Caeliverse

New Britain was the first world colonized by the Anglican empire.  A beautiful moonless planet, green with forests and cold oceans, the world became a natural location for the monarchy to migrate to as expansionism gripped humanity.  First contact came with the explorations of Captain William Mann who lead a flotilla of balloons through the fold in 1834, encountering a scattered and tribal indigenous population.  From their humble beginnings of the small outpost known as Fort Mann (the site of which the Imperial Air Academy now stands), the Anglican Empire brought more and more settlers through the fold to exploit the world’s abundant resources.  Great towns and cities grew over the next two decades when, in 1853, Her Majesty Queen Victoria decreed that she would move the seat of the Monarchy from Earth to New Britain.

New Britain is the capital of the Anglican Empire, and boasts a population of over 30 million.  From the great halls of Government in the capital Victoria, to the vaults of the central banking district in the Seven Wards, to the vast industrial airship yards of Blackshire, New Britain is the very model of an imperial power center.

Latin for “Beautiful Island”, this largely temperate planet it is abundant in forests and lakes with two satellite moons, pale white Isis and deep blue Nephthys.  It was one of the first colonized by the Anglican Empire, the first permanent settlement of Queen’s Hope was established in 1853, but due to the abundant natural resources, many more soon followed.  The last official census noted the planet’s population at 1.3 million, including aboriginals.  Considered a sort of ‘outpost of Anglican civility’ amongst the border worlds, today the Decorus Insula is a trading hub for many of the outlying worlds, receiving extensive merchantile traffic. The planet’s native population consists of a single race known as the Maye People, named for Sir Richard Maye, the anthropologist who first translated their language.  Decorus Insula has two moons, Consus of ashen white character, and Ops, a deep blue-gray of slightly smaller disposition.

Farthingham is a sleepy little border world on the periphery of Anglican territory.  A temperate and extremely fertile landscape, the world finds itself largely devoid of almost any exploitable resources.  As a result, farming and ranching have become the world’s primary contribution to the Empire.  Originally settled in 1850 and without an indigenous population, as well as a surprisingly narrow ecology of fauna, the world seemed ideal for agricultural exploit.  The primary crop produced is cotton, and the farmers are constantly at odds with their rival producers in nearby Confederated Colonies, often leading to price wars.  Farthingsham has one small silvery yellow  moon, Robur.

A minor outer colony, Daedelus Majoris was originally established in 1853 by the Peninsular Air Steam Navigation Company as a waypoint to Decorus Insula.  It eventually evolved into a formidable outpost for refueling and resupply among the outer worlds, but the real population explosion happened during the silver rush of 1862.  Thousands of settlers made their way to Daedelus Majoris in hopes of seeking their fortune.  Many had their dreams dashed, although a rare few others did strike it rich.  There is a strong frontier nature to the world that nearby worlds like Decorus Insula have overcome in the last several decades, but continues to persist here.  There is no native population, and the world have no orbital satellites.

When the Civil War broke out in 1855, the Anglicans had already moved their seat of power from Earth to New Britain, and both the Federation and the Confederacy set to establishing new capitals off-world. High Liberty was the first world colonized by the Federation in 1838 and originally named “New America”. Both political groups which would eventually become the warring factions held great influence here, and it was on these rolling hills and verdant forests that the great majority of the Civil War carnage took place. The native population known as the Me Pak Nok (from their language meaning “People of Lightness”) were quite populous and what was to be done with them as the world became more and more settled formed the nexus of the war. Abolitionists burned the houses of those who kept the Ma Pak Nok as slaves, and the proto-confederates lead para-military raids on Abolitionist towns, killing and burning. Once the conflict had escalated to full fledged war, the world became the flashpoint for battle. Slowly the Federation drove back the Confederacy who finally fled the world in 1860 after five years of continual conflict had devastated the land. The Federation rebuilt quickly, however, declaring the world newly renamed as “High Liberty”, the beacon of freedom through the Caeliverse. The Republican government, having long enjoyed strong relations with the Federation, presented the government with the immense Statue of Liberty, completed in 1893, symbolizing 30 years of freedom in the Caeliverse. The monument to human engineering resides at the foot of the great Mall, on axis with the capital and flanked by the house of congress and the senate building.  High Libery has no moons.

While the Civil War between the Federation and the Confederacy raged on half a dozen worlds, both had lain claim on “New America” as their capital. When the Confederate forces were forced off New America, they immediately established their capital on one of their most secure colonies, New Carolina. originally colonized in 1842 by the Morgan Airship Company.  A broad, fertile world populated with an abundant aboriginal people known as the Mecklin who were quickly civilized by the first colonial companies, the world soon became a paragon of agricultural production.  When it became the new Confederate Capital, The Confederate Senate, without the President’s knowledge, drafted a resolution to rename the the world “Jefferson Fortis” in support of their leader. After the war the government remained and Jefferson Fortis became the primary hub for trade to and from the Confederacy.  Jefferson Fortis has two small pale moons, Hermes and Thanatos.

A largely mountainous world, Alexandrovia was named for the father of Czar Nicholas II, Alexander III Alexandrovich, and is a province robustly rich in natural resources of coal, iron and various precious metals. Originally settled in 1845, the world has been, from the start, a jewel in the Imperial Russian crown unparalleled within their dominion. When Alexander II ascended to the throne, he felt he needed to follow the pace set by the other powers, and moved the Imperial capital from Earth to Alexandrovia. To cement the act, Alexander had St. Basil’s dismantled, brick by brick, and moved to it’s new location adjacent to the Imperial Palace. Alexandrovia has no indigenous population, but those from other Imperial Russian worlds have migrated here en mass as part of work relocation programs to exploit the resources. Alexandrovia has one large moon of the deepest black complexion called Koschei and two very small satellites, ice blue Alkonost and cool green Jarilo.

The vibrant capital of La Republic Consortium, Montparnasse (from “Mount Parnassus” – in Greek mythology, home to the nine Greek goddesses – the Muses – of the arts and sciences) is so named for it’s predominately hilly topography and that it became the first extra-terrestrial university in the Caeliverse.  Originally settled in 1843, it was named La Nouvelle-France and in 1847 housed the first buildings of what would eventually become L’École des Beaux-Arts Universal where students from all over the Caeliverse would come to learn of art, architecture and the building sciences.  The new name of Montparnesse was used colloquially but became official when the Republican government moved their capital here in 1854, just after the Anglicans did theirs.  The world is considered a pinnacle of enlightenment and learning with grand displays of art and architecture wherever one goes.  The world’s indigenous population, Les Gens Gris, are a tall, ash skinned race, fiercely tribal and who have split into two factions, one that have embraced the civility the Republicans have brought, and the latter who cling to their primitive dwellings far from cities and towns.  Montparnasse has one solitary moon, Korrigan whose surface glows a smooth pale pink like rose quartz.

Mont Carnais is the quintessential border world.  Originally settled by settlers from both the Anglican Empire and the La Republic Consortium in 1866, the world enjoyed a certain independence and both cultures thrived peacefully, though largely independence of one another.  As the inner worlds began to consolidate, and governments fortified their territories, Mont Carnais came under increasing pressure to join with one of the greater powers.  Though the locals resisted heartily, they eventually succumbed to the economic pressures impressed upon them by La Republic Consortium from whom they relied on much of their refined goods.  The Anglican Empire countered militarily in 1885, and conflict erupted across the borderline, consuming the nearby worlds of Grande Bonté and Beaux Champs as well.  The conflict raged for seven years on the plains of Mont Carnais before the Anglicans were finally pushed off the world, leaving the ethnically Anglican residents behind.  Heavily defended, the Anglicans have never yet been able to acquire a foothold on the planet again.

Mont Carnais is named for the great mountain in the northern hemisphere that towers like a lone sentinel amongst a vast plain, at the foot of which the capital city Saint Gaucherius.  The world possesses no indigenous population and is well renowned for their pottery and glass work exports.  Mont Carnais has no moons.

The remote outpost world of Beaux Champs is a region of dichotomies.  With the industrial sections of the planet largely under the control of La Republic Consortium, this populous land plays host to a diverse sect from erudite metropolitans, to rugged frontiersmen.  Originally settled by the Republic in 1866, the Anglican Empire challenged that assertion militarily almost immediately.  The larger cities like Saint-Saëns and Nouvelle Louvetot in the Republic sector, and Axminster and Crawkerne in the Anglican sector, carry on largely as if the war were very far from them.  In reality, however, the Equatorial Badlands through the center of the world are rife with pockets of conflict as the two powers struggle for domination.

The indigenous peoples of Beaux Champs include the Chendrallee, a largely pacifist race who are under the protection, and within the dominion of the Republic, the Chendeskarr and the Chendrappa.  The Chendeskarr had historically been a violent race, and prior to the arrival of civilized man, were well on  their way to constructing an empire to dominate the other two peoples.  They are a free people, who do not consider themselves part of any Caeliverse government, but have allied themselves with the Anglican Empire, whom they fight beside and are rewarded with weapons and tobacco.  The Chendrappa, have accepted a role within La Republic Consortium, and fight on the side of the Republicans with the consideration that they are equal members within that society.

Grande Bonté is a world almost ninety percent within the control of the Republic.  A temperate world replete with natural gas deposits of helium resulting from plentiful and accessible decay of heavy elements such as uranium and thorium, Grande Bonté is a key strategic location for helium production.  The capital city of Pierre Riches has become a economic boom town for the buying and selling of helium and the associated manufacture of airship equipment.

Because of the vital strategic importance the world possesses, the Anglican Empire has spent many years trying to pressure the industry and either cripple it, or make the production and distribution of helium so untenable that it directly affects the Republican war effort.  Isolated in a string of mountaintop redoubts arrayed around a single nexus intersect, the Imperial Anglican military maintains a firm foothold on the world, but is constantly confronted by Republican opposition intent of driving them from their land.  The Anglicans, however, have become increasingly successful with daring strategic bombing raids upon helium industry targets, and the tension on the world it at a very high level.

No indigenous races ever occupied Grande Bonté, but the word possesses two gorgeous moons, gigantic sky-blue Azur and Grenat, a swirling red planet whose gasses appear almost like boiling liquid.

When the German Confederation decided to align a uniform capital within the Caeliverse in 1853, there was much debate over which world it would be. Among those considered were the German cultural-centric New Brandenburg, the hub of their increasing industrial might, Essen, the ostentatiously, flamboyant Herrenchiemsee, or the provincial Westphalia. There was vehement lobbying from each domain, with the populations of each world seeking the honor, but it was the final decision of King Frederick William IV. Frederick, himself a profound romanticist, chose New Brandenburg because of it’s artistic assets, seeing this as the cornerstone in the foundation of the Prussian State to come. Construction began immediately in a capital with a new Prussian architecture inspired by ages past.  While the administrative offices and the brilliant new Reichstag building were completed in 1855, it wasn’t until 1856 that the regional government representatives were agreed upon and a government formed.

New Brandenburg was originally settled in 1836 as one of the very first worlds in the German Confederation. It immediately attracted revolutionary intellectuals determined to embrace the Age of Expansionism. The world has no indigenous population and no moons.

Officially colonized in 1849, Buenos Tierra was one of the first worlds discovered by La Unión de las Cinco Naciones before they were officially established as a single government. In 1856, when the treaty was formally signed, The Five established their capital here in the bustling metropolis of Grenada Hermosa amidst the beautiful temperate coastline of their northern continent.

Buenos Tierra is a fertile world, rich in agricultural exports from coffee to sugar and is the central hub of their territories. Natives of the world include the Rojo, tan skinned aboriginals who have almost entirely integrated themselves into modern society, and the Pesadilla, an openly hostile civilization that remains reclusively primitive, hiding deep into the jungles. The government of The Five generally has found that if they do not disturb the Pesadilla, they rarely emerge from their lands, but as farming and towns expand, rare conflicts have begun to increase. The world has five moons, pale blue Itzamná, the fiery red and orange Itzam-Yeh, the violet-orange Ix Chel, the twin moons ashen Xbalanque who leads azure Hunahpu which always chases in synchronous orbit. When Itzam-Yeh and Itzamná cross paths, great tsunami erupt along many coastal areas. Scientists tend to believe that this is due to their combined gravitational pull when magnified together. Local religions have lore of the two moon gods fought each time they cross paths, and raining destruction down on the land.

The volatile world of Pendergast Hallows is a chaotic assortment of regions under very different ownerships. A desolate world of scorching deserts and saline seas lacking in any native human habitation, it was originally discovered by the Republic in 1849. The government, however, since sold off settling rights for the colony to over a hundred separate private and governmental interests who had less favorable options. With the discovery of substantial gold deposits in 1856, the interest in the planet skyrocketed with prospectors all over the Caeliverse migrating here to make their fortune. The deposits, however, dried up quickly under the pressure and exploitation of several large mining corporations, and by 1861 were completely exhausted. This then left a world completely devoid of natural resources, rife with a substantial population, many of whom no longer had the means to extricate themselves to another world. The planet devolved into a nightmarish vision of frontier anarchy. Pirates, prostitutes, cuthroats, blackmailers and myriad of other disreputable folk comprise a large portion of the population, and with the planet harboring the hideouts of many a criminal folk. Rumors persist that though it lies almost completely within the borders of Republican space, The Republican government holds an informal treaty with the local crime lords, they don’t attack Republican or allied airships or interfere in general in Republican interest, and the government turns a blind eye.