Caelum Imperium: A Space Opera Science Fantasy Setting

[OddHat]

War! Blood! Magic! Poorly Done Brian Blessed Impersonations!

 

In August, Blackwyrm will be releasing my first setting book for Hero, Caelum Imperium.

 

In this thread I'll be posting some teasers, including links to the upcoming Caelum Imperium Podcast.

 

And so, please welcome the very first Caelum Imperium Teaser!

 

Brian Blessed in no way associated with Caelum Imperium, but he's a good sport and probably wouldn't mind.

[OddHat]

Re: Caelum Imperium Promo Thread

 

Lucius Casca Carolinus tested his pilum’s weight. It felt good in his hand. Comforting. Not like the Chi bows; this was a Roman weapon. A man’s weapon.

 

“Legionaries! Formation!” The Centurion’s voice boomed inside Carolinus’ helmet. The young legionary checked his face plate one last time before rushing to his place in the second row on the bridge.

 

The Helios’ Spirit Stone blazed, supporting the trireme as it plowed silently through the void. From Luna’s cratered surface a Qin Junk rose defiantly, the ship’s main Chi Bow charging. The Jade Emperor’s knights, looking insect like at this distance, moved into their own formation.

 

Carolinus smiled. The junk was swifter, and more skillfully built than the Roman trireme. The Jade Knights were fine individual combatants. But they chose now to face the full power of the 23rd Legion above Luna’s ancient ruins.

 

The legionary hefted his spear, and waited for the command to throw.

 

One thousand five hundred years after the founding of the city of Rome, the legions of the Eternal Emperor have mastered more than a fifth of the world and the sky beyond. Through blood-fueled Spirit Stones the Empire’s power extends to Luna and Mars, and to Heavenly Fortresses bridging the sky between Three Worlds of Empire.

 

Welcome to a world where ancient empires reach out to the stars. A world where men can become like unto gods. A world of traders and soldiers; Demigods and Heroes; God Emperors and Myths made Flesh. This is the world of Caelum Imperium.

 

Caelum Imperium, from Blackwyrm Publishing, coming August, 2011. Ready your spears.

[Xavier Onassiss]

Re: Caelum Imperium: A Space Opera Science Fantasy Setting

 

Awesome.

 

Do you think I should consider doing a Terracide preview thread?

[OddHat]

Re: Caelum Imperium: A Space Opera Science Fantasy Setting

 

Terracide preview? Absolutely!

[Susano]

Re: Caelum Imperium: A Space Opera Science Fantasy Setting

 

Awesome.

 

Do you think I should consider doing a Terracide preview thread?

 

Let me think for a moment—yes.

[OddHat]

Re: Caelum Imperium: A Space Opera Science Fantasy Setting

 

The Second Caelum Imperium Podcast and Teaser is now up! Thrill to exciting tales of blood and bureaucracy! Be amazed by somewhat shaky obscure celebrity voice impersonations! Be very mildly annoyed yet somewhat entertained by technical difficulties! All this, and more, in the Caelum Imperium Podcast

 

Listen to Secrets of the Green Here!

[OddHat]

Re: Caelum Imperium: A Space Opera Science Fantasy Setting

 

Secrets of the Green: A Tale of Caelum Imperium

 

It is said that in the time of the Three Emperors of Zhong Guo, the Red Khagan, Great Khagan of the Rus, descended with an army of one hundred thousand men to claim the riches of Gansu province for his barbaric people.

 

None could stand against the might of the Red Khagan, for he had set a great Xue Crystal in the hilt of his hand scythe, and a second in the hilt of his great hammer, and a third in his great helm.

 

No armor could stand against the All-Cutting Hand Scythe of the Great Khagan, which sliced through finest steel as if through water. No fortification could stand against the All Overcoming War Hammer of the Great Khagan, which tore through crystal and iron as if through paper. No blade or point could pierce the armor of the Great Khagan, for with each attack the Xue Crystal set in his Unconquerable Helm would flash, and blows against the Great Khagan’s armor would fall away like rain.

 

With such a war leader, none could stand against the Rus, and the people of Gansu were afraid. “What can we do?” cried the people of Gansu. “Who can save us?” they wailed. Riders went from the people of Gansu to each of the three Emperors.

 

Emissaries rode to the Emperor of the West. They were treated with no kindness and no courtesy. “Your cloaks are filthy, your money pouches empty, and you have no friends here,” said the officials of the Emperor of the West. “Who cares that you are attacked? Off with you!”

 

Emissaries rode to the Emperor of the South, but were not permitted to enter his presence. “The Emperor of the South is very busy,” said his court officials, “and cannot see you now.”

 

Emissaries rode to the Emperor of the East, but with great courtesy he refused their pleas. They were given fine food, and fine wine, fresh horses and many gifts. “This is a terrible thing” said the Emperor of the East, “but Gansu pays taxes also to the West and South. This is a matter for the Emperor of the West. You must seek help from him.”

 

The Red Khagan descended into Gansu. His armies ravaged the land. The Khagan’s mighty army destroyed ten cities, and one hundred towns, and one thousand villages, or so it is said, killing the men and taking the women and children to be sold as slaves. The Emissaries returned, and told their tales.“What is to become of us” wailed the people of Gansu, “if the three Emperors will not send aid?”

 

“But wait,” said a wise man of Gansu, “what of the Abbot of Green Bat?”

 

“Yes,” shouted another man of Gansu, “the Abbot of Green Bat is the supreme master of Jade Chi, and his Green Bat style is invincible! We must call on him to help us!”

 

And so a rider was dispatched to the Green Bat Temple, and the Abbot of Green Bat was told of the terror of the Red Khagan.

 

“What is this,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “you pay taxes to three Emperors and not one will raise his arm to shield you? That is unrighteous!”

 

The Abbot of Green Bat took pity on the people of Gansu, and in three great leaps traveled from his temple in Tianjin to the far borders of Gansu and the vast camp of the army of the Red Khagan.

 

“See,” cried ten soldiers of the Khagan, “an old man in green! Let us slay him, and take his robes and money pouch!”

 

But the Abbot of Green Bat drew forth his mighty Green Bat Long Axe, with its shaft of green wood hard as steel and its bat shaped blades of exquisite sharpness. With one great sweep the Abbot killed the ten charging soldiers, and so perfect was his technique that not a drop of blood stained his immaculate robes.

 

“See,” cried one hundred soldiers of the Khagan, “an old warrior in Green! Let us slay him, and take his robes and magic axe!”

 

But the Abbot of Green Bat leaped forward to meet the charging soldiers, and with his supreme Jade Chi struck one hundred blows in the space of a second, leaving one hundred soldiers dead on the ground.

 

“See,” cried one thousand soldiers of the Khagan, “an old god in green! Let us flee and seek the Great Khagan, for men cannot stand against a god!”

 

And so one thousand soldiers fled before the Abbot of Green Bat.

 

“It is good,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “for to kill one thousand men would be excessive, and to fall before them would bring shame to the Green Bat Temple.”

 

And the Abbot of Green Bat waited at the edge of the camp, confident that the Red Khagan would come and stand before him.

 

Nor was the Abbot mistaken, for in a crash of thunder the Red Khagan appeared, hand scythe in his right hand and hammer in his left.

 

“Who is this,” roared the Red Khagan, “that dares to kill my soldiers?”

 

“It is I, the Abbot of Green Bat,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “and I command you to accept the Buddha, leave these lands, and return with your soldiers to the barbarian north.”

 

“Hah!” roared the Red Khagan, “I take no commands, and I spit on your Buddha! Your three Emperors have lost the Mandate of Heaven, and Zhong Guo is weak! I shall keep these lands and take more!”

 

And with that, the Red Khagan struck at the Abbot of Green Bat with his All Cutting Hand Scythe! But the Abbot’s Green Bat Kung Fu was superb! The Abbot turned aside the blow with his Green Bat Axe!

 

Furious, the Red Khagan struck once more, now with his All Overcoming War Hammer that could crush all obstacles! But the Abbot’s Jade Chi was unmatched, and the Abbot’s body swayed to the side, avoiding the terrible blow!

 

“Fool” roared the Red Khagan, “a battle is not won by dancing, but by power!” And with that, the Red Khagan drew on the Red Chi of his All Cutting Hand Scythe to strike a never miss blow! Deep into the chest of the Abbot of Green Bat the scythe plunged home, and as it tore free a fountain of blood followed!

 

But the Supreme Jade Chi of the Abbot of Green Bat overcame even the All Cutting Hand Scythe! The terrible wound closed as quickly as it had opened, as if it had never been! The Abbot of Green Bat turned and with his foot struck a blow that hurtled the Red Khagan back the length of a medium length field!

 

“The Green,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “rises from within, an inexhaustible well of strength. The Red is held outside the self, and corrupts all it touches. It will make you a monster, and then destroy you. Abandon the Red, accept the Buddha, and you will know peace.”

 

“The Red,” roared the Khagan, “feasts upon the Green! It is the unquenchable fire, and it shall consume you and your Buddha, and all of Zhong Guo!” Again thunder crashed, and again the Khagan struck at the Abbot of Green Bat!

 

For hours they fought, and the Abbot did not tire, and the Khagan did not tire. But then the Xue Crystals in the All Cutting hand scythe, the All Overcoming War Hammer, and the Unconquerable helm began to lose their glow. Black threads, first slender, then thick, began to show and spread as the power of the Xue Crystals grew close to exhaustion.

 

“Your weapons grow weak,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “yet my Jade Chi remains strong.” With serpent’s speed and tiger’s strength, the Abbot of Green Bat struck with his axe, twisting the All Cutting Hand Scythe and All Overcoming Hammer from the hands of the Red Khagan. “Now yield,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “and accept the Buddha, for your power is external, and with but a single Xue Crystal you cannot hope to stand against my Green Bat Kung fu.”

 

The Red Khagan shrieked his despair to heaven, but heaven paid no heed. “I spit upon your Buddha!” said the Red Khagan. “Even if I yield this day, know that I shall return! Zhong Guo is weak and divided, and one priest or one thousand shall not save it!”

 

And with that, the Xue Crystal set in the Unconquerable Helm flashed, and the Red Khagan, along with his All Cutting Hand Scythe and All Overcoming War Hammer, vanished from the field. Without their leader, the men of the Khagan’s army despaired, and in disarray fled back towards distant Rus with what booty they could carry.

 

The people of Gansu ran to thank the Abbot of Green Bat, but he was thoughtful. “The Red Khagan may be right,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “for in a land of three Emperors, only one lone priest came to the aid of the people of Gansu. This must not be.”

 

And so the Abbot of Green Bat spoke to all the other Abbots and great masters of Zhong Guo, and together they presented their demands to the three Emperors. From that day forward, there would be but one Emperor, and he would serve and defend the nation. If those who wished to be Emperor could not decide among themselves who rightfully held the Mandate of Heaven, it would be decided by the Temples. The three Emperors raged and wept at this news, but they knew that they could not oppose the will of the people as expressed through the Temples united, and so the Emperor of the East was granted ascendancy. Since that time, Zhong Guo has known the peace and protection of a single Emperor, most of the time.

 

As to what happened to the Red Khagan and the Abbot of Green Bat, that is a different tale.

------------------------------------------------------

In the time of the Song Dynasty, the legions of the Jade Emperor battle for dominance of Earth and Sky! Through Crystal Magicks the Empire’s power extends across the Heavens, reaching out to the Three Worlds of Empire!

 

Welcome to a world where ancient empires reach out to the stars. A world where men can become like unto gods. A world of traders and soldiers; Demigods and Heroes; God Emperors and Myths made Flesh. This is the world of Caelum Imperium.

 

Caelum Imperium, from Blackwyrm Publishing, coming August, 2011. Ready your spears.

Caelum Imperium and Secrets of the Green Copyright Robert Dorf, 2010

[OddHat]

Re: Caelum Imperium: A Space Opera Science Fantasy Setting

 

Secrets of the Green: A Tale of Caelum Imperium

 

It is said that in the time of the Three Emperors of Zhong Guo, the Red Khagan, Great Khagan of the Rus, descended with an army of one hundred thousand men to claim the riches of Gansu province for his barbaric people.

 

None could stand against the might of the Red Khagan, for he had set a great Xue Crystal in the hilt of his hand scythe, and a second in the hilt of his great hammer, and a third in his great helm.

 

No armor could stand against the All-Cutting Hand Scythe of the Great Khagan, which sliced through finest steel as if through water. No fortification could stand against the All Overcoming War Hammer of the Great Khagan, which tore through crystal and iron as if through paper. No blade or point could pierce the armor of the Great Khagan, for with each attack the Xue Crystal set in his Unconquerable Helm would flash, and blows against the Great Khagan’s armor would fall away like rain.

 

With such a war leader, none could stand against the Rus, and the people of Gansu were afraid. “What can we do?” cried the people of Gansu. “Who can save us?” they wailed. Riders went from the people of Gansu to each of the three Emperors.

 

Emissaries rode to the Emperor of the West. They were treated with no kindness and no courtesy. “Your cloaks are filthy, your money pouches empty, and you have no friends here,” said the officials of the Emperor of the West. “Who cares that you are attacked? Off with you!”

 

Emissaries rode to the Emperor of the South, but were not permitted to enter his presence. “The Emperor of the South is very busy,” said his court officials, “and cannot see you now.”

 

Emissaries rode to the Emperor of the East, but with great courtesy he refused their pleas. They were given fine food, and fine wine, fresh horses and many gifts. “This is a terrible thing” said the Emperor of the East, “but Gansu pays taxes also to the West and South. This is a matter for the Emperor of the West. You must seek help from him.”

 

The Red Khagan descended into Gansu. His armies ravaged the land. The Khagan’s mighty army destroyed ten cities, and one hundred towns, and one thousand villages, or so it is said, killing the men and taking the women and children to be sold as slaves. The Emissaries returned, and told their tales.“What is to become of us” wailed the people of Gansu, “if the three Emperors will not send aid?”

 

“But wait,” said a wise man of Gansu, “what of the Abbot of Green Bat?”

 

“Yes,” shouted another man of Gansu, “the Abbot of Green Bat is the supreme master of Jade Chi, and his Green Bat style is invincible! We must call on him to help us!”

 

And so a rider was dispatched to the Green Bat Temple, and the Abbot of Green Bat was told of the terror of the Red Khagan.

 

“What is this,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “you pay taxes to three Emperors and not one will raise his arm to shield you? That is unrighteous!”

 

The Abbot of Green Bat took pity on the people of Gansu, and in three great leaps traveled from his temple in Tianjin to the far borders of Gansu and the vast camp of the army of the Red Khagan.

 

“See,” cried ten soldiers of the Khagan, “an old man in green! Let us slay him, and take his robes and money pouch!”

 

But the Abbot of Green Bat drew forth his mighty Green Bat Long Axe, with its shaft of green wood hard as steel and its bat shaped blades of exquisite sharpness. With one great sweep the Abbot killed the ten charging soldiers, and so perfect was his technique that not a drop of blood stained his immaculate robes.

 

“See,” cried one hundred soldiers of the Khagan, “an old warrior in Green! Let us slay him, and take his robes and magic axe!”

 

But the Abbot of Green Bat leaped forward to meet the charging soldiers, and with his supreme Jade Chi struck one hundred blows in the space of a second, leaving one hundred soldiers dead on the ground.

 

“See,” cried one thousand soldiers of the Khagan, “an old god in green! Let us flee and seek the Great Khagan, for men cannot stand against a god!”

 

And so one thousand soldiers fled before the Abbot of Green Bat.

 

“It is good,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “for to kill one thousand men would be excessive, and to fall before them would bring shame to the Green Bat Temple.”

 

And the Abbot of Green Bat waited at the edge of the camp, confident that the Red Khagan would come and stand before him.

 

Nor was the Abbot mistaken, for in a crash of thunder the Red Khagan appeared, hand scythe in his right hand and hammer in his left.

 

“Who is this,” roared the Red Khagan, “that dares to kill my soldiers?”

 

“It is I, the Abbot of Green Bat,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “and I command you to accept the Buddha, leave these lands, and return with your soldiers to the barbarian north.”

 

“Hah!” roared the Red Khagan, “I take no commands, and I spit on your Buddha! Your three Emperors have lost the Mandate of Heaven, and Zhong Guo is weak! I shall keep these lands and take more!”

 

And with that, the Red Khagan struck at the Abbot of Green Bat with his All Cutting Hand Scythe! But the Abbot’s Green Bat Kung Fu was superb! The Abbot turned aside the blow with his Green Bat Axe!

 

Furious, the Red Khagan struck once more, now with his All Overcoming War Hammer that could crush all obstacles! But the Abbot’s Jade Chi was unmatched, and the Abbot’s body swayed to the side, avoiding the terrible blow!

 

“Fool” roared the Red Khagan, “a battle is not won by dancing, but by power!” And with that, the Red Khagan drew on the Red Chi of his All Cutting Hand Scythe to strike a never miss blow! Deep into the chest of the Abbot of Green Bat the scythe plunged home, and as it tore free a fountain of blood followed!

 

But the Supreme Jade Chi of the Abbot of Green Bat overcame even the All Cutting Hand Scythe! The terrible wound closed as quickly as it had opened, as if it had never been! The Abbot of Green Bat turned and with his foot struck a blow that hurtled the Red Khagan back the length of a medium length field!

 

“The Green,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “rises from within, an inexhaustible well of strength. The Red is held outside the self, and corrupts all it touches. It will make you a monster, and then destroy you. Abandon the Red, accept the Buddha, and you will know peace.”

 

“The Red,” roared the Khagan, “feasts upon the Green! It is the unquenchable fire, and it shall consume you and your Buddha, and all of Zhong Guo!” Again thunder crashed, and again the Khagan struck at the Abbot of Green Bat!

 

For hours they fought, and the Abbot did not tire, and the Khagan did not tire. But then the Xue Crystals in the All Cutting hand scythe, the All Overcoming War Hammer, and the Unconquerable helm began to lose their glow. Black threads, first slender, then thick, began to show and spread as the power of the Xue Crystals grew close to exhaustion.

 

“Your weapons grow weak,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “yet my Jade Chi remains strong.” With serpent’s speed and tiger’s strength, the Abbot of Green Bat struck with his axe, twisting the All Cutting Hand Scythe and All Overcoming Hammer from the hands of the Red Khagan. “Now yield,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “and accept the Buddha, for your power is external, and with but a single Xue Crystal you cannot hope to stand against my Green Bat Kung fu.”

 

The Red Khagan shrieked his despair to heaven, but heaven paid no heed. “I spit upon your Buddha!” said the Red Khagan. “Even if I yield this day, know that I shall return! Zhong Guo is weak and divided, and one priest or one thousand shall not save it!”

 

And with that, the Xue Crystal set in the Unconquerable Helm flashed, and the Red Khagan, along with his All Cutting Hand Scythe and All Overcoming War Hammer, vanished from the field. Without their leader, the men of the Khagan’s army despaired, and in disarray fled back towards distant Rus with what booty they could carry.

 

The people of Gansu ran to thank the Abbot of Green Bat, but he was thoughtful. “The Red Khagan may be right,” said the Abbot of Green Bat, “for in a land of three Emperors, only one lone priest came to the aid of the people of Gansu. This must not be.”

 

And so the Abbot of Green Bat spoke to all the other Abbots and great masters of Zhong Guo, and together they presented their demands to the three Emperors. From that day forward, there would be but one Emperor, and he would serve and defend the nation. If those who wished to be Emperor could not decide among themselves who rightfully held the Mandate of Heaven, it would be decided by the Temples. The three Emperors raged and wept at this news, but they knew that they could not oppose the will of the people as expressed through the Temples united, and so the Emperor of the East was granted ascendancy. Since that time, Zhong Guo has known the peace and protection of a single Emperor, most of the time.

 

As to what happened to the Red Khagan and the Abbot of Green Bat, that is a different tale.

------------------------------------------------------

In the time of the Song Dynasty, the legions of the Jade Emperor battle for dominance of Earth and Sky! Through Crystal Magicks the Empire’s power extends across the Heavens, reaching out to the Three Worlds of Empire!

 

Welcome to a world where ancient empires reach out to the stars. A world where men can become like unto gods. A world of traders and soldiers; Demigods and Heroes; God Emperors and Myths made Flesh. This is the world of Caelum Imperium.

 

Caelum Imperium, from Blackwyrm Publishing, coming August, 2011. Ready your spears.

Caelum Imperium and Secrets of the Green Copyright Robert Dorf, 2010

[The_Patriot]

Re: Caelum Imperium: A Space Opera Science Fantasy Setting

 

May you have the best of luck with your book and I hope you sell as many copies as you can.

 

Up to doing an Inceptum Terminus: Chronicles review when the book is laid out and approved by Steve Long?

[OddHat]

Re: Caelum Imperium: A Space Opera Science Fantasy Setting

 

May you have the best of luck with your book and I hope you sell as many copies as you can.

 

Up to doing an Inceptum Terminus: Chronicles review when the book is laid out and approved by Steve Long?

 

Sure, glad to.