LEGENDS OF CYPHER UNIVERSE
"Legends of Cypher is the genetic fusion of Tolkien’s world-building and Star Wars’ galactic scale—born into a neon-soaked cyberpunk reality."
The Reticle Cold War is set in a future where humanity is organized for peace, prosperity, and progress. Guided by an artificial intelligence capable of modifying behavior, known as the Metric, each individual is rewarded for their contribution to the collective. Thousands of worlds, billions of organizations, and trillions of beings are dominated by The Centopoly, a Corporatocracy overseeing adoption and compliance via the Metric.
Working in concert to reduce the variability in the universe, the Centopoly and Metric seek stability and an end to chaos. But some believe the system is flawed and fight for a different outcome, for a say in what will come.
They fight with Cypher, a new technology that can disrupt the Metric. which they hope will set humanity free.
In the aftermath of Cypher's release the Cosmos has entered a new era of uncertainty, chaos and the clandestine conflict known as the Reticle Cold War.
Humanity faces a choice: a future where they are free to choose their own path — for good or ill — or the Centopoly, which offers its vision of peace and prosperity through the Metric.
Welcome to the Cosmos!
Introductory Video
Eleven millennia of promise, conflict and great change. Learn the history of the Legends of Cypher Universe. Its beginnings on Earth, growth during the Great Diaspora, the rise of the Centopoly and the introduction of Hash's gift. (Produced and directed by Devin, featuring original music, Schopen's Suite Medley, by Davoice.)
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The Three Truths
Meet Aadhila. First of her kind, but not the last. Aadhila's mission: To share the Three Truths, and grow the Trusonary movement ... inspired by Hash, opposed to the Centopoly and the Metric, dedicated to changing hearts and minds. (Features original music, Trusonary's Flowering, by Davoice)
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Origin Stories
Book Zero: Hash & Malarian
Book Zero tells the origin story of Hash and Malarian. It begins with Malarian's tragic loss of her brother, which leads to her following her brother's footsteps and joining the Centopoly security forces. Over time, she concludes that the greatest threat to the Metric and Centopoly's rule is Hash and his technology, Cypher. Hash's story introduces Sylvius, a wise TechnoMage who becomes his first recruit and closest ally. Malarian locates Hash and attempts to capture him. But, he manages to escape, with Sylvius's help. The chase continues, as Malarian will stop at nothing to put an end to Hash — and the Cypherian revolution.
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Kitsune's Tale
Kitsune was raised by her father Inari to be a deadly assassin for his neo-Yakuza organization, but she yearns for a different life. She seeks the Centopoly and an opportunity to serve the Cosmos by following the Metric. Her mother, a former Centopolite, provides Kitsune with the motivation and a way out. However, when Kitsune learns the truth, she returns home to chart a new course for her future. This is only the beginning of her story.
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Chingala's Loss
When Chingala’s father is given a "choice" to sell their farmland to the Centopoly, she learns first-hand how the corporatocracy operates. Her Outback planet is slated to be destroyed, transformed into fuel to power the Centopoly's Bridge Technology. The Centopoly will proceed with or without the sale of the farm. However, Chingala's father is given a choice to sell the farm, which will provide a secure and comfortable life for his family. Over time, Chingala realizes what she’s giving up and how service to the Centopoly overrides individual freedom.
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Meru-36: Destiny's Fall
Meru-36: Destiny’s Fall tells the tale of the culmination of the Synthetic War, a nine-decade conflict between humanity and its AI rulers. The Battle of Meru-36 ended the Synthetic War, but led to the Great Sundering. This technological dark age made way for the Metric and the Centopoly, which sought to bring peace and prosperity to the Cosmos and prevent chaotic events like the Synthetic War and Great Sundering from happening again.
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Factions
Scions of Ogo
A new breed of human ... Homo technologicus. Created by the machine intelligences known as the 12 during the Synthetic War, Scions of Ogo practice, develop and hone the martial arts, while their "siblings", TechnoMages focus on achieving technological mastery.
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TechnoMages
Reclusive, powerful, feared ... TechnoMages have mysterious, almost magical, technological abilities mastered over centuries of careful study and breeding. These Homo technologicus, are very different from their 'sibilings' Scions of Ogo. It is rumoured that TechnoMages have played an important, but mysterious role in the Cosmos' evolution since they first emerged during the Synthetic War.
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Prospectors
Explorers, enlightened seekers ... small in number, but large in impact. Prospectors were the first humans to explore space, first in Earth's solar system, and ultimately across the Cosmos. Every human world -- from the Centopoly's 100 to the vast expanse of the Outback was first (and continue to be) discovered, scouted and proven suitable for human life by Prospectors.
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Mercantile Alliance
The Mercantile Alliance: A powerful loosely aligned group of Cosmos-spanning corporations with operations throughout known space. Despite their influence, their power flows from the Centopoly and their operations rely on access to instantaneous travel via Bridge Technology. In the Mercantile Alliance, power is earned but never granted. The Metric is a measure of potential and determines access to the Alliance's most powerful technologies, high-value worlds and political/economic power.
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Lore
Clashing WorldViews
"I have collected the Musings of Hash and Malarian to present their interesting and divergent perspectives. May these works bring you curiosity and ... enlightenment." –Didarian Chronitaum, Historian Emeritus, Cantoy University, Outback, 11,084, CE
What is Cypher?
Read Malarian's 'Mission Report' to learn about Cypher and its role in the story. "Cypher is a threat to Centopoly. It is a technology developed by Hash to combat the Metric's influence on the behavior of human and non-human intelligences." -Malarian
In the Eyes of the Metric
Read excerpts from a speech by the Metric Savant Elelsein given during the opening of the Metric Savant's 23rd Gathering of the Enlightened... "Embrace the Three Mantras, and gain favor in the Eyes of the Metric." -Metric Savant Elelsein
11,000 Years of Sentient History
A timeline of how human and machine have evolved over 11 millennia. "Human and Machine civilization have reached their pinnacle after 11,000 years of progress, conflict, chaos and peace." -High Senjukan Anjai Dublin, 11,000 CE
Language of Singularity
"Humankind dreamed of and feared the Singularity. During the AI Bloom, the Singularity was achieved, and with it, the most efficient, meaningful language ever devised: Cosmol." AllBright Edina Owens, 2nd Linguist, Cantoy University, 9765 CE.
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