In the boundless expanse of the Starfall Galaxy, where chaotic Rift-storms clash with ancient Mana-currents and emergent technologies, some beings are born with an intrinsic connection to the universe's fundamental structure. These are the Aphorites, once perfectly aligned with the pure, underlying cosmic laws, now increasingly lit by the spark of free will and individual determination.
Aphorites were first forged by ancient, highly advanced civilizations, perhaps the pre-Rift Vaelen or a collective of powerful Cerebral Nexuses
who sought to impose perfect order upon the nascent chaos of the galaxy. The original aphorites served as liaisons, designed to bridge the gap between their progenitors' logical, structured thought processes and the unpredictable, emergent existence of mortal species. Marrying the precision of cosmic law with the gift of self-determination, early aphorites spread across the Starfall Galaxy to serve as proxies for their creators' will, or to simply observe and understand the universe's unfolding patterns. Over time, their appearances and personalities grew to resemble their mortal comrades as they were increasingly born among the diverse ancestries of Starfall. Aphorites still visibly bear the touch of this intrinsic order in their metallic-sheened complexions, aptitude for logic, strength in artisanship, and propensity for cooperation. But despite these links to their purpose-built origins, contemporary aphorites are undoubtedly their own masters.
If you want to play a character intrinsically tied to the underlying order of the universe, walking the thin line between calculated predestination and the boundless potential of free will, you should play an aphorite.
YOU MIGHT...
Seek to make something work just a bit better, whether a physical object, a Mana-circuit, or a social process.
Enjoy learning the intricate patterns of a language, the schematics of a machine, or the flow of cosmic energies.
Gain deep satisfaction in working alongside others to achieve a common, structured goal.
OTHERS PROBABLY...
Believe you're rigid in your beliefs or habits, perhaps overly analytical.
Think you never act before considering every possible outcome, even in a chaotic Rift-zone.
Assume you easily grasp complex systems and situations, from advanced starship engines to ancient Mana-well configurations.
Physical Description
The first aphorites appeared as perfectly identical humanoids with metallic complexions; modern aphorites are far removed from such rigid biological structures. Their size, shape, and features now vary, visibly bearing the influence of the fundamental cosmic order. Eyes, hair, and complexions with a metallic sheen are almost universal. These tones usually vary between copper, gold, and silver, though cobalt, viridian, and carmine aren't unheard of, often shimmering with a subtle Mana-resonance. Other manifestations include skin infused with shimmering crystalline motes or glowing, geometric symbols appearing across the body in a consistent, rhythmic pattern.
Society
While still relatively rare, aphorites are increasingly born into families with no direct aphorite ancestors, and have thus spread across the Starfall Galaxy. They acculturate like any other mortal, picking up local customs and mannerisms over time. Most aphorites intuit an underlying sense of order or pattern that supersedes mortal law or custom – a "cosmic code" that governs reality. Some pursue this understanding by upholding existing cultural norms and structures, while others balk at what they see as poorly constructed systems that defy universal logic.
Beliefs
The gift of free will means aphorite alignment is frequently shaped through experience rather than ancestral directives. Good and evil hold no particular sway over aphorites' souls, but most do bend toward a lawful worldview, valuing structure, predictability, and the harmonious functioning of systems.
Many aphorites revere philosophies that recognize the benefits of a stable society, such as the teachings of a Cosmic Architect archetype who seeks to build perfect civilizations, or those who find order in the Creation's Forge. The concept of the Cosmic Wanderer appeals to some aphorites' desire to break from rigid tradition and explore new patterns. For aphorite artisans and engineers, the precision of advanced technology and the aesthetic of perfectly balanced Mana-structures prove attractive. The views on awakened A.I. Constructs also appeal to aphorites, particularly those who trace their origins to ancient bio-engineering or advanced technological creation.
Adventurers
Aphorite Mechanics
Aphorite Heritage
You were born with a connection to the fundamental cosmic order of the Starfall Galaxy, perhaps through the Aether Synapse. You also gain low-light vision, or you gain darkvision if your ancestry already has low-light vision. You can choose from aphorite feats and feats from your ancestry whenever you gain an ancestry feat.
Aphorite Ancestry Feats (1st Level)
The following feats are available to aphorite characters.
Cosmic Order Lore (Feat 1)
Aphorite
You possess a strong understanding of processes among mortals and the underlying cosmic laws of the universe. You become trained in Society and Cosmic Lore. If you would automatically become trained in one of those skills (from your background or class, for example), you instead become trained in a skill of your choice.
You gain the Additional Lore general feat for Cosmic Order Lore.
Lemma of Vision (Feat 1)
Aphorite
You've solved a tiny stepping stone in your self-discovery, awakening new depths in your sight. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to find hidden objects or discern illusions.
Aphorite Ancestry Feats (5th Level)
Offensive Analysis (Feat 5)
Aphorite
You can enhance your senses and mental state to consider every aspect of an attack, predicting optimal points of weakness. When you make a Strike, you can spend a single action to analyze your target. On your next Strike against that target this turn, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your attack roll.
Aphorite Ancestry Feats (9th Level)
Analyze Information (Feat 9)
Aphorite
You can stoke your mind into a burst of analytical prowess. As a 1-action activity, you can gain a +2 circumstance bonus to your next Recall Knowledge check made before the end of your next turn.
Ancillary Motes (Feat 9)
Aphorite, Crystalline Dust
Your body is infused with Mana-resonant crystalline motes that can be discharged. You can use your Crystalline Dust ability (if you have it from another source, or gain it from a future feat) one more time per day.
Preemptive Reconfiguration (Feat 9)
Aphorite
Your body anticipates the blow, subtly reconfiguring its defenses based on your analysis of an incoming attack. As a reaction when you are the target of a Strike, you can gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your AC against that Strike.
Adventure Hooks for Aphorite Player Characters
1. The Cascading Protocol Failure of the Stellar Archive
Hook:
A critical, galaxy-spanning data network known as the "Stellar Archive," a vast repository of pre-Rift knowledge and a marvel of Cerebral Nexus engineering, has begun to suffer a series of inexplicable and illogical failures. Instead of random errors or external attacks, the failures manifest as perfectly symmetrical corruptions, paradoxical loops in historical data, and self-contradictory security protocols that are slowly grinding the archive to a halt. The data loss isn't chaotic; it's structured in a way that defies conventional understanding, as if an underlying, flawed algorithm is subtly rewriting reality within the network. The Commission, which relies heavily on the Archive for its logistical operations, or an ancient Mnemosyn scholar, desperate to preserve lost knowledge, seeks the Aphorite PC. They believe only the Aphorite's unique ability to perceive and rectify fundamental systemic flaws can prevent the complete collapse of this invaluable resource.
Aphorite Appeal:
This hook is a direct challenge to the Aphorite's core drive to make things work better and their aptitude for understanding complex systems. The "structured" nature of the failure would be both fascinating and deeply unsettling, compelling them to find the root cause and restore order. It appeals to their logical mind and their desire to impose harmony on a broken system.
2. The Vaelen Cosmic Algorithm and the Unstable Mana-Construct
Hook:
An ancient, perfectly preserved Vaelen ruin has been discovered on a desolate world in the Outer Sphere, revealing a hidden chamber containing a "Cosmic Algorithm" – a complex, Mana-infused blueprint for a powerful, but currently inert, construct designed to regulate planetary Mana-currents. However, the blueprint is incomplete, containing paradoxical equations and seemingly illogical energy flow diagrams that defy modern Mana-science. Attempts by other engineers to activate it have resulted in chaotic Mana-surges and localized reality distortions. A Geodan engineer, fascinated by ancient structures, or a Dracosmyr who senses a primal, yet unstable, Mana-signature from the construct, seeks the Aphorite PC. They believe only the Aphorite's unique logical mind can decipher the algorithm's true intent, complete its design, and safely activate the Mana-construct, which could bring unprecedented stability to a volatile region, or unleash an unforeseen cosmic imbalance.
Aphorite Appeal:
This hook offers a profound intellectual puzzle, appealing to the Aphorite's love for intricate systems, ancient knowledge, and artisanship. The challenge lies not just in understanding the technology, but in discerning the original Vaelen intent and navigating the fine line between calculated predestination (the blueprint's design) and the free will required to adapt it to current cosmic realities. The potential to create something of immense order and benefit would be a powerful draw.
3. The Paradoxical Rift-Burg
Hook:
A newly formed Rift-Burg (a localized, stable distortion of the Rift) in the Frontier is behaving in a way that utterly defies the chaotic nature of the Rift. Instead of unpredictable temporal shifts and random energy bursts, this particular Rift-Burg exhibits perfectly geometric anomalies, predictable energy pulses, and even localized temporal loops that repeat with uncanny precision. This "ordered chaos" is drawing the attention of both scientific researchers and opportunistic factions, but anyone attempting to study or exploit it finds their equipment malfunctioning in precise, predictable ways, or their minds becoming locked into logical paradoxes. A Prismeni who finds the anomaly both fascinating and deeply unsettling, or a Triosan "Corrector" who senses a profound, unnatural imbalance, seeks the Aphorite PC. They need the Aphorite's unique ability to understand and interact with systems that shouldn't exist, to decipher the "logic" of this paradoxical Rift-Burg, and determine if it's a natural phenomenon, a deliberate manipulation, or a dangerous, emergent entity that threatens to unravel the very fabric of reality.
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