Weapons

Projectile Weapons

• Leonid Series Pistols: Compact and durable sidearms, these semi-automatic pistols fire high-velocity, self-stabilizing rounds. Casings are smooth plasteel with ergonomic grips, featuring built-in recoil dampeners for stability. Each magazine holds 15 rounds, and rounds are encased in heat-resistant alloy to prevent cook-off. The pistol produces a satisfying mechanical snap with each shot, reinforced by the Heimveld’s machine spirit AI that monitors wear and predicts maintenance needs.

• Perseus Rifles: The standard-issue rifle for infantry, the Perseus is lightweight yet bulky, designed for maximum durability. It uses gyro-stabilized ammunition that increases accuracy in harsh conditions. Featuring a modular design, the rifle can be outfitted with attachments like bayonets, scopes, or grenade launchers. Ammo feeds from a 40-round drum, and its magnetic propulsion system ensures low recoil and high stopping power.

Architecture

Core Themes

1. Functional Simplicity Meets Long-Term Decay

   • Materials: Primarily plasteel panels and reinforced alloys for durability and ease of mass production. These panels are modular, allowing buildings to be constructed and deconstructed quickly.
   • Condition: Buildings and structures show signs of wear, with weathering, patchwork repairs, and grime from centuries (or millennia) of use. Rusted supports, faded paints, and peeling decals are common in poorer areas.
   • Aging Modifications: As buildings age, they are often modified with haphazard additions (extra levels, extended platforms, or jury-rigged supports). These additions can look chaotic, especially in lower-income areas.

2. Layered and Hierarchical Cities

The Origin of the Foundation: The Rediscovery of the Core

The Wreckage and the Core

The defining moment in the rise of what would become the Heimveld occurred thousands of years ago, during the era of fragmented human civilizations scattered across the galaxy. A deep-space exploration vessel stumbled upon a derelict “hulk” drifting in the void—a massive, ancient starship of unknown origin, scarred by time and war.

Buried within its labyrinthine wreckage, the crew discovered a technological treasure: an almost intact AI core. This core, while not a true AGI like Heimgest, was an incredibly sophisticated construct capable of managing the vast complexities of advanced starships, megacities, or even colossal war machines.

The Origin of the Foundation: The Rediscovery of the Core

The Wreckage and the Core

The defining moment in the rise of what would become the Heimveld occurred thousands of years ago, during the era of fragmented human civilizations scattered across the galaxy. A deep-space exploration vessel stumbled upon a derelict “hulk” drifting in the void—a massive, ancient starship of unknown origin, scarred by time and war.

Buried within its labyrinthine wreckage, the crew discovered a technological treasure: an almost intact AI core. This core, while not a true AGI like Heimgest, was an incredibly sophisticated construct capable of managing the vast complexities of advanced starships, megacities, or even colossal war machines.

Motto: By Design, We Endure

The Guild of Enginwerk

Officially subordinate to the Heimveld, the Guild of Enginwerk (Called the Enginwerkers or The Guild) is the empire’s sole authority on technology. They are the keepers, interpreters, and innovators of the ancient machinery that powers the empire’s expansion. While bound by the Heimveld’s hierarchy, their monopoly on technological knowledge grants them immense, shadowy influence.

Origins

• During the Founding Era, fragmented remnants of human knowledge were consolidated under a coalition of scientists, mechanics, and explorers. These proto-engineers formed the guild to study and recover old technologies.
• Their work was instrumental in the Expansion Era, decoding alien systems and reverse-engineering human artifacts from the pre-collapse era. They laid the groundwork for the Heimveld’s dominance.

Structure and Role

• Hierarchical Organization: The guild operates in a rigid, caste-like structure, with ranks ranging from Acolytes (novices) to High Artificers (leaders).
• Guildmasters: Each major sector has a Guildmaster overseeing technological operations and advising the local directorate.
• Artificer Clades: Internal factions within the guild specialize in specific fields—starship engines, weapon systems, terraforming, AI suppression, and more.
• Ritualistic Practices: Their work is steeped in religious reverence to avoid accusations of heresy. They “appease” machines with chants, oils, and rituals while secretly studying their scientific principles.

Tension with the Directorates

The guild walks a fine line between necessity and suspicion:

Weapons

Projectile Weapons

• Leonid Series Pistols: Compact and durable sidearms, these semi-automatic pistols fire high-velocity, self-stabilizing rounds. Casings are smooth plasteel with ergonomic grips, featuring built-in recoil dampeners for stability. Each magazine holds 15 rounds, and rounds are encased in heat-resistant alloy to prevent cook-off. The pistol produces a satisfying mechanical snap with each shot, reinforced by the Heimveld’s machine spirit AI that monitors wear and predicts maintenance needs.

• Perseus Rifles: The standard-issue rifle for infantry, the Perseus is lightweight yet bulky, designed for maximum durability. It uses gyro-stabilized ammunition that increases accuracy in harsh conditions. Featuring a modular design, the rifle can be outfitted with attachments like bayonets, scopes, or grenade launchers. Ammo feeds from a 40-round drum, and its magnetic propulsion system ensures low recoil and high stopping power.