The Ursa

The Ursa live in the foothills and mountains north of the Empire. The Ursa are bear like humanoids. Not anthropomorphic bears, but shaggy haired humanoids. They are extremely strong and large in stature, with a slightly muzzled mouth. While they do possess sharp canines they are completely concealed with their mouths closed. They have regressed claws that are not sharp, and more like really thick finger nails, with a slightly rounded point.
The Ursa live in large clan groups. If you enter a town it will be controlled by a single clan. Marriage must come from outside the clan, and are gigantic affairs involving two towns. They are known as fine smiths. But are not yet capable of the industrialization possessed by the Empire. Technology wise they are capable and do carry flintlock weapons. Most of which are of large calibers. Definitely unusable by races of smaller stature, like geck. Their traditional ranged weapon is the levered shot. Which is a piece of shaped granite, with an iron handle attached. Obviously this is a thrown weapon. In the realm of hand to hand weapons they favor axes, and broad swords. Besides iron working, they are known for their woodworking, brewing, and distilling.
Ursa are generally a very friendly lot. It is said that to become a friend of an Ursa is to become a friend for life. While not typically violent. When roused to such a state. they are fearsome fighters, of great power.

The United Saqar Socialist Republic

Mexican Cactus People

by Lysol-Jones

The United Saqar Socialist Republic lies far to the south of the Hyden desert. Populated by a race of humanoid cactus. It is a very different place than the Empire. People in the Empire have heard of the Saqar, but very few have actually met one. They live in scattered communes, governed by a travelling central body. They have built a socioeconomic system based on the common ownership of the communes means of production. They have a distinct lack of social classes and money. This is helped by the fact of their unique physiology. They feed by absorbing sunlight. As well as going dormant and  rooting into the ground for a period time. The time the individual must root for varies depending on the physical characteristics of the individual. (Their attributes) This leaves them with more time to help one another and the community. Now their are exceptions to this, not all are altruistic members of this society. But it is true for the majority.These exceptions tend to be thieves, and explorers. More likely to be found outside of the Saqar lands. They tend to live in mud brick houses covered by stucco. With bare dirt floors, and no roof. This allows them to bask in sunlight and root easily in their abode. They are about late 18th century in technology. Blades and flintlock weapons are common. They have a tradition of smithing fine metal objects. But do not mine for it. They trade for it. Typically with the boat people, who in turn trade with the Empire. One thing you will never see a Saqar with, or using is a wooden object. They find it mentally disturbing, and will not use it. They do use coal for their smithing though.Game note   Saqar have a player class unique to the race. The Commissar. Treated as a bard. But instead of being a story teller or singer/musician. They issue commands, and inspirations. Created the same effects. As all in the world of the Empire they do not cast spells. But Commissars do gain thief skills as a bard as well.

The Boat People

The boat people towns lie deep in the eastern Hyden desert. The town consist of pre fall ships. The Hyden desert used to be a sea. These ships where trapped after the fall. The ships/town are in various conditions. Some are derelict hulks, mere skeletons. Others have been meticulously maintained. Almost to the point if the water returned they could float, and move away under there own power. This is part of the boat peoples religion. They pray to Poseidon, to bring back the water. So that they may travel to to the legendary safe harbor. Technology varies from town/ship to town/ship. Some that inhabit the hulks are mere hunter gathers. Others still have fully operational fusion power reactors, and limited technology on the ancients. Armed with a mix of black powder cartridge weapons, and laser rifles. But they all follow the ancient naval/maritime traditions. The two largest and most prosperous are the USS Zmwalt III (former destroyer), and MV Global (container ship).

Power of the Empire

Been quiet for a minute. Sorry, work has been crazy. Being the lone gun man for a 6 day work week sucks.

So, lets get back into it eh? What is truly the real power of the Empire? The army? Yes, partially. Psychics? No, not really there are those outside of the Empire. Advanced technology? Yes, but not in the black powder cartridges, and relics of the past. No, the true power of the Empire can be summed up in one word, railroad. Mass transit. The ability to project power across the Empire. Not just delivering troops in a remarkable speed, in comparison to horses. Mighhty steam locomotives plying the continent. But the the support elements, and supplies needed by the army. Then there is the economic impact of the railroad. Goods, and passengers whisked about the Empire. This is the true power of the Empire. Tracks crisscross the Empire. Spurs lead to the front on the southern coast delivering troops and supplies. A spur leads into the northern mountains to the Ursa Clans territory. In the far south it leads to the Hyden Desert. Here it ends. The railroad is no match for the shifting sands of the desert. From here goods are transported via camel caravan to the Boat People towns, and even farther south to the United Saqar Socialist Republic. (Yeah, I named it the USSR. It fits, you'll see in a later post).

Firearms

Some stats for firearms in my Empire campaign.
(All range increments are in yards)

Williams Rifle
Damage: 1d10
Range Increment: 30/50/100

Danforth Double Action Revolver
Damage: 1d8
Range Increment: 15/30/50

Danforth Single Action Revolver
Damage: 1d8
Range Increment: 15/30/50

Kepler Pistol
Damage: 1d8
Range Increment: 15/30/50

Howda Pistol
-Damage: .45 Williams 1d10
Range Increment: 15/30/50
-.60 1d12
Range Increment: 15/30/50
-12 gauge shot 1d10/1d8/1d6
Range Increment: 10/20/30
-12 gauge slug 1d12
Range Increment: 15/30/50

Shotgun
Single or double barreled
-20 gauge
shot1d8/1d6/1d4
Range Increment: 15/30/50
slug 1d10
Range Increment: 20/40/60
-12 gauge
shot 1d10/1d8/1d6
Range Increment: 15/30/50
slug 1d12
Range Increment: 20/40/60
-10 gauge
shot 1d12/1d10/1d8
Range Increment: 15/30/50
slug 2d6
Range Increment: 20/40/60
-8 gauge
shot 1d20/1d12/1d10
Range Increment: 15/30/50
slug 2d10
Range Increment: 20/40/60

.600 Double Rifle
Damage 2d10
Range Increment: 30/60/200

Smith Revolving Rifle
Damage 1d8
Range Increment: 30/40/60

These are just my basic quick thoughts. My info, and rules to go along with these to come.

Empire Army

The Empires army is the largest, best equipped, and finest fighting force on the continent.  Clad in khaki with pith helmet. The typical soldier is equipped with belt and cross belts with ammo pouches. Armed with a Williams rifle. A single shot, falling block breach loading, .45 caliber black powder brass cartridge rifle.

Officers carry pistols that they have purchase on their own. Popular pistols are, Danforth .45 caliber double action revolver (standard issue revolver of the Empire army).

Kepler's pistol a four barreled break open pistol. Typically chambered for the .45 Danforth.

Some are armed with Howda pistols. These are double barreled break open pistol. Chambered typically for large calibers, such as .45 Williams, .60 Crowder, or 12 gauge shot shells.

All officers are issued a sabre. Although more prosperous individuals have them embellished to their tastes.

The army is now field testing several new weapons in the southern coast war. One of which is the Milton Gun. A multi-barrel weapon of rapid volley fire. Chambered for .45 Williams, it lays out a devastating barrage of fire.

The tried and true support weapon of the Empires army is the 2.75 pack howitzer. Firing a 2.75 inch explosive shell, it is destructive force used against mass formations and emplacements.

The Southern Coast

I've been fleshing out a campaign setting for some time now. this is a small piece of it.

The Bushlands and the Southern Coast.
  These are the domains of the Lizard Folk tribes. A vast wilderness of savanna leading to desert in the south. Jungle to temperate in the north. Lying on the southern edge of the Empire. The Empire claims to want to bring dominion and religion to the lizard folk. But truth be told the Empire is more interested in the abundant natural resources, as well a technology of the ancients. Some of the best condition technology of the ancients has been found in the Bushlands. But the lizard tribe are a proud people not willing to submit to the Empire.
  The Lizard folk are split into many different tribes. Which have slightly varying customs. But are very similar. To the average refined Empire citizen they are all the same, savage.
  The Lizard tribes are of a relatively low technology level. Limited agriculture, and animal husbandry. Supplemented with hunter/gathering. The typical tribe member wears only a loin cloth, belt, a drawstring pouch, and spear. Champions, and shamans have been seen using weapons stolen from the Empire, and rarely relics of the ancients.
  Tribes are led by their Shaman. Who receives instruction and converse directly with their god, Olympian. Olympian, full name Cray XKV-21 Olympian is an ancient sentient super computer. Powered by a fusion reactor drawing fuel from the air. It is located deep underground somewhere in the bushlands. the Lizard folk build shrines to Olympian out of old computers and technology of the ancients. Which is usually directly linked to Olympian.
  Each Shaman carries an interface, a link to Olympian. The interface is a tablet like device. Encased in a cover that varies from shaman to shaman. Some are made to look like a hardcover book. Others are in a briefcase, or wooden chest. Some are so large they require porters to move them around.
  These interfaces are powered and connected to Olympian by a broadcast system. If moved out of the areas covered by the broadcast. They lose power/contact. The Tribes are trying to expand their god influence by building new shrines/broadcast nodes. Especially with the Empire now encrouching on their lands.