Mechanical Dream - Core's Crusade - Dream Aspect

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Chapter one, the Core's Crusade

Dream aspect ChFip t ~ r

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(Introduction) SHORT LEXICON !MARGINS) KA"iNAS, PENDULUM, DREAM, DAY AND ERA SOH WITHIN THIS WORLD, BINARY GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY, THE DREAM AND THE DAY WILDERNESS ORPEE LINKING THE ECHOES WITH EFLOW CULTURAL DIFFERENCES APPROACHING CULTURE. .. DEFINING CULTURE ABOUT SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS ... ChF1p t ~ r

3

(Years of Chaos)

70

4 4

INTRODUCING THE CORE DROLIATH'S DECREE OF POWER THE CORE'SPRIORITIES RECORD FROM THE PRE-CORE HISTORICAL EVENTS THE PRESENT

72

5

6 8 9 11 13 14 15 16

2

(Races) EMOVANS FRILINS GNATHS INA'iS NAYANS ODWOANES SO LEKS VOLKO'iS YAKIS iiNS

17 18 21 24 27 30 33 37 40 43 46

Ch F1 p t ~ r3

(Echoes) AWAKENER GUARDIAN JUDGE JUDICATOR MIND CHEMIST NIGHTMARE OVERLORD TRUTH CRAFTER WALKER WAR ENGINE

49 50 52 54 56 58

Chapt ~ l"

73 74 75

76 80

5

(The Core's News) THE CORE'SCHRONOLOGY MONEY AND NEWS THE CORE HIMSELF'SSPEECH THE CORE'SCRUSADE Walking Marching Crusade CREDITS THE ARMY AND THE BANK THE GEODEM SYSTEM SOUTH MAP OF KA'iNAS ENVIRONMENTS POLITICAL SYSTEM CITIES AND TOWNS · Kha'i-Bhek · Danaac · Kolester · Oce · Ulabediare · Kaderun & Dubarim · Vilnaco &Mroa · Kevoy I Set & Uchatere · Yhrne llemir r SOCIAL SYSTEM ECONOMICSYSTEM. INDUSTRIES

81 82 83 85

86 86 87 89 88 89 91 92 93 95 97 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 108 111

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Naakinis: In the Frilin language, "Naakinis" refers to something awakened and immense. In our terms, it could mean 'conscious planet." Because it goes completely against their views of the world, however, the Gnoths have banished this word from their language. To the Gnaths, the idea of a Iorge, spherical object floating in orbit for no apparent reason seems a weak theor and to award if a conscience is ludicrous. Gnaths don't understand why something conscious would spin in circles millennia alter millennia without ever tiring. Furthermore, while they believe if may be possible to prove the necessity of the planet's movement, to justify its consciousness is a seeniingly impossible task. The Frilins, lna"is and Emovans, plus some Judges and Judicotors, however, still maintain a belief Her, Naakinis. The Frilins, lna·is and the Emovans can justify their faith in Her because they are emotional characters that need spirituality. The Judges and Judicators, however, believe in Her for a different reason. They recognize that their strength, impressive even among Echoes, must exist lor a reason. And they believe that the conscious planet Nookinis has given them these powers, as She is the one who directs and makes sense of the world. It is the Laws of the Judges and the Reincarnation of the Judicators that prevent the Gnoths from discarding this concept entirely.

The game takes place on Kai"nas, a circle of light nearly 30,000 miles in diameter. This circle of light is but a small part of the planet called Naakinis, whose size is perhaps best left unknown ... Surrounding Kai"nas is an intangible black wall called the Sofe, which rises over 40 miles high. Due to some of Ka"inas' peculiarities, it is assumed that other "areas of light" (circular or not) exist, and that there might be other sentient beings in these areas.

PEndulum Light, instead of being provided by a sun, originates from a Pendulum, a blue glowing sphere (which, when seen from the ground, appears to be an inch wide). The Pendulum oscillates as if it were anchored to the center of Naakinis by an invisible cord. The Pendulum waxes and wanes from east to west, then west to east, disappearing behind the Sofe for a few hours. The light shed by the Pendulum does not so much provide luminosity as it provides stability: reality on Ka"inas is a fragile concept. The Sofe is simply a region on which reality cannot get a hold: the Pendulum's light is probably too weak for the Safe's density.

TbE DrEBm When the Pendulum disappears behind the Sofe, its light can no longer reach Kai"nas. As less and less light is shed on Ka"inas, a phenomenon called "the Dream" occurs. As the Pendulum wanes in the east, the western cities feel the Dream rise sooner than the eastern cities (and inversely so). As long as a bit of light remains, the Dream lingers faintly. When no light is left, the Dream becomes real. The Dream is the superimposition of the dream world onto reality, which it does not replace or dominate. Instead, the Dream overlaps onto reality (to different extents). Regardless of its effects, the Dream fades away a dawn, leaving no trace at all -other than frightened faces and, perhaps, a few dead bodies ...

TbE 064 On Ka"inas, daylight lasts twenty hours, calculated from the moment the Dream and the darkness start to fade (because of the high quantity of Kioux, trees miles high, the Pendulum can rarely be seen as the leaves and branches cover the sky almost entirely in most places). Because of the Dream, mornings on Ka"inas are an occasion to revel for a few minutes before reality bites back... Time being more difficult, if not impossible, to measure during the Dream, it is estimated that the Dream lasts ten hours. For this reason, Dream (night) workers' work shifts last "from dusk 'til dawn ", meaning that sometimes they may happen to work a little more and other times, a little less - depending on the fluctuations of the Dream. During the twenty hours of daylight, most people work between ten (best situations) and fifteen hours (normal situations). The poorest people, those nearest to slavery in some far flung cities, are sometimes forced to work through the twenty hours of daylight (all races on Ka"inas are much more resilient than humans). On Kai"nas, weeks are five days long (regulated by the people's need for orpee, a vital resource that all but one race must eat weekly or die).

TbE EC6 The majority of the residents of Kai"nas live in a world so dangerous (matching the occult era of the medieval ages to the proletarian revolution of the late 1800's in our history) that anything outside their immediate surroundings is of no concern to them. Those who live on Kioux (huge trees that grow miles high) built platforms at different heights, and thus live in "layered " cites. Those citizens, in safty, are concerned with things outside their immediate world. The

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higher the platform and the richer, more civilized and technologically advanced society there is. They rule this world from above and see the masses below as nothing but a workforce. They don't live in a medieval world. Rather, they live in an era of ever evolving science and technology. They don't have to fight for survival with common dangers of everyday life. Instead they are occupied with pursuing scientific research or they quest for power. Of course, these cities have many levels and there are many differences between the f'rrst and last platforms. The first platforms are often Renaissance-like. The next few levels are more industrial and some of the highest platforms are, in their own way, very much like our modern world. Therefore, unless people are lucky and rich, they do not dwell on philosophy, science or technology because they are too absorbed in daily survival.

SofE The potential for scientific discovery by the people on Ka'inas is limited by the Sofe; a black, ethereal (but solid) wall that entirely surrounds them. The total surface covered by light averages fifty thousand miles, five times the Earth's surface if it were flat. The fact that the Soleks recently (three hundred years ago) emerged from the Sofe proves that it isn't actually the end of the world. The Soleks are the only race who have been able to survive traveling into the Sofe. When the Soleks returned to Ka'inas, the inhabitants believed that they must have come from another light zone because, although the Soleks share the same language and cultural roots as everyone else, no one remembered them. They must have left a very long time ago and therefore have been forgotten and upon their return, mistaken for people of another light zone. For most, that the Soleks appeared is enough proof that the space "around" is just like the space "above" and that, with the appropriate means of travel, anyone can reach other civilizations in far flung regions of the world. (Note: "Ka'inas" refers to the part of the universe that is light and "world" refers to everything outside this realm of light.)

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Kamas: Created by the Gnaths to replace the word "Naakinis". This word first meant territory, region, frontier or limit. The Gnaths used it to define the circle of light in which they live. Outside the circle of light is the Sole. They did not believe in a greater whole that had unknown purpose. Because their view was narrower than that of the Frilins, it was quickly accepted by most as a manageable explanation of their world. After the Gnoth's view become prominent, most people forgot the dualistic visions of Nookinis and Ko'inos. Soon, the two words were only used in reference to the differing ecosystems. People presume that they live on Ka'inos and that "Nookinis," the planetary goddess, is a Frilin myth (albeit a well·established one). Those few who realize that everything cannot be explained by the ....."''"''"'"'"" view of the world believe that the ns, in the words of Ekoya, "sow something real, but expldined it incorrectly. Inorder to create a new explanation of the universe, both points of view would necessarily have to be re·interpreted." To sum up, the word "Ka'inas" now refers to both the small ecosystem (the geographic region limited by the Sole) and the mindset of those who live in the trees. Emovans and lna'is, who are very numerous and dwell under the ground in the water or

Wilbin Tbis world Orpee: It is the source of life land power) on Noakinis. Orpee looks like a small fruit and is found deep underground. It contains ellow in small, edible quantities. Its greatest particularity is that no other known resource on Ko'inos contains ellow. Everybody needs ellow to survive, therefore orpee is a very valuable ond highly prized. There ore ten known sources of orpee on Ko\nas. These sources are all controlled by the lno\s, the only race able to go deep enough underground to gather orpee.

Eflow: Most people do not understand what eflow is or how it keeps them alive. Rother, the masses believe that orpee is the source of their survival. Eflow exists everywhere, but in such small quantities th it is practically impossible to detect. Ellow gives life if it is infused into a body, and causes death if it is completely removed from a body. Whenever the ellow in someone's body becomes scarce, that person panics and will do anything possible to regain his health. Echoes ore able to recognize ellow powers and use it lor more than just mointoinin.g their existence. Echoes use ellow to activate their Gih's powers, and thus require more orpee (or ellow) that regular people. Echoes: These rore individuals manifest a Gilt and a Whisper at some point in their life, identifying them as Echoes and connecting them to a specific type, be it War Engine, Walker or Judge. Many scientists believe that Echoes stand on the edge of two worlds, on the axes of two ecosystems (Naakinis and Ka·inas) because they are all born in the Ka·inas system and slowly evolve towards the Naakinis. Echoes ore the most important phenomenon of this universe and are found everywhere in high spheres of power. Echoes have transformed the world with their discoveries, rulings and feats. Because there is only one lor every ten thousand people, each time an Echo Awakens he has to hide his nature carefully to l!Void jealousy. Th Echo phenomenon can be discussed at length, but more details will appear over the course of the book.

In Ka'inas, ten races live together and share the same basic culture, with three exceptions; the Ina"is, the Yakis and the Emovans. Tnais live in immense underground caves lit by miJJions of artificial lights. Yakis are nomads living in tribes and Emovans live miles below the surface in underground rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. All ten races share the same two languages: Frilin and Gnath. The source of the Gnath language is Frilin, as they were supposedly the frrst race on Ka·inas. Every culture, determined more by geographic location than by race, develops its own dialect. Gnaths, Odwoanes and Volko!s are more gregarious than other races and tend to gather in cities. Nayans are scattered wherever there are sentient beings. Upon their return, Soleks created tribes, similar to the Yakis, and they are now gradually re-integrating into society, either by joining "families" or becoming nomads. Zms are extremely rare, and therefore are not a real consideration in Ka:inas. Each of these races or ethnicities (ethnicity, on Naakinis, is a conglomeration of sedentary people in a given place where location, not race, is the determining factor) provides a piece of the cultural puzzle to this world, be it how they talk, eat, act, mate (for those who do) the morals and ethics they adopt, their thought processes, arts and crafts and the knowledge they value most. Although these factors are strongly influenced by an individual's race, when culture is fairly embedded in a certain location, the nature and race of the individual growing within the culture is clearly affected by it.

As the dust falls to the ground, the sculptor's creation is nearly complete. Holding our breath, we brush away any leftover dust ... The next parr of the introduction will rake acloser look at the universe before you actually immerse yourself in it. As we will use some terms specific to the world that are nor explained here, we recommend you take a little journey through this book to get familiar with them. Check out the Lexicon, Races and Echoes-save the powers for another time ...

B i n~H4 gEograp b4 On Naakinis, there are two kinds of ecosystems cohabiting one surface. First, there's the giant ecosystem that belongs to Naakinis. It's made up of huge trees, the Kioux, which are miles tall and have roots and branches that cover immense surfaces on the ground and in the sky. This ecosystem also has large caverns hundreds of meters deep that shelter millions of lna!s and beasts. The second ecosystem, the Ka!nas system, is filled with what earthlings consider "normalsized" trees growing on the branches of Kioux and on the ground, creating forests that resemble that of earth's. The animals and beasts inhabiting these forests range from the size of a rabbit to that of an elephant. The animals of Ka!nas never grow as large as those of the Naakinis. Biologists and evolutionary scientists believe that the Naakinis ecosystem came first and then, at some unknown point in time, the Ka'inas ecosystem emerged, overlapping the Naakinis ecosystem without causing its disappearance. To clarify, Ka!nas is a smaller ecosystem that grow faster but has a shorter life span than the Naakinis system. It is a microcosm of a bigger ecosystem that has existed for many years (Kioux can live for about a hundred thousand years). Walking within these lands will make you feel at ease with the scale of things (Ka!nas) and, at the same time, you'll feel like the tiniest dwarf ever created by Mother Nature (Naakinis). This is probably what led the Gnaths to first climb a

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Kioux, clear it of its dangerous fauna and make it hospitable enough to construct cities on. When visualizing this landscape, you must remember all the immense underground rivers and seas, which look like the veins of an incredible giant. The Yakis travel the lands above on huoras, gigantic beasts that can carry entire families and their houses on their backs. There are also northern mountains with incredible peaks. But most important to picture are the Kioux every few miles, their trunk hundreds of meters wide. They are an overwhelming presence, with roots that scar the ground and branches and leaves that hide the sky. Those who live in Kalnas constantly feel the Kioux' overshadowing presence and much of their efforts are focused on trying to forget it. If a traveler leaves his city for the first time, for example, he'll leave behind the many years of darkness in which he lived under the shadows of the platforms above, in the slums or perhaps on the first or second platform. When he returns, he'll understand all the pressure the platforms generate and he will realize the clear injustice that hovers above his head. At first, the difference between earth and Kalnas might seem trivial. But, despite thousands of years of living in Ka1nas, its inhabitants still feel like small insects on the back of a huge beast from another world. For example, the laws by which the Kioux grow are not the same as other trees; it is not merely a giant species of an ordinary tree. lnals accept the fact they live in caves way too big to fit their natural environment, housing millions in each cave. Gnaths, on the other hand, wish to dominate the Kiou x because they feel a need to control their environment rather than let it dominate them. Every time someone sees a Kioux, he gets an uneasy feeling and something tells him "this is not my place". The Core, for example, has built his spiritual strength on this concept. By replacing the Naakinis goddess of the Frilins with a more rational world based on perception and experience, the Core has succeeding in reducing the Naakinisian ' environment to a myriad of smaller facets. It is as though the Core Himself had taken an image too big to be observed and traced lines on it to create a mosaic, enabling the image to be viewed one part at a time. Most of the rich cities and towns are constructed in the trunks of Kioux because they offer great protection from every kind of ground assault. These cities keep active slums beneath them and those that dwell in these slums, unless they are brave and experienced fighters, live in a constant state of fear. Of course, the larger a slum is, the less chance it has of being attacked by beasts. Therefore, old cities with hundreds of thousands of citizens are relatively safe. Newer cities generally have a difficult time for at least fifty years, the time it takes for two generations to grow and for people to come from other places and try their luck within the new city. Because of these dangers, people get easily paranoid in the slums. They are accustomed to violence and consider it normal. Cruelty is also considered natural, be it only because of everyone's need for orpee. However, since the Core Himself came to power, things have changed because he forces every city within his Domain to build and maintain very solid barriers around their cities. He accomplishes this task by hiring teams of hard-core workers, mostly Volkols, to assist the Lords in building fortifications. And while cities are now safer, life is still dangerous for those on the frontiers.

Half-Echoes: Some people carry a few particular powers, yet they cannot evolve through Spheres. They ore Half. Echoes. Librarians, for example, con stock and recall astonishing amounts of information without the slightest error. A librarian can memorize the nome, function and affiliation of every citizen within his city and con recall this information at anytime. Some Librarians contain information that every other Librarian possesses, which would they know the details of about l0 ~~'"'·mum1ns of individuals by heart. The of Holf·Echoes ore more general for Echoes, but lock-the clarity that makes Echoes so easily identifiable. Two librarians, for example, might hove very different powers but will still be called Librarians because of the way they use their powers. _, Whisper: The accepted theory about

Whispers names the Whisper as the "voice" of eflow as it travels through on Echo's body. As on Echo gains strength, and because he gains strength, the information flowing within him begins to crystallize. This crystallization process forms the Whisper. When on Echo is born, a small portion of eflow immediately begins to crystallize forming the "embryo" of the Whisper and identifying what type of Gift the Echo will hove. This Whisper grows more coherent and understandable as the Echo progresses from ' Sphere to Sphere.

GEOffrtlp b4 Kainas is mostly covered by jungle and forest, therefore the most common material is wood. Only in the north can you fmd mountainous peaks and the single surface ocean of this world is situated in the northeast. Everywhere else the land is flat and filled with trees from both realms. Should you leave the safety of your town or city, you'll find a solid sedimentary ground.

TbE DrEam and TbE Da4 Spheres, Gifts and Powers:

The term 'Sphere" is used to distinguish between levels of on Echo's evolution. The more strength he gains, the more knowledge he gains about the world around him, his powers and the use of his Gih. When on Echo is born, he starts his life in the first Sphere. Through experience, he evolved to the second Sphere, where certain powers manifest themselves. The more he grows, the more he learns oboutthe ellow that circulates in his veins. There ore currently only five known Spheres. Although each Ec is different, the strength of body and mind needed to surpass the second Sphere is too great lor many Echoes. less than 5% of Echoes reach the third level. An Echo reaching the third Sphere does not necessarily manifest the some powers as other Echo at the some level. Furthermore, although it is not always evident what Sphere on Echo has obtained, othird Sphere Echo's confidence and mannerisms clearly indicate that he is on Echo and very powerful. Relics: Echoes creole their own relics. These relics serve os Ellow containers, carrying extra stores of Ellow lor Echoes so they will not risk gelling Eflow burns. Although relics are safer to use than Ellow within the body, the Eflow within a relic quickly loses its 'freshness' and becomes dormant (Echoes hove special cases into which they put orpee thotthen hove their ellow absorbed by the relic). Dormont Eflow is harder to use or, more precisely, less effective, but most Echoes still prefer this method because using their own Eflow is dangerous. Afight can erupt at anytime and Eflow drains out of owounded body with great speed.

When the Pendulum disappears it is called the Dream. Physically, we could call it "night" for there is an absence of light for a certain number of hours but, when we look more closely, this analogy crumbles. When the Dream comes, everything changes to resemble a dream-like state. Most of the time (approximately 60%), the changes are subtle and soft and intangible. The outline of things blur, colors fade and sounds become distorted. But occasionally (30%) things become more like real dreams and strange phenomena can occur. During this state, you might see moving shadows, hear screams coming from nowhere or feel texture of something transform (wood feels like bone). In fact, during this part of Dream, many psychotropic hallucinations may occur. In remaining 10% of Dream states, manifestations are strongly physical and can be very dangerous. Corpses can turn into living dead and walk around. Walls become liquid and change shape and screams become physical. Two triggers of (strong) dreams have been found to date: the quantity of people around (likely linked to conscience) and the degree of emotional strength in a given area. Places lacking history, where everything is always normal and quiet, are less likely to suffer the effects of such Dreams than places full of passion such as war fields and arenas. Dreams wJl be discussed further in another section. The effect of such abnormal nights makes for a very different nightlife... Adventurers who, after rough day, sleep in an unprotected inn will always take turns being on guard, exactly as if they were in the wJderness. With time, many also learn to predict how the Dream will be the next day, simJar to elderly people who can predict the weather by their rheumatism. Inhabitants of Ka!nas are resigned to putting up with Dream states out of habit; they have never known another way. For them, to see their fears materialize is something horrible but it does not have the same repercussions as human dreams. When the Dream is strong, the subject is not concerned with panic but with security measures, tension and aggressiveness. The fact that more murders happen during these nights then at any other time reinforces this point.

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ThE wj]dErnEss No one is innocent to the dangers of this environment. Many things that are taken for granted on earth cannot be in this world. For example, going for a ride in the forest is only possible within a few miles of the cities and only when accompanied by guards to protect you, not necessarily from creatures but from thieves and rogues. If you venture out any further, the creatures you might encounter are often too dangerous to handle unless you are fully trained to fight them (there's no comparison between fighting a sentient being with a head, two legs and two arms, and fighting a raging "gnasher"' with a six-foot long jaw and very sharp teeth). The tension emerging from this external environment makes Kamas resemble our Jurassic era in way. Imagine what it would be like to take a walk with T-rexes and other flesh-eating dinosaurs in the vicinity. People live in civilized surroundings and are content to do so if only for the protection it affords them. And although they exist, people who live in small villages without the protection of the masses are universally regarded as freaks. For example the Yakis, being nomadic, are regularly exposed to danger and many would not want to risk living the way they do. Those who become members of a Yaki tribe often have to sacrifice comfort for protection, because the armor the Yakis wear help them a lot to survive during their travel, but is very burdensome. So with the combination of the Dream and the dangers of the surrounding wilderness, people can hardly develop a positive perception of the world in which they live. It seems as though everything is out to get them, be it flesh-eating creatures, the Dream, the leaders on a higher platform or the orpee, which they must constantly seek in order to survive.

Precepts: The Judge Precepts are the

highest authority on Ka'inas and never or interfered with. They represent the mast fundamental and supreme rules and are, quite surprisingly, the laws the Core decided to keep as his government's when he came to power. By retaining these laws, the Core melded Ka'inas and Naakinis law for the first time (since the Judges think of themselves as children of Naakinis). Aran world: Stranger than the

and more distant, Aran does not to be connected wilh Ka'inas reality because its presence can only be felt where the Pendulum's light cannot reach; deep under the water or below the canopy formed by the dense foliage of same forests and jungles (a Kioux can sometimes have such dense foliage at its top that Aran domains exist within.). The creatures that exist in these domains obey different laws than the people of Ka'inas and their functions, actions and goals have not yet been understood by anybody, including the Core. Most noticeably, anyone from Kai·nas who succeeds in reaching this territory automatically must leave all inorganic matter at the entrance. Once inorganic material has entered Aran, it loses its substance and disintegrates into nothing before the bearer's eyes.

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The biggest Kioux on Ka'inas is Kha'i-Bhek's, which is 20 miles tall and six miles at the trunk's base. Most new cities are constructed on Kioux because they offer shelter from dangerous beosts that lurk on the ground. Each Kioux is home to many different of ueatures, from those who live high in the tree's branches to those who walk up ond downthe trunk, perpendicular to the One of every hundred Kioux has almost perfectly horizontal branches. When a tree of this type is found, politkal battles are often waged todetermine who should construct new cities on it. Kioux are also a great source of row moteriol. The inhabitants of a Kioux con use all the wood, resin, leaves, vines and small uitters they find on the tree. The wood con be used for construction purposes while resin is better for carving more specific tools such as swords. leaves are made into leather armor by taking two layers and weaving them together. They also serve as rainproof rooftops and dothes (the higher in the tree you go, the thinner the leaves). Vines are weaved into ropes and used to losh other structures. (riflers found on Kioux pro~lde

meot, domestic animals beasts of burden to work the fields of uops growing vertically up and down the trees.

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OrpEE (JbE cEnTEr of lbE world) J' h ysi cHI Orpe; is a small fruit. It is round, two inches in diameter and weighs about 100 grams. A mixture of deep brown, green and red shades, it has a rugged texture that becomes smooth on contact. Orpee grows underground and are harvested from the deepest recesses of the caves hundreds of miles below. For some reason, Ina'is being the sole race able to withstand such a massive amount of eflow, in these depths (the air is saturated with eflow), who watch over the "mining" process very carefully, possess all known sources of orpee. Orpee is the only known matter that naturaUy possesses releasable eflow, which is the prime requisite for all life on Ka:inas. Every living thing contains a little bit of eflow within it and the more a body can absorb eflow, the faster it loses it. Eflow "seeks" complex organisms, privileging informative structures. In other words, the more complex and intelligent the life form, the greater the chance that it carries a significant amount of eflow, which rejuvenates it. The complete process will be explained later. Frilins, for example, because they are vegetal, they don't need to eat orpee. They are able to obtain and diffuse their "used" eflow by E-synthesis, a process much like photosynthesis. Having eflow in your body is not a choice; it is the most fundamental need of all life on Ka'inas. Should anyone be drained of all the eflow in his body, he would die in less than a minute. A quick equation is: eflow=Life and eflow can only be found in orpee, so orpee=Life.

l'oliti<.:;HI If orpee is life, then those who possess it would seem to have the edge over those who don't. However, those who possess orpee are less powerful that one would first assume because they must maintain control over a very dangerous force. If orpee is taken away from those who need it, those who need it will have nothing to lose and will therefore be. willing to risk their lives in a quest to obtain it. This is common fact, so those who are in power must be careful not to maintain too tight a grip on their orpee control lest the masses start an uprising and revolt. (Note that those who have the potential to revolt are always very dangerous, such as Volko'is, Soleks and Yakis.) So, in this world it is necessary to take orpee into account when you are determining how to control the masses. For example, as an army leader, you cannot consider moving your troops very far without reassuring them a sufficient supply of orpee for the entire length of their travels or else they simply won't go. Among the powerful, most "games" are centered on orpee because with orpee you can pay someone, bribe a guard and hire Echoes, among other things.

Ps y<.:;h o logi ca I The need for orpee is physical but is also deeply anchored in the mind. It is an addiction that you are born with that stays with you your entire life. For this reason, it is both banal and of extreme importance. Anyone on this planet, whatever his personality, race or past, first thinks "how can I get enough orpee to survive?" The obvious answer is by getting a job but other means of living are possible for resourceful people. In the frrst few games, the Game Master cannot stress the importance of orpee enough. Most people who have permanent jobs never have enough orpee to build reserves and are therefore always worried that something might happen that would force them to stop working and be unable to acquire orpee. Those who choose more alternative lifestyles might be able to get hold of some orpee to store, but they will then have to worry about keeping it safe. Because someone is in possession of some now does not mean they will necessarily have orpee later.

Enclave: The Enclave is the politico! ogglomerotion of the four City-Stoles ond Kho'i-Bhek, clearly demarcated by orailway whose !rocks ore laid on othree-mile high wall linking the four City-Stoles ond Kho'i· Bhek. If you look down on this railroad from above, the wall !rocks ore shaped like o lozenge with a cross in the middle, with the axis being Kho'i-Bhek. Below the railroad, on the bottom third of the wall, a formidable fortification keeps enemies and attackers at bay. The wall also serves as a territorial marker. Most of the Core's army quarters are within these walls and patrolling guards use rail trucks that run the entire loopof the tracks to keep watch. The Skytrain, as it's called, carries merchandise, workers, soldiers, travelers (often business lords) r'!'lll~twittlv and safely between the five _.,lestirratiorns. Should one!ity-State be attacked, the remaining four regions can hastily come to its aid. Core's Domain: This term refers to

everything within the Core, limited only by the borders of the most distant cities, which because of the city construction project (CCP), is continuously expanding. It used to be just called Domain, but because the Echoes speak of their range of powers as domains, to keep things clear everyone now calls it the Core's Domain. City!fown: The city/town distinction is

important to make because where ocity belongs to the Core's system, a town is independent. Acity enjoys benefits and disadvantages os port of the Core, while o town focuses its energies on producing or transforming resources to sell to nearby villages, towns and cities. Atown's only limitation is tho! it cannot buy nor sell products outside of its Geodem triangle (see figure 1.34, p. 94 ). For details on the Geodem, see p.91

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City Construction Project (CCP): CCPs are very prolific lor

investors who convince wealthy people to lend them money to start the construction of a new city. Recently, since building cities is as much a trend as a necessity, new investors shape the city in original woys in order to attract Yakis, merchants and Echoes to their city. Each construction site must follow the Core's legislation lor new CCPs. The towns ore always strong (physically, politically and economically), throwing a wrench into the plans of people who wont to accumulate more wealth using the space for more CCPs. These independent towns continue to function well, but cautiously, aware of the possibility of attock at any time. Sastak: This incredibly versatile

material's basic component is a unique form of a~ae. Formed deep underwater where the pressure is excruciating lor most 1 the Emovons are the only creatures that con access this precious resource. This explains why they hove exclusive p;oduction of the material and why they ore so economically affluent and influential in the merchant market. Those who specialize in Sastak crafts keep its composition a secret and since the forges are so deep underwater, no one can spy on the process. Sostak's most important quality is its malleability, which allows it to be forged into a wide variety of different objects. Aperfect Sostok blade, lor example, is able to cut through rock without any effort. Furthermore, Sostok functions in the normal world, the Dream and Aran. This is a great advantage to the bearers of Sostak weapons because theoretically, only a body can enter Aran territory, and all material possessions fall at the gate.

In this world, you cannot d~cide to do nothing "productive" with your life. Here, you either get orpee or you die. It's not a question of becoming rich, it's about pure survival. And this survival depends on social interaction. One can only retreat into reclusively if you have enough orpee to last the rest of your life, and you are sure you'Ll be able to defend it should you be attacked. From one perspective, orpee is a good thing because it forces interaction and codependency, creating a productive system in which everyone takes part and wishes to do his best, for his own good. Of course, there are those who reap little benefit from this system and those who benefit a great deal. In Kha'i-Bhek highest platfoms, the central city of the Core, the benefits are at their highest while in the slums, they are at their lowest. So, those who live marginal lives are the real risk-takers, risking their lives almost every day to keep their integrity and stay as far away as they can from social mechanisms. That also explains why there are almost no artists: there is no time nor any reason for frivolous activities and people won't give anything away unless you're really lucky or in a city where Gnaths aren't dominant. Finally, the negative side to orpee is that it has even worse effects on people's actions than money. Killing for orpee is killing for survival and, should you kill while you still have orpee left, well, you would only be consolidating your future. In the old laws, killing for orpee was allowed but, due to the disruptions it caused in the social fabric of the society, Droliath Estolah made killing for orpee illegal. This pleases some and displeases others. There is a strong black market for orpee: mercenaries often work for a few Bps and a lot of orpee. Rare things are also traded in orpee and not money because such transactions are harder to detect by the Core. Orpee, unlike money, disappears when eaten (money leaves fingerprints, etc.). Imagine, for a moment, that every neighbor is a potential killer. If they lack orpee, they just might be willing to kill you for it. Of course in this world, many refrain from killing. Instead, they gather in small communities within the cities to help each other instead of risking their lives. But this is very improbable if no lna'is or Nayans are around, if there are only Gnaths.

Eeonomie~l This product creates a complete economy in and of itself. People work to buy their weekly dose of orpee; industries create products to allow them to gain some control over the distribution of orpee. Every person's dream is to feel safe and content because they possess enough orpee to survive. Without orpee, a purely savage capitalist economy would rule this world. With the orpee, however, it's a fundamental economy. Everyone needs it to function properly, so even rebels don 't want the system to crumble completely (The Years of Chaos made a third of the population died and no one wants this to ever happen again.) Often, people prefer to get paid in orpee rather than money, mostly because of the psychologically soothing effect getting paid in orpee has. Some merchants have perfected techniques that allow them to make a few extra Blood pieces (BPs) out of almost any deal by offering a rounded up amount of orpee instead of money. As a general measure, one orpee is worth one week of work for the common worker, without taking into account the money he also receives, which is often only enough feed him and his family. He receives one more orpee per child under working age, which is twelve.

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For the rich and the Echoes, orpee means power; technological power for rich people and "spiritual " power for the Echoes (see below). Many inventions, from the smallest lantern to the most gigantic engine, are literally fuelled with orpee. Because it is so rich in properties, orpee can be used to fuel many things, such as

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swords and armor to name a few. Many materials are porous, so they can easily be filled with orpee. Being more versatile, consistent and energetic than most fuels, orpee can be imbued with properties whereas other fuels cannot. Truthfully, the degree of power it possesses has yet to be fully understood. Engineers and Weirdsmiths (Echoes who will appear at a future time) and all kinds of mechanical creators use it, whenever they can afford it, to create something that works with ef1ow. These inventions are always referred to with an E before the name, such as an E-sword, or E-bike. This E-technology is considered to be the most advanced system to have been developed so far. Every major mechanical object works better with orpee, so it has become dominant everywhere. This has made orpee essential for any "real" crafter, too. Since the discovery of the fuelling properties of orpee in mechanical engines, the demand for orpee has quadrupled and the lna'is aren't sure what to do about the Gnaths requesting so much orpee. They are unsure whether orpee will at some time in the future become a scarce commodity, making it more precious than it already is.

Spiritrwl The relics are something that bridge the technological and spiritual fields. These objects can store ef1ow which people can carry on themselves when traveling or stacked in bigger quantities in their vehicles. But the Echoes are the ones who really know how to use and take advantage of these relics by triggering their powers. The biggest users of orpee are the Echoes. Since their Gifts works with ef1ow, this makes all Echoes very unstable. Each time they use one of their powers, they lose some of their own ef1ow. Besides the obvious power factor, many questions arise for the Echoes; why is there orpee; why are they the only ones who can really use ef1ow; why are they the only ones to use relics; and why are they the only ones with such powers? Echoes know that orpee is only a vehicle for ef1ow and that every bit of their Echo self is linked to it. How exactly can Echoes alter the course of reality through its use?

Linking lbE EcboEs wilb Eflow Another key element of this world is the Echoes. These are rare individuals of any race, one in about ten thousand, whose powers are more suitable for the Naakinis ecosystem than the Ka'inas ecosystem. In fact, they seem to be creatures born in the Kai:nas ecosystem that developed powers suited to the Naakinis ecosystem. The Whisper inside an Echo rarely manifests itself at birth. It seems to have to be triggered in a way related to that particular Echo. A Walker, for example, will trigger his Whisper on an exploration, and a War Engine will do so in his first fight. Despite the many theories that assume the Naakinis ecosystem is old and dying, the existence of Echoes seems to prove that it is still alive and growing, if they too are Naakinisians. Furthermore, since the Echoes appear to become part of the Naakinisian ecosystem as they grow in power, they are often seen as deserters, as ones who switch axes or as "secret members". If the Whisper every Echo carries within himself is a phenomenon originating from Naakinis, the situation can be interpreted the following way: Naakinis was the first ecosystem, at the scale of the universe, then Ka'inas, an ecosystem at the scale of the Pendulum's array of light, a kind of parasite growing on the older system. Now Naakinis, growing old, needs to gather new strength from its own parasite; the Whisper's presence is a parasite to Ka'inas in return.

The Dream: As soon as the Pendulum disappears, the Dream creeps in, corrupting all until the Pendulum reappears. Although scientists study the Dream constantly, it is unlikely they are making any progress. It is t'"JJI~ossiJmed that the Dream is somehow ~1f2.nneueo to eflow, but there have yet to be connections drawn between the two. the last few centuries,
CulTural djffErEncEs

KEY FfGfJRES Droliath Estolah: Also known os the Core Himself, Orolioth Estoloh is the most famous nome in modern history. Through his coming to power and the creation of the (ore, Orolioth Estoloh is the symbol representing the achievements of the Gnoths. Orolioth entered history slightly more than ocentury ago, three years alter the suicide of Tosroth. He come to the Council of Twenty with owell thought out pion that promised the complete 1 of order alter years of anarchy, lull-scale terrorism and pillaging. The Council of Twenty, laced with no alternative, were forced to accept all of His conditions.

Oroliath's stipulations in His plan are not well-known. In fact, not much is known about Him at all. That He was a small but important figure in the politics of the · northern city of lchamor is the only information on record. His role, as chamberlain of the lord in lchomor, enabl him to study and understolid the art of politics and ruling. His character is typical of most leaders; headstrong, efficient, bright, aggressive and willful. Complete books could be and will be written about Oroliath, the new hero of the people, lor alter creating the Core, restoring order, expanding orpee distribution methods, creating the Geodem, using the Judges' lows as his own, creating the Skytrain, forcing the cities to make their slums safer and constructing highways so that everyone could travel in relative safety, he gained most people's trust, and it seems this is only the beginning of his reign. Furthermore, his loyal underlings consist of the lour lords of the City-States, to which he has given almost autonomous control.

As it is mentioned above, the cosmology, geography, ecosystems, races (Nayans, Gnaths and Ina'is mostly), the basic need (orpee) and the presence of Echoes are all important factors when it comes understanding the resulting culture. All that follows relates to cities. Yakis, Emovans and Ina'is, dealing in a more communal manner, avoid these individual stresses. Orpee shapes things in such way that no one, except the richest, can even contemplate words such as "leisure", "enjoyment" and "relaxation". If anyone doesn't have reserves of orpee secured in their home, they are constantly thinking about it. Cities and towns have inns and taverns where people can spend an evening, but it's not like our society where you go out for the entire evening after eight hours of work. Almost everywhere in this world, the work schedule is similar to that of our industrial revolution : people work four or five days a week for 15 or 20 hours a day. Exhausted after their long day, they rarely can afford the energy, time and money to spend their evening drinking with their friends . Most of the time, they don't think of anything other than the bare necessities.

R i1 ee-s In cities, people don't have time to make friends . In any case, trust is a very rare thing. Everybody knows that you can't trust Gnaths, who long ago set the standard of social interaction by sheer number at first, and then by their overwhelming power over the land. Almost everywhere in this world people don't know their neighbors and are suspicious of everything around them. The furthest you are from Khai'-Bhek (which represents the center of this movement), the less apparent this phenomenon becomes. The bucolic countryside, however, is not a familiar concept. Peace by any means is almost unconceivable. If your neighbor isn't the most dangerous thing you've met, the creatures that live nearby probably will be. So in this conception of a social environment, places where people gather to meet in joy and harmony are very rare. There are lots of places where people gather but the mood always resembles a shady bar atmosphere. If you happen to visit a town with almost no Gnaths, you might experience a feeling of subtle warmth. Or-of courseshould you enter an lnai's hearth or Emovan fraternity, social interaction is of a much more pleasant vein. Edwe-s An Echo's presence signals to the common person that something is wrong. They are Living, breathing proof of injustice, as they clearly do not spend much time thinking or believing that everyone is equal. There are those that are born to suffer in their environment and those who are born to dominate it. If, at birth, Echoes and non-Echoes were two distinct species, the inequality between them could be acceptable. But, the fact remains that those who dominate the environment are taken from the ranks of those who don't. Therefore, when Echoes are around, automatic feelings of jealousy, fear, despair and a sense of ultimate insignificance are triggered in non-Echoes. This varies greatly from Echo to Echo and it also depends what Sphere the Echo has reached. First and second Sphere Echoes do not have a strong aura but those in the third and fourth Spheres can become unbearable. Walkers have the particularity of never becoming intimidating unless they want to, while Judges, from birth, have crushing characters and they become worse as they grow more powerful. This split in the social fabric cannot really be mended. In fact, it becomes slightly bigger every time a new Echo is born or when an Echo becomes famous for one feat or another. Social Echoes, such as Overlords and Truth Crafters, have to learn to disguise their powers and f'md a way to let people know

fnTr o u u {; t who they are without making them jealous. To do so, most Social Echoes learn to trigger in non-Echoes the opposite effect to jealousy: identification. With subtle manipulation, Social Echoes are able to make people identi(y with them and see them as heroes. Finally, Echoes are like small grains that prevent the water from transforming into ice. Their mere presence keeps things in motion and occupy many important roles in almost every field.

Approfl(;hing <_;11lt11n" from its roots The Gnaths that are dominant in the system have never tried to explain the mysteries of creation (be it the creation of themselves or of the whole world) and those who did try, mainly Frilins and lna'is, were soon set aside for their metaphysical thinking. The result is that everyone remains fearful of the unknown, specifically the properties of the universe. When the Core came to power, he eliminated people's concern about the unknown by focusing everyone's attention on more basic questions for which he could provide answers (the territories, the orpee distribution problem, the lack of days off for workers and the precarious economical situation). By concentrating on matters at hand, people became more willing to work and obey more quickly. It has only been a century since the Core came to power and already it seems that questions such as "what is the Sofe?" have never existed for some people before. Of course, the Core is still desperately seeking answers to these questions. So, culturally, this world has shrunk from something vast, vague and fJled with unknowns to a smaller, more reassuring world. Of course, the concepts are not all concrete, but they give the masses something to latch onto until the Core Himself fmds the answers.

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Tasrath: The would-be leatter'f(at came

before Drolioth, he represents, lor the people, disaster and failure. He is famous not because of his success or failure as a ruler, but because he committed suicide from the top of a two·hundred floor building. His mother rebuilt his body after this suicide attempt and then crystallized him into a statue on the central square of the commercial district of the seventh platform. is statue, which supposedly houses his trapped spirit, is on display so that people will remember what failure looks like. Although the details surrounding Tosroth's suicide are vogue and inconclusive, it's likely that he was overwhelmed with responsibility because the Monarchic system had grown obsolete in the face of on ever·growing Empire and population. In fact, a cult of hatred had grown up against Tasrath because years leading up to his death were so ~~~~~o..JJn""i'"" But possibly the most important fact about Toroth is that the lock of

reach the slums before the next century if things keep moving along at the same pace. Meanwhile on the upper platforms, people's knowledge is expanding more than ever before. For now, the Core mostly encourages the education of those on the higher platforms, but if he will do so in the future is still a secret.

Abo11t s<.:hool~ hospitals and otiH'r gov ~ rnm ~ ntFll in st itntions Kian: He was a Frilin who created a type of Echo (on Orchestrator) of his own as well as ocomplete race, the Kion-kitus-fourlegged cold-brained creatures with extremely long, prehensile toils who could adopt to survive in any environment. Hot much else is known about him. Drolioth is aware Kion has the potential to be a very strong Echo, possibly stronger than the (ore Himself_ But, no one has seen nor heard from Kion in four centuries and the rare Kion-kitus that live within the (ore's Domain retain no memory nor knowledge of him in their minds. Because there has been no concrete information about him in so long, there ore plenty of legends, rumors and speculationso much so that Truth Crofters cannot wade _,.,_.,,...through it all to find any truths. The (ore Himself enlisted the help of inlunteers (information hunter volunteers), promising a great reword to anyone who could provide information about Kion or discover his hideout. The information available about Kion is found in volumes Vjiillen by old students, masters and friends. Because Kion, before becoming on Orchestrator Echo, was a social Frilin, thriving on the communication of knowledge and interested in the question of transmission of knowledge through the ages.

Tasphir: Alin Judicotor, Tosphir has accomplished so many heroic leafs that even on archivist couldn't count them. More than six thousand years old, he shattered the lin's bound to the Frilin. It also means that Tosphir has witnessed nearly every historical event. The latest and greatest deed that Tosphir achieved was pushing bock a legion of Sole invaders, giving the Empress enough lime to prepare the Volkols for war.

For the last three centuries before her rule ended, the Empress tried to establish real institutions but her actions have not been very effective: the system in place djd not allow for governmental institutions and therefore it was extremely difficult to effect any changes. Nonetheless, the Empress' ideas put people in the right state of mind to be accepting these institutions when the Core, with his more flexible structure, developed them further. In fact, you could almost think of the institutional system in place here as similar to that of our modern, occidental world; there are fire departments, police departments, hospitals and schools. The major difference in this world is that every institution is paid for with the profits from the orpee the government gathers from the lna'is. Although this may seem altruistic, the government knows keeping the social structure intact makes things run more smoothly. By paying to keep the institutions functioning, the government is effectively allowing people to live tax-free (even though the payment a worker receives is equivalent to the amount he would have after he paid taxes) . Furthermore, the Core has absolute control over these institutions. And, every time you require a service, you pay for it. If your house catches on fire and firefighters are required, you will have to pay the bill. If you can't pay, it is deducted from your salary. If you kill someone and get caught, you pay the guards, the judge and for the cell. If you lack the funds to afford payment, the debt will pass onto your family, from father to son and so forth. If you don't have any family to assume your debt, you are either sold to someone else or killed. Clearly, the Core has dictatorial powers over these institutions but because they have only recently become an accessible option to many, people still think highly of them and do not question the logic or justice of having to pay if their house catches fire. Ina'is and Emovans have copied these institutions but rather than paying individually, they all share the costs.

Emovans H?prodndion Pregnant female Emovans migrate to aquatic cities to lay their eggs deep underwater. Groups of females share tasks including watching over each other's eggs. During this time, each group is guarded over by powerful Emovan, Aran and Dream warriors. Most females can only breed once in their lifetime, so these breeding grounds are as sacred as the Emovan store of orpee. Usually, a female will lay between ten to fifty eggs, with eighty percent of her offspring surviving to maturity. This high survival rate is partially due to the high security and supervision Emovan eggs receive. As a result, the Emovan population has grown dramatically in the last two centuries, and they recently have begun to migrate northwards.

Ebone,great Emovan weapon smith. is painted by the famous Gnath artist Nay Xeulor, after his most renowned crafting prowess: a perfect full body plate of perfectly merged "Blood"and sastak!

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Young Emovans a re raised in a large community in w hich no parental nor familial bond is formed. The only social distinction between Emovans is age. Because it takes more than a year for an E movan egg to hatch, however, bonds often form between Emovan parents. The hatching process is highly organized, so most eggs in a specific group hatch simulta neously and the young mature in synchronicity. Everyone is a brother or sister to an E movan. An Emovan never knows who his real parents are, and nor does he care. All parents love and care for each Emovan offspring, regardless of its paternity. The word "parent" does not exist in the Emovan language. They have no real notion of "individuality" as their entire sense of self is as part of the whole.

Ph ysi<.;Ft I p::t r'ti<.;nl::t ri t i ~s Emovans generally reach maturity around 25 years and continue to evolve slowly until they reach 150 years old before they begin to show signs of aging. Most Emovans reach 250 years before they die. They rarely contract illness or disease caused by nervous tension and so avoid stress with ease. They are astonishingly graceful swimmers. On land, Emovans also move fluidly, although there is an element of unease, as though they were slightly unsure of how to travel without water.

M ~ n t::t l p::trt i<.;nl::t r i t i ?s Living underwater is relatively safe. Because the aquatic world is filled with silence, Emovans are q uiet and contemplative folk. At a y oung age, Emovans are taught the wisdom of listening a nd observing. Emovans think in an informed, emotional manner, free from the logical limits of reason . They seldom require speech in order to understand another Emovan.

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Th ~ D ~pil rtn n :' Young Emovans remain in close-knit communities until they reach the age of 20. At this time, they are separated from their community in order to learn their craft. This learning process can take from five to ftfty years. Few Emovans fai l to complete their education, and rare is the Emovan w ho rebels against the system or his community. Even rarer is the Emovan w ho can leave his community without remorse and emotional turmoil. The bond between members of a community are strong, and breaking them is difficult for all but the strongest Emovans (who most often turn out to be Echoes). IJ ~ Ft th Death is not mu ch more than a change of reality for Emovans. Underwater, changes to the body are much different than on la nd. Because everything moves more slowly, information contai ned within the cells and eflow of a creature do not return to an original, larger so urce. Rather, the dispersed information of a "dead" Emovan generally succeeds in finding its way back together, often returning to inh bit a body shape si milar to the one in which it --Wa.S--pre¥-iousl tained. Most ften, however, a "dead" Emovan's eflow energy returns in the shap of a Dream r Aran "inhabitant" a w hJ e later. Only a Drydeath, one that ace rs on land, is permanent for an E movan. There is no chance that their eflow wil reconnect on land to inhabit even a Drea m or Aran form, so elderly Emovans wto have made heir home on land try their hardest to return to the water before th ~y di e.

On th ? Drv The underwater Dream is much more gentle and smooth than its dry-land version. Life, for Emovans, is inseparable from th e fluid liquid in whi ch they live. Should any Emovan go "above" into the Dry World, th ey are stru ck with fear and awe. O n land, there is no substance through which to move, no soothing pressure and no abi li ty to float. Emovans feel more comfortable during the Dry Dream, as its environment of altered forms and blurred shapes is more similar to life und erwater. It is said that some experienced Emovans can swim in the thick air of the Dream.

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Since they are the sole producers of sastak and the sole providers of fresh water, every city must trade with Emovans. The trade of sastak made the Emovans rich a long time ago and they have used it to their advantage ever since. Their skills are essential to everyone on the Dry as eve ry CCP requires tunneling down to reach an und erground water source. Emovans trade most ofte n with the lna'is and because of this co nstant rapport, mutual respect and trust has sprung up between these two races. Emovans trade sastak to the lna'is at a reduced cost and the lna'is reliably supply the Emovans wi th orpee. The orpee is stored in heavi ly protected shells that are distributed equally to eac h Emovan on a weekly basis. They are not, therefore, worried about lacking orpee and can go abo ut their daily end eavors without stress. The res ult is that Emovans are very socially and politically powerful.

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Bi rth According to available information, Frilins are the original race. They a re mad e up entirely of vegetal matter. They grow in a similar way to trees, reaching up to fifty yard s in height over a course of two thousand years. Their birth is a most strange phenomenon; in a random spot in the wilderness, a small whirlwind of eflow and tiny particles appear, slowly attracting any vegetal debris in th e area. As this spinning mass grows more powerful, it uproots grass, plants, flowers and even small trees. This - en1argmg"Ball "of111ic K-yegetation

------':L...::~--"'fo:..;,r several monts before the swi rling slows and begins to take on an, ovoid form (a protective shell into w hich, after a complete yea r of maturation, a Frilin will be born).

Cflllin 0u When a Frllin is born, a nother Frilin heed th e calling of a newborn Mind. This calling can be heard over a hundred miles (but it has no echo). The Frilin responds to the call by making his way to the spot in which the new Frilin is being "born ", and helps untangle this new Frilin from its protective shell . It is then the older Frilin 's responsibility to tutor the newborn. Because there is no exchange of genes during "conception," ge netic exchange between Frilins seems to occur after birth, between th e minds of the tutor and pupil. Each new Frilin possesses its own personality, fiercely engrained into its very being, so there is almost no possibili ty of brainwas hing: a newborn Frilin is always a perfect combi nation of his natural disposition and the knowledge that he gains from his tutor.

Ed ncfl tiq n A Frilin's ed ucation al process is long and complex. Through the tutor's effort to discover th e dispositions and nature of his pupil, and through the pupil's efforts to discover himself, his tutor a nd the world, the pupil learn s to position himself clearly in a cultural, geograp hical and historical setting. No Fruin in charge of the

education of another Frilin will ever" to teach him all he knows about these subjects, which makes the ed process very personal. Until a Frilin is "shaped", he will not be allowed to go into the world. Obviously, this manner of respecting every newborn integrity, and of stimulating disposition he has throughout the educational process is essential to shape Mind walkers into the geniuses they are.

lin , Rg ? Most of the time, master and student become friends for life, creating an in form of lineage similar to the Judicators: tutor introduces his pupil to his own who, in turn, introduces him to his tutor, etc. This helps the Frilins to keep clear track of their cultural and soci heritage. They know who did what when in their community. When the will hear a Calling himself, he will in introduce his pupil to his · •~•.---;=+~---++-11 something sets him at odds with h Often, the traditions of one lineage focus on one specific aspect of them a mark of nobleness and, more efficient delving into Natu mysteries.

They are acrively...ot•>n ...r ·hon

Bodv Frilins sleep during the night. It is rare a Dream is able to affect them, even if it a high reality factor. They do not make Dream workers for this reason. natural rhythm is much slower than ot races. Given time, they can accomplish a task much more successfully than any race. However, if they are forced to they will often fail. Similar to Emovans the sedentary lna'is, they move fl · through life. They also lack concern orpee because they can replace their

by the Core's

abduction. theft. I'P{nnnl,milllll/ in vandalism.

for orpee by meditating. Also, their body is free from urges and instincts. Things such as aggressiveness, sexuality an d jealousy do not exist for a Frilin. They are '· uniquely able to think with absolute clarity - something other races have " to learn for decades before attaining some mastery. This also contribu tes to their incredible intelligence a nd Mind. Of course, it is not innate, but Frilins can become truly awesome as they age and gain control over their Mind.

II (' rll' t rilins a re n't overly emotional. They consider emotions as potential dangers and since they a ren't attracted or in need of such things, they will most often avoid them, preferring concepts such as r'espect and mutual help over love and friendship (which are all less stable and short-lived).

Mind Frilins possess the ability to Mind Walk, meaning they can enter the Minds of others. Un like other habitants of Ka'inas, Frilins have the abi lity to construct themselves from the inside out. They most often live within their Mind, forming, building, constantly redesigning the mselves in to better creatures. Although others can make "changes" in their life (new diet, better clothes, different values), Frilins can actually change the contents of their Minds, how they function, store and process information. Because they have this ability, however, they are very solitary creatures, spending much time "inwards". They rarely let others into their Minds, preferring to keep them closely guarded.

They do occasionally develop a nodding acquainta nce with other Frilins, but it is rare. Learning to guard his Mind against penetration by others is another tool the Frilin youngster learns from his tutor. H e will learn to carefully archive data to keep his memory in order, and construct impenetrable defenses against attack by other Mind Walkers. H e will also learn to craft, a nd then hide, weapons, armor and other such tools in his Mind to defend himself. A Frilin's etiquette requests that one announces his visit w hen within someone's Mind, and since any Frilin is able to detect an intruder automatically unless they are especially subtle, Mind Walking without first a nnounci ng o neself is considered an outrage worthy of death. Because they more often live in their M ind tha n anywhere else, old Frilins often come to mingle with others in strange Mind cities: Frilins entwined together in a whole, immobile, living together in one immense Mind. Of course, these Mind cities are impregnable fortresses and only the most foolish or honest ones will go to these places. Frilin elders have many strong powers, but they are still not understood completely. For example, it is still not known why Frilins have the abil ity to Mind Walk.

So<-: i ('ty On occasion, Frilins do tend to act like ancient lords dispossessed of their realms. It is conceivable that in some ancient time, the world moved slowly enough that

Frilins could reign. Today, because of the speed at which the world functions, Frilins would not be able to rule efficiently and so many consider the Frilins an obsolete race. Consequently, Frilins have distanced themselves from civilization and are therefore easily misunderstood. Many forget, upon meeting a Frilin, that they are geniuses capable of leaping into anyone's Mind and altering it. The Core Himself, however, cannot begin warning people about the possible dangers of interacting with a Frilin without aggravating tensions between politically implicated Frilins and the Core.

Gnalbs To many, Gnaths are machine-/ike in almost every aspect. They are extremely versatile- quick moving as well as quickthinking. They are highly efficient. egocentric. selfish and ambitious. The slightest flaw or weakness will be uncovered by a Gnath and exploited to his advantage: give a Gnath an inch, he will take a mile. Those in positions of power and authority, often Gnath and thus fully aware of this,fear other Gnaths because it is likely their system is flawed to some degree.

r n tr'odnclion The term "Gnath" evokes many From efficiency to pain to cunning, th are plenty of things not to like about Gnath race. But there is no denying their creations benefit those regardless of their intentions. Gnaths direct and order empires, constantly invent new ideas. They are the brains and behind the societal system. And t their entire lives suffering. As soon as young Gnaths become aware their destiny, they begin thinking up ways escape. Gnaths feel imprisoned in bodies similar to someone trapped in eflow cell feels. Therefore, as soon as Gnaths become aware of their destiny, begin thinking up ways to Consciously or unconsciously, Gnaths everything they can to escape the stingi pain flowing through their bodies from · until death.

horizon toward The . in The direCTion of hoping ThaT is will arrive in

Approacb of Gnalb bEbavior Bodv For so me inexplicable reason, eflow traveling through a Gnath's body is extremely painful; from all reports, it feels as though razor blades are slashing them from inside. With time, a Gnath learn s how to manage his pain, to control it enoug h that it ebbs and flows in three hour intervals. The pain, however, does not mind a clock and will often strike during the Dream. The wo rst part about it is that Gnaths, like most other races, require orpee to survive. They crave and need, therefore, somet hin g that causes them excruciating painful episodes.

the health of th e individual. To endure the screams of their child is undoubtedly one of the worst things in a Gnath's existence, and no other race can claim to have a life as grim as theirs. But the one beneficial thing that arises from procreation is the relationship that develops betwee n the parents. Watching their offspring suffer and not being able to relieve the pain brings ad ults together. These formative years shape a young Gnath by developing willpower that helps him deal with the pain from which he must suffer throughout his life.

Childhood

(; ro wth

Gnath children spend their first few years of life un ab le to control, fight or monitor their pain in a ny way. Parents can do little to ease their suffering, but they keep their children under tight supervision until they are about fi ve years old. During these formative years, only a Gnath's instinct for survival keeps him alive. All other aspects of his life are co nsum ed by ago nized suffering, either because he is in severe pain or because he is ant1 c1pati ng its reoccurrence. Therefore, Gnaths develop stro ng willpower and mastery over themselves w hen they're young.

Gnaths spe nd every minute of their life trying to esca pe the hostile, painful environment that makes up their existence. When the world around is dangerous, most a re ab le to turn inwa rd and depend on th emselves for shelter. Gnaths are unabl e to find shelter or co mfort within themselves and so they are driven to find something that will occupy th eir time, provide distraction from th eir co nstant suffering. This drive is often stronger than th e tightest bonds, pushing, forcing, screaming its way into a Gnath's daily functioning.

Mating is also a painful ordeal, as it implies a psychological and philosophical problem for Gnaths: by procreating, they wiU be bringing an infant into the world that will know only pain and suffering, something that d rives many insane. It requires a Gnath an inner strength equaled only by Soleks to simply accept their reproduction instinct. The children are usually kept under close control by their parents until they are capable of sustaining the pain, w hich takes between three and five years, depending on

It is easy to see w hy Gnaths are selfish creatures. They are consumed

with pain and cannot spare an instant to dish out compassions, pity or even sympathy for someone else 's plight. T hey tunnel all of their strength, anger, fru stration and inability to deal with pain into building and creating cities and systems. They keep their Minds closed, and so only the mightiest of Frilin Mind Walkers are able to penetrate the fortress of a Gnath's Mind.

M f thA\iCF~L

un:An'e

E s<.:Fip in g Anything a Gnath does, he does it with feroc ious energy. It is common for a Gnath to work more than eighty hours a week, throwing himself into work in an attempt to ease the pain fo r a moment or two. This energy and determination makes a fierce combination in anything a Gnath sets out to do, be it figh ting, merchandising, thinking or creating. In battle, Gnath soldiers are the most dangerous warriors. It is rare to win a fight against a Gnath: total and absolute control and focus on your target is the only way to compete and you have to be willing to risk it all. Death is not feared by Gnaths. In fact, it is almost certain they seek it wherever and w henever possible.

So <.: i
At just ov~r a billion, the Gnath race is the largest (followed closely by Odwoanes). As a whole, they are quite imposing and serve many functions in this world, from managing cities on Ka!nas to directing technological evolution. They are cunning, fast and precise, setting the current rhythm of society's progress, leaving Frilins in the dust as they push harder and move faster. The downfall of having Gnaths in power is that they become neurotic and lack the sensitiveness necessary to be successful leaders. By strength and will, Gnaths conform society to their own ideals - that leaves very little space f--tel'c.ettlttH'ti:Hi!e;--pei'S6Iilfi:I-~~~Pli!lhrrtent and for a better Dream.

26

lna1s A bon t th~ir' h ~Ftrt h s The Ina"is live in huge caves, 5 to 10 miles underground, about halfway between the Emovans' watery home and above ground. Within these caves are hearths in wh ich the lna"is make their homes. Each hearth (there are ten) has an entrance to dark, cold caves that lead to orpee mines, thousands of miles below the surface. Only the oldest and most powerfullna'is can access the orpee supply. The hearths are faintly lit by tiny particles that f"Jter through the trees, roots, earth and rocks to reach the lna"is caves. Although the Pendulum is far away, its rays have the ability to penetrate many obstacles and for many millions of miles. T his light is supplemented with the reflected red glow of orpee torches that bounce of the shiny bits of sastak embedded in the cave roof and walls. The result is a lou ngelike atmosphere where soft red light spreads itself gently around the rooms, leaving darkened corners everywhere

TIJ .,

Dr ~ Ftm

lna"is are fit for a sere9e and comfortable life with the Dream, for the shapes the Dream takes at night te always gossamer and quiet. Because day light does not hi~ightly into th ir caves, it always seems as though the Dream lingers ~ontinutusly, making orn:rs blur and echoes reverberate for hours. T~e Dream IS .no~ s1 ong o: da.nge. us ~ the caves ~nd t.he:efore the Ina"is se.em to hve at one with 1t, bsorbmg 1ts di ers1ty by becommg sun ilar to the Dream m body (an Ina'is is made up of increaib y soft, muted colors and outlines).

A bont

th ~ strFt n g~ invnln ~r Ftb il i tv

of

t h ~ ~n Ft 'ls

in t ~g r i ty Ftnd pFt ss ion The lna"is are almost the complete opposite of the Gnaths in every way. They are the embodiment of well being, peace and harmony. Consuming eflow is absolute bliss for an lna"is, and it flows th rough their veins a smoothly as silk. They have a deep-seated source of warmth and energy within themselves that helps them face any obstacle, attain any goal and end ure anything without being broken. It is impossible to defeat this inner energy of spirit that the lna"is possess. If you torture them, for example, they will suffer similar reactions to other races; cry, scream, wish for their death and beg. When the torture is over, however, they will not be scarred or changed in a ny way. Un like other races, they do not have to give up part of themselves to imbue themselves with more willpower. This is why they are considered the mightiest of all races.

27

Abo11t p ? rsonFII dispo~; ition s About 80% of lna'is' are born, live and die their hearth. The rest are scattered Ka'inas, mostly wanderers, Echoes and a who grew up in a hearth but have been, some reason, determined to make their in the world. These are the three types lna'is: sedentary, nomadic and impassion These types can be represented as the trunk and branches of a tree. Disposi are hereditary and reinforced by early I experience. It is possible, however, th nomads may some day grow tired of movi and become sedentary and a few seden lna'is have been convinced to leave hearth and try out the life of the wandered ~om Fl

d i (.; r n Fl.l. ,,

These lna'is thrill to feel their inn r burning fiercely. They thrive on pa sion stability, intensity rather than dura~ility. nomads .are responsible for ma~ing su Ina'is soc1ety does not stagnate. Th,by a need for bars, restaurants and cafes, for Dreamlife and service market, tangli sedentary lna'is' into their web as they from one place to another. Because Dream is not painful nor uncomfortable lna'is society, Dreamlife is becoming and more popular with all types of lna'is. has become profitable for many, and outlet for y ounger lna'is looking to be a bit wild and reckless.

tnais lady. arrends to the ,,rrt• in the caje she still works for a more days. Since she Awakened as a Crafter Echo. her will soon change in .,OYC

-----

S ,~ d ~ lltf'llo y ln;:~'as

Tow;:~

Sedentary Ina'i; are calm and poised. They provide stability for lna'is society. They place the highest value on things that last: love over desire, tenderness over passion and peace of mind over excitement. Sedentary lna'is have close-knit families and are actively involved in creating better societies. The concept of family for an lna'is is just as important as it is for nomadic Soleks and Yakis. The typical family is matriarc hal, with dedicated, industrious parents who would do anything for their children. Most Ina'is who live in a hearth work with orpee, be it packaging, distribution, safe-storing, etc.

Ina"is are raised by their parents and they reach maturity about thirty years old. Most recently, some young Ina'is have started to go to school and afterwards to the academy. Although their dominant emotional nature would suggest that they praise arts over sciences- this is not the case. Ina'is are open-minded and curious about everything. At thirty years old, an lna'is is considered fully formed and his learning will have covered a wide variety of subjects-including military training.

rd nw t!H,i t y

lmp;:~ :-;s ion ~ d ln;:~'ls

The impassionate lna"is are the rare kind (less then one for every thousand). Their inner flame is like white-hot lava overllowing everywhere. These lna"is are easily recognizable as even their mere appearance betrays their Passion -a passion that is unique to each lna'is and drives his entire life from birth to death. Their place in Ina'is society 1s dictated and devoted to this Passion.

Childhood Nayans are born with a moist, almost liquid skin of the most beautiful deep blue color. Their eyes reflect the soft glow of the Pendulum's shadow on the northern ocean. Young Nayans are "concentrate essence of Nayans" -energetic whirlwinds of activity until they mature and their energies are directed towards some dellned direction or goal. There is no dellnitive Nayan society since they are dispersed throughout the populated areas of the realm. Instead, they share and accept the culture of the city, town, platform, tribe or village in which they live, raising their children (usually three or four over a 50-year period) by local customs. Although this may contradict the values and attitudes of the parents' education, as long as it is not perceived as harmful, children I from the culture that surrounds the The Withered, for example, can never n~•-r•rm~rP in the education of children because harmful; they are too depressing too in a Nayan's life. But these Withered not shunned either. Parents do not remove their children from the vicinity of Withered Nayans because it is part of a Nayan's education to learn to be open-minded, to see and understand everything and everyone around them. It is not beneficial to a Nayan to be naive but it is important that they be impartial.

')(\ -..... ,,. _f

'-7 .. ~ '

l'n"s ~ nL; ~ You can't miss a Nayan in a crowd. An aura of confidence and inner strength surrounds them and so, their social strength is more than often overwhelming. Every one of their movements, words or thoughts is soft, fluid and caressing. When they move, you are transfixed by their blue bodies moving, dancing and swimming gracefully through the air. Similarly, when they speak, all fall silent and listen to their voices, deep and reassuring.

Sil U 'i fi (_;~ The notion of sacrifice is intrinsic to a Nayan. Unlike other races that require willpower or love to make sacrifices, Nayans do so naturally. It is the most basic action a Nayan can take. Nayans frequently sacrifice their life to save another's in battle. But it is instinct more than heroism that drives a Nayan to commit these acts. Clearly, many Nayans lead short, productive lives. It is rare to find a Nayan who happily embraces his innate desire to sacrifice as heroic. Most struggle to subvert this tendency or refuse to accept praise and reward for their actions.

Snb linw t ion This sacrificial urge is so strong that it is almost as though a Nayan desires to kill himself. However, any Nayan who has lived for any significant length of time is able to tell at least one tale of control over his instincts. So, it is not as though a Nayan wants to commit suicide, but rather something innate is driving him to sacrifice his life despite his thoughts or feelings about the subject. Many Nayans manage

to subvert this drive by choosing a high ly demanding occupation so that their actions, thoughts and emotional energy are devoted exclusively to one "generous and helpful" task. If this task benefits others in some way, a Nayan can almost always control his self. This explains why most Nayans dedicate their lives to politics, social engineering, diplomacy, psychology or medicine.

~obility Most Nayans are obsessed by the concept of their own death. They tend to dwell on gaining morbid knowledge about decay, death and suicidal tendencies. ln a social context Nayans are extremely pleasant. When alone, however, th is obsession often overwhelms them. It is commonly believed among Nayans that each must carry this burden alone. Displaying a friendly, easy -going manner to others is also expected. These appearances are protection not from the world around, but to protect the world from themselves; Nayans are too noble and polite to expose their suffering to others.

Cy nit:i slll However nobly a Nayan acts, there remains a paradox between what he is and what he appears to be. This "game" to keep the world from knowing their true nature can be very difficult. Nay ans who grow up in healthy, privileged environments tend to be better equipped to deal with their two selves tha n those who grow up in the slums. When a Nay an stops making an effort to subvert his desire to sacrifice himself for the good of others, a number of things may occur. Reactions range from throwing down armor in the midst of a battlefield and walking headlong to meet the enemy 's arrows, to slowing beginning to ag~ cy nicism becoming second nature to them.

Lr-G-h-t't-tt (T h ,~ lJ olwn f;:d I)

fu a Nayan age~, he slowly d9cays; his skin turns from blue to grey to white. They lose the aqukticness about them and the weight of the world seems to slow them up. Their eyes lose brilliance. It is called "La Chute." Middle aged Nayans fear th is Downfall 'more than others fear death. Once the aging process has begu n, it is almost impossible to reverse it. T heir massive reserves of energy begi n to turn inward and implode, devouring them alive. N ayans who succumb to the Falling become the Withered, pale shades of their once vibrant selves. The Withered can be extremely dangerous because they have nothing left to lose. When you do not fear dying, y ou are often willing to do anything to anybody because there are no repercussions. You do not worry about getting killed and if y ou get caught, suicide is a way out that you are willing and able to take.

outstanding Nayan emissary Evano. waiting for the answer of her to her peace proposal: if he refuses. war will occur between both . She never failed to install a truce before. She doesn't look very to lose this one either.

32

a

Rac~s

OdwoanEs Nobody remembers Their real name-if They ever had one. As long as I can remember. we called Them rhe "odd ones". AlThough iT is spelled many differenT ways (oddwoanes. odoanes. ado onos) no one seems ro care abouT Their name. especially Them. Many called Them "Tic racs". originally because They funCTioned on an inner rhyThm. a clockwork-like Ticking rhar made up a parr of Their every movemenT and ThoughT. Seboyan. Frilin Librarian

-

Within the last two hundred years, the "odd ones" or Odwoanes have infJtrated our city. There used to be an average of 2050 workers in the workshops, 80% of which were Gnaths. The remaining 20% were mostly Volkols, Ina"is, Soleks and exiled Yakis. Two hundred years ago, this city was brand new. The Core was not established but Odwoanes had begun to spread everywhere. This city was just waiting for them to arrive, I guess. It felt as though everything, everyone was tip-toeing around on egg shells, waiting. Waiting for the flrst Odwoane to be spotted. We were not many in the city, there were no p11tforms yet. I'd guess there were only 50,000 people here. And-t?ach of them wasl waiting.

I

It all began one day when a guard on watch suddenly shouted, "an Odwoane! " Even tho~gh throughout the realm they were as populous as the Gnaths, it was as though we were seeing an Odwoane for the flrst time. And there he walkedalone! -right down the middle of the road towards us, towards our city. He appeared to be traveling with only a small piece of cloth holding his orpee and tools, one imagined. He had a dagger and rugged leather armor on his body. How had he survived his trip to this city? He drew near the gate, and more and more of our citizens swarmed out on th e ramparts to watch him. We were probably 300 strong. He did not flin ch or withdraw. He merely plodded along with his Pend ulum-like movement, approaching the city at a steady pace. I couldn 't believe he was fearless, willing to walk into our midst without knowing whether we would kill him or welcome him.

33

He stopped a few feet in front of me and glanced around him. The silence and suspense weighed heavily on the crowd. No one spoke for several minutes. Finally, some poor soul could stand it no longer.

"Hi!" he shouTed ar The Odwoane. -Hi!" the Odwoane replied. And the spell was broken. The sea of citizens fell away and a path opened up for the Odwoane. He strode confldently into our city.

Within minutes, the peace we had known was shattered by an industrious Gnath. He approached the Odwoane and asked if he was looking for a job.

"Yes: the Odwoane replied. Our fate was sealed.

The next day, the Odwoane rented a room to store the few belongings he had and then went straight to work. I recall the moment he walked through the doorway. I was questioning why we hadn't killed him when we had the chance. I was sure I was not the only one. But the Odwoane sensed nothing, or pretended to sense nothing. He merely took his place beside the other workers, observed them for a few moments, and began working as though he had been doing it all his life. Another one arrived three days later. This time the guard did not shout. she ,...L-~,--+--J!iHI did not want to be responsible for This new Odwoane headed straight for the workshop and greeted the boss. e boss was more than delighted to have Odwoane on-board (they eat half the other races do). Two more arrived two days later. The next day, four more. Eight more three days after that. In all sixteen arrived and settled in our city. The boss was pleased. We workers were not. We felt as though they were stealing our jobs, and we wanted revenge. But for some reason none of us could bring ourselves to strike or kill an Odwoane. Something about their weird, mechanical habits kept us at bay.

34

taken by the Awakener. during the rnn1WI~'WifloYt1t11JO speech of the of the Core. by the hntl'lnYtmlfn,

Within a year and a half, our city was filled with Odwoanes. They did most of the manual labor. And they lost several of their own kind in accidents or during a Dream frenzy (in which they kill Gnaths). But when one dies, another appears and takes its place, living in the same house, in the same family, playing the exact same role as the one he replaced - whateve r it was even at work. It seems as though death, love, mourning and frie ndship have no place in an Odwoane existence. Even Gnaths seems more sensitive than these Odwoanes. Their arrival, however, provided me with the opportunity to find a better job. Now there are only 700 workers in the workshops, mostly Odwoanes. They are cheaper, faster and more efficient than any other race, so it takes fewer of them to accomplish the tasks at hand.

Account from Frankos d'Arcise. Volkoi Walker of the Third Sphere. I brought one of them with me into the wilderness. I thought he might crumble. being forced out of his daily routine. I was wrong. He felt no longing, no fear. no sense of helplessness this jar from his home. Rather. he spent the entire trip imitating what I did. He easily learned as much as my previous apprentices did on similar journeys. When we came across dangerous beasts. he fought bravely by my side without being asked. Within a month. the Odwoane had learned enough to survive on his own in the wilderness.. He knew each and every creature that roamed the area. I nearly jell in love with that Odwoane. He was so open-minded and willing to learn. The most amazing thing about our trip was that he began to think for

himself within a jew weeks. This. of course. Jed to his ability to carry a conversation. I began to understand. His mind was simply an embryo. possessing each component necessary to evolve into something bigger. and lacking only in stimuli. An Odwoane does not grow or Jearn until he is presented with a new environment. He always follows the flow of knowledge and information without questions. absorbing as he is carried along. Keolo. "my" Odwoane. still travels at my side after all these years. We 've become inseparable friends. and he as acquired more than enough conscience and consciousness to be a complete entity into himself. But. he still mimics me and others with an ease and naivete that never seizes to amaze me.

nThe suprising results of an Odwoane's mimetism."

SolEks 0

11

t of t h ~

Sof~

In the year 2508. two hundred and fifty years before the Core came to power. a huge tribe emerged from the Sofe. Their bodies were scarred and distorted by wounds. disease and mutations. Their skin was as black as ink and no matter how hard you stared, you could not locate Their eyes. They emerged from the Sofe. a million strong, silent and brooding. Their leader marched a hundred or so yards ahead of the immense mob, tall and stoic. She was obviously an Overlord. The armor that covered her body appeared to be made of spines and strange Sofe roots. It moved of its own will as she stood there. silently, glancing neither right nor left.

... Find into so<.;i?tv How the Soleks survived in" the Safe is mystery. It is clear, however, that they have orpee. Their return changed things on Ka'inas. Primarily, they needed be factored into the society functioning on Ka'inas. The Soleks to have a good grasp on customs indigen to Ka'inas despite their distorted .auF>u'""'"' As no Frilin or Mind Chemist was able penetrate their minds to fmd out who were, where they came from and how managed to survive the Sofe, they perceived as a potential threat to They were, therefore, divided up into thousand tribes to keep their cohesiveness a minimum. These tribes eventually split· smaller bands of Soleks that sp throughout Ka'inas. Some tension between the Soleks and the Yaki tribes, because the Soleks knew they were carefully watched for any sign of ""''"""'r' weakness, they remained passive. began to adjust to these silent, creatures and soon Soleks themselves in new cities, impressive fighters and builders.

With str ? ngth Once unknown, the Soleks engrained in the very fabric of society. resilience, confidence and willpower them courageous in dangerous si excellent workers and well respected l for Volko'is and Yakis.

Hnn i I y Soleks retained their pragmatic, stoic natu as well as many habits that are not com on Ka"inas. Similar to the lna"is and populations, Soleks are matriarchal. A Salek bears between one and five eggs a times during her life in her fortified, """'"-'"""' womb. Soleks do not need copulation order to reproduce. Once a female maturity, she becomes a "breeder"

') () 0()

approximately 15 years. Males, since they are not needed for child-rearing, focus on defense, organization and movement. Because of this, they have a high degree of respect for females of all races.

Throngh sil
... And Ft<.;tion This utilitarian behavior is carried over to all aspects of a Salek's life. If you engage a Salek in combat, do not expect mercy. He will disregard any sort of fighting etiquette and will not restrain himself for any reason. To a Salek, a person is entirely responsible for their actions. They do not believe in jokes or sarcasm so an honest and direct approach is the best way to deal with them. They have confidence in themselves and their judgment and will always see an "appropriate" course of action through to its conclusion.

OrgFtniziltion Soleks are self-disciplined warriors. They understand the necessity of being their own masters and being responsible for their actions. Each member of a tribe, or of an association within a city, can fulfill many roles. A Salek who only does one or two things is probably a very young Salek. They do, however, choose a leader once every ten years to oversee the tribe's wellbeing. They most often choose an Echo who, as long as he proves himself worthy of the Soleks' trust, might be selected again and again. Because Soleks are so intuitive,

it is unlikely that anyone would succeed in getting away with trying to take power away from this leader. Soleks who uncovered any plot of treason would simply kill the guilty party and explain to the leader what had happened. This straightforward, honorable nature is engrained, part of Soleks' survival mechanism.

ActnFtlity Most people have come to accept Soleks. They have won trust from those around them as they are hard-working, diligent and powerful. Paranoid minds, however, remain suspicious of these stoic, quiet creatures. They believe the Soleks are plotting against them. Soleks have managed to infiltrate themselves into all sectors of society. While the majority remains within their tribe, many Soleks function within the society of the Core, and there have even been reports that some Soleks live with the lna"is. Oddly enough, a relationship has developed with the Yakis, with whom the Soleks did not get along when they arrived. A shamed and discredited Yaki will often seek refuge in a Salek tribe. Similarly, young Soleks who are ignorant of their Sofe past and feel oppressed by their kin will turn to a Yaki tribe.

It is hard not to feel intimidated when a tribe of Soleks arrives to trade in your village. One thousand strong, they often overwhelm the residents of the village, making them either feel absolutely safe or completely threatened. Finally, an important difference between Salek and

Yaki tribes is that while the second almost always refuses new "recruits", Salek tribes accept anyone they feel is worthy.

Volko1s llistory 1343-0 I: Scouts return from the frontiers of the Sofe. Invaders from the Sofe are slowly marching, seemingly towards Kha'i- Bhek, where the Empress lives and reigns.

1343-0:?: A ring of Gnath and Frilin Echo scientists offer their services to the Empress. They have created an egg filled with exceptional nutrients and energy so that the creature emerging from it can grow to its full potential in only three months. The manufactured and cloned eggs produce war machines unlike anything seen before. The ethical questions concerning breeding of a new race are ignored because the solution seems so prom1smg.

Mi'shere. the legendary Fourth Sphere Overlord. standing up a hill and looking toward his opponent's troops. It is said that he saw over 300 battles and is over 450 years old !

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1343-0o: The first Volko'is reach maturity at the same time as the invaders are nearing Kaderun. Genetically modified to intuitively know how to figh t, their bodies are imbued with natural weapons and armor so that no equipment and no training are required for them. They are sent to battle while more Volko'is are created. The Empress worries about what will happen to this race once the war is over and assigns half her own personal Echo guards to watch over them. 134o-04: Many Yaki tribes and a large quantity ofVolko'is troopers fight to defeat the enemy. The battle is won at Kaderun. The Empress veils the actions of the group of scientists so that historians lose track of their whereabouts. The Empress struggles with the question of what to do with the enormous amount of Volko'is fighters of which she cannot easily dispose. l34o-05: Volko'is manifest hyper-activity begin to cause riots.

134o-Oo: A consortium of merchants and city-builders unite under the highest platform of Kha'i-Bhek. Three days later, they are granted audience to the Empress. Here, they expose their simple yet efficient proposal; put the Volko'is energies to work in a constructive manner. 134o-07 : Volko'is were required to reunite in Kaderun. The Empress spoke directly to them, recognizing them as a new race and explaining how they would fit into the social system. Their assignment was to construct new cities. The Volko'is accepted their role in society, and 400 years later were given complete control over their own creations. Future generations of Volko'is (which were cloned) were weaker than the original powerhouse machines. 134o-Ol:: Many Volko'is were dispatched to the far reaches of the Empire to work on various CCPs of the time. Not all Volko'is became workers. Some remained in the older cities, working at other types of jobs that required great strength. Because the Volko'is were spread across a vast region, however, uprisings and riots were kept to a mmunum.

"We had ro change all of our equipment... Before. we had strengthened wooden roofs and weapons made our of resin. In the first days, they broke everything because they were roo powerful. When attacked. they used their own body instead of our weapons because they were rougher. We gave them steel roofs coated with sasrak veins. It cost a lor bur the investment was worth ir. as they soon learned rouse and fight with their roofs. They worked four rimes faster than the others. The mortality rare of workers. which previously was around rwenry percent, dropped ro three percent per week. They even gained a secondary income by selling what they could from the beasts they killed. Meanwhile. in rhe city. the others gathered together. They starred organizing themselves based on our models, and so they became microsocieties completely integrated into ours. At long last they were unified as a race. - Fkina. Gnarh business lord

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A s(;t>nsion Volko'is proved much more worthy than expected. Their massive reserves of energy, strength, willpower and organization (Volko'is communities are amongst the most effective) quickly began to reflect in their characters. Volko'is are extremely adaptable, finding jobs to do wherever they are, from the battlefield to CCPS to outposts to business lords.

Mod t>rn i tv Volkoi's are the" most modern race in Ka'inas. They are not burdened with the ancient traditions and beliefs, unlike many other races. Few Volko'is bother with the Naakinis/Ka'inas dichotomy. They leave mythological and rel igious questions to others, believing that seeking answers to these topics is futile and will not improve living conditions. Favoring pragmatic precision over faith makes the Volko'is race stand out. Knowing exactly where they came from and what their primary purpose is, however, contributes to this disinterest in philosophical subjects. Also, few Volko'is believe that the other races were created differently than they were ...

into society, tplicated in are so adaptable, Volko'is once exdusii e to the

the Volko'is have spread themselves even further in both arts and sciences. In fact, because they slowly gaining control over many things that were of the Gnaths and Nayans.

The Core, jetermined to give the Volko'is a voice in politics, encouraged a democratic ay in which Volko'is could speak their opinion. They formed a Volko'i council to represent the interests of their race, permanently located in Kha'i-Bhek. Droliath Estolah met with the council for a four-day assembly, in which, amongst many other point, both sides agreed to terms that stated the Volko'is would never breed more than a million offspring per year, thus curtailing any possibility of a future Volko'is hegemony.

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Yakjs They travel while we remain fearfully trapped in our local city or village. They sleep wirhour rhe protection of rhe Core's walls. yer rhey are safer than us. They travel in regions rep/ere with beasts bur their mortality rates are lower than ours. They accept suffering as ir is necessary and this makes rhem strong. They know how ro think. ro fight, ro hare and ro love. The aggressive. challenging environment in which rhey live has shaped them into much more complete beings than us. - Aa'mao. Nayan village elder

I ,FISt In ancient times, Yakis were the sole providers of natural resources harvested from the wilderness. They were also the only race willing to travel between cities and towns in order to supply these goods to citizens. The Yakis succeeded in "conquering" the dangers and challenges of the wilderness by banding into tribes and tamin~nd traveling on huoras. Essential for orpee transport~~ion an~ distribution ..,..___-----lfr,onrthe- [na'is hearths to the c1t1es, Yak.s became indispensable as traders. Any companies who tried to inf!.i.nge on Yakis territory suffered the consequenc s (often violent). Only when the Soleks arri ea were the Yakis predatory instincts tamed. Soon Yakis were forced to share their duties with their worthy opponent, the Soleks. 1

Division Within a century after the arrival of the Soleks, the Yakis tribe split itself into two factions; the traditionalists and the modernists (who'd later give birth to the techno tribe). The traditionalist tribe valued dominance and supremacy above all, and their ferocity increased according. Members of this faction bonded smaller tribes together to form groups of several thousand Yakis urged on by a desire to destroy the Soleks and their kin belonging to the modernist tribe. Luckily, nothing major occurred despite the traditionalists' attempts (the remaining Yakis, Soleks and the Empress' forces were too strong to defeat). The modernists, on the other hand, negotiated trade routes with the Soleks, forming alliances that weeded out and ruined the small and medium-sized trade companies that

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had been trying to break into the These modernists acknowledged the as their equals and soon after, the Modernists were content to allow the Ztn dominate the upper echelon of the hierarchy, wh ile the Soleks, Yolko'is Yakis remained one tier below, c superior to all other races.

D r ? illll The Yakis are the only race to use Dream. Some tribes, called Dream live only by night, riding the Dream in similar manner to the Emovans w ho are to swim in it. These Dream tribes sleep day in the highest branches of a kioux another Naakinis tree. Each tribe has one more Dream shaman to harness and co the Dream, helped by the Dream w ho are the shaman's physical helper right hand. In the Dream tribes, almost of the Yakis are shamans and tamers several others specialize in the domain of Dream. This strange ability to control a:::nt=-use the Dream makes Yakis e treme dangerous, for they alone da re strike night. Some elderly tribes even ave power to summon small Dreamst rms they weave around their tribe, protection or in preparation of an

Tril v ? l Almost every Yaki tribe travel on huoras, beast from Naakinis on w hich two or Yaki families can live. Each huoras has lengthy appendages (up to 150 yards). huoras are capable of killing Ka'inasians in single blow, moving spear-armed Yakis in out of battle seated on the tip of appendages. Huoras can also "walk" any terrain easily, using their appendages feet to run or as arms from w hich they at the tops of trees, protecting their families from harm during the night.

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'Aer. of The Kularans. nnn•lnP'WtvAwakened aS a Echo, swifTly head roward The r~n.«:HJ>>IT sound ThaT he heard ajew hundred away aT his righT.

Yaki tribe has a specialized way of traveling, fighting and defending itself and their huoras adapt accordingly. In some cases, Yakis use other Naakinis creatures (not huoras), but it is all to the same end.

W<1 rrn th No Yaki tribe will ever refuse shelter to a traveler, but neither will they trust an outsider. If a stranger proves trustworthy, however, he will be welcomed warmly into the Yaki tribe. Yakis feel an overwhelming sense of friendship for their tribespeople, which helps to preserve their mental health and strength, avoiding the pitfalls of bitterness and hostility. For a Yaki, there are two things that are more important than the individual: his famJy and his tribe. If a Yaki does not devote himself entirely to these two things, he risks becoming selfish, cold and wJI inevitably be forced to suffer the Curse of the Nightmare. In this case, the Dream (which normally is on the side of the Yakis) turns grey and sickly around the selfish individual. These types are quickly thrown out of the tribe and this spells out a fate much worse than death for the outcast. Yak is must stick to the only ways of survival they know: trust, number, fortitude and tenacity.

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throughout. They are: Tribe leaders (five, reevaluated at any time) plus diplomats, protectors, survivors, warriors ( and some others) as dictated by each specific group.

F<1mi l v Yaki famJies often possess their own seal, symbol and craft. Each family's armor has its own colors, shapes, textures and powers according to the model of the tribe, which allows Yakis to recognize each other even when they come from different tribes. At birth, a newborn Yakis' placenta is preserved and placed in a special box created by Yaki Awakeners. At six years of age, a child is given the part of his armor that has grown during his youth. The armor will continue to grow and change until it finally covers his entire body (usually occurs about in about 20 years). As it grows, the youngster learns to understand and use his armor. Plenty of pressure is put on a Yaki during these formative years so that he will develop the resilience, the ability and confidence to take on necessary tasks in the tribe. It is the duty of families to see to their child's "formation" so if a Yaki turns out to be weak, the whole family is blamed.

M:'<.:;h \iCa L urE Al ·

Z1ns MFt 11 y mi ll?n n iFt Ftgo ... The Frilins created the Zins, a race designed to combat and protect them against Naakinis beasts. During their creation, a Ritual was established in which an Aran creature was "infused" into each Zin Mind. This Ritual was the best option for the Frilins; while Mind Walking in a Zin's Mind, a Frilin would have access and control over this Aran creature. The idea behind these Aran creatures was that a Frilin could Mind Walk into a Z"in's mind in order to invoke the Aran creature, and then take over control of its Zin host and protect Frilins from dangerous situations. In creating this race with such potentially powerful capabilities, the Frilins needed assurance that they would never lose control .. .---.--!----'~ of the Zins, in which case they dominated by them instead of them. During the conception of therefore, they included several to assure themselves that young, (essentially aU Zins) would remain under their control. To this end, the Frilin creators made each Zin hate the sight, sound and smell of any other of his race. This would prevent Zins from grouping together or acting in any sort of organized fashion that might result in a threatening situation for Frilins. Furthermore, this hate that they feel for others of their race extends so far as to impede a Zin's quest for knowledge about himself. And because each Zin is focused on limiting the effect his Aran creature has on his mind, he is unable to concentrate long enough to become any sort of leader or authority figure in any society.

Thsphir One of the first Zins, Tasphir, was also the first known Judicator and through his Vocation, strove to liberate not only himself but other Zins as well. He and the other liberated Zins went on a rampage - each in their own way - , attempting to kill as many Frilins as possible in order to exact revenge. Because of the violent Zin nature, however, Frilins weren't the only ones to suffer from Zln attacks. Instead of being tools for Frilins to control and use as protection, the Zins became, in a sense, psychotic predators, stalking all Frilins who were known to be in possession of a Zin, hunting them down and killing them. Ironically, the creatures designed to protect them in the end were the ones that handed them their death. They stopped "manufacturing" Z'ins.

Even though Tasphir succeeded in "liberating" many Zlns from their Frilin owners, he could not stop himself from killing many as well. His "genetic makeup" could not be changed. He still hated all other Zins and felt an overwhelming urge to kill them. He could not successfully rid himself of the primal urges to kill violently and without conscience.

l ~om br(:"' d (:"' 11:1 sph i r Zins young and old learned Tasphir's legend and used his name often as a mode of protection. In an attempt to control their deathly urges, generations of Zins retired to the wilderness. It was a place where their instincts to hunt could be satisfied without harm coming to other races. Young

Zins had little chance of survival as they were hunted down by Frilins or died before they found a city in which they could find food or shelter. Other Zins died as well, after battling too many beasts or in fights with other Zins. Slowly, each surviving Z'in realized that if he wanted to continue to exist, he would need to figure out two things; how to tame the Aran beast inside and how to control his urge to kill. ( ; (:"' 11

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Their strong genetic makeup has not alternated over time. During birth, the Ritual still occurs, so each Zin, old and newborn, possess an Aran creature in their Minds. Their predatory instincts are also strong, making them dangerous enemies and as fierce com petitors today as they were when they were first created. More recently, Zlns have mastered the ability to Mind Walk, which at the least allows them to control (or at least subdue) their Aran beast. Zins cannot, however, Mind Walk in other people's minds because they do not possess the necessary empathy to gain access to another's Mind.

II is tory Because Zins do not talk to one another, nor can they bare to listen to stories about other Zins, they have no history, no documented evidence of their existence, no method of passing on information about themselves. Each newborn Z'ln (who reaches adult size in three days) must rely on the kindness of strangers to take care of him until he can fend for himself. Some people have heard tales of the Zin, and fewer still have encountered Zins personally. Because Zins abandon their babies at birth, aU newborn Zins are technically orphaned and need someone from another race to educate and raise them. If not, they

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risk death. And if they do manage to survive on their own, they will be completely savage, unable to control the Aran beast and a serious danger to any civilization they come across. Taking in a newborn Z"tn is not a n easy task as he will never be studious, calm or subdued. However, he can learn to read a nd write, to listen to the history of other races, ethical codes of conduct, to refrain from kil ling in cities and town, not to attack convoys and how to avoid his own death as well as the death of others.

Soci (" ty In society, even though their appearance is extremely rare, Z"ins always leave a strong impression on those around them. Because they are unable to enter into anything but superficial relationships with others, however, they rarely stay in a populated area for long. If they need to earn money in order to pu rchase orpee, they do thei r job extremely efficiently, receive their pay and move on. They can only relate to creatures that are similar in someway to them, so Zlns usually find themselves outsiders unless they are with a group of brave and adventurous Echoes. Most eo le do not know what to make of Z"ins. Some believe they are extremely arrogant, while others think they are an entirely uniq ue species that does not need and is..com.pletely-unconnected to others, possibly from some other place besides Ka!nas.

The lin walked qut of the forest. He was stained with blood. some of which was his own. Ar that;moment. he would have killed anyone in sight. Only someone as powerful as a T1ird Sphere War Engine might have been able to end his f ury. His right hand tightened the grip on his blade. blood dripping f rom his claws to the ground. He plowed the earth forward before him as he stomped out of theforesT. In the end. his greatest enemy was himself. He wished he could end his own life. but as alin. he was too proud. While Gnaths commit suicide. Nayans Wither.tnais die of love and Yakis sacrifice themselves for their tribe. lins survive. He sharpened his senses and could hear creatures far and near fleeing. Under his heels. he felt the earth dissolving with his every step. He imagined stomping on the heads of the hundreds of corpses he'd kill while transformed. The lin closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He tried to push the thoughts and memories of his recent deathly deeds our of his mind. but they only came back stronger. His hands were soaked in her blood: he had just slashed. speared and cur his mare. and yet. she survived. Clutching her womb with both hands. trying to keep her organs inside her body. she lay on the ground in pain. But when he charged her. she charged back at him. They could nor resist each other. and it was over in less than afew minutes. He stood up to leave. He had not killed her. Within afew hours. a newborn lin would make its way our of her womb. She would suffer once again. resist the urge to murder her young and struggle away from the baby before it tried to harm her. For a moment. he felt a twinge of compassion for her. But then it was gone and he walked away. the same as his father had done before him.

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MECIIA \I CAL DREAM

Lif(~ As its most basic level, life is the most natural of things. Its complexity surpasses the most significant technologies and it is more beautiful than the most melodious poetry. Life Is. And yet we take advantage of it, forget its importance and significance. We focus on ourselves and forget that life is what gave birth to us, what gave birth to All Things. Eflow is its method, its mode of giving birth to the world to creating conscience, intelligence and perception. It flows everywhere, in all bodies, in everything. The sooner we open ~~r minds to the awareness t.hat .eflow cour.ses through allli~ing t.hings, th.e sooner~~ possess the abihty to hear the murmur of hfe, 1ts harmomous notes gently mfusmg us w1th tranqmhty.

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Consci ~~nc~ Developing a conscience is a long process, evolving over time on an individual basis. One can evolve and become a truly advanced, wise being and yet his child does not inherit these traits. The child will have to start all over again and suffer through the same trials and tribulation in order to achieve a more fully evolved conscience. There is also a "collective" conscience that develops at a much slower rate. Only through centuries of hardship, generation after generation, can our conscience evolve collectively. We Awakeners are not prophets or magicians, able to turn you into noble and wise creatures in a day. Rather, we are a piece of the machinery of evolution. Step by step we help conscience grow, century by century and over millennia.

Vitali tv We are patient and stalwart at the same time. Those who slumber must be Awakened. Those who plot to gain control of the masses must be destroyed. In the Core Himself we seem to have finally found a great leader. He should never be permitted to abuse his power

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H1 rn iIi a rs and you should never be afraid to rise up against him, to sacrifice your life for the good of society, shou ld his actions be unjust or cruel. Remaining Awakened, conscious despite what pain you may suffer is all a part ot life 's process. We must suffer in order to live. But for now, until he acts differently, all should support The Core for as long as he leads effectively and efficiently.

Rituals Characteristic of Awakeners, our rituals are a method in which we not only enter into contact with slumbering beings but invoke them into a state of life, confer upon them a conscience that gives them the freedom to act and react, to learn and understand, to voluntarily transform into something else. The road by which we infuse conscience into a being is long and complex. Awakeners need to learn and accept the value of sacrifie to survive. Awakeners must also be of sufficient maturity to be able to move through the progressive stages of Awakening.

All familiars created with good intentions, from most simple to the most complex, are considered "family" by Awakeners. It is very rare that an Awakener creates a familiar for practical purposes only. An Awakener would have to overcome an extremely strong inner compulsion to love every living thing in order to create anything that might have destructive tendencies. Anything that is destructive is transformed or destroyed. Innocence, overconfidence and too much forgiveness are all possible seeds of Abuse.

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The notion of environment is always of a territory, a grid on which a number of elements are always found. These elements can be made up of someone or something. The distance between elements, often, is connected to their relationship. Obviously, conscience and intelligence permits, through understanding, the [ ,

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manipulation of these elements.

Tactics

Stability The continuity ofan element in a specific place is a method by which one can judge its stability. Fixed objects, like Kioux, are intrinsically stable. People, depending on their daily routines, can be more or less stable. Knowing the degree of stability of elements within a territory makes it easier to keep things secure.

Kn(>wing our' pia~ ~? To know yourself, to know your geographical position as well as understanding your emotional, social a nd intellectual situations is the only way in which we are able to achieve a sense of freedom. Only when we know where we are in the metaphysical sense of the word, can we stop searching and just be. Progress is possible, but only when we are aware that we are traveling in a specific direction with a specific purpose. Movement for movement's sake is useless and a waste of time and energy.

To prot ~?~t .~ not s ~?rv ~? We were created for protection. In contrast with other Echoes, we were designed to last.

Awakeners, Judges, Judicators, Overlords, certain War Engines and Truth Crafters will risk their lives for their cause. We believe it is in our best interest to survive. These Echoes take their role too seriously, every little detail is too important to them. A little bit of perspective on the situation is all these Echoes need to make things easier on themselves. It makes all the difference.

IJistan~~ Guardians are not cynical, but we do believe that attachment to others is not the most efficient and effective way to do our job. Focusing on the task at hand, rather than emotional bonds, is necessary for the security of the Empire. We may seem aloof to those who do not understand our methods of interaction. But let it be known that we are not mechanical creatures without feelings. We believe in love, and the strong bond that lovers feel towards each other. What we also know, however, is that keeping enemies apart is a successful way in which to protect because distance implies an inability to interact. If enemies are forced to remain far away from each other, they cannot and will not fight; therefore confrontation and violence are avoided.

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Our defense tactics may seem strange and paradoxical to some. In order to ensure the protection of the Empire, Guardians do not fight on the front lines. We need to protect ourselves in order to protect you. Therefore, we are rarely found on the forefront of a conflict. We are aware that this, perhaps, does not seem like a noble approach to protection tactics. To some, it may seem as though we are putting lives at risk (others', not our own) for our own purposes so that we may not be harmed. In actuality, we are looking at the bigger picture. While one warrior may be killed in battle, hundreds of thousands of others are saved because of this warrior's actions. We devote our time to protecting those who need protection. Those who are willing to die do not need our protection.

Responsibility Responsibility is a word many people know, fewer people understand and less put into practice properly. Responsibility is the ability to carry the weight of our own actions. Furthermore, everyone should be equally responsible for his own person. No one should have to carry more than they are able, to be responsible for more than they can handle. Furthermore, no individual should unload their responsibilities on someone or something else. Unfortunately, however, the burden of responsibility has shifted from the individual to society. In factories, for example, machinery removes responsibility from each individual worker. Workers have an extremely narrowed scope of actions that they are responsible for. Yakis and Soleks, on the other hand, maintain crucial roles with their tribe. Th~y are re~pon.sible for their own actions, and their ability to perform directly effects the well-bemg of the1r tnbes.

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Faith

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The weight of responsibility has already made countless individuals crumble under its pressure. Most people, at an early age, learn to reject and displace their responsibility so few are able to withstand the pressure. Together with the Overlords, the Judges are the pillars of the world, holding up the weight of responsibility that others have so casually dismissed.

Those who want a better order, a better society and a bigger system are those capable of having faith. Faith is not a blind belief, nor is it a desperate hope. Faithful people are not necessarily overly attached to the system. Faith is just an extreme of confidence. Those who have proven themselves worthy of the trust put in them, who have always been able to fulfill their duties without failing, they alone can inspire faith. Faith is built on confidence, hope and time. Faith is confidence projected on the future. It is a belief that breaks down contentions, permits us to have more freedom and offers us a way in which our community can come to a concensus about the future.

The one who carries responsibility instills faith and fear in others, whose precepts are the laws, who the Core Himself considers as a brother, this one who can Judge is the one in charge of Judging. His arm will be heavier with all the Judgments but he will only become stronger and will no longer fear any enemies. He will emanate faith, not faith in himself but faith in others. Judges are the foundations of equity and justice in this world, the medium through which confidence and faith can bloom. No matter what actions are necessary, no matter how much pain it takes, a Judge must accept that his role is more important than anything else. To fail is impossible; he must suffer through the completion of his duty.

C( fi d

>n '? n t; '? Apart from responsibility, one other thing is essential for the well-being of the system: confidence. Confidence is the resistance an individual puts forth against attempts to break the social tissue. Only a responsible individual can inspire trust and confidence in other members of society. Extreme confidence brings about Faith.

MECIIA\fCAL DHEAM

Birth My name is ljono, son of Noko, daughter of Kolnece, of a Zln lineage. My mother sacrificed herself to give birth to me. She left me to be raised by her father. He told me that my mother would reappear in a few decades. She had been very powerful before she had me, so it would take her almost a century to return to her former level of power. We are not like you. We are fro m every race, yet we are alone. We have no father or mother. We have no culture. We are Judicators, sons and daughters of our own kin, alone in your world, guided only by the Judges. They are our sole masters. Judges are Pillars and one must respect and obey them. If they ever lose their way or stray from the destined path they must be killed. 4Q

Blad ~ Here is my Blade, Zohy. I created it as I was being created. It has served me faithfully throughout my life. It grows, lives and fights with me. It is my sole companion and the only thing to which I would trust my life. Zohy will never leave me and never falter. It is my true face. It increasingly gains strength and power, wit and intelligence, becoming more and more like me until one day we become one. A Judicator is nothing without his Blade. What he cannot do with his Blade, he cannot do at all.

o ~~dication Judicators have traveled long and wide. Unlike Walkers, however, our path always leads to danger, to evil places. We, along with the Judges, are the only pure Echoes. Other types can get misled, caught up in extraneous causes and activities that prevent their evolution. It is not our choice to be pure. It is a fact of our nature. We cannot deviate from our course and therefore we do not demand admiration. We request respect, that is all. From birth we are dedicated to the guidance and policing of everyone on Kainas (normals and Echoes include). We also are determined to protect and police Naakinians too, as soon as we are

able. Our Blades are our only tool. Anyone who earns our trust will be accepted and Protected. Anyone who tries to abuse us, confront or undermine us will be killed. We never underestimate or overestimate: our justice is simple and straightforward. Any abuses of strength deserve a death penalty.

rntirnidation We do not have many enemies. A Judicator that is killed will return to life stronger, more powerful. Judicators, even in death, do not forget so it is not safe to make enemies with us. We will never kill people who do not deserve it. If we, for any reason, feel as though we may be in error, we will consult a Judge. Any enemies we have, who success in disposing of us temporarily will have to reckon on our return. Many turn to suicide in this case. We can respect that. One's redemption is always more convincing when applied by the self to the self.

R ~~su rr ·~ction When we die, the information contained in our "eflow" is not absorbed back into the larger stream of eflow. Rather, the core of Judicators retains a Judicator's vital essence and with time, it is possible for that Judicator to recreate himself. We are in a

semi-vegetative state during this reconstruction, slowly piecing the bits of ourselves together like a puzzle. We drift far from civilization where the eflow streams are much calmer. When we are ready to be resurrected, three lightening strokes (Body, Mind and Blade) bring us back into one piece, alive and immediately functional. We are electric to the touch and contain enough eflow to last a month.

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With each rebirth, we grow stronger and so do our Blades. Our Blades develop of their own accord. They have the courage to shed blood at anytime, to risk damage on the toughest of armor and mechanical beasts. Danger is not a consideration for Blades. They (and in part, we) do not care about being bruised, broken, tortured or killed. We do not fear death and subsequently we are not heroes. Heroes are pure, white, gleaming actors devoted to saving lives. We are stained, dirty, corroded and indifferent to our job. We are children of Necessity. We do not choose to fight, but we cannot resist Necessity.

\1 LCIIA \!CAt I> BEAM

Newbl>rns Mind Chemists, once they obtain the skill of being able to penetrate a Mind, are overwhelmed by the experience. They are thrust into a completely new and unexplored universe. Some adapt easily to the landscape of the Mind while others become, over a period of years, completely paranoid. Successful Mind Walkers explore the Mind exactly as a Walker explores the territory of Kainas. Their goal is to learn more about the Mind in order to help those who suffer from af8ictions of the Mind. These Chemists, who basically become walking scalpels, inspire fear in the entire population. There are millions of secrets locked within the Mind that we Mind Chemists do not understand and cannot decode. Why and how are Mind Creatures born, for example? We are explorers of a new world; Mind Chemists are a new breed, so there is no history, no documented evidence or a "wise one" who can teach us age-old [...,. Mind Walking methods. We are as vulnerable in the Mind of an individual as they are in reality.

The Mind is a fascinating construction. It is home to an individual's memories, ideas, fears and dreams. Amazingly, mental illness manifests itself in various physical forms. Mind Chemists struggle with the paradox of whether the idea of a Mind gives birth to the Mind or is it the Mind that gives birth to the idea of itself? Uncovering the truth about a Mind's functioning is a tall order. Mind Chemists must learn early on to recognize that in the Mind, everything can be different, even if they seem similar to what we know as "reality." Within the Mind, one is constantly losing touch with "fundamental reality" as it blurs, fades and disappears entirely. All the laws of psychology that we know disappear as well with the discovery of a new reality that shines new light on fundamental reality. Mind Chemist will learn and understand these new realities in order to better explain the workings of the Mind.

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The Mind and Ooubt

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Pr,isrnatic Morals, Ethics, Truth, Objectivity and Subjectivity; these are the structures Mind Chemists have to mold into entirely different shapes in order to begin understanding how the Mind function. If you can figure out how to embrace Truth as a three-dimensional whole without ignoring or being blind to any of its facets, you have succeeded in reaching a Mind Chemist's point of departure.

s ~~ns ;~ We struggle with trying to make sense of our thoughts, of any Mind 's thoughts. How can we tell the difference between a "fake" and real thought? How does one separate himself from the primal, instinctive self that has thoughts rooted in fear? Is it possible to free ourselves from these chains in order to think freely on our own, devoid of baggage?

Ernotions What makes an emotion true or false, real or fake? If a feeling is evoked by external stimulus feels as real as one that comes from within, is it a false emotion? What tools do we use to judge the validity of an emotion; Mind or instinct? What is the role of conscience in emotion? Is it merely a buffer to your intellect? Do we suffer more than animals and beasts because we have a conscience? Is this conscience meant to "show" us our inner beast?

)lLCilA \fCAl DBEAM

Sons and daughters of rhe Dream. who come find us when our hour has come, hear me. 1am rhe firsr of rhe Dream prophers. rhe firsr of us. rhe firsr of you. I have rhe nighr and irs screams in my veins. everyThing rhar appears when rhe day disappears makes up my bones and my flesh. I am made up of all your fears. When rhe Dream speaks, we become irs voice. When rhe Dream howls. we become irs cry. When rhe dream acrs. we perform irs acrions. irs gesrures.

Spirit We are the link between the Dream and reality. We can always feel the material aspect of reality (even when it's barely perceptible) no matter how much control the Dream seems to have over our Minds. In a sense, we are possessed by the Dream, which is neither easy nor comfortable. It is a process as painful as being a Gnath child, suffering endlessly. Our spirit is transformed. The Dream destroys our bearings, our memories, our morale and our logic. We are not all as strong as the Frilins, able to resist the Dream. We are more like the Odwoanes, whose Minds, on occasion, are penetrated by the Dream to the point of becoming crazy and go on a Gnath killing frenzy. Those among us who do not accept the Dream in their spirit get killed easily and quickly, as the Dream becomes their spirit. Those who accept the Dream watch their thoughts, emotions and perceptions transformed by and for the Dream's purposes. Some will become blurred while others' Minds become incredibly vast and intuitive, allowing permutations, changes, psychic shock and difficult mutations of reality.

For a number of years, the Nightmare is completely lost and it only has its pulse to preserve a few parcels of itself. Our obsessions about life and death are the only direct links to our souls: everything else is curves, spirals and other undistinguishable shapes that are of no use to the Mind. We tighten our grip on those direct links as the Dream becomes comprehensible, as we start to understand it. Our obsession about Death is almost always the strongest, the direct line to the destruction of whatever target, of an individual that will then become our prey.

TIH~

Hunt

We only have one thing on our mind when we go on a hunt and that is the blissful feeling of liberation when we are ravaging our prey. At this moment the shackles of the Dream are thrown off and we gain awareness, strength and freedom. In total ecstasy, we explode in a bloody frenzy, killing our prey with a bone crunching, flesh ripping satisfaction. We are confirming and acknowledging our existence as we stop, for a second, living in dangerous abstraction and become one with reality.

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With a little luck, age and maturity, we learn to understand this existence, and we learn the way in which to survive, to co-exist with the Dream so that it does not drown us but merely wash over us. We become the Dream, but in turn the Dream becomes us. Fear is the root of the Dream . When we give up our role as puppets for the Dream that is when the real Nightmare will be born.

MECIIA \fCAl DREAM

Sup ,~riority We are the leaders, the Alphas, the shepherds, the kings and the rulers. We are the heroes and simultaneously the creators of history. We are a Kioux that extends its roots in the soil of reality and its leaves into the substance of the sky. We regulate your present, condition your past and determine your future. We are the pilots of the magnificent ships constructed by the Engineers and Weirdsmiths. We are in control of every aspect of every city, be it politics, econ~mics, social or military. We control everything with efficiency and confidence. No one can do the JOb better than an Overlord.

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R '~putation We are made up mostly of legendary Echoes, about one quarter of all those who have achieved unparalleled feats. We are not visible for good reason. We have enemies who wish to fight us and gain control of our resources. But our unbearably strong superiority succeeds every time to dominate lesser beings. Those who threaten and challenge our control are merely providing us with a chance to brush up on our fighting skills.

fnn ,~rs~lf Being dominant demands immense internal strength and a total lack of humility. We are capable in every avenue and not about to waste time pretending we are not. Acting in a manner considered worthy of inner beauty is frivolous unless necessary. Furthermore, people do not want get to know you and your inner self. They would rather want you to be for them what they need or want.

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Consider us the skeleton of society. We are the spine, skull, ribcage of the collective conscious beings who may individually be strong, but together lack strength and structure. We provide that internal structure. Truth Crafters also play a role but they act more as biological regulators rather than the backbone of the structure. We must endure any wound without flinching. We must heal any bruised muscles or bones that result without causing instability. We do not have the choice. We are Overlords.

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Structur~ Without us, society would have no stability, no order and no sense of direction. People with weak minds do not realize that there is more than orpee. Our actions may seem rash and illogical. Leading thousands to their death on a battlefield, on the surface, is a horrible action. But letting invaders into the realm would sacrifice many more lives and the safety of our world.

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Pilots Pilots are our kin and yet they are most dissimilar to us. They are strange Overlords who completely relinquish their desire to control others. These Overlords (they refuse that name and are called "Pilots" instead) direct and live with their beast or vehicles, thriving on speed, adventure and physical relationships. They prefer to ride their bike or venture into the most dangerous regions of Kainas rather than control an entire army. The violent nature which they reject by denying their controlling nature is redirected into their work with animals and objects. They are forced to create Gifts that are only effective with creatures and vehicles. Of course this means they are the most awesome pilots on Ka'inas.

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This is the str~ngest word that will ever exist. History transcends such pecuniary concepts as "Naakinis" or "Kalnas". History is the only possible "god" in this world as metaphysics and such have never succeeded in proving anything. Even the reincarnation of the Judicators finds a reason, cause and purpose in History. The mighty Mechanical Weavers, the builders of reality, end up repairing the strands of History that get tangled and confused. We are History's fundamental masters. History along is a brainless power. It is the greatest force in the universe that lacks sense and direction. The Truth Crafters harness History and control it for our own purposes. All can be made to fit into its pattern as a weak but necessary part of its being. Without conscious beings, History would be meaningless. Without us, History would have ~eaning, b_ut would lack purp~se. With our M~ster Crafter, History becomes the greatest tool by wh1ch to ach1eve power: bend H1story and all w11l bend.

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IJ r,:!"'a rn i n g To make History stronger, one needs to alter reality. It is so powerful, however, that losing control of it can happen easily. One needs to be wary.

M ov :!"'tn~nt We make civilizations rise and accompany them in their decline. We control and direct mass movements in a similar way to puppeteers pulling invisible strings to make their puppets dance. Reality is nothing but a kaleidoscope of light and shadow, a question of level of observation. The mind functions through perception of things in its environment. Truth crafts can alter all that you perceive, reshape it until you see what we want you to see. We delve deep into the unconscious of crowds in this manner, subtly manipulating people to our own ends. Obviously masses (large crowds) are our greatest tool for any large twist or turn we'd like History to take.

Unlike the Overlords, most of us are fond of people, masses and individuals of every race. We love to share moments with you, to tell our tales and see your faces full of horror, amusement, love or hatred. Truth Crafters enjoy spending time with you in order to amuse you, to relieve you from the massive pressures of everyday life (if only for a little while) . We know we are the only Echoes who can provide you with an escape from reality for a while, and we are very proud of our abilities in this area. We are visionary fanatics who wish to create a better world and have all the tools we need to succeed. Long ago we recognized the vast scale of the tasks that we have taken on. For this reason, we all need some sort of driving force to see our goals through. We are, therefore, Dreamers. Forget the cold, razor-sharp calculating abilities of the Overlords. We dream about tomorrow, our hopeful futures. There is no denying that we do calculate and control whenever we feel it is necessary for the good of society and History. But, our dream, perhaps, will one day belong to you.

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R :! "'alitv When a Truth "crafter submits to one of his visions, he might vanish from the scene for as long as it is necessary to complete or satisfy his dream. This can last decades or centuries, and often require that we leave our friends and ourselves behind . We exist in no other place but in the concept or the project in which we are ensnared. Many Truth Crafters weave small "reality holes" on purpose. They hide in these holes, 5toring orpee and entering into a "hibernation" in order to think about all that needs to be done to complete their plan. When their plan is constructed, they emerge from their hiding place. Never doubt that we are leaving or forsaking you. We are not wasting time either. The task of the Truth Crafter, as the name implies, is a heavy one. Our work is clearly important and essential to the Judges, Overlords and War Engines.

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We are silent, observant, fluidly absorbing every color degradation, movement and sound in their environment. We are alone, yet one with everything around us. We are part of the trees, the grass, the beasts and yet a separate entity. Walkers are accepted easily into any social setting as a trusted friend. A Walker's Mind can ..,. reach it recognizes something familiar. Our Minds are constantly urging growth, discovery and ( understanding of the unknown . ~-~

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Knowledge

We travel everywhere. Our home is everything we know and everywhere we've been. We are everywhere we go. We talk to everyone and try anything that we come across, be it food or activity or language. Walkers look at something over and over again in order to find something new, a different mood or nuance that we may have missed the first or ftftieth time around. We should never stagnate, stay in one place too long. Inertia is the only death we can possibly suffer from.

What is Real is that which is not manipulated to feel otherwise by the Mind. Things can be manipulated into something other than their natural state. Some changes are positive (evolution) while others are destructive (transforming someone into a slave). These fluctuations in the nature of things is why so many people fear change. It is unpredictable and often unsatisfying or dangerous. We are not unpredictable. We do not shield ourselves behind masks and armor. Movement and appearance is not what makes something Real.

Explore, feel, broaden your Mind, permute, analogize, fight, love, hate, think, evolve; Walk, relentlessly, this is the mandate of a Walker.

ll,ust People's trust stems mostly from a feeling that they get. We are to them what the

World is to us; an immense, complex, amazing entity that is Real. We are real to others and ourselves. We are infused with peace. We keep our eyes open so widely and perceive so clearly that mirrors and masks are transparent to us.

Masks and rnirr,or,s Avoid those who wear masks to protect themselves. Never hesitate to destroy or otherwise confront those who wear masks to deceive others. Do the same for mirrors that reflect your desires and fears as their own. Those two kinds are dangerous to all, including themselves.

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MECIII\.\'(Al ~·-~~u~R~E~I\.M~---------

E r~<:=•r'gy All War Engines emit a pulse, a rhythm of energy powering through their bodies. They are born from this energy and it defines them as a species. A War Engine will never lose his rhythm and he has an unlimited source of energy that rumbles and vibrates all things around it.

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Being a War Engine comes from harnessing the strength of our own inner energy and rhythm and creating within ourselves an echo so this energy emanates from our very being. When we rage, others rage. When we fight, others fight. People do not motivate on their own. They need to be motivated, inspired. They need goals and a path to -.. follow. Overlords push people to activate but they do so by pulling invisible strings. People controlled by [ Overlords do not use their will or soul. ~-~

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Motion Similar to the Walkers, we show them the way, open doors, but do not drag them along. We lead and allow them to follow if they so choose, so they feel alive, inspired and brave. If a warrior is forced to fight ten times in a row, he will desert. If that warrior is brought to fight ten times by following your steps, he'll start convincing himself he 's a real warrior and will then be able to fight on his own. We are unstoppable once we have started down a path. The day we become War Engines we do not stop acting, moving, or reacting until we die.

" /a r In a more peaceful world, it is likely our energies would be used to gather and organize people in more constructive patterns. Things being what they are, however, we must do our duty. And I could not imagine living without battle, without the adrenaline high I get during a fight, the loyalty that binds one side against another. The emotional intensity

of war is unlike anything else. War is necessary and catastrophic at the same time. Those who survived are overjoyed to have escaped with their life, but mourn heavily the loss of those who died. Ware engages us. It ensnares us. It motivates us. Being on the battlefield makes you feel absolutely invincible and absolutely vulnerable simultaneously. War is Life and Death .

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Fear inhibits movement. Courage is the only thing that can resist fear. The courageous one knows fear better than the coward, and by knowing it, he can resist it. He can dominate it and use fear to his advantage. Every warrior must learn to harness the power of fear and turn it into a powerful motivator on the battlefield. Otherwise he will die .

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Without movement, things stagnate. Inertia is the worst of all your enemies. Inertia burns energy and wastes it. Motion uses energy. Movement creates movement until it is perpetual. Without movement there is no rhythm and without rhythm there is no intensity. A War Engine's movement and energy can be used by anyone. It can help instill rhythm in your workers and courage in your warriors. Our footsteps are permanent and mark the beginning of all motion . They indicate which direction to follow. We are the original Echoes. We motivated the first movement and set the rhythm and pace of all things.

M?thA \iCll L urE Am

This introduction is the work of Loka'Jun. Nayan historian.

Before Droliath-Estolah came to power, there had been nearly 200 attempts to overthrow the Frilin Council of Twenty. Each of the perpetrators tried and failed to overcome the Council by force. Droliath-Estolah, however, had a different idea about how to gain control of the Empire. ~stead of using force, he wisely requested an interview ~it~. the Frilin Council. Five days later, negoti~ons e~d~d as Droliath won the Frilins over. He "" prbu
There is no orpee loss and little corruption in this well-oiled system. With everyone so pleased with new orpee distribution, Droliath took the next step in his grand scheme and declared himself supreme ruler, the Core Himself. People were' quick to adapt to the Core's reign, as it was more secure, safer and more stable than that of the Empress. That he wanted to call himself the Core Himself seemed undaunting to his followers. Most easily accepted him and his regime. The Core Himself instated the Judge's Laws system to synchronize the Naakinis and Ka'inas way of life. All creatures were punishable under the same set of rules. Droliath encouraged the conquered people to listen to his wisdom:

"Leave everything that can't help build the future behind. What you cannot hold on to. you cannot use. Live by what you know. nor what you believe. Let curiosity lead you to learn more. On these foundations will we erect a new society.·

~· Many fell under his spell and the outgrowth was a surprisingly obedient society that willingly adhered to the Core's rule. He was their hero (albeit a somewhat strange one) who had managed to solve the orpee distribution problem, put the Judges' Laws into practice and make everyone accept that in order to start fresh, everyone needed to let go, to forget their spiritual beliefs about Naakinis. Droliath encouraged his followers to develop a

critical mind, always quest10mng their situation, their environment, their life.

1. Droliarh-Esrolah. with the full support of the Frilin council of Twenty and the special recommendation of the First Preservaror Psykere. establish myself as the new ruler of these lands which shall from now on be called the ·core's Domains: This system shall be referred to as the ·core· and I shall be referred to as "The Core Himself.

The Core's Geodem system will encourage constructive and efficient geo-demographic developments. There will also be anew national army. the Core's Army. which will primarily serve ro protect the Core's Domain against invasion or arrack. The Core's Army will also be responsible ro mediate internal wars. should they occur. Additionally. the army will consist of a special police force with extensive jurisdiction. The Core's Army has the power to act anywhere and anytime within the Core. Alternate constabulary forces will be restricted ro their local jurisdictions.

The rules by which my subjects shall live will henceforth be the Judge's Laws. The Judge's Laws will be the Law. For reasons that will be outlined completely in appendix 1.3. no actions will be taken against Naakinis believers except that they will nor be recognized by the Core. Any Naakinis rebels who prove to be disruptive ro the social structure of the Core will suffer drastic consequences. Heralds will be sent Jar and wide to proclaim the destructive effects of the Naakinis belief system. Any concerned citizen may contact our Faith Department. It is the Core's ascerrarion that the old system of government was archaic. non-functional. costly and ineffective. Therefore. a new system will be introduced and integrated into the existing structure over the next so years. Many facers you will be unfamiliar with and may be angered by the changes we pur forth. However. the Core recognizes that the deep-rooted suffering that many have suffered under the old system needs an alternative. The Core. therefore. is seizing this opportunity ro rebuild and refashion society for the mutual benefit of all members.

Today, the Core's grand scheme-the Domains, the CCP, the Geodem system, the CODS, other committees and structuresis successfully in place.

A new centralized orpee distribution system (CODS) will be pur in place immediately. We will also found a department of Culture. History and Science (CHS). These changes will encourage the development of a society based on knowledge rather than spiritual beliefs. Many other local and global changes will eventually rake effect. due to and indirectly due to our leadership. Heralds will inform society about changes in effect. To contact the Core with questions. visit a Core kiosk near you. run under the direction of the CSRM. These kiosks will be rhe bridges between each citizen and the Core Himself. He will hear every whisper. so use these kiosks with wisdom and humility. This statement is valid beginning on the first day of the year 15ysc.

Th~ Cor ~ 1- lim s~ lf

(IJroliath Estol<1h)

... 1) Make the orpee distribution safe, fair and secure everywhere. Create a centralized system in which to do this; CODS. 2) Erect a society based on tangible and concrete values such_ as- seie~ce,_.J;>olitical engagement and historical knowledge, IJthe~ than faith and greed. Everything and everyone ·th1!t l~s within the Core's Domain is part of the Core. The Core·~ oecome the most powerful force any society has eve~ seen. Kiosks will link citizens to the Core Himself. They are al::.Q a source of knowledge and information for political transpaRency. 3) Increase the Core's Domain in a steady, safe and consistent manner through the Geodem system (see p.91). The CCP will be used to achieve this goal.

4) Promote researchers, both in laboratories and in the field. Scientists may work in the Core's universities or in academia and be assured good pay and a secure home. Field researchers will also be adequately rewarded for producing information. 5) Make cities within the Core safer. Research a way in which to eradicate the Dream and investigate other alternatives. 6) Build up a knowledge base about the Sofe in anticipation of arriving at some answers as to why it is there and what lies beyond it. Securing this information will ensure a better, more reliable and predicable future. Expeditions will be sent out to investigate the Sofe.

Records from the pre-core system and some other histoncal features The Empirical System This conversation was recorded during a political session between a few of her Empress' advisors, four years before the overthrow of the system by the Core.

·we are now in a strenuous situation. Fear is among us and everybody secretly hopes that the son of our Empress won't assume her power and take control. The despotic system in place is no longer appropriate. There are too many people for one leader to control. we are her· advisors" and aid her in her duties, but we can be sure that the world will crumble if she dies. Nobody has her knowledge of this world. Everybody here knows this!" "Yes, we all know that our Empress -even as powerful an Overlord she is - is getting old. We are also aware that none of us can take her place. We may all aspire to it, but none of us is capable of doing her job. Look at her son. We are barely aware of his existence. Imagine the amount of time he must spend trying to learn all that she has to teach? What pressure he must have on his shoulders. Each and everyone one of us is over two hundred years old- he is twenty years old!- and yet we shirk from assuming her role. Will he be a successful, competent leader? We must find an alternate solution. Even the Empress recognizes that there is a necessity for change if this world is going to survive much longer. · "Well, does anyone have any suggestions? We cannot and will not overtake her or successfully convince her to leave us with more power in the event of her death. we cannot approach her son nor can we desert them, or rally against them using the banner of some other leader. There is not other leader. The only rebels in our realm do not have nearly enough strength to pull off a coup and be potent allies for the council." •1suggest we simply wait until her death and try to prepare shelter for ourselves and those near us for when these times come. Perhaps ,from now on. we can try to establish a plan that would allow us to save some part of our society. I would even suggest we ask for guidance from the Council of Twenty.·

This excerpt illustrates the political climate just before the Chaos unfolded. The advisors sought and listened to the advice of the Frilin Council, which helped them overcome many problems for the f'trst year. But the Empress grew suspicious of her advisors, believing that they were looking after their own interests before those of the Empire. She used spies to discover that each had arranged for protection from the downfall they all seemed to know was inevitable. Deep down the Empress knew that her advisors were right, that power was slipping from her control, but some visceral feeling overwhelmed her rational approach and she opted to believe in her ghostly son's ability to rule. The result was that the Empress and her advisors grew further apart, communication halted and she withdrew from public scrutiny, shied away from public appearances. People suspected that she was sick and too old to carry on ruling. The Empress ruled using a monarchic system; one ruler, a small board of advisors, the Frilin Council of Twenty and many executives. It was clear to many that this system was eventually bound to fail because a single head ruling over fifteen billion people is illogical and impractical. A monarchy functioned well when the population was of manageable size and had worked for millennia before the Empress came into power. During her reign, however, there was immense expansion in the realm and soon the monarchic system became ineffective. There is little doubt, in retrospect, that the Empress was aware of the failings of her government. While at the time many called her "stubborn and blind" it is more likely that she had no choice but to continue in the vein in which she started. By the time she recognized that restructuring would be necessary to maintain power, she was too old to begin such an undertaking. Historians are certain the Empress knew her system '

M:'(;IIA \iUH. DrEAm

would crumble and her son would fail in his attempt to take over after her death. The system had fallen into such disrepair by the Empress' final years that a drastic overhaul of the monarchy was the only way in which the decline into chaos could be stopped. The Core's overthrow of the government was perfectly timed. After the Core's ascension to power, small rulers in towns and cities around the realm cried loudly that their way of life was being squashed. They wanted to keep their power intact. The Core heard them in his own twisted way and created rules especially for these power-hungry leaders. Although they were not absolute or despotic leaders, they retained enough power to feel as though they were in control of their own cities. In some ways, the Empress' monarchy had given way to a democracy, although the Core's strength and power over the entire system was more than the Empress had ever known. Because individual rights were highly protected, from the proletariat to the nobles, the Core Himself did not come across as a dictator but rather the president of a huge company. The Core was at the center of an immense organization in which orders were passed down through the ranks to different levels of leaders who each wielded their own power at their own level. Within the Core's strict regulations there was possibility for freedom of thought, movement and action. Furthermore, because people had no other alternatives presented to them, and the Core managed to dissipate the chaos at a fairly quick rate, most willingly submitted to the Core's system of rule. Droliath-Estolah has a huge responsibility on his hands. While the Empress may have lost control in the fmal years of her rei~, she had successfully kept her subjects in check ~r nearly ~o thousan? ye~rs. The Core Himsel~ h~s ~· muc "'fess expenence at bemg lfl power. However, It IS ob.vio "' o even the most common of folk that he has mas.tered the art of leadership. It is clear that he studied the Em~~s' actions closely and while he does not use her system, of government, he mirrors her strengths perfectly. as one who has a thousand year of experience, not hundred.

Hi storical Ev~nts Major events Carsfin-Oersal (The firsT Echo) Although much is unknown about Carsfin-Oersal, most believe he was a Frilin who, after awakening from centuries of meditation, became a Preservator after having an Illumination. Although there is no proof, this event supposedly occurred approximately ten millennia ago, which would make Carsfm-Oersal the most powerful Echo on Kamas, if he is still alive. Far more powerful than Droliath Estolah, Kian or Tasphir, there is little doubt he is able to hide his true shape and thus escape detection. Carsfin-Oersal is renowned for introducing the belief in the existence of Naakinis to the realm. He put forth a spiritual belief in Her as the sole explanation for the world's ' existence for all those who will "follow in ever increasing numbers". Ironically, it is this idea, the concept of a spiritual explanation for the world that ultimately caused the Gnaths to rise up and claim a culture of their own, one that is fact and knowledge based. Perhaps if Carsfm-Oersal had not introduced spirituality, the Gnaths would have remained part of the whole rather than the engine of the machine.

The creaTion of The GnaTh Empire The Gnath Empire grew powerful in part because of lax governing of neighboring Ina:is and Frilin empires. And although their ascension to power is not completely understood, it is clear that about three millennia ago, _ something allowed them to take control of the system and no one has successfully been able to dislodge them since. The Gnaths have not enslaved other races. Their rule has taken the form of having Gnath social and political values prized more highly than those of other races. The other races had to choose between adapting and being pushed aside. Gnaths are not interested in how they succeeded in becoming the dominate race but others are. The Core, therefore, is trying desperately to gain hold of this knowledge before someone else does so that he may control and use it for his own purposes. The only factual information that is known is that Gnath domination began when a group of Gnaths started to build Kha!-Bhek.

Creation of the Council of Twenty Along with the rise of the Gnath empire and the creation of Khai'-Bhek came the creation of the Council of Twenty. According to a Gnath edict, as long as Gnaths rule, a council of 20 Frilins, presided over by a Preservator (the rarest kind of Echo) would monitor Gnath actions to prevent any grave injustices. Given the nature of Gnaths, it is certain they did not request the Frilin Council. Therefore, the Frilins either forced their way into the Gnath government or proposed a deal the Gnaths could not refuse. Either way the event seems miraculous. It is most likely that each member of the council is an Echo and therefore powerful in his own right. The combination of these powerful Echoes was impossible to resist, even for a growing Gnath empire. It is possible that Droliath Estolah renegotiated a deal with them since he came to power. Evidence for this is suggested in the Core's adoption of the Laws of the Judges. These thousand year-old Frilin Echoes most likely remain hidden on the highest plates, attending to duties and occupations of one kind or another.

Creation of Khai-Bhek Because there is written testimony by the architect and other legal documents, the information we have about the construction of Khai'-Bhek is precise and well documented. The construction of Khai'-Bhek began 3,500 years ago and took five centuries to complete. The original concept was to erect a city not only around but on a kioux. City planners, therefore, used the biggest kioux they could find. The plan was to build a city that would hold three platforms, over which could be constructed new, higher platforms if needed. As soon as the first three platforms were finished, nobles gathered from far and wide in Khai'-Bhek. The city offered three important things; security (away from the dangers on the ground), an abundant and available workforce, and an access to an infinite number of resources and contacts for possible partners (this would be the embryo of capitalism that would grow exponentially with Core's reign). The advantages to living on Khai'-Bhek forged many alliances amongst nobles and, with time, living in relatively close quarters in the city taught them to evaluate power in

terms of wealth rather than land. In turn, a more diversified system of goods and services blossomed. Hard working peasants specialized in a craft and were able to carve a niche for themselves in the growing merchant market. Within a thousand years, three new platforms were added to Khai-Bhek. The middle class was granted access to the lower (new) plates while the nobles remained on the highest three. The slums (where most workers were found) were situated on the ground spreading for miles in every direction. As the wealth and power of Khai'Bhek grew, three more platforms were added. The political and economic situation of this city was more powerful than the founders ever imagined. There is little information on the Emperors that governed Khai-Bhek. All documented sources claim that when the last three platforms were added, the "true nobles" took over the new platforms (which were built at the top of the city) while the successful merchants, rich craftsmen and nobles migrating from other cities laid claim to the middle three platforms. A selected blend of people from all races, social groups and backgrounds were chosen as the new "middle class" and were invited to reside on the bottom three platforms. Many of these "new middle class" people had military background training and so were obvious choices to make up a society that was willing to obey orders and remain perfectly disciplined.

The lnais Declaration of Independence The growth in strength and power of the Gnaths horrified the Inai's. By nature, the lnai's hold almost the complete opposite values to the Gnaths and it is a wonder they ever cohabited with Gnath society at all. It is no surprise, therefore, that after the Gnath rise to power, the lnai's declared themselves independent of the Gnath Empire and fled

M"(:;hA \iCHL DrEAm

to orpee mining areas. The lna'is announced publicly that any Ina'is seeking asylum could Gnd it within the ten orpee mines and most left their jobs and the cities run by the Gnaths in order to take up residence in the mines with their own people. This rebellion was not looked upon favorably by the Gnaths, but they had little choice but to let the lna'is go. Attempting to slaughter them could only cause the lna'is to fall into a war-hungry frenzy in which they would become extremely dangerous to everyone.

Construction of the Foyer d'Ambre The mine that benefited the most from the exile of the lna'is was situated nearest to Kha'i-Bhek. Close to three hundred million individuals could live in this huge cavernous mine, also home to an underground sea. The sea, which divides into three rivers, provides an easy route for trading with the Emovans. This mine, called "Foyer d'Ambre," is lit by hundreds of thousands of tiny lights on the ceiling of each cavern. These lights, coated with a semi-transparent ambercolored liquid gives the lna'is mine, and largest city, its name. Foyer d'Ambre is Khai-Bhek's main rival and its complete opposite. Although Kha'i- Bhek was a place for high level political and economic decision making, its strength and domination over its people was crushing to individualism and creativeness. Everything that was forbidden or lacking on Kha'iBhek flourished in Foyer d'Ambre. Soon lna'is and non-lnais alike flocked to Foyer d'Ambre seeking asylum (mostly Nayans, sedentary Yakis and Emovans). These races were warmly welcomed into the city and it remains today one of the most mufti-e~hnic, culturally active cities of Ka'inas. All poets, ~gers, ' writers or philosophers with enough money ""' head t5'Foyer d'Ambre, a place where every mind can create L j '··~· J;ree.y .. .,._, lrwQ~ons

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of the Kinthai's

Although there is no documented proof of an invasion creatures of the Safe, there are several wastelands in which everything has been burned to the ground and is unable to regenerate. These wastelands are distorted, strange and places where the Dream is extremely dangerous. The most powerful Echoes interested in scientific phenomena conduct their experiments here. But few others dare venture

-...

anywhere near these places. There is only one real suspect in these invasive attacks, as there is only one known race living in the Sofe: the Kinthais.

The Economic Crash During the time in which inventions were popping up everywhere, one particular machine designed to allow millions of people to work at the same time was being tested when disaster struck. The machine, which pumped boiling water from the Emovan underground seas through a series of pipes, emitted a chemical which blocked the evaporation of the steam. In turn, the water rose to three hundred degrees and when the pipes burst, nearly five million people died because they were scalded with hot liquid. This sudden shortage of workers had an immediate effect on the productivity of the market place. The result was an economic slowdown in which entire regions struggled for survival. Family fortunes were ruined or squandered as inflation made prices rise steeply. Many sold themselves into slavery to the few remaining rich families and are still enslaved today, although Droliath claims to be trying t~ free these slaves from their masters. Because of this economic downturn, the middle class went into decline as the gap between rich and poor widened.

Slaves Not many people can afford slaves because, on Ka'inas, they are relatively expensive to keep (one orpee per head every five days). However, if you can afford them, they are still a great symbol of wealth. Living conditions for slaves differ greatly from master to master. Some are kind, while others use slaves to show their dominance. Masters, however, do have a limited amount of power over their slaves because all legal slaves sign a contract with their master which includes rules and conditions for action and behavior. If any of the rules are broken, a slave is free to go.

The Restructuring of the Industry After the economic crash, industries were forced to consider new methods of production. They organized themselves in huge conglomerates of producers and the notion of "investor" was created. Many of those

1

who lost their companies managed to save most of their goods but lacked the necessary resources to continue to produce in the future. Because they wanted to avoid falling into a similar trap, and because most of them were just too old to start from scratch again, they sought young, resourceful people to manage companies and resources while they became investors in the industry. For Droliath Estolah, this necessary component of any capitalist system was already in place when he came to power, making his job much easier. Each new company now had financial backup and could therefore afford to take a little more risk than perhaps was impossible without the monetary supplement. Droliath came to power 60 years after the birth of Capitalism in this world but he has been so agile at taking advantage of it that some wonder if he was not somehow involved in the process from the beginning.

The Aging of the Empress Although the Empress used every method known to preserve her health for as long as possible, when her brain cells began to weaken, she chose to accept death as it came to her. As a stubborn Overlord Echo, she refused to let any Mind Chemist enter her mind in order to heal her brain cells. Others, however, believed that there were other reasons (besides decay) for her death. All were wary of her son and the possibility of his ascension to power. Changing rulers was always a radical time and although the Council of Twenty would be supervising, change was inevitable and no one likes change.

The Crisis' Embryo During the last years of the Empress's reign, while she was busy fending off and then succumbing to death, a crisis erupted. Families began f1eeing the empire to newly created cities that were in the process of proclaiming their independence from the monarchic system. In all, fifteen cities succeeded in obtaining independence before the Core came to power (and three chose to rejoin the empire once the Core took over). These cities were all situated in outlying areas. The cities around Kha!Bhek remained loyal. Also during this time, fear and panic spread throughout. There were even a few

internal wars that took place in the north east. Things looked ugly and the situation grew worse.

The Fall of Tasrath Three thousand years of imperial rule ended with the fall of Tasrath. Overwhelmed by the tasks that awaited him on his ascension to the throne, Tasrath committed suicide. The Empire had grown too large to control and Tasrath knew he lacked the necessary ability to institute a new system, or alter the old system to better suit the growing needs of his people. There are several suspicious rumors, however, that claim Tasrath not only feared becoming ruler, but also something else. It is said that when the Mind Chemists entered Tasrath 's dying brain, they found absolutely no memory. Had someone or something erased his memory? Speculation, of course, fell upon Droliath Estolah. Was he this great threat Tasrath was avoiding? No one would know for sure, but when Tasrath committed suicide, rumors about his death spread like wildfire. Crowds of people spilled out of the Empire's cities and f1ooded the smaller towns situated on the outskirts or just past the border of the realm. Thousands died on their way to a new city or during the battle waged to gain entrance to these towns that began refusing entry to outsiders. To add to the mass confusion, the Empress ordered Tasrath 's dead body restored and set up as a statue for display in the market place of Kha'i-Bhek. Horrified by his inability to master his own fear and stride proudly into the face of fate, the Empress wanted to immortalize Tasrath's terrible, weak act for all to see and recognize the Complete Gnath Failure that her son underwent by committing suicide. Her final act ended when the statue was erect. Then, she died. In the meantime, the Council of Twenty found itself in the worst possible of

Moth A\iCH l OrE Am

The Years of Chaos predicaments, with no leader and no appointed heir to the thrown. The Frilin Council proved to be unable to deal with the practical problems of the Empire even though they were wise to the ways of the world. As the Book of History, written by the highly regarded Consortium of Historical Truth Sayers, records, the Council was caught in the biggest mess History had ever seen. A practical, logical, pragmatic approach was needed in order to keep the situation from becoming completely chaotic.

After Tasrath's suicide and his mother's death, three years of anarchy followed. The Empire lacked the unified voice of a leader and tons of would-be rulers fought to gain control from the Council. Approximately two hundred individuals or parties tried to wrestle their way into power during these three years. Due to the disorganization and inefficient, out of date systems, a third of the population died of orpee starvation. As everything slipped further down the slope of destruction, Droliath Estolah appeared.

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The rise of Droliarh Esro/ah This Gnath came from the northern countryside and was unknown except to a few people in Kha'i- Bhek. When the Council read is plan for a new system of government, they immediately recognized that he was offering them a solution they could not turn down. The Council willingly accepted his plan even though it stipulated that he become the supreme ruler, the Core Himself. They did not know much about him but they were faced with no alternative. It is unlikely that they recognized that he would start a fullscale revolution. History would have to be rewritten.

The birrh of rhe Core - and rhe Core Himself With the-rise of the Core, a new system of demographic

expa~s~n ~Call~d the Geodem cycle was put into place.

#'Naaki1\ls and spiritual belief was discarded in favor of the strict,' ei-vable phenomena limited by the Sofe around the circie of light. When Droliath came to power he reestablished the e~iency of the orpee distribution so successfully that many thaught of him as a hero. Even though people noticed as very radical, everybody understood that he needed to at way. He had killed thousands of leaders to solidify his position and chose four of his best friends to rule over each of the city-states around Kha'i-Bhek. Everybody accepted him as the new leader and they all rejoiced.

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The esrablishmenr of rhe Core's Domain. /egis/arion and rhe Enclave After fifteen years in power, the Core Himself sent heralds to spread the word of a new book of Laws. At ftrst people were fearful of what these Laws might entail; but they soon realized that the set of rules the Core Himself was putting in place looked very much like the Precepts of the Judges: strict but moral. But, it did not stop people from accepting the Core's orders and way of life. Some merchants and politicians were unhappy with the new morality code and set of regulations, but on the w hole few complained. The Enclave, the Core's Domains, the CCP were all set in these books of laws.

The crearion of rhe Skyrrain This moment of technological advancement happened at the same time as Kai'nas rose above Naakinis. It represents a great achievement on the part of the Core because it bowled everyone over with its ingenuity and mastery. When the Core Himself created the Skytrain, he promised that in time, it would link every city in the Core and every platform. There would always be a safe mode of travel.

Ninth Plate Population: 5 000 000 Mortality: 0.1 %/year Leasure: 10%

The First Century of the Core After the Years of chaos

OFFICIAL FLAGS AND SYMBOLS OF THE CORE

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THE CORE CHRONOLOGY

B2 0

Droliath Estolah comes to power.

2

Droliath establishes COOS, centralized orpee distribution system.

5

Droliath organizes his future government, creates alliances, hires the Scourge to be his First Lieutenant.

l0

Droliath officially announces the creation of the Core. He becomes known as the Core Himself.

15

The Core Himself spends five years promotes the Law of the Judges, setting up communication between his government and his people.

POPULATION This data is based on studies carried out by the Core Himself in all known regions of Kai:nas over a period of 20 years. During the years of Chaos, the Emovans regained their independence thereby drastically lowering the percentage of active population and solving a lot of management problems. INSIDE THE CORE: 5.5 billion inhabitants OUTSIDE THE CORE: 6 billion inhabitants

20

Order has been restored to the Empire. Political factions spring up either for, against or neutral towards the Core's rule.

22

Plans are made to build the Outpost of Kaderun, a stronghold for the south.

24

A million workers are hired to build the Skytrain. The Enclave is conceived.

26

Oce starts the construction ·of VIlnaco.

30

The zeal of the Scourge has considerably enlarged the territories of the Core (over the past 20 years).

45

The independent City-States of Yhrne Llemir blocks the Scourge from going any further eastward.

53

New City are born in the North after the Scourge's conquests. Many cities are assimilated.

NAYANS: 500 million I 200 million

57

Outpost is completed, providing high security in the south on the edges of the Sofe.

OOWOANES: 2 billion I 200 million

74

The official opening of Vunaco creates a massive exodus: four platforms are already built.

VOlKOlS: 500 million I 50 million

89

The Skytrain (and Enclave) are finished with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

SOlEKS: 20 million J 30 million

90

The Core announces the construction of platforms 10 to 13 in Kha'i-Bhek.

109

The Scourge fails to beat a worthy opponent in the Northwest. The reasons remain unclear.

110

Today.

GRAPH SHOWING THE POPULATION DENSITY BY RACE. INSIDE THE C~RE / OUTSIDE THE CORE: EMOVANS: 20 million / 3 billion FRILINS: 10 million 130 million GNATHS: 2 billion I 1 billion INAiS: 300 million I 1.5 billion

YAKIS: 100 million I 150 million tiNS: -100 000 - no allegiances.

NEWS

MONEY Apart from orpee and occasional barter, the main currency is the Blood piece (Bp) so named because of its color. The material used to make these coins is found deep in the heart of the biggest Kioux, where the resin crystallizes into a mineral substance. The deep-red colored mineral is harvested from the kioux and forged into coins, one inch in diameter and an eighth of an inch thick. One side marks the coin's value (1, 5, 10, 25 or 100 units) while the other bears a symbol of the Core. One orpee 1s worth 25 units in most places. There's also Sastak paper money, ranging from 1,000 to 1,000,000 units. The worth of this money is determined by the thickness of the paper; a paper brick about one foot long, four inches wide and two inches high is worth 100,000 Bps). Obviously these Sastak bills are more common to rich people. They are popular because their value does not fluctuate (except during the years of Chaos). This paper money can

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of KIHl'i-Bh("k Many workers engaged in the construction of the Skytrain feared that the period of prosperity would end when the Skytrain was completed. When the Core Himself announced the construction of four additional platforms, everyone was shocked! It meant more work, and higher up. Workers were ecstatic because, for the sake of convenience, they would be permitted to live on the highest platforms ever completed during construction. Using strong branches high up in the Kioux, engineers will be able to construct four platforms with a 5, 4, 5 and 7 miles radius respectively. Estinlates state that about 500 million individuals can live on these new platforms. The commercial areas will be spacious and there will be public gardens and nature parks on each of these higher spheres.

The Enclave Rnd the SkvtrRin Both are complete. Security for KhaiBhek is now at an all-time high. A quick, efficient, secure system of transport now exists between five CityStates and Khal- Bhek. The Skytrain is reliable and easily managed. Each city controls its own departures and coordinates with other cities if there is a problem (although there are rarely any problems).

Kolester THE ENCLAVE OVERVIEW

into ornaments,

weapons or anything else and its value will not change. Furthermore, Sastak money is recognized outside the Core and two independent cities have equivalent currencies.

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T h~ S<.:;o n rg~ The Scourge recently suffered his fll'St large-defeat. His army was turned away, blocked by Yrhne Llemir from advancing to the Northeast. Although it was not a huge mili~ defeat, the loss was punishing for morale. The Scourge was put in a precarious position in that he would have to decide his next move carefully. It was possible that his plan to take over the Northeastern territories that lead to the mountains (rich with valuable resources) would be thwarted in the wake of losing to Yrhne Llemir. People began to grow wary of the Scourge and his tactics, for if he cannot progress to the East nor Northwest and if there is nothing North and only the Sofe to the South, what will his troops expend their energy doing? The Core, as well, is keeping a watchful eye on the Scourge's movements.

Yhrn~ [J~mir

;:.nd tJ dl a t~r~ Since the defeat of the Scourge and his army, these two City-States have been closely monitored by the Core. The Core is clearly aware that while Yhme's troops are as zealous as the Scouge's army, it is the Yhrne's technological advances that made the win possible. The Core's spies have infJtrated these cities in .order to gather as much information as possible regarding their technologies and battle tactics. And whil.e the Core's spies are thorough, the alliance between Yhrne Llemir and Uchatere is strong and so the Core is up against not one but two potentially dangerous enemies and must move carefully.

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Engineers, warlords, Echoes and other Wise Ones believed that the best way in which to protect their cities from an invasion from the races that inhabit the Sofe is to build a strong defense in Kaderun's Outpost. After 35 years of planning, as far as anyone can tell, Kaderun is Safe-proof. Even the strange substance (emitted from the Sofe) that decimated areas of the territory before can no longer harm Kaderun's Outpost. Kaderun, therefore, can concentrate its efforts on offensive rather than defensive measures. Only the Core Himself knows all of Kaderun's strengths.

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;:.nd V'ilna<.:;o

The relationship between these two City-States is excellent. VJnaco has an average population of l 0 million inhabitants and so Oce and the Core's army provide some of their troops to protect VJnaco. Many jobs have been created because of the close alliance between the cities. Some families, therefore, have already been able to leave the slums for the higher platforms. Workers in these cities recognize that they owe a lot to their city.

SPEECH AT THE lOOTH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS OF THE CORE THE CORE HIMSELF GAVE ASPEECH IN CELEBRATION OF THE lOOm BIRTHDAY OF THE CORE. IN A DEMONSTRATION OF STRENGTH. HE SPREAD HIS MIND INTO 6,000 INDIVIDUALS SIMULTANEOUSLY. THESE WILLING PARTICIPANTS HELPED ILLUSTRATE THE SUPERIOR POWER THE CORE HIMSELF POSSESSES WHILE ENABLING APPROXIMATELY 1,000.000,000 INDIVIDUALS TO HEAR THIS SPEECH LIVE:

"It has been a century since we started

the people, have created, built and use this necessary tool of unity."

ruling this new world together and it has never been as big nor as beautiful. We have grown from an immense, "Each day, new cities, towns and chaotic and restless nation to one that is villages ally themselves with the Core. united in an effort to better ourselves, Yaki and Solek tribes constantly our knowledge and our futw·e. For request to be allowed to trade safely 100 years we have constructed wonders within our borders. Today, seven new with unprecedented effici~cy, zeal and cities are under construction. Vtlnaco, artisanship. Khai'-Bhek took 1,000. · Kolester, Kevoy/Set are wildly successyears to be built and yet we doubled its ful offshoots of KhaY-Bhek. Ulabediare size in just 100 years. If you have not has regained its vigor and Kaderun's ~eady understood this, I will teU you impenetrable fortress protect us from again. I am only a receptor for your any attack by creatures from the Sofe. ideas, your vision of the future. I am the The academies of Oce and other Citycatalyst for the revolutionary changes States are constantly discovering, that have taken place in the Empire. learning and teaching our up-andI am you. My strength is in you. You coming students about the wonders of dictate my decisions. The time of the our natural world." Awakening is corning." "As our collective knowledge grows, "In the past century we have created workers continue to dedicate their the Skytrain, a monumental work of streng'th, heart and energy to the art and practicality. Built by the creation of new structures. Workers people, for the people, this massive are the pillars of ow· society, without unk between our five cities unites us which we should crumble shamelessly. as one. You have cleared a way to the You, who suffer ufe in the slums, future. The solid walls that now struggling to survive the reality of protect us from Naakinis creatures daily life, have faith! You are working belong and are a part of you. Each of towards peace of mind. You must be you is as colossal as the ramparts that proud to be martyrs in a quest for protect and shield us from harm. You, freedom."

"Advancements in lechnologies continue to bring new techniques, methods and inventions to our workforce, easing the burden of hard labor. We have also successfully developed ways of controlling the Dream. Each year we grow stronger. Our scientists and Wise Ones continue creating necessary conditions for our workers to create machines, buildings and cities in order to achieve our ultimate goal of developing a knowledge-based society that is safe, secure and flourishing both intellectually and emotionally. You, the people, are the ]jfeline of the Core. You are the Core's flesh and blood. Remain dedicated to your work, your niche. No job is left unnoticed, no task unimportant. Continue to struggle in pursuit of freedom, of life, of knowledge. The future embraces us as we rush to embrace it. Let us continue to work together, to strive for unity of purpose and action. We are in the process of becoming. We have achieved much, and yet have so much more to accomplish." "Some day, there will be Leisure and Hope for aU!"

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THE CORE'S CRUSADE The Core Himself has used the word "crusade" to describe his plan for the future of the Empire. However, one must be wary in interpreting the use of the term, as he is not above using specific turns of phrase for propaganda purposes. While this "crusade" for knowledge and wisdom are important to the Core's plan, they are not the only goals that he has in mind. Many, in fact, fool themselves into thinking that the Core Himself is not fully aware of what the future holds or how his plans are going to unfold. One must recognize that the Core manipulates information for his own purposes. How much, for example, do we really know about the

independent city states ofYhrne Llemir and Uchatere? What is their economic and military potential? While an intense confrontation with these cities is not an impossible scenario, no information to reassure the public has been provided. To take these questions one step further, one . could ask; who is this Droliath Estolah, kno~n as the Core Himself? Can anyone lay claim to knowing him well? We have all seen him in action, watched him rejuvenate the Empire &·om chaos to prosperity, and yet no one can say they fully understand the extent of his plan. There is an ob~ous lack of information

about Droliath Estolah, his history, his ambitions, his ultimate quest. The more one investigates the Core Himself, the more one grows frustrated at the dead ends and lack of tangible evidence of his actions. I suggest, therefore, that we launch a full-scale investigation into his "crusade," his intentions and his motives. What does he want to do with the Echoes? Why is he so interested in the Sofe? Why is he on a constant search for knowledge and what is be going to do with this accumulated information?

Keokeme. Nayan. Oce academyfor political studies

Below are the major points of the Core's crusade, which can be broken-down into th~ee.categori;s. The ftrst part (Walking) of his plan addresses the Core's immediate concerns with the Empire. The second category (Marching) deals with the secondary goals the Core Himself would like to implement once the Empire is stabilized to make his regime more run more. efficiently. The third category (Crusade) is concerned with the ultimate goals of the Core. These long-term goals may not be easily understood but will eventually be revealed as time passes.

WALKING Odwoan<::'s The Odwoanes remain the most dangerous race in the system because so little about their nature and behavior is understood. They are clearly very hard workers, perhaps too good at tlteir }ob. Unfortunately, since the Odwoanes themselves do not know who they are, obtaining information about them is extremely difficult and we cannot hold them accountable for their actions. We cannot blame them for being potentially dangerous.

Yhrn<::' [. l.?m i r and Llchat,?r<::' Before the Core came to power, these City-States never constituted a threat because they had been stagnant for centuries. However, since we have launched our policy of expansion, they must choose to join us or become our enemies. Currently, the 100-year truce between our governments which was forged when they defeated the Scourge is still in effect. Negotiations between us will surely follow but it is very difficult for us to predict their decisions. Yhrne

Llemir and Ucbatere are not to be taken lightly. They have plenty of support from neighboring cities and towns as well as their Emovan and Inais neighbors. They also have an immense wealth of resources at their disposal. Talks are underway between the Core and these two City-States. If Yhrne Llemir and Uchatere see past their immediate concerns to the future and the bigger picture, ultimately they will make the decision to join our ranks. If they fail to reach this conclusion, we will have to make them submit by using

force. Anyone wishing to take part in defense or espionage activities can apply at any one of our CPRM kiosks.

Kad ~rn n Invasions from the Sofe are rare and information available about them is also slight. Our understanding of these invasions is subsequently limited to being aware that they always attack in the south, where Kaderun has been built. The duty of every City-State is to help Kaderun to protect us from the Sofe and these attacks as they are lethaL After the last attack, the Volkois saved us, but it is unlikely they will be able to save us a second time. New defenses will have to be built at Kaderun.

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and Vilnaco

Solidarity between individuals has now expanded to include City-States. The alliance between these two cities is respectful and mutually beneficial. Each city is prospering as their resources grow indefinitely. It is clearly in the best interest of the Core to subsidize these cities in support of their relationship. Mutual respect and confidence must be an integral part of our system in the highest spheres of influence and should be reflected in the City-States of our realm. We invite aU City-States to establish positive relationships for the benefit of the whole.

Eli-~ aja Eli-Naja is, together with Yhrne Llemir, the biggest challenge we will have to face. It might seem strange to consider a single individual as a major threat to the Core, but she alone convinced the Scourge to give up his plans to conquer the North. We were able to demonstrate that the Scourge had not been manipulated in any way during their discussion. This Nayan is not a Mind Chemist but she is surely an Overlord. All relevant information that can be provided about her will be highly appreciated.

MARCHING T h ~ K now l?d g~ The more we spread knowledge, the ~ore powerful we become. Knowledge must manifest itself concretely through the creation of academies. As more people become educated, knowledge will spread from the higher spheres to the slums. It is our hope that one day education will become not the responsibility of the academies but of individual families. We feel it is not in our best interest to homogenize education since each race needs to learn things specific to their race.

fmp ~r iali s m The expansion of the Core is essential to both progress and the success of our regime. The Core has been growing for 100 years and continues to expand. We require more territories to secure the Enclave, access to more resources and

a pattern of growth. Time is not immobile. Things change and if we do not change with them, others will and will crush us in the process. We must grow for the sake of our own crusade and to protect weaker entities from those that threaten them.

TJH~

City-State within the Core will keep one percent of its population militarily active. Each city is also required to have a viable defense in place to combat Against Naakinis Creatures (ANC). The Core has created four structures at your disposal to deal with ANC.

militarization of Emrl.oym~nt

th~ <.:;iti~s A strong and complete military force is the basic defense needed for any city. An army is the last resort when danger strikes. It is the responsibility of the army to protect and resist any attack until sufficient backup arrives. A CityState's army is required to help the Core in whatever capacity necessary. In order to be a powerful, well-respected city, an army is needed to maintain order, security and confidence. Each

(jr~at1on

Work is a powerful and necessary social tool. A job gives people a purpose, a rhythm and responsibility. The Core wishes to instill a pride in one's job through a combination of technological advances and leisure activities. Core projects will not be slave-driven but instead will encourage workers to proudly and successfully commit to their tasks. Our goal is to lighten workloads and encourage productivity.

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CREDITS Mechanical Dream creators: Francis Larose and Benjamin Paquette

Everyone involved in the construction of the Skytrain and Kha·i-Bhek's new platforms should be proud and will be recognized for their achievements.

Author: Benjamin 'Paqzu" Paquette Development: Benjamin Paquette and Francis Larose Editing: Alison Fischer (Dream side); Lars Townsend and Bernard Adams (Mechanical side). An direction: Francis Larose and Benjamin Paquette

Interior art: Donald Caron and Yano Leroux Cover, art and design (back and front): Tommy Asselin Layout: Jean-Phillipe Gaudet, Francis Larose and Tommy Asselin Typesetting: Jean-Phillipe Gaudet Playtesting (et merci ~): All of the team (of course), cedric Champagne, Tili et Andre Laflamme (the F'aithful ones). Jean-Fraru;ois Picard, V€ronique Beaudin, Fran~<>is Girouard, Joel Beaupre, Maude Leonard-Contant, Eric Robitaille, Loui!l Lachapelle, &!basrien Morea~.~, &!basrien Granger, Sreven .. LongFeret" Mckare, Martin Paquette. Alain Berneche . Special Thanks to: JY\aman Nicole et Papa Yves (pour tout!), Normand et Jean (surtout pour Ia conf.ance, et un peu pour !'argent :P!), Jf Ferland, pour les Warmors, les gadgets et tout ce qui va suivre!, Steven (you stepped in at the right moment}, Luke Walker, for the incredible and generous support from New Zealand!, W:ro, J F et Isabelle (sincerement, et malgre tout!), Clo and Simon (last-chance salvation), Colin (from afar), Etienne, pour nous avoir endures tout ce temps! Daniele (me rei pour le pn!sent, mais surtout pour l'a venir)! A tout le staiT du Camellia Sinensis, pour le support moral et Ia theine. Tbx to the many ' M" qui nous ont aides, que ce soil Maude, Marie-Brosse, Marie~ Eve, Manouche, Mireille, Melanie ... ( et les autres lenres aussi ). Finalemenl, mercia tous ceux qui nous ont supportes, in faith or disbelief! Top-notch. high-end, bleeding edge totally tremendous thanks: JP and Alison (simply for being vital.\

f'•·odll(of'd nud l'~tblish Nl by SteamLogic Editions Inc.

Th? Emovans a n d t h
2200 Hochelaga #310 Montreal, Quebec H2K4N8 Steam Logic can be reached through the internet www.steamlogic.com

[email protected] Product# SLG-1000 Mechanical Dream: the Core's Crusade Dep6t legaux: Mars 2002 Bibliotheque Nationale du Quebec Nariooal Libraty of Canada ISBN 0-9730153-0-6 First Printing: Printed in Canada kgalstuiT: ~ 2002, Steam Logic Editions Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the publishers is expressly forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews. and for blank character sheets, which may be reproduced for personal use only. Steam Logic and Mechanical Dream and registered trademarks of Steam Logic Editions inc. All right reserved. All characters, names, places. and text herein are copyrighted by SteamLogic Editions inc. The mention of or reference to any company or pnxluct is nor a challenge to the trademark or copyright concemed.

Any similarities to characters, situations, institutions, corporations, etc. (without satirical intent) are strictly coincidental.

J

CRUSADE Join for<:;
hopeful they will provide enlightening conclusions as to eflow's nature.

Their strength and knowledge must be shared and used to its full potential. The Echoes are the key to understanding the nature and inner workings of Naakinis (and subsequently the Core's unifination of this world). The Echoes, with their superior abilities, can lead us to the source of all knowledge in this world. Every Echo is welcome to join our crusade. With the help of Echoes, we will master all domains of Knowledge and hopefully discover new subjects of interest. In turn, we anticipate being able to aid Echoes in their quest to understand their own nature.

Eflo w

-

The Echoes and eflow are intimately }inked together in many ways. We be1ieve that Echoes may help us understand the nature of eflow. If this is not the case, it might be in our best interest to try and us~ Emovans and lnai.s to discover its nature. Clearly a more complete comprehension of eflow and its energyfmformation exchange system will benefit our society as we strive for perfection. Several eflow tests are currently underway and we are

KHinas ilnd

NF~akinis Ultimately. we will have to stop being parasites on Naakinis, at the mercy of its creatures and its ecosystem. We, creatures of Kainas, have to stop taking the superiority of ·Naalcinis creatures for granted. We have to start to value our intelligence, imagination and our willpower over their sheer size. To "know our enemy" is crucial to survival, but just as crucial is knowing our a!Ues, our resources, our strengths and weaknesses. Metaphysical questions about Naalcinis are not of immediate importance. Rather, gaining control of our own lives, learning to live and not merely survive, is of primary concern. Only once we are in control of our own lives can we start dealing with our spirituality. We have many teams of scientists in our academies devoted to the study of Naakinis and Kainas, of its creatures, its flora, its geological phenomenon. Those wishing to join our ranks should take the admission test at one of our academies. An admission form can picked up at one of our CSRM kiosks.

Or('am, Aran, R
p,!:' n d u1u rn

th('

What in ancient times was a metaphysical certainty, today is just a series of events that we more or less understand. We may not have detailed answers to what the Dream, Aran, our own reality or the Pendulum are, but we are in the process of investigating these phenomena. This research, carried out by our scientists and explorers, is done in an attempt to better comprehend our world and the distinction between Naakinis and Kainas. If you wish to participate in any of these studies, contact one of our academies through the CSRM kiosks.

Sof(' The Sofe remains our ultimate enemy. We do not currently know what it contains nor what can come out of it. We are currently focusing on protecting ourselves from the Sofe. Once we are adequately secure, we will investigate it further. When all of Kainas is unified, the only barrier left between us and freedom will be the Sofe.

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THE ARMY AND THE BANK These entities, the Core's Army and the Core's Bank, are under the exclusive control of the Core Himself. The Core's reasoning is that he needs some form of autonomy from his subordinates in the

event that "problems" occur. Obviously many powerful people fear both the Army and the Bank, as they take orders from the Core Himself.

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~Core's Army Different from the constabulary forces that are found almost evel}'Where, the Army is a very specialized elite force

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dedicated exclusively to the "promotion" of the Core. The Army deals with two -kinds of situations; emergencies and centers of specialization. Emergency situations consist of rebellions, hostile takeovers in cities, attacks by Naakinis beasts or attacks by independent cities on cities of the Core, illegal traffic and massive Echo reunions (with a large potential for danger). The specialized centers include training, science, development and other domains in which a soldier is trained. The Core Himself chooses the most talented soldiers in Kainas and once absolute loyalty is assured, each soldier begins his training (which will make him an extremely dangerous fighter). These soldiers represent the pinnacle of strength, speed, toughness and mental agility. This specialized training is completely secret. Other than using techniques he has learned, no soldier of the Core's Army can reveal anything about his training. Apart from soldiers, scientists of every kind are also hired and subsidized to complete their studies or to start new development projects. The Core Himself, being the

fu·st leader to promote science to such an extent, gained an edge over his opponents. These training and development centers are all located in the highest plates of Kha'i-Bhek, secure and hidden from curious minds and the Nightmares. The Army is intimidating and an impressive force and therefore the Core avoids using them for common tasks whenever possible. The less the Army is seen, the more successful they are and so they therefore act undercover most of the time. To heighten security, the location of labs and complexes where research takes place is highly secretive. The results and products achieved in these technologically advanced facilities are also kept secret from the general public.

<>Core's Bank The Core's Bank is simply the Bank. More powerful than A.e.s., S.e.s. and even the CERM, the Bank reports only to the Core Himself. Orders come directly from Droliath Estolah through no intermediary. If the Army represents

the Core's raw power, the Bank represents its economic strength. It is the backbone on which the Geodem, the CODS, S.e.s. (such as Secure Stock) are built. It houses massive funds in order to fund many large projects. There is a branch of the Core's Bank in every town and city. The Core Himself is working very hard to make his bank as user-friendly as possible and to boost the population's confidence in the bank. 7\nyone who applies will be granted a loan from this bank. If he cannot repay it, the debt will pass on to his family, generation to generation, until it is repaid. If he has no children, he has to sell himself as a slave to repay his loan. His value as a slave depends _of ,his citiz~nship card. If he bas no card, he is worth nothing unless he can prove otherwise. Most people,. therefore, sign up for a citizenship card before dealing with the bank. And the Bank is as visible as the Army is invisible. Th~ Core wants to flaunt his economic strength as a sign of social health to his enemies.

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THE GEODEM SYSTEM DCore's Domain

expansion of the Core's Domains from its core (Khai'-Bhek) to the limits of the realm. AU new cities, for example, must be created by a mother city which must first achieve a certain degree of economic stability and establish some diplomatic ties within the nine platforms of Khai'-Bhek. Every CCP (City Construction Project) must first be approved in Kha'i-Bhek and the construction work mustJollow a strict set of rules. Should a city disobey these orders, rash measures will be taken by the Core.

The Core Himself established the Geodem system ten years after he came to power. Geodem is short for geodemographics, or "the way demography adapts to a given geographical environPROTOCOL ment." The Geodem was created to FOR THE CREATION control demographic growth by outOF ANEW CITY Gning a clear and precise pattern of development for cities to follow. These policies were clearly different from the Th(' moth('r city old way of waging war in order to gain_ l. A city that wishes to breed a new control of a region, claim it and build a cit;y must have been loyal to _new city on its biggest and most central the Core for a hundred years kioux. (exceptions will be dealt with on an individual basis). Wars have many benefits; they encou2. The city must provide proof rage economic growth, create social of its economic stability for movements, prevent overpopulation the past fifty years. and encourage technological develop5. The cit;y must provide proof that ments. it is able to economically sustain the new city for the first The Core, however, believes that there fifty years of its existence. is a better, less violent way to expand the Empire. The Core hopes that within 4. The city must provide at least a century, the majority of the population 1,000 pre-paid workers contracted will recognize the atrocity of war and for ten years. accept the Geodem system as the proper way in which to expand an 5. The city must provide at least 200 pre-paid accredited securit;y Empire. wamors.

In technical terms, the Geodem is a geographic expansion system that regulates everything surrounding the

6. The cit;y must provide proof that the promoters and future leaders of the new city are eligible.

Promot('t~

1. The promoter(s) must have been implicated in the political or economical scene of the realm for at least a thirty years. 2. The promoter(s) must have no criminal record. Special cases may apply for pardon (decided during a public audience).

5. The promoter(s) must supply specific details about construction of the new cit;y. These might -include but are not limited to: • Reasons behind the choice of the construction site. • Predictions for economic, social and political relationships with neighboring cities and towns. • Policies for action against beasts attack, trading with Soleks and Yakis, discovery of rare or unknown sources of materials, communication with foreign civilizations • The expected demographic and physical growth of the city • The expected economic growth of the cit;y • The plan of action io cases of political invasions

4. The promoter(s) must make his construction plans completely accessible. 5. The promoter(s) must sign a global peace treat;y with all neighboring cities. In case the contract is broken the "victimized" party can legally call upon the Core for help or reparation.

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6. The promoter(s) must sign a contract by which he concedes any discoveries made about orpee

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The Core's News

.

to the Core, especiall:y new orpee m!lles.

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7. The promoter(s) must sign a contract in which agrees to support the Core whatever the direction it takes, to obey all orders.

8. The promoter(s) will provide shelter and safety for all of its workers, with secured quarters

including a wall five yards high that will serve as the ci!J''s defense during (and possibly after) construction.

9. The promoter(s) must sign a contract in which he accepts and agrees to follow all of the Core's laws, regulations as well as any changes the Core may make.

10. In case of rebellion, the mother city pledges to take care of the rebels all by itself. If she is unable to handle the situation herself, the Core will step in but severe penalties will be imposed on the mother city for failing to subdue the rebellion on her own.

SOUTH OF KAINAS The Enclave position is 0,0 (The Center of the known world, Kha'i-Bbek) Kioux Density • Jungle High D Medium D Low D Desert •

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The Core's News: CIL\Prt·.R 0:-.:1, • The Core's Crusade • Vol. 110 n°45 CORE's I'LBLISIII:\C Printed on IOOo/o pure Kioux leaves. Manufactured by Kioux Leaf A.E.S., in Khai-Bhek on the fourth plate at 467, Ouigorn street.

ENVIRONMENTS Here are the different sorts of environments that can be found within the Core

KHAI-BHEK Located in the southwest, 1,000 miles away from the southern edge of the Sofe, Kha'i-Bhek is the original city of the Core and now functions as the central nervous system, heart and brain of the Core's Domain. According to the Core's centralized orpee distribution system, any harvested orpee musf travel through Kha'i-Bhek where it is redistributed and sent to the outlying areas of the realm. Kha'i-Bhek is also the mother and father of each new city in the geodem, serving as a model and guide to all new cities. T~e wealthiest people live in Khai'-Bhek as~o the most. politically powerful people. Khai'-Bhek does not control the four City-States situated within the Enclave. Rather, the hub city supervises the other four, stepping in only if one should begin rebelling against the Core. Kha'i-Bhek is also responsible for CERM, CPRM and CSRM as well as the management of its own nine platforms (soon to be 13).

THE FOUR CITY-STATES (THE ENCLAVE) Ulabediare, Kolester, Oce and Kaderun make up the four City-States. Laid out in a diamond shape with Khai:-Bhek situated in the middle, the

City-States provide immense points of defense protecting the head city of the Core. The Skytrain unites the five cities, and the four outlying CityStates are the only points of access to the outside world. They give Khai:Bhek power over its realm while Kha'iBhek in return' offers political strength within the Core's Domain.

Citi~!-; Cities are fortified areas housing conglomerations of people who follow the Core's regulations and laws. A city breeding a new city is referred to as "mother" and the new city is called its "offspring:' until it survives 100 years of autonomy. Most often, both for protection and because of the possibility to expand vertically, these cities are constructed around a kioux so that, when the economy is successful, wealthy people can construct new platforms based on the Kha'i-Bhek model. The cities have, as a primary goal, to expand the Core's Domain by creating a "safe zone." This area, with a ten mile radius; is only relatively secure. Caravans have guaranteed security on the highways and hunting tracks in these areas. The secondary goal of cities is to deploy outposts in order to find places to start new cities and expand the Empire. Once there are a sufficient number of outposts a new location for a city is chosen.

Cities are politically responsible for everything within their geodem triangle (see figure 1.34). Similar to City-States, they must deal with any attacks on their own or pay a penalty if they enlist the help of the closest City-States or the Core.

Town!-; Towns are neutral to the Core, allowing, for example, the Core's highways to pass through their areas and the Core's subjects to trade with them. They do not, however, necessarily follow the Core's laws. They do not construct their towns in accordance with the geodem laws and they do not refer their political and economic matters to the Core. They are independent without being rebels. They do not resist the Core but do not let it engulf them either. Towns are not protected by the Core's Army and are therefore at the mercy of any attack. Neighboring cities sign treaties which forbid them from attacking any city or town within their domain without a valid reason. Towns are either viewed as poetic rebels leading an unstable life of spiritual freedom. and independence, or as headstrong rebels who raid lands around them and rally against the Core from within the Core's Domain.

fnd~p~nd~nt

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These areas are autonomous, living without the rules or protection of the Core. Most of these places have access to Inais orpee mines or have some sort

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of long-term agreement with them to guarantee that they receive enough orpee to survive. Secure in the knowledge they have a constant orpee supply makes these independent cities powerfuL Furthermore, they often have goods that the Core needs and therefore require trade agreements between the Core and these areas. The Core is unsure how to treat these independents. If he waits until the Core is strong enough that they are forced to submit to its rule, it could take centuries. If he attacks these cities, he risks putting his Empire in danger.

Th~ sp~ei~l ea~
rna'is u ~~ rth s Housing the only known sources of orpee, lnais hearths are the most well protected zones in Kainas. Furthermore, since they are the most fair and efficient of all the races, they are best suited to controlling the orpee production, although the Core disagrees. The hearths are found in enormous caves. Echoes from every Sphere are regularly assigned to assist in the protection of each of the ten orpee mines. Each Echo dedicates approximately one or two months a year to protect these mines. The mines are also guarded closely by 2,000 Volkois and 10,000 guards made up of many other races. As a last resort, one third of the Inais population of each

hearth is trained to fight. Few dare mess with the Inais and their hearths because they provide the source of life.

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These are simply the most efficient, versatile, useful, energetic and powerful nomads around. They are very spirited and the love the nomad way of living and freedom of mind. Controlling them is not an option and killing them is out of the question. The Core, therefore, reached a compromise with the nomads and agreed that when the Yakis hold trade fairs, they can sell and buy anything they want as long as they conform to the Core's law when they travel within a city. This simple mod s vivendi is very civilized and a pleasing arrangement for everyone.

NOTE ON QUADRANTS AND GEODEM TRIANGLES QUADRANTS: Everything within the Enclave is property of the Core. The ninety degrees of territory possessed by each City-State calculated from Khai'Bhek is only taken in account once outside the Enclave. This ninetydegree arc is a quadrant and so there are four quadrants, each one controlled by a City-State. (See figure 1.34) TRIANGLES: The "geodem triangles" are the three borders (created by the linking highways)that limit a city. Often, towns are limited to trade in their triangle, so are B.e.s. (See figure 1.34)

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POLITICAL SYSTEM In order to control his immense Domain, the Core Himself created three sections within the Core; the economical, social and political fields, each divided into four divisions.

THE THREE SECTIONS S~etion

I: Political

(CPRM) The political section is backbone of the Core's entire system. In charge of laws and regulations (including controlling the po1ce forces) the political force is also involved in all diplomatic relations. This section represents the politicians, police force and the law. They are the most visual ~d aecessible of the three sections; this part of the Core's organization is responsible for forming alliances with cities within and outside of the Core's Domain.

increase, this section deals with citizens' legal status. They inform Section 1 and 2 about the most basic happenings with the people in the Core's Domain. This section watches over every social aspect of the Core's system, carefully monitoring the rise and fall of everything political or religious. They are in charge of making sure that the social tissue of the system remains intact. They are the "figure makers," the diplomats, the social probes working undercover and with a much lower profile than the other sections.

THE FOUR DIVISIONS

This section oversees internal mercantile affairs as weU as the trading activities between merchants and nobles. They make sure that the Core's economy is in good shape and they deal with everything regarding the Core's Bank. It also oversees the orpee distribution process and re-draft the government's economic program every five years. They represent the economists, market strategists and the brain behind the Core's system.

JST: This layer is made up of the Core Himself and his immediate subordinates, the rulers of the four CityStates (Oce, Ulabediare, Kolester and Kaderun themselves). The Council of Twenty is also involved at this level, dedicated to the well being of the people and in place to prevent rulers from becoming dictators. These ruling officers deal mostly with 2•d Division leaders, focusing on theoretic rather than practical matters. They also focus on creating new sciences to secretly and subtly direct the movements of the masses. 1" Division officers never speak with 4•h Division officers and only 3'" Division officers on very rare occasiOns.

s~<:;tion

2N°: These officers report directly to

s~etion

2: Eeonomi<:;

(CERM)

3: So<:;ial

(CSRM) Primarily responsible for monitoring and controlling the demographic

their 1" Division leaders as the 3'" Division officers report directly to them. In charge of political (CPRM),

economic (CERM) and social (CSRM) aspects of life in the Core, they organize theories, concepts and formulate regulations created by the 1" Division. This 2•d Division functions as a "bridge" between the theoreticians and those that apply the theories. They silently, smoothly coordinate between the ideas of the "mind" and the functioning of the ''body." If they do their job well, these officers are invisible; their tasks go unnoticed by the general public, who are aware only of the Core Himself and the 3'" and 4•h Divisions. They establish a plan of action that is then implemented by the lower divisions.

3R0: The officers of the 3•• Division each control one particular establishment (police, hospitals, neuroscience, Mind repair centers, education systems) and their authority is restricted to their own domain. They are the "ground workers" for Divisions l and 2. They are the most visible "officers" of the system, executing orders and plans that have come down to them from their superiors. Power hungry people most often envy these 3•d Division officers as the embodiment of power. Their positions, therefore, are constantly in demand and therefore there is a high job turnover in this division. Since murder is condemned by the Core and the Judges, both combined and increased their efforts , in order to prevent homicides of 3'" Division officers. Instead of murder, people now have to resort to more subtle means of acqmrmg power.

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POliTICAl DIVISION:

sphere of control, ruling over a specific section of each establishment, Firefighter guard post n° 22, for example. They are the workers of the system, the firefighters, town guards, nurses and doctors who report directly to their superiors in Division 2. These jobs are also in high demand, seen as a "way in" to the more powerful 3'" Division jobs.

Core Political Resource Management (CPRM)

NOTE: An

officer with an idea that might be useful has to follow the proper channels in order to have it heard. He must report it directly to his superiors who then submit it to their division for discussion. If that division accepts it, it is again sent up until it is rejected or approved by the 1" Division.

WITHIN THE SYSTEM In the 2•• and 3'd Division there is a hierarchy of power with four levels of power similar to the four Divisions. The 1" and 4•h Divisions have one authority figure and four subordinates who direct the matters at hand together, delegating to those within their division who work for them. Only the leader or leaders of each Division may report to the superior Division.

THE SECTION'S DIVISIONS In every Section, the 1" Division is the Core Himself and his subordinates, watched over only by the Frilin Council of Twenty.

much control over the economy as it is necessary to keep it on track. These officers are almost completely devoid of moral or ethical behavior, with so much responsibility that .they will do just about" anything in order to secure the well being of the monetary and orpee distribution systems.

2"0: This Division is made up of politicians that make up the government of cities. They are responsible for maintaining order between cities, applying the Laws of the Core and systematically dealing with any errors, flaws and breaahes their political structure has. The officers of this Division function as "m~agers'' of the CPRM. Tbis Division is also made up of the Army generals, high-end tacticians and advisors who direct and help control the Army's movements. This Division is particularly secretive.

3RD: Consisting of specialized Economists who conduct surveys and regularly report to their superiors, often work specifically in one city. They often report to an Economist from the 2nd Division (each responsible for one of the four City-States and all the cities within that City-State's control). The Core's merchants also belong in this level. Their focus is the primary resources and goods produced by the Core. These merchants do not travel from .place. to place selling wares. Rather, they oversee others who actually do travel, controlling theiJ: supply and distribution of the profits. Because they control the legal markets, a strong black market has developed over the years. .

3R0: This Divi~ion is made up of the judges, police sergeants, lawyers and advisors of each city. They .constitute an efficient bureaucracy and are the very public face of the political system in their city. They are the first officials called to duty if a crime is committed or an action against the laws and regulations of the Core is col\)mitted within the city in which they work.

41":

Consisting of the Core's traveling merchants who are viewed by the population as power-hungry. Low level economists who conduct studies on potentially profitable ventures are also part of this Division. They are called "profit spies" and roam the country in search of opportunities in which the Core can prosper.

4TH: Made up of bureaucrats, Army grunts (soldiers), police force and jailers, 4•h Division jobs are severely limited in the amount of power any officer can exert.

ECONOMICAL DIVISIONS: Core Economic Resource Management (CERM)

2N°: This Division is made up of Economists who regularly revise the Core's annual budget and deal with the fmancial state of the Core. They exert as

I

SOCIAL DIVISIONS:

3RD: Concerned with the present, on

Core Social Resource Management (CSRM)

how people react to recent changes in the system, accept or reject the Core's propaganda. These officers are the direct links between the Core leadership and individuals. They are media and educational personnel, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, historians and psychiatrists. Although many are wary of these "experts", they remain the pipeline to better mental health (a common affliction on Kainas). They are more soph;sticated than the social structure of Kainas is able to handle, most of the time, but they do reach some people and will continue to have success in the future.

2N°: This Division is comprised of experts in different social sciences who gather on regular basis to discuss the newest discoveries in psychology, sociology and group dynamics. These thinkers are the main source of social inventions (like education) within the Core and are mostly preoccupied with future events. They are highly elusive and much more secluded from the general public than other 2'd Division officers.

4™: These social radicals are propagandists, zealots, fanatics of the Core's system. They are hired, in essence, to express their Love and Devotion to the Core. They are visible and actively encouraged to sing the Core's praises. After five years of dedicated service and a psychological evaluation to detect if their belief in the Core's cause is real, a zealot or propagandist is "released" and is free to travel to which ever city he'd like to spread the good work, often becoming a teacher in a local academy. This Division also houses the thousands of spies the Core uses to gather information on a wide variety of topics.

CITIES AND TOWNS THE CORE

KHAI-BHEK

on Kainas. Currently there are nine platforms on Kainas, but four more have been slated for construction.

of the city, you must travel through 120 miles of "safe zone" before reaching the trunk.

Kha.I-Bhek is the Core's central city. It was the first city to .be constructed using platform technologies, and was able to support this system because KhaY-Bhek is built on the largest kioux

To get to Khai-Bhek from outside the Enclave, you must either follow one of the four City-State highways or ride the Skytrain to the third platform. Once you reach the outskirts

If you imagine looking down at the city from the top of the tree, it appears as though there are two "rings" around the tree. Farms and fields make up the outer ring w hile the second ring is made up of the slums close to the tree's base. Many small towns and communities of workers are scattered around the fields performing specialized tasks (mining, woodcutting, herding, cultivating). The trees roots are so large and proliferous that no other kioux can grow within 10 miles ofKhar-Bhek. On and between these roots you'll find the

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slums. Closer to the trunk the slums are older and therefore more safe. As they spread outwards, however, they become more and more dangerous. Eventually, in order to impose a hierarchy on the slums, "horizontal" platforms were created for the slums. Four walls demarcate the slum's outer limits. Travelers are welcome on these platforms but in order to live here, especially if you wish to move to one of the higher platforms, is a privilege one must earn. The first three zones are at their maximum capacity. It is much easier to move horizontally along a platform than it is to move vertically up to the next, and more lavish, platform. The horizontal divisions within a platform merely make life more complicated, being a maze of streets, alleys and dark comers that are indistinguishable from each other. Furthermore, living in such squalor reduces people to more base behaviors such as killing, thievery and deception to name a few. The vertically stacked platforms of Kbai:-Bhek are much more diverse in terms of living conditions. The bottom platforms are made up of slums and richer quarters where the leaders live. On the higher plates there are entire sections exclusively for the wealthy, a symbol Kha!-Bhek's prosperity. To get from the slums to the upper levels you must travel by elevator. There are 16 elevators in total, four elevators per highway entrance. To ride these elevators you need a merchant's pass, an appropriate citizen's card or a

special pass (diplomatic, personal privilege). Echoes need only demonstrate their power to be admitted up to the sixth platform. Adventurers with goods to sell but no passes may climb to platforms three or four by bribing the guards. Yaki and Soleks are allowed to travel as high as their "rank" will allow. Peasants and workers have very few opportunities to move to a higher platform. One worker per year is promoted to live on an upper platform with his direct platform. Because travelers are allowed to use the elevators and the masses are not, they are not well liked or accepted in the slums. In fact, rumors have it that locals will go so far as to "eat" strangers at night if they find themselves trapped .in the slums. Each platform is merely a larger reproduction of the one below it with more people, more buildings and more modern architecture. Technology and organizational methods improve the higher you go. The slums disappear after the third platform, and poorer people live in "ghettos" that are more segregated that the slums. Platforms one through five were designed and constructed in rush whereas platforms six through nine have only the best elements of architecture, organization and design. Gnaths prize architecture as the highest form of artistic expression so it is no surprise that the upper platforms are home to beautiful buildings, structures and spacious design concepts. All industry is of good

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quality and business only sell high-end products. There are also luxurious cafes, restaurants and shops on these upper plates. In Kbai'-Bhek, those with guts and special abilities can rise up the system quite quickly. For this reason, migration to Khai-Bhek is very common: the jobs opportunities alone are a good enough reason to come and try your luck here many die in the process because they have no contacts, the locals won't help them, or simply because traveling to Khai'Bhek is very dangerous. One in 100 manages find success in Kha'i-Bhek.

DANAAC This vast underground Emovan city is situated underneath Kbai-Bhek. It is vital to Kbai:-Bhek's prosperity for many reasons, first among them that it supplies the entire Enclave with water. This city is also ·the only direct link the Core has to the Emovans. In exchange for freedom from the Core and other demands, the Emovans install, supply and maintain huge hydraulic systems under every city to serve as powerful water pumps and power the elevators. In recent years, those of wealth have installed smaller pwnps to assure their water quality. Emovans profit from managing a city's water supply and use the extra money to research and develop new, more advanced technologies. Danaac was developed because tbe Core offered the Emovans freedom in exchange for their services. It was the

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first city of its kind and serves as the model for all other underground Emovan cites. It is designed in a simple, efficient fashion with two mandates: pumping water to the city above and preserving the well being of the fam.ily. The second task is accomplished by placing one family in charge of each pump system (since there are 500 to 1,000 members of each Emovan family). The underground equivalent of Khai:Bhek in size and influence, Danaac functions very differently from the city it supports. Because Emovans evolve very slowly relative to fast-living, short-lived races, their culture and societal structures are more stable. 'While live on Kha!-Bhek is dynamic, Danaac functions on a well-structured, well-established set of pr~tocols. the. city has three layers. The frrst layer is an immense beach situated under the

trunk of Khai'-Bhek in a gigantic hole left by the roots as they pushed outwards and upwards. The Beach city extends for three miles in slightly downward slope to the south to the Sandy Falls (a large cliff). This 90degree plunge is replete with stairs, elevators and "roads" for extreme vehicles. If you travel down this wall you will reach the Root City, so called because thousands of Emovan houses here are carved right into the tree roots. This part of Danaac is extremely moist. Everything is always damp, here, as the roots need to stay wet in order to keep the kioux alive.

also the most remote and least accessible to visitors. With a radius of ten miles, this section is home to Emovan scholars, merchants, travelers and Echoes. Furthermore, everyone swims as a mode of transportation in the Water City. The Root and Beach cities are capable of housing merchants and traders but the Water City is much more difficult to visit, as it is extremely expensive to afford a suit which you must don in order to be able to breathe underwater.

The third part of Danaac is the Water City, accessible from Sandy Falls or the Root City.

(these are named after their leader's name)

This city is absolutely beautiful, home to awesome underwater architecture. This is the largest part of Danaac, it is

CITY-STATES

KOLESTER Austere, radical with slightly erratic patterns of architecture, Kolester

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radiates a feverish type of energy. The upper platforms are home to passionate movements and a fondness for growth. In combination with Oce, Kolester is the most productive and innovative of the four City-States. It has a tenacious will and immense social conscience, a hotbed of logical thinking with an emotional twist. In contrast to other City-States, the Gnath way of life dominates on only the first two platforms. Higher up, workers and the wealthy exhibit an almost righteous zeal and rigor. This is most likely attributed to the city's Nayan leader. Furthermore, this leader (and by association, Kolester) is devoted to the Core and its ambitions. The city is fiercely loyal to the Core Himself and is duly recognized and rewarded.

OCE Like Kolester, the ideals and beliefs of Oce reflect those of its leader, Mroberut Oce. The city and its citizens are eclectic, enthusiastic, passionate, curious and in a constant state of growth. Its architecture is outdated but yet it is still respected. The atmosphere of the city is very similar to a Yaki fair. You might hear four different dialects on one platform! Every scientist, artist, eccentric or simply curious individual is welcomed and often fmds his home here. In Oce, people move, think, act, try, fail, try again, fail again, learn and grow. It is little surprise that technology in the slums has advanced farther than any other city. It is Mroberut who created

the first academy based on a scientific method, where people met to learn and discuss new ideas. Since the creation of this "Academy" many others have opened in Oce. More are beginning appear in other cities; each specialized in a particular field. Kolester, being such close allies with Oce, has several academies. These academies are independent (Oce publicly declared that no academy would be stopped in its researches as long as they were motivated by social progress), something the Core isn'f happy about. However, the ideas generated at these academies are due to the freedom of action and mind that is encouraged. The Core, on the other hand, believes that progress is achieved through mastery of technique. Outsiders feel a strange mix of jealousy and awe towards Oce and its inhabitants. Oce has been lucky enough

to recetve the Core favor and what many deem as "special treatment." However, recently it has drawn a lot of attention to itself politically, transforming the CPRM into a sort of circus. In order to remedy the situation, Oce will need to dissociate itself from Vtinaco.

ULABEDIARE The city of Ulabediare possesses a strength that many envy. Its kioux seems weak and unhealthy; the leaves at the top are almost all grey and dying. This is odd because generally the health of the kioux is of utmost importance when choosing a site for a new city. The light that shines through these grey leaves isn't crisp and clear but dull and flat. The architecture mirrors the light with sober, dark, heavy stone buildings. A gloomy shadow hangs heavily over the entire city.

To the well traveled, the Dream in Ulabediare seems worse than anywhere else. According to statistics, however, it is less dangerous than many other places. And in contrast to many other cities where the slums and industrial sectors are more directly affected by the dream, in Ulabediare the Dream affects everything and everyone with the same intensity. The wealthy and poor alike are grey, sober folk with little sign of excitement or life in their veins.

.

Led by an Inais Overlord, he is ruled by his emotions rather than rationality and logic. His goals and motives are unclear and his stance on specific issues change frequently. His advisors struggle daily with trying to comprehend what their leader wants. When this Inais chooses to act, he does so with violence and passion. Enemies must always be on their guard and allies must constantly

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monitor the city in case Ulahediare's leader suddenly decides dislikes or distrusts them.

In Kaderun, everything functions in a highly precise manner under this borderline dictatorship.

The only certainty with Ulabediare is that it is true to the Core Himself. Despite the atmosphere, the city has great potential for achievement. With an unpredictable leader, however, buildings can be built and then immediately destroyed. Improvements are made to the system and the city in a haphazard fashion, when the leader feels inspired or creative. Many fear Ulabediare (both City-State and leader) and few understand it. Soleks, it seems, are the only race that flourishes under this sort of uncertain government.

Those who enter Kaderun for the first time are overwhelmed by a sense of anguish pervading the landscape: the aridity, people who ignore you or assess your worth in a look. Even the merchants who travel to Kaderun admit they have to put themselves in a ruthless frame of mind to trade there. Here, there is no happiness nor sadness: only efficient survival methods.

KADERUN Similar in some ways to Ulabediare, Kaderun is dark and melancholic. It is also steeped in analytical methods and values mind power highly; opposite to Ulabediare. As a city, it is extremely prolific and active in an aggressive but brilliant way. The leader of Kaderuo is a Gnath who would do anything to have Frilin mind powers. There is a frenetic rhythm in this city as though it is constantly striving to overcome its state. This Gnath leader focuses his energy on the mechanical aspects of being rather than the potential that we aU have to become something creative. The city is fashioned in its leader's image: black, burned, mechanic and cold, yet, efficient and with great direction.

MOTHER CITY

DUBARIM As a youthful city, this place bubbled with creative energy. It became a hub for modern architecture, scientific study and the arts. Within 50 years of its creation, it became economically stronger than its Mother-city. People began to move from Kha'i-Bhek to Dubarium because it was the center for advancement and activity. There was a freedom of expression on Dubarium that few had seen anywhere else and many sought. However, after some obscure problems with Lemaive, the

leader of Dubarium began to withdraw his funding for the arts, the academies of Oce and other culturally and socially progressive institutions. The government of Dubarium instead opted to focus its energies on trading with the Soleks and Yakis of the Northern Peaks. Many citizens were upset because this trading was not only culturally stifling but dangerous, as these Yakis and Soleks dealt mostly with weapons trade. Not only was this trade dangerous, but oftentimes illegal according to the Core's regulations. The Core's CPRM and Army now watch over this city closely for signs of descent and illegal behaviors. Perhaps the problems with this city stemmed from its hasty growth. Because many flocked to J?ubarium to experience its liberal attitudes, six. platforms were constructed, which are !lOW only partially occupied. Currently, trust in the government by the people is at an all-time low and many allies and neighbors are wary as well. A lawsuit, in fact, is pending. It is highly likely Dubarium's leader will be sued by the CPRM for governmental irresponsibility. The result of this lawsuit will likely be that a new leader will be awarded control over the city. But there is also the problem of Lernaive and there are many unanswered questions about the relationship between these two cities. These events make for a very suspicious, confused and unhappy population. The citizens of Dubarium, especially those in the slums who are still crammed together like sardines while the upper platforms are half-

empty, are uncomfortable and angry with their city's leadership. Furthermore, they fear that if the Judges determine their government is guilty of irresponsible actions, they fear power will not be handed over without a fight.

VILNACO More than the "child" of Oce, VJnaco is more like Oce's twin city. ln fact, during a meeting with the Core Himself, Vilnaco "surrendered" to Oce. VJnaco deemed Mroberut Oce a better candidate to rule over the eastern City-State. In return, Oce promised Vilnaco he would help biro create a new city and then consider it Oce's equal. Therefore, as soon as Oce gained control of the eastern city state, he ordered a highway built to an outpost that would serve as the basis for the new city of VJnaco. To secure this alliance, Oce promised to build a pendulum that would oscillate until the new city was constructed or he would surrender control of Oce to VJnaco. As promised, the pendulum was built and it swung until six months after the new city was formed. Vilnaco (in a 700 page document) proposed to Core Himself that his city be considered a fifth City-State annexed to Oce. The Core agreed and these two cities were therefore able to fuse their economies, police forces and commercial contracts. Other CityStates were displeased with this arrangement but the Core Himself merely replied that if they would like to create a strong alliance with another

city, he would also grant them the same privileges. The two cities shared much, including academies, alliances with Yhrne Llemir and other mutually beneficial interactions. Both cities are stable and evolving economically, politically and socioculturally.

MROA Mroa is small in comparison to other cities, with a mother-city that only has five platforms. It has no Skytrain or protective walls. From Mroa, travelers can follow the highway from Kolester, through Mroa and onto Kevoy/Set. The structure of this city is different from others as the lowest platform is much higher off the ground. The roots of the Mroa kioux were shriveled and popped above ground in many places, creating gaps underneath the trunk. The slums, therefore, extend directly under the tree and the highway passes directly beneath the trunk from one side to the other. Mroa is strongly influenced by Kolester, similar in so many ways that it seems eerie and a bit odd. There is little difference between the economy, architecture and even the mood between Mroa and Kolester. Mroa lacks individuality, as a city, but still manages to remain strong because of its function as tbe bridge between Kolester and Kevoy/Set. Traffic between these two areas is huge so Mroa makes quite a tidy profit on both the taxes of Kevoy/Set and the tolls at its pay posts.

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CITY

KEVOY/SET ·n stood on bare plains. 1could not believe that for about three miles around Kevoy/ Set, there were no Kioux in sight. The sire looked desolate. The ground seemed to be made up of ancient Kioux roots which gave one the feeling of walking on the wooden floor of a house or platform of some ancient Kioux-grown city...On the left was the mark of Gnath leadership and an Sstretched over it. On the right door. ahammer with the mark of the Core on its head and the letter K written over it...As we stepped inside, I could see that ro the right was the city of Kevoy and ro the left, Set. clearly delimited by a large highway" -Walker's Walk With Volkois in Kevoy and Gnaths occupying Set, these dual cites are highly successful. Competition between the cities simulates both economies and challenges both political systems to fulfill their potential. Since only 20 yards separates one from the other, clearly they ~hare many of the same values, ideals, merchandise and trade. There is however, a growing tension between Kevoy and Set.

Loyalty to their city is highest in citizens of Kevoy and Set. The Volkois have an extremely strong feeling of patriotism and love for Kevoy and its leader, the charismatic War Engine nicknamed Rakar. The Gnath leader, on the other hand, is rather obscure and his affiliations to his city not clearly understood. His nickname is Tag'n and he is rumored to be a Fourth Sphere Orchestrator (although what an Orchestrator does in such a remote area is confusing and slightly suspicious to most questioning minds).

INDEPENDENT CITIES Independent cities exist outside the Core's realm and regulations. By one mean or another. these cities manage to subsist without the Core. They are powerful (usually because they are situated near an lnais Hearth and therefore have access to the essential nutrientfor life) and run by brilliant leaders. Although there are many independent cities, only two examples will be discussed here.

UCHATERE "Uchatere is perhaps the most complex city of all time," according to the annual CPRM council report. For most, it is an abomination . Constructed with only the newest raw 111aterials, everything in this city is metallic. There is no wood, resin, vines or animals skins to be found here, only twisted, colorful metal. Furthermore, the city is stacked on top of itself rather than layered on a kioux. Uchatere was conceived and designed by two Fifth Sphere Echoes, a Conductor and a "Kisim". Poor people live at the bottom of the city and the rich and powerful people live on the top layer, just like every other city. But, tht> uni9ue thing about Uchatere js that there-are no slums. Those stuck on the ground, however, have little protection from the elements and. beasts of Naakinis as there is no wall protecting them like on Khai'-Bhek. It

is not a pleasant place to visit and only Emovans and Soleks find it easy to adapt to the metallic surroundings. One can easily enter the first layer of this city, walking through the city doors. The second layer is accessed through the doors in the central hall. The third level requires a pass if you are a resident or with your goods if you are a merchant. The first layer is composed of workshops and factories. The second layer is mainly residences for the workers of the first layer. There is a communal train (the frrst to be built within a city) for those who need to venture from level to level. The frrst level also houses the guard posts, since any attack on the city would have to originate at the ground level.

. The second level IS not in the least commercial, housing only the workers ~ho live in a sort of metallic peace with the usual institutions (libraries, hospitals, police posts). Level three is filled with taverns, shops, boutiques and restaurants. Goods and services are sold here in a lively manner reminiscent of the major streets in Oce. For bureaucratic institutions, from academies to government offices, you must go to the fourth level. And the fifth layer is home for the wealthy people of this city. There are vast houses spread out over large, open areas. It is very aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and unlike the crowded second layer. If you look up from the fourth layer, many of the manors and noble houses are visible through carefully orchestrated "holes" in the layer.

Like many independents, the political position or Uchatere is unclear to all. Although they do not accept the Core's rule, they also have no alliances with neighbors. The city has no known enemies either as they are not hostile and their political tactics are unassuming. The Core has many spies throughout this city but he has gleaned little knowledge about its leaders or their intentions. Rumor has it that the Core is trying to force\hese elusive leaders to join the Core or else they will be attacked.

YHRNE LLEMIR Yhrne Llemir is a very old city that has not modernized its architecture in all its centuries of existence. The city is constructed next to a large stone pit. The rocks that can be gathered from this pit possess properties that allow the Weirdsmiths easy manipulations. Beralt Sieniten, a Weirdsmith genius, found a way to relate the rock properties of density to weight, inverting them and thus granting the stone a stronger density (structure) for a smaller weight. These almost weightless rocks (that are stronger than stee~ were used to build the entire city, including the platforms. Artisan stone carvers from the far reaches of the realm were invited to join in on the building of this city because the city's leader wanted it to be both solid and beautiful. There is a baroque quality to Yhrne Llemir, each building intricately carved by master crafters while at the

same time of considerable bulk. Even the slums have protective stone walls 50 yards high, offering workers more protection than any other city. This creates a sense of security and a quiet peace because workers are not always on edge, fearing for their lives. Yhrne Llemir's political stance is clear; the city is culturally for the Core and politically against the Core. The city's leader publicly denounces the rampant totalitarian rule that the Core is already beginning to put in place, the capitalist despotism that is bound to develop from economic prosperity. Change and growth in a positive manner will not happen until the Core Himself abandons his despotic role, according to the inhabitants of Yhrne Llemir. Oddly enough, this city looks a lot like a mini-Core. Many, in fact, believe that Yhrne's ruler is merely jealous of the Core Himself. Still, more side with the city's beliefs that the Core is a very viable and efficient system. It allows progressive change and it is fit for the control and distribution of immense quantities of both orpee and people. The problems arise with the Core Himself. Yhrne Llemir is unwilling to link itself with the Core until its leader proves himself worthy of trust. Commercially, Yhrne is very powerful. Located at the junction of three important Yaki travel roads, they are often supplied with rare goods and equipment of quality, plus the great intellectual movements that occur from all these travelers spending time in the city trading ideas.

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SOCIAL SYSTEM

I Of) SOCIAL LAYERS

There are as many kinds jobs as there are lifestyles. There are jobs in the slums which are different from those in the wilderness, which are different from those on platform five or six of one of the City-States. Similarly, ifyou hold a specific job on platform four of Kha'i-Bhek, it is unlikely that someone on Oce on the fourth platform does the same job. Resources of a particular city or area determine what types of jobs are available and while general areas of travail are similar between cities, specific positions are not. The social mechanics of a city are finely tuned, categorized in minute detail to keep track of who does what and where. Although no two cities are exactly alike, understanding the social structure of Kha'i-Bhek will provide you with enough detail to understand any other Core city's basic structure.

KHAi-BHEK'S HIGHEST PLATFORMS With the exception of the scientific research teams and the Core's Army, jobs on the highest three platforms of Kha'i-Bhek are all bureaucratic. The leaders on these platforms manage the entire Core, the CPRM, CSRM and CERM. Most everyone within the Core can only dream of working as a bureaucrat at the highest levels; a job that comes with security, good

pay, social advantages is for Gnaths (and others) a symbol of success. Corruption and death by any other means than illness or old age is rare here. There is no better place to live than on Khai:-Bhek's upper plates. It is also exclusive, as few vacancies or new jobs are created each year. Anxious to preserve the prestige of working at this level, the Core Himself makes sure that security and health care are top notch for the inhabitants of these levels. This not only benefits the upper three plates but gives those who live on the lower platforms something to aspire to. Kha'i-Bhek's elite society is admired by all those who wish to rise in the ranks, who for a moment hope to better their standing.

KHAi-BHEK'S MIOOLE PLATFORMS Many people who live in the middle platforms, although they lead privileged, secure lives, wish for nothing more than to move higher. Outsiders and people who live in the slums can imagine no better fate than to successfully rise to live on these middle platforms, 'where jobs are good and the environment is not stifling. Although security is not as strong as on the upper platforms, it is still enough to prevent riots and external attack. Living in the middle is not all roses because workers at this level suffer double the pressure than those above or below them. While those in the upper platforms work hard to

keep their jobs, those in the lower platforms work hacd to secure what they've got. Inhabitants of the middle plates must both work hard to secure what they've got while at the same time struggle to move up and take over someone else's job higher up. Their jobs are threatened by motivated individuals from below, outsiders from other cities as well as those above who always risk being demoted to the "middle class". The middle class has the most diversity in terms of job opportunities. Many have strong technical qualifications and the job industry is driven by the ideas and concepts that the upper platforms produce. Workers in the _middle platforms put these ideas and concepts into concrete terms, planning and using skilled labor to create_ products. They are engineers and technicians. They are the glue of the whole city, connecting the upper and lower platform~ through their logic and practical applications.

KHA'i-BHEK'S LOWER PLATFORMS Populated by qualified manual laborers, the lower platforms have no "slums" like there are on the ground. Rather, everyone on these platforms works long hours on specific tasks. The pay is not too high but security is assured to a certain degree, so while there is not a large community feeling, most of these workers have ambition to rise to the next platform or higher. Few achieve

upward mobility but many successfully work throughout their lives and avoid most danger by staying out of the slums.

KHAi'-BHEK'S SLUMS

Below the platforms, unsheltered on the ground sprawls Kha'i-Bhek's vast network of slums. Because they are protected by the Enclave's walls, however, these slums are considered the "best" on Kainas. In fact, the Core refers to them as the Slums in order to differentiate from other cities' slums. Because the Slums of Kha'i-Bhek are so far-reaching, although Oce first produced slum-technologies, it was Kha!-Bhek that claimed that success as their own. The Slums obtained and quickly popularized slum-technologies_ in such a fashion that most people believe slum-technologies were ~reated in the Slums of Kha:i-Bhek.

All workers hold jobs in the industrial sectors. You can fmd almost anything in the slums, if you know where to look. But, they are also extremely dangerous to the uninitiated. The Slums in particular are the most aggressive of all the cities. They have the biggest mazes of streets, the most complex gang system and the most dialects of any slum. It is as though the slums are a universe unto themselves where you'll even find evidence of happiness, honesty and friendship if you search hard enough. Surrounding the slums are the fields, farms, mines and forests. These small villages produce essential resources

for Khru-Bhek and the Enclave. They use small roads to travel to and from the slums in order to transport their wares. These villagers are rough, strong folk who are used to fighting rogue bandit troupes and wild beasts. But they are mostly peaceful folk who enjoy manual labor, from the tame farming of herbivore beasts to the extremely dangerous task of mining for resources. People who have no fear of danger live in remote villages and outposts for the new cities under construction. Because the situation is so dire (wild beast attacks are common), pay for working in these areas is high and if workers survive their assignment, such as building a new city, they can usually retire soon after their work is completed. Jobs offered in this realm are manual, from construction work to building weapons to repairing vehicles. All interested parties are tested before they may venture out into the unknown, unsettled areas to make sure they are worthy of the task. The job contracts in these places usually only last for a couple of years and so many of them travel in small bands from outpost to outpost, seeking work and developing strong bonds with others who do similar jobs.

NO~DS.VVATERFOLKS

AND UNDER
become nomadic merchants. This way of life usually brings death or success: those who manage to make a place for themselves in this nomadic way of life usually gets paid well, according to the risk involved. New nomad groups have to make sure none of their potential trading routes already belong to a Yaki or Solek tribes before they attempt to get into the game. The waterfolks are mostly Emovans save a few Yakis tribes who specialize in under/above-ground exchanges. The Soleks and so can Frilins also have the capacity to walk underwater with ease although not all of them make use of this talent. Many who try the underwater lifestyle never return above ground because they come to love the Emovan way of life. These waterfolk are divided into two distinct groups: sedentary and nomadic. Both are mirror images of their "above-ground" versions. The sedentary folk deal in crafts of aU kind, vegetal culture and herding (for transportation, food and defense) while the nomads travel the underground rivers from one region to another (much faster than aboveground travel). The undergrounders are mostly lnais living in their hearths, although other races do have representation underground. Nearly all undergrounders, regardless of race, are dedicated to gathering a particular resource, usually housed deep within a cave. Half a million workers, for example, toil daily in the orpee mines, either mining, packaging, distributing or one of many other processes required to harvest and ship the orpee to Kha·i-Bhek.

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THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM Besides Bps (the Core's Blood pieces), orpee is the most common currency. Independents may also use the barter system in their economic dealings.

"The industries are very important ro our society for they help us grow and evolve both as individuals and as asocial entity: Droliath Estolah. Corporations, industry and merchants of all trades are generally encouraged to expand and grow their trade. The Core Himself wishes to increase the speed of evolution of his society he believes that for this to happen, people need to work harder and more successfully. A thousand slaves may be able to construct a pyramid but ten engineers and a hundred skilled workers with a plan will do it more successfully and in a shorter amount of time. The Core Himself, therefore, wants his Citizens to become physically and mentally healthier. At all costs, he wants to discourage laziness. He therefore encourages competition amongst workers. Those that do similar jobs are often enemies. Corporate wars and tensions between merchant associations are ever present, although the Core tries to prevent them. Most industries are short-lived in this environment. As long as a company complies with the Core's regulations, it receives some backing and protection from the Core. These companies often grow at a faster

rate and are more successful, so it pays to follow the Core's rules. And since many companies and industries were all but destroyed during the Years of Chaos, new companies stand a pretty good chance of turning a profit if they do things right.

contemporary and the S.e.s. are "super-corporations."

Like any capitalist system, companies are out to make a pro'f1t and if they have control of the market, will charge high .prices for goods and services. People recognize the situation, but are powerless to stop it. There are four types of Core companies: the Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Superior Economic Sm:iety. (There are also independents, which will be treated separately). These companies can be diagrammed in a pyramid-like structure. The numerous B.e.s. make up the base while the rare S.e.s. are situated at the peak. This hierarchic system limits power relationships to the biggest companies.

There are many advantages to becoming commercially legal. First you get a B.e.s. stamp beside your company's name. You are archived at the Core's CERl\!llibrary, which means that anybody that needs your product can fmd you in this catalog. You can also benefit from a yearly CERM loan ro help you out (the maximum amounts are different for each grade: $1,000,000 for B.e.s., $10,000,000 for l.e.s., $100,000,000 for A.e.s. and $1,000,000,000 for S.e.s.). Finally, there is an implicit protection for those who are "part of the Core": there is a possibility that the CERM will help you if you get robbed or struck by any other kind of disaster. Note that this is all new and that the Core Himself created it to promote economic growth and show his good will towards industry.

The Core Himself finds this system useful because it enables his government to monitor and influence evecything from their lofty position of power. To some extent, the Core is able to foresee or predict economic movements and manipulate the market accordingly. Companies, therefore, tty to get in the Core's good books, to gain his support and respect so he does not disrupt the success of their particular business. B.e.s. are the equivalent of the craft men of the middle ages while the I.e.s. would be the investors of the industrial revolution era. The A.e.s. is

These small companies are local: their power is restricted to the city to which they belong. B.e.s. cannot import any goods nor export their product. They must deal only in local resources in all aspects of their trade, indirectly aiding the locaJ economy. Many companies try to use raw materials or a paxt of the workforce that has not yet been used by other companies. If they need something that cannot be found in their city or region, they have to ask a bigger company to import it for them, allowing the larger company to

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The Core's Crusade • Vol. 110 n°45

CORJ·:'s PLBLISIII :\G

Printed on JOOo/o pure Kiou" leaves. Manufactured by Kioux Leaf A.E.S.. in Khai-Bhek on the fourth plate at 467, Ouigorn street.

supervise and monitor their development closely. Usually, B.e.s. will center their operations on one or two products, craftwork or basic resources (for example, the bark of a particular tree and its resin). It is family owned and operated, generally, with few personnel and rarely over 100 workers. Inventive B.e.s. will develop more complex products that may interest bigger companies. If that is the case, the B.e.s. becomes an l.e.s. or an A.e.s. so that they can benefit from its product too. This is a survival case of the fittest: Think globally, act locally. -

r.~.(o).:* These companies are restricted to a quadrant (see Geodem system p.91). In many ways they resemble the B.e.s.: they cannot import nor eXP,ort anything from the three other quadrants and they. must deal with the materials, products, workforce and wits available in their quadrant. Most companies remain at this level for decades or even centuries before graduating to A.e.s. status. These companies' main purpose is to profit from the vast array of new products they bring to the market, hopefully products not found in other quadrants. They use the B.e.s. as subcontractors. Similarly, they often serve the purposes of the A.e.s. who will subcontract them. These companies often hire up to a thousand employees in their different workshops and businesses, and they sometimes control up to ten stores within their quadrant.

A.~.s.:** The advanced companies are those who achieve sufficient commercial success to be able to export and import

anywhere within the Core. Those A.e.s. caught dealing with independent cities are severely punished. A.e.s. are very powerful and rich, able to influence many sectors. They are not completely autonomous, as S.e.s. and the Core supersede them, but they do possess enough power to be dangerous. These companies work quickly and invest plenty of time and money into their product so that otheP.A.e.s. companies do not fill the market before they-do. To become an A.e.s., you must also be visionary, intelligent, perseverant, witty and aggressive. You cannot expect your good ideas to fulfill themselves on their own-you must carry yourself to the top and be prepared to crush your opponents to do so. At this level, there is no friendly relationship between the employees and the boss. There is no spirit of camaraderie like in the smaller enterprises. This is a multinational on a mission to become an S.e.s. A.e.s. can be as small as a thousand employees dedicated to a single product (high-end weapons, for example) that is in a constant state of development. They can ;lso be as large as 100,000 employees for companies dealing with food, clothing, basic weapons and supplies. Those who specialize often opt to hire brilliant researchers and development teams to keep their product evolving constantly while the others focus on maximizing the size o'f their market. Their economic income is very substantial, although some actiVISts, like Awakeners, Truth Crafters and Judges, often try to transform them into fairer companies. Just like I.e.s. and B.e.s., many such industries were destroyed during the Years of Chaos so there are plenty of

vacant areas in the economic district. B.e.s. and I.e.s. reconstruct easily as you only have to muster some support, relocate your workers in the workshop and start the engines again. It is more difficult for A.e.s. who function on contacts and inunense sources of funds to sustain onerous wars against commercial opponents and to finance their strategists and scientists. <..' • "*'S ...... . ,:').' ~ .Q

To any non-S.E.S, the S.e.s. represent power and freedom. They are free to deal with anyone they want, even independent cities. They are even able to trade with new civilizations that the Core Himself has never heard of. They can assist and vote in the CERM debates and reunions, meaning they hold some political sway. The Core Himself, however, as veto rights over every decision. Currently there are eight S.e.s. and none of them crumbled during the Years of Chaos although they suffered some setbacks. The economic growth promised by the Core Himself, which seems to now be on its way, is supposed to create between 5 and 15 new areas for S.e.s. expansion. S.e.s. deal with very rare or specialized components, products or services. Although orpee is central to most of them, it is a domain which the new S.e.s. won't have access since it is a saturated market. Whether this means these new companies will be able truly equal in status to the original eight is left to be seen.

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An example of a current S.e.s. is Secure Stock, a company that provides security for orpee distribution to companies, cities and private organiza-

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tions who can afford such services. Given that nearly everyone with more orpee than he can carry must secure it somewhere, Secure Stock offers an essential service for many. Plus, this company has a large advantage over its competitors as it was the first offer this service and has had more time to perfect its technologies. Furthermore, with orpee being such a valuable commodity (possession), people are not about to risk storing their supply with an unknown company. Even high Spheres Echoes store their orpee with Secure Stock. The company employs millions of workers and is opening up facilities regularly in new cities. Since they can import anything from any region, they have a strong say in which company will climb up the pyramid and which one will fall. This is of the utmost importance because it changes the dynamics of what happens below, Forming relationships with such companies is extremely important for smaller enterprises.

CondnRion While I.e.s. function as a bridge between two levels of business, the A.e.s. possess a large amount of power, yet still remain under the thumb of the S.e.s. and the Core. As small as they are, B.e.s. can perform miracles with a little bit of luck and a great product. Those above control those below and with a snap of the fingers, can crush the dreams of a company, or lift it to star status. In theory, things are very clear but, in practice, corruption is omnipresent. The presence of Echoes in the economic sector (mainly Truth Cratters, Overlords, Nightmares and

some Mind Chemists) complicate things.

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These merchants are mostly Yaki who refused to become part of the Gnath system. Although they do not form companies, they offer similar goods and services. In essence, the only thing holding them back from becoming officially recognized companies is their nomadic nature. · According to the Core's regulations, you need a personal and a business address to start a company. These merchants do not submit to the Core's regulations. They are as free as S.e.s. but they are prevented from traded commercially dangerous products to avoid competition with local companies. For example, Yaki tribes usually use spies in the cities they deal with to know what goods are lacking so they do not try and sell into a market that is saturate. These merchants are not protected and cannot go to the Core for money if they get into a jam. It is a risky business which prevents many from getting involved.

CERM 001: Upon registration of a company, its shareholder (s) must bring proof of residency. They must also give notice of any change of residence within ten days. They must also bring a proof of their commercial address.

CERM 002: Every company must

archive all of its commercial activities. A Core's Archivist must compile these every two months. A yearly report is also required.

CERM 003: Every comp
CERM 004: Any eligible company can ask to be raised to the next economical status. The rules of eligibility are as follow: l. The company's business must reach all the normal estimations for at least five years in a row. The Core's Archivists, upon the creation of the torrtpan,Y: set those estimations. 2. The company must be of good reputation for at least twenty years: 3. The company must reveal its goals and must prove the necessity of revised status.

4. The company must sign a new contract in which it engages to follow the regulations regarding its new status. (Here are the specifications and details regarding each of the particular cases).

CERM 005: Every Company willing to engage in a new kind of economic activity must notifY the Core's Archivists within a month.

INDUSTRIES Here we will outline a few companies ranging from B.e.s. to S.e.s .. Some of them started way before the Core was created, but they all have remained very productive and loyal to the Core.

BASIC ECONOMIC SOCIETIES

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handpicked bugs, packed live so that you can choose when they're ripe enough for you! We recommend a month for a perfect taste. We expect a rapid increase in the demand for our miraculous products (ask the Echoes!) also we expect to reach the status of l.e.s. very soon. So stay with us !!!

box (FfB)

Deliciously tasty and almost divine, our food just gets better the longer it stays in its box: We use boxes filled with natural flavoring agents that also serve for conservation, so the equation is simple: the longer the better! Store food for months, it will only become tastier without losing a single bit of its nutrients! Use them when traveling, store them at home or throw them at your enemies to knock them off! FIB food can serve more than one purpose! Can opener not included. On sale, only found on fourth avenue in your loyal city of Duoarim, in front of the fighting halls. Some of our canned meals: l.Vegetal compost (canned vegetables): Vegetables pressurized and canned (different varieties, mixed or not). 2.Tasty pasty: A classic dish. A hearty dose of fruit rolled in an earthy pastry. 3. Live bugs: a selection of carefully

In our small family, the tradition of engineering and metal work has been passed on from generation to generation. Our fathers taught us everything there is to know about steel and motion (engines, propellers), and our products are the result of three hundred years of hard work, constant research and an obsession for reliability and durability. Since we only work on orders, come to our home-shop in Cudhrema to check out our products: you'll be amazed to see what we can do with our hands and solidarity! You should expect a month for delivery unless special arrangements are taken. We're located near the northern gate, near the ten-yard long spike. Two of our models: l.Wheelderness: eight motorized wheels allowing for optimal traction on any surface. With its C22, this little wonder can reach

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up to 80 mph, and with its exclusive gravity compensation system, it makes no difference whether you're on a 1:1at surface or climbing up a tree. 2.Crindrider: We know that many ofyou like your bike to have a little extra bite. This bike has lots of it. The main innovation consists of layered wheels which can grind the ground as well as peel off the skin or your enemies -your choice. For complete technical details, come to our store.

and bigger than before, and with a lifelong bond to you. And think about money: our prices are modest, and additional costs are lower, too: vehicles have to be fuelled everyday and they break so easily. Our mounts need only to be fed with some basic, cheap cereals (they all are herbivorous) -and should you go in the wilderness, you won't need a two tons fuel tank!

they all gather around you when the night comes and make an impressive barrier, which allows for a very safe rest!

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For those who can afford to spend some real quality time. For those who are bored of the Gnath's rhythm of life and prefer to make some sacrifices in order to preserve some mental well being. For those who like to travel slowly but safe and sound. Our beasts are not the fastest - they don't need to be fastneither do you. Instead of buying the noisiest and fastest new super-bike, why don't you just sit down for a minute and take a look at our sympathetic creatures. Learn about their personality and about whom they are and you will buy a lifetime friend. Vehicles come and go - we guarantee that our mounts are all unique: each of them is lovely in its own way, waiting for you to discover its faithfulness and loyalty. Treat them well and, in a hundred years, they will still be there working for you, stronger

l. Crandatorus: This Incredible creature is one of our best sellers: its long back allo~ four passengers to mount it. It can speed up to a decent 20 mp/h independently of whether it is in high or low ellow region or if it is walking up hills or through dense jungles. Even more, this creature's meat is so disgusting that animals sense it from far away. This helps to avoid attacks that are common when mounting other animals and it can also go as far as preventing attacks on other mounts! 2.Joo: This beast is nicknamed Joo to compensate for its unappealing presence. This sludge-like mount may seem diSgusting at first but, once you get use to it and learn all about its qualities, you won't ever travel without it. It's slow but it can easily adhere to any surface at any given time. It can go anywhere, even those horrible slippe•y surfaces at the base of city kioux truaks l 3.Larowg: These huge beasts are perfect for traveling to far-Bung regions. Look at them: immense and powerful, they are as efficient as the Yakis' huoras! WeU, almost. They won't go as fast and they won't climb up in trees but it will take some real pain before they stop or even hurt a little. If yott ask me, these creatures are simply adorable. If you have a family of them (six or more)

Everyone works too hard these days. Nobody takes care of himself or herself. If you don't have time, don't you think someone should? We do care for you and, if you trust us, we will compensate for everything you lacked for before. Our herbs, medicines and potions are customized to YOUR needs: if we don't .have it in th~ store, we will create it for you and we will even give you free trials until you are satisfied! We will design. soothing herbs for your mind, bloodstoppers, body regulators, cures for all kinds of diseases ... whatever you might need and it's all ~atural! The plants and animals around us provide us with everything we need to stay healthy. You just have to know how to use them and we do. You can find us in Kevoy/Set, Kevoy side, near the northern exit on the highway. Samples of our products: Herbal cookies: This is perhaps our most prized. Their natural virtues aren't as astonishing as some of our other products but their price tag more than compensates for it and they are a delicious way of staying happy and healthy all your life!

The Core's 0-:ews: Cll \PTLR 0:\Jc . The Core's Crusade • Vol. II 0 n°45

CORE's PL llLISIII:\C

Printed on 100% pure Kioux leaves. Manufactured by Kioux Leaf A.E.S., in Khai-Bhek on the fom1h plate at 467, Oui orn street.

Vitadrink: Extracts of plants, orpee infusion, kioux leaves juice and water from the deepest oceans! This drink could revive

Bhek's slums, northern commercial section 3! You losers! We are not in the slums of some vulgar city!!

the dead! One whole drink will keep you awake and fully alert for ten hours whatever your state of fatigue. In cases of "near death" we can guarantee four hours of

Kiou.x spiked mace: Our blacksmiths have

alertness. Warning: This solution can have some dangerous side effects on old people. They should use it in smaller doses or avoid drinking it altogether. Harmony: This pill was conceived to regulate "fluctuating" metabolisms. Should you be bleeding too much, having a bad allergic reaction, or anything else of the sort, this pill will Ji" it up in less then one minute. Of course its effects are only temporary and you 'II have to Gnd a more permanent solution afterwards (we have many products which might do the trick, but they simply take more time to have an effect on the metabolism, and so they nee
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taken a great deal of time to perfect their technique using the flesh ofkioux, which we can easily admire by looking at the rich deep red texture it turns into when it is perfectly treated. Like you can see, this mace comes with the maximum number of spikes possible- take a look, not a single spike could be added to it! Light, easy to handle, crushing and piercing, what more can you ask of a weapon down here? Sure! You won't kill Elite guards with it! But you can take on your neighbor anytime!! Pads: Molded right on you! Three special types of resin have been used to create a pad that is easily molded and very reliable once solidified. The blue glow on it is due to the more special of the three resins. Some rumors say this resin is only found in the northern wastelands, which would explain a lot of things! You can use them as kneepads, elbow pads, shoulder pads whatever you like! Did I hear "a full body padding"? Sold to this aggressive little gnath over there!

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"Gather here everyone! Everyone,

who can ever claim to be safe enough? No one. We sell the best weapons and armors in the entire city. This week we have a great sale on these and many more: the Kioux spiked mace, the armored pads and the True blade our latest, meanest inventions to date!! No! NO!! NO!! Here, over here!! Come back! What the \\\\?! Come back I said!! We're in Kha'i-

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True Blade: You have probably heard of or seen some jislane. Well, this ordinary looking plant can be craved into almost any shape without losing any of its properties of durability and flexibility. Our famous unique 'Emovan carver crafts it! He went back home for teo whole years to learn the craft of Sastak! And now, using the same methods with other materials, he crafted these True blades just for you! They are perhaps what are closest to a Sastak blade. You perhaps won't be able to slice creatures from the Dream in two but you sure won't have any problems with rogues anymore!

Some enterprises offer you the end of the world, a door through to the Sofe, a ladder to the Kioux's limit or whatever. We don't. These companies most likely think that you are stupid, that you all dream of impossible things and that you will buy almost anything even if you don't need it. We have much more respect for you than that. What we offer you is the things you live with, the things you see around you. Of course we might provide a better quality, perhaps reinvent them a little to better suit your needs, but we try to remain as honest as possible. Do you really need more lethal weapons and heavy armor? Do you need backpacks when you never leave your home to travel? We don't think so. That is why what we try to do is not to invent a new life for you but to make your current life better. No revolution: only a strong commitment to a better quality of life. Some examples of the products we offer: folding chairs and tables, removable cushions, furniture for any section of your house, blinders (use them instead of curtains to give a very modern, high plate look) and the list goes on and on. You can fmd us in Oce on the south quarter, in the second commercial section, a five minute walk east of Oce Pendulum: Visit us!

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INTERMEDIATE ECONOMIC SOCIETIES Sl'ln~

Brflin

therapies never hurt anybody's psyche. Brain problems are real problems that must be treated accordingly.

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. ._________.I I-;~ I Lacking productivity? Having problems concentrating? Your lifestyle is driving you insane? Paranoia? Schizophrenia? Difficulty to deal with the Dream's presence, the plates over your heads, your dangerous neighbors in the slums? Don't wony; we're here. You can consult us at any of our branches in the northern quadrant of Kolester. Efficiency and discretion is assured. BRAIN SIGHT (THREE LEVELS): Brain check-up: overall check-up of your neurological functions for synapses and all the other things that can block them ... recommended if you want to avoid having to hire very expensive services later on. Brain probe: Overall check-up for deeper problems, profound scars and hidden traumas. Might be required for severe cases. Psyspy: At least one Mind walker is required for this service. An all-out investigation of the patient's Mind. This service is required for mind bombs, dangerous viruses or serious mental illnesses. Brain repair: A complement to our Brain sight service. This service is always administered on the basis of the Brain sight results and so there are no pre-established prices or descriptions. For those of you who would feel unsafe with this, we can only say that we are professionals and that our

Have you ever realized why some fighters always have edge on the others? Often it is because they use E (eflow)-weapons. Every single piece of equipment we have in our stores can be E-enhanced and this can bring very powerful results. We won't brag about our strengths any further; we will let our creations do the talking. We can be reached in any city in the western quadrant ofUlabediare -look for the smoking sword sign on top of our stores.

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E-Slash blade: This weapon bas been designed to reduce the weight of the weapon and maintain a perfect balance no matter how it is swung. Two functions are imbued to the weapon: Def and Dam. Def increases the blade's response to circular and vertical movements (ideal for parrying). Dam creates another kind of vibration, which allows attacks to be more effective. Impact war-hammer: This E.weapon· bas been designed on the basis of the plans the lna'is Weirdsmith Mali-Shora used to make hammers out of uncraftable materials ... So this war-hammer was conceived for maximum impact on contact with another surface. The required material and technique to allow for this makes this hammer very heavy and so, only strong fighters will be able to use this three-handed

monstrosity in combat (mostly volko'is ... ). Once triggered, the Impact doubles the actual strength of the blow by releasing a pressure surge equal to the present pressure.

E-root ring mail: This ordinary-looking armor can actually absorb and store a considerable quantity of Essence, which can then either be slowly absorbed by the body through connections to the armor and/or release itself in one dose to absorb the damage of a blow. This is actuaUy a very potent and popular version of a stronger armor but many adventurers now rely on this one.

l...____R____.I Perhaps you thought that you could learn everything about the laws and numbers, two things that makes half of the starting companies crumble within a year under their dire complexity - and run your company meanwhae ? Now that you're in, you probably understand how numbers and laws are amazingly complex- and that you don't have the time to both run your company and do your accountancy. Now that you do know about us, wouldn't you like to save a lot of time, to maximize your gains and to secure your situation should any problems occur, all this for only a small monthly fee? A contract with us is virtually buying our lifetime loyalty. Take a look at the most common

Printed on I00%

services we offer and, if you come to reason, contact us at: Kaderun, 3.v plate, 4•h section, 1353 Kise Hall (turn right after the Core's stand by the main street). Note: every member of our personnel is a distinguished member of the Core's CERM Academy (with various grades). Accounting: This is our basic service. For a monthly fee, we keep your books up to date and, since all of our Accountants are accredited by the CERMA's, there is no need for the Core's archivists to doublecheck their work (which should please many of you). Advisors: This optional service is offered to you as soon as you hire one of our accountants. Advisors can only be contacted in person and their fees are charged on an hourly basis. Representative: Perhaps you really need a contract with a company but they are based far away and you don't have the time to go

~nd meet them. We wiU. Our representation officers will travel anywhere at your expense to represent you and your company. Warning: Numbers and Lawyers refuse all responsibilities for unsuccessful negotiations and so no lawsuits can be engaged against us. In case of success, our fees vary according to the length of the negotiations, the quality of the required representatives, etc. It is always best to come and discuss those things personally so we may custom our services to your needs.

Kioux leaves. Manufactured

Kioux Leaf A.E.S., in Khai-Bhek on the fourth

stn~et.

designed to close the wound to prevent viruses from infecting it, not to heal the

IIC•~•

wound (we'd love to find a way to make that possible with patches but we haven't

I

A young Ina'is from a northern hearth decided to dedicate her whole life to nurse and cure the courageous lnai's warriors who so regularly fought bravely to prevent invasions or simply patrolling the · caves. She had such prodigal talents, love and dedication that she built up an entire organization within a few decades. Soon, biological and medical scientists living in the same hearth flocked to her help and within a century, Kora Medica became what it is now. Despite its large range of products and high visibili~;Y (you can see our products everywhere in the Kolester's quadrant) every ooe of Kora Medica's products are home made with the same fervor and dedication. We simply understood that others also suffered and needed our help and so we decided to offer our services to as many people as possible. As you know, our hospitals are our main achievements but we also developed high quali~;Y pharmaceutical products. For a complete selection of our products, come and see us in our hospital stores in aliuost every city within the Kolester's quadrant.

Lawyers: We can provide you with the best

!.Healing patches: These patches will help

lawyers for any problem and in any

your wounds to close in no time. Apply

situation. This might give you the edge you

softly on the skin and secure it with the

often need in critical situations.

adhesive bandage included in the package. Leave it there for ten minutes for light wounds and ten hours for deep wounds: it will feel like the wound is completely healed: it won't be! The patches are

succeeded at this yet). 2.Detoxer: If you have been drugged or poisoned, this little potion might be your only chance. This detoxer comes in four formats (soft, moderate, strong, lethal) and will automatically detect the components of the poison and act accordingly (quickly for fast acting poisons and so on). The only thing you have to do is to either drink it or inject it with the needle enclosed in the package (You don't need to hit a vein: the detoxer will fmd its way in).

Th~ Pow~rfnl EnhiltH.:{"r

You know the shoemaker repairs your shoes, the dressmaker repairs your clothes, the blacksmith repairs your tool, etc. Do you know anyone who can repair your steel sword - let alone enhance it? We do. Our trade is to take your old stuff and make it not only better looking but also generaUy better. For our fancy clients, we cao even afford the rare service of a Weirdsmith should it really require his presence! Neither Sar're, Olre or me are Echoes. lu fact, we don't need to be Echoes: our volkoi' arms are stronger than steel and our Volkoi' will help us to be even stronger whenever needed. We'll take that hammer and make it so easy to

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handle you won't ever understand how it happened. We'll take that armor, reshape it and we swear you won't recognize it: tougher, comfortable and most of all, beautiful: the look is very important for any warrior who respects himself and we are here to demonstrate this fact to everybody. Come and see us in our shop, we are located in KhaiBhek on the fifth plate. Just ask about us -you will find us in no time. Once you step in, don't be surprised to fmd no weapons: our tools are your weapons.

Many ask: "why are you still only an I.e.s. ?"The answer is simple: we don't need to be bigger. We're within reach of every resource we need. All we need now is your confidence, and it seems to be growing. Our tower in the distant mountains, we have all the time and tranquility required to craft the perfect cyberware you have traveled so far to get your hands on. We don't need - let alone want - to move near a city. Our cyberware demands masterful crafting and only by creative ritual can we achieve this degree of quality in our products. Our master, the great Engineer Juo, taught us to create our cyberware not only with our hands and eyes but also with our entire self. Allow yourself a few days when you come to buy from us. Our cybernetic

products means changing parts of your body, which means you must first ask yourself some questions. Are you your body? What is you? Are you the su~ of physical, emotional and mental parts? If yes, are you really ready to change one of your body parts for something more efficient but obviously "less personal"? Possibly disrupting the harmonious eflow within your body? There are a lot of questions related to the creation and application of cyberwares. Losing a limb in combat, these questions would have been less important: necessity sheds light on many things. We don't offer a catalog nor do we stock our products in warehouses: each cyberware is created and customized expressly for our clients. Those cyberwares that are created in advance are to be seen and felt by your own eyes and hands. To find us, follow the virtual highway that would exist Northwest ofVunaco if a city would exist after it. Keep following that straight imaginary line until you see an immense dead kioux with a lot of broken branches on the ground. You'll probably hear the loud grinding noise of the worms inside the tree eating what's left of its flesh. On the ground, you will see a particularly straight branch, seemingly pointing north-northwest. Starting from there, follow the line for eight walking hours: you will come within sight of an immense fortified tower. That is where we are. Although the surrounding region has been cleaned, stay alert... this is always and will always be wilderness.

ADVANCED ECONOMIC SOCIETIES Birth of II e"l'o ~s

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Echoes! We are what you need. Have you ever thought of acquiring a reputation? No! Not that useless ordinary Echo reputation, but a real reputation. We mean that your name will be known everywhere, your deeds will be archived every time you will send the records to us (we tell you right now: no lies, our specialists will see right through them!) Additionally, every good story~ become a Tale and 10% of the profits will go back to you. Truth Crafters wishing to play with your past_ will fmd it problematic since you'll be more rooted in reality than any Echo who doesn't already deal with us! Apart from that, we h~ve contacts throughout the Core that can allow you to mingle with influential people should you travel to their city and need a band getting on the upper plates: every one of our office holds a monthly updated copy of your fJe so we can serve you anywhere - and this is just the beginning. Just come and see us in person and we will teU you more about it tben. For now, just take a look at our basic services: l.Reprecord: Every time you send us some information about yourself, we update your folder so that we may know where you are should you require anything else from us. Of course, you can choose to keep your folder confidential or restricted- it's entirely up to

you. This archive is the basic service we offer and it is required for all the other services. For more complete information about our reprecords, come to one of our offices. 2.Representation: We can represent you officially whenever you wish us to (let's say you can't appear at a really important public event: if you consent, your personal delegate will make sure that you are perfectly represented (the more information we have on you the better) ... here again, visit us for more information. 3.Taletellers: As soon as you give us the go ahead, you become pati of our Hall of flame. Of course, you'll start down the ladder but you can climb as you evolve - it's aU up to you: many Echoes wish to be on the top so, the faster you evolve, the better are your chance of coming within range of the top few. Even ifyou're the last in our Hall of Fame, your adventures will be told by_our trafty Taletellers - each of them are half-Echoes H And since every one of our Taleteller uses the txact same basic story despite his own method and style of interpretation, these stories are much more convincing than the usual inconsistent legends! 4.Cleaners: Perhaps you did something you would rather keep for yourself- but someone saw or heard you and now tbe rumor is spreading... We can help ... no questions asked.

Everyone knows that violence ts everywhere: this world was created that way- or so it seems- and avoiding

that fact is like being blindfolded in front of an execution squad. Our weapons are designed in this spirit: no quarters. No armors, no shields or whatever, only weapons. Pikame, an impressive Solek Nightmare and Tanhraro, an even more impressive Volkoi' War Engine, initiated this company. Both fourth Sphere Echoes, they understood the world like very few do and their answer was simple yet complete: this worlA is. war. . Don't avoid this truth, don't hide in a corner, don't dream of a better world! Make your place in this one with its very own remedy: violence. Of course not everyone is fit for this challenging life and sesgids will be on the look for gains, but we are here to avoid this. When you come to our shop you will undertake a mental test: should you be weak, lame or coward, you will be rejected: our weapons are for real warriors, for aggressive warriors who want to attack with these weapons not for the ones that want to defend themselves with them. AB if you didn't already know. This is our only trademark: the .fighters who bear our weapons are amongst the best .fighters on Kainas. ShouJd you be eligible to wear our weapons, you'll become part of our great fraternity of killers. One thing: we like fighters, we love indestructible warriors, we admire berserkers but we hate psychos. Psychos are weaklings wbo can only find strength in madness. Madness is the final, most primitive form of fear in front of adversity, in front of reality. Psycho murderers are the weakest of all sentient beings: they failed to exist in the real world and try to convince others of the opposite ...

Note: as a member of our Fraternity, your membership fee will fall as your membership ages and your war exploits become known of and you will be eligible for our yearly contest of True Warrior. Of course carrying such a weapon - out tags can't be missed also has dramatic effects on your enenues. l.The Drill: This spear-like weapon will pierce through any armor in a second and through any structure in a minute. Once you activate it, the piercing sound should be more than enough to warn your enemies of their error... 2.Reactor sword: Have you ever seen one of these new Yaki techno-tribes? Nearly all of these new tribes now have a squad, which consist of up to ten Yakis riding their swords with steel soled boots to keep a better grip of the weapon during combat, recklessly driving through any obstacle until they strike down their enemy with a single, deadly blow. These triangular blades carry numerous small yet powerful reactors on one side that are strong enough to allow its wielder to ride the blade on the other side by raising the sword to an adequate angle. The reactors statis or stops on the push of a knob (we are designing a modular version right now). Needless to say that those who are fierce but lacking natural strength will love a compensation of that kind. 3.Boomer axe: This axe blade (sastak) mounted on a long staff (steel) with an invisible sastak rope allows its wielder to throw the axe with a forceful swing, striking the target with the blade, perhaps cutting a head or two on the way, and then bringing the blade back to the top of the shaft as long as its held in front of the incoming blade - all of this within ten seconds. Of course, you can fight in close combat without throwing

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the blade, or you can use the blade with one hand (there's a grip designed for this purpose) while you use the steel staff with the other hand, perhaps using the rope to strangle an enemy, entangle a weapon or to pany and incoming attack: the number of ways you can fight with this weapon haven't all been found yet!

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products once or twice to make considerable savings. Here are two of our most popular models. You can order our complete catalog by mail at: Kha'i-Bhek 7'h plate, 3452 Main Street. Or come and see us at this address or at any other one of our branch offices (full retailers list at verso). Note: most of our machines comes in three size: Kainas, Echo and Naakinis, which. is self-explanat01y (see each model for the specs difference). l. Huoradozer: These are the basic tools you will need if you which to build a new

We've seen it all, traveled the highways of the Core, reached every point no matter how far, we know every one of the new cities and we know about every enhancement to any existing city. Even Kha.'i-Bhek, which recently promoted us to the highly recognized A.e.s. rank, gave us a contract to provide the tools and machinery needed for the construction of its four new plates. Yes, within the next two centuries, Kha'i-Bhek will reach the incredible total of thirteen plates and we are very proud to be a vital part of this project, along with our partners, City-Builders. The vast success of our enterprise is mostly due to our professionalism: our competence in crafting the tools or machinery you need, complemented with a vast array of pre-constructed products and machines allows us to promptly and efficiently respond to any specific demand. If we don't have the machinery you need, we will create it within the shortest possible delays. Finally, our rental option often allows those who only want to use our

project on top of old foundations. The huoradozer will flatten any surface, crushing anything in front of it so it is easier to remove afterwards. Our huoradozers come only in Echo and Naakiois size. 2.Real Chainsaw: Some chainsaws are fit to fight critters and some are adequate to cut trees. When the trees are bigger, those chainsaws are usually worthless and that is when our Real chainsaws come in handy. Our chainsaws are designed to cut through any kind of wood: the immense sastak teeth of our chainsaws will even find their way through the jungles where several species of trees are exceptionally strong and resistant. The required machines to handle this Chainsaw come separately in different models to suit your particular situation.

C i ty-b u i ldf'rs

We are proud to announce that, together with Tome, we have been

chosen by the Core to construct the four new plates of Kha'i-Bhek, which should only enhance our reputation. Our centuries of experience in our domain have proven valuable and have been rewarded accordingly. We are also proud to announce that, upon completion of the project, we will also be promoted to the highly regarded S.e.s. rank. We would like to thank the Core for their interest and trust in us. Since our reputation stands on its own, we will only give you a quick outline of the different services that have made us so popular, like the planning and construction of Cudhrema's offspring, the supervision of the creation of the last plate of Kolester and finally, our participation (alongside many other respected companies) in the construction of the jnGredible ~arvel that is the Skytrain. As always, you can reach us in Kha'iBhek's seventh's plate, three blocks. away from Tome (3482) because our policy is to handle our business on a personal basis: after aiJ, you are not a number. Services: Our services cover every step of the creation of a new architectural structure, ranging from a simple building to an entire new city with as many plates as you may want. We offer advisors and evaluators (where is the best place to build that building, that city?), architects and specialized planning officers (Now that we know where to build, what do we build and how?), organizers for the ftrst degree of applications (who do you need to contact to get these materials, which company will offer the best deal to buy or rent tools, where do we get all of the required guards to protect the construction site and the workers, what about aU the orpee required

for such a project ? Etc.), to its final application: workers, site coordinators, and so on. We offer all you need for the conception, evaluation, logistic and realization of you project. We offer partial and complete services, ranging &om a single architect to entire troops of construction workers. The Core's project takes most of our time right now, but we will do everything in our power to keep our subsidiary branches functional so that we can continue to help you create a better, bigger and safer society for all.

Every gnath always wishes to climb. higher. Since they are always the first

!o attempt anything new, others follow quickly after them, creating a very narrow gap between the gnaths and the others. What is important is not who climbs first, but how we climb. At Roof breakers, we offer you the possibility to make others look like crawling worms when they climb. How? We simply make you fly. Did you ever see an emergency unit of firefighter on one of the upper plates? This thing flies doesn't it? Well you can fly too - for a moderate price of course. Since the creation of the Core our business has risen to unprecedented heights, so much that we will soon be promoted to the rank of S.e.s. alongside the prestigious "Orpee anywhere" and "Secure stock". We conceive, assemble and pilot (if you wish us to do so) every

one of our aircraft. Here at Roof breakers, everyone undergoes twenty years of training before becoming a full-fledged member of our working team where we create the ONLY aircrafts in Kainas. We only use top quality materials and, in one hundred and ftfty years of existence, we have never seen one of our aircraft go down because of a technical hitch: the Echoes that inspects our aircrafts simply make them perfect, and that is why other companies are reluctant to challenge us in a domain where our extensive knowledge and dedication have made us the unquestionable masters of the air. With our aircraft, you'll be able to carry out your business in complete security and in a record time: no wonder Secure stock deals with us whenever they need a quick delivery and no wonder the Core's Cods is so efficient: we are there to vigilantly keep a caring eye upon the orpee distribution within the Core and, as the Core Himself knows it, we will give him our full support should any crisis arise. Here are two of our models but of course, our engineers have many more surprises for you at: Roof breakers, Khai-Bhek, 9th plate, Monarchic district, 34042 Iregors street (near the statue of Tasrath). Also, expect our Special Core's' Army Flying Unit (SCAFU) over your heads soon. 1. Bellyglider: This is our most simple and popular model: the Bellygl ider does not bave a striking appearance; neither does it have awesome speed. However, the Bellyglider is our biggest and strongest air carrier. It can carry over FIVE HUNDRED TONS thanks to some of ours Weirdsmiths manipulations. Tbe only limit

is tbe entry points: half of the cargo compartment can be lifted so that even Yaki huoras could climb in. If you ever find something bigger- that flies- tell us ASAP. 2.Death spinner (helicopter) (defensive unit): This spinner has been designed for defensive wars against strong opponents. ef:low and fuel capacity bave been limited so that tbe maximum number of bombs, guns and ammo can be loaded on board. The versatility of this flying weapon makes it the perfect all around choice for any wealthy city wishing to impress its enemies or to strike them down quickly and definitely. Many armies have fled to the sight of a few of these machines. There is a defmite element of surprise as not many people have been able to afford them -but those who are able to afford it often prove to be the reat masters.

SUPERIOR ECONOMIC SOCIETIES Orp'!"? flnywh?r? (OA)

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Historical features: Orpee anywhere was created twenty-two centuries ago, under the reign of the great Nayan Truth Crafter Iako Lai'Scinza. The founder of this enterprise, the Yaki Overlord Torea, was one of the most important figures of that time, known and loved by the lords for his wisdom and vision. She was the only one who was able to foresee what we are living today, centuries ahead of her time. Perhaps it is for this reason

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that she created OA, a company dedjcated to the safe transport of orpee anywhere on Ka'inas and beyond- if possible. At first her entire Yaki tribe carried the orpee safely from a region to another, a city to another but the demand grew and other Yaki tribes were asked to become part of OA: a few accepted (six at that time, nine would join a century later for a total of sixteen Yaki tribes). The already solid reputation of the Yakis in transportation and delivery helped the growth of OA: many doubt that the initiative would have been such a success if gnath or ina'is had thought of it. The problem for the Yakis was that at least one tribe always bad to wait at the headquarters so that the service could remain consistent. As the company grew dramatically, Yaki tribes began to be insufficient- things were mature for a change. Torea was waiting for this moment: she launched a vast publicity campaign both to offer the services of the company, putting a definite stop to the rumors saying the company would soon crash under the pressure, and at the same time offering many jobs at different positions within the organization. Torea had created the first commerc'ial and the first recruitment campaign at the same time and so, the first economic society. lt is her concept of" economjc society" that the Core decided to keep as his own. OA had ruspatched "troops" in many places within Kainas and had opened stands in almost every city and town. Their elite service was composed of old and powerful Yaki tribes while the regular service was done by the new

contingent and is known as OA caravans. What you now know as OA is the final, perfected result of this impeccable organization, of this immense economic society with so much experience behind it that it can deal with any situation. Our founder Torea is now long dead but she would have obviously been proud of the evolution of her company, for she always wanted it to be efficient and near the peo.ple, emphasizing service over profit. Obedient; we followed her personal vision and we are proud to say that, with each passing year, we gain a little more of an advantage on our competitors - both with our prices and our services. As you undoubtedly already know, OA offers orpee distribution services anywhere on Kainas and is t;he official orpee distributor of the Core, working under the regulations of the Cods. Also, note that every one of our guards undertakes tough training for several years to perfect their fighting skills and to learn how to efficientlJ' deal with the unexpected. For any information regarding OA services, go to the nearest stand in your city. Here are our two of our most popular semces: !.Caravan (normal service): For Q;ansportation of huge quantity of orpee between two cities or more. Our caravans come with twenty guards per wagon in addition to whatever we judge necessary (certain regions require two or three times that number of guards) with any extras you are willing to pay for. 2.Yakjs (elite service): For the transportation of important but limited

quantities of orpee (under a hundred thousand usually but it varies from tribe to tribe) in very dangerous or hardly accessible regions and in record time, our Yaki tribes are purely exceptional. Also, as you probably know, receiving orpee &om a Yaki tribe is a mark of honor and appreciation, which can be useful in some situation and necessary in others ...

Se-enre- Sto<.:k

Our company was created two hundred years after OA, in the beginning as an affuiate but we later became independent for economic ,reasons. As. OA became strong and influent and orpee began moving in increasingly big quantities, the need for. securing this immense mass of Life became critical. And so we came, fathers of stone carrying immense cages in our giant's hands, walking amongst you for the last time, because as soon as we'd rise, we'd lose the ground under our feet and the air on our cheeks, aU this to become your servants. And we rose. OA was increasing its activities everywhere and we were always behind with our cages and our safes, our warehouses and our towers, our outposts and our renowned guarruans. And so, here we are now, everywhere: our duty is to stock, secure and protect orpee and to protect orpee means being ready for anything: how many ill-intentioned (and young) Echoes do you think plan to bust one of our warehouse every year?

Our estimations is two hundred ... No matter how much you crave for orpee, everybody knows that attacking one of our outposts is like committing suicide. The only ones who will dare to try are powerful planners and mind masters. They hire professionals, they are professionals and they know they have to face the best of professionals, so they gear themselves - oh yes they do! Thought most of the times things seem quiet around our warehouses, this quietness is our most dangerous enemy: we are the guardians of your life: we can't let anything happen to

that orpee. Do not wonder why in every city there is at least one Secure stock warehouse: we are the ones to watch over your most prized good. Our warriors are as strong as OA and twice as strong as any volko"i warrior. Our equipment is up to date with the latest technologies and our engineers design ever stronger materials to protect your orpee and think ahead of our enemiesbecause they are OUR enemies and we are what you need.

We take a 10% cut on anything you store: stock ten and we take one. Quarters are paid in cash. Once you open an account at Secure stock, we will take your address and inform you of our policies. We are entirely responsible for any orpee loss. After each year of storage, another ten percent is taken as an additional fee for the space taken. That's all.

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Mechanical Dream - Core's Crusade - Dream Aspect

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