AYTHEM

I’ve been working on this for more than a year now, and it’s time I start sharing bits of it. This is the introduction to my TTRPG, Chronos, and the world of Aythem. Just a bit of lore so players know what they're getting into.

THE ANTEAN SOCIETY

Welcome to the world of Aythem in which this game is based on. This is a futuristic sci-fi world where magic is the lifeblood that powers everything. In this galaxy, dominance belongs to the Anteans, a highly advanced society composed of diverse anthropomorphic animal families, including tigers, wolves, gorillas, crocodiles, deers, geckos and more. And let's not forget about you humans, by far the galaxy's largest population, whose presence has left an indelible mark on Antean society. This has allowed you to influence and shape the Antean society to your ways for bad and sometimes for good too.

Telets

Anteans typically don't speak. At the age of 9, they receive Telets, tiny devices implanted in their temples, allowing thought transmission within a 60 metre/yard radius. This technology enables open communication, creating both public and private channels and allowing interspecies communication. 

Some species possess a restricted vocal range or diverge significantly from the human one. For instance, the Codrilians lack vocal cords entirely. Consequently, Telets played a crucial role in facilitating communication among diverse species.

Only Anteans with parental duties use speech with their offspring. Laughter, screams, growls or sighs are usually the only noises that come from Anteans mouths, as talking (referred as ‘vocalising’) is deemed as a primitive and vulgar form of communication only required for child development. Because Anteans don’t use their mouths to communicate, unconsciously they overcompensate by gesticulating more with their faces even though the intonation and speech nuances are well transmitted by Telets.

By default, Telets broadcast thoughts openly, so they can be heard by others, only when Anteans focus their attention to create private channels, they'll be able to communicate privately.

Housing

In the Antean society, unless you're exceedingly wealthy, houses come in prefabricated, standardised forms. They're a cost-effective option, with customization at your fingertips through your phone. After making your selections, you can have your new home delivered via space drone the very next day and set up in minutes in your designated city location. Much like other aspects of life, there are various brands and models catering to different income levels. Interestingly, Antean homes don't have kitchens; instead, dining out is a cultural norm.

Magic

Magic permeates every aspect of the Antean society. When you turn on the shower, magic energy from the energy supplier flows through wires in the wall, activating a specialised box along the water pipes with a heating spell that warms up your water. As a result, magic is common knowledge, taught in schools from a young age. However, mastering complex spells remains a skill possessed by only a select few.

MDs

A small portion of the Antean population, less than 1%, suffers the so called ECSD (Energy Channelling Suppression Disorder), rendering them incapable of using magic. These individuals often face discrimination due to their inability to participate in a world heavily reliant on magical interactions. They are commonly referred to as MDs (Magically Disabled), although, regrettably, they are also subjected to derogatory labels, such as 'mahkers'.

AMUs

The big majority of the Antean population can only do very simple spells, but it’s enough to get by through life. They are referred to as ‘A-moos’ from AMU (Average Magic User), but  some Anteans use derogatory terms like ‘Maw’ (Magic User Wannabe) or ‘simple’.

Gifted

Approximately 16% of the population, known as the 'gifted,' possess the skill to craft complex spells. These gifted individuals elicit mixed feelings, garnering both admiration and resentment from the majority who can manipulate magic but only to a limited degree. Many derogatory terms are employed to describe the gifted Anteans, with the most prevalent ones being 'giffer' and 'magole' (a shortened form of 'magic-asshole').

Nexular

The Anteans conquered not all but most of the galaxy, a feat made possible by a unique material known as Nexular. This remarkable substance possesses the extraordinary property of interconnecting every single one of its molecules with invisible tethers, creating a vast, galaxy-wide network. Scattered in small quantities throughout the galaxy, specialised devices capable of detecting even the tiniest trace of Nexular exploit these tethers, enabling instantaneous travel and communication to any corner of the galaxy.

Nexular antennas allowed planets to communicate instantly, Nexular gates allowed space ships to move across the galaxy millions of light years away in an instant. The space ships themselves had built in Nexular GPS like systems that allowed them to travel and navigate the Nexular network. Unsurprisingly, Nexular was the most expensive and sought after material in the galaxy. So when the planet Kherssil was discovered, a galactic sized shit hit a galactic sized fan. Kherssil was uninhabitable, but it had massive amounts of raw Nexular in it. Corporations descended upon Kherssil like vultures, driven by the insatiable thirst for this precious resource. Soon, what began as competition escalated into tension, which in turn gave way to outright hostilities, ultimately culminating in a brutal, devastating war. This conflict involved the three largest corporations for over three years, only coming to an end on what would be remembered as Severance Day.

Severance Day

Out of the blue, all the Nexular in the galaxy exploded all at once. The cause of this explosion remains a mystery, but the aftermath is widely known. In an instant, all communication devices, transport gates and travelling vehicles in the galaxy exploded all at once, along with every single floating molecule of Nexular in the galaxy. Suddenly, planets scattered light years apart found themselves isolated and incapable of both travel and communication. This occurrence is now known as Severance Day.

Chronos

The Olympus star system is presided over by a mid size star called Helios. Nine planets orbit around Helios, all with Greek names as this star system was discovered by some Greek mythology human fanatics, but the one that concerns us is the 4th one, the planet Chronos.

Chronos was never deemed a strategic location in the war due to its lack of military industry and absence of any significant military presence. Thus, when both the allies and enemy factions descended upon Chronos, igniting a brutal conflict that reduced the planet's population from 998 million to 612 million Anteans, the motivations behind this move remained a mystery to the general public. Once a thriving, picturesque world, Chronos boasted several well-developed nations, renowned for their racing competitions and stunning landscapes, making it a popular tourist destination. Consequently, the outbreak of war caught nearly everyone off guard.

However, one day, the military presence abruptly vanished, and the focus shifted elsewhere, as the war relocated from Chronos, taking with it all the armed forces. Resources and personnel were dispatched from other planets to aid the nations of Chronos in their recovery efforts. Yet, just 19 days after the armies departed, Severance Day occurred.

Chronos, which had been reliant on food imports, possessed limited farming capabilities. However, after enduring two years of relentless warfare, the planet's ability to produce food was severely diminished, leading to a catastrophic famine. Within just one year, the previously united and cooperative society of Chronos transformed into a survival-of-the-fittest scenario at its worst. The population was reduced from 612 millions to 336 millions over the ensuing four years.

During this period, governments disintegrated, and numerous small factions and unions emerged, while other regions turned into lawless territories. As the population dramatically decreased, food resources gradually became more available, and new sources of sustenance were discovered out of sheer necessity. It took four years for the population decline to stabilise.

Chronos’ Dirty Little Secret

Despite Chronos lacking an official military presence or manufacturing facilities, it was, unofficially, a huge scientific research hub. Numerous companies operated secret laboratories, which covered a wide range of different research projects, with a majority linked to military applications. Unfortunately, this clandestine scientific operation was discovered by the opposing corporations during the war, prompting the conflict's shift toward Chronos. Many of these labs were destroyed or pillaged during the war, while others were simply abandoned.

The Status Quo

This brings us to the current state of Chronos. While the dramatic population decline has reached a more stable point, the planet's population continues to decline, but at a much slower rate. As the dust settles, trade is gradually expanding, food resources are becoming more accessible, and there is a palpable sense of progress in most regions. However, it's important not to be deceived; Chronos remains a challenging and unforgiving environment.

Some facts about Chronos:

• Gifted Population: Approximately 23% of the population in Chronos is gifted. Being gifted was a significant advantage during the war and famine years, resulting in the non-gifted population, particularly those with medical conditions (MDs), suffering the most casualties.

• Lack of Modern Vehicles: Chronos lacks the resources and capability to manufacture modern vehicles, including flying vehicles and spaceships. Transportation options are limited to offroad motorbikes and 4x4s designed for the planet's famous rallies.

• Limited Weapons Manufacturing: There are no major manufacturers of military-grade weapons on Chronos. Only small weapon manufacturers that established themselves during the war remain on the planet.

• Clothing Industry Challenges: The clothing industry is undergoing a transformation due to the inability to import textiles from other planets. As a result, it is experimenting with locally sourced materials.

• Housing Surplus: There is an excess of empty houses on Chronos, but those with a stable energy supply are considered a luxury.

• Slow Agricultural Development: Farming is slowly beginning to develop on the planet, helping to address food shortages and feed the population.

Species Distribution

Most of the population is human in Chronos, with scattered pockets of other species depending on the region. After the war's conclusion, a big wave of Anteans from all over the galaxy moved into Chronos to aid in the planet's reconstruction, thanks to the support of charities and donations from some corporations. However, when Severance Day occurred, it left thousands of Anteans, representing a wide array of species and origins, stranded on the planet with no prospect of returning home, ever. This unique situation means that, even if a particular species is not well-represented in the native population, players have the flexibility to choose from any of the species when creating their PCs (Player Characters).

Chronos’ Species Distribution
Humans (Apes - Hominids)	61%	Leonids (Lions - Felids)	<1%
Kettirs  (Cats - Felids)	13%	Fexirs (Foxes - Canids)	<1%
Lupids (Wolfs - Canids)	9%	Dervians  (Deers - Cervids)	<1%
Hispids (Vipers - Reptiles)	7%	Crodiliars (Crocodiles - Reptiles)	<1%
Tigrids (Tigers - Felids)	4%	Ghesians (Geckos - Reptiles)	<1%
Taurians (Taurus - Bovids)	3%	Gorians (Gorillas - Hominids)	<1%
Aepids (Impalas - Bovids)	2%	Barians (Bears - Ursids)	<1%

The Gang

The players' adventure begins in Chronos, where they are members of a gang or a group of giffers, sorry! I meant gifted Anteans who have chosen the path of mercenaries. As mercenaries, they will be tasked with taking on various jobs to make a living, which will inevitably lead them into a multitude of challenges, conflicts, and thrilling adventures. Their journey is bound to be filled with both danger and excitement as they navigate the post-war landscape of Chronos.