World Creation Stage 1.0

Official Title: Godfall: The Age of Challenge

Core Concept & Primer

The universe is a unique fusion of high fantasy and science fiction, where magic and technology coexist. The established cosmic order was shattered by the arrival of the Saiyans, a race of powerful warriors from a dead reality, whose unique Ki energy introduced a new, fourth fundamental power of "Self" into the cosmos. This event, "Godfall," resulted in the death of several gods and the dawn of "The Age of Challenge," a new era defined by a fragile peace and a universal obsession with the pursuit of greater strength.

Cosmology & The Great Cycle

  • The Song and The Silence: The universe operates on a Great Cycle of cosmic death and rebirth. Creation begins with the chaotic "Song" (a Big Bang) and ends in the ordered entropy of the "Silence." A single, resilient "Echo" from a dying universe seeds the next.

  • Primal Forces: All power stems from three forces: The Cosmic Weave (magic), The Great Bloom (life-force), and the Axiom of Law (physics and fate). Saiyan Ki is a new, fourth power that imposes the user's will directly onto reality.

  • Planar Structure: The universe consists of the Material Sea (our galaxy), bordered by the foundational Inner Planes (Matter, Energy, etc.). The ghostly Penumbra coexists with the material, and the Astral Sea is the void between all planes. The afterlife is governed by the Outer Planes (Heaven, Hell, Elysium, the Abyss, etc.).

The Divine Hierarchy

Our universe has a distinct divine order, organized into a sub-folder called Deities.

  • The Elder Gods: Sentient principles (Magic, Fate, Time, Knowledge) who are the "Echoes" of the last universal cycle. They are observers, not active players, and reside outside the conventional planes.

  • The Vanguard Pantheon: The "younger" gods of this cycle who ascended from mortal concepts. They are active and passionate. Key members include Sol Invictus (Justice), The Verdant Mother (Life), The Sentinel (Protection), and The Wanderer (Exploration). The God of War was a notable casualty of the Godfall.

  • Infernal & Abyssal Powers:

    • Asmodeus rules Hell with a philosophy of absolute, tyrannical order.

    • The Abyss is ruled by chaotic Demon Lords like Orcus (Undeath), Z'ryth (Forbidden Knowledge), and Graz'zt (Hedonism).

  • The God of Destruction: A fundamental cosmic role, not an alignment. Kaleerus, the Saiyan leader, holds this title. Her power is to "unmake" existence. The great mystery is her severed life-link to her universe's Supreme Kai, making her a unique and unpredictable cosmic anomaly.

  • The God Ki Mythos: A Saiyan legend speaks of a ritual that can transform a mortal warrior into a Super Saiyan God, granting them serene, divine Ki that cannot be sensed by mortals. This is the gateway to a theoretical next stage of power.

Factions

The major galactic powers, each with a unique philosophy and technology.

  • The Stellar Imperium of Sol: A vast, lawful magi-technical empire ruled by the unseen Arcane Emperor. Their technology elegantly integrates magic. Their goal is to contain the Saiyan threat and secretly weaponize Ki.

  • The Veridian Concordance: A decentralized union of worlds dedicated to the Great Bloom. They use living, organic biotechnology. They are conflicted, seeing the Saiyans as both a cosmic cancer and a potent expression of life force.

  • The Syndicate of Mercane: A ruthless conglomerate of corporations and crime families driven by profit. They are masters of cybernetics and illegal modifications. They see the Saiyans as the ultimate market opportunity.

  • The Crimson Fist: The unified Saiyan faction, residing on the high-gravity world of Salas, the Shattered Bastion. Their society is a brutal meritocracy built around the pursuit of challenge and strength.

Races

The peoples of the cosmos, each with a unique place and culture.

  • Core Races: Humans (adaptable), Aethelans (arcane high elves), Sylvansworn (nature-bound wood elves), Petrans (asteroid-mining dwarves), Cosmic Dragonborn (honorable warriors), Tieflings (Infernal/Abyssal outcasts).

  • Unique Races: Wayfarers (nomadic halfling fleets), The Marked (bio-engineered half-orc mercenaries), Gnomes (insatiably curious inventors), and the Saiyan Exiles themselves.

Classes

All 14 core archetypes have a distinct role and flavor in this setting.

  • Divine/Pact: Clerics (agents of gods), Paladins (vassals of Oaths), Warlocks (deal-makers with cosmic entities).

  • Arcane/Primal: Wizards (scholars of the Weave), Sorcerers (innate fonts of power), Druids (guardians of the Great Bloom), Artificers (master inventors), Bards (wielders of influence).

  • Martial: Fighters (weapon masters), Rangers (galactic pathfinders), Rogues (shadow agents), Barbarians (primal furies), Monks (masters of disciplined Ki).

  • Custom Class: Saiyan: A warrior who wields explosive Ki, powered by emotion and the breaking of limits. Subclasses include the Will of the Warrior (Goku/Vegeta), Will of the Legend (Broly), Will of the Vanguard (Gohan), and Will of the Fused (Gogeta/Vegito).

  • Saiyan Transformations: We have detailed the Kaioken technique, the main Super Saiyan lineage (1, 2, 3), and the anomalous Legendary Super Saiyan form.

Technology & Travel

  • Space Travel: Three FTL methods exist: The common, ghostly Phase Drive (Penumbra travel), the Imperium's instantaneous Astral Engine, and the Concordance's organic Bloom-Folding.

  • Communication: The public, unreliable Omni-Net, the Imperium's psychic Astral Telepathy Network, and the Concordance's biological Weblife.

  • Equipment: Each faction has a unique tech style: Imperial Magi-Tech, Concordance Biotech, Syndicate Cybernetics, and Saiyan Brutal Functionality.