Lore:Tiziran

SPECIES

Tiziran	Denonyms: Tizirans Other Names: Lizardfolk, Tiz, Tall Kobolds Related Lore: Lore:Unathi, Lore:Ashwalker Languages: Draconic

Tiziran

The most prominent lizardman species in the Milky Way, Tizirans use their cold-blood to their advantage, integrating into climate-controlled space environments with ease.

Jenna Terive-AI says: "The Tizirans are a race of lizard-like people from the desert planet Tizira. Their culture revolves around two main philosophies: one focusing on community and collective effort, and the other on personal improvement and harmony with nature. They have a deep spiritual connection to their moon, Atra'Kor, and natural elements like the tides and bioluminescent plants. Over time, their civilization advanced to space exploration, but internal conflicts led to divisions. A key moment in their history was the colonization of Atra'Kor, which caused cultural tensions and eventual splits among their people. The Tizirans got into a big war with humans called the Terran Conflict. They fought over space and colonies, and many people were hurt. The Tizirans tried to protect their planet, but humans destroyed their moon, Atra’Kor, which made the war even worse. In the end, both sides agreed to stop fighting, but the Tizirans had to pay extra taxes and couldn’t cross a special border in space. After the war, the Tizirans rebuilt their world with the help of their friendly neighbors, the Teshari, who became their close allies. After the big war, the Tiziran people formed a new government called the Talunan Imperium. Their leaders help keep things safe and fair, but everyone works together in small groups called Wards to run their towns. Every young Tiziran has to do service for five years, helping build, fix things, or protect others. The Royal Cataphracts are their best fighters, and the Expeditionary Corps helps explore space and protect Tizirans far away. The Tizirans trust their friendly neighbors, the Teshari, and work with them. However, they don’t like most aliens, especially humans, because of the war."

Pre-Split Lizards

Summary

The Tizirans, Unathi, and Ashwalkers encountered on the frontier share a common heritage. Each trace their lineage back to the arid aquifer world of Tizira. The earliest recorded evidence of what would be considered recognizably Tiziran culture dates back around 2200-2400 years before mankind first developed FTL capability.

The sun, Atra'Asl; the moon, Atra'Kor; and the low and high tides, Kor'Taku and Asl'Ton respectively; all hold significant cultural and religious meaning dating back to antiquity.

Circa 2000-2200 years pre-FTL, under the influence of these natural cycles and the partially nomadic populations of early Tizira, two broad ideologies came to light. The first, associated with Dawn and the High tides and popular among the working class, stressed the collective good, personal decorum, and outward effort as ideal.

The latter, associated with Dusk and Low tides and popular among scholars and the educated upper class; stressed animistic harmony with the natural world, tradition, and the betterment of the self.

Tizira was not a unified planet at by the time its people had developed their first FTL drive (200-400 years prior to human FTL) The schism between conflicting ideologies had only deepened over the preceding centuries. A nascent stratocratic republic had reduced the monarchy to little more than a figurehead. Animistic tradition seemed to be slipping out of the mainstream of Tiziran society.

In the face of increasing marginalization, and struck with wanderlust at the opportunities of space, the progenitors of the Unathi and Ashwalkers struck out into the void aboard lizard kind's first interstellar voidships.

Pre-FTL History

360 CE: Bronze Age

Characterized by the formation of recognizable Tiziran civilization, and the advent of written history.

• Written history begins. Remaining records point to the predominant society having been a Religious Monarchy, with the reigning monarch being a ‘speaker’ for the contemporary heads of the pantheon, Atra’Asl and Atra’Kor.
• A collection of nascent city states developed in a fertile basin nestled within the mist tides of the Kol’Kasan fog sea.
• Archeological evidence of nomadic societies pre-date the permanent settlements of the Kasani basin by some measure. Temporary camps, trails, and non-permanently inhabited structures permeate the surrounding deserts and oases. The lifestyle of following the cycles of temperamental lagoons is a deeply rooted cultural touchstone for Tizirans. And the practice continues with communities built around roaming sand-skimmers in the modern day.
• With the development of agriculture, aquaponics, and cave fishing, permanent settlements became practical. The sister settlements of Krak’Tal, Or’Kasu, and Zag’Skol are theorized as having begun life as centers of exchange and meeting for nomad groups.
• The seasonal bazaars attracted permanent residents, craftspeople, and others who staked out their claims on the shores of Kasan.
• Organized urban planning set fertile ground for Tizira’s first concentrated population centers. With the mass, however, came a marked increase in the virulence of the diseases capable of sustaining themselves in the larger populations.
• The dangers posed to comparatively small nomadic clans set a tone of arms-length cooperation between the two styles of life.
• Near the turn of the century, the city state of Or’Kasu would unite her sister cities in a shared Kasani imperium. The monarch was not decided by birthright. Instead, when a monarch began to reach the end of their life, they would seek out someone who embodied a balance between the two gods and showed great piety in their worship and daily life. How this was determined is unknown, but even lower caste citizens were seen to be chosen at times.
  • High class Tizirans were those who belonged in the scholarly caste. Anyone from Writers, ‘Scientists’, healers, etc. with the monarch and their family being a step above even them.
  • Low class Tizirans were the manual laborers. Those who still likely did skilled work, but weren’t performing a ‘scholarly’ craft.

560 CE: Antiquity

Characterized by the ‘discovery’ of Asl’Ton and Kor’Taku, tidal shifts, and other cultural touchstones.

• While the effects of the sun and moon on the homeworld were known already, the shores of Kol’Kasan didn’t have much of a concern related to them.
• Around this time, the new imperium began to spread out upon the will of their gods, claiming more and more land for themselves and exploring further and further out into the ancestral stomping grounds of the small clans they shared the desert with. Permanent settlements are restricted to the warm, stable climate of Tizira’s equatorial regions. Colder areas and those with more temperamental weather will remain impractical for permanent habitation until the development of post-industrial climate control technologies.
• The nomadic Tizirans existed in tandem with the tides. They roamed an area of roughly three hundred kilometers every year, moving from lagoon to lagoon; aquifer to aquifer. As they were not close to one of the homeworld’s few seas, they roamed and hunted in balance with nature. The high tides would bring fish and game, thirsty from being out in the desert sands, and the low tides would bring with it rest as caves that sheltered them from the sweltering sun became accessible.
  • Dawn and Dusk would also be incredibly important to the nomadic Tizirans, as they performed many culturally significant rituals utilizing the bioluminescent plants and animal life they found there. This would eventually carry over to the main civilization in some way shape or form.
  • These Tizirans were nomadic, following a very simple hunter-gatherer society with an animistic view of the world. Each phenomenon had a soul and a relevant ‘god’ to them. The Sun and Moon were similar enough that it is largely irrelevant to discussion. However: It's their gods Asl’Ton and Kor’Taku (as they became known) that really shook up how the ‘mainstream’ Tiziran society saw their gods and their influence.
• This unique way of life and understanding of the Sun and Moon led to a bit of a short renaissance for the main civilization. Suddenly, those who lived and worked more on the fringes; the late nights or the early days, understood the world around them that uniquely impacted their decision making and entire way of life. “Lower class” citizens were brought to a new light.

1160 CE: The Medieval Era

Characterized by the dissolution of the caste system, and the formation of modern political ideas. Namely The Daysong Way and Takuhism.

• By this time, society within the Kasani Imperium has drastically changed. The inclusion of Asl’Ton and Kor’Taku into the main pantheon changed many roles and led to an overall shift in the general outlook of society. More akin to a Parliamentary Monarchy at this point, Tiziran societal structure became more focused on overall cooperation rather than castes of individuals. * It did remain however and wouldn’t end in large part for most of the Pre-FTL era, but below is how it changed.
  • Two primary schools of thought begin to form during this period, latching onto the religious concepts that form their society.

“The Daysong Way”

• • “The Daysong Way” is a school of thought that focused on the actions one shows to others. What you do in public, how you should act. A strict regiment and the beginnings of heavy militaristic ideas. This school of thought taught Tizirans to hold themselves with dignity, and to put more emphasis on how you interact with others and the world around you, rather than the self. Most of what would be considered “blue collar” workers follow this way, along with of course the military.
  • In tune with the concept of Dawn and High-Tides, it emphasizes for one to put their all into everything as their baseline. To look to the plenty and give thanks, and to work together with the whole to gain a better future.

“Takuhism”

• • “Takuhism” is the opposite to The Daysong way. This school of thought focuses on the betterment of self, the actions one takes in private and on the interpersonal level. A much heavier focus on family, rituals, and the soul. This subsumed most of the “higher caste” as many scholars, philosophers, writers, etc. follow this way at this time.
  • Dusk and Low-Tides themes: It emphasizes the personal self and soul; to focus on the betterment of the individual to support the whole. To see the whole picture of things rather than just what someone says.

• The line between castes has changed. Where before things were highly structured and based on birth, this has begun to fall apart. As stated, the two schools of thought/philosophy began to form. These formed unique support groups and changed how work functioned, with more of an emphasis put upon exemplifying the characteristics of these philosophies.
  • The monarch still exists and is still the ideological ‘leader’ of the Tiziran people.
  • A council of a few hand-picked individuals (often imbalanced) from the two sides of the ideological spectrum. They help the monarch determine laws and develop society.
  • The ‘higher caste’ of scholars, writers, etc. has become a bit more accessible due to the ideologies of Tizirans helping emphasize this sharing of information and knowledge. More of them exist.
  • The ‘lower caste’ no longer really exists. They are simply the normal people, anyone whose not actively in the monarchy etc. They have more rights, better levels of equality, and an emphasis on the collective rather than the individual. Militaristic sentiments begin to grow during this era.

1660 CE: The ‘Renaissance Era’

Early stratocratic concepts take root in newly minted Tiziran republics. Divisions between traditional Takuhists and progressive Daysong camps begin to take root.

• At around 1660 CE, the collectively agreed upon ‘Renaissance Era’ of Tiziran people began. The twin ideologies that sprung up in the past few hundred years have become thoroughly embedded into society. So much so that things both took a step back, and a step forward.
• The Daysong Way saw significant success in the general populous, eventually bleeding its way into the higher echelons and causing a shift in governmental structure. No longer a Proto Constitutional Monarchy but a full Parliamentary Monarchy (Signed Circa 1655 CE).
  • The reigning monarch has significantly less power over the laws and governing of Tiziran people. Now functioning primarily as a ‘president’ in terms of their level of power and spiritual leader of the reigning religion, most the power they once wielded has moved to The Council of Ways. This council functions as the voice of the people.
  • The Council of Ways is formed of twelve members, twenty four assistants, and the Monarch as its speaker as of 1655 ce. Each member represents a ‘colony’ or suitably large collection of Tiziran presence, which have two assistants (one from the Daysong Way, the other from the Takuhists) to maintain that societal balance and additional voices to ensure sound judgment. Society has spread a significant distance away from the birthplace of Tiziran kind, necessitating a representative from each of these areas. These representatives meet twice a year to vote on laws, discuss current empire concerns, etc. There can be more if called upon by at least three members of the Council of Ways and ratified by the reigning monarch.
  • Military presence & emphasis on strength/work for the unity of Tiziran people has become the predominant societal structure. Military work has become a point of honor and pride, a way of ‘serving the whole.’ In this time period, Coliseums serve as a major form of entertainment for many, and as a way to demonstrate your “willingness to give your entire self” to your empire.
  • The concept of “spirits in everything” falls out of favor for The Daysong Way followers, choosing to only believe the soul exists for Tizirans as a reflection of their deities. Many rituals related to oneself fall out of general practice for followers of this ideology.
• In stark contrast, Takuhism has had a strong effect on the overall living standards, intelligence, literacy, and a focus on the natural wildlife of the Tiziran homeworld and the bonds one makes with the many spirits of the wilderness.
  • Many of the greatest advisors are followers of Takuhism. Due to their promotion of a very learned environment/background.
  • Animal companions helping to enrich the inner self. Working with beasts of burden to help ground the self in nature. Several notable species are commonly kept as pets:
    • Nala-Nala are snakes roughly the size of a large dog. They are primarily used as guard or working dogs, and have been the subject of some debate. These colorful reptiles seem to be very distant cousins to the lizardfolk, but are fully domesticated. Controversy surrounding the ethics of using them persists, particularly among the more intelligent breeds.
      • They’re a common sight in rural areas; and in service with emergency responders, the military, and as assistance animals.
      • During the early days of Nala-Nalas’ domestication, they were seen as high status symbols among royals, but in modern days, they are an every-day pet..
      • Nalas come in all different colors, almost as many colors as lizardfolk themselves. Aliens have, at times, noted an unnerving resemblance between Nala-Nalas and their Tiziran handlers. Much to the chagrin of the latter.
    • Naki-Nata are small sandshrew-like creatures. Seen as pests in rural areas, but popular companions in cities and primary school classrooms. These nocturnal shrews rest in burrows during the day, emerging at night to feed on small insects and scrub plants. Lacking any sand to burrow in they will tend to nest in fabric, clothing, bedding, etc.
      • It’s not uncommon to find Tizirans with Natas tucked away in hoods, pockets, or bags while traveling.
    • The Koo-Koo’Nara (shorthand ‘Koo’ or ‘Koos), an armadillo-like mammalian creature which, instead of hard scales, is covered from head to toe in fur. Normally only a foot or two in length, these warm-blooded creatures use the sand as camouflage, rolling about in it and becoming as-if fluffy tumbleweeds to hide their vibrant colorations. These creatures were highly sought after as pets and quickly domesticated, as being warm blooded and very friendly little tumbleweeds made for high demand.
      • As a sort of status symbol, the denser the fur and bigger the creature, the more ‘well-off’ a Tiziran was. They helped keep early Tizirans warm and alive on the coldest of nights, and Tizirans protected them from predators and gave them easy access to their most beloved food source:
      • Wesbona. This ‘flower’ is actually a glowing algae which sprouts brilliant flowers at low tide when revealed to allow pollinators to spread them to other locations. Mostly grown on the surface or deeper within the caves, a dangerous place for the Koo-Koo’Nara to traverse, lending to them being associated with Kor’Taku as one of their favored animals/holy creatures. They feed on them in the evenings and low-tidal periods, but are unable to digest the unique bioluminescent chemicals these plants carry. Their body instead processes it into patterns on their fur, leading to beautiful multicolor patchwork designs across their body.
      • The Koos are largely omnivorous though, able to eat anything like small rodents, plant scraps, etc.
  • All the old rituals are being maintained by those of this ideology. The spirits of all things are to be treated with respect. They are the ones who really maintain this concept even into the information age, keeping a heavy reverence in particular to the great mounds of stone and the “lagoon spirits” that bless them with water. The old rituals of decorating oneself with dyes made from the bioluminescent wildlife has become more of an “individuality” practice, blending into what would become the many vibrant patterning habits of many modern Tizirans.
• Standards of living have drastically improved. In juxtaposition to humanity’s “renaissance” era, Tizirans have proper waste treatment, better overall treatment of the common populace, etc. They are essentially the “humanitarians” and “Ecologically focused” individuals.

1900 CE: ‘Modern Era’

Characterized by Tiziran civilization spreading to the whole of the planet. And later on, in the advent of micro-electronics and early forays into spaceflight.

• Advances in rigging design allow sand-skimming vessels to sail uninhibited by wind directions.
• “Age of Discovery” to follow.
• Tiziran clothing and architecture strain to compensate for inhabitable climates.
  • The discovery of electricity, refrigeration, and resistive heating are considered milestones.
  • Early advances in what will become the field of life support technologies.
• Early portable life-support systems become more commonplace.
  • Clothing as a tool for survival falls by the wayside, allowing clothing as a means of self expression or comfort to take precedence.
• Settling outside of ideal climates is still prohibitively expensive. Rapid urbanization of population centers occurs. Concepts of public or collective ownership of property, and of multi-generational households become commonplace.
• Subterranean and semi-subterranean construction practices advance. Urban centers reach ever further into the sky, and burrow deeper into the ground.
• Elevated monorail systems span deserts to connect regional urban centers, but are quite difficult to construct.
• Widespread colonization, formation of clans beneath banners of the two ideologies as new land is claimed and new discoveries are made.
  • Becomes known as the “Age of Discovery”, as many great wonders of the world are found. Some examples include:
    • Trahuk’Maktal, Desert of Endless Black. This is the only place on the planet where the sand is a brilliant, ebony black, shimmering with gentle purple light due to how it absorbs and reflects light. A place where tornadoes are a daily occurrence, and the air is thick with the cloud of upraised sand, lending it its name. Even with then-modern tools, it was impossible to see more than sixty feet ahead. Within these great shifting sands is The Endless Caves, marked with cave art and markings of ancient people’s long past. And the potential for deep-dwelling Tizirans. Continues for miles beneath the surface.
    • Atra’Lu, The World’s Reach. A mountain that raises so high it breaks nearly to space. Known particularly for being THE landmark for what becomes ‘north’ in textbooks, etc. Also known for being the place where the first orbital missions were launched from in 1967 CE, with pads being built on the sides of the mountain at high altitude.
    • Asta’Lo, The Deepest Sea. Discovered in a land locked location far within the continent, this ocean is the single largest pool of water that exists on the planet. It goes so deep the pressure becomes so great no submersible ships can touch the bottom. Old ruins remain down here of a civilization that, somehow, remains intact. But out of reach for investigation.
• What eventually become the Unathi get their origins in this era, as the clans grow at an incredibly rapid pace. The distance from the core cities would lead to unique cultural identities, eventually forming into larger united groups due to the isolation and the need to cooperate.

1960 CE: Information Age

Characterized by advances in communications, robotics, and the invention of superconductors.

• Room temperature superconductors allow for advances in fusion science, although power generation at scale remains out of reach. And the invention of a new breed of hovering sand skimmers enables the development of trans-continental rail lines.
• Urban centers quickly grow out into the surrounding deserts. Urban sprawl remains low, with an enduring preference for high density planning. Multi-family / multi-generational living, while no longer a necessity, nevertheless remains a cultural norm.
• Integration of the internet connects disparate areas of the planet. Unique cultural identities shaped by isolating terrain mix and clash.
• Tizira seems to shrink in the wake of newfound interconnectedness. Massive urban centers expand their spheres of influence and compete for regional dominance. Very few outright wars are fought during this period. But skirmishes, proxy wars, and other exertions of “soft” power are commonplace. Over the course of the next 60 or so years, Tizira would be brought (at least nominally) under the auspices of a single administration.
• Early precursors of hardsuits are developed.
  • Supports the development of orbital structures, including the first permanently inhabited (although far from self sufficient) stations.
  • Fully enclosed portable life support systems allow for exploration of the deepest reaches of Tizira’s caves.

2023 CE: First Permanent Lunar Colony

The holy mother, Atra’Kor, is colonized. This period of time is characterized by extreme cultural backlash on all sides, and the means to which it was handled… or shoved aside.

• Beginning as a secret joint-program between Clan Siree’Tokna and the Capital, the first lunar landing (taking place in 1988 CE) occurred. Touching claw upon the sacred grounds of their moon, Atra’Kor, led to a culture shock among those involved so severe it paralyzed efforts for a few years, as the first astronauts fought with internal grief.
• It had long been known that Atra’Kor, their moon, was a surface capable of being walked upon. Society wanted it kept sacred by and large, leading to a great schism in inner academics and Takuist extremists with the rest of the community. This lasted until 1994 CE, with the next mission having far greater success.
• Slowly, the Tiziran government began to leak information of the original landing to gauge the public’s approval, ensuring it was laden with misinformation and governmental propaganda to make it both more convincing, and yet all the same confusing. The outcry from the more religious Tizirans led to violence breaking out, and the supposed ‘program’ being demolished from all public existence and knowledge. The clan Siree’Tokna was pinned as the ‘culprit’ of this landing, leading to a great black mark on the clansmen that lasted for centuries after, and one of the founding issues that led to an eventual Unathi split.

When news broke of the first lunar landings, the central authority of the Tiziran empire was seen as having lost the proverbial mandate of heaven by the prevailing philosopher academics of the time. The very idea of additional landings would remain taboo for some time.

Space exploration was limited as a result, until the successful harnessing of nuclear fusion in the latter years of the 21st century. The sanctity of Tizira’s only moon ran up against the logistical realities of deep range spaceflight.

A permanent orbital habitat was established in Tizra-Atra’Kor L1 nestled between Tizira and her close orbiting moon. The habitat proved an invaluable asset in researching the effects of microgravity on Tiziran physiology, and the practicalities of long term habitation in space.

The hab was, however, exceedingly difficult to build and maintain. The practicalities of lifting payload from the surface of Tizira using chemical rockets imposed harsh limits on the scale of industrialization that was possible in space. To reach beyond Atra’Kor, Tizira would need to develop the capability to manufacture at scale in orbit.

Setting foot on the moon remained a contentious proposition. Development was limited to two settlements designed to support a significant orbital presence.

Set upon the tidally-locked near side of the moon, Atra’Chek is the larger of the two. It serves as a base of support for the expansion of the L1 hab, and the orbital assembly process needed for large structures.

Additionally, Atra’Chek as an important milestone in the species’ history. The decades-long construction project saw their first industrial scale exo-planetary fusion reactor light its core. Reactors of that scale were impractical to build in orbit with current engineering practices. Both Atra’Chek and its later sister settlement Atra’Mala are built around their power plants.

Atra’Chek hosted powerful microwave transmitters to send power up to the L1 hab, allowing for a marked increase in capacity. Limited aquaponic and hydroponic facilities, workshops, medical facilities, and habitation modules supported the expansion of the L1 hab to the point of near self-sufficiency.

Atra’Mala looked outwards. Supporting orbital infrastructure in a manner similar to Atra’Chek, Atra’Mala nurtured powerful laser emitters nestled in the Tizira-Atra’Kor3 lagrange point on the far side of the moon relative to Tizira. These emitters would propel Tiziran solar sails across the star system, and would go on to be expanded upon and upgraded until their eventual destruction in the latter years of the Terran war.

The sister installations on Atra’Kor were kept as unobtrusive as possible, and generally regarded as a temporary necessity to getting the species on their feet in the industrialisation of space. Temporary or not, Atra’Chek and Atra’Mala were the foundation by which the Tizirans developed their intra-system void fleet. Assembled by Atra’Chek and powered along their routes by Atra’Mala.

The system worked, but was not without its limitations. Void sailers of the time were not very space efficient. And quite slow as a result of relying on solar sails, even with the boost from Atra’Mala’s laser arrays. If Tizirans wanted to travel further afield, they would need to bring worthy power plants to their voidcraft. That meant they would need to build bigger. Much bigger.

Tizirans had since become accustomed to the idea of a permanent, but limited, presence on Atra’Kor. Significant industrialization of the moon, however, remained a contentious topic. Decades of at times violent negotiations, stalled initiatives, and deepening public polarization saw negligible expansion on the lunar surface.

Orbit, however, was a different story. Plans were drafted for Tizira’s first fusion powered voidcraft. Massive compared to previous designs, the prototypes would be bulk carriers capable of interstellar travel and colonization. Their construction was piecemeal. Each component needing to be carefully manufactured in existing workshops or cannibalized from older systems already in-situ, then lifted into place on skeletal gantries grafted onto the by now aging L1 hab.

2360 CE: Advent of FTL travel

This effort culminated in just a handful of makeshift voidcraft. Original designs had long since been abandoned, each craft being custom-made to the capabilities of available parts.

Much of the Tiziran public had resigned itself to a “wait and see” approach for the question of Atra’Kor. The promise of faster than light travel was not sufficient cause to desecrate the moon. The reality of it, however, may be enough to bring warring parties back to the negotiating table.

In the 2360’s, a deeply divided empire braced itself for theory to become reality.

Cultural extremes reach a point in which Takuhism and The Daysong Way lead to a dissonance in every facet of daily life. The logical extremes which caused, essentially, a drastic cultural split in three directions. A brief but violent insurrection sees the L1 Hab stormed and several irreplaceable voidships stolen. Tiziran society is shaken to its core by the simple fact that its first manned steps out of Atra’Asl’s embrace, were a mass exodus. Takuhists Extremists, being the premier class of scientists and leading academics, commandeered a deep range cryo vessel intended for an experimental colony mission. Frustration with imperial meddling, and old wounds left to fester among the ranks clan Siree’Tokna in particular left very little love to be lost for the Imperium among the most ardent devotees of Takuhism. They would see fit to strike out on their own. To break free of the coercive, irreverent modernism. And to return to the old symbiosis with the natural world and the spirits within. Atra’Kor was desecrated, and the Tiziran people were lost as a result. The exodus of the Takuhist clans, and their parting gift of torching Zag’Skol’s grand library on their way out, plunged the Kasani Imperium into a technological dark age. The exodite clans, under the watchful eye of an advanced AI custodian developed in secret to shepard the sleeping lizards to their destination, would set off on a decades long journey across the Orion Spur.

The Daysong Way’s extremists brought their focus of “For the Whole” to an alarming conclusion. Extremists began to believe in a god known only as “The Mother”, one who taught the teachings of unity, self-sacrifice, and ‘To be separate is to fall from the light. To flee is to be treasonous. All are one beneath the arms of The Mother, for her grasping hands reach out to hold all her children.. And her tendrils lash at those who seek to break this unity”. Using stolen ships, they set out to form their own colonies after ostracization from the third group, known as: The Krek’Taluna; The Tidal Way.

The Krek’Taluna became what is known now as modern Tizirans, the people of both sides who saw lunacy in the actions of the extremists, and sought to bring about a unity they once lost. Taking upon themselves the goals and dreams of the founding principles of each ideology, they sought to find an ebb and flow balance to both themselves, and to the universe at large. To give and to take, to help and to hurt, to speak, and to listen. The twin sides of the tides; rise and fall, and the striving to be as fluid as the waves which course the great fog seas of their homeworld.

Post Split Tizirans

The dominant Kasani Imperium does not survive the ultra-partisan turmoil of the exodus, at least not in its entirety. Panicking elites and the extensive bureaucracy of planetary administration were paralyzed in the face of the unfolding disaster. Regional governments, particularly prominent city states, filled the power vacuum in restoring function to Tiziran society.

The floundering upper echelons of Tiziran administration were usurped in their authority by ad-hoc agreements of mutual aid made between city states. A strong secessionist movement would see impromptu arrangements codified into the nascent Talunan Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth gains the support of Imperial Authority. The bi-partisan Council of Ways is replaced with an oligarchic council of leaders from member city states, headed by the Imperial throne. The arrangement is notable smaller, and more centralized than the previous Kasani administration. Democratic representation persists within member states, but planetary decision making rests solely in the hands of the oligarchs and the throne.

A lengthy state of emergency is declared within the imperium. The Commonwealth remains only partially recognized, by splinter factions and Kasani loyalists. A state of balkanization marks the official end of Kasani rule, and Tizira is witness to large scale armed conflict for the first time in over a century.

The sister colonies of Atra’Mala and Atra’Chek are left to their own devices. While nominally self sufficient by the time of the collapse, they were still dependent on Tizira for complex machinery, components, and administration. While that lifeline did not entirely vanish, it did slow to a trickle. The colonies developed capacity for self governance and, out of necessity, heavy industry on the surface of Atra’Kor. Notably, no additional colonies would be founded during this period.

This period of transitory collapse would last several decades, although it was not a consistent affair. With the exception of the chaos of the early days, true conflict took the form of short but intense flare ups over the proceeding years. As the dust began to settle, a dominant Talunan Commonwealth would look once more to the stars.

Taking the joint administration of Atra’kor into the fold with a seat in the council, the Talunans set about the laborious process of recovering knowledge lost in the chaos of the preceding decades. FTL capability disappeared with the scientists that pioneered it, and the radicals that destroyed or stole what was left. It would be roughly 60 years until lizards would once again breach the veil into bluespace.

In the interim, sub-ftl colonization efforts within Atra’Asl flourish. The Commonwealth’s most enduring contribution to history being extensive constellations of orbital habitats around Tizira and Atra’Kor. Terraforming remains firmly outside of Tizira’s capabilities during this period of intra-system expansion. Settlements built underground, under protective domes, or fabricated in bustling tiziran dockyards and towed into orbit dot the system. Progress is slow, but methodical and extremely dense.

By 2440 CE, faster than light probes breach the veil into bluespace once again. Atra’Asl is heavily colonized, the number of Tizirans living in space is on course to match those living on Tizira herself in a few years time. The Talunan Commonwealth has been reorganized into a partially supernational organization. While retaining direct administration of Tizira and Atra’Kor, the governing body of the Commonwealth shifts scope to include the myriad orbitals, colonies, and nomadic clans that now inhabit Atra’Asl. The council of Oligarchs is split into high and low houses, something akin to the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. Tizira, Atra’Asl, the Hab Constellations, and several larger colonies and independent stations hold seats in the high council, which remains headed by the throne.

Once again looking to the stars, a question arises among the Tiziran populace. The exodites should have landed at their destinations decades ago, why do they remain silent? Listening posts and telescopes nestled in the distant reaches of Atra’Asl all bear the same message: silence. Whatever became of the exodites, they have effectively gone dark.

Curiosity ferments to anxiety, and a new directive is developed. The Tizirans of the Commonwealth will find their wayward kin, and bring them back into the fold.

The endeavor would take over a decade in planning, organization, and construction. A self sufficient Expeditionary Corps. Crewed with the best Tizira had to offer, and equipped to handle whatever they might encounter in the black. While the general populace of the Commonwealth would set their sights on colonization of local star systems, the Expeditionary Corps would strike deep into the void with the singular mission of following the breadcrumbs left behind over a century ago.

The Terran Conflict

The Expeditionary Corps follows the trail of the Daysong exodites. They find the stripped remains of a colony ship, records of a descent into madness and the hands of an alien psychic influence, and the mummified remains of those lost on the voyage.

Needless to say they’re on edge when first contact with a small human colony is made in the late 2469. The appearance of such a variety of species (humans, genemodders, and moths), with such homogenization of culture and language is horrifying to behold for the expedition. The collection in front of them would appear to be the work of whatever malevolent hive mind subsumed their wayward kin. Worse still, it appears to be rapidly expanding in the direction of Tizira.

Firing off a desperate message to home with all that they’ve learned until this point, the expedition re-tasks itself to buying time for Tizira to prepare itself to fight for its very survival. Human colonies begin to go dark in the Sagittarian Triumvirate, SolFed’s southernmost member state.

After nearly a year of back and forth, SolFed finally heeds the pleas for assistance against an unknown enemy that is evidently hellbent on wiping the Sagittarians off the map. A delegation is sent under escort on a fact finding mission.

The Aggressive Conflict

2470-2472

Circa 2470, the delegation is ambushed, but manages a fighting withdrawal. Urgent messages are sent to Terra: the reported aliens are organized, indiscriminate, and refuse any and all attempts at negotiation. Images of colonists massacred by alien invaders are plastered on screens across the Federation.

SolFed does not mobilize at a federal level to counter the threat. It does, however, step up material, financial, and intelligence aid to member states on it’s southern border.

The bulk of the fighting has been within the territory of the Sagittarius Triumvirate, a union of three territorial powers on SolFed’s southern frontier. They have already mobilized their reserves, and have enacted emergency measures such as the militarization of civilian infrastructure and conscription. Other member states pledge support as news of the massacres spread. Some send vessels and troops, most send material or civilian aid packages.

The Expeditionary Corps hold a distinct advantage in the fighting, and make use of the strike and fade tactics that would become a staple of Tiziran doctrine in the years to come. The lizards take care to preserve vital ordnance supplies. Boarding actions and in-person assaults on soft targets are common. Tiziran marines gain a reputation for brutality in hand to hand combat, preferring to save ammunition for larger threats.

2472-2474

Two years into the fighting, the war machine of the Triumvirate finally gets up to speed. New models of combat robots allow for flesh and blood troops to be pulled off of garrisons and reconstituted into offensive units. The newfound combat power allows the Sagittarians to go on the offensive, and the Tizirans begin to lose ground. The expeditionary corps are pushed to the borders of the Triumvirate.

On Tizira, the lizards scramble to prepare their worlds for the oncoming apocalypse. Bids for emergency powers to prioritize the defense of Atra’Asl over the Commonwealth’s nascent colonies are bitterly resisted. The current presiding Empress exercises her authority to cut through the bickering, and mandates a defense in depth.

Civilian life is quickly militarized in the Commonwealth. Harsh austerity measures are enforced to free up production from all but the barest necessities to support the defense effort. The tiziran military’s ranks swell with poorly equipped conscripts, who are quickly set to work fortifying their areas of responsibility. Outward expansion grinds to a halt, planned retrofits for aging orbital habitats are postponed to make way for a shipbuilding rush.

2474-2476

The void war grinds its way through the uninhabited space between the Triumvirate and the Commonwealth. Any hopes the battle hardened, but depleted, expedition once had of halting human expansion have long since been put to rest. Tiziran involvement in the war is relegated to a delaying action, seeking to buy time for the homeworld to prepare for the inevitable war.

The pace of conflict sees a lull during this phase. Support, particularly federal support, for the Triumvirate wanes now that the invaders have been pushed out of human space. While the war fades from the headlines in the core worlds, humans on the frontier still bent on fighting it to its conclusion begin to adopt more controversial tactics to stretch their constrained combat power.

2476-2478

Fighting reaches Tiziran systems.

The Expeditionary Corps attempts to lead conventional engagements against Triumvirate fleets, with disastrous results. The Tiziran void fleets, inferior in tonnage to begin with, are quickly relegated to harassment. The expeditionary corps takes on fresh supplies, vessels, and crew in an emergency refit. Then plots a circuitous route back towards no-mans land. They will spend the remainder of the war preying on supply convoys, and smaller combat fleets.

Tiziran colonies are quickly isolated from one another. This was expected in the Commonwealth’s defense planning. Colonies have been retrofitted for self sufficiency, and redundancy in command. The war takes on a fragmented nature, fronts are split between each contested world, station, and system. The strategy of the Commonwealth is to maximize casualties on the ground, project power into space using disposable bluespace snares and surface-to-orbit fires, and bleed enemy supply lines.

What concern for collateral damage that remained by this point is ground away. Mass mobilization, ambushes, and suicidal martyrdom tactics on the part of the Tizirans erase the line between combatant and non-combatant. Triumvirate forces adopt an attritional doctrine. Pulling human soldiers out of assault forces in favor of saturation bombardments followed by spearheads of combat synths. The doctrine is effective, albeit at the cost of millions of civilian lives and the devastation of each Tiziran world subject to that style of fighting.

2480

War reporters are granted access to the front. Support for the Triumverate’s offensive plummets as images of utterly devastated Tiziran planets are broadcast through human space. Rumors begin to circulate through the Federal Assembly of plans for an armistice vote.

Fighting has ground its way to the Tiziran homeworld. The Triumvirate keeps its distance from the orbitals dotting Atra’Asl, the Tizirans have made a habit of overloading reactors when stations are at risk of being lost. The centuries-old Atra’Malan laser array is destroyed in the opening salvos of orbital combat above Tizira. The colony below is seized and repurposed as a forward operating base.

The Death of Atra’Kor

Tizira has become a fortress world. The ranks of her defenders have swelled with embittered refugees from the battered remains of the commonwealth.

Humans occupying Atra’Mala are surprised at the distinct lack of ordnance being thrown their way from the surface. Their fleets had been subject to withering fire at every other opportunity. They soon realize that the defenders below are refusing to fire on the moon. A plan is quickly improvised to force a surrender by holding Atra’Kor hostage. Bluespace miners aboard engineering vessels in the fleet are tasked with excavating a cavity deep within Atra’Kor. Warheads are packed into the space via short range teleportation, and negotiations are opened with the planet below. Unilateral demands are issued under threat of cracking the moon.

Pods filled with veteran cataphracts are launched on a one way mission to liberate Atra’Mala and safeguard the moon. The human garrison in Atra’Mala is butchered. The packed fusion warheads deep within Atra’Kor are detonated.

Nearly a fifth of Atra’Kor’s mass is ejected into orbit. Shockwaves ripple through her crust, kickstarting violent quakes that shed additional mass and force the evacuation of Atra’Chek.

The Sagittarian fleet, which at up until this point been sheltering from Tizira’s defenses behind Atra’Kor, is forced out of position under a hail of ejecta from the moon below. They are met with savage fire from the defenders below, who have abandoned any pretense of rationing ammunition in favor of tearing apart any human vessel they could get their sights on.

Human vessels armed for siege warfare lock themselves in an apocalyptic exchange with the planet’s defenders as the remaining fleet beats a hasty retreat out of range. In spite of the covering fire, the Tizirans exact a heavy toll on the fleeing ships. Gravity drags the burning hulks of stricken human vessels down to Tizira’s surface. The cradle of lizard-kind is engulfed in the armageddon they had fought so hard to keep at bay.

Armistice and the Sagittarius Accords

News of the shattering of Atra’Kor and the subsequent firestorm quickly filters back to Terra. An emergency session of the Federal Assembly is called, it features a snap vote on a ceasefire and the opening of peace negotiations with the Tizirans. The measure passes, if only by a slim majority, and a nearby mothic fleet is vectored to Atra’Asl to communicate and enforce the ceasefire.

Communication with the surface of Tizira is hard won due in no small part to the defenders firing at anything that moved within range, including mothic vessels sent to shepard the Sagittarians out of Tizira’s orbit. A signal does eventually get through, and after the moths explain that they’re not with the Sagittarians and are in orbit to enforce a ceasefire, the defenders finally agree to stand down

The Tizirans agree to participate in peace negotiations, but flatly refuse to send a delegation to Terra to negotiate in-person with the humans. Ambassadors from the mothic fleet in orbit over Tizira are sent in their stead to act as messengers for the lizards.

While both belligerents were granted a seat at the table, negotiations were dominated by larger political cliques, who had up until that point been largely un-involved in the fighting. Mothic representatives performed admirably, translating venomous promises of continued genocidal violence should the fighting continue into impassioned entreaties to humanity’s ideals of peaceful cohabitation and the right to life of all sapients. The Triumvirate’s delegation pushed for what was in-effect the permanent nullification of Tiziran statehood, but they were drowned out by cliques who had pushed the ceasefire vote.

The agreement that would later be known as the first article of the Sagittarius Accords spelled out two major conditions for peace. Firstly, a roughly 30 lightyear wide DMZ was established in an arc closely hugging Atra’Asl and her local stellar clusters’ northwestern border. Secondly, reparations by way of steep tariffs placed on all international trade conducted by the Tizirans were established. Any goods heading into or coming out of Tiziran space are subject to taxation and reporting by SolFed. Selective exemptions and discounts allow SolFed to indirectly guide the reconstruction of the Tiziran economy.

The agreement was signed on 8 September, 2480. Although it is not an occasion celebrated outside of SolFed’s core polities. Tizirans mark their remembrance of the war on the lunar new year’s Festival of Atra’Kor, which has taken on a much more complicated emotional reputation in a post-war Tizira.

No formal diplomatic lines are established between SolFed and the Tizirans beyond that needed to maintain the DMZ. The Triumvirate are, needless to say, furious with the development. Secessionist sentiment flourishes in SolFed’s southern territory in response to what is regarded as a cop-out at best and a flagrant betrayal at worst.

Over the course of the next two decades, additional articles would be appended to the armistice. They would detail, very broadly, the laws of war for an interstellar age. By the turn of the 26th century, the Sagittarius Accords as a governing document were ratified by the Federal Assembly. Abiding by the tenets laid out in the accords is a requirement for any prospective member state.

Post-War Collapse and Reconstruction

The Second Imperium

Prior to / during the Terran Conflict, the Commonwealth was marked by a high degree of centralization and social control. At the conflict's climax, the shattering of Atra’Kor, that centralized power structure was effectively beheaded. From the Commonwealth’s ashes rose the Talunan Imperium, which continues its reign to this day.

In the absence of any source of coercive authority, scattered communities were forced to self organize and reconstitute of their own accord. Ad hoc arrangements piggyback off of local military structures in the form of de facto martial law. And in areas where the military was absent, networks of mutual aid amongst individuals and communities fill the gap and are cemented over time.

The dramatic shift to a decentralized power structure was codified in the development of The Wards. Regional governing bodies akin to states or the municipal authorities of large urban centers. Self governing to an extent, wards are enmeshed with one another through complex agreements of mutual aid. Each ward is responsible for the maintenance of its own day to day affairs, and each contributes to the collective defense by way of a tithe of recruits and material.

Faced with an existential crisis at the mounting trauma of a genocidal war and the shattering of their most sacred site, Tizirans fell upon the familiar and the stable. Imperial authority, sidelined by democratic ideals for centuries, returned to the fore as a torch by which to rally and regroup a broken Tiziran culture.

Holders of the throne would retain their age-old rites of succession. Power is held until abdicated to a personally appointed successor. Speakers of the Throne acquiesce any connection to their previous lives or identities upon taking up the mantle, and are legally considered deceased. Donning the anonymizing visage mask of the Throne and abandoning their name staves off most attempts at coercion or corruption of the position (The Cataphracts handle the rest). After abdication, Speakers will typically adopt a solitary and nomadic life. They are forbidden from resuming their old identities in any way; claiming to be a current or former Speaker is punishable by death in the Imperium.

Relations with the Teshari

Beyond the Tiziran’s southern border lay the homeworlds of the only neighbor that, to date, has not tried to kill them: The Teshari. Contact was made with the sociable raptors at roughly the same time as first contact with humanity.

Attempts by the Teshari to interact with, and form enclaves within, Tiziran space were soundly rejected. As far as the lizards were concerned, the raptors tapping on the screen door behind their stellar home were a nuisance but ultimately harmless. Safe to ignore in favor of more pressing concerns.

As the war dragged on and the death toll climbed, resources were diverted away from the southern border to the front. Tizira’s southern flank became comparatively porous, and teshari explorers were quick to exploit the gaps.

The raptors garnered a pleasant, if comparatively distant, reputation with the Tizirans. While they stayed well clear of any active combat zones, many refugees and life-pod borne survivors would find safe haven with teshari vessels poking around the aftermath of battles.

By the war’s end, Tiziran space was in drastic disrepair. Nearly a full generation had been lost to the fighting. Critical infrastructure was obliterated during the apocalyptic violence that so characterized the latter years of the conflict, and most colonies faced some degree of acute famine.

Without anyone to say “no” the Teshari were quick to establish enclaves throughout Tiziran space. The raptors’ compatible diet, sociable demeanor, and uncanny knack for self-organization quickly put to rest any paranoia felt by the battered Tiziran populations about their new neighbors. Providing desperately needed aid, the Teshari quickly enmeshed themselves in the social fabric of their adoptive home.

To date the Talunan Imperium maintains a distinctly xenophobic attitude towards aliens, with the singular and notable exception of the Teshari Confederations.

The Talunan Imperium

Flag of the Talunan Imperium, as illustrated by MoroMoro..

Locations

In the aftermath of the Terran War, Talunan flagged Tiziran settlements have been barred behind the DMZ. All current settlements for the Talunans lay within the Sagittarius Transit to the galactic South East of Sol.

If you would like to contribute your own locations to the wiki, please follow the below template to make sure the layout is consistent! Additionally, bear in mind that the current major migrations for Tizirans are repatriating refugees that had fled to Tizira during the Terran War. New colonies are not high on the priority list, and would not have populations beyond 10^6 (measured in the millions). Repopulated colonies would max out close to 10^7 or 10^8 (measured in the tens or hundreds of millions). Orbital habitats would support populations equivalent to a town. You won’t see populations beyond 10^3 or 10^4 (measured in the thousands or tens of thousands) on an orbital hab.

Name

Parent Star: [text]

Population: [text]

Type: [text]

Description: [text]

Satellites:[text]

Tizira

Parent Star: Atra’Asl

Population: 10^9, The population of Tizira is measured in the billions.

Type: Arid Aquifer World

The homeworld of lizardfolk across the sector. Unathi and Ashwalkers may trace their roots back to Tizira’s hearths.

Surface water is limited to a small number of lagoons fed by geothermal springs. The majority of the planets water is subterranean, contained within extensive caves systems reaching miles below desert surface. The caves hold the vast majority of Tizira’s biodiversity, and the deepest reaches of them have yet to be fully explored.

The most striking surface feature of Tizira is its nocturnal fog seas. As cold night-time desert winds stream over the heated lagoons dotting Tizira’s surface, fog blooms into seas which can span miles as vapor from multiple lagoons pools together. The fog tides feed entire ecological niches, including the Tizirans themselves. Rich bioluminescent algae and flowers spring to life in the mist.

Much of Tizira remains unpopulated. The billions of souls (a figure that has been swollen by refugees from the Terran War) that call her home are either concentrated into ultra-dense urban centers, or roam the sands in nomadic tradition predating recorded Tiziran history.

The loss of Tizira’s moon, Atra’Kor, and the ensuing destruction in the climax of the Terran War have left Tizira scarred and the fragile tidal ecosystems in tatters. Efforts to preserve the now critically endangered biosphere are ongoing.

Satellites

Atra’Kor: Tizira’s only moon, and an integrally important figure in Talunan culture and religious practice. The colonization of Atra’Kor in the waning years of the 21st century, sowed the discord that would result in the great exodus in which the progenitors of Unathi and Ashwalker would strike out from lizard kind’s home in search of a better life. Once hosting a pair of colonies and extensive orbital infrastructure, the foundation of Tiziran space exploration was cracked in the climax of the Terran War. One colony, Atra’Mala, was gouged from Atra’Kor’s surface along with around a fifth of it’s total mass. Her surviving sister colony, Atra’Chek, was evacuated in the ensuing chaos. Efforts to understand and perhaps stem the steady disintegration of Atra’Kor are ongoing, although most contemporary understanding points towards Tizira being wreathed in rings in a few centuries time.

Tziet’zi Orbital: An archetypical example of the orbital habitats that have become a trademark of Talunan space. Tziet’zi was an old station even by the outbreak of the Terran war. She was lucky enough to have been retrofitted with a shield projector during the period of rapid mobilization prior to fighting reaching Tiziran space. She was luckier still to have been on the far side of Tizira during the shattering of Atra’Kor. The envelope of her shields provided safe haven for swathes of Tizirans fleeing the carnage taking place in orbit. Age and overpopulation have left the station in a state of constant disrepair. For better or worse, the population is declining aboard the orbital as families are repatriated to other worlds, or seek better opportunities elsewhere in the Imperium.

Tiziran Lizards

Health & Physiology

• Tizirans are cold-blooded, bipedal lizard folk.
• Their frills are an important part of their thermoregulation, and are very vascular. A lizard’s frills will flush red when they’re trying to warm up or cool off, often by way of twitching or fanning their frills. Injuries and cuts to frills are often quite painful and dramatic to see, but are rarely life threatening as they contain no major blood vessels.
• Newly hatched Tizirans are almost entirely carnivorous, their diet will become more diversified during their transition into adulthood. An unadorned steak is tantamount to baby food for your average Tiziran.

With the exception of females being on average larger than males, Tiziran lizards exhibit notably little outward sexual dimorphism.

Social Quirks

• Talunan culture is marked by notable collectivism. Community is at the center of everyday life, and settlements are generally very densely populated. There is very little expectation of privacy for your average Talunan lizard.
• Body paint and tattoos are a common means of self expression among Tizirans. Although the practice stems from ancient and closely held religious practices, many of which persist to this day, the art of body painting has taken on a uniquely expressive culture among contemporary Tizirans. Vibrant displays of luminescent color are a common sight in Talunan nightlife.
• Cosmetic genemods and cybernetics are generally frowned upon. But paints, tattoos, piercings, and other body mods are accepted and casually practiced.
• Talunan lizards are typically amicable to wanderers and other travelers. Provided the individuals in question are lizard-folk: food, shelter, and good company are expected to be offered to them. Nameless wanderers might just be former Speakers of the Throne, after all.

Social Organization

Governance

Talunan governance could be best described as Collective Authoritarianism. There are two tiers of power (two and a half if you’re feeling particularly pedantic). The Imperial Throne sits at the top, and holds an overriding say on any and all matters within the Imperium. Underneath the throne, the bulk of day to day governance is handled by the Wards. The Wards are analogous to self-governing neighborhoods. With populations rarely rising above a couple thousand members in a given ward, they are typically organized in a web of tightnit cooperation with their neighbors. A village or orbital may be governed by a single Ward, while a swathe of dense urban sprawl would more likely be a collection of tightly interwoven Wards.

While the Throne has de-jure power to assume direct management of any Ward under its auspices, in practice the focus of the Throne is typically on managing the affairs of the Imperium as a whole rather than its component parts. Foreign relations, multi-jurisdictional organizations such as the Ranger Corps, and the standardization of legal codes fall within the purview of the Throne.

Law and Justice

The organization of the Talunan Wards boasts an impressive social safety net for the average Tiziran. Great effort is put into preventing the root causes of crime. Transgressions that do occur, however, are punished quite severely by modern standards. If a crime is deemed to have been committed out of greed or simple malice, as opposed to a failure of the Wards to care for their own, corporal punishment up to and including the death penalty is not uncommon to see as a result.

Compulsory Service Period

Tizirans make no distinction between civil and military service. While they are typically viewed by outsiders as living under a military government, it would be just as accurate to describe their administration as lacking a dedicated military almost altogether.

All Tizirans undertake a 5 year civil service period when they turn 16. The service period is typically considered to be akin to a secondary or trades education. While the service period is mandatory, there remains some flexibility in the specific organization young Tizirans choose to dedicate themselves to. Open positions and personal aptitude permitting, of course.

While there are a myriad of offices, administrations, and units one could find themselves serving with; there are a few comparatively visible organizations that tend garner more attention:

Sapper Corps

Trim: Orange

Charter: Build and maintain critical infrastructure, oversee salvage efforts.

The Sapper Corps began life as an army corps of engineers. Their initial tasks of digging earthworks and overcoming obstacles ballooned in the post-war empire. Military units worked alongside civilian engineers and tradesmen to clear rubble, aid in rescue and recovery operations, and restore critical infrastructure systems.

Military and civilian applications merged as ad hoc task organization was later codified. The sappers’ focus has been almost squarely on the monumental task of clearing Tizira’s orbit of debris. They field the largest unarmed void fleet in Tiziran space, and dominate the Imperium’s extensive salvage industry.

Warden Cadre

Trim: Brown, subunit specific stripe.

Charter: Provide for peacekeeping, fire suppression, rescue, first aid, and public works operations.

The warden cadres are by far the largest branch of service by membership in the Imperium. Formed during the disastrous climax of the terran war, the wardens were and to a degree still are ad hoc organizations. Wardens are an umbrella group comprising what would be conventionally considered civilian emergency services.

Prior to codification, cadres sprang up at the local level. Some cadres were groups of immediate disaster survivors, mixes of soldiers, first responders, and everyday citizens working together to extinguish fires, dig other survivors out of rubble, and provide for basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter. Networks of mutual aid among survivors would grow and intertwine with one another into new grassroots communities.

In either case, warden cadres remain a steadfastly local affair. Adopting a variety of uniforms, equipment, operational styles, and internal organizations; the only unifying feature of the cadres are the distinctive brown handkerchiefs worn around the neck or tied around the arm of each warden. Additional patches, ribbons, or shoulder tabs will typically be used to denote specializations within a given cadre. (e.g. Medical services, fire fighting, etc.)

Cadres operating on the Imperium’s numerous orbital habitats hold a shared jurisdiction with the Ranger Corps. While orbital-bound wardens fall under the command authority of the orbital’s cadre, they are trained, equipped, and held to the standards of the Rangers.

Royal Cataphracts

Trim: Gold

Charter: Protect the throne, Tizira, and the remains of Atra’Kor. De facto shock troops tailored for urban, subterranean, and void warfare.

The contemporary incarnation of the royal guard was baptized in the hell that was the latter years of the Terran war.

The imperial military was, and still is, largely a conscript force. Conscripts have their advantages. Vicious hand to hand combat in the maze-like corridors and tunnels of Tiziran cities against combat synthetics, is not one of them. Desperate for an answer to the armored robots, the Tizirans turned to some of their few truly professional soldiers.

The royal cataphracts were the first, and to date only, unit to be outfitted entirely with combat hardsuits. They earned a bloodsoaked reputation at odds with their polished ancestry. This was a trend that was not helped by the practice of replacing wartime losses with the then Commonwealth’s best gladiators. Cataphracts are outfitted for breaching and close quarters melees. Heavy shields, hammers, pile bunkers, and cutting torches are favored among their ranks. The use of stimulants and other combat drugs is common, although officially denied.

Modern Cataphractii stand at legion strength, precisely 1000 members. New members are only inducted to replace losses, and rarely, retirements. That said, the legion does maintain a sizable contingent of auxiliaries and support staff. The Royal Cataphracts are not an option for new conscripts to join of their own accord. Promising candidates are hand picked by the legion for the trials needed to join the auxiliaries.

Expeditionary Corps

Trim: White

Charter: Provide for safe passage for Tizirans through alien space. Achieve objectives for the Imperium on the far side of the DMZ.

The modern Expeditionary Corps traces their lineage directly back to the original deep range expedition formed in the aftermath of the exodus.

The corps was instrumental in the wake of the Terran war. Returning to find their home in ruins after news of the armistice spread out into what is today the DMZ, the expeditionary corps held the bulk of serviceable hulls and experienced crews in service to the then Commonwealth. They would earn their honors ferrying supplies and survivors throughout the shattered commonwealth. Ships of the corps, equipped with some of the few surviving military grade shields, were capable of penetrating the debris shrouding Tizira. Their efforts are credited with averting catastrophic famine on the Tiziran homeworld.

The contemporary corps holds a split legal identity. Talunan flagged vessels stand vigil over the homeworld. While Teshari flagged vessels serviced by mixed crews are able cross through the DMZ to perform missions for the Imperium in and beyond human space. These hybrid vessels constitute the only Talunan presence on the frontier.

Imperial Ranger Corps

Trim: Grey

Charter: Patrol and regulate transit through the Imperium’s territorial space, joint custody of orbital habitats with Warden Cadres.

The Ranger Corps trace their lineage and traditions to the frontier scouts of pre-FTL Tizira. They may have traded their sand-skimmers for voidcraft, but their charter of protecting the homeland, patrolling remote frontiers, and aiding travelers remains unchanged.

While the rangers tend to be a catch-all for all things voidcraft in the Imperium, they have two major areas of interest: Patrolling and enforcing the DMZ with SolFed, and providing emergency and other public services to the Imperiums extensive orbital habitats in conjunction with the Wardens.

Cadres aboard orbitals are comprised of rangers, which are trained and equipped to ranger standards to comfortably handle void operations, that have been reorganized into smaller cadres to meet local needs.

The DMZ hosts the bulk of what might be considered the conventional Talunan void fleet. An emphasis has been placed on smaller frigate sized vessels, and it’s a rarity to find anything larger than a cruiser in Talunan service. In the DMZ in particular, Rangers have a less than amicable reputation among aliens. Patience for trespassing is next to non-existent, and the first (and only) warning one might have of their transgression will be warning shots fired across their bow.

Foreign Relations & Presence on the Frontier

Foreign Relations

The Imperium is abutted by three notable neighbors: The Teshari homeworlds to the South, the Sol Federation to the North beyond the DMZ, and the Tajaran Infinite Empire to the distant West. Of the three, only the Teshari have anything approximating a positive relationship with the Talunans. With the exceptions of active skirmishes and animosity towards the Sol Federation, and the cohabitating friendship enjoyed with the Teshari, the Talunan Imperium generally keeps aliens at a neutral arm’s-length. Diplomatic contact is typically limited to the establishment of a line of communication and little else. Proactive diplomacy through trade agreements, pacts, and embassies are reserved for the Teshari Confederations.

Summaries of Talunan dispositions towards other species are listed below:

• Humans: In spite of the armistice and the establishment of the DMZ, there is no love lost between the Talunans and Humanity. The animosity is as mutual as it is intense with SolFed’s southernmost polity which directly borders the DMZ, the Sagittarian Triumvirate. A travel advisory is in-place warning SolFed citizens, particularly humans, against attempting to enter or otherwise visit Talunan space. For SolFed citizens in the more central and norther polities, the Terran War is regarded as a historical event rather than a lived contemporary reality. Hatred towards Tizirans is notably absent outside of the Triumvirate. It can be an eye opening, if uncomfortable, cultural exchange for Tizirans accompanying the Expeditionary Corps to the far side of the DMZ.
• Moths: The Mothic Fleet enjoys a special place in SolFed in the eyes of the Talunans. For their admirable role in negotiating and enforcing the armistice and the Sagittarius Accords, moths are generally regarded as the “best face in a bad crowd” with respect to their membership in SolFed. The disposition of Talunans towards them would best be described as “cordial”, but falls short of outright amicable.
• Tajarans: Most of the Imperium’s experience with Tajarans has filtered through their Teshari counterparts. While Tajarans themselves aren’t viewed with any skepticism beyond that normally attributed to aliens, the Infinite Empire is treated with some apprehension. Barring a re-ignition of hostilities with SolFed, a centuries old invasion from the Tajarans has emerged as the next highest security priority for the Imperium. Waves of cryo-preserved invaders have yet to begin lapping at Tizira’s shores, but the Talunans remain weary that they may yet be on their way. The Infinite Empire does present an opportunity however: Crossing the Sagittarian gulf through a lengthy detour through Tajaran space would present the only practicable means of circumventing the DMZ for Talunan voidcraft.
• Teshari: Holding the unique honor of “the only neighbor that hasn’t tried to kill us yet”, the children of Sirisai hold a special place in Talunan society. Teshari enclaves can be found in or near most every Tiziran population center, and the two nations enjoy open borders and rich cultural exchange. Tiziran and Teshari food has enjoyed a high degree of crossover, dishes and ingredients are shared and cultivated by both peoples. Talunan dialects of Draconic share a number of loan words with Schechi.

Presence On The Frontier

Talunan flagged vessels are prohibited from crossing the DMZ per the Sagittarius Accords, which brought an end to the Terran War. As a result, there is no official Talunan presence North of their border with SolFed. Unofficially the joint Tiziro-Teshari arm of the Expeditionary Corps acts to fulfill Talunan objectives in and beyond human space.

Having taken up their original charter of making contact with their wayward kin which where lost in the great exodus following Tizira’s first foray into FTL travel, the Expeditionary Corps is once again chasing leads on the Ashwalkers and Unathi. Reports of neolithic reptiles living on the magma world of Indecipheres has piqued the interest of the Expedition, which has set about establishing a presence on the frontier to investigate the matter.

Apart from their archeological mission, the Corps is also called upon from time to time to transport or otherwise protect Talunan citizens living outside of the Imperium. Deniable operations to safeguard or extricate Tizirans in what is considered at home to be hostile space are not uncommon.

Work in Progress: Footer subject to change at a moment's notice. Do not take a red link's presence, struck-through or otherwise, as confirmation (or denial) of their canonicity.

Nova Sector Lore
	Common Species	Humans, Tiziran, Unathi, Moths, Ethereals, Azulae, Slime Hybrids, Teshari, Synthetic Humanoids (and assorted robots), Pod Persons
	Other Species	Genemodders (Felinids, Ice Walkers, Dwarf), Ashwalkers, Hemophages, Snailpersons, Ordoht (Formerly Skrell), Plasmamen, Flypeople, Vox (Primalis et al), Tajaran, Vulpkanin, Xenomorphic Hybrid, Rouges (Abductorkin), Miscellaneous Species
	Nanotrasen	Nanotrasen, Central Command, Emergency Response Corps
	External Groups	The Syndicate, Interdyne Pharmaceutics, DS-2, Cargo, The Spider Clan
	Nova	The Nova Sector, Indecipheres, Freyja
	Concepts	Bluespace, Plasma, Faster Than Light Travel, Resonance ("Souls"), Death
	SolFed	SolFed, Earth in 2565, The SolFed Armed Forces, The SolFed International Capital District