Setting:Star*Finder

Star*Finder is a module which adapts the Star*Drive setting from Alternity to work for Starfinder. The various stellar nations are represented as character themes.

Setting

The Stellar Ring

It is the summer of a era. Five hundred years have passed since the Fraal revealed themselves to the denizens of Golarion, bringing about the discovery of drift travel through their combined knowledge. Waves of colonization soon followed, the myriad peoples of Golarion charging forth into the void in search of new worlds, new life, and new opportunities. As the boundaries of known space expanded the central power of Golarion waned, and it was not long before the growing settlements aspired to control their own destinies, free from taxation and oversight.

The First Galactic War was a brief affair which pitted the combined forces of the colonies against the fledgling Golarian defense forces, and the outcome was never in doubt. The so-called and much reviled "Golarian Empire" existed mostly in the minds of the colonial secessionists; there was little popular support for war in the core worlds. The peace treaty recognized the sovereignty of roughly two dozen stellar nations and established the Union of Gol as the stellar nation of the core worlds.

For a time there was peace. The stellar nations grew, encountering dozens of races and sending expeditions to the nearby globular clusters such as Far Reach, Orion Frontier, and the Verge. But peace feeds complacency and complacency invites predation.

The Second Galactic War was a ruthless and tortuously protracted affair which lasted nearly a century. Hundreds of worlds and trillions of lives would be lost before the combatants would exhaust their will to fight. More than twenty nations went into the war and only a dozen survived it, largely due to the great alliances.

Most historians pin blame for the war on the belligerence of the Expansion Pentad, led by the Thuldan Empire and VoidCorp. The Thuldans made no effort to conceal their aspirations of human dominance over all of space, and their alliance with VoidCorp amounted to an agreement to divide the universe between themselves and then fight each other last.

Opposing them was the FreeSpace Alliance, anchored by the twin states of the Orion League and the Orlamu Theocracy. While not as powerful as the combined Pentad forces, they were more than a match for either the Thuldans or VoidCorp alone, and they had the advantage of not sharing a border with either.

Caught between them were the nations of the Profit Confederation, a motley assortment led by the Rigunmor Star Consortium. The Profit nations would see much of the worst fighting; the Thuldan navy would ultimately be crushed in StarMech space at the Battle of Songham, while the savagery of the Austrin-Nariac front is without match in history.

For much of the war a "gentlemen's agreement" existed between the Profit Confederation and the FreeSpace Alliance to defeat the Pentad. However, there was mistrust and resentment to go around; anytime the Pentad threat was checked the two would engage in petty bickering over territory.

The conclusion of the war saw the establishment of a new entity, the Galactic Concord. Created as a neutral party to govern the border regions of the most contested areas and prevent another war, Concord is half stellar nation and half peacekeeping force. As part of its mandate, the Concord was accepted by all nations as the supreme authority for mediating disputes over territory in the frontier regions. To give it the power to carry out its mission, each nation ceded a portion of their navy to Concord, and recruited billions of colonists to repopulate its territory. While initially their were concerns about divided loyalties, today an entire generation thinks of themselves as citizens of the Concord and it has rapidly become a force to match any other nation in the stellar ring.

The most contentious aspect of the Concord are the Administrators. A select cadre of expert negotiators and spies, the Administrators are tasked with policing the Concord treaty. Their remit extends to investigate and report on anything that could lead to another galactic war, whether it be border disputes, arms smuggling, espionage, ancient precursor sites, or external nations and species. The popular image of an Administrator is that of a wizened Solarian commanding a peacekeeping force, although in truth most Administrators are intelligence operatives or diplomats. Outside of the Concord they're generally regarded as an unwelcome nuisance; every nation works around the margins of the Concord treaty to advance their agendas but none are willing to defy the treaty openly and risk war.

Content from Starfinder

Golarion is the third planet in the Gol system and the homeworld of Humans and all human adjacent species (Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, Haflings, Half Elves, and Drow); these races are collectively known as Golarians. Since first contact with the Fraal, they have expanded into space as one, founding nations and discovering new races. The Lashunta and Ysoki homeworlds fall in the Far Reach. The Vesk claim several systems in the Orion Frontier, as do the Kasanthas. The Swarm reside somewhere beyond Hammer's Star; free Shirrens are found mostly in the Verge. Half-Orcs are found in the Thuldan Empire, the product of radical genetic experimentation after a chance encounter with a nomadic Orc/Goblin warband beyond their space. Other homeworlds of various races can be found throughout and beyond known space. The Azlanti Star Empire is rumored to be in the unexplored territory somewhere beyond the boundaries of VoidCorp.

Organizations

The Stewards of the Pact Worlds are replaced by the Concord Administrators who are functionally very similar but have far more power.

The Android Abolitionist Front exists and is focused on activities against VoidCorp, the Starmech Collective, and the Rigunmor Consortium. The only nation that welcomes them is Insight.

The Free Captains are unchanged, operating mostly in the frontier regions.

The Starfinder Society exists, alongside other similar exploration groups such as the Verge Confederation.

The Augmented exist in form but not name; in this setting they have a whole stellar nation, the Nariac Domain.

The Star Knight orders of the Hellknights and the Knights of Golarion do not exist as such. The closest analog to both organizations are the Concord Marines, who have the dual mandate of protecting and aiding those in the in the frontier and border regions, and ruthlessly enforcing the peace between the stellar nations.

The Xenowardens have changed radically, becoming the Hatire Community. In this setting, the Xenowardens settled on a planet and then discovered an ancient faith that agreed with their own beliefs.

Magic Use

Attitudes towards mindwalking vary greatly by discipline. Technomancers are widely accepted and have a mercenary reputation. Mystics are respected in some nations but deeply distrusted in others. Solarians are rare but universally regarded with awe; individuals who show the potential to manifest a solar revelation are often recruited into civil service and academy trained. Some of the most high profile Concord Administrators are Solarians, as were many heroes of the Second Galactic War. Witchwarpers are exceptionally rare, the stuff of battlefield horror stories of squads of men mangled and burned by a shadowy figure's mere glance.

Divinity

The faiths of old Golarion do not hold the same sway in the Star*Finder setting. While they still do have their followers, they don't have the significance of the Insightful, the Orlamists, and the Hatire. These new and actively proselytizing faiths are backed by the might of their respective nation-states.

The Stellar Nations

Listed below are the thirteen stellar nations founded by the Golarians. While each nation typically has one or several predominate races that originate from Golarion, it's important to note that even the smallest stellar nations measure their population in the hundreds of billions. Individuals of every encountered species can be found in nearly every nation, as all but the most xenophobic nations are aggressively promoting themselves to immigrants (to varying degrees of success).

Ability Adjustments and Racial Traits: Humans in Star*Finder do not receive the normal human racial traits and ability adjustments.

Austrin-Ontis Unlimited

Predominant Species: Human and Dwarf with significant Drow minority

One of several "corporate" stellar nations, Austrin-Ontis is the galaxy's leading arms manufacturer. Founded on an ethos of rugged individualism, the right to carry weaponry holds an almost spiritual significance to Austrins, as does the concept of personal honor. Subject to strict rules, dueling is a legal and accepted method of resolving disputes in Austrin territory.

For the purposes of governance, every Austrin citizen holds one voting share of stock in Austrin-Ontis Unlimited and with it the right to vote for the company's leadership. However for a stellar nation the Austrin state is very small relative to its population, and concerned principally with arms manufacturing and the military.

For a human and dwarven society, Austrin-Ontis has a surprisingly large population of lowborn drow. While drow are not normally appreciative of concepts such as "honor", the Austrin axiom that civility grows out of the credible threat of violence has its appeal.

Ability Adjustments: Austrin humans gain +1 Constitution and +1 Dexterity.

Racial Trait: Austrin humans may cast Supercharge Weapon once per day as an extraordinary ability. The target weapon must be a small arm, longarm, or heavy weapon without the analog rule. An attack made when the weapon is supercharged in this way uses double the normal ammo.

Borealis Republic

Predominant Species: Overwhelmingly Human with extensive use of cloning, Bleachling Gnome minority

The Borealis colony began as a monarchy built upon widespread use of cloning to create a serf underclass. However, a revolution led to the abdication of the king and the elevation of everyone to peerage, resulting in a meritocracy where social standing is based on academic achievement. The conclusion of the revolution coincided with the end of the First Galactic War, and in the following years the Republic attracted significant numbers of bleachling gnome immigrants, drawn by the growth in academics in the new nation.

The Republic continues to practice the widespread use cloning and it is today the only nation to do so. The majority of Borealian humans are cloned from one of a few hundred source strains, with new strains being introduced roughly once or twice a decade. While natural procreation isn't restricted or even taboo, most clones regard it as somewhat uncouth, not helped by the fact that many female strains from the monarchy were genetically engineered to be courtesans and maidservants.

Daily life in the Republic is dominated by the interactions of the philosophical colleges. Part political party and part informal caste, every adult claims membership in one. Colleges rise and fall over time, with typically a dozen commanding enough popular support to be significant. The rising upstart is the College of Justice Ethics, drawing support among the military and in remote settlements. Justice Ethics advocates a simple view of society where the survival of the community takes precedence over other concerns.

Ability Adjustments: Borelian humans gain +1 Charisma and +1 Intelligence.

Racial Trait: Borelian humans may cast Comprehend Languages once per day as an extraordinary ability, using their character level as their caster level.

Hatire Community

Predominant Species: Elf and Halfling with Human minority; cybernetic species virtually absent

The Hatire Community began as a colony of halflings and elves desiring to escape the march of science that had overtaken Golarion. Seeking a simpler way of life more in touch with their heritage and free from the taint of technology, they dove deep into the depths and found a new world to call home. Haven, as they would name it, became the prime destination for elves and halflings expatriating from Gol, and is now the largest concentration of them to be found in space.

Eventually the Hatire became aware that they were not the first beings to have called Haven home. Investigating ancient ruins, they learned of the previous inhabitants and their worship of Cosmir. The teachings they deciphered spread through the community like fire, confirming their convictions that purity of spirit and rejection of the taint of technology was right and just.

However, hard circumstances required compromises. The outbreak of the Second Galactic War necessitated the creation of a modern elite fighting force. And worse, no defense could be expected to hold back the might of the Thuldan Empire. With no alternative, the Hatire were quick to become a client state of the Thuldans.

Ability Adjustments: Hatire humans gain +1 Constitution and +1 Wisdom.

Racial Trait: Hatire humans may cast Divine Aspect once per day as a supernatural ability, using their character level as their caster level.

Insight

Predominant Species: Human and Android plurality

Insight was born in the waning days of the second galactic war, when a division of Voidcorp went rogue and declared independence, taking with them most of their parent nation's computing talent. While a very small nation with a weak military, Insight's expertise in digital attack is unparalleled.

Ability Adjustments: Inseer humans gain +1 Dexterity and +1 Intelligence.

Racial Trait: Inseer humans may cast Delay Countermeasures once per day as an extraordinary ability, using their character level as their caster level.

Racial Trait: Inseer humans gain a rank in the Computers skill at 1st level and every level thereafter.

Nariac Domain

Predominant Species: Human and Dwarf, most citizens have augmentations

The Nariac Domain began as a colony founded on a marginally habitable planet. With little reserve for waste or error they were forced by circumstances to create a collectivist technocracy and a spartan lifestyle with no tolerance for dissent or corruption. To make the most of their scarce manpower they embraced cybernetic augmentation, while those able to manifest powers were inducted into civil service or placed under observation if they refused.

During the Second Galactic War, the Domain became a client state of Voidcorp and faced off against their Austrin neighbors. The Austrin-Nariac front was by far the most brutal theater of the conflict. While the Austrins remain bitterly angry with the Nariacs over the war, the Nariacs themselves reserve their wrath for Voidcorp.

Ability Adjustments: Nariac humans gain +1 Intelligence and +1 Strength.

Racial Trait: Nariac humans gain one free augmentation of level 3 or less.

Orion League

Predominant Species: Elf and Fraal; overall the most diverse nation by far.

The Orion League formed out of an alliance of several smaller colonies seeking to protect their trading fleets from harassment. The resulting nation is a prosperous and cosmopolitan society that is unusually accepting of new members as long as they subscribe to its core beliefs of liberalism and autonomy. Because of their openness, Orions boast the highest percentage of non-humans among their numbers, and in particular the most Fraal.

The Orion League was instrumental in negotiating the Concord Treaty, and are by far the most consistent supporter of Concord. Their idealism frequently puts them at odds with not only the members of the Expansion Pentad, but also the more mercantilistic states of the Profit Confederation

Ability Adjustments: Orion humans gain +1 Charisma and +1 Wisdom.

Racial Trait: Orion humans may cast Comprehend Customs once per day as an extraordinary ability, using their character level as their caster level.

Orlamu Theocracy

Predominant Species: Human majority, significant Weren and Driftborn Gnome minority

Founded by the first human test pilot to enter the Drift, the Orlamu are a liberal theocracy which reveres Triune and Drift travel. More than any other stellar nation, they invest enormous effort into studying the Drift, and produce the best Drift engines money can buy.

The Theocracy's crowning achievement to date is the Lighthouse of Faith, the largest drift-capable vessel ever constructed. Badly damaged in the Second War, the Lighthouse was refitted and gifted to the Concord as a mobile space station, now serving as the headquarters of Concord activity in the Verge region.

Although a small minority, Weren form the fastest growing share of the Orlamu population. Their zeal and martial prowess serve them well both in the Orlamu military and in the priesthood.

Ability Adjustments: Orlamu humans gain +1 Intelligence and +1 Wisdom.

Racial Trait: Orlamu humans may cast Pinpoint Navigation once per day as a supernatural ability, using their character level as their caster level.

Rigunmor Star Consortium

Predominant Species: Human and Mechalus

Wealth is everything. There is no vice in the pursuit of money for money is simply an expression of man's productivity and ingenuity. Let the richest lead, for they have proven their worth.

True everywhere, says the Rigunmor Star Consortium; and the results are hard to argue with. While the Consortium is neither the largest stellar nation, nor the most powerful, it is by far the richest. The Consortium is exactly that, a consortium. Composed of and controlled by the largest business interests in its territory. Constantly jockeying for wealth and power, it would seem inevitable that the Consortium would be short lived and succumb to outside interference. But they are united with one common ideology. and that is the rejection of any ideology above the pursuit of wealth.

Contributing to their fortunes is their discovery and subsequent deal with the Mechalus. The undisputed masters of cyberorganic technology, the Mechalus were to thank for protecting the Consortium from electronic attack during the Second War. While few Mechalus share the acquisitive nature of the Rigunmor society, their home planet Aleer grows rich leasing their expertise to the Consortium.

The flagship of the Consortium is the fortress ship Oneagle, which simultaneously serves as the seat of government.

Ability Adjustments: Rigunmor humans gain +1 Charisma and +1 Dexterity.

Racial Trait: Rigunmor humans may cast Charm Person once per day as an extraordinary ability, using their character level as their caster level.

StarMech Collective

Predominant Species: Overwhelming SRO majority, Human and Feychild Gnome minority

Equal parts famous and infamous, the engineers of the StarMech Collective are some of the most talented starship designers alive, while simultaneously known throughout space as the galaxy's foremost hedonists. The collective owes its existence to a diplomatic coup during the negotiation of the treaty that concluded the first galactic war, by means of the most debauched party ever held at a peace summit. When sun arose the next morning, the StarMechs had secured enough support to ensure themselves control over a sparsely populated region of space by literally drinking the delegates under the table.

In order to support their libertine lifestyle with a comparatively small population, the StarMechs rely heavily on robots. Wile free androids do exist, the overwhelming majority of synthetics in the collective are lawfully indentured SROs, having been built specifically to work. Most serve in the Collective's vast starship yards, and no expense is spared to keep them operating at their peak. Overall while the StarMech view on synthetics is far from egalitarian, they do not view them as expendable but rather as a prized asset.

Ability Adjustments: StarMech humans gain +1 Constitution and +1 Intelligence.

Racial Trait: StarMech humans may cast Patch Tech once per day as an extraordinary ability using their character level as their caster level.

Thuldan Empire

Predominant Species: Overwhelming Human majority; widespread use of genetic manipulation including Half-Elf and Half-Orc minorities

The Thuldan Empire was the creation of mogul Gregor Kent, to realize his vision of a manifest destiny for Golarians in the stars. However what they consider patriotic zeal is regarded by most other nations as brazen imperialism. The Thuldans make no effort to conceal or moderate their desire to unite space under one rule, and most historians blame them for instigating the Tau Ceti riots which initiated the Second Galactic War.

Despite their belligerent tendencies, the Thuldan Empire is by far the most tolerant nation with regards to human mutants and half-human hybrids. Half-elves and half-orcs face no discrimination in the empire, and there are no taboos about biotech. Imperial geneticists are the undisputed masters of biological manipulation, and this is reflected in the strong, healthy Thuldan populace.

Thuldan society is direct and unsophisticated. Their education is militarized, and their culture favors contests of physical prowess over more enlightening forms of entertainment. Many Thuldans are irreligious, although roughly a quarter follow the Hatire faith and their numbers continue to grow. Hatire missionaries have carefully preached an interpretation of their faith that emphasizes the virtues of effort and rejecting decadence, while minimizing any criticisms of genetic manipulation.

Ability Adjustments: Thuldan humans gain +1 Constitution and +1 Strength.

Racial Trait: Thuldan humans gain one free biotech of level 3 or less.

Union of Gol

Predominant Species: Human plurality, almost as cosmopolitian as the Orion League.

Sitting at the heart of known space, the Union of Gol was born out of the treaty that concluded the First Galactic War. The Union today is a densely populated cluster of systems featuring some of the largest cities in known space. Centuries of development have left it starved for resources but its location makes it a natural hub of commerce. The Union maintains a healthy rivalry with the Rigunmor Star Consortium as the financial capital of the stellar nations.

Over the centuries billions have emigrated from the Union, but billions more from newly discovered races have immigrated for the opportunities to be found there. Only the Orion League can boast a diaspora to match the Union.

Ability Adjustments: Union humans gain +1 Charisma, +1 Constitution, and +1 to any 1 ability

Racial Trait: Union humans gain the skill focus feat.

VoidCorp

Predominant Species: Human and Drow, significant Sesheyan minority

Ability Adjustments: VoidCorp humans gain +1 Dexterity and +1 Wisdom.

Racial Trait: VoidCorp humans gain an additional rank in the Profession skill at 1st level and every level thereafter.

Concord

Predominant Species: Human and T'sa plurality, although no species exceeds 10% of population.

Ability Adjustments: Concord humans gain +1 Strength and +1 Wisdom.

Racial Trait: Concord humans gain the Toughness feat.