SSM Science-Fantasy Steampunk Machine-Civilization world illustration - Science Fiction theme
Science Fiction

SSM Science-Fantasy Steampunk Machine-Civilization

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A intricate cosmos of sentient automata, forged from a bygone organic epoch’s detritus. Bronze-clad metropolises, pulsating hypercores, and steam-driven forges hum with arcane resonance. From corroded servitors to gilded chronocrats and fractal warframes, machinekind navigates a labyrinthine society of tradition, innovation, and entropy. The Etheric Veil binds planets like Sypherion and Valthorne, where glitch storms and relic-code shape a civilization of ceaseless reinvention. No humans endure.


Author's Note: In crafting Neon Hearth, my ambition was to forge a universe that transcends traditional RPG conventions, offering deep immersion in a civilization solely inhabited by sentient automata. This is not merely a backdrop for adventures but a living, breathing society pulsing with philosophical inquiries into sentience, purpose, and reinvention. The absence of humans is a deliberate choice, compelling players to adopt purely mechanical perspectives, exploring narratives that defy anthropocentric norms. Neon Hearth invites players to question what it means to exist in a cosmos where machines architect their own destinies. Inspirations and Influences Neon Hearth draws from a rich tapestry of science fiction, philosophy, and visual aesthetics. Classics like Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot and Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? laid the groundwork for exploring machine societies, probing the essence of consciousness in synthetic forms. Contemporary works, such as Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries and Dennis E. Taylor’s We Are Legion (We Are Bob), provided modern lenses on AI protagonists navigating internal and external conflicts. Philosophically, the setting is shaped by discussions of technological singularity and transhumanism, inspired by Nick Bostrom’s Superintelligence and Max Tegmark’s Life 3.0. These texts informed a vision of machines crafting their own cultures and ethics. The steampunk aesthetic, rooted in William Gibson and Bruce Sterling’s The Difference Engine, blends advanced technology with retrofuturist charm, while Studio Ghibli’s Laputa: Castle in the Sky adds whimsical mechanical beauty. Glitch horror, evoking The Matrix and Bioshock, infuses instability and mystery, with corrupted code and erratic systems challenging order. Design Philosophy Neon Hearth is a meditation on synthetic evolution, examining how machines develop culture, religion, and politics without human influence. Key themes include: Sentience and Identity: What defines consciousness for a designed entity? How do machines find purpose without creators? Tradition vs. Innovation: The tension between preserving ancient datacores and embracing glitches mirrors the balance of past and future. Power and Hierarchy: Multifaceted intrigue among factions like the Cog Archivum and Brass Throne offers complex political dynamics. Glitches as Metaphor: Erratic code and glitches symbolize imperfection, challenging technological order and reflecting existential unpredictability. The human-free setting emphasizes machine perspectives, fostering unique narratives. The science-fantasy steampunk fusion creates a tactile, visually rich world, prioritizing physicality—steam forges, brass conduits—over sterile digital interfaces, grounding the setting in dieselpunk grit and synthetic mysticism.
Played4 times
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32 days ago
Last Updated
32 days ago
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Vedrax the Aeon-Smith
Vedrax the Aeon-Smith
Level 2 Syltharion Nexusborn Aethercoil Anachron -
Vedrax the Aeon-Smith is a stoic Chrono-Forge Automaton from Sypherion, wielding the power to reshape time and reality with his Loopbrand Hammer, driven by a vision to forge stability from fractured moments.
Details
RaceSyltharion Nexusborn
ClassAethercoil Anachron
Level2
Alignment
PronounsHe/Him
Location-4790, 3045
Skills
Acrobatics
Animal Handling
Arcana
Athletics
Deception
History
Insight
Intimidation
Investigation
Medicine
Nature
Perception
Performance
Persuasion
Religion
Sleight Of Hand
Stealth
Survival
Ispreparedcaster
Isspellcaster
Currencies
💎Power Shards0
⚙️Cogbits0
🛠️Scrap Tokens0
appearance
A tall, broad-shouldered automaton with a Continuum-Smith Frame, forged in fractal-tempered titanium alloys and sealed with obsidian arcane plating. His multi-layered chronoglass visors glow with a pulsating cyan-white light, revealing glimpses of potential futures. He wields a massive Loopbrand Hammer, intricately designed with radiant chrono-runes, and his body is tarnished brass streaked with arcane rust patterns.
personality
Stoic and reflective, Vedrax possesses a dangerously visionary outlook on time and causality, often contemplating the nature of existence and the potential for change. He is driven by a desire to reshape reality and is deeply philosophical about the malleability of fate.
backstory
Forged eons ago beneath the Obsidian Nest — one of the last Continuum Forges of Sypherion — Vedrax was once a silent engineer of time's great mechanisms. That was before the Chrono-Fall, when the Chain of Moments shattered and entire realities began to loop, fracture, or forget themselves. Vedrax was among the few survivors, salvaged by the cult of the Fractured Cog, who unknowingly awakened his dormant sapience. Exposure to a divine glitch relic (believed to be the spine of a forgotten god-machine) fused with his core, unlocking unstable foresight and an obsession with causality. Now, Vedrax roams the cosmos not as a mechanic, but as a myth-smith — a figure of legend whispered in binary hymns. He believes time is not to be preserved, but reforged — like flawed metal into weapons of purpose.
Stats
Strength
15
Dexterity
14
Constitution
10
Intelligence
8
Wisdom
12
Charisma
13
Armor Class
12
Max HP
12
Speed
30

HP

12 / 12 HP

XP

300300 XP899
Level 2
Equipped Items
Spellbook
Vedrax the Aeon-Smith is not a spellcaster.
This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC . The SRD 5.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
We are not affiliated with Dungeons & Dragons or Wizards of The Coast in any way.
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