The Exodus Wars universe is set in the distant future.

The feudal Royal Empire of Man, formed long ago as humanity spread far and wide among the stars, is collapsing in upon itself.

The Royal Empire once had a worthy goal—to see humans achieve Ascendence unto godhood. This goal became known as the Cause.

The Cause once had such momentum that it saw humanity spread throughout the galaxy; however, the good will in the human populace built by the once-noble Cause has been squandered thanks to the aristocracy's greed and over-taxation.

The merchant class and those of a capitalist bent secede with the planetary systems of the 13th Kingdom, and so the Guild is founded as an independent state.

Such secessions represent the greatest threat to an empire, and so the Royal Empire of Man cracked down on the secessionists of the Guild, starting a civil war that would define this period in history.

This period—the Royal Empire’s last gasps as it desperately tries to hold itself together—is known as the Exodus Wars.

The Royal Empire of Man vs the Guild
The Royal Empire, for all its vast industry and near-unlimited supply of soliders, is nonetheless hampered by the logistical requirements of interstellar warfare and finds itself unuable to bring its full force to bear.

Meanwhile, the far less numerous but more flexible and better equipped Guild armies are now brimming with well-trained veterans thanks to the significant survivability benefits afforded their troops by their better weaponry and high-tech armour.

Alien Races
The Exodus Wars universe also boasts a plethora of alien races, both those already released by Steel Crown Productions and those in development, adding even greater depth to the game's rich background.

I have posted the above background in a bid to stimulate some discussion here about the EW lore, and discover what aspects of this universe you find the most interesting and engaging.

For myself, I love the parallel with the American War of Independence, but what stories would you want to see unfold in the world of Exodus Wars? What areas do you want to see explored?

(I ask because, at some point, we'll be wanting to do a campaign—and it may just be your idea that we thieve to create that campaign. Fair warning.)

Wait, they want deification for all humans? or 'just' immortality or what? ultimate power for everybody seems a bit of an odd cause, wouldn't it just even out again?

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AFK with real life, still checking PMs

I'll let netepic field that one. It's his IP.

The Weber/White Starfire storyline "Insurrection" does a pretty interesting job paralleling the AWI.

http://www.amazon.com/Insurrection-Davi ... surrection

Some articles from July's upcoming newsletter.

The Royal Empire of Man Today

The Royal Empire of Man, commonly known as the Empire or the Royal Empire is a sovereign state close to the galactic fringe. The Empire shares stellar borders with the Khazari and the Guild.

The Royal Empire of Man is an Absolute Monarchy; it’s a developed nation and one of the known galaxies largest economies. In recent years, its economy has crumbled leading to significant hardships across the Empire. It was the foremost power in the galaxy until a series of border wars and insurrections, culminating in the Exodus Wars exhausted its economy and dramatically weakened it.

The Empire today is a shadow of its former self, but despite this, it still is a formidable power.

The History of the Royal Empire of Man

From the dawn of time mankind has been split into factions. Empires came and went, the Romans, the Macedonians and the British to name but a few. Despite the best efforts of warlords and great leaders, the nations of man have never fully united.

This all changed in the year 2251 when the Unification Wars set the galaxy on fire. The Terran nations fought for supremacy against each other in a bloody galactic war. Earth was rendered uninhabitable for over a century in the opening twenty four hours as fire swept the globe. Each Nation pitted the military might of their colonies against each other as alliances shifted and warfleets clashed in the stars.

After nearly thirty years of constant struggle the Zho rose to the forefront created unity for the human race, ruling as the dominant Kingdom.

The Zho titled the new empire the Royal Empire of Man with the original empires being given a devolved status within the Empire. Each of the Empires now rules semi-independently as a Kingdom whilst swearing fealty to the ruling monarch. The Kingdoms are tithed in both military and economic terms all contributing to the well being of the Empire as a whole.

The Zho also founded the Church of Man to provide spiritual guidance to the masses. Its doctrine eschews the religions of the past, declaring proudly that man alone and not some nameless, shapeless god is to inherit the galaxy. Together they have embarked on a quest known as the Cause which aspires to lead mankind to the next stage of its evolution. Its priests constantly strive to perfect themselves mentally and physically as paragons to the populace that they preach too.

The Empire existed in this form with the various Kingdoms waxing and waning in power. Despite this, it has remained a bulwark over the centuries, a haven for mankind against the predations of the surrounding alien species. This lasted until 2403 when the Exodus Wars occurred and once more humanity went to war against itself.

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Tom Webb
Author Page: http://www.newtonwebb.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/thewebb
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Ah, the Starfire books . I loved them

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Tom Webb
Author Page: http://www.newtonwebb.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/thewebb
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