Back in February when I created this side-blog of mine I hinted at a sci-fi setting of my own that I was creating with lovecraftian themes, and I recently realized that I haven't put out any updates regarding it.
As of yet I'm referring to the setting by the title "Stars & Salt", though this may simply be a working title. The main inspiration was creating a setting that utilizes the "Humans are Cthulhu" tropes in a sci-fi setting, trying to use lovecraftian & eldritch creatures and themes in a sci-fi setting, and alien species that are very different from humans (and thus humans are very different from the norm of other species). I'm still unsure as to how large to start out with this setting, whether to have it be galactic or universal, but we'll see.
Currently I have no plans to write stories for this setting but I do have an idea in the works for how to release elements of it in an entertaining format that I'll have to work out.
With that, allow me to reveal some elements of this setting in the works:
To start, there are 19 Species currently in the works, and it'd be simpler to describe them by starting with what Humanity is in this setting:
Humanity is the only species to combine the traits of being bipedal, upright standing, and having four limbs. This means that each of the other species only has some of these features but misses the others.
Humanity is one of the very few species to breathe the atmosphere we do. Of the other species, less than 3 have homes with an atmosphere compatible with our own.
Humanity is the only species without some form of telepathy. This is a trait decided on for some reasons to be described below, but here I will say I decided on this because there is often a tendency in other sci-fi settings to make it the alien races who are missing something that humans have, but here it is us who are the odd ones out. For more information refer down below to the Telepathy description for this setting.
Humanity is one of the few species that don't have a eusocial lifestyle/culture/tendency. For more info on this follow this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusociality. Of the other species, less than 5 (including humans) are different from the norm among other species.
Humanity is (seemingly) the oldest species among the shown species. The reason for this is that the rest of the setting had a tendency for cosmic disasters that would hinder the develop of other species or even wiped out others. This doesn't mean that the other species are exceptionally behind in development compared to an exceptionally advanced humanity, as this is balanced out by the other species having their eusociality to help them work together and progress at a slightly faster rate than humanity did.
At present there are at least 4 planets in addition to the homes of the other species that will be shown, as places where the other species are either competing or cooperating for resources.
Telepathy exists in this setting as a something that all species have with the exclusion to humans. The exact technical aspects of this is still a work in progress but here are some main aspects:
It exists in varying strengths among the species as a primarily or secondary form of speech, hearing, and expression (think body language). It's an involuntary process by which they put out their thoughts and feelings in a way like vibrations that others can pick up in a sense similar to hearing.
There are varying degrees of strength/sophistication in which a species has this and can utilize it. The species where it is the weakest can only put out a base accentuation of their thoughts and feelings alongside their audible speech in a way that best correlates to body language among humans. The species where it is the strongest can carry out fully conversations with each other in an inaudible fashion that for some species have no audible speech at all.
With discipline and training individuals can restrict what they put out or close themselves off from picking up things. This means secrets and stealth can exist, but they take much more time and training than with humans.
As the only species that has no telepathy, Humanity puts out nothing and picks up nothing. This certainly gives Humanity an eerie aspect to other species. In terms of communication & diplomacy this is certainly a hinderance, but in many ways it is a boon to Humanity, as not only have we proven to be the ultimate secret-keepers and masters of stealth, but it has also allowed Humanity to survive amongst the lovecraftian horrors of the setting.
Humanity's telepathic immunity can be worn down or removed.
Onto the lovecraftian themes and creatures, I won't put too much detail here as some things aren't to be known:
There is given existence to multiple dimensions related to our own and creatures that dwell within them that would be very strange/horrifying to us. Some of such creatures have the capability to pass into our own dimension under certain circumstances, and some have powers they can inflict upon our reality.
There are a few theories as to the nature of them and how they relate to the universe that will be mentioned. These mainly exist as a way for the various species to try to rationalize things beyond their understanding.
These entities are categorized into several varieties or classifications of magnitude in related to the strength & influence they can press on our dimension. Some are minor horrors and can be managed or warded against. Others are of god-like influence and magnitude, who's existence must be kept secret and their servants wiped out to avoid them drawing such beings physically into our reality or even drawing their attention to our dimension.
These beings also possess the telepathic capability displayed by the species of the setting, with the range scaling with their class. More specifically they can pick up what is put out by the alien species, but what they put out reflects their unnatural origins in a corrosive and deadly influence that can instantly take over members of the alien species or drive them insane.
The existence of these eldritch beings are known to the alien species but merely as horrors to be avoided at all cost. There exists exceptions such as cults that have been taken over by their influence or species created by the eldritch horrors to carry out their designs in our reality.
While the alien species can instantly be taken over or driven insane by coming within range of the eldritch beings, humanity possesses an immunity. This has proven to be our greatest strength, allowing us to confront and ward against these horrors. As stated before such immunity can be worn down, but (so long as the highest class isn't encountered) it is gradual & can be negligible with the effects of the insanity being treated.
Humanity has encountered and categorized many of such beings in our history, labelling them as things such as fae, ghosts, demons, angels, cryptids, etc.
A significant factor of this setting is that Earth, and indeed much of the area that Humanity originates from, plays host to many eldritch horrors of significant power that humanity has co-existed with in ignorance (for the most part) since its inception. It is theorized that this perhaps accidentally shielded our budding race from the cosmic calamities that once plagued the universe and allowed to progress for a longer time than most other races. This also blankets the Earth and its system in an area that the alien races cannot enter and for a long period of time they didn't and thus it wasn't until Humanity left this space that contact was made.
Many alien species remain unsure about Humanity. Some are either off-put by our appearance/nature, our origin from within a forbidden zone, & some even wonder if our immunity was a natural evolution for survival or a trait given to us as a servitor race by an eldritch horror. Others recognize the talents our telepathic immunity may be used for as spies, combatants against the eldritch, or non-partial intermediaries in disputes over worlds we seemingly wouldn't be able to inhabit.
Another final element I will include in this update is the existence of an Organization within Humanity, which has existed even before present time to the current future date of this setting.
The inspiration for my creation of this Organization is drawn from The Men in Black, Delta Green, and S.C.P.
So far I have no name for this Organization.
This Organization has long be aware of the eldritch beings and has worked to combat them & their forces while keeping their existence a secret.
They have many facilities around the Earth & among its colonies, and in addition to fighting eldritch creatures they also lock away individuals and artifacts related to them that could prove a danger to Humanity.
When contact with aliens was made the Organization maneuvered itself into position of liaison and now works alongside the species to combat the eldritch with the tech and knowledge they've garnered.
In the current timeframe of the setting the Organization works in the public view to handle interactions with the alien species and in the shadows they work to target cults and the eldritch wherever they arise.
And that is the end of the update, I hope what I've shown here has piqued interest. Rest assured that while it has been a long while since I first hinted at this setting I'm still working on it when my job doesn't interfere.
I will admit I do get bogged down in my research and rabbit-hole myself but the work and development continues, and should my plan regarding the format for revealing elements pan out I look forward to putting out content for you to see.
Back in February when I created one of my side-blogs, Graham-Cheshir's Interstellar Archive, I hinted at a sci-fi setting of my own that I was creating with lovecraftian themes, and I recently realized that I haven't put out any updates regarding it.
As of yet I'm referring to the setting by the title "Stars & Salt", though this may simply be a working title. The main inspiration was creating a setting that utilizes the "Humans are Cthulhu" tropes in a sci-fi setting, trying to use lovecraftian & eldritch creatures and themes in a sci-fi setting, and alien species that are very different from humans (and thus humans are very different from the norm of other species). I'm still unsure as to how large to start out with this setting, whether to have it be galactic or universal, but we'll see.
Currently I have no plans to write stories for this setting but I do have an idea in the works for how to release elements of it in an entertaining format that I'll have to work out.
For more details, please the link above and I hope the reveals pique your interest.
