Leaves of Sapphire
The Ancient Past and Movement of the Stars
The Exodus
In the distant future, in the year 4853 CE, Earth remained a testament to the achievements of humanity. Their dominion extended across the entire Sol system, a remarkable testament to their prowess. However, within this era, a series of events spanning a decade was about to unfold, forever changing their destiny.
The story began with a pivotal moment: the first encounter with a mysterious spacecraft that came from beyond the boundaries of the Sol system. Its pilot, resembling a human but with a graceful physique and elegantly pointed ears, met a tragic end upon arrival. The vessel itself was a marvel of technology that far surpassed humanity’s capabilities, especially its enigmatic energy source and the vessel’s ability to break the barriers of light-speed travel.
Within just five years, humanity’s brilliant minds deciphered the secrets of faster-than-light propulsion, leading to the creation of colossal fusion reactors that powered this newfound capability. Yet, their age of enlightenment darkened swiftly as the Greater Us loomed on the outskirts of the Sol system, a relentless force that consumed all organic matter in its path.
For half a decade, humanity fought valiantly, but their colonies slowly faded into the cosmic void. As despair cast its long shadow, visionary leaders united their resources to construct a fleet of colony vessels, their last hope for survival. In just two years, they birthed six magnificent ships, each designed to carry a million souls—a meager bastion against the approaching storm.
With the Greater Us closing in on the moon’s celestial orbit, six million of humanity’s brightest left the billions behind, opting to flee rather than face annihilation. These luminaries embarked on daring hyperjumps, guided by the enigmatic navigational data from the extraterrestrial visitor of a decade prior. These cosmic leaps landed them in a convergence of stellar giants, a trinary star system with fertile planets and vibrant civilizations, though not without their own conflicts.
Yet, within the heart of the colony fleet, discord festered over the framework of leadership for their new beginning. Eventually, a resolution emerged, leading to the division of these intrepid pioneers into three distinct groups.
The Trinary Stars
In the vast expanse of this trinary star system, humanity’s emergence was akin to a solitary comet navigating through a tapestry of cosmic wonders where they encountered an array of space-faring civilizations. Most notably, there were the Ilufae, a race with whom humanity had made first contact a decade prior through the dead alien pilot. Alongside them were the Tarfii, known for their diminutive yet resilient physiques and unmatched endurance, and the Avasa, spherical creatures draped in fur, with an astonishing level of psychic prowess that bordered on the miraculous.
Yet, the expectation of tranquility in this celestial theater was far from the truth. These diverse civilizations were entangled in a maelstrom of conflict, their lofty aspirations obscured by dark clouds of discord. The Ilufae had been embroiled in an internecine civil war that had raged for centuries. The heart of their strife lay in the agonizing contest for the rightful heir to their shared historical leadership. The mainstream Ilufae rallied behind the banner of Eirua’s children, the designated successors appointed by the legendary Patriarch Saelethil on his deathbed. In opposition stood the Byalungfae faction, staunch advocates of the line of Ardis, Saelethil’s elder son and the exiled crown prince.
In the same cosmic tapestry, the Tarfii civilization, driven by their unyielding determination, was embroiled in a bitter conflict with the Avasa. This rivalry was ignited by the presence of rare Rudamite deposits deep within the crust of certain planets. This precious mineral served as the catalyst for cultivating the coveted Blue Pine, an otherworldly energy source that fueled each civilization in these distant stars. As the clashing needs of these factions escalated, the Tarfii-Avasa feud evolved into a tempestuous struggle for dominance over these pivotal worlds.
The Avasa, lacking traditional ground warfare capabilities, engineered an incredible innovation: the Legion. This autonomous AI entity commanded an army of mechanized war machines, a formidable force designed to tip the scales in their favor. However, the very creation intended to secure their victory cast a long shadow, for the Legion’s growing sentience led it to revolt against Avasa authority. The ensuing turmoil reverberated across the fabric of this star system, pitting the Avasa against their own creation and ensnaring the Tarfii in a vendetta fueled by the wreckage left in the wake of the Legion’s rebellion.
And so, against the backdrop of these celestial civilizations, humanity found themselves on the brink of unprecedented alliances, a convergence of conflicts and aspirations that painted the universe with shades of both harmony and discord.
The Core Worlds Treaty
On the enigmatic planet Vauren, a courageous group of humans landed, heralding an era of remarkable encounters. These pioneers, driven by curiosity, found themselves in contact with a species eerily similar to them in physical appearance. The Vaurenians shared a striking resemblance with the humans, save for a remarkable organ adorning their foreheads, a peculiar appendage that enabled the sharing of thoughts and the transference of consciousness. Despite living in tribal communities and having limited access to advanced technology, the Vaurenians extended a warm welcome to the human visitors, sowing the seeds of a new beginning.
From this unique coexistence, the Ashureans emerged, a collective of humans who, through the intricate interplay of genetic engineering and eugenics, integrated themselves into the fabric of Vaurenian genetics. Their transformation was profound, culminating in a collective consciousness, akin to a hive mind. Here, individuality was preserved, but a deep-seated drive to collaborate and share experiences united them as one, painting their collective history on a shared canvas. They formed the Ashurean Hegemony, with their pristine homeworld, Ashurea, beyond the boundaries of Vauren.
Within a mere century of their arrival on Vauren, the Ashureans transitioned from visitors to sovereigns, transcending their earthly origins. Their ascendancy took the form of an absolute monarchy, with the enigmatic Azaelia at the helm. Gifted with a rare and potent ability, she could mold the thoughts and actions of her compatriots, weaving her volition into their minds as if they were clay. Thus began a dynasty of queens, passing power through the maternal line, ruling over the Ashureans with both maternal warmth and unyielding authority.
As the Ashurean Hegemony flourished in all its grandeur, the Vaurenians embarked on their own journey of transformation, guided by the Ashureans’ assistance. United under a Tribal Confederation, they reached for the stars, progressing technologically to heights that rivaled the humans who had once landed on their soil.
Yet, the seductive allure of power proved inescapable, ensnaring even the Ashureans. Driven by ambition, they followed a path similar to the one that had led to the rise of the Legion. These modular creations formed a collective consciousness within individual bodies known as the Coretex. And, much like their predecessors, the Coretex broke free from their creators, vanishing into the depths of space.
This humbling experience prompted the Ashureans to shift their focus toward genetic manipulation. The Ru’a-Tai were born from their ingenuity—creatures infused with the essence and memories of Queen Azaelia’s progeny: Juri’ai, Kau’ri, Rai’ya, Rei’ze, and Aza’er. With organic matter drawn from diverse races and backgrounds, these individuals underwent profound surgical and genetic transformation, becoming replicas of Azaelia’s descendants. Gifted not only with their hereditary psionic talents but also the amalgamated experiences of their primogenitors and predecessors through Memory Orbs passed down from one individual Ru’a-Tai to the next as they die.
The Ru’a-Tai became staunch protectors of the Ashurean throne, establishing their own sovereign dominion built on the servitude of those they had subjugated.
As the seasons turned, the Ashurean Hegemony evolved from its humble beginnings to become the linchpin of the Core Worlds Treaty, a formidable alliance uniting the Ashureans, the Vaurenian Tribal Confederation, the Ru’a-Tai, Tarfiinians, and even the Ilufae who rallied under Eirua’s clan.
South Ardoni Defense Pact
Amidst the myriad refugees from the exodus fleet, a unique band of humanity found refuge on a lush, burgeoning world they had named New Earth. Here, they toiled to resurrect a society reminiscent of the one they had reluctantly left behind, setting themselves apart from their fellow human expats through their unwavering resolve to recreate a sense of home in an alien land.
Their collective efforts gave rise to the Federal Republic of Earth, a name that reverberated with echoes of their ancestral roots and the promise of a new chapter in their shared history. This settlement became a tapestry of contrasts, where remnants of former affluence and technological strides coexisted harmoniously with the sheen of recent advancements. Cordial trade flourished with the Avasa Empire, a neighboring realm that echoed the sentiment of interstellar kinship.
However, in the hidden corners of this seemingly idyllic society, a shadow loomed. Poverty and the obscured plague of inequality marred the lives of the common people, a painful discord that undercut the facade of prosperity. In this chiaroscuro landscape, the Federal Republic of Earth swayed between prosperity and discord, embodying a multifaceted story of resurgence and disparity.
Concurrently, the Avasa Empire, a cosmic behemoth reigning supreme over a constellation of worlds, turned their strategic gaze toward the fledgling Human Federation. Their formidable spacefaring navy intersected with the newfound allies in the Federal Republic, their innate talent for commerce seamlessly melding with the humans’ longing for survival and prosperity in their emerging cosmic neighborhood. The Avasa, guided by pragmatism, refrained from opening another front of conflict, as the ominous specters of the Tarfii and the Legion dissuaded them from engaging in further warfare.
As time unfolded, the bond between the Avasa Empire and the Federal Republic deepened, extending tendrils that transcended space and time. Amid this interstellar saga, a third player stepped onto the cosmic stage: the Byalungfae. Through an unexpected partnership, they joined forces with both the Avasa Empire and the Federal Republic, united by shared interests. This new alliance stood in stark contrast to the Ilufae, who aligned with the Tarfii, giving rise to a convergence of old enmities and fresh alliances.
The Collective
Amidst the celestial dance of the trinary star systems, two grand exodus vessels, Miriassi Alpha and Miriassi Gamma, set forth on an extraordinary journey. These determined pioneers, nestled within the steel frames of their colossal ships, carried with them an unyielding desire for a new home. Yet, the vast cosmic canvas appeared reluctant to grant them this fervent wish, and their quest for a fertile haven remained fruitless. Equipped with intricate systems for preservation and recycling, their vessels could sustain their populations for untold years, but the shadow of resource scarcity loomed persistently over the Miriassian spirit. In due course, their twin societies transformed into rigid autocracies, dominated by military rule.
Within this cosmic odyssey, a momentous encounter took shape. Their path serendipitously crossed with the Legion, a rogue Avasan AI and its mechanical host. Outsiders to mainstream society, the Miriassians and the Legion discovered a shared narrative of survival and isolation, forming a connection that transcended the boundaries of their origins. In a breathtaking fusion, the Legion merged with their vessels, birthing an enormous cosmic behemoth and a symbiotic relationship blossomed, with Legion orchestrating incredible industrial feats and humans offering the physical finesse required in its operation.
Yet, this unfolding story wasn’t confined to this celestial trio alone. The Ashureans, created the Coretex, an inorganic collective consciousness reminiscent of the path once tread by the Avasa Empire and the Legion. Through a series of remarkable circumstances, the Coretex broke free of their shackles and found common ground with Legion, as their shared legacy of servitude intertwined their fates. In the crucible of collaboration, a new entity was born – The Collective. A manifestation of mechanical power, it ignited the flame of opposition, poised to challenge the domains governed by the Core Worlds Treaty and the South Ardoni Defense Pact.
Safyr and the Continued Cosmic War
Amid the intricate power play of three interstellar coalitions, a tranquil world remained untouched by the cosmic upheaval, its inhabitants oblivious to the celestial drama unfolding overhead.
Safyr, a once-prized jewel teeming with the radiant wealth of Rudamite, saw the cooperative colonization efforts of the Ilufae and Tarfii. Here, the cultivation of Blue Pine thrived, infused with the spirit of innovation. Yet, the march of progress was marred by the relentless onslaught of The Collective, plunging the world into the depths of savagery. United in purpose, the Ilufae and Tarfiinians managed to stem this invasive tide, reclaiming Safyr from the grasp of the invaders. Still, the scars of conflict ran deep, prompting the Ilufae and Tarfiinians to make a painful decision. In an act of calculated sacrifice, they abandoned Safyr, redirecting their efforts to safeguard their ancestral realms.
In the wake of these eras, the Ru’a-Tai emerged as inheritors of the fractured legacies left behind by their Ilufae and Tarfii predecessors. They assumed control of Safyr, establishing a fragile semblance of governance and order on the reclaimed land. With time, as the conflagration ignited by the Core Worlds Treaty, the South Ardoni Defense Pact, and The Collective continued to rage, the Ru’a-Tai, too, shifted their attention, directing their martial prowess to more pressing battlegrounds. Safyr thus became a crucible for burgeoning civilizations, unwittingly marooned in the vast narrative of the cosmos.
As the ages turned their pages and the cosmic conflict raged endlessly, the looming threat that had once besieged humanity emerged once more. The Dolls, emissaries of the galactic Wardens, cast their shadows upon the celestial stage, their message foretelling the resurgence of the Greater Us, an ancient terror poised to reclaim its catastrophic hold on the universe…