GOA Project Concept 001

Can See Project GOA background and art here
[link]

Races:-The Masa & Symbiosis -
To other races the Masa have a humanoid-lycanthrope like appearance.
Though this can come in a variety of generally similar forms due to their generational ability.
Like a number of lifeforms in GOA, the Masa have a number of remarkable long term biological abilities.
It is believed that these abilities are due to an ancient symbiotic organism and that is present in GOAs creatures in varying degrees and forms. (In some Cultures this entity is viewed as being asort of spirit, demon-infusion or divine connection ect: see spirit info)
The Masa are able to use this to, over time, subtly change their form and biology.
According to Masa Lore, over the generations the different Masa clans adopted different markings, shapes, abilities and such, originally taking inspiration from there environment and the life forms in it. Perhaps this is why humans that first encountered them, think of them as resembling different creatures.
Some clans may seem more fox like, cat like and such, still others seem so mixed and exotic they may not immediately resemble any one creature. Some clans may seem more human-like, some less so.
Yet despite these diverse forms and abilities between clans, the Masa are if fact one species.
Different individuals possess more or less skill in harnessing the abilities this entity can give.
Some have a very weak link to it and seem to have no ability.
On the other hand there are myth and legends of those who can tap in into so strongly, so much so that for a time they seem like a different person. Their demeanor and state of mind alters. Their eyes may become more slited and take on and unnatural shine.Older masa clans believe the skilled can use a form of meditation to gain a greater connection and understanding of it and thus a greater connection to the world. The skill with which one can use this to more precisely alter their markings and body is viewed as a sign of a sort of more noble bloodline.
(note :concepts like noble blood, spirit and such, don't always translate well into human words and may have slightly different cultural meanings.)
Some skilled noble blood clans practise making unaturally precise markings on their bodys.



-Gennonra-
race notes by Lt Shion Galaxia
Hard data on this race is very difficult to come by and often seems be contradictory leading to questions of its authenticity. It seems the Gennoray fractured in to various factions a very long time ago.
Some of these factions seem to be either be allied ,rivals or involved in hostile maneuvering against each other. Their relationship can be difficult to pin down. It may be that they are biological differences in the psyche between them as well.
There is certanly big physical differences between them. They come in all sizes and variations of there basic avian form. It is known that they possess some of the some most radical form altering abilities. The symbiotic entity that lives in a number of lifeforms is believed to be responsible for this. (see masa & Symbiosis)
Some people describe them as most resembling avian, dragonic or griffin-like beings of ancient myths as the things thay seem the most similar to.
Some seem to have outright hostile intentions. Others seem to be helpful supplying tidbits of information at just the right time. Often you get the nagging feeling they’re not leting on everything that they know. Maybe it’s just there culture or the way their hardwiring works… or perhaps we are all being manipulated, perhaps it’s something larger.
I’d say they’re generally secretive and private, more so than anyone. It must frustrate the hell out of scholarly types.
Inspite of their size and power, most of the time they prefer using proxys in whatever dealings they’re involved with, manipulating, plotting, manevuering behide the scenes.
But then again this may just be another nonhuman stereotype.
However it is said that when they do feel it is time to come out and confront each other directly the earth rocks.



--Crossroads City State--
Some times referred to as Meetpoint Colony, it is a massive urban city and industrial area that is more or less run by Corporations so one can expect different rules here than that of a normal state.
It has survived by trying to make itself invaluable to its clients, making itself a center point for trade though most journalist types will never see past it’s infamous air ship docks.
It has its own sometimes rival internal and external security forces and agency with each with their own hardware.
Some are tasked with preventing outside infiltration by hostile powers such as spying, sabotage, terrorist acts and the like. Some are responsible for policing and keeping the peace and stability between rival Corporations.
Surprisingly there seems to be a small nonhuman presence here as well. They are one of the few mainly human cities where people are not totally unaware of the existence of nonhumans. Where a nonhuman can go to and not cause an outright shock. Thought nonhumans seem to have some interest here, Crossroads City is known for keeping their clients identities and activities anonymous. Little word of this reality gets out and is normally treated as just one of many exaggerated urban tales when it does.
Like UFO’s and such, there is a stigma about investigating this type of thing and so it is seen as beneath reporting by what few media sources there is.
Terrain and wind patterns tend to keep things out but also keep pollutants in.

[possible hazards; often complicated internal politics, hired private security or mercenaries (legal or otherwise), criminal groups, underground movements, espionage, rogue projects.

[notable Industry; R&D, robotics, AI, vehicle manifacture, Air shipyards. tech trade, military Walkers.]



--Repulser Substances--
Though not widely understood, different forms of this substance are used in a number of applications to seemingly make things lighter, such as Airships and heavy class VTOLs. Airships use a refined form of this substance which is energised to allow them to hover ,giveing off a glow on the energised part. Older cultures used this as "runes" placed on weapons and armor to make them lighter and to psyche out the enemy.
Sometimes enabeling the user to carry a larger weapon.
When a life form that can use spirit symbiosis takes in certain forms of this substance, it becomes possible for them incorporate it into their bodys.
Creatures that have done this can use it to make themselves seemingly lighter at will.
It seems this is how it is possible for something as large as a Gennonra to fly without haveing to have impracticaly large cheast muscles. Some organism can refine this substance and then release it back in to the groud when they expire or are eaten.



-Rift Canyons & Scablands-
These are massive geological features.
At some points they can be 3 miles deep or more if measured from the highest to the lowest part and wide enough at some convergent points to easily fit whole cities. They tend to impede travel by ground from one area to the next.
White cliff canyon is one such example.
Sometimes the lower zones can be filled with things like toxic spore woods.
It is theorised these canyons may have played a part in the evolution and history of many of goa life forms.
The Gennonra my have adapted to have wings in order to glide from one ridge to another and to get acess to the canyon floor.



-Masa general Description, Clans, Culture,-
Notes by Lt Shion Galaxia
To the other races they seem to have the aura of something that is somehow supernatural.
Even after dealing and being with them for a number of years, as part of the new human Kiada the Council has granted us, one finds oneself often wondering what really goes on behind that alien face, those eyes. And though they share a number of things in common, each clan (Kiada) is different. Moves in different ways, has a different accents and so forth. Often a Kiada or family will become known for some skill or trade etc. and then tend fill that role in society.
Ordered and exotic the masa move with an unnatural grace and mesmerizing ways;
You can see it form powerful and frightening, shadowy movements of one clan’s special forces, to the beautiful, hypnotizing movements of the lady dancers in another clan.



-Disasters, History and the Shaping of civilization.-
There have been a number disasters and events in the past that have shaped GOA civilization into what it is now.
Though many of these events may have been relatively small by themselves they had a cumulative effect over time.
As One thing leads to another there is a chain reaction of events.

However there are those who believe that there are groups who have use thees disasters to further there own agenda.
An intentional act of sabotage to push there enemys over the edge and topple the dominant civilizations of the time.

Some notable events are briefly listed here.
ENC Aurora: What are believed to be similar polarity Solar storms burn out technology vulnerable to EMF such a communication and power.
This has a ripple down effect and results in a lack of certain resources such as fuel, food and water. Many economies are put in jeopardy.
These events and the chaos that they causes brings tensions between factions to the breaking point. Some knowledge is lost and
forgotten, setting certain technologies back while the necessities of living in such a world cause others to advance.
People tend to live in what are generally referred to as colonies, large city states where there are better resources provided and where there it is better protection from the hazards of living outside.
hazards, such as piracy from raiders ,rough groups doing illegal research, terrorist hideouts, and zones like forest that can be toxic to humans.
Communication can be difficult and unpredictable without access to a hard-line.

There have also been other events such as impacts, natural climactic cycles and other events that have altered history of GoA at different points. The off size class of the world it's terren, land distribution, climate and its position in the solar system have also been influencing factors.



-Masa - Contact & Relations-
Like the history of many things in GOA, Unfortunately the history of the Masa’s interaction, or lack of it, with the outside world has been obcured by a number of things; politics, hazardous terrain,
GOA atmospheric difficulty with communications, conflict, religious restrictions, collaspe of civilizations, natural catastrophe and an often seemingly chronic lack of curiosty by the lay public among other things.
It is now believed by some that the text of a few ancient cultures do refer to them, however people had always interpreted this as nothing more than ancient myths and legends.
In more modern times tech dealings and trade had been done almost exclusively with places like Crossroads. However these places can be very insular & secretive for there own “reasons” leading to a number of conspiracy theories about them.
The Iron Curtin / Cold War political climate that exists between these colonies and their neighbours only adds to this.
In the modern era knowledge of the Masa has inevitably become far more widespread, though few people in the outside world have ever witnessed one in the flesh. In order to secure a Masa homeland, the leaders of joint Masa clans have set a very fast pace to modernize and equip the mainland clans. The Masa have never had great numbers



-Industrial wasteland-
These are zones that consist mainly of seemingly near abandoned rundown dystopias and have forgotten industrial areas. They’re often farther out from the major defended tech colonies.
MI3 is one such example. This zone runs mostly along the coast on one side and a small semi toxic infected woods patch on the next.
Sector MI1 is more on the desert side of the cliff hills region of Crossroads point and so it is somewhat protected from spores and bad air.
-
Areas like these have all sorts of hazards, odd incidents and urban legends associated with them, sightings of bizarre creatures in the dark and such.
Sometimes an investigation will bring a hardened law agent here to follow a lead, but generally law enforcement has the least presence here if any at all.
[Terrain:] indtal ,derelict buildings, old shipyards, power plants, railroads, underground projects, etc. often abandoned or take over by “locals”.
[inhabitants:] very small population if any; gangs, hobos, workers.



-Spectre City-
Some referred to as Crossroads failed sister city.
it is completely abandon, for reasons that are unclear.

-Rock Trees Woods--
these are towering semi organic forms.
Similar life forms are use in construction and semi or ” post organic” fabrication” by some groups.
Closest Earth analogy is hard coral like life forms left by colonies for polyps and bacteria along the Australian coast.



Outsiders: a lose nick name for various factions that arose due to economic collapse, toxic spore woods, and the loss of social cohesion.
(See: Disasters, History and the Shaping of civilization.)
Outside of the mega colonies lay lands of mysterious ruins and urban legend.
In some ways the situation in some of these areas is akin to a neo wild west setting, Somalia, Yemen, a haven for dust pirates, various rogue groups and such.
A situation that also adds some touching stories of loss and strong motivations for protagonists and antagonists.

Can See Project GOA background and art here
[link]