Event Horizon Setting Briefing
Getting ready to set out for the Circinus Galaxy? Here is a quick overview of what you need to know.
Thousands of years ago, Ancient civilization spread across the galaxy, powered by impossibly advanced technology. Seemingly overnight, the Ancients vanished in a mysterious event archaeologists refer to as the Eschaton. After their disappearance, human civilization re-emerged on six different planets, known as the six Homeworlds.
Baryos
Baryos is a temperate and heavily forested world, watched over by mountain-sized Ancient machines known as the Titans. Much of early Baryosi society revolved around their worship. The Baryosi were the first to leave their planet, after reverse-engineering warp drives from the ruined Ancient starships that comprised the ring around the planet. Baryos was the capital of the United Association of Worlds before the Homeworld War, and is currently the capital of the Galactic League.
Agerre
A harsh and rocky world, whose inhabitants keep to their network of tunnels and caverns. Scarcity of resources led Agerran society to develop around ideals of careful control and minimalism. The same tenacity that led the Agerrans to being well-suited for military life in space led to their violent independence, and the Agerran Commonwealth now stands apart from the rest of the galaxy.
Zé
The surface of the planet Zé is divided into distinct atmospheric sections, and its civilization is similarly divided into castes. The Peakborn live in the clear air atop the high mountains, while the Sunken climb down into the toxic air of the valleys to mine and hunt. The floating raft-cities of the Unmoored drift on the winds, caught between both worlds. Zé was conquered during the Homeworld War, and is still an occupied territory of the Agerran Commonwealth.
Dor Len Sono
A quiet world of sprawling farmlands and a slow pace of life, Dor Len Sono has spent the last few decades in an endless series of recessions. The Dor Len believe that no decision can be made until everyone involved has had a chance to speak, which means planetary politics moves incredibly slowly. Despite being the second Homeworld to be found by Baryosi explorers, Dor Len Sono was the last to join the U.A.W. after its formation. Recently, the Nine Queens made their fastest decision ever, voting unanimously for Dor Len Sono to join the Galactic League.
Ottsalia
Currently the only one of the six Homeworlds to remain fully independent, Ottsalia has had a long history of going its own way. It is a world of rampant biological evolution, where ancient genetic tampering resulted in a constantly mutating ecosystem. Ottsalia is the economic and scientific center of the galaxy, home to the headquarters of most major corporations. Galactic culture tends to follow the trends established on Ottsalia, though sometimes a decade or two behind.
Gyr
Once a beautiful world of shallow seas and uncountable islands, Gyr is now nothing more than molten lava, courtesy of the devastating Agerran attack that ended the Homeworld War. The seafaring cultures of Gyr made its people natural shipbuilders and colonists, and many were offworld when the devastation came. The surviving Gyra refugees now travel the stars, looking for a new home.
The Colonies
During the Expansion Era, over a hundred human colonies were established. These outlying worlds were originally part of the U.A.W., but most seceded during the Homeworld War, frustrated by their lack of representation or respect by the government. Most of the colonies have now joined the Colonial Congress, founded and headquartered on Windrock, first of the colonies to be established. Some remain loyal to the Galactic League or the Agerran Commonwealth, but they are exceptions to the rule.
If you play a Colonial character, you may choose to be from one of the pre-written Colonies or design your own Colony world of origin.
Galactic Governments
During the Homeworld War, the United Association of Worlds collapsed. In the twenty years since then, three major competing governments have emerged, each attempting to fill the vacuum.
The Galactic League
Headquartered on Baryos, the League attempts to recreate the best parts of the U.A.W. without being as binding. The League strives to be a socialist utopia, providing large-scale social welfare programs for its citizens, but lacks the actual capital to make those programs effective. It is embroiled in endless detailed politicking and bureaucracy, as its members debate the most productive ways to move forward. The current planetary members of the League are Homeworlds Baryos and Dor Len Sono, as well as several colony worlds.
The Agerran Commonwealth
A military expansionist power, the Commonwealth was the aggressor during the Homeworld War. The Commonwealth institutes strict collectivist policies of social control in order to maintain stability. As a result, it has very low levels of corruption, disease, and poverty. The Commonwealth consists of Agerre itself, as well as the annexed Homeworld Zé, and several colony worlds.
The Colonial Congress
The majority of the Colony worlds have banded together to form the Congress. The Congress is as much a trade and resource network as anything else, allowing each separate member world a high degree of independence while maintaining diplomatic channels between them.
Human Variants
As humanity has spread through the stars, it has branched out into several subspecies. These variants are not distributed evenly among the planets, and are not always treated equally.
Baseline Humans
The most common form of intelligent life, Homo Sapiens are found on every inhabited planet in the known galaxy.
Evos
Genetic enhancement began on Ottsalia but has since spread to other worlds. Evos alter their own bodies to include flashy and sometimes functional changes like scales, eyes that can see in the dark, or even stranger modifications. On more conservative worlds, there is considerable distrust and fear of Evos.
Augments
For various reasons, many humans use cybernetics to replace and change their bodies. Most Augments work as physical laborers, in service to various corporations. Many of those are working to pay off the debts incurred to their corporation to pay off their cybernetic enhancements, a practice that many decry as unethical. The Augment rights movement is a major political cause on certain planets, though new Augments continue to sign up, desperate for a chance at a paying job.
Navigators
A subclass of Augments, Navigators have been neurologically altered to be able to interface directly with Warp engines. As time goes on, they develop symbiotic relationships with their Warp engines and ships. They are necessary to pilot starships through Warp, but are sometimes shunned from outside society.
Innates
The rarest of human variants, Innates are those born with telekinetic or telepathic abilities. They have been shunned and feared throughout history by most groups other than the Paladins of Dawn, who recruited them actively. In the wake of the Homeworld War, in which Innate soldiers were used to destroy the planet Gyr, use of Innate powers has been outlawed across the galaxy, and most Innates have gone into hiding.
A Timeline of Civilization in the Circinus Galaxy
Dates listed in PC (Pre-Contact) and GT (Galactic Time)
Prehistory
[Unknown] Ancient civilizations emerge
[Unknown] Rise of the Order of Dawn
~6000 PC The Eschaton
~400 PC Baryosi Renaissance
80-72 PC The Scavenger War
~50 PC First Augments
Expansion Era
12 PC First Warp Drive
11 PC Nossein IV discovered
8 PC Windrock Colony established
5 PC Rovarr VI discovered
1 PC First Contact between Baryos and Agerre
1 GT United Association of Worlds founded
9 GT Contact with Dor Len Sono
13 GT Contact with Gyr, Gyr joins the U.A.W.
21 GT Contact with Ottsalia, Ottsalia joins the U.A.W.
35 GT Contact with Zé, start of the Veil War
37 GT End of the Veil War, Zé joins the U.A.W.
46 GT Dor Len Sono joins the U.A.W.
Homeworld War
133 GT Agerran activists present to the Senate, sanctions declared
134 GT Agerre secedes from the U.A.W., outbreak of war
136 GT Windrock secedes from the U.A.W.
137 GT Draft instituted by U.A.W.
138 GT First Battle of Gyr
139 GT Zé secedes from U.A.W.
140 GT Agerre occupies Zé
141 GT Battle of Baryos
142 GT Second Battle of Gyr, end of the war
143 GT Agerran Commonwealth established
Postwar Era
145 GT Colonial Congress established
152 GT Galactic League established on Baryos
154 GT Dor Len Sono joins the Galactic League
165 GT Phaelos III colony established (Present Day)
Thousands of years ago, Ancient civilization spread across the galaxy, powered by impossibly advanced technology. Seemingly overnight, the Ancients vanished in a mysterious event archaeologists refer to as the Eschaton. After their disappearance, human civilization re-emerged on six different planets, known as the six Homeworlds.
Baryos
Baryos is a temperate and heavily forested world, watched over by mountain-sized Ancient machines known as the Titans. Much of early Baryosi society revolved around their worship. The Baryosi were the first to leave their planet, after reverse-engineering warp drives from the ruined Ancient starships that comprised the ring around the planet. Baryos was the capital of the United Association of Worlds before the Homeworld War, and is currently the capital of the Galactic League.
Agerre
A harsh and rocky world, whose inhabitants keep to their network of tunnels and caverns. Scarcity of resources led Agerran society to develop around ideals of careful control and minimalism. The same tenacity that led the Agerrans to being well-suited for military life in space led to their violent independence, and the Agerran Commonwealth now stands apart from the rest of the galaxy.
Zé
The surface of the planet Zé is divided into distinct atmospheric sections, and its civilization is similarly divided into castes. The Peakborn live in the clear air atop the high mountains, while the Sunken climb down into the toxic air of the valleys to mine and hunt. The floating raft-cities of the Unmoored drift on the winds, caught between both worlds. Zé was conquered during the Homeworld War, and is still an occupied territory of the Agerran Commonwealth.
Dor Len Sono
A quiet world of sprawling farmlands and a slow pace of life, Dor Len Sono has spent the last few decades in an endless series of recessions. The Dor Len believe that no decision can be made until everyone involved has had a chance to speak, which means planetary politics moves incredibly slowly. Despite being the second Homeworld to be found by Baryosi explorers, Dor Len Sono was the last to join the U.A.W. after its formation. Recently, the Nine Queens made their fastest decision ever, voting unanimously for Dor Len Sono to join the Galactic League.
Ottsalia
Currently the only one of the six Homeworlds to remain fully independent, Ottsalia has had a long history of going its own way. It is a world of rampant biological evolution, where ancient genetic tampering resulted in a constantly mutating ecosystem. Ottsalia is the economic and scientific center of the galaxy, home to the headquarters of most major corporations. Galactic culture tends to follow the trends established on Ottsalia, though sometimes a decade or two behind.
Gyr
Once a beautiful world of shallow seas and uncountable islands, Gyr is now nothing more than molten lava, courtesy of the devastating Agerran attack that ended the Homeworld War. The seafaring cultures of Gyr made its people natural shipbuilders and colonists, and many were offworld when the devastation came. The surviving Gyra refugees now travel the stars, looking for a new home.
The Colonies
During the Expansion Era, over a hundred human colonies were established. These outlying worlds were originally part of the U.A.W., but most seceded during the Homeworld War, frustrated by their lack of representation or respect by the government. Most of the colonies have now joined the Colonial Congress, founded and headquartered on Windrock, first of the colonies to be established. Some remain loyal to the Galactic League or the Agerran Commonwealth, but they are exceptions to the rule.
If you play a Colonial character, you may choose to be from one of the pre-written Colonies or design your own Colony world of origin.
Galactic Governments
During the Homeworld War, the United Association of Worlds collapsed. In the twenty years since then, three major competing governments have emerged, each attempting to fill the vacuum.
The Galactic League
Headquartered on Baryos, the League attempts to recreate the best parts of the U.A.W. without being as binding. The League strives to be a socialist utopia, providing large-scale social welfare programs for its citizens, but lacks the actual capital to make those programs effective. It is embroiled in endless detailed politicking and bureaucracy, as its members debate the most productive ways to move forward. The current planetary members of the League are Homeworlds Baryos and Dor Len Sono, as well as several colony worlds.
The Agerran Commonwealth
A military expansionist power, the Commonwealth was the aggressor during the Homeworld War. The Commonwealth institutes strict collectivist policies of social control in order to maintain stability. As a result, it has very low levels of corruption, disease, and poverty. The Commonwealth consists of Agerre itself, as well as the annexed Homeworld Zé, and several colony worlds.
The Colonial Congress
The majority of the Colony worlds have banded together to form the Congress. The Congress is as much a trade and resource network as anything else, allowing each separate member world a high degree of independence while maintaining diplomatic channels between them.
Human Variants
As humanity has spread through the stars, it has branched out into several subspecies. These variants are not distributed evenly among the planets, and are not always treated equally.
Baseline Humans
The most common form of intelligent life, Homo Sapiens are found on every inhabited planet in the known galaxy.
Evos
Genetic enhancement began on Ottsalia but has since spread to other worlds. Evos alter their own bodies to include flashy and sometimes functional changes like scales, eyes that can see in the dark, or even stranger modifications. On more conservative worlds, there is considerable distrust and fear of Evos.
Augments
For various reasons, many humans use cybernetics to replace and change their bodies. Most Augments work as physical laborers, in service to various corporations. Many of those are working to pay off the debts incurred to their corporation to pay off their cybernetic enhancements, a practice that many decry as unethical. The Augment rights movement is a major political cause on certain planets, though new Augments continue to sign up, desperate for a chance at a paying job.
Navigators
A subclass of Augments, Navigators have been neurologically altered to be able to interface directly with Warp engines. As time goes on, they develop symbiotic relationships with their Warp engines and ships. They are necessary to pilot starships through Warp, but are sometimes shunned from outside society.
Innates
The rarest of human variants, Innates are those born with telekinetic or telepathic abilities. They have been shunned and feared throughout history by most groups other than the Paladins of Dawn, who recruited them actively. In the wake of the Homeworld War, in which Innate soldiers were used to destroy the planet Gyr, use of Innate powers has been outlawed across the galaxy, and most Innates have gone into hiding.
A Timeline of Civilization in the Circinus Galaxy
Dates listed in PC (Pre-Contact) and GT (Galactic Time)
Prehistory
[Unknown] Ancient civilizations emerge
[Unknown] Rise of the Order of Dawn
~6000 PC The Eschaton
~400 PC Baryosi Renaissance
80-72 PC The Scavenger War
~50 PC First Augments
Expansion Era
12 PC First Warp Drive
11 PC Nossein IV discovered
8 PC Windrock Colony established
5 PC Rovarr VI discovered
1 PC First Contact between Baryos and Agerre
1 GT United Association of Worlds founded
9 GT Contact with Dor Len Sono
13 GT Contact with Gyr, Gyr joins the U.A.W.
21 GT Contact with Ottsalia, Ottsalia joins the U.A.W.
35 GT Contact with Zé, start of the Veil War
37 GT End of the Veil War, Zé joins the U.A.W.
46 GT Dor Len Sono joins the U.A.W.
Homeworld War
133 GT Agerran activists present to the Senate, sanctions declared
134 GT Agerre secedes from the U.A.W., outbreak of war
136 GT Windrock secedes from the U.A.W.
137 GT Draft instituted by U.A.W.
138 GT First Battle of Gyr
139 GT Zé secedes from U.A.W.
140 GT Agerre occupies Zé
141 GT Battle of Baryos
142 GT Second Battle of Gyr, end of the war
143 GT Agerran Commonwealth established
Postwar Era
145 GT Colonial Congress established
152 GT Galactic League established on Baryos
154 GT Dor Len Sono joins the Galactic League
165 GT Phaelos III colony established (Present Day)
