Unable to start

New Vanguard is a city shrouded in secrecy and wonder, perched high atop the peaks of The Celestial Chain. Hidden from the outside world, this city blends ancient traditions and interstellar influences, where ninjas and aliens coexist in a delicate balance of discipline and mystery. Known to few, New Vanguard is a guardian of Nexia’s most ancient secrets, with a history intertwined with the stars.

Geography

New Vanguard rests atop the highest flat plateau of The Celestial Chain, a majestic and imposing mountain range characterized by its jagged cliffs, dense mists, and hidden passes. One side of the city faces the steep, ascending slopes of the mountain, where Trikage Rock—a towering cliffside formation—dominates the skyline. Here, the Trikage Mansion is carved partially into the rock, a symbol of power and oversight.

The city’s unique geography provides both natural beauty and strategic advantage. Dense mists frequently roll over the mountain, cloaking New Vanguard in a veil of secrecy and making it nearly impossible to spot from afar. The high altitude and sheer rock faces serve as natural defences, discouraging would-be invaders from attempting a direct assault. Lush greenery flourishes in pockets around the city, fed by hidden springs that emerge from the mountainside, creating secluded gardens and tranquil pools that offer respite from disciplined city life.

Despite the rugged surroundings, New Vanguard's design harmonizes with the natural landscape, using materials sourced from the mountain to create a seamless blend of ornate pagodas, sleek alien structures, and training grounds. These open spaces accommodate martial arts, psionic training, and community gatherings, reflecting the fusion of ancient ninja traditions with advanced alien technologies. The city’s hidden location atop The Celestial Chain makes it a secluded and strategically important enigma—a jewel above the clouds, protected by both its vigilant residents and the formidable landscape, symbolizing a unique blend of history, nature, and innovation.

History

In the 1st Age, Nexia was an untouched paradise, empty of humanoids but lush with life. The planet’s isolation was broken by a monumental event—a joint scientific mission from distant planets that crash-landed on Nexia’s surface. This experiment aimed to create a world populated by diverse races, blending cultures and species in a unique biological and social integration. Over millennia, the purpose and origins of this project faded into myth and legend, its truth buried beneath the sands of time.

2nd Age, 473 – The Founding of New Vanguard. As various humanoid species began to spread across Nexia, a group of exiled warriors and monks discovered the Celestial Chain’s hidden peaks. They established a secluded settlement atop the flat summit, drawing strength from the isolation and perfecting their arts in peace. New Vanguard became a sanctuary for those who lived by the shadows, honing their skills away from the eyes of the world.

3rd Age, 1015 – Fall of the Astral Seeker. Drawn by ancient star maps and the allure of a lost world, a diverse crew of explorers from across the cosmos crash-landed in New Vanguard. Their ship, dubbed the Astral Seeker, became a relic and a silent monument to their journey. Though much of the ship’s technology was irreparably damaged, some vital systems and historical data survived. Among the ship’s remains were records chronicling the first mission to Nexia, revealing secrets about the dawn of civilization on the planet. This knowledge, now accessible only to the Trikage and their closest advisors, became a tightly guarded cornerstone of the city’s hidden history.

3rd Age, 1057 – The Adaptation. The remaining technology was carefully adapted to complement existing ninja and psionic practices. Psionic monks experimented with the remnants, blending their natural abilities with the sparse tech to enhance meditation and stealth. This era marked a subtle evolution, keeping the city’s advancements secretive and understated.

3rd Age, 1112 – Night of the Shadowed Sky. A mysterious celestial event bathed the city in darkness for three consecutive nights. During this time, the Trikage declared an emergency state, sealing the city from the outside world. Rumours suggest that this event was linked to a disturbance in the psionic fabric of the Celestial Chain, possibly tied to ancient, dormant technologies hidden within the mountains.

3rd Age, 3847 – The War of the Dead / Flanked Frenzy. New Vanguard faced its greatest test during the Flanked Frenzy and the War of the Dead, as adversaries from Nimsel Valis threatened to engulf the city. The Trikage swiftly mobilized New Vanguard’s ninjas and psionic monks, conducting covert strikes and intelligence missions that disrupted enemy forces. Working alongside Draco’s Den, Khazammar, Desertgate, Marvel City, and Irdivine, the city played a vital role in ending the month-long night, proving that even hidden in the shadows, New Vanguard’s strength was indispensable in the defense of Nexia.

Government

New Vanguard is governed by the Trikage, a trio of leaders who personify the principles of wisdom, strength, and cunning. Each Trikage earns their position through rigorous trials that test their combat skills, strategic thinking, and moral integrity. These leaders are not just politicians but protectors of the city’s traditions and secrets. The Trikage work closely with a council of advisors who are entrusted with the city’s deepest knowledge, including the ancient recordings that chronicle the origins of Nexia. Their rule is marked by a balance of strict law and strategic innovation, guiding the city with both an iron will and a spiritual touch.

Security and Intelligence

New Vanguard’s security is upheld by a multi-layered defence system. The Inquisition Station serves as the city’s elite force of ninja detectives, handling investigations, enforcing laws, and delivering swift justice. These operatives are highly trained in both traditional martial arts and advanced investigative disciplines, ensuring that New Vanguard remains vigilant against internal threats.

For the most dangerous adversaries, New Vanguard relies on its Black Ops division, a covert unit that operates beyond the public eye. Tasked with dealing with the city’s most formidable threats, including rogue elements and external incursions, this division executes missions with precision and discretion. The Black Ops are the unseen hand of the Trikage, defending the city against those who would seek to disrupt its delicate balance.

Economy

New Vanguard’s economy is largely self-sustaining, leveraging the unique skills of its ninja populace and diverse alien factions. The city excels in craftsmanship, particularly in creating advanced stealth gear, psionic artifacts, and custom weapons. While trade with the outside world is limited, New Vanguard’s artisans and alchemists produce rare and coveted items, exchanged discreetly through highly selective channels.

Imports:
Given its remote location and self-sufficiency, New Vanguard selectively imports materials that are either scarce or enhance its unique capabilities:

• Adamantine (Pandoria): Used for crafting specialized, nearly indestructible weapons and armor for high-ranking ninjas and Black Ops operatives.
• Jewels (Endora): Valued for their use in enchanting psionic artifacts and for crafting ceremonial items that blend aesthetics with power.
• Herbs (Pandoria) and Natural Remedies (Endora): Essential for alchemical concoctions, healing potions, and enhancing psionic and stealth techniques.

Exports:
New Vanguard’s exports are as unique as the city itself, focusing on items that reflect the secretive and specialized nature of its inhabitants:

• Roc Meat: Harvested from the giant birds that soar above The Celestial Chain, Roc meat is a rare delicacy known for its rich flavour and invigorating properties.
• Stealth Gear: Precision-crafted armour and equipment designed to enhance stealth and agility, highly sought after by spies, assassins, and scouts across Nexia.
• Psionic Infusions: Artifacts and elixirs imbued with psionic energy, enhancing mental fortitude and granting limited telepathic abilities, unavailable elsewhere.
• Exotic Venoms and Toxins: Unique blends used in both traditional ninja weaponry and more clandestine operations, highly prized in certain covert circles.

These trade relationships allow New Vanguard to maintain a delicate balance, sustaining its needs without revealing too much of its hidden strength. The city's exports emphasize the refined and dangerous skills of its inhabitants, while its imports provide essential materials that elevate their craft to unparalleled levels.

Culture and Society

The culture of New Vanguard is a unique blend of ninja traditions, alien customs, and ancient spiritual beliefs. Training in the Shinobi Academy is a rite of passage, where students learn the art of stealth and combat. The city’s architecture reflects this fusion, with sleek alien structures nestled beside traditional pagodas and temples dedicated to gods like Nemesis Cain, Kova, and Azar.

New Vanguard’s society values secrecy, honour, and resilience. Community is built on trust and the shared knowledge that every citizen, whether ninja or alien, plays a role in the city’s protection. Festivals are rare but grand, often centred around the worship of their gods, with displays of martial arts, psionic duels, and vibrant, otherworldly celebrations that light up the sky.

Religion

Religion plays a significant role in New Vanguard, where ancient beliefs and diverse spiritual practices coexist. The city hosts several important temples, each dedicated to deities that embody the principles and values of its citizens:

• Psion Temple: A sacred space for psionic monks, this temple focuses on the development of mental discipline and spiritual clarity, blending ancient meditation techniques with subtle psionic enhancements.
  
  
• Temple of Nemesis Cain: Devoted to the greater god of love, compassion, heroism, and unity, this temple is a hub for those seeking guidance, inner strength, and communal harmony. It serves as a reminder of the power of selflessness and courage in the face of adversity.
  
  
• Temple of Kova: Dedicated to the goddess of the moon, nature, beasts, and lycanthropy, this temple is a sanctuary for those connected to the natural world. Rituals and ceremonies often coincide with the lunar cycle, celebrating the primal forces of the wilderness.
  
  
• Order of the Phoenix (Temple of Azar): Honoring Azar, the goddess of the Phoenix, fire, beauty, and hedonism, this temple is both a place of worship and self-expression. It attracts followers who seek rebirth, transformation, and the pursuit of personal desires, embodying the vibrant and passionate spirit of New Vanguard.

Stories & Lore