Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart...
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart...
Dulce et Decorum est
- Thread starter Havocfett
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- Ongoing
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Statistics (7 threadmarks, 7.1k words)
User Total Havocfett 7
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
*
Dulce et Decorum est is a space opera quest set in an original science fiction setting. Players will be controlling a newly minted naval captain, male or female, in service to the Republic of New England (Or, as they insist on calling themselves, The United States of America) throughout the course of their career in the Navy. You shall have to deal with your ambitions, those of your comrades, underlings, and superiors, and those of the civilian administration back home. Your goal is to excel, reaching as high a rank and gathering as much prestige as possible before your tour ends.
To this end, your tour will be in the Sixth Expansion Region, the last section of the Milky Way Galaxy yet to be explored and colonized by Mankind and her subject races. It is a fertile region, filled with unexplored worlds and undiscovered species ripe for exploitation, but it's also dangerous, contested land. Pirates and independent nations, running from the Terran powers, have set up shop here, and the United States is not the only country with an interest in exploiting the Sixth.
This quest will be narrative, married to your perspective as a captain. While you will be limited to information that the Captain has access to, you occupy a privileged position in society, one with an inherent amount of knowledge and respect, and as such you can be expected to be given a regular drip of information, and I am entirely willing to answer many questions about the setting as you go.
For people who aren't you, however, life isn't so pleasant. Humanity's explosion onto the galactic stage in the early twenty second century was met by the dawning realization that they weren't late to the party, coming onto a stage full of dangers and perils and entrenched powers. They weren't alone in the galaxy, walking among dead worlds. They weren't seeing a Galaxy touched by precursors, or menaced by extragalactic scourges. They were, instead, the first. This was a wondrous thing for Humanity, a new, near-infinite frontier, untold resources, a multitude of primitive races who had yet to touch the stars.
The rest, as they say, is inevitable.
So remember: the galaxy was made for you. Shaped for you. Every facet of civilization, of organization, exists so that you have the chance to excel. Take your ship, take your crew, take your fleet, take to the stars, and with your gifts take the glory you deserve.
And, if the worst should come to worst, don't feel too bad. Just remember:
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
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Character Information
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Character Information
Name: Simona Lalama
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Rank: Lieutenant (Junior Grade)
Name: Simona Lalama
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Rank: Lieutenant (Junior Grade)
Began studying at the United States Naval Academy in New York on June 3, 3901.
Graduated with honors June 3, 3905. Started service as an Ensign aboard the Assault Carrier Enterprise on the Twelfth of August, 3905.
Served aboard the Enterprise when it explored 1d39c6b470 ('Twin Bounties') and discovered the a'ke and varimi aboriginal species. Saved Captain Iglesias and local national royalty from an assassination attempt while integrating the varimi. Awarded a Naval Commendation for the action.
Promoted to Junior Lieutenant on the Twelfth of August, 3907.
Graduated with honors June 3, 3905. Started service as an Ensign aboard the Assault Carrier Enterprise on the Twelfth of August, 3905.
Served aboard the Enterprise when it explored 1d39c6b470 ('Twin Bounties') and discovered the a'ke and varimi aboriginal species. Saved Captain Iglesias and local national royalty from an assassination attempt while integrating the varimi. Awarded a Naval Commendation for the action.
Promoted to Junior Lieutenant on the Twelfth of August, 3907.
The Lalama Family is an influential political family that stretches back almost two hundred years, albeit with varying fortunes. The family owns an orbital around Antares, as well as myriad estates across the United States, and has invested heavily in colonization colonies. Members of the families are legislators, governors, diplomats, ambassadors, and colonial overseers across the US. Simona is the first member of the family to go into the military in almost fifty years, after her uncle Alejandro Lalama's short, embarrassing, and fatal stint in the military from late 3853 to early 3854.
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Prologue 2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Prologue
You wake up before your alarm goes off, giddy with energy. You leap from your bed, a myriad of holograms springing to life around you as you stand. News, messages, firmware updates for your eyes, a postcard from your brother's trip to Alpha Centauri, some notifications regarding today's ceremony. You dismiss them all, save for an article about the Messier football championship.
You read it as you prepare yourself. A shower, a quick dash to fetch your uniform (tailored to perfection) from a goblin servant, a mental silencing of your alarm when it fails to register that you're already awake, and within a few minutes you are both fully aware that the Daniela Academy Rhinomen are expected to win the Messier football championship and completely prepared for your first day at the Naval Academy of New York.
You ready a podcast, a military history thing you disagree with constantly, and give yourself a final once-over in a mirror before you go.
What do you see in the mirror
[ ] You're a tall man, black and regal. You have a close buzzcut, leaving you effectively bald, and are traditionally handsome. You have no visible augmentations, your family is rich, prestigious, and conceited enough that all of yours are designed to blend with your physique, leaving them undetectable to anything save a sensor sweep. You cut a dashing figure in your uniform, which is for the best as today is your first day at the Academy.
[ ] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw. You cut a dashing figure in your uniform, which is for the best as today is your first day at the Academy.
What is your name?
[ ] Write-In
Is your family Military or Political?
[ ] Military (You have pre-existing connections and expectations due to the status of your family and a long tradition of military service)
[ ] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
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Doomed Wombat
Let's go Darling!
- Location
- Dancing on wires!
[X] You're a tall man, black and regal. You have a close buzzcut, leaving you effectively bald, and are traditionally handsome. You have no visible augmentations, your family is rich, prestigious, and conceited enough that all of yours are designed to blend with your physique, leaving them undetectable to anything save a sensor sweep. You cut a dashing figure in your uniform, which is for the best as today is your first day at the Academy.
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Military (You have pre-existing connections and expectations due to the status of your family and a long tradition of military service)
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Military (You have pre-existing connections and expectations due to the status of your family and a long tradition of military service)
- Location
- St. Petersburg
[X] You're a tall man, black and regal. You have a close buzzcut, leaving you effectively bald, and are traditionally handsome. You have no visible augmentations, your family is rich, prestigious, and conceited enough that all of yours are designed to blend with your physique, leaving them undetectable to anything save a sensor sweep. You cut a dashing figure in your uniform, which is for the best as today is your first day at the Academy.
[X] Military (You have pre-existing connections and expectations due to the status of your family and a long tradition of military service)
Have no naming sense, so no opinion on that.
[X] Military (You have pre-existing connections and expectations due to the status of your family and a long tradition of military service)
Have no naming sense, so no opinion on that.
SirLagginton
Shadow Cabal Caerbannog Bun-Bun
- Location
- Arrrghhh
[X] You're a tall man, black and regal. You have a close buzzcut, leaving you effectively bald, and are traditionally handsome. You have no visible augmentations, your family is rich, prestigious, and conceited enough that all of yours are designed to blend with your physique, leaving them undetectable to anything save a sensor sweep. You cut a dashing figure in your uniform, which is for the best as today is your first day at the Academy.
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
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Lealope
Not yet invincible
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] You're a tall man, black and regal. You have a close buzzcut, leaving you effectively bald, and are traditionally handsome. You have no visible augmentations, your family is rich, prestigious, and conceited enough that all of yours are designed to blend with your physique, leaving them undetectable to anything save a sensor sweep. You cut a dashing figure in your uniform, which is for the best as today is your first day at the Academy.
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
- Location
- Australia
Before I cast a vote, I'd like to know what cybernetics do. My vote will likely be dependent on that; I don't have any objections to playing a character with visible augmentations (and it's a text-based quest anyway, who cares what the protagonist looks like), but if those cybernetics carry tangible drawbacks, then hell naw.
Until I get that information, I'll tentatively vote for;
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
Frankly, I tend to think that politics and the social malarky therein is more interesting than raw military stuff, but I also rather like the idea of getting better press.
Considering the shenanigans that are likely to ensue, lighter treatment will absolutely be a good thing.
Until I get that information, I'll tentatively vote for;
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
Frankly, I tend to think that politics and the social malarky therein is more interesting than raw military stuff, but I also rather like the idea of getting better press.
Considering the shenanigans that are likely to ensue, lighter treatment will absolutely be a good thing.
Vozen
Magic Adventure Cat
- Location
- Seattle
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
Kanata.EXE
Programmer
- Location
- Indonesia
[X] You're a tall man, black and regal. You have a close buzzcut, leaving you effectively bald, and are traditionally handsome. You have no visible augmentations, your family is rich, prestigious, and conceited enough that all of yours are designed to blend with your physique, leaving them undetectable to anything save a sensor sweep. You cut a dashing figure in your uniform, which is for the best as today is your first day at the Academy.
Oh my, we're really part of the upper crust aren't we? Considering humanity has conquered most of the Milky Way, and the stupendous population that implies, just getting within 10 LY of Earth probably indicates you're the top of the top. Unless they relocated the capital to the center of the galaxy or something. Which they may have done for administrative efficiency. Still, impressive.
How goblinoid is the goblin? Are we talking rubber-forehead aliens here? Also, the sheer ridiculousness of having live servants. When the technology being implied here would have rendered them obsolete generations ago. I can smell the decadence. Well unless goblin is just little green-skinned biologic constructs or something I guess.
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
Obsession with the original human form always grated a bit on me.
[X] Magdalena Lawrence
[X] Military (You have pre-existing connections and expectations due to the status of your family and a long tradition of military service)
Military dynasty go! If those civvies back home give us any trouble we can always stage a coup!
What exactly is this implying. Is colonization of a new sector somehow controversial?
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KingOfWorlds
Exists.
- Location
- Universe #8758762952950231859269663
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
TenMoreMiles
rotating 梅长苏 in my head 24/7
- Pronouns
- It/Its
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
I like it, and we're probably gonna need those political connections. Because again, shenanigans.
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
I like it, and we're probably gonna need those political connections. Because again, shenanigans.
Scify
It always starts with a lighthouse.
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
[] Ellie Janeway
[X] Corinne Token
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] Corinne Token
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
I do love The Second Coming, but I'm a little surprised you didn't just go with Dulce et Decorum Est.
I'm the reverse. :3
[X] You're a tall man, black and regal. You have a close buzzcut, leaving you effectively bald, and are traditionally handsome. You have no visible augmentations, your family is rich, prestigious, and conceited enough that all of yours are designed to blend with your physique, leaving them undetectable to anything save a sensor sweep. You cut a dashing figure in your uniform, which is for the best as today is your first day at the Academy.
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
- Pronouns
- He/Him
You don't live on earth, you just go to school there. But, yes, you are ridiculously upper crust.
Goblins don't really look like the traditional conception of Goblins. They're short (155-ish centimeters for both genders, which have basically 0 dimorphism), hairless mammal-equivalents. Skin color ranges from freckled violets and purples to solid, deep reds. Albinistic and melanistic goblinoids exist, and are considered desirable as personal servants (All of the servants at the Naval Academy are albinos, for example). Goblins have a crownlike crest, vaguely bestial features, short lifespans, fast breeding rate, and an impressive resistance to various environments. These traits have made them popular as colonists, grunt soldiers, and pliable servants. Many rich families keep their own families of Goblins, bred for various traits, who are all raised as household servants.
It can be!
Colonization of a new sector is enormously competitive and comes with a host of possible diplomatic, legal, media, and military clusterfucks. Raiding and outright conquering minor claims from other powers is common as those claims are shaky at best, ill-defended, and the nature of expansion means that taking a single claim can put enormous swathes of territory under your control.
In addition there's always the subjugation and integration of newly discovered species, pirate suppression campaigns, and dealing with illegal independent colonies. (Any colony without a corporate or national backer) Each of these comes with its own dangers and possible media embarrassments/controversies.
There aren't tangible drawbacks to cybernetics or visible augmentations, its more a style and fashion thing. Some people revere the human form or, for whatever reason, don't like visible cybernetics much, while others find an obsession with hidden augmentations boring/cowardly/makes them look indistinguishable from poor people.
It'll change how people react to you a bit, but isn't a huge thing either way.
The horror!
I was more referring to the monies needed to go to what is probably a highly expensive Tourist Trap of Alpha Centauri, but going to school in New York is just as impressive yes.
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Icarus
Professional Kouhai
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
Latina Frank Underwood is a gogo
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
Latina Frank Underwood is a gogo
- Location
- The Usual Room
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] You're a tall woman, dark brown and vaguely latina. You have short hair, cut shorter than regs mandate, and are traditionally handsome. You have visible cybernetics, your family could afford better but didn't particularly care to. As such, both your arms and your eyes are professionally made designer cybernetics, and the gleam of metal borders your jaw.
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] Simona Lalama
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
Sarpedon
Knight Errant
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] You're a tall man, black and regal. You have a close buzzcut, leaving you effectively bald, and are traditionally handsome. You have no visible augmentations, your family is rich, prestigious, and conceited enough that all of yours are designed to blend with your physique, leaving them undetectable to anything save a sensor sweep. You cut a dashing figure in your uniform, which is for the best as today is your first day at the Academy.
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Military (You have pre-existing connections and expectations due to the status of your family and a long tradition of military service)
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Military (You have pre-existing connections and expectations due to the status of your family and a long tradition of military service)
[X] You're a tall man, black and regal. You have a close buzzcut, leaving you effectively bald, and are traditionally handsome. You have no visible augmentations, your family is rich, prestigious, and conceited enough that all of yours are designed to blend with your physique, leaving them undetectable to anything save a sensor sweep. You cut a dashing figure in your uniform, which is for the best as today is your first day at the Academy.
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
Mithrandir
Endurance and victory!
- Location
- Lighting the Blue Beacons.
[X] You're a tall man, black and regal. You have a close buzzcut, leaving you effectively bald, and are traditionally handsome. You have no visible augmentations, your family is rich, prestigious, and conceited enough that all of yours are designed to blend with your physique, leaving them undetectable to anything save a sensor sweep. You cut a dashing figure in your uniform, which is for the best as today is your first day at the Academy.
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)
[X] Alexander Dumas
[X] Political (You have fewer military connections, but myriad connections in other parts of society. In addition, you are guaranteed far better press and lighter treatment than you might otherwise get.)