Game Overview

The Game Overview provides all the key details you’ll need to understand the world, setting, and unique features of our game! We’re always here to lend a hand if you have questions or need a nudge in the right direction. This page was updated on September 27th, 2024 to reflect changes brought about by our new version; any changes made after the fact will be marked with a star (★).

World History

Kinship’s past is one of divine interference, where the whims of gods shaped the world and its people. What began as a neutral ground for resolving disputes became a place of conflict, experimentation, and mortal suffering, leaving scars that still shape the present.

• The younger gods, addicted to the power of mortal prayers—which could extend their lives and increase their abilities—fought for control of life-supporting planets, causing destruction across the universe. To contain the damage, the Primordials designated Kinship as a battleground where these gods could resolve their conflicts without harming other worlds.
• Early disputes were settled through games and duels, but the gods soon grew bored and began abducting or creating lifeforms to fight in their place, initially plants and animals and then expanding to humanoids. Some mortals were modeled on blueprints from other planets while others were kidnapped directly from their home planets; some were even deliberately altered or hybridized for the purpose of battle or destruction.
• Mortals, often forced to fight or commit heinous acts against each other, suffered greatly; their prayers for survival, peace, or victory fueled the gods backing their side of the conflict, creating a cycle where destruction fed divine power. The scars from these battles still linger in Kinship’s cultures and societies today.
• Eventually, the Primordials intervened, transforming Kinship into a Sanctuary Planet. Though some gods continue to oversee it, their influence is now more structured and controlled, focusing on guidance and stewardship rather than chaos and conflict.

Modern Day

Today, Kinship is a world where magic and technology coexist, woven together by its rich and often painful history.

• The planet is a patchwork of cultures, with architecture, languages, and traditions borrowed from or created by countless civilizations. Ancient dialects blend with futuristic slang, and you'll find relics of long-forgotten eras standing alongside cutting-edge technology.
• Magic and technology intertwine—wands, enchanted machines, and laser pistols are used side by side, seamlessly merging the mystical with the mechanical in ways that are both surprising and familiar.
• The wildlife of Kinship is equally diverse, a mix of robotic creatures, mythical beasts, dinosaurs, and modern species with both magical and mundane aspects.

The Island

New Ognos, the primary setting for our game, is an island recovering from disaster. For centuries, Old Ognos was an isolated nation embroiled in internal conflicts between Humans and Valka, avoiding outside influence, but six years ago events shook the island -- and the entire world -- to its core.

• The destruction came when Ognos’ patron gods waged war, disrupting Kinship as a whole, and devastating Ognos most of all. In the chaos, another god arrived, further intensifying the damage.
• The survivors, now refugees, scattered across Kinship. Some sought refuge in foreign lands, trying to integrate, while others became nomads, living aboard ships or wandering fleets.
• Eventually, the Primordial Gods intervened. Though they couldn’t undo all the damage, they stabilized the island enough to allow New Ognos to rebuild.

The Town (Pyronmouth)

Once blessed by the gods of Old Ognos as an apology for the damage caused by their conflicts, Pyronmouth is the heart of New Ognos. It once expanded and contracted with its population, but as a result of this version's chaos, the town has become static with many buildings left vacant as people move to new settlements outside the city.

• The town is divided into distinct districts, each with its own cultural and economic focus:
  • Emerald District: The wealthiest Ognoshu live here in grand villas surrounded by lush gardens.
  • Sapphire District: Home to merchants, soldiers, and scholars, known for its blue-roofed shops and desirable homes.
  • Ruby District: Laborers and tradespeople live in modest, crowded homes in this District, leaving room for farmland and livestock.
  • Obsidian District: Primarily inhabited by Valka, this district features dark stone buildings and communal fires. Humans may be viewed with suspicion here.
  • Copper District: A bustling bazaar with shops, stalls, and tents, serving as the town’s marketplace.
  • Iron District: The docks, where fishing boats, merchant vessels, and Navy ships are moored.
  • Platinum District (The Hub): The administrative heart of Pyronmouth, home to guild halls, the Hall of Records, and the Silver Precinct.

• With many buildings now vacant, the government has opened these properties for purchase, particularly in the Emerald and Sapphire Districts. This has led to the rise of wealthy landlords, some of whom use their influence to help their tenants, while others charge high rents and neglect basic services. In some cases, shady deals have allowed landlords to claim ownership of already-occupied buildings, forcing characters into uncomfortable situations as they suddenly find themselves with a new landlord.
• Wealthier characters may also be tasked with overseeing properties in the Ruby District, which has been hit hardest by the town’s instability. This has led to a mixture of well-maintained and poorly managed areas, depending on how seriously those responsibilities are taken.
• Pyronmouth is protected by obsidian walls and robotic guards known as Flies. These guards typically intervene in violent crimes, but only if they witness the act. If they come across the aftermath, such as a dead body, they merely scan the area for obvious suspects and leave further investigation to the Silvers, the city’s Ognoshu guard force. Recently, the Flies have become erratic, sometimes ignoring crimes or wrongly targeting civilians.

New Ognos Society

• While social classes still exist in New Ognos, they are more fluid than before, allowing greater mobility across societal boundaries. Characters of any race can occupy any class, and advancement is possible through in-character accomplishments or purchases in the Marketplace. Here's a quick overview of the current social structure and available titles:
  • Nobles enjoy abundant wealth, privilege, and influence; while Valka and other races have attained noble titles, old prejudices sometimes linger. Titles for heads of noble houses include Dame (typically women) and Thane (typically men, but the title is gender-neutral). Other nobles may be called Lady, Lord, or Liege. Nobles often go by "Lord/Lady/Liege [First Name]" among their social equals, e.g., Dame Sherwood might be "Lady Amelia" to her fellow nobles, and "Amelia" only when among very close friends.
  • The Gentry are wealthy landowners, merchants, scholars, artisans, professionals, and officers who bridge the gap between nobles and commoners. Titles include Ser (gender-neutral, often used by women), Sir (often used by men), Mistress (typically used by women), and Master (typically used by men, but the title is gender-neutral).
  • Commoners comprise the bulk of society, and the workforce in manual and domestic vocations. They include farmers, builders, miners, servants, and unskilled laborers. They often enjoy greater social freedoms than other classes, but experience higher rates of poverty.

Version Five Features

• Essence Shards—crystallized remnants of magic, nanites, and divine energy left behind by the Primordial Ones—have begun to destabilize. This has triggered a new natural phenomenon known as Shardfalls, which are reshaping life in Kinship.
  • Shardfalls: These violent storms cause Essence Shards to rain from the sky, while powerful geysers of energy burst from the ground, corrupting any life caught in their wake. The Shardfalls are unpredictable and devastating, leaving those in their path to scramble for safety or shelter.
  • Heralds and Remnants: Each Shardfall is preceded by the appearance of one of four massive, Shard-infested creatures known as Heralds. These creatures, living embodiments of Shard corruption, are seen in the affected area about three days before a Shardfall strikes. Alongside them, smaller manifestations called Remnants emerge. The connection between the Heralds and the Shards’ instability remains unclear, but their arrival is always a warning of the destruction to come.
  • Factions: In response to the growing chaos, new factions have splintered off from the town of Pyronmouth. These groups, each with their own strategies for surviving or capitalizing on the Shardfalls, are challenging the island's fragile unity.

Companion Creatures (optional)

Companion Creatures are magical beings that usually feature in a character's posts as secondary/supporting characters, though they can occasionally be posted individually. These unique Companions have their own progression system and abilities, acting as your character's closest ally. You can learn more about them in the Companion Creatures guide.

Progression Systems (optional)

We offer the following progression systems; all systems are entirely optional and players can choose to track them (or not) at any time without losing progress -- it's literally just whether or not you pick a checkbox when posting!

• The Character Progression system will allow you to level up your character's nanites/magic and open up new opportunities.

• The Astrofel Progression system allows you to enhance your Astrofel and their bond, unlocking new features and opportunities.
• The Pet Progression system allows you to gain new abilities and bonuses for your pets, or to enhance pre-existing ones.
• Guilds are organizations that characters can join to access community, training, exclusive quests, special discounts, and collective benefits in pursuit of professional or social goals. After joining, characters can work together with their guildmates or take on individual tasks to help level up their Guild, unlocking and enhancing member benefits.
• The Island/Plot Progression system allows you to help level up the game, the island, and the world. Through participation, players can unlock new areas, plot opportunities/details, pets, talents, Marketplace items, sitewide discounts or rewards, races, Astrofel, and much, much more! Players can choose passive participation -- you help with progression just by posting! -- or active participation, where you opt to play specific mini-games or complete tasks in-character to help us progress.
• Challenges are special bonus tasks players can complete to earn Tokens and other special rewards; challenges are completely optional, but can enhance your experience. You can learn more about our available challenges here.

Mini-Games (optional)

We offer a variety of mini-games for players and characters can participate in to earn various prizes. These experiences are entirely optional, but are a fun way to experience unique aspects of the game, explore character development, complete challenges, and more. Opportunities may include, but are not limited to, explorations (solo and with other characters/NPCs), battles, gambling, capturing and training pets, and more; you can even create new lineages through the breeding catalyst!

Deeper Dives (optional)

If you'd like more information on the topics covered in this guide, please visit the Main Page and check out the resources in the Extras category.

Next up...

You can check out the other Essential Guides using the links below!

• Guidebook - a brief look in to game setting & mechanics
• Getting Started - your character creation companion

When you've read everything over, you can get going by joining your character here.

Don't forget to join our Discord!