The Orichalcum Universe...Basics

Johnny1A.2 · 05-30-2010, 12:50 PM

Over on rec.games.frp.gurps, over the last several years I've posted various things about my personal world, which I call by shorthand the 'Orichalcum Universe'. It's gotten pretty extensive, and some people have expressed an interest in having me repost some of it here, so I will for anybody interested.

I'm going to put a list here of the other threads I use for this, to make it easier for anyone interested to follow them.

Intro...

The Helians

The Solarigens

The Eosians

Atlantis and the Antediluvian Age

The Unity Awakens...

The First Interbellum (1918-1939)

Species, Animals and Plants and Monsters and Things...

Planets and Places

Groups, Characters and NPCS

Machines, Vehicles, Robots, etc

ARNETHIS and the AI WAR

Orichalcum Universe: New Psionic/Psychic/Supernatural Phenomena and Skills...

ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE Sidebar: History of Cyllellia...

ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE Sidebar: The Fractal Forest

The MALIGNIUM

ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE Sidebar: The Consumidoro

Consumidoro Ability List

SIDEBAR: On the Nature of the Galaxy...

ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE: The CRYSTALLECTS...

OE Sidebar: The Coming of the Crystallects

OE Sidebar: The Multisapients

ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE Sidebar: The United States Federal Patrol

ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE Sidebar: U.N.I.S.A./G-men...

Hyperplexes

It's a pretty complicated and intricate universe, though, and I use a few terms a lot when describing it, so I'll post a quick list of some of those terms so the reposts and condensed versions will make more sense.

NOTE 1: My world is based on a house-modified GURPS 3e system.

NOTE 2: This repost will probably not be 100% perfectly consistant with previous stuff on rec.games.frp.gurps, especially the older stuff, there have been revisions and refinements, and I've cleaned up a few contradictions.

QUICK INITIAL GLOSSARY:

ANTEDILUVIAN AGE – The period between the first emergence of civilization
on Earth and the Downfall of Atlantis.

ASHTRA - Larger natural satellite of planet Eosia, original home of ARNETHIS.

CENTREX - Subsequent headquarters of ARNETHIS.

EARTH (SOL III) – Oldest, most complex, and most viable of the three naturally-formed Solarian biospheres. ALL Solarigen life descends from an origin event on this planet. Also the planet where Homosentient life evolved, and generally considered the most fecund of the Solarigen biospheres.

ELDREN – Race of hyperpowerful alien entities, engendered by the same natural processes that drive the Universe. Effectively immortal and indestructible under most circumstances. The oldest Eldren are known as the First Generation or the Celestial/Primal Eldren, they became conscious within the first ten thousand years of the existence of the modern Universe.

EOSIA (Eos IV) - Home of the first Homosapient civilization to reach the stars, core world of the Eosian Hegemony, the first Homosapient interstellar government. Primarily inhabited by H. eostellaris originally.

EOSIAN HEGEMONY - The first Homosapient-based interstellar civilization, rising from the planet Eosia (Eos IV) and growing to include over 14,000 worlds, enduring for centuries and later forming the foundation of subsequent societies.

FAMILIAR ELDREN – The specific subgroup of Eldren who have interacted significantly with the Homosentient and Helian species. A small subset of the vastly greater number of largely disinterested Eldren.

GENESIS EVENT – Origin of a type of life. At least three Genesis Events are known to have happened in the Orichalcum Universe, each producing a totally different 'kind' of life. (The Eldren are a special case, they do not, strictly speaking, reproduce, and so can not be said to 'descend' from a Genesis Event.)

GREATER MILKY WAY (GMW) – The Milky Way Galaxy proper, plus its satellite galaxies such as the Greater and Less Clouds of Magellan, and others not yet observed in 2010. Part of the Local Group of galaxies.

HELIANS – A race of asexual sapient beings, native to the planet Helius (Heliustar III). Formed galactic-scale civilization ~500 million years before present.

HELIUGEN LIFE – The biological life-type out of which the Helians evolved. Based on liquid helium and incorporating psionic phenomena at a basic biological level, most Heliugen biospheres operate in the range of .5 to 3 degrees K.

HOMOSENTIENT/HOMOSAPIENT (interchangeable) – Refers to the entire set of conscious, tool-using species of Genus Homo. Collective Homosentient(s), individual ‘a Homosentient'. Homo sapiens is a Homosentient species. Strictly speaking, the word 'human' should apply to the entire set of species, since all are Genus Homo, but 'human' is so closely tied to 'Homo sapiens' that it's simpler to so apply it. Thus our sibling species are often referred to as 'near-humans' without pejorative implication.

HOMO SAPIENS – The most common species of Genus Homo. Familiar Terran humans, though subspecies exist across the galaxy, including more than one on Earth.

IO – Innermost large ‘Galilean’ moon of the planet Jupiter, marked by fairly constant tidally induced volcanism, site of one of the three naturally occurring Solarian biospheres. Source biosphere for the ‘Ionian’ subclassification of Solarigen life.

The MATRIX: This is an English word for an Atlantean term, referring to a sort of consciousness associated with the Universe at large. It is not a deity, though immensely powerful, and is associated with its own psionic field, called 'the Flux' in another English translation of an Atlantean term.

ORICHALCUM – A substance derived in part from ‘outside’ the normal dimensional planes of the observable universe. Superficially similar in appearance and some chemical properties to copper, it is lighter, and its atomic nucleus is quite different from that of ‘normal’ baryonic matter. Has various psionic properties, and is an indispensable industrial material at high tech levels. Extremely rare. Discovery of the existence of orichalcum leads to new physics in the much the same way the discovery of radioactivity once did. (Yes, it was present in Atlantis, Plato had that part right.)

In the year 2100 A.D., the spot price of orichalcum in the USA fluctuates around 90 million dollars a gram in 2010 dollars.

PROTOATHENS - In the later Antediluvian Age, this was the capitol city of the province/realm of Athenia, located almost precisely on the site of the Hellenic and Modern Day city of Athens.

PSION – A Homosentient possessed of at least one active ‘psi’ ability at Power 1 or better.

PSIONICS – Refers to set of various biological properties not yet understood by science in 2010, includes famous ‘powers’ such as Telepathy and Psychokinesis. (For the purposes of my backstory, psionics are a natural phenomenon, though they rarely manifest n most people, for specific reasons. All living things are psionically active to a degree, it’s a basic aspect of biological life. All Homosentients have the potential for all psi abilities, including Antipsi. For most purposes, six basic Powers exist:

ANTIPSI
BIOPSIONICS
ESP
PSYCHOKINESIS
TELEPATHY
TELEPORTATION

(Astral projection and electrokinesis are either non-existent or subsumed by other Powers. Psychic Vampirism exists, but not as a Power in the usual psi rules sense.)

SOLARIGEN LIFE – Our 'kind of life', based on carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, DNA and RNA, cells and organelles. Prokaryotes and eukarytones, archea and bacteria and multicullar life, plants, animals, fungi, it's all Solarigen life. The name refers to the star Sol, in which system it originates. ALL Solarigen life evolved from a common origin on Earth in the middle Hadean, spreading naturally to two other worlds in the Sol System, and with intelligent assistance beyond the Sol System.

THALERIGEN LIFE – An alien life-kind, derived from a Genesis Event on the planet Thalerior. This form of life is based on alien biology, heavy on chlorine chemistry.

VELTAK - A bioengineered race of entities, derived from Thalerigen life, bred by NEMESIS as a weapon.

OK, more details to come.

05-30-2010, 12:50 PM	#1
Johnny1A.2 Join Date: Feb 2007	The Orichalcum Universe...Basics Over on rec.games.frp.gurps, over the last several years I've posted various things about my personal world, which I call by shorthand the 'Orichalcum Universe'. It's gotten pretty extensive, and some people have expressed an interest in having me repost some of it here, so I will for anybody interested. I'm going to put a list here of the other threads I use for this, to make it easier for anyone interested to follow them. Intro... The Helians The Solarigens The Eosians Atlantis and the Antediluvian Age The Unity Awakens... The First Interbellum (1918-1939) Species, Animals and Plants and Monsters and Things... Planets and Places Groups, Characters and NPCS Machines, Vehicles, Robots, etc ARNETHIS and the AI WAR Orichalcum Universe: New Psionic/Psychic/Supernatural Phenomena and Skills... ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE Sidebar: History of Cyllellia... ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE Sidebar: The Fractal Forest The MALIGNIUM ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE Sidebar: The Consumidoro Consumidoro Ability List SIDEBAR: On the Nature of the Galaxy... ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE: The CRYSTALLECTS... OE Sidebar: The Coming of the Crystallects OE Sidebar: The Multisapients ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE Sidebar: The United States Federal Patrol ORICHALCUM UNIVERSE Sidebar: U.N.I.S.A./G-men... Hyperplexes It's a pretty complicated and intricate universe, though, and I use a few terms a lot when describing it, so I'll post a quick list of some of those terms so the reposts and condensed versions will make more sense. NOTE 1: My world is based on a house-modified GURPS 3e system. NOTE 2: This repost will probably not be 100% perfectly consistant with previous stuff on rec.games.frp.gurps, especially the older stuff, there have been revisions and refinements, and I've cleaned up a few contradictions. QUICK INITIAL GLOSSARY: ANTEDILUVIAN AGE – The period between the first emergence of civilization on Earth and the Downfall of Atlantis. ASHTRA - Larger natural satellite of planet Eosia, original home of ARNETHIS. CENTREX - Subsequent headquarters of ARNETHIS. EARTH (SOL III) – Oldest, most complex, and most viable of the three naturally-formed Solarian biospheres. ALL Solarigen life descends from an origin event on this planet. Also the planet where Homosentient life evolved, and generally considered the most fecund of the Solarigen biospheres. ELDREN – Race of hyperpowerful alien entities, engendered by the same natural processes that drive the Universe. Effectively immortal and indestructible under most circumstances. The oldest Eldren are known as the First Generation or the Celestial/Primal Eldren, they became conscious within the first ten thousand years of the existence of the modern Universe. EOSIA (Eos IV) - Home of the first Homosapient civilization to reach the stars, core world of the Eosian Hegemony, the first Homosapient interstellar government. Primarily inhabited by H. eostellaris originally. EOSIAN HEGEMONY - The first Homosapient-based interstellar civilization, rising from the planet Eosia (Eos IV) and growing to include over 14,000 worlds, enduring for centuries and later forming the foundation of subsequent societies. FAMILIAR ELDREN – The specific subgroup of Eldren who have interacted significantly with the Homosentient and Helian species. A small subset of the vastly greater number of largely disinterested Eldren. GENESIS EVENT – Origin of a type of life. At least three Genesis Events are known to have happened in the Orichalcum Universe, each producing a totally different 'kind' of life. (The Eldren are a special case, they do not, strictly speaking, reproduce, and so can not be said to 'descend' from a Genesis Event.) GREATER MILKY WAY (GMW) – The Milky Way Galaxy proper, plus its satellite galaxies such as the Greater and Less Clouds of Magellan, and others not yet observed in 2010. Part of the Local Group of galaxies. HELIANS – A race of asexual sapient beings, native to the planet Helius (Heliustar III). Formed galactic-scale civilization ~500 million years before present. HELIUGEN LIFE – The biological life-type out of which the Helians evolved. Based on liquid helium and incorporating psionic phenomena at a basic biological level, most Heliugen biospheres operate in the range of .5 to 3 degrees K. HOMOSENTIENT/HOMOSAPIENT (interchangeable) – Refers to the entire set of conscious, tool-using species of Genus Homo. Collective Homosentient(s), individual ‘a Homosentient'. Homo sapiens is a Homosentient species. Strictly speaking, the word 'human' should apply to the entire set of species, since all are Genus Homo, but 'human' is so closely tied to 'Homo sapiens' that it's simpler to so apply it. Thus our sibling species are often referred to as 'near-humans' without pejorative implication. *HOMO SAPIENS* – The most common species of Genus Homo. Familiar Terran humans, though subspecies exist across the galaxy, including more than one on Earth. IO – Innermost large ‘Galilean’ moon of the planet Jupiter, marked by fairly constant tidally induced volcanism, site of one of the three naturally occurring Solarian biospheres. Source biosphere for the ‘Ionian’ subclassification of Solarigen life. The MATRIX: This is an English word for an Atlantean term, referring to a sort of consciousness associated with the Universe at large. It is not a deity, though immensely powerful, and is associated with its own psionic field, called 'the Flux' in another English translation of an Atlantean term. ORICHALCUM – A substance derived in part from ‘outside’ the normal dimensional planes of the observable universe. Superficially similar in appearance and some chemical properties to copper, it is lighter, and its atomic nucleus is quite different from that of ‘normal’ baryonic matter. Has various psionic properties, and is an indispensable industrial material at high tech levels. Extremely rare. Discovery of the existence of orichalcum leads to new physics in the much the same way the discovery of radioactivity once did. (Yes, it was present in Atlantis, Plato had that part right.) In the year 2100 A.D., the spot price of orichalcum in the USA fluctuates around 90 million dollars a gram in 2010 dollars. PROTOATHENS - In the later Antediluvian Age, this was the capitol city of the province/realm of Athenia, located almost precisely on the site of the Hellenic and Modern Day city of Athens. PSION – A Homosentient possessed of at least one active ‘psi’ ability at Power 1 or better. PSIONICS – Refers to set of various biological properties not yet understood by science in 2010, includes famous ‘powers’ such as Telepathy and Psychokinesis. (For the purposes of my backstory, psionics are a natural phenomenon, though they rarely manifest n most people, for specific reasons. All living things are psionically active to a degree, it’s a basic aspect of biological life. All Homosentients have the potential for all psi abilities, including Antipsi. For most purposes, six basic Powers exist: ANTIPSI BIOPSIONICS ESP PSYCHOKINESIS TELEPATHY TELEPORTATION (Astral projection and electrokinesis are either non-existent or subsumed by other Powers. Psychic Vampirism exists, but not as a Power in the usual psi rules sense.) SOLARIGEN LIFE – Our 'kind of life', based on carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, DNA and RNA, cells and organelles. Prokaryotes and eukarytones, archea and bacteria and multicullar life, plants, animals, fungi, it's all Solarigen life. The name refers to the star Sol, in which system it originates. ALL Solarigen life evolved from a common origin on Earth in the middle Hadean, spreading naturally to two other worlds in the Sol System, and with intelligent assistance beyond the Sol System. THALERIGEN LIFE – An alien life-kind, derived from a Genesis Event on the planet Thalerior. This form of life is based on alien biology, heavy on chlorine chemistry. VELTAK - A bioengineered race of entities, derived from Thalerigen life, bred by NEMESIS as a weapon. OK, more details to come. Last edited by Johnny1A.2; 01-24-2023 at 01:38 AM.