The Sider Stratiotes, or "Hoplites," are a testament to humanity's ambition, resilience, and ultimate folly. They are an elite, genetically engineered class of human soldiers, forged in the fires of internal political strife and hardened by the catastrophic event known as the Terran Incursion. They represent the apex of human biological and tactical prowess, a fighting force unmatched in raw martial ability and unflinching loyalty. There isn’t a monolithic command that governs all Sider Stratiote legions; each hoplite legion functions as a sovereign entity unto itself.
Sider Stratiotes
Core Identity: The Perfect Soldier & Aethelred's Legacy
The Sider Stratiotes were conceived as the ultimate military solution—genetically modified soldiers who would be stronger, tougher, and more resilient than any unmodified human. But their purpose transcended mere military might. The true core of every Sider Stratiotes is their connection to the legendary Aethelred, the Unbroken, the first Engram from which all Sider Stratiotes are derived. His genetic core, a ghost of memory and tactical genius, is imprinted on every soldier, giving them a shared legacy of experience and an unbreakable will. This deep-seated connection manifests as an inherent confidence and tactical insight that sets them apart from all other soldiers. They are living weapons, honed and perfected, and their loyalty is a force of nature—whether it is to the Genesis Ascendancy and the cult of the Ascendant, or to a powerful corporate entity that can afford their services.
Making a Hoplite
The Sider Stratiotes are the product of advanced genetic engineering. They are stronger, faster, and more resilient than their unmodified counterparts. They are also shaped for specific roles, with legions specializing in everything from close-quarters combat to long-range fire support. Stratiote Candidates are typically identified in adolescence; they receive initial training and are evaluated for their suitability to serve as hoplites. The few that are selected have the legion’s engram implanted along with cyber taps at the base of their skull and along the spine. Their bodies try to reject the engram. Neophytes go through a painful transformation; they receive their paldrons if they survive the trial.
Rarely candidates are selected later in life; the older a candidate is, the less likely the transformation will be successful. Occasionally, hoplites are impressed by the heroic exploits of human companions; they are offered the rites of engram implantation and Phalanx fitting; the honoree my decline, take either rite or both. A prospect can only be fully inducted if they take both.
History: From Terran Hope to Galactic Diaspora
The Dawn of the Hoplites: Faced with political tension and the high costs of interstellar expansion, Terran geneticists developed the first gene-mods. While they were intended to uplift all of humanity, Terra's leadership chose to apply them exclusively to a handful of Terran-based legions, creating the first Sider Stratiotes—the Hoplites. The first of these legions was built from the genetic material of a single, spectacular human specimen, a soldier named Aethelred. He had been cloned and re-encoded over a hundred times, and was seen by a zealous cult as a "living saint" and the progenitor of a new, stronger humanity. His personal legion became known as the Unbroken.
Survival in Hostile Voids: Beyond direct warfare, the very act of existing in the Starfall Galaxy demands extreme resilience. Humanity's expansion into resource-poor systems, toxic planets, and the utter vacuum of space pushed the limits of baseline physiology. Early genetic modifications aimed at environmental resistance (radiation, extreme temperatures, low oxygen), while cybernetics provided enhanced strength, endurance, and integrated life support for extended operations in hostile environments. A desire for enhanced capabilities beyond mere survival drove some modifications. The Obsidian Guard's axiom-derived genetic material, for instance, represents an ancient (pre-Cataclysm) pursuit of disciplined power and purity, a "gift" from Rift-Entities that mirrored the Heirs' pursuit of rigid order.
The Terran Incursion: When the Terran Republic attempted to use a stolen Riftgate for their own Riftway project, Aethelred, with his firsthand experience of the Rift, warned them of the dangers. His warnings were ignored. When the gate was activated, it sparked the Terran Incursion, unleashing a torrent of malevolent rift entities onto humanity’s homeworld. Aethelred, now known as the Ascendant, led the counter-assault, rallying the Terran Defense Force and his Unbroken legion. In the final moments of the battle, he sacrificed himself to seal the Riftgate, mortally wounded by a gargantuan Soul Demon.
The Schism and the Genesis Ascendancy: Aethelred's death and the Terran Republic's incompetence were the final straw for his followers. The cult that had formed around him, now known as the Genesis Ascendancy, took his body, encased it in a sarcophagus, and fled the Inner Sphere. Accompanied by his Unbroken Guard and other legions, they began a pilgrimage into the Outer Sphere to found a new nation in anticipation of his promised return. This event marked the great schism of humanity.
The Rift-storm Cataclysm: Centuries after the Genesis Schism, the Rift-Storm Cataclysm and the rise of the Automaton Concordance served as a brutal crucible for the scattered legions of Sider Stratiotes.The Cataclysm exposed vast amounts of advanced, sometimes alien, technology in the resulting Ghost Worlds and volatile Rift-Burgs. Scavengers often found and repurposed advanced cybernetics and genetic sequences, further diversifying the Sider Stratiotes' arsenal.
The Mercenary Legions: Not all Sider Stratiotes joined the Genesis Ascendancy. Some legions, disillusioned with politics and fanaticism, chose to remain in the Inner Sphere. These independent legions, possessing the same combat prowess and unwavering loyalty, became highly sought-after mercenaries. They now serve as elite shock troops for corporations, police forces for the Commission, or personal bodyguards for the five families. They are the living legacy of Aethelred, but their purpose has become far more pragmatic.
Ravaging Warbands: The sheer chaos of the Rift also unleashed new, terrifying forces from the Rift and the Outer Planes. The emergence of the Rift twisted hoplite warbands directly correlates with humanity's desperate (and often disastrous) attempts to harness or adapt to these new, alien powers.
Legion Auxiliaries
Hoplites are the pinnacle of military competence, and using these soldiers to perform the menial tasks that make a legion run is a waste of valuable assets. The legions of the Sider Stratiotes employ many unaugmented humans, supported by a cohort of automatons, to perform maintenance, logistics, and mundane security functions for the legion. These support staff are vital to the legion's operation, ensuring the Hoplites can focus on their primary mission. They are often highly trained and fiercely loyal to their legion, even if they lack the genetic modifications of their superiors.
Humans
Within the Sider Stratiotes, unaugmented humans serve as the vital logistical and administrative backbone of the legion. While they lack the genetic enhancements and combat prowess of the Hoplites, their roles are no less critical. They are the skilled technicians, engineers, medics, and analysts who maintain the legion's formidable war machine. From managing complex supply chains and performing intricate repairs on Phalanx armor to operating sophisticated command centers, these individuals ensure the legions' self-sufficiency and operational readiness. Their loyalty is often forged not through genetic imprinting, but through shared purpose and the knowledge that their work directly enables the "Iron Soldiers" to accomplish their missions.
Automatons
Automatons are the tireless, unfeeling workforce that supplements the human support staff within a Sider Stratiotes legion. Designed for efficiency and durability, they handle a vast array of menial, repetitive, and often hazardous tasks that would be a waste of a Hoplite's talents or a danger to an unaugmented human. Automatons can be found performing a wide range of tasks, from basic maintenance and sanitation to serving as sentries for low-risk security functions and hauling heavy equipment. Their presence ensures that the legion's resources are optimized, freeing up their human and genetically-modified counterparts to focus on more complex and strategic operations.
Aethelred’s Legacy and the Sider Stratiotes
Aethelred’s psychic echo is a presence that remains with every Sider Stratiotes. This “genetic weight of experience” gives them a deep-seated foundation of knowledge, granting them unwavering confidence under pressure. This connection is not always a blessing, however, as some Sider Stratiotes are plagued by fragmented memories and echoes of a life that was not their own.
The Sider Stratiotes are the backbone of numerous highly capable military units across the Starfall Galaxy. These aren't just ordinary soldiers; they are genetically and cybernetically modified humans, transformed into living weapons. Their modifications grant them enhanced strength, durability, reaction times, and often specialized combat abilities, setting them apart from baseline humanity.
The Sider Stratiotes are the backbone of numerous highly capable military units across the Starfall Galaxy. These aren't just ordinary soldiers; they are genetically and cybernetically modified humans, transformed into living weapons. Their modifications grant them enhanced strength, durability, reaction times, and often specialized combat abilities, setting them apart from baseline humanity.
Technology: The Tools of the Iron Soldiers
Genetic Engineering: The Sider Stratiotes are the product of advanced genetic engineering. They are stronger, faster, and more resilient than their unmodified counterparts. They are also bred for specific roles, with legions specializing in everything from close-quarters combat to long-range fire support. Their genetic code is their greatest weapon, a perfected template for a warrior.
Uncommon Legion Items
Uncommon Weapons
Armored Gauntlet: The armored gauntlets of powered armor are fashioned to allow bearers to make unarmed strikes when engaged in close quarters. The reinforced knuckles make it difficult for the phalanges of the appendage bearing this gauntlet to fit inside a trigger guard so these gautlets are typically worn on the off hand.
Gravity Cannon: The Gravity Cannon is an uncommon, technological weapon of immense power and a terrifying spectacle on the battlefield. This is a massive, two-handed emplacement weapon, often requiring a specialized support harness or a tripod mount for sustained use. The Gravity Cannon is designed to generate and launch a single, devastating projectile of highly concentrated mass. Its purpose is singular: to obliterate hardened targets, breach fortified positions, and annihilate heavily armored foes with a single, earth-shaking blast.
Gravity Pistol: The Gravity Pistol is an Uncommon, compact sidearm and a smaller-scale version of the Gravity Rifle. While it lacks the sheer concussive force of its larger counterpart, the pistol still wields immense power for its size. Powered by a light power cell, it generates and fires smaller, dense projectiles of concentrated mass, making it a perfect backup weapon for close-quarters engagements. The Gravity Pistol is an elegant yet powerful sidearm, often carried by Stratiote commanders as a tool for precise destruction and a symbol of their rank.
Gravity Rifle: The Gravity Rifle is an Uncommon, technological weapon that represents a fusion of Sider Stratiote military technology and advanced gravitational physics. Eschewing conventional ammunition, this rifle is powered by a standard heavy power cell and generates projectiles of highly concentrated mass. These dense slugs travel with incredible momentum, inflicting bludgeoning damage by crushing armor and dislocating matter upon impact. As a frontline weapon, the Gravity Rifle is favored by Stratiote shock troopers for its sheer destructive power.
Heavy Sabot Gun: The Heavy Sabot Gun is a specialized, Uncommon squad automatic weapon. As a larger and more powerful variant of the standard Sabot Gun, this weapon is designed for laying down suppressive fire and providing additional tactical support for a Hoplite squad. The Heavy Sabot Gun boasts a large, belt-fed drum and a reinforced firing mechanism, allowing a single Stratiote to hold an entire flank against a concentrated enemy advance. Its considerable bulk requires a powerful operator, but its firepower is unparalleled for its size.
Sabot Gun: The Sabot Gun is the standard-issue firearm for Sider Stratiotes Legions. Designed to be a reliable and versatile tool, the Sabot Gun is a robust weapon that fires dense, caseless projectiles at incredible velocity. Its rugged construction makes it highly resilient to environmental hazards and battlefield abuse. The rifle is designed with ergonomics in mind, specifically for a wielder in heavy armor, and features an integrated grip and stock that comfortably fits the gauntlets of powered armor.
Sabot Pistol: The Sabot Pistol is an Uncommon, compact sidearm designed for Sider Stratiote sergeants and officers. While the legion’s core doctrine emphasizes the use of rifles, the pistol is a symbol of rank and authority, used as a backup weapon or a tool for close-quarters engagements. A smaller version of the standard Sabot Gun, the pistol fires the same dense, caseless projectiles, but in a more refined and portable package. Its ergonomic grip is designed to be wielded comfortably while wearing powered armor, making it a reliable and dignified sidearm for those who lead from the front.
Unarmed Weapons
Martial Weapons
Advanced Weapons
Rare Legion Armor
Phalanx Powered Armor Phalanx Armor is the powered heavy armor used by the Sider Stratiotes. This marvel of Hoplite engineering is a fully enclosed suit designed for frontline combat and extended operations in hazardous environments. The suit's powered exoskeleton provides incredible strength and stability, allowing the wearer to move and fight with surprising agility despite the armor's bulk. Its fully enclosed design absorbs incoming damage before it reaches the wearer.
Heavy Armor
Sider Stratiotes Legions
The Obsidian Guard
These Sider Stratiotes embody the ancient, rigid traditions of the pre-cataclysm Inner Sphere, viewing their modifications as a sacred inheritance and a burden of purity. They are fanatically loyal, utterly disciplined, and possess a cold, xenophobic disdain for all that they deem "impure" or chaotic. Their purpose is to uphold order, preserve the Acsendant's power, and ruthlessly eliminate any perceived threat to the decaying glory of order. The Obsidian Guard appear as perfectly sculpted humanoids with alabaster skin frequently etched in gold script. Their eyes take on a metallic, cobalt-colored hue.
The Sons of Terra
A legion of Sider Stratiotes that remains in the Inner Sphere, often working as contractors for the Commission or wealthy corporations. They are professional and pragmatic, and while they respect their heritage, they have no interest in the religious zealotry of the Genesis Ascendancy.
The Unbroken
A highly disciplined and fiercely loyal legion, the Unbroken Guard is the personal bodyguard of Aethelred, the Ascendant. Their sole purpose is to guard his sarcophagus and await his return, no matter how many millennia it takes. Their engram is a product of cloned material from their fallen progenitor. Unbroken neophytes die during their transformation; This is believed to allow them to commune with the Acsendant.
The Vanguard
The Vanguard is a unique Sider Stratiotes legion defined by their Suli Engram. Unlike the religiously fervent Genesis Ascendancy or the pragmatic but localized Sons of Terra, the Vanguard embodies the Suli's core nature: the harmonious blend of cosmic elements. They believe their purpose is not to worship the past, but to forge a new future by harmonizing the disparate peoples and ideals of the Starfall Galaxy. They are a force of adaptability and balance, dedicated to protecting the fragile sprouts of civilization and ensuring humanity's pragmatic survival against the myriad threats posed by the wild and dangerous cosmos. Terra's legacy does not define them, but by the promise of a better tomorrow, a future they are actively building from the ashes of the past.
The Stormborn
These Sider Stratiotes have embraced the corrupting power of the Rift and the alien influences of the Outer Planes. They seek not mere modification, but a hideous "ascension" through deliberate Rift-Taint and grotesque mutations, believing they are becoming something "more" than human. Their fanaticism borders on madness, making them unpredictable, abhorrently cruel, and utterly devoted to their incomprehensible patrons. Your blood bubbles with the roiling quintessence of the Maelstrom, the infinite sea of primal chaos that long ago spawned the other Outer Planes.
The Wardens
The Wardens are a Sider Stratiotes legion that embodies the harshest realities of survival in the deep void. Shaped by their Prismeni Engram, their core identity is a reflection of the Rift's chaotic nature, but channeled into a fierce and unyielding pragmatism. They are not defined by grand ideals or religious fervor, but by the relentless pursuit of survival and self-sufficiency. Their modifications are not symbols of a divine purpose, but tools for efficiency, endurance, and resource acquisition. They are a force born of necessity, hardened by the constant struggle to exist in the desolate reaches of the galaxy, where the only currency is the ability to endure and adapt.
Favors for a Hoplite Legion
Minor Favors
(1 Reputation Point)
Aid a Stratiote in Combat: The Sider Stratiotes operate in hazardous environments. Coming to the aid of a Stratiote squad that is pinned down or overwhelmed, especially against overwhelming odds, would be seen as a selfless act of courage and earn the legion's respect.
Moderate Favors
(2 Reputation Points)
Offer Valuable Intelligence: The legions are a military force, and information is a crucial resource. Providing a Sider Stratiote command with a detailed star map, intelligence on a hostile faction's troop movements, or a hidden weakness of a dangerous monster would be a valuable service.
Major Favors
(5 Reputation Points)
Return a Lost Legion Paldron: This is a top priority for any legion. If the PCs find a Legion Paldron from a destroyed or lost suit of Phalanx Armor, returning it to the nearest Sider Stratiote outpost is an immediate and major act of favor. The legion's Master Armorer would be especially grateful, as the historical record within the central processor is considered priceless.
Disservices to a Hoplite Legion
Minor Disservices
(–1 Reputation Point)
Lying or Providing False Information: The legions rely on accurate intelligence to function effectively. Deliberately feeding them false information about enemy movements, resource locations, or other critical data could lead to a disastrous outcome and would severely damage their trust in you.
Acting Recklessly or Cowardly in Their Presence: The Sider Stratiotes are a disciplined and courageous fighting force. Behaving recklessly in a way that endangers their mission or showing cowardice in the face of a challenge would reflect poorly on your character in their eyes. They would likely view you as a liability and an unreliable ally.
Moderate Disservices
(–2 Reputation Points)
Refusing to Aid a Stratiote in Distress: The Sider Stratiotes value courage and mutual support. Turning your back on a lone Stratiote or a pinned-down squad in a moment of dire need would be seen as a cowardly act, earning you a reputation for being unreliable and self-serving.
Disrespecting a Fallen Stratiote or Their Memorials: The culture of the Sider Stratiotes places great importance on honoring the dead. Robbing a grave, looting the body of a fallen Stratiote, or desecrating a memorial would be an unforgivable offense.
Major Disservices
(–5+ Reputation Points)
Vandalizing or Desecrating a Legion Paldron: The Legion Paldron is a sacred artifact to the Stratiotes, holding the history and deeds of a long line of warriors. Tampering with, defacing, or selling a Paldron would be a profound insult and an act of disrespect that a legion would not easily forget.
Selling Sider Stratiote Technology to a Hostile Faction
Companions
Legion Hirelings
These individuals are often auxiliary members of a hoplite legion. Individuals with a liked reputation can be offered these hirelings as a form of token assistance from the legion
Stratiote Cadet: These are recruits, often refugees, tasked with the most menial duties. They are poorly equipped but dedicated to their newfound purpose.
Stratiote Auxillery: A standard auxiliary is responsible for supporting their hoplite by maintaining their equipment and preparing their meals.
Attendant (CR -1) -.
Legion Expert Companions
These individuals represent the refined expertise among the legions, These are capable auxiliaries and include some junior hoplites. They are invaluable assets for missions requiring precision, advanced tactics, or sophisticated interpersonal engagement.
Expert -
Masters
Legion Master Companions
These individuals represent the highest tier of expertise among the legions, often serving as direct extensions of the Legion commander’s will or as unparalleled masters of military science. Contracting such a companion means integrating a truly formidable asset into your party, albeit one that operates with the rigid dogma of the legion.
Master -
Legion Benefits
Organization benefits are companions, equipment, and feats that become available by building your reputation with one of the legions of the Sider Stratiotes.
Stratiote Legion Boons
These boons represent significant benefits, often granted to individuals who have shown exceptional dedication to the Bio-Commune's goals of symbiotic integration, biological advancement, or the expansion of its empathetic network.
Legion Auxiliary Access (Hireling Tier)Throgh demonstrated basic understanding of Stratiote protocols, successful completion of initial legion missions. You gain the ability to request basic support from this Hoplite Legion. Once per mission or significant downtime period, you can contract Hireling-tier companions from the Legion’s ranks. This companion will accompany your party and aid you in tasks relevant to their specialization for the duration of the mission or a mutually agreed-upon period.
Legion Integration (Access to Uncommon Equipment) Through Demonstrated Loyalty and active contribution to the Legion, the individual gains privileged access to purchase Stratiote specialized, uncommon equipment from the Legion Armory.
Legion Smith (Knowledge to Craft Uncommon Equipment): Through proven understanding of advanced engineering principles, significant breakthroughs in energy generation, or successful assembly of new tools that serve the Legion's purpose. The individual is granted permission to learn theoretical and practical knowledge of the legion's unique technology. You may add the formulas to craft Uncommon Stratiote equipment. You are also granted access to the facilities required for their creation; however, assembly still requires time, materials, and effort.
Legion Operative Endorsement (Expert Tier): Through proven capability in executing more complex directives, successful resolution of legion objectives, or significant contributions to a legion campaign. Your reputation within the Legion has grown, granting you access to more specialized support. You can contract Expert-tier companions from the Legion's ranks. This companion is typically assigned for a specific, more intricate task that requires their advanced expertise.
Legion Representative (Access to Rare Equipment) Through Demonstrated Loyalty and active contribution to the Legion, the individual gains privileged access to purchase Stratiote specialized, rare equipment from the Legion Armory.
Legion Artisan (Knowledge to Craft Rare Equipment): Through proven understanding of advanced engineering principles, significant breakthroughs in energy generation, or successful assembly of new tools that serve the Legion's purpose. The individual is granted permission to learn theoretical and practical knowledge of the legion's unique technology. You may add the formulas to craft Rare Stratiote equipment. You are also granted access to the facilities required for their creation; however, assembly still requires time, materials, and effort.
Legion Command Status (Master Tier): Through Exceptional service and unwavering loyalty to the legion's ultimate goals, critical contributions to major legion campaigns, or the surmounting of a challenging new foe. This level of favor typically comes directly from a Legion Commander. You are entrusted with the highest tier of direct Legion support. You can contract Master-tier companions from the Legion's elite ranks. This companion operates with a profound dedication to the Legion's traditions and is an unparalleled asset.
Legion Enemies
A Hoplite Legion will expend greater resources to go after enemies based on how much venom those adversaries have earned. Disliked characters can expect up to Moderate encounters with Legion Patrols when they travel in faction territory. Hated characters can expect up to Severe encounters with Hoplite Patrols when they travel in faction territory. A Stratiote Legion will pursue Hunted foes across the frontier with up to Extreme encounters with Hoplites or bounty hunters.
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