Age of Isolation
Prehistoric Hyperborea (before 10000 B.S.T):
Since the dawn of time, various races and species inhabited the Hyperborean Galaxy. Before the arrival of humans, the galaxy was presumably dominated by the Demiurge, an enigmatic god-like race of unknown appearance. The recent archeological findings suggest that they mysteriously vanished in an instant. The Demiurge left behind powerful artifacts imbued with magical powers. These artifacts, characterized by glowing magical runes, come in various shapes and sizes. They provide a range of powers, from enhancing magical abilities to strengthening the firepower of ships’ weaponry.
Human Colonization (around -10000 – 5000 B.S.T):
Humans presumably arrive from another galaxy, fleeing their dying world in search of a new home. Ancient Demiurge murals depict them as hostile colonists arriving on giant spaceships. The ancient human ships made of alloy could not sustain the solar clouds spread across the galaxy. Ships designed to fly in a vacuum couldn’t resist the continuous friction with atmospheric nebulas. In time, their metals wore out and rendered the ships unusable. Stuck on different planets, humanity ended up isolated from each other. Due to technological degradation, humanity seized its attempts to return to space. Over time, people stopped believing they had ever been to space in the first place. During the thousands of years of isolation, various human civilizations developed separately on different planets.
Native Hyperborean Species (around -10000 B.S.T – 0 A.S.T):
Simultaneously with humans, the native non-human species across the galaxy developed into their own civilizations. Glyphens, a race of immortal sentient asteroids, discovered a gas-like substance that opened their mind and made them rethink their worldview, so they delved into philosophy. Coggorts, a race of sentient insectoids obsessed with the idea of space exploration, progressed in technology and built tower hives, aiming to elevate above their planet’s atmosphere. Sirens, humanoid beings with fishtails, found a way to imbue their voices with ancient artifacts, which gave them the ability to manipulate objects and living beings with the power of their vocals.
Reconnection
The invention of Solar Sails (-4 B.S.T – 0 A.S.T):
On the sunny planet of Hyxon, the technologically advanced insectoid species of Coggorts developed the first working means of space travel. It started with Rubikon, a wealthy Coggort entrepreneur obsessed with space exploration. In order to reach space, he built a tower that rose above the atmosphere and powered it with solar panels. Once reaching space, Rubikon discovered clouds that produced solar energy ten times more than the sun. But most importantly, he learned that these clouds also produce oxygen. Rubikon developed a boat with an engine powered by a solar panel and flew into space without any protective suit. Once in space, he circumnavigated the planet on his boat, all while enjoying the cosmic breeze. Thus, Rubikon discovered the means of space travel.
Reconnection (0 – 72 A.S.T):
With his new invention, Rubikon established an interstellar corporation – Solar Industries LTD – and invested in building vessels powered by solar panels. He launched expeditions across the galaxy to introduce his technology to other species and attract potential clients. During one of the expeditions, Coggorts encountered humans and established trade relations with them. Coggorts gave them access to solar sails technology, while humans taught Coggorts ship architecture based on their already existing water sailing ships made of wood and metals. Thanks to mutual trade with various planets and factions, Coggorts finally reconnected the galaxy after thousands of years of isolation.
Relocation (72 – 108 A.S.T):
Later on, Coggorts developed gravity stabilizers powered by solar sails, allowing the denizens of the galaxy to build structures in space with their own centers of gravity. Following this novelty, the majority of the galactic population found living in space to be more efficient than staying on planets. Instead of traversing the atmosphere to reach their homes, they would dock their ships right next to their houses in space. For most people, planets become places of luxury and vacations. For space cities and interstellar governments, planets served as hubs of resources – water, wood, and provision. Many people lived their entire lives in space, without ever visiting any planet. Slowly but steadily, most of the galaxy became dependent on solar sails.
Great Galaxy War
Monopoly on Solar Sails (108 – 141 A.S.T):
As time went by, profit-driven Coggorts displaced Rubikon from his position and took over Solar Industries LTD. They monopolized the production of solar sails, brutally suppressed any competition, and sanctioned entire planets at will by withholding the supply of solar sails. One of the sanctioned human planets, Stygion, notoriously known for its dislike of non-human species, refused to bend the knee to the Coggort monopoly. Stygians started hoarding powerful ancient artifacts and utilizing them in their weaponry.
Concerned with the growing might of the Stygian fleet, Coggorts outlawed the artifacts and started hunting for those possessing them. The harder Solar Industries LTD choked the Stygian economy, the more hateful Stygians grew towards Coggorts. They craved a strong leader who would rise against Coggorts’ hegemony.
Great Galaxy War (141 – 152 A.S.T):
With the rising hatred against Coggorts, a religious preacher Daemon Lance gained popularity by advocating human supremacy. According to his idea, ancient humans were immortal and powerful beings. But the rival alien species grew jealous of them. They crafted magical artifacts and used them to drain human powers. As a result, humans lost their immortality and grew weaker. And thus, Coggorts wanted to prevent humans from getting their powers back.
Fueled by hatred, the majority of Stygians blindly followed Daemon. He united all of Stygion under the Empire of the Holy Lance and proclaimed himself as its Emperor. The Empire built a mighty fleet empowered by ancient artifacts. The new Emperor launched devastating Holy Crusades across the galaxy, eradicating Coggorts and other non-human species.
Fall of the Empire (152 A.S.T):
After years of devastating war, the galaxy united against the Empire and retaliated by besieging Stygion. The desperate Daemon turned to the ancient Demiurge murals for aid. After some research, he found Pandora’s Box – a gateway to another dimension – deep at the planet’s core. Daemon believed that with the powers stored in it, Stygians would restore their ancient powers, and gain immortality. Daemon ventured into Stygion’s core and opened Pandora’s Box, which caused the destruction of the planet. Stygion exploded in a supernova, destroying what was left of the Empire, which led to the end of the Great Galaxy War.
Post-War Galaxy
Healthy Nation (168 A.S.T):
With the defeat of the Empire and the crash of the Coggort monopoly over solar sails, a new superpower emerged – the Galactic Federation. Remembering their past failures from the Great Galaxy War, the Federation aimed to make its citizens healthier and fitter for navy service. The Federation Senate enacted a prohibition on rum, fatty foods, and pasta. The Federation propagates the idea of a “Healthy Nation” by scaring its citizens with dreadful stories about the side effects of “dangerous foods”. According to the official Federation doctrine, consuming those products makes humans lose their physique and intelligence. This, in turn, makes them unfit for spacefaring – the biggest shame for every Federation citizen.
Rise of Piracy (172 A.S.T – 187 A.S.T):
While the “Healthy Nation” policy made the nation healthier, it caused the rum market to collapse. Rum traders, along with other affected citizens, organized protests that quickly escalated into a rebellion. In response, the Federation brutally suppressed it, crushing any hopes of future uprisings. After the failure of the rebellion, former rebels turned to smuggling and piracy, causing rum, fatty food, and pasta to become valuable commodities on the black market. The Federation started hunting down pirates and smugglers, eliminating them one by one. But piracy endured and lived on the outskirts and outside of the Federation’s domain.
Pastafarians (84 A.S.T – Today):
For over a century, the religious community of Pastafarians who worshiped the Flying Spaghetti Monster, a mysterious cosmic deity made of giant spaghetti and meatballs, had been at peace with the entire galaxy. Pastafarians mostly engaged in philanthropic activities, such as cooking pasta in giant space bowls to feed hungry space travelers. But as the Federation enacted its prohibition on rum, fatty food, and pasta, Pastafarians became outlaws by definition – since pasta is their traditional meal.
Refusing to submit to the tyrannical regime, the Pastafarians started collaborating with pirates and actively supporting the black market for rum, fatty food, and pasta. Since the Pastafarian teaching forbids violence, they preferred to go into hiding. But some Pastafarians grew tired of their pacifism in the face of imminent danger. They claimed it was time to raise their cannons in self-defense.
Rising Tensions (Today):
Seeking to bolster the might of their fleets, several galactic superpowers turn their gaze upon the ancient artifacts. Seeing it as an opportunity to make a fortune, pirates, and smugglers roam the galaxy in search of any mysterious artifacts they can find. Meanwhile, rumors circulate about an emerging cult that calls itself the “Holy Lance”. Its members claim that the mysteriously vanished Holy Lance fleet is about to return and their everliving Emperor Daemon Lance would once again plunge the galaxy into a devastating war.