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Game setting
The action is set in a future medieval-style empire built on the remains of a previous, more sophisticated human galaxy-spanning civilization made possible by ancient “gates”, themselves the relics of an even older, not necesarily human civilization.
The atmosphere reminds one strongly of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” and of the Hyperion stories by Dan Simmons.
Power is administered by noble houses, guilds and by the monolithic Holy Church. Psionic powers exist but psionicists are often hunted down and killed by the Church (or led back to ortodoxy and enrolled in the Church’s ranks - where psionics are considered miracles of faith).
While most roleplaying situations arise from the strict codes regulating the everyday life of the empire’s citizens, the imperial age is rife with opportunities for adventure: following the fall of the old regime and the following centuries of darkness and warfare, many worlds have slipped back to a pre-civilized state, and a number of alien threats lurk in the shadows.
Players take the roles of members of the aristocracy, of the various merchant guids or of a number of religious sects, and alien characters are also available.
A large library of supplements provides description of locales (planets, space stations, whole sections of space), alien societies, minor houses, guilds and cults, monsters and secret conspiracies, thus expanding the thematic possibilities offered by the setting. The quality of the products is normally high.