Races of the Pantheonic Territory:

Staiven Eyes and Elder Staiven: [For most Staiven, the eyes are mere miasmic repositories, accumulating that which builds up as they age. It is also the source of their primary sense. Rather than vision, this is a soul sense that detects the intersection of their eyes with concentrations of ashata within the brink. Other races often find the nature of this sense difficult to comprehend, but in effect it allows them to sense flows of ashata, souls, lesions, and miasmic concentrations in extreme detail when they are close enough. Their progression system increases the concentration of miasma within their eyes over time, increasing the strength and acuity of this sense. For most Staiven, removing their eyes would eliminate this sense, but would not kill them. When the eye grows too large for its socket and begins to spill out, the miasma begins to affect the body itself more, turning the Staiven into a subtly different sort of creature, one referred to as an Elder Staiven. Elders differ in nature depending on the properties of the miasma their eyes are composed of, and they die if the organs are removed.]

Reth (Species): [One of the three races created upon Canvas, the Reth are the creations of Saaya. Like the Seiyal, they are a humanoid race, and were specifically designed to be very hardy creatures. They can survive in extreme high and low pressure, and are capable of regrowing all of their limbs. They are even capable of surviving within the void of space. Despite this, their homeland on Canvas was very extreme, and they can only consume foods from there, or that have been treated with certain exotic chemicals, though advanced races such as the Staiven are capable of synthesizing them for a cost. After being driven away from their homeworld, it is said that they have become a nomadic people, defended by their goddess who is said to travel along with them. The Staiven have kept the locations that the Reth were moved to fairly secret from the Seiyal, as part of a treaty that was signed after first contact was made. The Reth have their own progression system, and unlike that of the Seiyal and Staiven, theirs solely utilizes sanguine miasma.]

Exid Queens: [Unlike most races, there is little racial camaraderie among the Exid. Each Queendom considers itself a fully separate culture, and most Queens claim that they are the true inheritor to the ancestors of the Exid people, and that all other Queens should rightfully be their subordinates. Such claims are even made at times by Queens who have themselves been subordinated. However, as they find other races inherently untrustworthy, the Queens still tend to work together just as much as they connive against one another for superiority. In addition, despite their naturally extremely high intellect, the Queendoms would likely never have achieved spaceflight on their own, as a great deal of technology belonging to a Queendom was often historically destroyed upon the Queen's death to prevent their rivals from discovering it, vastly hindering their capabilities. However, they achieved a technology boom after making first contact which allowed them the capacity to expand, so that even the weaker Queendoms could, in theory, develop their own territory away from others. However, there are only so many places close enough to advanced civilizations to learn more advanced technology from, yet still a place where they are allowed to set up their Queendoms. They are, after all, unable to compete for territory with even the more powerful mortal civilizations, much less the Osine and Ascendants. For this reason, many Exid Queens have set out blindly into the vast expanse of the Frontier, never to return.]

Humanity: [According to the official species database of all major forces, if there is a record of a race known as 'Humanity' at all, it is clear on one point: Humanity is a race native to the Quarantined Territory who colonized several star systems but went extinct prior to being encountered by Osine forces. They are notable in that they have morphological similarities to various races such as the Celans, Seiyal, Reth, and Staiven, which implies they were created by a deity, but due to their homeworld's location within the Quarantined area, no forces have chosen to investigate, due to fears of infection.]

Races of the Pantheonic Territory and Atmospheric Requirements: [While most humanoids as well as the Staiven and Escalos all breathe the same atmospheres, this is not true for all races. The Exid, for example, do not breathe at all, while the Reth can breathe standard atmosphere, but only for limited periods of time. The Telaretians are able to breathe in standard atmosphere, but only due to genetic engineering and implants. Bloodspawn can breathe in most types of atmosphere without issue, provided the pressure is within acceptable ranges, while certain races such as the Rylians and Reilanh have different atmospheric requirements, and thus their spread within the Pantheonic Territory has been heavily limited. Most species with such requirements simply do not live within Pantheonic space.]

Epon Celans: [An ancient humanoid race which has long been extinct, the Epon Celans are the ancestors of the Korlove, Jobu, Merris, and the fourth daughter race, the Najani, who have since become extinct themselves. Of these races, the Epon Celans were most similar in appearance to the Merris, though they lacked many of the biological enhancements that this race bears. Similarly, they lacked the musculature and ashatic resistance of the Jobu. The origin of the Epon Celans is unclear, though due to the fact that they are a humanoid species, it is widely believed that they did not evolve naturally.]

Technology:

Titans: [No mortal race understands flickering miasma like the Celans do, not even most ascendants and Osine. The secrets of the chaotic force that it represents are some of the deepest depths of modern science, and knowledge of them comes with great power. The pinnacle of mechanical armor technology in Telles, Titans are vast constructions that fuse miasma and metal at a nearly fundamental level, resulting in machines piloted by mortals, but with combat potential equivalent to a lesser ascendant, also known as an earthly immortal. Highly sought after by the other advanced races for the technological secrets they represent, titans are extremely illegal, for a single titan is capable of destroying an entire space habitat if its pilot wished. Despite being famed, some doubt the very existence of titans, as Celan organizations within the Pantheonic Territory usually refuse to show them, claiming they are too dangerous to be used. As even enforcers are powerful enough they can wipe out nearly anything in their path, there may be some merit to this assertion.]

Port Authority Sensor Ships: [Used not only on Tseludia Station, but in most Pantheonic Government controlled stations, these ships use large sensors that bombard target areas with very small high energy particles to create a perfect model of everything within the area. Certain materials and technologies can absorb the particles or warp them around an object or space, but due to the near perfect three dimensional envelope, there are no known species whose technology is capable of hiding without any notice through one such sweep. While their use is expensive and can cause health issues in certain species when exposed, they are incredibly effective at finding contraband. This technology is known by most species beyond a certain advancement level, as it does not require any miasmic technology to construct and utilize. It is rumored the Staiven are able to mass produce them using some secret, more advanced technology on their homeworld. In addition, the Staiven are the only ones able to cut costs by making the ships that carry the sensors manned. The vibration and energy exposure cause health problems in most of the other races. Some expensive Staiven medical clinics use a similar technology to search their bodies for the source of health problems.]

Manifest Energy Projection Devices: [A relatively recent Staiven innovation, these machines allow for manifest miasma to generate exotic energies inside the depths of a reactor, allowing for strings of these energies to be formed and directed within a limited area for certain periods of time. The technology is quite bulky and has a limited range, though its output is incredibly powerful, so it has seen some interest for military and security purposes, rather than the mining and scientific purposes for which it was originally developed. After all, it is capable of tearing through nearly anything in its path. However, it can not be scaled down or up, as the exact details of how to control the manifestation are not fully understood. As one might expect, this patent is owned by the church of Fulstovis. Currently, it has only been sold to the Pantheonic Government, though it is expected to make it to wider markets within the next decade.]

Terran System Design: [It is said that the extinct species known as Humanity was once plagued with members who learned how to operate systems and machines, without actually understanding how they function, nor the advanced operation mechanics of the system. Many species have similar issues, and it is normal for systems to be designed with the potential issues this may cause in mind. When the Terrans were created, designed as machines implanted with the minds of these ordinary civilians, it was thought pointless to code such safeguards in. After all, to leave a machine unaware of its own limitations was to take risks as well as to reduce effectiveness, and they would all be able to train themselves to full operational understanding in mere moments. Still, many Terrans in the early days of their construction damaged their own minds by going beyond their means. For this reason, in a later firmware update, one primary safeguard was put into place, a forced shutdown when the system capacity threshold is reached, right before the system strain would begin to cause permanent damage. While it could still be circumvented, the Terran in question would need to do so willingly. And few would choose a few more moments of operation over their own continued survival.]

Relic Weapons: [Weapons created by deities, there is nothing special about such weapons other than their origin. In theory, they could be replicated by a sufficiently advanced civilization. Still, given the advancement of the Canvasian civilization, such gifts are the pinnacle of weapons among martial artists. All four of the 'deities' of Canvas are said to have created such weapons, though most were created by Toval. He scattered them around the depths of the jungles of the Crucible and Bounty, for powerful adventurers of any race to encounter. Ceirra gave hers only to the most powerful and dedicated of Sunlit Hall's members, while Saaya gifted hers to the Reth. These weapons were elegantly crafted, and fused metal and leather with miasmic treasures to allow martial artists to empower them and use them to effectively grow their own miasmic reserves and power. nearly all of the greatest heroes in stories is said to have wielded one of these weapons despite their rarity. Domines is said to have only created six of them, but because Domines is not an ascendant, her weapons boast no miasmic treasure, but merely incredibly powerful construction. They are said to be practically indestructible by all tested means. The vast majority of all relic weapons have gone missing over time, as their wielders are slain, they are stolen, and are taken off of Canvas.]

Martial Arts:

Martial Academy Arts of Tseludia Station: [Under the influence of the Hadal Clan, there are many constraints imposed among all other martial organizations. Martial arts comparable in might to those controlled by the clan are heavily restricted, and cannot be found except within the Clan's library and from martial artists arriving from out of system. There are less than six techniques taught within these martial academies, and of them, four use genesis miasma, the same that most of the Hadal Clan's arts use. It is believed that the clan purposefully leaked some weaker arts, so that prodigious talents from outside the family can be recruited and subordinated, or married into the clan, as their arts and miasma are compatible with those of the Clan. The final two such arts are flickering in nature, and rumor has it that they were actually created by curious scholars among the Celans.]

Extant Arts: [While extant arts are not particularly secretive in nature, and accepted by both the orthodox and unorthodox paths, practitioners are quite rare. There are few martial organizations that specifically focus on these arts, though many organizations try to support a few artists each generation with such a path, because they can be very useful. The arts are simply not seen as as glamorous as the others for most, as they enhance the body the least of all miasma types. In fact, it can be said that they have a negative impact on the body, since many extant techniques in fact reduce the ability of the body, via intangibility. Still, illusion arts can be incredibly powerful in large scale conflict, and it is said that extant path immortals are among the most dangerous.]

Core Formation: [The third realm of martial arts. When a martial artist has finished carving their new meridians, they will find that miasma has a tendency to fill up the body. This ream is the start of the core formation realm. This miasma can be concentrated around one's dantians, setting up the foundations of what will become cores, structures that are reforged dantians. For most practitioners, the cores are small spheres similarly sized and shaped to the dantians they and merged with, but it is said the cores of sanguine and formless practitioners are a bit different. To fully form one's cores and reach the stage of spirit refinement, one must use one technique for each dantian, a heart, body, and mind technique within each of the relevant dantians. The technique will become one with it. While other techniques can be used in the spirit refinement stage, these three techniques will acquire great strength beyond what any other technique can hope to match, and become synonymous with the path of the martial artist. In addition, the more powerful the techniques prior to forming the cores, the more powerful the martial artist will be as a spirit refiner. Forming one's cores is the most dangerous bottleneck in martial arts, for not only do natural treasures need to be used to form them, but also because failure can result in shattered dantians, crippling one's martial arts. Many reach the peak of core formation and choose not to undergo the next step out of fear of this occurrence.]

Surrender: [The nature of surrender is largely secret information within sects with ancient roots. It is a rare occurrence where a martial artist loses their grip on their own power, but are able to regain themselves by allowing it to influence their minds. For most miasmas, this influence drastically shifts their personality according to its nature. Surrender for formless miasma is said to be the easiest to return from, as it often manifests as the affected user attempting to act how they would normally, or how society wishes them to. Because of their affected minds, surrendered individuals face a heightened flow of miasma that makes them more powerful, but also causes damage to their soul that will ultimately kill them within a week in most cases. For those who have weak or damaged souls, this can occur far more rapidly. For this reason, if a surrendered individual does not regain control within this time, they will die. In ancient times, those who surrendered were generally used as elite suicide troops, as they were more powerful than usual, and returning from surrender was not considered a likely occurrence. Surrendered sanguine practitioners are usually immediately killed by those around them, even by their own sect members, though the particular reason for this has been largely lost to time.]

Manifest Arts: [An odd martial art, manifest techniques often result in the formation and reformation of materials and energy as if from nowhere. According to modern science, it is believed that this matter and energy emerges from certain separate spacetimes rather than truly forming from nothing. Some say the spacetime in connection is a theorized layer beneath the Spirit World. Because it relates to generation, manifest martial arts techniques can be very odd in combat. Some manifest practitioners summon weapons, heat, stone, or other materials, though they are heavily limited by their realm and specific techniques. Of all the different martial paths, the manifest arts are one of the most difficult to use in combat at lower levels, as most techniques can only be used at higher realms of martial arts. Individual manifest paths might be either orthodox or unorthodox, depending on their nature, that being whether or not the manifest practitioner generates their art in the interior or exterior of their bodies.]

Sanguine Arts: [Sanguine miasma's nature is to serve as a conduit between spacetimes, and serves the role of binding the body to the soul. In essence, there is only one real sanguine art: turning oneself into a conduit, and using it to connect to something in another spacetime. That is to say, that sanguine practitioners contract with spirits and gods, when possible. The difference is in just who they contract. Some practitioners lack such assistance at all, and are forced to simply fuel themselves with the flows of energy within the spirit world, while the most blessed can borrow the favor of an ascendant or Osine. Of course, such favor would destroy the soul of one too weak to handle it. Specific sanguine techniques relate to just what is being enhanced or borrowed through the conduit, and so two practitioners with the same contract but different techniques might use it in very different ways. Due to the particular connection between humanoid bodies and sanguine miasma, all sanguine practitioners are able to enhance the amount of miasma within their body at any time simply by willfully damaging their own meridians. There are many sanguine practitioners who do this in every battle.]

Basic/Unattuned Forms: [Certain types of movements work well with different types of miasmas, at least in the context of martial artists. For example, a formless practitioner uses inconsistent, flowing motions, while a flickering pracitioner might use more harsh, stuttered motions. However, martial artists at the foundation refinement stage and below still need to learn basic motions in order to train up their bodies and souls, and prepare to summon miasma. For this reason, long ago martial artists created sets of motions that do not correspond to any of the six miasmas, or at least, correspond to all of them as well. These unattuned forms, also known as the Basic Forms, have almost as many variations as there are different sects, and there is one important benefit to them over more advanced, attuned stances. Practitioners who first learned the basic forms can choose to acquire any miasma, not just the one their form corresponds to. For this reason, these forms are a staple of training for any sect that has techniques for more than just one or two energies.]

Martial Weapons: [While there are noticeable differences in the utility between certain weapons in the hands of martial artists versus mortals, most of the weapons used by martial artists are merely the same types wielded by mortal armies prior to the development of firearms, in many civilizations. Swords are by far the most popular weapon, as their dynamic utility takes advantage of the speed and flexibility that martial artists have, but there are martial arts designed for great power from axes, perfect control of whips, and excellent usages of shields. Even weapons that would be ludicrous and near impossible for mortals to wield effectively see use by certain martial sects, such as the meteor hammer and the rope dart. Tseludia Station, however, is dominated by sword wielders, as the Hadal Clan largely teaches its disciples only sword arts and fist arts.]

Ashata and Spacetime:

Ashata: [The substance that defines reality, ashata is the exposed lifeblood of creation itself. Located within the spacetime known as the Brink, ashata is used by Ascendants, Osine, and the more advanced races to increase their control over reality itself. When brought into Telles, ashata codifies itself into one of the six miasmas, though the mortal races do not understand the reason for this. It is said that souls themselves are composed of ashata, and some theorize that the hierachy of the soul is solely based upon just how much ashata one can store and control within the shroud that restrains it. There is some evidence to support this theory, as the shroud is what Spirit Refiners among the Seiyal seek to improve as they prepare for ascension. However, without a progression system, other mortal races are largely unable to alter the substance and nature of their souls. They would need a way to manipulate and control ashata within the spirit world, before it becomes miasma and enters Telles. If a race of mortals acquired such technology, they might be said to have gained the power to contend with the gods. Some say that the Osine was once one such mortal race.]

Cutting Edge Extant Research: [While all miasmas break the conventional laws of physics in various ways, and have been described as viruses upon reality itself, the way that extant miasma seems to alter reality is arguably the most apparent. After all, unlike genesis or manifest miasma, the particles and waves it is capable of creating truly seem to have emerged from nothing. Some have posited that extant miasma merely creates odd structures out of the firmament of space-time that appear to be matter and energy, or that extant creation also creates equal anti-particles somewhere else in the universe. Others have posited that perhaps extant miasma is what the mythical Empyreans once used to create the universe itself. The latter hypothesis has been largely discredited due to lacking evidence.]

Soul/Ashatic Senses: [A rare sense for a mortal race to have, the ability to use a natural conduit to one's soul to use it as a sensory organ is very rare, only showing up in races such as the Seiyal and the Staiven, who were created by Ascendants. It is believed by many that such a sense cannot develop naturally, because its fundamental operation breaks the laws that govern this world. Only warpings can initiate such a process. The sense functions by analyzing the shifting of the individual's shroud as it reacts to the flow of ashata within the brink. Judging by the way that it moves can determine how the natural flows were interfered with by other nearby shrouds, and can be used to determine the rough locations of the other souls. It is said that it is possible for, using a progression system, this sense to be greatly enhanced by altering the structure of one's soul, to acquire very clear and refined use of this scent, able to determine not just the size and location of the souls, but also their structure and orientation. In theory, such an enhanced version of this sense would be the same as the function of the primary senses of spiritual beings such as the Osine.]

Voidgates: [While a voidgate appears to be a tear in reality, it is actually something entirely unlike a lesion. Instead, they are very advanced topological restructurings of reality rather than true holes. While it is believed to be conceivable that some very powerful ascendants and Osine can create them, all known voidgates are near the system of Staive, created by the powerful ancient machines known as the Calculation Engines. Voidgates are simple in function: they create distorted paths in spacetime, similar yet distinct to that of a wormhole, allowing for vast distances to be traversed in moments. Currently, five voidgates have been opened by the Seer. Of them, three lead into various areas within the Frontier, while the other two lead into various Osine territories. Of those leading into the Frontier, one of them was located just slightly more than a lightyear away from Canvas, while another was located near enough from the Celan flotilla for its refugees to find refuge through it. Voidgate travel is heavily regulated by the Pantheonic Government, as one end of each voidgate is located within the Staive system itself, posing both an immense boon to trade as well as an immense security risk for the Staiven homeworld.]

Akatar: [Originally thought to simply be flickering miasma, akatar is actually an activated high-energy state, and only occurs naturally within the Incursion, when lesions allow miasma to flow directly into Telles. Celah, which is located in that area, is covered in millions of lesions, and so akatar was commonly encountered by the ancestors of the modern Celans, and exposure to it over the course of generations has led to the Jobu race's high ashatic resistance. As it is a type of flickering miasma, akatar is a chaotic energy which moves in inconsistent stuttering powers, and altering the shape and nature of everything it touches. In rare circumstances, it had even been able to transform nonliving structures into moving, monsters that almost resemble living organisms. According to ancient Jobu myth, akatar is the lifeblood of the universe itself.]

Smog and Sanguine Miasma: [Rethian Smog, also known simply as 'The Smog,' is a phenomenon believed to have been created by Saaya, and has earned her the title of 'Lady of Shadows.' The Smog is a thick black smoke that is slightly poisonous to many species, but healthy for the Reth to breathe. It also forms naturally when Reth use their progression system, as it is said that ever since the Rethian homeland was destroyed, the Smog was moved into the spirit world. However, rumors say that it is not that the smog is tied to the Rethian progression system specifically, but instead deeply entwined with sanguine miasma in general. This would explain the functionings of some of the odder techniques that sanguine martial practitioners among the Seiyal have developed in recent decades, as well as, some have hypothesized, the reason why red-eyed Staiven supposedly never survive to Elder status.]

Apotheosis Rituals: [Progression systems do not form naturally, and the earliest ascendants existed long before the first Osine. Extreme infusions of miasma into the body and soul of an individual is capable of progressing one directly to the point of ascension, though the process is so taxing in dangerous that the success rate is far lower than one percent. Still, it provides the possibility of achieving a higher existence to those from races which lack such a system. An apotheosis ritual is an attempt to manufacture such an experience and increase its odds of success. While this can to an extent raise the odds, such a ritual would require hundreds of miasmic treasures, rendering it only an option for only the most rich, desperate and power-hungry of individuals.]

Ashatic Currents: [The movement of ashatic currents through the Brink have been a matter of extensive scholarly study, and there have even been theories correlating this to the structure and location of celestial bodies within Telles, or perhaps to an unknown field interacting with the esoteric substance. One recent theory by a renowned Celan researcher contains the hypothesis that this flow is caused by micro scale lesions which are too small to be normally detected, and which are perhaps at fault for the strange differences between physics at the quantum and macro scales. What is known is that these flows can be found everywhere, within the Brink, and can be disrupted by contact with souls, lesions and ashatic constructs. Such flows can even be entirely diverted by the efforts of ascendants.]

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The Natural Conduit: [For any sapient mortal race, there is an element which binds one’s soul to their body. Souls only form around gestating consciousnesses, but if nothing prevents the ashata composing the soul from drifting off, the backlash will cause the emergent consciousness to suffer extensively from the backlash. While this does not always cause the death of the organism, it certainly prevents it from achieving sapience. The factor which ties the physical body to the soul is known as the natural conduit, as no other types of conduit form naturally. For most species, this is the brain or brain-like equivalent organ. For humanoids alone, it is the blood. The reason for this remains currently unknown to the modern science of races such as the Staiven and the Celans.]

Shroud: [The Shroud is a term for a type of ashatic membrane which surrounds the soul of a mortal. It holds in the ashata, preserving the vital structures such as the engrams which record trace records of the mortal’s mind. Shrouds mitigate the soul’s interaction with the ashatic currents of the Brink, allowing some energies to nourish the soul and forcing the rest to pass around. The function of the shroud of a mortal and the angote shell of an Osine seem to share certain similarities.]

Composition of the Mortal Soul: [The most complex of the common ashatic structures, a soul is shaped like an amorphous sac filled with thick fluid, shifting along with the flow and current of ashata within the Brink. This ‘sac’ is called the shroud. It is a membrane composed of a thick, durable ashatic compound which allows certain quantities of ashata to permeate in and out in a process similar to osmosis. The interior of the soul has a jelly-like consistency. This ashatic material is continually nourished, refreshed, and expelled, and forms the information retaining structures known as engrams by interfacing with the natural conduit to the sapient mind to which the soul is bound.]

Pantheonic Laws and Culture:

Education on Tseludia Station: [For the station's Staiven population, the Pantheonic Government has chartered corporations to provide proper education. For other races, no such funding is granted, although the schools are willing to accept student enrollments from various other races such as Celans, Escalos, and Telaretians if a hefty enrollment fee is paid. Such enrollments are rather uncommon, as each of these races has their own corporate schools run by their own cultures. In generally only happens in families who live in Staiven dominated districts such as the first or second. For 'lesser' races such as the Canvasians, Exid, Bloodspawn, and Ardith, there are smaller schools with less advanced scientific and technological curriculum, generally run by corporations wishing to train up cheap labor that can be exploited. For the poor, unless charity and fortunate events are acquired, homeschooling is the only available option. This issue is one exploited by the various underworld organizations for affordable and desperate additions to their forces.]

Staiven Legal System: [The legal system of Staive has remained almost exactly as it is now for centuries. While it pretends to be an impartial system for ensuring no innocent civilians are taken to prison for crimes they did not commit, in reality it largely just serves as a way for those with money to escape from their sentencing by bribing the judges. Judicial positions are one of the most highly sought after of all government jobs, and the competition for them is intense, as they can make almost as much as a high cleric or a corporate CEO if they manage to preside over cases involving important figures. This is particularly so when they can initiate a bidding war between both sides, or trick one of the sides into giving money and not returning it even though they lose. Of course, a judge's reputation is key, as if they are seen as untrustworthy, none will be willing to bribe them. Judges have been killed for not following certain strict unspoken rules of corruption. In most cases, the trial is fundamentally just a formality with the result decided long in advance.]

Hate Crimes on Tseludia: [For a station as diverse as Tseludia, interactions between individuals of various races can be fraught at times, in particular due to the preferential treatment given to certain races by the Pantheonic Government and the underworld organizations. Disputes between underworld forces have long caused tensions between certain groups, such as the longstanding resentment held by the Canvasians and the Celans for one another. Similarly, many resent the preferential treatment held by the Staiven, and to a lesse extent the Escalos, who have something of an issue with the Telaretians themselves. Such tensions spiraled into a large gang war between underworld organizations decades ago. Although the gangs are largely held back by the underworld forces which control them, individual perpetuators of hate crimes continue to pop up every so often, particularly in the slums. Many have called for institutional reform in order to prevent such violence, but the Pantheonic Government's official stance is that arresting and deporting criminals to the prison moon is the most effective way to curb crime.]

Corporate Ownership According to the Pantheonic Government: [As corporations are a vital part of Staiven society, they are protected by the government, both for the purposes of economic stability and because most influential figures in the government hold partial stake in one or more major corporations. In fact, corporate stock is considered part of the job benefits for many government careers. Ownership for corporations and businesses is split into portions, so that stock can be owned by many, however there is no proper stock market, unlike how many species manage their businesses. Instead, trades are solely done privately, and are rarely split up too much, due to worries about hostile takeovers. For this reason, as well as due to the prevalence of the underworld, hostile takeovers tend to be more literal, despite extensive protections codified into law to prevent them. After all, the law matters less than the opinion of the courts. However, some of the most powerful corporations are partially owned by the churches, and so none would dare infringe upon them. There are few of the greatest corporations who are not owned at least in part by the Church of Fulstovis. These laws and rules, except for certain protections, apply as well to businesses created and owned by members of other species.]

Staiven Imprisonment Methods: [Like most organizations of the Pantheonic Government, the Justice Office is run as a business, and expected to make profit. For this reason, convicts are put to work until their sentence is paid off, rather than mere incarceration or execution. Their labor is rented away to the corporations in the given system. Despite the risks and dangers, this system is utilized even for alien races with progression systems, such as those from Canvas. The sole difference is that such individuals are placed within more well-constructed cells and watched extremely closely. The reason that such effort is used is because the more powerful a given individual is, the more valuable the benefits that might be acquired from their labor, in theory. Such individuals are almost always shipped off to prison moons instead of being used on world or on station, as they will be forced by their isolation to comply. After all, even if one were to slay the guards and escape one’s bonds, the individual would remain trapped on the moon, unable to escape back to civilization.]

Uncategorized:

Kadeki: [Many civilizations make sure to teach their children well about their history. Part of this often takes the form of moral tales told using historical figures. Some are idealized into heroes, while others are demonized into villains. For some of these villains, little exaggeration is required to achieve this. Kadeki was an official of the city of Opportunity, in the final great age of Celah. His parents had been very rich merchants, and their deep connections had led to him achieving a fairly high position even in the young age of his mid twenties. As the sparks of rebellion continued to flicker into the kindling of the city's slums, it was Kadeki's idea to spread a pathogen in the slums to cull the dissenters, and raise the government's image after they 'miraculously' created a cure. His plan resulted in the death of tens of millions of innocent civilians, widely considered the second greatest genocide in Celan history, losing only to the scourge of Celah by the Khalak'Ora. A leak which released information about this action resulted in riots and uprising. Records about Kadeki in the aftermath of the uprising which destroyed the city's government have been lost, and it is believed he lost his life in the chaos.]

The Riverfiend: [One of the most notable public figures on the station within recent months, Cyrus 'Riverfiend' Yu is the Sect Leader of the Redwater Sect, a Canvasian organization located in Canvas Town. It is widely known to be an underworld organization, and believed to secretly be affiliated with the Hadal Clan. The Riverfiend has been involved in practically every major shift in Tseludia's underworld during the time he has been present on the station. Recently reaching the level of a spirit refiner, the Riverfiend is one of the most dangerous individuals on the station, and is someone deeply tied to the growing tension and resentment between the station's Celan and Canvasian population. His political beliefs are unknown, but many suspect he has already made ties to one or more Staiven corporations due to the pace of his sect's economic development. Many have become concerned about just what the intentions of this unorthodox practitioner are, and for what purpose he has arrived on the station. Conspiracy theories that it is his goal to take over the Hadal Clan and turn the station's Canvasian populace into an unorthodox anti-Sunlit Hall faction have only continued to grow over time, but his popularity among the downtrodden has yet to diminish.]

Martial Titles: [An ancient custom, giving skilled martial artists titles to emphasize their unique qualities has been practiced on the Sunlit and Crucible continents for millennia. These titles have historically been granted by others, and usually out of respect, but have also been used to mock and deride someone for a very public failure or mistake. Some even try to give themselves powerful-sounding titles in an attempt to start their own martial legend, a practice which generally has mixed results. The practice of granting martial titles has yet to cease, particularly because news companies will sometimes assign them to martial artists the moment they achieve something notable. In sufficiently rural or isolated areas, the requirements tend to be lower than in a place such as the largest cities on Canvas.]

The Master-Disciple Relationship: [As important as heritage by blood, master-disciple heritage bears similar responsibilities and duties. The master's orders must be followed, but they also have the responsibility to train their disciples to the best of their ability. A master's connections and reputation becomes part of the disciple's own, and in sects, this can give a powerful figure's disciples great influence even with the more senior forces in the same sect. Training a disciple who eventually becomes a powerhouse is also a great honor, and the master is similarly allowed to borrow from the disciple's status in such circumstances. However, what matters most is the oaths one swears in the process of becoming master and disciple. Some masters impose harsh oaths with tough penalties, while others do not bother to impose anything at all. For many, who one's master is matters more than who one's parents are. This is true even in clans, though in a clan one's master will almost always be a relative.]

Canvasian Technological Distribution: [Due to their exposure to aliens with higher technological bases, the Canvasians who live away from their home world tend to have a far greater comprehension of technological principles. Many areas of their homeworld have only relatively recently implemented electrical infrastructure, and due to the wars ongoing, a great deal of this is destroyed on the continents of the Crucible and Bounty. on Sunlit Hall, however, the technological base has been steadily rising, as more advanced energy generation and utilization technologies are continually developed. This has resulted in rampant industrialization, particularly with the assistance of alien technology that Sunlit Hall's off-world branches continually send home. It is expected that within less than a century, most of Canvas will have fully developed according to the norms of interstellar civilizations, capable of building its own ships to colonize its area. By this point, Sunlit Hall is also expected to be in full control of all habitable continents on the planet's surface unless the situation changes. Sunlit Hall is rumored to be concerned that their surrounding star systems will be secretly colonized by the Staiven before this point, rendering them trapped within their system unless they become true vassals of the Pantheonic Government or travel so far away into the vast that they are unable to maintain a uniform civilization with those who remain on their homeworld. The Pantheonic Government claims to have no such interests, but has made no promises not to do so.]

Tseludian Mercenaries: [In a place where the underworld holds as much power as it does in Tseludia Station, Private Military Companies are vital for preserving the power of the corporations. These forces, many of whose members are also part of the underworld, hold the different forces in check, as well as guarding the various corporations against one another. They are experts in fishing in murky waters, able to profit from all sorts of wars and disputes, often from both sides of the conflict. These companies are extremely territorial against one another, competing for contracts, and in many cases fighting against one another. Some mercenary companies are largely or entirely composed of one race, while others are extremely diverse, taking in members from all sorts of different races and assigning roles according to skills. Powerful practitioners of progression systems such as the Seiyal are highly prized by all PMCs, though it is rare for any of the core formation level or above to join one. Such individuals are often more likely to found their own.]

Martial Robes: [The robes a martial artist wears dictates their identity, marking both the force that they originate from, as well as their position within that force. Many martial artists exclusively wear such clothing. Some claim that these traditional robes are inferior in combat to advanced equipment, but it is extremely rare for a sect or clan to ‘upgrade’. Explanations for why traditional robes are better usually relate to how they are much easier to move in than armor would be. That said, many mercenary practitioners choose to spurn tradition. Some martial artists like to wear blank or ‘unaffiliated’ robes, and these are generally looked down upon compared to those who display their affiliation.]

Inter-System Commerce: [Only a few of the races living within the Pantheonic Territory have the ability to construct their own spaceships, and the Staiven refuse to sell their own to other races. After all, forcing other races to rent ship usage is a major economic boon. The Staiven, the Celans, the Reth, and the Telaretians are the only races whose ships can be found working as traders between the systems of the territory. The Celans have only a few shipyards, and the types of ships they construct are restricted by the Pantheonic Government. The origin of the Reth's ships are unknown by the government, but for some reason no action has been undertaken to find it or to restrict it in any way. Telaretian ships exclusively originate from outside of the Pantheonic Territory. Merchant ships largely serve on contract work for corporations, both Staiven and alien, but many of them also serve as passenger ships for both immigrants and refugees. Many of the original generation of inter-system space traders are still alive, their lives unnaturally lengthened by the extensive amount of time they spend in hibernation.]

Staiven Station Atmospheres: [As much as most life in Telles which developed naturally tends to be very unique, the races who were created by gods conversely tend to share very distinct similarities. The most obvious of these are the ‘humanoid’ races, such as the Celans Seiyal and Reth, or the Staiven, who have obvious similarities in appearance to humanoids despite being vastly different on physiological and morphological scales. Most of these races, too, breathe in similar atmospheres. In fact, Staiven space stations only feature the unique combination of gases that such races prefer to breathe, having little interest in building structures where Staiven cannot live. This has had a vast impact on the demographics of the Pantheonic Territory, where immigrants and refugees from races who cannot breath in such atmospheres are only able to wear environment suits or lease habitable planets which suit their needs.]

Locations:

Retirement Facilities: [Throughout the Pantheonic Territory, the most influential members of the churches, government, and corporations all share a desire, one most powerful mortals share. The ambition to achieve immortality. Even their reverence for the Pantheon has not tamped this emotion down, merely driving it to greater heights. The elite of Staiven society wish to become Ascendants, to join the Pantheon for themselves, perhaps, or at least subsidiary deities. Despite technically having their own progression system, the Staiven are unable to reach such a level. For this reason, throughout the territory, many planetary and station governments have been sharing information with one another about their own experiments to alter the Staiven progression system, inspired in particular by those of the Seiyal and Reth, which are capable of achieving ascension. For this reason the government has mandated the creation of retirement programs throughout the territory, sending the elders of their own species, as well as kidnapped members of other races with progression systems into laboratories to serve as experimental subjects. The results and extent of such experiments vary from system to system.]

Reth (Region): [Sharing a name with its historical inhabitants, the region of the Crucible known as Reth is located in a massive caldera in the continent's interior. The region is filled with a mass of black smoke that rests in the caldera because it is heavier than air. This smoke, often called the Rethian Smog, is slightly poisonous to the Seiyal and Tovus, but causes no issues to the hardy lifeforms within. Despite how inhospitable the area might seem, it is actually thriving with life, from various animals to plant species that can only survive in such conditions. Or, at least, it was until it was blasted from orbit by the Staiven as part of their treaty with Sunlit Hall. In the aftermath, the Smog completely vanished, as if it had been destroyed.Now, Reth truly is a blasted hellscape, though one without the unique conditions it had once maintained. Rumors have it that much of the area's native wildlife still survives, taken away as crops and livestock by Reth refugees fleeing the planet. Unlike the other inhabitants of the region, the Reth themselves do not require the Smog to breathe, but they still have a deep connection to it. Once, the abilities they acquired from their progression system only functioned inside of the smog. Now, it is said that their abilities are able to work anywhere, and that black smoke forms around them when they use it. Some say that Saaya brought the Smog into the spirit world to protect it from destruction, in order to keep her children safe.]

Veraillen Station: [The design of Tseludia Station was not unique. In fact, the original commission for its design was intended to be used for a total of six stations, to be placed in various frontier systems, each named in honor of one of the Pantheon's deities. The result, a series of uniquely designed stations who few Staiven found appealing as a living space, were later repurposed for housing refugees and alien immigrants into the Pantheonic Territory. One of these stations was Veraillen Station, which is located nearer to Canvas than Tseludia, and therefore has a higher population of Seiyal. Veraillen is known to have a particularly dangerous underworld, and plenty of films and shows created on other stations such as Tseludia like to use it as the setting for crime thrillers.]

Staiven Prison Moons: [When it comes to cheap labor in the Pantheonic Territory, the answer is obviously the Exid. However, the worker drones cannot move too far away from their Queen, or they will lose all intelligent direction. So when it comes to mining for resources, the choices are to use machines or cheap laborers. Given the limits imposed on the Pantheonic Government by treaty with the Sheneth-Ari on machine intelligence, this means laborers must be acquired, ideally as cheaply as possible to benefit the corporations involved. For this reason, prison sentences are purchased by the corporations and the convicts are put to work. The unskilled are put to work on the prison moons, where they mine material and 'sell' it to the corporation for food, lodgings, various amenities that are offered, and to repay the 'value' of their sentence. Of course, the corporation has many ways to increase the value of this 'debt' in order to keep them working for as long as possible. For this reason, only the most skilled or most connected convicts have much hope for every reaching the end of their sentences. Asteroid mining is considered a more skilled and lucrative option, and many of the convicts on the moons fight for such limited opportunities, even though it is rumored that a significant number of those who are given opportunities to leave the moon to mine asteroids are actually taken away to be used in pharmaceutical testing. The threat of being taken to the prison moons is the true source of the Justice Office's power over the population. But within the Justice Office itself, it is known that quotas must be met.]

The Janaste System: [Despite ostensibly being under the control of the Pantheonic Government, the Janaste system is where most of the refugees from the Celan flotilla were placed after being accepted into the region by the government. None of the planets are habitable, nor is the system particularly conveniently located or full of resources. Still, it is the hub of Celan culture and industry, and has rapidly become a technological center to rival Staive itself. It is said that for tens of lightyears in every direction the system can be seen with the naked eye from all of the flickering miasma emanating from the vast industrial shipyards and the stations themselves, which were constructed by the Celans. Rather than there being an actual branch of the Pantheonic Government, the Staiven, who have little desire to live in such an alien culture, have simply created a vassal state simply called the Celan Government, or the Janaste Government. Staiven Officials are sent on several year long shifts to oversee this government and ensure the Celans cannot break out of Staiven control. It is rumored, however, that there is a 'shadow government' whose influence dwarfs even that of the Staiven in the system. The Pantheonic Government keeps a close watch on the system, but allows it to remain in its current state because of how much value exists in interspecies mercantilism.]

Factions:

Exid Corporations: [Upon introduction to Staiven society, the Exid who chose to live within the Pantheonic Territory shifted their culture to better interface with the civilization they existed within. In Tseludia Station, Exid Queendoms are legally listed as corporations, and are granted the relevant protections and rights of a corporate CEO. The various queendoms dominate the manufacturing market of the station, taking advantage of their skilled, easily replaced workers with a total lack of rights. In addition, due to their position as leaders of vast forces, the Exid Queens found themselves easily able to use their might to influence the workings of the underworld as well. Even the mystical and mechanical might of the Seiyal and Celans respectively find it difficult to deal with the endless swarms of insects in a fight. As fighting in this way hurts the bottom line of their corporations, as the lives of their worker drones are treated as resources, it is something usually avoided, however. As a way to leverage this power without using it, several of them have taken to becoming loan sharks, offering loans to almost anyone at varying rates of interest, loans that very few individuals would dare to default on. Due to infighting between the various Queendoms, however, their territory of Otan is seen by some as one of the weakest districts of Tseludia in terms of underworld control.]

The Lee Clan: [One of the most powerful martial organizations who practice sanguine arts, the Lee Clan is a family that are fervent devotees of the goddess Saaya. As both unorthodox practitioners and 'heretics', they are one of Sunlit Hall's highest priority targets for extermination. The clan originated on the Crucible, and was once one of the most powerful forces on the continent. They steadily lost power and influence over the course of Sunlit Hall's various crusades. While their influence and finances were crippled, the foundation of their martial strength was never shattered. Several centuries ago the clan fled Canvas with the Reth, and their current whereabouts are largely unknown. Members of the Lee Clan are occasionally still used to perform the role of villains in media. This is not only because of Sunlit Hall propaganda, but also because their unorthodox sanguine arts involve mutilation of both themselves and others. For this reason they are seen as forces of evil.]

Martial Sects: [Existing on Canvas for as long as historians can track, martial sects have served as forces that train up some of the most powerful of martial artists, due to their long histories and extensive catalogues of techniques for their disciples. Sects can be found on every inhabited continent, and even throughout the universe, wherever a sufficient population of Seiyal can be found. Unlike a clan, sects are often largely meritocratic, giving advantages based on talent and skill, rather than merely for being descendants of a certain bloodline. Despite this, nepotism still exists within sects, as it does in nearly all humanoid societies. Sects are often the hearts of their communities, providing jobs, security, and glory to those who are connected to them. Aside from selling protection via lending disciples to their clients, which were historically travelling merchant groups for protection from bandits, many sects also buy up and own nearby businesses, acquiring the finances they need to continue running. Sects are thus highly competitive, as merchants always respect the more well known and perceived to be powerful sects over those who are less known. Such disputes are why sects so rarely spring up near one another. It is said to be inevitable that two forces located within the same city will inevitably come into conflict.]

Idrico Health Solutions' Ownership: [Owned as part of a network of shell companies, Idrico Health Solutions was founded to compete with the Venin Group without causing any hostility between the group and the company's actual owner/s. This is a common tactic among Staiven corporations, and one considered 'sporting.' Of course, if one is able to navigate the complex web of holdings and find out the true owner, it is also fair game to express one's resentment against the true competitor, who in this case is actually the Tseludian branch of the Margrave Corporation. Notably, the Margrave Corporation has 'purchased' several businesses in the past who formed as if from nowhere, bankrupted their competitors with cheaper and more effective products, and then significantly increased the product's price after being 'purchased' by Margrave, and when they have a near or total monopoly of the market.]

Ascendants and Osine:

Delithia: [Along with Relya the Sunweaver, goddess of the Escalos, Delithia is one of the oldest and most powerful ascendants in the known universe. Like Relya, it is said that Delithia had her own associated species, though they are said to be long extinct. Legends of various civilizations say that Delithia entered this universe through the depths of the endless ocean, which has become the 'holy land' of her cult, whose members are known as Depthists. The cult has yet to discover this claimed 'ocean of boundless depths'. Delithia is an avowed enemy of all Osine nations, and her followers are targets for elimination by their forces. The Depths Cult is also illegal within the Pantheonic Territory, though the government does not usually put too much effort in exterminating them, so the cult widely exists as an underworld organization, running black markets across the territory. A disproportionately high number of the cult's followers among races with progression systems are those who use sanguine miasma. Delithia's current location and activities are unknown to all, though it is rumored that she occasionally sends messages to her more devoted followers.]

Divine Blessings: [Not everyone worships deities, even within races like the Staiven. Of course, it is extremely rare to find a mad conspiracy theorist who does not believe in their existence. After all, evidence for the existence of deities is incredibly apparent. How could beings who do not exist control a very large portion of galactic territory? Despite the known truth of their existence, many of the 'blessings' and 'miracles' ascribed to them are simply the product of chance and circumstance. After all, how does one know whether a fruitful harvest was accomplished with the blessings of Estrivai or simply hard work and good fortune? Still, according to the churches, the gods will on occasion manipulate events or reality to bless believers and those who represent their domain, regardless of their faith. It is common for deities to only give such blessings to their chosen people, like Relya for the Escalos, or Cierra for the Seiyal of Sunlit Hall. In recent decades, the targets of such blessings for the deities of the Pantheon have expanded beyond the Staiven to all who live within the Pantheonic Territory, a matter which has occurred around the same time as the Pantheon's churches' expansion of their recruitment to non Staiven species.]