Space Dragons - Another Chaotic RP

[Mags she/they]

"That's good! fine is better than bad right? has anybody started fighting yet?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

5 minutes ago, Justice_Magician said:

"That's good! fine is better than bad right? has anybody started fighting yet?"

"There's been... two shootouts, both on Earth. No one was killed."

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

By the way: there's been some confusion surrounding Dragon Society and the United Worlds. These are some addendums I'll be adding to The Gist to clarify these things:

Dragon Society:

Spoiler

For dragons, peasantry and lack of agency is the EXCEPTION - not the rule. Approximately 99.999% of all dragons are middle-class or above. Dragons who are specialized from birth are either ostracized clans (the peasants) or dynasties with a particular line of work that they expect their descendants to follow. Here's a basic rundown of how that works:

• Dragon Peasants: There are two types of dragon peasants, each with an incredibly limited repertoire of career options.
  • The lowest-caste peasants have their scales removed at birth, and are subjected to labor that might otherwise just be exported to alien slave labor - think of these dragons as super-slaves, with a significantly higher tolerance for certain conditions and a generally higher productive output. Basically, it sucks to be a Dragon Serf.
  • The higher(ish)-caste peasants are less of disgraced dragon clans and more of just the generally disadvantaged demographics. They're allowed to keep their scales, but are equipped with a very particular Scale Augment Template (I'll get to that) that allows them only a few possible career paths. These jobs can include energy farming, space gruntwork, and other generally non-survivable stuff like that. Most alien slaves can't perform these tasks, so they're shoved onto the dragon peasants to take care of.
• Dragon Specialists: The draconic empire is, put simply, massive. Having any semblance of a cohesive singular governmental unit for the entire galaxy is practically impossible at this scale - and, similarly, dragon culture varies massively from sector to sector. Some more "traditional" draconic bloodlines (or "dynasties" if you're into that kind of thing) have been following a very specific line of work for generations. These careers are decidedly less menial than the likes of the dragon peasantry's, but aren't generally taken on by higher-ranking dragons either; they're the Ma and Pa small-business peoples for the dragons, making specialized hyperdrives and stellar engines and whatnot.
• Dragon Everything Else: With the exception of the generally familially-garnered positions of nobility within the draconic empire, most (again: 99.999%) civilians simply have the option to do whatever the heck they want with their lives. They're generally wealthy enough to afford specialized Scale Augments, follow their dreams, and live comfortably throughout their lives.
  • Dragon Nobles: These dragons are of course allowed to leave behind their noble obligations in pursuit of their dreams, but dragon nobility generally live more lavishly, and often have enough wealth and power to pursue their hobbies anyways, so this doesn't happen all that often.

Scale Augments:

Spoiler

Dragons evolved to unconsciously move their scales for defense, intimidation, mating, etc. By the time the draconic society began its foray into genetic enhancement, they were of course drawn to the prospect of harnessing this feature: incredibly durable and unfeeling, yet connected (even indirectly) to the general nervous system. Scientists began developing methods to consciously control their scales, and then developed a technology that almost single-handedly paved the way for their eventual conquest of the galaxy: Scale Augments.

Put simply, Scale Augments are techy bits that combine biological, mechanical, and electrical engineering into one grand product. The basis of the technology is in surgically enhancing the brain's connection to the scales, allowing dragons to control their otherwise automatic movements at will. Once a dragon has been acclimated to this change, they can acquire an Augment Template - think of these as adaptors, allowing the dragon's control over their scales to translate into control over whatever the Augments might do.

The Augments themselves are specialized for the dragon's chosen career path and/or hobbies, allowing them tools for... stuff. I haven't actually come up with many ideas for them yet. Basically this stuff is power armor, used for tough-nut engineering gigs and various awesome military stuff.

The United Worlds:

Spoiler

This is the government created by Humanity for their solar-system-wide colonization. It is not some kind of UN for aliens and humans alike. Humanity expanding and colonizing other planets was far from a unified endeavor, and the establishment of interplanetary countries and nations ultimately led to the expansion of the United Nations into its natural evolution: the United Worlds. Nine planets are included on this council (the citizens of Pluto held a week-long coup until the scientific community conceded - so did the inhabitants of Eris, but theirs was less effective), now featuring several thousand total countries.

Of course, the fact that this is based on the UN means that the organizational decisions were roughly 93% America; 6% Europe, India, Japan, and China; and 1% "Other." Schools still teach World History, but it's become a very pedantically-charged subject.

 

Edited July 4, 2023 by Channelknight Fadran

[Mags she/they]

20 hours ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

"There's been... two shootouts, both on Earth. No one was killed."

"Oh, thats good that no ones died yet, no one is suggesting fighting the dragons?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

"People have been, yeah, but the world leaders have kept quiet for the past few days."

[Mags she/they]

"Do we have any idea how other intelligent species in the area have reacted? The people here won't tell me anything, I believe they think I'm a spy, as if I could see this coming-- so silly."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Everyone's been quiet. Too quiet. It's..." Disquieting.

[PyroPhile]

Quote

Can Ghost join in this conversation?

 

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

I suppose he can

 

[Mags she/they]

On 7/5/2023 at 4:49 PM, Channelknight Fadran said:

"Everyone's been quiet. Too quiet. It's..." Disquieting.

"Hmm this is not good . . . not good at all . . . I had been hoping some other peoples would reach out and want to join us in fighting the dragons, but I suppose not."

[PyroPhile]

At that point, Paprika and Amaranthine received a ping saying that Ghost wanted to join the call.

@Channelknight Fadran @Justice_Magician

Edited July 7, 2023 by PyroPhile
Forgor pings

[Mags she/they]

Ari fiddled with the device for a bit, learning how to use human technology had taken her even longer than learning their language. Eventually though, she was able to press the button that would allow Ghost onto the call.

[Channelknight Fadran]

"G'day," Paprika said in her best Old British accent. It came across slightly more Martian than she'd hoped.

[Mags she/they]

"Well friends," Ari asked, lowering her voice so that the security guards wouldn't hear. "What is out plan on sending this revolution into motion?"

[PyroPhile]

Quote

Would it be possible for Ghost to Thoughtspeak through whatever they’re calling with, if Ghost had modified his?

 

[Channelknight Fadran]

1 minute ago, PyroPhile said:

 

Quote

Eh... might as well

 

[Mags she/they]

Quote

They both work on the space magic right? So it could totally work for Space Magic reasons

 

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

correct

 

[PyroPhile]

Hello, Ghost said over the call, yet somehow using Thoughtspeak. It’s nice to talk to you again.

 @Channelknight Fadran @Justice_Magician

[Channelknight Fadran]

“Hi. How’s… life?”

[PyroPhile]

It’s been chaotic after the Declaration. Nobody knows what to do.

Quote

Sorry for taking so long 

@Channelknight Fadran

Edited July 10, 2023 by PyroPhile

[Channelknight Fadran]

"I... think that's the point." Paprika sighed. "The dragons want whoever's most ruthless to win. There's probably a coalition of the strongest worlds already..."

[Mags she/they]

"How many other worlds are we competing with?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Who knows?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

screw it - something's gonna happen now

Paprika's wristbank bleeped again: three flashes, meaning it was a public announcement. She beamed it to Ghost and Ari, as well as the others in her contacts.

It was a single message from the Chairman of the United Worlds.

 

We're in.