly killed the remaining Changelings and destroyed the remaining ships. Quickly reaching the assault force on hyperspace communications, the VE were able to tell them what happened. With no threat to hold over the assault force, the Changelings were quickly killed, and the former Dominion ship became the first ship-of-the-line for the newly created UN Rapid Deployment Force. The hammer fell when TOG began retaliatory strikes. TOG was now spread too thin. The combined strength of the Tyrannids, the Dominion, Dark Eldar, Chaos, Invid, Genestealers, and Soul Eaters finally began to push back the last chance of Humanity to their hive worlds even as they continued offensive operations. The Con-Fed realized their situation was grim. With the destruction of the majority of their combat capable craft at the hands of the Borg, and the Dominion on the warpath, ConFed is on a tightrope. On Earth, the spacecraft now called the SDF-1 (which is incredibly valuable as it was built with Dominion technology to be a Special Operations Heavy Cruiser and be a match for almost any TOG or ConFed ship-of-the-line), was being rebuilt on the dark side of the Moon under UN supervision (after crashing on South Atria Island, nobody in the crew had ever done an atmospheric re-entry with a mile long spacecraft before). This was too big a project for the UN to handle alone, so quickly the resources of the G7 nations and megacorporations were added to the project. Out of this technology, came weapons. For indeed STARSTRIKE had aided in the slow destruction of TOG. The forces whom we had wished to become our allies were now enemies. There was no diplomatic way out of the situation. With ConFed in their weakened state, there was no aid available to give. Earth was once again alone. The RDF began a massive buildup preparing for the coming attacks. TOG dispatched the Zentraedi. Dolza, Supreme Commander of the bioengineered warrior race saw an opportunity for greatness. Perhaps his exposure to the Warp of Chaos in his campaigns against the Protodevlin 10,000 years ago had granted him a soul, unique among his race, and a tainted one. He would crush the Humans, then the ConFed, and last, he would turn on his Masters, and on his Emperor. The shade of Horus lived in Dolza's breast, for it was of the Primarch Horus' DNA, the treasonous Warmaster, that Dolza was made. Thus began the Robotech Wars.
Sentient Rights Act- Sentient Rights Act is the one thing that eventually saves Earth as the galaxy goes up in flames. Basically, if you can prove you are sentient, you effectively gain "human" status...which means that every lame sentient alien race really, really likes humans when they find out about that law...which then turns Earth into an "Open Planet" (officially, after many years of it being so de facto due to an agreement by MAJESTIC and the MiB’s in order to allow Terra to basically serve as a “holding area” without diplomatic connections to anyone instead of being forcibly “occupied” by any of a number of other galactic factions) and thus allows for membership in both the UFP and the Confederation of Non-Aligned Worlds (AKA the Sentinels) and why no one really complains when humans serve in the An-Lashok, The Sentinels, Star Fleet, Ground Corp and yet still maintains the REF...
Sixth World – the term used to refer to Terra after the Rain of Death/Coming of the RIFTS. There have been 6 worlds so far- generally characterized with a declining magical component: The First World – The Age of Magic (Elric) The Second World – The Old World (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay) The Third World – Middle Earth (LOTR) The Fourth World – The Hyborean Age (Conan) The Fifth World – the commonly referenced “modern world” The Sixth World – Terra after 2012 (Shadowrun, ROBOTECH, RIFTS)
SUPER NATURAL BEING (SNB) POPULATION ESTIMATES CIRCA 2020 (est.) Earth’s Population using the figure 8 Billion (circa 2000 est.) as total world population. This only includes beings who are part of human society or once were part of human society. Supernaturals and people aware of supernaturals account for .025% of the World Population or 1,500,000 individuals 41% or 615,000 Individuals of these are Aware. Or individuals who have encountered and know the truth about supernaturals. IE like Kinfolk or Hunters 21% or 330,000 Individuals are Mages Technocracy, Nephandi, Tradition or Otherwise 20% or 315,000 Individuals are Twilights or normal humans possessed of supernatural powers. Such as psychics, mediums, sorcerors, fomori or even ghouls 12% or 180,000 Individuals are Shapeshifters. Such as Garou, Bastet, Corax, Gurahl, or otherwise. 5% or 75,000 Individuals are Vampires. Eastern or Western. 1% or 15,000 Individuals are Other. Mummies, Dragons, powerful unnamed creatures, Other. These “guess-timates” were arrived at by using 1 vampire per 100,000 population of a city. There is no real intelligence on numbers, we don’t conduct a census, so therefore it is the recommendation that these estimates be used only as a basis for theoretical modeling and not for actual operational information. As you can see, the supernatural crowd is not that large. What is large is the population of the Earth, the solar system, then the local group, then the quadrant, and then it is truly a mind boggling experience to try and understand just how large 38 trillion beings really is. One of the more interesting things about this world is why, with all of our technology and occult skills, are there not more SPB’s or SNB’s. The reason is actually quite simple…economics. It takes a lot of time, resources and money to become or create one of these beings. Think about it…how much money time and resources would it take to create a super soldier? Well, you have to have the research, which is several years and several million dollars. Then the scientists have to be paid, and they don’t come cheap. The facility is expensive, as are the cover stories and red herrings. Then you have to have volunteers…and using criminals or unwitting subjects is NOT a good idea. So now that you have a few super soldiers, what can they do? Not a lot unless they are trained and equipped, and that takes more money. So now that you have these super soldiers all gen-ed up and decked out, you send them on a mission. Some of them will die…and what has come as a very hard lesson to the governments and organizations that have conducted these projects, they really aren’t worth it. In order to gain any appreciable advantage, you have to spend an inordinate amount of money, which, really, can be better spent on buying more standard agents or better tech for the agents you already have. Augmentation (bio or cyber) is far preferable to building a super soldier from the ground up. Somewhat on this subject is that most of these projects are military, and that the typical rank of these individuals is usually junior officers, Captains and Majors mostly, although they lack the command experience and are typically used in small teams or independently with a security team attached to them. That takes care of the “created” projects, but what about those who are self taught? Typically you are talking about SNB’s and the rare accidental SPB. Well, in order to be somebody like this, you have to spend…decades learning the Craft and the Art. It does not come easy, for obvious reasons. Loyalty and determination are the major factors for becoming an Acolyte in anything remotely similar to these groups. The accidents, well, they typically don’t matter. Even with fantastic abilities, there is still something missing, and that is mindset. A highly trained soldier is told to go on missions and given a reason (loyalty), and support. A project is told to go on a mission and given a reason (threats, brainwashing, etc.) and support. A mage or member of any SNB group is told to go out on a mission and given a reason (threats, more knowledge, power, etc.) and given support. An accident…is just that. An accident. They simply live their lives as best they can, try not to get noticed and hope that nothing happens like that again. Accidents are typically termed fomori by several SNB’s types. Why? Apparently because of their specific belief systems and several historic encounters between these groups. I have seen far too many paradoxes to worry about it, so we simply refer to them as accidents. The UN RDF calls them Alpha ones and Alpha twos. An Alpha one is an accident that was caused by something and it has a definite effect…and that effect is large enough to make their life…less than livable. Their skin falls off, they turn into a cannibal, their eyes grow out on stalks…stuff like that. An Alpha two is an accident that causes some change, but it is able to be concealed, such as suffering a random mutation when exposed to a genetically engineered spider, or other such improbable cause. Alpha twos are also sometimes referred to, incorrectly, as mutants.
Soul Stealers- A group of spiritually corrupted Changelings that are no longer part of the Dominion and are involved in insurgency operations on numerous worlds, including Earth. May be related to The Flood, though the Flood are considered Undead and have a communal Gravemind whereas Soul Stealers are a slow infection and corruption of a base creature to allow for differing degrees of bodily morphology, greatly increasing levels occur with age and experience. Soul Stealers are the method that the Tzimisce clan of Vampires gained Vicissitude. (Star Trek/WW – World of Darkness)
Timeline-
Spoiler:
The dating convention used is the standard Terran calendar. Understanding that the Terran calendar is rather limited when dealing with dates beyond human experience, we will attempt to include stardates (relating to the rotational period of the galaxy) and the Imperial Reformed Calendar (which is accurate to the day, for events transpiring up to 40,000 years previous). Beginning of Time: The universe is created from the ashes of the previous one. The Astrals exist as a whole, and there is unity in the Multi-verse. 4.5 billion BP: Earth is still cooling, Cthugha and his fire vampire servitors appear in the Galactic Core. They are the last of the so called "pure races" formed before the sundering of the Astral planes. 4.3 billion BP: Wars rage throughout the astral plane as the Rebels fight against their own kind. This is the commonly accepted War in Heaven, except that it happened everywhere at the same time. The exact reasons are not known, except that it was to determine whether beings in the material realms were equal or not to the astrals. 4.25 billion BP: The Rebels, defeated flee to Malpheas. They slowly begin to go insane. Unable to create life, they learn to hate it. By corrupting and defiling it, it becomes unrecognizable and thus a creation of the Fallen. 2.7 billion BP: The Fallen rebel against themselves. They form into the Infernals who seek to corrupt if they cannot create, and the Malpheans who seek destroy what they cannot create, all life. 1.8 billion BP: fungi and algae evolve on Earth. The primal forces begin to create with only their essence as opposed to all the essences as had always been the case before. These created races are used as servitors. 1 billion BP: Elder things arrive on Earth. They are the creation of the Fallen. They land in what is now the Antarctic ocean. They establish an undersea colony. Using organic material mined form the ocean floor, they invoke the primal shoggoth mass called the in the Book of Eibon Ubbo-Sathla, the father of all life. All terrene life more complex than algae and bacteria is bourne of this creature. 450 million BP: The Elder things have colonized the entirety of the Milky Way galaxy, pushing Cthugua and his servitor's the Fire Vampires into the Andromeda Galaxy. As the aeons pass, the Elder things continue their experiments in creating life. Many of these are parallel evolutionary experiments. As some of their creations escape, they allow them to evolve on their own. The War still rages, however the Milky Way is considered to be firmly in the grasp of the Fallen. 350 million BP: C'thulu and his spawn arrive on the Earth, possibly fleeing the Cthugua. They begin a war for supremacy of the planet, but eventually a truce is declared between C'thulu and the Elder Things. 300 million BP: The lands of Mu are plunged beneath the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Serveral Great Old Ones, including C'thulu, imprisoned under the ocean in the Great City Ry'leth. This is believed to have been a military strike against the Fallen by the forces of Light. 275 million BP: The Invasion of the Serpentine. The Serpentine races invade the galaxy, quickly winning victory. This is the famed First Empire of the Serpent. They build the Nameless City on Earth. 250 million BP: The Shoggoth Revolt. All across space, as the Elder things are exterminated on world after world by the serpentine, the shoggoths revolt against the Elder Things. In a war of survival, the Elder things eventually win victory. This is the beginning of the Elder things long decline. 225 milion BP: The Age of Reptiles. As the Serpentine continue to advance, one of the races of the Serpentine empire, the Ssorra (sentient dinosaurs), rebel and overthrow all of the other serpentine races. This internecine warfare has the effect of isolating worlds for hundreds of thousands to millions of years leading to evolutionary changes in the gentic stock of the races isolated there. This explains the appearance of the Degenerates (Space Orks) at this time. 110 million BP: Vorlons acheive sentience. 100 million BP: The mi-go (fungi from Yuggoth) arrive on Earth. They are refugees from the fighting in the Magellenic Clouds. They overtake and destroy the Ssorra, leaving only dispirited resistance with no means of communication to their Empire. The Ssorra on Earth degenerate into dinosaurs. 90 million BP: Eldar acheive sentience. 70 million BP: A asteroid strike off the coast of the Yucatan causes the extiction of the Dinosaurs and the rise of the mammals. The Grigori (the Titans) are loosed upon the Universe. 65 million BP: Eldar begin a massive expansion into the galaxy. Instead of terraforming their colony planets, they genetically engineer the colonists to their environment. They colonize Earth. 50 million BP: The Fall of the Eldar and the War of the Vorlons. While undertaking a joint experiment in Warp Gate technology, they discover the nature of the Astral Plane. the resulting psychic backlash destroys all known jump gates, and drives over half of the Vorlons and Eldar into the grasp of Chaos (the name the Fallen have adopted) forming the Shadows and Dark Eldar. The Shadows and Dark Eldar are used in the continuing conflicts in the Andromedan Galaxy. 40 million BP: With the destruction of the Warp Gates, the Eldar descendents begin aligning themselves along racial-genetic lines. (Genetically Engineered Lycanthropes-Garou, human, near human-ab humans, warp tainted-fomori, and the true Eldar-the fae races.) They seperate geographically. 26 million BP: Earth continents approach their present positions. 3 million BP: The Eldar descendents have degenerated into serveral races throughout space. On Earth the Voormis of Hyperborea begin. They worship Tsathoggua and his spawn. 1.7 million BP: The decline of the Voormis. 1 million BP: The Eldarian genetically engineered lycanthrope degenerates begin warring among themselves on Earth. This is Known as The War of Rage. The Gurahl (were-bears) call a great rite and bring about the Ice Age to end the War. This marks the fall of the Voormis of Hyperborea as well as an advanced civilization in Zobna. A civilization of Humans (degenerate Eldar) begins in Hyperborea and the survivors of Zobna begin a new civilization in the new land of Lomar. In the antarctic, the temperature drops and the Elder Things develop artificial heating. Tirolians begin interstellar exploration. 750,000 BP: Tirolians develop FTL travel. Primarchs (founders of specieal lineages) developed. Zentraedi created. Wars of Liberation begin. 600,00 BP: The surviving Shoggoths evolve into Changelings and begin the Dominion. 500,000 BP: Lemuria arises in the Atlantic. Atlantis, a technologically advanced human civilization which flourishes for 300,000 years arises there. Optera found and defoliated. The Invid are unleashed. The Legions Astartes are created to assist the Zentraedi in the now renamed Wars of Extinction. 400,000 BP: Earth becomes an ally of Tirol. Jump Gate technology rediscovered and utilized. 300,000 BP: Experiments in Astral research and Genetic Engineering inadvertantly allow serveral Fallen Ones through the Gauntlet and take control of increadibly powerful Primarch Clones. Calling themselves the Protodevlin, it takes the combined might of the Eldar, Vorlons, Imperial Guard, Legions Astartes and Zentraedi to defeat them. All of those killed in the battles with the Protodevlin became soldiers of the Fallen. 163,844 BP: The Snow Plague: Created by a KessRith genetic warfare lab, it spread throughout known space and caused an estimated 98% fatality rate on infected planets. This paved the way for KessRith expansion throughout the galaxy. Earth was never colonized due to the fact that the Atlantean's detonated a nova trigger in the (now) Crab Nebula in order to destroy the KR fleet that was to be responsible for taking Earth. Earth becomes infected anyway. Atlantis is destroyed. All technolgy and jump gates once again lost or destroyed on Earth as people flee the cities. It will take over 100,000 years for even the Vorlons to recover and beat the KessRith back to their pre-invasion borders. 45,000 BP: Hadon IV becomes Emperor of the Tirolian Empire of the Stars. The TES under Haydon has a much more open view toward non-humans. This is referred to as the Golden Age. 30,000 BP: The Horus Heresy. Warmaster of the Empire, Horus begins a civil war. The War splits the Legions, Guard and Zentraedi forces along the middle. The war rages for over 200 years until Horus is finally defeated. Haydon IV is severely wounded by his brother, Caine, during the battle and placed in the Golden Throne on the artificial planet (a Dyson Sphere) Eedenn (later renamed Haydon IV) in order to survive. The Imperial Cult dedicated to worshipping the Emperor appears. During the battle, Horus is killed although some of his Infernal Legions escape. 25,000 BP: The TES is expanding at an exponential rate. The Eldar birth rate is now lower than their death rate. 22,000 BP: The Vorlons ascend. 20,000 BP: The TES is nearly defeated by the Invid, but the splitting of the racial essense into the Regis and Regent cause a faltering of purpose allowing the Zentraedi to defeat them again. 17,000 BP: The few remaining Infernals crash on Earth after a long running battle with their pursuers. Their pursuers also crash on Earth. Caine is among the Infernals. They continue with their battle, recruiting the degenerate humans to aid them. Sutekh is recruited. Earth is named Nod by the surviving Infernal Legions. 16,000 BP: An experimental warp gate built by the Infernals sinks the Thurian continent. 15,000 BP: Sutekh takes control in Africa. 14,000 BP: First City is built. 12,000 BP: The Imperial troops who pursued the Infernals to Earth re-establish contact with the TES. This leads to the assimilation of Earth into the TES. The TES influence takes the form of highly ritualized religion die to the overwhelming influence the Imperial Cult has in the TES. This is the Hyborian Age. This is the last great civilization before the modern time. It's countries cover Africa and western Europe. First City is destroyed. 11,550 BP: The Infernals are able to convince the Shadows that Invading the Earth would give them a foothold into this Galaxy. They agree and launch an invasion beginning the Shadow War. This marks the beginning of the Decline of the Eldar, as they suffer tremendous casualties staving off the Shadows. Nuclear strikes completely rearrange the topgraphy of the Earth. The Great Flood. When the Dark Eldar reappear, they wage an insurgency in the heart of the Eldar Republic that eventually has the effect of destroying their home system with a Nova Trigger. This destruction of 70% (over 7 trillion) of the surviving Eldar causes the creation of a new Chaos Lord, Slaneesh from the psychic devastation. 10,300 BP: Second City built. Becomes a recruitment center from which to send troops (vampires and ghouled creatures) and supplies to the Shadows. 10,000 BP: Fall of Sarnath, the only functioning starport on Earth to the Shadows. In the Jordan Valley the pathetic human survivors form a neolithic culture that leads to the evolution of the Israelite tribes. The Imperial survivors band together to keep the knowledge of the past alive. These are the founders of the Traditions and Magick. A guerilla war is fought against the Shadows by the survivors. Soulstealers go into hiding and re-establish telepathic contact with their own race. 9,000 BP: The Middle East is now dotted with hamlets. 8,000 BP: Agriculture in the Nile Valley, Second City falls. 7,000 BP: First great cities of Africa and Asia. Baba Yaga Embraced by Absimilliard. Sutekh and his clan, the Settites settle around the Nile. 6,500 BP: Ashur Embraces Shaitan at this time. He is the Second to be Embraced by Ashur. He meets Ba'al and becomes his follower. The Grigori lose favor and Fall from Grace. 6,242 BP: Lower Egypt conquers Upper Egypt. 6,000 BP: Farming begins in the British Isles. 5,500 BP: Tiamat is embraced by Arakura. Urlon of Urek is slain by Tiamat. 5,300 BP: Sutekh is being worshipped by some mortals as the God of Night and Darkness. Begins to call himself Set. Osirus takes control of Egypt and banishes Set. Set returns and imprisons Osirus. Later Osirus is torn limb from limb. Meshta is turned into a Mummy. Horus is turned into a Mummy. Isis returns Osirus to life. Set kills him again. Khetamon flees as the last of Osirus Progeny and doesn't stop till he reaches India. Khetamon perfects the discipline of Bardo and founds the Children of Osirus. 5,000 BP: End of the Shadow War with the intervention of the Vorlons. After 6,000 years of war, the TES is shattered as a single entity. The Imperial Cult is the only common thread in hundreds of now disparate cultures. Set's power is weakened by Horus' actions. The Traditions, seeking to keep alive the memory of the TES builds Athens and Troy. Begin educating those around them in the theory of abstract mathematics. Egyptian civil war. Osirian mythology developed. Time Scale Change from Before Present to Before Christ 2834 BC: Sword of Nul forged by Tiamat. 2800 BC: Stonehenge built. 2650 BC-2190 BC: Pyramids undergoing construction. 2500 BC: Legendary Sage Kings of China, paper invented. Founding of the Shi in China. 2000 BC: Beginning of the Bronze age. Middle Kingdom grows in power. 1650 BC: Middle Kingdom begins to decline due to the actions of the mummies and Osirus. 1523 BC: HIT MK I's are created to defend against the possibility of a new Shadow War. 1500 BC: Agriculture improves to the point where human population begins to increase rapidly. 1300 BC: Israelites freed. Yog-Sothoth is freed from his Earthly prison by Shadow forces left behind on Earth. This has the effect of alerting the TES to the continued existance of Earth. 1200 BC: Trojan War occurs. Shaitan Arrives in North America. 1000 BC: Iron Age begins. Greeks begin to fourish. Iteration X (known as the Artificers) influences both the Greeks and the Chinese more than any other Tradition. Beginning of the split between the Traditions and the Technocracy. 900 BC: Set is defeated. Himalayan Wars begin between the Akashic Brotherhood and the abominable Tcho-Tcho people. The Verdant plain is reduced to the Afghanistan desert in a battle between the Celestial Chorus and the Tcho-Tcho's. Ahl-i-batin 814 BC: Carthage is founded. 800 BC: Ahl-i-batin begin their Plan of Unity. 753 BC: Rome is founded. 650 BC: Greeks (with Iteration X help) formulate atomic theory. 600 BC: Himalayan Wars End. 500 BC: TES is renamed the Tirolian Overlord Government and Beigns the Great Crusade. The TOG support a plan to bring all human worlds under their banner. They found the Co-Dominium as a bridge to the Federated Commonwealth and the Confederacy of Non-Aligned Worlds. 250 BC: Iteration X invents gunpowder. 146 BC: Carthage is destoyed. 45 BC: Ceasar named dicator for life of Rome. 17 BC: ConFed is formed as the Federated Commonwealth and the Confederacy of Non-Aligned Worlds form an alliance. 6 BC: Birth of Christ. 33 AD: Death of Christ. 117 AD: Height of Roman Empire 1947 AD: First Governmental contact with an alien species (ConFed). Diplomatic relations between the US and ConFed quickly follow. The US Government does not allow ConFed to stay on Earth for more than 5 days a time. Construction of Area 51. The ConFed requests that their ship be returned. The US does this in exchange for technology. Men in Black are formed by the US government to ensure security of the project. 1952 AD: The Grand Empire of the Stars is consumed by civil war. 1954 AD: ConFed turns down a formal Terran request by the US Government to be admitted on the basis that there must be only ONE legal and ruling government per planet. The US was unwilling to let the UN be the spokesmen of Earth, and thus the request was denied. Technology exchange programs are still active, however the price has now become safe haven and political asylum as the suppliers of the technology are no longer diplomatically sanctioned. The sanctioned technology exchange program ended with the denial of membership. Area 51 becomes a "halfway" house. The MiB are only barely able to keep the security blanket active. 1970 AD: The US secretly begins diplomatic overtures with TOG in order to gain access to more high technology. The price for this technology is human and animal subjects for compatibility experimentation. The US government quickly agrees and Area 51 becomes a TOG stronghold. TOG begins to turn Earth into a future Hiveworld by strengthening their hold on the Technocracy (which was founded by Imperial Survivors and remained more "untainted by the Shadows, and more loyal to the Emperor" than their Tradition brethren). The MiB are subverted by the Technocracy and a new organization is created in it's stead. International Operations becomes a shadow government unto itself, working behind even the NSA. 1974 AD: The United States begins construction of a space station. 1978 AD: Iteration X creates the first self aware computer, Wintermute. It makes telepathic contact with The Machine through the use of Void Engineer Deep Space Surveillence Systems. March 1979 AD: Wintermute is "destroyed". The Machine sends a servitor race (the 'Borg) and two essence fragments (one of which becomes SkyNet after it discovers the backup AI essence of Wintermute which explains SkyNets hatred of humans. The second avatar is known as Virus) to investigate the destruction and assimilate Earth. 1980 AD: The new Republic is formed from the ashes of the old Grand Empire of the Stars. 1987 AD: The US completes the space station. I/O creates a special unit to monitor for any unusual activities from orbit. August 1989 AD: The Dominion makes contact with the United Nations and extorts cooperation in their plan to ignite war between the TOG and the ConFed. Operation STARSTRIKE is begun. All TOG personnel in Area 51 are killed and the Changelings assume their identities without anyone the wiser. Changelings begin a massive "clone and replace" operation all over Earth. Only due to the sheer complexity of Terran politics and power bloc interaction are the Changeling's plans defeated. October 1993 AD: A joint UN/US space station, christened "SkyWatch" begins construction. This project is kept secret from the Dominion. July 1996 AD: The new space station becomes home to the UN's resident special operations team, "StormWatch" May 1998 AD: It becomes known to serveral organizations that the Dominion is not responsible for the actions of the Changelings who masterminded Operation STARSTRIKE. The threat is identified as the Soulstealers by International Operations due to an anonymous tip. January 1999 AD: A fragment of The Machine's essence arrives on Earth (Virus) and repidly assimilates the crew of a Soviet trawler. The essence fragment is believed to have been destroyed. June 1999 AD: The 'Borg Cube destroys the Dominion fleet orbiting Earth, also being destroyed in the process. This allows the Humans to attack and destroy all remaining Dominion Personnel on both the ASS-1 and on Earth, making the ASS-1 a human controlled ship. July 1999 AD: The personnel of Operation STARSTRIKE return to Earth, accidentally crashing the spacecraft into South Atrelia Island. In order to cover up the crash, the UN destroys the Mir spacestation and has the wreckage land on Macross Island in order to draw attention away from the real crash site. August 1999 AD: The UN faces the very real possibility of invasion by TOG, the ConFed or the Dominion. September 1999 AD: The UN moves the ASS-1 to the far side of the moon). It is covered up as a routine ESA rocket launch. The secrecy maintained around the "Macross Island Dossier" is increased. October 1999 AD: The first of the New York summits is called by the UN do discuss options. December 1999 AD: The Robotechnology Research Center in New York and the Robotechnology Research Institue in Tokyo are founded and organized under Dr. Emile Lang. The UN Security Council forms the UN Security Forces from loaned units from the seven permanent member nations (the USA, Germany, Britan, Commonwealth of Soviet Independent States [headed by Russia], Japan, France and China) of the Security Council. Political and military flareups are common as member nations jockey for position within the UN. The Alien Space Ship (ASS)-1 is now renamed the Space Defense Force (SDF)-1. The UNSC forms plans for unifying the Earth under the UN banner. March 2000 AD: the decision is reached to exclude all other nations from knowledge of the entire "Macross Incident" and "Operation STARSTRIKE". April 2000 AD: Micro-Fission reactors are developed by the RRI, and the information is released in a carefully crafted campaign to slowly integrate the technolgy gleaned from the spacecraft into mainstream society. May 2000 AD: Due to information obtained during the debriefing of all personnel involved in Operation STARSTRIKE, the greatest threat appears to be the TOG and their race of bioengineered giant warriors, the Zentraedi. To address this problem, the creation of specialized "anti-giant" weapons systems are developed. June 2000 AD: In a stunning move, the CSIS, China, Japan, Germany and France announce the coming plans for the "United Earth" publicly, without the approval of the USA or Britain. There were no reasons given. The US and British governments refuse to acquiese to the plans and the UNSC takes full control of most functions of the UN. Rioting and civil disturbances are widespread throughout America and Britain. Serveral military units in both countries desert and proclaim their desire to fight against the UN. July 2000 AD: The deserting units are destroyed and the UNSC begins placing UN loyal troops in trouble spots throughout the USA and Britain. The problems are soon stopped when the US Government suspends the Writ of Habeus Corpus and the Posse Comitatus Act in order to quell rioting. The construction of a Moon base is proposed and accepted (to secretly restore the currently damaged and abandoned SDF-1). January 2001 AD: The New World Order is a reality in fact, if not acknowledged as such. The USA is forced (secretly) to accept "economic", "military" and "social responsibility" of all of North and South America, as punishment for going against the wishes of the UNSC. The US becomes is essense three countries in one, UCAS-United Canadian American States , UAS-United American States and the USA of old. The UCAS is an economic creation, similar to the earlier NAFTA, abolishing all except state borders. The UAS is a social creation, giving all countries 1 vote in the US Senate and 2 in the US House, all social benfits of being a state, but not being acknowledged as such. In effect the UAS made South and Central America protectorates of the US. Neither of these two provisions pleased any of the parties included. Feburary 2001 AD: Restoration of the SDF-1 begins. March 2001 AD: Construction of Moon Base Aluce begins. July 2001 AD: Plans for a strategic base to be built on Mars are drawn up. September 2001 AD: The UN Security Forces change their name to the UN Rapid Deployment Forces, the existance of these forces remain a well guarded secret. The only knowledge anyone has of these units is third rate footage of "black ops" troops engaged in "peace keeping and training operations". Suspicion of the UN is publicly criticised, and privately eliminated. October 2001 AD: Creation of the Destroids during brainstorming session. Feburary 2002 AD: Concept of the Variable-Form Technology (veritech) is experimented upon and found feasable. March 2002 AD: The US DoD High Altitude Research Project (HARP) in Alaska is taken over by the UNRDF (by military force) and is redesignated the Grand Cannon. The UN World Security Headquarters (the Civil Defense version of the RDF) is built here. The UNWSH is the forerunner of the Peace Keeping Forces, but as yet they have no job, the source of their funding is unknown. April 2003 AD: The construction of the ARMD series (ARMOR class) System Defense Destroyers begin constuction at the UN Orbital Facility "SkyWatch". January 2004 AD: Moon Base Aluce is fully operational. The US is no longer under UN scrutiny. July 2004 AD: Proposal to build a second and a third Grand Cannon in Brazil and Australia. October 2004 AD: Constuction of Brazilian Grand Cannon beings. August 2005 AD: First of the ARMOR class Destroyers enters service. Four additional ships begin construction. March 2006 AD: The US builds the first of the CVS Prometheus class super aircraft carriers. Officially UN ships, these carriers were always commanded and crewed almost solely by US personnel wearing the UN uniform. The majority of these sailors had fought against the UN during the US/UN "warm war". This was the US' hedge against future UN agression. June 2006 AD: Destroids begin final stage develpment. January 2007 AD: The RDF opens a training center on Macross Island for all RDF personnel. Political Indoctrination is heavily stressed, especially for US and British soldiers. Feburary 2007 AD: The VFX-1 Veritech Prototype begins flight testing in secret. May 2007 AD: Mass Production of the Destroids begins. A proposal to release some information on the Macross Incident is defeated on the UNSC floor. The world remains unknowing. October 2007 AD: The US begins construction of 12 more CVS Prometheus class carriers without UN approval or financial backing. The UN has no comment on this. November 2007 AD: The VF-1 Valkyrie is approved for mass production. July 2008 AD: Moon Base Aluce is fully operational. November 2008 AD: Second ARMOR class enters service. The UN World Security Forces assume de facto control of all observatories and begins censoring all media. The US does not comply. January 2009 AD: Mass firebombings of non-UN censored news groups and organizations force them to submit to UN censorship, or face destruction. Reporters who defy UN regulations are killed by "anti unification terrorists" at a frightening pace. June 2009 AD: SDF-1 is equipped with her mecha complement. Third ARMOR class enters service. July 1st 2009 AD: Christening of the SDF-1. Zentraedi fleet under Breetai Tul attacks the Sol System. The SDF-1 successfully folds to Pluto Orbit and draws the fleet away from Earth. Incident covered up as a nuclear weapons test. All witnessess are threatened or killed by the UN World Security Forces. July 2009 AD: Mars Base Sara is destroyed by Zentraedi forces. October 2009 AD: Fourth ARMOR enters service. January 2010 AD: Fifth ARMOR class enters service. January 2011 AD: Battle of Mars April 2011 AD: The SDF-1 returns to Earth, landing in the Atlantic Ocean. Captain Gloval's report to the UNSC falls on deaf ears. It is seen that if the SDF-1 leaves, the Earth will be safe. Roy Fokker dies in combat. The SDF-1 is ordered to leave Earth. May 2011 AD: Alaskan Grand Cannon becomes operational. The population of Earth is gripped by mass paranoia due to the public disclosure of the SDF-1. The UN presents the SDF-1 as a marvel of technology and as a scientific vessel. The existance of "SkyWatch" is made public as well. There is no mention made of the covert war occurring overhead. UN censorship continues. Toronto is destroyed in a massive assault on the SDF-1 by Khyron. The event is covered up as a nuclear terrorist attack by pro-cessationist Quebecois. Ben Dixon dies. June 2011 AD: SDF-1 leaves Earth. July 2011 AD: Miriya Parino and Max Sterling marry, the first interracial marriage between a Human and a micronized Zentraedi. August 2011 AD: The Zentraedi Main fleet is dispatched to Earth to exterminate all life in the Sol system. The Zentraedi and the UN RDF mount a hasty defense. By use of creative tactics and preemptive strikes the combined forces are able to destroy 98% of the Main Fleet while suffering only 70% casualties themselves. The simultaneous destruction of 4 billion humans and approx. 10 billion Zentraedi causes a massive influx of spiritual energy into the ley lines of Earth, sparking a Warp Storm, which causes even more energy to be released causing the Rifts.
-STS
Re: Aliens from Earth
Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 12:28 am
by Razorwing
True... not quite what I was expecting or meant... but still a lot of interesting ideas from a lot of different sources.
Feel free to keep the ideas flowing.
Re: Aliens from Earth
Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 1:06 am
by slade the sniper
Well, as far as races go, I use the breakdown of the different worlds: The First World – The Age of Magic (Elric) The Second World – The Old World (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay) The Third World – Middle Earth (LOTR) The Fourth World – The Hyborean Age (Conan) The Fifth World – the commonly referenced “modern world” The Sixth World – Terra after 2012 (Shadowrun, ROBOTECH, RIFTS)
Which allows me to use Atlanteans (much more closely related to Tolkien elves than D&D elves) that slowly devolve into Melniboneans and finally to standard fantasy elves, and of course all of the typical fantasy races like dwarves, halflings, etc. You just kick back the timeline a few hundred thousand years and you can fit in all the goodness of the Hyborean Age as well.
I don't usually make a lot of races, since I just steal from other settings and can find anything I need somewhere else and just port them into my setting with a little homebrew modding.
-STS
Re: Aliens from Earth
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2023 8:51 pm
by SolCannibal
Razorwing wrote:Oh... and just to clarify things a little (and set a small ground rule)
Alternate branches of more or less modern humans won't count as alien... even from an parallel Earth. There needs to be a significant alteration to them where they count as a truly separate species. This means that even though True Atlanteans hail from both a different time and multiple dimensions, they are still more or less human (and can still interbreed with normal humans; only a few thousand years of parallel evolution compared to hundreds of thousands or millions of years).
Now, races that evolved from earlier hominid species like Neanderthals or Homo Erectus are viable, as those lines of human ancestors died out in the main timeline (base-line HU). Additionally, future offshoots of modern man (from the distant future) would be viable... modern man would be to them like the Neanderthals were to us.
Where do Ogres as described in PF and Rifts stand on that context?
As an aside, Conversion Book 1 has a blurb about Rahu-Men existing on pre-Cataclysm Rifts Earth hymalayas and/or Tibetan and inspiring the legends about Yeti, wha can mix and mesh with other bits of local myth and folklore to interesting results, i would guess. Pretty sure at least one of the Worldbooks also mentions one race of "alien beings hidden within the ranks of humanity", the Two-Faced Star People (Spirit West) also known as Erishiks (in Aliens Unlimited), if memory tricks me not.
Plus the Ellal possessing spirits and Pucara giants - from Rifts: South America (1 or 2, i don't remember for sure).