Difference between revisions of "User:Rasarr/Skyward Universe"

'''Skyward Universe''' and '''cytoverse''' both referrefers to the as-of-yet-unnamed universe that serves as the setting of ''[[Defending Elysium]]'' and the [[Skyward (series)|Skyward series]].{{wob ref|11965}} It's our own world, albeit in the far future; as such, it's not part of the [[cosmere]]. Alongside [[Earth (Skyward)|Earth]] and humanity, it contains numerous spacefaring species, all of which share a magic system known as [[cytonics]].

The cytoverseuniverse is comprised of two connected realities -- our own and '''nowhere''', an interdimensional "world" with strange relation to time and space. Little is known of nowhere's appearance, though it is home to a type of beings called [[delver]]s, as well as a mineral called the [[acclivity stone]].{{book ref|sky2|25}} Regular rules of physics do not apply there completely, and everything to come from nowhere possesses extraordinary properties. The best-known among them is acclivity stone, which is used to counteract gravity and thus provide lift to all spaceships and space stations.{{book ref|sky2|7}}

Apart from the portals, nowhere can also be accessed by people called '''cytonics'''. Any speciesSpecies, including non-sapient ones, isare capable of developing cytonic abilities; how they first appear is undetermined, but once they do show up, they are passed down to the original cytonic's descendants. They allow for more than just peering into nowhere -- "cytonics" refers to a whole host of psychic powers.{{book ref|elysium}}{{book ref|sky2|1}}

Across the known universe, all sapient species developed [[cytonic]] abilities prior to discovering advanced technology; as such, they would often abandon further pursuit of conventional sciences in favour of the psionic powers. Humanity is one exception to that. Earth was already advanced technologically by the time the [[Phone Company]] began developing cyto, a cybernetics-based method of telepathic linking. Those early experiments were unsuccessful, but they were enough to attract the attention of the spacefaring [[tenasi]]. After a misunderstanding led to the tenasi scout being shot down by US[[United Governments]] military, the Phone Company negotiated more peacable reactions, and, as a result, became the sole point of contact between humans and aliens.{{book ref|elysium}}

TheSkyward cytoverseuniverse is inhabited by numerous sapient species of varied shapes, sizes and configurations. Most appear to be roughly humanoid, walking upright with an even number of limbs. Their sizedsizes vary, with the smallest being only a handspan tall, while the largest are bigger than humans.{{book ref|sky2|13}} Despite apparent physical similarities, the various speciesthey can differ vastly in their biology; for example, the [[dione]] can change their biological sex during their lifetime, while the [[varvax]] are actually small creatures possessing large exoskeletons.{{book ref|sky2|12}} Nonetheless, it seems that some species -- such as humans and the [[UrDail]] -- are capable of producing offspring together.{{book ref|sky2|36}}

Apart from the humanoid aliens, the Skyward universe is also home to vastly different ones. Those range from plausibly biological, such as a species resembling spike-covered balloons,{{book ref|sky2|13}} to [[figment]]s, which are invisible, sapient smells.{{book ref|sky2|20}}

Human culture has had a vast impact on other sapient speciescreatures. This seems to have began even before the Human Wars, with [[kitsen]] using the Japanese term ''[[wikipedia:Daimyō|daimyo]]'' to refer to their leaders.{{book ref|sky2|26}} However, it was during the Wars that humanity truly put their mark on the universe. Human languages -- mainly English, Spanish, Hindi and Mandarin -- are to this day carried by all translator pins, and serve as a common tonguetongues for all species of the galaxy.{{book ref|sky2|10}} The [[UrDail]], which saw extensive contact with humans, have been impacted even further, with their native tongue coming to resemble English.{{book ref|sky2|8}}

Humanity has also left their mark on the universe in the form of [[delver]]s, whom they've brough forth during the Second Human War, leading to the drastic decrease in the use of [[cytonics]]. This, alongside the history of conflict, is one of the reasons why they're so feared in the present day. This extends even to those trapped in the "preserve" planets, with many people afraid that humans would one day break out and go to war again. Those fears are often stoked by Superiority's Department of Protective Services, especially whenever they desire a bigger budget.{{book ref|sky2|19}}

After the Third Human War, the Superiority became the primary political power of the universe. It's issome form of a federation or republic comprised of numerousvarious species, though only five -- varvax, tenasi, dione, heklo and cambric -- lead the government. Numerous others have either primary or secondary citizenship. Whether a species is allowed to join the Superiority depends on whether they exhibit the so-called primary intelligence. This appears to refer to how aggressive a species is, with only the most peaceful onceones allowed to join, so as to not corrupt the current society.{{book ref|sky2|10}} There are also other conditions, such as converting to a democratic government.{{book ref|sky2|13}}

While the Superiority does not directly rule over every species, it does exert indirect power over them. This is done though absolute control over faster-than-light travel and communications, as the government has effectively suppresssuppressed all information about it, making themselves indispensable to interstellar travel and trade. As a result, they possess a relatively weak military force, since all they need to doresolve any problem is to cut any world they wish off the FTL grid to make them a non-issue.{{book ref|sky2|10}}

! rowspan=1 |2009 (digital)