Who is who in the Known Worlds.
A little about the game universe.
Handouts, rules and amendments unique to the campaign
Non-Player and Player characters of note.
The Story so far...
Out of Character resources
Fading Suns
For half a millenium, humanity has lived among the stars in darkness...Humans reached the stars long ago, building a republic of high technology and universal emancipation -- then they squandered it, fought over it, and finally lost it. A new Dark Age has descended upon humanity, for the greatest of civilizations has fallen, leaving ignorance and fear scattered among the ruins of many worlds. Now, even the stars are dying. Then, from the ashes of our ruin, Vladimir halted our decline. Proclaimed Emperor by popular decree, he united the Known Worlds of Human Space under his cunning and charismatic rule.
Vladimir created the great charter, declaring how the powers of rulership would be divided and how his successors would be elected. Five scepters for Mother Church, protector of our souls; five for the Merchant League, heralds of our past; and five for the Noble Houses, holders of our future. But each of these powers wished to rule in their own way, and schemed to gain complete power...at any price.
Vladimir's military might convinced the Noble Houses to concede his rule, for they could not stand in battle before this master tactician. The Merchant League, last remnants of the Second republic, made little pretense of their disdain for the charter of Vladimir. But they accepted his rule nonetheless, fearful of his popularity among the people.
The Patriarch of the Universal Church accepted Vladimir's rule on the condition that the Church present him the crown, thus ensuring its ritual role on approving all his succcessors. Vladimir's coronation as the first Emperor of the Known Worlds took place on Byzantium Secundus, which has been declared the Imperial Throne World.
In the year AD 4550 , Vladimir crowned himself with his own hands... ...and died an agonizing death at the hand of unknown powers. With Vladimir's death, his great union fell apart. Noble house turned on Noble house... ...igniting a war for the spoils of Vladimir's empire. The commonwealth of humanity was shattered, overcome by iron-fisted feudal lords. As the suns fade, so dies humanity's hope.
(From the Introductory video cutscene for the 'Emperor of the Fading Suns' computer game)
The video itself is out there on youtube somewhere - a copy with spanish subtitles is located here
The year is 4,998 and three centuries of unstable Regency and bloody Civil War have ended with the rise of a new Emperor, Alexius. Victorious in battle he has begun to forge a new Empire to bind the worlds of humanity together as Vladimir did before him. His Phoenix Knights travel through Known Space and beyond, seeking to bring fresh worlds into the Imperial fold whilst defending the still delicate new order against those who would see it fail...
Barbarian and alien invasions menace the borders of the Empire, internal factions threaten to reignite the Emperor Wars and there is the small matter of the Imperial Succession, for Alexius is yet to wed...
Amid the Fading Suns, a group of Phoenix Knights seek to hold back the darkness...
Fading Suns is a Roleplaying game set in a dark future ruled by great noble houses and a powerful church. It is a game that owes much to novels such as Dune for its' theme and has a strong medieval feel, despite the presence of SF staples such as aliens, lasers, spaceships and cybernetics. Those familiar with Games Workshop's 'Warhammer 40,000" universe will certainly find this a not disimilar environment.
The Campaign
Our story centers around a cohort of Questing Knights, sworn to the Emperor's service as they travel Known Space and beyond aboard their trusty starship 'Osprey'.They have discovered the existence of a cult of diabolists, a secret society pledged to demons and ancient mad gods, dedicated to bringing about an eternity of darkness...
The Cohort's path leads them beyond the border of the Empire, into the territory of other races and nations, seeking answers and the means to end the threat posed by the cult.
And all the while, the suns fade and the Millenium approaches...
Site last updated : Jan 25th 2006
Little old Disclaimer type thing : "Fading Suns," and the logo on this website are trademarked and copyrighted by Holistic Design, Inc and I am not challenging their copyright in any way. In fact... go and buy their games, they are great!