9th Age Lore Suggestions

List below are a few suggestions to take into consideration when writing lore for this age. Polemos is a vast universe and there are always exceptions to the rule, so you do not have to follow these to the letter; rather these suggestions are focused on the “spirit” or “themes” that you should follow.

Polemos is a science fantasy universe, not science fiction. For this reason features of planets/etc need not be strictly accurate given current scientific knowledge. Where it differs, however, it should still be grounded and believable.

With near-light speed available, all habitable objects in the solar system are up for grabs. Colonies are now viable on other planets, moons, and even asteroids. Most factions see this as an opportunity to claim and hold more than their enemies- and in general the age features plenty of expansionism and technological competition.

Basic terraforming is possible but uses very crude tools (ex: redirecting comets to seed a planet with water) and many generations to complete. Most exocolonies still require some form of technology to survive in their environment- colonies with Polemos-like atmospheres or climates are rare.

Colonies outside the Aelios system are possible but rare- they usually require generational ships and years of lag-time in communication.

Dragoons in the 9th Age have given up their reactionary hatred of technology- though they still cannot support cybernetics as well as other races. Instead they have found themselves able to withstand harsher environments than humans, which gives them an edge in colonizing less inviting

Anthegals, being the inventors of the Vannhausen device, are first to the space race. They take the opportunity to perform a mass exodus. While in the 8th Age anthegals had let go of their isolation and taken the mantle or world protectors- having seen the horrors of the Long War they become more isolationist than ever. They establish some of the most advanced worlds second only to Polemos, but have strict, sometimes harsh, border control.

Sek-Agkelos continue to be infertile, meaning that although they are immortal their numbers never really grow. For this reason they are even more rare than in the 8th Age. Those that do take to space are the most tempted by the new Void magic.

Constructs divide themselves as a race between those that wish to live with mortals as they have before, and those that wish to separate themselves. Those separatists will eventually form a scientific theocracy and be a regional antagonist.