General Information
Some general information about the Antaros Universe.Definition - Universe
A story universe is a defined frame of action. If a story is written within a universe, it follows the rules defined by it. The different StarTrek TV series namely TOS, TNG, DS9, Voyager and Enterprise are examples for this, they all take place in the StarTrek Universe.
Antaros
In space and time, Antaros is identical with Earth. However, it exists in an alternate reality. On Antaros, unlike Earth, not the primates evolved into the dominating species, but several predators. Which ones will explained in the Species section. These beings call themselves Antros.
Although Antaros' overal appearance, like the positions of land and sea, is identical with Earth, some things developed differently.
Certain landscapes look different than on Earth and since Antros influence their environment far less than Humans, the planet's face is far more natural, especially in case of forests, and there's no real pollution.
Antros
Antros, unlike Humans, evolved as predators, not hunters and collectors. Other than Humans, Antros have a closer bond to nature. While Humans need to change the environment, so they can live within it, Antros can't continue living if their environment is changed.
They are less adaptive than Humans. If a Human is taken from his or her normal environment into completely unfamiliar odds, it is most likely that the Human finds a way to adapt and survive. An Antro may survive as well, but the chances are far lower.
Technologically speaken, the Antro culture is far less evolved than the Humans. They have no industry and barely any of them knows what electricity really is, let alone how to use it. Their technological level equals in most cases the Human middle ages.
That doesn't mean, however, that the Antros are primitive. They just don't need all these things. If one lived well without it for thousands of years, why would one suddenly be in need of it, after all?
Other than Humans, most Antros don't seek for wealth and power, they just seek for simple pleasures and happiness.
Antros are digitigrade and have soft pads on their hands, as well as claws on their fingers and toes.
Language
There are two languages common on Antaros.
There is the Old Language, which is called alatras. This language is the source of most Antro names. Originally spoken by the now extinct Elves, only few alatras people are still able to speak and understand it, and even fewer know how to write it.
The complicated thing with the alatras is that its different symbols can either stand for single characters, syllables or entire words. Two or more symbols can mean a lot of different words. Moreover, words expressed by a single symbol can mean different things as well, mostly opposites. So can the symbol for “entrance” just as well mean “exit”. What meaning is correct and how the different symbols are read depends on the context alone. Thus, it is virtually impossible do decypher the meaning of a lonely alatras symbol.
Alatras symbols tend to be nicely curved glyphs.
The second is the normal or common language, also called notras, which equals the language you speak as your mother language.
Notras characters are wedges that are positioned in different orientations.
Notras characters are either created with pens or brushes, but were originally carved into clay with a two-sided device. One side of the device created the wedge shapes, the other one was pointed and used for lines.
The notras is a very simple language and can be learned easily. In notras, the following characters do not exist: K, Q, X, Y. They are created by combinations, usually K = C, Q = CW, X = CS and Y = J.
Words are separated with a '•' (big dot), a new sentence begins with a new line. There are no other punctuation marks.
Numbers that don't belong together are separated with a '–' (long horizontal line).
The '\\' sign is used for an empty amount, not a mathematical '0'.
In case of a new line, words are separated with a '–' as well. There are no rules on how to separate words.
Simple calculations are done with letters. A = Add, S = Substract, M = Multiply, D = Divide.
More complicated calculations are done with different symbols and different kind of numbers.
Below is an image of the general notras. More fonts from Antaros can be found here.
Magic Flow
The Magic Flow is a flow of energy, often said to have the character of a mighty river, which can be found within everything. Without the Magic Flow, the whole world would be unable to exist.
Sometimes there are Antros who are able to feel manipulate the Flow, using its energy to achieve certain things.
These Antros are called Magicans, Wizards or Thaumaturgists.
Timeline
When the different stories take place.
Click to view