A Starseeker's Guide to the Silence

By Kia K’amray-sul

Hey Mickey here’s the first draft of my next book. Thank you so much for giving me another chance. I know my last book got you fired from Voltan but they’re a bunch of stuffy fools. Quick note I made a few last minute edits before sending it to you. Let me know what ya think.

-All the best, Kia

The Silence

“A scientific marvel discovered 4,048 years ago by researchers at the University of Gravwit. The Void has opened up many economic avenues and cultures to sell to. However it has also attracted many an outcast, renegade, and criminal to its astral shores. So please use caution.”- Voltan publishing’s ‘Intro to Astro-Economics for Grade 10’ one of the Republic’s most circulated textbooks.

A yawning black void that goes on for ever that holds untold worlds, unfathomable wonders, unknowable terrors and they want to tell you that it isn’t magical? I’m sorry darlin’ but if you’re gonna go out into the inky black nothing you need to know the basics.

• First off the Void wasn’t “discovered.” It was always there. Many other cultures and kingdoms had already worked out space travel at that point.
• Yeah its dangerous but that’s like half the fun. Space Pirates aren’t the worst thing out there either. Trust me.
• If you exit a ship or station to enter The Silence you need to know this

1. Sound does not exist. Hence the name.
2. As a result some times its difficult to cast spells. Well with out the proper equipment
3. You don’t walk. You float through molasses. You get a flying speed, albeit slowly.
4. Do you need to breath? If not you’ll be fine (maybe). If you do you will die once you run out of oxygen.

• If you see a floating coffin, wrapped in chains, and covered in glyphs leave it alone. There’s nothing good in there and somebody put it there for a reason. Have fun.
• Some smarty pants in The Exchange decided to classify planets based on tech and magic levels. Many governments have laws about interacting with lower tech worlds because “it allows them to develop naturally.” Don’t listen to those foogeys but plan your visit carefully. Dress appropriately. Don’t cause a big fuss. Being worshipped as a god can get quite tiresome, put a target on your back, and honestly is a little gauche.
• Best tacos in the Galaxy are at a little whole in the wall called Malos Vaqueros. It’s on a planet called Estrevi. They are currently going through their steam and cowboys phase. Play along!

Faith

Look this isn’t a comprehensive list. These are just the biggest and most common religions. Plus some ones I think are neat.

Deity	Alignment	Province and Patronage	Domains	Symbol
Asmodeus ”Lord of the Nine.”	LE	Indulgence, Ambition, Devils, Tieflings	Trickery, War	Three triangles in tight formation
Avandra “The Changebringer”	CG	Change, Freedom, Luck, Halflings	Nature, Trickery	Woman’s profile embossed on a gold coin or pendant
Bahamut ”The Platinum Dragon”	LG	Honor, Justice, Metallic Dragons	Life, Order, War	Silver dragon’s head in profile
Bane ”The Strife Emperor”	LE	Tyranny, Conquest	Forge, Order, War	Flail of chains, each ending in shackles
Corelleon ”The Arch Heart”	CG	Art, Beauty, Elves	Arcana, Light	Eight pointed star
Erathis “The Lawbearer”	LN	Civilization, Law, Constructs, Gnomes	Knowledge, Order, Forge	Upper half of a clockwork gear
Gruumsh “The Ruiner”	CE	Slaughter, Warfare, Orcs	Death, Tempest,War	Bleeding eye
Ioun “The Knowing Mentor”	N	Knowledge, Teachers, Sages	Knowledge, Arcana	Pair of open eyes crowned with a third open eye
Kord ”The Stormlord”	CN	Battle, Competition, Storms	Tempest,War	Sword crossed with lightning
Lolth ”The Spider Queen”	CE	Deceit, Spiders, The Drow	Knowledge, Trickery	Jeweled spider/ Eight pointed star with a web motif inside
Melora “The Wildmother”	N	The Wildlands	Nature, Life, Tempest	Wavelike swirl/ Wreath of grass and grain affixed to a crook
Moradin “The Allhammer”	LG	Craft, Creation, Dwarves	Forge, War	Flaming anvil/ Hammer with Dwarven faces carved in it
Pelor “The Dawnfather”	NG	Healing, The Dawn, Humanity	Life, Light, Nature	Six pointed star
Raei “The Everlight”	NG	Attonment, Compassion	Life, Light	Humanoid feminine phoenix
The Raven Queen ”Matron of Death”	LN	Fate, Death, Winter	Death, Grave, Blood	Mask framed with black feathers/ A raven’s head in profile
Sehanine ”The Moonweaver”	CG	Illusion, Moonlight, Night	Twilight, Arcana, Trickery	Crescent moon turned upward, like a bow
Tharzidun ”The Chained Oblivion”	CE	Destruction, Darkness	Death, Grave, Trickery, Twilight	Seven pointed star with a spiral inside
Tiamat ”The Scaled Tyrant”	LE	Chromatic Dragons	Death, Grave, Light, War	Dragon claw
Torog “The Crawling King”	NE	Enslavement, Torture	Death, Blood	Three arms reaching out from a black void
Vecna “The Whispered One”	NE	Necromancy, Secrets	Arcana, Death, Knowledge	Hand with an eye in the palm
Zehir ”The Cloaked Serpent”	CE	Assassins, Poision, Snakes, Yuanti	Nature, Trickery, Twilight	Coiled Serpent
Lady Stardust	CG	Sex, Drugs, Rock n Roll, Half-elves	Twilight, Trickery, Peace	An androgynous figure shrouded in star light/ A dual lightning bolt painted over the left eye

Factions

The Knights of the Hagvir-om: An ancient order of knights dedicated to order or balance or something like that. Justice maybe? Who cares about their beliefs they help people out and wield sabres made of light (look I don’t wanna get sued. Can your guys in legal come up with a better way to describe it. Thanks, Love.) how cool is that? Technically a terrorist group in the eyes of the Republic they manage to stay around thanks to their hidden temple. Besides most common folk are willing to stick their neck out for them because of of the good they do. Hell many nobles and politicians also help them out.
The Sisterhood of the Ob-strix Yndora: Kind of the opposite of the Hagvir-om though they share one thing. They are definitely a terrorist group in the eyes of the Republic. And Hokur/Vjol. The Draconic Empire. The Hagvir-om.The Shades. The Corporations. Common folk. Rich folk. Most bars. Basically they’ve made a lot of enemies and those enemies do not offer them the same courtesies they give the Hagvir-om. The Caliphate has been mysteriously neutral on this subject though. These badass broads see the future and once served many a realm as advisors and oracles. That soured when they foresaw bad omens. They became hunted when they started taking steps to bring about the futures they saw. Stardusters: I love these guys! The truly devoted followers of Lady Stardust. They are kind, giving, and party really hard.

Politics

Okay time for the boring stuff. It’s helpful to know though. Right now you really only need to know the big dogs so ya don’t get bit darlin’.
The Nimbus Republic- The largest government in the galaxy. Founded by a coalition of mostly human worlds. Now it stretches damn near around the galaxy. They say republic, I say empire. They also say tend to say neon and capitalism. I’ve been to many a planet they control and I’ve seen a lot of leather dusters and katanas. Honestly the Corps are the real power. Kind cyberpunky if ya catch my drift. Currently they have tension with the Draconic Empire but thankfully we aren’t at war. Yet.

• The Planetary Exchange- A semi governmental organization founded by the Republic but honestly they have earned good enough will with other governments that they act semi autonomously. They seek to bring peace through cultural exchange, exploration, and a vast array of space stations that act as safe ports for all you seek it. Their budget did just get cut though.

The Ageless Caliphate- Elves. More like the Aloof Caliphate am I right?
The Kingdoms of Hokur & Vjol- Do you have a beard or green skin? Do like senseless fighting? Are you all about honor? The. Kingdoms “Iron” and “Might” are your guys then. Long ago a dwarven army started traveling around their solar system fighting wars and taking planets. Then they met their match with some planets of orcs. They fought for centuries before realizing they both love fighting above all things except for mocking elves. So they joined forces and continued to fight who ever they could. Currently there’s a civil war going on there. They got great axes though.
The Draconic Empire- These guys are mysterious and aren’t too keen on out siders. Their domain is on the fringes of the galaxy and they really don’t want the Republic to go out there.