Imperium

(This article is about the planet Imperium. For a list of Characters native to Imperium, click here.)

Imperium is a planet in Uncharted Space, as well as a setting in Axugaem and Axugaem2. It was created using the Celestial Data system by an unknown creator, who seems to have abandoned their project and left it in the care of their Elemental stewards.

Imperium, like all planets touched by Wisps, possesses unnatural variety in its intelligent races, which has prevented any one race from establishing a position of dominance over the planet. The Elementals are the closest the planet comes to having a superior race, but their position as caretakers of the planet means that they spend most of their time withdrawn from mortal affairs, allowing Imperium's denizens the freedom to do what they will.

Other notable features of Imperium include its unusual bowl-shape, potential for data-related glitches, and large quantity of voracious beings. The glitch known as Voracious Gluttony afflicts thousands of Imperium's denizens, including entire races and even some Elementals. The prevalence of this glitch makes traversing any part of Imperium potentially dangerous, as a being can develop Voracious Gluttony at any stage between its early and mid-life, and will often resort to consuming other living beings whole to sate its resultant hunger.

Location
Imperium is located in an otherwise lifeless quadrant of a galaxy that sits approximately 937000 Light Years away from the edge of UDS Space, and 752000 Light Years past the territory of the Glizzarian Empire. As an uncharted planet, Imperium has not been officially touched by the hands of any significant universal faction, and no known alien history makes any mention of the planet. That said, there exists evidence that ships and other alien life forms have touched down on Imperium in the past, but very few aliens make it past the Stratosphere, a protective layer of islands suspended hundreds of miles above the planet's crust. Because no race on Imperium has invented space travel, the planet has had no proper contact with other alien races.

Geography
Imperium's bowl shape is often attributed to the planet being unfinished. When working with Celestial Data, creators often start from one side of a planet, using the other side for storage and testing purposes. Due to the planet's rotation, This 'Dark Side' of Imperium is sunless, save for any light reflected by Tartarus, Imperium's sole moon. Nothing is known about the Dark Side of Imperium; the edges of Imperium's 'Sunny Side' culminate in the 'Farlands,' violent, tempestuous, rocky waters that end in jagged, thunder-licked mountains, making travel to the other side of the planet impossible. Because of this reality, Flat-Imperium is a persistent school of thought in Imperial Astronomical Studies, with many believing that their world is the center of existence and that the stars in the sky make up a Cosmic Sphere that is more of a shell than anything else.

In terms of climate, Imperium bears a resemblance to Earth. Its coldest areas are its North and South poles, but these areas bleed into the Farlands and as such are almost entirely uninhabitable. Most of Imperium's life is located in its three recognized 'continent clusters': Central Imperium, the Northern Reaches, and the South Seas. Each of these continents supports its own unique life forms and is largely removed from the rest of the world. Sea-based trade does occasionally occur between continents, but the presence of Sea Monsters and Melkai in the world's oceans tends to discourage most travelers.

Though Imperium has been mapped in some capacity, it is thought that a complete map of even just the Sunny Side does not yet exist. This assumption is due not only to the difficult conditions in the Farlands, but also the presence of colder waters deeper into the South Seas, which remain largely unexplored. This area has been termed the Fool's Sea due to its mysterious and treacherous reputation. In addition, the presence of intelligent subterranean races on Imperium has led scholars to believe that mapping the planet's many underground kingdoms would be a monumental task beyond the reach of any one mapmaker.

One more facet of Imperial Geography to take into account is that the world is linked to a small section of the Underworld through interdimensional portals known as Hellgates. As a result, races native to the Underworld such as Demons and Flayers have had an impact on the planet, with many choosing to settle on Imperium.

History
Main Article: Imperium Chronology

Imperium was created at an unknown date, somewhere upward of 10 million years ago. Its Elemental Lords, who are commonly thought to be the planet's oldest living beings, came into being approximately 2000 years before the start of the planet's recorded history. Though Elementals traditionally do not record their history, some have lived since before record history (BRH) and are thus valuable to historians, who frequently seek audiences with such beings. These Elementals, however, are typically tight-lipped, and rarely share anything of value.

The Desert Pigmen are frequently cited as the first Imperial race to record their own history in the year 0, but many scholars claim that there existed an advanced civilization as far back as 900 BRH, known as Halden. Very few traces of this legendary civilization remain, with no sufficient accounts available to indicate if they recorded their history. The kingdom of Halden was wiped out in the year 50 BRH, with many historians citing the Elementals as a direct cause. The Elementals refuse to acknowledge Halden, frequently dismissing it as a myth that has been blown far out of proportion.

Imperium's recorded history is marked by Elemental unrest and interracial conflict, from the many Pigman Wars, to the Exile of the Nekos from Legato, to the Great Elemental War which lasted from 5-53 RH. Though technological advances such as Indoor Plumbing and Subrail Travel are currently spreading across the planet, it has remained largely unchanged since the start of Recorded History, with most races relying more on Magic than technology to suit their needs. This trend may be on the verge of shifting with the advent of the Gus Corporation (Guscorp) which seeks to increase the flow of new technology across the surface of the planet. The ethically questionable methods of Guscorp are a growing concern for many races, and Imperium's present age is marked by guerrilla warfare on the part of smaller entities looking to slow the progress of the growing corporation.

Life Forms
Imperium's staggering biodiversity is owed to the manic creativity of its creator, along with some of the Elemental Lords. Most of the planet's races are based on templates copied from other worlds, with Nekos, Pigmen, and Humans serving as prime examples. Other races, such as the Elvish Remnant, or Husk, are hybrids created by tampering with the planet's Celestial Data. These latter races tend to be less stable, and can potentially possess serious glitches that threaten the planet's well-being.

Multiple Continents

 * Humans
 * Gatos
 * Nekos
 * Charon
 * Cladge
 * Melkai
 * Inu
 * Selkies
 * Gremlins and Ogres

Central Imperium

 * Pigmen
 * Lamia
 * Slug Lamia (Sluglam)
 * Diggers
 * Bone Golems (Skeletons)
 * Angels
 * Mer

The South Seas

 * Arachne
 * Sporefolk
 * Goblins
 * Triclops

The Northern Reaches

 * Plowfolk
 * Ravenkin
 * Harpies

Sentient Races (Non-Humanoid)

 * Elementals
 * Shapestealers

Sentient Races (Glitched)

 * Elvish Remnants/Husks
 * Shadowmen and Spiters
 * Merleen
 * Redcaps (Werewolves) and Wererats
 * Vampires

Nonsentient and Semi-Sentient Races

 * Imperium Bestiary
 * Gluttons
 * Reptilidons
 * Lesser Elementals

Underworld-Native Races

 * Flayers
 * Demons and Half-Demons

Extinct and Critically Endangered Races

 * Pero
 * Dragons
 * Goat Eaters
 * Cabra
 * Giants