Bare Bones:
Dust, and its many titled adventures, is an OC anthology developed of the past two years that examines an alternate history in the Victorian-era (1820-1901) where a natural cataclysm sets into motion a space race in the 1860's. Canonically, though this has diverged in campaigns, humanity manages to construct a super-rocket in outer space that is powered by contemporary technology; some minor fiddling on my part.
Attached to this rocket are hundreds of smaller vessels that are affiliated with different national, religious and political orders that are both RL and fictional. Altogether, some couple hundred thousand humans board this massive behemoth, and fly off on a voyage that spans generations and many adventures, eventually making landfall on a unknown desert world in the far future.
There the events of Dust play out with themes of first colonization, the regression of technology and loss of knowledge of history, and the development of a whole new human civilization based on steampunk and space-travel. Much has been written though much more can be added and is always welcome. Additionally, some of the math may be off, as past loreist's may have been a bit generous in their 2am calculations
I'd appreciate any help, questions or critiques that are out there.
More will be posted as I transfer material to this post, so stay tuned for your daily dose of Dust.
Dust, and its many titled adventures, is an OC anthology developed of the past two years that examines an alternate history in the Victorian-era (1820-1901) where a natural cataclysm sets into motion a space race in the 1860's. Canonically, though this has diverged in campaigns, humanity manages to construct a super-rocket in outer space that is powered by contemporary technology; some minor fiddling on my part.
Attached to this rocket are hundreds of smaller vessels that are affiliated with different national, religious and political orders that are both RL and fictional. Altogether, some couple hundred thousand humans board this massive behemoth, and fly off on a voyage that spans generations and many adventures, eventually making landfall on a unknown desert world in the far future.
There the events of Dust play out with themes of first colonization, the regression of technology and loss of knowledge of history, and the development of a whole new human civilization based on steampunk and space-travel. Much has been written though much more can be added and is always welcome. Additionally, some of the math may be off, as past loreist's may have been a bit generous in their 2am calculations
I'd appreciate any help, questions or critiques that are out there.The World of Dust: Its Astrography
Discovery
Located in the constellation Liberia, Dust is an extrasolar planet orbiting the red dwarf star Ruber Ancora, categorized as BD-07° 4003, it is the first of three planets so far discovered in the system, and the second in order from the star. It stands out among the many systems visited by humanity in the Flight, because it was never meant to be a destination.
Characteristics
Dust is a super-earth, nearly 3.9 times large than humanity's homeworld. Its mass is closer to Neptune's mass. It is rather close to Ancora, and completes a full orbit in only 5 days at a mean distance of about 6 million kilometres. By comparison, Earth is at a distance of 58 million kilometres and completes an orbit in 365 days. This projects a difference in time scale of 73 Dust-years, equal to 1 Earth-year. Its orbit transits Ancora, much like Earth around its Sun, but Dust orbits alongside two other planets. It is susceptible to coronal mass ejections, also known as solar flares. Both this, its closeness to its star, and the concentration of landmass into a super-continent, has been theorised by Chikunese astrologists to be a likely cause for the planets desertification.
Discovery
Located in the constellation Liberia, Dust is an extrasolar planet orbiting the red dwarf star Ruber Ancora, categorized as BD-07° 4003, it is the first of three planets so far discovered in the system, and the second in order from the star. It stands out among the many systems visited by humanity in the Flight, because it was never meant to be a destination.
Characteristics
Dust is a super-earth, nearly 3.9 times large than humanity's homeworld. Its mass is closer to Neptune's mass. It is rather close to Ancora, and completes a full orbit in only 5 days at a mean distance of about 6 million kilometres. By comparison, Earth is at a distance of 58 million kilometres and completes an orbit in 365 days. This projects a difference in time scale of 73 Dust-years, equal to 1 Earth-year. Its orbit transits Ancora, much like Earth around its Sun, but Dust orbits alongside two other planets. It is susceptible to coronal mass ejections, also known as solar flares. Both this, its closeness to its star, and the concentration of landmass into a super-continent, has been theorised by Chikunese astrologists to be a likely cause for the planets desertification.
The Geography
A predominantly arid world, the planet of Dust is predominantly divided in two; the super-continent Terra Salus (known as Salus), and the super-ocean, Aethernum (Aetheric Ocean). A large chain of volcanic islands dot the area of Terra Salus’s West Coast (Berria-Antilles Chain). With just 30% of the world covered in free-flowing water, the other 10% trapped in its North and South Pole, much of the world is dry and barren. Notable geological features included the White Sands, an enormous sodium-rich desert in the center of the continent; Bloodlands Mesa, a vast formation of giant standing stones; and the Boothill Wastes, a large flatland region dotted with abandoned settlements, and crashed city-ships. There, as settlers' say, one can burn out their eyes faster by staring straight and hard at sun-scorched flatlands than by looking directly at the sun.
A predominantly arid world, the planet of Dust is predominantly divided in two; the super-continent Terra Salus (known as Salus), and the super-ocean, Aethernum (Aetheric Ocean). A large chain of volcanic islands dot the area of Terra Salus’s West Coast (Berria-Antilles Chain). With just 30% of the world covered in free-flowing water, the other 10% trapped in its North and South Pole, much of the world is dry and barren. Notable geological features included the White Sands, an enormous sodium-rich desert in the center of the continent; Bloodlands Mesa, a vast formation of giant standing stones; and the Boothill Wastes, a large flatland region dotted with abandoned settlements, and crashed city-ships. There, as settlers' say, one can burn out their eyes faster by staring straight and hard at sun-scorched flatlands than by looking directly at the sun.
The History
Pre-Flight (1820-1861)
The Great Flight (1862 - IC Date Undetermined)
The Flight is a period of time documented by oral and written accounts of mankind's from Earth, his travel through space, and his arrival on Dust. As such, it occupies an important part of human history. It began sometime in the middle of Earth’s 19th century, after New Zealand’s Taupo volcano super-erupted, producing the greatest natural catastrophe witnessed by Mankind. The initial force of the blast was equal to 60 million tons (60 megatons) of TNT; the immediate effects were the obliteration of the Northern Island, as well as seismic sea waves (tsunamis) that reached as far as Argentina and California.
Taupo’s eruption mass deposited an ash layer about 15 centimetres (6 inches) thick over the whole of South Asia. A blanket of volcanic ash that covered the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the South China Sea. “Black Lung” (Silicosis) became the cause of death for millions across Eurasia, thought to be brought on by “tainted air”.
Long-term effects included significant climate change, which took the shape of a global volcanic winter, known to those who experienced it as the Years Without Summer. The damage done to the planet began to take its hold on humanity. Harsher winters led to mass crop failure. Famine ensued, giving way to mass starvation, civil unrest, and open warfare. Even technology was effected, with developments and advancements made that bolstered hope in leaving for a new, better world.
Post-Flight (IC Date Undetermined; for GM purposes, sometime in the 2600s]
Pre-Flight (1820-1861)
The Great Flight (1862 - IC Date Undetermined)
The Flight is a period of time documented by oral and written accounts of mankind's from Earth, his travel through space, and his arrival on Dust. As such, it occupies an important part of human history. It began sometime in the middle of Earth’s 19th century, after New Zealand’s Taupo volcano super-erupted, producing the greatest natural catastrophe witnessed by Mankind. The initial force of the blast was equal to 60 million tons (60 megatons) of TNT; the immediate effects were the obliteration of the Northern Island, as well as seismic sea waves (tsunamis) that reached as far as Argentina and California.
Taupo’s eruption mass deposited an ash layer about 15 centimetres (6 inches) thick over the whole of South Asia. A blanket of volcanic ash that covered the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the South China Sea. “Black Lung” (Silicosis) became the cause of death for millions across Eurasia, thought to be brought on by “tainted air”.
Long-term effects included significant climate change, which took the shape of a global volcanic winter, known to those who experienced it as the Years Without Summer. The damage done to the planet began to take its hold on humanity. Harsher winters led to mass crop failure. Famine ensued, giving way to mass starvation, civil unrest, and open warfare. Even technology was effected, with developments and advancements made that bolstered hope in leaving for a new, better world.
Post-Flight (IC Date Undetermined; for GM purposes, sometime in the 2600s]
More will be posted as I transfer material to this post, so stay tuned for your daily dose of Dust.
You are on: Forums » RP Discussion » (World/Lore) Culturing the Dust-verse
Moderators: Mina, Keke, Cass, Claine, Sanne, Ilmarinen, Darth_Angelus